Author Topic: Kosuzu Quest - a bibliophile's adventures  (Read 20677 times)

Lt Colonel Summers

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • Do not mess with a soldier
Kosuzu Quest - a bibliophile's adventures
« on: June 02, 2017, 03:49:30 AM »
Before we start, I would like to clarify that this Quest does NOT share the same continuity as Yorihime Quest and Sumireko Quest. Which means the Foreign Military does NOT exist here.

XXXXX

>You are Motoori Kosuzu, the Bibliophile of Deciphering Eyes!

>You and your parents run a book lending store called Suzunaan, which is located in the Human Village.
>You have the ability to read any language that has ever existed in the world, whether it is still being used today (English) or is a long-dead ancient script (Ancient Tengu Writings).
>Your ability also has the effect of releasing powers that are sealed inside Youma books, which usually ends up as trouble for just you at best, and the whole Village at worst. Needless to say, you have been warned many times by Hakurei Reimu to be very careful around Youma books.
>That still hasn't stopped your fascination for Youma books, though...

>Things have been peaceful in Gensokyo lately, the last Incident has already been resolved a long while ago.
>You're currently seated behind your desk, going through the checklist of who still have books that are due for return.
>_
There's nothing inscribed on the dog tag...

Re: Kosuzu Quest - a bibliophile's adventures
« Reply #1 on: June 02, 2017, 09:35:19 AM »
Well, so much for Yorihime Quest or Sumirenko Quest.

>Relationships
>Skills
>Thoughts on recent events.
My old avatars: Old ass turtle, Unzan - Second and Current Avatar by the talented Aoshi-shi

Lt Colonel Summers

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • Do not mess with a soldier
Re: Kosuzu Quest - a bibliophile's adventures
« Reply #2 on: June 02, 2017, 11:24:30 AM »
Well, so much for Yorihime Quest or Sumirenko Quest.

>Relationships
>Skills
>Thoughts on recent events.

//Well, I'm sorry about terminating those two Quests without notice. I simply lost interest after noticing how awkward their plots have become, something I didn't notice when I first started them... :X
//Well, I've decided to resume updating them after thinking about it. So there you have...

>Relationships:
-Hakurei Reimu - a close friend of yours. She is quite protective of you, but oftentimes had to warn you that Youma books are not to be trifled with.
-Marisa Kirisame - another close friend of yours, as well as Reimu's. You thought of her to be quite strange, as she has a Japanese last name but a western-sounding first name. Her speaking with a western accent confuses you even further, but you paid little attention to it.
-Hieda No Akyuu - a fellow bookworm and also another friend. She occasionally borrowed books from you to help with her writings. Suzunaan has also distributed several detective novels that she wrote under the pseudonym "Agatha Christ Q". You considered asking her why she chose a western-sounding pseudonym.
-Futatsuiwa Mamizou - a frequent customer of Suzunaan. It was only recently that you learned about her being a Tanuki, and it was a scary thought to think that she's been using you as a pawn for so long. Now you know why Reimu has shown indirect hostility toward her.
-Shameimaru Aya - A Tengu reporter who approached you out of the blue one day to use Suzunaan as a way of distributing her newspapers. Thankfully newspaper distribution is all that she asked you to help her do, although she decided to cancel that contract just as suddenly as she approached you.

>Skills:
-You have the ability to read just about any language that exists in the world, whether it is a long-dead language or still in use today. Though actually speaking and writing those language is an entirely different matter.
>Other than that, you're pretty much an ordinary human.

>You recall Reimu and Marisa taking about a "Perfect Possession Incident" a while ago. But other than that, you don't know much about it, since it didn't directly affect you (or so you thought).*1
>There's also the Incident that came not too long after the Perfect Possession Incident, in which Gensokyo is suddenly experiencing Spring, Summer, Fall/Autumn and Winter simultaneously. This Incident did not go unnoticed by anyone including you, and its quite unpleasant when one part of the Human Village is experiencing scorching Summer heat, and another freezing Winter winds.*2

>_

//*1: The events of Antinomy of Common Flowers.
//*2: The events of Hidden Star in Four Seasons.
« Last Edit: June 02, 2017, 02:10:09 PM by Lt Colonel Summers »
There's nothing inscribed on the dog tag...

