Iku Quest P?t: A Z-Machine Adventure

[Kilgamayan]

> "Wait...that's why she told me I knew too much, isn't it? I knew she existed at all. That was what was too much. People are looking for her because they think she's hiding...so she actually is hiding."
> "But...something bothers me, then. The first thing she said to me was a demand to return her book. I, uh, guess she's lost a book. How does that tie into being the Brocken Specter?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"I imagine so. But... the fourth Prismriver is long gone, and yet they remain. Can belief persist in the world outside of those who first created her?"

>"They remain for awhile, at least," says Yukari. "Have they found a way to continue on properly? Well...that's a good question. I wonder if they would even know that? Or were properly aware of it to begin with?"

> "Wait...that's why she told me I knew too much, isn't it? I knew she existed at all. That was what was too much. People are looking for her because they think she's hiding...so she actually is hiding."
> "But...something bothers me, then. The first thing she said to me was a demand to return her book. I, uh, guess she's lost a book. How does that tie into being the Brocken Specter?"

>"It sounds reasonable, doesn't it? As for a book, well...I'm hardly an expert on the Brocken Spectre, but I've certainly not heard anything from Chen connecting it to a book."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Renko may be the best one to ask. I was heading that way next, in any case, to meet up with Tenshi again."
>"I... find myself feeling sorry for her, now. I would never have thought that possible a few minutes ago. What a horrible existence to have thrust upon her from outside. To live such a paranoid, hateful life because of what others believed you were. Surely there must be some way to amend this."

[Kilgamayan]

When the cat's away, the mice will play.

Just a quick FEI:

[23:01:47] <Reisen-Udongein-Inaba> Oh hey
[23:01:49] <Reisen-Udongein-Inaba> >"As for why I've been looking for you, well... I'm searching for the answer to a mystery. I'd hoped there might be a chance you knew something."
[23:01:50] <Reisen-Udongein-Inaba> Good job, you.
[23:01:59] <Reisen-Udongein-Inaba> That was what set her off.
[23:02:15] <Reisen-Udongein-Inaba> THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT
[23:02:16] <Reisen-Udongein-Inaba> >:|
[23:02:18] <DracoOmega> Haha
[23:02:30] <DracoOmega> Because I was searching for the answer to a mystery?
[23:02:38] <Reisen-Udongein-Inaba> It's why you were looking for her.

So blame Draco for that near-death experience, not me. :unsmith:

[Hello Purvis]

>"Renko may be the best one to ask. I was heading that way next, in any case, to meet up with Tenshi again."
>"I... find myself feeling sorry for her, now. I would never have thought that possible a few minutes ago. What a horrible existence to have thrust upon her from outside. To live such a paranoid, hateful life because of what others believed you were. Surely there must be some way to amend this."

>"That might not be a bad idea," says Yukari, "Though I would not be so hesitant to rule out that she might well have been acting on her own. Certainly the Prismrivers have had no qualms with doing so."
>"It is a little tragic, isn't it? I do hope you minded your manners before things came to a head."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I would like to think I did. Today has made a habit of telling me I'm wrong, but I don't see how I was anything but polite at worst before she started firing at me."
> "Something new troubles me, though...if part of the reason for her aggression and paranoia is because people believe her to be hiding herself at all costs, is it really a good idea to keep people in the dark? I will honor your request to not tell Chen, but...perhaps different rumors can be spread about her, at least, in the hopes of helping her unfortunately paranoid personality? I do feel sorry for her, but if she wakes up again and continues to have no qualms silencing people by sucking their shadows away, she will still need to be forcefully detained, for the sake of everyone else."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I would like to think I did. Today has made a habit of telling me I'm wrong, but I don't see how I was anything but polite at worst before she started firing at me."
> "Something new troubles me, though...if part of the reason for her aggression and paranoia is because people believe her to be hiding herself at all costs, is it really a good idea to keep people in the dark? I will honor your request to not tell Chen, but...perhaps different rumors can be spread about her, at least, in the hopes of helping her unfortunately paranoid personality? I do feel sorry for her, but if she wakes up again and continues to have no qualms silencing people by sucking their shadows away, she will still need to be forcefully detained, for the sake of everyone else."

