Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Gensokyo has, and always will be a strange place. It is to be expected when it is notorious for housing those forgotten to the outside, for better or for worse. To quote the founder, Yukari Yakumo,

”Gensokyo accepts everything, and that’s a cruel, cruel thing.”

This “everything” has ranged from the fledgling youkai to the mightiest gods of nature, all who could no longer thrive under the conditions of the world that surrounded them. It would have been inhumane to leave some to die, as many departed to Gensokyo as a means of survival. Some did so early, some did so late, all a matter of circumstance.

This is not a new revelation. However, what is shocking is how little was known about Gensokyo’s past. Bits and pieces have persisted, correct, but the existence of major events, locations, and individuals had suddenly vanished from the public conscience. Not all, otherwise it would truly be a void in the Earth’s memory, a horrendous thought.

Formerly, this absence of knowledge was pursued and chronicled by Hieda no Akyuu, the next in line of the Miare family. She did not do so alone, gathering help from those such as Keine Kamishirasawa, Reimu Hakurei, Marisa Kirisame, and more.

The greatest revelation made was that events that conspired during the lives of those individuals had been completely lost to documentation. What had to surface were artifacts from the era, which shall be dubbed the “Yougakudan Enigma Era.” The more was uncovered forcibly, the more had begun to fall in place. Eventually, assistance was not required, as the actors in that era had willingly introduced themselves.

Thus, the publications by Hieda no Akyuu, the “Expanded History of Yougakudan,” were made a reality, chronicling the artifacts and the history that followed them. With them followed a slight change in Gensokyo’s structure. Prior, those who had escaped to Gensokyo to avoid being forgotten wound up being forgotten themselves. That is no longer the case, as now that near-hypocritical, near-paradoxical existence is not seen in the present.

However, there was a persistent flaw found within Akyuu’s publications. That was the lack of concrete explanations of events and those who took part in them. Partially, it is her fault for not taking the time to piece it together herself, but also, she has not been around for the eras in which these events occurred, so why would she have the whole story?

That is why I, Mima, will put forward the information from the Yougakudan Enigma Era as it is. No dramatic flair, merely the straightforward facts about the events that conspired during the era and about those who took part in them. As one who has both partaken and spectated these events, having had a minimum or partial participation in all of them, I believe myself to be one of, if not the most qualified to deliver this.

There is no grand purpose as all has been righted in the social sphere of Gensokyo. However, whose to say one cannot extract a modicum of entertainment from compartmentalizing it all?

In short, enjoy your read.

Chapter Text

The Lotus Land Incident was initiated by now-known flower youkai, Yuuka Kazami. It began with a slew of plant-based monsters entering into Gensokyo and attacking the Hakurei Shrine. Needing to find the source of the attacks, Reimu Hakurei, in defense of her shrine and Gensokyo at-large, alongside her turtle companion Genjii, followed where destruction was laid. In the wake of her findings, she travelled to the mountain behind her shrine (now dubbed Hakurei Mountain), dove through the Lake of Blood, and found the source of troubles within the Manor of Distant Fantasies, Mugenkan. The manor was home to many hostile foes and housed a portal to the Dream World. Reimu had eventually found Yuuka and emerged victorious after a brutal bout in the Dream World.

Marisa Kirisame also partook in this incident. She set out at night once she caught wind of the events unfolding, and since she did not need to do any research herself, blazed through to Mugenkan herself. Hence, she was able to catch up with Reimu in the manor and the two had a bout before either could confront Yuuka, their intentions quite different from one another. Reimu, obviously, won this scuffle as well.

Aside from the incident itself, two demons displaced into the Dream World, Mugetsu and Gengetsu, remained by their lonesome. They had ties to Yuuka, but despite the dangers they presented, no incident came of it. None that were recorded or observed, anyways.

Name: Orange

Species: Mountain Youkai

Title: Regular Youkai (former), Citric Circus Act (current)

Ability: Able to disorient with her baton

Location(s): Hakurei Mountain Path, Lake of Blood

Human Threat Level: Very low

Biography

Orange is the most prominent of a group of youkai that dwell by the bottom of Hakurei Mountain. This group of youkai are nameless, taking the titles of various fruits on account of their appearances, like Orange’s, being very vivid and colorful. While she is not their leader, she has the most commanding say in any matters they may have. Individually, Orange and her troupe are all weak, but they can demand a manner of respect if they are together.

Despite her own weaknesses, Orange tackles any task in front of her with utmost confidence. It may appear foolish at first but considering the nature of existing as a weaker youkai, one’s flaws can be hidden with enough bravado. This can be seen with her performing capabilities, as her greatest strength is her mobility and dexterity. By combining danmaku with her expertise in baton-twirling, she can dizzy her opponents to an almost hypnotic effect. Those experienced with spell card bouts, however, will be able to see through her ruse and dispose of her quickly.

During the Lotus Land Incident, Orange had the honor of facing both Reimu and Marisa to little success. While she was unknowingly assisted by some of Yuuka’s plant creations taking root in the soil of the mountain path, no level of exhaustion was going to push a lone member of her group to a surprise victory over those two.

Currently, Orange and her group serve the noble purpose of warding travelers away from Hakurei Mountain. They either do this traditionally or by pulling various stunts that would turn someone around and get them walking backwards. In recent years, due to the seeds spread by Yuuka’s intervention, they have been able to grow the fruits they claimed their names after.

Name: Kurumi

Species: Vampire

Title: Vampire of the Lake (former), Bat-Winged Symphony (current)

Ability: Refraction of sound, perfect pitch

Location(s): Lake of Blood, Mugenkan, Hakurei Mountain Path, Scarlet Devil Mansion

Human Threat Level: Moderate

Biography

Kurumi is one of many security measures set in place to protect Mugenkan. She guards the Lake of Blood, a location that presides over the phantasmagorical manor. While having a vampire guard a lake seems antithetical, enough fail-safes were implemented by Yuuka to prevent that from ever becoming an issue. She has guarded the lake with remarkable success, her largest failures coming during the Lotus Land Incident, where she was soundly defeated by both Reimu and Marisa.

While her position entails that she should be ruthless in her job of being the first line of defense, Kurumi is notably much kinder in her methods. She is responsible for a few skeletons in the lake, but she often uses her vampiric traits to ward or scare away visitors. Those who do not leave, though, will be met with her full strength.

Her ability is similar to that of Kyouko Kasodani, with the primary difference being her ability to refract, as opposed to reflect sound. It cannot be “returned to sender” but can cause mayhem otherwise. This is done by creating a dome with her abnormally large wings. Lastly, she can also match any pitch sung or played and uses this to great extent when playing instruments.

Nowadays, Kurumi often spends more time in Mugenkan than the Lake of Blood. Her duty is not seen as a necessity anymore, as Mugenkan is no longer considered a need to protect. Hence, Kurumi has become more lackadaisical, even leaving the Hakurei Mountain grounds entirely. A recent development is that despite having no ties to the family, Remilia Scarlet has taken interest in her and has requested meetings in the Scarlet Devil Mansion.

The Lotus Land Incident refers to the period of time from when the Hakurei Shrine was attacked by Yuuka Kazami’s proxies, to when she was stopped by Reimu Hakurei in Mugenkan. The phrase “Lotus Land” refers to the myth of the legend of the lotus-eaters, an island of individuals who consumed copious amounts of the lotus plant. This led to an increased complacence on the island due to the effects of the lotus, leading to the residents never wanting to leave as they had achieved their fantasy. Yuuka’s own behaviors and the nature of Mugenkan reflect upon this phrase well, if Mugenkan is viewed as the “land of the lotus-eaters” of Gensokyo.

Name: Elly

Species: Ankou/Dream World Youkai

Title: Gatekeeper of Mugenkan (former), Embellished Porter of Fantasy (current)

Ability: Manipulation of solid matter

Location(s): Mugenkan, Dream World, Lake of Blood

Human Threat Level: Low

Biography

Elly resides as the current mistress of Mugenkan. Formerly, she was the manor’s gatekeeper, having inherited the position from Yuuka after the woman had left. The two had a disagreement, with Yuuka wishing to leave Mugenkan for brighter pastures while Elly sought to remain to fulfill her duty of protecting the manor’s power from getting into the wrong hands.

Her career as a gatekeeper was mediocre. She had not prevented many break-ins, mostly due to a mix of her opponents being stronger than her or her own incompetence. What compounded matters was that Kurumi was immensely successful at her own position and sifting through the Lake of Blood to get to Mugenkan is not intuitive. This is not to say that she is weak, merely outclassed. This was shown in the Lotus Land Incident, where she was soundly defeated by both Reimu and Marisa.

Prior to even existing within Mugenkan, Elly was one of many similar, uniform youkai that lived in the Dream World. It is unknown if they were there on account of Doremy Sweet’s bidding, or if they have existed there since dreams were conceived in pre-history. As was with most of Mugenkan’s inhabitants and housekeepers, she was pulled out of the Dream World by Yuuka and given life in Gensokyo. This came at the cost of her time spent in the Dream World, but this did not appear to have any effects. Curiously, Elly herself does not identify with this label, referring to herself as an “ankou,” or servant of the reaper. This is not true, but it is likely a title she holds to sound more fearsome and ward away invaders to Mugenkan.

A perk of being a Dream World resident is that one is able to command the will of anything imbued with the power of dreams. For Elly, she was able to manipulate the solid matter that composed and surrounded Mugenkan, such as the crystalline infrastructure and her scythe.

As it stands now, Elly does not leave Mugenkan frequently, opting to direct and supervise operations there. She has become open to exploring Gensokyo more, but has yet to do so often. Being the mistress of Mugenkan, she also oversees the connection to Gensokyo from the Dream World, not dissimilar to a Kaian Passageway.

Name: Rengeteki

Species: Big Fairy

Title: Dreaming Fae

Ability: Intangibility

Location(s): Mugenkan, Makai City

Human Threat Level: Very low

Biography

Like all fairies, Rengeteki was born as a being that embodies some aspect of nature. Considering that to dream is to be for some, Rengeteki exists as a fairy of dreams. More fittingly, she had started her existence in Mugenkan, the manor where dreams come to life.

She did not serve much of a purpose in Mugenkan outside of annoying those who resided within. Stealing clothes, pranking the residents, average fairy activities. Her ability to go in and out of Mugenkan’s floors through becoming intangible within dream-infused matter made her tormenting skills above those of your average fairy. In her time spent there, she grew fond of Yuuka, wanting to emulate the flower youkai’s style.

During the Lotus Land Incident, she continued her existence of serving little purpose by being just a roadblock for Reimu and Marisa. After the incident, she left to follow Yuuka wherever she went, but only knew of the youkai’s first destination: Makai.

Rengeteki once more got involved with an incident, being a titular roadblock during the Mystic Square Incident, getting run over in the Makai City. Since then, her whereabouts are unknown, but it is unlikely she went very far.

When one thinks of mountains in Gensokyo, one’s first thought would reasonably go towards Youkai Mountain. Being a central location in Gensokyo, pivotal to its development and a constantly contested territory, it is no surprise that one would forgo any other mountain ranges in Gensokyo. However, smaller mountains do exist, but they either lack the size or agricultural advantage that Youkai Mountain does. One such one is a mountain that exists near the Hakurei Shrine, past the pond where the sleeping Genjii rests. It has a sparse youkai population and a dedicated pathway. What it lacks is anything worth travelling to it for, hence the small populace. It makes for a perfect place to hide Mugenkan, as well. Previously, it was often referred to as “that mountain behind the Hakurei Shrine,” with no proper name to it. Due to that exact proximity, though, it has since been given the tentative title of “Hakurei Mountain.”

Name: Mugetsu

Species: Demon

Title: Nightmarish Maid (former), Servant of Delusion (current)

Ability: Illusion magic

Location(s): Dream World, World of Ice and Snow, Pandæmonium

Human Threat Level: High

Biography

Mugetsu is the younger of two sisters, herself and Gengetsu. They both share an origin with one another, being demons created by Shinki that were misplaced from Makai into the Dream World. This was done as a test of the god’s magical reach, it being a complete success. The world they were implanted in featured bizarre imagery and the magical miasma only found in Makai.

