Sword Quest - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Stuffman]

> Have they ever taken the sword before?
> Incidentally, does Futo get huffy if you mess with her plate?

[Hello Purvis]

> Nod again.
> "All right. Thank you."
> Have a seat and wait for food.

>You have a seat, as the farmer crawls over to a nearby box, and pulls out a couple of earthenware bowls.
>"Akai didn't cause you any problems, did she?" she says, as she starts to fill one of the bowls.

> Have they ever taken the sword before?
> Incidentally, does Futo get huffy if you mess with her plate?

>They have not, this is a unique occurrence and you don't know what they would be thinking.
>You would imagine so. You've been polite enough to leave it alone thus far. Thinking on it, you're not precisely sure what she's done with it, besides it being in her quarters.

>_

[Mr. Sacchi]

I wake up to find a Miko quest? I am thoroughly pleased.

> Skills
> Before Gensokyo, what were our major interactions with youkai?
> Who's Akai?

[O4rfish]

>Relationship with Seiga Nyan Nyan

[Hello Purvis]

I wake up to find a Miko quest? I am thoroughly pleased.

> Skills
> Before Gensokyo, what were our major interactions with youkai?
> Who's Akai?

>Your skills are
>Statesmanshipping
>You are well aware of the intricacies of ruling a state and maneuvering through the various hardships that can come up in times of peace and times of war.
>Hermetics
>You are well-versed in the secrets of Taoism.
>Literacy
>Books published in Japanese didn't happen until over a hundred years after your 'death'; a nontrivial amount of time has been spent correcting this! (Fun fact: You also predate the codification of Shintoism!)
>Ancient History
>This used to be Current Events.
>Swordsmanshipping
>While you were not among the finest of swordsmen in your time, you are still reasonably skilled in defense.
>Legalistics
>You did literally draft a constitution that endured for some time, and was referred to in later government documents, as well as establishing the cap ranking system that set up how the government would continue to function (with many tweaks) long after your disappearance.
>Poetry
>While your court certainly didn't emphasize this as much as later courts, only a dullard would not know at least some of the finer points of poetic form
>Chinese
>You did communicate with the Mainland Emperor, after all. What a lovely chap he could be~
>Amateur Carpentry
>Necessity is a mother of an inventor!
>You were fairly isolated from youkai; who were already somewhat on the wane form their absolute dominance of the old wild eras. However, you did, one night when you had just taken the throne, happen upon a most curious bovine thing, who spoke vague prophecies of your coming reign before disappearing. Often you wondered if it were just having a dream...
>You suspect it is the cat, who is currently slinking across the floor in your general direction.

>Relationship with Seiga Nyan Nyan

>While you owe her much for your current state, upon hearing her desires you were shocked at the depths of selfishness and wickedness in her heart, you pronounced as such and sent her away in hopes that she would mend her ways.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Your feline? None at all, no."

[O4rfish]

>Is the cat red?

[Hello Purvis]

> "Your feline? None at all, no."

>"Good," says Aoi. "She's kind of a troublemaker when she wants to be."
>Aforementioned troublemaker slinks toward your direction, as the farmer hands you your bowl and some utensils.
>"Normally she likes to snuggle up with the horses, but I sold 'em last week," the farmer continues. "Was looking to get some new foals for the winter, but what with the escape that happened a couple days ago, it's just not been possible. Otherwise you'd have had some company in there."

>Is the cat red?

>The cat is yellow.

>_

[O4rfish]

>Does Aoi have blue hair, or blue eyes, or blue clothing or something?

[Hello Purvis]

>Does Aoi have blue hair, or blue eyes, or blue clothing or something?

>No. She has dark hair and brown eyes, and is wearing a simple off-white dress.

>_

[O4rfish]

>Clearly whoever gives out names here is colorblind.

[Kilgamayan]

> "An escape?"
> Dig in.

[Hello Purvis]

>Clearly whoever gives out names here is colorblind.

>I'll colorblind you!!

> "An escape?"
> Dig in.

>"Yeah, fence broke," says the farmer as she spoons up her meal. "A bunch of 'em got away, only tracked down maybe two thirds of them, as of last night. Imagine the youkai got the rest, if you ask me. Once things have settled, I'll go see what they have."
>You dig in! The millet is slightly salty and has a familiar cereal flavor; back in your day, millet was more common than rice.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Do you know how the fence broke?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Do you know how the fence broke?"

>"Probably just old," says the farmer.  "I figure a horse brushed up on it to scratch and down it went."
>The cat is practically at your knee now.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Stop eating for long enough to reach our hand down slowly and let the cat sniff it.

[Hello Purvis]

> Stop eating for long enough to reach our hand down slowly and let the cat sniff it.

>The cat sniffs at your hand and then rubs against it.
>"All I'm worried about, truth be told, is the price going up," the farmer continues.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

Officially going full profile bore for this game.

> Pet the cat if the cat permits.
> "Yes, I understand. If the fence is as old as you say, that does seem the most likely explanation."

[Hello Purvis]

> Pet the cat if the cat permits.
> "Yes, I understand. If the fence is as old as you say, that does seem the most likely explanation."

>The cat seems to be happy enough for the attention, and flops about on the ground.
>"I'm thinking if they don't turn up, Kiyotada; that's the man with the pasture, might just toss a few coins at the black witch and see if she can find 'em."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> We have established that we are well-known to Marisa. What do we think of her, and what does she think of us?

[Hello Purvis]

> We have established that we are well-known to Marisa. What do we think of her, and what does she think of us?

>She seems to have a vague respect for you, as much as she does for anything, and for hermits in general. You have not really encountered her much, though, since your resurrection first happened.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> How hard are we for the local currency?

[Hello Purvis]

> How hard are we for the local currency?

>You do not carry money. It's not a very hermit thing to do. Generally, Futo exchanges a grave good or some such when supplies are needed.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "That seems a good idea to me. I admit my experience with Miss Kirisame is lacking, but she seems a very dependable candidate for getting a job done."
> Lightly skritch behind the cat's ears a bit.

[Hello Purvis]

> "That seems a good idea to me. I admit my experience with Miss Kirisame is lacking, but she seems a very dependable candidate for getting a job done."
> Lightly skritch behind the cat's ears a bit.

>"She good for odd jobs, when you can find her," Aoi says. "Well, you won't get an honest day's work out of her, but for little weird things..."
>The cat seems to be melting into a feline gel of purring contentment.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Smile.
> "It seems Akai does not feel like being very troublesome today."

[Hello Purvis]

> Smile.
> "It seems Akai does not feel like being very troublesome today."

>"She's in a good mood, I except," the farmer says.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "A shame I will have to stop eventually and pursue my companions."

[Hello Purvis]

> "A shame I will have to stop eventually and pursue my companions."

>"Well, I gotta get out into the field after I'm done here anyways," says the farmer. "Weeds don't pull themselves."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Look down at the cat.
> "Sorry, little one, but I need to be off."