The Company of the Nine

[Iced Fairy]

Let's consider shiny, artistic, martial, natural, and aristocratic items in the 1 gold, 5 gold, 10 gold, and 20 gold ranges.

I hate you

Quartz Amulet	Gold Bracelet	Peridot	Jewled Earings
Woodblock Print	Small Greek Statuette	Painting of a Swan	Illuminated Manuscript
Fine Dagger	Ceremonial Shield	Jeweled Scabbard	"Unbreaking" Spear
Tulip seeds	"Magic" beans	This is a bazaar	Not a rare florists

Aristocratic is far to broad a term to be useful.

[capt. h]

How does the quality of the fine dagger compare to Rumia's current dagger? Will we be able to cut throats better with it?

[Iced Fairy]

How does the quality of the fine dagger compare to Rumia's current dagger? Will we be able to cut throats better with it?

If it were better Rumia would have mentioned it.

[capt. h]

Welp...

I'm not a fan of buying items for the explicit purpose of bribing people, mostly because I'm no good at it. I vote we just buy what's in our cart and travel to the garden of the sun.

[Hello Purvis]

If we're dealing with anything like dark ages culture, it'd be a good idea to have gifts onhand. Really the same would be true of any aristocracy. I'd suggest we get a couple of the five-gold ones. The martial ones would definitely be useful for getting in decently with the Aesir.  Artistic ones would probably be good for Castle Dracul or the King of Town.

But it may not be a bad idea to hold off on them, either, until we have a more clear plan. But the options are here.

[Iced Fairy]

>One vote for buy and bail (via walking?)
>One semi vote for add more to cart first.

[Kasu]

I'm gonna second the "add more to cart option."  You never know when a good gift can get us out of a bind.

[Shadoweh]

Oh just buy some of them. I'll even suggest a list since we're taking so much time hemming about it >.>
2 Quartz Amulet, 1 Small Greek Statuette, 1 Fine Dagger, 2 Tulip seeds, 1 Magic Beans since we're going to the Garden.
Comes out to 15 gold in stuff.

[GuyYouMetOnline]

I agree with the additional purchaces.

[capt. h]

Alright, I'll go along with the purchases.

Anyway, quick question before we leave: Will Yuuka be annoyed if we wake her at 1 AM? I'm all for teleporting to the garden of the sun otherwise.

[Iced Fairy]

>Three for buying Shadowehs list.
>One for hitting up the Garden of the sun afterwards

Calling for these barring changes after I finish my other writings.

Will Yuuka be annoyed if we wake her at 1 AM?

If Yuuka's asleep you are not going to wake her up.  There's bravery and there's stupidity.  Even you know which one this is.

[Hello Purvis]

>Hit the Garden afterward.

[nolrai2]

Hmm, Yuuka is diurnal right?

[Iced Fairy]

When you finally finish the pile of goods being exchanged is rather large, though Mystia isn't complaining.  Tokiko also seems to be happy with matters.  "Thank you very much esteemed customers.  Now let us finish pricing the good you brought us and we can be done with matters."  She looks down at the armor.  "Hm...  It is a bit battered.  I think three gold will suffice."  You frown.  That seems something of a poor bargain even for used goods.  You open your mouth to argue, but Daiyousei puts her hand on your shoulder and steps forward.

"Ah, but you see that it is newly forged using higher quality steel.  You also are getting a matching sword..."

The two haggle back and forth for a good ten minutes, before finally reaching a deal.  Once everyone seems to be happy you hand over the money.  "Thank you greatly for your patronage noble guests, Tokiko says as she escorts you out.  Should you every need anything in the future, please do not hesitate to visit.  We are open all hours of the day for your convenience."

"It was an honor doing business with you," you reply before saddling up.

As your company follows suit Daiyousei moves next to you.  "Thank you kindly for the dress, Sir Cirno.  It seems very nice."

"It was but a trifle my lady.  I simply thought it suited you well."  You find it difficult to look her directly in the eyes when she's smiling like that.

Rumia coughs.  "Well, if you two are done, we should be off.  To the Garden of the Sun."

"Aye.  If not else we should find Medicine.  Dolls need no sleep, so she'll be roamin' about." Wriggle states.

"Let us be moving then," Mystia states flying on.  You nod your head and follow at a trot.

You arrive at the Garden of the Sun to find that Wriggle spoke true.  The young doll youkai in her crimson dress is skipping amidst the flower fields, humming a jaunty tune.  She waves when she sees you, so you approach the young doll.  "Hail friend Medicine.  We come to speak to Yuuka, if she is seeing guests."

