*party join noise jingle*

<Aeros> LAST TIME! The group got to the hakurei shrine with the Sakami girl. The unsettling presence that caused the youkai among the group to feel ill has gone, and Shumari had a quick brush with a naginata, the group has been offered tea.
<Aeros> "So, this girl mentioned that she's here for help. I would be wrong to turn away a person asking for help, so what exactly brings you to the Hakurei Shrine this time."
* Shumari shakes as she brings her teacup to her lips, miraculously not spilling any.
<Tatari> Tatari has partaken! "You do have your duties, so I'm still not entirely sure how productive this visit will be, but the perspective of someone that's regularly had to deal with the lee--wait, that phrasing is actually confusing in this context..."
<Aeros> With practiced poise, the miko brings the tea to her lips without issue while waiting for a reply. The naginata sits within arms reach.
<Tatari> "...Well, for starters," She turns to Sakami for a moment. "This is the shrine maiden of the Hakurei Shrine. As you've seen, she's pretty ruthless, but as far as we can tell, she's only directed this at those that are direct threats to humans. With that in mind, is it OK to, you know, let her know? Feels like letting her know might be important if you wanted a proper talk, but..." There's also just the chance that the shrine maiden ALREADY KNOWS
<Tatari> to some extent, but, you know."
<Aeros> Sakami nods, and now that her nerves have calmed a bit, she gives a polite bow, "I... I'm not sure." She glances at Yagime, but Yagime/Monk is enjoying their tea at the moment.
<Aeros> Miko, "You know magic, and have some talent for it. I don't recognize your face from the village, and given the direction this group left to, I don't recall any sort of civilization near the valley."
<Aeros> "But its been some days since last we met, so I have to assume you've traveled a bit further."
<Aeros> "If you cannot bring yourself to tell me who you are, that, along with the rest of it, tells me that your identity is linked with whatever you are asking for help about."
<Wilma> Sip. "I'd recommend explaining to her and engaging her help. This is a tricky issue to handle with just you and us three, and aside from Miko-san here there aren't much in the way of extra assistance aside from local youkai. Not to mention, it'd be a waste if we go through all that ruckus earlier only to drop the matter and leave."
<Aeros> Sakami nods, thinking, "I...I am Princess Sakami. Divinity reborn again from the lineage of Emperor Jimmu, The First Emperor. And I... I need sanctuary. My priests are chasing me, and I cannot hide my presence. Truly it is only by chance that I am here..."
<Shumari> "R-really, exploiting a divinity like that..." Shaking subsiding, floof level still maximum.
<Aeros> The Miko's eyebrows shoot up slightly; she likely was narrowing down potential suspects, but...
<Tatari> "But exploiting humans is still fine, and natural." Sip. "...That said, coming her was more our idea than her's...and even then, it was for lack of other ideas."
<Aeros> The miko nods, looking to Tatari, "Out of curiousity, what precisely did you think I could do, in this situation?"
<Aeros> "If I'm understanding the situation right, Sakami-dono is fleeing from her own followers. And while I don't doubt my own prowess, I am not one to take human life carelessly, much less in the numbers that would likely come seeking her."
<Tatari> "Precisely? The goat said she might have a friend in you--though really, at most, it feels more like you could view her in the most neutral light, despite who she is, and she might need a bit in her life. It would likely also be a good opportunity for her to, as Sakami, actually understand the world around her, and in the process, gain something like courage?"
<Shumari> "But you're a Miko, right? It's rather your duty to render assistance."
<Tatari> "Truthfully, I wasn't expecting direct help. While she might have human elements, she is more divinity than human, at least as far as I can tell. Figured it might also help you out in the sense that you're now privy to Sakami's state as...remarkably sheltered."
<Aeros> To Shumari, "My duty is to the god of this shrine, which protects the people of this land from youkai and evil. I render my assistance where I can, but I am only one woman. I serve the village to the west and the lands surrounding it, for the time being."
<Wilma> "Also, I was hoping that you might happen to have a way to mask her presence, so that at least those so-called followers wouldn't be able to sense where she is all the time."
<Tatari> "At the very least, if evil extends to non-youkai evil, then perhaps this visit is more fruitful than I was expecting, for one could imagine various scenarios regarding why the god of a group of people slaying youkai zealously would be taking shelter with a bunch of youkai."
