Sakuya Quest 2 - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Suwako Moriya]

> "Seems like time does that, if what Gensokyo has become is any indication."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Seems like time does that, if what Gensokyo has become is any indication."

>Miko laughs.
>In the distance, you can see another Island looming ahead, much larger than the one you were on. A vast structure dominates it.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "That looks pretty important."

[Hello Purvis]

> "That looks pretty important."

>"That would be the Dragon Palace, ahead," says Miko.
>"Oooh," says Flandre.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Nod.
> Continue onward.

[Hello Purvis]

> Nod.
> Continue onward.

>You continue onward, and find it hard not to stare at the walls that soar hundreds of feet into the air. A long open air arcade cuts into the structure, crowned by vast stone arches that rise dozens of feet over the walls.  So immense are these arches that you can see gardens atop them. Countless people in celestial raiments fly around and walk upon glittering terraces set into the walls. Toward the end of the corridor, you can see an immense double door made of jade, easily visible from a distance. As you draw closer, Miko leads you toward one side of the corridor; you quickly note that no one walks down the middle, nor does anyone fly along it.  Looking at the nearer wall, you can see terrace after terrace set into it, leading into tunnels built into the wall that you presume lead to internal "buildings." Glancing down them, you see that there are indoor gardens and pavilions as well.
>"Here we are," says Miko.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Where, exactly, are we? That immense door? Or somewhere else?
> "This is...remarkable."

[Hello Purvis]

> Where, exactly, are we? That immense door? Or somewhere else?
> "This is...remarkable."

>Along the way toward it, near the right wall. The door is some dozens of yards ahead.
>"Isn't it?" says Miko. "It's to be expected of the Dragon God's home."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Nod a few times in wonder.

[Hello Purvis]

> Nod a few times in wonder.

>"Mmm...now, as for Miss Hinanawi..." says Miko.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Look around. Anyone look like Tenshi?

[Hello Purvis]

> Look around. Anyone look like Tenshi?

>You look around, and...there! On a terrace fifty feet below you, you can pick out her distinctive wide-brimmed hat.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Point at her.
> "That looks like her hat, Lady Toyosatomimi."

[Hello Purvis]

> Point at her.
> "That looks like her hat, Lady Toyosatomimi."

>"Ah, so it is," says Miko. "Well then. do you feel comfortable introducing yourselves, or would you prefer that I do it?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Miss Hinanawi and I have enough of a history that I would like to introduce myself, if for no other reason than to get a proper reaction out of her. I would appreciate your continued presence, however, but I would understand if you have other duties to address."
> "Before I do that, though, can you tell me her position here?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Miss Hinanawi and I have enough of a history that I would like to introduce myself, if for no other reason than to get a proper reaction out of her. I would appreciate your continued presence, however, but I would understand if you have other duties to address."
> "Before I do that, though, can you tell me her position here?"

>"She is the Messenger," says Miko.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Look at Miko and blink a couple of times.
> "Really."
> Look back down at Tenshi.
> "Now this, I must see for myself."
> Unless Miko prompts us to travel by foot, descend to the terrace where Tenshi is currently with as much grace as we can muster, landing a respectful conversation distance behind her.

[Hello Purvis]

> Look at Miko and blink a couple of times.
> "Really."
> Look back down at Tenshi.
> "Now this, I must see for myself."
> Unless Miko prompts us to travel by foot, descend to the terrace where Tenshi is currently with as much grace as we can muster, landing a respectful conversation distance behind her.

>You descend toward the terrace, and land a few yards in front of Tenshi. She stops, a half-eaten tart in her hands, and regards you curiously. She looks very similar to what you remember; about the only immediate difference is that she seems to have her hair in a ponytail. "A human showed up," she says, perhaps more to herself than to you. "Huh!"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Curtsey.
> "Indeed, Lady Messenger. I have a most unique problem, and I have come to seek permission to consult Ran Yakumo about solving it."

[Hello Purvis]

> Curtsey.
> "Indeed, Lady Messenger. I have a most unique problem, and I have come to seek permission to consult Ran Yakumo about solving it."

>"She doesn't just see anyone, I'm afraid," says Tenshi.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Give a hint of a smile.
> "I admit I'm hoping both you and she will make time for an old friend neither of you have seen for several hundred years."

[Hello Purvis]

> Give a hint of a smile.
> "I admit I'm hoping both you and she will make time for an old friend neither of you have seen for several hundred years."

>"Really?" says Tenshi, taking her tart into one hand and crossing her arms. Rather than the smug look you would normally expect, she just raises an eyebrow. "Who would that be?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Gesture our ourselves.
> "Sakuya Izayoi, head maid of the now-defunct Scarlet Devil Mansion. As I recall, the last time we saw each other, you left me broken and I left you unconscious, disputing over a flag planted on a fallen Bhavagran island."

[Hello Purvis]

> Gesture our ourselves.
> "Sakuya Izayoi, head maid of the now-defunct Scarlet Devil Mansion. As I recall, the last time we saw each other, you left me broken and I left you unconscious, disputing over a flag planted on a fallen Bhavagran island."

>She frowns for a moment. "Ooooh, right! Huh, did you become a hermit or something?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Shake head.
> "The short version of my story is that I was somehow thrown forward in time several hundred years. If you ever heard about an explosion in our library, it happened then; from my perspective, that only just happened this morning."

[Hello Purvis]

> Shake head.
> "The short version of my story is that I was somehow thrown forward in time several hundred years. If you ever heard about an explosion in our library, it happened then; from my perspective, that only just happened this morning."

>"...Okay," she says.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Like I said, a most unique problem."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Like I said, a most unique problem."

>"I'm not gonna lie, this sounds kind of fake."
>"It really is Sakuya, though!" says Flandre. "I know her really well!"
>"Got any proof?" says Tenshi.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "It seems uncouth to start throwing knives everywhere in a place like this."
> Stop time, walk over to Tenshi, take her partially-eaten tart (without touching where she bit into it, if possible), return to our original standing position, hold up the tart, and resume time.
> "Maybe this will do?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "It seems uncouth to start throwing knives everywhere in a place like this."
> Stop time, walk over to Tenshi, take her partially-eaten tart (without touching where she bit into it, if possible), return to our original standing position, hold up the tart, and resume time.
> "Maybe this will do?"

>You stop time and walk over toward Tenshi. Extracting the tart is difficult, her hand is frozen in time, and you have to pry her thumb and forefingers apart. You are not sure how forces like momentum and gravity work like this, but you know it is harder than if she were just resisting, as her fingers are frozen into place. But you manage to do so, and then pull the hovering tart from the air and return to where you where.
>"Maybe what- Hey!" says Tenshi. She scowls, then says. "Okay. I guess maybe you really are that maid. Okay, fine. You want to see Ran, huh? Well, I can take you to her chambers, but I can't guarantee anything after that. She follows her own rules."

>_