Ask the Lady Tenma

I am the Lady Tenma, ruler of the youkai mountain, the tengu, the kappa, and friend and diciple of the honored devas. I am old, but I am wise. Please approch and ask me a question.

[gunbunnyanimation]

Hey all. I rarely pass around this sort of thing but this one is personal. My uncle is going to be doing the Scott Firefighter Stairclimb 2016 event to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  

For our family this is a very personal issue. You see… on November 19th 2000 my father, John Brenden, died of  Acute Myeloid Luekemia. 

My father was the greatest man I ever knew. He was a great father, firm but fair. Worked himself to the bone on graveyard shift to provide for our family. He was a vet and he even saved several peoples lives in extraordinary circumstances over his lifetime. He was such a wonderful person that he touched the lives of everyone he met. At his funeral even his usual bank teller showed up because he had taken the time to get to know her instead of just treating her just as some worker. The world is a darker place without him.

I ask anyone that can, please please please donate to this cause so that in the future maybe a better understanding of this cancer of the blood can help prevent such a waste of life. 

[ladytenma]

[ Reblog from my personal ]

[ladytenma]

Getting Active Again.. (maybe)

[[ Making an effort to get active again.. but I need a bit of help. If I have an RP with you that I haven't replied to no matter how old please send me an ask reminding me of it. ]]

[nocameranocares-deactivated2021]

Some more Tengu canons

These aren’t tengu headcanons, but specifically actual canon material given in Perfect Memento and the Grimoire of Marisa

The most specific and interesting one is the tengu’s philosophy, or most youkai. Marisa notes in the foreword of the Grimoire of Marisa that common logic comes from your idea that one event only has one sole phenomenon. That is, only one reason for existing. The tengu have never considered it so. As people who came into existence from Sarutahiko-okami-sama, various Buddhist temples, feral youkai, and people who were raised by the Oni, tengu cannot say there is only one phenomenon that we can call our origin point. Other youkai all have similar stories when it comes to what exactly created them. There are several stories that are all true in their own right, and thus our reporting is not based off which is necessarily the ‘truth’, but rather how all phenomena lead to a singular truth, the existence of an event. Thus, no thought or reasoning is false, and all tengu meticulously even the most mundane of events with this idea. Kirisame specifically noted how a tengu’s notebook (probably Aya’s) was filled to precise detail of all the smallest events of life, which lets a tengu discover something new This also means in actual canon, Marisa Kirisame was spurred to write the Grimoire of Marisa NOT because of Alice, but because of the TENGU. 

Other stuff is pretty basic. Akyu in Perfect Memento lays down an entire section for tengu alone. Tengu society is advanced thanks to the kappa, and have a largely reclusive lifestyle. This is where she notes the tengu hierarchy, from the Tenma, Daitengu, Hanataka, Yamabushi, and Crows. She lists Daitengu as literally “Extremely Large Tengu”, but marks Hanataka tengu as “Extremely Proud” (this is a bit of a pun, as Akyu uses the expression “To have your nose up high”, which uses the same kanji as Hanataka). It leads to speculation that the Daitengu are actually a separate kind of tengu beyond what’s considered to be standard tengu. 

More importantly is when Akyu talks about the powers of tengu. Strong physical capability, and a speed that’s unrivaled by any other youkai. She notes that the only youkai that could potentially beat a tengu in flight is a vampire, but only with a possibly. Tengu also have strong powers to control the wind, but they can also use this power to turn rumors and stories INTO the wind. A tengu’s rumors and gossips aren’t just annoying, but are actually rather dangerous because they can turn into the literal wind and spread word to everyone within Gensokyo. Though, Akyu may just be exaggerating the Tengu’s ability to propagate information, so take that as you will. 

"To be honest, at the moment there is no way to compete with the tengu." - Hieda no Akyu, Perfect Memento in a Strict Sense

[randomtengureporter]

Yes, Tengu are majestic and unbeatable… And then there’s this asshole!

[iheartcrows]

カラスのボール遊び Crow and ball (by kacmte)

[amandamals]

baaaaaby

[ladytenma]

who is you're arch enemy?

"Human samurai. I lost my family to them and countless of my people. Thankfully, they don't wander the land anymore."

