Tonberry
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A Tonberry is a mysterious creature from the Final Fantasy series. It made its first appearance in Final Fantasy V ("Dingleberry" in the North American localization); in Final Fantasy VI they were known as "Pugs" in the North American release. Tonberries are often found in caves or ruins, and frequently guard coveted treasure or valuable items.
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[edit] Appearance
A Tonberry is quite small, usually no larger than two or three feet (sixty to ninety centimeters) tall. Appearing quite harmless, it has green skin and a round head with a small snout and round yellow eyes; it walks on two legs and resembles, to some small degree, a bipedal lizard, or, to a greater extent, a green sock puppet. However, it always wears a hooded cloak, usually plain brown or grey in color, and its dolphin-like tail can be seen peeking out from beneath the hem. A Tonberry always carries two things: a lantern in one hand to light its way through the caves, and a long, sharp butcher knife in the other. Stronger versions of the Tonberry have a glowing star above their head (VII) or a crown, to symbolize the Tonberry King (VIII, XI).
[edit] History
Lore from some of the Final Fantasy games suggests that Tonberries possess a great rage against all in their hearts, and it is this anger that binds the Tonberries as a civilization, although no human has ever seen such a civilization. However, some fans disagree, characterizing the Tonberries as a highly intelligent and civilized race which forcefully defends its territory. Possibly the largest appearance of the Tonberry can be seen in Final Fantasy VIII, in the Centra Ruins.
There are suggestions that evidence of a Tonberry civilization can be seen in Final Fantasy X-2. Certain areas in the Via Infinito contain large amounts of Tonberries cooperating against the player. Also, the Tonberry King of Final Fantasy VIII poses potential evidence of a civilization.
[edit] Combat
Despite their small size and unassuming appearance, a Tonberry is a formidable opponent. They are tough and hard to kill. While a Tonberry's foes are attacking it, it will walk slowly towards them. Once the Tonberry has come close enough to its enemy, it will then attack with its knife; this attack is almost always fatal, landing the blow with a dull, anticlimactic "Doink."
Tonberries can occasionally utilize other attacks as well. In some games, after every successful attack that its opponent lands, it will counter with a very powerful special ability, such as that known as "Everyone's Grudge" or "Karma." This ability seems to call upon the departed spirits of every creature that the Tonberry's attacker has defeated in the past, and summon them forth for retribution.
In Final Fantasy X, the Tonberries will retaliate brutally against any Aeon summoned, creating a small wax doll of it then smashing it, slaying a weak Aeon instantly. This technique is called "Voodoo".
[edit] Other Tonberries
On rare occasions, one may encounter one of the elders of Tonberry society; these are Tonberries that have lived longer or grown larger than the rest of their kind. They are known as either Master Tonberries (Masterberries in Final Fantasy Tactics Advance) or Tonberry Kings, and can be recognized by some form of head ornamentation. Most frequently, this takes the form of a crown or a star. As a rule, the treasures that these elders guard are even rarer and more precious, and their combat abilities are (naturally) more highly developed. Master Tonberries can be found in the Northern Crater in Final Fantasy VII, and can be morphed into the powerful Ribbon accessory. The Tonberry King may appear after 20 regular Tonberries are slain, and be defeated and claimed as a Guardian Force (a summoned creature) in Final Fantasy VIII.
In Final Fantasy X, the Don Tonberry can be fought in the Monster Arena after at least one of each monster from the Cavern of Stolen Fayth area has been caught. Don Tonberries have strange, almost leaf-like markings, on their heads.
In Final Fantasy XI, the Tonberry king appears in the side-story "A Little Goblin's Adventure" and "A (Still) Little Goblin's Adventure" and as a Notorious Monster in the Temple of Uggalepih (this time spelled "kinq" which could either be a typo or a reference to his accent in A Little Goblin's Adventure, although when the word "king" is said in his accent it is usually spelled "kink").
[edit] More facts about Tonberries
In Final Fantasy X-2, Paine's Mascot costume is modeled after a Tonberry. Tonberries appear in huge numbers in Bevelle's Via Infinito, with small ones leading right up to those that are over 3 meters tall in scale. Some Tonberries in Via Infinito can be found accompanying smaller ones and are harmless, providing items instead of engaging in battle.
In Final Fantasy XI, Tonberries are classified as Beastmen that live solely in the Yhoator Jungle on the eastern half of Elshimo. During the Great War, the majority of the Tonberries remained in their stronghold, the Temple of Uggalepih. However, a few elite members of the tribe were sent to the Shadow Lord to act as his secret agents. These Tonberries would often sneak into the castles of the allied forces and assassinate important generals or political figures. Feared around Vana'diel, these beastmen were often referred to as the "invisible killers." According to the Tonberries' religion, their creator, the Goddess Uggalepih, had beauty that was envied by the Goddess Altana. A furious Altana transformed Uggalepih into a hideous beast and exiled her to the Outlands. Revenge for Altana's actions is said to be one of the origins of their rancor.
This game also reveals why Tonberries are never found without their lanterns or knives in a Tonberry 'war-chant':
- "O brothersss of rancor,
- Take up thy lanternsss,
- The truth we shall illuminate.
- O sistersss of rancor,
- Take up thy knives,
- To cleave our foesss with barren hate.
- Through this we ssseek our just reward;
- Our goddess's glory be ressstored."
Final Fantasy XI Tonberries still use "Everyone's Grudge", but the damage is based on the number of Tonberries the player has killed. There is a repeatable quest that allows a player to reset their kill counter (a necessity if a player has gone on a Tonberry killing spree!)
In Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles, slightly-modified Tonberries, called Tonberry Chefs play a major part in the Moschet Manor dungeon. You must hunt them all down and kill them to draw out the boss. They are also normal enemies in Mount Vellenge.
In Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, Tonberries appear infrequently later in the game. They are commonly portrayed as killers, with a mission in the game involving a hunt for a murderer who turns out to be a Tonberry. Their primary attack, "Knife," takes off nine-tenths of an opponent's hit points. When one of their number is killed, any surviving Tonberries will retaliate with the attack "Karma," which will inflict damage based on the number of units the target unit has killed multiplied by ten. A more powerful version of the Tonberry, the Masterberry, utilizes "Knife" attack that takes off nine-tenths of an opponent's hit points and also has access to "Voodoo," an instant-kill technique.
In the Secret of Evermore there are robed creatures that look somewhat like Tonberries, such as the creature you can rescue from the well after arriving in the medieval world. The strongman Tiny becomes their leader and sets up a fortress in the pyramid near the end of the game.
In Kingdom Hearts II, there is a special Gummi ship designed after a Tonberry.
On 7chan, the meme "Knife Karma!" is related to two of the Tonberry's signature moves.
In Final Fantasy XII, there are no Tonberries, however one of the Imperial Remora gunships seen during the tutorial has the callsign "Tonberry."
