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- Jan 4, 2002
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And here is the SNK re-interpretation of the myth, say the KOF back-storyline itself.
This came mostly from KOF96-76 storyline.
Big credit goes out to Chikako Ishikawa.
*****
1) Story
2000 years ago, when civilization was begining to flourish in Japan, countries were built all over the islands. Religions were formed, and among them was the Orochi cult. The Orochi cult originally used the excess power "ki" that filled the world to create miracles. Empires begin to emerge as the Orochi cult, now a clan, began to took power over the leaders, and eventually planned to rule the country (and the world).
To accomplish this, the Orochi clan decided to ressurect the Orochi, the dragon that was thought to be the embodiment of the "ki". However, to do this, sacrifices were needed, and so eight maidens, known to be the Kushinada girls, were selected and brought to the Orochi altar to be slaughtered.
The Kusanagi, Yasakani, and Yata clans, also religious clans that flourished during that time, felt evil in the actions of the Orochi, and joined forces to terminate the clan. With the special powers of the clans' artifacts/symbols, the Kusanagi sword, the Yasakani magatama, and the Yata mirror, they selected thier stongest warriors to stop the Orochi. Kusanagi and Yasakani clan, were fighting religious clans as well, and their bloodlines had the increbible mystic power to create and hurl crimson flames from their fists.
The Orochi clan had their own selected warriors, known as the "Orochi Hakkeshuu" (Orochi's Mighty Aseembly of Eight), and the war became bloody. However, the evil "ki" of the Orochi was no match for the Three Sacred Clans, and the Yasakani neutralized (paralized) their powers, the Kusanagi slayed the Orochi, and the Yata sealed the evil "ki" of the Orochi in her body. Since then, the Yata clan always geve birth to twin sister, in which blood relationship was hidden the Orochi Seal itself.
And so the sacred battle seemed to end, but the "ki" was larger than the capacity of the Yata, and so the Orochi was to be awaken every 100 years, only to be sealed by the Three Sacred Clans again.
The balance of the three clans was disturbed 660 years ago, with the bitter feud between the Kusanagi and the Yasakani. The Yasakani, who grew a lust for power, broke the Orochi seal, and made a blood pact with the Orochi in exchange for unsurpassed powers. In return, the Yasakani blood would be forever tainted with the poison that seeped into thier blood with that of the Orochi. Since then, the Yasakani flames turned from crimsom to purple, and all the member of the clan were doomed to live a short life. The Yasakani changed their name to Yagami since that, and is said to have controlled many of the historical leaders from the dark.
To remain neutral and stay out of the 660 years war between Kusanagi and Yagami, Yata clan changed its name in 'Kagura', and stay hidden to prevent any and danger for the Orochi seal.
But the seal was finally broken again in 1994, with the death of one of the Yata twins (being the daughters of the Clan's headman) killed by one of the modern Hakkeshuu named Goenitz. The Orochi was forced from its slumber again, and so the Kusanagi, Yagami, Yata, and Orochi were destined to meet again, and repeat the twisted history once more. Yet, according to the tradition, eight virgins called 'Kushinada' were to be sacrificed to the Orochi in order to fully complete the resurruction.
*NOTE*
In the SNK version of the story, the eight heards/tails of the Orochi became the Hakkesshu, the Eight Warriors. Please refer to the following information for further details. Also, all the three Imperial Regalia, symbolized by Kusanagi, Yasakani/Yagami and Yata/Kagura are involved in the story, while in the original myth just the Kusanagi swords has a real part.
2) Main Characters
Kusanagi Kyo
His name obviously refers to one of the Kusanagi Clan in this version, but in the original, is derived from the sword, which was known as the Kusanagi Sword, found by Susano'ou during his fight with the Orochi dragon, and lately presented to Amterasu Omikami to became one of the three Imperial Regalia.
Kyo Kusanagi rapresent the 'sword to slain the orochi' and in fact his KOF97/98 super is the 'Kusanagi no Ken' (one of the three divine weapons). In both KOF96 and KOF97 special endings for the 'God Caliber Team', Kyo is called to slain the Orochi.
Yagami Iori
"Yagami" literally means "eight gods", based on the characters used. There are no reference to any other persons helping the Japanese hero Susano'ou in killing the Orochi, yet the 'eight' number is way mysticl in ancient Japan mythology. Yasakani name is also possibly read as 'hasshaku' means "Eight Cups of Wine", from the idea that the Orochi became vulnerable after drinking eight cups of wine, and thus it's powers "neutralized" to none by the drunkenness. In fact, Yasakani/Yagami is said to be the one to 'neutralize' the orochi in both KOF96 and KOF97 'special ending' for the 'God Caliber Team'. Also, his KOF97/98 new super is a paralizing one, being one of the 'three divine weapon'.
