Iku Quest - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

> Cry out in pain ourselves.
> Can we see anything?
> Can we see why Tenshi might have screamed? She was in our line of vision...
> If we still feel like we're falling, try to right ourselves.

>It would have taken some herculean willpower not to, honestly.
>You can, but it's...distorted?
>You see Tenshi appears to be squashed up against the ceiling. You're reasonably sure you are as well.
>You make some effort to right yourself, and find that the ceiling is in the way.

>"Te... Tenshi?!"
>Concern. Even if she's a little shit, she'd better be okay.

>You try to call out to Tenshi. Then the floor hurtles toward you and you are too busy trying to guard your face.
>Most people would hate to admit such concern. But you consider it a mark of good character. Unfortunately the floor is too busy hitting you to really reflect upon this feeling.
>Now your nearly everything hurts. But at least you managed to guard your face with your arms, and avoid breaking your nose.
>You're going to need a time out for a moment.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Get a massage from Helepolis
> Lie on the floor for however long we need before we can pick ourselves back up.
> Who the hell is playing with the gravity switch?

[E-Nazrin]

>Accept timeout. Try to keep an eye on Tenshi or anyone else caught up in this mess, or squirm towards her if we can manage it.

[Hello Purvis]

> Get a massage from Helepolis
> Lie on the floor for however long we need before we can pick ourselves back up.
> Who the hell is playing with the gravity switch?

>As you are laying on the floor and thus have limited chest access, Helepolis is not interested in massaging you right now.
>You lay on the floor for a few moments. You hear the doors open ahead.
>You don't know. But you would like to have some words with her...

>Accept timeout. Try to keep an eye on Tenshi or anyone else caught up in this mess, or squirm towards her if we can manage it.

>You look up to see her flying out the door. Huh, looks like she managed to avoid smacking into the floor.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Has that sort of thing ever happened before?
> Pick ourselves up and continue the chase.

[E-Nazrin]

>Is Tenshi capable of this sort of thing?
>If we don't know, "Eldest daughter... did you...?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Has that sort of thing ever happened before?
> Pick ourselves up and continue the chase.

>You've never had the ceiling attack you, no.
>You pick yourself up, which is a slower process than you'd like, and start to chase again. In the meantime, Tenshi gets out of sight.
>You exit the shrine. You can see Tenshi flying ahead, rounding one of the mountains that the Hinanai Shrine is nestled between.

>Is Tenshi capable of this sort of thing?
>If we don't know, "Eldest daughter... did you...?"

>If she is, she's certainly not told you or anyone else about it.
>You call out, but she doesn't seem to be listening.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Doubt it was Tenshi anyway. Why would she mash herself against the ceiling?
> Continue pursuit.
> Recall known locations in the direction Tenshi is headed.

[E-Nazrin]

>Unless this is something new that she's experimenting with and couldn't practice without the Sword... this could be troublesome.
>Spare a quick glance for the shrine caretakers, if they're still around.

[Hello Purvis]

> Doubt it was Tenshi anyway. Why would she mash herself against the ceiling?
> Continue pursuit.
> Recall known locations in the direction Tenshi is headed.

>This is an excellent point.
>You continue pursuit! Tenshi has a pretty sizable lead on you now.
>You know the edge of the island is in that direction, as are all of them...and you've somewhat lost your sense of direction.

>Unless this is something new that she's experimenting with and couldn't practice without the Sword... this could be troublesome.
>Spare a quick glance for the shrine caretakers, if they're still around.

>That is also possible, no one accuses her of having foresight.
>You look around, and see no sign of them. You probably left them behind.

>_

[E-Nazrin]

>They'll understand our haste. Hopefully.
>Continue following Eldest Daughter, if only to get an idea of what she's up to.
>How are we feeling?

[Hello Purvis]

>They'll understand our haste. Hopefully.
>Continue following Eldest Daughter, if only to get an idea of what she's up to.
>How are we feeling?

>You imagine so.
>You keep following her. The two of you round the base of the mountain, and you can see the edge of the island up ahead.
>You feel pretty lousy. It's most bruises and sore muscles, so it should take care of itself with some time. But it's not been some time.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Tenshi! Wait! It's okay! It stopped!"
> Can we fire behind us to give ourselves a speed boost?

[E-Nazrin]

>Information first. Let's do our best to pursue until she gives some tangible hint about what she's up to.
>Do we feel up to shouting, or at least speaking loudly enough to be heard by Tenshi?
>How skilled are we at stealth, if talking with her is not an option?

[Hello Purvis]

> "Tenshi! Wait! It's okay! It stopped!"
> Can we fire behind us to give ourselves a speed boost?

>You shout, but she doesn't seem interesting in obeying.
>No.

>Information first. Let's do our best to pursue until she gives some tangible hint about what she's up to.
>Do we feel up to shouting, or at least speaking loudly enough to be heard by Tenshi?
>How skilled are we at stealth, if talking with her is not an option?

>You continue to pursue. It seems all of her interests are in getting away right now. You can imagine why for a variety of reasons.
>You have been shouting, but you might feel better if you didn't.
>You are not especially skilled at stealth.