"I have no current arch enemy in Gensokyo if that is your question"

[ladytenma]

False Birds

[lunariansage-archive]

  To say that Eirin was nervous about Tenma’s sudden interest was an understatement, but she didn’t even get the chance to answer before the true tengu was already inspecting her body. Instead she gave a quiet nod of assent, tensing up slightly whenever the woman touched the new wings. It felt nice enough, honestly, but right now the doctor was wrestling with certain parts of her behavior that were acting up. Speak of said behavior, Tenma had asked about that, hadn’t she?

"Well… in the past it has manifested as higher curiosity and mischievousness… there were also some ego issues that I worked out. Unfortunately I have yet to overcome the… altered sense of attractions that this form seems to bring, which has led me to think the personality may need to be removed entirely despite being somewhat key in allowing full use of the form." Even under normal circumstances Eirin would have divulged the information, but her current mental state told her that it was absolutely imperative that she be fully open with the woman. "Right now, Lady Tenma, it is causing me to feel… uncomfortable with the kind of attention that you are giving this form. My mind very clearly tells me that you are too far above my status for such a thing. Still, if it takes your interest then I will not request that you stop."

[ladytenma]

Eirin's comments brought the Tenma back to her senses immediately. She was very properly raised, respectful, and modest and her current behavior wasn't befit her station or status. She stepped back quickly, bowing deep and apologetically.

"Please forgive me, I let my curiosity get the better of me." Her cheeks were flushed, and now that she was aware of it she was trying her best not to look at Eirin while she wasn't covered. "I am just fascinated at the level of detail to it.. to think such a thing were possible. The lunarians truly are amazing."

She looked around the office for something Eirin could cover up with and grabbing a hospital blanket held it out to her. As she waited for the sage to cover up she continued. "If it is all the same to you, the natural instincts and behaviors I believe are important to have. My main concern is non tengu appearing as one of us and doing things out of character or tradition that will effect our image." Not that the tengu had a good reputation among the other species as it was.

"Forgive me if this is something you cannot do, but if you are going to make this drug available I would ask that the natural instincts be left intact. Further, if there was a way to ... instill them with knowledge of our traditions, code of conduct, and the like so that they would be compelled to carry themselves as proud tengu it would be ideal." 

[ladytenma]

Is the Pen Really Mightier than the Sword?

[ladytenma]

The look in Yamata’s eyes as he looked down on Daichi… what was it? It wasn’t the look that was there before, the contempt.  It had been replaced with an almost ageless sadness. That sort of look when memories long since buried come up. He watched Daichi plead with a sigh.

"You heard that did you?" He said with a grumble, upset at himself for his lack of discipline when keeping his tongue still. "It is none of your concern. Such matters are best left buried." With that he turned to walk out of the dojo, his desire to pummel the fledgling into submission passed. He hoped that the reporter would drop it, but that simply wouldn’t be Daichi.

[randomtengureporter]

"Of course, I-" Daichi trailed off in sheer shock. The audacity of the older man was absolutely stunning, and it left the reporter’s jaw hanging open slackly… Though, the beating it had suffered might also have something to do with it.

As Yamata strode away, something snapped in the Karasu’s demeanor. The sudden shift in the wind might not have been enough to make the former warlord stop walking away, but he sure as Makai was going to recognize the sound of a man’s temper being lit on fire. “Don’t you walk away from me!” Daichi bellowed loud enough to shake weapons free of their mounting on the wall. In a flash, he covered the distance between them, and grabbed Yamata’s shoulder pauldron, squeezing it hard enough bend the metal with a creak. “You knew my mother. Haneerth Ki’em thoras Lec’em!”

That was probably not the most polite way of asking the Tenma’s personal bodyguard to tell Daichi what he knew… Indeed, that would seem to have been the command form one would address someone’s inferior with! In his defense, Daichi was very mad, and not thinking clearly… You know; par for the course.

[ladytenma]

In an instant Yamata had spun, grabbed Daichi by the throat, lifted him, and slammed him up against the dojo wall hard enough to buckle the boards. With a thunderous voice the large man was up in the reporters face shouting loud enough that the mansion staff surely heard every word. "Watch your tongue, lest I take it from you! You forget yourself, and where you are!  You are in position to demand nothing."

He flexed his fingers and tightened his grip, making sure Daichi couldn't get the slightest word in. He leaned even closer and his voice went low, like the growl of an angry beast.  "Listen close and listen well.  Your past is lost to you. Your heritage has been scattered to the wind, your birthright is destroyed. Forget it and your futile attempts to reclaim it. She, and it, will remain respectfully buried and not raped by your pointless inquisitions."

