Monday, January 15, 2024

Character Analysis: Kasen Ibaraki

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Background

The main protagonist of the Horned Hermit side story. Kasen is one of many youkai(essentially spirits) living in the area of Gensokyo. Gensokyo being a special location residing behind a dimensional barrier where spirits that depend on the spiritual belief of mankind live. Kasen spends most of her series getting to know touhou main character Reimu, a girl tasked with protecting Gensokyo and Hakurei shrine from malevolent youkai that could disrupt balance of the location. She’s also introduced as a “hermit”, a person who’s gained enhanced spiritual strength through religious training.


Eventually it is revealed that Kasen was once an evil Oni spirit, and was a member of the “four devas”. In her past she was defeated in battle and the evil within her was essentially sliced off of her in the form of a severed arm. Kasen then chose to essentially reformed herself.


Over the course of her story the seal on this arm weakened, causing it to manifest as an evil version of Kasen and eventually fuse with her. However by manipulating events in her favor Kasen is able to get series protagonist Reimu to excise the evil in the form of her severed arm once again. 


Kasen continues to be friends with Reimu and the main cast afterwards. 


Abilities

Magic

Magical spiritual energy that can be used to fuel various forms of attack or phenomenon. Some of the more notable applications of magic is to directly attack the soul or spirit of others, as well as altering fortune (probability) in your favor. Control over fortune can also prevent interference of other aspects of magic from working.


Spell cards/Danmaku

Spell cards are “designated” names for magical attacks, moves and abilities used in the Touhou universe. In gameplay of the series these are typically utilized to form the energy “bullet patterns” of energy spheres and attacks, aka Danmaku. In older titles these skills were activated using actual “cards”, but that concept has since been dropped. 


Spell cards exist in the universe as part of a “duel” system that series protag Rimiru created to settle disputes. Both sides of a conflict typically agree to what spell cards can be utilized during a given fight, and victory is typically awarded based on who has the most visually stunning performance or visual aesthetic of their attack rather than their raw power. As spell cards attacks are intended for formal duels, they “generally” aren't intended to be lethal. Though obviously common sense dictates a user could choose to use similar attacks in a lethal way if they want. 


Notable spell cards:


Urban legend power

During the Urban Legend crises Kasen was able to tap into the power of the spiritual power attached to the human belief in the  The Monkey's Paw urban legend. This allowed her to create large hands to ensnare or entrap people. This power is ”Possibly” exclusive to the circumstances of the Urban legend fighting game.


Spiritual/incorporeal existence

Youkai are primarily spiritual beings. They can create physical bodies for themselves, but are capable of surviving without them or even reducing their bodies to incorporal mists at will.

 

Space/time manipulation

Kasen can manipulate space/time. Such as creating pocket dimensions via a technique called Senkai. Sensing rifts in space, sending people to alternate dimensions and even tearing holes in space/time barriers.


Energy manipulation

Kasen can fire various types of magic energy projectiles.


Longevity/Immortality

Youkai by default have extremely long lifespans, and hermits are described as being immortal or removed from the cycle of reincarnation. Kasen specially has been shown to be at least 1000s of years old.


Flight

Kasen can fly.


Regeneration

Youkai are capable of regenerating lethal wounds and even their entire bodies. Kasen herself does this after her Oni form is destroyed by Reimu. 


Misc

Arsenal

Artificial arm

An artificial arm used to replace Kasen’s severed arm.  It can move independently of Kasen herself and form bandages into various weapons or wraps for attacking foes.


Animal allies

Kasen is well known for her animal handling skills and can even speak to animals directly. She has numerous pets and animal allies that can help her fight in battles.


Koutei

A dragon that Kasen can use to alter the weather or attack foes with electricity. 


Mokuo/Ruiji

A rat-like animal that can poison foes, cause thunderstorms and shock opponents.


Kume

A pet eagle that Kasen can ride on or command to attack foes.


Housu

An attack Tiger.


Manzairuku

A pet seal that can attack foes with a beach ball.


Ibaraki Box of Medicine/Sake

A medicine box filled with sake that has great healing properties. Drinking too much of it can turn normal people into an Oni. Kasen uses it to keep her artificial arm from rotting away.

Transformations


Ibaraki-Douji

A partially manifested form of Kasen’s original oni form, created by the severed arm that contained all of her original evil energy and personality. At the end of her manga it was capable of manifesting its own body and fighting Reimu head on. This version of Kasen displayed powers of necromancy and also had a “non-existent” form that was implied to be invisible to most.


Deva Kasen

Kasen’s original form. It was recreated by having her fuse back together with her severed arm. The form is Kasens most powerful state and even had resistance to sealing.


Feats

Strength


Speed



Endurance

Scaling

Kasen has been able to fight on par with series protagonist Reimu. Hence she should very much be able to scale to pretty much anyone in the touhou series, given Reimu is arguably the strongest character in the cast.

Experience

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