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Ellen

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Touhou Project/Ellen
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Ellen (エレン Eren) is an eternally young witch who appears in Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream. She may be immortal, having lived longer than the average human lifespan. However, most memories of her life fade from her mind in blocks at a time, leaving her as childish as she appears. As she's an immortal witch magician, she meets the descriptions for a Magician Youkai.

Ellen
Ah, only one person is left. It looks like my final enemy is a magic-user like me. I've gotta do my best!
Origin
Origin Touhou Yumejikuu ~ The Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream
Creator ZUN
First Appearance Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream
Voiced by N/A
Characteristics
Species Magician Youkai
Gender Female
Pronouns She/Her
Sexuality Unknown
Age Unknown
Birthday Unknown
Height Unknown
Weight Unknown
Ethnicity Unknown Western Ethnicity
Status Alive
Alignment Chaotic Neutral
Archetype Magician
Occupation Store Owner
Time Period Non-linear
Language Japanese
Combat Style Magic
Homeworld Gensokyo
Relationships
Affiliations Chiyuri Kitashirakawa, Yumemi Okazaki, Reimu Hakurei
Enemies Chiyuri Kitashirakawa (Formerly), Yumemi Okazaki (Formerly)

Background

This dropdown contains the synopsis of Ellen’s story. Read at your own risk as you may be spoiled otherwise!

Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream


Touhou Yumejikuu Backstory
Deep in the mountains in a country in the East, the Hakurei Shrine was mostly peaceful.
The shrine maiden of the Hakurei Shrine, Reimu, was always getting wrapped up in strange circumstances (though it should be noted she was a bit strange herself), so her free time was when things were peaceful.
Reimu: "Ah, what am I going to do with all this time on my hands. I wonder when something exciting is going to happen."
When the protagonist is idle, something is required to happen. Reimu thought she'd get out of the shrine for a while instead of sweeping the garden, and so stumbled upon some ruins.
Reimu: "Wait, what are these ruins doing next to the shrine. They weren't there yesterday!!" (something happens!)
Mima: "Oh, Reimu. So you came, too."
Reimu: "Great, it's Mima. Hmm, actually, it looks like there's a lot of people here ... "
Reimu: "What is it with this ruins, anyway?"
...
Mima: "It's said that something is asleep deep in these ruins that will grant happiness to whoever comes to visit it."
Reimu: "Whatever, that sounds like something someone would say to get people to join a cult. Besides, none of this was even here yesterday. So what's up with that so-called prophesy?"
Mima took out a folded piece of paper from her pocket. Reimu took it and unfolded it. This was written on the paper:
The ancient ruins: "Fantasy Ruins"
Grand opening, 10am today

                       ・・・・
To you who visit the ruins, we present something to make you happy. Our sincere thanks to everyone who stops by.
Reimu: "Hm!"
Reimu: "What's with these pamphlets? (How is this some sort of ancient prophecy?) How can ruins have a grand opening? And none of this was here yesterday! How can you all be taken in by something that's so obviously suspicious!?"
Marisa: "Hm, so Reimu's not interested. That must mean..."
Reimu: "...Who said I'm not interested?"
Reimu: "Er, actually, I'm pretty busy (not), but having ruins suddenly pop up here is a pain to deal with. I have my complaints, you know."
Mima: "Isn't it almost time for the grand opening? I don't see an entrance anywhere. I guess we'll have to wait for now."
Reimu: (Man, when did this... well, I guess this is pretty normal around here... huh?)
Reimu: " ... it looks like there's a notice posted over here."
Marisa: "Wow, really? Hey, what's it say?"
Inside the Fantasy Ruins
Capacity: 1 person

The capacity must be strictly observed.
If the capacity is exceeded, then we can no longer guarantee the existence of these ruins in this dimension
Reimu: " ........ ?"
Mima: " ... so, that means ... "
Marisa: "fufufu ... "
All together: "The battle is on!!!"

~ Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Prologue English Translation


東方夢時空バックストーリー
ここはとある東の国の山の中、博麗神社はおおよそ平穏だった。
博麗神社の巫女、靈夢は、実は変なこと巻き込まれ体質だった(本人もちょっと変)ので、変なことが起こらないと暇でしょうがないのである。
靈夢「あ~ぁ、ひまでしょうがないわ、なんかどひゃー っていうようなことおこんないかしら。」
主人公が暇なときに、なにも起こらないはずがない。
庭を掃除しようと神社から出てみると、靈夢は遺跡を発見したのだった。
靈夢「なんで、神社の隣に遺跡があるのよ。昨日まで無かったのに!!(どひゃー)」
靈夢「げげ、魅魔。それに、よくみるといろんな人がいる~」 靈夢「一体なんなの、この遺跡は~」
・・・・
魅魔「古くからの言い伝えによると、この遺跡には来た者をしあわせにする何かが、眠ってるみたいよ。」
靈夢「なによ、その怪しげな宗教の勧誘みたいな言い伝えは。それに昨日までこんなもん無かったわよ。なのになんなのよ~、その言い伝えってのは~。」
ポケットから折りたたまれた紙を取り出す魅魔。靈夢がその紙を広げてみる。その紙にはこうかかれていた。
いにしえの遺跡、‘夢幻遺跡’
本日10時 開店
....
この遺跡に訪れた方には、あなたをしあわせにする何かを プレゼントします。皆さんのご来店を心よりお待ちしております。
靈夢「どてっ☆」
靈夢「なによ~、このチラシは~(どこが古くからの言い伝えよ~)。遺跡が開店~? しかも、昨日まで何も無かったのに~。 あんたたちは、こんないかがわしいチラシに騙されて、のこのことやってきたの~!」
魔理沙「なるほど、靈夢には、興味が無いのね。ってことは・・・」
靈夢「・・・だれが、興味が無いなんていったのよ。」
靈夢「私はいそがしいんだけど(嘘)、こんな所に遺跡ができちゃったら迷惑だわ。ちょっと文句を言ってくる。」
魅魔「まだ、開店してないわ。それに、入り口が見当たらないの。とりあえず待ちね。」
靈夢(やれやれ、何でこんなものが、ま、いつものことだけどね・・・ん?)
靈夢「こんなところに、立て札があるわ。」
魔理沙「えっ、ほんと? なになに・・・」
夢幻遺跡内 定員 1名まで
それ以上は、認められません 規定人数以上、入場された場合 この時空での遺跡の存在は保証 出来ません
靈夢「・・・・・・?」
魅魔「って、いうことはー」
魔理沙「ふっふっふっ」
一同「  勝負よ!!!」
~ Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Prologue Japanese

Ellen is among the characters who compete against others to be the first to reach the Ancient Ruins and have a wish granted.

In her scenario, she ends up beating everyone and entering the ruins. Upon arriving, she encounters Chiyuri Kitashirakawa and fights her so that Yumemi Okazaki can study Ellen's magic. After defeating Chiyuri, Ellen battles Yumemi to claim her wish: opening a shop on the shrine grounds.

Name Meaning

Her name is from Greek origin, and the meaning of it is "sun ray, shining light".

Appearance

General Description: Ellen is a short character with long blond hair. She is always seen in the company of Sokrates, her pet cat.

Facial Features: She has long blond hair, typically worn down. A red bow is worn in her hair.

Clothing/Outfit:

  • Primary Outfit (Story of Eastern Wonderland): A red-and-white dress.
  • Alternate Outfit: A variation of her dress where all red parts are replaced with black.

Special Features: Ellen is consistently accompanied by her pet cat, Sokrates, who appears alongside her in official artwork.

Alternate Forms/Disguises: Her alternate outfit is a color variation rather than a distinct alternate form.

Personality

  • Forgetful: Ellen has a poor memory due to her exceptionally long lifespan. She continuously forgets memories, losing them one after another. This forgetfulness is the reason she perpetually remains in a childlike state.
  • Child-Like Personality & Appearance Despite Age: Despite looking like a child, Ellen is a witch who has lived for a very long time and is considered a creditable witch.
  • Playful Demeanor: Ellen's actions are described with whimsical phrasing, such as "the fluffy goes popping by the magic," and refers to herself as "Fluffy Ellen".

Goals

Relationships

Sokrates

Her pet cat that is always on her right shoulder.

Yumemi Okazaki

Upon beating Yumemi in her story, she requests a super-successful store that is cute, Yumemi obliges and gives it to her.

Reimu Hakurei

She fights against Reimu Hakurei in the canon story and in her story she also fights and defeats her, in her ending she builds a store on Reimu's shrine grounds, much to Reimu's dismay.

General Information

Name: Ellen[2]

Nicknames: Fluffy Ellen[3]

Titles: Hardworking Witch Who Dreams of Love[4]

Origin: Touhou Yumejikuu (Dream Spacetime) ~ The Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream

Overall Series: Touhou Project

First Appearance: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream

Company: Team Shanghai Alice

Creator: ZUN

Actor: N/A

Gender: Female

Sexuality: Unknown

Pronouns: She/Her

Handedness: Right-Handed

Age: Unknown (It's noted despite her acting like a child, Ellen has lived for a long time[5])

Birthday: Unknown

Time Period: The world of Gensokyo itself is in a non-linear time period

Timeline: Main Timeline

Homeworld: Gensokyo

Residence: Gensokyo

Story Role: Playable Fighter, Boss

Legacy: Unknown Legacy

Influence: Event Influence (Participated in the battle to see who can enter the mountain)

Language: Japanese

Ethnicity: Unknown Western Ethnicity (Ellen's name is a more western-oriented name)

Religion: N/A (Youkais lack faith, not caring about religious related values[6])

Classification: Witch[7]

Species: Magician Youkai

State of Being: Regular

Physiology: Humanoid Physiology (Magician Youkais bodies are nearly the same as humans' so they are frail in comparison to other youkai[8])

In-Universe Creator: Unknown

Occupation: Store Owner (In her story)[9]

Combat Style: Magic Fighting

Affiliations: Chiyuri Kitashirakawa, Yumemi Okazaki, Reimu Hakurei

Enemies: Chiyuri Kitashirakawa (Formerly), Yumemi Okazaki (Formerly)

Height: Unknown

Weight: Unknown

Status: Status: Alive (Noted by ZUN that characters from the PC-98 games have probably retired and are warmly watching over things from various places nowadays[10])

Alignment

Threat Level: Street Threat

Potential

Archetypal Tiering: Magician

Codex Statistics

Grade: A

Tier: Low 10-B physically, Far Higher with Spiritual Power, Even Higher with Preparation

Cardinality: Finite

Dimensionality: 3-D

Power Source: Magic (Magician Youkais are youkai possessed by magic, such that one's body itself is powered by magic[8])

Attack Potency: Below Average Human level (Magicians use arsenic and mercury a lot when they use magic, which eats away at their body, which is why there are so many magicians with weak bodies[13]), Far Higher with Spiritual Power (In her story mode[14], she[15], fought[16], and[17], defeated[18], every[19], fighter[20], and proceeded to defeat Chiyuri Kitashirakawa[21], and Yumemi Okazaki[22], being referred to as the strongest magic user[23]. Noted how even Yumemi Okazaki's scientific magic truly pales in comparisson with the real thing[24], which Yumemi noted to not make light of the power of her science as she could blow up the planet at any moment[25]), Even Higher with Preparation (A properly prepared magician is noted to be able to take on any kind of youkai[26]). Can ignore covnentional durability with Magic (Magic exists outside of the Grand Unified Theory[27], a theory with any model that merges electromagnetic, weak, and strong forces into a single force at high energies, unifying gravity with the electronuclear interaction, providing a more comprehensive theory of everything. Yumemi explains that on her world, all power can be explained by the Grand Unified Theory, however she posits an existence of a power not covered by the Theory: the power of magic[28]. Yumemi also explains that in the world of Gensokyo, magic unifies everything[29]. Magic is noted by Yumemi to have close ties with religion[30]. The second layer of reality is spirit and magic, while the first layer is where all things within the laws of physics presides, putting attacks with magic outside of the conventional laws of physics[31])

