(Skyseas of Gensokyo) Nazrin Quest (Part 12)

[DracoOmega]

>How awkward or cumbersome would it be to have both canteens in addition to our own?

>You could manage it, but you are carting around a fair amount of stuff already and traveling lighter does have its advantages.

[Oldmansour]

>"On second thought, I can probably get by with just the one extra canteen."
>Point our tail at the black cloak, "And that one as well."

[DracoOmega]

>"On second thought, I can probably get by with just the one extra canteen."
>Point our tail at the black cloak, "And that one as well."

>"So that's...." Sekibanki trails off, looking at the other woman expectantly.
>She takes a glance over the items on the counter, then pauses. "34 guilders."

[Oldmansour]

>Isn't that a lot for a big canteen, a waterproof cloak, some matches and those bundles?

[DracoOmega]

>Isn't that a lot for a big canteen, a waterproof cloak, some matches and those bundles?

>Assuming those bundles are rations of some sort, it's not as affordable as you'd hoped, but neither is it woefully expensive.

[Hello Purvis]

>"Lemme try the cloak on, see if it's worth that much."

[Oldmansour]

>What do we think our chances are of getting a better deal back in civilian town?

[DracoOmega]

>"Lemme try the cloak on, see if it's worth that much."

>"Knock yourself out," Sekibanki says.

>What do we think our chances are of getting a better deal back in civilian town?

>You suppose it's possible, though you wouldn't automatically assume so. And that's if you can even manage to find some of this stuff in a village this size in a timely manner; the food probably wouldn't be too hard, but a good large canteen might be a bit more difficult.

[Oldmansour]

>Sample the merchandise.

[DracoOmega]

>Sample the merchandise.

>You take up the darker cloak and try it on. The woman who delivered it folds her arms impatiently.
>It's a decent bit larger than necessary and you rather disappear inside the hood when you pull it up, but that wouldn't be altogether bad if it's actually raining. The material is a bit coarse, but not scratchy, and it's reasonably light for its thickness. It wouldn't be your first choice if you had to outfit yourself from somewhere with actual selection, but it's definitely serviceable.

[Oldmansour]

>How does it smell?
>What do those wrapped bundles smell like?
>Does Seki's head or body smell any different when they are separated?

[DracoOmega]

>How does it smell?
>What do those wrapped bundles smell like?
>Does Seki's head or body smell any different when they are separated?

>Like old sawdust with a hint of cider.
>You take a sniff in the direction of the bundles. It's definitely food, or mostly food; there's a decent quantity of dried meat and jerky swimming in the pungent odor of potent salting, probably some crackers and other very dry breadstuffs, dried apples, and just a hint of faintly stale honey. Another sniff. No cheese. Pity.
>Sekibanki doesn't smell particularly unusual either now or back when she was performing spontaneous self-decapitation.

[Hello Purvis]

>"I'll take it all. Sorry, just not used to prices in this part of the world, I guess."

[Oldmansour]

>Well, not ALL. We should be able to get by with just the one extra canteen and one cloak.

[DracoOmega]

>"I'll take it all. Sorry, just not used to prices in this part of the world, I guess."

>Well, not ALL. We should be able to get by with just the one extra canteen and one cloak.

>Sekibanki snickers darkly as you complain about the local prices, then jerks her head towards her subordinate; for just a moment, her head seems to twist further to the side than you'd expect a neck to comfortably support. You might wince in sympathy if you hadn't already seen far worse from that neck.  "You can give her the money."

[Oldmansour]

>"Sure."
>Turn, then pause.
>"Oh, I almost forgot. Do either of you ladies know a woman by the name of Kagerou?"

[DracoOmega]

>"Sure."
>Turn, then pause.
>"Oh, I almost forgot. Do either of you ladies know a woman by the name of Kagerou?"

>The brunette throws her captain a sidelong glance.
>"What about her?" Sekibanki asks in a guarded tone.

[Oldmansour]

>Guarded? Oh, what have I done now...
>"I wanted to meet her, if I could."

[DracoOmega]

>Guarded? Oh, what have I done now...
>"I wanted to meet her, if I could."

>"Well, she comes by this way every couple weeks," Sekibanki says. "I can pass along a message for her, if you want."

[Oldmansour]

>"You think she'd be around tomorrow?"

[DracoOmega]

>"You think she'd be around tomorrow?"

>"I wouldn't count on it, but it's possible."

[Oldmansour]

>Not a resounding confirmation.
>"Hmmm."
>Fold arms.
>"Well, let me ask you, then. I was told back in the village that she knows this area pretty well. That fair to say?"

[DracoOmega]

>Not a resounding confirmation.
>"Hmmm."
>Fold arms.
>"Well, let me ask you, then. I was told back in the village that she knows this area pretty well. That fair to say?"

>"Well enough, I guess," Sekibanki says. Her subordinate throw her a questioning glance - subtle enough to barely notice.

[Oldmansour]

>Why do I get the feeling this isn't something we should get too deep into?
>How on edge to these two look/seem?

[DracoOmega]

>Why do I get the feeling this isn't something we should get too deep into?
>How on edge to these two look/seem?

>Sekibanki isn't being much more readable than usual; if her eyes are harder than normal, it is only barely. Her subordinate seems more uncertain than anything else, though even this is slight. You do get the feeling that something might be up, but it isn't entirely obvious what that would be.

[Oldmansour]

>"Would you also happen to know if she's willing to share that knowledge, say, to someone planning a long trek into the wilds?"

[DracoOmega]

>"Would you also happen to know if she's willing to share that knowledge, say, to someone planning a long trek into the wilds?"

>"Couldn't say," she replies.

[Oldmansour]

>Do we get a sense from her reply that she's covering or concealing something?

[DracoOmega]

>Do we get a sense from her reply that she's covering or concealing something?

>Other than the lower half of her face, you'd have to guess by circumstance and inference; her tone of voice and body language leaves little to go on.

[Oldmansour]

>She'd be interesting to play poker with.
>"I see. Well, just thought I'd ask."