Iku Quest Sechs - A Z-Machine Adventure

[DracoOmega]

>Continue into the cavern
>If maintaining this light is taxing, take a pause and rest, intermittently

[Hello Purvis]

>Continue into the cavern
>If maintaining this light is taxing, take a pause and rest, intermittently

>You head into the cavern!
>Every few minutes you have to stop and take a rest, plunging yourself into darkness with only the sound of flowing water to keep things from being dead silent. Soon, as you pass by rivulets in the walls, even the water stops flowing and you are left completely alone in the dark. The air changes; losing its charged aspect; you had gotten so used to it that now the air just feels kind of dry and stale.
>As you continue on, having walked for some minutes down the straight tunnel, you see what appears to be an old paper on the wall.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Is there anything written on it? If so, read it.

[Hello Purvis]

>Is there anything written on it? If so, read it.

>The paper is yellowed and brittle, but you can make out writing on it.
>"Dear Shinki: I was alright with putting up with everything else, but the last winter did not stop until May! That is just too much! I quit! Please send my back pay to Higan, I will be seeking future employment there. -Sara."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Can the living seek employment with Higan?
>Continue onward

[Hello Purvis]

>Can the living seek employment with Higan?
>Continue onward

>You don't think so. But...are the Yama and the Ferrywoman not alive? Huh.
>You continue onward. Soon you see a light up ahead. You catch a second wind and your pace quickens. Soon the light expands to a gentle purplish glow; or at least it seems like a glow to you. There is a breeze, much too chilly for your sodden form, but invigorating all the same. The end is in sight, and then you step outside.
>It is night now, but looking around, you are unmistakably back in Gensokyo. Ahead; to the west if the waxing moon is any indication; you can see a small forest; and what you think might be the roof of the Hakurei Shrine peeking from it in the distance. To the North and South are more mountains. You are cold, tired, dirty, sore, and starving, but at least you're home...

>_

[DracoOmega]

>At last! Savor the moment.
>Given what we think our current location is, about how far away and in what direction would the place that we last saw the spectre be?
>Similarly, distance and direction to the Dragon Palace?

[Hello Purvis]

>At last! Savor the moment.
>Given what we think our current location is, about how far away and in what direction would the place that we last saw the spectre be?
>Similarly, distance and direction to the Dragon Palace?

>You take a deep breath, and try not to shiver.
>If that is the Hakurei Shrine, you would have had your last encounter with the Brocken Spectre to the south and west a bit.  The Dragon Palace should be to the north west. You are not sure which is closer.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Head towards the Hakurei Shrine

[Hello Purvis]

>Head towards the Hakurei Shrine

>How will you be approaching it?

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Flight is fine, if that would be more direct
>Keep an eye out for forms on the skyline, though, if we can see any

[Hello Purvis]

>Flight is fine, if that would be more direct
>Keep an eye out for forms on the skyline, though, if we can see any

>You take to the air and fly toward the Hakurei Shrine. Thankfully, the skies are clear for the time being. You hope there aren't incident solvers out this late, you could only imagine how irritable they must be.
>You approach the Hakurei Shrine from the air. There are some lights on, suggesting that someone is home. You land outside the old torii and take stock of things. You can see Reimu laying on the porch of the shrine, staring at nothing, so far as you can see. Glancing around, the place seems to have really fallen into disrepair since you last saw it a couple years ago, has she bothered with it at all? Or perhaps having a live-in oni just makes maintenance impossible?
>Reimu groans. "Hoped you'd be gone for a few days," she says, as she slowly pulls herself up.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Actually, as stupid as this may sound, when did we last encounter each other? Just this morning?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Actually, as stupid as this may sound, when did we last encounter each other? Just this morning?"

>"Yep," she says, as she stretches and starts to work some kinks out of her neck.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Well, that's something, anyway..."
>"Reimu, I've just returned from Makai. It's a very long story, but I have discovered the source of much of what's gone wrong, today. Will you listen?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Well, that's something, anyway..."
>"Reimu, I've just returned from Makai. It's a very long story, but I have discovered the source of much of what's gone wrong, today. Will you listen?"

>"Short white-haired poltergeist stealing shadows?" she asks. "Yeah, Tenshi told me all about that a while ago. So I'll ask what she couldn't answer. How's that anything but a cover for what you and Eientei are up to?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> There are lights, huh? Is Reimu casting a proper shadow?
> Take out the picture of the tied-up poltergeist and show it to Reimu.
> Take out the pictures of the shadowless tree and shot them to Reimu.

[Hello Purvis]

> There are lights, huh? Is Reimu casting a proper shadow?
> Take out the picture of the tied-up poltergeist and show it to Reimu.
> Take out the pictures of the shadowless tree and shot them to Reimu.

>As far as you can tell, she does. It's a bit dark out.
>You produce the pictures. She looks at the picture of the shadowless tree. "Yeah, she said something about this. Couldn't find the thing again, though."
>She then looks at the other picture. "Fancy coat. But that's not really answering anything I'm asking."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"So, you don't believe us when we say that this poltergeist is actually the one responsible for stealing the shadows?"

