Sword Quest II - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

> Smile to Koishi.
> "Shall we, then?"

>"I guess," she says.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Head off to the Myouren Temple, keeping an eye out for the blonde pointy-eared woman.

[Hello Purvis]

> Head off to the Myouren Temple, keeping an eye out for the blonde pointy-eared woman.

>You make your way back toward the main road., then toward the Myouren Temple. Koishi remains visible; you note that while she never seems to stop smiling, her eyes are darting every which way.
>You pass by the main intersection, and easily pick the blonde youkai out up ahead. Noticing you as well, she hastens to join you. "Well I'll be," she says, "You guys found her! I was convinced we were wasting our time. Good job, swordslady!"
>"We need to take her to see someone that she knows," says Utsuho. "Koishi is sick."
>"I think we established that a long time ago," says Parsee.
>"No, as in life-threateningly sick."
>"Wouldn't going to the moon doctor be a better idea for that?" says Parsee. "And I guess that means we aren't getting breakfast after all, are we?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> That's an idea, actually. Would Eirin be better suited for this? Or is Koishi's issue more spiritual than physical?

[Hello Purvis]

> That's an idea, actually. Would Eirin be better suited for this? Or is Koishi's issue more spiritual than physical?

>You honestly don't know. But given the closest thing she's displayed to a physical symptom is not remembering things, you suspect it may be more the former.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "She does not appear to have any physical symptoms, aside from some apparent memory issues. I am not sure, but I do think the issue is more spiritual."

[Hello Purvis]

> "She does not appear to have any physical symptoms, aside from some apparent memory issues. I am not sure, but I do think the issue is more spiritual."

>Parsee shrugs. "Whatever works best, it's a pain either way."
>"No it isn't," says Utsuho.
>"You didn't miss supper," says Parsee.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> How well-stocked are Hakugyokurou's food stores?
> How much leeway do we have to feed our personal guests?

[Hello Purvis]

> How well-stocked are Hakugyokurou's food stores?
> How much leeway do we have to feed our personal guests?

>Quite well. Ghosts eat for pleasure, and many will forgo it for days to months at a time based on their moods.
>You don't know. You've never had personal guests before.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Frown.
> "If it is a meal you desire, I can see about putting together something for all of us once we reach our destination."

[Hello Purvis]

> Frown.
> "If it is a meal you desire, I can see about putting together something for all of us once we reach our destination."

>"Deal." says Parsee.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Very well. Do any of you have any remaining business here, or shall we depart?"
> Is Koishi still visible?

[Hello Purvis]

> "Very well. Do any of you have any remaining business here, or shall we depart?"
> Is Koishi still visible?

>Koishi is still visible, eyes still roaming about, periodically fixing on this person or that. You note she seems to have put the Raven youkai between herself and most of the activity to the east.
>"Nothin' here," says Parsee.
>"Yeah, we didn't even intend to be in town long to start with," says Utsuho. "But then we heard about Koishi and knew we had our chance to find her."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Let us depart, then."
> Make our way out of the village on foot, then take flight and head back home.

[Hello Purvis]

> "Let us depart, then."
> Make our way out of the village on foot, then take flight and head back home.

>You make your way from the village, taking flight as you reach the outskirts.
>ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD: Miko.
>You make your way down the forest path, having left Kourindou.  It has taken an S-shapes curve around the store and its vacant yard, and seems to continue on straight for some distance. As you follow it, you note a large boulder to the eastern side of the path. As you pass it, you hear some voices to the west; too muffled to make out what they are saying.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Is there an obvious path to the west, or its it just unbeaten forest?

[Hello Purvis]

> Is there an obvious path to the west, or its it just unbeaten forest?

>It is unbeaten forest, but it is not so dense that you couldn't pick your way through it.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Let's head west through the forest, then, trying not to step on too many crunchy things so as to alert the voices to our presence.

[Hello Purvis]

> Let's head west through the forest, then, trying not to step on too many crunchy things so as to alert the voices to our presence.

>You make your way through the brush as unobtrusively as you can, and find that the woods beyond it is rather sparse; you can almost pick out something like a path. Following it, you make your way between the trees and underbrush toward a small clearing. You can just glimpse a white house through the brush. You can almost hear the familiar voice of Marisa, saying "C'mon, give me ten more, you can do it!" and what seem to be reply grunts from someone else.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Investigate! Perhaps Marisa and whoever else have seen our comrades.

[Hello Purvis]

> Investigate! Perhaps Marisa and whoever else have seen our comrades.

>You push onward!
>Soon you come to the edge of a small clearing, dominated by a deently-sized white house; you are certain you flew over it twice now. The house is in relatively good condition, a bit smaller than the store you had just visited, and seems to be L-shaped. Flower boxes line the windows,  currently bearing a number of strange-looking leafy plants. The yard is covered with a number of curious-looking objects, many of them looking rather bulky and impractical for anything. Marisa is in the middle of the yard, kneeling at the edge of a bench. A young woman with brown hair, wearing a white dress shirt and black skirt, lays on the bench. Marisa seems to be holding her ankles while the young woman sits up and then lays back down, her hands behind her head. Her face is flushed, and she is obviously sweating heavily.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Have we ever seen this activity before?
> Continue observing. There is no need to interrupt.

[Hello Purvis]

> Have we ever seen this activity before?
> Continue observing. There is no need to interrupt.

>Not this particular kind, but you have dealt with soldiers and the like long enough to recognize exercise when you see it.
>You watch as the brown-haired woman completes a few more motions, then collapses back onto the bench, panting and staring up at the sky. "Good job!" says Marisa. "Just rest up, then get some water and change clothes."
>The young woman nods vacantly in response.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Step further into the clearing. Give a small wave to whoever notices us.

[Hello Purvis]

> Step further into the clearing. Give a small wave to whoever notices us.

>You step into the clearing, and wave as Marisa looks over. "Oh, hey Miko," she says. The young woman turns her head to regard you curiously, while breathing heavily.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Do we recognize this woman?
> Is she human, youkai, or another species?
> Smile and nod to Marisa.
> "Good day. Marisa. Have my companions perhaps made their way by this place recently?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Do we recognize this woman?
> Is she human, youkai, or another species?
> Smile and nod to Marisa.
> "Good day. Marisa. Have my companions perhaps made their way by this place recently?"

>You do not recognize her, but she appears to be human.
>"Uh, maybe?" says Marisa. "I think a couple people went past earlier this morning; I was kinda only half awake at the time."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> What direction did we travel to get here from the shop?

[Hello Purvis]

> What direction did we travel to get here from the shop?

>The shop is to the north, and very slightly to the east of here.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "That may very well be them, yes. What notable locations are south of here?"