Re: Kosuzu Quest - a bibliophile's adventures
« Reply #3 on: June 06, 2017, 06:59:49 AM »
>Inventory.
My old avatars: Old ass turtle, Unzan - Second and Current Avatar by the talented Aoshi-shi

Lt Colonel Summers

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • Do not mess with a soldier
Re: Kosuzu Quest - a bibliophile's adventures
« Reply #4 on: June 07, 2017, 01:18:24 AM »
>Inventory.

>Inventory check:
-CHECKERED KIMONO - Your usual outfit.
-SUZUNAAN APRON - You wear this apron most of the time. It also has your name imprinted on it in English.
-JINGLE BELLS - You wear these as hair bobbles. Fits your namesake perfectly.
-DUE BOOKS CHECKLIST - A list of people who still have books due for returning, along with the fines they're supposed to pay for being overdue. You are currently going through the list.
There's nothing inscribed on the dog tag...

Re: Kosuzu Quest - a bibliophile's adventures
« Reply #5 on: June 12, 2017, 08:17:41 AM »
>Keep on reading through the due books checklist.
My old avatars: Old ass turtle, Unzan - Second and Current Avatar by the talented Aoshi-shi

Lt Colonel Summers

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • Do not mess with a soldier
Re: Kosuzu Quest - a bibliophile's adventures
« Reply #6 on: June 12, 2017, 12:45:22 PM »
>Keep on reading through the due books checklist.

>You continue going through the DUE BOOKS CHECKLIST.
>There are only three names on it that still have due books right now.

-Hieda No Akyuu: 1 book due in 2 days.
-Hakurei Reimu: 5 books due in 3 days.
-Marisa Kirisame: 3 books overdue by 7 days. $210 total in fine. *1

>Oh, Marisa. Always overdue with what she borrows...
>Looks like you're going to have to go meet the witch yourself, and pester her into returning those books as well as paying the fines...

//*1: Gensokyo uses medieval Japanese gold coins. But for the sake of narrative simplicity, I use the "$" sign here.
There's nothing inscribed on the dog tag...

Re: Kosuzu Quest - a bibliophile's adventures
« Reply #7 on: June 13, 2017, 02:53:07 AM »
>Do we know where she lives?
>What's our relationship with our parents?
My old avatars: Old ass turtle, Unzan - Second and Current Avatar by the talented Aoshi-shi

Lt Colonel Summers

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • Do not mess with a soldier
Re: Kosuzu Quest - a bibliophile's adventures
« Reply #8 on: June 13, 2017, 09:50:13 AM »
>Do we know where she lives?
>What's our relationship with our parents?

>According to Reimu, Marisa lives somewhere in the Forest of Magic. Too dangerous for a normal human like you, unfortunately...

>Very nice, actually. Your parents loved you, and you loved them back. Being the only child in the family certainly helped contribute to this.

>You then hear the ringing of bells, indicating that someone has just walked through the front door of Suzunaan.
>"'Sup, Kosuzu! It's me!"
>Oh, its Marisa. Looks like she came with a bundle of books.
There's nothing inscribed on the dog tag...

Re: Kosuzu Quest - a bibliophile's adventures
« Reply #9 on: June 14, 2017, 04:22:55 AM »
>"Hello Marisa! Are those the books you promised you'd bring back?"
My old avatars: Old ass turtle, Unzan - Second and Current Avatar by the talented Aoshi-shi

Lt Colonel Summers

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • Do not mess with a soldier
Re: Kosuzu Quest - a bibliophile's adventures
« Reply #10 on: June 14, 2017, 01:51:26 PM »
>"Hello Marisa! Are those the books you promised you'd bring back?"

>"Yep!" Marisa answers you. "I'm sorry for returning 'em late, though."
>She then sets the bundle of books down on your desk.
>"All 3 of 'em!" Marisa added.
There's nothing inscribed on the dog tag...

