Gensokyo.

The fortress of fantasy. The aegis of allegory. The bastion of belief.

Our home.

It’s a beautiful land. Nestled in between tall mountains and great forests lies a world of myth and legend, where youkai walk and fables thrive. Though the outside world is hostile to such things, in this small land they are allowed to flourish, no matter how mighty or meek.

But a safe haven is only such when all who seek its refuge agree to uphold it. There are many who conspire to bring Gensokyo under their thumbs; vengeful beings inflicting their wrath on whatever they can find, idle destroyers who merely wish to cause terror and panic, and those who would turn the trapped residents into a weapon for their own ends. When these sorts arise, it falls upon the Hakurei Shrine to save us; its lineage of sacred warriors has brought many a would-be conqueror to their knees.

…But one such ascendant was unlike the others. A subtle, insidious force; one that whispered into hearts and minds and seeped into the very earth. Its influence spread near unnoticed for far too long; it revealed itself only to those it could both bring to immediate heel and needed for it’s own plans. Had they remained hidden even a day more, the whole land could have fallen into their grasp, with the outside world sure to follow.

But its treacheries did not go unnoticed. Where even the shrine maiden’s watch faltered, a young, gallant knight of our very domain stepped forward, and sought to tear the madness out by its roots. Beneath his banner he gathered arcane expertise, the might of the oni, and the very power of miracle itself.

Though his efforts may have seemed faltered and fleeting, as the knight had no powers as grand as those around him, without his stalwart heart and heroic spirit all of Gensokyo would have been lost. So tuck in, my dear, and let me tell you his tale.

It all began one fateful morning…

As the dawn sun filters through the paper walls, you rise from your bed, your heart swelling with heroic pride. It was no less than yesterday when you finally were promoted from mere squire to true combatant; the culmination of years of work finally bearing fruit. Joy sings a song in your heart as you examine your new HERO’S GARB. Now, your story can begin.

And you know just where to start. Your hometown is sheltered and secluded, a blessing and curse for its residents. Here, you are all safe from the youkai and other VICIOUS MONSTERS that lurk outside your domain… but that same security has dulled the edge of many, to the point that there are few places in Gensokyo that even the bravest warriors dare to tread. The sole exception is HER MAJESTY, the strongest among you; but even she has limits you dread the consequences of. The thought of knights cowering behind their princess makes your blood boil; you’re meant to protect, not be protected!

And to that end the quest has never been in doubt; to forge a path to HAKUREI SHRINE, and make it safe to tread for everyone who would follow in your footsteps. The shrine is the perfect first path to make; from your own refuge, the path is dangerous but not unmeasurably so. The HAKUREI SHRINE MAIDEN does much to defend her own territory, and HER MAJESTY has made the trip before through her own unique means. But the slightest miscalculation can put her in deep peril… a path that can be traversed by steel alone is long overdue.

And you will be the one to make it. You have prepared for this moment your whole life. You are the knight who will trek across this dangerous land, for the sake of your people and your princess. You are the hero of a story only beginning to unfold! You are one who will go down in scroll and song for generations to come!

You are…
[ ] Hotaru (Firefly)
[ ] Ryusei (Shooting Star)
[ ] Kosuke (Rising Sun)

{ } …The Great!
{ } …The Intrepid!
{ } …The Hero!
{ } …The, uh, ummmm… (write-in)
{ } (Maybe I should wait. After all, normally it’s not the hero who comes up with the name, right?)