Sword Quest III - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Kilgamayan]

> What about those other things?

[Hello Purvis]

> What about those other things?

>You have no idea how active Byakuren is in setting her goons on you. You yourself generally don't send your people out to cause havoc, it just tends to happen.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> What about her and us being antagonistic personally, rather than having underlings cause mischief?

[Hello Purvis]

> What about her and us being antagonistic personally, rather than having underlings cause mischief?

>In your case,you've hardly done more than witty ripostes. In the case of Byakuren, you know she's intervened once or twice to break up an argument in a  vaguely threatening manner.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "You mention a Palace...I did just come a rather large manor, set off from the rest of the city and notably more elaborate than the regular city dwellings. A red-haired woman in dark green answered the door. Is that the same Palace, or another house entirely?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "You mention a Palace...I did just come a rather large manor, set off from the rest of the city and notably more elaborate than the regular city dwellings. A red-haired woman in dark green answered the door. Is that the same Palace, or another house entirely?"

>"That's the place, alright," says Shou.

>_

[Suwako Moriya]

> How much are Futo and Tojiko for dancing? Presumably Tojiko doesn't, given current circumstances...

> "I shall look into the dance hall, then."

[Hello Purvis]

> How much are Futo and Tojiko for dancing? Presumably Tojiko doesn't, given current circumstances...

> "I shall look into the dance hall, then."

>You don't believe either one is particularly fond to dance.
>Shou nods. "You can't miss it, it's called The Felt."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Excellent. I will detain you no further, then."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Excellent. I will detain you no further, then."

>Shou nods. "Then I wish you a good day. If you are hurt, we would be happy to treat you."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I will keep this clinic in mind. A good day to you as well."
> Assuming Shou does not try to stop us, follow her directions to The Felt.

[Hello Purvis]

> "I will keep this clinic in mind. A good day to you as well."
> Assuming Shou does not try to stop us, follow her directions to The Felt.

>You take your leave of Shou, and follow her directions through the city once more. When you get to the far end of the city, you head toward the west and follow the street along the wall, passing by some smaller but still fairly populated neighborhoods. Finding the next major street, you turn town it, and come to a curious place. Many of the buildings stand out in stark contrast to the ones you've seen before, taller and flat-topped, made with clay bricks. Soon, you come to a large, long building with a sign emblazoned with the words "The Felt", with doors made of some kind of glass in front.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Enter and have a look around.

[Hello Purvis]

> Enter and have a look around.

>Walking through the glass doors, you fnd yourself in a high-roofed dining room, with dozens of circular tables covered with silken white tablecloths. Several oni in strange suits of black move between them, carrying serving trays. Above are chandeliers of glass and crystal, glittering with their own light. Further in, the tables give way to a semi-circular stage against the wall, where a group of four oni in similar suits play a shrill but stirring tune on various kinds of flutes, and one horn. To your right is another room, filled with colorful green tables where several oni are engaged in what seem like various games; you quickly note some holding cards.
>The place, however, seems to be sparsely populated at the moment, the oni that are here practically emphasize the empty space. As such, you have a very easy time picking out the familiar forms of Futo and Tojiko, sitting at a round table near the corner. Neither of them seem to have noticed you.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Do they have our backs to us, are they facing toward the door, or somewhere in between?
> What kind of physical condition are they in?
> Is our sword visible?
> What are they doing?

> Put on a mildly stern face, in case they look up in the next few moments.

[Hello Purvis]

> Do they have our backs to us, are they facing toward the door, or somewhere in between?
> What kind of physical condition are they in?
> Is our sword visible?
> What are they doing?

> Put on a mildly stern face, in case they look up in the next few moments.

>They are perpendicular to the door, if either looked to the side, they would see you.
>Futo definitely looks like she lost a fight, she is bruised, her hair is a mess, and her clothing damaged. Tojiko, it is harder to tell.
>You think you see a long, thin bundle wrapped in cloth in the chair beside Tojiko.
>They seem to be having a conversation over drinks.
>You prepare one of your many displeased royalty faces.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Clasp our hands together in front of us at about hip level.
> Quietly but firmly walk toward Futojiko without saying anything.

[Hello Purvis]

> Clasp our hands together in front of us at about hip level.
> Quietly but firmly walk toward Futojiko without saying anything.

>You clasp your hands and approach the two of them. Neither of them seem to take note until you've come about two thirds the way there, when Futo glances over and here eyes go wide. "Ah, Crown Prince! What you doing here?!"
>Tojiko looks over, and grimaces.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Dart our eyes to our wrapped sword (without moving our head, if possible), and linger our gaze upon it for two seconds, then shift our eyes back to Futo.
> Take on a calm but firm and pointed tone.
> "Searching."

[Hello Purvis]

> Dart our eyes to our wrapped sword (without moving our head, if possible), and linger our gaze upon it for two seconds, then shift our eyes back to Futo.
> Take on a calm but firm and pointed tone.
> "Searching."

>"Ah, I understand," says Futo.
>"Did I not say this was a bad idea?" says Tojiko.
>Futo's eyes flick toward the ghost for a second. "Not now!" Then she lowers her head slightly toward you. "Forgive me, Crown Prince. It was not my intention to cause any worry."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Frown for a couple of seconds, then sign and let our tone and expression soften.
> "Futo, dear, just look at the state you are in..."

[Hello Purvis]

> Frown for a couple of seconds, then sign and let our tone and expression soften.
> "Futo, dear, just look at the state you are in..."

>"Ah, yes, we did have something of an altercation with the locals..." she says, giving a weak grin.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> How tall is Tojiko?

> Cover the rest of the distance to Futojiko, if we haven't already.
> "I see...How did this happen?"

[Hello Purvis]

> How tall is Tojiko?

> Cover the rest of the distance to Futojiko, if we haven't already.
> "I see...How did this happen?"

>Tojiko is a bit taller than Futo, not that this is hard, but it's harder to measure exactly, given the state of her legs and such.
>"Ah, they took offense to our presence, and we took offense to their efforts to rectify that," says Futo.
>"She didn't like our faces," Tojiko adds.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Is Tojiko taller than us?

> Frown.
> "I suppose there is no accounting for lack of taste. I, for one, believe your faces are perfect the way they are."
> Glance at Futo again.
> "...Well, the way they normally are."

[Hello Purvis]

> Is Tojiko taller than us?

> Frown.
> "I suppose there is no accounting for lack of taste. I, for one, believe your faces are perfect the way they are."
> Glance at Futo again.
> "...Well, the way they normally are."

>It is difficult to tell, but probably
>"You are too kind, Crown Prince." says Futo.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Smile.
> "I only speak the truth. But that aside, I must say that the two of you left quite the wake of mischief in your travels."

[Hello Purvis]

> Smile.
> "I only speak the truth. But that aside, I must say that the two of you left quite the wake of mischief in your travels."

>"It...couldn't be helped," says Tojiko.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Be that as it may, once we have returned to the surface, I must ask that we pay the blonde puppeteer a visit, so you two can apologize for giving her such a fright.'

[Hello Purvis]

> "Be that as it may, once we have returned to the surface, I must ask that we pay the blonde puppeteer a visit, so you two can apologize for giving her such a fright.'

>"I would hope she would offer us the same courtesy for her gross overreaction," says Futo, frowning.

>_