Reisen Quest Til The End: A Z-Machine Adventure

[Kasu]

> "I'd say it implies we're dealing with someone who has crafted the horrors themselves."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I'd say it implies we're dealing with someone who has crafted the horrors themselves."

>"Unlikely," says Patchouli, "But close. It seems to me that something very important was missing from the picture. It had its gems, at least until you overwhelmed it and took them back."
>Eirin nods. You can tell she's pieced it together.

>_

[Kasu]

> "Master?  You seem like you've found something important."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Master?  You seem like you've found something important."

>"I have," she says, "But I would be a terrible teacher if I didn't give you the opportunity to piece it together yourself, wouldn't I?"

>_

[UncertainJakutten]

>"Um...hmmm...it never DID have full control of the gems, so I assumed it was waiting for that...but I'm still trying to work out where you've jumped...since I assume that you believe it had a secondary goal it had to do before it could wreak havoc?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Um...hmmm...it never DID have full control of the gems, so I assumed it was waiting for that...but I'm still trying to work out where you've jumped...since I assume that you believe it had a secondary goal it had to do before it could wreak havoc?"

>"Did it ever show it had the capacity of knowledge to use a sword?" asks Patchouli. "It seems to me, such a thing on its own would be useless with that kind of weapon."

>_

[UncertainJakutten]

>"No, actually. The only tactics it seemed to use were ones ripped of me that purely involved my ability to move, rather than any of my conjurations or attacks. Wait, except it tried to steal my awesome hammer, though a hammer is a much simpler weapon than a sword"

[Hello Purvis]

>"No, actually. The only tactics it seemed to use were ones ripped of me that purely involved my ability to move, rather than any of my conjurations or attacks. Wait, except it tried to steal my awesome hammer, though a hammer is a much simpler weapon than a sword"

>You think you may have lost the three of them.
>"My point," says Patchouli, "is that I am certain that the sword was as integral to it as the gems were."

[Serela]

>"Ah... so, if it were to obtain the sword and gems, it's intelligence may have increased? In that situation, it may have become a very dangerous force indeed."

[E-Nazrin]

>"Patchouli, you said that that sword - Dream Cutlass, right? - got shattered, didn't it? Which left you somewhere that you could see that horror, correct? The statue was seeking out that sword. But without enough of a mind for it to be any use, and if the sword was that easily shattered... perhaps it was intended to be broken from the start, just only by the right person. Or statue, as it were."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Patchouli, you said that that sword - Dream Cutlass, right? - got shattered, didn't it? Which left you somewhere that you could see that horror, correct? The statue was seeking out that sword. But without enough of a mind for it to be any use, and if the sword was that easily shattered... perhaps it was intended to be broken from the start, just only by the right person. Or statue, as it were."

>"I can't say it was easily shattered," says Patchouli. "It was a duel between Remilia and Youmu. I am fairly certain it was due to Youmu's skill, and perhaps Remilia's exuberance, that broke it. But, I do think that the Construct needed that weapon to complete itself."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "But now it's been put down, so what do we do with the sword and the gems?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "But now it's been put down, so what do we do with the sword and the gems?"

>"I think the gems have been spoken for," Eirin says. "Unless you want to try and disentangle yourself from them? As for the sword's remains, I believe they are inert, am I right?"  She looks to Patchouli, who nods.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "How inert could the sword be if the thing was pursuing it, though? Unless putting it down was the final straw."

[Hello Purvis]

> "How inert could the sword be if the thing was pursuing it, though? Unless putting it down was the final straw."

>"It may have been just simple desperation," says Patchouli. "By your account, it was already dying."
>"I am not quite sure what has happened," Yorihime says, her voice having a rare element of uncertainty, "But if the thing had a simple mind geared mostly toward to destruction, it might well have simply decided to indulge that instinct in its last moments rather than continue to fight with you."
>"But, Reisen may have a point," says Patchouli. "While I would stake my reputation on them being useless now, it is possible that thing may have had some way to do something with them. Regardless, it holds to my point. It seems clear to be that it was lacking a significant portion of its mind, and I believe that weapon contained it."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I think I have an idea for how to satisfy the Lunarian citizens, then. Based on what Patchouli has told us, one could make an argument that intentionally summoning the horror in order to eliminate it was, in fact, the right decision to make; if left unchecked, it would have destroyed several other beings, including a goddess. The Lunarians may not have a high opinion of the Suwa, but Kanako told me she knows you well, Commander Yorihime, and is in fact quite pleased with you in general, so I'm pretty sure she would be willing to vouch for these circumstances, and they would be more inclined to listen to her. In addition, you could claim that, in your time down here, you came across a second horror, and assisted Eientei in putting it down, which is...technically true. With direct support for your actions and decisions from Kanako and Eientei, surely the Lunarian citizens would be satisfied that your trip was a success?"
> Turn to Patchouli.
> "Incidentally, I must point out that Meiling deserves credit for delivering the finishing blows to the statue. You have quite a gatekeeper at your house."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I think I have an idea for how to satisfy the Lunarian citizens, then. Based on what Patchouli has told us, one could make an argument that intentionally summoning the horror in order to eliminate it was, in fact, the right decision to make; if left unchecked, it would have destroyed several other beings, including a goddess. The Lunarians may not have a high opinion of the Suwa, but Kanako told me she knows you well, Commander Yorihime, and is in fact quite pleased with you in general, so I'm pretty sure she would be willing to vouch for these circumstances, and they would be more inclined to listen to her. In addition, you could claim that, in your time down here, you came across a second horror, and assisted Eientei in putting it down, which is...technically true. With direct support for your actions and decisions from Kanako and Eientei, surely the Lunarian citizens would be satisfied that your trip was a success?"
> Turn to Patchouli.
> "Incidentally, I must point out that Meiling deserves credit for delivering the finishing blows to the statue. You have quite a gatekeeper at your house."