<Aeros> The miko asks Sakami how they find her, and Sakami begins to explain. According to her, the five head priests have small relics that they use like compasses that always point to her general direction, "From what I can tell, when they're close it doesn't point exactly to me, but its good enough that they always find me, usually within a day."
* Shumari shrugs, "It's a shame you're a living deity and can't just split an incarnation."
<Aeros> Miko, "...So they're likely on the march towards this shrine then." She lets out a sigh, and nods to Shumari, "You're correct, that would be an ideal way to throw them off; my other options would typically be to seal away the god...but being tied to a human being, I cannot say that would end well for you."
<Aeros> She looks around the pavillion, as if looking for something, but shakes her head, "While I ponder this, tell me, did you destroy the stone you were looking for? I was not aware that it would cause such a fuss, like a dam being broken. It caused me quite a bit of issue in the village..."
<Shumari> "Ah, so you did break it~ I saw to ours, yes."
<Tatari> "We gathered as much, with how that odd flow headed. ...We didn't think that it would trouble people all that much though, apologies..."
<Wilma> "We did! It seemed like whatever power it held flowed out in the direction of the remaining stones, so...something big might happen when the last one falls, to say the least."
<Tatari> "...That said, thanks to that, we were able to learn....that the last one is in the area of another base of...well, I can hardly call them Sakami's folk, so, calling them leeches. It's in the middle of another leech base."
<Tatari> "Really, it's troublesome..."
<Aeros> She nods, "I gave away a quite a few gifts to some of the families affected, which is why I'm out of sake at the moment." a beat "It more scared the people than anything, since bout a third of the village felt it. I had to assure them I was excorcising it, since I only mentioned it to the two homes it was next to before breaking it."
<Aeros> "Whatever was sealed there is definitely powerful... I'll be honest, I'm worried I made a mistake trusting in you, but I've commited to it now."
<Aeros> She sighs, "I'm really hoping it is for the best... And as for Sakami-dono, I'm afraid I cannot think of an easy way to reliably hide her presence."
<Shumari> "Believe me, theres a far, far more powerful Youkai looking over this place, and I'm certain she knows exactly what were doing."
<Shumari> "If we were doing something truly harmful, she'd have made her presence known."
<Wilma> ....She just came out and cited a YOUKAI as a source of reassurance, huh?
<Tatari> Sure is running her mouth more than necessary!
<Aeros> The miko sips her tea, measuring her words as she continues, "I also worry that leaving her here would be disasterous as well..." She grimaces a bit, "I hate to think that the best option would be to leave her with your group... But if what Sakami-dono says is true, then time is short to come up with solutions."
<Aeros> "If you leave her here, they will assume the Hakurei shrine is to blame, and begin to sew doubt into the village my family has been protecting for generations."
<Tatari> "Sort of figured, yeah." She gets it! "Getting too caught up in human issues is how even the most benevolent people end up in awful situations...and it'd be a shame to see this place decline!" Yes. It would be a shame. Insert dead-eyed look directly into the future here!
<Aeros> "Difficult times approach from the horizon at deceptively fast speeds." She speaks a bit darkly, "Would it be alright if I spoke to Sakami-dono in private?"
<Aeros> Sakami looks up at Yagime, who probably gives a 'I don't give a damn' response, then she looks at the rest of the group for approval.
<Tatari> "...If she desires as such."
<Wilma> Wilma shrugged. Not much chance that the miko would just shank the poor woman behind closed doors or anything like that!
<Aeros> Then, Sakami gets up and enters the shrine with the miko, leaving the group to their drinks
* Shumari pours more tea, seemingly paying them no mind.
<Tatari> Siiiip. ...Tatari tends to do her best to stay composed, but with the shrine maiden out for now, she does seem slightly nervous...
<Aeros> It is quiet outside, aside from the noise of birds cawing as the sky begins to turn colors as the sun sets.
<Aeros> Ten minutes pass, and there's still no sign of either the shrine maiden or the living god
* Shumari tapping her chin, "Think she has sake hidden around here?"
<Wilma> Sip. "She just spent a chunk of it on our account, so if you find any we're not helping you when she inevitably chases you with that naginata again."
* Shumari gets up to snoop, "If she's got a lot she's not like to notice."
<Tatari> "It would be nice if you found some. Then you can have a naginata shoved up every single one of your asses."
