Sword Quest III - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Kilgamayan]

> "It may or may not shame them directly, but the costs will be coming out of their pockets. Hopefully this will teach them that if they want such large-scale change in living conditions, they must be willing to work hard for them, rather than expect their princess to simply hand them everything."

[Hello Purvis]

> "It may or may not shame them directly, but the costs will be coming out of their pockets. Hopefully this will teach them that if they want such large-scale change in living conditions, they must be willing to work hard for them, rather than expect their princess to simply hand them everything."

>"I see," says Futo. "As expected of you, Crown Prince."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Nod.
> "It is a tough situation for us to approach as we are, I feel. There are many considerations to make, both for them and for us. Ultimately, I feel my minor involvement is what will work out best for us, in terms of establishing positive relations with the local nobles."

[Hello Purvis]

> Nod.
> "It is a tough situation for us to approach as we are, I feel. There are many considerations to make, both for them and for us. Ultimately, I feel my minor involvement is what will work out best for us, in terms of establishing positive relations with the local nobles."

>"If they have any sense, they will appreciate what you've done, yes," Tojiko says.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Smile.
> "This is my hope. I would like to meet this princess and her advisor medic some day; I am sure they will be a fount of interesting knowledge."
> "Hmm, who else...Ah! Did you happen to see a small girl in a bucket, higher up in the caves that lead here?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Smile.
> "This is my hope. I would like to meet this princess and her advisor medic some day; I am sure they will be a fount of interesting knowledge."
> "Hmm, who else...Ah! Did you happen to see a small girl in a bucket, higher up in the caves that lead here?"

>"We did see a youkai like that, yes," says Futo. "She was passed out on the ground."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Oh, yes, that. She has since come to, with the help of her earth spider friend. It seems that someone attacked her and took a white-blue wand from her. I wonder if there is a weapons thief on the loose?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Oh, yes, that. She has since come to, with the help of her earth spider friend. It seems that someone attacked her and took a white-blue wand from her. I wonder if there is a weapons thief on the loose?"

>"It...does sound related, doesn't it?" says Tojiko.
>"Mmm." Futo crosses her arms. "I like this less and less..."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "It is quite possible. It is also worth noting that the girl's attacker stealthily struck from above, probably using danmaku."

[Hello Purvis]

> "It is quite possible. It is also worth noting that the girl's attacker stealthily struck from above, probably using danmaku."

>"Curious," says Futo. "Someone skilled with indirect attacks?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Almost certainly. The girl could not tell if her assailant was coming or going."
> Frown.
> "I am beginning to think we may want to report this to the Hakurei shrine maiden. Before that, however, I will want to visit that girl again. If what the girl says of herself is true, and if the two thefts are related, I have a sudden unfortunate suspicion as to the culprit."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Almost certainly. The girl could not tell if her assailant was coming or going."
> Frown.
> "I am beginning to think we may want to report this to the Hakurei shrine maiden. Before that, however, I will want to visit that girl again. If what the girl says of herself is true, and if the two thefts are related, I have a sudden unfortunate suspicion as to the culprit."

>"Who do you suspect, Crown Prince?" Futo says.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Shake head.
> "Please forgive me, but I would rather not say until we have more information. I do not want falsely accuse someone, or spread suspicion and paranoia without very good reason."

[Hello Purvis]

> Shake head.
> "Please forgive me, but I would rather not say until we have more information. I do not want falsely accuse someone, or spread suspicion and paranoia without very good reason."

>"Surely you can trust us?" says Tojiko, frowning. "We will not let it leave this table."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Look around the area. Is there anyone within earshot?

[Hello Purvis]

> Look around the area. Is there anyone within earshot?

>Not really. There's some oni occupying nearby tables, but not nearby enough to eavesdrop.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I worry about other ears, not yours. But perhaps we are sufficiently isolated here..."
> Lean closer to Futojiko and lower our voice.
> "I worry that Seiga may be responsible."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I worry about other ears, not yours. But perhaps we are sufficiently isolated here..."
> Lean closer to Futojiko and lower our voice.
> "I worry that Seiga may be responsible."

>Both of them frown.
>"It is not impossible, but why?" says Futo.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "The girl in the bucket claimed, without prompt, to have taken part in thwarting the plan to bring an army to this land in my name. She also claimed that Seiga was prepared to betray me, and that this army was prepared to betray both of us. The claims are rather...you know, but she brought them up herself after learning who I was, and identified another that assisted her."

[Hello Purvis]

> "The girl in the bucket claimed, without prompt, to have taken part in thwarting the plan to bring an army to this land in my name. She also claimed that Seiga was prepared to betray me, and that this army was prepared to betray both of us. The claims are rather...you know, but she brought them up herself after learning who I was, and identified another that assisted her."

>"Wait, Seiga planned to betray us?" says Tojiko. "Wouldn't you have head that when you confronted her?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> How exactly did that conversation go?
> Did we listen to Seiga's true desires at the time?

[Hello Purvis]

> How exactly did that conversation go?
> Did we listen to Seiga's true desires at the time?

>It wasn't pleasant; Seiga was devastated to say the least.
>You did.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Could she have hidden anything from us?

[Hello Purvis]

> Could she have hidden anything from us?

>You highly doubt it.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> And had we heard any traitorous thoughts?

[Hello Purvis]

> And had we heard any traitorous thoughts?

>You hadn't. As far as you can tell, she was fully loyal, just very twisted.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> How much of her desires did we reveal to Futo and Tojiko?

[Hello Purvis]

> How much of her desires did we reveal to Futo and Tojiko?

>You've told them general things, but not much in the way of specifics. They seem pleased with that much.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Look thoughtful for a moment.
> "...Hmm...That is a good point. I do not recall hearing of such plans..."
> Frown.
> "I will have to ask the bucket girl why she made such a claim."

[Hello Purvis]

> Look thoughtful for a moment.
> "...Hmm...That is a good point. I do not recall hearing of such plans..."
> Frown.
> "I will have to ask the bucket girl why she made such a claim."

>"I wouldn't typically offer defense in Seiga's name," says Tojiko, "But that may be for the best."

>_