The tone and underlying message were clear. He did know something, but he wasn't going to say a word. In fact, he might even... impede any other attempts to garner information else where. The truth was locked behind an impenetrable safe and guarded by the fiercest of warriors. Seeking it might cost Daichi dearly.

Yamata flexed his fingers again, their tips cutting into the struggling reporters carotid artery restricting blood flow to his brain. As Daichi's vision started to fade all he could see was Yamata's face glaring back at him. Soon the blood choke took full effect and Daichi was passed out. Yamata let him fall to the floor and strode from the room.

This... This was going to get complicated. 

[ladytenma]

The Price of Duty

[ladytenma]

  She tapped her chin. She never threw anything out, so in theory in one of the store rooms of the mansion a chest of toys indeed likely existed. It was a matter of finding them as there was so much in those spaces. “I think I’ll have some of the staff dig them out for you, for the next time you visit.”  Hopefully the child would appreciate such old fashioned toys. Things had changed a lot since Aya was a fledgling.

[speedycrowtengu]

Aya couldn’t of been more happier for her aunt’s help, “Thank you oh so very much.” She gave Tenma a sweet hug from the side as the baby was being held in her arms. “I will do the best I can as a mother. I will take all I learned from you while you took oh so well care of me.” Aya wipes a tear from her cheek. “I don’t know how much I can thank you for all those years for taking care of me. I know I was a brat and I think I still am. But I will raise my dauther well.” She blushes and gives her aunt a little kiss on the cheek.

[ladytenma]

Tenma was touched. Aya didn't thank her very often. She always assumed that the younger crow thought she was overbearing, what with how she avoided her. Aya had said it was because she wanted the success of her paper to be her own, but it always hurt Ai a bit staying out of Aya's life.

"Y-you are very welcome my dear." She said choking up a bit. She reluctantly released the child to her mother, gave it a little boop on the nose and collected a few things like tea and a little extra money and sent the two on their way. As much as she liked the time she was able to spend with Aya, it was only a brief break before she had to get to work. That was the price of duty.

[ladytenma]

The White Hare of Inaba

You spot out of the corner of your eye a petite girl, barefoot in a pink dress with a charm that...

[[ Started another RP/ask blog, come check it out and send me some prompts and asks]]

[ladytenma]

*Utsuho plants a kiss on Tenma's lips.*

There is much flailing, flapping of wings and ruffling of feather"A-ah! I, well, ah... Y-you are a very handsome bird, but you are still a woman and a raven and I am a crow.. we are just too different you and I!" 

[johanagares-deactivated20140205]

Attempt to kiss my character and see how they react.

[elenaishuman]

[ladytenma]

False Birds

[lunariansage-archive]

  Eirin nodded quietly and quickly unclasped her shirt, pulling it down from her shoulders and arms to hang from her waistband and leaving her underwear exposed. Reaching into her bag the sage also produced a large hairpin, which she used to pull the end of her long braid in a loop to meet back at the top of her head. Those two things aside, the doctor proceeded to take up the vial, uncork it, and drink it smoothly, closing her eyes in the process.

The effects began instantaneously. The doctor’s frame shrank slightly and became much more lean, with arms, chest, and waist visibly slimming even as she pulled an arm across to keep her clothing on. Her face too became more slim and angular as a wave of dark brown moved down her braid to replace the typical silver. The final shift came with the subtle sound of joints popping as a respectable span of wings emerged from the doctor’s back and grew before folding themselves back in at a resting position.

Eirin took a deep breath and opened her eyes to look at Tenma before being suddenly struck with a feeling that was absolutely foreign to the doctor: inadequacy. Against Daichi and Kouhei she had encountered no trouble in assuming a dominant role, but she felt incredibly self-conscious in front of someone with as much cultural clout as Tenma. “Ah, so here you have it, …ma’am. If I behave strangely then please forgive me. That is the last thing that I am working on adjusting…” She glanced aside, trying to rein in the sheer feeling of being in over her head that assuming a tengu form before the Tenma had brought about.

[ladytenma]

To say that Tenma was astonished was an understatement. Her blush and feminine modesty were nothing compared to her curiosity and fascination with what she had seen. She was up on her feet walking around the lunarian sage inspecting her. Everything, down to the tiniest detail was correct. Had she met this person out an about she would have instantly accepted her as tengu. 

