Iku Quest - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Pesco]

How about a scarf grab at her neck? I'm off after this, all yours.

I was mostly going by DotS playstyle logic :3. Iku opens with her drill and then uses a 3/4 sec disable lock to kill. Tenshi will always win out if the fight drags any longer.

[DracoOmega]

Neck is an even narrower profile than the arms. As satisfying as it might be, nonetheless...

>Aim a scarf grab towards her arms
>If we land it (or at least make contact) shock her through it
>Try to make sure she can't maneuver her hands too close to the sword
>Try to interpose ourselves between her and the sword

[Fightest]

> Really? Just scarfgrab her legs. Yank her out of the air, and possibly get a comedy pratfall out of it.

[DracoOmega]

She's virtually on top of the sword at the moment, and her momentum is carrying her towards it. If we bind her legs and she falls, she'll almost certainly fall within arms' reach of it.

[Hello Purvis]

>Aim a scarf grab towards her arms
>If we land it (or at least make contact) shock her through it
>Try to make sure she can't maneuver her hands too close to the sword
>Try to interpose ourselves between her and the sword

>You lash out at her outreaching arms!
>The shawl connects but not well enough to entwine her. You send some electricity through it. Tenshi cries out and jerks violently. Her hand smacks into the sword, sending it clattering to the ground behind the dais.
>"S-stop hurting me, damn it!" she cries.

> Really? Just scarfgrab her legs. Yank her out of the air, and possibly get a comedy pratfall out of it.

>Wouldn't have made any difference in this position. But it might be a good idea for later.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"I'll stop once you desist in this."
>Quickly try to put ourself between her and the sword
>Be ready to lash and try to grab her again if she tries to duck around us
>Is the sword attuned to Tenshi's bloodline in any way? What would happen if we picked it up?

[Hello Purvis]

>"I'll stop once you desist in this."
>Quickly try to put ourself between her and the sword
>Be ready to lash and try to grab her again if she tries to duck around us
>Is the sword attuned to Tenshi's bloodline in any way? What would happen if we picked it up?

>"I didn't even do anything to you!" she cries, as she dives for the weapon.
>There is a dais between yourself and the sword.
>It is attuned to her bloodline, but it shouldn't be harmful for you to hold it. If you tried to use it it may be a problem.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"It's my duty to keep you from doing things like this. You're fully aware of that."
>Try a scarf grab on Tenshi again
>Don't shock her immediately if we actually get a hold of her and she's not in arms' reach of the sword
>If we don't get a solid purchase, but only a little contact, shock again
>Try to pick up the sword ourself if we can maneuver over that way.

[Hello Purvis]

>"It's my duty to keep you from doing things like this. You're fully aware of that."
>Try a scarf grab on Tenshi again
>Don't shock her immediately if we actually get a hold of her and she's not in arms' reach of the sword
>If we don't get a solid purchase, but only a little contact, shock again
>Try to pick up the sword ourself if we can maneuver over that way.

>She doesn't reply, being too busy diving for the weapon.
>You lash out at her, but due to her moving away, you do not get solid purchase, and only graze her hip a little bit. You content yourself with electrocuting her again.
>As she was closer and you were busy attacking her, beating her to the sword is out of the question. Perhaps when it was still on the dais...
>Tenshi practically lands on the weapon, which is sheathed, and rolls into the wall, clutching it protectively.  She glares at you as she takes it properly in hand, and starts to stand. "You'd be almost pleasant, you know, if you weren't such a giant hypocrite!"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Do we estimate our ability to stop her now that she actually has the sword at practically nil?
>"And in what way am I a hypocrite? I do my best to uphold my role in the order we have here. And I would be far happier if you did, as well. I gave you plenty of opportunities to desist, but I cannot in good conscious let you take that."

[Hello Purvis]

>Do we estimate our ability to stop her now that she actually has the sword at practically nil?
>"And in what way am I a hypocrite? I do my best to uphold my role in the order we have here. And I would be far happier if you did, as well. I gave you plenty of opportunities to desist, but I cannot in good conscious let you take that."

>You could take her, but it's going to be a lot more even now.
>"Oh you're trying to take back something that yours anyways," she says in a mocking approximation of your voice "So I'll hurt you a bunch of times and it's totally okay and not going overboard or anything like that and I'll even shoot first too!"
>She gets back up to her feet.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"And would you have stopped if I hadn't fired at you?"
>"I'll note that, before I fired, I asked you to stop and you refused. I asked, despite having already seen you incapacitate another celestial outside here. Did you have any qualms with firing upon her? She was simply working here, was she not?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"And would you have stopped if I hadn't fired at you?"
>"I'll note that, before I fired, I asked you to stop and you refused. I asked, despite having already seen you incapacitate another celestial outside here. Did you have any qualms with firing upon her? She was simply working here, was she not?"

