Iku Quest Drei - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

>Sigh
>Look up
>Where does Reimu seem to be headed? Does she seem to have noticed us?

>You sigh and look up. There's Reimu, on the horizon and coming from the west in your general direction. You aren't sure if she's seen you, she doesn't seem to be heading in your direction, but she probably will see you if you don't get under cover.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>What sort of cover is nearby?
>How quickly do we think we could reach it?

[Hello Purvis]

>What sort of cover is nearby?
>How quickly do we think we could reach it?

>The road and the forest is just a couple yards ahead. This would leave you with foliage on both sides of the road to hide among, and trees to be under.
>Probably a few moments. Less if you hustled.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Let's pick up the pace."
>Head towards the forest road at a brisk pace, although don't look like we're openly running
>Once we're a little distance inside, glance back in Reimu's direction

[Hello Purvis]

>"Let's pick up the pace."
>Head towards the forest road at a brisk pace, although don't look like we're openly running
>Once we're a little distance inside, glance back in Reimu's direction

>"Got it," says Tenshi.
>You continue onward briskly. Tenshi starts to run, but slows to match you.
>You enter the forest. Looking toward the west, you find the tress keep you from seeing her very effectively. Likely the same applies to her. At least until she is right on top of you...

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Now let's hope she's not still on the warpath against us, after all this."
>Continue along the road
>Keep an ear out for sounds of motion or possible pursuit

[Hello Purvis]

>"Now let's hope she's not still on the warpath against us, after all this."
>Continue along the road
>Keep an ear out for sounds of motion or possible pursuit

>"Um...you sure we should be out in the open like this?" asks Tenshi, as she follows along.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Open? Aren't we under the trees at the moment?

[Hello Purvis]

>Open? Aren't we under the trees at the moment?

>Not really. You're on the road which runs between them. Looking straight up, there's quite a bit of open air. While the trees would shield you from being viewed at an angle, from above all anyone would have to do is look down.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"I'd like to think she won't attack us a second time, and would rather not look like we're doing anything suspicious. That being said, I would even more rather not be fired at again."
>Make our way into the trees by the side of the road, close enough that we can essentially follow it, but distant enough not to be obviously seen from it
>Continue to follow along the road from inside cover

[Hello Purvis]

>"I'd like to think she won't attack us a second time, and would rather not look like we're doing anything suspicious. That being said, I would even more rather not be fired at again."
>Make our way into the trees by the side of the road, close enough that we can essentially follow it, but distant enough not to be obviously seen from it
>Continue to follow along the road from inside cover

>"I'm pretty sure she'd do it just because of me," says Tenshi.
>You head into the trees, but try to keep close enough to the road that you can still move. The foliage slows you down a lot, but you still make some progress.
>After a few moments, you see her pass by behind you, but not very far behind you. There is a fairly good chance you would have been seen if you had just stayed on the road.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"That may be true, unfortunately."
>Keep moving through the woods and give Reimu some more time to get distance
>After what feels like a suitably long time, re-emerge from the wood, and continue along the road
>Do we know of anything specific in the direction she was headed?

[Hello Purvis]

>"That may be true, unfortunately."
>Keep moving through the woods and give Reimu some more time to get distance
>After what feels like a suitably long time, re-emerge from the wood, and continue along the road
>Do we know of anything specific in the direction she was headed?

>"Don't think there's any mays about it," says Tenshi.
>You keep under cover for a little longer before returning to the road. AS Reimu doesn't descend from above to strike you down, you feel moderately safe for the moment.
>She might be heading for the island that Remilia claimed. But the angle didn't seem right. Aside from that, you have no idea what might be in that direction, other than probably some faerie homes.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Continue on towards Hina's

[Blitzer]

>Observe Reimu while heading over.

[Hello Purvis]

>Observe Reimu while heading over.

>You've already lost sight of her due to the trees. You can't see through them any better than she can.

