Hatate Quest

[Hello Purvis]

>"So, did she do anything more subtle instead?"

[Oldmansour]

>"So, did she do anything more subtle instead?"

>"I really don't know." Juma admits. "She's clever enough, that's for sure, but if she did, I never found out about it."

[Hello Purvis]

>Nod and open pad again.
>"Did you ever witness her being impolite to dia-tengu of lesser status, or did she tend to watch her step even around them?"

[Oldmansour]

>Nod and open pad again.
>"Did you ever witness her being impolite to dia-tengu of lesser status, or did she tend to watch her step even around them?"

>"Ayatsuji-sama wasn't the type to make it obvious when she needed to 'watch her step'." Juma pauses, then adds, "Apart from once that I know of, but I'd rather not talk about that night."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Well, you have me curious, but I won't prod too hard if it's a painful memory."

[Oldmansour]

>"Well, you have me curious, but I won't prod too hard if it's a painful memory."

>"It's not so much painful, really... It's more like, both parties involved would rather I keep the matter private. MUCH rather, if you catch my drift."

[O4rfish]

>"But that's ... ! Now I'm even more curious. I can't ask you to go against your moral code, but ..."
>Flutter our wings with excitement.

[Oldmansour]

>"But that's ... ! Now I'm even more curious. I can't ask you to go against your moral code, but ..."
>Flutter our wings with excitement.

>"Not morals, Himekaidou-san." Juma says, rather formally. "Orders."

[O4rfish]

>"Darn it Juma, I WILL find out about this."
>Add quest.
>"I don't suppose you can tell me who the other party was?"

[Oldmansour]

>"Darn it Juma, I WILL find out about this."
>Add quest.
>"I don't suppose you can tell me who the other party was?"

>Juma looks a bit regretful. "Sorry I mentioned it now."
>The white wolf shakes her head. "It's really not worth chasing, Himekaidou-san, believe me. The issues' settled- well, as much as issues like ever are, anyway."

[O4rfish]

>"All right, all right. So, anything more for my domestic servants piece?"

[Oldmansour]

>"All right, all right. So, anything more for my domestic servants piece?"

>Juma looks relieved for a moment, before swishing her tail back and forth slowly in thought. "Well, in my experience, there's some skills that'll come in handy beyond cleaning and cooking, no matter who you work for." Juma seems about to continue, but she pauses for a moment, then looks at you curiously. "Okay, I have to ask. I'll finish that thought in a minute, but I'm curious. Because it seemed to me like you were curious about Tsubaki her as well, when we were talking about her."

[O4rfish]

I think maybe this would be a good response, but if someone wants to take a more straightforward tack they can cancel this entry.

>Grin. "Oh what, you're asking me questions now? Are you going to write a newspaper column? That would be interesting; I don't really have any rivals aside from Aya. But, if it's a one-off, I could publish it in my paper..."

[Oldmansour]

>Grin. "Oh what, you're asking me questions now? Are you going to write a newspaper column? That would be interesting; I don't really have any rivals aside from Aya. But, if it's a one-off, I could publish it in my paper..."

>Juma blinks, then gives you a grin. "All right, point taken." she concedes. Then she frowns in confusion again. "Hang on, 'rival'? I thought you worked for Aya."

[O4rfish]

>"Wait, you've never heard of the Kakashi Spirit News? Only the MOST factual and informative newspaper on the mountain? The Bunbunmaru is good if you want gossip and breaking news but for hard facts on events that concern the discerning reader there's only one reliable periodical: mine."

[Oldmansour]

>"Wait, you've never heard of the Kakashi Spirit News? Only the MOST factual and informative newspaper on the mountain? The Bunbunmaru is good if you want gossip and breaking news but for hard facts on events that concern the discerning reader there's only one reliable periodical: mine."

>Juma thinks for several long seconds, then gives you an apologetic smile. "Sorry. Is this a new paper?" she asks politely.

[O4rfish]

>Do we charge money for the newspaper?

[Oldmansour]

>Do we charge money for the newspaper?

>You do. You wouldn't if you didn't have to, but you don't have the finances to publish your paper without charging a fee just yet.

[O4rfish]

>"Well, circulation and brand recognition are not yet among our strong points. If you like, I can set you up with a subscription for a nominal fee."

[Oldmansour]

>"Well, circulation and brand recognition are not yet among our strong points. If you like, I can set you up with a subscription for a nominal fee."

