Iku Quest - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

>Move out of the way. As bad as this feels, there no point in being a human shield for something more easily dodged by the intended target. Especially if it's only stray fire coming our way in the first place.
>"Well, because there were people on that island, maybe? Did no one notice this fact?"
>"And will you stop shooting them! I'm hardly going to get them to stand down if everyone else keeps attacking them."

>You move out of the way as Tewi unleashes another volley on a group of celestials trying to get into position to deal with the insect youkai
>"Why would we know that?" asks Tewi."Anyways, given they're the aggressors, maybe you ought to talk with them first? Rather than blaming us since we're not from up above?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Sigh
>"It has nothing to do with the fact that you live down here, but the fact that these people are trying to steal things that don't belong to them. It doesn't matter whose property it is."
>"But are you saying that the celestials fired first, without trying to explain the situation?"

[Hello Purvis]

>Sigh
>"It has nothing to do with the fact that you live down here, but the fact that these people are trying to steal things that don't belong to them. It doesn't matter whose property it is."
>"But are you saying that the celestials fired first, without trying to explain the situation?"

>You sigh.
>"Yeah, pretty much," says Tewi. "Also, last time I checked, trees don't belong to anyone."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Oh, so the farmers around here don't own the food they grow, either, now? This is a cultivated orchard."

[Hello Purvis]

>Oh, so the farmers around here don't own the food they grow, either, now? This is a cultivated orchard."

>"Oh I'm sure they think they do," says Tewi. "Weren't you going to go tell them to stop shooting at us?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Make certain you stop as well."
>Fly towards the nearest group of celestials engaged in battle

[Hello Purvis]

>"Make certain you stop as well."
>Fly towards the nearest group of celestials engaged in battle

>"I told you the conditions for that," says Tewi, as you fly off.
>You circle around the bulk of the fighting, and land close to a couple of celestials taking shots at the insect youkai. One of them looks back toward you for a second, then cries, "Thank Heaven, Lady Nagae!"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"We need to stop this. The island is going to be in their space until we can return it to its proper place, and we have to be able to co-exist with the surface until then."

[Hello Purvis]

>"We need to stop this. The island is going to be in their space until we can return it to its proper place, and we have to be able to co-exist with the surface until then."

>"As you wish, Lady Nagae," says the other celestial, "But is it alright for the island to be overrun and the peaches taken?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"I'd like to think we can work out a compromise, without depleting our own food supply too significantly. At worst, we can supplement our reserves with supplies from the surface if it becomes an issue. Most of the fairies will likely depart harmlessly of their own accord once they grab a snack for themselves."

[Hello Purvis]

>"I'd like to think we can work out a compromise, without depleting our own food supply too significantly. At worst, we can supplement our reserves with supplies from the surface if it becomes an issue. Most of the fairies will likely depart harmlessly of their own accord once they grab a snack for themselves."

>They seem satisfied with this, having stopped their fire.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Is this group still being fired upon?
>If not, and the celestials are away from the island: "Return to the island for now. I'll attempt to disarm the rest of this conflict."
>If they're not being fired upon, and there is no further issue here, move on to the next group of celestials.

[E-Nazrin]

>We should speak with the insect youkai before moving on, so that she understands as well.

EDIT: Uh, Draco, you're a good guy, but there were parts of that conversation with Tewi that I did not... understand. Should I be frank?

[Hello Purvis]

>Is this group still being fired upon?
>If not, and the celestials are away from the island: "Return to the island for now. I'll attempt to disarm the rest of this conflict."
>If they're not being fired upon, and there is no further issue here, move on to the next group of celestials.

>You are on the island, and yes, they are still being fired upon somewhat, though it seems the insect youkai is turning her attention elsewhere.

>_

[DracoOmega]

EDIT: Uh, Draco, you're a good guy, but there were parts of that conversation with Tewi that I did not... understand. Should I be frank?

Didn't understand? I'm, uh, honestly not sure what you'd be referring to. But please go ahead.

[Kilgamayan]

Popping in real quick to say that no one wants to see this get chippy. There has been enough inter-user tension in the past couple of games, and I don't think anyone wants any more. Let's consider our words carefully before we say anything to each other, okay?

This isn't directed at anyone in particular; rather, it's a general advisement to all who play here.

[E-Nazrin]

I'm, uh, honestly not sure what you'd be referring to.

Yeah, I was gonna ask if you could guess at it, so I guess that's part of the issue.

... damnit, why do I always start on things right when I should be getting ready for bed and am tired enough to do so?

Yell at me in the morning. The long and short of it is, I don't understand why you used the tone of voice you did with Tewi. I'm not sure I understand what the purpose of several word and emphasis choices were.

I'm sorry for constantly being an ass about this, and I've fucked up sometimes as well, but it gets to me.

Let's consider our words carefully before we say anything to each other, okay?

I'm trying, I'm trying...

>What is the insect youkai doing now? What are the chances that she overheard our conversation?
Suggest: If she seems to be planning to continue the fight or swipe some peaches, approach her without looking too threatening and call out a polite greeting. (I can't stay for this, so I won't push that method on you guys.)

