Tengu Reporter Quest (Touhou) (World 7 - Wheel of Time)
- Thread starter Entropy Judge
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- Crossover
Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
Incidents aren't the only things Aya writes about, though. She writes about people turning their homes into museums, concerts suddenly being moved (after the fact of the move happening), pet abuse, optical illusions, conspiracy theories, totally random forest fires, start-up businesses, America's Funniest Home Videos skits, crop circles, bongs, and drunks throwing parties.
Nottheunmaker
Altman be praised
- Location
- USG Ishimura
And exactly how factual the contents of such articles is open to interpretation, yes. Now, how a martial tournament by an order of other worldly nobles turns out is news worthy, but it's not juicy. We need to dig around, find out who might sleeping with who, if anyone one seems to be paying bribe money, or who was romered to have unlawfully killed someone in the past. You know, the worthless filler people slurp down and buy papers for.
Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
Have you read Aya's articles from Bohemian Archive in Japanese Red? When I said, way back when, that they didn't need to be terribly long, it's because those articles are only 350-500 words, themselves. Like, just from the past five updates? The foundation of the Rose Order of Knights, the Order as it currently stands, the tournament (with the implication that they're held somewhat regularly), Suissesse (compare to Nasu no Yoichi), Beefeater, the egalitarianism of the Rose Knights, the combat skill of the knights, the food they have (and keep with them, just in case), Piña's desire for the Order. At least; some of those could easily be expanded into multiple articles.
Aya isn't a sensationalist tabloid writer. She tries that in 2017 with Alternative Facts in Eastern Utopia, and she didn't like it:
Aya Shameimaru said:
Yeah, do keep in mind that Tengu are fundamentally honest. Its quite integral to their legends.
The deviations is mostly because Aya writes from her perspective and assumes she's right, because ancient Tengu know best, and because Gensokyo has a lot of silly things going on you don't really need to sensationalize much.
The deviations is mostly because Aya writes from her perspective and assumes she's right, because ancient Tengu know best, and because Gensokyo has a lot of silly things going on you don't really need to sensationalize much.
Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
Also, because I forgot to mention it before going out to rake leaves: Aya isn't writing the articles to sell her newspaper. She's selling the idea of moving to this or that world:
(Which isn't to say that writing saucy articles is impossible - for example, Cicero is alleged by his own daughter to have had potential suitors attacked, he has illegally-armed guards, he's willing to attack perfectly helpless journalists, he's being investigated by the authorities, and his wife has apparently mysteriously vanished. But he also hasn't irked Aya to the point where she would write an article just about how awful he is and how it'd be great if some nasty spider-youkai made his daughter terminally ill and how the Yama of Paradise would be horrified by the actions he must have committed so it'd be a service to Shiki Eiki if someone went and broke his legs and flayed him alive so he'd learn to be a better person.)
The articles should convey a sense of how the world functions, what things are like there - the Apostles rough draft is on the right track. What articles allow her to do is inject her opinion about what's important and worth considering. They let her show people things that happen . And if she just writes gossipy rumors and other sensationalist pieces, then she creates a certain view of how that world works - and if, when the youkai move to the world and it's not in line with their expectations, Aya is the point of blame.
(Which isn't to say that writing saucy articles is impossible - for example, Cicero is alleged by his own daughter to have had potential suitors attacked, he has illegally-armed guards, he's willing to attack perfectly helpless journalists, he's being investigated by the authorities, and his wife has apparently mysteriously vanished. But he also hasn't irked Aya to the point where she would write an article just about how awful he is and how it'd be great if some nasty spider-youkai made his daughter terminally ill and how the Yama of Paradise would be horrified by the actions he must have committed so it'd be a service to Shiki Eiki if someone went and broke his legs and flayed him alive so he'd learn to be a better person.)
Actually, its been established in Touhou that Crop Circles are from Fairies having emergency meetings. So that's actually something kind of semi-important to report about.
Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
Would you happen to know when/where this is established, and how wide-spread that information is? Aya didn't know much about crop circles in 2004, at least.
Final Arc of Visionary Fairies in Shrine. The Fairies set a up crop circle in the Garden of Sun to discuss what to do about the recent incident of Fairies turning into Stone Cherries.
No idea how wide spread that knowledge is outside of Fairies, though.
Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
*Goes Looking*
...
