Hatate Quest

[Oldmansour]

>Does this seem to be a structure, or a something less building-like?
>It's not a darkness youkai, is it?

>It does not. It appears to be a zone of blackness, like something generated by a spell or a youkai's power.
>It could very well be something created by a dark-aligned youkai. If it is, however, you can't see the culprit.

[O4rfish]

>"What is that thing?"
>Have we read Aya's articles about the Scarlet Mist incident?

[Hello Purvis]

>Did we make our own article on that and other early incidents?

[Oldmansour]

>Have we read Aya's articles about the Scarlet Mist incident?

>You have indeed.

>"What is that thing?"

>"That..." Momiji starts, squinting slightly, "is, if I am not mistaken, something of a pleasant surprise." She offers you a small smile. "It's nothing to worry about. Though it may delay us slightly from talking to Juma, until the fighting's over."

>Did we make our own article on that and other early incidents?

>You didn't start reporting on the major incidents of Gensokyo until the Moriya shrine appeared and started causing trouble. You weren't really all that interested in what the humans and other races were up to until the red-white and the black-white fought their way up the mountain. You have written your articles on that incident, as well as the Geyser event, the appearance of the Palanquin Ship (though you have yet to thoroughly follow up with the residents of the Myoren Temple to see how they've settled in) and about the Divine Spirits that plagued Gensokyo for a little while, but the earlier incidents have not been covered by you.

[O4rfish]

>"Fighting?"
>What weapons do we have?

[Oldmansour]

>"Fighting?"
>What weapons do we have?

>"Sorry, I should have said 'Dueling'." As she speaks, you see a white-haired shirtless tengu come flying backwards out of the zone of darkness, land on his back and skid for several feet. The muscular man shakes his head, gets back up and charges back in, his fists raised.
>"Although maybe 'brawling' might be a better word." Momiji says with a chuckle. "If I'm right, the guardhouse- which is inside that dark area, I might add- has a visitor. I wasn't expecting her for another four days, but this isn't the first time she's been early. That forgesmith I mentioned earlier, Karen? She still delivers her own weapons. If I'm right, that's her in there now, having a spar with some of the Rangers. Or maybe all of them." she adds with a grin. "She does love a challenge."

>Apart from your spellcards and your camera, you are unarmed.

[O4rfish]

>"and the darkness?"
>How closely related are Tengu, specifically Crow Tengu, to Raven youkai, or Yatagarasu, or Kenku?

[Oldmansour]

>"and the darkness?"
>How closely related are Tengu, specifically Crow Tengu, to Raven youkai, or Yatagarasu, or Kenku?

>"That's her power." Momiji's tail flicks back and forth. "Or maybe part of her power. Then again, it could be a spell she learned. I'm really not sure, she doesn't talk about herself that much. Anyway, as I was saying. She has the ability to 'project her blindness', as an old colleague of mine once said. She can create zones of darkness, centered on herself, where light simply ceases to exist. Even my eyes don't function in those globes of darkness. And they can muffle sound, too. That's why we can't hear anything out here. Inside, you can hear just fine, but sound can't leave the sphere."

>Crow tengu and Raven youkai, for that matter all kinds of bird youkai, are quite distinct from each other. The tengu are a genuine race, while bird youkai are individualized birds transformed into something more. There might be some genetic similarities, but the average crow tengu actually tends to look down upon bird youkai, for they are 'less' than the tengu are.
>The Yatagarasu is a deity of the Sun. Or possibly multiple deities, you're not entirely certain on that one. The tengu are a lot of things, but they're not divine.
>You've never actually heard of something called a 'Kenku' before.

[Hello Purvis]

>"Oh well, guess we'll just have to wait it out, and hope she comes out with her jaw intact, huh?"
>Contemplate a photo. Would a tengu interest story on friendly roughhousing among the guards interest our general audience, or be considered uncouth?

[Oldmansour]

>"Oh well, guess we'll just have to wait it out, and hope she comes out with her jaw intact, huh?"
>Contemplate a photo. Would a tengu interest story on friendly roughhousing among the guards interest our general audience, or be considered uncouth?

>Momiji chuckles. "My money's on her. As far as I know, only the Shogun himself has even beaten her on her own battleground."
>Some of the more elitist among the dai-tengu would scoff at news of the Rangers having a bit of a scuffle, but apart from them, a story like that would be a perfectly fine piece to run. The Rangers skills are respected among all castes of tengu, and a glimpse into how they hone their skills should be a solid article.
>Provided you can get a good shot or two to go with it, of course.

[O4rfish]

>The Shogun. Lord Tenma?