>Yorihime nods. "I will have to report all of this, yes. But, I deserve little credit in dealing with the monster, whatever it was."
>"I would not classify it as a horror, either," says Patchouli. "But rather, something that was strongly influenced by one. In the abstract, the concept is fascinating, channeling that alien power into such a vessel, thus bypassing any residual effects after the initial casting..."
>She stops, aware that Eirin and Yorihime are giving her a look. "What? I never said I was going to try it. Merely that I appreciate the artifice of a fellow magician."
>Yorihime looks to you. "If you would be so kind as to secure some word from Yasaka-sama, it would most certainly help out."
>You mention Meiling's assistance to Patchouli. "...Honestly?" she asks. "Well, that is unexpected. I'm certain Remilia shall be delighted."

>_

[Kasu]

> "Wait.  I just realized something.  Patchouli, how exactly did the horror you fought react in general?  Is it possible that you fought the part of the Statue that was supposed to be its complete mind?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Wait.  I just realized something.  Patchouli, how exactly did the horror you fought react in general?  Is it possible that you fought the part of the Statue that was supposed to be its complete mind?"

>"React?" asks Patchouli. "The best way I can describe the thing I fought was...alien and malevolent. It spoke, in a sense, ranting about its emotions. Well, it seemed like it was talking about how it was happy and it was in pain alternately. To be perfectly honest, I dismissed that entirely as it simply being insane. I would go so far as to say it didn't even know it was speaking. It was simply that alien. It was hostile, without a doubt. I cannot tell you why, or even suggest it knew why. But I think you are right, I think this construct was made to draw upon that horror in some sense to complete itself."

>_

[Kasu]

> "Hmmm...  The only question now is are there any more of these things out there either complete or incomplete..."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Hmmm...  The only question now is are there any more of these things out there either complete or incomplete..."

>"Do you think that there would be?" asks Eirin. "You were the one that discovered its crypt, and saw the writings."

>_

[Kasu]

> "Well the writings really only seemed to point to the Statue, but I think there may certainly be the possibility of other horrors."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Well the writings really only seemed to point to the Statue, but I think there may certainly be the possibility of other horrors."

>"There is almost certainly more than one horror," says Patchouli with a nod. "Thankfully, they tend to be unable to interact with reality as we know it, for the most part. But I daresay our artificer likely knew of others."
>"There was only one sword that we know of," Eiren adds. "I would take some solace in that."

>_

[Kasu]

> "It might be best to keep an eye out for artifacts that can summon them to our world though.  It might also be a good idea if we went through the various collections of artifacts kept in the SDM, Eientei, and Hakugyokurou."

[Hello Purvis]

> "It might be best to keep an eye out for artifacts that can summon them to our world though.  It might also be a good idea if we went through the various collections of artifacts kept in the SDM, Eientei, and Hakugyokurou."

>"I am well aware of the collection at Scarlet Devil Mansion," says Patchouli. "I can assure you we have nothing of the sort. Almost certainly..."
>Eirin nods. "I am reasonably sure we do not have any such objects. Or if we did, they've behaved very well. I daresay we could be most certain of Yuyuko; she would not allow any such things to sully Hakugyokorou's purity."
>"I do think Reisen has the right idea," says Yorihime. "I would take up the inspection myself."

>_

[Kasu]

> "It may also be best if you checked your own collection Commander."

[Hello Purvis]

> "It may also be best if you checked your own collection Commander."

>"I can assure you no such thing would be found," she says, "But I'll make arrangements nonetheless."

>_

[Serela]

>How much time do we have left till the festivities?
>"So, is there anything else that needs to be addressed at the moment?"

[Hello Purvis]

>How much time do we have left till the festivities?
>"So, is there anything else that needs to be addressed at the moment?"

>You suspect there's no more than ten or so minutes left. But at this point, you could be fashionably late to the show if you wanted and not attract too much attention.
>"I presume you aren't having any problems in the aftermath of the fight?" asks Eirin.

>_

[Kasu]

> Check self for problems.
> "I don't believe I've had any complications."