Tengu Reporter Quest (Touhou) (World 7 - Wheel of Time)

Show the note to Giselle and ask her if she knows who it's for.


You drum your fingers on the railing in the fading light for several seconds, then sigh and shake your head before turning to Mora. "It's probably for the best that I make sure Giselle knows about this. Just in case someone's planning something that could disrupt the ceremony." Mora nods understandingly.

"Yes. Everyone wants tomorrow to go perfectly, after all … oh, do you know where to find the Apostle?" You shrug lightly.

"I was going to ask at the main temple, since she's probably either there or at her dragons' cave." The attendant nods solemnly, and you look at her quizzically. "I'm sorry, I don't remember if I ever heard your name." She blinks in surprise, then coughs and looks away as Mora giggles.

"Oh, Granny? Her name is Mora, too. She doesn't like telling anyone because people can't make it clear which one of us they're talking to without being weird about it." You nod sagaciously; you've had a bit of experience with that, especially recently. Humans do tend to have trouble with it, for some reason.

"I see. Well, Mora, Mora, it was nice seeing you, and if I don't see you again tonight, I hope to see a wonderful ceremony tomorrow." Mora giggles again and curtsies, while her attendant schools her face and nods, and then you hop over the railing and drop to the ground below. You pick up the crow's ravaged body and cradle it on your left arm, then start walking toward the main temple.

"Want me to come along?" Hatate's voice whispers in your ear, and after a few steps you shrug.

"If you want to; I think you can get away with relaxing a bit more if you want, maybe get some of those fellows to preen your hair." She snorts indignantly, and you wonder for a moment if she will come – but, no, there's food and wine in the room, why would she leave? … Maybe you should have said yes? Whatever. You keep walking, and despite the late hour and the upcoming festivities, the lines of supplicants seem as long as they were when you were here before. If anyone seems miffed at your disregard for the usual order of things this time, however, the rapid approach and genuflecting of the guards dispels the ill-will. "Oh, stand up, stand up! Do you know where Giselle is?" Perhaps taken aback by your familiar manner, the two human guards look at you and then each other awkwardly, but the dark-skinned elf steps sideways and sweeps her arm toward the temple.

"She is inside, Emissary, discussing matters with the high priests. One of the servants in the inner chapel will be able to tell you which room she is in." You smile brightly and nod back.

"Thank you." With another nod for the humans, you quickly walk past them, and at the step into the temple itself another pair of guards helpfully open a door for you. So much nicer than your first time here! The priest in the outer chapel – that Domin fellow – scowls at you when you think you can't see his expression, but when you get closer he changes the expression to a seemingly-genuine smile and clasps his hands in front of him. You wink knowingly and continue into the inner chapel, where you don't even have to wave down a servant, as one stops her errand to ask you if you need help, and then details a young child, no more than six or seven, to take you to the Apostle. The kid gulps and pales, but nods, and after taking several deep breaths and a look back to make sure you're following, guides you through a set of doors and through several winding and crossing hallways, avoiding other acolytes and priests more through sheer panic than through skill – and then turns even whiter before knocking at a door and hurries several doors down and knocking at that door.

"Enter!" Giselle's voice is sharp and irritated, and the kid struggles to push the door open, until you grab the handle and pull it. The kid turns almost as white as Giselle's no-longer-present robes and trembles. "What – oh, Aya! Um, good evening, just, um …." One of the three priestesses swarming around her pokes her side, and her blue skin shades lighter as she puffs her cheeks.

"Don't you move from that spot, Miss Apostle! Thirty years I've been waiting to get you fitted for proper robes, instead of those acolyte's rags you like wearing, like you're that Reaper hussy! Now that I've got you, you're not going anywhere until you're properly dressed!" She swings on her snake body and fixes you with apple-green eyes. "You're welcome to speak with the Apostle, Emissary, just don't get in our way. You, girl, have you any further business here?" The kid at your side trembles and looks up at you.