Despite being created at the same time, supposedly, Mugetsu was dubbed the younger sister. She is the more rational actor of the two. Think first, act later. Unfortunately for her, she is less powerful than her sister. This is not to say she is weak in her own right, as her capabilities in danmaku and toying with the five senses through magic are fearsome. Her magic can create afterimages, aural hallucinations, and even disrupt one’s sense of feel.

Mugetsu nor her sister were components in the Lotus Land Incident. They may have served as incidental catalysts for Yuuka partaking in the Mystic Square Incident, as the flower youkai had heard murmurs of Makai and went to set Shinki straight for them. Through the years, Yuuka was the only one who had kept the sisters company but had to depart to confront their aforementioned creator.

Curiously, due to the strange passage of time in the Dream World, both sisters still exist as juvenile demons. They both currently reside in Makai, done through an end-around means of intervention from Doremy Sweet and a promise fulfilled to Yuuka. Initially, they caused a stir in a conflict with Yumeko, but once the dust had settled they were integrated into Makai’s society.

Mugetsu currently serves as an understudy to Yumeko. While her maid’s attire was only donned on the account of coincidence, she has taken a liking to the duties that came with it. She has no proper position in Makai’s hierarchy just yet, but can often be seen taking surveys or doing upkeep within Pandæmonium. She is also no longer attached to Gengetsu by the hip, the sisters having separate dreams of what to fulfill in Makai. However, they still visit each other often, and also hope to properly unite with Yuuka.

Name: Gengetsu

Species: Demon

Title: Angelic Demon (former), Illusory Horror (current)

Ability: Illusion magic

Location(s): Dream World, World of Ice and Snow, Makai City

Human Threat Level: Very high

[Note: Mugetsu, Servant of Delusion’s biography details much of Gengetsu’s history as well.]

Gengetsu is the older of two sisters, herself and Mugetsu. While they were created at the same time, Gengetsu declares herself as the elder of the two. It is likely because between the two, she is the stronger of them. Her control over illusions is similar to Mugetsu, being able to alter any of the five senses. However, where they differ is while Mugetsu’s illusory capabilities are temporary, Gengetsu has the ability to permanently alter one’s perception. Lastly, it is rumored one of her spellcards is impossible to dodge, resulting in an instant “game over” for her opponent.

She is less reserved than her younger sister. Act first, think later. This attitude is what led to the sisters getting in a violent conflict with Yumeko, one they narrowly escaped. While they have immense strength, they have no practical training with it.

Hence, Gengetsu has taken to training under many of Makai’s strongest to act as a sentry. The position she aspires to is similar to Mai’s, to watch over a crowded block of Makai and defend it by any means necessary. She no longer has to worry about her younger sister “weighing her down” there. Harsh language aside, she still cherishes Mugetsu, as the two meet up frequently when the time allows it.

Mugenkan is a curious part of Gensokyo and its history. On the surface, it exists as a means of travel between Gensokyo and the Dream World. Beneath that, it is a precious location that must be kept secure at all costs. This was the intent of Doremy Sweet, the ruler of the Dream World. It is not a location meant to be visited, but still used. By her, specifically. Her intentions with it are not nefarious, as she mainly wants a reliable means of existing in Gensokyo should she need to. If the role is reversed, where one uses Mugenkan as a means to travel to the Dream World, various complications may arise. Such was the case of Yuuka, who used the power she gained from Mugenkan to fulfill her own desires and eventually, cause an incident. This is unlikely to happen again as the current mistress, Elly, is under a sharper supervision and was a victim herself to Yuuka’s shenanigans.

Chapter Text

The Mystic Square Incident was an event primarily based in the region of Makai, a magic-driven society tucked away in the boundary of Gensokyo’s skies. It began with demons from Makai populating Gensokyo, displacing residents and causing destruction. This was done through sending tourism fliers in Makai about Gensokyo, an idea promoted by the creator of Makai, Shinki to increase the bond between the two areas. This was done without communication and the incident went underway.

Reimu Hakurei, Marisa Kirisame, Yuuka Kazami, and myself, Mima, all pursued the incident in Makai. All involved had their own motives, ranging from solving the problem at hand to taking advantage of a magical society in torment. The only one who resolved the incident was Reimu Hakurei, however. The end result was far more catastrophic than the ridiculous beginning would have entailed, with the burning of the capital Pandæmonium and a significant loss of life.

From the ashes of peril rose a few interesting developments, such as the movement of a Makai magician to Gensokyo by the name of Alice Margatroid. She had issued a challenge to Reimu after the events of the incident but was soundly defeated. This came with zero casualties.

Name: Sara

Species: Demon

Title: Gatekeeper of Makai (former), Unwavering Pillar of Makai (current)

Ability: Ability to create and remove portals

Location(s): Makai City, World of Ice and Snow, Pandæmonium, Hokkai

Human Threat Level: Low

Biography

Sara is a resident of Makai with a low profile, but a high pedigree. She is one of a few who are capable of taking on a ton of the region’s infrastructural tasks. Formerly, this consisted of creating portals in Makai for travel or for lookout. Currently, her occupation is commanding new construction projects throughout Makai. One of such is a proper landing spot for the Palanquin Ship in Hokkai, which has since reached completion.

This portal creation talent was pursued at the onset of the Mystic Square Incident. Since Shinki had sought to send demons from Makai to Gensokyo, who better to trust with travel than the one who could seamlessly send them from Point A to Point B? However, where this backfired was with the nature of Sara’s portals. While efficient for travel, they are not subtle, and her location was easily snuffed out by many of Gensokyo’s residents. She was also forced into a gatekeeping role in Gensokyo on account of managing travel and was ill-suited to handle Gensokyo’s combined might on her own. Where she had also failed was closing off her own portal to Makai.

After the incident, Sara was entrusted with reconstructing the fallen Pandæmonium. She was also relinquished of her combat duties, as one sample was enough to prove that she was not fit for the position. The need for her creating portals was also shortened, as unless there is an event that requires private travel in Makai, the ones she created in the past have not disappeared and see frequent usage.

The functionality of Sara’s portals is diverse. She can create one-use pathways, a series of two connected to each other, or ones that drop in completely random locations. The drawbacks to creating these are that they have to be made on solid ground, she has to have seen the location they spawn to before, and the time it creates to make them. Hence, she cannot fly about them at high speeds, making them poor for danmaku combat.

Name: Louise

Species: Demon

Title: Makai Person (former), Demonic Oddjob (current)

Ability: Curse magic

Location(s): Makai City, Pandæmonium, World of Ice and Snow

Human Threat Level: Very low

Biography

Louise is a resident of Makai who had gone under a harsh transformation from the time preceding the Mystic Square Incident and the time afterward. She had been a regular citizen, going about the daily routine. However, where she had changed was when she was one of many invitees to the tour to Gensokyo. She had planned to leave Makai momentarily, but, unfortunately for her, she had tried to embark late and was forced back during the incident.

This somehow changed Louise, who had been a chipper part of Makai’s society to someone who wants nothing more than to leave. She is critical of the region’s infrastructure, its workings, and those in charge. In fact, her complaints have become so notorious in Makai that there’s a mailing box in Pandæmonium dedicated to them now. Of course, Louise’s grievances are still the most frequent.

Louise’s ability is to spread hexes and misfortune with her magic. There is a caveat to this, as unlike most skilled magicians or demons, she is not immune to her own spells. This is perhaps a factor to blame for her continued woes. This was witnessed in the Mystic Square Incident, as she tried afflicting the incident solvers with her abilities in the World of Ice and Snow. She had merely turned herself blue, though, but was fortunate to leave the area without hypothermia.

Nowadays, Louise is known to take on various jobs in Makai that require either little work or little stress. Makai citizens are expected to contribute in some form, but the jobs themselves are not notoriously dangerous if they are not related to defense or combat. Currently, it seems Shinki is trying to establish a modelling industry in Makai, with Louise being the first to sign up based on the advertisements the god gave. It appears someone is not so quick to learn from their mistakes.

The Mystic Square Incident refers to the beginning of Shinki’s exports of brochures for citizens of Makai until the burning down of Pandæmonium in a brutal conflict between Reimu and Shinki. The “Square” portion of the incident title refers to the urban layout of the Makai City, where Pandæmonium resides. The residential areas of the city are laid out in a “grid-like” pattern. This is at its most apparent at the doors of Pandæmonium, where it commands a large open, square-shaped plaza in front of it. The “Mystic” half of the title is much simpler, as it refers to the mysticism of Makai itself, it being a civilization of magic.

Name: Yuki

Species: Magician, formerly Demon

Title: Black Witch (former), Ebony Kindler of the Heart (current)

Ability: Fire magic

Location(s): Makai City, Pandæmonium, World of Ice and Snow, Vina

Human Threat Level: Moderate

Biography

Yuki is a Makai denizen with a storied profile. She began her life in Vina, a formerly bustling agricultural center of Makai. Vina had fallen due to the literal instability of some of its residents, but Yuki had managed to escape intact. What proceeded was her taking up a sentry position in the World of Ice and Snow, alongside another named Mai.

After the collapse of Vina, Yuki had practiced learning magic to defend herself, should chaos around her happen again. She was adept at studying fire magic and through rigorous training in Makai’s magic-inducing miasma, was able to undergo the transformation of demon to full-fledged magician. The flames Yuki commands can burn in various colors and intensities with a surprising amount of control, making her Makai’s most powerful wielder of fire magic. Nowadays, with more emphasis on spell cards, Yuki focuses her flames into vivid danmaku, creating literal fireworks.

Throughout the course of the Mystic Square Incident, her, alongside Mai, were instructed to stay put and defend their position in the World of Ice and Snow. This was done as the main routes to Pandæmonium were closed off, forcing the incident resolvers to go around and through a more cumbersome route. The intent was to trust the sentries, which, unfortunately for Shinki, had failed. Yuki and Mai had fought together, with the latter being the first to fall.

Afterwards, both had stuck around to help with the rebuilding process of the Makai City and Pandæmonium. Yuki specifically offered her services to assisting those displaced by the mayhem, as she was experienced with it on account of her time in Vina. Her altruism landed her a spot in the capital building after the dust had settled, and she exists as Makai’s premier chef. Unsurprisingly, having absolute control over fire makes cooking rather simple.

What had also occurred after the incident was an increased bond with her fellow sentry, Mai. The two grew close enough to engage in matrimony, putting the first wedding in Makai’s recorded history in ages. The wedding was a substantial event which had the region on pause for a day. To this day, they are still happily married.

Name: Mai

Species: Magician, formerly Demon

Title: White Witch (former), Sharp Eyes of Frost (current)

Ability: Ice magic

Location(s): Makai City, World of Ice and Snow

Human Threat Level: High

Biography

Mai is a resident of Makai who keeps to herself. For the majority of her life, she has remained in one of Makai’s least hospitable regions: the tundra of The World of Ice and Snow. Since demon physiology lends to hardiness, Mai is well-suited to survive in areas where most human and youkai cannot. It is rare to see her leave the frigid area, as her position requires her to monitor the region. To account for this, she has a residence, among one of the largest homes in Makai.

Not uncommon for those who live amongst it, Mai is adept at ice magic. However, be it natural talent or an assist from her cold disposition, Mai rose as the single strongest controller of ice magic in Makai, shedding her demonic title for that of a magician. Thus, she was granted a position to defend Makai as a sentry in the snow. Along the way, she was partnered with Yuki, making for a devastating combination.

[Note: Refer to Yuki, Ebony Kindler of the Heart’s biography for details of both her and Mai’s involvement in the Mystic Square Incident and details of their engagement.]

When the Mystic Square Incident concluded, the flames of the burning capital spread beyond just the reach of the city. The smog and heat from the aftermath wreaked havoc to the nearby World of Ice and Snow, causing an unnatural defrosting and increase of moisture in the air. Mai was the spearhead of the operation to re-freeze the area, expending a ton of her power to return the frost to where it belonged. It is likely that without her involvement, Makai’s ecosystem could have taken a tragic turn for the worse.

