Tsukinowa 月ノ輪

Tsukinowa
Tsukinowa

Height :
Mass :

Powers / Weapons

Shapeshifting; Moon God Mirror; lightning spell; evil air; telepathy; magic transportation; monster conjuring; storm generation

Weaknesses

Form reversion

Appearances

Yamato Takeru (1994)

Series // Heisei

Sound Effect

Description

Born from a fell tooth of the legendary dragon Orochi during its epic battle against Susanoo, Tsukinowa was a faithful servant that pledged his unwavering loyalty to his progenitor and master, Tsukuyomi. After the mighty moon god was sealed and cast off into the deepest reaches of space by his father Izanagi, Tsukinowa laid low for countless centuries and began preparations, in the event his master ever returned to Earth.

When Tsukinowa finally resurfaced, his first major step was to infiltrate the ranks of the Yamato Kingdom. During a deadly drought that befell the nation, Tsukinowa called upon a storm and brought rainfall, quenching the parched earth. Through this deception, Tsukinowa earned the Emperor’s trust and was designated as the ruler’s reliable aide. Over time, Tsukinowa kept an ever watchful eye to the skies above, awaiting the impending arrival of Tsukuyomi that would herald their victory.

During one of these nights, the dark sorcerer saw an omen in the sky - a radiant light from heaven that signified the birth of twin princes from Yamato. Knowing full well of the divine meaning behind this sign, Tsukinowa disguised the truth when he informed the Emperor, who had already felt a strange hatred for his second-born. The warlock took the child to the cliffside of Tsukuyomi’s altar to dispose of this threat, but the heavenly bird Amano Shiratori intervened and blew him off his feet, safely taking the child away.

Unable to make a move against him, Tsukinowa bided his time and watched from afar as the child grew into a man. He prayed to his god’s unholy blade, the Sword of Dark Clouds, to vanquish the “evil” in their midst. He attempted to kill the returning prince Ousu by locking him in the palace dressing room and induce evil air into his lungs. However, Ousu's crystal gem tapped into a power that protected him, and Tsukinowa was blown off his feet. Soon after, the wicked sorcerer warned the Emperor of the evils that had yet to come. Tsukinowa orchestrated his next plan of attack, afflicting the Empress and the older twin under a curse that led to their eventual deaths, framing the young prince for their demise.

TsukinowaThe dark soothsayer swayed the great lord’s way of thinking, which led the Emperor to banish Ousu to the land of Kumaso, and that he was not to return until his mission had been fulfilled. Keeping an ever watchful eye, Tsukinowa witnessed through the Moon God Mirror the awakening of one among the Three Lights, an undoubted cause for concern. Even after Ousu, now named Yamato Takeru, had slain Kumaso Takeru and returned to Yamato, Tsukinowa prayed for his master’s soonforth arrival--which came closer by the day.

At one point during the day, Tsukinowa was absent from the palace enclosure that held the Sword of Dark Clouds. Though it was protected by the Moon God Mirror, the sword's protective spell was bypassed and it stolen by Takeru. Infuriated, Tsukinowa tracked down Takeru, who was now accompanied by Oto Tachibana, along the Japanese coast and began the summoning prayer for an evil being. Forged from the evil of the moon and the distraught spirits lost at sea, Kaishin Muba materialized to do its master’s bidding. With raging storms and a mission, the fish-beast took Yamato Takeru beneath the water to prepare for the ritualistic sacrifice, one that would end Takeru and bring the Sword of Dark Clouds back into Tsukinowa’s hands. Yet not all would come as Tsukinowa predicted as Oto managed to free Takeru from Kaishin Muba’s grip. Instead of its designated target, Kaishin Muba took Oto as a substitute sacrifice and faded. The dark magician sensed that his beast-servant had vanished, taking the beautiful girl instead. So, he devised one more scheme to retrieve Tsukuyomi’s mighty blade.

