Keine Quest II - Shikigami Trio

[SirChaotick]

>She isn't inside the village, and she was hospitable enough back in Chireiden. Still, we can't get too lax. Approach her and put on a moderately stern look.

[IdiotsOpposite]

>She isn't inside the village, and she was hospitable enough back in Chireiden. Still, we can't get too lax. Approach her and put on a moderately stern look.

You decide that getting too lax would be a bad idea, and approach Rin. As you get close, you can hear her talking to... the corpse?

"Man, you sure had a bad end, didn't you? Look like you had a date with a youkai that didn't end well. At least you look like you lived a long life. Would've been sucky if --" she stops, sniffing the air for a moment. "Hello, Keine," she finally states without turning around, "how've you been?"

[SirChaotick]

>"I have been fine, thank you. You are up to your usual antics, I presume."
>Attempt to identify her... bounty.

[IdiotsOpposite]

>"I have been fine, thank you. You are up to your usual antics, I presume."

"Job, Keine," Orin corrects you, "it's a job. Which isn't to say that I don't enjoy it, of course ~"

>Attempt to identify her... bounty.

You do recognize the man. He's a somewhat prominent carpenter, but has been getting on in years lately. The past few years have seen him delegating most of the work to his son. He was one of the people who liked to walk outside the city sometimes, and reportedly visits Mystia's stand to actually eat lamprey, rather than fall victim to her scam. You suppose his outside journey didn't end well this time.

[Hanzo K.]

>Sigh.

[SirChaotick]

>"I wish these tragedies would stop occurring while I'm trying to establish trust in youkai."
>Give the departed a traditional farewell.
>What are his injuries?

[IdiotsOpposite]

>Sigh.

You sigh. Seems like an appropriate reaction.

>"I wish these tragedies would stop occurring while I'm trying to establish trust in youkai."
>Give the departed a traditional farewell.
>What are his injuries?

Orin shrugs. "People are gonna die, Keine. You can't really stop that - and this guy looks like he was gonna die anyway."

You step forward to give the old man as best a traditional farewell as you can manage. From what you can tell, his throat was violently torn open - he probably died from massive blood loss soon after. Orin's at least nice enough to afford you your moment of silence.

[Hanzo K.]

>...What a grisly way to go....At least he wasn't dismembered though.

[IdiotsOpposite]

>...What a grisly way to go....At least he wasn't dismembered though.

It's true, dismembered would be worse. At least the manner of death looks relatively quick, if painful. Orin stares at you after a moment.

"You 'bout done? I've still got to get a couple more. Was thinking of stopping by the Mausoleum, there's gotta be a few there. It's been a low workload lately..."

[Hanzo K.]

>Doesn't that area fall under the village's borders?

[IdiotsOpposite]

>Doesn't that area fall under the village's borders?

The Myouren Temple which stands atop the Mausoleum is TECHNICALLY not inside the village, but is close enough as makes no difference. You know you've told Orin to stay away from the Mausoleum before, but she never seems to listen.

[Hanzo K.]

>Sigh, and alleviate the likely oncoming headache by massaging our forehead with one hand. "You know I've repeatedly told you to stay away from there..."

[IdiotsOpposite]

>Sigh, and alleviate the likely oncoming headache by massaging our forehead with one hand. "You know I've repeatedly told you to stay away from there..."

Orin nods, finally turning to face you. "Yeah, you have. And I respect you and I'd love to be able to listen to you. But Satori-sama's instructions kinda come higher on the priority list, ya know? I hope you understand."

[Hanzo K.]

>What do we usually do when she's being stubborn like this?

[IdiotsOpposite]

>What do we usually do when she's being stubborn like this?

Actually, you've never quite made it to this point - usually, you catch Orin in the act and just chase her down while she flees the cemetery. You never do manage to catch her, though.

[Hanzo K.]

>Sigh. "I understand that, but it's also my job to protect the village, the graveyard also falls under that."

[IdiotsOpposite]

>Sigh. "I understand that, but it's also my job to protect the village, the graveyard also falls under that."

Orin sighs, calling up a spirit from... somewhere under the ground, you suppose. "Meh... can't you just, I dunno, forget for a day? I'll be gone before ya know it, and if ya do me this favor I'll try to stay away from the Mausoleum for a while even."