Mai was recognized for her efforts by Shinki. Unlike her partner, though, she had turned down a position at Pandæmonium, opting to stay where she was. She remains a strong sentry to this day but was at the very least rewarded with a comfortable home. Said home is where her and Yuki live happily together, convening after grueling shifts at their jobs.

There were four individuals who had gone into Makai to tackle the then ongoing Mystic Square Incident. Reimu Hakurei, Marisa Kirisame, Yuuka Kazami, and Mima had all barged in, each with their own motives. Reimu sought to retribute Shinki for polluting Gensokyo with demons and restore balance. Marisa, an ever-curious understudy of magic, wanted to inspect Makai for magic is synonymous with its existence. Yuuka did not care for a noble cause and simply sought to wreak havoc to teach Shinki a lesson, likely due to a personal grudge from the fallout of the Lotus Land Incident. Lastly, Mima had gone to test her own mettle, to see if the demons of Makai had strengthened since her last visit centuries ago. The four, while having different reasons to be there, were collaborative in their efforts. In the end, Reimu was the one to completely resolve the incident with Shinki.

The encounters of the individuals listed in this article (and the addendum) and the incident resolvers went as such:

Vs. Sara: Reimu
Vs. Louise: Marisa
Vs. Alice : Marisa, Yuuka
Vs. Mai & Yuki : Reimu, Mima
Vs. Yumeko : Mima, Yuuka
Vs. Shinki : Reimu, Marisa, Yuuka, Mima
Vs. Alice (2nd Bout): Reimu

Name: Yumeko

Species: Demon(?)

Title: Makai Maid (former), Shining Sword Servant (current)

Ability: Manifestation of physical matter

Location(s): Makai City, World of Ice and Snow, Pandæmonium, Vina

Human Threat Level: Very high

Biography

Yumeko is the second in command of Makai’s operations. She is dubbed as Shinki’s “greatest creation” and fills an integral role to the realm’s machinations. She fulfills the majority of Makai’s bureaucratic and security duties. It is incredibly common to see her out and about, taking care of the day’s agenda. Uncommon, though, is the chance to hold a conversation with her, as she is not a socialite.

Yumeko’s physiology is one of much debate. While creations of Shinki’s lack souls and are relegated to the label of “demon,” Yumeko’s capabilities far surpass what a demon is thought to be capable of. Many of Makai’s residents are magicians, however, Yumeko had not gone through the proper transformation required to become a magic youkai. Lastly, Shinki has stated that Yumeko “may be a god in her own right,” but this goes against common knowledge of the gods, as Yumeko does not benefit or function via faith.

Where Yumeko’s prowess lies is in her combat ability. Sans her creator, Yumeko is heads and shoulders above the rest of Makai in terms of power, showing that “greatest creation” is not a hyperbolic statement. Her magic consists of creating physical matter out of thin air. This can be done instantaneously and numerous times within seconds. There is a limit to it, as what she creates cannot be too complex. For example, she will most commonly create swords of simple, polished iron, as opposed to a more detailed device in combat. It is suspected that Makai’s simpler products, like glassware and porcelain, originate from her.

The Mystic Square Incident saw a lull in activity from Yumeko. While it was happening, she was commanded to remain at Pandæmonium to defend the capital building as a last line of defense. She had to issue certain orders remotely to lessen damage to Makai’s infrastructure. After a grueling battle, she was defeated in the skies by Pandæmonium, forced to tend to herself and warn Shinki of the incoming invaders.

In the aftermath of Pandæmonium’s burning, Yumeko was another critical piece in the reconstruction effort. She tasked herself with rebuilding the capital to better withstand threats, inside and out. This came with a general revamping of the central plaza of the Makai City and new buildings regulations. She also sought to upgrade the security nationwide, to greater success. This was demonstrated through the slaying of the YuugenMagan, as well as keeping constant records of controlled deaths at the hands of Sariel.

Currently, Yumeko does not do much different from what she had done prior to the incident. She still remains as Shinki’s critically devoted servant. However, her creator is nudging her to be more social and partake in festivities. This has seen mixed success. The sole, consistent exception is Alice, who, after a period of the puppeteer’s absence, Yumeko keeps in close contact with.

Name: Shinki

Species: God of magic

Title: God of Makai (former), Magical Zenith (current)

Ability: Complete control over magic, creation of demons

Location(s): Makai City, World of Ice and Snow, Pandæmonium, Wonderland, Vina, Myouren Temple, Forest of Magic

Human Threat Level: Low

Biography

It is not entirely known when Shinki had come into existence or where. Records dating back millennia speak of a woman with white hair who could prove alchemic theorems to be true, or of an unkillable witch in red who could contort one’s perception of reality. The common agreement is that Shinki exceeds 2000 years of age and had been brought into existence when the notion of magic was first widespread, thriving off the faith in magic. Nevertheless, Shinki had relocated to a then desolate bordering region of Gensokyo and created what is now known as Makai.

Shinki’s aptitude with magic is perpetually unmatched. It poses a logistics issue, where if a magician were to try and match her strength, their faith in magic would simply strengthen her above their threshold each time. This is not to say she is an unstoppable force, far from it, as her reliance on magic is a crux if anything. In combat or in her position as a ruler, magic is not a catch-all that can patch any issue. Makai has never been a completely habitable region as a fallout from her excessive magic usage, nor has it been a completely peaceful one. However, Shinki herself is a relatively docile god, as all her dominion remains within Makai, with a few exceptions that she has been reprimanded for.

The creation of life at Shinki’s hands is a perplexing process. It is one done in complete private, so there are no visual accounts of it in action. She has gone on record saying that she “renders flesh and bone from equivalent mass of soil and iron” to create life. It is assumed she piles in her own life force as well and after some time, a demon is born. The catch to her creations is that they, while similar to youkai and humans, lack souls. Hence, should a demon perish through any means, they will not leave behind a spirit. Death is final with demons. There is solace that their lives will be long, yet they will suffer the woes of old age in ageless bodies. Shinki created a failsafe for this as well.

Shinki’s exploits in Gensokyo are few and far between. One such exploit, an “exception” to her sheltering in Makai, was the Mystic Square Incident, where she was the sole cause. Understanding that Makai is not quite as spacious as its neighboring Gensokyo, she had sent brochures and vouchers to various demons in Makai which acted as tickets. This was done without any clearance from any Sages or the Hakurei Shrine Maiden, so when demons started populating Gensokyo, it was unexpected and unauthorized. The initially kindhearted and simple vacation plan had turned disastrous as it brought forth four uninvited guests into Makai, and all four to her throne in Pandæmonium. It signaled both the end of the incident and Pandæmonium itself, as Shinki’s irresponsible use of magic had burned it to the ground, alongside much of the Makai City.

It is unclear what happened to Shinki at the end of the incident. In the wake of the destruction, it is documented that she told the four incident resolvers to “never return here again,” a notion that has been loosely abided by. Reimu Hakurei abiding by Alice Margatroid’s challenge in Wonderland and her trip to Hokkai during the Fantastic Object Incident are two recorded violations.

According to Alice Margatroid, Shinki was not essential to Pandæmonium’s reconstruction nor the restoration of the Makai City. She had been out of commission and inconsolable due to guilt. As this is the only account of her actions after the incident, this is regarded as loose fact.

Some time after, though, it seems Shinki got her act together and has since become the same, standing ruler of Makai she has always been. An emphasis on criticism and jubilation has been placed on the region, as she seeks to now improve it from the inside, so that none may ever want to leave for good reason. This has seen mixed success, as some residents of Makai enjoy their new standings and the altered way of life, while some are dissatisfied. Trust is placed in Shinki that Makai will see a golden age at her hands.

Byakuren Hijiri is the current head Buddhist monk of the Myouren Temple. It is known that her magical capabilities eras ago were subject to much controversy and she was excommunicated from her temple. She was labelled a demon and was banished to Makai, a realm seen more fitting for her. Initially, it is unknown how she was sealed in Makai, but a theory exists that she selflessly did it herself. A technicality exists within Gensokyo’s history, as while Byakuren was sealed in Makai far before Alice Margatroid was, it is believed the monk had become a magician at that point in time. Hence, Alice is still perceived as the first recorded human to enter Makai and survive to tell the tale. Lastly, it is understood that while sealed, Byakuren was monitored and attended to by Shinki, who never undid the seal as she did not wish to overstep her boundaries. As the Mystic Square Incident proved, that notion of Shinki’s was never consistent.

Chapter Text

Reimu Hakurei, the current Hakurei Shrine Maiden, is notorious for her escapades in saving Gensokyo from all manner of absurd and ludicrous threats. As it shall be for anyone with a pedigree as decorated as hers, her path started with a humble beginning. It began in an incident that has not received a proper name, but is often retold as The Story of Eastern Wonderland. A modern interpretation recounted the incident as The Far-Away Story of Eastern Paradise, but due to the latter’s dubious nature, the former is often preferred.

This incident followed Reimu, who was summoned by none other than an archnemesis of the Hakurei bloodline: Mima, a rampaging evil spirit. Mima had launched an all-out offensive, recruiting disenfranchised humans and unleashing the broad power of her magic in Reimaden. She had sought to claim the Hakurei bloodline’s treasure, the Yin-Yang Orbs, for herself, and overthrow the fine balance of Gensokyo.

Succeed she did not. The miko who still required assistance to fly had taken down Mima’s recruits one-by-one, then, eventually, the spirit herself. The aftermath was the sudden disappearance of Reimaden. However, a chance encounter along the way with one Marisa Kirisame would change the course of Reimu’s life, and Gensokyo itself, forever. A girl who was once an adversary became an invaluable ally.

Name: Genjii

Species: Giant turtle

Title: Turtle (former), Mentor of Paradise (current)

Ability: Flight, proficiency in carrying heavy weight

Location(s): Hakurei Shrine

Human Threat Level: None

Biography

Genjii is a fixture of the Hakurei Shrine that has existed for centuries. The circumstances of his birth are fuzzy in the scope of history. What is assumed is that he was a large turtle graced with both sentience and flight by either an old Hakurei Shrine Maiden or a Sage of Gensokyo.

He has served the role of being both a mentor and “training wheels” for the Hakurei Shrine Maidens of new and old. His primary purpose is to guide them through their roles in Gensokyo and teach them how to control their flight. Flight is often the last thing learned, as he can act as a pseudo-flying mechanism for maidens who have not learned it.

Concerning the current Hakurei Shrine Maiden, Genjii accompanied her on each of her first four incidents. After the Mystic Square Incident, Reimu had finally mastered flight, no longer requiring his services in the danmaku battlefield. Despite this, Genjii still serves a mentor role at the Hakurei Shrine, informing Reimu to keep up on her studies and keep herself sharp. Currently, the old turtle rests in a pond behind the shrine, said pond being blocked off from outsiders unless they are given special permissions. This is not because he guards a powerful treasure, he simply wishes to rest undisturbed.

Name: Rika

Species: Human

Title: Engineer (former), Expelled Tinkerer (current)

Ability: Creation of advanced metal weaponry

Location(s): Human Village, Youkai Mountain

Human Threat Level: Moderate

Biography

Rika is a human who formerly lived in the village. Her time in the village was short-lived, relative to the lifespan of a human, as her fascination with creating machines created a silent panic. It is unknown where Rika had obtained the blueprints necessary to make the machines she did, such as a music player, automated weaponry, and temperature controlling units. It’s theorized she either retrieved the machinations from Korindou or inferred some designs using her own genius.

The advancement of technology is a subtle taboo in Gensokyo, as more-knowing individuals perceive the expansion of technology to be the potential downfall of society if put in the hands of humans. Because of this, Rika’s technology was abruptly confiscated from her by the Hieda Estate. This set her off on a fury and, with as many materials as she could muster and her blueprints in tow, she had fled the Human Village, deadset on getting revenge. She found sanctuary in Youkai Mountain, surviving by trading her wares with nearby youkai, or outright threatening them with non-danmaku bullets.

During The Story of Eastern Wonderland, Rika was consulted with. Mima, putting her plan into motion, sought to use the girl’s technology and her underlying desire for revenge to knock down the Hakurei Shrine Maiden. Rika agreed to these terms and created three devices: a standard red tank, a Flower Tank, and Evil Eye Sigma. She assaulted the Hakurei Shrine with the first two vehicles, only to be swiftly defeated. A feeble attempt was made to bring Reimu towards a more suitable environment to engage in battle with Evil Eye Sigma, however, this did not come to fruition.

