I think it's even more interesting that Narumi's magic is manipulating life. In Cirno's scenario, she said she normally could insta-kill fairies. She should be of significance to Alice.
Or perhaps Narumi being a jizo statue has a certain significance compared to random statues? And what Alice wants is being able to animate those random dolls?
Jizo statues coming to life seems to be a known phenomenon. Like Clarste once said of Alice burying a doll and waiting a hundred years for it to become a tsukomogami, that'd be like telling someone who wants to perfect human cloning to just have a kid.
This. Cannot. Continue.
Well if nothing else that Alice conversation was well-timed, since she just got an interesting new (old?) neighbor. Assuming Alice isn't so focused on her work that she completely missed the most recent Incident. Anyway, coming up will be Luize, Kotohime, and Doremy Sweet. But first, witness the literally unearthly beauty of
Appearance:
Stage: Five Impossible Requests
The five impossible requests that nobody could fulfill.
However, these long years and the power of phantasm
are more than enough to fulfill those requests.
BGM: "Voyage 1969"note
Theme: "Flight of the Bamboo Cutter ~ Lunatic Princess"note
Spellcard Motif: Her Impossible Requests
Sample Spellcards: (IN, GoM, StB)
Impossible Request "Jewel from the Dragon's Neck -Five-Colored Shots-", Impossible Request "Buddha's Stone Bowl -Indomitable Will-", Impossible Request "Robe of Fire Rat -Patient Mind-", Impossible Request "Swallow's Cowrie Shell -Everlasting Life-", Impossible Request "Bullet Branch of Hourai -Rainbow Danmaku-", "End of Imperishable Night -Dawn-", "Tree-Ocean of Hourai," New Impossible Request "Lunar Ilmenite," New Impossible Request "Red Stone of Aja," New Impossible Request "Seamless Ceiling of Kinkaku-ji," New Impossible Request "Mysterium"
Write-up:
A Lunarian princess currently enjoying her exile in Gensokyo. About a millennium or so ago, Kaguya decided to combine her powers over eternity with Eirin Yagokoro's genius to create the Hourai Elixir, which Kaguya drank. Since executing an immortal is a pointless exercise, Kaguya was banished to Earth, where she evidently inspired a legend about a baby found in a bamboo shoot. Her beauty led many well-to-do Japanese nobleman - including a scion of the Fujiwara clan - to seek her hand in marriage, but Kaguya duped them all by sending them on a hunt for treasures that she already possessed. All said, she had such a good time during her "punishment" that when Eirin and some Lunarian emissaries arrived to bring her back to the moon, Kaguya convinced her old teacher to stay on Earth with her instead.
The two went into hiding, and with the help of a band of youkai rabbits, made a place for themselves in a bamboo forest in an isolated valley. The only disruptions to this new life came centuries later, first when they allowed another Lunar refugee to join them, and then when it looked like the Lunarians were going to try to return them all by force, which led to Eirin taking unusual steps to ensure Kaguya's security and ultimately a firefight with intruders. Since that Incident, Kaguya has expressed more interest in the rest of Gensokyo, holding Lunar exhibitions and chatting with guests rather than remaining a recluse. Kaguya is pretty easygoing for a princess, and is said to be adept at the art of conversation, though her way of speaking is somewhat archaic.
Relations:
- Eirin Yagokoro (faithful retainer)
- Reisen Udongein Inaba (pet)
- Tewi Inaba (housemate)
- Fujiwara no Mokou (nemesis)
See also the previous compendiums.
edited 17th Aug '17 6:06:36 PM by Tacitus
Current earworm: "Awe of the Unknown"
This. Cannot. Continue.
So, power over eternity. The way Akyuu describes it, Kaguya can remove a moment's history to create an immutable area, or get a lot done in an "aggregate of instants" that normal people can't notice, or even run "multiple parallel histories" at once. Sort of like if Sakuya's special power and Keine's ability had a superpowered baby. Assuming Akyuu is accurate, this makes it very surprising that Kaguya prefers to fight with her various trinkets. Or that Mokou is capable of beating her in their duels.
You'd also think that this might have some psychological effect on Kaguya herself, enable her to endure the eternal nature of the Lunar Capital, find an unending peaceful moment to exist in. On the one hand, that could make her a natural imbiber of the Hourai Elixir since she'd have no trouble with an unending life, but on the other hand if she was capable of finding peace in a changeless existence, why'd she feel the need to drink the Elixir in the first place? Mokou had at least the motivation of having something to resolve the human condition right in front of her, but why would an undying Lunarian want to become completely, irrevocably immortal?
