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

[Hello Purvis]

> "And how exactly do you plan on dealing with her?"

>"The same way I dealt with the others who tried to expose me," she says.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "You do realize that, as a soul, you will not have the physical body to do what you have done to the others?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "You do realize that, as a soul, you will not have the physical body to do what you have done to the others?"

>"I'll find a way," she says.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> In which direction in the Sanzu no Kawa?
> How far away is it?
> Would Komachi actually speak to us like a normal person, or will she be liable to try and cart us off, as shinigami are wont to attempt with Bhavagrans?
> "I think we have discovered the one more person you should hear from, then. I could tell you that you would have no chance of undermining the Yama, but that would only mean so much coming from me, so we will talk to someone actively involved in the cycle of death and judgement, someone who also handles souls for a living. The Yama has a direct shinigami underling that can be found here in Gensokyo, at the shores of the Sanzu no Kawa. It is her job to ferry souls across the Sanzu no Kawa to the Yama's courtroom. She would be able to explain the details of how the entire process works, as she has a direct hand in it. And before you say anything, no, you will not have to talk to her, I can do it."

[Hello Purvis]

> In which direction in the Sanzu no Kawa?
> How far away is it?
> Would Komachi actually speak to us like a normal person, or will she be liable to try and cart us off, as shinigami are wont to attempt with Bhavagrans?
> "I think we have discovered the one more person you should hear from, then. The Yama has a direct shinigami underling that can be found here in Gensokyo, at the shores of the Sanzu no Kawa. It is her job to ferry souls across the Sanzu no Kawa to the Yama's courtroom. She would be able to explain the details of how the entire process works, as she has a direct hand in it. And before you say anything, no, you will not have to talk to her, I can do it."

>It is some distance away.
>You should be able to talk to Komachi normally. The relationship between Celestials and Shinigami isn't quite as antagonistic as it seems; the former accepts it is part of the cycle, and the latter are professional about it as far as you know. Though you imagine Tenshi would probably take it personally.
>"Where is she?" asks the Poltergeist.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> In which compass direction is the Sanzu no Kawa?

[Hello Purvis]

> In which compass direction is the Sanzu no Kawa?

>Whups. North, past where the Dragon Palace, Hakugyokurou, and Prismriver manor is.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "The Sanzu no Kawa is some distance to the north. You will probably not like to hear this, but unless you are a very good long-distance runner, I expect the quickest route would be for me to fly both of us there."

[Hello Purvis]

> "The Sanzu no Kawa is some distance to the north. You will probably not like to hear this, but unless you are a very good long-distance runner, I expect the quickest route would be for me to fly both of us there."

>She frowns. "You're right. I don't like to hear that at all. I'd rather not leave my forest..."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Is there forest near the Sanzu no Kawa?
> "Well, I can tell you that she cannot leave her position to come here on a whim. She has taken time off from her job without permission in the past and was soundly chastised for it. So either you can go to her, or you can believe what I tell you about the Yama myself."

[Hello Purvis]

> Is there forest near the Sanzu no Kawa?
> "Well, I can tell you that she cannot leave her position to come here on a whim. She has taken time off from her job without permission in the past and was soundly chastised for it. So either you can go to her, or you can believe what I tell you about the Yama myself."

>Not really. At least not close enough that you could speak with Komachi and expect the poltergeist to overhear her.
>"I don't think you're lying," says the poltergeist. "If she doesn't have anything new to say, then it's not worth going there."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Are souls capable of resisting Komachi? If so, what becomes of them?
> Shrug.
> "I figured you might want to hear from someone that directly works with souls for a living, as I do not. But we do not have to go there, if you do not want to. I will ask you to consider something else, though. The Yama is in a powerful position, yes, but she was appointed there, by the larger overall bureaucracy. If a soul was capable of overthrowing her, do you think she would have been appointed to that position?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Are souls capable of resisting Komachi? If so, what becomes of them?
> Shrug.
> "I figured you might want to hear from someone that directly works with souls for a living, as I do not. But we do not have to go there, if you do not want to. I will ask you to consider something else, though. The Yama is in a powerful position, yes, but she was appointed there, by the larger overall bureaucracy. If a soul was capable of overthrowing her, do you think she would have been appointed to that position?"

