The Great Library Scavenger Hunt

[Iced Fairy]

"Grant to me the power to bring the world revolution!"

Sakura-Rurouni smiled briefly as she watched Kerigis try to whack Esi with her new sword.  Esifex was proving decently passable at defending herself with Sakana's tuna half, though Sakana didn't seem to be thrilled with that.  Unfortunately the Libraries Head Librarian was currently caught up in one of the Iced Fairy's constructs, being forced to circle the duel in a car along with the instigator of events.

Still her frown returned soon after the duel ended.  As Keri and Iced extracted themselves from their wrecked car and Sakana clubed her impudent underling with a chair, Ruro thought about what was off.  The Library was bustling, and that was good, if tiring.  There were new works getting turned in regularly.   And Sakana had just managed to fix her catalog.  But something seemed off.

And suddenly she understood.

There were writers and games and hangers on all over, but there weren't that many readers.  This library was strange, but it was still a library.  And libraries needed readers!  Or to be sealed away and guarded by fearsome beasts, but she'd spent too much work on this place to just bury it in some desert.

Of course many people read the works by their friends.  And some of the characters about (say ones that drew power from reading) had created small contests to gather written works for their own ends.  But it would be better if people expended their horizons.

The problem was how to get people to read?  She couldn't force people to.  That wouldn't give the library the power it needed.  Book reports were similarly out.

Ruro thought about the matter long and hard, then grinned widely as the answer came to her.  Of course!  It was so simple.

She'd go find Roukan and shake the fae until inspiration fell out.  That always worked!

-----------

The Great Library Scavenger Hunt!

A contest open to all: youkai, fairy, god and human.

Each contestant will be given a list of passages by the forces within the library.  Within the text of the listed passages a ceremonial coin will be magically hidden.  When the contest begins contestants must read through the library, finding the passages to obtain the coins.  Contestants can also win coins from others in contests of literary knowledge!  At the end of the contest, the person with the most coins shall be victorious.

The winner of this contest shall receive the coins, the fame of victory, and the honor of a new title, to be bestowed upon them by Sakura Ruroni herself.

Sign ups are at the front desk.  May fortune favor the bold!

[Iced Fairy]

Official Rules

Yep, we're holding a scavenger hunt.  Anyone can, and should, feel free to join in.  However, unlike a normal scavenger hunt we'll be searching for items in the fiction contained within PSL.  For example, you may be asked to find "An aquatic fic."  An acceptable response would be to grab a link to Third Eye in Pure Waters.  With that you would get the points for that challenge.

So we can grab any fic?
Well, there are some restrictions.  But for now you only need worry about these.

First, you can't use a fic that you yourself wrote.  Sorry, that's too easy.

Second, you can't use the same fic within the same question chain.  Don't worry, they'll be easily grouped so it should be obvious where you can and can't double up.

Third, it has to be in PSL.  No derailing a CYOA to get some quick points!

So what are we looking for?

That's a good question!  We want everyone to be able to participate, so you'll be giving us the question ideas!

For example : A story with a male character.

We'll of course make variants off this.  That one thing to search for might become:
A story with a male character.
A Touhou story with a male character.
A Touhou story with a male character who's actually important to the plot.
A Touhou story with a male character who's actually important to the plot and has no romantic entanglements.

So what do we need from you?

Each entrant must give us three distinct items to search for.  These will be PMed to Keine Kamishirasawa to be stored in her history until go time, so everyone has the same starting spot.

These things should be actual story and plot points.  Meta points will be the province of the judges, so things like "a fic by a banned member" wouldn't count, though you can suggest them in addition.

Signups will continue until Friday Sept 23, but the quicker you grab your questions, the quicker you can start reading in preparation! 

[Iced Fairy]

Sakura-Rurouni Bonus
"And I'll form the head"

Ruro is always looking for allies to help her battle injustice.  She'll happily reward any contestant who's results include 5 different user groups will gain 25 coins.

