Tarvek was back into his armour before he responded to the, strangely meek sounding, words of the maybe demon-blood female on the screen of one of drones. His drone that had been drawn down by the female's magic, and her 'friendliness' was causing wariness with him, even as he didn't have the drone resist that pressure, and instead activated a button to communicate. Projecting his image, in full power armour, back to the location, even as he motioned at Janet and Mayuko to get back into their own gear, weapons at the ready. Or simply for them to be ready to flee if the need arose. Again.

"Greetings" he responded to the….this Hanyuú judging by the words the drone had recorded, Tarvek quickly reading back what was spoken in local human Japanese "Do you come in peace? Peace we offer"

"Haauuu!"

….and that was odd response, the horned female hopping back, startled, and waving arms around almost triumphantly afterwards "Hauelloo! Yes! Peace and kindness! Welcome to Hanyuú's domain!"

Tarvek paused….that wasn't good. This was a spirit…or more than just a spirit?

"We were unaware of any trespass upon thine chosen domain" he answered carefully "These lands being devoid of humans or signs of such claims. No offence was intended, with verbal apology offered, and an offer to withdraw if requested"

"What, why are we…"

Tarvek ensured Mayuko's words weren't heard as he spoke through the suit, but she could hear the entire conversation and he tapped a button to speak only to her and Janet "If this is a local spirit, best to avoid conflict, so give forth your silent support to my efforts"

She pouted, but nodded, arms folding across her chest, frowning as Janet took up her weapon into hand, Tarvek focusing on the issue at hand. Re tapping as the female on screen looked confused, then hovered…ah, and readings were non-physical. Definitely a spirit, despite the very living gestures "Oh, that's fine! Hanyuú welcomes…and Hanyuú wants help! You seem like nice outsider beings with guns!"

'That…is passing strange, still friendly' the orc pathfinder noted to himself, confused, though even more on guard in other ways. Spirits, demonic or angelic on either extreme, tended to be somewhat alien in thought process his training, and faith, warned – even where they may be helpful. They could also be 'mortal minded' in Aspects, and this one might be so inclined. But he reminded himself, as per protocol and various training courses, not to overlook some minor issue that could cause problems…but not turn away the spirit and perhaps caused offence and conflict. If it wanted aid, then it may provide a boon in exchange.

'Easier in theory talks with Sasha than in the field' was the unfortunate result here and now though, as he found his voice "You have observed us?"

"Since…since you wooooshed here…kind of? After? Hanyuú felt/saw/noticed" the system struggled with translation, likely as it involved concepts at a higher level, despite dumbing down efforts "Hanyuú feels/hears/understands things/aspects/concepts/arrivals from beyond! Not invader/demon-creature/out-evil but travelling! Hanyuú can help travellers with travel through Hanyuú domain! Travellers help Hanyuú, Hanyuú help travellers!"

Tarvek raised his eyebrow as the spirit female with horns beamed in a child-like manner. But…they were already within that domain, and the domain seemed very small. Still…

"The nature of the aid, and the nature of what tasks would be required in trade, would require discussion….before any such Pact could be agreed" he pointed out "Our supplies are good, and remaining within thy domain is merely to rest. We can depart beyond those fences if thy prefer it so"

"Hauu! No! Um! Hanyuú's domain is…" the spirit-female waved her arms about energetically, spreading them wide, swirling about in the air as if to make herself bigger, or wider, waving outwards "Here-but-not-here, always-here-but-also-there, Hanyuú is O̶̧̗̝̬̟͑̔̊̒y̴̲̾͝͝à̷̙̺͈̉͆s̴̘̫͋̽ͅh̸̢̉ĩ̶̛͔̹̀̉͆̔r̵͚̖̊̇̍̉ǫ̸̞̤͊̑̆-̶̡͍̱̥̃͗̾̒͒͠ͅs̶̡̧̱͆̈̏̆̽̅ą̸͉̔̀̾͛̃̕ͅm̷̰͍̏̀̅͜ą̵̦͆́̎̄͝ ! Here-yet-there-and-here! You travel here-and-there-and-here! See! See! Hanyuú see you travel-here-there-here many here-there-here and all over where Hanyuú is Hanyuú and O̶̧̗̝̬̟͑̔̊̒y̴̲̾͝͝à̷̙̺͈̉͆s̴̘̫͋̽ͅh̸̢̉ĩ̶̛͔̹̀̉͆̔r̵͚̖̊̇̍̉ǫ̸̞̤͊̑̆-̶̡͍̱̥̃͗̾̒͒͠ͅs̶̡̧̱͆̈̏̆̽̅ą̸͉̔̀̾͛̃̕ͅm̷̰͍̏̀̅͜ą̵̦͆́̎̄͝!"

Tarvek did not like the Aspect pressure on certain words, but there was implications there. Implications that he wished more an answer too "Does Hanyuú…cross differing realms? Or planes of existence? Words speak of multi-planar, but only to these lands across those planes?"

"Yes!" the being replied….and that was mildly disturbing, but also very useful if true. If true of course "Hanyuú is here and there and there-here and here-there, both now-then and before-now. Help Hanyuú here-there and before-now-here, then Hanyuú help you go then-here or here-there or beyond-here!"

"Define those concepts" he queried calmly, thinking "If we agree to aid thee, then your stated implications are that multiple planes would be within your purview to transport us to, but limited to this location upon this planes. This is due to your status as a multi-planar deity?"

