Title: Re: Rain Burn, page 493
Post by: ArchTeryx on April 20, 2026, 11:37:25 pm
That's some nasty gaslighting. Who needs a villain song when you can twist your target's brain cattywampus? Who does this creature think he is, Hannibal Lecter?
Roko's hoshi no tama was stolen, but Suzocon puts just enough truth in it for his lies to stick: Were he in a living kitsune body, the loss of it would be a REALLY BIG PROBLEM. But in this degraded state, his link to it is weaker, so he can live without it for a while. And that's just as big a problem. Not to mention that he picked up Celarius' Shock Jockey vigor; did he also pick up part of the monster's brain?
And once he's twisted Roko's brain with this stuff, Suzocon offers the easy way out: The Jaunt. Except... exactly how many other options are there? If someone generated a new kitsune body for him, would occupying it solve the problem? He seemed to do okay in the dolphin's body without mana.
Roko better have learned by now: Suzocon uses partial truths as weapons, every bit as much as foxfire spears. He's not telling Roko the whole story, but he knows: The very best lies are those that have some truth backing them. Cunning nogitsune blandishments aren't the answer, but... neither is devouring your friends. As much as this malign, corrupt and dishonorable dog of a kitsune may be arguing in bad faith, he has a point. And that's the most dangerous villain of all.
Bravo, Virmir. He may have been a recycled extra, but Suzocon is one memorable villain. He's the best modern nogitsune character I know.