[Oldmansour]

>The Shogun. Lord Tenma?

>No, Lord Tenma is a bit higher up the food chain.
>The standing army of the White Wolves, both the Rangers and more regular troops, is led by the Shogun. This Shogun answers to the overall military commander of the Tengu armed forces, the Dai-Shogun, and to Lord Tenma himself.
>The current shogun of the White Wolves is a man called Kazuhisa Oda. You've never met him, but Momiji has described him as a brilliant man with a broad streak of compassion and kindness, and a genuine flair for cooking. Since his troops are more apt to talk about his dumpling and candy shop that he runs with his sisters on the outskirts of the White Wolf section of town than his military prowess, one could wonder how he got to be the commander of the White Wolf armed forces.

[O4rfish]

>There are a lot of Tengu. Are there a lot of other residents of Gensokyo as well?
>Watch the dark area. Snap a picture of someone getting tossed out.

[Hello Purvis]

All we need is a Page 3 Girl and we'll put the Daily Heil to shame.

[O4rfish]

>Is there a market for prurient periodicals? Does Aya publish Pantsweek?

[Oldmansour]

>There are a lot of Tengu. Are there a lot of other residents of Gensokyo as well?
>Watch the dark area. Snap a picture of someone getting tossed out.

>Gensokyo is a bit larger than one might think at first glance. Just on the surface alone there is Humans, Kappa, Earth Rabbits, Tengu of course, myriad Gods, and countless different types of Youkai. Each with their own society, or lack thereof in some cases. That's not even counting the Underworld, with its youkai and oni population. Or that other dimension that Byakuren had been banished to, Makai, you think it was called. Then there's the Netherworld, which has at least one living resident you are aware of, being that half-ghost Youmu Konpaku. Assuming she IS living. Half-ghost, what a weird thing...

>It doesn't take long before an opportunity for a picture presents itself. As you and Momiji close on the globe of darkness, another white wolf, this one a woman carrying a bow, comes flying out of the top part of the globe. You take a picture of her flight, and of her once she brings herself to a stop. She points her drawn bow at the darkness below, and you record her weapon discharging not one but three arrow-shaped bursts of energy into the dark zone, before she herself dives back in.
>Momiji winces. "I hope she came out through one of the skylights. I like to see a friendly spar, but not when it means we have to fix the roof in winter."

>You wonder about taking a picture inside the globe. You know your thoughtography can record images despite being in total darkness, but that's usually natural darkness. This, be it a supernatural power or a spell or something else, definitely isn't natural darkness. Penetrating it could prove to be a challenge, but if you could, it would probably be something Aya has never acheived. For all her skill and camerawork, even she can't take clear pictures within 'projected blindness.' ... Probably.
>Alas, as you ponder the possibility, the black globe dissolves, leaving the guardhouse of the Rangers exposed to the world once more.
>"That was actually quicker than I thought." Momiji muses.

>Is there a market for prurient periodicals? Does Aya publish Pantsweek?

>For making the parser consult a dictionary for the word 'prurient', you have earned the choice to corner the market yourself, or continue to let Nazrin run the business out from under Byakuren's nose. And other parts.

[Hello Purvis]

>Is the roof intact?
>Follow Momiji down there once she sets out.

[Oldmansour]

>Is the roof intact?
>Follow Momiji down there once she sets out.

>It seems to be. Two of the three skylights you can see are open but appear to be unbroken. There is a single arrow stuck in the thick wood of the roof next to the middle skylight, but apart from that, no damage is visible.
>"We'll drop in through the skylights." Momiji decides. "Might as well, since they're open."

>As the two of you draw near to the tough-looking green, white and black building, however, the shirtless man you saw take a tumble earlier floats out through the other open skylight, the one to your right. He's a tall fellow, with short, messy white hair and blue-black trousers. He gives the two of you a wave as he sees you approach.
>"Karen get the better of you?" Momiji calls down to him.
>"All five of us." the man replies in a deep bass rumble. "Don't think we stood a chance." He glances in your direction. "Who's your friend?"

[O4rfish]

>Quickdraw notepad and pen.
>Simultaneously zip around the inside of the building, scribble notes, and introduce self.
>"Himyname'sHatatatatateHimekaidouI'majournalistIt'snicetomeetyouThisisaninterestinglookingbuildingHowoftendoesthissortofthinghappenWhat'syournameMine'sHatatatatatebutyoucancallmeHatateYou'reawolftenguright"
>Deep breath.

[Hello Purvis]

>Let's not do this and act with some semblance of being a functional being instead.
>Glance around, then introduce ourself. Note anything that looks interesting enough to note down.