<Aeros> she did mention her stores were dry earlier
<Shumari> "Don't start with that, you're not Yagime and likely delicious roasted."
<Tatari> "I'm quite aware, but sometimes you just need the words to express how dead you'd be, and her words work pretty well."
<Aeros> That said, you can definitely try to rummage through her storehouse if you want; its not placed any differently now than it is in the future, so you know where it would be.
* Shumari has a moment of pause, as last time a goddess of ill fortune leapt at her, still, she powers through.
<Tatari> "...Still, they're really making us worry." Tatari closes her eyes, in an attempt to hear...something. Anything, really. Dead silence is not a good thing and IT'S BEEN TEN MINUTES...
<Aeros> Yagime likely says something along the lines of agreeing with Tatari's words
<Aeros> Shumari: no misfortune gods jump out at you, but this place is well organized. how long do you take to rummage through it?
* Shumari doesn't take long, it's well organized so a quick snoop for any alcohol is in order.
<Aeros> Shumari searches through some things, until looking around a shelf. finds alcohol! or rather, one of those racks for alcohol. but there's no alcohol on it at all...betrayal
* Shumari whines, even in the past that goddess' presence is felt, she retreats to the teapot, defeated.
<Aeros> Tatari listening keenly; she SHOULD be able to hear voices even if she can't make out what they're saying, but its completely quiet. not even shifting or moving, just as if the shrine were empty.
* Tatari continues trying for a few moments longer, before sharply exhaling.
<Aeros> for another five minutes that silence continues, until suddenly footsteps are heard; almost abruptly, given how piercing the silence was.
<Aeros> two sets, Tatari hears, and soon the others can hear as the shrine maiden opens the door to the shrine once again, and Sakami exits.
<Tatari> ...Ah! There we go. "The dead silence was about to drive me batty. I was about to lose my mind, not hearing ANYTHING from in there for that long..."
<Aeros> the Miko has a stern look on her face, "Please reflect on my words, Sakami-dono." "I will."
<Aeros> Miko looks to Tatari, "I sometimes have guests that require privacy, so a ward to prevent sound from leaving an area comes in handy."
<Shumari> "Clever, too clever~"
<Tatari> "Yes, it does seem like that was intentional...it's not as if I was worried you'd change your tone behind closed doors, but I was worried that the god-hunters could have gotten a bit more clever...really, I shouldn't be worrying, but it's still better to worry more than less if I can help it."
<Tatari> ...And a ward to prevent sound from passing? Geez. She imagines that would come in handy for even the present-day Hakurei. Does she even have anything like that now, though? Probably not...
<Aeros> From this, and the previous ward that caused physical pain and discomfort...it does seem like quite a few techniques were lost in the ages
<Tatari> ...The youkai warding technique, in particular, would probably be used extensively...but, there's probably a good reason why that one shouldn't see the regular use it probably would see......
<Aeros> Sakami joins the group, bowing, "...If it's not too much trouble, I would like to join your group. ...I realize your goals may take me to dangerous territory, and apologize for the extra inconvenience my presence my cause, should you accept me."
<Tatari> "...Well, you were already part of it in a fashion...but can we take this to mean that this is for being a member of the group, as opposed to an escort?"
* Shumari taps her chin, "I accept~ There'd be much to gain from you around, and you can hardly be more trouble than Yagime."
<Aeros> Assuming Yagime doesn't object, Sakami smiles, "I'll help out how I can..."
<Wilma> "Well...That would still be a temporary arrangement, though. There's somewhere we're supposed to return to after we deal with all the pillars, and we're not entirely sure how sudden and/or forced that is going to be."
<Aeros> Given the frown on miko's face, She doesn't seem to be particularly happy about this, but also given the fact that she isn't objecting, she likely doesn't have any better solutions.
<Tatari> "Then, welcome aboard! At least, for the time being. Once we're done with our task, we're not sure where things will go, but in the meantime, we'll do our best to ensure your safety while continuing to...well, do a few things that might endanger it." Them's the breaks!
<Tatari> ...At the very least, this seems to rule out the militaristic use of fire or poison. Them's also the breaks. Never gonna get another opportunity to try human war tactics...
<Aeros> Miko looks up at the sunset, "I would normally offer people a place to stay for the night... but I worry I cannot offer you such hospitality. In fact, I would ask if you could leave as fast as you could, as to not create any more complications..."
