Rain Burn, page 419

[VirBot]

   
That's not even enough for an omelette.

[Rman88]

Maybe the tail rat drove Roko insane..

[ArchTeryx]

This doesn't smell like Roko.

Yeah, he's hungry and yeah, those eggs' mana looks very tasty. But he wouldn't need to grab one and head off with it. He could have just taken the mana from one with no one noticing, and the Aves would then have a dud egg. Dud eggs happen, especially in large clutches. So he wouldn't need to physically steal the egg, and instantly tip the Aves off something is amiss.

Grab his tail, Saida-hime. Something's rotten in this village, and the gossip is already starting to grow.

[Rman88]

While you are most likely right. I still have my doubts that he had made out Clean off that island. Like how much damage did he actual face from the Tailed rat mirror thing. How much was actual Wiped away clean? As if i recall it was a process that could take anywhere between a few hours to a few weeks. He didn't really know for sure as i doubt he had the opportunity to test this out. Considering how unusual Roko is as a ghost. So i don't think he knows for sure what would happen.

That said, i don't believe roko is Sucking their Mana from their body. No, that wouldn't in truth kill said creature if he did it. Least i don't recall them ever setting rules for Magic in this world. Where if you run out of mana you just cease to function. That and roko has been seen eating small animals. Which begs the question dose Everything has mana? How much mana do they have? And yada, yada, yada. No i won't lie roko to me is just eating their souls. as in the end roko at the moment is an Undead Creature. And we really don't know how undead work in this world yet.

That said did roko do it? Guess we are going to have to wait and find out. As remember Roko is a sneaky fox that likes to do stupid things. But this could also just be a red herring. So who knows where it might go.

[ArchTeryx]

While you are most likely right. I still have my doubts that he had made out Clean off that island. Like how much damage did he actual face from the Tailed rat mirror thing. How much was actual Wiped away clean? As if i recall it was a process that could take anywhere between a few hours to a few weeks. He didn't really know for sure as i doubt he had the opportunity to test this out. Considering how unusual Roko is as a ghost. So i don't think he knows for sure what would happen.

That said, i don't believe roko is Sucking their Mana from their body. No, that wouldn't in truth kill said creature if he did it. Least i don't recall them ever setting rules for Magic in this world. Where if you run out of mana you just cease to function. That and roko has been seen eating small animals. Which begs the question dose Everything has mana? How much mana do they have? And yada, yada, yada. No i won't lie roko to me is just eating their souls. as in the end roko at the moment is an Undead Creature. And we really don't know how undead work in this world yet.

That said did roko do it? Guess we are going to have to wait and find out. As remember Roko is a sneaky fox that likes to do stupid things. But this could also just be a red herring. So who knows where it might go.

If you believe Suzokon-kyo, mana is something he just needs in his current form, or he "starves" (fades away). Otherwise, he's a kleptomaniac, and it's less doing mischief than a compulsion with him. And if THAT was his goal there are just far better, easier ways to go about it then actually hauling off an egg. That would be stupid in a way that Roko normally isn't.

However, you are right about one thing: We don't know what damage Suzokon's little Infinity Trap did to Roko in the short time he was trapped in it. I still don't think it's him that stole the egg. And if it's not him, it means something really is rotten about this idyllic little slAve village. Just like every single other place they've visited since this adventure started.

[Rman88]

You know, i had this theory that the Final Boss Might be Roko. Like sure the Queltz seem to be the Main Big Bad Evil guy. But outside of what the Tailed rat said. We really don't know anything about their plan for the eye. Granted i might be reading into this. But we just don't know enough about ghost in this universe. Let alone one that is a Perfect ghost like roko. As the only other ghostly figure we met was the God of death. And i don't think their reapers are that Talkative.

Anyway regardless Roko is missing with a single egg. Begs the question who would steal the egg? And what exactly is Roko doing outside of making himself the number 1 suspect?

Ps, i don't really mind Roko eating their souls or Mana. Whatever you want to call it. Everyone got to eat something. Its just brand has a soft spot for the birds. Why, i don't really know, maybe he really wish he could fly in his old body. Or maybe it is out of spite for the Queltz due to them being their ehh slaves/servants. Regardless thou considering brand is probity still mad at roko. Seems a bit inconsideration to even consider eating their young. Which if you recall page 416, Roko Defiantly was like, i want me some Baby Back Souls.

[ArchTeryx]

You know, i had this theory that the Final Boss Might be Roko. Like sure the Queltz seem to be the Main Big Bad Evil guy. But outside of what the Tailed rat said. We really don't know anything about their plan for the eye. Granted i might be reading into this. But we just don't know enough about ghost in this universe. Let alone one that is a Perfect ghost like roko. As the only other ghostly figure we met was the God of death. And i don't think their reapers are that Talkative.

Anyway regardless Roko is missing with a single egg. Begs the question who would steal the egg? And what exactly is Roko doing outside of making himself the number 1 suspect?

Ps, i don't really mind Roko eating their souls or Mana. Whatever you want to call it. Everyone got to eat something. Its just brand has a soft spot for the birds. Why, i don't really know, maybe he really wish he could fly in his old body. Or maybe it is out of spite for the Queltz due to them being their ehh slaves/servants. Regardless thou considering brand is probity still mad at roko. Seems a bit inconsideration to even consider eating their young. Which if you recall page 416, Roko Defiantly was like, i want me some Baby Back Souls.

Pure supposition but Vetra-jou strikes me as a likely candidate for the final boss. Though it could be her, the Puppetmancer (whoever he is), or Suzokon-kyo (but I repeat myself). But Roko? Roko's trying his best to be helpful and he's saved their butts more than once. He just has compulsions he can't help.