"I can find my way back," you say, and the kid sprints out of the room. The head seamstress sighs and shakes her head, and you walk up to the nearly-naked Apostle, being careful to stay away from the other priestesses as they hold up various shades and patterns of cloth against her skin. "A crow brought a message into the city; Mora said it was probably from one of Emroy's priests, but given its vagueness, we weren't sure who it was supposed to be directed to." You hold up the small sheet for her to see, and she frowns, first at it and then at the crow on your arm.

"How, exactly, did the message come? And from where?" You close your eyes, adjusting orientations and guessing at what the crows meant, then pat the body.

"This fellow was carrying it, attached to his leg. He came from somewhere east of the city, I think, and tried to bully his way past my crows. They took exception to that. About fifteen minutes ago, now." Giselle cocks her head, only for the head seamstress to rap her forehead with a sharp knuckle.

"No moving, I said!" Giselle very carefully controls her breathing, and you desperately wish you'd told Hatate to come with you, so she could get photos of the scene. You can draw fairly well, but that's no substitute for a good photo!

"Ah … explain, please. Your crows?" You nod quickly.

"Crows like my kind, because we're related. Because of the power difference, they also tend to look up to us and follow us, and one of the flocks here seems to have adopted us. I didn't even know they'd set up a watch-ring around us until this happened." Giselle starts to nod, then stiffens almost fearfully and hisses out as much breath as she dares.

"Well, the good news is that this is actually something expected; I'd been getting worried because we hadn't been getting a warning – but they probably mean to arrive in time to disrupt the ceremony tomorrow. Just in the nick of time, like they're some kind of heroes." You nod along, then raise an eyebrow questioningly.

"They?" One of the other seamstresses starts to laugh at your question, chokes it back too slowly, and you hear something crack sharply as the head seamstress grabs a finger and twists.

"Go, now." The girl flees from the room, moving almost as quickly as the kid earlier, and the head seamstress starts muttering harshly to herself as she swirls more quickly around Giselle.

"... Yes. Emroy's minions. You didn't think we could just kidnap an Apostle and not get some kind of reaction, did ya? It's not like this's the first time this's happened, after all." A cleared throat makes her flinch, and the Apostle coughs before licking her lips carefully. "Er, this isn't the first time this has happened. It's … uncommon, of course, for a deity to, er -"

"Poach?" You smile through the trio of glares. You've had worse – none of them would even rate in an oni stare-down.

"... Anyway, this sort of situation isn't unheard-of. The offended deity authorizes his or her followers to retaliate, and that's what that note is about."

"It's considered bad form to not announce yourself, you see," the head seamstress adds as she works her craft. "Done, sometimes, just bad form. But our Apostle will meet them, scythe to blade, and dragon's fire to cook whatever beastly mounts they bring. Isn't that right, Giselle? Going to show them the strength of your kin." Giselle scowls at the praise, but she seems to hold herself more proudly anyway.

"Will you watch? You won't need to participate, I assure you. Although they will probably want to arrive just before the height of the ceremony – like I said earlier, just like heroes in a story." She actually looks a little sad at the idea of you missing the fight. You could send Hatate, of course, although she would obviously much rather stay and watch the ceremony itself instead of a good romping blood-and-fire battle. But if you go outside, you'll miss little Mora and whatever her part in the ceremony is ….

"Don't pester her for a response now, Apostle. We're not all like you, making up your mind to do something or not right then and there. Let her sleep on it. And stop moving! Really, you're as wiggly as that Reaper is sometimes – and it doesn't leave this room, but you look much better in white than she does!" You blink, trying to imagine Rory in a white dress, then shake your head.


What do you do?

[ ] Keep talking to Giselle.
- About?

[ ] See about meeting Rory tonight.

[ ] Go back to Mora.
- Talk about anything in particular?

[ ] Go back to your room.

[ ] Other?


Note: Happy New Year, everyone! I'm too tired to go to sleep right now, so I'm updating

See about meeting Rory tonight.


"I will think about it, certainly," you say, then frown at the head seamstress. She grins at you, nodding.

