Iku Quest Dos - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

>Do we know where Vine Way is, outside of what Nue just said? Or are there few enough streets around that we don't think we'd have problems finding it?
>"I'm not sure how profitable I can make it, I'm afraid. It is important, though. Topside's in full incident mode at the moment and Tenshi may have important information."

>You think you can find it.
>Nue frowns and shakes her head. "Well, if it's topside business, you might as well not waste your time. No one down here except Utsuho and her group care about what happens up there anymore. Well, and me. But I don't know about any Tenshi."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Well, I have to try nonetheless. At worst, I won't know any less than when I started. Thank you, Nue."
>Leave the Rose and Weasel and follow Nue's directions to Deva K's place

[Hello Purvis]

>"Well, I have to try nonetheless. At worst, I won't know any less than when I started. Thank you, Nue."
>Leave the Rose and Weasel and follow Nue's directions to Deva K's place

>"Well, you're welcome for that," says Nue. "Good luck!"
>You leave the tavern, and head southward toward the warehouse district. This part of town is less traveled than the others; it serves more as a background to the other parts of town. It makes you feel like you are up to no good just being here. There aren't many oni here, those that are have the definite aura of haulers and head bashers about them. You get the feeling that bothering them would be a very bad thing. Thankfully, your need only keep to the outskirts of it, rather than entering it proper.
>Vine Street takes a little time to find, it is practically an alley between two buildings. Walking between them, you soon find a stairway off to the side, leading under one of the buildings, a tenement that looks abandoned. A simple wrought iron railing is all that keeps someone from accidentally walking into it and falling. A thin oni with short dark hair loiters near it, she watches you idly. Obvious exits are North, South, and East.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Is this Deva K's place?"
>Assuming the affirmative: "Is she around?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Is this Deva K's place?"
>Assuming the affirmative: "Is she around?"

>"Who wants to know?" asks the thin oni, keeping an eye on you without turning her head while standing in a relaxed pose.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"I'm Iku Nagae. I'm looking for someone, and I hear Deva K's the person to talk to about information around these parts."

[Hello Purvis]

>"I'm Iku Nagae. I'm looking for someone, and I hear Deva K's the person to talk to about information around these parts."

>"And what would an Iku Nagae want with the Deva?" asks the oni.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"As I said, I'm looking for someone who recently came to the Ancient City. A blue-haired celestial. She was spotted moving east of Bridge Street not long ago."

[Hello Purvis]

>"As I said, I'm looking for someone who recently came to the Ancient City. A blue-haired celestial. She was spotted moving east of Bridge Street not long ago."

>"And why does the Deva care what you want?" the oni says, stretching.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

Suggestion: "This celestial coming underground is a result of a topside incident. I hope to retrieve her so that this incident doesn't bleed into the underground further. I understand the Deva doesn't much care for topside affairs."

[DracoOmega]

I agree with presenting that to Deva K herself, but I'm not sure it's worth trying to reason with the lackey on those terms.

>"I have no idea whether she will or not. But I imagine what interests her is her own call to make, isn't it?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"I have no idea whether she will or not. But I imagine what interests her is her own call to make, isn't it?"

>The oni shakes her head. "Wouldn't be paying me to stand here if she wanted just anyone stepping in, would she?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

Or perhaps I underestimated the degree to which she would be conscientious. I kinda pegged her for a hanger-on

>"Perhaps not. In any event, the celestial's presence here is related to a major incident that's happened on the surface. I realize that you generally don't care what happens up there, but I know for a fact that the Hakurei Shrine maiden is also looking for her, and will probably be quite willing to turn this place upside down to get her if I can't find her first. And there will be other similarly-minded people following her. I'm sure Deva K might have some interest in avoiding that."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Perhaps not. In any event, the celestial's presence here is related to a major incident that's happened on the surface. I realize that you generally don't care what happens up there, but I know for a fact that the Hakurei Shrine maiden is also looking for her, and will probably be quite willing to turn this place upside down to get her if I can't find her first. And there will be other similarly-minded people following her. I'm sure Deva K might have some interest in avoiding that."

>She listens to you, frowning. "You know," she says, "If I didn't know any better, I'd say that sounds like a coercive attempt than something that'd make the Deva interested in seeing people. Not too sure what she'd think about hearing this during her personal time."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

Had a feeling that might be the reaction. Wish I could have thought of a better way to phrase it.

> Do we still have stab wounds from Reimu's needles? If so, where are they?