>"Only because she caught me," says Tenshi, watching to carefully. "And oh look, you didn't stop me either, so I guess you just went around hurting people for nothing. Not that you care."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"So, you attacked her simply because she saw you about to do something that you aren't supposed to be doing? Her only action was to be observant while doing her job, and for this she is now unconscious? You think that is a proper way to conduct yourself?"
>"And you are correct. I failed to stop you. But no matter what you think, I did not hurt you out of indifference or a disregard for your well-being. I would have much preferred if it had not seemed necessary in order to prevent you from reaching this. Do not forget that you will likely suffer far greater trouble than what I provided should you cause problems with that. I would have let the matter slide if you had relented."
>Probably.

[Fightest]

>"Only because she caught me," says Tenshi, watching to carefully. "And oh look, you didn't stop me either, so I guess you just went around hurting people for nothing. Not that you care."

>_

>"So, you attacked her simply because she saw you about to do something that you aren't supposed to be doing? Her only action was to be observant while doing her job, and for this she is now unconscious? You think that is a proper way to conduct yourself?"
>"And you are correct. I failed to stop you. But no matter what you think, I did not hurt you out of indifference or a disregard for your well-being. I would have much preferred if it had not seemed necessary in order to prevent you from reaching this. Do not forget that you will likely suffer far greater trouble than what I provided should you cause problems with that. I would have let the matter slide if you had relented."
>Probably.

> All right, let's all calm the hell down. Withdraw scarf, ground any lightning we had going.
> "Eldest Daughter, please, let's calm down and talk about this. I admit, I reacted harshly, and I apologize. Now come, tell me - why do you want the sword so badly?"

[DracoOmega]

I'm pretty sure there's no lightning going on, and we're not grappling her. What was uncalm about what I said? There wasn't even anything particularly threatening or aggressive in it.

[Fightest]

I'm pretty sure there's no lightning going on, and we're not grappling her. What was uncalm about what I said? There wasn't even anything particularly threatening or aggressive in it.

You're trying to reason from a moral high ground. Ain't going to work on a tantrum. We have to even the field - if she sees herself as an equal, she's more likely to be reasonable.

Also I didn't see any commands to disengage the scarf, but I could have missed that.

[DracoOmega]

We flicked the scarf at her, and only brushed her. Then she moved away. We never landed a proper grab on either attempt.

Also, I realize it's probably not going to work on her, but I guess I feel from Iku's position, that's what she should be doing anyway, regardless of whether Tenshi cares. It seems a responsibility. She's simply pointing out the likely consequences of her actions.

[Kilgamayan]

The joys of parenthood.

[Hello Purvis]

>"So, you attacked her simply because she saw you about to do something that you aren't supposed to be doing? Her only action was to be observant while doing her job, and for this she is now unconscious? You think that is a proper way to conduct yourself?"
>"And you are correct. I failed to stop you. But no matter what you think, I did not hurt you out of indifference or a disregard for your well-being. I would have much preferred if it had not seemed necessary in order to prevent you from reaching this. Do not forget that you will likely suffer far greater trouble than what I provided should you cause problems with that. I would have let the matter slide if you had relented."
>Probably.

> All right, let's all calm the hell down. Withdraw scarf, ground any lightning we had going.
> "Eldest Daughter, please, let's calm down and talk about this. I admit, I reacted harshly, and I apologize. Now come, tell me - why do you want the sword so badly?"

>You take a more relaxed pose, hoping to dispel hostilities a bit. Tenshi does not, but she also doesn't lash out at you. That's probably a good sign.
>"That and she was gonna rat me out. And who cares about the judges or whatever, they all hate me anyways, I'm just doing them a favor by not making them have to hunt up an excuse to do whatever they please anyways, so they should be thanking me."
>You apologize. "...Wait, really?" she says, frowning a bit. "You mean that?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Can she honestly think the judges only complain about her behavior because they have it out for her...?
>"I'm sorry you think I enjoy watching you suffer. I don't. But I have bad memories about what happened the last time you took up that sword in earnest."

[Fightest]

Also, I realize it's probably not going to work on her, but I guess I feel from Iku's position, that's what she should be doing anyway, regardless of whether Tenshi cares. It seems a responsibility. She's simply pointing out the likely consequences of her actions.

Well, that's the point. This approach doesn't really help anyone, and only serves to make the speaker feel good about themselves at the expense of the person being chastised. It will most likely not turn Tenshi to the right path.

>You apologize. "...Wait, really?" she says, frowning a bit. "You mean that?"

>_

> "Of course I do. I would be a terrible guardian if I didn't realise my own mistakes. Now come on, please, tell me why you want the sword. I'm sure you have a good reason."

[DracoOmega]

Frankly, I have to say that it really irks me to say that trying to stop her is a mistake, and to claim that we think she probably has a good reason to want the sword, when she almost certainly does not. And if she did, she had plenty of chance to say so.

[Hello Purvis]

>Can she honestly think the judges only complain about her behavior because they have it out for her...?
>"I'm sorry you think I enjoy watching you suffer. I don't. But I have bad memories about what happened the last time you took up that sword in earnest."

>Apparently she does.
>"Well you sure acted like it," she says, frowning. "But okay, and no, I'm not gonna do that again! I have a better idea this time."