[Kilgamayan]

> Sigh.
> "Well, we can go find Nitori and Kogasa if you like, since they were also victimized. But if you really believe me to be responsible for all this, I would be glad to hear why you think I would show up on your doorstep, of all places, at this time of day in this condition after what you and Marisa did to me this morning."

[Hello Purvis]

>"So, you don't believe us when we say that this poltergeist is actually the one responsible for stealing the shadows?"

>"What I believe is what Marisa, and later Eirin told me," says Reimu. "And I'm waiting for you to give me a good reason to think otherwise."

> Sigh.
> "Well, we can go find Nitori and Kogasa if you like, since they were also victimized. But if you really believe me to be responsible for all this, I would be glad to hear why you think I would show up on your doorstep, of all places, at this time of day in this condition after what you and Marisa did to me this morning."

>"What's this about Nitori?" asks Reimu. "Tenshi told me about Kogasa, though. I'm not saying they don't have problems. I'm saying it's just as likely you did it as anyone else; more likely in fact. As for why you're here, who knows? I've found forethought and incidents don't go hand in hand. So, let's hear it."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Why would I wish to harm them? I risked my own life to try and save them! I fought my way back out of Makai after she cast me down, so that I could pick up where I left off, without food or rest, because I cannot let them remain as they are! I have sworn utterly to set things right."
>"I came here because I felt you should know what had happened; I thought Tenshi had been trapped as I was. I did not expect her to have spoken with you. Also, I didn't know what had happened in my absence, or what further damage the spectre may have wrought. I thought you might."
>"Also, I was hoping to find Suika. She is the only person I know of who has spent time with the spectre in relative peace. I'd like to speak with her."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Why would I wish to harm them? I risked my own life to try and save them! I fought my way back out of Makai after she cast me down, so that I could pick up where I left off, without food or rest, because I cannot let them remain as they are! I have sworn utterly to set things right."
>"I came here because I felt you should know what had happened; I thought Tenshi had been trapped as I was. I did not expect her to have spoken with you. Also, I didn't know what had happened in my absence, or what further damage the spectre may have wrought. I thought you might."
>"Also, I was hoping to find Suika. She is the only person I know of who has spent time with the spectre in relative peace. I'd like to speak with her."

>"Yeah, and that's your word," says Reimu as she interlaces her fingers and stretches her arms in front of her, "Which is nice and all, but it kind of doesn't answer much. And don't even start on how bad your day's been, I've had to deal with you, Remilia, Kanako, and Eirin today, as well as practically every faerie there is around here."
>She nods. "Yeah, I'll keep an eye out for this poltergeist. If it makes you feel better, I've not heard anything else about it, which I guess is a good sign."
>Reimu frowns. "Well that's a first, most people looking for Suika also have a bill or something. She's up on her little island, making the tengu flip out. Refuses to leave it at all. She's kinda in a bad mood about it."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Wait, Remilia? Why?"

[DracoOmega]

>"Well, at least Suika seems to be ok, then. Given what's happened to nearly everyone else who encountered this poltergeist, I wondered if she might have lost her shadow as well."
>"Actually, what did Tenshi tell you about what happened the last we were together? I... didn't expect her to come out ok from it, to be perfectly honest."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Wait, Remilia? Why?"

>"Okay, it was more like dealing with Sakuya," says Reimu, frowning. "But I talked with Remilia and that's already enough to ruin a day. And because I saw that stupid flag they put up on that mountain and figured I should investigate."

>"Well, at least Suika seems to be ok, then. Given what's happened to nearly everyone else who encountered this poltergeist, I wondered if she might have lost her shadow as well."
>"Actually, what did Tenshi tell you about what happened the last we were together? I... didn't expect her to come out ok from it, to be perfectly honest."

>"Don't know if she still has it or not, but she was acting more or less normal," says Reimu.
>"Said that you captured that Poltergeist, then got in an argument; then she sucked you into her shadow. Tenshi ran for it, which kinda tells you just how scared she was." She shrugs. "I found her in the middle of the fields south of town, she was panicking pretty badly. We looked around the Forest of Magic a bit, but no luck. After that, I decided I really needed some rest and came home to find someone stole my bed. Then you showed up."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Someone... stole your bed?"
>"Do you know where Tenshi went afterwards, anyway?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Someone... stole your bed?"
>"Do you know where Tenshi went afterwards, anyway?"

>"Someone stole my bed," she says. "Suika's too. Don't even talk to me about a bad day."
>"She said she was going to try to get more help. No idea where she went after that."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Wow, those fairies are pretty damn daring.
> "Well, Sakuya's as good as Remilia, I guess. My issue is with that house in general, sans Patchouli. They seem to have claimed one of Bhava-Agra's islands as their own and have enslaved many of my people to work in their mansion. It's on my list of things to take care of, but given the immediate threat, I've had to put it on the back burner. Possibly for a few days."

[DracoOmega]

>"I'm glad to hear she's alright... I need to find her and let her know I'm ok. Well, perhaps not 'ok', but still in one piece."
>"A word of caution: whatever the poltergeist did to me, she did without warning or motion, while bound. I'm not sure there's a defense against it. She said she planned to make everyone disappear. I expect she is fully capable following up on that threat. No matter how defenseless she might seem, you cannot underestimate her for a moment. Not even you."