Defend the Library PatchCon
Disclaimer: All Touhou characters belong to ZUN. The concept of PatchCon belong to Tasofro. The ideas and original fanon however belong to me! XD
This is massive RTS game
Dolls are at full speed production
Please plan Strategy until army is ready
War Machine is stolen! (see: Borrowed) Defend the Library!
Chapter 1 - PatchCon
The Scarlet Mansion. It sits on a large peninsula stretching out on the Scarlet Devil Lake. There is only one entrance, which is accessible by land via a long stretch of road on the peninsula.
The term "mansion" is accurate to a degree. From the outside, it looks very large,(yet it is much larger spatially inside), complimented by waterfront views and pine forest and mountain ranges in the horizon. It would be hot property for its spectacular views.
A tall clock tower stands on the main quarters of the mansion, which reads 10 o'clock on the dial. Its architecture is of medieval French origin, colored tinted glass for its windows, arches and columns. The most distinctive feature is its color, for walls and roofs are painted in red paint. A structure so contrasting from the background, that's where its name originated. The Scarlet Mansion.
But the Scarlet Mansion will soon serve a different purpose soon. It was is a fortress. Strategically placed so there is only one point of access via land from the entrance, which can be easily defended. Surrounded by deep water of the lake, and tall walls surround the entire perimeter. Even observing towers at the corners of the perimeter can serve as battlements.
Soon, this fortress will be besieged. An epic war will last 12 hours. But this war is special in a way. All wars are usually driven by greed, and this is also driven by greed. The goal isn't some king's throne, or the mansion's gold. The goal will be…the Voile Magical Library.
And the war will be fought by soldiers of a very different nature.
The Voile Magical Library will put any library to shame. It is the largest library ever known in Gensokyo. An Amazon of books. Arrays of bookshelves tens of metres high stands like tall ancient trees in their thousands. A huge maze. Magical globes light float in midair illuminating the long and winding aisles like fireflies.
There are no signs or ordering/numbering system here. Everything is magically operated, making it the more advanced than any normal library system.
Every book is magically charmed, protected form the wear and tear of time, including the destructive effects of fires and water.
The security feature consists of a magic charm that would alert the librarian if it isn't properly checked out before being taken out of the library.
However, unlike normal libraries, the Voile Magical Library isn't visited by Normal patrons, who civilly come to borrow and read books. In fact, it is usually empty. The only patron who frequently visits is a Lunatic witch who loves to "borrow" books with life long extensions. Much to the dismay of the librarian.
The said witch is stealthily sneaking through the aisles like a night cat. No more than 13 to 14 years of age in appearance, dressed in a black dress and a white buttoned vest, complete with a wide brimmed pointed witch's hat that covers her short golden hair. Beside her is her trusty witch's broom which is silently floating above the ground and a huge cloth sack almost full of books tied to the base of the broom. A make shift silent trolley.
Spotting a book near the top shelf, it's clearly too high to reach. She climbs onto her broom, and levitates up with the sack. Grabbing the book and muttering a spell, she de-activates the security charm and then tosses the book into the sack. She smugs with satisfaction.
Marisa Kirisame is her name, and when asked about her "Borrowing" habits, she replies with a grin; "You can collect them back from me 80 years from now when I die okay? You'll live much longer than me anywaysze". She used this excuse once when confronting the librarian. Indeed, the librarian will live longer than Marisa because the librarian is a Youkai. Youkai can naturally live for thousands of years, as they physically age very slowly.
"Hmm, where is Patchy today? Usually I would have been found out by now", Marisa muses as she de-activates yet another security charm.
Indeed, today is different because Marisa's sack is most full today this time. She should have been discovered by the librarian, Patchouli Knowledge.
As the name suggests, Patchouli is very knowledgeable, since she spent most of her life locked up in the library and idles her time away by reading books. Patchouli only ever left the library a few times to solve a few crises that occasionally happen in Gensokyo.
For the next 80 years or so, Patchouli will also get to interact with a certain frequent customer; hence, her life isn't boring at all.
But today, out of routine, Patchouli isn't on the library grounds to discover Marisa.
While tempted to "borrow" more books and take full advantage of the situation and leave undetected, this turn of events piqued Marisa's curiosity. She was probably also uncomfortable with the lack of routine; (a.k.a. Confrontation).
"Maybe she finally realized that reading in dark places can make her eyes go bad", Marisa recalls a previous conversation a long time ago. "and decided of have some fresh air". If fresh air meant air outside the library to her.
"Meh, I'll go see whats she doing now" Marisa sets out to find Patchouli outside of the library.
Inside a dark room, a single light globe shines a spotlight. A white glowing circle, hovers a few milimetres above the floor, with complex inscriptions and runes on the outer circumference, and a star pattern enclosed by the circle.
Nearby is a short girl, young in appearance, levitating a few centimeters above ground, with a distinctly purple outlook. Long flowing purple hair that falls to her knees. A purple night cap with a gold crescent moon emblem on it. A long and baggy purple nightgown with white stripes. Sleep deprived purple eyes. Very pale skin. Maybe it's because the librarian works 24/7 that she never bothers to change out of her PJs?
Despite the unusual appearance, Patchouli exhibits an aura of definite command and confidence like a Commander. Her voice is soft but projected with strength and clarity. Her height is even compensated by levitation which gives a false sense of height advantage.
Expert in the field of magic due to the long periods of study, it is foolish to take her lightly. Unless you were equally competent or greater in the ability of magic.