>_

[E-Nazrin]

>Surely ditching the flamenco suit will improve our stealth quotient by 300%! Strip!
>Continue following. Is there anything that would be in the direction Tenshi is heading?

[Hello Purvis]

>Surely ditching the flamenco suit will improve our stealth quotient by 300%! Strip!
>Continue following. Is there anything that would be in the direction Tenshi is heading?

>Nice job losing Tenshi while you pulled a Koakuma there, asshole.
>You continue to follow, not really having gotten your sense of direction back yet in your haste not to lose Tenshi.
>She reaches the edge and disappears over it.

>_

[E-Nazrin]

>Entering open air while dazed wouldn't be too dangerous... would it?
>Follow. Focus on tracing where she goes, if following closely would be too difficult.

[Hello Purvis]

>Entering open air while dazed wouldn't be too dangerous... would it?
>Follow. Focus on tracing where she goes, if following closely would be too difficult.

>You should be alright, as long as you don't forget to fly.
>You follow.
>As you draw closer to the edge, you notice that there are mountains and trees on the horizon, where there should be open sky.  As you reach the edge itself, you look down and see...A field of flowers? You aren't sure, it's about two to three hundred feet below.  You also aren't quite certain where Tenshi is.
>You feel a warm sensation in the heart of your being, you recognize this instantly as the presence of The Dragon reaching to you. You feel a desire that it wants to see you, a strong and very tersely expressed need for you to be in its chamber right now. If you had to put this feeling into words, it would simply be: "Iku, get in here."

>_

[E-Nazrin]

>... that's not the normal distance, is it?
>Dragon before Tenshi. Get in there.

[Pesco]

GG kids, GG.

[Hello Purvis]

>... that's not the normal distance, is it?
>Dragon before Tenshi. Get in there.

>That is nearly a couple of orders of magnitude less than the proper distance.
>The Dragon most certainly wins out. You fly back to the Dragon Palace. As you do, you see that it is now hovering over what seems to be a huge field of grass. You are reasonably sure that is the human town to the northeast of it. There's something else that bothers you, but...you aren't certain what.
>You return to the Dragon Palace, and find it looks very much like it's been hit with an earthquake. Artworks and small structures have toppled, as well as some walls. There are celestials laying on the ground everywhere, some even on the middle of the main corridor that is reserved for The Dragon, and thankfully many celestials tending to those people.

>_

[E-Nazrin]

>Approach the usual meeting location with all due dignity and respect. Panic is unbecoming. Open panic, at least.
>The Dragon wouldn't mind the other people being present, would he/she/it?

[Hello Purvis]

>Approach the usual meeting location with all due dignity and respect. Panic is unbecoming. Open panic, at least.
>The Dragon wouldn't mind the other people being present, would he/she/it?

>You fly along the main hall with proper haste, trying not to look undignified in your hurry.
>If the Dragon wants others to be there, they shall be summoned.
>You approach the white door that rests a comfortable distance from the immense jade doors of The Dragon's chamber. Despite whatever has happened, the both seem to be fine, unlike the other sets of doors that you had passed which are hanging open, if not off  their hinges. You can feel The Dragon within.

>_

[E-Nazrin]

>Burst through wall like kool-aid man, punch dragon into next week
>Enter.

[Hello Purvis]

>Burst through wall like kool-aid man, punch dragon into next week
>Enter.

>Lord English already knew this was coming, and deleted your existence. Whups
>You walk through the door, and into a vast, grassy field ringed with trees. It is immense, wider than than the island that the palace rests upon and in full bloom despite the autumn outside. You are aware of the door behind you, but you also know it is no longer there. You could step back, and only traverse this field.
>You kneel, then cross your hands over each other and kowtow. The air is empty, bearing no hint of the coiling, immense being that most people think of when they think of The Dragon. The uninformed would think you are alone here. You know better. The Dragon is not a being confined to flesh and bone. It is an existence greater than that. It is the air. It is the water and the soil. It is the flight of a lone butterfly and the lazy drift of mushroom spores caught in the wind. It is everywhere. But this place is where its will resides, where, should it choose to take a shape of flesh and bone it would manifest. But for now, it seems to be content not to bother with such things.
>You feel The Dragon is satisfied that you are here, and satisfied with your genuflection. You may sit up, and be at ease.
>It wishes to know if you are aware of what happened?

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Do we communicate with The Dragon mentally or orally?

[Hello Purvis]

> Do we communicate with The Dragon mentally or orally?

>You are certain it could read your mind if it chose to, but it vastly prefers to be spoken to.

>_

[Fightest]

>It wishes to know if you are aware of what happened?

>_

> We are well-aware of what has happened, and have a few ideas as to the why. Not the what or the how, though.

[edit: oh, right]

> "I'm well-aware of what has happened, and have a few ideas as to the why. Not the what or the how, though."

[Kilgamayan]

>You are certain it could read your mind if it chose to, but it vastly prefers to be spoken to.

Well, given this....

> We are well-aware of what has happened, and have a few ideas as to the why. Not the what or the how, though.

> Redact.

> "I am aware of what happened. My back especially."
> Wince.
> "I might have a few ideas why, too. The what or the how, though, escape me."