Sword Quest XIII - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

> "Different lands may have different ideas of what properly constitutes justice."

>"Like what?" she says.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "You would need to ask the respective ruling classes if you wanted details, I imagine."

[Hello Purvis]

> "You would need to ask the respective ruling classes if you wanted details, I imagine."

>"But I'm asking you, because you said they were a thing."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "When the Netherworld is offended, it is my job to seek and obtain satisfaction."

[Hello Purvis]

> "When the Netherworld is offended, it is my job to seek and obtain satisfaction."

>"Oh, isn't that more politics than justice?" says Kotohime.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Mmm. I suppose. Whatever it is couched as, however, it is still my responsibility first and foremost."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Mmm. I suppose. Whatever it is couched as, however, it is still my responsibility first and foremost."

>"Maybe so," says Kotohime. "But surely it is not a burden for you alone."
>She frowns. "...I think I've lost track of what we were discussing."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "We were discussing why you need not feel bad or responsible for what has happened today."

[Hello Purvis]

> "We were discussing why you need not feel bad or responsible for what has happened today."

>"Oh, right," she says. "I guess it just doesn't feel that way..."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Of course. That's why I'm telling you that it is that way."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Of course. That's why I'm telling you that it is that way."

>"Do you really think I didn't mess things up with your owl friend?" she says.

>_

[Monarda]

>"I am fairly sure that she herself didn't agree much with Seiga concerning that matter."

[Hello Purvis]

>"I am fairly sure that she herself didn't agree much with Seiga concerning that matter."

>"Maybe," she says.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Regardless, what's done is done. Worrying about it now will not accomplish anything further."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Regardless, what's done is done. Worrying about it now will not accomplish anything further."

>"That's easy to say, at least," she says.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Frown in silence, then shrug and continue on.

[Hello Purvis]

> Frown in silence, then shrug and continue on.

>The two of you continue on in silence. If nothing else, she does seem a bit better than before, though perhaps not quite as good when she was distracted by matters of justice. Your conversation has carried you past the town, and well into the outskirts of the farmlands. It isn't terribly long until you reach the fields and find yourself in the general vicinity of her bunker. She seems to know where she is going, and soon you can see it.

>_

[Monarda]

>Enter !
>Find someplace to sit comfortably.
>Wait for her to say something.

[Hello Purvis]

>Enter !
>Find someplace to sit comfortably.
>Wait for her to say something.

>You make your way inside, descending the stairs and making your way through the clear glass hallway into the front room. You have a seat at the cluttered table, as Kotohime makes her way toward the makeshift kitchen. "Do you want some tea? Maybe some senbei?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Oh, right, this stuff. Remember, it tastes okay as long as we're imagining it's not tea.
> "Certainly. Thank you."

[Hello Purvis]

> Oh, right, this stuff. Remember, it tastes okay as long as we're imagining it's not tea.
> "Certainly. Thank you."

>She quickly serves it up, putting a plate of rice crackers on the table and a sizable bowl of sugar, from which she adds three spoons worth into her tea.
>"You're welcome," she says.

[Kilgamayan]

> Does Hakugyokurou have guest rooms usable by the living?
> Help ourselves to a cracker and some 'tea'.

[Hello Purvis]

> Does Hakugyokurou have guest rooms usable by the living?
> Help ourselves to a cracker and some 'tea'.

>Not explicitly, but it's easy enough to clear one out. Marisa used one for awhile after the cherry blossom incident, until she finally got bored of staying there.
>You have a cracker, and find it is pleasantly sweet, rather than savory as they tend to be. The tea is, as before, overbrewed and much too strong to be considered tea; rather like hitting a radish with a hammer and calling it grated. However, it is an oddly acceptable beverage in its own right. You think she may be onto something by putting too much sugar into it.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Hmm..."
> Add a spoonful of sugar to our own tea and try it again.
> Float our ghost half over to Kotohime's side of the table while doing this.

[Hello Purvis]

> "Hmm..."
> Add a spoonful of sugar to our own tea and try it again.
> Float our ghost half over to Kotohime's side of the table while doing this.

>You sweeten the tea, and float your ghost half across the table. Kotohime watches it as she sips her own beverage.
>Sampling it, the sugar does help. This beverage is still an abomination to good taste, but it has its charm you have to admit.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Nod.
> "Yes, I can see why you add sugar."

[Hello Purvis]

> Nod.
> "Yes, I can see why you add sugar."

>"I do have a weakness for sweet things," she says.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Have another cracker and see if she does anything with our ghost half.

[Monarda]

>How does our ghost half feel like when we touch it ? Is it like a soft pillow or like Gelatin ?
>What could possibly injury our ghost half besides our sword ?

[Hello Purvis]

> Have another cracker and see if she does anything with our ghost half.

>She observes it, but not with quite the fascination she used to. Whether it's because she is still devastated or because she has grown used to it is hard to say.

>How does our ghost half feel like when we touch it ? Is it like a soft pillow or like Gelatin ?
>What could possibly injury our ghost half besides our sword ?

>It's a bit of both, really, but more like the former.
>Things that injure most ghosts, really. Generally magic and the like.

>_