Sword Quest IV - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Kilgamayan]

> "It seems she acquired it in repulsing an invasion of this land from a foreign military. I concede it sounds farfetched, but one of my former advisors was partly responsible for the mess, and it is not common knowledge that this foreign military even exists, so I trust her claims are true."

[Hello Purvis]

> "It seems she acquired it in repulsing an invasion of this land from a foreign military. I concede it sounds farfetched, but one of my former advisors was partly responsible for the mess, and it is not common knowledge that this foreign military even exists, so I trust her claims are true."

>"Just a minute," says the oni, as she starts down the stairs.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Certainly."
> Wait for her to return.

[Hello Purvis]

> "Certainly."
> Wait for her to return.

>She disappears through the door at the bottom of the stairs. After a few minutes, she returns.
>"The Deva wants a word with you. Just go straight in."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Nod.
> "Thank you."
> Enter!

[Hello Purvis]

> Nod.
> "Thank you."
> Enter!

>You head down the stairs, passing a paper door decorated with a colorful pattern of interlocking rings that climb along its length like ivy. The stairs continue furhter down past a small landing, leading deeper into the earth; appearing to be cut from the stone itself. At the bottom, after some twenty steps, you see a wooden door, carved with various horned faces with crescent-shaped eyes.
>Through that door, you come into an immaculate vestibule that has been carved out of the rock itself. I looks almost like being inside a stone manor, save for the lack of windows. A few folding screens feature playful youkai in a forest decorate this room, as do several simple rugs and a small box for shoes, with silken slippers beside it Past the vestibule, you see a large chamber. In the middle of it is a large low table, and a dark-haired woman kneeling in front of it on a pillow. She is dressed in a red kataginu with matching hakama, with gray sleeves underneath, clearly trying to appear as a later era noble. Her long back hair is drawn back into a ponytail, while a single red horn extends from her forehead. You see a sword resting beside her on another pillow. She looks up as you enter. "Come on in," she says.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Are there any standard social graces for meetings between nobles such as this?

[Hello Purvis]

> Are there any standard social graces for meetings between nobles such as this?

>In theory, you should be due all the graces that exist.  That aside, you aren't sure if oni have any such customs or not.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Nod.
> "Thank you for your hospitality."
> Enter!

[Hello Purvis]

> Nod.
> "Thank you for your hospitality."
> Enter!

>You leave the entry chamber behind and proceed into the the room ahead. The ceiling soars overhead a few yards, carefully carved to resemble the beams and rafters of  a proper manor. The walls are covered with elaborate scrollwork, here and there touched with moss that you are certain is decorative. There are statues of various animals, which seem to have been carved from rock itself, set into wall sconces. Large sliding doors, covered with bright paintings, are set into the walls here and there, and you see balconied stairway leading deeper inside near the back. You think that you hear a fountain somewhere. The Deva sits in the middle of the room, with a variety of papers around her. You notice a box at her side which is filled with many sheets of paper. Obvious exits are West, North 1, North 2, South, South 2, and East
>"So," says the Deva, "I heard you have idea about where that little bucket bandit got 'er wand."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I do, though a small bit of history about myself is helpful for the full explanation."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I do, though a small bit of history about myself is helpful for the full explanation."

>"I don't promise you a thing for it," she says.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Nod.
> "Understood."
> Give the Deva a bow.
> "My name is Toyosatomimi no Miko, and I am a hermit that follows the way of the Tao. Many years ago, before I entered a self-induced deep slumber, I was actually the Empress of Japan. I no longer have interest in such things, however."
> "How this relates to the young bucket lady is that one of my former advisors anticipated I would wish to return to prominence upon my reawakening, and made contact with some sort of foreign agent with military connections. She intended to have this foreign military support my return to prominence in exchange for political favors. However, this agent mysteriously vanished one day, presumably to his homeland, and I have had no contact with this agent or military since my awakening. The young bucket lady claims the foreign military intended to double-cross my former advisor and invadeand conquer this land, but that she put a stop to the invasion. She says she obtained her wand from a rogue former employee from Higan that was working with this military."

[Hello Purvis]

> Nod.
> "Understood."
> Give the Deva a bow.
> "My name is Toyosatomimi no Miko, and I am a hermit that follows the way of the Tao. Many years ago, before I entered a self-induced deep slumber, I was actually the Empress of Japan. I no longer have interest in such things, however."
> "How this relates to the young bucket lady is that one of my former advisors anticipated I would wish to return to prominence upon my reawakening, and made contact with some sort of foreign agent with military connections. She intended to have this foreign military support my return to prominence in exchange for political favors. However, this agent mysteriously vanished one day, presumably to his homeland, and I have had no contact with this agent or military since my awakening. The young bucket lady claims the foreign military intended to double-cross my former advisor and invadeand conquer this land, but that she put a stop to the invasion. She says she obtained her wand from a rogue former employee from Higan that was working with this military."

>"Go on," says the Deva, her face having grown carefully neutral.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> What else did Kisume tell us?

[Hello Purvis]

> What else did Kisume tell us?

>That's about it, really.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Unfortunately, I know little else about the origin of this wand. The young girl mentioned that the rogue Higan employee apparently had apparently fallen out of favor in the past and was seeking a measure of revenge."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Unfortunately, I know little else about the origin of this wand. The young girl mentioned that the rogue Higan employee apparently had apparently fallen out of favor in the past and was seeking a measure of revenge."

>"That's something, alright," says the oni. "More than she ever told any of us, heh. Don't suppose you got more then just your word?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "The young girl mentioned she had help from someone by the name of Kasen. She could theoretically corroborate this story. Unfortunately, I do not know anything about her, other than that she is difficult to locate."

[Hello Purvis]

> "The young girl mentioned she had help from someone by the name of Kasen. She could theoretically corroborate this story. Unfortunately, I do not know anything about her, other than that she is difficult to locate."

>The Deva raises an eyebrow, then throws back her head and cackles. "Alright then! That'll do it! She didn't happen to mention anything about anyone staying behind from that whole thing, eh?"
>As she speaks, she pulls out a large wooden box from under the table.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Kisume said nothing of the sort, did she?

[Hello Purvis]

> Kisume said nothing of the sort, did she?

>She did not.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I do not believe she mentioned any such thing."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I do not believe she mentioned any such thing."

>"Shame, that," says the Deva. "Might've been a lead."
>She opens the box, fishes out a small bag, and tosses it to you.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Catch the bag.

[Hello Purvis]

> Catch the bag.

>You easily catch the bag, which lands in your hands with a distinctive metallic clink.
>"Don't tell no one I paid you that much," says the Deva. "I don't need jealous street ears at my door."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Put the bag away with our things and give the Deva a deep bow.
> "Thank you so much. Your generosity is most appreciated."

[Hello Purvis]

> Put the bag away with our things and give the Deva a deep bow.
> "Thank you so much. Your generosity is most appreciated."

>You obtain: 80☼
>"It's what you earned," says the Deva. "Just don't tell those greedy mooks who think I'll pay out to hear how their neighbor skipped a bath."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Nod.
> "I shall not breathe a word about it."

[Hello Purvis]

> Nod.
> "I shall not breathe a word about it."

>"Now, anything else you think I need to hear?" says the Deva.

>_