Sword Quest - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

> "I hope the temple matriarch feels the same way. On both accounts."

>"I would imagine so," says Keine.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Regardless, I must continue my search for my companions. Unless there is something else I can do for you?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Regardless, I must continue my search for my companions. Unless there is something else I can do for you?"

>"Mm, I doubt it," says Keine. "Unless you are intending to take a trip to Scarlet Devil Mansion, in any event."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Have we been there before?
> Do we know anything about this place?

[Hello Purvis]

> Have we been there before?
> Do we know anything about this place?

>You have not, and you do not. It's probably one of those mansions you heard about?

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I'm afraid I had not heard of this place before you mentioned it just now. But I can certainly take an opportunity to learn more about this land."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I'm afraid I had not heard of this place before you mentioned it just now. But I can certainly take an opportunity to learn more about this land."

>"It's to the south, at the very end of the road there."
>She gestures toward the road that you originally followed into town.
>"It's pretty deep into the forest, but you can't miss it once you get there."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Wait, didn't we come in from the north?

[Hello Purvis]

> Wait, didn't we come in from the north?

>Yes. The road stretches both ways, as roads often do.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I see. What needs doing there?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "I see. What needs doing there?"

>"Just deliver a message; tell then that I will be a little late today."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Nod.
> "Consider this done."

[Hello Purvis]

> Nod.
> "Consider this done."

>"That would be very kind of you," she says, smiling a bit.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

>"It is the least I can do, for all of your assistance."

[Hello Purvis]

>"It is the least I can do, for all of your assistance."

>She laughs. "For what little assistance that was! But you're certainly welcome."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I will be off, then. Have a pleasant day!"

[Hello Purvis]

> "I will be off, then. Have a pleasant day!"

>She nods and says, "Thank you again."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> How personal, exactly, was our former relationship with Tojiko? Was it more than standard high-ranking-official fare?
> Have either of us thought of revisiting that possibility since arriving in Gensokyo?

> South

[Hello Purvis]

> How personal, exactly, was our former relationship with Tojiko? Was it more than standard high-ranking-official fare?
> Have either of us thought of revisiting that possibility since arriving in Gensokyo?

> South

>She was one of your consorts; a fairly important one politically. On a personal level, you certainly liked her and were happy for her company.
>She's not said anything, but you've heard within her desires that she has contemplated it, but isn't certain as of yet. It is one of the things that has caused to shy away from listening to others desires if there isn't a need. For yourself, you are not certain if such things befit a hermit; there's an argument to be made either way.
>You head southward, and quickly leave town, passing by a scattered few houses and some small farms. Beyond it is a field of tall grass, waving lazily in the cool breeze. Here and there, you can see faeries playing in the air, paying little mind to you or likely anything else. In the distance, you can see the edge of the forest that Keine told you about. As you continue to walk, you can see a road coming from the east, intersecting with this one near a placid pond. Looking eastward as you approach it, this road seems to be less used, and extends as far as you can see toward the eastern mountains. Some distance down this eastern road, you can see a lone house in the distance; on the norther side of the road. The pond, you notice, has a number of dragonflies skimming over it and flitting among the cattails on its bank.  Obvious exits are South, East, and North.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Do we know if Futo has ever considered pursuing a relationship with us? Setting aside the appropriateness of a relationship in a hermity context, a monoamorous relationship between two people in a group of three that have been dropped into a new and frightening world could get rather awkward.

> If there is no building yet visible to the south, head east to the house we can see. If there IS a building to the south, however, head there first.

[Suwako Moriya]

So in case it wasn't obvious after four days, unlike the last however-many games, I will have no qualms dominating the play of this one. All of my personal "professional gameplay" standards still apply - anyone is welcome and invited to enter a command at any time, and I will not override someone else's command unless I think it's really detrimental to the flow of what's going on, but it won't bother me one bit if the player base ends up being just me for long stretches, and I'm not going to slow my posting pace for anyone's convenience.

If you're interested in keeping up and playing, this is pretty much the only invitation I will extend. Hop on the bus now or it leaves without you. <_<

(EDIT: This post sounds kinda sinister. Let me reassure everyone that I do not intend to grab the game and keep it for myself. I'm only going to not constantly bug other people to enter commands.)

[Hello Purvis]

> Do we know if Futo has ever considered pursuing a relationship with us? Setting aside the appropriateness of a relationship in a hermity context, a monoamorous relationship between two people in a group of three that have been dropped into a new and frightening world could get rather awkward.

> If there is no building yet visible to the south, head east to the house we can see. If there IS a building to the south, however, head there first.

>She has contemplated it, certainly. You've not had cause to read her desires lately to see how she has resolved this, or if she has.
>You...think you can make out a building to the south, along the edge of the forest? It's hard to tell.

>_

[Serela]

Kilga the powershipper

>Head towards what might be a building

[Kilgamayan]

I have no particular interest in MikoFuto, I was more checking to see if MikoFuto was enough of an existing possibility that it would make MikoToji really awkward. I'm not convinced I'll even pursue MikoToji, as much as it's the only ship I like more than RenMary.

(I've also no interest in a polyamorous relationship because it seems way too cliche and try-hard in this case.)

EDIT: Also I've been putting this off for a few quests and I don't believe a certain someone follows these games anymore.

> Along our way, when we appear to be alone, check chest for usual growths.

[Hello Purvis]

> Along our way, when we appear to be alone, check chest for usual growths.

>Not much there to be honest, you're a pretty slim person.

