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Not part of Riordanverse
The following article/section is from the Tristan Strong continuity under Rick Riordan Presents and not the Riordanverse canon. |
| “ | Ah, ah, ah, better watch those hands. Wouldn’t want to set this lovely historic area on fire, would we? No, I thought not. Not after you torched the barge and nearly burned your cousin. How is little Terrence, by the way? Still terrified of you? | ” |
–King Cotton taunting Tristan in Tristan Strong Keeps Punching. | ||
King Cotton (also known as Uncle C and Uncle Cotton) was a Haint and the main antagonist of Tristan Strong Trilogy. He was disintegrated by Tristan in the Battle of Lake Michigan.
Tristan Strong Trilogy
Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky
After Tristan Strong frees him, he saves the boy and introduces himself as Uncle C. He asks Tristan where Eddie's Journal is, but Tristan says he lost it and Uncle C lets him go. After Eddie is taken by the fetterlings, he thanks Tristan for the book. He later demands Tristan bring him the power of Anansi or he will burn the journal.
A day later he takes Tristan's memories of Eddie, but leaves the memory of his death. He then demands the Story Box.
He is waiting for Tristan in a room full of cotton. Uncle C then appears covered in cotton and asks for the Story Box. Tristan demands Eddie's Journal and his memories, Uncle C gives him some of the memories back but keeps the rest as collateral. He gives the haint the Story Box and rips the cotton off of him, freeing him. When he tries to open the Story Box, Tristan reveals only an Anansesem can open it and Uncle C covers the boy in cotton branches and demands he opens it. He agrees if he gets the rest of his memories and the journal, which the haint agrees to and complies. Uncle C takes away the cotton vines blocking the door and, with him being in the dark about Tristan's deal, the Maafa submerge. Tristan then opens the Story Box and Gum Baby, who was hiding in the Story Box, covers Uncle C in sap and Tristan goes to leave. Uncle C begs Tristan to help but he refuses and the haint swears revenge before the waters of the Burning Sea sweep him away.
Tristan Strong Destroys the World
While little of the haint actually remains, what is left is encased in a mask that is manipulating Brer Bear. After Alke is destroyed, he escapes from the mask into Tristan's world and frees other haints.
Tristan Strong Keeps Punching
King Cotton captures Junior after he is separated from Ayanna and Gum Baby and keeps him imprisoned on his train.
He is seen by Tristan outside the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum when the boy is in town for a family reunion. The following night he calls Tristan to a cafe as the anansesem runs through the French Quarter to warn his family and the gods of an imitate attack. The haint shows him one of Junior's stones and Tristan becomes angry. He offers Tristan a choice, tell him where the gods are and have his friends and family walk away safely, or his loved ones and civilians get hurt. Tristan turns him down and the haint unleashes a coffle on the public before slipping away in the chaos.
Later as the River Queen sails past the Louisiana State Penitentiary, tendrils pull the ship towards the prison and he makes his presence known. He taunts them from the porch of a sentient shack as he thanks Tristan for freeing him and giving him the strength he needed in Alke. He introduces the shack monster as Old Angola and leaves to find the Alkeans as Old Angola attacks.
He evades the gods by traveling on a ghost train. A few days later after Tristan is taken prisoner, he talks to the boy as he dangles Tristan's bracelet just out of reach. The haint thanks Tristan for giving him the power to reshape the world and says he will start by taking out Tristan's loved ones with the boy by his side. Tristan refuses and the haint lunges at him and grabs him shirt collar. Tristans says he would rather rot and Cotton leaves him.
Upon arriving in Chicago, he syphons energy from Old Angola before greeting Tristan and his friends. Tristan says he is there to stop him, but he says he just begun and offers Tristan another chance to rule by his side. The boy refuses again and threatens to put him in another bottle as Cotton riles him as Tristan takes what he says to mind. The haint then attacks the crowd as civilians scatter. As Cotton goes to grab Tristan, John Henry appears and blocks the haint. Cotton attacks John Henry with little success as Tristan rejoins his friends. King Cotton almost over powers the steel driving man as the other gods arrive and box Cotton in, however Tristan realizes it is a trap. The boy warns the gods to late as Patty Roller leads hundreds of breakers into battle against the gods. He feeds off of Old Angola as he fights the gods. After Tristan destroys the living plantation, he goes into the remnants of Old Angola in tattered clothes, scolding Tristan for ruining his plans and says he will start over. However Tristan says he finished as he says their will always be people who look good in their deeds compared to him as the two fight. At first the fight goes in Cotton's favor, however Tristan thinks of all that is at stake and gives it his all, he attacked the haint saying "we keep punching" as the shadow gloves set King Cotton on fire and he disintegrates before Tristan, saying the boy cannot defeat him as he is reduced to a pile of ashes.
Appearance
When first seen, King Cotton is a sentient shadow with one eye and perfect white teeth. Later on, he appears as a skinny old man with pale skin, gray hair, and a blue eye. He wears a well ironed suit and silk socks and well polished brown leather shoes.
Personality
King Cotton is a cruel man, he enjoys threatening and manipulating others to get what he wants. The long they take to complete one of his tasks, the more likely he is to strip them of a pleasant memory, such as taking nearly all of Tristan's memories of Eddie with the exception of his friends' death.
However when he is defeated, King Cotton tends to beg his enemies for mercy, showing a cowardly side to him.
Abilities
- Mnemokinesis: King Cotton can take the memories of others.
- Chlorokinesis: King Cotton can control cotton, generating branches from his body and firing cotton seeds from his mouth.
- Manipulation: King Cotton is a skilled manipulator, tricking his enemies into helping him.
Trivia
- "King Cotton" refers to a slogan used before the American Civil War to claim secession.[1] The profits of cotton lead to a rise of importation of African slaves.[2]
References
| Tristan Strong Trilogy | |
| Books: | Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky | Tristan Strong Destroys the World | Tristan Strong Keeps Punching |
| Main Characters: | Tristan Strong | Ayanna | Gum Baby | Anansi |
| Secondary Characters: | Thandiwe | King Cotton | John Henry | Eddie Garvey | Maafa | Chestnutt | Nana Strong | Junior | Patty Roller | Granny Z |
| Minor Characters: | Alvin Strong | Jessica Strong | Walter Strong | Fezile | Netta | Old Familiar | Mr. Richardson | Reggie Janson | DJ Kulture | Big Big | Terence Strong | Memphis Jones | Harold | Darla |
| African American Gods: | Brer Rabbit | Brer Fox | Brer Bear | Sarah | Rose | High John | Tarrypin | Sis Crow | Keelboat Annie | Mami Wata | Lady Night |
| West African Gods: | Anansi | Nyame |
| Creatures: | Haint | Fetterling | Hullbeast | Brand Fly | Leopard Statue | Python Statue | Abiyoyo | Mmoatia | Plat-eye | River Spirit | Talking Skull | Boo Hag | Coffle | Twennymiles | Breakers |
| Related Content: | Kwame Mbalia | Rick Riordan Presents | The Gum Baby Files |