Current earworm: "Awe of the Unknown"
One Winged Egret
Well, she was bored. She wants to do things, but that's quite hard to accomplish for someone in her position. Things get done for her, whether she wants it or not. Making the elixir was her way of rebelling against her situation.
edited 20th Aug '17 11:30:04 AM by Clarste
I think her eternity power is sort of applying Comic-Book Time to anything she cast them on. Things do change, but never in a meaningful way.
Formerly G.G.
Kaguya's power over eternity is interesting in how she is able to make sure that nothing ever really ages and stays exactly the same forever. She also has power over time like Sakuya but she can use at greater level than she can. I wonder how Eirin was able to 'extract' this power to make the elixir?
"Thanos is a happy guy! Just look at the smile in his face!"
Funny but not helpful
It's similar in principle to wringing out a towel
Forever liveblogging the Avengers
Was it extracted? I was under the impression that her power was necessary to make it, but that it involved having her use it at some point during the crafting process, rather than being drawn out of her.
One Winged Egret
Yeah, I always imagined Eirin telling her to wave her hands at it during its creation.
This. Cannot. Continue.
Interesting that, even though she helped make it, Kaguya's ability to control eternity doesn't allow her to get out of the Hourai Elixir's effects. So for all her power, she can in fact make something so eternal that even she is subject to it.
Some bored rich kids get a wild haircut to rebel against their situation, others talk their mentor into creating a forbidden substance that will ensure that they'll be around for the heat-death of the universe.
I mean, surely there was something less drastic Kaguya could have done to spice up her life? Or was her goal a change in scenery, and consuming the forbidden elixir was the only crime she knew would get her exiled to Earth?
Current earworm: "Awe of the Unknown"
Huh, Kaguya is kind of similar to Tenshi, in that they're both bored spoiled brats. Except Tenshi tried to look for excitement in delinquency, while Kaguya resorted to drugs.
Formerly G.G.
That is true. Kaguya and Tenshi do have that in common as they both immortal teenagers(?) who are bored and just want to have fun. Kaguya even gets to troll Mokou when she isn't doing anything else.
"Thanos is a happy guy! Just look at the smile in his face!"
Rainy Echoes
Kaguya Houraisan:
The Former Princess of the Lunar Capital. Became immortal due to drinking the Hourai Elixir. Mokou’s eternal…nemesis?
So Kaguya holds space exhibits at Eientei. But I wonder how her potential audience find their way to Eientei without getting lost. I guess whenever she has one, Reisen guides those interested, or Kaguya herself brings them there through her instant power. Like creating a portal, for example. …I wonder if she’ll get bored of holding these exhibits… Or maybe holding these exhibits shows a bit of her Lunarian pride, despite being expelled.
Kaguya sure is something else. Somehow she convinced Eirin, perhaps the most intelligent lifeform in existence, smart enough to see through any facade, to turn her back on the Lunar Capital. I suppose Eirin realized the...endless possibilities by hooking up with Kaguya. Taking Eirin for herself was one other way for Kaguya to blow raspberries at the Lunarians.
This. Cannot. Continue.
Then she strung along a lot of men vying for her affections, ditched her folks when they sent people to pick her up, and ran off with some very shady people to live in some sort of commune out in the middle of nowhere. If the moon has newspapers, Kaguya's probably queen of the tabloids.
Thing is, Tenshi isn't enlightened enough to properly enjoy her (family's) heavenly reward. But Kaguya belongs to an ancient society founded for the express purpose of not-dying, so they ought to have something to do to pass eternity, otherwise you'd think Lunarians would be jumping ship left and right... unless they're not allowed to leave, and getting exiled was the only way Kaguya could go somewhere else. At any rate, you'd think that Eirin of all people would have some good advice for getting through the millennia and dealing with ennui, and she was obviously close to Kaguya since she was wiling to help make the Elixir. Of course, you might also think that Eirin would be smart enough not to make the Elixir.
Maybe Kaguya can be supremely persuasive? Eirin was curious? Or is there an explanation that can only be properly explored in a yuri fanfic?
Might be better to say that, no matter how bored Kaguya gets, and if she can't find anything else to do, she can always count on the excitement of a vengeful murder-hobo occasionally showing up to try to kill her.
Or maybe it's something like she messes with the time it takes you to find Eientei, so instead of walking and searching for an hour, as soon as you enter the forest, bam, you're there?