Durability: Average Human level (Magicains bodies are only about as strong as that of an ordinary human, so running away from them is simple[26]. Magician Youkais bodies are nearly the same as humans' so they are frail in comparison to other youkai[8]), Far Higher with Spiritual Power (Her spiritual power defends her from the attacks of other youkai despite her physical strength[32]), Even Higher with Preparation. Her Youkai Physiology makes her very difficult to kill (It's noted that one cannot defeat spirits or devilish powers without a weapon with an unnatural amount of spiritual power such as the Yin-Yang Orb[33]. Physical attacks such as a whacking a sake bottle over the head are considered violent methods that wouldn't work on youkai[34], with it only being spiritual attacks that cause fatal wounds to youkai[11]. When attempting to exterminate a youkai, one does not use weapons that cause physical damage, instead weapons with an "origin" are more preferable[35]. In the world beyond (Gensokyo), physical form has no meaning for all non-human entities[36])

Striking Strength: Below Average Human Class

Lifting Strength: Below Average Human Class

Travel Speed: Regular Human on foot, Superhuman (Can keep up with other characters flight speeds[37], where they can reach across long distances due to being able to fly[38])

Attack Speed: Superhuman. Magic Attacks lack a defined speed (Magic exists outside of the Grand Unified Theory[39], a theory with any model that merges electromagnetic, weak, and strong forces into a single force at high energies, unifying gravity with the electronuclear interaction, providing a more comprehensive theory of everything. Yumemi explains that on her world, all power can be explained by the Grand Unified Theory, however she posits an existence of a power not covered by the Theory: the power of magic[40]. Yumemi also explains that in the world of Gensokyo, magic unifies everything[41]. Magic is noted by Yumemi to have close ties with religion[42])

Reaction Speed: Superhuman

Stamina: Superhuman (In her story mode[43], she[44], fought[45], and[46], defeated[47], every[48], fighter[49], and proceeded to defeat Chiyuri Kitashirakawa[50], and Yumemi Okazaki[51] without showing any signs of tiring)

Range: Standard Melee. At least Tens of Meters with Attacks (Can send out dozens of energy projectiles that cover the entire screen[52])

Intelligence: Genius Intelligence (Magician Youkais are noted to be generally intelligent, studious people[8])

Knowledge: Journeyman level, likely Lower (Ellen forgets drops of memories one after another, making it harder for her to remember things she learned[5])


Powers and Techniques









Equipment

Nothing notable.


Notable Techniques

Note: The attacks listed here are charge attack and bombs from the game, with only their name listed, this is far before "spell cards" existed, thus there is not much info on their attacks.


Spell Card Charge
ラブニードル
Love Needle
Owner
Ellen
Comment
敵を狙うが出るまでが長い
Translation
Targets enemies but takes a while to fire.


Spell Card Charge Max
ラブニードル + ショット
Love Needle + Shot
Owner
Ellen
Comment
威力それほど
Translation
Moderately powerful


Spell Card EX
マジックペンダント
Magic Pendant
Owner
Ellen
Comment
スピード速
Translation
Speedy


Spell Card Lv2
左右斜め上から並列弾
Parallel Symmetrical Diagonal Shot
Owner
Ellen
Comment
ランダムですきまができる
Translation
Randomly creates gaps.


Spell Card Lv3
左右斜め上から並列弾
Parallel Symmetrical Diagonal Shot
Owner
Ellen
Comment
ランダムですきまができる
Translation
Randomly creates gaps.


Spell Card Boss
サイケドール
Psyche Doll
Owner
Ellen
Comment
Translation


Spell Card Bomb
スプラッシュスターズ
Splash Stars
Owner
Ellen
Comment
ボムの性能は全員いっしょ
Translation
All bombs perform equally well.

Other

Standard Tactics: Ellen utilizes her regular magic attacks while flying around and shooting out dozens of bullets.

Weaknesses

Note

Explanations

Canoncity of Touhou Project

The Touhou Project franchise canoncity mainly falls under any media worked on by ZUN are official and canon to the overall lineup.

There are various aspects constantly debated about within the canon:

PC-98

Media like PC-98, has been noted by ZUN to be ignored as one can ignore derivative works[163]. He has also said that anything prior to Embodiment of Scarlet Devil can for the most part be ignored and one can think fo Embodiment of Scarlet Devil as the starting from a clean slate and starting a new series[164], he's also referred to Highly Responsive to Prayers as a study product[165]. With this in mind, one would assume that PC-98 is thus non-canon to the Windows continuity of games.

However, ZUN has also directly stated PC-98 games are the same world as the Windows Games, stating that any contradictions that exist from PC-98 can be ignored from the retcon in Windows Era[166]. While one argues ZUN noting the works are derivative works to be ignored and Embodiment of the Scarlet Devil should be seen as the starting point, these statements are moreso telling a fan to not worry about having to play PC-98 games or learn more about their stories.

It's also been noted in Embodiment of Scarlet Devil's おまけ.txt that the game chronologically is not too far from the previous title, which would be Mystic Square, the PC-98 title[167]. ZUN has also directly brought back characters from PC-98 games, noting he wanted to bring back characters from before Embodiment of Scarlet Devil and notes any of the other older characters that don't appear have probably retired by now and are warmly watching over things from various places nowadays[168]. When asked where Mima from PC-98 has gone, ZUN notes that he doesn't bring them back due to making things complicated and having potentially angry fans ask where she has been the entire time, he has also noted that there's not much use for characters like Genji as Reimu can fly now and also notes he is not dead[169]. ZUN has also made mention to Genji probably living in the lake in the back of the shrine[170]. In Touhou Sangetsusei ~ Strange and Bright Nature Deity, Reimu and Marisa were talking about glowing moss with Reimu saying it would be nice to transfer it to the pond in the back of the Hakurei Shrine and Marisa saying that she could make it grow there on the turtles' back, referencing Genji[171].

In Touhou 07 Perfect Cherry Blossom, when Alice meets Reimu, she tells her long time no see, noting that they've met before calling her "old friend"[172]. In Yuuka's mode in Touhou Project - Phantasmagoria of Flower View, Reimu directly references defeating Yuuka back in PC-98[173]. If Yuuka defeats Marisa in the same game, she will note that Marisa has grown up quite a bit, when the last time she's seen her has been in PC-98[174].

Seeing as ZUN himself has directly said both PC-98 and Windows are in the same world and that characters directly acknowledged PC-98 events and reference characters from it, PC-98 is completely canon and any contradictions PC-98 have can be ignored.

Side Games Time Placements

Touhou 7.5 - Immaterial and Missing Power takes place between Perfect Cherry Blossom and Imperishable Night[175].

Multiple Playable Routes

In the series, there are multiple playable character routes, including some where the characters fight Reimu herself and defeat her, calling question into what route is canon. ZUN has elaborated that canonically, anytime Reimu and the gang are defeated, they challenge again however many times they want, but on the youkai side, they do not challenge again after being defeated and are not attached to the results of winning or losing[176].

In terms of how playable routes have went, some examples of canonically noted routes:

With some of these examples, it is normally assumed that in some way Reimu has some part in resolving every incident and other routes are dubiously canon depending on what transpired.

Spell Card Rules

There are many cases of weaker humans beating stronger Yokai or vice versa within the Touhou series, this has been elaborated on in Reimu's profile on Perfect Memento in Strict Sense. Reimu introduced the spell card rules as the youkai had no way to defeat the Hakurei shrine maiden, making many youkai feel that their meaning to exist have dissapeared[180]. The rules incoporate the following:

  • Spell cards are techniques specially-named by the individual, and they must be declared upon use.
  • The number of each party's spell cards must be determined in advance of a duel.
  • The first party to have all of their spell cards beaten must admit defeat.
  • The victor is entitled only to what was agreed upon before the duel. If they're not interested in what their opponent has to offer, they can refuse a duel.
  • Winners should generally allow losers a rematch.
  • Always prepare for the unexpected.

The original draft held these rules[181]:

  • Combatants will give names and meanings to the duel for the benefit of beauty.
  • Combatants will declare the number of named duels before beginning.
  • Combatants may not repeat attacks by relying on stamina.
  • Combatants may not deliver attacks that do not have meaning. The meaning itself becomes the attack's power.
  • In the case that a combatant loses a named duel, that combatant will admit defeat, even if he or she has strength remaining. No combatant may kill a human, even upon victory.
  • Combatants will write the duel's name on paper in the format of a contract. By doing so, the above-mentioned rules become absolute. These papers will be called spell cards.

These rules allows for duels that feel almost like sport rather then a match, and have allowed for weaker fighters to challenge stronger ones, due to this though, it also has become possible for youkai to freely defeat Reimu without worrying about the consequences.

Due to them being written into cards and essentially affecting the ability and power of an attack, the spell cards are likely the thing binding attacks to specific properties.

Parallel Worlds

Parallel Worlds is a topic brought up at some points in the Touhou Project franchise, they are worlds called "Probability Worlds" by Yumemi, stating that those and parallel worlds are one and the same[182]. This essentially means that parallel worlds in Touhou are based on the concept of probability. Yumemi and Chiyuri use a "Probability Space Hypervessel" in order to travel to alternate worlds and time periods[183], further showcasing that probabiliy serves an importance.

Magical vs. Physical Strength

There[184] are[185] multiple[186] occasions[187] of[188] characters[189] commenting[190] on[191] humans like[192] Reimu[193] being strong[194]. Despite this Reimu showcases physical strength that isn't superhuman, such as the fact that she cannot cut a bamboo stick while Fujiwara direclty does in front of her.

This is due to the difference between magical and physical strength.

In works like Symposium of Post-mysticism, Yuugi Hoshiguma's profile has Suika directly state that Yuugi is weaker then her in magical powers, but stronger than her physically[195], lining a clear difference between magical and physical strength.

While one can be physically stronger then another, such as how Onis are physically the strongest, magic users are still able to keep up with them due to using a different form of attack.

An example can be found with Yuugi herself, when Reimu fights against her in Subterranean Animism[196], with her acknolwedging her strength[197], something Yuugi only does to those who are truly strong[195]. This establishes even with spellcard rules, Yuugi considers Reimu a strong fighter. Reimu herself is very clearly not at an oni's physical strength, as she cannot do the things they can, however, her magical strength allows her to keep up with them.

To defend against magical based properties requires Non-Standard Defenses as it is acknowledged as not being something of standard physicality.

The Three Layers of Reality

In Chapter 27 of Curiosities of Lotus Asia, Reimu proceeds to explain how reality works to Rinnosuke and Marisa, where she explains in-depth the three layers of reality.

This conversation started from discussing the mechanism of fortune, where Rinnosuke attempted to posit that the future is predetermined and that Reimu's luck was her being able to calculate in an instant the predetermined future, however Reimu had a different explanation requiring her to lecture on the mechanisms of probability[198], in her explanation, the world is made up of three layers: the physical layer that moves in accuracy with the laws of physics, the second layer that moves with the spirit, and the third layer of memory which is the recollection of events that lies within all things[31]. The memory layer rejects the loop of the physical and mental layers, the two layers the youkai conceive of the world which is why they believe history repeats itself and the future is predetermined. Since it's only possible to add to the memory layer, it's possible to completely recreate the past.

While the physical layer follows the laws of physics, the mental layer interprets the outcomes and the memory layer alters the probability, essentially creating the future, since it's impossible for memories to raech the same state as a point in the past, the future is not predetermined, thus when Reimu is able to predict how the dice will fall, she's not predicting the fall of the dice, the dice members the fact that she predicted how the dice would fall, thus due to this, Reimu entering the memory of the die-face greatly skews the results in Reimu's favor, where the results side with Reimu[199].

