Nue Quest II: A Z-Machine Adventure

[Kilgamayan]

> "Yeah. 'Tis a shame. But it's still a living, I guess. At least until today."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Yeah. 'Tis a shame. But it's still a living, I guess. At least until today."

>"Oh, I imagine it's going to explode in popularity," says the shopkeeper.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I guess it'll have to, if people want to bring any sense of stability to their economies. Of course, when I fix things, it won't matter, but still."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I guess it'll have to, if people want to bring any sense of stability to their economies. Of course, when I fix things, it won't matter, but still."

>"I've never heard theft becoming a cause of economic stability," says Ichiro. "But I suppose the question can be avoided if you succeed."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Oh. I was thinking of the other side of the coin."
> Frown.
> "Byakuren often has me thinking of the lighter half of things these days. I've really lost my touch."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Oh. I was thinking of the other side of the coin."
> Frown.
> "Byakuren often has me thinking of the lighter half of things these days. I've really lost my touch."

>"Ah, you travel with the buddhists?" says  Ichiro. "I wouldn't have expected. In any event, we've likely all lost what touch we had. Such is the price of harmony, I expect."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Do we remember where we met Shuuei for the firsy time, several months ago?
> "I'm with them off and on. I don't think I could do full-time Buddhism. That much piety just isn't me, even without this. I spend my days underground. It's home enough for me."

[Hello Purvis]

> Do we remember where we met Shuuei for the firsy time, several months ago?
> "I'm with them off and on. I don't think I could do full-time Buddhism. That much piety just isn't me, even without this. I spend my days underground. It's home enough for me."

>You remember it, yes.
>He nods. "I can understand."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Put the second ring back, if we haven't already.
> "I suppose I should move along, then. The money issue isn't going to fix itself. It's good to see the craft hasn't died, though."

[Hello Purvis]

> Put the second ring back, if we haven't already.
> "I suppose I should move along, then. The money issue isn't going to fix itself. It's good to see the craft hasn't died, though."

>You put the second ring back.
>"Resting, perhaps," says Ichiro. "And, it was pleasant to see you, miss?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Nue. Nue Houjuu. And you are Mister Ichiro, I presume?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Nue. Nue Houjuu. And you are Mister Ichiro, I presume?"

>He nods. "Ichiro Nadano."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Smile.
> "It's been a pleasure. It's not much, but if you ever find yourself underground and manage to dodge the oni, feel free to stop by my pub."

[Hello Purvis]

> Smile.
> "It's been a pleasure. It's not much, but if you ever find yourself underground and manage to dodge the oni, feel free to stop by my pub."

>"I don't think I would do well underground," says Ichiro. "But I appreciate the offer all the same."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Regardless, I expect we'll see each other again at some point. Until then."
> Give Ichiro a wave good-bye, then leave the shop and head back to where we last saw Byakuren. Hopefully she's done talking to whoever that was earlier.
> So where did we meet Shuuei the first time, anyway?

[Hello Purvis]

> "Regardless, I expect we'll see each other again at some point. Until then."
> Give Ichiro a wave good-bye, then leave the shop and head back to where we last saw Byakuren. Hopefully she's done talking to whoever that was earlier.
> So where did we meet Shuuei the first time, anyway?

>"Until then," he says.
>You wave to the jeweler, who nods in turn, and return to the main part of the village. The noise and the activity persists, as do the rather unpleasant crowds along the edges. You can see Byakuren is sitting near the edge of the alley where she was prior, and unoccupied for the time being, save for watching the crowd. She quickly notices you, and waves for you to join her.
>You met her in the Forest of Magic, a little ways south of Maribel's house, along a stream somewhere.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Walk on over to her, pulling out the broken sword handle as we go along.

[Hello Purvis]

> Walk on over to her, pulling out the broken sword handle as we go along.

