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Rain Burn / Re: Rain Burn, page 493

« 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.

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Rain Burn / Re: Rain Burn, page 492

« on: April 17, 2026, 09:22:22 pm »

I'm impressed. Even Roko is just fed up with Suzocon's bullshit. He tries to hit Roko with a truth he thinks will hurt him, our little kitsune antihero comes right back at him, face to face. (I assume "Drake's tail!" is the equivalent of "Horseshit!")

Looks like he's through running. Even if he's vastly outgunned, all but challenging Suzocon to throw paws is one of the biggest surprises in the series.

That Infinity Trap really changed Roko. And for once it's for the better. Getting right up in the grill of the nastiest villain in the series takes some real tanuki balls.

And it's more than earned. Suzocon is nothing but a dishonorable dog that O-Inari wouldn't touch. He is happy to destroy his own kin. He deserves to be called out by one of his own clan.

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Rain Burn / Re: Rain Burn, page 491

« on: April 16, 2026, 02:02:00 pm »

I dunno, I just feel like if there's anything our heroes should've learned from the journey so far, it's that convincing their extremely powerful foes to fight each other usually results in at least one of them dying (both if you're lucky), plus an opportunity to escape.

They really didn't.

Aval got trashed by Saida and Perry working together. The most positive outcome, they actually freed that area.

Darya they could only run like hell from. Roko gets the save there (and gained a new power!)

Suzokon-kyo, the quetz showed up all on their lonesome, he trashed and/or ate the vanguard, then Prince Shock Jockey decided he'd had enough of Suzocon's bullshit and trashed his shrine in return. And while they were busy acting like Bighorn Sheep, our heroes just ran like hell, those that could.

Here? Saida's cunning and intelligent enough to maybe have a smidgen of respect from kaibutsu kitsune, and it is the truth: They don't have his MacGuffin. Does he want it enough to go and throw hands with Themberchaud? That has yet to be seen.

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Rain Burn / Re: Rain Burn, page 491

« on: April 15, 2026, 10:44:19 pm »

This situation could be convenient if used properly. "Hey that orb thing you wanted got stolen along with our friend. That big dragon over there in the volcano has it..."

And the moment they cease to be useful to him he eats Saida and hauls Roko back to his Jaunt trap. That's the real problem. They're stuck between a volcano dragon and a very hard place.

Speaking of which now I'm looking at that artificer askance. Who's the gadgeteer genius here? Who can't hide his eyes and his kitsune ball, and what parts of the artificer were wrapped up?

That seems to be Virmir's thing. Something stinks about this whole place and he's very good at holding his cards close to his chest. Kinda like Suzocon.

And at what point does Themberchaud over yonder figure out that he's got party crashers in his kobold village?

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Rain Burn / Re: Rain Burn, page 491

« on: April 14, 2026, 02:34:38 pm »

Is he actually knocked down a tail or is he only showing 7 for some reason?

We'll see. But since he can't hide his true self from Roko, I'd say that he's actually down a tail to a nanao no kitsune. That's a century of power lost, based on the lore for nogitsunes.

And that's why this whole scene gives me Mike-meets-the-Beast-Titan vibes. I really hope it ends better for our protagonists than it did for Mike, considering who this is.

"Do not be afraid, Princess, Roko-san. That comes later."

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Rain Burn / Re: Rain Burn, page 491

« on: April 14, 2026, 07:42:59 am »

It appeara Suzocon-sama has been busted down to nanao no kitsune. Somehow I doubt it makes him one jot less dangerous. Considering exactly how long a nogitsune can hold a grudge? And, you know, the actual kami in this territory has yet to weigh in?

"No need to panic," says the insane monster that would happily devour them both?

There really are only two words to express exactly what the situation is.

OH SHIT. ("We're ****ed" also works).

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Rain Burn / Re: Rain Burn, page 490

« on: April 11, 2026, 02:02:49 pm »

Technically those aren't kobolds but Diggers, a lower ranked but similar race. I thought of them like a starter race for a younger Volcano Dragon. Retanlong's retinue is a lot more advanced and they do not play around. Neither, apparently, does Retanlong.

Which makes Suzokon-kyo crashing his party a truly ballsy move, but that's a kitsune for you. They're always poking their noses where they don't belong.

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Rain Burn / Re: Rain Burn, page 490

« on: April 11, 2026, 08:07:54 am »

Did he die? His red coloring must mean that its Miyo's body.

Doubtful. He disguised himself as a kobold and they are all red. But there are two things he cannot hide. His eyes and his hoshi no tama... his kitsune ball. Which is the clasp of his cloak.

Why did he end up in Retanlong's territory? None of the answers are exactly comforting. But the most likely one is the worst: Vengeance.

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Rain Burn / Re: Rain Burn, page 490

« on: April 10, 2026, 11:37:21 pm »

Did Roko look behind without turning his balloon head?

He sensed a disturbance in the Force. Kitsune cannot hide from one another and this particular one is one that Roko is rightfully terrified of.

As if the bloody dragon wasn't enough to deal with.

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Rain Burn / Re: Rain Burn, page 490

« on: April 10, 2026, 11:28:52 pm »

Knew there was something about that cloaked kobold spellcaster. Now that his hoshi no tama has been revealed...

Suzokon-kyo just joined the party.

<Joker>And here. We. Go.</Joker>

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Rain Burn / Re: Rain Burn, page 489

« on: April 07, 2026, 08:26:22 pm »

I guess Frut is edible if you're a volcano dragon? With guts like a literal volcano they probably can eat just about anything, even if they prefer meat. If the kobolds can eat it, Saida probably can too. (Ironic, considering the quetz appear to be carnivorous).

Wonder exactly what Roko just locked onto? Something sure has his yōkai sense tingling.

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Rain Burn / Re: Rain Burn, page 488

« on: April 04, 2026, 08:32:19 pm »

Oh, those are burning kobolds running out. So like with every other red dragon then.

Man, that voice, though. This is Bahamut's evil twin and he's in a really foul mood.

Suzocon-kyo would at least attempt to outfox you before eating you. This guy, this guy just eats you. Quetz!Brand may not have much more time.

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Rain Burn / Re: Rain Burn, page 487

« on: March 31, 2026, 09:38:14 am »

In the immortal words of Han Solo, "I've got a bad feeling about this." Artificer kobold, spellcaster kobold, warrior kobolds everywhere... If this were a D&D game I'd start getting seriously concerned about the power of their dragon master. Suzocon, for all his power, was a kami wannabe. Retanlong sounds like the real deal.

And now he has a new plaything. Saida's body is going to get badly broken. Or eaten. Or worse. Saida is kind of right. They need to get to Brand tout suite.

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Rain Burn / Re: Rain Burn, page 486

« on: March 27, 2026, 11:00:16 pm »

Heh. All the trappings of a medieval town, even the detail of one of them dumping out what's presumably a chamber pot. And of course Retanlong's retinue preparing food for him. (Presumably, a full grown volcano dragon eats a lot). Looks like a setting out of World of Warcraft.

I wonder about the kobold with the cloak and the gold ring around their tail. Something different about that one - none of the others have ornamentation or are wearing anything.

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Rain Burn / Re: Rain Burn, page 485

« on: March 24, 2026, 08:23:54 pm »

Drawn across the plainlands
To the place that is higher
Drawn into the circle
That dances round the fire
We spit into our hands
And breathe across the palms
Raising them up high
Held open to the sun!