Izumi Ibara, the Blessed Sniper

His royal highness finds it interesting, most interesting indeed...

Looking forward towards the rest.

You have to squeese Simo Häyhä into your story somhow...

Oh, that's simple. Finland had a great deal of folklore dealing with spirits, daemons and the like. Emphasis on had. It doesn't any more. Why not? Because Simo Häyhä, that's why.

Please stop with the Finnish and Simo Hayha references. I appreciate them, but it's like you're all setting up a standard that frankly I can't reach or intend to.

And wold your Royal Highness, the Border Prince, perchance purchase this story if it was made available?

Ok, nothing more about Valkoinen kuolema then...

Still prepeared to help a fellow troper with ideas and suggestions (despite not knowing that much about Japaneese mythology and folklore...)

His Royal Highness is currently in desperate need of his every last öre to buy books for the next semester's religion studies...

You can't reach a certain standard? Does this mean that you aren't such a good writer as we suppose or are you underestimating yourself? Pity. As I said, making her an Expy or even a gender swapped Captain Ersatz of Simo Häyhä would make her an interesting character.

edited 15th Jul '11 6:33:12 PM by AdeptusAlpharius

How many chapters is there supposed to be in total?

I totally agree with the Traitorus Heretic above me.

I definately think you hold a high standard in your writing, way over the level that I have in my writing...

edited 16th Jul '11 12:45:31 AM by TheBorderPrince

Sorry. I just kinda panicked there. It's just that I know I'm only a decent writer, so I have to set my standards accordingly. So to include a Simo Hayha Expy I feel would be a bit much right now. Later on? Sure.

I'm just being a bit neurotic here. Sorry about the fuss. I'm going back to write another chapter bleed for my work.

edited 16th Jul '11 11:38:51 AM by EnglishMajor

Take your time...

Quality is what is important, not quantity...

And I agree there was quite a few to many postst with "ad this and add that to your story " , I should have known, since I'm one of the culprits myself....

Well, I just submitted the first three parts to an online magazine called Clarkesworld magazine. I'm so nervous I've got butterflies in my stomach trying to force their way out of my mouth. Wish me luck.

Update: Part Seven is now up. Man, I think I'm stretching here: a hot spring, a coyote, and a little T and A slapstick...

edited 16th Jul '11 11:14:21 PM by EnglishMajor

Ah, jorougumo. I was wondering when they'd begin to show up.

"Lycka till!!! with the publishing."

(Swedish for "Good luck!!!")

She knew a perverted coyote, who could have guessed...

If you need help with creatures from other cultures ask me for help (At least if they are Scandinavian or British.)

edited 17th Jul '11 6:53:30 AM by TheBorderPrince

Well, I originally wanted to go lizard men, but since there's no precedence for it, I decided to go with an actual Youkai since I didn't want to create demons wholesale yet.

Well, I thought of using an ordinary fox, but I figured it was a bit cliche. Coyotes seemed like a more aggro and appropriate choice, as I wanted a trickster spirit who would contrast nicely with Izumi's cold and stoic nature. Besides, coyotes can adapt to anywhere and they mate like crazy

Thanks for the support. I'm hoping it's published. Oh, and I have no plans right now to adapt other mythological creatures outside of the Land of the Rising Sun. I'll let you know, though.

I agree, have your monster supply come soley from a certain culture, unless you can give it a good justification. MonsterMash is not that fun unless it is done well...

This rant come's from the right person... the one who pestered you a few posts ago about adding Scandinavian monsters...

I just edited Part 7. I fully described the jorogumo and added a little more dialogue, complete with a third scene of Izumi making Coy-Chan back off. I'm wondering: I'm subverting the whole Skinship Grope trope by having Izumi pinch Coy-chan hard every time she does. Am I putting in too much antagonism?

Looking good...

Guess she need to pack some bugspray before going on this next job...

edited 18th Jul '11 10:48:09 AM by TheBorderPrince

Let me just check up on my list of Things Spider Youkai Are Weak Against...

• Bullets to the face.
• MORE bullets to the face.
• Danmaku.*
  ^{So, basically, even more bullets to the face.}
• Fire.*
  ^{Fire works on everything. EVERYTHING.}

edited 18th Jul '11 11:23:37 AM by RiotousRascal

Will we hear about when she bust the flea-bitten pervert out of zoo..

Update: Part 8 is now up.. I'm introducing another new character.

I really thought it'd just be an afterthought. I mean, coyotes are very smart and capable of escaping and adapting to its new surroundings. Added to the fact that it's a coyote spirit, and I'm sure I can just leave it to the imagination (yay, Minimalism!).

Looking good...

Well I just got my response from Clarkesworld: They've decided that the story is not what they're looking for. What they mean is unclear, as they have not given me further criticism

I have, however, submitted it to three other magazines (Strange Horizons, Tor, and Asimov's) in hopes that I will be published. In the meantime, I will continue in writing the adventures of our favorite gun-toting shrine maiden right here on TV Tropes. At least I have an audience here: albiet a tiny one, but at least a faithful one. I'd rather have five readers that have actually read the damn thing than a hundred that just skimmed. I love you all, TV Tropes

Part 9 coming soon!

I like how you've made reference to the bit of folklore which states that someone who kills 1000 youkai will themselves become a youkai. Incidentally, are we going to see Yuki-Onna turn up any time soon?

Quality above quantity is what matters with the readers, I agree on that.

(Hoppas du har bättre lycka nästa gång!/Hope you have more luck next time!...)

I might consider them. It's mid-August in-story, so It'll take a few more chapters until I get to winter. I'm thinking a culling event (demon wolves getting hungry and aggro during winter), and maybe I'll throw in a Yuki-onna.

Thanks for the support. I wish I had a couple of more regular readers than the both of you. I wonder where Adeptus went? In any case, thank you Rascal. And all hail His Majesty the Border Prince!

EDIT: Part nine will be up today. This one's a 2000+ word stunner.

edited 21st Jul '11 9:14:13 AM by EnglishMajor