> "Of course I do. I would be a terrible guardian if I didn't realise my own mistakes. Now come on, please, tell me why you want the sword. I'm sure you have a good reason."

>"Okay, I believe you..." she says. "And it's a surprise, but let's just say I'm gonna remind everyone here that they aren't nearly as great as they think they are..."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

Frankly, I have to say that it really irks me to say that trying to stop her is a mistake, and to claim that we think she probably has a good reason to want the sword, when she almost certainly does not. And if she did, she had plenty of chance to say so.

The joys of parenthood.

Alternatively, you catch more flies with honey than vinegar.

Alternatively alternatively, look at how well Yorihime, Kanako, Suwako, Koishi and Alice responded to being called out from a moral high ground standpoint. Do you want to win a moral victory, or do you want to calm Tenshi down and more easily prevent whatever disaster she has planned?

Also, just as a side note, remember that we have a powerful conversational tool in switching up between "Eldest Daughter" and "Tenshi" to denote mood.

[Fightest]

Frankly, I have to say that it really irks me to say that trying to stop her is a mistake, and to claim that we think she probably has a good reason to want the sword, when she almost certainly does not. And if she did, she had plenty of chance to say so.

Make like the whale and Jonah and swallow that pride, otherwise we won't get anywhere with Tenshi. And no, of course we don't think she has a good reason, but it now puts the ball in her court, and gets her to open up further.

>"Okay, I believe you..." she says. "And it's a surprise, but let's just say I'm gonna remind everyone here that they aren't nearly as great as they think they are..."

>_

> Morbid fascination!
> "You really won't tell me?"
> This voice votes we join her. Not only will it be a good bonding exercise, but there will also be a high probability of shenanigans. Also dance-fighting, and we always need more of that. Sure, we might seem to be enabling her, but she'll be more responsive to influence if we're closer to her. Unless, of course, she's actually planning something genuinely destructive or hurtful.

[DracoOmega]

Just because someone doesn't listen to you doesn't mean that you should switch to being nice to them, instead, in the hopes they'll like you enough to stop what they're doing. That gives justification to actions that should have no justification. It's different than being understanding. It's enabling.

Frankly, I don't care about calming someone down if the cost is lying about our approval of their actions, plain and simple.

[Kilgamayan]

Out of curiosity, Fightest, do you teach and/or have kids?

I could be up with going along with her, depending on what it is she wants to do, though her forewarning doesn't fill me with a lot of confidence. Also do keep in mind we have our own image to maintain, to a degree. (Seriously, though, who refuses to privately fist pump at their own awesomeness?) At the very least, pissing the Dragon off is Not A Good Idea.

[Hello Purvis]

Make like the whale and Jonah and swallow that pride, otherwise we won't get anywhere with Tenshi. And no, of course we don't think she has a good reason, but it now puts the ball in her court, and gets her to open up further.

> Morbid fascination!
> "You really won't tell me?"
> This voice votes we join her. Not only will it be a good bonding exercise, but there will also be a high probability of shenanigans. Also dance-fighting, and we always need more of that. Sure, we might seem to be enabling her, but she'll be more responsive to influence if we're closer to her. Unless, of course, she's actually planning something genuinely destructive or hurtful.

>It is morbidly interesting, though you really don't think you're going to like it.
>"You wouldn't be surprised if I did," she says.
>You ...could join up with her. But chances are you'd end up into some kind of conflict further down the road. And likely get into some kind of trouble yourself in the process. On the other hand, it means you'd be there if she really is up to no good.

>_

[Fightest]

Out of curiosity, Fightest, do you teach and/or have kids?

Neither, actually. That said, dealing with adults is much the same thing :V

I could be up with going along with her, depending on what it is she wants to do, though her forewarning doesn't fill me with a lot of confidence. Also do keep in mind we have our own image to maintain, to a degree. (Seriously, though, who refuses to privately fist pump at their own awesomeness?) At the very least, pissing the Dragon off is Not A Good Idea.

Yeah - it all depends on scale. If it's the kind of thing that will genuinely disrupt the workings of the Celestial court and piss off the Dragon, then it's a Bad Plan. If, on the other hand, it just messes up everything but has the Dragon chuckling at the shenanigans on display (and we have been informed that he's got a sense of humour), then we've got a Green Light.

>It is morbidly interesting, though you really don't think you're going to like it.
>"You wouldn't be surprised if I did," she says.
>You ...could join up with her. But chances are you'd end up into some kind of conflict further down the road. And likely get into some kind of trouble yourself in the process. On the other hand, it means you'd be there if she really is up to no good.

>_

> "Can I get a hint? If it sounds fun, I could maybe join you!"
> We're going to need to start considering damage control. Can we covertly inform the Dragon or someone else high-up who is likely to be tolerant? We don't mind getting into trouble, as long as it's Community-Service sort of trouble, not Dishonorable-Discharge trouble. And we'll be getting into conflict, anyway, so might as well let it be one we can expect.