Iku Quest Sechs - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Suwako Moriya]

> Is Tenshi still holding her sword?

[Suwako Moriya]

So what are we thinking here. Brocky's mad but off-balance - and it's obvious enough that she can't really cover it up with bravado later. Still, Tenshi's in a very bad spot, and that tree shadow worries me a bit (though mostly for combat reasons). Do we offer her the book back to get her off Tenshi? We could put it down and back away to show we have nothinng up our sleeve.

[DracoOmega]

I've been holding back on mentioning the book until we can at least exchange a few words first. If we offer it to her, and she accepts (under any conditions), she's under no obligation to do what she says, and we lose what may be our only bargaining chip. I can easily see her taking it, and not changing her tone towards either Iku or Tenshi. So I don't want to play it just yet. We may have a certain psychological advantage already, in that we have done what ought to be impossible, and potentially disarmed the ace that she's used to relying on when dealing with people.

I am a little concerned for Tenshi, admittedly, but I'm not sure the spectre has enough foresight to try to use her as leverage against us, and right now she seems to be mostly ignoring her. The thing is, we can get ourselves out, but not Tenshi. Maybe the spectre won't make that connection? Either way, if it looks like Tenshi is starting to get sucked in, we shoot her; no hesitation. Other acts of aggression on her part can be met with more moderate response.

Otherwise I don't suppose I have a plan, as such. Gauge her reaction, and try to move forward as seems best at the moment. I'm willing to extend at least a little faith towards her, regarding the book. I just didn't want to do it quite yet (unless you think we really should?)

[Suwako Moriya]

I can see wanting to withhold the book for that reason, yes. I don't think we have too many bargaining chips otherwise, but the psychological advantage is a good one. Talking about Suika would be a good way to keep her off-balance, because we shouldn't know that happened.

[DracoOmega]

Technically, we could know about the encounter with Suika simply by having asked Suika herself, although it was still a topic I planned to ask about at some point. Far more interesting, I think, is that we talked with Nitori. I wonder if even she realizes that's possible?

[Hello Purvis]

>"That is immaterial. Suffice it to say that your shadow cannot hold me. My presence here is proof of that."
>"As I said the last time, I just wish to speak with you. I have no desire to see you come to harm."

>"I will take your shadow and throw it to the winds," she says. "Tell me!"

> Is Tenshi still holding her sword?

>No; she has it sheathed at her side.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"And if I tell you, then what?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"And if I tell you, then what?"

>"Then I won't throw it away," she says.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Then would you keep it for yourself, instead? Or let it remain where it belongs?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Then would you keep it for yourself, instead? Or let it remain where it belongs?"

>She seems content to let her irate glare answer for her. You wonder if she's aware that Tenshi is shooting an identical look at the back of her head?

>_

[Kilgamayan]

Here, this was my idea.

---

Shrug and smile.
"It was a rhetorical question anyway."
"You see, I am in the direct employ of a greater power. In my line of work, I tend to know plenty of other greater powers, and I end up learning some secrets. I'm sure you can imagine that, if a secret comes from a greater power, that means it needs to remain a secret. And as I value my position in life, well..."
Drop the smile and put on a very serious face.
"Let's put it this way. It's not that I don't want to tell you. It's that, if I let out any of their secrets that I know, anything you could possibly do to me would be nothing in the face of what they would do to me."

[DracoOmega]

>"Very well. There is a crack, in the shadow realm you sent me to. I passed through it. I know how to find it again."

[Kilgamayan]

>"Very well. There is a crack, in the shadow realm you sent me to. I passed through it. I know how to find it again."

> Smile while saying that. Not an evil grin, more of an understanding smile.

[Hello Purvis]

>"Very well. There is a crack, in the shadow realm you sent me to. I passed through it. I know how to find it again."

> Smile while saying that. Not an evil grin, more of an understanding smile.

>Her eye twitches. "I'll deal with you in a different way, then."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Why are you so intent on harming someone who wishes no harm to you? I'd much rather we simply talk in peace. Or, I can talk and you can listen, if you'd rather."
>"My name is Iku, by the way. I'm from Bhava-Agra. I understand you visited there a few nights ago?"

[Kilgamayan]

>"My name is Iku, by the way. I'm from Bhava-Agra. I understand you visited there a few nights ago?"

