Iku Quest N?nt? - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

> "I do understand that this seems inappropriate. I will do my best to tell a fuller story once our home has been restored, as you and the rest of our people deserve to hear one. For the time being, suffice it to say that the Eldest Daughter and I have gone through a good deal together, enough that I have been more lenient with her than normal, and she has caused me no problems."

>Amaya nods, but still seems a bit distraught.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> How is the fight going?
> Put our hand back on Amaya's shoulder. If it was still there to begin with, give her shoulder a gentle squeeze. Either way, give her another smile.
> "I will explain everything later, I promise. If you can, be sure to seek me out individually, and I will tell you what the current circumstances do not allow me to. Believe it or not, this is for the good of our home, in its own small way."
> Assuming Amaya does not respond with a question, turn to the fairy.
> "You seem to be enjoying this duel. Shall I show myself in, then? I do not wish to keep Patchouli waiting."

[Hello Purvis]

> How is the fight going?
> Put our hand back on Amaya's shoulder. If it was still there to begin with, give her shoulder a gentle squeeze. Either way, give her another smile.
> "I will explain everything later, I promise. If you can, be sure to seek me out individually, and I will tell you what the current circumstances do not allow me to. Believe it or not, this is for the good of our home, in its own small way."
> Assuming Amaya does not respond with a question, turn to the fairy.
> "You seem to be enjoying this duel. Shall I show myself in, then? I do not wish to keep Patchouli waiting."

>The fight has been going back and forth a bit, one or the other periodically getting in a light hit. Meiling seems to be trying to disarm Tenshi, while Tenshi tries to take advantage of her superior reach.
>You give Amaya's shoulder a squeeze. "I suppose that may be so," she says
>You then ask the faerie about showing yourself in. "Oh!" the faeries cries, "That's right! Yes! Right this way."
>The faerie then looks back and shouts, "Punch her in the tits, Meiling!" Afterward, she starts flying toward the mansion.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Does Tenshi even have a decent wait no stop that thought right now.
> "Be well, Amaya. And...please quietly root for the Eldest Daughter to come out on top."
> Follow the fairy inside and make our way to the library. Keep an eye out for Shuuei along the way. That girl is something else, sneaking in as quickly as she did...

[Hello Purvis]

> Does Tenshi even have a decent wait no stop that thought right now.
> "Be well, Amaya. And...please quietly root for the Eldest Daughter to come out on top."
> Follow the fairy inside and make our way to the library. Keep an eye out for Shuuei along the way. That girl is something else, sneaking in as quickly as she did...

>Not real-oh okay.
>You follow the faerie inside, and proceed to the library. You see no signs of the poltergeist along the way. Entering the library, you have to pause at one point as a book flies across your patch, then find Patchouli and Petite roughly where you left them. The magician seems to have barely moved, while her familiar scribbles away at some piece of paper. Patchouli looks up at you. "So, how poorly did it go?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Pull the book out.
> "Our friend rejected the nasty outcomes presented in this book, on the grounds that they apply to humans and magicians. She herself is a poltergeist, and apparently lacks a lot of the affected things. What can you tell me about the effect of this sort of draining on a poltergeist?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Pull the book out.
> "Our friend rejected the nasty outcomes presented in this book, on the grounds that they apply to humans and magicians. She herself is a poltergeist, and apparently lacks a lot of the affected things. What can you tell me about the effect of this sort of draining on a poltergeist?"

>"Oh, she let you say something useful now," says Patchouli. She pauses for a moment, and frowns. "She wouldn't happen to favor a maid's uniform and a wide-brimmed hat, would she?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Give Patchouli a confused look.
> "Not in my experience. Is there such a person in the mansion?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Give Patchouli a confused look.
> "Not in my experience. Is there such a person in the mansion?"

>"Some time ago," says Patchouli. "She had a liking for banging pots and pans at all hours. Sakuya helpfully chased her away soon after joining us. I simply wondered, given the secrecy. Regardless, she would be in just as much danger as anyone. It will overwhelm her animating energies in good time."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Do you know how long that will take? A week, perhaps?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Do you know how long that will take? A week, perhaps?"

>She shakes her head. "It would vary based on the individual, certainly. But no more than a month, I'd estimate."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Are the effects on poltergeists documented somewhere?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Are the effects on poltergeists documented somewhere?"

>"Possibly," says Patchouli, "But I've never cared to seek them out in particular. It would take time to locate such."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Let our shoulders sag.
> "Days? Weeks?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Let our shoulders sag.
> "Days? Weeks?"

>"Quite," says Patchouli. "I suspect, by the time I've found it, your poor beknighted friend wouldn't be around to read it."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Sigh.
> "Then we have a problem. Simply put, she refuses to believe what you say, because she feels she has more experience with shadows than you."

[Hello Purvis]

> Sigh.
> "Then we have a problem. Simply put, she refuses to believe what you say, because she feels she has more experience with shadows than you."

>"That's her problem," says Patchouli. "If some two bit poltergeist thinks she can match me, I wish her the best."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "No, it is my problem more than anyone's. I cannot let her die, I cannot thrash her to the point where I could find someone to remove the shadows from her forcibly, and I cannot think of anyone to whom she will listen. I am stuck in an impossible situation, and The Dragon expects me to solve it very soon."

[Hello Purvis]

> "No, it is my problem more than anyone's. I cannot let her die, I cannot thrash her to the point where I could find someone to remove the shadows from her forcibly, and I cannot think of anyone to whom she will listen. I am stuck in an impossible situation, and The Dragon expects me to solve it very soon."

>She frowns. "Petite, have a look around the mathematics section, please."
>The devil frowns in turn, hers clearly broadcasting irritation in being disturbed from her design work. Regardless, she stands and  disappears into the shelves.
>Patchouli looks at you. "Why does she want it, exactly?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Frown.
> "Uh...well..."
> Quickly scan around the area visible without turning our head too much, trying to play it off as though we're very conflicted. Softly bite on a finger to enhance the effect. Can we see the poltergeist?

[Hello Purvis]

> Frown.
> "Uh...well..."
> Quickly scan around the area visible without turning our head too much, trying to play it off as though we're very conflicted. Softly bite on a finger to enhance the effect. Can we see the poltergeist?

>You see no sign of her whatsoever.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Look back to Patchouli.
> "...The same reason all poltergeists need some sort of energy."

[Hello Purvis]

> Look back to Patchouli.
> "...The same reason all poltergeists need some sort of energy."

>She raises an eyebrow. "Are you saying to me that she is starving herself?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Look away.
> "...I'm sure you know how poltergeists work, and you've seen how little information I've been allowed to give you. I wouldn't be surprised if I've already accidentally overstepped my bounds."

[Hello Purvis]

> Look away.
> "...I'm sure you know how poltergeists work, and you've seen how little information I've been allowed to give you. I wouldn't be surprised if I've already accidentally overstepped my bounds."

>"Wonderful," she says. "And I suppose she has no interest in doing anything a poltergeist ought to be doing?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "...You've seen the situation we're in."

[Hello Purvis]

> "...You've seen the situation we're in."

>"Hmph," says Patchouli. "And has the damn fool shown any interest in...anything?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "...Not in my experience."

[Hello Purvis]

> "...Not in my experience."

>"Mmm," says Patchouli. "Then, what has she shown interest in not doing?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Showing or telling anything about herself."