Nowadays, Rika resides in a self-made hangar in Youkai Mountain. Here, she develops technology by herself, out of view. Occasionally, she would transport herself on Evil Eye Sigma at night, when little would see, or wish to interfere with her. Total silence had evaded her, though, as mysteriously, her old blueprints had found their ways into the hands of kappa and yamawaro, sparking a potential cold war between the two factions.

Fortunately for Rika and the residents of Youkai Mountain, an impromptu conference was held between her, Nitori Kawashiro, and Takane Yamashiro. The three came to an unexpected agreement: Rika would help both factions develop technology. This arrangement is not well-known to residents in the Human Village, so the outrage that excommunicated Rika decades ago has not had a chance to stir once more.

For archiving’s sake, scholars on Gensokyo’s history often debate setting a title to dub The Story of Eastern Wonderland to. Every major event that has required the intervention of the Hakurei Shrine Maiden is titled an “incident,” the word incident preluded by a descriptor of events or the cause. For no reason other than personal preference, one has yet to be reached, leaving an interesting debacle for Keine Kamishirasawa and Hieda no Akyuu. It is a pressing matter at the moment, as it is theorized Hieda no Akyuu’s life could come to a close shortly, and the Gensokyo Chronicle should not be written with any inconsistencies. A few names thrown around have been: “The Bewitching Spirit Incident,” “Outlaw Human Incident,” or “The Incident of Eastern Wonderland.”

Name: Meira

Species: Human

Title: Samurai (former), Daylight’s Darkest Blade (current)

Ability: Expert swordsmanship

Location(s): Human Village, Forest of Raijuu

Human Threat Level: None

Biography

Meira is a middle-aged woman who has scarcely left the Human Village. Her family was one of slight notoriety, as her parents were active community members and held a small surplus of wealth. She would have been set up to live a comfortable life had tragedy never struck.

Prior to the instating of the current Hakurei Shrine Maiden, Gensokyo had a tumultuous past. There was less of a harmony in its moving parts and rather active conflict. Spell card rules had not existed, and the Human Village was stricken by constant unrest on account of a lack of protection. Youkai could strike during the night and, should the flee quickly, they could avoid punishment. Such an event happened to Meira, who lost her family to a youkai attack. This compounding sequence of events put the then-young girl on her own path. She had picked up the sword to better protect those in the Human Village and to put forth the notion that the Hakurei Shrine Maidens were not suitable protection against the onslaught of youkai.

This culminated in her being taken advantage of during The Story of Eastern Wonderland. Like another human before her, Mima saw potential in Meira’s quest to prove herself. Thus, she had told Meira that the Hakurei Shrine Maiden’s power could be seized should she simply be defeated, and said power would grant Meira the strength to protect the village. Meira had gone to the Forest of Raijuu, both to steel herself and intercept Reimu when the time came.

However, things had since changed from the time of Meira losing her family, to the incident she encountered Reimu in. The most glaring was the fact that Reimu was a new miko entirely and the whole crisis was rather lost on her. Hence, she did not take Meira’s confrontation to be as serious as it was intended to be, and thus, Meira’s defeat was met with a concoction of confusion and frustration.

Afterwards, Meira resigned herself to the Human Village. If she could not protect everyone around her, the next-best alternative was taken. While she never dropped the sword entirely, her efforts as a humanitarian begun to far outshine her affluence as a samurai. When she grew older and wizened up, she even held a brief meeting with Reimu. A formal apology was issued and the two came to a still strange, yet firm understanding.

As of now, Meira continues her duties of assisting the daily motions of the Human Village. She has been promoted to the position of “ambassador,” which in turn simply means she will confer with Reimu and other such individuals about changes to the Human Village, or on matters of dealing with youkai.

During The Story of Eastern Wonderland, two structures were noted and their existence was archived. The first is a towering structure, set at the heart of Reimaden. It was constructed of grey, limestone bricks, shaped like a simple, rectangular tower. At its top were five massive, shaven stones, each imbued with the ability to launch powerful magic at intruders. Each stone had their own form of magic to take care of a wide array of problems. This “Five Magic Stones” tower was swiftly disposed of by Reimu, whose Yin-Yang Orb was proven to bypass their magic. The second was a blue, brick hall, which served as both a battlefield and the home to many involved with the incident. The residents included Mima, Noroiko, Matenshi, and formerly Marisa Kirisame. Within it was a glass floor that shone with an artificial sun underneath. This structure still stands today in Reimaden, though it is inaccessible to normal individuals on account of Reimaden being concealed in a magical border. Both of these structures were made swiftly by Mima, whose broad range of magic allowed her access to swift alchemy, and the power to imbue each with their own arcane signatures.

Name: Matenshi

Species: Demon

Title: None (former), Pseudo-Seraph (current)

Ability: Light magic

Location(s): Vina, Reimaden

Human Threat Level: Low

Biography

Matenshi is one of two familiars to Mima, the other being Noroiko. Before stricter measures were taken to limit the influx of unwanted guests in Gensokyo, it was not uncommon for demons from Makai to visit Gensokyo in the distant past and wreak havoc. Matenshi was one such demon, but as opposed to wanting chaos and brimstone, she just wanted a change of scenery. Her lackadaisical nature made her a good target for Mima to take, as demons from Makai can be magically bound by contract to a powerful enough magician. This practice is banned in Makai, but not Gensokyo.

Little is known about her role in Makai. What is noted is her similarity in appearance to Sariel, the Angel of Death. However, unlike them, she only sports two wings and has far less intimidating magical capabilities. Her affluence is with light magic, where she can create heated projectiles from photons of light. This takes a lot of energy out of her and thus, she cannot spawn massive heat waves or alight a battlefield with humongous walls of light danmaku.

Through the course of The Story of Eastern Wonderland, Matenshi was directed to remain within Reimaden to weaken the incoming Hakurei Shrine Maiden. She was not expected to win a bout, but rather make matters more precarious. Being stronger than an average youkai, with a sizable pedigree in magic, her capabilities could prove to frustrate or exhaust Reimu. She did not accomplish either of these, as she was swiftly disposed of shortly before Reimu went to duel with Marisa.

After the incident, Matenshi remained within Reimaden. She, along with Noroiko, assisted Mima with the relocation of Reimaden. While Mima had done the heavy lifting, Matenshi was able to use her light magic to redirect visible light from their fortress, to hide their suspicious activities. Afterwards, she would do routine housework, as even out of sight, a home can easily collect dust. Recently, she and Noroiko were tasked with writing a re-telling of The Story of Eastern Wonderland to release to the Human Village. Certain details were carefully omitted to cause as much discussion as possible. Matenshi contributed to the illustrations, having a surprising amount of talent with drawing.

Name: Noroiko

Species: Demon

Title: None (former), Lilac Dancer of Demise (current)

Ability: Curse magic

Location(s): Makai City, Reimaden

Human Threat Level: Moderate

Noroiko is the other of Mima’s two familiars. The conditions of her ascension to Mima’s familiar were the same as Matenshi’s, however, the reasoning was far different. As opposed to the easy-going, angelic demon, Noroiko felt she was an outcast in Makai. There was little use for her in the domain, and so, she fled to Gensokyo in hopes of finding a niche for herself. One she did find, as Mima promised her a role as one of her right-hand women, alongside Matenshi. Without hesitation, she agreed.

Noroiko’s strength lies within the unique nature of her magic. Misfortune is often seen as a natural force with little means of influence. Pestilence gods were initially thought to be the only individuals capable of manipulating misfortune. What Noroiko is capable of is not total control of misfortune, but rather raise the probability that one gets stricken by it. If one is hit by Noroiko’s magic, they will become a magnet to misfortune for as long as the spell remains.

Through the events of The Story of Eastern Wonderland, Noroiko was tasked with splitting apart from Reimaden and facing Reimu early on in the Forest of Raijuu. The tactic in mind was to swarm her early on and potentially exhaust her. This did not prove fruitful, as she was defeated soundly.

When the incident resolved, Noroiko returned to Reimaden. She was integral to the relocation effort, as she laid down a barrier of curse magic around the perimeter of the region. The rumors of Reimaden becoming a desolate wasteland with misfortune cursing it more than the Great Youkai Forest dissuaded any onlookers. With the project finished, Noroiko assisted in upkeep. Eventually, she and Matenshi were tasked to create a dubious piece of media to send out into Gensokyo. With a few strict rules in place, the work, titled by Noroiko as The Far-Away Story of Eastern Paradise was created. Being the primary writer, Noroiko hid the names of Reimu and Marisa, replacing them with Yume and Eliza, respectfully. Supposedly, her stricter attitude led to plenty of creative differences with Matenshi.

Yin-Yang Orbs are often dubbed as the Hakurei Shrine’s signature treasure. Their tie with the world’s equilibrium and ease of which they shoot out danmaku are only partially why they have such a title. They have unique capabilities, such as taking on other, sentient forms, alongside being able to provide the wielder with any (admittedly, superficial) item they could desire. This is the reason why they have been heavily pursued by adversaries for centuries. Fruitless attempt after fruitless attempt has proven that not only are Hakurei Shrine Maidens nigh-impossible to fell, but that they are the only ones who can handle the strength of said orbs. They are tied specifically to the bloodline and have seen varied applications over the years. From kicking them around to using them in close-quarters combat, their versatility is spoken of in Gensokyoan lore. Misumaru Tamatsukuri is the known creator of Yin-Yang Orbs, but her methods of divining them in a manner that only the Hakurei Shrine Maiden can use them are completely confidential.

Chapter Text

The Dimensional Dream Incident is recorded as one of Gensokyo’s strangest and hardest to fully wrap one’s head around. This is in part to there hardly being an actual problem to resolve. An eccentric, disgruntled scientist under the name Yumemi Okazaki had brought herself, her assistant Chiyuri Kitashirakawa, and a monolith device dubbed the Probability Space Hypervessel to Gensokyo. While it was not the first nor last time a giant object had made itself appear out of nowhere, that nature of it and its inhabitants sparked too many concerns to be ignored.

As if to capitalize on the drama, Yumemi had Chiyuri deliver flyers around Gensokyo. These flyers advertised a “wish” to the winner of their competition, which consisted of danmaku duels amongst participants throughout Gensokyo. Not many took to it, but the ones that did treated Yumemi to exhibitions that spoke to her true intentions. She had wanted to research both magic and the workings of a world wholly foreign to her, yet fantastical all the same.

Those who took part were a peculiar nonet. Of course, Reimu took part on an investigatory role. Along with her came Marisa and Mima, student and teacher seeking to use that “wish” for obtaining incomprehensible power… even if they thought the advertisement was a farce to begin with. Last to follow were a detached poltergeist, one of Gensokyo’s own scientists, a memoryless magician, and a manic human far in over her head. The climax of this incident saw Reimu winning the competition, only for it to be revealed as a hoax. A conflict rose between her and Chiyuri, then to her and Yumemi, to resolve it once and for all. She emerged victorious and, for being such a bother to Gensokyo, Yumemi did give to Reimu a wish as was promised in those flyers.

Name: Ellen Fuwafuwaatama Aureus

Species: Magician

Title: Hardworking Witch who Dreams of Love (former), Blank Slate Shopkeep (current)

Ability: Magic, profoundly slowed aging

Location(s): Forest of Magic, Human Village

Human Threat Level: None

Biography

Ellen is a magician who dates further back into Gensokyo’s past than appearances let on. From research done, it is possible she is centuries old. She hails from a dubious family of magical merchants, ones who holed up in the Forest of Magic in a magically disguised home. Not much is known about their exploits, save their last. One day, Ellen’s parents had gone to the Human Village to sell enchanted wares. However, they were quickly found out to be magicians, and before they could escape, they were drawn and quartered by the terrified human masses.

As tragic of an event that may be, none of it is known to Ellen for one reason. Being the child of two magicians, she had the makings of being a powerful magus herself. Without proper magical training and supervision, though, Ellen had accidentally stunted herself. While magicians have a natural resistance to magic, continued exposure or strong enough instances of it can wound one. In Ellen’s case, she’d essentially shocked herself, ruining her mind’s ability to take in new memories for too long.

