Nitori Quest 2 - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Kilgamayan]

> "In fact, why don't you two keep eyes on the sails and the engine?"
> Provide information on what to look for and how to react to different situations.

[It's Purvis!]

> "In fact, why don't you two keep eyes on the sails and the engine?"
> Provide information on what to look for and how to react to different situations.

>"I guess?" says Koa. She glances out the window. "They're still sailing, looks like."
>You patiently explain what to look for to both your crew members. As expected, Aoi doesn't need too much coaching to look after the engine. While she doesn't understand exactly how it all works, she has the background knowledge to pick it up pretty quickly. Koa, however, needs quite a bit more, the closest experience she has with sails is closing a curtain. But you manage to impart what she needs to look for and you think she's retained it.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Great. While that's going on, I'll see about possibly speeding us up by riding the winds. No promises, of course, but I'll do what I can."

[It's Purvis!]

> "Great. While that's going on, I'll see about possibly speeding us up by riding the winds. No promises, of course, but I'll do what I can."

>"Okay!" Aoi says, sitting by the engine hatch, watching it work.
>"Um, just don't break the sails, I guess?" Koa says.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I'm certainly going to try not breaking anything. This wasn't cheap or easy to make!"
> Spend some time focusing on riding the wind to speed up (though not to the exclusion of small talk if someone wants to do that).

[It's Purvis!]

> "I'm certainly going to try not breaking anything. This wasn't cheap or easy to make!"
> Spend some time focusing on riding the wind to speed up (though not to the exclusion of small talk if someone wants to do that).

>You return your effort to piloting.
>The winds are difficult to get a feel for, they don't seem to be connected to anything you can discern at the moment. But there do seem to be something like patterns to them. After awhile, you get reasonably good at finding that pattern and you manage to make some extra headway. Koa complains, of course, as you have to tack the ship this way and that to do it, but you manage to convince her it's working. You're sure it's working...
>The day goes by slowly but smoothly. Aoi keeps you updated on how the engines are doing, while Koa keeps an eye on the wings at least some of the time; pacing around and playing with her cards at other times, and just having a midday nap at one point. Aoi has a break to make lunch at one point, a delightful cucumber-heavy stir fry that even Koa ultimately enjoys. Which is good, as there are leftovers for supper.
>The sky grows darker as you leave Gensokyo further and further behind. Never getting quite nightlike, but more and more dusky. The stars shine more brightly, and you can see the Sake River up ahead. With luck, you might be able to hit it by "evening"; as much as that measurement means anything here; if you keep at it. Maybe later than that.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Point the Sake River out.
> "There's our first destination, ladies. We might meet some celestial gods while we're there, which could be interesting."

[It's Purvis!]

> Point the Sake River out.
> "There's our first destination, ladies. We might meet some celestial gods while we're there, which could be interesting."

>"Do you think they'll be friendly?" Koa says, looking over from staring out the window.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Hard to say. At the very least, though, I'd be surprised if they were hostile."

[It's Purvis!]

> "Hard to say. At the very least, though, I'd be surprised if they were hostile."

>Koa nods. You don't know if she's reassured, but she doesn't argue at least.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Really, with any luck, they might help us out if we tell them we're looking into the missing stars. Fingers crossed."
> Onward to the Sake River!

[It's Purvis!]

> "Really, with any luck, they might help us out if we tell them we're looking into the missing stars. Fingers crossed."
> Onward to the Sake River!

>You press onward. the vague light gives away completely; you aren't sure if it is because you've gotten that far from Gensokyo, or if it's just night time; it's certainly been long enough for it to get dark back home.
>Ahead you can see the river flowing across the sky, a broad and shallow-looking flow of lightly cloudy liquid; miles upon miles across at a glance. There should be a place to settle down on its banks or the flood plain.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Can we actually land safely, get out and wander around, and be able to get back in and relaunch?

[It's Purvis!]

> Can we actually land safely, get out and wander around, and be able to get back in and relaunch?

>You should be, if there aren't any nasty surprises.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Might we meet any gods if we stop here and get out?
> What else might we find here?

[It's Purvis!]

> Might we meet any gods if we stop here and get out?
> What else might we find here?

>It's certainly possible.
>If you knew that, you wouldn't be an explorer.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Alright, ladies, anyone interested in a chance to disembark and stretch their legs?"

[It's Purvis!]

> "Alright, ladies, anyone interested in a chance to disembark and stretch their legs?"

>"You don't even know," says Koa.
>"Sounds good!" Aoi says. "Maybe we can find a good place to rest for the evening?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Well, if nothing else, we can sleep in here. But if we find something we like out there, there's nothing stopping us from taking advantage."

[It's Purvis!]

> "Well, if nothing else, we can sleep in here. But if we find something we like out there, there's nothing stopping us from taking advantage."

>"It's at least out of the weather, in here," Koa says.
>"For what weather is there is," Aoi says. "Anyways, you got my vote."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Alright, let's do it!"
> If we have an idea which of the banks and the flood plain is more interesting, aim for that one and look for some place to land. If we don't have an idea, aim for the flood plain.

[It's Purvis!]

> "Alright, let's do it!"
> If we have an idea which of the banks and the flood plain is more interesting, aim for that one and look for some place to land. If we don't have an idea, aim for the flood plain.

>The area you can see seems to be fairly devoid of anything.
>"Should we find something interesting to dock by, first?" Koa says, as she looks out the window. "Seems like there's a whole lot of nothing here."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Sure."
> Cruise along for a bit, looking for anything interesting.

[It's Purvis!]

> "Sure."
> Cruise along for a bit, looking for anything interesting.

>You make your way along the edge of the Sake River for a few minutes, and soon catch sight of what looks like a small collection of buildings not far from the banks; an ancient style manor, you think.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Point it out.
> "There's something. And quite possibly someone, or someones."

[It's Purvis!]

> Point it out.
> "There's something. And quite possibly someone, or someones."

>Both your crew members come to see, Koa practically smashing her nose against the window. "Oh look at that cute little mansion!" she says.
>"It doesn't look abandoned, I don't think?" says Aoi. "I guess it's safe to have a look."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Might as well, yeah."
> Aim for a landing spot relatively near to the manor (such that we won't be too loud for any potential residents) and then land.

[It's Purvis!]

> "Might as well, yeah."
> Aim for a landing spot relatively near to the manor (such that we won't be too loud for any potential residents) and then land.

>You settle in for a landing. This, honestly, is fairly new technology and while you know in theory how the technique is supposed to work, you've never really been able to practice it. As such, you err on the side of caution and it nice and slow. If nothing else, a mostly empty river bank is about as nice of a spot as you can ask for. You come in as slowly as you can and... success! You touch down onto the grassy bank without any real difficulties. Then manor is some hundreds of yards away, an easy enough walk.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Phew! Okay, let's check this place out."
> Disembark and walk over to the manor.

[It's Purvis!]

> "Phew! Okay, let's check this place out."
> Disembark and walk over to the manor.

>You open the hatch, and three of you practically tumble out.
>The river banks look more or less as they did from above and a distance; covered in deep green grass dotted with various leafy plants and flowers. The stars shine brightly overhead in the velvety sky. The river flows slowly but powerfully, it would be secretly hard to swim in. As you approach the manor, you see a dark-haired woman in voluminous robes standing on the outskirts; obviously waiting on you.

>_