Been looking forward to this.
Overall, enjoyed the story and lore description you gave for Marcus here.

That is interesting and makes sense how Marcus, with his telepathy skills inherited from his mother would be able to read or see the memories of his parents - especially their darker ones. Good thing they found out how to solve that as having a child grow up and sponge all the bad memories/parent's PTSD would be bad. Wonder if Fox & Krystal developed some mind tricks or something to prevent Marcus from reading their minds. (I've seen some fanfictions where mentally strong users can somehow focus their thoughts strong enough to produce a wall or boot a telepath reading their mind - basically defense only.)

That childhood of both positive and negative reaction by his peers to his skill and background (whether awe and admiration that he is Fox's & Krystal's child, or phobia and distrust of his telepathic abilities) would help forge his hero mindset. And yes, that's a big legacy to keep up with considering all that his parents have done.

That downside/burden of telepathy + his parents' background would stack for guilt. Being able to read and say exactly what people wanted and ride off the past glory and success of his parents?

That's important that he learned that lesson. Even with all the intelligence (mind-reading) and information gathered, it won't help if the enemy can just overwhelm you with raw force, or your team is unable to utilize the valuable intelligence (knowing the enemies strategies and plans) properly.

Starting his own name and reputation to chart his own story - a good fresh start to a younger generation.

Nice to see that not only is he a physical fusion of Lylatian (Fox) and Cerinian (Krystal), but also his actions like close-quarter combat as well. Combining the cultures and fighting styles of both into a unique hybrid.

Great art as always!

Thanks. In answer to the point about mental blocking I have been working on a kind-of “Rules for Telepaths” thing to keep my writing consistent when it comes to the power. I wrote it all down in response but accidentally deleted it so the short form goes:

1. Telepathy is a sense much like sight, scent, touch, taste and hearing.

2. Most Cerinians possessed it alongside other “magical powers” and it is actually one of the weakest they had, although still very potent to an accomplished user.

3. It only works against those with organic brains or augmented organic brains. Digital minds are undetectable.

4. It ranges in potency from merely detecting a living mind to discerning thoughts, feelings, memories and complex ideas. This depends on the innate ability, the skill and the prowess of the telepath. Magical focus-gems can significantly boost the abilities too.

5. A telepath, unaided by a properly attuned and charged focus-gem, cannot influence the minds of non-telepaths. They can merely read a mind, not rewrite it.

6. By contrast telepaths are vulnerable to emotional and mental influence from others unless possessed of a strong will and sense of self and practice meditation and cognitive behavioural therapy to maintain a consistent psyche.

7. It is possible for telepaths to assimilate information and skills from others but for the information to persist beyond the scope of short-term memory it requires a great deal of time and concentration, to the extent where proper dedicated study would be safer, depending on the complexity of the subject. Otherwise it can risk adverse effects on the telepath’s personality and memories (see “mind copying”) The brain is a delicate organ.

8. Magical focus gems can work as enhancements, protection or as a means of blanking out mental white noise and chatter when living among the undisciplined minds of non-telepaths. They are also one of the means by which a telepath can actually project their thoughts to a non-telepath, though how receptive the non-telepath is seems to vary. Those with closed minds seem to only feel a subconscious whisper, whereas those more open can often hear it as a distinct foreign voice in their heads.

This is also the means by which dangerous techniques such as “mind copying” can be undertaken, although the risks to both the telepath and the individual who’s neural pathways are being copied are immense. Consequences can include seizures, brain death, complete mental breakdown and even total or partial personality transplant. Only the most dire circumstances would justify its use (and in such circumstances rushing the procedure could even make it counter-productive)

9. It is possible to disrupt a telepath, either through technological/magical means or sometimes as basically as simply focusing on an unpleasant thought or mental image or completely blanking your mind. Few in Lylat possess the mental discipline to do this effectively, though, so the former methods are the ones being focused on by multiple parties to overcome the threat such powers present.

10. It is possible to lie to a telepath, though very difficult unless coupled with methods such as misdirection and mental blocking. It is also possible for those who have managed to delude themselves to fool a telepath.


There might be things I’ve missed but I figure this sets things out how I’d interpret the power (bearing in mind how vague the games were on Krystal’s powers)

Edit: in terms of Fox and Krystal, yes, adjusting to a voraciously inquisitive growing young mind after recently having opened up properly to each other would be a huge change, particularly for Fox.

However it’s most fortunate that both the dad and the cub were nearly instantly smitten with each other (telepathic babies nearly always respond to and reciprocate the affections of those around them. Good feelings feel good, after all, and a baby’s needs are simpler when the mother doesn’t need to learn how to interpret various cries of discomfort to discern the nub of the problem.)

Thus, learning to engage in Cerinian meditative techniques and actually accepting the conclusions therapy came to, made Fox into an accommodating father for his half-alien offspring. He and his wife still needed their privacy, however, and although retired he still took opportunities to just get away and fly free so his thoughts could be his own for a while.