"Hanyuú is Hanyuú and also Hanyuú, who is Hanyuú and O̶̧̗̝̬̟͑̔̊̒y̴̲̾͝͝à̷̙̺͈̉͆s̴̘̫͋̽ͅh̸̢̉ĩ̶̛͔̹̀̉͆̔r̵͚̖̊̇̍̉ǫ̸̞̤͊̑̆-̶̡͍̱̥̃͗̾̒͒͠ͅs̶̡̧̱͆̈̏̆̽̅ą̸͉̔̀̾͛̃̕ͅm̷̰͍̏̀̅͜ą̵̦͆́̎̄͝, who is O̶̧̗̝̬̟͑̔̊̒y̴̲̾͝͝à̷̙̺͈̉͆s̴̘̫͋̽ͅh̸̢̉ĩ̶̛͔̹̀̉͆̔r̵͚̖̊̇̍̉ǫ̸̞̤͊̑̆-̶̡͍̱̥̃͗̾̒͒͠ͅs̶̡̧̱͆̈̏̆̽̅ą̸͉̔̀̾͛̃̕ͅm̷̰͍̏̀̅͜ą̵̦͆́̎̄͝ and Hanyuú, but always here, whether here-there or there-here. Hanyuú is Kami of this domain, and her domain extends many-many-many here-theres…"

"What the fuck is she saying? And your computer thingie isn't quite the same either…its weird!"

He heard Mayuko say as the spirit continued trying to, poorly, explain. Janet voicing agreement while frowning and shaking her head in annoyance at Mayuko "While I disagree with the language, that is very confusing"

Tarvek tapped the link silent again "She is a multi-dimension entity, or claims to be, though limited to this territory in them all. The confusion is caused by the translation software and what she likely is, and the words not matching what she is saying. She is…dumbing it down, but the system is working against that. But let me engage here with this being"

He allowed this 'Hanyuú' entity continue its, albeit confusing, if thorough description of its abilities, and only replying once she had ceased and he comprehended she was confirming his question in the affirmative "We would have access to this multi-planar realm, without hostility, with aid if requested?"

"Yes! Hanyuú helps!"

The orc nodded faintly, within the armour, not showing it outside. That was a major boon, but there was always a price to be paid, and this seemed too good to be true "And what would the aid be required to gain this?"

"Help Hanyuú save Hinamizawa!"

…and there it was. How, exactly, were they going to save a dead town?

'This is a become citizens and be trapped here forever or some such Pact, isn't it?' popped into his head, though he carefully, and politely voiced the obvious in as non-offensive way as feasible "That, that would seem difficult as this town and its environs are…ah, shall we say, non-active and lacking humans, with barriers preventing access and…"

The spirit flung her arms up in the air "No! No! Hanyuú want save before-now! Hanyuú trying moving place to place but no work. Go aside-and-back, but not work! Never work! Always same! Always everyone die!"

She waved her hands "Hanyuú want you go back-then…"

'Oh, Lord of Shrouds. Chronomancy' he thought, then voice, daring to erupt "Chronomancy? Time-travel as some call it?"

"Haauuu! You know! Yes! Travel side-to-side but also back" then stood proudly in the air "This Hanyuú's domain!"

"What. The. Fuck!"

"Mayuko, stop interrupting" he muttered "But…time travel"

Then retagged the comms "We cannot promise to save what we do not know, but we can offer aid. Best efforts. But that is all we can offer in trade. Promises of surety of outcome cannot be given. But we agree to meet…"

"We are?"

He ignored the pair beside him "…and negotiate an Oath Bound Pact on such outlines. Subject to further discussion"

{Hinamizawa, outskirts Shishibone City, twenty years prior, 1983AD}

Rika Furude lay on the grass a moment, the petite pre-pubescent looking to any who were watching as if she had laid down for a nap in the shade, the tree leaves dancing in the breeze above her eyes. Yet she barely saw the dappled sunlight. Once…

How many years…decades was it now?

Memories of her death, and the pain of slamming herself again and again off a knife was in the girl's mind…

The mind and body desperately out of sync. Thoughts of another cycle ahead. Of simple joys turning to agony, betrayal, deaths. Close…she'd thought they'd been close…

'Foolishness. Think' then forced herself to sit up "Nipaaaa! See you soon Satoko-chan!"

Satoko would come otherwise, and Rika forced herself to cheerfully smile and wave at the blonde haired girl, which caused her to wave back, then run after Mion who was calling a game that Rika was currently out of, and therefore a few moments to talk in private. Hanyuú was near, or would be near, and looking like she was talking to herself was always a bad thing; often resulting in early downhill paranoia from someone. That was the worst part – it was never the same!

Never! Never! Never!

Always little changes…

Rika stood up, closing her fingers fists, rage burning….then letting it out in a deep breath, before turning and walking behind a tree. Maybe if…

Crunch

There was a shadow over her, blacking out the sunlight flicking between the tree leaves of the forest, the breeze dying as something blocked it. Rika blinked, looking up, at…

Starred…

"Hello tiny priestess of Hanyuú" a giant oni-robot-thing said, standing like a titanic statue, filling Rika with utter confusion rather than the fear she probably should feel "Greetings, I am Tav!"

"RIKKAAAA!" Hanyuú appeared from behind the massive armoured giant's head, arms waving excitedly, head bobbing "I FOUND HELP FOR YOU!"

"One has been hired to kill some humans and to attempt to prevent others being killed" the monster giant robot oni stated in a robot oni giant voice "In the name of the Shrouded Lord, as His priest, and in cooperation with your Goddess. Please point out who is needing slaying, and which squishy humans need protection"

Rika couldn't help gesturing at the towering giant oni whatever with both hands, but unable to say the 'WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS!' that her gestures and face must, surely, be saying to Hanyuú…