Sword Quest IV - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Kilgamayan]

> Have we ever been openly and intentionally disobedient for any reason?

[Hello Purvis]

> Have we ever been openly and intentionally disobedient for any reason?

>For some values of disobedient, perhaps. You've allowed yourself some cynicism and sass from time to time.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I see. I will bother you no further, then. I hope for a peaceful and acceptable resolution to your situation."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I see. I will bother you no further, then. I hope for a peaceful and acceptable resolution to your situation."

>"Thanks, good luck with the owl lady!" says one of the rabbits.
>"Bring some sandwiches next time!" another rabbit calls out,

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Give a short bow to the general assembly.
> "I will see what I can do. Farewell."
> Take flight and head upward until we've crested the forest canopy.

[Hello Purvis]

> Give a short bow to the general assembly.
> "I will see what I can do. Farewell."
> Take flight and head upward until we've crested the forest canopy.

>You bow and take to the air. A few of the gathered rabbits wave as you depart.
>It takes a moment for your eyes to adjust to the light once you pick your way through the bamboo stalks. The sky around you is clear and bright,

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Do we know the direction in which the entrance to the underground is?

[Hello Purvis]

> Do we know the direction in which the entrance to the underground is?

>It is to the east, some distance, past the Forest of Magic and near the foot of the mountains. You know it is generally around the hot springs that came up in the region a while ago.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Quests

> East

[Hello Purvis]

> Quests

> East

>Your Quests are
>Casting Call
>Yuyuko has asked you to find a number of people to perform in a play she is intending to put on. You have a couple of people confirmed, and a couple of maybes.
>Permitted Hermit
>Seiga has done something to the Saigyou Ayakashi to cause it to begin to wither, and should probably be stopped.
>You head eastward, preparing to do some searching.
>ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD: Miko
>Having followed the oni's directions, you've managed to make you way to the edge of what has been creatively named the Warehouse district. Turning into a alley between a warehouse and the back of a tavern, you not it is empty, but quite clean and in good repair. A stairway with wrought iron railing leads to what you presume is a basement under the warehouse, your destination. The alley is quiet, all you can hear is the omnipresent music, which feels somewhat distant now. A tall, thin oni with in dark clothing with bushy black hair leans against the wall near the stairs, her arms loosely crossed. Her hair nearly conceals a pair of long horns extending from her temples. She glances over toward you, her face placid and her eyes half-closed.

>_

[Suwako Moriya]

> "Pardon me. Is this the Deva's home?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Pardon me. Is this the Deva's home?"

>"Keep walkin'," the oni says.

>_

[Suwako Moriya]

> Frown.
> "So I was given incorrect directions?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Frown.
> "So I was given incorrect directions?"

>"There aren't any," says the oni.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Well, I need to see someone regarding stolen weaponry, and I have not been told anyone else in this city has the remotest interest, other than the proprietor of the Pressed Rose."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Well, I need to see someone regarding stolen weaponry, and I have not been told anyone else in this city has the remotest interest, other than the proprietor of the Pressed Rose."

>"I'm interested," she says, somehow managing to shift her stance without moving a muscle from her relaxed pose.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "There was a premeditated sneak attack earlier today, on the young green-haired lady in the bucket in one of the caves leading to the surface. A special weapon of hers was taken while she was unconscious, but nothing else. It seems likely the perpetrator was headed toward this city. As a weapon of my own was also stolen very early this morning, I am wondering if the perpetrator came here to sell them to the Deva; it is my understanding that she is a collector."

[Hello Purvis]

> "There was a premeditated sneak attack earlier today, on the young green-haired lady in the bucket in one of the caves leading to the surface. A special weapon of hers was taken while she was unconscious, but nothing else. It seems likely the perpetrator was headed toward this city. As a weapon of my own was also stolen very early this morning, I am wondering if the perpetrator came here to sell them to the Deva; it is my understanding that she is a collector."

>"Can't say I've heard about any kind of thing like that," the oni says. "And that'd be something that'd come here real fast. "The Deva pays a lot for that kind of tidbit."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Ah, that is unfortunate for me. I suppose it is possible someone from the surface attacked her and took her weapon before returning to the surface, but it sounds as though the knowledge that she even has that weapon is extremely limited, at least in regards to those on the surface."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Ah, that is unfortunate for me. I suppose it is possible someone from the surface attacked her and took her weapon before returning to the surface, but it sounds as though the knowledge that she even has that weapon is extremely limited, at least in regards to those on the surface."

>"You talking about the bucket dropper?" says the oni.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "The young lady in the bucket, yes. She has an earth spider friend."

[Hello Purvis]

> "The young lady in the bucket, yes. She has an earth spider friend."

>"Mm. No good if someone else has that wand," says the oni. "She caused some trouble with that thing."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "All the more reason to recover it quickly, then. Is there anyone that swells down here that would attack someone from behind and steal their weapon? Obviously I doubt any oni is responsible, but I know there are other people that live here."

[Hello Purvis]

> "All the more reason to recover it quickly, then. Is there anyone that swells down here that would attack someone from behind and steal their weapon? Obviously I doubt any oni is responsible, but I know there are other people that live here."

>"Wasn't a faerie, was it?" says the oni, frowning.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Possibly, but unlikely. I would be surprised if a fairy were able to maintain enough focus and awareness as to silently sneak up on someone, fell them before they can fight back, and then take only one of their possessions."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Possibly, but unlikely. I would be surprised if a fairy were able to maintain enough focus and awareness as to silently sneak up on someone, fell them before they can fight back, and then take only one of their possessions."

>The oni nods slowly. "I'm guessin' it wasn't someone from the Palace, and I'm guessin' it wasn't an Earth Spider?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "To be honest, we are not sure. She knows nothing about her assailant. She did not hear them approach her, nor did she catch a glimpse of them before she was knocked unconscious."

[Hello Purvis]

> "To be honest, we are not sure. She knows nothing about her assailant. She did not hear them approach her, nor did she catch a glimpse of them before she was knocked unconscious."

>"If you're askin' me to blame someone from around here, that'd be who." says the oni. "But what I can say is that if someone is trying to hawk any kind of interesting weapon, they aren't doing it here. Or they're really zoggin' good at hiding it."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I do wonder if it would be an earth spider, if she is friends with one. I can certainly investigate the Palace again, however."
> "Out of curiosity, how well-known are the origins of that wand of hers? As much as it seems to make more sense for someone to have come form the surface to take it, I am not sure anyone on the surface actually knows she has it."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I do wonder if it would be an earth spider, if she is friends with one. I can certainly investigate the Palace again, however."
> "Out of curiosity, how well-known are the origins of that wand of hers? As much as it seems to make more sense for someone to have come form the surface to take it, I am not sure anyone on the surface actually knows she has it."

>"You'd make a lot of money if you could tell us." says the oni.

>_