[Hanzo K.]

Well guys? How do we approach this? Do we let it slide this once? Or take a more active approach?

[SirChaotick]

I say we let it slide. We'll remember to talk to Satori about it.

[IdiotsOpposite]

Well guys? How do we approach this? Do we let it slide this once? Or take a more active approach?

I say we let it slide. We'll remember to talk to Satori about it.

You decide that just this once, you can let it go. Orin gives you a small but sincere smile.

"Thanks, Keine. Remember, I owe you one. Now if you'll excuse me, I'd like to be quick about this..." she says, moving to edge away as if afraid you'll change your mind.

[Hanzo K.]

>Sigh. "I was having a good day up until now..."
>We have GOT to remember to see Eirin about headache prevention medications.
>At any rate, let's just make for the mansion, we'll discuss this with Satori later tonight.

[IdiotsOpposite]

>Sigh. "I was having a good day up until now..."
>We have GOT to remember to see Eirin about headache prevention medications.
>At any rate, let's just make for the mansion, we'll discuss this with Satori later tonight.

Orin grins. "Well maybe you'll have one again. See ya!" she ends the conversation with as she races off towards the Mausoleum. You make a mental note to see Eirin about headache medication and decide to just continue on to the mansion. It doesn't take you long to get there, and Meiling appears to be, as usual, sleeping by the gate.

[Hanzo K.]

>Sigh. "That cat knows not to go there, even after I tell her. Hopefully she'll learn to leave it be after I have a little talk with Satori."
>Let's head over to Hong. "Good morning."

[IdiotsOpposite]

>Sigh. "That cat knows not to go there, even after I tell her. Hopefully she'll learn to leave it be after I have a little talk with Satori."
>Let's head over to Hong. "Good morning."

Shiku nods rather solemnly. "Hopefully. Also hopefully that sort of death won't happen again."

As you approach the gate, Meiling opens her eyes. As usual, she was just resting. "Good morning, Keine. It's good to see you again. I'm guessing you're here to see Patchouli once more?"

[Hanzo K.]

>Nod. "Indeed. We obtained some training implements for Shiku, and wanted to see about having them reinforced for Youkai use. Mokou and the Dojo Master at the village also mentioned that you might have some things to help training, being a martial artist yourself."
>Fistpalm. "Ah, I was also wanting to see about speaking to Remilia about something."

[IdiotsOpposite]

>Nod. "Indeed. We obtained some training implements for Shiku, and wanted to see about having them reinforced for Youkai use. Mokou and the Dojo Master at the village also mentioned that you might have some things to help training, being a martial artist yourself."
>Fistpalm. "Ah, I was also wanting to see about speaking to Remilia about something."

Meiling nods. "Well, since I'm the closest, me first, I suppose. A dummy from the village'll be fine if you reinforce it properly, but the weights from the human village won't help someone of youkai strength at all. It'd be like lifting small books to gain muscle, it just won't work. You're going to need some youkai-strength weights. Luckily for you, I actually have a couple of sets and don't mind sharing." She whistles rather loudly, and within moments, Sakuya steps up behind her.

[Hanzo K.]

>Smile. "Thank you. I suppose that means they can keep the weights."
>Bow slightly in a polite way towards Sakuya. "Good morning to you as well. I take it things have been well?"

[IdiotsOpposite]

>Smile. "Thank you. I suppose that means they can keep the weights."
>Bow slightly in a polite way towards Sakuya. "Good morning to you as well. I take it things have been well?"

Sakuya returns the bow and smiles. "Of course. The mistress and Patchouli have been happy, and even the little sister is faring well." Meiling grins, adding in "and you know Sakuya and myself'll be fine. We always are. Just stop by on the way out, I'll lend ya a few weights." Sakuya beckons you inside.

[Hanzo K.]

>Nod. "Of course."
>Let's head in with Sakuya.

[IdiotsOpposite]

>Nod. "Of course."
>Let's head in with Sakuya.

(Sorry I haven't been posting - I've been rocking it at an anime convention all day.)

The three of you follow Sakuya into the building, where she gives you a small smile. "So then, where would you like to go first?"