Hm. Star Sapphire and Sunny Milk don't know about it - they're confused by the flattened area of the sunflowers and have to ask where they are. Possibly Luna Child as well, although she simply 'appears' there after eavesdropping at the shrine. Considering that, and the general forgetfulness of fairies (Cirno: 'I gathered you all here for a reason ... what was it, again?'), I find it difficult to believe that it is something that happens with any frequency, particularly as there wouldn't be terribly many things that require an emergency meeting from fairies. It certainly doesn't seem like something that would be known outside of someone who's dedicated their existence to studying fairies, or something similar.
...
Hm. Star Sapphire and Sunny Milk don't know about it - they're confused by the flattened area of the sunflowers and have to ask where they are. Possibly Luna Child as well, although she simply 'appears' there after eavesdropping at the shrine. Considering that, and the general forgetfulness of fairies (Cirno: 'I gathered you all here for a reason ... what was it, again?'), I find it difficult to believe that it is something that happens with any frequency, particularly as there wouldn't be terribly many things that require an emergency meeting from fairies. It certainly doesn't seem like something that would be known outside of someone who's dedicated their existence to studying fairies, or something similar.
We actually know that fairies tend to panic and overblow everything, and that concentrated fairy presence tends to have odd effects on nature.
I suspect its less emergency meeting and more "a dozen relatively powerful fairies gathered here, so the plants went nuts".
I mean, the Light trio brought a dead tree to life AND hooked it up to the Barrier as an anchor just by living in it.
Well, fairies.
I kind of wonder if Fairies swarming to Incidents is basically a natural repair mechanism, given the natural growth and renewal effects, simply having the fairies around means that collateral damage will fade back to nature rapidly afterwards.
Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
EDIT: Votes are locked.
Last edited:
Tournament VI
Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
Talk to Grey about the chances of Piña actually succeeding and forcing recognition for female soldiers.
You lean back and watch the knights form into four groups of twenty, led by Piña, Bozes, Panache, and Beefeater. Curiously, Beefeater's squadron is the only one with other knights you recognize – Hamilton, Suissesse, and the other subordinates to the squadron leaders are with her, not with the princess or the other leaders. So who is getting handicapped? The leaders, not being able to rely on their seconds, or Beefeater, being saddled with troops who won't want to fight against their commanders, even in a 'friendly' mock combat situation? As the four leaders hold a small conference – it seems Beefeater and Bozes will have the first match – you move next to Grey and look up to study his face. "... Yes? Is there something you need?" Old scars and stress mar his face, but his eyes are still clear.
"It's been rough for you, hasn't it? Working so hard for the princess for these past few years, I mean. I can see it in your face. So much stress; you're still quite the handsome man, you know, but I bet a few years ago, you were all the rage among the ladies." His expression flickers subtly, and he looks back at the fight in the field below.
"I am loyal to Her Highness," he says resolutely, and your smile widens as you nod and turn your attention to the combat in the field.
"Right, right – but what do you think her chances are? Do you really think the Empire will accept women as warriors?" He looks sad for a moment, and you watch Bozes skillfully draw Beefeater into a trap, only for Hamilton to free her commander by ramming her mount into one of the blocker's own horse, and you wince in sympathy for the slight adjutant; her leg is going to be a mass of bruises, if she didn't manage to get it broken, sandwiched between two horses like that. But the trap is broken, and Beefeater is in her element, swords flailing now that she doesn't need to control her mount as precisely. Grey sighs.
"I fear you are correct. Piña has accomplished much, and I believe that the Rose Order would hold its own in a field battle against any single Imperial Cavalry command, or against any other similarly-sized Knight Order. But that has only come with strong, consistent backing from both an Imperial Princess and by the many families whose children are in this Order. She has been able to take only the very best, has been able to drill them rigorously and equip them to supremely high standards. Their horses are among the finest in the Empire, their armor is meticulously crafted and fitted. And that is only possible because they are a small, elite force." You nod; the strength of an empire is in their resources, but even a continent-spanning empire can't afford to equip everyone with the best they have. Even in the mountain, living space and workload aren't the only things that are unfairly divided. He watches the fight below, as Bozes's force withdraws and Beefeater's troops coalesce around her. Everyone seems to be holding up well. Hatate is scribbling furiously in her notebook, looking at both the combatants and the watchers, but you don't have the right angle to see what she's writing about.
"... What will it take for the Empire to actually use the Rose Order in a real fight?" He grimaces and shakes his head.