>Continue on towards Hina's

>You continue through the Forest of Magic in silence, thankfully encountering no further problems. You then make your way along toward the forests at the foot of Youkai Mountain. Along the way, you pass close to the Yakumo Household, noticing that Yukari has shifted position to keep in the sun. She doesn't seem to take any notice of you, and you do not pass by closely enough to really bother her.
>Soon you reach the autumnal forest, and follow the road through it. It doesn't take too long before the trees darken and thicken and plunges the road into shadows. Tenshi watches the forest warily, remembering last time clearly enough, but nothing seems inclined to bother you at the moment. Soon, you see the familiar form of Hina in her wide skirts up ahead.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Approach Hina
>"Good afternoon, Hina. Have you had a chance to look into what I asked you about, yet?"

[Furienify]

A friend of mine that fangirls over every Purvis Quest wants to point out that there are other forgotten curse goddesses relevant to the situation.

[Hello Purvis]

>Approach Hina
>"Good afternoon, Hina. Have you had a chance to look into what I asked you about, yet?"

>You approach Hina, she smiles as you do and nods in your direction.
>"I have," she says. "I spent a little time on the island above the human town, and I couldn't feel any instances of a curse, despite the ambient misfortune. As for the other...the same, really."

>_

[Blitzer]

A friend of mine that fangirls over every Purvis Quest wants to point out that there are other forgotten curse goddesses relevant to the situation.

There are people that fangirl over Purvis Quests?

>"Ah. That's too bad. However, did you find out anything that would have helped, curse or not?"

[Hello Purvis]

There are people that fangirl over Purvis Quests?

>"Ah. That's too bad. However, did you find out anything that would have helped, curse or not?"

>"All I can say is that it is definitely not a curse," says Hina. "I'm sorry."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Today has been a day of few answers, it seems. Thanks for looking, in any event, Hina. It is appreciated."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Today has been a day of few answers, it seems. Thanks for looking, in any event, Hina. It is appreciated."

>"I apologize," says Hina. "My knowledge of curses is quite deep, but I am afraid is isn't very broad."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"No need to apologize. I'm afraid even those with more broad knowledge seem similarly stymied. Patchouli didn't really know what to make of the effect on the island's shadows, either. At least without me providing her with more information that I do not have. I'm not really sure what to do next, to be honest."

[nolrai2]

> Remember if we have told her about Nitori yet.

[communist unity (comm-unity)]

You know, it kind of makes sense that it would be Suwako who cursed Nitori if she held a grudge over that back in Maribel Quest. Did Kanako/Suwako know if Nitori associated with Utsuho during Okuu Quest?

[DracoOmega]

You know, it kind of makes sense that it would be Suwako who cursed Nitori if she held a grudge over that back in Maribel Quest. Did Kanako/Suwako know if Nitori associated with Utsuho during Okuu Quest?

They may have known that Utsuho worked for Nitori, but Nitori wasn't complicit in anything that Utusho did during that quest, either.

As for Suwako cursing Nitori, she did say that it might be worth reminding people of her existence, but don't you think that turning her into a hollow person who needs others to care for her is a little harsh? And moreover, kind of misses the point of reminding people of her existence, if no one is associating it with her. She also did say remind them, not her. I don't think her remark was directed at Nitori, but rather the world in general, who all tend to associate Kanako as the face of the shrine's divinity.

It also seems extremely likely that if Suwako were involved in this, Kanako would know enough to at least suspect her. Sanae said Kanako had no idea why the islands fell. That being said, it certainly wouldn't be beyond Kanako to withhold information from Sanae, either, but we'd have a hard time getting a chance to ask her in person, given what happened last time we tried.

Of course, the most singular argument against Suwako having cursed her is the fact that Hina is convinced she's not cursed. That alone seems pretty decisive.

[Hello Purvis]

>"No need to apologize. I'm afraid even those with more broad knowledge seem similarly stymied. Patchouli didn't really know what to make of the effect on the island's shadows, either. At least without me providing her with more information that I do not have. I'm not really sure what to do next, to be honest."

>Hina nods. "I suppose, it's a question of who did it."

> Remember if we have told her about Nitori yet.

>You have told Hina.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Unfortunately, I can barely guess, even there. I'm not certain who would have motive, and definitely no idea who would have means."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Unfortunately, I can barely guess, even there. I'm not certain who would have motive, and definitely no idea who would have means."

HIna nods. "Nor I. This is rather out of my league entirely."

>_