>"Oh... I actually already have a subscription to the Bunbunmaru." Juma informs you, sounding somewhat apologetic. "I've been pretty satisfied with the Bunbunmaru, for a lot of years."

[O4rfish]

>"Sure, of course, the Bunbunmaru is a perfectly good newspaper."
>Droop wings.
>"I guess that's everything. Thank you for speaking with me."

[Oldmansour]

>"Sure, of course, the Bunbunmaru is a perfectly good newspaper."
>Droop wings.
>"I guess that's everything. Thank you for speaking with me."

>Juma seems genuinely saddened as you let your disappointment show. It's hard not to be a little bitter. You're a better journalist than Aya is by leagues, so why.... You calm yourself. No sense getting angry. Besides, if finding Aya is attached to a story, as it may well be, you may have some ammunition to get your paper one up on Aya's, for this month at least. That's something to look forward to.
>And at least the wolf didn't make any clever remarks or snide comments on the futility of trying to match Aya, like you've got in the past. You appreciate that.

>"My pleasure." Juma replies, brightening. "And if- Oh! I was in the middle of a point a minute ago, wasn't I?"

[O4rfish]

>"What? sorry I was caught up in the Mafia suspense Oh, right."
>Quickdraw notepad.

[Oldmansour]

>"What? sorry I was caught up in the Mafia suspense Oh, right."
>Quickdraw notepad.

>Mafia? What's a mafia? Hurr.

>With your notepad out again, you spend the next six minutes taking noting Juma's information about the informal duties of household servants that she observed. The wolf proves to be quite an informative source. If you ever do decide to put a story like this to paper, a second interview with this one might be called for. Obliquely, you inquire a time or two more into her time with Tsubaki and her impressions of the woman. She confirms your own impression that Tsubaki isn't always an easy person to get along with on a personal level, but she does acknowledge hard work and exceptional skill. You ask if this extends to people who DON'T work for her, but Juma seems hesitant to speak on that topic.
>You are tempted to ask her about Aya directly and if she knows of anything that went on between Tsubaki and Aya that you don't, but Juma, looking behind you, has a flash of surprise cross her face. "Captain?" she blurts.
>Momiji's voice answers, "As it turns out, Karen had a bit of a surprise for me."

[O4rfish]

>"Hello, we were just finishing up this interview."
>Turn to look.

[Oldmansour]

>"Hello, we were just finishing up this interview."
>Turn to look.

>The white wolf captain is holding an odd-looking weapon in her hand. It looks like a pair of long swords glued together at the pommel, the hand guards removed and a black wood grip fitting in the middle. You've read about these 'double blades' before. They're known as Tengu warblades. They used to be quite common among elite Dai-tengu warriors, but their use has fallen out over the last few centuries. They're seen more as collectables and relics now, rather than functional weapons.
>The keen edges on the blade in Momiji's hands, however, look anything but like 'relic-quality.'

>"Is that a twinblade?" Juma asks.
>Momiji nods, holding the long weapon up in front of her. She seems almost put out by the weapon. "She said it was a gift from Shogun Oda. And if that's the case, I'm not sure what he was thinking. He knows I haven't touched one of these in an age."

[Hello Purvis]

>How does one use such a weapon without lopping their own limbs off?
>"Better with your usual sword and shield, eh?"

[Oldmansour]

>How does one use such a weapon without lopping their own limbs off?
>"Better with your usual sword and shield, eh?"

>Very carefully, and with much practice. It's not the sort of weapon one can just pick up and swing around. Unless you're a sith lord.

>"By leagues." Momiji replies. "Honestly. The Shogun does have an odd sense of humor sometimes, but this, I really don't get. And I hate to sound ungrateful, since Karen really did an amazing job on this thing, but I'd almost be better off with a giant hammer, as far as weapons go."

[O4rfish]

>Is there much call for actual weapons in the age of danmaku?

[Oldmansour]

>Is there much call for actual weapons in the age of danmaku?

>Barely any, to your knowledge. Once, humans clung to their weapons desperately to ward of youkai that preyed on them, but that just doesn't happen anymore.
>Perhaps it isn't fair to say there's no demand for weapons anymore, however. It might be more accurate to say that people tend not to use weapons AS weapons anymore. That doesn't mean they don't use them in their danmaku. You know that the tiger youkai who lives at the Myoren temple, for instance, uses her spear to conjure danmaku, as does the half-ghost samurai Youmu Konpaku. Swords and spears can add style to danmaku, in the hands of someone skilled with them.