"Instead of a 'fight' where we wouldn't even be missed if we didn't participate? It would take … a lot. A disaster that shatters the Empire's armies and puts the Emperor in a position where not only is the Rose Order the only available military force able to respond effectively, therefore forcing Piña to move even if she somehow does turn reluctant, but also that he can turn to the families and defend himself if the Order is slaughtered. It would take a disaster that couldn't be foreseen, that is too sudden to recall the Empire's other armies in time to repel a threat that is certain to come." He sighs again and shakes his head. "No such threat exists in the Empire. None of the demihumans have enough strength to combat the Empire, and even if they somehow managed to form an alliance, they are scattered and would be killed or enslaved before they could join together." You nod, switching your attention back to the fray below, where Beefeater's reckless charge led to her being unhorsed – after several of her foes, admittedly – and several knights from both sides limping off the field, either 'captured' or too weary to continue the fight. Then Bozes pitches three knights to the grass in quick succession, someone jumps onto Beefeater from her mount, and the remaining members of Beefeater's squadron surrender, raising their spears into the air or simply slumping exhaustedly.
"... Is that what happened with the Warrior Bunnies? The Empire removing a threat before it could fully rouse itself or ally with others and become stronger?" Grey frowns at you and thinks for a moment before shrugging.
"I don't think so. The Warrior Bunnies have long been a thorn to the Empire, for they are dangerous, and would persistently raid neighboring territories. Their recent destruction as a cohesive group, I think, was due more to Prince Zorzal's ambition than any particular Imperial mandate." As Bozes and Beefeater's groups move off the field, Piña and Panache lead their squadrons into position. "And what of your people? You don't react with surprise to hearing of Her Highness's desire, nor to my thoughts on what will happen. Do women where you come from have the freedom Princess Piña seeks for our own women?" You blink and look at the knight, almost surprised at being asked a retaliatory question. Particularly one with a bit of cleverness behind it, asking about home instead of your thoughts on the princess's goal. You stretch, leaning backward, and Grey turns his attention back to the knights, and you grin for a moment.
"Mmm …. Of a sort, I suppose. The human population is much lower there, though, while magic use seems more common, so ability to defend isn't linked so much to physical capability. More importantly, there are a lot of nonhumans who are much more physically impressive than humans, so the difference in strength between a man and a woman doesn't matter. Not that there's much fighting any more; our home is small enough that warfare doesn't really happen anymore; too much chance of ruining everything even for the 'winners.'" Grey nods after a moment.
"Ah, islanders. That explains a lot." You glance sharply at him, but his attention is on the two squadrons charging toward each other. Piña and Panache outdistance their forces, meet, pass each other, and wheel as they drop their spears. Panache is faster, her troops slightly faster than the princess's, and Grey tenses – but the sub-commander isn't so much faster that a difference can be made, and Piña's troops slam into the other force before they can unseat her. Several knights do go down, and you wince as riderless horses kick to their feet amidst the chaotic fighting. Space quickly opens up, however, and you see that all of the knights are still alive, although two are attempting to limp out of the swirl of violence without being kicked or even just bumped by a horse. Maybe they should have referees? Ah, but they won't have those in battle, which this is supposed to simulate – and they don't have healing magic, anyway, so the amount of good a referee would be able to do is limited. Ah, but if the princess herself is taking part … what would they do if she were injured? Much of their reputation is due to her patronage, and if she were to die in an 'event' …. True, they could argue that her death would not have occurred if they had been allowed to fight – that she joined the combats out of frustration – but given the society you've heard about and seen, that probably wouldn't get them much traction unless another powerful party supported them.
You look over at Hatate, still scribbling furiously – is she going to write an article about the tournament? Without any good pictures? For shame, Hatate!
What do you do?
[ ] Thank Grey and ask him to convey your gratitude to Piña, but you should return to the capital.
- [ ] Check out the big arena.
- [ ] Check out one of the baths.
[ ] Keep talking to Piña when she returns from the melee.
- [ ] Mention your thoughts about the Order's future if something happened to her during a melee.
[ ] Other?
Note: The next update will not be until Friday.
You lean back and watch the knights form into four groups of twenty, led by Piña, Bozes, Panache, and Beefeater. Curiously, Beefeater's squadron is the only one with other knights you recognize – Hamilton, Suissesse, and the other subordinates to the squadron leaders are with her, not with the princess or the other leaders. So who is getting handicapped? The leaders, not being able to rely on their seconds, or Beefeater, being saddled with troops who won't want to fight against their commanders, even in a 'friendly' mock combat situation? As the four leaders hold a small conference – it seems Beefeater and Bozes will have the first match – you move next to Grey and look up to study his face. "... Yes? Is there something you need?" Old scars and stress mar his face, but his eyes are still clear.
