Iku Quest Dos - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

>"Well, then I guess she ought to be satisfied that you've solidly earned your position, for whatever that's worth."

>Sanae nods. "I like to think I did what she wanted, anyways."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"That aside, I hope your first visit to the Ancient City wasn't as bad as you'd feared? Getting challenged by a Deva is hardly a run-of-the-mill experience down here."

[Hello Purvis]

>"That aside, I hope your first visit to the Ancient City wasn't as bad as you'd feared? Getting challenged by a Deva is hardly a run-of-the-mill experience down here."

>"It was interesting," says Sanae. "Would have liked to have done something, though. That food smelled pretty wonderful."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Well, the city isn't going anywhere. How about, when all this settles down, I show you a few of the nice spots?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Well, the city isn't going anywhere. How about, when all this settles down, I show you a few of the nice spots?"

>"That could be interesting," says Sanae. "I tend to be a bit busy, but I could make some time."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Then it would be my pleasure."
>Continue onward to the surface

[Hello Purvis]

>"Then it would be my pleasure."
>Continue onward to the surface

>Sanae nods, and you think you hear Tenshi snicker under her breath.
>Soon enough, you return to the surface, with no trouble from Kisume. Thankfully, no one seems to be laying in wait to ambush you at the entrance.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Head towards the Moriya Shrine

[Hello Purvis]

>Head towards the Moriya Shrine

>You start toward Youkai mountain, taking to the air and flying further northeast. You see a few minor islands here and there, floating between the mountains. Nothing inhabited, to your knowledge. Thankfully, none seem to have actually hit anything.
>The skies are fairly clear at the moment, though in one case a group of rather agitated-seeming faeries flies past to the west, making things tense.
>Soon, you draw close to Youkai Mountain. "I better go on ahead," says Sanae, "The Tengu are pretty agitated right now, and so is Kanako-sama. It'd be better if I let them know you're coming. Just follow me up after a few minutes. It should be okay for you to look around the lower parts, though, past the waterfall."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Nod
>"Very well. I'll see you shortly, then."
>Descend to said lower parts, and scan around for any potentially unusual activity

[Hello Purvis]

>Nod
>"Very well. I'll see you shortly, then."
>Descend to said lower parts, and scan around for any potentially unusual activity

>You nod, and Sanae flies on ahead.
>Tenshi laughs. "I can't believe you did that! I think this might be the first time I've ever wanted to to back to Bhava-Agra; I can't want to tell everyone!"
>There seem to be two major areas on the lower part of Youkai mountain; the forest where the Aki Sisters and Hina dwell, whom you have a passing familiarity with, and the Kappa Village. The village seems to have a sizable new building on its northern side that you don't remember. The kappa village seems pretty busy at the moment.
>Looking further up Youkai mountain, You can see Guest Island resting on the southern side of the mountain, slightly off center.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Can't believe I did what?"
>Go have a closer look at the Kappa Village.

[Hello Purvis]

>"Can't believe I did what?"
>Go have a closer look at the Kappa Village.

>"You totally just asked out that shrine maiden back there!" says Tenshi, cackling.
>You go to have a closer look at the kappa village. There are a few things you can see of interest. One is a large warehouse, set on the southeast end of town, that is home to Nitori. There is also the large building on the North side of town, which looks rather like several barns fused together. It seems parts of it are still under construction. There's a group of kappa near the eastern part of the village, presumably spectators to whatever has occurred regarding the incident here; you notice several picnics among them. As well, there seem to be some kappa gathered at stands around the river on the south side.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Head towards the spectator group

[Kilgamayan]

> To Tenshi: "Can I not simply have been polite?"

[Hello Purvis]

>Head towards the spectator group

>Tenshi is apparently amused by your lack of response as well, as she continues to cackle as you approach the kappa gathering.
>There are a couple dozen kappa gathered here, some sitting on blankets or in the dirt, others in the cattails that dominate the water-bound village. Most are talking among themselves, and sharing various foodstuffs, periodically glancing toward the upper regions of the mountain, or pointing toward soaring tengu. Blues and greens, favored colors of the kappa, clash with the brown autumnal foliage and bare dirt.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

>Tenshi is apparently amused by your lack of response as well, as she continues to cackle as you approach the kappa gathering.

> To Tenshi: "Can I not simply have been polite?"

[DracoOmega]

>Look up at Guest Island
>What sort of activity can we see around it?
>How far off balance does it seem to be?
>Is there anything on the island other than guest quarters and such?

[Hello Purvis]

> To Tenshi: "Can I not simply have been polite?"

>"Who're you trying to fool?" Tenshi says, grinning for the first time you've seen today. "People are going to flip their lid!"

>Look up at Guest Island
>What sort of activity can we see around it?
>How far off balance does it seem to be?
>Is there anything on the island other than guest quarters and such?

>You look toward the Island. It is leaning against the mountainside, at a bit of an angle. From a distance, it seems to be in alright condition. There are some tengu flying near it, and possibly some faeries as well. You aren't too sure about balance, you suppose a strong enough force would send it sliding down the mountain, unless it's actually hovering there now, and just happens to be touching the mountainside.
>The island had a small peach grove, which Suika claimed for herself. But was largely left alone.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Balance, in the sense of how far off from perfectly horizontal does the surface of it seem to be at the moment? Would a person be able to walk normally on it?
>The Kappa around here don't seem to be especially distressed at all, do they?

[Kilgamayan]

> "Oh please. I know very well what it was I was doing."
> Pull hat down a bit by the brim and grin.
> "Could it be...you're jealous?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Oh please. I know very well what it was I was doing."
> Pull hat down a bit by the brim and grin.
> "Could it be...you're jealous?"

>"Yeah, the thing is I do too," she says.
>You pull your hat down and grin, then inquire about jealousy. "Huh? Why?

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Balance, in the sense of how far off from perfectly horizontal does the surface of it seem to be at the moment? Would a person be able to walk normally on it?
>The Kappa around here don't seem to be especially distressed at all, do they?

[Kilgamayan]

> "You think I chose her. That's why."

[WHMZakeri]

> "Could it be...you're jealous?"

Okay, Tenshi has officially upgraded from thinking bad things about us, to knowing bad things about us. We're getting an Oarfish added to Sanae's pet collection now.

[Hello Purvis]

> "You think I chose her. That's why."

>"Oh," says Tenshi. "Why would I...wait a minute, is this a set up?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Coming to such a conclusion...do you wish it was?"

[Hello Purvis]

>Balance, in the sense of how far off from perfectly horizontal does the surface of it seem to be at the moment? Would a person be able to walk normally on it?
>The Kappa around here don't seem to be especially distressed at all, do they?

>You should able to walk on it. Just be careful not to drop any coins.
>They don't.

> "Coming to such a conclusion...do you wish it was?"

>"Hey! Stop playing mind games with me!" Tenshi says, furrowing her brow.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>If there doesn't appear to be any real issue or distress to address here, and people are just enjoying the novelty of the view, head off towards Nitori's

[Kilgamayan]

> "Hahaha! Okay, okay. But that's what you get for accusing me of asking Sanae on a date."