Thus the memory layer is essentially the most important layer that rejects the notion of loops from the previous two layers.

Trivia

  • Ellen appears on the cover of Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream together with every other character from that game.
  • Ellen's outfit may have served as inspiration for Marisa's later design in the Windows series; notably, one of Ellen's alternate color schemes is black.
    • One of Marisa's palettes in Touhou Hisoutensoku bears a resemblance to Ellen.
  • Ellen's first gauge attack may have been a precursor to Sakuya Izayoi's "Killing Doll" spell card.

Gallery

Profiles

Touhou Project - Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream

Profiles

★ Hardworking witch who dreams of love ... Ellen

   ~Ellen is a witch who never grows old. To make up for living for a very long time,     she does not have a very good memory. She forgets drops of memories, one after the other.     Because of that, she is always a child.                    (quoted from Ha**raki**no...what?)

   As such, while she may not look like one, she is a creditable witch.    Truly, she has lived for a quite long time.


   Today too, the fluffy goes popping by the magic.

★ はたらきもので恋を夢見る魔女 ・・・ エレン

    ~エレンは成長しない魔法使いです。  で、長生きしているかわりに      ものおぼえはよくありません。ぽろぽろぽろぽろ次から次にと忘れて      いってしまいます。      そんなわけで、いつまでたっても子供のままです。                        (は○らき○の より っておぃ)     そんなわけで、エレンはこれでも立派な魔女。それはもう、本当に長い間、    生き続けています。


    今日も、魔法でふわふわがパチパチ。

Touhou Project - Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream

Misconceptions

Characters Have Flown Through Outerspace

One example of this is believed to be in Touhou 02's Stage 3 Scarlet Dream ~ Scarlet Dream where it displays stars and a space-like effect in the background[200], however this is actually the World of Fantasies, the world that lies between Makai and the human world, with Genji confirming this is definetely not outerspace as Reimu can breathe just fine there[201].

All Characters are Children

This is an argument that spawns from how small the characters look in different works, though this is moreso due to the "moe" artstyle Touhou tries to capture, in many of the manga characters look far older.

Majority of characters in the series are outright shown to drink alcohol on a daily basis[202], where one needs to be at least 20 years old under Japanese law to drink, where Japanese law requires no underaged characters to be shown drinking. This is even acknowledged in the series itself with a note saying alcohol is only for those over 20 years old[203]. Thus if a character is ever seen drinking alcohol in the series, they are an adult.

The only direct non-adults in the series are Sumireko Usami, Chiyuri Kitashirakawa, and Hieda no Akyuu in her first appearance.

Youkai Control the world through both the mental and physical layer

This statement comes from a fan translation that says this in Curiosities of Lotus Asia[204].

While the statement seems clear cut, there is another translation used instead that makes more sense with the sentence.

It instead notes that most youkai concieve of the world through these two layers, which is why they believe the future is pre-determined and history repeats itself[205]. This falls in line with the earlier disucssion of Rinnosuke claiming that he believes the future to be predetermined and Reimu needing to explain to him why that's not the case[198].

Battle Records

0 - 1 - 0

None.

None.