"Far be it from a mere mortal like myself to claim that a bride at her loveliest is less pretty than even our beloved Apostle." And Giselle pouts and starts to turn, only to be poked in the side. "No moving! Or I'll tell Hardy." Giselle's flushed face pales, and your fingers dance at your pouch.

"Hm, would it be alright for me to see Rory tonight?" All three of them stare at you, and you spread your arms and wiggle your fingers. Surprise, not suspicion, shows most on their faces. "I mean, she's somewhere safe, right? But there's the ceremony tomorrow, and whatever goes on after that, so there won't be much time for me to talk with just her. Since I'm not too busy right now, though, it seems like a good time." Giselle nods slowly, then stiffens before she can be poked again.

"Ye~ess … um." She closes her eyes for a moment, and your hand taps silently at your pouch again. You'll never get a better chance …. "Right, from here, head right. Ignore the side passages and doors, until you reach the second staircase on your right. Go up that one. It stops at the fourth floor, so if you're on a different floor, you went up a wrong staircase. It's impossible to get lost on the fourth floor, and Rory is the only one there right now." You nod, a trace of a smile gracing your lips.

"Thank you, Giselle. I'll -"

"Wait. Leave the bird here." You frown at her, but she shakes her head. "First, it's weird to have someone carrying a dead crow around the temple. Second, as an emissary of one of Emroy's priests, it should be officially returned to Emroy's temple, and we're better-suited to handle that." You think it over, then nod and set the corpse on a table. No use getting sentimental over what's already dead, after all.

"Alright. Thank you, again; I'll see you tomorrow, then?" She nods silently, and you turn and walk toward the door. You open it, then stop and turn around as if you'd forgotten something. "Ah, before I go – smile, Giselle, and don't blink." Your camera glides smoothly up to your face, perfectly in focus, and you see Giselle start to show confusion through her grin – and there are yelps as the flash goes off. But she didn't blink!

"Ah! What – what was that?!" The seamstresses flinch back, but Giselle seems more confused than angry or frightened, and you smile as you replace the camera. You'll take a picture of Rory, too, of course, but it's safer there.

"A camera – a tool for recording memories. I'll try to get a copy back to you." Giselle stares at you, confusion receding to be replaced by anger, and you wave a farewell and dart into the hallway, closing the door before she can work up the nerve to abandon the seamstress. Not that you'll use this one in an article; no, you'll use the one of her with her dragons, or one from tomorrow. This one will just go in your scrapbook back home. And if you do end up here, maybe you'll apologize to her …. You chuckle to yourself and shake your head as you follow the instructions to Rory's room. It's a little odd that a prisoner would be kept upstairs – but maybe it's a last chance thing, or a show of respect for her, specifically? After all, she isn't Hardy's wife yet ….

Giselle's statement about not being able to get lost on the fourth floor is accurate: the front of the floor, with several staircases and balconies, is one large reception room, with glossy black marble floors, elegant white divans, and small circular tables. It's also obvious which of the four doors is Rory's, as it is guarded by four imposing draconic men. Unlike Giselle, their scales are black or red, but their scale armor prevents you from seeing whether they have the same tattoos. The guards bow to you, and the two greatswords are presented in a salute as the halberdiers prepare to open the door for you. You smile and nod your head to them as you enter, and the door is closed almost all the way behind you. An enchantment, perhaps? Rory lounges on the gigantic bed, looking at the wall instead of you. Gone is her black-and-red outfit – although considering how much blood you got on it and how damaged it was, she couldn't really wear it anyway. Instead, she now wears white: white stockings, laced with red at the thigh; close-fitting white sleeves; and a white, ruffled, short sundress, laced with red ribbons in the front and held up by straps that cross in front of her neck. Even the odd cat-ears-like bow on her head has been replaced by a white one. "I thought you weren't coming back tonight?" Her voice is taunting, amused instead of irritated or tired.