Sakana Bonus
Fishy Organization

Sakana tries to keep the place somewhat sane, so she's always happy when things are put in order.  Thus contestants who help reshelve books will be rewarded.  Sakana will give two coins for each unique genre (from the main fic list) present in a contestant's answer set, with a bonus of 5 coins for getting all the genres.

Chaore Bonus
Stages of Existence

As a youkai of semi existance, Chaore gains power from things that are partially complete.  Those who feed the rabbit youkai by giving answers that include different levels of completion will find 2 coins per category, and an extra 5 if they get a full set.

Polaris Bonus
Pathfinder

Polaris rewards those who can find their way, and like it or not, the Libraries Polaris has gotten some power in the regard as well.  Thus she's hidden coins about the virtual Gensoukyo the library creates.  A contestant will quickly find that they will get 1 bonus coin for every unique Touhou game referenced by their answers.  Any enterprising contestant who has a unique character from each game in the fics they answer with will receive 10 bonus coins.

Roukan Bonus
A musing

Roukan spreads inspiration about, at the cost of a little bit of madness.  She's very happy when she sees the result of inspiration, and she'll give one coin for each unique story in your answer set.

Esifex Bonus
Dimensional Wanderer

Esifex has a strange fondness for parallel dimensions, so those who help her research those matters will of course get a reward from her.  Even if she does just rip the research right out of their minds.   Esifex will give five coins each for a non Touhou story, a crossover story, and a Kaleidoscope story appear in a contestant's answer key.

----------------

Confirmed Participants

1. Iced Fairy
2. Sect
3. rdj522
4. Squawkers
5. Esifex
6. Wolfsbane706
7. S-Rurouni
8. Sakana
9. Jq1790
10. Polaris
11. Roukan
12.

[Keine Kamishirasawa]

Hello children, I'll be the one collecting your submissions.  Please just leave them in my PM box.  And remember, don't get too obsessed about being unique, just have fun!

[CrowCakes]

Um,

Each entrant must give us three distinct items to search for. 

What does this mean?

[Keine Kamishirasawa]

Um,

What does this mean?

It's simple really.  It means if you want to join in, you have to PM me three different things to search for.  For example:

An aquatic fic.
A fic with a male character.
A fic about the Aki sisters.

I'll hold these in secret so no one will know everything on the list until the contest officially starts.

And as I said before don't worry too much about being 100% unique.  We're expecting some overlap. 

[Alfred F. Jones]

7. S-Rurouni

Yaaaaaaaaaay.

I think I'll try and think of some more to throw your way. Who knows, I might hit on something very fun to search the library for! :]

[Iced Fairy]

Feel free.  I just picked three questions because I didn't want to have people strain to much thinking up ideas.  Extras are always appreciated.

And there's always room for new entrants.  We want this event to be big!

[Iced Fairy]

Applications close Friday at midnight PST!  Don't sit around trying to think of the best questions ever, only to panic at the last minute and scratch together 3 normal questions*.  Give Keine three normal questions now, then mail that cool question you thought of right before the deadline later.

(Or worse forget and make everyone sad.)

[FinnKaenbyou]

She'd go find Roukan and shake the fae until inspiration fell out.  That always worked!

One day, I'm going to file for abuse in the workplace. x_x

the honor of a new title, to be bestowed upon them by Sakura Ruroni herself.

Well, since nobody ever gave me back my Librarian title, I'd better try and get this one. x_x

/in.

[Dead Princess Sakana]

Well, since nobody ever gave me back my Librarian title, I'd better try and get this one. x_x

You're still in the group. You just have to ask an admin to set it to show up as your primary title again, dummy

[Keine Kamishirasawa]

One day left for signups!  Don't be shy and don't worry about question quality just send three ideas over.

The contest itself will run for two weeks, though it'll be fairly boring to watch from the outside.  This is one contest that'll be far more entertaining for participants then viewers, even if you don't put any effort into it.  And the more people that enter the more fun it'll be for everyone, so join up!

[Keine Kamishirasawa]

Well, signups are over.  Our cast is small but dedicated so a round of congratulations to all our participants.

