Sword Quest IX - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Kilgamayan]

> Youmu: Look to Kotohime with a small smile. "Welcome to the Netherworld. Please try not to crash into something in your excitement."
> Miko: Look to Byakuren. "No problems, then, I trust?"
> Miko: Can we sense anything from Meira at this distance?

[Hello Purvis]

> Youmu: Look to Kotohime with a small smile. "Welcome to the Netherworld. Please try not to crash into something in your excitement."
> Miko: Look to Byakuren. "No problems, then, I trust?"
> Miko: Can we sense anything from Meira at this distance?

>Youmu: "Huh, what?" says Kotohime.
>Miko: Byakuren nods: "None that I've seen."
>Miko: Not really. It's a bit hard to do while on the move and in a crowd. However, you don't think anything catastrophic has happened.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Miko: "Excellent." Look to Youmu. "Let us head to your mansion, then."
> Youmu: Nod. "Got it."
> Both: Head to Hakugyoukurou proper.

[Hello Purvis]

> Miko: "Excellent." Look to Youmu. "Let us head to your mansion, then."
> Youmu: Nod. "Got it."
> Both: Head to Hakugyoukurou proper.

>The two of you make your way up the stairs, the rest of the group following behind. Kotohime lags behind a little, periodically getting distracted staring into the forest, or watching a ghost fly by. Soon you reach the front gates, which hang open invitingly.
>Youmu: You can see the ghosts here are keeping a solid watch on the front gate. A couple give you a polite nod as you pass through the gates, and into the front gardens.
>Reimu glances around. "So, we're going to the Saigyou Ayakaishi, right?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Miko: "We will need to retrieve ink and a brush first, though I suppose there is no reason why some cannot go to find those while others wait at the tree."

[Hello Purvis]

> Miko: "We will need to retrieve ink and a brush first, though I suppose there is no reason why some cannot go to find those while others wait at the tree."

>"Well, it's on you to get us there," says Reimu, looking toward Youmu. "Heaven knows I can't remember the way there through this maze."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Youmu: "It seems to make the most sense for everyone to go to Hakugyokurou first, since that results in two trips instead of three. But if present company would prefer, I can lead us to the Saigyou Ayakashi first."

[Hello Purvis]

> Youmu: "It seems to make the most sense for everyone to go to Hakugyokurou first, since that results in two trips instead of three. But if present company would prefer, I can lead us to the Saigyou Ayakashi first."

>"As long as we get this dealt with fast, you can do whatever you think's best, I guess," says Reimu.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Youmu: Nod. "Let us head to Hakugyokurou first, then."
> Youmu: Lead onward! But not so fast that people can't catch up.
> Miko: Follow!

[Hello Purvis]

> Youmu: Nod. "Let us head to Hakugyokurou first, then."
> Youmu: Lead onward! But not so fast that people can't catch up.
> Miko: Follow!

>You head through the gates and into Hakugyokurou. There is quite a lot of the place, have you a specific goal in mind.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Youmu: Head to the closest location where we are likely to acquire a brush and ink.

[Hello Purvis]

> Youmu: Head to the closest location where we are likely to acquire a brush and ink.

>Youmu: It doesn't take you too long to find a spare brush and ink laying around in a sitting room. You don't worry too much about taking it; things like this aren't really personal possessions, most of the residents are trying to move beyond that kind of ideology anyways.
>While Byakuren and Reimu remain rather stoic; the latter definitely giving off a strong aura of agitation. Kotohime almost seems ready to dash off on her own. It's also fairly obvious from the way that she looks a various things that she is likely to start helping herself to various objects if not watched closely.
>Youmu: That would be a problem; there's a difference between shared property and running off with whatever you want.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Youmu: Hand the ink and brush over to Miko. "Here you are."
> Miko: Take them. "Thank you."
> Miko: Do we need a flat surface, like a desk, to write up all these talismans? Or could we do it standing at the tree?
> Youmu: Look to Kotohime. "By the way, I can appreciate your enthusiasm, but please try not to run off anywhere."

