Sword Quest IX - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Kilgamayan]

> "Once I am ready to return home, if she is willing, I would be most appreciative if she joined us, in the interest of Hakugyokurou's theatrical performance. It is quite likely that all five planned cast members will present in the Netherworld at the same time, which will give Yuyuko-sama the opportunity to do what she needs to do."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Once I am ready to return home, if she is willing, I would be most appreciative if she joined us, in the interest of Hakugyokurou's theatrical performance. It is quite likely that all five planned cast members will present in the Netherworld at the same time, which will give Yuyuko-sama the opportunity to do what she needs to do."

>"I can ask her, sure," says the ship ghost. "Who all's gonna be in it?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Aside from both your matriarch and theirs, the local constable has agreed to take part, and Reimu seems to have accepted the fact that her participation has been specifically requested. I am hoping the fifth will be the hell raven from underground; she is currently somewhere in the Netherworld - it's a long story - so I will be asking her when I return, and I am rather confident she will not decline."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Aside from both your matriarch and theirs, the local constable has agreed to take part, and Reimu seems to have accepted the fact that her participation has been specifically requested. I am hoping the fifth will be the hell raven from underground; she is currently somewhere in the Netherworld - it's a long story - so I will be asking her when I return, and I am rather confident she will not decline."

>"That's some crew you gathered," says the ship ghost. "But I best not keep you any longer."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Ah, thank you. Farewell until we meet again."
> Retrieve the horse and lead it to the tavern.

[Hello Purvis]

> "Ah, thank you. Farewell until we meet again."
> Retrieve the horse and lead it to the tavern.

>"Good luck," she says.
>The horse is all too eager to follow you away as you leave the well and head southward into town, nearly taking the lead itself. The streets are fairly empty, save for a few stubborn individuals who seem to be either particularly wary of the skies or simply irritated with the way the day has turned out. You pass by a couple of old ladies putting out their laundry loudly lamenting about a lack of backbone in this day and age. Passing them by, you soon come to the main intersection in town. The tavern lies to the west, while the mostly empty market is to the east. You note that there is someone in a blue dress flying nearby over the houses to the south.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Is there anywhere in the immediate vicinity where we could inoffensively tie the horse?

[Hello Purvis]

> Is there anywhere in the immediate vicinity where we could inoffensively tie the horse?

>There is a hitching post in front of the tavern.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Tie the horse to the hitching post, and then take flight and pursue the blue-dress person, Mikosword in hand.

[Hello Purvis]

> Tie the horse to the hitching post, and then take flight and pursue the blue-dress person, Mikosword in hand.

>You do so, and find that the person in blue is Keine. She pauses in her route and faces you, and you find the general tenseness in the air is uncomfortably reminding you of your first meeting with her.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Damn, not Seiga. Oh well.
> Just remember, we're not here to cause any trouble.
> Give Keine a friendly wave.

[Hello Purvis]

> Damn, not Seiga. Oh well.
> Just remember, we're not here to cause any trouble.
> Give Keine a friendly wave.

>You cannot imagine another time that you would be disappointed to have not found Seiga, but incidents tend to do strange things.
>You wave to her, and she waves back. "Do you need something?" she calls out.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I actually do not. I just needed to make sure you weren't the person I've been chasing all day. My apologies for the interruption."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I actually do not. I just needed to make sure you weren't the person I've been chasing all day. My apologies for the interruption."

>She nods. "Say safe. If you see any stragglers, please send them back home."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Nod.
> "Thank you, and I will."
> Head back to the horse.

[Hello Purvis]

> Nod.
> "Thank you, and I will."
> Head back to the horse.

>You make your way back to the horse, who is waiting patiently.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Give the horse a gentle pat, then enter the tavern.

[Hello Purvis]

> Give the horse a gentle pat, then enter the tavern.

>You pat the horse, then walk into the tavern.
>Inside, you find it is empty, save for one farmer sitting a table at the corner, picking at some vegetables. Behind the counter, chin resting on her hand and staring at the wall, is Tenshi. She looks toward you, and frowns for a moment. "Huh, didn't expect to see you," she says. "Especially on a day like this."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I am here mostly to wait for others coming from the Hakurei Shrine. May I presume they have not arrived yet?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "I am here mostly to wait for others coming from the Hakurei Shrine. May I presume they have not arrived yet?"