Re: Kosuzu Quest - a bibliophile's adventures
« Reply #11 on: June 15, 2017, 07:03:21 AM »
>What are the three books?

>"Thank you so much! I was worried I was going to have to get them myself, I heard the Forrest of Magic is a dangerous place."
My old avatars: Old ass turtle, Unzan - Second and Current Avatar by the talented Aoshi-shi

Lt Colonel Summers

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • Do not mess with a soldier
Re: Kosuzu Quest - a bibliophile's adventures
« Reply #12 on: June 15, 2017, 09:51:31 AM »
>What are the three books?

>"Thank you so much! I was worried I was going to have to get them myself, I heard the Forrest of Magic is a dangerous place."

>"Oh, please. If ya got attacked by Youkai attempting that, Reimu's gonna have my head!" Marisa tells you. "Anyways, how much do I owe you for bein' late?"

>You look at the bundle of books.
>Astrology For Novices, How To Pacify Fairies, and Flora in Gensokyo: The Complete List. All three of them are accounted for...albeit not as pristine as when they were borrowed.
>You also notice a fourth book at the bottom of the bundle, which you don't recognize. It appears to have a completely blank cover...
There's nothing inscribed on the dog tag...

Re: Kosuzu Quest - a bibliophile's adventures
« Reply #13 on: June 17, 2017, 04:59:53 AM »
>Point at the 4th book.
>"What's this?".
My old avatars: Old ass turtle, Unzan - Second and Current Avatar by the talented Aoshi-shi

Lt Colonel Summers

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • Do not mess with a soldier
Re: Kosuzu Quest - a bibliophile's adventures
« Reply #14 on: June 17, 2017, 02:10:27 PM »
>Point at the 4th book.
>"What's this?".

>"Oh, that? Just popped up right outside my doorstep. Couldn't get 'eads or tails on what it was, so I took it 'ere, hopin' ya can tell me what it is. It also reminded me to return these three..."
There's nothing inscribed on the dog tag...

Re: Kosuzu Quest - a bibliophile's adventures
« Reply #15 on: June 18, 2017, 12:31:02 AM »
>"Oh cool!"
>Touch the book.
My old avatars: Old ass turtle, Unzan - Second and Current Avatar by the talented Aoshi-shi

Lt Colonel Summers

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • Do not mess with a soldier
Re: Kosuzu Quest - a bibliophile's adventures
« Reply #16 on: June 18, 2017, 03:23:55 AM »
>"Oh cool!"
>Touch the book.

>You touch the book.
>The cover feels like it is made of metal.
>Nothing strange has happened...yet.
There's nothing inscribed on the dog tag...

Re: Kosuzu Quest - a bibliophile's adventures
« Reply #17 on: June 18, 2017, 07:08:44 AM »
>Open it.
My old avatars: Old ass turtle, Unzan - Second and Current Avatar by the talented Aoshi-shi

Lt Colonel Summers

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • Do not mess with a soldier
Re: Kosuzu Quest - a bibliophile's adventures
« Reply #18 on: June 18, 2017, 08:54:25 AM »
>Open it.

>You open the strange book.
>The first page you see is completely empty...

>Or was empty.
>The page suddenly started filling itself with illustration of something...
There's nothing inscribed on the dog tag...

AzyWng

  • "I was a dumb American in a place where dumb Americans were less popular than the clap."
  • "So this was it. My easy retirement."
Re: Kosuzu Quest - a bibliophile's adventures
« Reply #19 on: June 18, 2017, 01:28:31 PM »
> Oh no, not again...
> Has this effect actually happened before? The illustration suddenly appearing, that is?
> "Did the book normally do this?"

Lt Colonel Summers

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • Do not mess with a soldier
Re: Kosuzu Quest - a bibliophile's adventures
« Reply #20 on: June 19, 2017, 01:02:15 AM »
> Oh no, not again...
> Has this effect actually happened before? The illustration suddenly appearing, that is?
> "Did the book normally do this?"

