Sword Quest II - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

> Point wordlessly at the blood, then investigate the immediate area around it for possibly-trampled foliage and/or more of a blood trail.

>Reisen nods.
>There isn't a lot in the way of foliage here; the bamboo drives out the competition.  You do note, however, that some of the bamboo sprouts seem to have been gnawed upon.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Give a small sigh of relief. At least that more or less confirms that this is the boar and not our friends...
> Is there any pattern to the chewed bamboo?

[Hello Purvis]

> Give a small sigh of relief. At least that more or less confirms that this is the boar and not our friends...
> Is there any pattern to the chewed bamboo?

>Not that you can discern.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Between the direction we've been traveling, the location of the blood stain, and the chewed bamboo, is there any indication as to the direction the bleeding party traveled?

[Hello Purvis]

> Between the direction we've been traveling, the location of the blood stain, and the chewed bamboo, is there any indication as to the direction the bleeding party traveled?

>You don't see any particular indication, save that the chewed bamboo is mostly ahead.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Might as well go 'ahead', then.

[Hello Purvis]

> Might as well go 'ahead', then.

>You proceed forward.
>You note that gnawed bamboo is more common here; only the smallest and newest sprouts seem untouched.
>Reisen touches you on your shoulder, then points to her ear.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Stop moving and nod.
> Listen carefully to the sounds of the forest.

[Hello Purvis]

> Stop moving and nod.
> Listen carefully to the sounds of the forest.

>You stop and listen. While there are many sounds of forest life, you don't hear anything unusual.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Would removing an earmuff help us hear the forest ambiance better?

[Hello Purvis]

> Would removing an earmuff help us hear the forest ambiance better?

>Yes.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Lift our earmuffs off our ears and relisten.

[Hello Purvis]

> Lift our earmuffs off our ears and relisten.

>You do so. With them off, you can hear the sounds a bit more sharply. In particular, you hear what might be porcine grunting in the distance.
>As well, you start to get a sense of Reisen's desires, and the ghost of a headache.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Is the headache hers, or ours from removing our headphones?
> Let our eyes light up, so Reisen understands that we hear the grunting noise.
> Try to pick out the direction from which the grunting is coming.

[Hello Purvis]

> Is the headache hers, or ours from removing our headphones?
> Let our eyes light up, so Reisen understands that we hear the grunting noise.
> Try to pick out the direction from which the grunting is coming.

>It is most definitely your headache.
>Reisen nods.
>It you are certain its coming from ahead. it is also getting difficult to ignore the sound of Reisen's desires, which makes it somewhat difficult to concentrate on more mudane sounds.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Replace our earmuffs.
> Did we pick up anything specific from Reisen?

[Hello Purvis]

> Replace our earmuffs.
> Did we pick up anything specific from Reisen?

>You replace your earmuffs, returning the level of noise to normal.
>She is...astoundingly unconcerned with her own mortality. Very unusual.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Does she actively want to die, or does she simply not care if she dies? Or maybe she doesn't think she will die?

[Hello Purvis]

> Does she actively want to die, or does she simply not care if she dies? Or maybe she doesn't think she will die?

>It seems to be the second one. It doesn't seem as though she seeks it and seems to be generally interested in preventing it, but is also amazingly at peace with the idea of it.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Huh, interesting.
> Well, whatever. Her thoughts are her own.
> Continue heading forward toward the grunting, taking care not to crunch anything underfoot that might alert the boar to our presence.

[Hello Purvis]

> Huh, interesting.
> Well, whatever. Her thoughts are her own.
> Continue heading forward toward the grunting, taking care not to crunch anything underfoot that might alert the boar to our presence.

>You continue forward, taking care to make no sound. You think you can kind of hear the noises now on your own now, as you begin to proceed up a hill.
>Reisen taps your shoulder again, and points to the southeast.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Nod and head in that direction, treading as lightly as before.

[Hello Purvis]

> Nod and head in that direction, treading as lightly as before.

>You make your way in that direction, continuing to make you way up the incline, when you hear a rustling ahead, and the noises change.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Stop where we are. Hold a hand out to our side, palm facing behind us, to indicate Reisen should stop as well.
> Take on a defensive stance and steel ourselves for the arrival of the boar.

[Hello Purvis]

> Stop where we are. Hold a hand out to our side, palm facing behind us, to indicate Reisen should stop as well.
> Take on a defensive stance and steel ourselves for the arrival of the boar.

>You hold out and hand and stop Reisen, then take as good of a defensive stance as you can with no physical tools to defend yourself.
>You can hear it coming closer now, smashing through bamboo and grunting angrily.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Well, it definitely knows we're here now.
> Take on a low tone.
> "Ready?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Well, it definitely knows we're here now.
> Take on a low tone.
> "Ready?"

>"I have no idea," says Reisen, "What are you planning?"

>_

[Suwako Moriya]

> "To knock it out. Without killing it, if possible."

[Hello Purvis]

> "To knock it out. Without killing it, if possible."

>Reisen does not have time to answer before the boar crashes through the bamboo, perhaps five yards away. Your eyes are immediately drawn to the trap caught on its leg, a thing of steal jaws that it has stepped on and stepped through, forcing the teeth up its leg with gruesome-looking results. This aside, it a bit over two feet tall at shoulder, its enormous light brown head flecked with white whiskers. It gives an angry gurgling grunt as it sees you, and clumsily charges!

>_

[Suwako Moriya]

> Which leg is the trap caught on?