She refers to the likes of Reimu and Marisa as "humans" in IN, suggesting Kaguya holds herself separate from them, but she doesn't identify herself as a Mooninite either, and Akyuu doesn't seem to know she's one. And yet Eientei is holding those Lunar Expos with various artifacts and relics unlike anything seen on Earth, surrounded by mochi-pounding bunnies, and she is after all named Kaguya, so... if it's supposed to be a secret, it's not a very secure one.
Maybe the expos are just an excuse to have guests over?
Maybe Kaguya's trying to start something, put some doubts in the other moonfolk by convincing their best and brightest to defect, so her friends and family up there might decide to come down and join her romp on the surface. Or that may be too much forethought and planning for her and it was just one of many impulsive acts with potentially drastic consequences.
Current earworm: "Awe of the Unknown"
Formerly G.G.
Kaguya is also interesting passed up the opportunity to return to the Moon and she remained on Earth for a long time. Kaguya really likes Earth or at least she likes where she is at the moment.
"Thanos is a happy guy! Just look at the smile in his face!"
Funny but not helpful
Sending people to their deaths on impossible requests seems more or less justified depending on whether she had crazy flying around shooting millions of bullets powers back then. So it was either sending men off to their deaths for funsies or diverting men that might not take no for an answer.
Forever liveblogging the Avengers
This. Cannot. Continue.
I mean, the whole thing with the Impossible Tasks was that she had the treasures all along, so unless the Buddha's begging bowl was known for its overwhelming firepower, Kaguya was the one shooting. So the question would be if she had that sort of offensive magic before her exile. Though it's hard to imagine her picking it up after ending up on Earth and going into hiding... well, no, she'd have Eirin with her... like she had on the moon before, hmm.
Well, if she was utterly defenseless - which raises some questions about what kind of exile the Mooninites intended, throwing one of their most beautiful citizens to the wolves like that - then the Impossible Tasks were kind of a convoluted way of dealing with potentially dangerous suitors, one that hinged upon them being sporting enough to go wrassle a dragon.
If she wasn't, and Kaguya was able to defend herself the whole time, it follows that she either doesn't put much value on human life, if she's willing to send those lovesick saps off on hopeless potential death quests, or it was an act of thoughtless whimsy with lasting consequences, like(?) drinking the Elixir in the first place. In either case, girl's got a darker side underneath those good looks. Maybe she was born with it, nobby family with limited matches for marriage and all that, or maybe it's something that developed after a small eternity of boredom. Maybe you can live through your daily routine so many times before the compact disc of your brain develops a few scratches.
...Also, have we figured out how they were able to stuff Kaguya into the bamboo shoot? Presumably she didn't make and drink the Hourai Elixir as a baby, so did they shrink her or something? Or is that part of the story an embellishment to what actually happened?
Formerly G.G.
![[up]](https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/smiles/arrow_up.png "[up]"){kind=icon}
The Lunarians have some very advanced magitek, I think they have the technology to stuff people in bamboo shoots and shoot them into space. As for the Impossible Tasks, I like ot think that was maybe Kaguya's way of getting rid of any potential suitors that she doesn't like and Kaguya does like her freedom. Kaguya doesn't really feel like settling down especially as she really wants to tryout new things and she doesn't want to be tied down to anyone suitor so coming up with completely asinine and dangerous tasks is her way of 'testing' them.
edited 27th Aug '17 12:44:17 AM by GAP
"Thanos is a happy guy! Just look at the smile in his face!"
This. Cannot. Continue.
Thinking about the original myth, I'm guessing the story about gold nuggets or whatnot showing up in other bamboo shoots was just to cover how Kaguya already had the jeweled branch, since I doubt the Lunarians would send a stipend to an exile they're trying to punish. On the other hand, they eventually forgave her and tried to bring her home, so maybe the same nepotism that didn't lead to a permanent exile was in play as well.
Don't suppose Kaguya's ever mentioned that woodcutter she allegedly "grew up" with in any of the supplementary materials? That might be informative.
Anyway, picdump. Kaguya art is very samey, a lot of variations of her either against the room or sitting indoors. Also, a lot of her best art is shared with Eirin and/or Mokou, so expect some repeats from those picdumps. On the other hand, a lot of people remember she's supposed to be
An appealing simplicity of style
Refined disdain
An intent stare
A narrow gaze
Over-the-shoulder smirk
Huh?
