Sword Quest XI - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

> "Do you mean how they have her buried up to her neck in the ground, near that giant tree? I did observe this in my time there, yes. I am rather surprised you have not retrieved her yet, to be honest."

>"I mean that they have not freed her, Crown Prince!" she says. "That is clearly a trap and they are abusing your name to set it."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Raise an eyebrow.
> "I do not recall any such thing being prepared while I was there...do you need someone to go with you to retrieve her, then?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Raise an eyebrow.
> "I do not recall any such thing being prepared while I was there...do you need someone to go with you to retrieve her, then?"

>"I would rather they simply release her as a show of good faith instead of putting someone else at risk," says Seiga.
>Your companions are judiciously silent.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I imagine they would find little need to show some sort of good faith when it was us that had wronged them."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I imagine they would find little need to show some sort of good faith when it was us that had wronged them."

>"Given they have resorted to underhanded tactics once, I am certain there is a need, But beyond that, surely you do not condone them taking hostages on something you have applied your name to?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> What 'underhanded tactics' were these?

[Hello Purvis]

> What 'underhanded tactics' were these?

>That's an excellent question.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "What underhanded tactics were these, again?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "What underhanded tactics were these, again?"

>"Why, the ones they used to bring Meira low, of course," says Seiga.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Raise an eyebrow.
> "I was under the impression Miss Meira simply lost in a duel. Did you witness something different?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Raise an eyebrow.
> "I was under the impression Miss Meira simply lost in a duel. Did you witness something different?"

>"Where did you get that impression from?" says Seiga. "The people holding Yoshika hostage?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "The news was brought to me originally by her red-headed friend, as I recall. Apparently she bore witness to the event."

[Hello Purvis]

> "The news was brought to me originally by her red-headed friend, as I recall. Apparently she bore witness to the event."

>"So someone working with them," she says. "And, you're saying Meira was outnumbered, then?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Ignoring everything else about our conflicting assumptions, I find it rather unlikely Youmu would have had her friend lie to me."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Ignoring everything else about our conflicting assumptions, I find it rather unlikely Youmu would have had her friend lie to me."

>"It's not possible to underestimate an anarchist who would keep hostages after the situation is over," says Seiga. "This action says all that is necessary, wouldn't you agree?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I would not, in fact, given my experiences today."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I would not, in fact, given my experiences today."

>"Should we let them kidnap Futo next, then?" she says. "I cannot believe you would make excuses for this, surely you don't think it's right to just let them hold Yoshika hostage as they please?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I rather disagree with the notion that they're holding her hostage."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I rather disagree with the notion that they're holding her hostage."

>'Well they are preventing her from leaving unless I choose to put myself at their mercy while their little swordswoman is openly drooling for my blood, so I can't see what else it could be called."

[Kilgamayan]

> "And what, again, is stopping you from going back there with help in tow?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "And what, again, is stopping you from going back there with help in tow?"

>"I would rather not be ambushed at all," says Seiga. "What stops them from releasing Yoshika?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I imagine a lack of desire to exert further manual labor to assist you when you have done nothing to right the wrong you wrought upon them. Particularly given you could do the job much faster."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I imagine a lack of desire to exert further manual labor to assist you when you have done nothing to right the wrong you wrought upon them. Particularly given you could do the job much faster."

>"I...don't follow," says Seiga. "Nor do I see how this excuses their shameful actions."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "'Alleged' shameful actions, for which there does not seem to be any evidence. Regardless, were I in their position, I would wait for you personally to show some sign of remorse, or good faith, before agreeing to help you retrieve your servant."

[Hello Purvis]

> "'Alleged' shameful actions, for which there does not seem to be any evidence. Regardless, were I in their position, I would wait for you personally to show some sign of remorse, or good faith, before agreeing to help you retrieve your servant."

>"The evidence is that they overcame a vastly superior opponent, Crown Prince!" Seiga says. "And that they are keeping poor Yoshika hostage for, ate the very best, spitefulness and more likely as bait for an ambush!  How can you even compare us, let alone turn a blind eye toward them?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Shrug.
> "I simply think that you are letting your own biases cloud your judgment on both counts. All of us here know first-hand of Youmu's skill as a warrior, and Yoshika was not being mistreated or hidden away in isolated captivity. The ghost princess even spend a fair amount of time feeding her their cherries."

[Hello Purvis]

> Shrug.
> "I simply think that you are letting your own biases cloud your judgment on both counts. All of us here know first-hand of Youmu's skill as a warrior, and Yoshika was not being mistreated or hidden away in isolated captivity. The ghost princess even spend a fair amount of time feeding her their cherries."

>"In what way is being held hostage not mistreatment, Crown Prince?" says Seiga. 

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "A pointless question, as we do not agree on the premise. But since it is clear this is going nowhere, since you insist on not retrieving her, I will do so myself once my business on this mountain is concluded."

[Hello Purvis]

> "A pointless question, as we do not agree on the premise. But since it is clear this is going nowhere, since you insist on not retrieving her, I will do so myself once my business on this mountain is concluded."

>"It's a central question, and you shouldn't avoid it, Crown Prince," Seiga says, "And...if you must go, I wouldn't have you going alone."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Does that mean you will join me?"