>Tenshi just spreads her arms toward toward the most empty taproom in response.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "...I suppose that was a rather silly question. Very well, I shall keep watch for them outside. Thank you."
> Exit the tavern and keep watch toward the eastern sky.

[Hello Purvis]

> "...I suppose that was a rather silly question. Very well, I shall keep watch for them outside. Thank you."
> Exit the tavern and keep watch toward the eastern sky.

>"Knock yourself out," says Tenshi.
>Elsewhere in the World: Miko
>Following Reimu has been an interesting experience. She has not really tried to dodge around the several clouds of faeries that have come up as you've journeyed westward. Rather, she simply progresses and lets them get out of her way. Or, in the cases where they do no, she simply makes room with a handful of talismans.  At one point, Kotohime asks why they don't go around, and is answered with a simple, "Faeries need to be taken seriously, too."
>If nothing else, progress is fairly fast, The faeries thin out as you draw close to town, which is not just ahead. You can make out a figure in blue flying around the southern part of town, but otherwise things seem to be quiet.
>"Where were we supposed to meet with her, again?" says Reimu.
>"In town," Kotohime says.
>"Yes, but where in town?"
>"...Um, she didn't say..."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Point toward the figure  in blue flying about.
> "Perhaps we should inquire with someone that is likely to have seen recent visitors."

[Hello Purvis]

> Point toward the figure  in blue flying about.
> "Perhaps we should inquire with someone that is likely to have seen recent visitors."

>"Keine might know something," says Reimu, nodding as she makes her way in that direction.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Follow!

[Hello Purvis]

> Follow!

>You follow her, and close in on the woman in blue, whom you remember clearly from this morning where you were first looking for your sword and your companions.
>"Ah, hello," she says to Reimu, though you can detect the hint of nervousness.
>"I'm looking for Youmu," she says. "Have you seen her?"
>"I believe she went toward the market?" says Keine. She gestures toward the main road that runs east and west in the village.
>"Right," says Reimu, as she turns that direction.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Give the woman a smile and a wave.
> "Ah, your message was delivered, by the way."
> Follow Reimu some more.

[Hello Purvis]

> Give the woman a smile and a wave.
> "Ah, your message was delivered, by the way."
> Follow Reimu some more.

>"Ah, good, good, thank you," she says. "Unfortunately, I had to cut my lessons short, given circumstances. But yes, thank you very much."
>You then turn to follow Reimu and Kotohime, in time to note Kotohime pointing something out, and the two of them descending.  Following them, you see they are descending toward the tavern, where you see Youmu sitting on a hitching post beside a horse, with a purple-haired woman in white slug over the horse's back.
>You now possess control of both Youmu and Miko. Please preface all actions and sentences with the name of the relevant character. You may summarize interactions between them as briefly or thoroughly as you please. Keep in mind that they cannot read each others' minds (Youmu lacks a desire, which throws things), so coordination will have to be arranged verbally or through gestures or the like. Also please keep in mind that both have their own goals and motivations, and may not perfectly align with every action. You may freely split them up when you please, upon which things shall continue as before.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Youmu: Look up and wave at the arrivals. "Hoy!"
> Miko: Swoop down, land, and gesture to the unconscious woman. "Is this her?"
> Youmu: "Yes."
> Miko: Inspect the unconscious woman.

[Hello Purvis]

> Youmu: Look up and wave at the arrivals. "Hoy!"
> Miko: Swoop down, land, and gesture to the unconscious woman. "Is this her?"
> Youmu: "Yes."
> Miko: Inspect the unconscious woman.

>Miko: She is certainly unconscious. You cannot hear even a whisper of her desires, she is blacked out. Something about her bothers you, but you cannot quite put your finger on what.
>Youmu: Reimu glances toward the unconscious woman, then gives you a nod. "Good job." Kotohime quietly stands by your side, clearly pleased with herself.

>_