Iku Quest Sechs - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Kilgamayan]

> "And yes, about this girl that's pretty angry about her lost book. The two people that have had their shadows drained? They're no slouches, but she got them with little effort. She even pushed me to my limit and almost got mine before I finally managed to repulse her, and that didn't stop her from coming back for a second fight, where she just up and sucked the entire me into her own shadow while she was bound hand and foot. Thankfully I apparently have beings in very high places looking out for me, so I managed to come back, but I sincerely doubt many others would be able to do the same."

[Hello Purvis]

>"She has an extreme level of attachment to it. When I bumped into her this afternoon, she was tearing the forest up looking for it. Demanded I return it to her. Didn't believe me when I told her that I knew nothing of it. She is aggressive and extremely dangerous. I nearly had my own shadow stolen, and I fully expect her to try again should she see me."
>"I admit, though I have learned where it went, I still don't even know what sort of book it is. Could you tell me?"

> "And yes, about this girl that's pretty angry about her lost book. The two people that have had their shadows drained? They're no slouches, but she got them with little effort. She even pushed me to my limit and almost got mine before I finally managed to repulse her, and that didn't stop her from coming back for a second fight, where she just up and sucked the entire me into her own shadow while she was bound hand and foot. Thankfully I apparently have beings in very high places looking out for me, so I managed to come back, but I sincerely doubt many others would be able to do the same."

>You summarize the story, with some strict interpretation of the truth thrown in.
>"That would be a shame for her," says Alice, "As it is my book to begin with, and I was rather curious about its fate. I don't expect you know how this shadow person took it?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"I... have no idea, to be honest. I know virtually nothing about it, other than her extreme desire to get it back. She wouldn't tell me anything about it when I asked, so I had no idea what kind of book it even was."
>"When did you notice it missing?"

[Kilgamayan]

> "And what color is it?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"I... have no idea, to be honest. I know virtually nothing about it, other than her extreme desire to get it back. She wouldn't tell me anything about it when I asked, so I had no idea what kind of book it even was."
>"When did you notice it missing?"

> "And what color is it?"

>"About a week ago," says Alice, reaching through the door with her left hand and making some gestures. "While I suppose I can credit her with not leaving too much a mess, she wasn't the most subtle thief. To be honest, I attributed it to an especially clever faerie."
>One of her dolls floats out, carrying a book bound in brown leather. "I expect you'll want to see it," says Alice, as the doll presents the book to you.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Thank you."
>Take the book and examine it

[Kilgamayan]

> Do we know if item duplication spells are possible?

[Hello Purvis]

>"Thank you."
>Take the book and examine it

>You take the book from the door and examine it. It's title is: "The Ways of the World."
>Looking through it, you find it lacks a table of contents or an index or things of that nature. But examining it, you see that it seems to revolve around summing up the various worlds through the lenses of the six realms of rebirth, fitting everything into those categories. It seems to be somewhat old.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Do we know if item duplication spells are possible?
> What are the six realms of rebirth?

[DracoOmega]

>Does the book say anything about Bhava-Agra? If so, what?

[Hello Purvis]

> Do we know if item duplication spells are possible?
> What are the six realms of rebirth?

>You don't know that they are possible, but you imagine so.
>It is a concept of buddhism, placing the experiences of life in six difference tiers; Hell, Preta, Animal, Human Ashura, and Deva. While these are most techinically states of being; they also correspond loosely to places as well. Bhava-Agra is most definitely a part of the Deva Realm for instance. Not everything fits into it so neatly.

>Does the book say anything about Bhava-Agra? If so, what?

>There is a section on Bhava-Agra. It is not particularly large or especially detailed, but it seems to give an good overview.

>_

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Does it state how to travel there?

[Hello Purvis]

> Does it state how to travel there?

>Not explicitly, that you can see. But it is mentioned that part of Bhava Agra floats over a particularly sacred mountain in the human realm. You suspect that one can infer from that.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Skimming through it, can we see any other bits that strike us as unusual or potentially relevant to the current situation?

>"I wonder what possessed her to steal this particular book? I suppose I didn't know quite what to expect, but whatever it was wasn't this."

[Kilgamayan]

> "When did you get this back, anyway? Just today?"

[Hello Purvis]

>Skimming through it, can we see any other bits that strike us as unusual or potentially relevant to the current situation?

>"I wonder what possessed her to steal this particular book? I suppose I didn't know quite what to expect, but whatever it was wasn't this."

>There are a few things that could be relevant. It will take a little time going through this to really be sure.
>"I have no better an idea than you do," says Alice.

> "When did you get this back, anyway? Just today?"