References

Expand here.
  1. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Ellen Ending
  2. Touhou 3: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Ellen Story Mode
  3. Touhou 03: The Phantasmagoria of Dim. Dream Ellen Story Cutscene: Chiyuri vs Chiyuri
  4. Touhou 3: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Ellen Story Mode
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 "★ Hardworking witch who dreams of love ... Ellen
    ~Ellen is a witch who never grows old. To make up for living for a very long time, she does not have a very good memory. She forgets drops of memories, one after the other.
    Because of that, she is always a child.
    (quoted from Ha**raki**no...what?)
    As such, while she may not look like one, she is a creditable witch.
    Truly, she has lived for a quite long time.
    Today too, the fluffy goes popping by the magic."
  6. Touhou 13.5: Hopless Masquerade Innocent Hat Equipment
  7. Touhou 3: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Ellen Story Mode Stage 6 Winquote
  8. 8.00 8.01 8.02 8.03 8.04 8.05 8.06 8.07 8.08 8.09 8.10 8.11 Perfect Memento in Strict Sense Pages 52-53 Magician "Characteristics
    One who has become possessed by magic, such that one's body itself is powered by magic; this type of youkai is known as a magician.
    Their livelihood revolves around magical research, spending their days thinking about new spells.
    Among youkai, they are the most similar to humans.
    There are two types of magicians: those who were born as magicians and humans who became magicians.
    At the point when they completely become magicians, their growth (aging) stops.
    Those who were born as magicians, from the start, are only able to use magic, and just like humans, they grow, age, and have a limited lifespan.
    Then, when they learn "abandon worms" magic, they become long-lived, complete magicians.
    In the case of those who were originally human, in continuing their study of magic, it is when they learn "abandon food" magic that they become magicians.
    After that, it's the same as for normal magicians.
    In any case, becoming a member of the magician race takes quite a bit of time.
    Since they continue to grow old like humans up until that point, in general there are many aged wizards and witches.
    However, in Gensokyo, magical research is more advanced and learning magic is simple.
    Thus, there are more than a few young (childish) magicians in Gensokyo.
    There's no way to tell them apart from humans by their appearance.
    Their bodies are nearly the same as humans', so they are frail in comparison to other youkai.
    They're generally intelligent, studious people with a lot of knowledge, but they tend to be hikikomori and not leave their homes."
  9. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Ellen Ending
  10. Touhou Project - Strange Creators of Outer World Who's Who of Humans & Youkai in Gensokyo Yuuka Kazami "I basically just wanted to bring back a character from the old works (*from before "Embodiment of Scarlet Devil"). Her current appearance is based on the one from "Seihou Project", made by my juniors. Back then, based on the personal criteria I had for a "strong boss", I figured it would be better if she weren't being too serious the first time you fought her. Then, when she woke up all the way, she would have a "serious mode." I wonder if I could've gotten away with bringing back more older characters at the time, too... although they wouldn't mesh that well with the current setting. I'd say those old characters have probably retired by now, and are warmly watching over things from various places nowadays."
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 Perfect Memento in Strict Sense Pages 31-32 Youkai "Characteristics
    There are many types of youkai with extremely varied powers. Some races have a great number that are all categorized under a certain name, while others can be as few as a single member.
    These unique youkai are not called by whatever individual species they may be, but simply "youkai."
    Many of the youkai in Gensokyo fall into this "youkai (*1)" section.
    Rarely if ever is there any commonality in their appearance, ability, character, danger level, or times and places of activity.
    Just about the only thing in common between youkai is that they attack and prey upon humans.
    There are definitely exceptions, but many fall towards these trends:
    • Youkai have longer lifespans than humans.
    • Youkai have stronger bodies than humans, so even if they're torn limb from limb, they heal right away.
    • Youkai are more easily affected by belief than humans, and as a result spiritual damage can cause fatal wounds.
    • Youkai generally do not act in groups.
    • Youkai only think of themselves.
      Youkai are the most dangerous enemies to humans.
      However, since they are rather varied, one must be informed of each of their traits before heading out to exterminate them."
  12. Perfect Memento in Strict Sense Pages 52-53 Magician "Potential Harm
    Sacrifice, Theft, Abduction, Fraud
    The most likely cause of harm is theft of livestock.
    Living livestock is necessary for large-scale magic, and it seems there is a serious livestock shortage among magicians.
    In addition, they often steal food and drink (especially liquor), and curios such as moon rocks.
    At worst, they might even steal children.
    Also, they can use magic which is similar to sleight of hand and commit fraud.
    Perhaps performing magic requires money, but they will take any means necessary to raise funds.
    Be particularly cautious if you see someone selling shady magic props on the roadside."
  13. Touhou Ibarakasen (Rose Poem Hermit) ~ Wild and Horned Hermit Chapter 3
  14. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Ellen Story Stage 1
  15. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Ellen Story Stage 2
  16. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Ellen Story Stage 3
  17. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Ellen Story Stage 4
  18. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Ellen Story Stage 5
  19. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Ellen Story Stage 6
  20. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Ellen Story Stage 7
  21. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Ellen Story Semi-Final Stage
  22. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Ellen Story Final Stage
  23. Touhou 03: The Phantasmagoria of Dim. Dream Ellen Story Cutscene: Ellen vs Chiyuri
  24. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Reimu Ending
  25. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Kotohime Ending
  26. 26.0 26.1 26.2 26.3 26.4 Perfect Memento in Strict Sense Pages 52-53 Magician "Countermeasures
    The most important thing is to not trust magicians.
    Fortunately, their bodies are only about as strong as that of an ordinary human, so running away is simple.
    A magician who is properly prepared is so strong that they can take on any kind of youkai.
    However, they are weak to surprise attacks, and are not good at close combat or lengthy conflicts.
    The most fundamental thing is to be careful not to fall into a magician's trap, which will not happen without entering their territory.
    If you happen to do so, your best options are either to immediately run away or to boldly approach them."
  27. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Cutscene: Reimu vs Chiyuri
  28. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Cutscene: Marisa vs. Chiyuri
  29. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Cutscene: Rikako vs. Chiyuri
  30. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Reimu Ending
  31. 31.0 31.1 31.2 Curiosities of Lotus Asia Chapter 27 Mechanism of Fortune "That's how Reimu makes tea for three people () Yes, I handed it to him happily. After saying this, Reimu brewed tea for the three of us and gladly served it.
    It would be fun to hear why Reimu has such good intuition. I forgot to let the tea cool and brought it to my mouth./We looked forward to hearing the reason behind the quality of Reimu's intuition. I brought the tea to my lips, forgetting to cool it.
    "...Huh. Reimu's initial conditions became exactly the same Saiko (Dice) So you're saying that the same eyes don't necessarily appear?" "... Ah. So what you're saying is that even if the initial conditions of the dice are the same, it's possible to get different results?"/"Of course it will. That alone doesn't determine the outcome." "Of course, I am. Those aren't the only things deciding the outcome."
    The story of Reimu was not a difficult one, but it contained a shocking truth./Reimu's tale wasn't a difficult one, but there was a shocking truth contained therein.
    Reimu (Iwa) He says that the world is made up of three layers./According to her, the world is made up of three layers.
    First, there are the physical laws of living things, tools, etc (Not yet) is a layer of moving physics. This layer is where objects fall towards the ground and river water flows./First is the physical layer that moves in accuracy with the laws of physics, including all living things, objects, etc. It is on this layer that an object falls towards the ground, and that the water of the river flows.
    The second is the movement of the mind and the layers of psychology such as magic and sorcery. Meeting assholes and getting offended, or having a party and getting rid of your rut is this demographic. Most monsters see the world solely through this layer of physics and psychology, so history repeats itself and the future is planned 戯れ () (Goto) It is said that he says./The second layer is one that moves with the spirit, which includes things such as magic and sorcery, the mental layer. One's mood turning sour when meeting an unhappy person, and releasing all your stress and cares during a party lie here. Since most youkai conceive of the world just through these physical and mental layers, they Ridiculously say that history repeats itself and the future is predetermined.
    However, according to Reimu, the third layer of the world forms the loop of the world (Koba) Moo-y. The third layer is the layer of memory where all things remember events. The layers of memory increase but do not decrease, so we cannot be in exactly the same state as in the past. If it becomes the same as in the past, then the memory of it becoming the same is contradictory because it leaves you with nowhere to go. The layers of memory are only increasing./But according to Reimu, there is a third layer that rejects loops. The third layer is the layer of memory, which is the recollection of events that lies within all things. Since it's only possible to add to the memory layer, it's possible to completely recreate the past. If something were to happen that already occurred in the past, then there would be a contradiction because that would simply that memory was lost, which is impossible. The memory layer always continues to build up."
  32. Touhou 03 Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Ellen Gameplay
  33. Touhou Project - Highly Responsive to Prayers/Eastern Wondrous Tale Game Manual Touhou Reiiden Backstory: " * Yin-Yang Orb ... Hakurei Shrine's Greatest Treasure
    A mysterious orb with an unnatural amount of spiritual power. Perhaps a soul dwells within? It appears as though it could be alive. Normally you cannot defeat spirits or devilish powers without a weapon such as this."
  34. Touhou Sangetsusei (Three Fairies) ~ Oriental Sacred Place Chapter 16
  35. 35.0 35.1 35.2 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Perfect Memento in Strict Sense Youkai Explanation Countermeasures
  36. 36.0 36.1 Dr. Latency's Freak Report Story #10 Pure Furies ~ Whereabouts of the Heart "Pure Furies" ""When they see me, the youkai living there will attack."
    "What...? ...Actually, you kind of have a habit of getting attacked by monsters, Merry."
    "Well, I'm used to it by now. I suppose it is only natural that they'd realize I'm a foreign presence. Like I see youkai as fluctuations, perhaps they see me as a phantom-like being."
  37. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Ellen Story
  38. Touhou 02: Eastern Wonderland
  39. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Cutscene: Reimu vs Chiyuri
  40. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Cutscene: Marisa vs. Chiyuri
  41. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Cutscene: Rikako vs. Chiyuri
  42. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Reimu Ending
  43. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Ellen Story Stage 1
  44. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Ellen Story Stage 2
  45. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Ellen Story Stage 3
  46. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Ellen Story Stage 4
  47. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Ellen Story Stage 5
  48. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Ellen Story Stage 6
  49. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Ellen Story Stage 7
  50. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Ellen Story Semi-Final Stage
  51. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Ellen Story Final Stage
  52. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Ellen Gameplay
  53. Touhou 08: Imperishable Night Stage 2
  54. Touhou 08: Imperishable Night Stage 3
  55. Touhou Sangetsusei (Three Fairies) ~ Oriental Sacred Place Chapter 15
  56. Touhou Suzunaan (Bell Hermitage) ~ Forbidden Scrollery Standalone Chapter Gensokyo Short Stories
  57. Touhou Suzunaan (Bell Hermitage) ~ Forbidden Scrollery Chapter 16
  58. Touhou Suzunaan (Bell Hermitage) ~ Forbidden Scrollery Chapter 24
  59. 59.0 59.1 Dr. Latency's Freak Report Story #05 An Instant that Exceeds Planck's Time "Merry said that if we refer to the world we humans observe, which is dominated by photons, as "the world here," then there are also countless "worlds beyond" dominated by other types of particles. And in those "worlds beyond," there are life-forms living there as well.
    "Those life-forms that are invisible, but exist very close to us, and can appear to us via fluctuations are youkai, in my opinion."
    "Youkai... That suddenly makes it sound kind of crazy."
    "Well, you could call them angels or devils or phantoms or cryptids, whatever's fine. But when I think of something that can't be seen, yet definitely exists as a phenomenon, I'd say 'youkai' is the best descriptor."
    The existence of youkai certainly had been supported since long ago. However, as the world was dominated by science and philosophy that demanded falsifiability, the topic of youkai faded away."
  60. 60.0 60.1 Dr. Latency's Freak Report Story #09 The Sea Where One's Home Planet Reflects "Unstained See" "I saw a forest rich with diversity. I saw a proud, holy mountain, shut off to creatures who preferred the lower ground. I saw a deep lake covered in an arcane mist.
    Those sights weren't just beautiful, but natural too. They were all hidden in the invisible gaps of the quantum world.
    By the way, just what would happen if one went to a brane dominated by particles with different properties?
    Merry remembered, and her face contorted in terror."
  61. Touhou Suzunaan (Bell Hermitage) ~ Forbidden Scrollery Chapter 38
  62. Touhou Project - Highly Responsive to Prayers/Eastern Wondrous Tale Game Manual Touhou Reiiden Backstory:"The real truth is that Reimu Hakurei is actually quite the optimist. Acting on her whims as always, she figured she'd go and enter one of the gates. After a while, she realized that only the Hakurei Shrine's greatest treasure, the Yin-Yang Orb, was effective against these non-human creatures.
    Reimu "Well, whatever. Things will turn out just fine as long as I use the yin-yang orb skillfully!"
    What sort of fate awaits this shrine maiden?"
  63. Touhou Project - Highly Responsive to Prayers/Eastern Wondrous Tale Game Manual Touhou Reiiden Backstory: "2. Character Introductions
    * Main Character ... Reimu Hakurei
    The shrine maiden of the Hakurei Shrine. She possesses an innate spiritual power but lacks the discipline to develop it. She wields the powerful Yin-Yang Orb, but without skill, often flailing it about wildly. Despite that, she is still a force to be reckoned with due to her natural power. Reimu has trained herself to attack with ofuda, her spirit power, and martial arts. These all proved useless against her enemies this time, though, so she's a bit worried. Currently, she is the only person at the shrine."
  64. Touhou Project - Highly Responsive to Prayers/Eastern Wondrous Tale Game Manual Touhou Reiiden Backstory: " * Yin-Yang Orb ... Hakurei Shrine's Greatest Treasure
    A mysterious orb with an unnatural amount of spiritual power. Perhaps a soul dwells within? It appears as though it could be alive. Normally you cannot defeat spirits or devilish powers without a weapon such as this."
  65. Touhou Sangetsusei (Three Fairies) ~ Oriental Sacred Place Chapter 16
  66. Touhou 20: Fossilized Wonders Reimu Extra Stage
  67. Touhou 20: Fossilized Wonders Reimu Extra Stage
  68. Touhou 20: Fossilized Wonders Reimu Extra Stage
  69. 69.0 69.1 Bohemian Archive in Japanese Red Pages 24-25 Eirin "A New Dream Medicine for Modern Gensokyo
    Good news for the stressed contemporary youkai
    Gensokyo's master of medicine, Eirin Yagokoro ([self-proclaimed] human) has developed a new dream medicine for modern troubled people that lets one "enjoy sweet dreams".
    The name of this new drug is Butterfly Dream Pill. It takes its name from the dream it induces, where one becomes a butterfly and enjoys oneself. A few doses of the red pill before bed will prevent nightmares and create an enjoyable dream for a good night's sleep. Yagokoro explains the specifics of what led to the development of this medicine:"See, in Gensokyo, everyone are either youkai or demons or ghosts or such, so they're all fit and robust. There isn't really much of a demand for medicine for physical illnesses. These kind of beings are comprised mostly of spirit. Therefore, if they need any sort of care it would be for their mentality. The origin of the dream medicine was sparked by this realization."
    The Dream World is another self, says Yagokoro. If the dream is too enjoyable, there's a chance that the real world and the Dream World may switch places, so one must be careful of overdosing.
    "The medicine itself has existed since ancient times. In the past, there were many humans who took the medicine and could not return from the Dream World. In this new formula, I've weakened the potency and reduced the side effects."
    However, there are people who say that good things happen in nightmares as well. For those people who enjoy a little thrill in their dreams, the 'Butterfly Dream Pill Nightmare Type' is also available. This one is a black pill, and when taken, causes nightmares to occur."
  70. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim. Dream Cutscene: Reimu vs Chiyuri
  71. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim. Dream Cutscene: Reimu vs Chiyuri
  72. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim. Dream Cutscene: Marisa vs. Chiyuri
  73. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim. Dream Cutscene: Kana vs Chiyuri
  74. Touhou Suzunaan (Bell Hermitage) ~ Forbidden Scrollery Chapter 48
  75. 75.0 75.1 Imperishable Night Demo Afterword "Drinking with a person that can see illusion
    This time, by changing between human and youkai, the enemies change. This type of system existed from a while back but it was hard to make use of these systems. The STGs that got around often make good use of these systems and that’s where you know that these people are really pros."
  76. 76.0 76.1 Imperishable Night Demo Afterword "The point about Imperishable Night is that there are humans, youkai and familiars (illusions). While the human is distracted by the familiar and can’t attack the enemy, the youkai watches that and says, “Well, you’re only a human.” While the human sees the youkai and thinks that they only see things in a simple manner. Since the Youkai are beings that cover everything in mist just because they hate sunlight, or collect all the spring just because they want to see the cherry blossoms bloom. Of course they won’t look at the illusion that shoots out bullets, but aim for the enemy directly even if they need to dodge a few extra bullets. (Laughs) "