>"I am sure that you did, then," says Yukari. "As for trying to do something like changing her, I would think it is too late for that. She's already here."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Hmm, true. I guess the best thing to do, then, is to find out why she's so paranoid and does not want to be found. Obviously she was made to be that way, but now that she's here, she must have a more tangible reason than 'because the believers thought so'. If we can dissolve that reason, perhaps we can dissolve her paranoia entirely. And finding her book wouldn't be a bad idea either."
> "May I ask where Chen is? I think it may be easier on all parties involved if I avoid her entirely, as there are some people that I do wish to tell about this discovery."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Hmm, true. I guess the best thing to do, then, is to find out why she's so paranoid and does not want to be found. Obviously she was made to be that way, but now that she's here, she must have a more tangible reason than 'because the believers thought so'. If we can dissolve that reason, perhaps we can dissolve her paranoia entirely. And finding her book wouldn't be a bad idea either."
> "May I ask where Chen is? I think it may be easier on all parties involved if I avoid her entirely, as there are some people that I do wish to tell about this discovery."

>Yukari nods. "I agree, though I do wonder if letting such a person have a book would be a good idea if she wanted it so badly. Time will tell, I expect."
>"Chen, I believe, is playing with her friends in town. She should be back for dinner in an hour or two."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I have actually been told stories about her reading a book. They come from fairies, which means one must take them for what they are, but still, there they are. She was docile while reading, but who knows if she knew she was being watched."
> "I suppose we will only know when we see how she acts when she wakes up. As much as this giant shadow following us still bothers me - I don't know what she was planning with it or what it even is. It may be a Bhavagran shadow, but what that implies, or how she is maintaining it despite being unconscious, I do not know."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I have actually been told stories about her reading a book. They come from fairies, which means one must take them for what they are, but still, there they are. She was docile while reading, but who knows if she knew she was being watched."
> "I suppose we will only know when we see how she acts when she wakes up. As much as this giant shadow following us still bothers me - I don't know what she was planning with it or what it even is. It may be a Bhavagran shadow, but what that implies, or how she is maintaining it despite being unconscious, I do not know."

>"It does raise a question," says Yukari, "What do you plan to do with her?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Right now? I plan to get a decent-sized group of interested individuals together and have them on-hand as backup in case something goes unpredictably wrong. I still don't feel entirely safe. Thankfully, given some of the people she's shadow-sucked, I know a few individuals that would be interested in helping keeping her in line, individuals I certainly wouldn't want to cross. But I'm really hoping we can talk things out and get her to calm down. Whatever the circumstances surrounding her creation, she's a person now, just like anyone else, and GIVEN the circumstances surrounding her creation, I want to see her succeed as a person here in Gensokyo."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Right now? I plan to get a decent-sized group of interested individuals together and have them on-hand as backup in case something goes unpredictably wrong. I still don't feel entirely safe. Thankfully, given some of the people she's shadow-sucked, I know a few individuals that would be interested in helping keeping her in line, individuals I certainly wouldn't want to cross. But I'm really hoping we can talk things out and get her to calm down. Whatever the circumstances surrounding her creation, she's a person now, just like anyone else, and GIVEN the circumstances surrounding her creation, I want to see her succeed as a person here in Gensokyo."

>She nods. "That's one way to do it. Though awakening to face a mob is hardly the best of new beginnings, I think you'll agree."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "This is true. I think I may be able to set things up so she only awakes to a few people, with more on-hand nearby, but not readily visible."
> "Anyway, given all the appointments I have made today, I think I had better get going, especially if I wish to begin rehabilitating this girl. Is there any more you wish to know or impart?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "This is true. I think I may be able to set things up so she only awakes to a few people, with more on-hand nearby, but not readily visible."
> "Anyway, given all the appointments I have made today, I think I had better get going, especially if I wish to begin rehabilitating this girl. Is there any more you wish to know or impart?"

>"Perhaps," says Yukari, "But I want to know if I can give you my faith, first. Can I place my utmost faith in you, Messenger?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Does Yukari have a fancy title, like we do, or the Dragon does?

[Hello Purvis]

> Does Yukari have a fancy title, like we do, or the Dragon does?

>Not that you know of, unless Gap Hag counts.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> ...Who calls her that?
> ...Wait, no, it's Tenshi, isn't it?
> "As long as you do not ask me to act directly against Bhava-Agra or any of its people, then I will do the very best I can to substantiate any faith you place in me, Lady Yakumo. It is the least I can do for your assistance today."

[Hello Purvis]

> ...Who calls her that?
> ...Wait, no, it's Tenshi, isn't it?
> "As long as you do not ask me to act directly against Bhava-Agra or any of its people, then I will do the very best I can to substantiate any faith you place in me, Lady Yakumo. It is the least I can do for your assistance today."