1. Iced Fairy
2. Sect
3. rdj522
4. Squawkers
5. Esifex
6. Wolfsbane706
7. S-Rurouni
8. Sakana
9. Jq1790
10. Polaris
11. Roukan

Now for the hard part: The questions.

Each question will be grouped into categories by line breaks.  You can't use the same fic to answer a question in the same category.  WWC challenge fics that are part of the same challenge are considered the same fic, so you can use one fic from the spy challenge and one from the Noir challenge, but not two fics from the spy challenge in the same category.  Each question will also have a point value associated with it, listed after the question itself. 

(And don't forget the bonuses! )

A date - 5 points
An "on-screen" kiss - 10 points
An "off-screen" sex scene - 10 points
An "on-screen" sex scene - 15 points

Contemporary Touhou - 5 points
Futuristic Touhou - 5 points
Prehistoric Touhou - 15 points

A coming of age story - 10 points
A story about traveling - 10 points
A conventional hero's journey story - 15 points

A Touhou story that contains singing - 5 points
A Touhou story that contains singing that doesn't feature Mystia - 10 points
A non Touhou story that contains singing - 10 points

A Touhou story that takes place (at least mostly) in the Outside World - 5 points
A Touhou story that takes place in neither a Touhou location or the Outside World - 10 points

A story written in the third person - 5 points
A story written in the first-person -10 points
A story written in the second person - 20 points

A story in which a character dies - 5 points
A story in which a named character dies - 5 points
A story where a named character who had significant screen time dies - 10 points
A story where the protagonist dies - 15 points

A story that explains youkai traits - 5 points
A story that involves magic being explained - 10 points
A story that explains the Hakurei Barrier - 10 points
A story that explains different 'styles' of magic - 15 points

A story that has at least three original characters - 5 points
A Touhou story that has at least three original characters that are important to the plot - 10 points

A story including ice skating. - 10 points
A story including swimming - 5 points
- That wasn't written by Roukan - 10 points
A story involving an official sport - 5 points
- That isn't from the WWC contest - 15 points

A fic starring a character in animal form - 10 points
A fic starring at least three characters in animal-form - 15 points

A story where someone makes a wish:
- and that wish is granted - 5 points
- and that wish is granted and they regret it - 5 points
- and absolutely nothing happens - 15 points

A story where blood is spilled "on-screen":
on purpose - 5 points
accidentally - 10 points

A story where someone receives a gift - 5 points
- From an enemy - 10 points
- From a lover - 10 points
A story where there's a large exchange of gifts (5+ people) - 15 points

A story with a male protagonist - 5 points
A Touhou story with a male protagonist - 10 points
- Who isn't an OC - 15 points
A Touhou story with an OC male protagonist with no romantic overtones - 20 points

(The story must obviously place the season to count.  Snow and Lily White yelling about spring count.  A retelling of SA that doesn't mention the weather does not.)
A story that takes place in spring -  5 points
A story that takes place during winter - 5 points
A story that takes place during autumn - 10 points
A story that takes place during summer - 10 points

A story with snow - 5 points
A story with rain - 5 points
A story with fog - 10 points

A story where the characters listen to music - 5

A fic where non youkai animals are present - 5 points
-and important to the story - 10 points
A fic where livestock animals are present - 10 points

A story that is a retelling of one of the games - 5 points
A story that has been rendered obsolete by one of the newer games (directly contradicted) - 10 points

The entire story takes place during the night - 5 points
The entire story takes place at twilight - 10 points

A story where a character writes a letter - 5 points
A story that is a letter or journal entry - 10 points

A festival  - 10 points
A funeral  - 15 points
A wedding - 15 points
A tea party - 10 points

A fic with only one on screen character (flashbacks count as being on screen!) - 10 points
A fic with five or more viewpoint characters - 10 points
A fic with eleven (That's ridiculous. It's not even funny) or more viewpoint characters - 11 points

A fic with a prophecy that must be fulfilled - 5 points
- and the prophecy isn't fulfilled - 10 points

A fic with flower motifs - 5 points and a duelist ring
A fic that uses flowers symbolically and explains it - 10 points
A fic that uses the language of flowers and doesn't explain it - 20 points

