• Characters •

1999 New Characters:

Saotome Family:

Ranko Saotome - Ranko split from Ranma in January of 1999 after Happosai used a magic chicken bone that Cologne had prepared before Shampoo's death. She has been having trouble adjusting to life as a woman full-time and is constantly fighting with Ranma.

Sanma Saotome - Samna split from Ranko after Ranko used some Spring of Drowned Man water on herself in the Australian Outback, Cologne said that the split magic hadn't stabilized yet. An exact copy of Ranko, her appearance caused Akane to declare she couldn't marry all three Ranmas.

A picture of Akane and her three idiots sharing some quality time together (note Ranko's new hairstyle).
My thanks to William Morse for this picture.

Others:

Ami - Friend of Kasumi from medical school.

Kang - Barbecue fork wielding Australian who practices Kangaroo-foo Martial Arts. Appears to have a crush on Ukyo.

A picture of Kang with his combat barbecue fork. My thanks to William Morse for this picture.

 

• The Buyierfei •

The Buyierfei (pronounced bu-yi-er-fei) are a race of chi eating demons. In modern Mandarin their name translates as 'disappear without a trace'. They are first encountered in Australia by the three Ranmas and Akane in February of 1999. Akane's first battle with them takes place within a large black monolith.

Most Buyierfei are nothing more that masses of skin and black blood. They have multiple appendages and tentacles (no, not THAT kind of tentacle). Normally, they are only seen briefly out of the corner of people's eyes and sometimes as shadows without any apparent source. If they are dead, not being looked at directly, or if someone is in physical contact with them they can then be seen.

Another form of Buyierfei is seen at the end of Chapter 8. It looks like Ranma and can transform between male and female forms at will. Its origin and exact nature is unknown at this time, but it's not likely to want to marry Akane. Its actions so far indicate that it is the leader of the other Buyierfei.

According to Cologne, the ancient Amazons battled the Buyierfei in epic battles that established many of the traditions of the Amazon Way. The Hiryu Shoten Ha was one of the many Amazon techniques developed to combat the Buyierfei.

This sound file (in WAV format) is the correct way to pronounce Buyierfei:
cmd_buyierfei.wav

• Places •

Places visited (Chapters 7-17):

Joketsuzoku, China - Amazon Village

Jusenkyo, China - Ruins of cursed springs

Australian Outback - Including the village where they met Kang for the first time and Ukyo gained her 'trophy' spatula

Devil's End Canyon in Australian Outback - Ranma and Akane's first battle with the Buyierfei took place in this canyon

Brisbane, Australia - A short stopover for Ranma, Akane, and Ukyo on the way back to Japan