  77. Touhou 8: Imperishable Night Good Ending #1
  78. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Mima Ending
  79. Touhou 04: Lotus Land Story Stage 1
  80. Touhou 04: Lotus Land Story Stage 1
  81. Touhou Project - Perfect Cherry Blossom Gensokyo Record "Though innumerable years have passed since its sealing, Gensokyo is still home to many youkai and just a few humans.
    The youkai of Gensokyo have built up their own culture; one that is all that like the culture of the world when Gensokyo was sealed.
    However, it was not a materialistic culture - it was a culture centered upon spiritual awareness far exceeding that of the human world. The wise youkai sought not the bounty of objects, but the bounty of the heart. For the youkais with such a civilization of magic, it is very easy for them to open the Great Barrier sealing Gensokyo. However, the youkai do not attempt to open it. On the contrary, they actually reinforced the barrier with an even stronger power. The barrier that had once locked Gensokyo away was now used in order to prevent invasion by the humans."
  82. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim. Dream Cutscene: Reimu vs Chiyuri
  83. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Cutscene: Rikako vs. Chiyuri
  84. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim. Dream Reimu Ending
  85. Touhou 14: Double Dealing Character Extra Stage
  86. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim. Dream Cutscene: Reimu vs Chiyuri
  87. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim. Dream Cutscene: Reimu vs Chiyuri
  88. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim. Dream Cutscene: Marisa vs. Chiyuri
  89. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim. Dream Cutscene: Kana vs Chiyuri
  90. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Reimu Ending
  91. 91.0 91.1 91.2 Touhou Project - Highly Responsive to Prayers/Eastern Wondrous Tale Game Manual Touhou Reiiden Rules of the Game:"*Special Abilities
    Left + Right + Z Key
    or
    X+Z 2 times ... Spirit attack, a.k.a. bomb.
    You can only bomb as many times as indicated by the spirit attack counter in the upper part of the screen. You will gain a bomb when you collect a bomb item or die.
    When you perform this attack Reimu will become invincible and furthermore, enemy bullets will be destroyed. During regular stages, bombing will cause many of the panels to flip over. Bosses will not take damage from bombs but the temporary invincibility allows you to use this as an emergency dodge. When you have 0 lives left, bosses *will* take damage."
  92. Touhou Project - Story of Eastern Wonderland 封魔録.txt Controls "●Xkey   Uses a spiritual attack.
    Commonly known as the bomb. Allows invincibility for a short period."
  93. Touhou Project - Highly Responsive to Prayers/Eastern Wondrous Tale Game Manual Touhou Reiiden Rules of the Game:"Every 5 stages a boss will appear. Only the power of the Yin-Yang Orb can deal damage. (If you have 0 lives remaining your spirit attack can also do damage.)
    Bosses have various types of attacks but you can repel white bullets with your exorcism or somersault or the start of an ofuda burst. Also, if you hit a bullet directly with an ofuda you can destroy it.
    You cannot destroy lasers and missiles. When you're cornered simply accept that you will have to bomb. Otherwise it may be time to give up. Fire, exploding bullets and the like are also not destroyable."
  94. Touhou 02: Story of Eastern Wonderland
  95. Touhou Project - Lotus Land Story Manual Bonuses and extends "*3.Bomb bonus
    Using a bomb will cause all items on screen to be attracted towards the player.
    At this time, collected items will have their value doubled.
    When using a bomb, go to the top of the screen as much as possible for higher scores."
  96. Touhou 05: Mystic Quest
  97. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Final Stage
  98. Touhou 14.5: Urban Legend in Limbo Reimu Story Ending
  99. Touhou 01: Highly Responsive to Prayers
  100. Touhou 02: Story of Eastern Wonderland
  101. Touhou 04: Lotus Land Story
  102. Touhou 01: Highly Responsive to Prayers
  103. Touhou 04: Lotus Land Story Good Ending 1
  104. Touhou Suzunaan (Bell Hermitage) ~ Forbidden Scrollery Chapter 11
  105. Touhou 05: Mystic Square Good Ending 1
  106. Touhou Project - Perfect Cherry Blossom Gensokyo Record "Though innumerable years have passed since its sealing, Gensokyo is still home to many youkai and just a few humans.
    The youkai of Gensokyo have built up their own culture; one that is all that like the culture of the world when Gensokyo was sealed.
    However, it was not a materialistic culture - it was a culture centered upon spiritual awareness far exceeding that of the human world. The wise youkai sought not the bounty of objects, but the bounty of the heart. For the youkais with such a civilization of magic, it is very easy for them to open the Great Barrier sealing Gensokyo. However, the youkai do not attempt to open it. On the contrary, they actually reinforced the barrier with an even stronger power. The barrier that had once locked Gensokyo away was now used in order to prevent invasion by the humans."
  107. Touhou Suzunaan (Bell Hermitage) ~ Forbidden Scrollery Chapter 48
  108. Dr. Latency's Freak Report Story #06 Schrödinger's Bakeneko "Schrodinger's Black Cat" ""So as I was thinking, 'where did the youkai disappear to?', I became able to see it. A world where youkai live even now."
    "Perhaps that could be another brane world..."
    "Another what?"
    "Oh, just one of the worlds only physicists can see."
    Whether for some geographical or geological reason, or even pure coincidence, places where different worlds were easily visible had been called 'holy ground' since long ago. Shrines and the like were definitely holy ground.
    Merry said she saw a cat at a shrine. However, the cat never caught anyone's attention and freely passed through objects. Merry knew what it was at once. It was a youkai cat, she said, lurking within quantum gaps.
    "Huh, a quantumly-unobservable cat... Until it's observed, it's both alive and dead. Just like Schrödinger's Cat."
    "Although since I observed it, that determined it was alive.""
  109. Touhou Hisoutensoku Hong Meiling's Story Ending
  110. Touhou 02: Story of Eastern Wonderland Good Ending
  111. Touhou Project - Perfect Cherry Blossom Gensokyo Record "Though innumerable years have passed since its sealing, Gensokyo is still home to many youkai and just a few humans.
    The youkai of Gensokyo have built up their own culture; one that is all that like the culture of the world when Gensokyo was sealed.
    However, it was not a materialistic culture - it was a culture centered upon spiritual awareness far exceeding that of the human world. The wise youkai sought not the bounty of objects, but the bounty of the heart. For the youkais with such a civilization of magic, it is very easy for them to open the Great Barrier sealing Gensokyo. However, the youkai do not attempt to open it. On the contrary, they actually reinforced the barrier with an even stronger power. The barrier that had once locked Gensokyo away was now used in order to prevent invasion by the humans."
  112. Symposium of Post-mysticism Part 3 The Past and Present of the Tengu Pages 62-72 "[Tengu Then and Now ]/The Past and Present of the Tengu
    Byakuren
    Tengu are said to live in the mountains and cause various strange happenings. At first, it was probably just a human being./Tengu live in mountains and cause various strange occurrences. At first, they were beings that only did harm to humans.
    Miko
    Falling stones, kidnapping babies, threatening them with eerie sounds.../Like dropping rocks on them, stealing their babies, frightening them with eerie noises...
    Byakuren
    When Buddhism was introduced and Shugendo began, Tengu became the object of mountain worship. They are spirit-like beings who help or hinder the Shugendo mountain ascetics who practice holed up in the mountains. Yamabushi (*1), who practiced strict training, were indistinguishable from Tengu from the perspective of ordinary people, and gradually came to be identified with them. For this reason, Tengu today probably dress like mountain ascetics./But once Buddhism spread through the country and Shugendou started, tengu become objects of mountain worship. They were like spirits that both helped and hidered the mountain-dwelling Yamabushi who were training there. From the ordinary person's perspective, the Yamabushi (*1) underlying intense training were no different from the tengu, and gradually they came to be considered one and the same. Because of that, today's tengu still have a Yamabushi-like appearance.
    Marisa
    You're detailed./You sure know a lot about this.
    Byakuren
    I'm a specialist when it comes to Yokai studies. Excellent Shugendo practitioners were sometimes called immortals, so of course there were Tengu who became immortals./Because I specialize in knowledge of youkai. Since the great mountain ascetics were sometimes called hermits, I believe that there were also tengu who have become hermits.
    Marisa
    It's true that even today's Tengu seem to have some who look like hermits./Yeah, there definitely seem to be some hermit-like tengu out there, too.
    Byakuren
    By the way, it seems that it was only during the Edo period that the tall-nosed Tengu that humans often imagine became established. It is thought to come from an image of the mask that Yamabushi wore during training and festivals./Incidentally, the common image of long-nosed tengu seems to have been established around the time of the Edo Period (1603–1868). I believe the image comes from the masks that the monsters would wear while training and performing rituals.
    Miko
    I wonder if high-nosed Tengu are even in Gensokyo?  I see a lot of Karasu Tengu./Does Gensokyo have any long-nosed tengu too? It feels like I only see crow tengu.
    Kanako
    Karasu Tengu is a newspaper reporter and delivery man, so that's all he comes down to the base of the mountain, but there are actually a lot of other Tengu deep in the mountains, right?  It seems that Hanataka Tengu is a clerk and rarely comes out./The crow tengu are the newspaper reporters and deliverers, so they're the only ones who come down to the foothills, but there are actually lots of other tengu deep in the mountains. The long-nosed tengu are clerks, so it seems they don't get out much.
    Miko
    That's a strange story too./That's odd.
    Kanako
    Huh?  What is it?/What's odd?
    Miko
    What is the image of Sarutahiko (*2) that underlies the image of a tall-nosed Tengu?  Sarutahiko is the god of guidance, and for that matter, he is identified with Dosojin (*3), so don't he have to come out and work?/Isn't the image of the long-nosed tengu based on Sarutahiko(*2)? Sarutahiko is a god of guidance, making him the same as a god of travelers(*3), so shouldn't they be working outside?
    Byakuren
    That's true../That certainly is odd...
    Kanako
    Apparently Hanataka Tengu's latest job is mainly making maps, right?  Ideally, you would build a system that can guide you without you having to show up. He said GPS (*4) or something./I've heard that their recent jobs have entailed making maps. They've been talking about their vision of eventually creating a guidance system where they don't even have to go outside. They call it GPS(*4) or something.
    Miko
    It's Sarutahiko, who is sideways (laughs)./What lazy Sarutahiko (laugh).
    Byakuren
    Well, it's not Sarutahiko himself, but simply a Tengu being identified with Sarutahiko and imitating him, so that may be the case./Well, they aren't Sarutahiko themselves, perhaps they are just considered the same since they are imitating him.
    Kanako
    Apologize to the real Sarutahiko./They should apologize to the real Sarutahiko.
    Marisa
    So, does that mean that Tengu has been given so many different images that he has become what he is today?/So the tengu ended up with the appearance they have now because of all those images of them?
    Byakuren
    Yes... well, that was the case until the Edo period. But right now, it may be a little different from a collection of different images./Yes... Wait, no, they were until the Edo Period. However, I would say they are a bit different now.
    Marisa
    Hou./Huh...
    Byakuren
    In the past, Tengu would help train mountain ascetics and sometimes appear as leaders at festivals and other events. This will be forgotten along with the superstition of folk tales due to the expansion of civilization, the decline of Shugendo due to its irreligion, and a human heart that no longer fears darkness. Tengu who were active alongside humans gradually became less visible. This put the existence of the monsters in jeopardy. Not just Tengu, but all monsters.../The tengu of the past used to help out the mountain monks with their training, and would sometimes also take a leadership role during festivals. But then, because of the Westernization of Japan, folklore became superstition, shugendou gave way to secularism, and they were forgotten about along with humanity's fear of the dark. The tengu who were working together with humans starting appearing less and less. For this reason, the existence of these youkai was endangered. And not just tengu, but all youkai...
    Miko
    To save the day, Gensokyo became an isolated world./And in order to deal with that crisis, Gensokyo became an isolated world.
    Byakuren
    Well, since I wasn't there at the time, I don't know how I got there (*5), but... Gensokyo took on its current form and was freed from the curse of the human imagination, and finally the monsters gained true freedom. Originally unable to define their form, they began to evolve in their own way. It is unclear what changes have occurred, but originally Tengu were monsters with strict hierarchical relationships, which is why they have come to build the society we see today./That's right. I wasn't here at the time so I don't know how this came about(*5), but when Gensokyo entered its current state, youkai were liberated from the spell of human imagination and obtained true freedom. Since they originally lost a stable form, they started to develop their own characteristics. I do not fully understand the kind of changes they have made, but because the tengu were youkai that had followed strict hierarchical rules, they were able to build the kind of society they have now.
    Marisa
    It's so good that it will. In other words, when combined, does this mean that yokai of the past were influenced by human imagination and changed their appearance, while yokai of today have changed independently?/I get it. To put it all together, the forms of youkai in the old days had been influenced by human imagination, and youkai nowdays can change on their own. Does that sound right?
    Byakuren
    I think so. That's why there is so much diversity in the monsters today./I believe so. That is why there is so much variety among youkai presentedly."
  113. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim. Dream Cutscene: Marisa vs. Chiyuri
  114. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim. Dream Cutscene: Kana vs Chiyuri
  115. Touhou 8: Imperishable Night Stage 5
  116. Touhou 8: Imperishable Night Stage 5
  117. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Cutscene: Marisa vs. Chiyuri
  118. Dr. Latency's Freak Report Story #07 The Shining Needle Castle Sinking in the Air "Gravitino World" "Apparently, the "worlds beyond" didn't just have living things, but all manner of strange objects that defied common sense.
    "I saw a castle floating in the sky once, too. Upside-down, at that."
    "If the gravitons have a different structure, the world's properties would be different, too. That might've been the kind of brane you saw."
    "It felt mysterious and nostalgic. And I really liked the wooden tenshu."
    "Wait, tenshu? Since you said castle, I thought you meant like Cinderella's."
    "If I had to say which it resembled, it was more like Matsumoto."
    Merry had been enjoying her talk about the mysterious world, but she shivered when she briefly remembered something else. It seemed that not all of her memories were fun ones."
  119. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Double Spoiler Spell Cards Level 9 Spell Card 9-4
  120. Touhou 08: Imperishable Night Magic Team Extra Stage
  121. Touhou 08: Imperishable Night Magic Team Extra Stage
  122. Touhou 08: Imperishable Night Magic Team Extra Stage
  123. Touhou 08: Imperishable Night Magic Team Extra Stage
  124. Touhou 08: Imperishable Night Magic Team Extra Stage
  125. Touhou 08: Imperishable Night Magic Team Extra Stage
  126. 126.0 126.1 126.2 "1: There are those who repeatedly cast magic to restore their youth, but...
    2: Magic to stop one's growth. It can only be used on oneself.
    3: Magic that allows you to compensate for not eating food via magic power. It can only be used on oneself.
    4: Sometimes the children become the magicians' apprentices.
  127. Touhou Ibarakasen (Rose Poem Hermit) ~ Wild and Horned Hermit Chapter 3
  128. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Cutscene: Marisa vs. Chiyuri
  129. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Cutscene: Kana vs Chiyuri
  130. Touhou 04: Lotus Land Story Stage 1
  131. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Ellen Gameplay
  132. Dr. Latency's Freak Report Story #04 September Pumpkin "Parallel Communication" "Is it possible to see different things in the same place?
    Merry said that she'd recently started to see multiple worlds at the same time. According to her, all people are seeing slightly different worlds. Particularly interesting was that despite this, they can apparently still communicate with each other.
    Merry started to tell a mysterious story. It was about a strange world that only some humans could see.
    Not only was it extremely small, but our common sense didn't apply there. A bizarre world where elementary particles flew across boundaries of both time and space.
    "...By 'only some humans,' do you mean physicists?"
    "Correct. Good on you, Renko.
    But, did you know that there are actually strange creatures lurking in that senseless world?""
  133. Touhou 13.5 Hopeless Masquerade
  134. Gensou Narratpograph Chapter 1, Page 35 "Reimu: (rolling) — Success. I smack her upside the head with my purification rod. I won't let you do the same thing twice! (laugh)
    GM: Very well. Chen has finally been defeated, and exploded like the
    Stage 2 boss she is.
    Reimu: Exploded. (laugh)
    GM (Chen): "Hnngh! It went so well the first time. I didn't expect the shrine maiden!""
  135. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Ellen Story Stage 1
  136. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim. Dream Cutscene: Mima vs Chiyuri
  137. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Ellen Story Stage 1
  138. Touhou Project - Highly Responsive to Prayers/Eastern Wondrous Tale Game Manual Touhou Reiiden Backstory: " * Yin-Yang Orb ... Hakurei Shrine's Greatest Treasure
    A mysterious orb with an unnatural amount of spiritual power. Perhaps a soul dwells within? It appears as though it could be alive. Normally you cannot defeat spirits or devilish powers without a weapon such as this."
  139. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Ellen Story Stage 1
  140. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Mima Story Stage 5
  141. Touhou Suzunaan (Bell Hermitage) ~ Forbidden Scrollery Chapter 38
  142. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Ellen Gameplay
  143. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Ellen Stage 2
  144. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Ellen Bomb
  145. 145.0 145.1 Touhou Project - Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream The Different Fundamental Attack Systems "10. The Different Fundamental Attack Systems
    Pellet Attack
    A basic attack. If you get a modest hit combo, it can send white bullets to your opponent individually. Also, by catching bullets within a hit combo, those bullets can be sent back to the opponent's field.