[O4rfish]

Hey now, Ayayayaya is a functional being.

[Oldmansour]

>Quickdraw notepad and pen.
>Simultaneously zip around the inside of the building, scribble notes, and introduce self.
>"Himyname'sHatatatatateHimekaidouI'majournalistIt'snicetomeetyouThisisaninterestinglookingbuildingHowoftendoesthissortofthinghappenWhat'syournameMine'sHatatatatatebutyoucancallmeHatateYou'reawolftenguright"
>Deep breath.

>Let's not do this and act with some semblance of being a functional being instead.
>Glance around, then introduce ourself. Note anything that looks interesting enough to note down.

>There's a time for youthful enthusiasm, and a time for reserved professionalism. You decide this occasion calls for the latter. Always another chance to show off one's lung capacity, after all.
>You take in the aerial view of this guardhouse. Now that you think about it, you've never actually had a close look at one before. The last ones you saw were on your way to and from tengu territory when you were following Aya. It's a bit bigger than the name would imply, and the color scheme was clearly meant to blend in with the trees surrounding the place. It is two-stories tall, with only few windows, the glass on each seeming thicker than normal glass. You note the same impression from the wood on the roof and walls, as well as the stone chimney and columns supporting the roof in the middle of each wall. It's far from the most inviting place you've ever seen, but then again, for a border post built with defense in mind, that's probably the point.

>"Oh yeah, you run that ghost-something paper, right?" the man answers as you introduce yourself. He's a handsome looking fellow, now that you're close enough to get a good look at him. He's quite well toned, and his sparring session has given him a healthy glow. Marring his looks, however, is a purple scar on his right jawline, running from chin to neck. He doesn't appear to be armed, but there are metallic stripes wrapped around his knuckles that coil up both arms, ending in blue bands around his elbows.

[Hello Purvis]

>"Kakashi Spirit News, yes. That was quite a scrap the two of you were involved with!"

[Oldmansour]

>"Kakashi Spirit News, yes. That was quite a scrap the two of you were involved with!"

>The young tengu wipes his scarred chin with the back of his fist. "Ah, you saw that, eh?" He blinks twice. "Hang a second..."
>"We came into range about the time Karen sent you flying out of the dome." Momiji remarks dryly.
>This draws a flush from his face. "Ah.... You saw that, too..." he mutters, looking away from his superior officer.

[Hello Purvis]

>"Oh, it happens. I'm sure you'll get her next time. What was it like in the middle of all this, though?"

[Oldmansour]

>"Oh, it happens. I'm sure you'll get her next time. What was it like in the middle of all this, though?"

>Recovering from his blush, the young wolf replies, "You mean that dark zone? Well..." He leans in closer, as though he has a secret to share. "It.... was dark. Really, really dark." His lips split into a broad grin, as though he'd just told the best joke in all the known world.
>Momiji gives the youth a tolerant look. "I'm sure she gathered that, Gen."
>The scarred tengu laughs a boisterous laugh. "Yes, Captain." The grinning tengu sticks his hand out towards you. "I'm Gen, by the way. Gen Oda."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Hatate Himekaidou, it's a pleasure to meet you."
>Take that hand, be ready to countersqueeze if he squeezes too much.

[Oldmansour]

>"Hatate Himekaidou, it's a pleasure to meet you."
>Take that hand, be ready to countersqueeze if he squeezes too much.

>Gen gives your hand a firm shake. He has a good firm grip, but not too strong at all. Unfortunately for his first impressions, however, it is a touch sweaty.
>"So what's a reporter like you doing out here on the frontier?" he asks, releasing your hand.

[Hello Purvis]

>"Momiji and I have been looking into things, and discussing a few domestic affairs."
>Does it seem like our former maid is paying attention? If so,  add "I was pondering a pros and cons of hiring a housekeeper, actually."

[Oldmansour]

>"Momiji and I have been looking into things, and discussing a few domestic affairs."
>Does it seem like our former maid is paying attention? If so,  add "I was pondering a pros and cons of hiring a housekeeper, actually."

>"You make us sound so distant, Gen." Momiji admonishes the youth.
>"Aw, come on, captain, even Uncle Kazu calls this the Frontier."
>"I don't mind that, but you make it sound like we're on the other side of the world."
>"It isn't far off, captain." Gen counters, flicking his tail in your direction. "I mean how often do Crow reports come out here on 'domestic affairs'?"

>She is not in evidence. You are currently standing on the roof, next to the open skylight. Gen is the only other tengu in sight apart from Momiji. Presumably Juma and the rest are still indoors.