A Touhou fic where a character uses a weapon not pictured in their portrait - 5 points
- the weapon is a sword - 10 points
A fic not in the modern world, but with modern weapons - 10 points
A fic not in a futurist setting, but with futuristic weapons - 10 points
A Touhou fic where two combatants use both weapons and magic - 10 points
A fic where a character uses an obviously technomagic device (think Raising Heart) - 15 points

A fic that never leaves a single room - 10 points
A fic that describes a original location in Gensoukyo - 10 points
A fic where the characters visit three different realms of existence (Makai, the Netherworld etc) - 10 points

A story where there is a feast or banquet - 5 points
A story where a character is starving - 10 points
A story where a character needs to eat unnatural foods - 5 points
- and it isn't blood or human flesh - 10 points
- or faith - 15 points

A fic with a sentient object - 5 points
-that isn't normally sentient - 10 points
-and isn't Suwako's hat - 15 points

A story that uses color or other formatting tricks - 5 points
A story that uses three different formatting tricks to effect - 10 points

A comedy - 5 points
A tragedy - 5 points
A tragedy in the classical sense (hubris leading to downfall) - 10 points
A comedic story about a serious character - 5 points
A serious story about a comedic character (ex. Cirno) - 10 points

A fic where a non combat challenge is made - 5 points
- that doesn't involve drinking - 10 points

A fic with gods - 5 points
-that aren't Kanako or Suwako - 10 points
-that aren't in MoF - 15 points

A story with a PC-98 character who is not a final boss as a main character - 5 points
A fic in which a Stage 1 Boss beats a Stage 6 Boss or higher in a fight - 5 points
A fic where a conflict is actually settled by the spellcard rules - 10 points
- and more then 2 cards are used - 15 points

[Keine Kamishirasawa]

How long do we have?

Two full weeks!  You have until midnight October 8th to find as many items as you can!

How to answer

Obviously we won't all be posting the answers in this thread, so how will the judges get the answers?  Simply collect all the fics you can, then mail it to Keine at the deadline.  + or - a few hours doesn't matter, but try to be on time.

Format your answers as follows :
Question being answered
Name of fic
Link to post that contains what you're looking for.

And remember!

You can't use your own fics!

Feel free to ask if you've got any questions.

[Jq1790]

For the ones where you have a general question followed by continually more specific versions of the same one(The male character one, for example), can you submit for more than one component of it as long as you're using different fics for each component?

IE:  Could I submit one fic for just having a male protagonist in it, one for a Touhou fic with a male protag, AND one for a Touhou fic with a male protag that has no romantic overtones?  (thus scoring a lot more points than if one used only one part of the question and had to forgo the other variants of it.)

[Iced Fairy]

For the ones where you have a general question followed by continually more specific versions of the same one(The male character one, for example), can you submit for more than one component of it as long as you're using different fics for each component?

IE:  Could I submit one fic for just having a male protagonist in it, one for a Touhou fic with a male protag, AND one for a Touhou fic with a male protag that has no romantic overtones?  (thus scoring a lot more points than if one used only one part of the question and had to forgo the other variants of it.)

Indeed that is what you're supposed to do.  You just have to have a different fic for each variant.

[Esifex]

A story where a character needs to eat unnatural foods - 5 points
- and it isn't blood or human flesh - 10 points
- or faith - 15 points

So if we can nail the 'fine print' modifiers on this one with the first entry, is that 30 points? I.E., Someone needs to eat the wood shavings formed by whittling a cane out of a length of wood. That's not blood, flesh, or faith - so ergo, 5 + 10 + 15? Or do we need to provide three examples that apply to each modifier - I.E., the first story is wood shavings, the second is actually faith (because that's further down the line) and the third is to absorb sunlight a la Yuuka style? Or does the last modifier mean 'no stories involving faith whatsoever in your list'?