"Truly amazing.. the rumors I hear about your work are not exaggeration. May I?" She asked indicating she wanted to reach out and touch. She walked behind the sage and gently ran her fingers over her plumage. Such fine wings and perfect feathers. To be fair they were brand new and didn't have time to receive the wear and tear a natural born tengu put on them.

"You said it effects your behavior..? How much does it? Do you have the same instincts?" Oh now  she was full of questions, enough she had forgotten the original purpose of the test was to evaluate any threat to her people from it. 

[ladytenma]

Matters of Faith

[vaisravanamaiden]

  To that, not even the tiger knew the answer. In all reality, she’d simply been trying to get away from the dueling in the places she most visited, and Youkai Mountain’s secure mansion was perhaps the perfect place to gain some peace and quiet, and a talk with a beloved disciple. So, she simply shrugged her broad shoulders as a gesture instead of explaining it in full. “I merely wished to visit you, there’s nothing behind this visit.” At least, for now.

"Lady Hijiri has no use for my presence at the time being, so I’m spending this little time visiting friends of mine," Erm, at least, she could consider them friends.

[ladytenma]

Ai was touched. She was a devote follower indeed, but to be considered friend? In the outside world a nation leader claiming they were a personal friend of their god would be mocked, but in Gensokyo it was more than possible. Still, she didn't know the yokai god avatar considered her a friend, even though she had done a lot for them. 

Actually, she had done a lot for Shou's boss back in the day. Originally, the tengu picked on and mocked Buddhist monks. That was when the religion first arrived in Japan. As it spread, Ai had come to appreciate its teachings and pushed for its institution as their official religion. Now the tengu were known as defenders of Buddhism and even their iconic tokin hats were evidence of that. That, however,  was before she met the avatar of Bishamonten that now resided in Gensokyo. 

"Ah you honor me Lord Bishamonten" She couldn't quite let go of the abnormalities. "You are welcome here anytime. However, I was just about to go do my daily visit of our temple to you. Would you care to join me? I think it would do the people well to see you there."

[ladytenma]

The Young and the Old

[randomtengureporter]

  Now way that a trained reporter was going to miss a fleeting flash of despair, and least of all in his leader’s eyes… Unfortunately, he would also immediately misinterpret that as his fault. Daichi smiled weakly and bowed his head. “Ah, jisen lammeth-Ki’em, m’lady, I was delayed and-“

"Bluuuuuu!" Mika interrupted with a cheerful cry as she reached for the Tenma. She seemed substantially less interested in the formalities between two Karasu, and wanted to get right ahead to the part where she got to be held by the new person. Truly her mother’s daughter, this one.

"Ah, little one seems a happy to mee you, Honored," Daichi remarked as he held the squirming infant out for the woman’s review. "Say ‘luk ba’ to Ms Tenma, Mika."

"Pbbbbbbbbbt!"

Eh; close enough.

[ladytenma]

Ai reached out and took the child with a giggle. Oh how could she stay upset and sad in the face of such adorableness. She cradled the child in her arms and bounced her lightly with a smile. "She really is a cute little thing," she complimented. A tiny touch of her finger and she added "Boop~" Oh she didn't look very regal with a child in her arms.

"She seems very happy and healthy, and you seem to be a bit more mature and composed. I think becoming a father has been good for you. Strange how things change when others are depending on you humm?" Tenma said to the father. Ah, how she enjoyed his company, and of course being a respectable family man made him seem that much more... attractive.

She shook her head. Having such thoughts about another woman's husband while holding her child. Oh all the self loathing and chocolate once Daichi leaves.

[ladytenma]

Is the Pen Really Mightier than the Sword?

[randomtengureporter]

  "You treat honor as if it’s only won through battle, you relic," Daichi fired back as he swayed on his feet. Despite the dizziness, he still managed to roll his eyes. "I may not have shame, but you’re apparently humorless… I do whatever I need to do to get the story! And you… What?”

Well, that was one way to take the Wind right out of Daichi’s sails… Actually, that was probably the single most effective Wind-Removing the Karasu had ever experienced.

He narrowed his eyes at the old soldier, and pretty well dropped whatever hare-brained angle he was working on Yamata. As Daichi’s mouth opened, he discovered that he had very little to say… Yuuka, and a few others should take note here; to shut up the bird, simply hint that you know his one, or both, of his parents.

It was a long moment before he put words to his spinning thoughts. “You… You knew my mother?” The reporter’s voice was caught somewhere between disbelief, accusation, and pleading.