"Why?" She freezes, then rolls off the bed, glaring furiously at you, and fortunately nothing in the room can be used as a weapon. No chairs, no tables, nothing that isn't carved out of the very walls. Even the bedposts form columns from floor to ceiling. After a few seconds her anger evaporates and she flops back onto the bed. "Not a fan of weddings?" She sighs heavily as you walk closer and sit on a table. The walls are carved, too, and you trace your fingers along the smooth white marble.

"Not mine, and especially not to her." She curls up and rolls around so she's on her stomach and facing you.

"Because she's a rival of Emroy's?" Rory scowls.

"Because she traps souls! She has a collection, she showed me! All the souls of worthy, powerful people that she snatched from Emroy, they just … sit there, preserved, for her pleasure. She treats them like dolls, like toys. It's disgusting." That … could be an issue, really. If Hardy can snare youkai as well, it's unlikely that youkai are going to want to come here. But actually finding out if that is possible will probably require youkai dying where she can actually catch them, and since even the weakest youkai fight back, most would probably go to Emroy. … Probably, anyway. "That doesn't bother you?" You blink and refocus on Rory, then shrug.

"I've met some people who can trap souls already. And as long as it doesn't affect us youkai – no, it doesn't really bother us. Sure, some would probably agree with you, but most won't care. It's not in our nature." She can't seem to decide whether to be disgusted or to pity you, it seems. "Ah, some of Emroy's followers are probably going to try and rescue you. I think Giselle was expecting them, though."

"Yes, there's usually a reaction like this; why do you think Hardy let the wedding wait so long? Considering the distance from the closest of Emroy's shrines, though, she definitely didn't want to let a proper force be gathered. She must have been worried about something else interfering …." She holds herself still for a moment as you consider the question.

"Would other gods interfere? Is it accepted?" She wiggles her hand.

"It's not usually accepted, not unless there's a really close relationship between gods, but mortals aren't bound to deities the same way Apostles are, and it's entirely possible that more than Emroy's own warriors would have come to fight. But that's not what I was thinking about, anyway." Rory lifts herself up and swings her legs around so she's sitting up on the edge of the bed. "Emroy can withdraw his power from me, leaving me a mortal human. I don't think that will happen – I've been an Apostle for far too long – but it's possible that he could, if he comes to the conclusion that it isn't worth having me under Hardy's thumb for the last few decades of my existence. And the sooner Hardy can marry me, the less time he has to consider it. Gods are powerful, and far above mortal races, but they still need to think, to plan, they need time to come to a decision, and even they can't just wave their hands and stop time. And Emroy has always been a slow, deliberate thinker, so he's unlikely to come to a decision before the marriage is complete, at which point it would be crass to take away his blessing, especially if he's already sent a group to rescue me." She shrugs expressively and you quickly look over your notes.

"Hm. I take it you won't be allowed to say you don't want to get married?" Rory chuckles, then bursts into full-blown laughter. Eventually she calms down.

"... Hehe. Sorry," she says unapologetically. "You're right, I won't. Arms chained behind my back, gag in my mouth – actually, they might just shackle me to a chair and carry me in that way. I've even got a special high priestess to read my lines for me, isn't that thoughtful of them."

"Ah, so that's how they're doing it. Hmm … maybe I should take Giselle up on her offer …." Rory narrows her eyes at you suspiciously. "Oh, Giselle is going to go up against whoever's coming tomorrow, and she wanted to know if I was going to watch her. If they aren't going to do something I haven't seen before, though, I might as well watch the fight."

"'Something you haven't seen before?'" You nod and stretch.

"Yep. When you get to my age, you start to see some interesting things. Mental control, body doubles, drugs, ignoring what the unwilling partner is actually saying and just treating everything as agreement, an unconscious body – an actually dead one, once, but considering what happened right after that, it wasn't too surprising. If they're just going to use the old, 'she's so willing that we have to keep her chained up and gagged so as not to offend the more conservative members of the congregation,' line, I might as well let Hatate watch, since I don't think she's seen one of those yet."


What do you do?

[ ] Keep talking to Rory.
- About?

[ ] Go back to your room.

[ ] Other?