Sword Quest II - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Kilgamayan]

> Have we come across any married couples, or even references to married couples, in our short time here?

[Hello Purvis]

> Have we come across any married couples, or even references to married couples, in our short time here?

>Quite a few among the townsfolk.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> How old does Renko look, if we assume her to be a relatively average human (i.e. not having slowed down or stopped her aging)?
> "Ah, good, good! This could be my second opportunity to learn from a married couple today, after speaking at length with Patchouli and her familiar."

[Hello Purvis]

> How old does Renko look, if we assume her to be a relatively average human (i.e. not having slowed down or stopped her aging)?
> "Ah, good, good! This could be my second opportunity to learn from a married couple today, after speaking at length with Patchouli and her familiar."

>You would estimate she's in her mid to late twenties.
>Marisa barks out a sharp laugh in response. Renko snickers a moment later, seemingly going with the flow.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Anyway, I hope it would not be too much trouble if my companions join me whenever we are able to visit."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Anyway, I hope it would not be too much trouble if my companions join me whenever we are able to visit."

>"No no, go back a minute," says Marisa. "Patchouli and her familiar, married? What tengu newspaper did your read that out of?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Give a small grin.
> "I am in no position to say if they have official documentation or not, or even if they agreed upon it. But when two people know each other as well as they do, and are such obvious experts in the art of button-pushing, then ceremony and documentation are a mere formality, really."
> Why did we and Tojiko cease the more intimate aspects of our relationship? was it jusg the natural result of following the Tao, or was it more because of the thousand-year layover?

[Hello Purvis]

> Give a small grin.
> "I am in no position to say if they have official documentation or not, or even if they agreed upon it. But when two people know each other as well as they do, and are such obvious experts in the art of button-pushing, then ceremony and documentation are a mere formality, really."
> Why did we and Tojiko cease the more intimate aspects of our relationship? was it jusg the natural result of following the Tao, or was it more because of the thousand-year layover?

>Marisa barks another laugh. "Now you've made me jealous!"
>A bit of both, really, but favoring the latter and the fact you've both changed from the people you used to be.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Chuckle lightly.
> "Now, now. I haven't seen you two converse yet, so for all I know, Patchouli is far better at telling you to not say certain things than she is with her familiar."

[Hello Purvis]

> Chuckle lightly.
> "Now, now. I haven't seen you two converse yet, so for all I know, Patchouli is far better at telling you to not say certain things than she is with her familiar."

>"She can try, anyways!" says Marisa, laughing again.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Then perhaps you have your edge there. But regardless, I must visit Eientei, to see if Futo and Tojiko are there."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Then perhaps you have your edge there. But regardless, I must visit Eientei, to see if Futo and Tojiko are there."

>"Alright. Tell 'em I said hi," Marisa says.
>"Good luck," says Renko. "It's easy to get lost in there if you don't follow those rocks exactly right."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Give a small bow.
> "I will, and thank you. Have a pleasant day, both of you."
> Head westward, look for guide boulders.

[Hello Purvis]

> Give a small bow.
> "I will, and thank you. Have a pleasant day, both of you."
> Head westward, look for guide boulders.

>"Take it easy," says Marisa, as you depart.
>Following Marisa's directions, you slip around the southern edge of her yard, then find a worn path leading westward.  The forest itself is a riot of insect noises, bird calls, and the occasion faerie chatter. Every so often you can catch a glimpse of the latter, between the trees going about their own business. A couple stop and stare at you, but none seem to be inclined to follow or interact with you.
>After a few minutes, you note the trees are thinning, while shoots of bamboo become more and more common. Ahead, the trees give way entirely to a wall of bamboo. A large boulder nearby catches your attention, with a message carved crudely into the side of it instructing the reader to go forward until they find another rock, and then follow the arrows.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Okay, we were advised to follow the instructions very closely.
> Position ourselves so we are facing the message head-on and it is facing us head-on. Once we are set, go forward, climbing or floating over the boulder as needed to get past it.

[Hello Purvis]

> Okay, we were advised to follow the instructions very closely.
> Position ourselves so we are facing the message head-on and it is facing us head-on. Once we are set, go forward, climbing or floating over the boulder as needed to get past it.

>You align yourself with the message, then proceed westward.
>Pushing your way into the bamboo, you range of vision quickly narrows to a few yards in every direction.  The sounds of insects, birds, and faeries can still be heard, though now the omnipresent rustle of bamboo joins the noises. It is dark here; little of the sunlight can filter through all of the leaves. You try to maintain a straight course like the stone instructed, but bamboo is not always cooperative and forces you to walk around large clumps. Not quite certain where you are, you start to wonder if you've been driven off the path. After some minutes, though, you can glimpse a rock ahead, with arrow carved into it and then charred for emphasis, pointing leftward.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Phew!
> Get right up to the rock, face it head-on like the first large boulder, turn 90 degrees to the left, and head straight forward.

[Hello Purvis]

> Phew!
> Get right up to the rock, face it head-on like the first large boulder, turn 90 degrees to the left, and head straight forward.

>You square up with the rock again, and continue leftward. Again, the path is not entirely cooperative, but you do your best to stay on it.
>After a couple minutes, you think you can hear something moving about deeper in the bamboo, to the right.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Inventory

[Hello Purvis]

> Inventory

>You inventory contains:
>Regal Clothing
>Strong enough for a monarch, simple enough for a hermit.
>Shaku
>A ritual baton that is part of any ruler?s regalia. You keep it as a symbol of your old office.
>Harmony Earmuffs
>This does much to cut down the babel of voices you can hear from other people. Particularly strong desires can still get through.
>Travel Bag
>A sack for keeping your things in.
>Used Clothing
>Regal, but in need of a wash
>Bag of Konpeito x2
>Apparently it is regarded as good manners these days for a royal to give these guests and such, they didn't have such things in your day!
>Bag of Curry Powder
>A donation from a potential follower. Quite fresh!
>Iron Key
>A simple ring-handled key made of iron.
>Bundle of Incense
>This is a bundle of incense; it it unlabeled.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Place our shaku on the ground, pointing exactly in the direction we are traveling.
> Once this is done, turn to the right.
> "Hello?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Place our shaku on the ground, pointing exactly in the direction we are traveling.
> Once this is done, turn to the right.
> "Hello?"

>You place your shaku on the ground, then turn to face the noise and call out.
>"Who's there?" answers a feminine voice.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Is it a voice we recognize?
> How mature does it sound?

[Hello Purvis]

> Is it a voice we recognize?
> How mature does it sound?

>You do not. The voice sounds adult, and fairly strong.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I am Miko, a simple Taoist hermit. Who are you?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "I am Miko, a simple Taoist hermit. Who are you?"

>"Just a hunter," she answers. "You haven't happened to see a boar around here lately, have you? One got stuck in one of my traps and ran off with it!"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "My apologues, but I have not. I have not been here for very long, however."

[Hello Purvis]

> "My apologues, but I have not. I have not been here for very long, however."

>"Ah, what a pain," says the hunter. You can hear her approaching. "A wounded boar is a dangerous thing to leave running around."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Take a brief glance at our shaku to make sure it's still there.
> "I will be sure to keep an ear out for it. Thank you for the warning."

[Hello Purvis]

> Take a brief glance at our shaku to make sure it's still there.
> "I will be sure to keep an ear out for it. Thank you for the warning."

>Your shaku does not seem to have moved. You hope it hasn't moved, in any event.
>You get a glimpse of the hunter through the bamboo.  She seems to be a mid-sized woman with dark auburn hair and wolf ears, wearing a red and white gown. "You're welcome," she says. "If you hear it, just try not to get its attention."

>_