Sword Quest IX - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Kilgamayan]

> Youmu: Smile and nod in return. "Thank you."
> Miko: Frown. "Something is off about this woman."
> Youmu: Look over. "Well, she does still possess the life energy of the Saigyou Ayakashi. Perhaps that is the problem?"
> Miko: Can we detect said life force? Is that the problem?

[Hello Purvis]

> Youmu: Smile and nod in return. "Thank you."
> Miko: Frown. "Something is off about this woman."
> Youmu: Look over. "Well, she does still possess the life energy of the Saigyou Ayakashi. Perhaps that is the problem?"
> Miko: Can we detect said life force? Is that the problem?

>Miko: You can't quite detect it at the moment, you'd probably need time and some concentration to really detect anything.
>Reimu frowns and approaches the woman. "I don't see anything wrong with her, at least. So how are we going to get it out?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Miko: How much time? A few minutes?
> Miko: Would it help if we put a hand on her, or something similar?

[Hello Purvis]

> Miko: How much time? A few minutes?
> Miko: Would it help if we put a hand on her, or something similar?

>Miko: A few minutes.
>Miko: Touching her wouldn't do much, you imagine.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Miko: Let's say we do find the energy inside this woman. Would we be able to extract it, given Seiga presumably used Taoist methods to get it there in the first place?
> Miko: Assuming we are able to extract the energy, would we be able to store it inside ourselves, or another person, given it is presently inside a person?

[Hello Purvis]

> Miko: Let's say we do find the energy inside this woman. Would we be able to extract it, given Seiga presumably used Taoist methods to get it there in the first place?
> Miko: Assuming we are able to extract the energy, would we be able to store it inside ourselves, or another person, given it is presently inside a person?

>You think you can, but it would probably be unwise to store it inside a person. Using a vessel would be much better.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Miko: What may happen if it is stored within a person?

[Hello Purvis]

> Miko: What may happen if it is stored within a person?

>Miko: Judging from what you have heard about this tree, bad things.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Miko: What would function as a vessel? Could it be any ol' object, or is something special required?

> Miko: "Assuming the life force of this tree is indeed still inside her, I believe I can extract it. A proper investigation may take a few minutes, however."
> Miko: Look to Youmu. "Before that commences, however, I wish to know any information you may have that may aid me. Tell me everything of your battle with this woman that you feel is noteworthy."
> Youmu: Give a thoughtful look. "Hmm...Before we began, she seemed normal enough. Determined to see her mission through, but I guess that must just be who she is. Regardless, she had remarkable stamina, taking far more punishment than I expected a human could take throughout the course of the battle, and rarely being slowed down by it. Also, throughout the course of the battle, she exuded a sensation of death, which grew stronger and stronger...it also eventually came with a scent of cherry blossoms, which eventually became so overpowering I had to retreat a bit before I choked on the smell. She also seemed to become angrier and less rational as she took more blows; by the time the cherry blossom smell was becoming a problem, she was downright furious, and no longer speaking at all. She never faltered in her battle prowess, however, until, well."
> Youmu: Gesture at Meira's prone body.
> Miko: Given the life force is that of a youkai cherry blossom tree, what of this information sounds relevant to the issue at hand?

[Hello Purvis]

> Miko: What would function as a vessel? Could it be any ol' object, or is something special required?

> Miko: "Assuming the life force of this tree is indeed still inside her, I believe I can extract it. A proper investigation may take a few minutes, however."
> Miko: Look to Youmu. "Before that commences, however, I wish to know any information you may have that may aid me. Tell me everything of your battle with this woman that you feel is noteworthy."
> Youmu: Give a thoughtful look. "Hmm...Before we began, she seemed normal enough. Determined to see her mission through, but I guess that must just be who she is. Regardless, she had remarkable stamina, taking far more punishment than I expected a human could take throughout the course of the battle, and rarely being slowed down by it. Also, throughout the course of the battle, she exuded a sensation of death, which grew stronger and stronger...it also eventually came with a scent of cherry blossoms, which eventually became so overpowering I had to retreat a bit before I choked on the smell. She also seemed to become angrier and less rational as she took more blows; by the time the cherry blossom smell was becoming a problem, she was downright furious, and no longer speaking at all. She never faltered in her battle prowess, however, until, well."
> Youmu: Gesture at Meira's prone body.
> Miko: Given the life force is that of a youkai cherry blossom tree, what of this information sounds relevant to the issue at hand?

>Miko: You would want something properly prepared, to make sire it doesn't escape, or potentially possess the object. As for her description, it's hard to say whether this person was affected emotionally or mentally by the life force, or if she was simply angry and not speaking anymore due to, you presume, losing. The sensation of death and the cherry odor sound like they would be related.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> How long would it take to prepare such an object?
> Miko: Assuming we are able to successfully extract the life force and place it inside another thing, be it object or person, is there a risk of it escaping over time?

[Hello Purvis]

> How long would it take to prepare such an object?
> Miko: Assuming we are able to successfully extract the life force and place it inside another thing, be it object or person, is there a risk of it escaping over time?

>Miko: The question of preparation is a difficult one, but probably some days to correctly prepare all the talismans and such that would be needed. As for escape, that depends on the nature of the thing it is placed into.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Miko: "Mmm. The sensation of death and the cherry blossom scent are almost assuredly related, as obvious as that may seem on the surface."
> Youmu: "Well, it is the life force of of a youkai cherry tree from the Netherworld."
> Miko: "Quite."
> Miko: Sigh.
> Miko: "I will be completely honest with you all. If I am to extract this life force from this woman, it will need to be placed somewhere else, lest it be loosed on this land, which I imagine would end very poorly. The problems are that a proper vessel would take days to prepare, but using another person is rather dangerous to that person."