>Head towards what might be a building

>You progress further southward.
>Elsewhere in the world...
>-------------------
>You are Youmu Konpaku, Hakugyokurou?s finest half-ghost!
>Yours is a life at once placid and harried. On one hand, few places are really as peaceful as Hakugyokorou, and it is very easy to take life at your own pace. On the other hand, you are also the retainer of Lady Saigyouji, which can be quite hectic sometimes. While you would never say she is a cruel or unfair master, there are times when she can ask a lot from you. Or when her guests can be a royal pain. As well, you can sometimes have your hands full dealing with Hakugyokurou itself; being an estate the size of a city, sometimes it is difficult to organize proper maintenance.Still, you wouldn?t trade it for anything.
>You are a student of the Konpaku School of swordplay; presently the only one that you know of. When you can find the time, and have the energy, you focus on perfecting your art and pushing yourself further and further into it. Yuyuko sometimes jokes that you are a bit obsessed, but you feel that it is something you must do. And you?re not that obsessed... You also take a lot of joy in gardening, and you would like to think that Hakugyokurou is that much brighter for your devotion to it.
>As a half-ghost, you are privileged to have one foot within the netherworld, so to speak. While most people see ghosts as simple white blobs, you can see them as the people they are, and communicate with them. You have a tendency to favor uncomplicated answers to problems, and this sometimes leads you to be impatient. You?re trying to learn from that, though! You do sometimes have a tendency to get lost with regards to complicated things; particularly if Yuyuko herself happens to be involved. She can talk circles around you when she feels like it. As much as you hate to admit it, she is frequently right whenever the two of you disagree, so you try to have faith in her.
>Right now, you have just finished pruning one of the many cherry trees that grows within the numerous gardens of Hakugyokurou. Several ghost move through the garden, admiring the work you?ve done in general and conversing among themselves. You note one, a portly lady in the attire of a court functionary, is approaching you.

>_

[Suwako Moriya]

Oho, I'd been wondering for a while when we were going to get a Youmu game.

> Skills
> Non-Yuyuko relationships
> If she is not detailed above, opinion of Reisen Udongein Inaba
> When was the last time we saw Youki?
> Do we currently have any non-gardening tasks to complete?

> Do we recognize the functionary approaching us?

[Hello Purvis]

> Skills
> Non-Yuyuko relationships
> If she is not detailed above, opinion of Reisen Udongein Inaba
> When was the last time we saw Youki?
> Do we currently have any non-gardening tasks to complete?

> Do we recognize the functionary approaching us?

>Your Skills are:
>Konpaku School
>An discipline of swordplay to seeking the truth through cutting away the unnecessary, drawing fully upon the weapons passed down to its lone practitioner.
>Threshold Dweller
>Your art and your nature has allowed you to attune your senses to detect death as a presence. You are sensitive to the emanations of graveyards; even those that are not haunted; the touch of  death within bones, and so on. This pertains mostly to death with beings such as humans and youkai, though sufficiently advanced animals will result in the same.
>The Noble Art
>You may apply you blade as an element of danmaku, using it to subdue rather than harm.
>Faultless Guardian
>By placing one of your blades on your shadow, you pin yourself to that location until you remove the blade. No one else can move you; you may be beat and battled and lose your life, but until you remove the blade, you will not be moved. It is said that those who perish under this technique will haunt the area until eternity, but this has never been tested.
>Companion
>Through focus and skill, you may pass one of your swords to your ghost half and infuse it with enough of yourself to take a more human shape and briefly support you with the blade. Its actions are limited, and you are unable to employ any other techniques due to the concentration this requires.
>Sunder
>Your greatest technique; with proper concentration and focus, you may cleave immaterial and conceptual things; truth from discord, spring from winter.  However, this must be prepared; smaller things may require a full duel to achieve proper focus; larger things may take hours to months of meditation and preparation.
>Masterful Gardening
>Your is a green thumb, and you are exceptionally skilled in caring for plants and trees of all kinds.
>Exceptional Sprinting
>Not many people can sprint like you can; a necessary on a hectic day in Hakugyokurou!
>Adequate Chefwork
>Ghosts tend to enjoy fine foods, and you do you best to provide; you are skilled in cooking on your own and working with a team of chefs.
>You have developed a number of good acquaintances in the outer world, but do not have too many friends among the residents of the netherworld. You consider Reisen to be a fine person and can sympathize with her own position in Eientei.
>You have not seen your father in many years. He departed on a journey and no one knows where he has gone. You suspect he left to pass away alone.
>Your time is your own right now, though you get the feeling that is about to change.
>You do not recognize the functionary, but this is not surprising. There are thousands of them.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Opinions of Sakuya Izayoi, Tenshi Hinanawi, Mononbe no Futo, and all three members of the Yakumo family household.

> Wave to the ghost approaching us.

[Hello Purvis]

> Opinions of Sakuya Izayoi, Tenshi Hinanawi, Mononbe no Futo, and all three members of the Yakumo family household.

> Wave to the ghost approaching us.

>Sakuya is something of a rival of yours; this may be due to the cool relations between the Scarlets and Yuyuko. You respect her, though.
>Tenshi is a troublemaking little shit. The sooner she gets some sense beaten into her head and starts acting like a celestial, the better.
>Futo is kind of a strange person. You're a bit irked at her for defying the natural order, but you suppose she isn't all bad.
>Yukari Yakumo is one of the banes of your life, and enjoys making your life difficult in various ways. Ran, however, is an alright person to pass the time with though the two of you don't have too much in common. Chen is a fun kid, though you worry about her slipping a bit too far into being rebellious and getting into trouble.
>You wave at the approaching ghost. She bows toward you and says, "Good day, Lady Konpaku. Lady Saigyouji bid me to deliver this to you." She holds out a rolled message to you.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> How long did that cough last?

> "Ah, thank you."
> Take the message and read it.