Behind Patchouli is another girl, with long red hair. A demon to be exact, because two black bat like wings protrude from her back. Her thin black dress show off her slim figure. Her name is Koakuma, the librarian's assistant.
"Did you get the materials Koakuma?" Patchouli asks without turning.
"Yes, my lady", Koakuma answers in a respectful tone. She holds a sack that bulges with heavy materials.
"Good, place them in the circle"
Koakuma sets down the bag and removes the contents. It was simply piles of medium sized cut logs, and bundles of old cloth, which she places in the centre of the hologram circle.
"Now, Koakuma, watch carefully what it does" Patchouli spreads her arms as she stands in front of the circle. In reaction, a hologram cylinder, consisting of various pictures lights up from the circle in front of her. Patchouli touches one of the small pictures, which magnifies, for Koakuma to see.
It is a face that Koakuma instantly recognizes. A girl in a green cheongsam, and beret long braided red hair, with Chinese facial features. It was the mansion's gate guard, Hong Meiling. Koakuma watches intently.
"You then simply state a number and level, for example; One unit, Level One"
In reaction, the magic circle glows intensely and a single pile of wood and bits of cloth start to levitate off the floor. Koakuma eye's widen as the wood shapes itself in loud creaking noises, as the wood itself breaks as if carved by an invisible knife. The cloth also tears and sews itself together around the wood taking is taking form of…..a doll. In a matter of second, a miniature doll of the gate guard was created, that stand up halfway to the knee. Every detail made the doll look almost lifelike, the red hair made of red string, even the green outfits matches the color of the gate guard's clothes. However, Kaokuma did notice a slight aspect. The head to body proportion seems larger…
"Wow, my lady, just Wow!" Koakuma squeals in awe and delight. "That was top notch craftsmanship!"
"Impressed?" smiled Patchouli. "But this is nothing, watch this"
"Move there!" Patchouli suddenly barked out and pointed to a spot away form the circle.
Kaokuma watch with fascination, as the doll suddenly came to life, replied with a familiar, but high pitched affirmation, and ran to the spot where Patchouli pointed.
"What the, they're automated dolls! There are no strings!" exclaimed Kaokuma.
"Indeed, but in truth, while the dolls are not controlled by physical strings, they can be controlled by the wielder of this magic circle." Patchouli pointed to the hologram circle. "This circle is the main communication and control system for these dolls. I've spent many nights trying to perfect the magical system with spells. A very complex piece of work."
"My lady, so this magic circle creates dolls automatically out of wood and cloth?"
"Yes, but they are not just dolls. You see I've programmed the magic circle to create a combat doll."
"Combat doll!?"
"Yes, the combat dolls have infused magical power and instructions to fight and obey the every command of the wielder of the magic circle."
"My lady, I remember a doll maker who came here once. Her dolls were completely hand crafted, but you just created a doll of detail and craftsmanship which rivals the doll maker, without doing any work at all!"
"No, that's wrong. I did spend many nights perfecting the automated carving process. Besides, I believe any automated production system, can out perform handcrafted production, through consistency, and time efficiency. It should be the future of mass production, don't you think so?"
"You do have a point. But miss Patchouli….why do we need combat dolls?"
Patchouli turns around to face her assistant, and says with a heavy sigh, "I'm implementing a new security system for the library and the mansion. There have been too many break ins lately. Remember the energy mists incident?"
"Oh yeah, it got pretty crowded in the library that time."
"A scenario I don't want repeated, so that's why I came up with this: more security forces. I've designed the magic circle to make these dolls tough and adaptable. Would you like a try to duel with one?"
"ah! I don't think…." Before Koakuma could finish her panicked sentence, Patchouli suddenly assumes a stance in front of the circle and barks an order.
"China! Attack!" yells Patchouli pointing at Kaokuma.
"But my lady! Attac-oow!?" she was cut off but a high pitched "HIYA!" as a sprinting doll leaps and makes a round house kick at her shin.
"Ow! Dammit! Stop it!"
"HIYA!" another war cry from the doll.
"Defend yourself Koakuma!", Patchouli yells. "Destroy the doll!"
Koakuma tries to kick the doll, but the doll with lightning reflexes, leaps to the side, making her miss. The doll continues to give Koakuma a series annoying punch and kick combos at her legs.
"CEASE ATTACK" Patchouli yells and the doll stop attacking.
"Wow, phew, that doll sure had Meiling's kung fu skill" Koakuma says, huffing.
"That was just a low level doll, but I'm sure it caught you by surprise is all?"
"Yeah, it did" Koakuma replied with a blush of embarrassment, rubbing at the sore spot on her legs.
"Anyway, I'll leave this manual with you. Study it because there's a lot more to it than what I showed you. I must return to the library to check on things. Who knows whether that thief snuck in or not? She may there this very instant like a kid in a candy store with no adults"
As Patchouli heads for the exit, Koakuma says "My lady, don't you think we should give it a name?"
"Give what a name?"
"The automated doll maker, it should have a name. Perhaps named after you…"
Patchouli puts a hand to her chin and mutters to herself "yes, it should….Patchouli's Doll Conjurer….no too long, Patchouli's Doll Controlling and Command System. That's too long either….."
"PatchCon!" Koakuma exclaims .
Patchouli considers the name for a moment, then smiles "That's a good name Koakuma. PatchCon it will be."
As Patchouli exits the room and heads for the library, a figure emerges from a corner.
"Combat Dolls, eh……" Marisa whispers, and stalks silently to the room where PatchCon is kept. A sinister smile on her lips.
End Chapter 1