    Fireball Attack
    Can be sent to your opponent when you get a bigger combo or have erased a lot of bullets. Blue fireballs are normal ones, while red ones have been sent back at least once.

    Extra Attack
    Can be sent to your opponent when you get a very big combo, send back a fireball, etc. This attack is specific to your character and cannot be countered.

    Gauge Attack
    Attacks the opponent's field with bullets in a character-specific pattern. This attack is not triggered by merely defeating normal enemies. (Explained in the next section.)

    Boss Attack
    Activates when the hit combo bonus at the upper left exceeds 51,200 points, sending a boss to attack your opponent.

    Boss Reversal
    When a boss is in your field, if the combo bonus points exceed a certain value, the boss will be sent back to your opponent's field.

    Boss Panic
    After a boss has been sent to your opponent's field, when your combo bonus exceeds 300,000 points, a large amount of uneraseable bullets will also drop on the opponent's field."
  146. Touhou Project - Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Gauge Attack System "11. Gauge Attack System
    The gauge at the bottom of the screen is called the Spell Gauge. The blue part of the gauge shows the current maximum gauge amount. If you hold down the shot button, you can charge the gauge up to this maximum amount. When you release the button, you can attack according to the amount the gauge is charged.
    Level 1 — When ¼ of the entire gauge is charged and released. (Charge Shot)
    You can shoot a modestly powerful Charge Shot.
    Level 2 — When ½ of the entire gauge is charged and released. (Gauge Attack 1)
    Use this as often as you want. This uses up ¼ of the gauge and sends many eraseable white bullets to your opponent's field. These drop in various patterns that depend on the character, but be aware that white bullets are easy to counterattack.
    Level 3 — When ¾ of the entire gauge is charged and released. (Gauge Attack 2)
    This uses up ½ of the gauge and sends many non-eraseable bullets to your opponent's field. These drop in various patterns that depend on the character. Level 2 and 3 Gauge Attacks have an attack intensity level. This level goes up with each Gauge Attack, finally stopping at level 16. Naturally, higher levels are stronger, so please try to use it often. The number at your screen's bottom left is the current level. (For either level 2 or level 3 Gauge Attacks, each use will increase it by 1. If you do a Boss Panic, the level will increase by 3.)
    Level 4 — When the gauge is charged to the maximum and released. (Boss Attack)
    This uses up ¾ of the gauge and activates a Boss Attack. If your side already has a boss on it, this becomes a Boss Reversal.
    If a boss is already in the opponent's field, this will activate a level 3 Gauge Attack (using up ½ the gauge).
    The boss also has a level. This level also ranges from 1 to 16, and each time you send a boss, the level goes up. However, the boss level is shared by both players, so raising the level also means that a higher-level boss will be sent back to you. You should send this boss back by reversal as soon as you can. (Even so, this will raise the boss level yet again.) The number at your screen's bottom right is the current boss level (same for 1P and 2P).
  147. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Ellen Gameplay
  148. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Ellen Stage 2
  149. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Ellen Bomb
  150. Touhou Suzunaan (Bell Hermitage) ~ Forbidden Scrollery Chapter 25
  151. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Ellen Bomb
  152. Touhou 01: Highly Responsive to Prayers Mima Boss
  153. Touhou 02: Stage of Eastern Wonderland Stage 04
  154. Touhou 7.5: Immaterial and Missing Power Reimu Good Ending (Ending No. 3)
  155. Touhou Suzunaan (Bell Hermitage) ~ Forbidden Scrollery Chapter 31
  156. Touhou Suzunaan (Bell Hermitage) ~ Forbidden Scrollery Chapter 48
  157. Touhou Ibarakasen (Rose Poem Hermit) ~ Wild and Horned Hermit Chapter 11
  158. Touhou Ibarakasen (Rose Poem Hermit) ~ Wild and Horned Hermit Chapter 3
  159. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria Dim. Dream Rikako Ending
  160. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria Dim. Dream Rikako Ending
  161. Gensou Narratograph Chapter 1 Pages 104 - 108 "GM: Ahh, I had a great time! Thank you all for playing!
    All: Thank you!
    ZUN: I had fun. Lots of fun. (laugh)
    GM: Really!? Just hearing that makes me really happy.
    Player A: Yeah, it was great!
    GM: Thank you very much! So, we're about to get into the post-game!
    In reality, we're also supposed to do things like reset or advance your characters and stuff like that, but since the time limit's pressing down on us, I'd just like everyone to take a turn and share their thoughts about today's game, anything like that.
    Player B: Alright. Man, what should we talk about? (laugh)
    GM: (laugh) ...Well, suppose I'll start. First off, I'll say it again, but thank you, everyone.
    All: Thank you for the game!
    GM: In particular, it was really nice of ZUN to agree to play with us, and I loved watching him play Reimu.
    ZUN: No, no, it's nothing. (laugh)
    GM: It really made me feel, "So this is what Reimu's like!" Very strongly so.
    ZUN: Well, you know. Reimu's a character with no mercy towards youkai. Whether they're bad, or even haven't done anything, she'll hit them without a second thought. (laugh)
    GM: Yes, well... It was fun to watch. Player A, who played Cirno, has the longest history with tabletop RPGs here, so you could really call them a veteran, but they turned out to be a big help filling in the details of the story here.
    Player A: Yaaay. I'm glad you think so.
    GM: Aya was very cool in the Showdown Phase. In addition, they did a great job roleplaying and commenting on things in the scenes, and made me chuckle a lot of times.
    Player B: Hahaha. You're right, I did roll pretty well back there.
    GM: Also, speaking as the GM, excitable Sanae was a lot of fun to play!
    ZUN: You could tell from the start she was going to fail (laugh). The way she acted.
    GM: If that's what you thought, then it worked as intended (laugh). — So, moving on. Player A, if you would!
    Player A: Okaaay! Everyone, thank you so much! Everyone was really cute... I noticed I was grinning the whole time. (laugh)
    All: Thank you!
    Player A: I felt a lot of love for the source material in all of Aya's lines. Writing an extra, and the regular edition too, I really felt like "Man, being a reporter is a lot of work."
    Player B: That's great to hear.
    Player A: And Reimu was really awesome too. Really felt like this was "ZUN's Reimu". Saying what she wants, doing what she wants, being really rough on Cirno too, it was great to see. Compared to everyone else here, I don't know the source material nearly as well, so it might not have been a very Cirno-like Cirno, but I still had lots of fun messing around as her for a day. Thank you very much!
    GM: I think it was good you amped up her fairy-ness! — Well, next up, Player B. If you would.
    Player B: Riiight! Good work, everyone! Man... First off, Cirno was really cute. I thought her level of energy and clever use of her ability were really Cirno-like, actually. She was fun to watch.
    Player A: Hehehe. Alright!
    Player B: Also, the mental image of Sanae explaining the ski resort with a smug look on her face really stuck in my head. It was such a good smug face, I don't even know if it would come across in a photo. (laugh)
    ZUN: It was a good smug face. Sanae also has a habit of getting carried away, after all. (laugh)
    GM: I'm glad to hear you say that. (laugh)
    Player B: I feel like Aya really wants to write articles that make people chuckle, so the idea of being able to turn Sanae's smug photo against her was really funny. My main goal as Aya was to write some entertaining articles, so I'm glad I got a lot of chances for that. I think I managed to roleplay an Aya Shameimaru that matches what's in my head.
    ZUN: It was very Aya-like. (laugh)
    Player B: Thank you very much! — And, of course, I felt a really strong "canon Reimu" too, and was really moved. How direct she was with everyone, and her small hitbox, simply felt like her.
    ZUN: Yeah, exactly (laugh). That's what Reimu's like.
    Player B: Maaan, I'm still not over it. — Seriously, thank you!
    GM: Thank you very much. ...So, finally. Can I ask ZUN as well?
    ZUN: Of course. Man, it was fun (laugh). First off, Cirno. Watching "Charismatic" Cirno run around like that, I definitely thought, "Is that what Cirno's like?" ...but despite that, it was great, and I felt like I saw a new Cirno today. I felt like this game's own kind of Touhou-ness, own kind of playstyle and relationships between characters really got to shine. It was really good.
    Player A: Thank you very much!
    ZUN: Aya is a character who's easy to make a bit too righteous, but this one definitely wasn't. Her only looking for the bad sides of people is, if I had to say, more faithful to how I write her. Really Aya-like. It was great.
    Player B: Hehehe. That's just how Aya is, huh. Doesn't really think about anybody else, you could say.
    ZUN: Yeah, exactly. That's how she is (laugh). ...Also, the first thing that really surprised me was with that cat in the Human Village. I just threw "It was Chen, right?" out there as a bit of a joke, but then the GM picked that up and ran with it. I really thought "Wow! These are actually connected like that!?" It made me think that might be what's really good about these kinds of games.
    GM: I was a bit worried about that part, but I'm glad it worked out.
    ZUN: To be honest, I was kind of messing with you when I said that. (laugh)
    GM: Messing with me!?
    ZUN: (laugh) — Well, last, about the Reimu I played. I was kind of embarrassed in parts, and don't really know if you can call what I did roleplay. But in the final danmaku battle, watching the bullets fly past me even without doing anything, I really felt invincible for a moment, and like Reimu's character really ended up shining through somehow. I know the dice rolls are random and stuff, but it's interesting how you can see it like that.
    GM: Yeah, that's true. Of course, the numbers you get when rolling dice are just products of chance, but I think being able to sense meaning in them is one of the great things about tabletop RPGs. And since they're random, they end up going differently every time. (laugh)
    ZUN: True, true. I kinda wanna do this again sometime.
    GM: If you think so, that really makes me feel like it was worth making.
    ...But, well, until we get another chance, I think this is it for now. Good work today, everyone!
    All: Good work today!
    ..."
  162. Touhou Project - Highly Responsive to Prayers/Eastern Wondrous Tale Game Manual Touhou Reiiden Backstory: " * Yin-Yang Orb ... Hakurei Shrine's Greatest Treasure
    A mysterious orb with an unnatural amount of spiritual power. Perhaps a soul dwells within? It appears as though it could be alive. Normally you cannot defeat spirits or devilish powers without a weapon such as this."
  163. ZUN's Email "> • Are Yuki and Mai really dead?
    > I know we're dealing with a PC-98 game, but were Yuki and Mai from Mystic Square really killed?
    > Looking in particular in the conversation when Lady Mima and Yuki are left... (sweat)
    > Or is this also a type of joke, like Lady Remilia's statement that "Sakuya is dead" in EoSD?
    Basically, they're whatever-works types, so they might not be dead. I generally have no comment regarding the PC-98 games. Please ignore them just as one can ignore derivative works. :-)"
  164. ZUN's reply to messages on the former Gensou Bulletin Board "Q.「幻想郷」旧作を知らないのですが、霊夢とアリスの過去になにが・・・?
    A.基本的に、ストーリーに関係するキャラは全て紅魔郷以降になります。
    一応、紅魔郷から全体の設定を一掃したので、新シリーズみたいなもんだと
    思っていただけると(^^;

