Sword Quest II - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Kilgamayan]

> "I do believe the Scarlet Devil Mansion gatekeeper mentioned an Alice whose house is visible from her post...perhaps I will venture there next once I am done here, then."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I do believe the Scarlet Devil Mansion gatekeeper mentioned an Alice whose house is visible from her post...perhaps I will venture there next once I am done here, then."

>Reisen nods. "That might not be a bad idea. I wish I had more to tell you on that, but I've just not heard about anyone coming today."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Understandably so, given your situation."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Understandably so, given your situation."

>"Oh, don't worry about it. It'll work itself out sooner or later," she says.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Regardless, if you need assistance in any capacity, please let me know. I have lived through my fair share of civil unrest."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Regardless, if you need assistance in any capacity, please let me know. I have lived through my fair share of civil unrest."

>"Really?" she says. "What've you got to offer?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Mmm...how well-versed are the moon's citizens on Earth history?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Mmm...how well-versed are the moon's citizens on Earth history?"

>"I know a few things, but we don't pay a whole lot of attention to it."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Have you ever come across an historical figure named Shoutoku-taishi in your studies? This is what many used to call me, back when I ruled over mainland Japan, many years ago."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Have you ever come across an historical figure named Shoutoku-taishi in your studies? This is what many used to call me, back when I ruled over mainland Japan, many years ago."

>"Really now?" says Reisen, glancing at you curiously. "I don't know a lot of the details, but I do know the name."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Nod.
> "I know a thing or two about proper diplomacy between the ruling class and their citizens due to what I have done in my time. I would be willing to offer both sides experienced advice, should they desire it, on how the situation could be best resolved through compromise."

[Hello Purvis]

> Nod.
> "I know a thing or two about proper diplomacy between the ruling class and their citizens due to what I have done in my time. I would be willing to offer both sides experienced advice, should they desire it, on how the situation could be best resolved through compromise."

>"I'll take what you have," says Reisen.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "In that case, is there anything else notable about the situation you have not told me?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "In that case, is there anything else notable about the situation you have not told me?"

>"I don't think so," says Reisen.

>_

[Suwako Moriya]

> Nod.
> "Then your best bet is for the rabbits to be proactive and produce possible solutions that satisfy the concerns of the heads of house. I am concerned about the sentiments expressed earlier, that the ruling class is solely responsible for this incident. If what you say about past instances of this conflict is true, then there is indeed a valid concern in letting burrows be dug willy-nilly, and that can easily get lost in flaring tempers. If such has not happened already."

[Hello Purvis]

> Nod.
> "Then your best bet is for the rabbits to be proactive and produce possible solutions that satisfy the concerns of the heads of house. I am concerned about the sentiments expressed earlier, that the ruling class is solely responsible for this incident. If what you say about past instances of this conflict is true, then there is indeed a valid concern in letting burrows be dug willy-nilly, and that can easily get lost in flaring tempers. If such has not happened already."

>"I don't think there have been any really flared tempers," says Reisen. "At least, I don't think I've seen anyone actually mad at them... They're just irritated they can't dig up any burrows."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Do you expect things to simply blow over in a few days, then? This is not meant to imply anything offensive, of course."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Do you expect things to simply blow over in a few days, then? This is not meant to imply anything offensive, of course."

>"Well, eventually the rabbits will get sick of protesting," says Reisen. "Assuming the Princess or Eirin doesn't get sick of the demonstration or bored first."

>_

[Suwako Moriya]

> Nod.
> "As is often the case with such protests, and in fact is quite frequently a strategic decision by one side or the other. If your princess and her...ah, pardon, but what position does Eirin hold in this house?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Nod.
> "As is often the case with such protests, and in fact is quite frequently a strategic decision by one side or the other. If your princess and her...ah, pardon, but what position does Eirin hold in this house?"

>"Doctor," says Reisen.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Thank you. If the Princess and her doctor have what they believe to be a valid reason for banning burrowing in the past, they are going to be all the more willing to try the strategy of ignoring this problem until it goes away. Especially if the rabbits make little effort to do anything outside of what they are doing now."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Thank you. If the Princess and her doctor have what they believe to be a valid reason for banning burrowing in the past, they are going to be all the more willing to try the strategy of ignoring this problem until it goes away. Especially if the rabbits make little effort to do anything outside of what they are doing now."

>"Probably," says Reisen. "The rabbits are counting on them getting annoyed with no one to make their meals, or clean up, or be around for them to speak with. Well, they could leave and eat elsewhere and visit peoples, but that's pretty much admitting we're getting to them."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Nod.
> "Right. It seems a riskier proposition than offering an agreeable solution, though."

[Hello Purvis]

> Nod.
> "Right. It seems a riskier proposition than offering an agreeable solution, though."

>"Oh, definitely," says Reisen.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "And even if it succeeds, I would not expect your princess or her doctor to forget how the battle was waged."

[Hello Purvis]

> "And even if it succeeds, I would not expect your princess or her doctor to forget how the battle was waged."

>"Heh, I expect that's the point," she says.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Which could make the tactic all the more damaging in the long term."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Which could make the tactic all the more damaging in the long term."

>"So what would you recommend that we do in particular, then?" Reisin asks.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "You are right to not immediately start negotiations, for precisely the reasons you have given. While I would advise taking as much of the history of this conflict as you have access to into account, it is important to show that this is something that means very much to all of you, and holding out for a notable period of time will do exactly that."
> "However, in the meantime, I would suggest sending someone shrewd and trustworthy to learn what they can from the earth spiders you mentioned. Have a proposal ready for when negotiations begin. If you can have an earth spider architect present at the time to provide on-the-spot analysis of indoor tunneling, all the better."
> "And...be willing to help finance at least part of what your consultant or consultants will ask in compensation for their work. This will further show the importance of the issue to the rabbits, as well as demonstrate desire for a peaceful resolution and a lack of total blame on your princess."

[Hello Purvis]

> "You are right to not immediately start negotiations, for precisely the reasons you have given. While I would advise taking as much of the history of this conflict as you have access to into account, it is important to show that this is something that means very much to all of you, and holding out for a notable period of time will do exactly that."
> "However, in the meantime, I would suggest sending someone shrewd and trustworthy to learn what they can from the earth spiders you mentioned. Have a proposal ready for when negotiations begin. If you can have an earth spider architect present at the time to provide on-the-spot analysis of indoor tunneling, all the better."
> "And...be willing to help finance at least part of what your consultant or consultants will ask in compensation for their work. This will further show the importance of the issue to the rabbits, as well as demonstrate desire for a peaceful resolution and a lack of total blame on your princess."

>"Mmm, finding an earth spider wouldn't be a bad idea..." says Reisen. "I'd be really surprised if that ever happened before."

>_