Sword Quest IX - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

> Where is the nearest major/notable location that could be traveled to by horse?

>Probably the Garden of the Sun or the Nameless Hill where Medicine resides.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Erk. Uh, what's closest that's at least somewhat people-friendly?

[Hello Purvis]

> Erk. Uh, what's closest that's at least somewhat people-friendly?

>Probably the Human village, in terms of travel time. Or perhaps Kotohime's home? You suppose it depends how quickly the horse can move through tall grass.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Can we travel on land to the Human Village without crossing through Yuuka's territory?

[Hello Purvis]

> Can we travel on land to the Human Village without crossing through Yuuka's territory?

>Yes, though you will come reasonably close to it, but you won't enter it.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I suppose that is true."
> Turn to Kotohime.
> "I'm afraid I must ask another favor of you. I will take Meira and her horse to the Human Village. I need you to return to the Hakurei Shrine and have anyone there meet me in the Village if they are fit to travel and can help remove the Saigyou Ayakashi's life force from Meira."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I suppose that is true."
> Turn to Kotohime.
> "I'm afraid I must ask another favor of you. I will take Meira and her horse to the Human Village. I need you to return to the Hakurei Shrine and have anyone there meet me in the Village if they are fit to travel and can help remove the Saigyou Ayakashi's life force from Meira."

>Kotohime nods. "I can do that."
>"So, I'm guessing that thing you told me about has been taken care of, more or less?" says Komachi.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Splendid, thank you."
> Turn back to Komachi.
> "There are still a few loose ends regarding the loop-haired woman, but the immediate issue is now mostly addressed. I suppose I should inform you, however, that Meira was on her way here to enlist the help of a recently-captured disgraced shinigami. At the loop-haired woman's suggestion, of course."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Splendid, thank you."
> Turn back to Komachi.
> "There are still a few loose ends regarding the loop-haired woman, but the immediate issue is now mostly addressed. I suppose I should inform you, however, that Meira was on her way here to enlist the help of a recently-captured disgraced shinigami. At the loop-haired woman's suggestion, of course."

>"Huh," says Komachi, pursing her lips. "That'd be a problem, yeah. Good on you for keeping it from being our problem, thanks!"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "You are quite welcome. I don't know if this loop-haired woman will persist in this effort or not, though, so it may be best to send a warning to Higan. She is particularly amoral; just today, on top of the Saigyou Ayakashi's life for, she has stolen her former master's sword..."
> Gesture back to Miko's sword in the ground.
> "...as well as a wand from a young lady in a bucket underground."

[Hello Purvis]

> "You are quite welcome. I don't know if this loop-haired woman will persist in this effort or not, though, so it may be best to send a warning to Higan. She is particularly amoral; just today, on top of the Saigyou Ayakashi's life for, she has stolen her former master's sword..."
> Gesture back to Miko's sword in the ground.
> "...as well as a wand from a young lady in a bucket underground."

>Komachi frowns. "That wand, huh? Don't suppose I could impose on you to make sure it gets back to that bucket dropper, could I?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Hmm? I will look into it for you, certainly, but I do not know where this loop-haired woman is. She, ah, is a hermit, and as such is difficult to find."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Hmm? I will look into it for you, certainly, but I do not know where this loop-haired woman is. She, ah, is a hermit, and as such is difficult to find."

>"Of course she is," says Komachi. "What a pain..."

>_

[the old guy]

>Would Miko know by any change where she is?

[Kilgamayan]

> "Her former master did find her recently, at least, which is how I knew to come here. I will at least ask if she is able to find the wicked hermit again and retrieve the wand, since she was actually the one who first informed me that it had been stolen."

[Hello Purvis]

>Would Miko know by any change where she is?

>She ought to.

> "Her former master did find her recently, at least, which is how I knew to come here. I will at least ask if she is able to find the wicked hermit again and retrieve the wand, since she was actually the one who first informed me that it had been stolen."

>"It would be great if you could," says Komachi. "But get this stuff dealt with first and all."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Nod.
> "When I return her sword, I will do so then."

[Hello Purvis]

> Nod.
> "When I return her sword, I will do so then."

>"Thanks," she says. "That's a load off my mind."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Huh. Is the girl in the bucket a friend of yours?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Huh. Is the girl in the bucket a friend of yours?"

>"Naw, she's my little girl, if you'd believe it," says Komachi. "Let her have that wand for helping out with a thing awhile back since she liked it so much."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> ...Had we heard of this?

[Hello Purvis]

> ...Had we heard of this?

>You had not. Not that you really keep up to date with such things, but...

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Blink.
> "...Really now? Well then."
> Put on a thoughtful face.
> "I suppose that explains her hair style. Why does she live underground and not with you, though?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Blink.
> "...Really now? Well then."
> Put on a thoughtful face.
> "I suppose that explains her hair style. Why does she live underground and not with you, though?"

>"Girl needs to stretch her wings," says Komachi. "Doesn't think she's cut out for being around Higan."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Hm. To each their own, I suppose. Regardless, I will definitely do what I can to retrieve that wand for you."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Hm. To each their own, I suppose. Regardless, I will definitely do what I can to retrieve that wand for you."

>"I appreciate it!" says Komachi.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Nod, then turn back to Kotohime.
> "Are you ready?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Nod, then turn back to Kotohime.
> "Are you ready?"

>She nods.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Very well. I shall see you again soon, at the Human Village."
> Turn back to Komachi.
> "And I will keep you updated as to the status of that wand. Farewell!"
> Retrieve Miko's sword, retrieve the horse, and begin the walk back to the Human Village.

[Hello Purvis]

> "Very well. I shall see you again soon, at the Human Village."
> Turn back to Komachi.
> "And I will keep you updated as to the status of that wand. Farewell!"
> Retrieve Miko's sword, retrieve the horse, and begin the walk back to the Human Village.

>"Good luck," says Komachi.
>You depart, sword in one hand, and the horse' reins in the other. Kotohime takes to the air, flying ahead and toward the southeast. The horse follows along placidly, apparently unconcerned with what is going on around it. You can hear Komachi start to harangue the dead to line up, and note ghosts lifting up from the nearby flowers, looking around with various degrees of unease, or excitement, or confusion.
>Elsewhere in the world: Miko
>You've watched Youmu and her companion leave, and things have been fairly quietly around the shrine, in the physical sense. Reimu continues on with setting up things for the tournament tomorrow, seemingly unperturbed. However, there is a stiffness in her bearing and a general kind of aura about her that reminds you of your first painful meeting with her. The whisper of her desires are not too promising either. Futo has stayed in bed, thankfully, and been fairly quiet, which is a worry from your mind. She'll be fine, after awhile, but in the meantime it can be difficult not to linger on it. Tojiko has floated around to the rear of the shrine, looking for something to catch her interest.

>_