Sword Quest II - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

> How is Yoshika lunging? Is she mostly upright or closer to horizontal?

>You would say somewhere between the two.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> We should have a reflexes advantage in a fight with a jiangshi. Let's take advantage of that.
> Change course to the left so we look initially like we're aiming for Yoshika head-on, but keep turning left so we pass by on her other side. Try to grab her leg on our way by.

[Hello Purvis]

> We should have a reflexes advantage in a fight with a jiangshi. Let's take advantage of that.
> Change course to the left so we look initially like we're aiming for Yoshika head-on, but keep turning left so we pass by on her other side. Try to grab her leg on our way by.

>You change directions and dash around her, reaching out and grabbing her leg in the process!

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Start spinning in whichever directing momentum is currently pulling us, getting our other hand on her leg in the process if it isn't there already. Use all our might to whip Yoshika around in a circle! We might have to tank a few bullets in the process; just gotta grit our teeth and bear it.
> While spinning, locate Seiga and determine how far away she is from us.

[Hello Purvis]

> Start spinning in whichever directing momentum is currently pulling us, getting our other hand on her leg in the process if it isn't there already. Use all our might to whip Yoshika around in a circle! We might have to tank a few bullets in the process; just gotta grit our teeth and bear it.
> While spinning, locate Seiga and determine how far away she is from us.

>You pivot around and manage to nab the Jiang shi's other leg, then throw all your strength and momentum into trying to drag her off course. Your arms and shoulders begin to ache fiercely from the effort, as well as the force of her own flight, but you feel her give! It is difficult, but you whirl her around.
>At a glance, while moving reasonably fast and with Yoshika occupying much of your view, you do not see Seiga.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Keep spinning around, lowering her a tiny bit, and see if we can see Seiga as we spin.

[Hello Purvis]

> Keep spinning around, lowering her a tiny bit, and see if we can see Seiga as we spin.

>"Aaaaaaaaah!" cries Yoshika as you continue to spin her.
>You whirl her around a couple more times, as she continues to shout, but you cannot see Seiga. Did she go around the Saigyou Ayakashi?

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> What do we know about how jiangshi work?

[Hello Purvis]

> What do we know about how jiangshi work?

>You're aware that they can't bend their limbs, which you think is probably due to rigor mortis. You're also aware that the talismans on their face have some power over them.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Is Yoshika currently facing toward the sky or the ground?

[Hello Purvis]

> Is Yoshika currently facing toward the sky or the ground?

>The ground.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

Bah.

> Whip Yoshika around three more times, then fling her away in the opposite direction of the Saigyou Ayakashi, angled slight toward the ground so she hopefully slides face-first into it.
> Once we've let go, give ourselves a moment to steady ourselves, then turn back around and sprint our way to the Saigyou Ayakashi.

[Hello Purvis]

Bah.

> Whip Yoshika around three more times, then fling her away in the opposite direction of the Saigyou Ayakashi, angled slight toward the ground so she hopefully slides face-first into it.
> Once we've let go, give ourselves a moment to steady ourselves, then turn back around and sprint our way to the Saigyou Ayakashi.

>You swing Yoshika around a few more times, then send her hurtling away from the Saigyou Ayakashi and into the dirt.
>You take a moment to regain your footing, then dash toward the tree.  Drawing close to it, you can see no sign of the hermit.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Take a quick glance back at Yoshika.
> After checking on her status, look upward to see if Seiga flew into the branches or something.

[Hello Purvis]

> Take a quick glance back at Yoshika.
> After checking on her status, look upward to see if Seiga flew into the branches or something.

>You look back and see that Yoshika is awkwardly trying to stand back up, which involves a bit of rolling and trying to prop herself up on her arms.
>Looking upward, you don't see anyone among the tree's mostly bare branches.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Run around to the other side of the Saigyou Ayakashi.

[Hello Purvis]

> Run around to the other side of the Saigyou Ayakashi.

>You run around to the other side of the immense tree. There, among the roots, you see a very sizable hole in the ground.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Are we aware of Seiga's hole-making abilities?

[Hello Purvis]

> Are we aware of Seiga's hole-making abilities?

>You've heard something to that effect, though you don't know any details.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Investigate said hole, then!

[Hello Purvis]

> Investigate said hole, then!

>You look into the hole. It is a little over two feet in diameter, and proceeds down into darkness. It seems to be angled slightly diagonally.
>"Bleh!" Yoshika cries, before you hear what imagine is her toppling over again. "Wheeeere did you go?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Sorry, Yuyuko-sama, we might not be back as soon as everyone would have hoped.
> Head down the hole.

[Hello Purvis]

> Sorry, Yuyuko-sama, we might not be back as soon as everyone would have hoped.
> Head down the hole.

>How do you intend to proceed down the hole?

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Let's go feet-first.

[Hello Purvis]

> Let's go feet-first.

>You make your way in feet first! At first, you are practically falling, and then you can can't see anything. But the incline becomes less severe, and you find yourself sliding on perfectly smooth dirt. The incline quickly becomes more smooth, and your slide slows to a stop.
>It is pitch black, you cannot see anything.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Is our ghost half capable of lighting up?

[Hello Purvis]

> Is our ghost half capable of lighting up?

>It is not.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Fire a burst of danmaku straight ahead of us to light the tunnel up.

[Hello Purvis]

> Fire a burst of danmaku straight ahead of us to light the tunnel up.

>You fire some danmaku ahead, illuminating a straight and perfectly circular tunnel ahead, the same diameter as before.  You imagine it was meant to be flown through.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Reposition ourselves so we can fly head-first through the tunnel, then take to the air and do so, continuously using danmaku to light our path.