Sakuya Quest 3 - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

> Continue slowly approaching her, angling our path to the right so we come into her field of vision sooner.

>You continue to approach, trying to come to her side. You aren't sure what her dress is made of, but it is some kind of animal hide, dyed so thoroughly in every color you can imagine that you cannot guess what color it originally was. So too is her skin, painted with slashes of color to the point you simply cannot see it. All that seems to be free of color is her hair; black as coffee and braided close to her hair. Shells adorn her dress, carved in intricate patterns and layered to resemble patches of scales. A long, carved stick is strapped over her shoulder, kept in place with a piece of colorful hide akin to her dress.
>She stands as you approach, taking a a fist-sized rock into her hands, and glances toward you. Her eyes are golden and piercing, but seem to bear no ill will as she regards you with obvious curiosity. The trees around you seem thicker than they were, larger and more foreboding.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Curtsey.
> "Greetings, Miss. Pardon my frankness, but are you the Rainbow Serpent?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Curtsey.
> "Greetings, Miss. Pardon my frankness, but are you the Rainbow Serpent?"

>You curtsy, and she raises an eyebrow, then her free hand for a moment.
>When asked her name, she approaches you calmly. The trees seem to curve overhead, as if creating a dome.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Don't fret. We're a professional.
> Let her approach.

[Hello Purvis]

> Don't fret. We're a professional.
> Let her approach.

>She approaches, and starts to walk past you. You are not sure how, but you know that you are invited to follow along. She wants to hear more from you.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Turn and follow.
> Are Flan and/or the Hell Raven still around?
> "My name is Sakuya Izayoi. I am the head maid of the Scarlet Devil Mansion. Or, I was, back when it still stood many years ago."

[Hello Purvis]

> Turn and follow.
> Are Flan and/or the Hell Raven still around?
> "My name is Sakuya Izayoi. I am the head maid of the Scarlet Devil Mansion. Or, I was, back when it still stood many years ago."

>You turn. Before you stretches a vast, rocky land, marked with craggy mountains. At first it seems terribly lifeless, but then you can see plants here and there, sprouting between rocks and flowering brightly. Lizards run along the rocks, as do little rodents, and birds circle in the sky. You see no sign of the others, or anyone else.
>You sense a pique of interest from the Rainbow Serpent as she walks along a long, narrow valley with sheer, rocky walls. Glancing down it, you can see tough, scraggly trees growing out from the sides of the cliff faces. A small river runs through the bottom, some dozens of feet below.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Allow ourselves a small but audible intake of breath at the sudden change as well as the beauty of the scenery.
> "Whoa..."

[Hello Purvis]

> Allow ourselves a small but audible intake of breath at the sudden change as well as the beauty of the scenery.
> "Whoa..."

>You feel the Rainbow Serpent chuckle. You do not hear it, but you feel it within your heart as she continues long the edge of the cliff.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Cleared our throat while looking slightly embarrassed.
> "Erm. My apologies. Anyway, to put it bluntly, I am not of this time. There was an explosion in the Scarlet Devil Mansion library several centuries ago, and during the emergency response process, some unknown force displaced me from time and brought me here. Well, more accurately, it brought me to the forest near the human colony presided over by Sir Ector's son, Sir Kay."

[Hello Purvis]

> Cleared our throat while looking slightly embarrassed.
> "Erm. My apologies. Anyway, to put it bluntly, I am not of this time. There was an explosion in the Scarlet Devil Mansion library several centuries ago, and during the emergency response process, some unknown force displaced me from time and brought me here. Well, more accurately, it brought me to the forest near the human colony presided over by Sir Ector's son, Sir Kay."

>You feel a curious sensation you can only describe as pieces forming a whole, almost but not quite an epiphany or realization.
>You can see vast windows in the opposite cliffside. Strange shapes dance within them.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Study said windows, and see if the shapes form anything.

[Hello Purvis]

> Study said windows, and see if the shapes form anything.

>You study the windows, and you can swear the shapes form faces that seem almost familiar, but you can't remember them. They look like no one you know.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Those...are those faces? They look so...familiar..."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Those...are those faces? They look so...familiar..."

>You can only feel a kind of amusement from the Rainbow Serpent, rather like one feels when one watches a kitten stumble around.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Could...I don't recognize any of them, but they look so familiar. ...Could they be the force that displaced me?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Could...I don't recognize any of them, but they look so familiar. ...Could they be the force that displaced me?"

>The sense of of amusement does not change as you walk past them. The sky lightens from its deep blue to a kind of pale green.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Hmm...I suppose I should say that I have managed to consult with Ran Yakumo regarding returning home. Are you familiar with her?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Hmm...I suppose I should say that I have managed to consult with Ran Yakumo regarding returning home. Are you familiar with her?"

>You feel a sense of familiarity within yourself.
>The green sky sky tinges the world around you; the shores of a vast lake whose banks you cannot see, green as the sky, loom ahead.

[Kilgamayan]

> "She seems to have an idea for how I can be restored to my proper time. One thing she needs, however, is Rainbow Sand."

[Hello Purvis]

> "She seems to have an idea for how I can be restored to my proper time. One thing she needs, however, is Rainbow Sand."

>You feel a sense of confidence within you.
>The Rainbow Serpent leads you toward the shores of the green lake. In the distance, you can see many moons hanging in the sky, things of varying sizes and colors.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "That...is a lot of moons."

[Hello Purvis]

> "That...is a lot of moons."

>The Rainbow Serpent pays this little mind, and proceeds into the lake.

>_

[Monarda]

>Follow !

[Hello Purvis]

>Follow !

>You follow her. The water laps around your ankles, feeling pleasantly warm. Your feet do not feel wet.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Raise an eyebrow, but say nothing and continue onward.

[Hello Purvis]

> Raise an eyebrow, but say nothing and continue onward.

>You continue onward. The water rises up, warm and pleasantly non-soaking as it comes up to your neck. You watch as one of the moons slowly traces along the sky, like a bird in flight, making its way toward the northern horizon.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "This is...all very impressive, but with all due respect, I am afraid I don't know what it all means."

[Hello Purvis]

> "This is...all very impressive, but with all due respect, I am afraid I don't know what it all means."

>The Rainbow Serpent glances back toward you, her mouth pursed, before she slips under the waves. You find yourself wondering what is important right now, and what is less so.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Well, getting back home is the most important thing. 'Less so's would include things like delivering Tenshi's message to her past self; it seems unlikely anything good will come of that. Hmm...doing right by the Young Mistress is definitely important. Visiting Meiling's grave is also pretty important, as much as we haven't had the time yet...