[ladytenma]

The look in Yamata's eyes as he looked down on Daichi... what was it? It wasn't the look that was there before, the contempt.  It had been replaced with an almost ageless sadness. That sort of look when memories long since buried come up. He watched Daichi plead with a sigh.

"You heard that did you?" He said with a grumble, upset at himself for his lack of discipline when keeping his tongue still. "It is none of your concern. Such matters are best left buried." With that he turned to walk out of the dojo, his desire to pummel the fledgling into submission passed. He hoped that the reporter would drop it, but that simply wouldn't be Daichi.

[ladytenma]

The Price of Duty

[ladytenma]

  Tenma took the child and held it in her arms, cradling it against her chest. Oh she was cute.. she looked so very much like her mother when she was young. Her heart ached a bit, she would likely never be a mother herself but she was happy to have more family now. “She is very cute,” she said booping the little child on the nose with a finger. 

"About that Aya, I am very sorry. If I could have made it I would have. Please do get me a set of those photos and.. let me know if there is anything else I can do. Do you have a proper crib? Toys for her? Anything you need anything at all."

[speedycrowtengu]

"Well… I think we are doing just fine right now. Yeah, we have a crib for her and all that stuff from the baby shower." She ponders abit from Tenma’s help, "Well maybe do you have any of my old toys? Maybe she might like to try them out aswell." Aya pets her babies head, she smiles warmly. "And yes… she is very cute. Like me!" She let out a light giggle from her statement. She sighed and looks at her aunt, "Well I will be sure to bring my pictures next time I come by."

[ladytenma]

She tapped her chin. She never threw anything out, so in theory in one of the store rooms of the mansion a chest of toys indeed likely existed. It was a matter of finding them as there was so much in those spaces. "I think I'll have some of the staff dig them out for you, for the next time you visit."  Hopefully the child would appreciate such old fashioned toys. Things had changed a lot since Aya was a fledgling.

[ladytenma]

Tengu Headcanons Talk

Rainbow Dash: new tengu headcanon, there is a statue of bishamonten in the tengu village

Rainbow Dash: probobly even a small temple for it for worship

Rainbow Dash: http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5272/5889261983_9de4aa2e7a_b.jpg like this

Daichi Yuutamo: Ha. Yes. That makes a great deal of sense.

Rainbow Dash: Its been there for a long time, so its actually bishamonten and not shou

Rainbow Dash: also, tenma visits the statue daily for her worships and is an active practicianer of buddhism

Rainbow Dash: prolly was responsible for the shift between mockers of buddhists to practicers of buddhism

Daichi Yuutamo: Ah, that would tie in nicely, yeah. Plus, I rather liked that the Tengu were painted as both supporters and opponents of Buddhism. Makes their culture less monolithic.

Rainbow Dash: I wanna say they started out mocking them but as they learned more about it, tenma became facinated by it and started preaching about its benifits

Rainbow Dash: Might actually tie into how she united the clans too

Rainbow Dash: Buddhism was introduced in Japan as a way to placate the masses in a way, might have been used in a similar fashion in the tengu

Daichi Yuutamo: Indeed, but while you can catch a majority, there will always be hold outs.

Rainbow Dash: ofcourse

Rainbow Dash: and as i mentioned in a recent post, due to the mediacentric lifestyle of the tengu, open discourse has lead them to be fairly progressive in many ways, including a fairly recent freedom of religion act

Rainbow Dash: allowing them to worship how they see fit, tho the official religion is still listed as buddhism

Daichi Yuutamo: Yup yup! Tenma the Progressive.

Rainbow Dash: I think she probobly catches alot of flak from it from the older tengu

Rainbow Dash: there is a rift in the society between the older traditional generations, and the younger social justice warrior reporter types i think

Rainbow Dash: all this gives the tengu supremicists more reason to hate Ai tho

Daichi Yuutamo: Which makes the love between Daichi and Ai that much more amusing. They're opposites! She's more progressive and reasonable, while he's more traditional. Makes a nice contrast.

Rainbow Dash: I think tenmas relativly young age compaired to her peers might also allow her to think this way more, and be a sore point for the counsil and such

Rainbow Dash: and even more reason why they would be opposed to her attachment to him

Rainbow Dash: also, Im tempted to put this conversation up on my blog, this is really good headcanon brainstorming.

Daichi Yuutamo: Go for it.