Sword Quest - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Kilgamayan]

> Probably mind games or something. But we probably shouldn't stop and look around, because that might betray that we're looking for her in particular.
> Keep up our patrol.

[Hello Purvis]

> Probably mind games or something. But we probably shouldn't stop and look around, because that might betray that we're looking for her in particular.
> Keep up our patrol.

>Which way will you be going?

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Is this current street a dead end?

[Hello Purvis]

> Is this current street a dead end?

>Yes. There is a back end of what you assume is a warehouse ahead.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> How tight of a turning radius do we have when sprinting?

[Hello Purvis]

> How tight of a turning radius do we have when sprinting?

>You have to slow yourself a bit, but you can take reasonably tight corners with no problem.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Let's head to the end of the street, then, to let on that we're not actually looking for anyone. When we get there, turn around and head back the other way.

[Hello Purvis]

> Let's head to the end of the street, then, to let on that we're not actually looking for anyone. When we get there, turn around and head back the other way.

>You make your way to the end of the street.
>As you turn around, you can see the door of the small manor sliding shut.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Was it open when we first ran by?

[Hello Purvis]

> Was it open when we first ran by?

>It was not.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> !
> Run back to the door and open it.

[Hello Purvis]

> !
> Run back to the door and open it.

>You day back to the door and open it!
>Inside, you get a glimpse of a small, modestly furnished from room. A few vases sit on sturdy platforms, holding clipped flowers. A shelf along the back wall holds a number of books and scrolls, as well as several porcelain statues. A modest staircase leads up to a second floor, while doors open to the left and right. In particular, you just see someone disappear through the left doorway; you catch a glimpse of yellow blouse and a green skirt. Obvious exits are east, south, and north.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Chase that skirt! Without knocking anything over, of course.

[Hello Purvis]

> Chase that skirt! Without knocking anything over, of course.

>You give chase!
>Following it into the next room, you come into a modest kitchen. A range dominates one wall, while the others are covered with sizable shelves filled with various foodstuffs. A cabinet holds porcelain dishes. Resting in the middle of the room is a decently sized table covered with a lacy white tablecloth. A book rests at one of the corners, careless out of place. Windows on the north, east and west walls allow the morning light to flow inside. You do not see anyone else in here. Obvious exits are south.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> So the only entrance to the room is the door we just came through?
> Are the windows large enough to fit through?

[Hello Purvis]

> So the only entrance to the room is the door we just came through?
> Are the windows large enough to fit through?

>Yes.
>You suspect someone could climb though the window, but it would take time to open them and shut them again. You want to believe you're too fast for that to have happened.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

Idea!

> More mind tricks. We really must become more disciplined than this...
> Look around the room for a few moments with a slightly confused expression.
> If no one reveals themselves, shrug with a 'whatever' look on our face and leave the room, dashing back to the door through which we first entered the manor.
> Stop at the door and close it with us still inside, then hover slightly off the ground, turn around, and look around for hiding spots near the ceiling that are not in the line of sight of someone in the kitchen.

[Hello Purvis]

> More mind tricks. We really must become more disciplined than this...
> Look around the room for a few moments with a slightly confused expression.
> If no one reveals themselves, shrug with a 'whatever' look on our face and leave the room, dashing back to the door through which we first entered the manor.
> Stop at the door and close it with us still inside, then hover slightly off the ground, turn around, and look around for hiding spots near the ceiling that are not in the line of sight of someone in the kitchen.

>You look around, see no one, and leave the kitchen, and then try to give the illusion you've left the house.
>Looking around, the closest thing you can see to a blind spot is the wall that the door is set into. None of the vase stands or the bookshelf are large enough to conceal you.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Nothing for it, then. Fly on up to that part of the wall, taking care to not dangle anything in the doorway to be seen from the kitchen.

[Hello Purvis]

> Nothing for it, then. Fly on up to that part of the wall, taking care to not dangle anything in the doorway to be seen from the kitchen.

>You fly over to that part of the wall, doing your best not to be seen from the doorway.
>After a moment, just for a fraction of a second, you can see a wide black hat brim, and perhaps just the edge of a face peer through the doorway, then vanish!

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Did the face see us?
> How did it vanish? Did it duck back into the kitchen, or did it just instantly all disappear at once?

[Hello Purvis]

> Did the face see us?
> How did it vanish? Did it duck back into the kitchen, or did it just instantly all disappear at once?

>You have no idea.
>The latter, certainly, unless this person is fast enough that the former looks like the latter.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Can we see both other doors at the same time from here?

[Hello Purvis]

> Can we see both other doors at the same time from here?

>You can.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Without moving, watch both doors and wait for something to move in our field of vision, keeping ears peeled as well. (Tilt our head if need be.)

[Hello Purvis]

> Without moving, watch both doors and wait for something to move in our field of vision, keeping ears peeled as well. (Tilt our head if need be.)

>You watch the doors, and keep your ears peeled.
>It is dead silent, you don't see or hear anything. However...you think you can feel a faint aura of death in this room?

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Can we tell where it is coming from?
> Could it be a ghost? How could we make sure?

[Hello Purvis]

> Can we tell where it is coming from?
> Could it be a ghost? How could we make sure?

>You cannot. The only reason you can notice it at all is because you are as focused as you are and things are as still as they are.
>You doubt it's a ghost, they don't feel like this. You aren't sure what this is. Just thinking about it, though, makes it harder to focus on it.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Then go back to focusing on the two doors and sound.

[Hello Purvis]

> Then go back to focusing on the two doors and sound.

>You do so, and can feel it a bit more strongly. You...think it is moving across the room, toward the front door.

>_