"It's been rough for you, hasn't it? Working so hard for the princess for these past few years, I mean. I can see it in your face. So much stress; you're still quite the handsome man, you know, but I bet a few years ago, you were all the rage among the ladies." His expression flickers subtly, and he looks back at the fight in the field below.
"I am loyal to Her Highness," he says resolutely, and your smile widens as you nod and turn your attention to the combat in the field.
"Right, right – but what do you think her chances are? Do you really think the Empire will accept women as warriors?" He looks sad for a moment, and you watch Bozes skillfully draw Beefeater into a trap, only for Hamilton to free her commander by ramming her mount into one of the blocker's own horse, and you wince in sympathy for the slight adjutant; her leg is going to be a mass of bruises, if she didn't manage to get it broken, sandwiched between two horses like that. But the trap is broken, and Beefeater is in her element, swords flailing now that she doesn't need to control her mount as precisely. Grey sighs.
"I fear you are correct. Piña has accomplished much, and I believe that the Rose Order would hold its own in a field battle against any single Imperial Cavalry command, or against any other similarly-sized Knight Order. But that has only come with strong, consistent backing from both an Imperial Princess and by the many families whose children are in this Order. She has been able to take only the very best, has been able to drill them rigorously and equip them to supremely high standards. Their horses are among the finest in the Empire, their armor is meticulously crafted and fitted. And that is only possible because they are a small, elite force." You nod; the strength of an empire is in their resources, but even a continent-spanning empire can't afford to equip everyone with the best they have. Even in the mountain, living space and workload aren't the only things that are unfairly divided. He watches the fight below, as Bozes's force withdraws and Beefeater's troops coalesce around her. Everyone seems to be holding up well. Hatate is scribbling furiously in her notebook, looking at both the combatants and the watchers, but you don't have the right angle to see what she's writing about.
"... What will it take for the Empire to actually use the Rose Order in a real fight?" He grimaces and shakes his head.
"Instead of a 'fight' where we wouldn't even be missed if we didn't participate? It would take … a lot. A disaster that shatters the Empire's armies and puts the Emperor in a position where not only is the Rose Order the only available military force able to respond effectively, therefore forcing Piña to move even if she somehow does turn reluctant, but also that he can turn to the families and defend himself if the Order is slaughtered. It would take a disaster that couldn't be foreseen, that is too sudden to recall the Empire's other armies in time to repel a threat that is certain to come." He sighs again and shakes his head. "No such threat exists in the Empire. None of the demihumans have enough strength to combat the Empire, and even if they somehow managed to form an alliance, they are scattered and would be killed or enslaved before they could join together." You nod, switching your attention back to the fray below, where Beefeater's reckless charge led to her being unhorsed – after several of her foes, admittedly – and several knights from both sides limping off the field, either 'captured' or too weary to continue the fight. Then Bozes pitches three knights to the grass in quick succession, someone jumps onto Beefeater from her mount, and the remaining members of Beefeater's squadron surrender, raising their spears into the air or simply slumping exhaustedly.
"... Is that what happened with the Warrior Bunnies? The Empire removing a threat before it could fully rouse itself or ally with others and become stronger?" Grey frowns at you and thinks for a moment before shrugging.
"I don't think so. The Warrior Bunnies have long been a thorn to the Empire, for they are dangerous, and would persistently raid neighboring territories. Their recent destruction as a cohesive group, I think, was due more to Prince Zorzal's ambition than any particular Imperial mandate." As Bozes and Beefeater's groups move off the field, Piña and Panache lead their squadrons into position. "And what of your people? You don't react with surprise to hearing of Her Highness's desire, nor to my thoughts on what will happen. Do women where you come from have the freedom Princess Piña seeks for our own women?" You blink and look at the knight, almost surprised at being asked a retaliatory question. Particularly one with a bit of cleverness behind it, asking about home instead of your thoughts on the princess's goal. You stretch, leaning backward, and Grey turns his attention back to the knights, and you grin for a moment.
"Mmm …. Of a sort, I suppose. The human population is much lower there, though, while magic use seems more common, so ability to defend isn't linked so much to physical capability. More importantly, there are a lot of nonhumans who are much more physically impressive than humans, so the difference in strength between a man and a woman doesn't matter. Not that there's much fighting any more; our home is small enough that warfare doesn't really happen anymore; too much chance of ruining everything even for the 'winners.'" Grey nods after a moment.