>"Yesterday, actually," Alice says.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Hmm. Tangentially related, but do you happen to know anything of item duplication spells?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Hmm. Tangentially related, but do you happen to know anything of item duplication spells?"

>"Just borrow it," says Alice. "It's not especially important to me, but if you can get it back in one piece, do so."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Thank you. I'll do my best."
>Stow the book

>"Also, I should show you what she looks like, so you can be warned if you see her. In case, perhaps, it occurs to her to come back here looking for 'her' book."
>Show Alice the photo of the poltergeist

[Kilgamayan]

> "It seems unlikely, but if you should see her, your best bet is to pretend you did not. If she confronts you, well, Suika is the only person we know of that has not been attacked by this girl, so if you can offer her a drink without acting like you care who she is, that should be good enough. If worst comes to worst and she tries to fight you, keep your shadow away from her. She can hurt you by physically assaulting it, and will even take it from you if she is given the chance. Her danmaku is very strong but very unrefined, and she does not fly; someone such as yourself, who can attack from multiple angles, should be able to defeat her if you keep on your toes."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Thank you. I'll do my best."
>Stow the book

>"Also, I should show you what she looks like, so you can be warned if you see her. In case, perhaps, it occurs to her to come back here looking for 'her' book."
>Show Alice the photo of the poltergeist

>You obtain: Book Entitled: The Way of the World
>You show her the photo. Alice looks at it. "You've been busy today. I suspect you had a hand in freeing Aya, then?"

> "It seems unlikely, but if you should see her, your best bet is to pretend you did not. If she confronts you, well, Suika is the only person we know of that has not been attacked by this girl, so if you can offer her a drink without acting like you care who she is, that should be good enough. If worst comes to worst and she tries to fight you, keep your shadow away from her. She can hurt you by physically assaulting it, and will even take it from you if she is given the chance. Her danmaku is very strong but very unrefined, and she does not fly; someone such as yourself, who can attack from multiple angles, should be able to defeat her if you keep on your toes."

>Alice nods. "I'll keep it in mind. I think I might have seen this person once now, a couple weeks ago, now that I think about it."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I've had a very busy day, yes. Let's just say I've been to Makai and back, and it was not the strangest place I've visited."
> "As for Aya, well, I needed info at the time. Then the bottom kinda fell out of my day and made my encounter with her rather moot."
> Smile.
> "I'm quite thankful for the camera she lent me, though. These pictures have been invaluable in informing people as to what's going on."

[DracoOmega]

>"What was she doing, when you saw her? And where was this?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "I've had a very busy day, yes. Let's just say I've been to Makai and back, and it was not the strangest place I've visited."
> "As for Aya, well, I needed info at the time. Then the bottom kinda fell out of my day and made my encounter with her rather moot."
> Smile.
> "I'm quite thankful for the camera she lent me, though. These pictures have been invaluable in informing people as to what's going on."

>"So I imagine," says Alice.

>"What was she doing, when you saw her? And where was this?"

>"It was along the way to Marisa's house," Alice says. "And, I don't quite remember what she was doing anymore. Nothing remarkable, I'm sure."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Nod.
> "All right. Thank you for your time and generosity, Alice. Stay safe, and deny my presence here tonight if you need to."
> Unless Alice makes an effort to stop us, fly back to Maribel's house.

[Hello Purvis]

> Nod.
> "All right. Thank you for your time and generosity, Alice. Stay safe, and deny my presence here tonight if you need to."
> Unless Alice makes an effort to stop us, fly back to Maribel's house.

>Alice nods. "At least it wasn't one of my better books. Good night." With that, she turns and heads back into her house.
>You return to Maribel's home, Parsee flying along side of you quietly. She constantly watches the forest below, as if she were expecting some part of it to rise up and strike her.
>Despite this, you return to Maribel's house safely.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Knock on the door
>"We're back."

[Hello Purvis]

>Knock on the door
>"We're back."

>You knock on the door, and announce your return as Renko opens it.
>"So, did it go okay?" Utsuho asks.
>"Not a peep from whoever," says Parsee.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "We have the book, and I'm pretty sure Alice will be safe. I've told her how to handle herself in the event she sees the poltergeist, and I imagine it won't matter anyway, because Alice can't really be tied to me, and she's not the unnecessarily aggressive type like Kogasa with her surprises."

[Hello Purvis]

> "We have the book, and I'm pretty sure Alice will be safe. I've told her how to handle herself in the event she sees the poltergeist, and I imagine it won't matter anyway, because Alice can't really be tied to me, and she's not the unnecessarily aggressive type like Kogasa with her surprises."

>"So, what's the book?" Renko asks.

>_