Nitori Quest 2 - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Kilgamayan]

> Give the woman a wave.

[It's Purvis!]

> Give the woman a wave.

>You give her a wave from the distance. Slowly she raises and arm and gives a dignified wave back. Then she folds her hands in front of her, losing them in her sleeves, and waits for you to approach.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Approach closer.
> Once we're within reasonable speaking distance: "Hi! To whom do we owe the pleasure?"

[It's Purvis!]

> Approach closer.
> Once we're within reasonable speaking distance: "Hi! To whom do we owe the pleasure?"

>You approach closer. The woman is a quite tall, and wearing so many layers of kimonos that you cannot quite get a feeling for what her build might be. The kimonos are splattered with a variety of random-looking colors without rhyme or reason, you cannot tell if it intentional or the result of some kind of paint-related accident. Her hair is long and dark, some of it reachign down to her hips and some coiled into intricate braids around her temples and the top of her head. Her eyes are blue, so light that it almost seems like white. You want to say they are ice colored, but seem to have none of the coldness of it.
>"I am Orihime," she says. "Might you be raiders, perhaps?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "That certainly wasn't our intention! We're explorers and investigators from Gensokyo, seeing other lands and looking into why some stars seem to have disappeared. I myself am Nitori, a kappa tinkerer."

[It's Purvis!]

> "That certainly wasn't our intention! We're explorers and investigators from Gensokyo, seeing other lands and looking into why some stars seem to have disappeared. I myself am Nitori, a kappa tinkerer."

>"Hi," Koa says.
>Aoi fidgets. "Oh, I'm Aoi, also a kappa tinkerer!"
>Orihime gives a small nod. "How unusual. But I am relieved to hear that you are not here to pillage. What may I do for you, then, visitors from below?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "We'd be curious to learn what life is like here, and who else might be in the general area. Also, any information on the missing stars would be appreciated."

[It's Purvis!]

> "We'd be curious to learn what life is like here, and who else might be in the general area. Also, any information on the missing stars would be appreciated."

>"As you can see," Orihime says, as she makes a small gesture toward her manor before folding her hands into her sleeves once more. Having a moment to get a closer look, her hands are definitely stained with dye. "It is just me here, save for the odd guest. As for the stars, I had been wondering this myself."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Can we tell if this person is a human, youkai, god, or something else?
> "Any ideas for anyone nearby, or even less than nearby, that might know something?"

[It's Purvis!]

> Can we tell if this person is a human, youkai, god, or something else?
> "Any ideas for anyone nearby, or even less than nearby, that might know something?"

>You are pretty sure she's the third one. At the very least, she's neither human nor youkai, that you're certain about. She is certainly different than any of the gods you've encountered, but she's akin to them in some way.
>Orihime gives a rueful chuckle. "I am not sure. I am too busy to really travel and meet others."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Oh, what is it you do?"

[It's Purvis!]

> "Oh, what is it you do?"

>"I weave and sew and dye," says Orihime. "It is a bit late for dinner, but I would be happy to provide something, if you like?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Look to our travel companions.
> "That okay by you two?"

[It's Purvis!]

> Look to our travel companions.
> "That okay by you two?"

>"I won't say no to another supper," says Koa with a shrug.
>"I don't know if I really have room for it," Aoi says, "But a little dessert would be nice."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Look back to Otohime.
> "In that case, we'll gladly take you up on that offer, Lady Otohime."

[It's Purvis!]

> Look back to Otohime.
> "In that case, we'll gladly take you up on that offer, Lady Otohime."

>She inclines heard head downward for a moment, then says, "Come with me, please."
>The goddess leads you onto the manor grounds. It is less of a single building and more of a number of smaller builders arranged in something of a C-shape, connected with wooden walkways. Wooden tubs, easily large enough for you to stand in and not see over the rim, line the eastern side of the complex; you can't see in them but you assume she must be using them for dyeing cloth.  She takes to the westmost building and slides the door open, inviting you into a modestly large dining hall. "Please come in and make yourself comfortable."

>_

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Thanks!"
> Take the comfiest-looking seat that isn't the head or the foot of a table.
> "So, and pardon me for being presumptuous, is fabric work your domain, or simply a hobby?"

[It's Purvis!]

> "Thanks!"
> Take the comfiest-looking seat that isn't the head or the foot of a table.
> "So, and pardon me for being presumptuous, is fabric work your domain, or simply a hobby?"