Projecting a false image unto himself, Tsukinowa took on the form of the late Queen Inahi, the mother of Yamato Takeru. He laid along the beachside, waiting for the mourning Takeru to take notice. Like bait on a hook, he tricked Takeru in believing his mother was somehow alive. As he was hoisted onto Takeru’s back, Tsukinowa quietly unsheathed Takeru's dagger and stabbed the Yamato warrior through the neck. Acquiring the Sword of Dark Clouds from the fallen hero, Tsukinowa reshaped into his preferred appearance. He told Takeru that he killed his mother and brother to get them out of the picture, and particularly loathed Oousu for his meek cowardice. Despite the neck wound, Takeru pulled out the dagger and tossed it with utmost precision, stabbing the black spellcaster in the chest. Stumbling onto his knee, Tsukinowa blasted Takeru with a powerful lightning blast, finally putting an end to the pest. However, Tsukinowa didn’t have much time to waste and limply returned to the cliffside where he first tried to kill the Yamato hero in his infancy.

Tsukuyomi grew ever closer, his presence growing stronger by the hour. Tsukinowa saw the sign in the sky, an eclipse that shadowed the entire Earth. The snake lord's time drew near. Once Tsukuyomi crashed on the moon, Tsukinowa spoke through long-distance telepathy, informing his master of his origins. When Tsukuyomi demanded his blade, Tsukinowa offered it up. Through the statues upon the altar of Tsukuyomi, the Sword of Dark Clouds ascended beyond the sky and the Earth into the hands of its rightful owner. With his arduous task completed, the augur’s lifelong mission was at last fulfilled. Succumbing to his fatal wound, Tsukinowa collapsed onto the stone altar--reverting back into the fang of Orochi from which he had spawned.


Powers / Weapons
Shapeshifting

Shapeshifting

Tsukinowa is able to contort his physical appearance to look like any human being, a powerful illusionary technique. He employed this to trick Yamato Takeru into believing his mother was still alive.

   
Moon God Mirror

Moon God Mirror

The dark magus can view events from a distance through the use of the Moon God Mirror. It also shows him special signs, like the connection between those who possess the spirits of Susanoo and Amaterasu.

The Moon God Mirror possesses a failsafe, a magically enhanced electric shock to those who try to steal the Sword of Dark Clouds. This can be undone by destroying the mirror.

   
Lightning spell

Lightning spell

A powerful lightning spell from the tip of Tsukinowa’s staff, capable of blowing individuals off their feet.

   
Evil air

Evil air

Tsukinowa can trap people in a room and fill it with evil air, which kills those enclosed. However, if one possesses divine repellants or the Wild Spirit, they are able to repel the tainted smoke.

   
Telepathy

Telepathy

The fang of Orochi can communicate with his progenitor through long-distance telepathy.

   
Magic transportation

Magic transportation

Using the statue heads, Tsukinowa can transport items over a long distance, such as sending the Sword of Dark Clouds to the moon. This can only be done at the altar of Tsukuyomi.

   
Monster conjuring

Monster conjuring

Tsukinowa is capable of bringing to life monsters through his powerful sorcery. In one instance, he uses the evil power of the moon and the wandering spirits of those lost at sea to create Kaishin Muba, who is made with a specific goal to be accomplished.

   
N/A

Storm generation

Tsukinowa can produce storms of his own, bringing rainfall to the kingdom of Yamato during a desperate drought and earning the Emperor’s trust. While he is able to perform such a feat, he does not use it when summoning Kaishin Muba.


Weaknesses
Form reversion

Form reversion

When Tsukinowa dies, he will revert back into his original state. This occurred when Yamato Takeru pierced his heart with a dagger, but he lived long enough to accomplish his primary goal before reverting into the tooth of Orochi.


Background and Trivia
  • Portrayed by actor Akaro Maro.
  • His name is also spelled in katakana (ツキノワ - Tsukinowa).