This does not seem to affect Ellen all that much. She lives a simple life in the Forest of Magic with an animal-based familiar named Socrates, an old cat of her father’s. Her goals in life are clear-cut. Open up a “Fluffy Ellen’s Magic Shop,” and continue living without responsibilities.

This was her inspiration for partaking in Yumemi’s competition during the Dimensional Dream Incident. Her wish would have been to make her shop stand one of Gensokyo’s largest fixtures, where it would be hard to miss. She was unsuccessful in this venture as she was swiftly dealt with by Reimu in the heat of the competition. Unsurprisingly, the entire event went forgotten the moment she went to bed that night.

Since the incident, Ellen has lived life the same as she always has. Befriending a sentient jizo and wasting hours away in her parent’s old home. She was subject to a few observational experiments and is a primary subject in a cancelled release of the Gensokyo Scientific Journal, spearheaded by Yumemi. More scientific terms were applied to her memory loss conundrum. Supposedly, work is being done within the Probability Space Hypervessel to restore her brain’s proper functions, so she can live like her existence is not in a perfect loop.

It is assumed the experiments have been mildly fruitful. Rumors of a new, bubbly mercantile in the Human Village have sprung up. One with unmistakably fluffy hair and an unforgettable smile. One who’s begun to remember customers’ names.

Name: Kotohime

Species: Human

Title: Princess Dreaming of Beauty in Danmaku (former), Manic Monarch (current)

Ability: Basic danmaku, owning of cursed artifacts

Location(s): Human Village

Human Threat Level: None

Biography

The Human Village does not have a shortage of peculiar characters with storied histories. Hieda no Akyuu, Kosuzu Motoori, and many others. Kotohime fits this bill, as she is one of a few humans from the village to be an active participant in an incident.

Kotohime was born to one of the Village’s wealthiest families. Said family had notoriously kept a low profile, preferring to enjoy their wealth silently. The birth of their daughter, however, complicated things. Not due to any sociopolitical means, but rather, the nature of the girl herself. From birth, Kotohime had been afflicted with a mood disorder, causing her to be either rampantly loud or a complete shut-in. This got her nickname of “Maniacal Princess” passed around the Human Village, spoken of in silent lest they set the inane ramblings of a woman decorated in rich velvet.

Being afflicted with mania, Kotohime had explored a lot of avenues that humans typically stray away from. Due to delusions of grandeur of being one of the Human Village’s noble protectors, she sought to be a police officer, even learning to fire proverbial bullets with danmaku. These aspirations often got her laughed out of a room, yet she would simply use it as fuel for her fire. Be it actually snuffing out crime in the village or confiscating cursed items belonging to youkai, Kotohime has a surprisingly decorated portfolio.

This inspiration carried over towards the Dimensional Dream Incident. She had been one of a few in the village to notice the fliers Chiyuri had been distributing. Having ever the investigative eye, she entered the competition with the intent to both put down the corrupt scientist and bolster her own portfolio. She was stopped in her tracks pretty swiftly by Reimu, despite the fact that she had used every confiscated item at her disposal. Turns out, when you’re not a youkai, using items wielded by them like the container for a nyuudo does not prepare you to face the Hakurei Shrine Maiden.

After the event, Kotohime went about life as if nothing had happened. Her shenanigans reached the ears of the village but once more, their words failed to reach her. Her behavior during the event did bring attention to her from Yumemi and company, resulting in a couple of experiments being done with her as the primary subject. The experiment was to track how certain practices of magic could affect ones mood state, with Kotohime’s mania being the focus. They’d managed to treat it, even if it wasn’t an iron clad cure.

Currently, Kotohime’s innate status within the village has promoted her to a position within it. To follow Meira’s coattails and record events the other partakes in, big or small. When off the clock, she’s a frequent attendee of Geidontei, with each day being a mystery as to what trouble she may or may not get up to.

The name for the Dimensional Dream Incident is rather clear-cut. It is titled after the ambitions of Yumemi Okazaki and Chiyuri Kitashirakawa, as they had crossed from the Outside World to Gensokyo to pursue said dream. The dream of finding magic that was not present in their world. In this case, a “dimension” is being conflated with a separate realm, as Gensokyo is explicitly blocked from the Outside World through the Great Hakurei Barrier. It is more fitting concerning the advancements in technology made in their world would likely use the more futuristic term of “dimension” to describe Gensokyo, as opposed to realm or land. Lastly, this incident is occasionally shortened to “The Dim.Dream Incident,” with no stated reason as to why. It could be a mistake in transcription or an intentional abbreviation. It is commonplace enough that “Dim.Dream” is definitively translated.

Name: Kana Anaberal

Species: Poltergeist

Title: Maiden Poltergeist Who's Lost Her Dreams (former), Untethered Phantom Torpor (current)

Ability: Haunting

Location(s): Mayohiga

Human Threat Level: Moderate

Biography

Kana Anaberal is a poltergeist created by a now-deceased member of the Anaberal Estate. The Anaberal Estate was a family of moderate wealth in Mayohiga, a village that used to have a mild human population. Due to frequent youkai attacks and the high population of cats making growing crops unsustainable, most of them had moved back to the Human Village or perished.

The Anaberal Estate was often seen as the strongest political body within Mayohiga. This intervention is potentially what led to slight ruination in the village, as they were more totalitarian compared to the Hieda Estate in the Human Village.

Kana was born from the rampant boredom a younger member of the Anaberal family, who had wanted nothing more than a girl her age to enjoy playtimes with. This desire manifested into a spirit tied to the home, and thus, Kana came to be. However, things got dicey when the girl grew old, whilst Kana did not. Soon, it was Kana assuming that role of a lonely girl and eventually, led to various outbursts throughout the house.

During the Dimensional Dream Incident, Kana left the estate and attempted to seize her dreams of being a literal free spirit. However, this did not amount to much, as she was swiftly defeated and forced back into the manor. Worse so, the residents of the Anaberal Estate soon abandoned her at the mansion to retreat to the Human Village. As the manor became completely destitute, Kana’s mind began to deteriorate.

This led to an inspection led by the Ministry of Right and Wrong, spearheaded by Komachi Onozuka. Said inspection carried into the desolate Anaberal Estate, where Komachi was attacked by Kana, who had gained complete control over the entire home. However, no one was harmed, and Kana had been severed from her tie to the estate by the shinigami. Currently, she wanders around aimlessly, with enough strength to deter anyone from bothering her. She is in dire need of friends, supposedly.

Name: Rikako Asakura

Species:Magician, formerly human

Title: Scientist Searching for Dreams (former), Fantasy’s Uncovering Savant (current)

Ability: Magic, usage of self-made gadgets

Location(s): Mayohiga, Human Village, Probability Space Hypervessel

Human Threat Level: None

Biography

If you need to look at someone who can operate in complete secrecy without drawing in suspicion, look no further than to Rikako Asakura. Her story has a similar basis to that of Rika, Expelled Tinkerer. A scientist with a brilliant mind who had constructed gadgets on her lonesome while studying the trickles of scientific knowledge that came in from the Outside World. However, unlike the other engineer of the Human Village, Rikako was older and wiser, aware that the subtle advancements in technology would be seen as witchcraft. On the topic of witchcraft, Rikako was also a cautionary studier of magic, viewing it through a cursory, yet obsolete glance. If steel alone can be the foundation of humanity, what good would magic be?

She had learned some magic, only to be sorely disappointed at how little the human body could do with it in comparison. In her basement, she would scrawl thesis upon thesis, arguing with herself about the validity of scientific advancements over magic. Should magic not have been seen in such a light in the Human Village, she would have gone public, preaching to the high heavens.

Along comes the Probability Space Hypervessel, a device from the far future heralding two scientists that could be just as like minded as Rikako herself. This alone set Rikako off to inspect during the Dimensional Dream Incident. Here, she was defeated soundly, yet, she had gotten a glimpse of all she needed to see. Two savants from an era far ahead of Gensokyo, far beyond her wildest imagination, and their conclusion was quite the opposite from hers. Those theorems she drafted would best be suited to prove them wrong, to prove her own intellectual might.

Prove herself, she did not.

Considering their competency in the scientific fields, Yumemi and Chiyuri swiftly disproved the notion that science could ever eclipse the need for magic. They could hop dimensions with the Hypervessel using known theorem, yet that was only the start of what was possible in this world to them. Thus, Rikako almost left emptyhanded, until an invitation was extended to her. Considering she knew more about magic than either of them and had a knack for science, she was brought into a group that, years later, would go on to produce the Gensokyo Scientific Journal. Currently, she assists in their research efforts, extending her hand mostly towards structuring their releases and proofreading their experiments.

The Outside World refers to the worlds outside of Gensokyo, the True Moon, Hell, Makai, and Heaven. This is where the majority of humans live and it exists as a place with no need for youkai, magic, or the gods. Multiple individuals from the Outside World have gone to locations outside of their scope and these include Sanae Kochiya, Sumireko Usami, Chiyuri Kitashirakawa, and Yumemi Okazaki. There are contradictions in their stories, however. Sanae had arrived prior to Sumireko, and their time frames match up with the near-decade long gap between them. However, the conflict arises with Yumemi and Chiyuri, who stepped foot in Gensokyo before Sanae and Sumireko, yet, appear to have more advanced technology and a suspiciously broader cognition. This poses the theory that the Probability Space Hypervessel, a device capable of transporting people dimensions, could have potentially brought Yumemi and Chiyuri to Gensokyo from their relative time. A timeline witch more advanced technology and a solved “grand unified theory.”

Rumors of an Usami residing in the Outside World separate from the one Sumireko inhabited also exist, yet these claims are currently too vague to properly weigh.

Name: Chiyuri Kitashirakawa

Species:Magician, formerly human

Title: Resident of Fantasy That Runs Through Time (former), Protégé of Space-Time (current)

Ability: Time magic

Location(s): Mayohiga, Probability Space Hypervessel

Human Threat Level: None

Biography

Chiyuri is the graduate assistant of Yumemi Okazaki. Being three years her junior, she had attended various classes and seminars held by her. Where she had gained the professor’s interest was through entering her office after hours, constantly chiding her for more detailed explanations of what she’d been studying. Somehow, Yumemi’s pursuit of magic came to the forefront and Chiyuri had been nothing but interested. It was here Chiyuri was brought into Yumemi’s team, and there, in secret, they would conspire how to leave their world and enter one with magic.

While Yumemi was a genius, Chiyuri was certainly more profound with working technology. From simple mechanics like working a power tool or learning the interface of technology found nowhere but their academy, this was Chiyuri’s niche. When they’d landed in Gensokyo, Chiyuri had even constructed gadgets that were functional with magic in record times. Yumemi may have been the inventor of “synthetic magic,” but Chiyuri was the pioneer of the technology that created it.

When the time came, the two hatched a plan to steal the Probability Space Hypervessel, a one-of-a-kind device that could bend the old laws of time and matter. With it, they abandoned their Outside World and arrived in Gensokyo with the express interest to study magic. Yumemi had already hatched the plan for the contest, so it was up to Chiyuri to continue doing the grunt work. As is expected of a student.

During the Dimensional Dream Incident, Chiyuri had put up the fliers around Gensokyo. Then, shortly after, she stayed by the entrance of the Hypervessel, acting as a last line of defense and flipping the script of whoever would stop by. It was not a contest, but rather another experiment, one that sought to bring Gensokyo’s magic to them and give them total control. This, however, failed, as Chiyuri had lost to Reimu and could only watch as the shrine maiden darted deeper into the Hypervessel.

Afterwards, her and Yumemi had to reevaluate what they were doing in Gensokyo. Chiyuri, being a scared teenager at the time, debated returning to the Outside World. She was shot down quickly, as Yumemi had emphasized their work had not been done. A schism between professor and student would grow and, while they would collaborate and form the Gensokyo Scientific Journal together, alongside Rikako, the two are not as close as one would assume. Chiyuri’s efforts primarily focus on humanitarianism, using their inventions to help the world of Gensokyo whenever it enters strife. This does not equate to direct meddling, but rather, subtle cleanup of the aftermath done to the environment or ecosystem. She was also responsible for the concealing of the Hypervessel to the public eye.

