Sword Quest - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Kilgamayan]

> We mentioned earlier that the shapeshifter and tanuki tend to do that Temple's 'dirty work'. How often, if ever, do we or our entourage bother the Temple or its inhabitants without having just been provoked into doing so?
> For that matter, how often do they do the same to us?

[Hello Purvis]

> We mentioned earlier that the shapeshifter and tanuki tend to do that Temple's 'dirty work'. How often, if ever, do we or our entourage bother the Temple or its inhabitants without having just been provoked into doing so?
> For that matter, how often do they do the same to us?

>There have been a few scattered danmaku fights with them and your followers. Futo has sometimes escalated things by doing things to their temple; all that really stops them from retaliating is the fact than Senkai is beyond their ability to reach.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Hopefully none of this has been done on our orders, at least?

[Hello Purvis]

> Hopefully none of this has been done on our orders, at least?

>You have not ordered it. But you have also told your followers not to let themselves be victimized. They can't precisely lie to you, in any event.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Well, of course. That is only fair.
> Okay. Do we know where any of the villagers that are interested in Taoism reside?

[Hello Purvis]

> Well, of course. That is only fair.
> Okay. Do we know where any of the villagers that are interested in Taoism reside?

>Not many of them. But you believe there is merchant that specializes in herbs whose stand you recall in the market.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Did we formerly go by Shoutoku-taishi? If not, what significance, if any, did that name hold?

> Let us find this herbalist, then.

[Hello Purvis]

> Did we former go by Shoutoku-taishi? If not, what significance, if any, did that name hold.

> Let us find this herbalist, then.

>You yourself did not use it. It wasn't really a name so much as a poetic honorific. You did recognize it, though, as it was generally used by people who were not close enough to you to politely use your more personal name.
>You make your way back into the market. Though you know where you're going this time, it takes a bit to actutally reach your destination, as it is on the far end of the market. The stand is a fairly humble affair, a table made of old wood and overhang from which bundles of fresh and dried herbs dangle. The shopkeeper is a small, portly woman whose wide eyes give her kind of a permanent surprised expression.  As you approach, you notice she is busy chopping up some cilantro into a fine pieces and sweeping them into a bag. She smiles as she notices you and says "Oh, how unexpected! What can I do for you today?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> We have met this woman before?

[Hello Purvis]

> We have met this woman before?

>Briefly, she was one of a small crowd that Futo managed to gather.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Smile.
> "A pleasant morn to you. I have come to the village today to offer some basic advice on the way of Tao, for any who wish to hear and learn.".

[Hello Purvis]

> Smile.
> "A pleasant morn to you. I have come to the village today to offer some basic advice on the way of Tao, for any who wish to hear and learn.".

>"Well, I'm all ears!" says the herbalist. "Um, if you don't mind me finishing this up in the meantime. I have a customer coming this afternoon, you see..."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Not at all! Perhaps, while you work on this, you could tell me what you already know?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Not at all! Perhaps, while you work on this, you could tell me what you already know?"

>"Oh, well," says the herbalist. "I think I only understand some of the basics, to be honest. But let me see, I understand that the tao is eternal, and nature follows the tao on its own; and I think maybe comes from it? And living in tune with it means finding out what your place in life is, and following it. Is that right?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Does that all sound reasonably correct?

[Hello Purvis]

> Does that all sound reasonably correct?

>For a lay perspective, you suppose this is reasonably correct, if terribly unsophisticated.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> How could we refine these ideas so she has a better understanding? Is there anything in particular that could use clarification?

[Hello Purvis]

> How could we refine these ideas so she has a better understanding? Is there anything in particular that could use clarification?

>Elaboration, you think, would serve better than clarification.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Which of her stated pieces of information would be the most 'important' and most worthy of elaboration? How would we elaborate on it?

[Serela]

>Is "auto-complete basic Tao explanation" an option, given that Miko is an expert on the matter, the players are kind of clueless, and it's probably superfluous to do the "have the parser explain and then spit it back out to him" song and dance?

[Hello Purvis]

> Which of her stated pieces of information would be the most 'important' and most worthy of elaboration? How would we elaborate on it?

>Both the meaning of the Tao as a source of all, and what it means to find one's role within it would both be worthwhile, but you think the latter would be more immediately beneficial.

>Is "auto-complete basic Tao explanation" an option, given that Miko is an expert on the matter, the players are kind of clueless, and it's probably superfluous to do the "have the parser explain and then spit it back out to him" song and dance?

>Sure.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

What, you mean you don't want to post everything twice??

I admit I am curious if anyone in the playerbase is familiar with Tao to a degree. (Draco? Sour?) I used to know a little bit from lurking /jp/ threads about it (don't laugh, you'd be surprised), but that was some time ago and I would need several resources on-hand to try it myself. I at least know how to put on a receivable presentation, though.

> Nod.
> "That is reasonably accurate, yes. A solid foundation. I think perhaps that elaboration on your role within then Tao would be best at this juncture. Let me see, hmm..."
> Perform Taoism AutoComplete for one's role within the Tao.

[Hello Purvis]

> Nod.
> "That is reasonably accurate, yes. A solid foundation. I think perhaps that elaboration on your role within then Tao would be best at this juncture. Let me see, hmm..."
> Perform Taoism AutoComplete for one's role within the Tao.

>You lecture her for a bit. How long do you intend to spend on it; this is a topic that can easy go into hours.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Let's say either ten minutes or however long it takes her to finish her order, whichever is longer.

[Hello Purvis]

> Let's say either ten minutes or however long it takes her to finish her order, whichever is longer.

>You spend some time explaining what it means to find one's place, then how to proceed beyond that and get to the true meat of the ideology. As you do so, you note that she has quite a bit of cilantro piled up, and may be at this for some time. Still, she nods along, and asks some simple, but honest, questions. You suspect some of the finer points escape her, but she seems to understnd the gist of it.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> How long have we spent so far, if she is still going?

[Hello Purvis]

> How long have we spent so far, if she is still going?

>Probably about fifteen minutes, and yes. You are suspecting this customer must run a restaurant.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Best stop here, then. Enlightening others and helping them further their own personal faith is all well and good, but we have our own business to attend to.
> "Of course, all of this is simply scratching the surface of a single important aspect. But I hope this has been enlightening for you nonetheless."

[Hello Purvis]

> Best stop here, then. Enlightening others and helping them further their own personal faith is all well and good, but we have our own business to attend to.
> "Of course, all of this is simply scratching the surface of a single important aspect. But I hope this has been enlightening for you nonetheless."

>"I think I've learned a couple thing," she says. "It sounds rather difficult, though."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Nod.
> "Indeed. A spiritual journey to completely rewrite how one approaches life is never easy, nor is it ever quick."
> Smile.
> "But it is attainable, if one desires it enough. Your enthusiasm is honest; this will help you greatly in your journey."