Kagura Chizuru
Her former name "Yata" comes from the name of the mirror (one of the three Imperial Rgalia). A Chizuru's present name, "Kagura", means "Pleasure of the Gods", or "Sacred music and dance" performed to please the gods. This is expressed through one of Chizuru's winning poses, when she dances. Also, Chizuru is 'the mirror', and we can see her creating a mirror with her hand during her special prefight intro with both Iori and Kyo. CHizuru is the Yata Mirror, meaning she's called to seal the Orochi. Yagami disposes, Kusanagi defeats, Yata seals. Her KOF97/98 'divine' DM is in fact a sealing super mover, and her role in the KOF96 and KOF97 special endings is consisten as well.
Yuki
The treasured girlfriend of Kusanagi Kyo, she is also one of the eight chosen sacrificial "Kushinada" maidens in KOF '97. The term "Kushinada", however, didn't refer to the sacrificed girls in the original myth, but the princess and heroine that was to be saved from the Orochi. She actually remain as the last one in the end of KOF97, and actually ESCAPES DEATH. She's still alive in KOF99.
Magatama
Now, if anyone asks me if this is Kyo's and Iori's fighting technique AGAIN, I will slap that person with a large trout! That misunderstunding is basically due to a (in)famous errouneus translation of the KOF95 storyline, in the official US instruction blooket for almost all the version of the game itself.
The Eight Orochi Warriors
(Yashiro, Shermie, Chris, Goenitz, Mature, Vice, Yamazaki, Guidel)
Since the original myth states the Orochi to be a single dragon, the idea of eight seperate warriors is from SNK as well. In the SNK version, the eight Orochi warriors represent the eight heads the mythical dragon has, which makes sense, though. The hakkeshuu seems to have particular powers, and Goenitz, Yashiro, Shermie and Chris hold elemental powers (Wind, Earth, Thunder and Flame), thus are sometimes said to be 'uppers' hakkeshuu, in opposition to the other four, supposedly lesser' ones. The Orochi dragon was the embodiment of evil, and so is the Clan in KOF. Guidel is Leona natural father and NO: nor Leona nor Iori are hakkeshuu! They're actally:
Orochi half-blooded
Those are Leona and Iori. Iori being a Yagami, has PART of the Orochi bllod flewing in his own blood-line, not only veins. Leona is the daughter of a rebel Hakkeshuu, namely Guidel, who rejected his nature and tried to live a normal life throwing away his Orochi lineage.
Due to their 'half' of Orochi blood, both Leona and Iori suffer of the so-called 'Riot of the Blood'. When the Orochi blood in their veins awakes (due to the Orochi power itsel being someway close to them), it goes riotting with the normal human blood in them, and they basically go berserk. This happened for the first time with Leona: Goenitz visited her father Guidel prior to kill Kagura's sister, in order to get beck Guidel to the Orochi side. Nverless, Guidel refused, but before to leave, Goenitz put a hand on little Leona's head to awake the Orochi blood within her. That night, Leona had her first Riot of the Blood crisis, and slayned both her parents. She bacame catathonic since then, and removed her memory about the fact, just to be lately rescued by Heidern and raised by him as an elite soldier. Finally, Leona got back her memory after remeeting with Goenitz in 1996 ending. Still, she had another Riot of the Blood crisis in the end of KOF97, due to the closeness of the Orochi resurruction. As for Iori, he experienced his Riot of the Blood after defeating Goenitz, when he killed both his teammates Mature and Vice (see below). Same thing occured, and actually twice, in the end of KOF97. Also, Iori have has 'Riot of the Blood' SDM in KOF96 and KOF97. This was emphasize in KOF98, when also Leona got his 'Riot of the Blood' feel in one of her SDM.
The Goenitz-Mature-Vice-Rugal thing
Goenitz killed Chizuru twin sister in 94. After taht, the Orochi seal was broken and the Orochi power started to be released. Rugal, in his search of power, tried to siphon that power. Goenitz was interested in seeing the effect of the Orochi power on a human, and allowed him to do that, but went to Rugal and took his right eye as a blood contract. After that, Gonenitz sent two other Hakkeshuu (supposedly his serveant) to Rugal's, to monitor the fate of the Orochi-powered human. Those two were Mature and Vice, and they used to be Rugal secretaries. Aftet the Orochi power finally ereased Rugal himself in 1995, the two came back to Goenitz. It was 1996 this time, and Goenitz sent both Mature and Vice to monitor a 'naturally Orochi half-blooded', Iori Yagami. The became teammates and finally betrayed Goenitz, staying on Yagami's own side. Unfortunately, they both became victims of Iori Yagami riot of the blood.
****
Well, this seems pretty much enough to me. I'm sure I'm missing storyline tidbits here and there, thus any special request will be possibly satisfied.
Hope you enjoyed the whole thing.
The future is now.