Name: Yumemi Okazaki

Species: Magician, formerly human

Title: Fantasy Legend (former), The Mind Over Matter (current)

Ability: Synthetic magic

Location(s): Mayohiga, Probability Space Hypervessel

Human Threat Level: ???

Biography

Yumemi Okazaki, known as Dr. Okazaki in the Outside World, was a woman with aspirations far over her head. She had grown to be one of the world’s smartest minds, becoming a professor at age 18 and being accredited with various contributions that led to humanity’s growth through the stagnation of her world post-realization of the grand unified theorem. Her panic and existential would compound by the day, the question of “what am I doing?” being asked numerous times.

This had culminated to a breaking point. She wanted to not disprove the theorem her world had begun to function on, but rather, break human perception on reality. What better to break reality than to actualize the concepts of make-believe? She concluded that she would prove the existence of magic, no matter what scorn she had received from her peers or higher-ups in the scientific world. Because to her, the world was something her great mind could control with her fingertips, she just needed the proof.

When she grew tired of trying to find magic in the world she inhabited, Yumemi, with a new assistant to help her along in Chiyuri, knew that magic would be present in a different reality than her own. A world better suited for her, a world with the magic she desired. After leaving a scathing message and retreating to the Probability Space Hypervessel with Chiyuri, she had gotten her wish, and arrived in Gensokyo.

When in Gensokyo, she immediately began working. She analyzed what snippets of arcane media she could find and, through her and Chiyuri’s combined minds, created the concept of synthesized magic. Light that could bend and twist at her command like physical matter, capable of acting as danmaku or any object she had desired. Her ego shone through and, growing voracious in the hunt of knowledge, she proposed the contest that began the Dimensional Dream Incident. She had not conceived the idea that she could falter as through her genius and the creation of her synthetic magic, she felt reality was hers to command.

Her ego soon had been shattered, as the supposed scientist-god-magician was not proficient in combat versus an experienced shrine maiden. As her contest proposed a wish, she did what she could and granted it to Reimu, who was given a malfunctioning maid robot who was soon returned. The silly encounter aside, her defeat, as failures had done to her before, only enforced her will to find what forces truly controlled reality.

It was here that Yumemi’s brilliant mind began to grow more obsessed with the study of magic. She spearheaded the Gensokyo Scientific Journal with Chiyuri and Rikako, focused on the difference between magic between other forces in the world alongside its interactions with the environment around it. While she had been progressing through that project, she also slaved away to become a full-fledged magician, doing so in record time considering her general affluency. Since she was not a human of the Village, she was not punished for this act.

As a magician, she seeks to use her long life to not just merge the fields of science and magic, but to eliminate them altogether. All forces can act as one, she believes. She has also abandoned the need for her synthetic magic yet controls light in the same manner with her innate magic capabilities. While this is light magic by definition, her ability to command it as if it were solid matter is currently something only she can do, and thus, it is her invention. Currently, she seeks to enter the magic-laden realm of Makai under the pretense of studying it, having negotiated her way by facing its creator, Shinki, in a danmaku duel.

The existence of the Probability Space Hypervessel in Gensokyo has been an active debate since its landing. It is a structure that is massive in size, having been confused for ruins when it first came to be near Mayohiga. Within it is technology that could threaten to tear Gensokyo asunder, all now powered by the magic that runs rampant. Debates of tearing it down have arisen but are swiftly countered by the dilemma of having to face the residents of the Hypervessel in potentially non-spell card combat. While it resides out of sight thanks to illusory spells, the question of what to do with it will likely remain for ages, with no guarantee of a conclusion.

Chapter Text

Gensokyo’s age far surpasses common knowledge, unsurprisingly. As is the nature with events as old enough to be bordering on prehistory, the documentation is limited and has dubious authenticity. However, it is important to understand the individuals and events associated with this period of time. To either prevent a doomed rhyme of the past, or to simply enrich ourselves. Many of the people listed here thrived in a Gensokyo in a vague era of gods and youkai, living alongside those who have so long since passed, that their bodies have since become part of the soil below our feet.

Name: SinGyoku

Species: Chimera of human and oni souls

Title: Positive and the Negative (former), Null Eternal (current)

Ability: Control over fire, usage of Yin-Yang Orbs and Ofuda

Location(s): Hell, Human Village, Hakurei Shrine, Rainbow Dragon Cave

Human Threat Level: None, neutralized.

Biography

The known origins of SinGyoku are a debated myth. Current knowledge states that they were formed from the souls of a rogue from Hell, and a disgruntled omnyoji, conjoining in a death pact, imparting themselves on a stolen Yin Yang Orb from the Hakurei Shrine. A complex ritual that, despite its absurdity, had worked. They were able to retain their physical forms within the orb, but could only exist as one of them at a time. Their moniker had been given to them on account of the difference in origin of each part. A being as unholy as one from Hell merging with a priest, unified only by their will to wreak revenge on a world that had wronged them.

Their first major outburst was to attack the shrine they had seized the Yin-Yang Orb from. Despite their combined might and boosted strength, it was not enough to surmount the Hakurei Shrine Maiden they sought to wrong. They were defeated and sealed away, yet, the complication arose in that process.

The proper process to remove SinGyoku would have been complete extermination. However, as the Hakurei Shrine Maiden was inexperienced at the time of this bout, she did not see it necessary, assuming seals would have been sufficient. This led to a contained catastrophe, where both souls were trapped within the Yin-Yang Orb, with no chance to escape. They are watched over, stored away in the Rainbow Dragon Cave by Misumaru Tamatsukuri. According to her reports, it would be dangerous to unseal them, as the souls that composed SinGyoku have degraded past the point of recognition. It is unknown what would happen should that seal break.

Name: YuugenMagan

Species: Demon

Title: Evil Eyes of Makai

Ability: Light magic

Location(s): Vina, Makai City, World of Ice and Snow, Hokkai

Human Threat Level: None, deceased.

Biography

The YuugenMagan were a species of demons that were emblematic of the old Makai. Not unlike other creations of Shinki’s, they were soulless and were capable of surviving within the harsh climate. They even had an innate magical capability, able to use heated, concentrated light to disintegrate any unwanted presences within the region. They were mindless sentries that barely bore a human form, imposing upon enemies with five or more gigantic eyes, all loosely tethered together.

However, as was the issue with other, older creations of Shinki’s, the YuugenMagan were ticking time bombs. While their minds were simple and goals concrete, they were bound to reach the same complication that other demons had when they grew too high in age. Insanity. In their cases, the YuugenMagan would no longer just target invaders, but rather citizens and regions of Makai. This is one of the primary causes of the downfall of Vina, as a YuugenMagan, on a rampage, razed the area and forced a swift evacuation.

Soon after Vina’s decimation, the YuugenMagan were systematically destroyed, only a few, stable survivors remaining for centuries to come. One had been defeated by a prior Hakurei Shrine Maiden during a breach from Makai, and the others fell on account of Shinki’s newly appointed guards. Eventually, the final one was slain by Yumeko a few years ago.

It is unlikely that there are any intentions of reviving or retooling the concept of YuugenMagan. As of now, it remains as a piece of Makai’s tumultuous history.

Since disastrous events were not classified as incidents in Gensokyo’s ancient past, they became harder to archive. Few existing records remain, some of them even having to be taken from word of mouth. However, with enough compilation from reliable sources, considerable amounts of information was able to be pulled from a murkier time. One of which was the sequence of events encountered by the first Hakurei Shrine Maiden named Reimu, whose affinity for the written arts remains within the Hakurei Shrine’s records. These will be given simpler, work-in-progress titles, alongside a time that corresponds to the activity of this Reimu’s conflict resolution.

Name: Kikuri

Species: Lunarian

Title: Hell’s Moon (former), Bronzed Exile (current),

Ability: Spiritual purification

Location(s): Lunar Capital, Silent Temple, Old Hell

Human Threat Level: None

Biography

Kikuri is a hidden chapter in the surprisingly diverse history between Hell and the Moon. The two regions are natural foils to one another, as one is home to those who find themselves righteous and pure, whilst the other is a meritocracy full of the impure. This rich history boils down to the actions of Houyi and Hecatia Lapislazuli, who have both become victim to the other’s interventions. Be it Houyi destroying one of Hell’s suns to Hecatia partnering with the man’s former wife to stage a siege, there is no shortage of conflict between the depths and the cosmos.

Where Kikuri enters this continued conflict is through her own perceived righteous attitude, which had existed as an ego that could surpass the shine of the Moon. Being a noble from the Lunar Capital, Kikuri had a grand taste for those she figured were ‘untouchables.’ It is a common notion in the Capital to wish to keep oneself pure in a physical and spiritual sense, yet, Kikuri saw it in a different light. She would risk herself losing purity if it meant she could impose it on others, and this is exactly what she attempted.

Not long after the quarrels between the Moon and Hell began, Kikuri snuck herself through the Sea of Tranquility to commence a one-woman raid on Earth’s Hell. She had figured she would usurp the lower powers of Hell, using her claims as bargaining chips to Hecatia. This was mildly successful, as she was able to establish herself atop the meritocracy rather quickly. She had forced Hecatia’s hand, and the woman who prided herself in never meddling with Hell’s affairs quickly delivered a harsh punishment onto Kikuri. In a clash that ended within seconds, Kikuri was encased in bronze, yet kept alive by her own purity. She was mobile and still capable of attacking. But, for whatever reason, she refused to make more attempts on Hell’s structures.

Rather, she had become a confidant of another troublemaker within Hell’s ranks: Konngara. Here, she spoke into the yaksha’s ear and was swiftly recruited as the only intentional member of Konngara’s team. Together, they had created a power imbalance in Hell, one that had its fallouts reach Gensokyo. Because of this, an ancient Hakurei Shrine Maiden had to plunge to the depths and risk her life for an ugly victory.

Today, Kikuri has finally freed herself from her bronze prison. Her immense, stored purity had accidentally displaced hundreds of vengeful spirits upon this happening. Said problem resolved itself, though, as Kikuri’s purity was no more after said burst, leading to no further complications. Now, she rests by the Silent Temple, destitute and hardly able to move. It is here where she is happy sharing her time with Konngara, her only company.

Name: Konngara

Species: Yaksha

Title: Astral Knight

Ability: Control over smoke and fire, expert swordsmanship

Location(s): Silent Temple, Old Hell

Human Threat Level: High

Biography

Much of Konngara’s distant past is a mystery. The common knowledge of them is that they had shown up in Hell, established themselves as one of its strongest warriors, took minor control, then disappeared without a trace. However, a few details can be parsed from their status as a yaksha.

In Hell’s current status quo, the yaksha are rarely found, to a point where they are assumed nearly extinct. The reason for this is because of Hell’s systems in place. There is no governance within Hell, merely moderation of what goes in or can leave. Rather, there are factions of power the demand respect. The satori, Animal Spirits, and, important to the tale of the yaksha, the oni. The yaksha and oni were similar physically, however, they vastly differed in ideologies. Oni valued strength and honesty, while the yaksha valued cunning and mischief. This natural dissonance led to various conflicts where, after eras of attrition, led to the yaksha falling to the oni.

There was one successful siege made by the yaksha, and it was the self-made rebellion Konngara set forth. Konngara’s uprising was done with simple intentions: to gain respect for themselves amidst the yaksha that fell. Before, it was rumored that Konngara was a meek individual, who remained in the shadows of Hell’s flames. That was, until it was time to strike, and strike they did.

The cunning indicative of their status as a yaksha was used to surpass areas of Hell often inhabited by the strong first, as opposed to singling out the weak. Konngara was well equipped, as well, as they were massive in stature and wielded a massive, white-hot blade. They could also control the flames of Hell, meaning that if their sword did not incinerate their foes, their power would.

Konngara did not only establish themselves as a kingpin of Hell, but they had even gained a following. Said following were unaware of their leader’s actual wishes of wanting to be left be in the only world they could inhabit and grew wild with their intentions. They would go on to escape Hell and enter Gensokyo, chanting about the Astral Knight who had brought moonlight to Hell. This took the event out of Konngara’s intended scope and roped Gensokyo’s strongest defender. After she had removed Kikuri, her and Konngara engaged in a fight that both were fortunate to escape from alive.