> Before/while introducing ourselves, go through whatever physical motions are customary for Bhavagran introductions.

[Hello Purvis]

>"Why are you so intent on harming someone who wishes no harm to you? I'd much rather we simply talk in peace. Or, I can talk and you can listen, if you'd rather."
>"My name is Iku, by the way. I'm from Bhava-Agra. I understand you visited there a few nights ago?"

> Before/while introducing ourselves, go through whatever physical motions are customary for Bhavagran introductions.

>You fold your hands and bow slightly while introducing yourself. You tend to do this reflexively.
>"Why do you keep saying that you mean me no harm? Do you think if you say it enough, it'll change what you've done?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Smile again.
> Extend our arms out a bit to our sides, palms facing outward, as if we were preparing to receive a hug.
> "Why do you keep accusing me of lying? Do you think if you do it enough, it will change my motivations?"

[DracoOmega]

>"Obviously none of us can undo the past. We can only move forward from the present. But I speak truthfully when I say that I would rather we could get along peaceably. You obviously feel I have wronged you greatly. I am sorry for that. I can say only that I never intended to do so. Perhaps that is beside the point. Given that we can only start from the present, what can I do now to attempt to redress that? That does not involve anyone disappearing?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Smile again.
> Extend our arms out a bit to our sides, palms facing outward, as if we were preparing to receive a hug.
> "Why do you keep accusing me of lying? Do you think if you do it enough, it will change my motivations?"

>"Your actions tell a different story," says the Poltergeist.

>"Obviously none of us can undo the past. We can only move forward from the present. But I speak truthfully when I say that I would rather we could get along peaceably. You obviously feel I have wronged you greatly. I am sorry for that. I can say only that I never intended to do so. Perhaps that is beside the point. Given that we can only start from the present, what can I do now to attempt to redress that? That does not involve anyone disappearing?"

>"That is the only solution; and you are to blame for making it necessary for so many," she says.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Keep on smilin'.
> "Really? Does 'that many' include Suika Ibuki, the oni from the floating island you visited?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Keep on smilin'.
> "Really? Does 'that many' include Suika Ibuki, the oni from the floating island you visited?"

>You keep smiling and ask about Suika.
>The Poltergeist practically grits her teeth for a moment. "I haven't decided. It seems so, if the likes of you have learned about her."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"I've known Suika for years, you realize. Her island is near to where I live."

[Kilgamayan]

> Can we tell how Tenshi is faring?

[Hello Purvis]

>"I've known Suika for years, you realize. Her island is near to where I live."

>"Then you should have left her alone," says the poltergeist. "You should have left everyone alone. But no, you had to expose me and tell everyone you could, didn't you?"

> Can we tell how Tenshi is faring?

>She doesn't seem to be hurt, but she most definitely seems to be furious.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"When Nitori encountered you, she had no idea who you were. She knew no secrets of yours. She didn't know there were even secrets to know. She was just out for a walk by her own home. But you still attacked her and tore her shadow away. If that is any example, not knowing of you does not seem to leave a person safe, either."

[Hello Purvis]

>"When Nitori encountered you, she had no idea who you were. She knew no secrets of yours. She didn't know there were even secrets to know. She was just out for a walk by her own home. But you still attacked her and tore her shadow away. If that is any example, not knowing of you does not seem to leave a person safe, either."

>"What?" she says.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "It is true. The same can be said of Kogasa, the teal-haired karakasa you encountered whose shadow you used in our first meeting. She did not know who you were, nor anything about you. She was only interested in surprising the next person she met, because that's what she does. She does it to everyone. In fact, she had just surprised the two of us not long before you encountered her, and before I had any idea who you were."

[Hello Purvis]

> "It is true. The same can be said of Kogasa, the teal-haired karakasa you encountered whose shadow you used in our first meeting. She did not know who you were, nor anything about you. She was only interested in surprising the next person she met, because that's what she tries to do. She does it to everyone. In fact, she had just surprised the two of us not long before you encountered her, and before I had any idea who you were."

>"What are you even talking about?" says the Poltergeist.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Drop the smile.
> "...Do you not remember encountering these people?"
> Is the poltergeist's shadow still the same shape it was before?