<small>[ February 23, 2003, 11:29 AM: Message edited by: Shito ]</small>
This came mostly from KOF96-76 storyline.
Big credit goes out to Chikako Ishikawa.
*****
1) Story
2000 years ago, when civilization was begining to flourish in Japan, countries were built all over the islands. Religions were formed, and among them was the Orochi cult. The Orochi cult originally used the excess power "ki" that filled the world to create miracles. Empires begin to emerge as the Orochi cult, now a clan, began to took power over the leaders, and eventually planned to rule the country (and the world).
To accomplish this, the Orochi clan decided to ressurect the Orochi, the dragon that was thought to be the embodiment of the "ki". However, to do this, sacrifices were needed, and so eight maidens, known to be the Kushinada girls, were selected and brought to the Orochi altar to be slaughtered.
The Kusanagi, Yasakani, and Yata clans, also religious clans that flourished during that time, felt evil in the actions of the Orochi, and joined forces to terminate the clan. With the special powers of the clans' artifacts/symbols, the Kusanagi sword, the Yasakani magatama, and the Yata mirror, they selected thier stongest warriors to stop the Orochi. Kusanagi and Yasakani clan, were fighting religious clans as well, and their bloodlines had the increbible mystic power to create and hurl crimson flames from their fists.
The Orochi clan had their own selected warriors, known as the "Orochi Hakkeshuu" (Orochi's Mighty Aseembly of Eight), and the war became bloody. However, the evil "ki" of the Orochi was no match for the Three Sacred Clans, and the Yasakani neutralized (paralized) their powers, the Kusanagi slayed the Orochi, and the Yata sealed the evil "ki" of the Orochi in her body. Since then, the Yata clan always geve birth to twin sister, in which blood relationship was hidden the Orochi Seal itself.
And so the sacred battle seemed to end, but the "ki" was larger than the capacity of the Yata, and so the Orochi was to be awaken every 100 years, only to be sealed by the Three Sacred Clans again.
The balance of the three clans was disturbed 660 years ago, with the bitter feud between the Kusanagi and the Yasakani. The Yasakani, who grew a lust for power, broke the Orochi seal, and made a blood pact with the Orochi in exchange for unsurpassed powers. In return, the Yasakani blood would be forever tainted with the poison that seeped into thier blood with that of the Orochi. Since then, the Yasakani flames turned from crimsom to purple, and all the member of the clan were doomed to live a short life. The Yasakani changed their name to Yagami since that, and is said to have controlled many of the historical leaders from the dark.
To remain neutral and stay out of the 660 years war between Kusanagi and Yagami, Yata clan changed its name in 'Kagura', and stay hidden to prevent any and danger for the Orochi seal.
But the seal was finally broken again in 1994, with the death of one of the Yata twins (being the daughters of the Clan's headman) killed by one of the modern Hakkeshuu named Goenitz. The Orochi was forced from its slumber again, and so the Kusanagi, Yagami, Yata, and Orochi were destined to meet again, and repeat the twisted history once more. Yet, according to the tradition, eight virgins called 'Kushinada' were to be sacrificed to the Orochi in order to fully complete the resurruction.
*NOTE*
In the SNK version of the story, the eight heards/tails of the Orochi became the Hakkesshu, the Eight Warriors. Please refer to the following information for further details. Also, all the three Imperial Regalia, symbolized by Kusanagi, Yasakani/Yagami and Yata/Kagura are involved in the story, while in the original myth just the Kusanagi swords has a real part.
2) Main Characters
Kusanagi Kyo
His name obviously refers to one of the Kusanagi Clan in this version, but in the original, is derived from the sword, which was known as the Kusanagi Sword, found by Susano'ou during his fight with the Orochi dragon, and lately presented to Amterasu Omikami to became one of the three Imperial Regalia.
Kyo Kusanagi rapresent the 'sword to slain the orochi' and in fact his KOF97/98 super is the 'Kusanagi no Ken' (one of the three divine weapons). In both KOF96 and KOF97 special endings for the 'God Caliber Team', Kyo is called to slain the Orochi.
Yagami Iori
"Yagami" literally means "eight gods", based on the characters used. There are no reference to any other persons helping the Japanese hero Susano'ou in killing the Orochi, yet the 'eight' number is way mysticl in ancient Japan mythology. Yasakani name is also possibly read as 'hasshaku' means "Eight Cups of Wine", from the idea that the Orochi became vulnerable after drinking eight cups of wine, and thus it's powers "neutralized" to none by the drunkenness. In fact, Yasakani/Yagami is said to be the one to 'neutralize' the orochi in both KOF96 and KOF97 'special ending' for the 'God Caliber Team'. Also, his KOF97/98 new super is a paralizing one, being one of the 'three divine weapon'.