[Hello Purvis]

> Youmu: Hand the ink and brush over to Miko. "Here you are."
> Miko: Take them. "Thank you."
> Miko: Do we need a flat surface, like a desk, to write up all these talismans? Or could we do it standing at the tree?
> Youmu: Look to Kotohime. "By the way, I can appreciate your enthusiasm, but please try not to run off anywhere."

>Miko: Having a writing surface is necessary. But there's plenty to be found here.
>Youmu: Kotohime glances over you. "Oh! Um, sorry, just there's so much to see."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Miko: Have a seat at the nearest writing surface and get to work.
> Youmu: "I understand. But I must request proper behavior while we are on these grounds. I hope you understand."

[Hello Purvis]

> Miko: Have a seat at the nearest writing surface and get to work.
> Youmu: "I understand. But I must request proper behavior while we are on these grounds. I hope you understand."

>Miko: You head into a sitting room, make yourself comfortable at a table, and begin making the proper talismans. You note Reimu follows you in, and plops down on a couch.
>"Oh," says Kotohime. "I didn't get you in trouble, did I?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Miko: If Byakuren is still within sight, glance up at her. "This will take a few minutes, so if you like, you may put her down and rest your arms a bit."
> Miko: Get back to work.
> Youmu: "No, not at all. But this place is important to many, and it is my duty to make sure it is treated with respect."

[Hello Purvis]

> Miko: If Byakuren is still within sight, glance up at her. "This will take a few minutes, so if you like, you may put her down and rest your arms a bit."
> Miko: Get back to work.
> Youmu: "No, not at all. But this place is important to many, and it is my duty to make sure it is treated with respect."

>"I will carry her a bit longer," says Byakuren. "It wouldn't do to jostle her.
>"Oh, well I...." says Kotohime, then seems to lose track. You don't think she's quite paralyzed like she was in the past, but rather you don't think she knows what to say next.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Miko: "As you wish, then."
> Youmu: Take on a bit of a softer tone. "I don't mean to accuse you of any wrong-doing. I have simply noticed how antsy and excited you have been since arriving here, and I want to make sure that does not lead to anything rash."

[Hello Purvis]

> Miko: "As you wish, then."
> Youmu: Take on a bit of a softer tone. "I don't mean to accuse you of any wrong-doing. I have simply noticed how antsy and excited you have been since arriving here, and I want to make sure that does not lead to anything rash."

>"Ah, yes, it's just that it's all so...fascinating!" she says.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Youmu: Chuckle a bit. "I can imagine, given the events of today."

[Hello Purvis]

> Youmu: Chuckle a bit. "I can imagine, given the events of today."

>"Hm?" she says.

>__

[Kilgamayan]

> Youmu: "It is some parts your fascination with my ghost half, and some parts what Komachi said. I did also happen to notice that many of your possessions had a small aura of death about them. I imagine these are not all coincidences."

[Hello Purvis]

> Youmu: "It is some parts your fascination with my ghost half, and some parts what Komachi said. I did also happen to notice that many of your possessions had a small aura of death about them. I imagine these are not all coincidences."

>She nods. "It's so hypnotic."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Youmu: What do we know of death and Lunarians?

[Hello Purvis]

> Youmu: What do we know of death and Lunarians?

>It doesn't happen to them. It simply does not, unless something goes horrifically wrong.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Youmu: "Well, you are from the moon, yes? It is my understanding that Lunarians do not naturally die, so a fascination with the concept is understandable."

[Hello Purvis]

> Youmu: "Well, you are from the moon, yes? It is my understanding that Lunarians do not naturally die, so a fascination with the concept is understandable."

>She just looks at you oddly.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Youmu: Quick, is anyone else paying attention, or at least looking somewhat this way?

[Hello Purvis]

> Youmu: Quick, is anyone else paying attention, or at least looking somewhat this way?

>Youmu: Not that you can see, pretty much everyone else is in the sitting room.

>_