[Hello Purvis]

>What is the insect youkai doing now? What are the chances that she overheard our conversation?

>She seems to be moving on toward another group of celestials. You are fairly sure she couldn't have overheard you.

>_

[DracoOmega]

I'm afraid that's vague enough that it's essentially guesswork to figure out what you're bothered by.

I'll assume it's because I sounded somewhat annoyed with Tewi, on the whole, in asking why no one else seemed to think this was someone else's property? And in fairly bluntly asking her to stop shooting? I think, when you see someone you don't know shooting at people who are, essentially, your own subordinates while you're asking for a cease-fire, getting a bit annoyed with them continuing to so casually take potshots is pretty reasonable. The same with the issue of everyone else assuming that everything up there is theirs to take.

It never seemed to bother Tewi significantly, and I tried to make it as non-hostile as seemed reasonable. But I can't imagine Iku being totally ok with either of those things.

How do you think the situation might have been improved by acting differently? I think Tewi is relatively neutral in either case, and I'm not sure there would be anything more she'd be able to do, no matter how nice we were to her. I don't even think what I did counts as un-nice, for that matter, but I'd be curious to hear your thoughts of it. Or have I missed the mark entirely?


>Move towards the group of celestials she's approaching

[Hello Purvis]

>Move towards the group of celestials she's approaching

>You move toward the group you think she's about to open fire. This collection of five celestials, spread widely, is already under pressure from Cirno.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Move close enough that we think the whole group on both sides could hear us
>Shout: "Everyone! Please stop shooting at each other! There's been a misunderstanding!"

[Hello Purvis]

>Move close enough that we think the whole group on both sides could hear us
>Shout: "Everyone! Please stop shooting at each other! There's been a misunderstanding!"

>You move in and shout as loud as you can.
>"As you wish, Lady Nagae!" says one of the celestials.
>"Only misunderstanding is how real I am, bitches!" Cirno says. "I'll freeze youso bad you'll think you hung your laundry out in a snowstorm!"
>The celestial cease fire and take cover, Cirno seems to have no interest in letting up.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Call out to Cirno: "You can have some peaches, if that's what you care about. No need to exchange blows over it."
>If she continues to fire, or ignores us: "But if you refuse to stop, I will stop you myself."
>Give her another moment or two, but if she continues to fire, throw a bolt of danmaku lightning at her.
>If the insect youkai, or anyone else from Gensokyo, is still around, call out to them: "We mean you no harm. I'll do my best to explain once everyone stops fighting."

[Hello Purvis]

>Call out to Cirno: "You can have some peaches, if that's what you care about. No need to exchange blows over it."
>If she continues to fire, or ignores us: "But if you refuse to stop, I will stop you myself."
>Give her another moment or two, but if she continues to fire, throw a bolt of danmaku lightning at her.
>If the insect youkai, or anyone else from Gensokyo, is still around, call out to them: "We mean you no harm. I'll do my best to explain once everyone stops fighting."

>"Oh I'm gonna get all the peaches," Cirno says, "I'm unstoppable!"
>She doesn't stop, and you point out you will stop. "Is that a challenge!?" Cirno cries.
>The insect youkai approaches, but seems to be more intrigued by what's going on than interested in fighting.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"If you insist upon it."
>How many other battles still seem to be happening, elsewhere?

[Hello Purvis]

>"If you insist upon it."
>How many other battles still seem to be happening, elsewhere?

>"I'm real as they get, I'll insist upon anything! I'll insist upon everything!
>It seems the nekomata is still at it, with Rumia trying to assist from time to time.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Call out to the celestials near us, and point towards the group fighting the nekomata: "Can one of you please go tell them I asked them to stand down, and give the nekomata time to follow suit."
>Assuming an acknowledgment and departure:
>To Cirno: "Then you can have your challenge."
>If Cirno is still firing on the other celestials, throw a bolt of lightning at her. Otherwise, give her a moment to stop and engage us, and then fire said bolt of lightning.

[Hello Purvis]

>Call out to the celestials near us, and point towards the group fighting the nekomata: "Can one of you please go tell them I asked them to stand down, and give the nekomata time to follow suit."
>Assuming an acknowledgment and departure:
>To Cirno: "Then you can have your challenge."
>If Cirno is still firing on the other celestials, throw a bolt of lightning at her. Otherwise, give her a moment to stop and engage us, and then fire said bolt of lightning.

>"As you wish, Lady Nagae!" says one of the celestials.
>Cirno has stop firing, while she regards you with a cocky grin, arms crossed. "Bring it, Dance Empress, I'm Cirno, the faerie who freezes beats before they can drop!"
>Then cries out, and wavers in the air.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>What happened? We didn't actually fire yet, did we?

[Hello Purvis]

>What happened? We didn't actually fire yet, did we?

>No you didn't. You've not even taken to the air yet.
>Cirno sways in the air, then begins to spiral gently toward the ground.
>"Run!" Rumia shouts.
>Looking beyond Cirno, you see an unfortunately familiar Red and White form approaching the island at high speed. As she does, more of the attacking faeries are shot from the air by flying needles.

>_