Nue Quest II: A Z-Machine Adventure

[Kilgamayan]

> "Got one specific lead, and a few connections looking for more info. I've scouted around a bit, and I've found some pretty unsettling things. The damage wasn't even restricted to Gensokyo, for one. The Netherworld got hit too. And the Yakumo kitsune believes the force behind it isn't 'magic as we know it', and I'm inclined to believe her senses, weird as they may be sometimes."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Got one specific lead, and a few connections looking for more info. I've scouted around a bit, and I've found some pretty unsettling things. The damage wasn't even restricted to Gensokyo, for one. The Netherworld got hit too. And the Yakumo kitsune believes the force behind it isn't 'magic as we know it', and I'm inclined to believe her senses, weird as they may be sometimes."

>"Hmph," says the shopkeep, seeming content to leave it at that.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "It's some weird stuff, alright. But whoever did this made the mistake of annoying me in the process."
> Grab our trident, but don't unsheath it.
> "One way or another, I plan on seeing this fixed."

[Hello Purvis]

> "It's some weird stuff, alright. But whoever did this made the mistake of annoying me in the process."
> Grab our trident, but don't unsheath it.
> "One way or another, I plan on seeing this fixed."

>"Never expected to hear a youkai planning to solve a problem," says the shopkeeper.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Never expected to be solving one myself."
> Give a lopsided grin.
> "There was a time when I'd be the one causing this sort of problem every week. I think I've lost my touch over the years."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Never expected to be solving one myself."
> Give a lopsided grin.
> "There was a time when I'd be the one causing this sort of problem every week. I think I've lost my touch over the years."

>The old shopkeeper snorts. You can't actually tell if it's from amusement or derision. His severe expressions offer no assistance in telling which is which.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Anyway, thanks for your help. Got a few info appointments I need to keep, so I'll quit wasting your time."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Anyway, thanks for your help. Got a few info appointments I need to keep, so I'll quit wasting your time."

>He gives a grunt and a terse nod.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Nod and exit the store.
> Head into the jeweler's shop.

[Hello Purvis]

> Nod and exit the store.
> Head into the jeweler's shop.

>You leave the store, keenly aware of the shopkeeper watching you despite having your back turned.
>You cross over to the jewelry store. Walking inside, you find an older gentleman, thin and about as tall as you, dressed in blue robes emblazoned with chrysanthemum designs. He is presently dusting one of the display tables, and looks over toward you as you enter. "I'm sorry," he says, "We're closed for the foreseeable future."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Nod.
> "Yeah, I figured. That might make things easier for me, though. Can you tell me where your apprentice is?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Nod.
> "Yeah, I figured. That might make things easier for me, though. Can you tell me where your apprentice is?"

>"She went home for the evening," he says, continuing to dust. "Why do you ask?"
>Thinking back to the proper etiquette for this, this next step would be to examine the rings, and give a compliment to the skill of the cut as appropriate.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Does said etiquette still apply even when the shop is closed?

[Hello Purvis]

> Does said etiquette still apply even when the shop is closed?

>Yes. The craft knows no regular hours.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Look around at a few nearby rings. Give a closer examination to a few that look well made at first glance.
> "I was hoping to speak with her again. But I don't know where she lives, so I guess that's that."

[Hello Purvis]

> Look around at a few nearby rings. Give a closer examination to a few that look well made at first glance.
> "I was hoping to speak with her again. But I don't know where she lives, so I guess that's that."

>You have a look at the rings. There's always rings, they're one of the requested items in practically every era that you've witnessed. His seem to vary in quality quite greatly, some are clearly made cheaply, and have little flaws in the stones themselves that you can pick out. A few, however, are quite exceptional, with excellently cut facets and settings that are both firm and unobtrusive. You doubt anyone in this village could afford them without a hefty discount.
>"Nor do I," he says while you examine the rings. "She's quite a private person."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "So I've seen."
> Pick up one of the exceptional rings and continue giving it an examining eye.
> "It seems she's found herself a good lot, in life, though, if she's an apprentice here. This is exquisite craftsmanship."

[Hello Purvis]

> "So I've seen."
> Pick up one of the exceptional rings and continue giving it an examining eye.
> "It seems she's found herself a good lot, in life, though, if she's an apprentice here. This is exquisite craftsmanship."

>You pick up an emerald ring and look it over. It's set into a simple platinum band, but there's no doubt that only Eientei or the Scarlet Devil Mansion could afford this piece of jewelry. The way it catches light is simply marvelous.
>"I'd like to think my humble work is worth teaching," he says, as he rubs his chin. You notice the motion immediately, though it has been ages since you've seen it; he bends back his ring finger under his chin, while leaving the ring of his fingers resting on his jaw or neck. This, and decrying the quality of his work. There's no doubt about it, this man is a thief and trained by a master much as you were.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Oh, that poor little ghost, getting caught up in this business...
> What's the procedure from here? We're not exactly in a position to buy stuff right now.

[Hello Purvis]

> Oh, that poor little ghost, getting caught up in this business...
> What's the procedure from here? We're not exactly in a position to buy stuff right now.

>She'd make a good second story worker, at least.
>At this point, you could talk about the trade openly, given no one is around.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Give a small grin.
> "So much does she really know, anyway?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Give a small grin.
> "So much does she really know, anyway?"

>"Nothing, right now," says jeweler, giving a small lopsided grin in return. "I've yet to decide if she's trustworthy."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Yeah, I imagine she'll be a tricky one. She's real secretive and shy, sure, but she's also real close with Nagae."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Yeah, I imagine she'll be a tricky one. She's real secretive and shy, sure, but she's also real close with Nagae."

>"The latter may be a problem, yes," says the jeweler, whom you assume is Ichiro. "I've been gauging her interest over time with little things."

>_

[Suwako Moriya]

? ?And how has she done??

[Hello Purvis]

? ?And how has she done??

>"A little too soon to tell," says Ichiro with a shrug. "One must be subtle."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I suppose that is true."
> Put the emerald down, and pick up and take a look at one of the other better-crafted rings.
> "I wish any of us knew more about her. Still, she's come a fair way. The first time we met, it took Nagae a lot of coaxing and the better part of a minute before she even appeared."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I suppose that is true."
> Put the emerald down, and pick up and take a look at one of the other better-crafted rings.
> "I wish any of us knew more about her. Still, she's come a fair way. The first time we met, it took Nagae a lot of coaxing and the better part of a minute before she even appeared."

>You put down the emerald ring, and pick up one featuring a well-cut spinel in a setting designed to imitate rose petals; the latter carved intricately enough that you can see veins in the leaves.
>"I can believe that," says Ichiro. "She had to be coaxed to say anything to me."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I presume Nagae sent her your way, then."
> Give a low chuckle.
> "If only the ol' oarfish knew."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I presume Nagae sent her your way, then."
> Give a low chuckle.
> "If only the ol' oarfish knew."

>He nods to confirm your question.
>"Well, there aren't many opportunities to employ the craft these days," he says. "Even with the old days behind us, the mansions are too secure, the tengu too wary, and the kappa too uninteresting. It's more a hobby than anything."

>_