>You approach Byakuren, drawing out the Broken Sword Handle.
>"Please accept my apologies for before," she says as you get close. "I couldn't just turn those people away."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Don't worry about it. I learned a couple of new things and met a kindred spirit. But I'll spare the latter details."
> Pull out the Broken Sword Blade and fit the two pieces together like last time.
> "Rinnosuke had the handle. The blacksmith isn't sure how it was made, and doesn't believe she could fix it. The charms shop guy says the glyphs aren't Gensokyo writ."
> Frown.
> "Something nasty happened to this sucker, and now I have even more questions about it than before."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Don't worry about it. I learned a couple of new things and met a kindred spirit. But I'll spare the latter details."
> Pull out the Broken Sword Blade and fit the two pieces together like last time.
> "Rinnosuke had the handle. The blacksmith isn't sure how it was made, and doesn't believe she could fix it. The charms shop guy says the glyphs aren't Gensokyo writ."
> Frown.
> "Something nasty happened to this sucker, and now I have even more questions about it than before."

>Byakuren looks at the two parts of the sword, and nods as you speak. "I am not terribly familiar with weapons," she says, "But I have to agree with you. I don't think I have much to add to you assessment at the moment, this is a little out of my field."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "We'll just have to find out later. Anyway, Maribel and Renko know to show up tonight. I left a message at the door for Patchouli, too."
> Roll eyes.
> "I guess she was busy shoving a stick up her ass or something, I dunno. Either way, she'll be disappointed to see later tonight that I haven't drowned myself in the lake yet."

[Hello Purvis]

> "We'll just have to find out later. Anyway, Maribel and Renko know to show up tonight. I left a message at the door for Patchouli, too."
> Roll eyes.
> "I guess she was busy shoving a stick up her ass or something, I dunno. Either way, she'll be disappointed to see later tonight that I haven't drowned myself in the lake yet."

>"I am not sure I follow," says Byakuren, frowning a little.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Wave our hand dismissively.
> "It's not important, just a bit of irritation on my end. Don't worry about it. The important thing is that the message has been left with the people at the gate. Presumably she'll be there tonight. I know I would hate to found a group and then be the only one to not show up at the first meeting after something significant actually happens."

[Hello Purvis]

> Wave our hand dismissively.
> "It's not important, just a bit of irritation on my end. Don't worry about it. The important thing is that the message has been left with the people at the gate. Presumably she'll be there tonight. I know I would hate to found a group and then be the only one to not show up at the first meeting after something significant actually happens."

>Byakuren nods. "It would be a shame," she says. "But, I would not be terribly surprised. I hope that you had no problems there?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Beyond what I've already mentioned, no. They're tighter-wound than even the tengu, but stopped before coming to blows. I liked the little blonde one, she's a wing sis."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Beyond what I've already mentioned, no. They're tighter-wound than even the tengu, but stopped before coming to blows. I liked the little blonde one, she's a wing sis."

>Byakuren purses her lips for a moment, then says, "You met Flandre? That's unusual."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Shrug.
> "I was regaled with tales of her wanting to help and being sent outside to help the redhead with the gate because those inside were too busy looking into the mystery. Shame to hear it's unusual, I wouldn't mind seeing her again some day."

[Hello Purvis]

> Shrug.
> "I was regaled with tales of her wanting to help and being sent outside to help the redhead with the gate because those inside were too busy looking into the mystery. Shame to hear it's unusual, I wouldn't mind seeing her again some day."

>"I've not met her myself," says Byakuren, "But I was warned about her when I visited there for the first circle meeting. She is apparently quite dangerous. It's heartening that you had a good experience with her."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Grin.
> "She's dangerous to you in that she might give you a heart attack from all the cute. But, like I said, we didn't come to blows, so who knows, maybe she is."

[Hello Purvis]

> Grin.
> "She's dangerous to you in that she might give you a heart attack from all the cute. But, like I said, we didn't come to blows, so who knows, maybe she is."

>Byakuren nods. "As I understand it, were she the one who broke your sword there would not have been anything left to put back together. But if they were willing to trust her in watching the gate, then I imagine that she is not so very worrisome after all."

>_