Awestruck
Content
If you ever want to see a lot of interesting Kaguya expressions, check out Space Jin
Your years too early to beat her at drinking
Sealed Esoteric History
Guess it's not quite summer yet
Not enthusiastic about this outfit
In the hood
Lunar military uniform
Everyone's crazy 'bout a sharp-dressed-ma'am
Efe does a lot of stuff with a very cute Kaguya
Chamaji style
A gem
Cooling her feet
There's the gold
Serene
Stylish danmaku
Kaguya can kill someone with a bowl
Afloat
Taking a relaxing dip
Yellow-eyed bunny island
Jewels
Weird window
After so many centuries she's losing her marbles
Dynamic
Particle effects
A somewhat unnerving grin
Intimidating
Persona!
A challenger appears
And then there's an explosion I guess
Moon and sun dynamic, y/n?
Soul Calibur fight?
Vs battle splash screen
Faceoff
Rare to see Kaguya with height advantage, it's usually Mokou looming over her
They're both bonkers
You can tell they approach their feud differently
Bloody-handed triumph
Squabble
So happy together
The most belligerent of sexual tensions
Good thing their clothes regenerate too
The type of afterglow where there is literally fire
Contemporary
Contemporary and disrespectful
Post-contemporary
Posting because of Reisen
Fireworks
Even bigger fireworks
Big hair
Pretty princesses
Transfixing eyes
So good I'm sharing it again
The bunny looks jealous
Boat ride to infinity
Sharing this because it's the weirdest pairing I've seen in a while
Sharing this because it's cute
Pet the bunny
Tease the bunny
She's got backup
Testing the merchandise
Made all the better by the top comment
The Shady Bunch
Yakuza princess
Music on the porch
Games on the porch
Jam session
The last three standing
Creative indeed
One way to kill time
A well-circulated picture
A nice view from Eientei
A somewhat less impressive view from Eientei
Homesick?
Naptime
A mature take on her
Relaxation
Immortal smoke
Never leave home without your umbrella
Forest encounter
Village outing
Opening the door
Profile against the dark
Not of this world
The Shame of the Moon
Ancient refinement meets modern entertainment
She is well-versed in a particular arena
Shameful
But she has one helluva grip
Extreme measures
If only you could manipulate time or something
Little Rabbit Princess?
There is no escape
Some chibis
Some Babbies
The most beautiful woman in the world
Well that ended up bigger than I thought it would.
edited 30th Aug '17 7:08:55 PM by Tacitus
Current earworm: "Awe of the Unknown"
Formerly G.G.
I also wonder what happened to the "woodcutter" anyway? Did he get married or get old?
"Thanos is a happy guy! Just look at the smile in his face!"
Rainy Echoes
To live an eternal life, one must have lots of stuff to do. I believe Kaguya's alright in that regard.
Fight of the Bamboo Cutter
Lunar Grace
The Moon's Shadow
Lunar Lightning
Defying Eternal Paradise
Dazzling Empress
Ignition, Skywalker
Golden Moon
New Moon
Ancient Moon
edited 31st Aug '17 6:18:43 PM by Diamite
The Wanderer
She says this in her Ci LR chapter on the matter:
As a matter of fact, when I first came down to Earth after my exile, it was in a bamboo forest under thick fog, just like this one. I remember how the old couple that found me were especially careful when they picked me up.
It's only natural. I was found inside a glowing bamboo shoot in the forest, too small to be thought of as a human being, so I wouldn't be surprised if I were taken as some sort of youkai. I wonder why the old couple took me home and cared for me in an age where humans were often caught and eaten by youkai.
I believe the reason why the old couple took such good care of me is that they were periodically rewarded by the moon for their foster care. I got the impression that the people of the moon would leave gold in glowing shoots of bamboo like the one I was found in as a reward for their care. So, they let me live with them because they believed they would become rich. That's why they looked so closely after me and never allowed me to leave the house. They didn't want another household to snatch up their key to wealth.
In addition, I stood out on Earth. I didn't do anything particularly unusual, but rumors spread, and before long a great number of people had come to see me. I tried to avoid becoming the center of attention on Earth, and before long feelings of love and gratitude began to emerge towards the old couple in their efforts to help shelter me.
So yeah, she seems a bit ambivalent. On one hand, she thinks their motives were largely selfish. On the other, she's still apparently grateful and whatnot.
edited 3rd Sep '17 2:21:03 AM by joergenjetsam
Conception is sin Birth is pain Life is toil Death is inevitable
And so Alice gets to live with the knowledge that her one success so far happened as a result of a prank or fit of whimsy. And if she and Nerumi have a heated argument, there's a chance that "You were an accident!" is gonna slip out and make things worse.
Well, maybe I'm wrong and Alice read those same stories about jizo statues as everyone else, and she spent a night hatting as many as she could. For Magic.
edited 15th Aug '17 6:16:38 PM by Tacitus
Current earworm: "Awe of the Unknown"