>"It's what I do," Orihime says. "Excuse me, I'll fetch something from the kitchen."
>You have a seat at the table, picking the nicest looking mat to sit on. The table is simple at a glance, but you note the carving on it is quite intricate in its understated nature. The walls are also bare with only a little color, but a closer look at their panels reveals are made quite well. Koa plops down beside you, while Aoi takes a place across from you.
>Orihime returns with a tray bearing a selection of simple snacks; rice crackers and dried roasted soy beans in particular, and a few pickled vegetables, and a selection of sweets. "Please help yourself," she says.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Thanks for the hospitality!"
> Take what we're most interested in that isn't the sweets; we'll hold off on those for a bit while Aoi selects what she wants.

[It's Purvis!]

> "Thanks for the hospitality!"
> Take what we're most interested in that isn't the sweets; we'll hold off on those for a bit while Aoi selects what she wants.

>"It is only proper," Orihime says.
>Aoi helps herself to some yokan, while Koa grabs some rice cracks and starts nibbling on them. You have some of the soybeans, which are quite good; a little saltier than you're used to, but in a good way.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "These are great."

[It's Purvis!]

> "These are great."

>"I am pleased that you think so," she says. "if I may ask, what brings humble explorers such as yourselves to the heavens? You mentioned a few things, I seem to recall."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Ah. Right, so. I mentioned that I'm a kappa tinkerer. I've spent a while working on one of my finest projects to date - a rocket for exploring the heavens. It had previously gone as far as the Sun, but this time I'm seeing just how far I can go, both for the accomplishment as an inventor and the experience of exploration."
> "That being said, rockets need power. So, in order to make it worth a god's while to invest in me, I agreed to a friendly competition with another batch of prospective explorers, who were coincidentally also setting up their own rocket at the same time. The long and short of that competition is that whoever brings back the most valuable object wins. Which, again, I promise we're not raiders, I don't want to steal or pillage anything."
> "Then, when I was planning a flight path, I noticed a couple of stars were missing. So, since I was going to be up here anyway, I reached an agreement with a local authority to investigate their disappearance and do what I could to return them, in exchange for fair compensation."
> Gesture to our crew while still talking to Otohime.
> "Koa and Aoi are my co-pilots for this mission, because extra hands and extra eyes are always useful. And, well, also because traveling the unknown for days on end by myself would get pretty lonely."

[It's Purvis!]

> "Ah. Right, so. I mentioned that I'm a kappa tinkerer. I've spent a while working on one of my finest projects to date - a rocket for exploring the heavens. It had previously gone as far as the Sun, but this time I'm seeing just how far I can go, both for the accomplishment as an inventor and the experience of exploration."
> "That being said, rockets need power. So, in order to make it worth a god's while to invest in me, I agreed to a friendly competition with another batch of prospective explorers, who were coincidentally also setting up their own rocket at the same time. The long and short of that competition is that whoever brings back the most valuable object wins. Which, again, I promise we're not raiders, I don't want to steal or pillage anything."
> "Then, when I was planning a flight path, I noticed a couple of stars were missing. So, since I was going to be up here anyway, I reached an agreement with a local authority to investigate their disappearance and do what I could to return them, in exchange for fair compensation."
> Gesture to our crew while still talking to Otohime.
> "Koa and Aoi are my co-pilots for this mission, because extra hands and extra eyes are always useful. And, well, also because traveling the unknown for days on end by myself would get pretty lonely."

>The goddess listens, nodding at appropriate times. "I, too, had only noticed recently that a few stars seem to have gone missing. I think it was two days ago, as I was stirring one of the vats. I have no idea why. I wondered if perhaps they had burnt out?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "We can certainly let you know what's up on our way back home, assuming our path takes us back in this direction."

[Branneg Xy]

>The goddess listens, nodding at appropriate times. "I, too, had only noticed recently that a few stars seem to have gone missing. I think it was two days ago, as I was stirring one of the vats. I have no idea why. I wondered if perhaps they had burnt out?"

>_

>When did we notice the"Missing Stars"?When did the Tengu notice? What is their numbers and constellation's position?

[It's Purvis!]

>When did we notice the"Missing Stars"?When did the Tengu notice? What is their numbers and constellatiln's position?

>You noticed them last night. You don't know when the tengu knew.
>You haven't extensively catalogued them, but you've noticed a couple dozen are missing.

> "We can certainly let you know what's up on our way back home, assuming our path takes us back in this direction."

>She nods. "That would be most kind of you. You mentioned that you were seeking treasures. What did you have in mind for that, I wonder?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "That's the fun yet terrifying part: I have no idea."

[It's Purvis!]

> "That's the fun yet terrifying part: I have no idea."

>Orihime covers her mouth with her sleeves and chuckles. "Surely you must have some idea of what' you consider valuable?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Oh, well, yeah. But I have no idea what's out here, beyond the general knowledge that a fair number of gods reside in this general area."