Afterwards, Konngara disappeared from Hell’s public consciousness, retreating to the now abandoned Silent Temple. There, they reside with Kikuri. A small conflict arose when Suika Ibuki and Kasen Ibaraki stopped by to investigate the sudden disappearance of vengeful spirits from Hell, however, no one was gravely wounded from the conflict.

The position of the Hakurei Shrine Maiden is an inherited one or, in rare cases, one completed by a divine selection. Without said position, it is unlikely Gensokyo would even exist, or if it did, it would be a razed landscape no less chaotic than Hell. So, for such an important position, why is there so little documentation on who these mikos were? This is due to a vow of secrecy, where their names may be shared through word of mouth, but not scribed. The exception to this is always the standing Hakurei Shrine Maiden, as it heightens Gensokyo’s faith in her, as opposed to her ancestors. Then, when that one passes, their names are purged from public writings, only maintained in private historical libraries. There is an oddity currently, as both this documentation and The Expanded History of Yougakudan frequently refer to a past Hakurei Shrine Maiden. The cause of this is simple, as her and the current one share the name Reimu.

Name: Elis

Species: Demon

Title: Innocence Devil (former), Star of Desolation (current)

Ability: Star magic, transformation

Location(s): Vina, Fallen Temple, Makai City, Pandæmonium

Human Threat Level: Moderate

Biography

Elis is an older resident of Makai. Her time within the region has not left that large of an impact, as her history typically devolves into engaging in mischief or disagreements with other citizens. She has never had a true home within the realm, not on account of a lack of acceptance, but rather her own inability to stay put in one location at a time. The most interesting aspects of Elis are her capabilities with magic and the relationships she has made in Makai.

Elis is capable of transforming her physical form for short periods of time. Normally, this is reserved for her switching into a bat-like creature, done to avoid certain moves or reach heights faster. She does this by using a magic wand, a tool normally associated with novice magicians. Through this wand, she also can control star magic danmaku, and is one of the strongest wielders of it in Makai.

These talents do often go to waste, as she cares not for the her role as a part of Makai nor its states of continued attempted progress. Elis, for the most part, is an entirely self-serving individual, unless it concerns her greatest ally, Sariel.

Through unlikely circumstances, Elis had become acquainted with Sariel shortly before the fall of Vina, a location where at the time, she had been temporarily lodging in. She would visit the other’s domain in the Fallen Temple, engaging in conversations about the state Makai was in or their conjoined complaints. Impeccably, Elis was not afraid of constantly talking to the one in Makai who sees to the death of its citizens.

This bond had grown so strong, in fact, that during Vina’s destruction and its ongoing fallout, Elis stood by Sariel, knowing the angel had been the sole cause of it. The consequences had almost reached Gensokyo and thus, summoned the Hakurei Shrine Maiden to the source of the cataclysm, where she had to sate Elis and her rampant defense.

Since those eras long gone, Elis has remained the same. Sticking by Sariel’s side, getting in conflicts with Makai’s other citizens, or fluttering about lackadaisically. She has begun to encroach on a lethal age, where her sanity and stability will soon decompose. Sariel has requested that they will singlehandedly take care of it, to minimize the suffering of their one true ally.

Name: Sariel

Species: Angel

Title: Angel of Death

Ability: Distortion of perception, ability to cause instant death

Location(s): Vina, Fallen Temple, Makai City, World of Ice and Snow, Wonderland, Hokkai

Human Threat Level: None

Biography

Within Makai, Sariel is often referred to as a creature out of holy texts. The sheer mention of their name invokes emotions of fear or inevitability, and often times, citizens of Makai will attempt to stray away from their name as much as possible. This is because of their role within the realm, their duty as the one who brings about Makai’s only form of “natural” death.

Sariel was created by Shinki early on in Makai’s lifespan to be the cure to a spreading disease. Shinki’s old creations were incapable of dying natural deaths and thus, their minds would begin to decay. Said decay would lead to conditions like a much harsher dementia, where the demons who were rotting would lose their sense of selves, but not have control over their bodies. So, Sariel was created as the lone angel in the demon’s world, created with a failsafe that would prevent their own degradation. To ensure the existence of the Angel of Death would be fruitful, Shinki, for the only time in her existence, parted her spirit into a creation, forever tethering herself to Sariel.

One creates life whilst the other takes it away. One possesses the visage of a beloved demon, while the other the yore of a feared angel.

This arrangement has always been detested by Sariel. They did not yearn for an existence of nothing but bringing upon death, having to stare at the faces of the deranged and desperate until Makai eventually crumbles. They have few confidants and live in solitude, yet, always ponder how they could free themselves of their role. An attempt at this was made, the disaster that caused the fall of Vina.

Their plan had been simple, to not do what they were assigned to do. Vina had a population rife for this plan and, not longer after they remained inactive, those in Vina began to experience not just mental decomposition, but mass hysteria. Many demons rampaged through Vina, ripping it asunder and leaving many demons without minds in Makai, as well as a bevy of unnatural deaths. The message spread to Pandæmonium, however, it was not Shinki nor any high-ranking Makai citizens who stepped in. Rather, it was the Hakurei Shrine Maiden, who had to fend off rampant demons entering Gensokyo and threatening its own sanctity.

Even Sariel’s incomprehensible abilities were no match, and, upon their defeat, they promised the shrine maiden one thing. That their further plots would only involve getting back at Shinki and not get any outside parties involved.

As of now, none of these plots have happened, or even been speculated. Sariel continues their duty of maintaining Makai’s healthy population. It is said they communicate most bureaucratic matters through Yumeko. Though, due to them intentionally not putting an end to the final YuugenMagan themselves, Shinki had stopped by for a visit. Otherwise, they spend their time in isolation, lest Elis come over to enrich them.

Like many profound individuals in Gensokyo, there is a distinct public perception to their name. Nowhere is this more true than with the Hakurei bloodline. The serving shrine maiden has always had the moniker of being a protector of Gensokyo, however, the superfluous details have shifted over the eras. Some shrine maidens were known as stern, attempting to be overlords of the Human Village and the drastic environment that surrounded them. Others were sillier, not taking their position completely seriously and opting to say, kick around a Yin Yang Orb as opposed to solving matters in a traditional sense. Now, the current Hakurei Shrine Maiden appears to have a mixed reception, as if she had inherited every possible interpretation of her ancestors, all at once.

Chapter Text

Many such individuals involved with the events in prior notes in this document had their moments in Gensokyo’s history. However, as fate does have it, a select few have either been the proprietors to nigh-cataclysmic incidents, or necessary elements in upholding a Gensokyo which once hung by threads. The five individuals highlighted here, in a sense, embody the past and present of the little world they occupy. While they may not be as storied as a Sage, a deity of the seasons, or an orchestrator of a neighboring realm, one would be hard pressed to say Gensokyo would be the same, or even exist, without them.

Name: Reimu Hakurei

Species: Human

Title: Eternal Shrine Maiden (former), Shrine Maiden of Paradise (current)

Ability: Capable of flight

Location(s): Hakurei Shrine, Human Village

Human Threat Level: None

Biography

Reimu is the current Hakurei Shrine Maiden. There is little to be said about her exploits in the modern day that has not already been said. Not only has she fulfilled the expected duties of the one in her position, but she has also gone above and beyond, solving incident after incident, no matter the cost to her own comfort or her body. It is a common sentiment that Gensokyo has gone under a “golden age” since Reimu became the acting miko, however, restating the present is not the purpose of this addendum.

Before she gained the reputation she has now, Reimu was the daughter of a maiden of much controversy. It is said the past Hakurei Shrine Maiden was indifferent to the consequences her inaction had and thus, events such as the Vampire Incident and many youkai attacks on the Human Village were commonplace. Once Reimu had assumed the mantle, she had to do so at a very young age. She did so prior to learning flight, relying on Genjii to soar her around Gensokyo’s skies.

Despite this, Reimu was the strongest actor in putting down Mima’s attempt at overturning Gensokyo in an act of revenge, stifling Yumemi Okazaki’s ploy to dubiously study Gensokyo’s residents in the pursuit of magic, preventing Yuuka Kazami from uprooting the world of the awake from Mugenkan, and lastly, stopping Shinki from polluting Gensokyo with demons out of her control. Each of these incidents, from Dimensional Dream to Mystic Square, were signs that she was a holy prodigy who could handle foes above her pedigree. A god of demons or eons-old youkai being no match for her then meant the future could not yield anything out of her grasp.

Her attitude was reportedly different back then. She was known as a cutesy individual who did not take her day-to-day life seriously yet could hunker down if the situation called for it. The stoppage of carnage in the Human Village was around this time, as rosy cheeks and wide eyes would dissipate should she need to exterminate a rampant youkai.

Back then, she was limited to the holy tools she wielded blessed by the Hakurei god. A gohei, ofuda, and a limited number of Yin-Yang Orbs that she was being trained on mid-incidents were what she had to work with. There were no techniques like that of Fantasy Heaven to rely on, merely her skills and dexterity. Eventually, she would come to learn flight and her own techniques, abandoning the need for Genjii, just in time for the Scarlet Mist Incident.

Lastly, it is assumed that her once purple hair darkened as she grew in age. However, a source says you can still see a tinge of it in sunlight.

Name: Marisa Kirisame

Species: Human

Title: Magician of Scarlet Dreams (former), Ordinary Magician (current)

Ability: Using magic

Location(s): Forest of Magic, Reimaden, Hakurei Shrine, Human Village, Kirisame Magic Shop, Korindou

Human Threat Level: None

Biography

Marisa Kirisame is an individual who encapsulates the phrase “jack of all trades, master of none.” Since her debut on Gensokyo’s scene, she has been studious of all types of magic, yet found her home within light and star magic. Her current occupation is being the head of a still-opening Kirisame Magic Shop and one of Gensokyo’s more prolific incident resolvers. While not noble, her aspirations are usually for the betterment for the world around her, even if it requires snatching items from other magicians.

This attitude was not always how Marisa operated. In fact, the first ever incident she had gotten herself involved in, she was on the losing end. This was because she had sided with the evil spirit, Mima. Unlike the other confidants of Mima’s, however, Marisa was neither a familiar nor had she abandoned the spirit after the incident. This is because she had made ties with the spirit long before the incident occurred.

Studying magic as a human in Gensokyo is not a forbidden practice outright, that honor belongs to the transformation from human into magician youkai. History has time and time again shown that it is a practice worth looking down on. There are multiple instances of this occurring through history, where a human is either shunned or excommunicated from the village for merely digging their nose through old tomes. Marisa was no different, as she sought to understand magic for, albeit selfish means. She had gotten scolded by her parents for doing such, increasing already growing tensions within the home.

This culminated in Marisa stomping out of her home one angry day, not with the intent to dash out of the village, but to air her mind. She had not considered that it was nighttime, and that danger could be lurking. Find the embodiment of danger, she did. She had encountered Mima, who could see the girl’s dark future a mile away and offered her an out. A better life where she could study magic all she pleased, all for servitude. She agreed without a second thought.

Afterwards, she participated in Mima’s ploy to take over Gensokyo, stopped by a face who would come to enchant her: Reimu Hakurei. Marisa wasted no time in getting to know Reimu, through either strict training regimens, or carefree lunches. In the blink of an eye, the two became inseparable, as friends, or in some cases, rivals. They would butt heads in the Dimensional Dream Incident and the Lotus Land Incident, with Marisa falling short twice more. However, with far more at stake, she would put herself on the line in Makai for the Mystic Square Incident, even if it was in hopes to explore the magic laden through the region.

She would quote these encounters with Reimu as her greatest inspiration, as each time she would appear, she did so with a greater magical arsenal. In these alone, she would perfect her own Orreries Sun, a spin on the Master Spark, and even a cavalcade of the spells she witnessed in Makai. Now, she exists as not a full-fledge magician, but still one of Gensokyo’s strongest arcanists. All not possible without some not-so-humble beginnings.