>You've never heard of it happening. You suspect, anyone who would have a mind to resist probably wouldn't go to the Sanzu River to begin with.
>"I don't know," she says. "But why should adversity stop me? It didn't stop you."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Because I have been ordered by a being greater than myself to fix the problem that has befallen my home. This is the greater being you read about in your book, the one that looks upon all as it pleases. This means two things. The first, more obvious thing is that I cannot fail that greater being, as they are my direct superior, and on par with the greatest beings of the universe. The second, less obvious thing...if that greater being has ordered me to perform this task, that means it knows I am capable of succeeding. It has been a very tough road, and I will admit that there have been times that I have wanted to quit, to let someone greater than me deal with the problem. But I have a higher power backing me. The Dragon believes in me, and knows that I can accomplish what I have set out to do. It is this knowledge that keeps me going. The knowledge that The Dragon has faith in me."
> Take a gentle, non-aggressive tone.
> "Who has faith in you?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Because I have been ordered by a being greater than myself to fix the problem that has befallen my home. This is the greater being you read about in your book, the one that looks upon all as it pleases. This means two things. The first, more obvious thing is that I cannot fail that greater being, as they are my direct superior, and on par with the greatest beings of the universe. The second, less obvious thing...if that greater being has ordered me to perform this task, that means it knows I am capable of succeeding. It has been a very tough road, and I will admit that there have been times that I have wanted to quit, to let someone greater than me deal with the problem. But I have a higher power backing me. The Dragon believes in me, and knows that I can accomplish what I have set out to do. It is this knowledge that keeps me going. The knowledge that The Dragon has faith in me."
> Take a gentle, non-aggressive tone.
> "Who has faith in you?"

>"I do," she says, frowning.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Then, as much as I have not wanted to mention it again, it should be pointed out...that you couldn't even beat me."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Then, as much as I have not wanted to mention it again, it should be pointed out...that you couldn't even beat me."

>"I was going easy on you," she says. "I was trying not to push the shadows I took too hard. I just kind of made a mistake back then. It wouldn't happen twice."
>Her tone is fairly conversational, you don't think you've really irritated her or anything.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "So your danmaku technique is more refined than you've let on to anyone?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "So your danmaku technique is more refined than you've let on to anyone?"

>She shakes her head. "I'd rather not talk about it."

>_

[Suwako Moriya]

> What do souls look like when they're ready for ferrying?
> "All right, fair enough. And in fairness to you, it actually packs quite a punch. Just...well, perhaps we can file technique underneath flying on that list of things."

[Hello Purvis]

> What do souls look like when they're ready for ferrying?
> "All right, fair enough. And in fairness to you, it actually packs quite a punch. Just...well, perhaps we can file technique underneath flying on that list of things."

>They look a lot like ghosts. You are not privileged to see them as a shinigami or judge would.
>She frowns for a moment, then nods.

>_

[Suwako Moriya]

> What form do they take to our vision?
> Do we know how a shinigami or judge would see them?

[Hello Purvis]

> What form do they take to our vision?
> Do we know how a shinigami or judge would see them?

>For you, they tend to be little whitish blobs in the air, like most people. As far as you know, those who deal with directly see them more or less as they once were.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Hmm. Since you say you were holding back in our first altercation, I may have an idea to test you. But there's something else that I want to check first."
> Take out the gray box and hold it in front of us. Does it rattle when we move it?

[Hello Purvis]

> "Hmm. Since you say you were holding back in our first altercation, I may have an idea to test you. But there's something else that I want to check first."
> Take out the gray box and hold it in front of us. Does it rattle when we move it?

>"Maybe," she says. "I wasn't just holding back to be smug..."
>Take out the gray box. You are relatively certain you hear something moving around inside it a little.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Oh, I certainly understand you weren't doing it to be smug. Frankly, I'm surprised you were willing to hold back for any reason, because it meant an increased risk of loss, and you had no idea what I would do afterward if I escaped."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Oh, I certainly understand you weren't doing it to be smug. Frankly, I'm surprised you were willing to hold back for any reason, because it meant an increased risk of loss, and you had no idea what I would do afterward if I escaped."

>"I didn't think I needed to," she says, frowning, "Then it was too late to do much about it."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Shrug and give a half-smile.
> "Sorry, I guess. If I had known at the time...well, that's in the past now. Anyway. This is going to sound kind of strange, but I picked this small box up from the shopkeeper, the one with all the junk strewn about his house, near where we met earlier. I don't actually know what is in it, as part of the deal of the purchase was that the contents be kept a mystery until bought. I have to admit I'm really curious as to what's in it, and since I don't know how much longer I have, I figure now is as good a time as any. Just to warn you, I have no idea what will happen when I open this."

[Hello Purvis]

> Shrug and give a half-smile.
> "Sorry, I guess. If I had known at the time...well, that's in the past now. Anyway. This is going to sound kind of strange, but I picked this small box up from the shopkeeper, the one with all the junk strewn about his house, near where we met earlier. I don't actually know what is in it, as part of the deal of the purchase was that the contents be kept a mystery until bought. I have to admit I'm really curious as to what's in it, and since I don't know how much longer I have, I figure now is as good a time as any. Just to warn you, I have no idea what will happen when I open this."

>She nods. "Very well."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Step 3: Open the box!