    Q: I don't know anything about the old games in Gensokyo, but did Reimu and Alice have something going on in the past?
    A: Generally, the story related to the characters will all be from Embodiment of Scarlet Devil and later. For now, you can just think of EoSD starting from a clean slate, and starting a new series. (^^;"
  165. Meiji University talkshow "Dawn of Touhou" "Q: Why was Highly Responsive to Prayers an Arkanoid-clone, not a shmup?
    ZUN: "Because it was a study product.""
  166. ZUN's AWA Q&A Panel Touhou Wiki Translation:
    "Q: Are the PC-98 games considered canon compared to the Windows series?
    ZUN: It's the same world. There are a few contradictions in the story when putting the PC-98 and Windows games side by side, but I would take reference from the latest games to consider what is canon."

    Word of the Nerd ZUN AWA Panel: Recap Translation:"Q: Are the PC-98 games considered canon compared to the Windows series?
    ZUN: There are a few contradictions in the story when putting the PC-98 and Windows games side by side, but I would take reference from the latest games to consider what is canon."

    Rukasarisari Tumblr Translation:"Q: Are the PC-98 games separate canonically from the Windows series?
    A: It’s the same world, and ZUN realizes there are contradictions. He then tells us to refer to the most recent games <for canon>."
  167. Embodiment of the Scarlet Devil おまけ.txt "So without any advice, here are the character backstories.
    ○Eternal Shrine Maiden
    Reimu Hakurei
    Ability: Able to Fly, and to Manipulate Natural Spirits.
    The protagonist.
    Chronologically this title is not too far from the previous title, thus her age stays the same as before.
    Unintentionally, she is a shrine maiden. Or rather, she is a shrine maiden only because the Touhou series has become the "Shrine Maiden Shooting Game" series. It feels like the cart has been placed before the horse to me.
    This time, her outfit is not overly intricate like typical shrine maiden clothing, but has become quite simple and only remotely resembles that of a shrine maiden. Is she really a shrine maiden?
    She's more like "You red & white girl!" in my opinion."
  168. Touhou Project - Strange Creators of Outer World Who's Who of Humans & Youkai in Gensokyo Yuuka Kazami "I basically just wanted to bring back a character from the old works (*from before "Embodiment of Scarlet Devil"). Her current appearance is based on the one from "Seihou Project", made by my juniors. Back then, based on the personal criteria I had for a "strong boss", I figured it would be better if she weren't being too serious the first time you fought her. Then, when she woke up all the way, she would have a "serious mode." I wonder if I could've gotten away with bringing back more older characters at the time, too... although they wouldn't mesh that well with the current setting. I'd say those old characters have probably retired by now, and are warmly watching over things from various places nowadays."
  169. ZUN's Gensou Denshou Lecture Gensou Denshou After Report "Questioner: Where has Ms. Mima gone to?
    ※Mima is a character introduced in Touhou Project's PC-98 games (Story of Eastern Wonderland, Mystic Square, etc).

    ZUN: The past is being brought up too huh? Bringing them back would make things complicated, and people will ask "Where have they been this entire time?!" I'd rather bring out new characters than go back to past characters. But, I also kinda wanna bring them back too. I won't say they'll never be brought back... that's kinda how I feel, see?

    Questioner:Even Genjii?
    ※Genjii is a character introduced in Touhou Project's PC-98 games. He assisted Reimu by allowing her to ride on him since she could not fly at the time.

    ZUN:Well Reimu is able to fly now. Either way, the idea of a turtle hermit... why did I do that? I feel like a Nimbus Cloud would have been a better idea (lol). Normally speaking, since turtles live a very long time, (Genjii) is most likely not dead. That is the impression I get."
  170. Meiji University talkshow "Dawn of Touhou" "Q: Where's Genjii now?
    ZUN: "Probably living in the lake at the back of the shrine... at least he's not consumed.""
  171. Touhou Sangetsusei ~ Strange and Bright Nature Deity Chapter 12
  172. Touhou Project - Perfect Cherry Blossom Stage 03 Reimu "Reimu: It's really cold out tonight...
    And I can't see a thing."

    Alice: Is your level of spring insufficient even to push away this cold?"

    Reimu: Well, that might be true.

    Alice: Long time no see.

    Reimu: We've only just met.

    Alice: No, that's not what I meant.

    Reimu: Long time no visibility?

    Alice: Don't you remember me? Well, either way is fine though.

    Reimu: Setting that aside, what did you mean by "level of spring"?

    Alice: I was referring to the springtime in your head.

    Reimu: I hope mine's not too high. Still, why has this winter been so long?

    Alice: There's someone who's gathering the spring.

    Reimu: And you have nothing to do with it?

    Alice: Of course not.

    Reimu: Bye.

    Alice: Hey!

    Alice: And we've only just met after so long, old friend. Have you only brought me your life as a gift?

    Reimu: And why am I being called "old friend" by this seven-colored magical moron?

    Alice: In the end, shrine maidens are two colors.
    Your power is only twenty-eight-point-five-seven-one-four percent as powerful as mine.
  173. Touhou Project - Phantasmagoria of Flower View Yuuka Story Episode 6 - Wonderful Shrine Maiden of Paradise: Reimu Hakurei "Yuuka: Flowers and ghosts and..., hmm. Speaking of which, this happened once before didn't it? How many decades ago was it? It's been so ordinary since then, I can't remember.

    Reimu: Ah, there you are!

    Reimu: You're the culprit, aren't you?

    Yuuka: Do you think that ignoring the events back then, would bring everything back to normal?