I can see him becoming a monster, though, if he eats too much mana too quickly. Think Murder Mystery from Mystery Ben's Mystery Skulls music video series (which also features a good-aligned kitsune named, well, Mystery). SPOILER: Mystery apparently dies defending Vivi, but right before his death, he's possessed by the Big Bad of the series, the powerful demon Reverb. And that transforms him from a kitsune to a straight up tartarigami, or Curse God. Thus, Murder Mystery. The gang is in serious trouble.

Try to imagine Roko looking like THIS.

From what Suzocon was saying, at least, "mana" seems not to equate to "soul" but to "life force." In this universe, one's life force, once separated from their bodies, can act like a mindless ghoul; it seeks out other sources of life force to keep itself going, just like predators eating prey. They start with plants, but eventually can become real threats if not cleaned up by the Reapers. Roko isn't just a puddle of mana running on automatic, though. He's an actual yūrei (ghost) which is what caught Suzocon's attention.

The eggs are alive, so they have life force. Roko can sense that. He don't care where he gets it from, he just needs it to exist, as much as we need food. Headcanon: He needs a LOT of it to sustain himself as a yūrei rather than just a mindless manabeast. But if he gets too much at once... Katie bar the door.

[Rman88]

Mind you, i don't really disagree with what your saying. As sure this is a bit of a long shot thinking that Roko is going to be the world ending threat. Still what is the end game with roko? His body is nothing more then a stain either in the ocean or on the forest floor. This isn't like Brand or Sadia where they can just get their body back. Which i wont lie i kinda hope they do at some point. Mainly due to the whole fish out of water story kinda ending like 200 pages ago.

But really, how are they going to Resurrect roko? Or is he just going to be stuck as a ghost for all eternity? A ghost mind you that is Not a normal ghost. Due to roko not Dying but having his soul removed threw the orbs power. Which in all honesty i think we don't really know much about. Like what is the true extent of rokos power?

We know he can possess living creatures. We know he can possess inanimate objects. Both of which he can control at will. But what is the extent to this? Like lets say queen vera shows up. The goddess of the queltz, could he in theory hop into her and take her over? Or what if they find a 50foot statue? Could he animate it with his own power? Further more could he feed on anyone?

This isn't even talking about the damage he faced with the whole erasure thing. so least for Roko i think anything is on the table. As i think their is a reason why the God of death decided to create the reapers. For all we know when a ghost Eats more and more mana. They not only as you suggested need more mana. But also become More and more powerful and insane...

Just a thought..

[Virmir]

I can see him becoming a monster, though, if he eats too much mana too quickly. Think Murder Mystery from Mystery Ben's Mystery Skulls music video series (which also features a good-aligned kitsune named, well, Mystery).

Oh wow, flipping through that gallery, I love that character design. Especially the dog form, ha ha

[ArchTeryx]

I can see him becoming a monster, though, if he eats too much mana too quickly. Think Murder Mystery from Mystery Ben's Mystery Skulls music video series (which also features a good-aligned kitsune named, well, Mystery).

Oh wow, flipping through that gallery, I love that character design. Especially the dog form, ha ha

Mystery's backstory is actually a pretty good one. Apparently, like you, Ben did his homework when it came to kitsune mythology.

Over a millenia past in the wilds of ancient Japan there lived a rare and dangerous beast: A nine-tailed yako-kitsune, wild, untamed and imbued with the power of the kami, the Shinto gods. A samurai warrior, Mushi Yukino, went out to face him as he was causing a lot of trouble in the neighborhood. What exactly happened in those ancient times is a...mystery. But as far as we've been shown:

1) Mushi defeated the yako-kitsune in a furious battle, using a magic-imbued blade blessed by the god of foxes, O-Inari, Herself. The battle stripped two of his tails, reducing him to a nanao no kitsune, a Seven-Tailed Fox.
2) As a result of his defeat, he was given a choice: Death or binding to the Yukino clan until O-Inari awarded him the title of zenko-kitsune - Noble Fox. Traditionally a yako-kitsune is bound for five hundred years of servitude before being allowed to join the zenko. Thus, Mystery has been a part of the Yukino clan all this time. Vivi is a descendant of Mushi, so Mystery is still bound to her as her guardian.
3) The battle was quite bloody, and some of his Mystery's blood leaked onto the roots of a cherry tree, which absorbed it. The tree became the demonic yōkai Shiromori, or the White Tree Demon. She attempted to help her "father" in the battle, but when he bound himself to the Yukino clan, he abandoned her. And she was pissed.
4) Shiromori has been chasing him ever since, for all 1000 years he's been guarding the Yukinos. She is thirsty for his blood, as it is what gave her life, and powers her abilities. The ancient demon can form flowers based on the spiritual traces of people she can find, and use them like compasses to locate them. She is a nasty piece of work.

"You can't run forever, mutt."

---

It's always been a major curiosity why he chose a small bob-tailed dog as his primary disguise. Most kitsune disguise themselves in human form, and they HATE dogs - the one animal they have no power over. But Mystery is a very quirky zenko-kitsune.

He's also, of course, meant to be a parody of Scooby-Doo, same as the entire series. As he was once a kyuubi no kitsune, that makes him... Kyuubi-Doo.

[Virmir]

I admit to not doing much research beyond the customary reading of Wikipedia articles (plus the manga "The Fox and Little Tanuki", which is super great and has a situation similar to how you describe Mystery, although I read that after my initial outline of Rain Burn).

Suzocon is actually a salvage from a much earlier idea, "Reyan Saga", which I never did much with, which was going to be much more Kitsune-focused (also a written story, before I realized I hated writing). Kitsune are super great as a concept and I have other story ideas I want to do with them too eveeentually.