"Ack, a bit late ye are friends!" Medicine replies in a cheery tone.  "Yuuka rises and sleeps with the sun more oft then not.  She has me guard the border in her stead while she be sleeping."

"Then we shall wait until she rises to call our thing," Mystia replies.

"A fair choice, for there is no reason to interrupt her when she slumbers."  You say.  "Might there be a good place to set up camp?"

"A stream cuts tween the hills o'er there," Medicine says pointing.  "A fair place for a camp."

"Fine thanks bonnie lass," Wriggle replies.  "A favor it would be if you spoke to Yuuka when she woke, for we do not rise so early."

"This I can do for ye," Medicine said.  "And should ye be wishing any questions answered now I shall try, though I have yet to leave these lands since the change.  Still I welcome the company."

[Hello Purvis]

Ask what's been happening in these parts.

[Iced Fairy]

Ask what's been happening in these parts.

You begin riding towards the place Medicine indicated you should set up camp.  "What news if any, have you then?"

"Tis been but a day since Wriggle left, so there've been sparse happenings.  The monks sent a right fair passel of men to claim this land, but Yuuka spilt their blood and fed them to the flowers.  They seemed to have magics of their own, healin and some such, but it meant naught."  Medicine thought for a while.  "That be all I think."

[Hello Purvis]

What do we know about the monks? If it's less than what we think Medicine knows, ask for details.

[Iced Fairy]

What do we know about the monks? If it's less than what we think Medicine knows, ask for details.

You frown as you think over that.  "What do you know of these monks?  I know they hate us youkai because they claim their god despises us, but they seem far more vexed then the Shrine Maiden ever was."

Medicine shrugs.  "There's little I know.  Usually they be shooting first, and it's hard to question someone after they choke to death on a poison.  The druids thought little of them as well."

"I know a little more," Rumia says.  "They claim their god is the greatest of gods.  They think we youkai stand in opposition to their gods plans and need to be wiped out."

"It would seem their hatred brings battle to them then, for I see little ground to reason with these," Mystia replies.

[capt. h]

> Camp for the night.

[Iced Fairy]

You camp for the night near the stream as Medicine suggests and prepare a late supper.  You have no real need to eat, but you enjoy doing so.  Finally when all is done you set up watches for the night.  You trust in Medicine's watch somewhat, but it is better to be prepared then get ambushed.  Wriggle takes first watch in order to chat with Medicine, and you fall into slumber as the two talk back and forth.

You awake around 9AM the next morning and prepare for the day, tending your mounts and checking your equipment.  As you start finishing up, a familiar youkai appears, flying down from the sky.  "Well, well," Yuuka says.  "I knew Wriggle had gone through an interesting metamorphosis, but it seems the rest of you children have as well."  She smiles as she touches down.  "What brings you here, oh great adventurers?"

"Greetings, lady of flowers.  We sought to speak with you about the fate of Gensoukyo," you reply.  "Our fair lands have been under the heel of oppression for too long.  With your awakening we feel it is time to change that."

"Hm..."  Yuka's smile weakens a bit.  "Well if you're asking me to help blast the humans out of the rest of Gensoukyo I'm afraid I can't.  There's something subtle here.  I can feel it in the land.  I'm pretty much using most of my power to keep this one area mostly clean."  She thinks a bit.  "It's like there's a 'ruler' of each area that determines how the land falls.  And each piece drags down the others.  Even though I've eradicated most of the Druids, I still need to use some of their rituals to commune with plants.  And the borders of the Garden of the Sun feel like they're under pressure.  Like something is tugging on them.  Especially the borders with the Human Village and the Sanzu River."

"The Wyrd sisters spoke to us earlier," Mystia remarks, "saying we needed to heal the lands.  Perhaps removing this weight would give us victory?"

"Perhaps..."  Yuuka shrugged.  "I do know that Wriggle here should know when a place changes hands.  She'll be able to feel the change in the land as someone from Gensoukyo takes over.  She also should be able to tell who rules an area if she sees them."

"That should but a bit of a crimp in shape changers plans." Wriggle says with a smile.

"Ah, I also have a gift for you before you all head out," she waves her hands and the flowers around you spring to life.  You feel another force rising through you, but you can't place it.  Wriggle however bows to Yuuka as the feeling passes.  "Now is there anything more specific you wanted to ask me?"