[DracoOmega]

>"I say it because it's the truth. I honestly wish to avoid any major problems, but there's a lot of angry people up on the surface right now and not all of them are as inclined to be polite. I've run into the shrine maiden myself this morning already. It was a... less than pleasant meeting. Obviously it's up to the Deva whether she wants to hear this or not, but it doesn't change what's likely to happen if I can't find Tenshi before the others realize where she is."

[Hello Purvis]

> Do we still have stab wounds from Reimu's needles? If so, where are they?

>At this point, they're more like irritating abrasions you've mostly forgotten about.

>"I say it because it's the truth. I honestly wish to avoid any major problems, but there's a lot of angry people up on the surface right now and not all of them are as inclined to be polite. I've run into the shrine maiden myself this morning already. It was a... less than pleasant meeting. Obviously it's up to the Deva whether she wants to hear this or not, but it doesn't change what's likely to happen if I can't find Tenshi before the others realize where she is."

>The oni nods. "And you're gonna make it all right and proper, then?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"That is what I hope to do, yes. I have a strong motivation to resolve this as quickly and peaceably as possible."

[Hello Purvis]

>"That is what I hope to do, yes. I have a strong motivation to resolve this as quickly and peaceably as possible."

>The oni snorts. "Right, I'll tell her. But don't be half surprised if she tells you to sod off. Or figures her sword's cold and needs to be sheathed in your gullet.
>With that, the oni descends down the staircase.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>To Sanae: "Let's hope it's not the latter, at least, shall we?"

[Hello Purvis]

>To Sanae: "Let's hope it's not the latter, at least, shall we?"

>"You're on your own if it is," says Sanae, who looks a bit uncomfortable.
>The oni returns a minute later. "Head on in," she says. "Don't blow your nose on the curtains or anything."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Nod
>"Thank you."
>Head on in

[Hello Purvis]

>Nod
>"Thank you."
>Head on in

>"Don't thank me too much," says the oni. "You're muscling in on her inspiration."
>You follow the stairs downward, noting the continue down for a few yards under the building, ending at a small landing with a wooden door, carved with various horned faces featuring crescent-shaped eyes.
>Opening it, you come into an immaculate vestibule that has been carved out of the rock itself. I looks almost like being inside a stone manor, save for the lack of windows. Past the vestibule, you see a large chamber. In the middle of it is a large low table, and a dark-haired woman kneeling in front of it on a pillow, paying you no mind as she writes. She is dressed in a red kataginu with matching hakama, with gray sleeves underneath. Her long back hair is drawn back into a ponytail, while a single red horn extends from her forehead. You see a sword resting beside her on another pillow, completing the samurai image.
>"Make it fast," she says. "I'm busy."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"I'm looking for a blue-haired celestial that recently made her way into your side of the city. It's rather urgent that I find her. The person who gave me the most recent information on her location said to come speak to you."

[Hello Purvis]

>"I'm looking for a blue-haired celestial that recently made her way into your side of the city. It's rather urgent that I find her. The person who gave me the most recent information on her location said to come speak to you."

>"And why am I telling you?" she asks, as she sets a page aside, and begins on a fresh one.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"The most obvious reason that occurs to me is that if I can't find her quickly and try to resolve things peaceable, the Hakurei Shrine Maiden is likely to chase down here after her and turn the place upside down looking for her. This celestial is connected with a major incident, and there's a lot of people very worked up about what's happened. I want to settle things with the least trouble to everyone involved."

[Hello Purvis]

>"The most obvious reason that occurs to me is that if I can't find her quickly and try to resolve things peaceable, the Hakurei Shrine Maiden is likely to chase down here after her and turn the place upside down looking for her. This celestial is connected with a major incident, and there's a lot of people very worked up about what's happened. I want to settle things with the least trouble to everyone involved."

>She continues to write, slowly filling up the page. At one point, she pauses for a moment, frowns, then raises her eyebrows for a moment and continues. Sanae glances toward you.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Is helping to avoid future problems in your city not a sufficient reason?"

[Kilgamayan]

>"Is helping to avoid future problems in your city not a sufficient reason?"

> Belay.

I know what your intentions are, and I know you don't mean this as antagonistic, but she'll take it as antagonistic, and that's the only opinion that will matter if we want to keep her attention.

> "If you're worried that this is some sort of threat, I can tell you she's already stabbed me up pretty good with those needles of hers."

[Hello Purvis]

> "If you're worried that this is some sort of threat, I can tell you she's already stabbed me up pretty good with those needles of hers."

>"I hear she does that," says the oni. She pauses, not looking up at you. "What's a good adjective for fast?"

>_