Kagura Chizuru
Her former name "Yata" comes from the name of the mirror (one of the three Imperial Rgalia). A Chizuru's present name, "Kagura", means "Pleasure of the Gods", or "Sacred music and dance" performed to please the gods. This is expressed through one of Chizuru's winning poses, when she dances. Also, Chizuru is 'the mirror', and we can see her creating a mirror with her hand during her special prefight intro with both Iori and Kyo. CHizuru is the Yata Mirror, meaning she's called to seal the Orochi. Yagami disposes, Kusanagi defeats, Yata seals. Her KOF97/98 'divine' DM is in fact a sealing super mover, and her role in the KOF96 and KOF97 special endings is consisten as well.
Yuki
The treasured girlfriend of Kusanagi Kyo, she is also one of the eight chosen sacrificial "Kushinada" maidens in KOF '97. The term "Kushinada", however, didn't refer to the sacrificed girls in the original myth, but the princess and heroine that was to be saved from the Orochi. She actually remain as the last one in the end of KOF97, and actually ESCAPES DEATH. She's still alive in KOF99.
Magatama
Now, if anyone asks me if this is Kyo's and Iori's fighting technique AGAIN, I will slap that person with a large trout! That misunderstunding is basically due to a (in)famous errouneus translation of the KOF95 storyline, in the official US instruction blooket for almost all the version of the game itself.
The Eight Orochi Warriors
(Yashiro, Shermie, Chris, Goenitz, Mature, Vice, Yamazaki, Guidel)
Since the original myth states the Orochi to be a single dragon, the idea of eight seperate warriors is from SNK as well. In the SNK version, the eight Orochi warriors represent the eight heads the mythical dragon has, which makes sense, though. The hakkeshuu seems to have particular powers, and Goenitz, Yashiro, Shermie and Chris hold elemental powers (Wind, Earth, Thunder and Flame), thus are sometimes said to be 'uppers' hakkeshuu, in opposition to the other four, supposedly lesser' ones. The Orochi dragon was the embodiment of evil, and so is the Clan in KOF. Guidel is Leona natural father and NO: nor Leona nor Iori are hakkeshuu! They're actally:
Orochi half-blooded
Those are Leona and Iori. Iori being a Yagami, has PART of the Orochi bllod flewing in his own blood-line, not only veins. Leona is the daughter of a rebel Hakkeshuu, namely Guidel, who rejected his nature and tried to live a normal life throwing away his Orochi lineage.
Due to their 'half' of Orochi blood, both Leona and Iori suffer of the so-called 'Riot of the Blood'. When the Orochi blood in their veins awakes (due to the Orochi power itsel being someway close to them), it goes riotting with the normal human blood in them, and they basically go berserk. This happened for the first time with Leona: Goenitz visited her father Guidel prior to kill Kagura's sister, in order to get beck Guidel to the Orochi side. Nverless, Guidel refused, but before to leave, Goenitz put a hand on little Leona's head to awake the Orochi blood within her. That night, Leona had her first Riot of the Blood crisis, and slayned both her parents. She bacame catathonic since then, and removed her memory about the fact, just to be lately rescued by Heidern and raised by him as an elite soldier. Finally, Leona got back her memory after remeeting with Goenitz in 1996 ending. Still, she had another Riot of the Blood crisis in the end of KOF97, due to the closeness of the Orochi resurruction. As for Iori, he experienced his Riot of the Blood after defeating Goenitz, when he killed both his teammates Mature and Vice (see below). Same thing occured, and actually twice, in the end of KOF97. Also, Iori have has 'Riot of the Blood' SDM in KOF96 and KOF97. This was emphasize in KOF98, when also Leona got his 'Riot of the Blood' feel in one of her SDM.
The Goenitz-Mature-Vice-Rugal thing
Goenitz killed Chizuru twin sister in 94. After taht, the Orochi seal was broken and the Orochi power started to be released. Rugal, in his search of power, tried to siphon that power. Goenitz was interested in seeing the effect of the Orochi power on a human, and allowed him to do that, but went to Rugal and took his right eye as a blood contract. After that, Gonenitz sent two other Hakkeshuu (supposedly his serveant) to Rugal's, to monitor the fate of the Orochi-powered human. Those two were Mature and Vice, and they used to be Rugal secretaries. Aftet the Orochi power finally ereased Rugal himself in 1995, the two came back to Goenitz. It was 1996 this time, and Goenitz sent both Mature and Vice to monitor a 'naturally Orochi half-blooded', Iori Yagami. The became teammates and finally betrayed Goenitz, staying on Yagami's own side. Unfortunately, they both became victims of Iori Yagami riot of the blood.
****
Well, this seems pretty much enough to me. I'm sure I'm missing storyline tidbits here and there, thus any special request will be possibly satisfied.
Hope you enjoyed the whole thing.
The future is now.
<small>[ February 23, 2003, 11:29 AM: Message edited by: Shito ]</small>