>Tenshi has, yes. You suspect it's a common-eque behind her back nickname.
>Yukari stands. Although she is a bit shorter than you, the gravitas about her leaves you feeling as though she is looking down on you. "Then you will endeavor not to put yourself in a position where it will be necessary to choose. This conversation has not happened, do you understand me? What is to follow will not have happened. You will take this to your grave. You will not even tell The Dragon, and I am fully aware it likely already knows, I do not care. You will give no one cause to suspect any of this. You will not even mention it to me. Do you understand me and agree? If not, leave now."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Swallow.
> "Just...just to be clear, if the Dragon directly asks me about this, I am to deny it?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Swallow.
> "Just...just to be clear, if the Dragon directly asks me about this, I am to deny it?"

>"You may say that you cannot say any more, but only to The Dragon, and only because I offer it that much respect." says Yukari. "I doubt it will corner you into breaking your word."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Understood. And one other thing, only because I want to make sure I do not accidentally fail your trust. May I claim I concluded this girl was the Brocken Specter on my own? Or is her secret the point of this request?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Understood. And one other thing, only because I want to make sure I do not accidentally fail your trust. May I claim I concluded this girl was the Brocken Specter on my own? Or is her secret the point of this request?"

>"That's fine, I don't care if people know about that much. It is what we are about to get into that never happened. I am going to give you something that I suspect will be necessary for you at some point or another. No one else will learn of its existence, let alone that you have it. Is that clear? No one. You won't even mention it to me. If you must use it, let no one else see. When the shadows are back where they go, you will return to this to me immediately, I do not even care if The Dragon demands your presence that instant. And you will make exceedingly sure no one follows you. And should the shadows be unable to be restored, you will bring it back to me immediately. When this is said and done, no other person but you and I will have a cause to suspect this ever occurred. Needless to say, you will avoid satori and other such mind readers. Do you understand?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I...yes, I will do this. Upon my return, may I assume your shikigami will let me see you if I meet with them first and tell them no more than the fact that you are expecting me?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "I...yes, I will do this. Upon my return, may I assume your shikigami will let me see you if I meet with them first and tell them no more than the fact that you are expecting me?"

>"They'll know," says Yukari. "And understand that if you fail these assurances, you will envy those that lost their shadows, and wish with all of your heart that you followed them."
>With that, she reaches into her left sleeve. You think you see the telltale purple of one of her gaps with it. She withdraws something, takes your hand with her left, and presses the object into your hand. It is...a screwdriver?
>"Place the head into the gap of any barrier and gently twist it," she says. "It will prise them apart. If needs be, you can try to force a gap, but that will cause damage to both objects. Do not use it when it is not necessary, it may cause more harm than you would anticipate."
>You obtain: Yukari's Screwdriver.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Any barrier? I...that's a very broad term. What exactly are we talking about here?"
> Gently put the poltergeist down on the ground.
> Put the screwdriver in our purse such that the lens of Aya's camera is not pointed at it. Can't be too careful.

[Hello Purvis]

> "Any barrier? I...that's a very broad term. What exactly are we talking about here?"
> Gently put the poltergeist down on the ground.
> Put the screwdriver in our purse such that the lens of Aya's camera is not pointed at it. Can't be too careful.

>"When two things meet, there is a barrier formed between the two. One begins and the other ends, yet there is a place, however infinitesimal, where there is neither." says Yukari.
>You place Yukari's Screwdriver very carefully and dropping the poltergeist on the ground.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Hmm. Even shadows, I suspect? Interesting...yes, I can certainly appreciate the gravity of this device."
> "Out of mechanical curiosity, will twisting in the reverse direction bring them back together?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Hmm. Even shadows, I suspect? Interesting...yes, I can certainly appreciate the gravity of this device."
> "Out of mechanical curiosity, will twisting in the reverse direction bring them back together?"

>"It depends on much you've separated them," says Yukari. "And, unfortunately, you don't have the years worth of time to learn the fine control needed to do this reliably in all situations. In general, if they are still connected in some way, then yes."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Understood. I'll try to put things back as I can, but I guess anything that I can't fix just won't ever be fixed, unless you happen to wander across it by chance and decide it's worth fixing."
> Bend down and brush the dirt off of the 'geist's face as best we can. Without being too rough, of course.
> Gently pick the 'geist back up.
> "Anyway, I suppose I must resume my investigation into how I can help this poor girl, as well as get all the stolen shadows back to their rightful owners. It's a shame you were away when I came by for some ideas, but such is life."