Wriggle has learned Spell: Thorn Strike - Plants attempt to grasp and entangle a ground bound foe.  Cost: 0

[capt. h]

> Ask about Sanzu river. Does she know of any way to cross it, who's dominion it is, or where it's ruler hides?

[Hello Purvis]

Ask for more details on the druids. Perhaps we can find a way to root them out.

[Iced Fairy]

> Ask about Sanzu river. Does she know of any way to cross it, who's dominion it is, or where it's ruler hides?

"The Sanzu brings taint upon your land?" Mystia asks.  "That seems strange.  I fear it an ill omen."

Yuuka sighs.  "Yes.  Unfortunately I know of only one way across that river, and it's not a journey I would suggest.  Perhaps if you caught a Shinigami you could get a ride across with your souls intact, but I have no idea where you can find them.  I've seen no sign of Komachi or the others.  Which is strange, Shinigami need to be near death or the underworld to survive."

Ask for more details on the druids. Perhaps we can find a way to root them out.

"More druids?  I thought you had rooted them all out," Rumia says.

"Hm...  Mostly I'm talking about people like Wriggle and Medicine.  Youkai who have been changed.  I suppose there are a few humans out there, but they fear and worship me now."  Yuuka stretches a bit.  "Killing those few seems a little impolite now."

[capt. h]

> Ask about the human village, double check that the king is the source of the problem.

> Do we know how to fix the problem with the village? What do we know about the king?

> Consider whether there would be shinigami in the underground because of it's proximity to hell.

I vote we go to the underground.

[Hello Purvis]

There may be some value in checking the around the Sanzu river, to see if we can get an idea of what happened to the shinigami.

>Ask Yuka if she or Medicine's personally been around the Sanzu Region.

[Iced Fairy]

> Do we know how to fix the problem with the village? What do we know about the king?

You don't know for sure, but all the evidence you possess points towards smacking that fat human off his throne and reinstalling the village elders or whatever the humans used to use to govern themselves.

> Consider whether there would be shinigami in the underground because of it's proximity to hell.

Hell moved.  You're fuzzy on where it is now.

> Ask about the human village, double check that the king is the source of the problem.

"Hm...  Can you tell who the true ruler of the village is from here?" You inquire.

"I fear not, though I feel there needs to be a certain amount of real power to go with the power over the land.  It's either that self styled King or someone controlling him," Yuuka states.  "Without power, claims mean nothing."

"Lady Yuuka, have you been to the Sanzu yourself?" Daiyousei asks.

Yuuka nods.  "Yes.  I wanted to see if I could track down the source of my discomfort.  But I couldn't find anything.  No Shikigami, no ghosts piling rocks, nothing at all.  The river is choppy and violent too.  It's very strange."

[Hello Purvis]

King of Town may be a good first target. I can't imagine he's too well entrenched compared to others. On the other hand, are hootmans may not take to well to us swooping in and forcing a regime change.

[capt. h]

King of Town may be a good first target. I can't imagine he's too well entrenched compared to others. On the other hand, are hootmans may not take to well to us swooping in and forcing a regime change.

I'm up for it. That cloak we just bought sounds perfect for getting away with murder; one of us might be able to swoop in there and kill him without anyone noticing we were even there. Course, I would rather we didn't end up like it's previous owner, so if we do that I vote we start making plans.

[Hello Purvis]

Murder's not going to do it, probably. If there's any "us vs them" mentality, and there almost certainly is, then it would just end up confirming any of that feeling and the next guy would probably go along with it.

We'll have to be a bit more subtle, a bit more rabble rousy, and guide things back more toward the old way.

We play it right, we get a nice base of operations out of it, and gratitude to boot.

[Iced Fairy]

My Satori blood allows me to see the questions you should be asking and thus I shall tell you of the Human Village and it's defenses.

The human village is one of the few places you can be certain of the defenders.  The army of the human village has twenty five knights in good standing, and an equal number of landless knights (well one less now) who are usually wandering about trying to get jobs to support themselves.   He has to have at least three hundred men at arms, though you aren't certain on exact numbers and that does not include sell swords and the town watch.

The King resides in his castle, where no youkai are permitted entrance.  The castle is double walled, with the inner keep being much more defended then the outer bailey.  He has advisers from the monastery with him, though you don't know how many.  More importantly, Keine Kamishirasawa and Heida no Akyuu are residing within the castle as political hostages.  You are certain important political figures (and hostages) are well guarded, especially at night due to the danger of vampire attacks.