The rules I listed mostly cover telepath to non-telepath interactions. Among telepaths, though, the dynamic is slightly different. Boundaries become clearly set and mental discipline and emotional honesty are almost a necessity for their relationships (which is why Krystal and Fox’s hit some very big snags until they came to an understanding). They do have the means to block off aspects of themselves from each other but, understandably, they try not to do it too much. Focus gems help a lot in that regard so wandering thoughts can be easily dismissed and Marcus does wear one, although he purposefully grows his hair to hide it from the casual viewer. Wearing a magic gemstone tiara in public when you’re a strapping jock of a young man tends to get awkward questions.

That is interesting that you have been working on a whole "Rules for Telepaths" - going way further in depth and explanation than others and Nintendo have done.
Are these rules universal among telepaths? Or is it just a sort of code/agreement between the Cerinians themselves? (Maybe I'm thinking too much like the Geneva Conventions or TheHague Conventions where you can't do this action "x" to "y" person or etc, at all. Or limit the power of this action/ability, etc.)

1) Interesting, so a sort of sixth sense. Would this sixth sense of telepathy be available for other species? Or exclusive to the Cerinians? (And offspring of Cerinians with other species such as Fox & Krystal producing Marcus, a Cornerian-Cerinian offspring and to a lesser power in telepathy - Sabrina.)

2) This makes me really interested and curious. What other powers would the Cerinians have? They are a mysterious species (well, Nintendo left the book very vague and open for fans to interpret), could be mystics, or harness the powers of elements or magic. Or even be a far more technologically advanced civilization than the Cornerians are. Possibilities are endless but these other "magical abilities" make me ver ycurious.

3) Of course. I had a feeling that would be the case. Makes me wonder how Krystal, Cerinians, or telepathic individuals would confront "Hive Minds" though. A bunch of voices all talking in unison at once or such. The Aparoids were a hive mind I believe? Though in Assault I don't know if Krystal was affected by it much (I know that Fox got his mind invaded by the Aparoid Queen pretending to be his father but he shook it off. Perhaps with the help of Krystal though he had his friends there as well).
In other universes like Warhammer 40K - Psychers, went tapping into the Tyranid Hive Mind, they go insane from all the voices they hear as it just overwhelms them.

4) Interesting to know there are magical focus-gems in existence and the power range.

5) Sounds right for a basic starting level.

6) I guess this would help answer Question 3 - have to be strong mentally and personally to resist the tide of outside thoughts, influences, and mind overload.

7) Interesting, this would be a great trait for intelligence services or record-keeping. Or in the case of Krystal, a psychiatrist.

8) Makes me wonder if a personality transplant is almost like transplanting a brain(?), soul(?), life(?) to a new physical body. I remember watching the movie "Get Out" where they surgically transplant the minds and thus consciousness/life of the elderly into younger bodies. So in a way, one could be "immortal" as you pass from body to body via transplants. Though in that movie it results in some bipolar personality disorders or internal fighting as the original host's "mind/consciousness is still within their body - just suppressed by the transplanted one unless you do something special like flash photography that "blanks" them out.

9) Technological/Magical defense against telepaths and mind-reading. I assume there may be specialized helmets, headgear, or armor that do that? Much more than our modern-day (and to an extent meme) tinfoil hats. And that makes sense, easier to mass-produce a certain material or armor that prevents telepaths from getting into your mind than years of training to think the right way and mentally strong.

10) Interesting, wonder if Marcus ever managed to pull that off. I believe he's a good boy. But wonder if he managed to ever get a secret away without mother Krystal knowing.

(Next Section)

1) Ah, from opening up each other's feelings, thoughts, etc to one another (Fox & Krystal) and now they have a little one that wants to know everything. Just like how young children are curious, Marcus would be wanting to know everything/soak up all of that his parents have.

2) Seems superior to average babies. Just don't let the dark thoughts appear.

3) Of course, a man needs some room and time to think his own - without his wife reading it or son finding out some secrets. (And I assume there might be a lot - some which his son may not be old/ready for.)

4) Interesting to know that the tiara Krystal wore in Adventures, Assault, and now Marcus in this future have a use. I thought it was ceremonial, tribal, traditional, etc, of the Cerinian culture. But with the focus-gems, this gives them a good use other than fashion.

Great lore to read and discuss about! ^^

Like most things I assumed the gems served a practical purpose first then became a fashion/ceremonial item. I know in terms of the games it was just a character design thing, but it was such a persistent costume item through all her incarcerations and the way it’s positioned on her forehead made me think it served a purpose as a psychic focus.

The rules are really for myself to keep my writing consistent and prevent their powers falling into the realms of Deus ex Machina. A sort of creator bible.