"Ah, islanders. That explains a lot." You glance sharply at him, but his attention is on the two squadrons charging toward each other. Piña and Panache outdistance their forces, meet, pass each other, and wheel as they drop their spears. Panache is faster, her troops slightly faster than the princess's, and Grey tenses – but the sub-commander isn't so much faster that a difference can be made, and Piña's troops slam into the other force before they can unseat her. Several knights do go down, and you wince as riderless horses kick to their feet amidst the chaotic fighting. Space quickly opens up, however, and you see that all of the knights are still alive, although two are attempting to limp out of the swirl of violence without being kicked or even just bumped by a horse. Maybe they should have referees? Ah, but they won't have those in battle, which this is supposed to simulate – and they don't have healing magic, anyway, so the amount of good a referee would be able to do is limited. Ah, but if the princess herself is taking part … what would they do if she were injured? Much of their reputation is due to her patronage, and if she were to die in an 'event' …. True, they could argue that her death would not have occurred if they had been allowed to fight – that she joined the combats out of frustration – but given the society you've heard about and seen, that probably wouldn't get them much traction unless another powerful party supported them.
You look over at Hatate, still scribbling furiously – is she going to write an article about the tournament? Without any good pictures? For shame, Hatate!
What do you do?
[ ] Thank Grey and ask him to convey your gratitude to Piña, but you should return to the capital.
- [ ] Check out the big arena.
- [ ] Check out one of the baths.
[ ] Keep talking to Piña when she returns from the melee.
- [ ] Mention your thoughts about the Order's future if something happened to her during a melee.
[ ] Other?
Note: The next update will not be until Friday.
Well, he's not wrong.
[x] Keep talking to Piña when she returns from the melee.
- [x] Mention your thoughts about the Order's future if something happened to her during a melee.
Hatate seems to be in the zone. Let's not rush her.
- Location
- Taken by the hand to a land that they understand
[X] Thank Grey and ask him to convey your gratitude to Piña, but you should return to the capital.
- [X] Check out one of the baths.
Maybe we could check what Hatate thinks so far of the Empire. I'm not sure if she has been exposed to a human-dominated society yet, and getting a new youkai's perspective could be interesting.
- [X] Check out one of the baths.
Maybe we could check what Hatate thinks so far of the Empire. I'm not sure if she has been exposed to a human-dominated society yet, and getting a new youkai's perspective could be interesting.
Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
The official Tengu stance on slavery is, basically, "Duly noted." They typically don't care to dismantle it (or build it up), unless it directly affects Tengu - if, for example, they thought the Empire would, and could, do to the tengu what they did to the Warrior Bunnies, then they would move to disrupt the economic and social feasibility of slavery within the Empire. But since the odds of that happening are effectively nil, the tengu likely won't do anything about it. They desire information, and to control others through information, but don't care about the legal and social institutions of other groups.
Aya's own position is …. Her response to learning that Youmu doesn't get paid or have time off is, "Ah, what a pity." The comic picture that goes with the interview might show her being embarrassed, with the three sweat drops, but she doesn't seem particularly interested in altering Youmu's situation. In Yukari's article, she complains about animal abuse (because she's part animal), but doesn't seem to have an issue with Ran being a shikigami (IE, servant/tool) - and, in Chen's interview, she explicitly refers to her crow as being more like a tool than a servant, in large part because of the massive power disparity. On the other hand, she doesn't seem to have anything in particular against Cirno freezing frogs as a prank, although she recognizes the giant frog's retaliation as a just punishment. So she wouldn't have any problems with slavery as an institution, although certain abuses would likely prompt her to take some kind of action (IE, she sees no reason to dismantle slavery as an Imperial institution, but would probably look very poorly on Zorzal's treatment of Tyuule).
Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
Votes are not locked.
- Location
- Spain
[X] Keep talking to Piña when she returns from the melee.
- [X] Mention your thoughts about the Order's future if something happened to her during a melee.
Hello! New reader here! I just caught up, and am now making progress reading Flandre's quest. I am unfamiliar with the Gate JSDF franchise, but it has been an intriguing read so far~
- [X] Mention your thoughts about the Order's future if something happened to her during a melee.
Hello! New reader here! I just caught up, and am now making progress reading Flandre's quest. I am unfamiliar with the Gate JSDF franchise, but it has been an intriguing read so far~
- Location
- The Surface Of A Hostile Planet
[X] Keep talking to Piña when she returns from the melee.
- [X] Mention your thoughts about the Order's future if something happened to her during a melee.
No need to leave yet when Hatate's in the zone. Give our underling a chance to spread her wings.
- [X] Mention your thoughts about the Order's future if something happened to her during a melee.
No need to leave yet when Hatate's in the zone. Give our underling a chance to spread her wings.