>This is the first time you are seeing such a strange phenomenon.

>Marisa comes over and sees what is happening.
>"Beats me. It only turned up earlier today..." Marisa says.
There's nothing inscribed on the dog tag...

AzyWng

  • "I was a dumb American in a place where dumb Americans were less popular than the clap."
  • "So this was it. My easy retirement."
Re: Kosuzu Quest - a bibliophile's adventures
« Reply #21 on: June 19, 2017, 02:00:19 PM »
> Well, in for a penny...
> What does the illustration look like?
> Wait a bit so Marisa can see, then turn the page.

Lt Colonel Summers

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • Do not mess with a soldier
Re: Kosuzu Quest - a bibliophile's adventures
« Reply #22 on: June 20, 2017, 01:54:20 PM »
> Well, in for a penny...
> What does the illustration look like?
> Wait a bit so Marisa can see, then turn the page.

>The illustration appears to be of a meadow blanketed by flowers, overlooked by a mountain range in the distant background.
>"This just keeps gettin' weirder an' weirder..." Marisa comments on the strange phenomenon.
There's nothing inscribed on the dog tag...

AzyWng

  • "I was a dumb American in a place where dumb Americans were less popular than the clap."
  • "So this was it. My easy retirement."
Re: Kosuzu Quest - a bibliophile's adventures
« Reply #23 on: June 21, 2017, 10:04:45 PM »
>Does the illustration look familiar in any way?
> Turn the page.

Lt Colonel Summers

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • Do not mess with a soldier
Re: Kosuzu Quest - a bibliophile's adventures
« Reply #24 on: June 22, 2017, 09:16:52 AM »
>Does the illustration look familiar in any way?
> Turn the page.

>Nope. Nothing familiar about that illustration.

>You turn to the next page.
>The next page shows the same meadow from bird's eye view. There appears to be what looked like a small settlement to the east of the meadow.
There's nothing inscribed on the dog tag...

Re: Kosuzu Quest - a bibliophile's adventures
« Reply #25 on: June 23, 2017, 07:19:04 AM »
>"Do you recognize this place Marisa?"
My old avatars: Old ass turtle, Unzan - Second and Current Avatar by the talented Aoshi-shi

Lt Colonel Summers

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • Do not mess with a soldier
Re: Kosuzu Quest - a bibliophile's adventures
« Reply #26 on: June 24, 2017, 02:53:41 AM »
>"Do you recognize this place Marisa?"

>"Nope. Ain't got any ideas 'bout it." Marisa says.
>That's when the book itself seems to start glowing.
There's nothing inscribed on the dog tag...

AzyWng

  • "I was a dumb American in a place where dumb Americans were less popular than the clap."
  • "So this was it. My easy retirement."
Re: Kosuzu Quest - a bibliophile's adventures
« Reply #27 on: June 25, 2017, 03:02:13 PM »
>Back away from the book.
>Has this happened before? If so, what happens afterwards usually?
>"I assume this didn't happen either, Marisa?"

Lt Colonel Summers

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • Do not mess with a soldier
Re: Kosuzu Quest - a bibliophile's adventures
« Reply #28 on: June 27, 2017, 01:16:21 PM »
>Back away from the book.
>Has this happened before? If so, what happens afterwards usually?
>"I assume this didn't happen either, Marisa?"

>You back away.
>You have never seen anything like this before.
>"Uh...I would like to say...Nope..." Marisa answers.

>Reimu suddenly storms into Suzunaan.
>"I sensed a strange aura coming from here! What is going on?!" She exclaims.
There's nothing inscribed on the dog tag...

AzyWng

  • "I was a dumb American in a place where dumb Americans were less popular than the clap."
  • "So this was it. My easy retirement."
Re: Kosuzu Quest - a bibliophile's adventures
« Reply #29 on: June 27, 2017, 04:07:04 PM »
>"Wait wait wait, don't shoot!"
>"It's a book Marisa brought over, she didn't know what it was, so she asked me to help identify it. That's when this happened. Please, don't shoot!"