Name: Yuuka Kazami

Species: Youkai

Title: Beauty of the Twilight (former), Flower Master of Four Seasons (current)

Ability: Manipulation of flowers, divination

Location(s): Garden of the Sun, Mugenkan, Dream World

Human Threat Level: Very High

Biography

The Yuuka Kazami of the distant past is a far cry from the one of the present. She is known now as the Flower Master of Four Seasons, a powerful being who can make flowers bloom even through the harshest conditions. She also has yore surrounding her, some of it true, some of it hyperbole. The truth of the matter is, currently, it is best to avoid Yuuka, yet, entering her domain does not equate to instant death.

However, to understand her dormancy in Gensokyo’s most shimmering field of flora, it is important to understand her beginnings as a youkai with far less power than she possesses now. She was once an individual low on the pecking order, no different than most low-level youkai or gods. What set her apart was her tenacity, her unwillingness to be powerless for all her days. No matter what, she told herself she would escape that existence at the bottom, even if she were to die. Death, was better than stagnation.

This is where Yuuka stumbled upon her own wishing star, a portal to the Dream World. The passageway was primarily used by Doremy Sweet as a secretive path from the Dream World into Gensokyo. Prior to Yuuka’s arrival, it was merely a route, but, it was still revered as a treasure. Where one could dwell into the darkest depths of the mountain and find the power to make one’s dreams come true. Yuuka, pitiful at the time, climbed the Hakurei Mountain, sunk through the Lake of Blood, and waded through the phantasmagoric depths to reach that portal. There, Doremy had granted her wish, to no longer be so weak and live out her fantasies.

The portal had gone from just that to a bustling, thriving society within a matter of years. It first started as a comfy home for Yuuka, yet blossomed the moment she sought company. Sought more ways to enrich herself. Here, Mugenkan was born and remains as it is known today. Yuuka served as the mistress of the manner, running operations using Dream World youkai borrowed from Doremy Sweet. She would grow her own garden, host her own galas, and make allies from those within and far from the world of dreams. Elly, a trusted gatekeeper. Kurumi, a stray vampire seeking a roof and companionship. Mugestu and Gengetsu, estranged demons trapped in a nightmare not of their own making.

This, however, would not last, as Yuuka would feel that old, dreaded feeling once more. Stagnation. The galas lost their luster, her friends lost their importance, and all she could see herself as was a wilting flower. The degradation of her mind in this state led to the Lotus Land Incident, where she remotely razed the Hakurei Shrine, merely to invite someone who could challenge her. Challenged she soon came to be, as Reimu stomped through the illustrious dark and defeated her both awake and asleep.

The fallout of the Lotus Land Incident saw Yuuka pass Mugenkan onto her gatekeeper with an ugly parting. Afterwards, she moved into the Garden of the Sun, her overwhelming strength taken from Mugenkan making it so it was her territory and hers alone, minus the fairies that flutter by. Shortly, she would join Reimu, Marisa, and Mima to stomp out the proverbial and soon-to-be literal flames. Her intentions were simple: destroy anything that came in her path, to teach the god who sequestered those demons ages ago a lesson.

Nowadays, Yuuka still resides in the Garden of the Sun, rarely leaving lest she feels the need to grow flowers. There is a better understanding of her capabilities, as while she can control flowers, she can only suddenly grow ones via divination. These flowers are functionally the same but are only truly reflections of her imagined perceptions of them. It is likely she could imagine more than just flowers into existence; however, she appears averse to doing anything that reminds her of her beginnings.

Yuuka has only revisited Mugenkan once, with the intent to destroy it and leave it in the past. This was fruitless, as she was talked down by the new mistress, Elly. It is currently a concern whether or not Yuuka is growing “bored” with Gensokyo and if she will bring upon another incident, however unlikely that may be.

Name: Alice Margatroid

Species: Magician, formerly human

Title: Witch of Death (former), Seven-Colored Puppeteer (current)

Ability: Magic, controlling puppets

Location(s): Forest of Magic, Makai City, Pandæmonium, Wonderland

Human Threat Level: Low

Biography

Alice Margatroid was once a girl who lived in a city in the Outside World. Not much is known about these origins, as she has not given out many specifics, but, a couple of things are known. Said city was advancing onto technology that was understandable to the common man. Inventions were no longer associated with witchcraft and were beginning to be accepted by the public. However, this was also not at a time where magic was believed to be obsolete by those who practiced it.

The situation was bleak for Alice, a girl in that second faction. The world was accepting of the new ways it was marching forward and wanted to leave the knowledge of the arcane behind. Alice, a prodigy of magic herself, at quite a young age for a human, defied this new status quo. She ran from her home, and, through casting a one-use spell to transport herself, brought her form into a world of “fantasy,” where magic was commonplace. For most, when they escape the pitiful outside, they retreat to Gensokyo. Alice, however, landed somewhere better fitted for a prodigy such as herself: Makai.

Initially, her stay was turbulent. At this time, she was a human in a world of demons, one that notoriously put those humans in untimely graves. She persisted against the odds, her arcane experience defending against Makai’s miasma and fooling the residents into thinking she had been there the whole time. Eventually, her stamina ran out, yet, this was also when she had been noticed by Makai’s creator god.

Shinki took Alice under her wing, completely impressed with this human lasting so long in Makai. The entire realm’s magical library was open to her and, should she have questions or a need to practice, the world’s most magically proficient were at her beck and call. Should she spar, she would practice trading blows with Yumeko. If she required a tour, then the sentries Mai and Yuki were always ready and willing.

It did not take long for Alice to transform from a human to a magician. Upon her complete transformation, Alice also formulated her own unique magic, that being remote control through her spirit. Should her strings attach to anything inanimate, she can control it as if it were alive. Makai is also where she perfected her first grimoire, one that “shines in all colors of the rainbow,” full of untamed, destructive magic. Her goal is to become like the woman who saw to her success, to create a living being without the need of attaching her spirit.

These abilities were put on display in the Mystic Square Incident. Her tenacity led to her engaging in two encounters with the incident solvers. The first, she had come to defend Makai’s city from Marisa Kirisame and Yuuka Kazami. Incidentally, this initial defeat is how her and Marisa created an inadvertent rivalry. It is debatable if her defeat was truly because of Marisa, as the fledgling Ordinary Magician was alongside an enraged, powerful youkai.

The second was a challenge issued to Reimu Hakurei, all for a matter of pride. Alice was going to test the grimoire she kept hidden in Wonderland, a realm created for her to let loose. This was after the fall of Makai, hence, Alice only sought some form of revenge. Reimu once more came out victorious, demanding these farces end.

This final failure marked the end of Alice’s stay in Makai. She saw that there were broader horizons and, after a tear-filled good-bye to Shinki, she left for Gensokyo. She would alter her appearance to be more mature looking, while also attempting to disengage with Gensokyo’s rumblings lest they involved her directly. There, she became known as the impossibly dexterous Seven-Colored Puppeteer, a magical genius and fantastic craftswoman. Yet, those memories of Makai lingered in her mind for the years she shut them out, especially with the UFO occurrence freeing Byakuren Hijiri from Hokkai.

It was only until recently with Hieda no Akyuu’s Expanded History of Yougakudan articles began publication, that Alice would see Makai again. After interviews with its denizens, Alice was pleaded to by them and Byakuren to spectate the wedding between Mai and Yuki. She complied and reunited with what she called her true family. To this day, Alice still pursues her grand magic apotheosis of creating life, but visits Makai semi-frequently.

Name: Mima

Species: Vengeful spirit, formerly a magician, formerly human.

Title: Spirit Who Leaves Fate to the Dream of Eternity

Ability: Using magic

Location(s): Reimaden, Human Village, Hakurei Shrine

Human Threat Level: Very High

Biography

There was a girl who lived amongst humans in an era long, long forgotten to Gensokyo’s past. The village which she dwelled in was in unkind times, with fears of attacks from rampant monsters or dwindling resources flooding the minds of the masses. It was no place for a human, let alone a child, to thrive in during this time. Security was not a guarantee, nor was a meal on the table for dinner. It was here where humans grew desperate, barely differing themselves from the beasts they feared.

The girl herself was no different. She had no peers, nor a loving family to embrace her. All she had was her wits and a will to survive. Thieving nor conflict were out of the realm of possibility, but once she grew tired of those ploys, she sought to find another means of survival. Even if she was in no position to desire more, she also yearned to thrive, to stand amid the rubble. The way she sought to do so was through learning forbidden arts of magic, complete sacrilege amidst her home. The use of magic in this case was not unique, as it had happened far before her time and certainly numerous times afterwards.

Where she stood out was in terms of magnitude. With her magic, she had vanquished a monster from attacking the village. However, instead of praise, all she was greeted with was fear and ire. A witch, she was labelled, and her natural end was to burn at the stake. Try as she did to defend herself, the mob overpowered her and as soon as she perceived her life as having truly begun, it ended.

Or, so her executioners had thought. One as strong and determined as the girl was not going to fade so quickly. Into the afterlife her grievances followed, festering into the bane of Gensokyo. If she was perceived to be a demon, so be it. The charming demon, Mima, came to be, and a vicious vengeance she wrought on those who tore her down. The strength she wielded demanded respect, as her arcane knowledge she carried over into the afterlife was only bolstered by the vengeance keeping her spiritual form afloat. She could cast just about any spell, including the phenomena of true "dark magic," which is capable of shutting one's sense of being down completely.

It was not until the first Hakurei Shrine Maiden named Reimu that she was stopped. Towards the gates of Hell, she was sealed away into the shrine until the next maiden was born. Then the next, then the next. Her grudge soon shifted from humanity, to the cruel one who wished she be imprisoned for the rest of her days. It was not until the second Hakurei named Reimu where she saw a change in an endless, generational cycle of vengeance.

Mima had once more caused a violent incident, rending the reality of Gensokyo apart with the accumulated magical prowess she had stored whilst sealed away. She had recruited more outcast humans and her own familiars to fight this war. She even raised a disciple, Marisa Kirisame, a girl she feared would undergo her exact fate. Though, as things go with Gensokyo, the Hakurei bloodline always emerges victorious. The difference was that this time, instead of a swift sealing and continuation of the cycle, Mima was left be, warned to not make another attempt of such an incident.

Surprisingly, she did. Mima partook in a few more incidents as either a contestant or active “mediator.” She failed her quest to bring upon a permanent night sky in the Dimensional Dream Incident and used the Mystic Square Incident to test her own magic in a realm dedicated to it. Yet, shortly after the Mystic Square Incident occurred, Mima disappeared without a trace. An over two-decade long absence of one of Gensokyo’s mightiest.

The cause for her disappearance was simple: Gensokyo was past the need for her existence within it. She still harbored her vengeance for the Hakurei Shrine yet saw no need in pursuing it should she simply get tossed aside again. The route she took was simple: to separate herself as far as Gensokyo as possible, using the centuries of magic she had under at her disposal. It was not as if she was alone or deprived of information, as her familiars tagged along and she kept a watchful eye from Gensokyo within Reimaden.

It was not until the writings within The Expanded History of Yougakudan released that Mima’s interest in Gensokyo reignited. Names of the past she had heard were being mentioned once more and those individuals were being granted lives more grandiose than the non-players in Gensokyo’s climate. The watchful eye became an inquisitive one and soon, she put her nose where it did not belong one last time. Using her familiars to orchestrate The Far-Away Story of Eastern Paradise, Mima spurned Hieda no Akyuu to create an article for her score. One that not only sent the strength of the Sages towards her, but her long-lost protégé.

Marisa and her would have a conversation over pasts, the present, and future. Though the student had far outgrown the need for the master, the heartless evil spirt was reminded that deep within was a shred of caring. The mischief never went away, too, as the events that would come to play out were kept secret from Gensokyo, all so Mima could watch it unfold as she predicted.

Currently, Mima intends to do what she has for eras. Torment the next Hakurei Shrine Maiden, perfect her magic, and cling to a life of success amid numerous failures. The new world has taught her that her age and experience are worth teaching and, while she may tragically outlive her student, it is worth seeing it every second through. Until the end of her days.

And that, I believe is a good place to wrap up our little story, would you not agree?