#issue_22

Rabid Rabbit Rampage

After the introduction of the spell card rules youkai on youkai violence in Gensokyo has become somewhat of a rarity.  This relative peace was shattered recently when Eintei resident Reisen Udongein Inaba started violently attacking humans and youkai alike for no apparent reason.

As of press time, neither the human village nor Eientei were willing to confirm casualty numbers. However, several eye witness reports of the level of violence mean that there likely would be several major injuries at minimum.

Under house arrest

For their part, Eientei has put Reisen under house arrest until the true cause of her madness can be determined.  When questioned about the event, Kaguya Houraisan claimed to have no knowledge about what the cause might be, expressing great frustration saying: “That’s what I’d like to know!  I don’t know what’s gotten into her, but she just flew off the handle apparently!”  

When asked about the “Eirin’s shady drug” conspiracy that inevitably has come up, she dismissed it out of hand in the fashion such conspiracies deserve saying, “No, that can’t be it.  She’s always seemed normal, and I don’t think Eirin’s medicines have those kinds of side effects anyway.”  Further she also had Eientei’s resident pharmacist check the inventory of medications, all of which were accounted for, ruling out drugs as the cause of Reisen’s behavior.

Kaguya herself then began speculating, wondering allowed if Reisen had been “possessed”.  Though at this time there is no evidence to support that.

Possible sleeper agent

Reisen’s outburst comes at a poor time for Eientei.  Reisen herself is a refugee from the Lunarian kingdom on the moon.  After fleeing to Gensokyo she managed to claim asylum in Eientei with the exiled princes of that same kingdom.

The Lunarian’s recent near invasion of Gensokyo has already put many on edge; despite The Hakurei shrine’s successful diplomacy mission resolving the conflict.  This tension has lead many to openly wonder if Reisen wasn’t sent as a sleeper agent.  Some have even gone so far to claim that Eientei is a forward base for a future invasion.

When asked for comment on the anti-lunarian fears, Kaguya said that: “I understand their worries about what the Moon may do…  I share in those fears myself. But the Earth is my home now, and I would very much like to protect it just as much as anyone else here. Our rabbit going mad was an isolated incident, and she will be properly disciplined for it.”

Dream copy

Reisen herself pleaded her innocence claiming that it wasn’t her, that it was instead a “Dream Version of herself”.   Reisen did admit that she did not have proof, but claimed that a “Doremy” could vouch for her story and pleaded with the Bunbunmaru to track this woman down to help exonerate her.

Although difficult to track down, the Bunbunmaru did manage to get a brief interview with Doremy who did vouch for Reisen’s story.  Going on further to explain that dream selves were indeed a thing that exist, as an exaggerated version of a person.  She claimed to know this by virtue of being the ruler of the dream world though she did not provide anything further to back up that claim.

The Bunbunmaru reached out to Yuuka Kazami who was once a resident of the dream world to ask for her comment on “Dream copies” and Doremy’s true identity, though she did not respond by press time.

Battle Byakuren

Byakuren Hijiri, leader of Myouren Buddhist temple has confirmed recent rumors and announced the beginning of a battle festival of sorts. The festival will be held at the Myouren temple until the end of February in which anyone who wants to prove their strength outside of the spellcard rules can participate. Byakuren herself offered to take all challengers.  Of course, those wishing to only watch are welcome as well.

Proof of strength

When asked for the reason for the festival Byakuren said that

“It was brought to my attention by Nue that most see us as peacemakers from our weakness. I’m aiming to use this as a display of our knowledge on warfare and our proficiency in combat. That way, they can see that even the strong can choose to avoid conflict while seeking resolutions.“

Byakuren was likely referring to the temple’s stance on youkai/human peace.

Interest building

Interest in the fights have been rapidly growing in among both youkai and the human village.  Even Gensokyo’s more prominent citizens are starting to take notice.  Remilia Scarlet of the Scarlet Devil Mansion offered up her comment that she’d:

“I would like to battle someone by leaving the Spell Card rules and Danmaku aside, without restraint”

Even the surly Rinnosuke Morichika is planning to set up a refreshment stand to sell to the participants and spectators.

Big faith hurting smaller gods

The Moyria shrine, the Myouren temple, the Taoists, and of course the Hakurei shrine.  Gensokyo has many major big name religions for humans and youkai alike to give their faith to.  While the Hakurei shrine has been here for a long time, the others are relative new comers as you are no doubt aware dearest reader.

Each one of these new big faiths caused it’s own problems when they arrived.  Kanako of the Moryia shrine nearly caused Gensokyo to be blown up by her reckless gifts to Utsuho Reiuji.  The Myouren temple caused much panic with their reckless search for Byakuren Hijiri.  The Taoists nearly started a civil war with their anti youkai rhetoric.  All of these incidents were put down by Reimu Hakurei, as she always does.

But there is a lingering problem these new big faiths are causing that falls below the level of Hakurei involvement.

If you were not aware dearest reader, most native gods need faith for more than just growing more powerful, they need it to live.  Should a goddess go for a prolonged period without sufficient faith they will eventually die.  With the influx of new bigger faiths, many small local goddesses have found it hard to compete for market share.

One such minor goddess is Minoriko Aki of the human village.  As a harvest goddess Minoriko was once invited to a ceremony in her honor every autumn.  In that ceremony Minoriko would receive more than enough faith, and in return would bless the human village’s harvest, ensuring enough food for the humans, and through them for the youkai.

But now, much of the village has turned away from Minoriko, instead preferring to rely on the more generic “miracles” of the Moryia shrine that don’t require elaborate celebrations to confirm.

You might, dearest reader, call this just the natural progression of faith, as new stronger gods replace old weak ones.  And in a way you would be right, dearest reader.  But in the opinion of yours truly there is something more important being lost here.  Gensokyo was created as a land for those that had nowhere else to go as the outside world no longer needed us.  If we allow goddesses like Minoriko to disappear the same way, how can we say we deserve to continue living in this land?