In universe I’ve no doubt there are some kind of Cerinian rules on how one must conduct themselves in the same way every society has, but I doubt they are in any way universal or even followed outside the handful of survivors (I really don’t think Krystal’s the last of a space-faring species just because their home planet is gone. She’s just the only one in Lylat)

The weird thing with a lot of the ideas I’ve conjectured is the way they are influenced by how the various plot lines of Command play out, bearing in mind her telepathy is never mentioned in that game. I basically had to find reasons for why it wouldn’t completely change the plot if it were there, bearing in mind how aware she should be of Fox’s feelings and how a simple conversation could have kept them together from the start. The only explanation starts to fall into the realms of the psychological if we allow that she surely must be able to read her boyfriend’s mind if she can sense the thoughts and emotions of others.

All this because Nintendo were so inconsistent with the extent of her telepathy so we have to conjecture. The only reasoning I have for her being able to read thoughts rather than just emotions is the fact she seemingly picks up languages easily and refers to “thought patterns” in regards to the Aparoids. I also just figured it would be more interesting if she could literally read minds rather than just tell how people are feeling.

But, yes, a lot of the weaknesses came out of thinking up reasons why her character seemed to flip a 180 from the caring and kind-hearted woman we see in Assault to the version we see in Command. I’ll likely go into it more when I get to my Kursed drawing but, suffice it to say, when a telepath becomes demoralised and vulnerable in a time of high emotional and physical stress, it can seriously affect their personality, particularly when in extended close proximity to people exhibiting most of the traits of antisocial behaviour disorder.

1) Now I see it. My younger self just thought "Her name's Krystal - she has crystals and jewelry on her = cool play with the name". Reminds me of Soul Gems from The Elder Scrolls except that is mainly for enchanting things. So these focus-gems, are they only utilized or turned into jewelry/equipment worn near the head? (To maximize the telepathic power/support the brain) Or can they be worn anywhere like a ring, necklace, staff , etc?
(Though we saw how Krystal wore crystals mainly on her forehead or hair, and Marcus here wears one but hides it with hair. So I think it might be headgear only with the focus-gems.)

2) Ah, that's good to have.

3) There are fans' ideas on that. Some think having Krystal being the last of the Cerinian species magnifies her character, exoticism, relationship with Fox, and their child Marcus being a miracle/rebirth of her species. (Albeit being half-Cerinian.)
Then there's that fan game I've seen where they have another important (named) Cerinian character, along with a whole bunch of models for Cerinian ships and vehicles - implying that there are pockets or a wandering fleet of Cerinian survivors here, and Krystal is the first one to get into Lylat.
Maybe one day Nintendo will give more information.

4) Interesting.

5) That explains her fluency in Saurian. I had thought (when I was younger) from that intro of Star Fox: Adventures that Krystal may have only recently arrived to Sauria (then again, some could say she was there for quite a bit of time which allowed her to pick up the language, but I think she arrived just ??? time before Fox got the assignment to Sauria). Her then being able to speak to Fox and know Lylatian(?) (basically the English or spoken language of the games depending on what version you have) could be quickly picked up from her little time with Fox and mind-reading. Other than being a psychiatrist, she and Cerinians would make good interpreters as well I think?

6) A Kursed drawing in your style - interested to see what your rendition of her will look like. So telepaths are personality sponges at that time of vulnerability? Interesting.

1. Same, really, until I gave it some more thought. I figure that the focus gems, magic stones etc. can be put to other uses (such as in Krystal’s staff) but I imagine mental ones would probably be placed near the head as crowns, tiaras, earrings, necklaces etc. It could also be that they can form conduits with interlinked stones to extend one’s reach or enhance one’s power.

5) From my understanding of Adventures she picked up a distress call from the Krazoa palace from a dying Earthwalker, which probably only happened recently. Now one could interpret it as being that very distress call that made her divert course and come to the planet, but in order to have picked up the language and befriend a cloud runner, she may have been there a few days at least. The game is really half-baked, though. Makes me almost wish the next Star Fox game was a remake with all this stuff ironed out.

1) Sounds good. Maybe one day we can see more art of these focus gems. How they can make not only beautiful/elaborate outfits but also power-enhancing ones.

5) Yea, that's what confused me. She's out exploring the vastness of space (trying to find out about her parent's death and such) - a new character introduced and comes here to Sauria due to the distress call which would act like a beacon for her to change course. (I think hidden in the game, or in a certain area of the map you could see her spaceship parked. Or it was seen in the ending cutscene when she took it to personally thank Fox onboard the Great Fox.)
From there, Cerinian telepathy skills allow her to talk with the local Saurians.
Yea, I guess that's what happens when they tried to convert the original Dinosaur Planet concept after so much was done? And even then, so much lore and additional info could have been put in.
And yes, I've seen many fan interpretations or remakes - there's "Star Fox: Readventures", "Star Fox: Adventures 2", and I think another artist is working on another redesign/interpretation where both Fox and Krystal are the main characters and co-op in the game.
Gives me and my friend an important lesson though on what not to do when designing a game or two important characters for it who are supposed to be a duo or couple. (As you don't want one being completely sidelined for the majority of the game.)