[Hello Purvis]

> Miko: "Mmm. The sensation of death and the cherry blossom scent are almost assuredly related, as obvious as that may seem on the surface."
> Youmu: "Well, it is the life force of of a youkai cherry tree from the Netherworld."
> Miko: "Quite."
> Miko: Sigh.
> Miko: "I will be completely honest with you all. If I am to extract this life force from this woman, it will need to be placed somewhere else, lest it be loosed on this land, which I imagine would end very poorly. The problems are that a proper vessel would take days to prepare, but using another person is rather dangerous to that person."

>"So how'd they get it out to begin with?" says Reimu.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Miko: Look to Youmu.
> Youmu: Shrug. "There were lots of talismans everywhere, then Seiga did...something, and they all burned up, and that was it. I could feel that something had transpired, but I couldn't really identify it."
> Miko: What does this sound like?

[Hello Purvis]

> Miko: Look to Youmu.
> Youmu: Shrug. "There were lots of talismans everywhere, then Seiga did...something, and they all burned up, and that was it. I could feel that something had transpired, but I couldn't really identify it."
> Miko: What does this sound like?

>Miko: That sounds like a transferral ritual to you.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Miko: Would such a ritual be needed to remove the youkai life force from that woman's body? Or do we have alternate methods?
> Miko: How long would such a ritual take to perform?

> Miko: "That sounds like a transferral ritual. Hmm, now that I think back on it, I recall sensations from the tree that suggested something similar to the rituals we performed for ourselves, to come to be who we are now."

[Hello Purvis]

> Miko: Would such a ritual be needed to remove the youkai life force from that woman's body? Or do we have alternate methods?
> Miko: How long would such a ritual take to perform?

> Miko: "That sounds like a transferral ritual. Hmm, now that I think back on it, I recall sensations from the tree that suggested something similar to the rituals we performed for ourselves, to come to be who we are now."

>You would probably want to use the same thing. It would probably take an appreciable amount of minutes to do the ritual itself. Preparing a container would involve quite a bit more time. Arguably those preparations are a part of the ritual.
>"So that means you know how to fix it?" says Reimu.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Miko: Inventory

[Hello Purvis]

> Miko: Inventory

>You inventory contains:
>Regal Clothing
>Strong enough for a monarch, simple enough for a hermit.
>Shaku
>A ritual baton that is part of any ruler?s regalia. You keep it as a symbol of your old office.
>Harmony Earmuffs
>This does much to cut down the babble of voices you can hear from other people. Particularly strong desires can still get through.
>Travel Bag
>A sack for keeping your things in.
>Used Clothing
>Regal, but in need of a wash
>Bag of Konpeito
>Apparently it is regarded as good manners these days for a royal to give these guests and such, they didn't have such things in your day!
>Bag of Curry Powder
>A donation from a potential follower. Quite fresh!
>Iron Key
>A simple ring-handled key made of iron.
>Steel Trap
>This trap features steel jaws and a powerful spring mechanism with a plate trigger. A bit of chain extends from it, ending in a long metal stake.
>Regal Cloak
>A high-collared cloak gifted to you by Tojiko and Futo.
>60☼
>This is 60☼

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Miko: Would Reimu's talisman's be usable for such a task, or would we have to write them up ourselves?
> Miko: Nod. "I should be able to, if there are talismans available for me to use. I currently have none in my possession."

[Hello Purvis]

> Miko: Would Reimu's talisman's be usable for such a task, or would we have to write them up ourselves?
> Miko: Nod. "I should be able to, if there are talismans available for me to use. I currently have none in my possession."

>You need to use talismans that bear the right inscriptions for the task. These will almost certainly have to be made.
>"All I have on me are sealing talismans," says Reimu. "Anything else?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Miko: How many talismans would be necessary to transfer the energy into a vessel, and then later from the vessel back into the tree?
> Miko: How many talismans would be necessary to transfer the energy into a person, and then later from the person back into the tree?
> Miko: How many talismans would be necessary to transfer the energy directly from the prone woman back into the tree?

[Hello Purvis]

> Miko: How many talismans would be necessary?

>Likely a few dozen. You could write them rather quickly, you think.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Miko: Would we need anything else material for the ritual, beyond the talismans (and the writing tools necessary to create them)?

[Hello Purvis]

> Miko: Would we need anything else material for the ritual, beyond the talismans (and the writing tools necessary to create them)?

>You would almost certainly want a vessel to actually place the life force into.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Miko: Could we bypass the need for a vessel if we transferred the energy directly back into the tree from the prone woman?

[Hello Purvis]

> Miko: Could we bypass the need for a vessel if we transferred the energy directly back into the tree from the prone woman?

>Plausibly.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Miko: "Possibly. But let me test something first, as time is a substantial hindrance to our options."
> Miko: Make our way over to the prone woman and lift her off the horse to check how heavy she is.

[Hello Purvis]

> Miko: "Possibly. But let me test something first, as time is a substantial hindrance to our options."
> Miko: Make our way over to the prone woman and lift her off the horse to check how heavy she is.

>You go to lift her, and find she is about as heavy as a normal person. Which is to say, heavy enough she is difficult for you to carry.

>_