Nue Quest 10 - The Lost Levels: A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

> "No prob. Keep on keepin' on."
> Assuming no objection from Yuugi, take flight and head back out toward the entrance to topside.

>You depart, and make your way toward the surface.
>The path is clear, and soon the cavern ceiling gives way to the open sky. The rain seems to have largely stopped, having become a kind of soft misting that you barely notice. The sky is still darkened with clouds and the forest is full of insect songs.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Head back to the Temple in the village.

[Hello Purvis]

> Head back to the Temple in the village.

>You make your was northward toward the village.
>Arriving at the village, you see it is still fairly active, with people bustling about on the streets.  As well, you note that a few of the businesses seem to have opened despite the late hour. Making your way toward the temple, you note that Byakuren is still outside, sitting on the front porch just out of the weather. She waves as she sees you draw near.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Wave back as we land and make our way the rest of the way toward her.

[Hello Purvis]

> Wave back as we land and make our way the rest of the way toward her.

>You wave back and land near the temple. "Is your friend doing well?" Byakuren says.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Frown.
> "She was going to come back here after she was done in Avalon and had returned. Is she not back yet?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Frown.
> "She was going to come back here after she was done in Avalon and had returned. Is she not back yet?"

>Byakuren shakes her head. "Not yet. The two of you have only been gone...hmm, perhaps an hour at most."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Oh. All right, then. I guess it's felt like longer than that."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Oh. All right, then. I guess it's felt like longer than that."

>She nods. "You're welcome to wait here, if you please," says Byakuren.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I probably will. It's been a long day and I could use a chance to not have to run around for a while."
> Frown.
> "I should say, though, that I reported what happened underground, because I knew the Devas would want to know. And, uh, they kinda want to beat the tar out of him.  Like, come up here to this village, enter the Temple, find his storeroom and beat the tar out of him."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I probably will. It's been a long day and I could use a chance to not have to run around for a while."
> Frown.
> "I should say, though, that I reported what happened underground, because I knew the Devas would want to know. And, uh, they kinda want to beat the tar out of him.  Like, come up here to this village, enter the Temple, find his storeroom and beat the tar out of him."

>Byakuren frowns when you explain the situation with the Devas. "I was afraid of that," she says. "Did you tell them who it was?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Yeah, since they asked. They don't know who he is, though. 'Junk shopkeep in the forest' didn't mean anything to them."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Yeah, since they asked. They don't know who he is, though. 'Junk shopkeep in the forest' didn't mean anything to them."

>"So, they'll find out easily enough if they ask around," says Byakuren. "Well, I expect we had best prepare for them..."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Yuugi at least said she'd give us the opportunity to move him out of the Temple before things went down, though that kind of misses the grander point."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Yuugi at least said she'd give us the opportunity to move him out of the Temple before things went down, though that kind of misses the grander point."

>"Vastly so, yes," says Byakuren, frowning. "We can't really expect him to get better if we have half of Gensokyo clamoring for his head..."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Actually, I do wonder how many people would still call for blood if they saw his current condition."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Actually, I do wonder how many people would still call for blood if they saw his current condition."

>Byakuren shakes her head. "I don't know."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I imagine not many. It's one thing to be angry at an unknown force capable of stealing all your money from right under your nose. It's another to look at a faith-broken invalid and declare you want to hurt him some more, especially in the presence of his friends and the local peacekeepers. I think the public perception of him is likely to soften if they see what's become of him."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I imagine not many. It's one thing to be angry at an unknown force capable of stealing all your money from right under your nose. It's another to look at a faith-broken invalid and declare you want to hurt him some more, especially in the presence of his friends and the local peacekeepers. I think the public perception of him is likely to soften if they see what's become of him."

>"Perhaps," says Byakuren, looking toward the ground. "On the other hand, I have spent the last couple days trying to keep angry and panicked people from trying to take matters into their own hands, and I'm not sure if presenting the person behind all of that to them would be the best choice."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Well, at the very least, we should probably get Reimu and Marisa here tomorrow morning. I bet Marisa won't take threats against him sitting down."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Well, at the very least, we should probably get Reimu and Marisa here tomorrow morning. I bet Marisa won't take threats against him sitting down."

>She nods. "Perhaps. I suppose if the Devas have learned and made up their minds, there won't be much else for it in the end."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Frown.
> "I'm sorry about this. It isn't at all what I intended."

[Hello Purvis]

> Frown.
> "I'm sorry about this. It isn't at all what I intended."

>"I understand," says Byakuren. "One desires to be honest and open in their affairs."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Should I leave a note with Reimu, so that she and Marisa know to get here first thing tomorrow morning?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Should I leave a note with Reimu, so that she and Marisa know to get here first thing tomorrow morning?"

>"Perhaps," says Byakuren. "I would like to think that we could handle this ourselves, but that may not be the best idea in the long run."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I think you could handle a Deva by yourself if it came down to it. But I doubt it would send a message we want to send."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I think you could handle a Deva by yourself if it came down to it. But I doubt it would send a message we want to send."

>"At this point," she says, "I am not certain if there is a good message to send anymore."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Don't say that. We'll get through this just fine. I have faith in us."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Don't say that. We'll get through this just fine. I have faith in us."

>She nods. "I'm sure we can hold out, at least."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "So who's still awake and could be helpful in making sure he doesn't get mauled?"