Iku Quest Otto - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

> "Oh my. May I ask why, or is it private business?"

>"She's busy, silly," says Suwako.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Nod.
> "Understood. May I also assume you are busy, given you seem to be preoccupied?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Nod.
> "Understood. May I also assume you are busy, given you seem to be preoccupied?"

>"Oh, I'm just preoccupied," she says. "So you want something, right?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Nod.
> "Yes. I wish to know exactly how a shadow works."

[Hello Purvis]

> Nod.
> "Yes. I wish to know exactly how a shadow works."

>"Any kid can tell you that," she says, as she reaches out and taps the puddle, causing it to ripple. "You shine a light on something, and you get a shadow."

[Kilgamayan]

> "Sorry, I mean in the spiritual sense."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Sorry, I mean in the spiritual sense."

>"The same way, just about," says Suwako as she observes the ripples. "It's connected to you, obviously. Just like your name or your voice."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "But it appears to be more than just a name or a voice. From what I experienced yesterday, a shadow appears to be an essence of being. Almost like a soul, except that unliving, inanimate objects can also cast them."

[Hello Purvis]

> "But it appears to be more than just a name or a voice. From what I experienced yesterday, a shadow appears to be an essence of being. Almost like a soul, except that unliving, inanimate objects can also cast them."

>"Just like a name or a voice," says Suwako. "It's not a soul, but it connects to it like everything else. Even ghosts kinda have shadows, you know? Not very strong ones, because all the matter is gone. But close enough."

[Kilgamayan]

> "Hmm. What could cause a shadow to not connect to its owner properly?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Hmm. What could cause a shadow to not connect to its owner properly?"

>"Magic," says Suwako. "Or getting it stuck between the wrong kind of borders and torn away. Maybe selling it. There was a sorcerer outside who did that, some centuries back. But that's just the first thing, isn't it?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Which borders would qualify as the wrong kind? Spiritual ones?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Which borders would qualify as the wrong kind? Spiritual ones?"

>"You'd have to be Yukari to understand it," says Suwako. "So whacha want to cut off people's shadows for?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I want to understand the nature of shadows as best I can, so I can restore the missing shadows of my home, as well as certain people. Such as Nitori, whom we discussed yesterday."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I want to understand the nature of shadows as best I can, so I can restore the missing shadows of my home, as well as certain people. Such as Nitori, whom we discussed yesterday."

>"That was yesterday, wasn't it?" says Suwako. "Well then. There won't be much we can do, shadows really don't fall into either of our domains. But I'll answer your questions."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Nod.
> "Thank you. I don't think there's too much more I have to ask anyway, but who knows when inspiration may strike."
> "Do you know what might cause a shadow to misbehave?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Nod.
> "Thank you. I don't think there's too much more I have to ask anyway, but who knows when inspiration may strike."
> "Do you know what might cause a shadow to misbehave?"

>"That's an interesting question," says Suwako. "Maybe if it's not where it's supposed to be?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Mmm. I could see that being the case, yes."
> "Well. There's not much more I can think of to ask about shadows off the top of my head...how much experience do you have in the area of poltergeists?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Mmm. I could see that being the case, yes."
> "Well. There's not much more I can think of to ask about shadows off the top of my head...how much experience do you have in the area of poltergeists?"

>"I know some things," says Suwako. "They're pretty useless."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Do you know what it is that sustains them? I understand the Yama once told that the Prismrivers would disappear because they were missing something, but there they are, as noisy and energetic as ever."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Do you know what it is that sustains them? I understand the Yama once told that the Prismrivers would disappear because they were missing something, but there they are, as noisy and energetic as ever."

>"You just figured it out yourself," says Suwako.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "...Being noisy and energetic is what sustains them?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "...Being noisy and energetic is what sustains them?"

>"It's their role to remind the stupidest people that there's spirits in things aren't alive," says Suwako. "That's what carries them on."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "And this holds true for any poltergeist?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "And this holds true for any poltergeist?"

>"Why wouldn't it?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Sad face.
> "I don't know. This is why I ask. I am not well-versed on this subject."
> "So does this mean that, were a poltergeist to become quiet and reclusive, they would eventually cease to be?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Sad face.
> "I don't know. This is why I ask. I am not well-versed on this subject."
> "So does this mean that, were a poltergeist to become quiet and reclusive, they would eventually cease to be?"

>"Probably," says Suwako. "Who would believe in a poltergeist that doesn't do anything?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Hmm. What if that poltergeist did things, but they did them while alone, and only a select few knew they did it? Let's take the Prismrivers, for example. Perhaps they try to stay alone all their lives, occasionally holding jam sessions, but only when they think they're alone, and no one ever actually sees them playing, they only hear the music. Would this be enough for them to sustain themselves, or would they have to go out and actively seek an audience?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Hmm. What if that poltergeist did things, but they did them while alone, and only a select few knew they did it? Let's take the Prismrivers, for example. Perhaps they try to stay alone all their lives, occasionally holding jam sessions, but only when they think they're alone, and no one ever actually sees them playing, they only hear the music. Would this be enough for them to sustain themselves, or would they have to go out and actively seek an audience?"

>"Oh, they'd have to be clever about it," says Suwako. "But it could work."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Clever how? Would the music be enough, even if no one had any idea where it had come from? If no one even knew that they, as people, existed?"