<Shumari> "Well it's not like you've any sake keeping us around."
<Tatari> "Such is how it is. We'll get her acclimated to sleeping outside yet, it would seem..."
<Aeros> "Hm. Where will you go now? Should the followers decide to come knocking on my door for directions, I'd like to know where not to send them...not that it should help should one of there head priests be there."
<Shumari> "Could always send them to the wolve's den~"
<Tatari> "Well, knowing that Sakami is a part of our group now, and with the knowledge that this will bring trouble, we've little choice but to swiftly take care of the stones. That would mean one of the two camps they've...well, camped around." She mentions the directions from here that lead to the other stones--I don't have a map!
<Aeros> She raises an eyebrow, but says nothing; it could be that she wasn't fully aware of the wolves den.
<Aeros> "I see, take care not to be too reckless." she says, while cleaning up the now empty teacups.
<Tatari> "Oh, yeah, we ended up going to a wolve's den in the process of destroying the sealing stone we pursued. ...It would be incredibly rude to send youkai hunters in a youkai's direction, though. For both parties."
<Tatari> "The alpha actually managed to dent the stone a bit with sheer force, it seems..." Seriously, that's kinda intense.
<Wilma> B-But you just basically hinted where it was, and at the fact there were youkai in it...
<Tatari> "But, yes, we'll take care."
<Tatari> ...With nothing else left, they'll have to march on! ...But the big camp, or the small camp? Decisions, decisions...that they'll have to make on the way down.
<Aeros> as you go down the steps, you feel that sickness come on briefly, before going away; she probably waited until she presumed you far enough to activate the ward again.
* Shumari happily skips on, unaffected~
<Wilma> "Let's see...In terms of pros and cons, taking care of the big camp pillar first would make the whole process easier overall in case the last pillar becomes real hard to bring down, but if we leave it for last...I dunno, maybe it blows up in the middle of the camp? Could be useful." When there are no laws of war, there are no war crimes!
<Tatari> "True, once there's only one left, it could very well make life much harder for them purely from being overwhelmed by...whatever the heck these things are holding back."
<Aeros> Sakami fidgets a bit as she walks with the group down the stairs, and you do eventually reach the end of the steps just as night falls
<Tatari> "...Well, put my vote for dealing with the smaller camp's first. Feels right saving the one that seemed to be in the middle for last, anyway."
<Wilma> "Let's make camp a bit away from here, I suppose. Sticking too close to the shrine would defeat the purpose of not spending the night there in the first place..."
<Tatari> "And while I can't tell exactly what will happen once the last is gone, I would imagine it wouldn't be in their favor..."
<Wilma> "Yeah, I think the same. If we end up finding out the second-to-last pillar is already a major pain to break, that shouldn't be too late to change our minds anyhow."
<Tatari> "Which, means that we'd have better odds overall. But for now, yes, let's get a bit more distance before making camp. No need to put the shrine maiden under a dark light..."
<Shumari> "Getting some distance wouldn't be bad, where do you think they are now?"
<Aeros> Where would the group like to set up camp? they could go southeast again, near the valley, but you DID just come from there. you could go north through the forests. there IS the human village to the west, but likely the shrine maiden wouldn't be happy. you could split the difference and go northwest, you're pretty sure a road heads north there.
<Wilma> "Eh, for now let's just head the opposite way we came from to put some space. We can start circling around to the camps starting tomorrow."
<Shumari> "Makes sense."
<Tatari> "Yep." Wilma gets it!
<Aeros> northwest it is then; you travel eventually finding a familiar road; one that if traveled southwards would take you to the village. do you follow the road north, or continue northwest to gain as much distance as you can?
<Tatari> ...It would probably be easier to go north on the road, and Tatari thinks that in light of what's to come, she might throw Sakami a bone here. ...That and road travelling is easier than off-road traveling in general, so!
<Wilma> Both options were north-ish, so Wilma didn't have any particular opinion!
* Shumari is now known as Shiftyeyesshady
* Shiftyeyesshady has quit (Quit: Guns don't kill people. The Government does.)
* Shiftyeyesshady ([email protected]) has joined
* ChanServ gives channel operator status to Shiftyeyesshady
<Aeros> going along the road, its close to midnight when Sakami is getting exhausted. perhaps its time to settle in for the night. NEXT TIME