[Iced Fairy]

So if we can nail the 'fine print' modifiers on this one with the first entry, is that 30 points? I.E., Someone needs to eat the wood shavings formed by whittling a cane out of a length of wood. That's not blood, flesh, or faith - so ergo, 5 + 10 + 15? Or do we need to provide three examples that apply to each modifier - I.E., the first story is wood shavings, the second is actually faith (because that's further down the line) and the third is to absorb sunlight a la Yuuka style? Or does the last modifier mean 'no stories involving faith whatsoever in your list'?

Treat each question as completely unique and separate.  Your example set is fine.

[Esifex]

Treat each question as completely unique and separate.  Your example set is fine.

So, for that question, the first part could be answered with an example of Rumia eating the flesh of humans to get to the faith inside, so long as the other two examples pertain to wood chips and sunlight?

[Iced Fairy]

So, for that question, the first part could be answered with an example of Rumia eating the flesh of humans to get to the faith inside, so long as the other two examples pertain to wood chips and sunlight?

Yes.  Another examples set:
- A story where Remilia drinks blood
- A story where Suwako consumes faith
- A story where Super Youkai X needs to eat lasers

[Esifex]

Okay, cool. Just wanted to make sure that Super Youkai X eating lasers wouldn't qualify for all three categories and knock 'em out all at once. I know you said not to use the same fic to answer more than one prompt in a category, but that particular one looked like it could be a triple-whammy - like a one-two combo punch. Lasers are not only not faith, not blood, but they are also not orthodox, ergo, answering the third prompt would also answer the second and first prompts as well.

[Iced Fairy]

Yeah, you can't do multi question like that.

You could however use an overqualified fic.  For example with these questions here:

A story including swimming - 5 points
- That wasn't written by Roukan - 10 points

poor Roukan will have to find 2 swimming fics written by someone other then him, since he can't use his own fics.

[Jq1790]

Hate to ask ANOTHER question, but...Is it possible, when it's time to turn these in in 2 weeks(Well, technically a bit under, but whatever), for us to use something like Pastebin or the like?  I decided to just copy the list and put the names/links underneath their respective questions, and I'm not sure if/what the limit is for characters in a PM here...

[Iced Fairy]

Sure.  Just make sure the link works.   

[Lloyd Dunamis]

Aah, so the hunt has started. Good luck, everyone! >w<

*flutters around and shuffles books to random order*

Hate to ask ANOTHER question, but...Is it possible, when it's time to turn these in in 2 weeks(Well, technically a bit under, but whatever), for us to use something like Pastebin or the like?  I decided to just copy the list and put the names/links underneath their respective questions, and I'm not sure if/what the limit is for characters in a PM here...

I think I've written a big PM before, though probably not as big as a novel fic or something.
...or rather. it was a PM I received ...
Anyway, yeah, we have pastebin for a sure virtually unlimited characters, I think. =w=

[Iced Fairy]

Alright, I've run into a little oddity in my search, and I wanted to see if anyone else has.  I've noted that because I feel rushed, I'm not reading quite as much as I should.  Of course my life is incredibly busy right now, so I'm not sure if it's the deadline or just me.  So I'm asking you fellow contestants if you think there should be a weeks extension because the deadline was a little to quick, or if I'm just feeling rushed because I'm rushed.

[Aya Squawkermaru]

Actually, I think I'm going to forfeit. It's not that I don't enjoy reading these stories, it's just that I haven't been motivated to participate in the scavenger hunt. It happens with these things. I'd rather just read on my own time. Plus, I don't enjoy reading as much when I'm looking for things.

But, I do think there should be an extension. There is a lot on that list, and the point is to get people to read the stories, not skim through them to see if they meet any of the criteria they're looking for.

[Alfred F. Jones]

A week's extension would be a fine thing. I've got a lot of stuff on my plate for this week, and I don't want to rush read anything. (Granted, my normal reading speed is actually very fast, but I don't mean reading, I mean skimming-- I don't want to do any of that.)

[Dead Princess Sakana]

I'd support the idea of an extension of a week. Things got more busy than I expected and it's not going to get less, but I don't wanna drop this challenge either, so some extra time would be appreciated ^^

[Iced Fairy]

I'm making it official then.  The deadline is now October 16th.