    Reimu: Everything went back to normal when I defeated you back then!"
  174. Touhou Project - Phantasmagoria of Flower View Yuuka vs Marisa Yuuka Victory Quote "Yuuka: Ah, you're still alive?
    You've grown up quite a bit."
  175. Touhou Project - Immaterial and Missing Power Omake Afterword "Greetings, from one's whose ratio of saying "nice to meet you" is decreasing steadily even in real life, ZUN.
    But this time there may be more people to who I am saying "nice to meet you" than for Imperishable Night.
    This time it's Touhou Suimusou (IaMP), Touhou Project Volume Number 7.5.
    Though I get the feeling "What's with 7.5 being released after 8", this isn't the numbering order of release, but rather the order of canon.
    The plot of this game happens between Perfect Cherry Blossom (Winter to Spring) and the time of Imperishable Night (Early Autumn).
    Eventually, the "game of the summer" started to feel more like a game coming in winter, right?"
  176. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named ZUN's reply to messages on the former Gensou Bulletin Board Reimu's continues
  177. Touhou Project - Perfect Memento in Strict Sense Reimu Profile
  178. Touhou Project - Perfect Memento in Strict Sense Reimu Profile
  179. Touhou Project - Perfect Memento in Strict Sense Reimu Profile
  180. Touhou Project - Perfect Memento in Strict Sense Reimu Profile "スペルカードルール Spell Card Rules
    いかなる妖怪でも博麗の巫女を倒す訳にはいかず、妖怪の存在意義が消えようとしていたが、彼女は画期的な手段を持ってその問題を解決する。 Without a way for any youkai to defeat the Hakurei shrine maiden, many youkai felt that their meaning to exist had disappeared, but by taking some ground-breaking measures she solved this problem.
    それはスペルカードルールの導入である。 That is, the introduction of the spell card rules.
    スペルカードルールは、お互い技を見せ合い、その美しさで競う決闘ルールである。 The spell card rules are dueling rules that allow both parties to show off their skills in a beautiful competition.
    大雑把に言うと、 The major points are:
    *スペルカードとは、自分の得意技に名前を付けた物で、使う時は宣言してから使う必要がある。 *Spell cards are techniques specially-named by the individual, and they must be declared upon use.
    *お互いカードの枚数は予め決闘前に提示しなければならない。 *The number of each party's spell cards must be determined in advance of a duel.
    *手持ちのカードが全て破られると負けを認めなければいけない。 *The first party to have all of their spell cards beaten must admit defeat.
    *勝者は決闘前に決めた報酬以外は受け取らない。相手が提示した報酬が気に入らなければ断れる。 *The victor is entitled only to what was agreed upon before the duel. If they're not interested in what their opponent has to offer, they can refuse a duel.
    *勝者は敗者の再戦の希望を、積極的に受ける様にする。 *Winners should generally allow losers a rematch.
    *不慮の事故は覚悟しておく。 *Always prepare for the unexpected.
    といった内容のもので、これによりスポーツ感覚に近い決闘が出来る。 Following these rules allows for duels that feel almost like sport.
    そのルールの導入により、比較的力の弱い人間も妖怪に勝負を挑む事が可能となった。 With the introduction of these rules, it became possible for even relatively weak humans to challenge youkai.
    それと同時に気軽に巫女を倒す事も出来て、反対に妖怪も有る程度無茶出来る様になった。 At the same time, it became possible for youkai to freely defeat the shrine maiden without worrying about the consequences."
  181. Touhou Project - Perfect Memento in Strict Sense Unresolved Materials Draft of Spell Card Rules
  182. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Cutscene: Kana vs Chiyuri
  183. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Cutscene: Reimu vs Chiyuri
  184. Touhou 05: Mystic Sqaure Good Ending #1
  185. Touhou 6: Embodiment of Scarlet Devil Stage 5
  186. Touhou 07: Perfect Cherry Blossom Extra Stage
  187. Touhou 8: Imperishable Night Extra Stage
  188. Meiji University talkshow "Dawn of Touhou" "Q: Who's the strongest in Gensokyo?
    ZUN: "Absolutely, ...isn't it Reimu? Although it seems obvious.""
  189. Touhou 15: Legacy of Lunatic Kingdom Stage 2
  190. Touhou 15: Legacy of Lunatic Kingdom Stage 4
  191. Touhou 16: Hidden Star in Four Seasons Stage 6
  192. Touhou 17: Wily Beast and Weakest Creature Extra Stage
  193. Touhou 18: Unconnected Marketeers Stage 2
  194. Touhou 18: Unconnected Marketeers Stage 3
  195. 195.0 195.1 Symposium of Post-mysticism Yuugi Hoshiguma Profile Pages 120-122 "The Spoken-of Unexplainable Phenomena
    Yuugi Hoshiguma
    Ability: The ability to wield unexplainable phenomena
    Threat level: Very High
    Human friendship level: Unknown
    Main place of activity: Former Hell
    An oni who silences crying children. While it's unknown where all the oni went, it's been confirmed that at least one lives in Former Hell. It's quite likely that there are other oni living in Former Hell as well. While oni have a strong sense of camaraderie, they have an even stronger sense of independence so it seems she doesn't know where the others live.
    It is said that she possesses unbelievably supernatural strength. According to fellow oni Suika Ibuki, "She's weaker than me in magical powers, but might be stronger than me physically."(*1) Although this is just a rumor, it is said that her superhuman strength is of the level where her footsteps alone are enough to make nearby buildings collapse.
    The sake dish she carries is said to be called the Hoshiguma Dish, an oni masterwork that increases the quality of any sake poured into it(*2). Its compatibility with the Ibuki Gourd carried by Suika Ibuki is extremely high.
    Currently, it seems she has cut off all contact with humans. Moreover, she tries to limit contact with the youkai on the surface as much as possible. For these reasons, there is little information on her.
    Regarding her personality, she is firm of character and straightforward. She likes the strong, the brave and the honest, while conversely shows no mercy towards the weak, the cowardly and the sly."
  196. Touhou 11: Subterranean Animism Stage 2
  197. Touhou 11: Subterranean Animism Stage 2
  198. 198.0 198.1 Curiosities of Lotus Asia Chapter 27 Mechanism of Fortune ""It's okay. (Shibara) Once I get there, this ghost story will die down. That's the future we have planned."/"It'll be fine. The phantoms will settle down after a while. The future is predetermined like that."
    Spiritual dreams Mysterious question (Kegen) He looked at me with a strange expression./Reimu gave me a dubious expression.
    "Rinnosuke says the same thing as vampires and monsters."/"The vampires and youkai say the same thing you do."
    It is said that ghosts have appeared on the streets, but this store () () There are few things. Ghosts are noisy to begin with (place) It's easy to get together in. The ghost itself 儚Haka ({{{2}}}) Perhaps it's because they seem to be disappearing at any moment, but it's easy to feel their own presence (Nigi) Gather in a small place. They will likely gather in crowded places, just like humans did when they were alive./Phantoms will appear in public places, but they don't show up at my store often. To begin with, phantoms tend to gather easily wherever there is a lot of commotion. This is because of a phantom's transient nature, where they may vanish at any moment, so they gather at a lively place where it is easier for them to really feel their own existence. It is likely just as when they were human, preferring to be in crowds to people.
    "They say the future is planned, but that doesn't make sense. Some people seem to make their daily lives based solely on luck," Marisa said after having a spiritual dream./"There's no way the future is pre-defined. Some people's lives are supported just by luck, y'know." Marisa said, looking at Reimu.
    "Well, it's just luck (Kan) But even a hunch is a hunch that has some basis."/"Well, rather than 'just by luck' it's 'intuition', and that intuition is an intuition with a proper foundation."
    She looked like she couldn't believe Marisa./Marisa's expression said that she didn't believe her.
    "At the banquet () () () () () () Even when I did it, it wasn't a contest (Sai) You'll catch the eye of. What kind of basis do you have for that."/"Whenever we play Chinchirorin at parties, ya always call the face of the die to the point where there's no longer any competition. How can ya say there's a foundation for that?"
    Chinchirorin? Ah, Saiko (Dice) It's a simple game where you just have to look at the eyes of. Gambling at banquets is like the world of the yakuza./Chinchirorin? Ah, the simple game played with dice. Feasts and gambling, it's like the world of crime.
    "Marisa, I think the reason Reimu is able to ensure the dice are cast is because he is instantly calculating the planned future."/"Marisa, I believe the reason why Reimu can guess the outcome of dice rolls must be because she can calculate in an instant the predetermined future."
    I shared my thoughts on the mechanism by which the eye of the dice is determined. Reimu must probably be able to calculate the result intuitively by looking at Saiko's initial state. That's the kind of luck that exists in the world./I told them my idea, about the mechanism by which the outcome of dice was set. Perhaps after seeing the initial conditions Reimu can calculate the result of the dice by her intuition. Within this world good luck is that sort of thing.
    "Rinnosuke, that's completely different. You can't do that kind of calculation just by looking at the dice. Calculating people only think about probability. And even if you do the math, it won't turn out the way it does."/"That's not it at all, Mr. Rinnosuke. No matter how you slice it you couldn't do that kind of calculation just by looking at the dice. Calculating people only think with probabilities. Besides, even if they did calculate that the result won't go exactly as they thought."
    "Why do you think that? It's true that there's no way to calculate it, but if you could calculate it, you could read the future."/"Why do you think so? While I suppose you couldn't do that, wouldn't it still let you tell the future if you could?"
    Reimu looked shocked./Reimu looked shocked.
    "I seem to understand luck a few levels better, so I'll teach you today. The mechanism of probability. Also, the future is not planned..."/"Since it seems I have a deeper understanding of fortune, today I'll be doing the lecturing on the mechanism of probability. And while I'm at it I'll also show that the future is not predetermined…"
  199. Curiosities of Lotus Asia Chapter 27 Mechanism of Fortune "The layers of physics act on the laws of physics, the layers of psychology act on the interpretation of results, and the layers of memory act on the manipulation of probability, interacting to create the future. Since memories cannot be the same as a single point in the past, there are no plans for the future./The physical layer follows the laws of physics, the mental layer interprets the outcomes and the memory layer alters probability, mutually creating the future. Since it's impossible for memories to reach the same state as a point in the past, the future is not predetermined.
    For example, suppose you roll the dice once and get a 1. Even if you drop the dice again under the exact same conditions, the fact that one came out () () () () () () () () The above are not necessarily the same probability./So take a die rolling a one as an example. If you were to throw it again with the same initial conditions as before, since the die members the previous outcome it won't necessarily be the same probability.
    Just as I was about to hear and understand, I thought, "So how can you say you can read the dice?" Marisa asked./I followed her explanation up to that point, but then Marisa asked "So how are ya able to predict how the dice will fall?"
    I was distracted by Reimu's idea of a new world, but Marisa remained calm. If you can read the dice, not only will you be able to stand it and not lose, but you may also be able to achieve the same level of luck as Reimu./While I was entranced by Reimu's new illustration of the world, Marisa was unfazed. I didn't think she wanted to know just to beat Reimu at Chinchirorin, but to use that idea to become as lucky as Reimu.
    "I'm not really reading the next die. () () () () () () () () () () That's what Saiko remembers."/"I'm not "predicting" the fall of the dice at all. The dice members the fact that 'I predicted how the dice would fall'."
    Just by having a lucky card called Reimu in your memory at the dice, the result will be great and you will be on the Reimu side (Katayo) It is said to be a ru. () () () () () () () () () () () Apparently./According to this, by the lucky card called Reimu entering the memory of the die-face the result greatly skews in Reimu's favorite. Apparently, 'the results side with Reimu'.
    "Well, then such knowledge is of no use to anyone except those with good fortune," Marisa was embarrassed./"What? Howzzat gonna help anyone but those who are already lucky?" Marisa sunk.
    I thought there was something false and shady about luck in the world. A big factor in this is that I thought the future was planned. Good luck (Engi) Even things were perceived as just far-fetched lumps./I doubted the existence of things such as fortune in this world, thinking it seemed like a lie. This was too likely of me thinking that the future was predetermined. I saw good luck charms as nothing more than lumps of sophistry.
    However, hearing Reimu's words reaffirmed the existence of luck in this world. There are certainly lucky and bad people. (Gen) を 担 (and) Some people succeed easily. To the jinx (Tora) I have people who fail. It may certainly be rough to think of all of these as just initial conditions./ Whatever, upon listening to Reimu's words, I have reaffirmed the existence of fortune. The blessed man and the cursed man both exist, certainly. There is a man that succeeds in shouldering his trials. There is a man that is a failure, captive by jinxes, as well. It might certainly be reckless to think of each one as mere because of initial conditions.
    If the determination of probability is due to the power of memory, it may not be surprising that lucky charms have the power to manipulate probability. The origin is complex and strange (Moderate) , memory is Taki (Taki) This also means that the status of lucky charms increases./If we assume that probability is determined by the power of memory, it may be natural that probability can be manipulated by the power of good luck charms. The more complicated and unusual the origins are, the more memories a charm will have, therefore raising its effectiveness.
    Reimu added that 『all matter and psychology in this world are created by probability, and it is the luck of memory that determines this』./Reimu added to this, "In this world, both objects and souls are made up of probability, and are determined by the fortune which memories hold."
    I once heard that word and remembered it. 『 こ () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () For it is already common sense』 I have seen science books from the outside world that say things like this. I remember looking at the book and not being able to figure out 『who would confirm the probability』 and not really understanding it./Hearing those words I remembered something. "It is already common knowledge that everything in the world exists by probabilities." Something along those lines was written in a science textbook from the outside world. I recall having only a huge compromise of its meaning, and I didn't understand, "Who determines the outcome of those probabilities?"
    However, Reimu was thinking of something similar, and he also realized that he had the power to determine probability in his memory. It was amazing./But Reimu had thought the same kind of thing, and even realized that it is memories which hold the right to determine those probabilities. It was surprising.
    "Memory determines probability... in other words What goes around comes around (Ingaohou) You could also say, it's amazing. That may indeed be true. But how did you acquire that knowledge?"/"Memory determinations probability... in other words, you could say it's karma. That's pretty amazing. It may very well be true. By the way, how did you come across this knowledge?"
    Always Inaction (Mui) I almost added that it looks like the wind that lives in, but I stopped to move the story along smoothly./Your lifestyle appears so idle, I was about to add, but to preserve the current subject I changed my mind.
    「 も () () () () () () () () () () I asked him."/"I heard it from a really, really smart human."
  200. Touhou 02: Story of Eastern Wonderland Stage 03
  201. Touhou 02: Story of Eastern Wonderland Stage 03
  202. Touhou Sangetsusei (Three Fairies) ~ Oriental Sacred Place Chapters 1-2
  203. Touhou Sangetsusei (Three Fairies) ~ Strange and Bright Nature Deity Chapter 6
  204. Curiosities of Lotus Asia Chapter 27 Page 198-205 "She says that the world is made up of three layers:
    First is the physical layer that moves in accordance with the laws of physics, including all living things, objects, etcetera. It is on this layer that an object falls toward the ground, and that the water of the river flows.
    The second layer is one that moves with the spirit, which includes things such as magic and sorcery — the mental layer. One's mood turning sour when meeting an unpleasant person, and releasing all your stress and cares during a party lie here. Since most youkai can control the world through both the physical and mental layers, they say that history repeats itself and the future is predetermined as a prank.
    But according to Reimu, there is a third layer that rejects loops: this third layer is the memory layer, which is the recollection of events that lies within all things. Since it is only possible to add to the memory layer, it's impossible to completely recreate the past; if something were to happen that already occurred in the past, then there would be a contradiction because that would imply that that memory was lost, which is impossible. The memory layer always continues to build up."
  205. Curiosities of Lotus Asia Chapter 27 Page 198-205 "The second layer is one that moves with the spirit, which includes things such as magic and sorcery, the mental layer. One's mood turning sour when meeting an unhappy person, and releasing all your stress and cares during a party lie here. Since most youkai conceive of the world just through these physical and mental layers, they Ridiculously say that history repeats itself and the future is predetermined."
  206. Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream