Hatate Quest

[Oldmansour]

>"Yeah we can see. What sorts of places has she stayed at?

>I believe mostly with individuals she's well acquainted with.
>Do you mean with someone like Reimu-san here? Momiji asks.
>You're on the right track, but not quite there. Think a bit more blonde. Yukari advises.

[O4rfish]

>We will go visit witches in the forest of magic next.

[Oldmansour]

>We will go visit witches in the forest of magic next.

>Yukari seems pleased. That was fast. Good for you. For some reason, her praise does not make you feel any better. Nor does the smile that spreads across her face, benign though it seems. But, since I seem to be feeling rather generous today, I could save you the trip, if you wish.
>Oh, we wouldn't want to impose Momiji says quickly, but Yukari starts answering before the white wolf's words finish appearing.
>It's no imposition. the gap youkai assures her. In point of fact, it's somewhat overdue.

[Hello Purvis]

>"Before we go, could I get a photo of you two?"

[Oldmansour]

>"Before we go, could I get a photo of you two?"

>'Go?'

[Hello Purvis]

>"Oh, just you sounded eager to get rid of us just there."

[Oldmansour]

>"Oh, just you sounded eager to get rid of us just there."

>The blonde youkai frowns. Now why would you think that?

[Hello Purvis]

>"Eh, just the words you used. Anyway, there haven't been any other tengu involved with this, have there?"

[Oldmansour]

>"Eh, just the words you used. Anyway, there haven't been any other tengu involved with this, have there?"

>Apart from you two, you mean. Yukari asks with a ghostly grin.

[Hello Purvis]

>How is a grin ghostly?
>"Yeah, besides us."

[Oldmansour]

>How is a grin ghostly?
>"Yeah, besides us."

>Ohh, that's a good riddle. You should remember that.
>I wouldn't think so. For some reason, most tengu are very nervous when Ran or I are around.
>Momiji's tail swishes back and forth. But... Aya could have worked as a go-between, if the two of them are working together on something. Or even if Aya's just observing.
>Yukari smiles. Very good point.

[Hello Purvis]

>"Could be. Hey Momiji, you wouldn't happen to know of anyone important who's been leaving town a lot, lately?"

[Oldmansour]

>"Could be. Hey Momiji, you wouldn't happen to know of anyone important who's been leaving town a lot, lately?"

>Not over the past month. Momiji says with a shake of her head. After the Night of Rage, I don't know of anyone who left the mountain other than Aya and myself.
>And you would know, of course. Yukari states.
>Momiji frowns. What do you mean?
>You rank quite high among the Rangers. And you take your responsibilities quite seriously. Momiji looks a bit uncomfortable as the gap youkai describes her, but Yukari merely smiles at her. So of course, you would be apprised of the comings and the goings of your people.
>The wolf tengu's tail bristles slightly. Not always. I'm a soldier, not a traffic guard. If a tengu wants to leave our territory, then can do so whenever they want.
>Yukari inclines her head slightly. I beg your pardon. I forget sometimes that your people have changed some over time.

[Hello Purvis]

>"But people would talk about it, right Momiji? So unless they were sneaking out, you'd probably hear about it?"

[Oldmansour]

>"But people would talk about it, right Momiji? So unless they were sneaking out, you'd probably hear about it?"

>After a moment's thought, Momiji nods slowly. Most likely. I don't like to gossip, but that doesn't mean my people don't. Or my friends, for that matter.

[Hello Purvis]

>"So, that means unless someone could sneak out, chances are there wasn't anyone leaving, right?"

[Oldmansour]

>"So, that means unless someone could sneak out, chances are there wasn't anyone leaving, right?"

>That's a pretty fair statement. Tenma-sama wanted all hands on deck to clean up the mess caused by those Rageblooms.
>All hands? Yukari asks, looking curious. Even the Yamabushi clans? I was under the impression that they kept to themselves even more than the rest of you did.
>Well, no, not them. They had their own mess to clean up.
>Ahhh. I see.

[Hello Purvis]

>What do we know about the recnt Yamabushi situation?

[O4rfish]

>Are the Yama-Bushi anything like Enma samurai?

[Oldmansour]

>Are the Yama-Bushi anything like Enma samurai?

>You are not sure. Come to think of it, you're not even sure if the Enma have any samurai.

>What do we know about the recnt Yamabushi situation?

>To your knowledge, it was about the same as the rest of the Tengu experienced. They suffered moderate to heavy structural damage and quite a number of injuries during the Night of Rage, and have focused their efforts on repairing said. As far as you know, they did not call upon the others castes to aid them, nor did they seek outside help from the Kappa or others. In this, like in most things, they kept to themselves and settled their own affairs. You imagine there had to at least been reports passed back and forth between the Yamabushi leader and Tenma-sama. Even if the Yamabushi prefer to be left alone, that doesn't mean they've severed all contact between them and the other castes.

[Hello Purvis]

>Do the yamabushi maintain their own perimeter guard, or do the wolves handle their external defenses as well?

[Oldmansour]

>Do the yamabushi maintain their own perimeter guard, or do the wolves handle their external defenses as well?

>If memory serves, the White Wolves were responsible for the defense of Yamabushi land as well, up until.... somewhere around 400 years ago, you think it was. The Yamabushi took over their own sentry duties at that point. You think there was a publicly declared reason for this, but you've forgotten what it was.

[Hello Purvis]

>"Mm, might have to look into them, as well."
>Do we know any notable yamabushi that immediately strike us as someone who would conspire with Aya or a Yakumo?

[Oldmansour]

>Do we know any notable yamabushi that immediately strike us as someone who would conspire with Aya or a Yakumo?

>Apart from Aya herself, you can't think of any Tengu from any caste would would conspire with the Yakumos. At least not by choice.
>Although... If there was one Yamabushi who would, by choice, it would be the oldest daughter of the elder of the Yamabushi, a woman called Momohime. She's affectionately referred to as the Princess of the Yamabushi. She's a good woman, well liked among her people, and surprisingly outgoing. One of the few Yamabushi who is known to have left the mountain on more than one occasion. She's always willing to help someone with their troubles, but she also has a reputation as being a bit of a butt-insky. She tends to think her solutions are always the right way, and doesn't seem to have many compunctions at involving herself in other peoples' affairs. She means well, but she has a marked tendency towards knowitallism.

>"Mm, might have to look into them, as well."

>If you do, give my regards to the elder. the gap youkai asks of you.

[Hello Purvis]

>"Heh, sure thing. Now, about that picture..."

[Oldmansour]

>"Heh, sure thing. Now, about that picture..."

>I certainly have no objections. Yukari replies with an accommodating smile.
>Momiji, however, frowns slightly. I don't think I would, Hatate... she cautions you.

Apologies for the lack of regular updates, folks. Christmas hours at work.

[Hello Purvis]

>"Well of course not, you aren't a reporter."

Now, I would like to end with this, because even though Hatate is totally not afraid of this non-Tengu at all, I don't think she would press for too much unrelated information just to keep things nice. So, anything else we need to ask?

[O4rfish]

No but we should be polite when saying goodbye and also perhaps offer a subscription.

[Oldmansour]

>"Well of course not, you aren't a reporter."

>Obviously. Momiji's words appear, though you detect a sour note on her face. I simply work with one. Frequently.
>Why do you and she work together so often, Momiji? Yukari asks her, showing curiousity.
>Mostly to try and keep her out of trouble. And to stop her from starting a diplomatic incident.
>Interesting. And when she's not around, you preform the same sort of task for another Crow?
>The White Wolf bristles. Her caste doesn't matter to me. She's my friend. And so is Aya. The look Yukari gives her is indecipherable, but no more words appear over the gap youkai's head.

[Hello Purvis]

>Prepare while they were talking and set up a nice shot to get both Yukari and Reimu.
>"Smile, please!"