Vellumentals

Vellumentals
Statues depicting the four Vellumentals in the Sea Tower
First appearance	Paper Mario: The Origami King (2020)
Members Earth Vellumental Water Vellumental Fire Vellumental Ice Vellumental

The Vellumentals are a group of elemental, deity-like creatures that reside in their own Vellumental shrines and temples, acting as bosses in Paper Mario: The Origami King. Their shared name is a portmanteau on "elemental", and "vellum", a type of parchment specifically made of calfskin (alluding to the ancient nature of the Vellumentals). Certain in-game text suggests that they were not always made of origami.

When each Vellumental is defeated, it unveils a Bibliofold that contains instructions on how to fold into them. This allows Olivia to transform into one via a corresponding Magic Circle, allowing Mario to access its elemental powers. Each Vellumental will also become available for a timed refight using a Bossotronic Fighter in Toad Town's Battle Lab.

During certain Wave Battles, an enemy may hold a random Vellumental Magic Circle, which if defeated will allow Olivia to transform into that Vellumental and attack all enemies with 50 damage in the next turn, or the next wave if all enemies in the current wave are defeated. However, the Magic Circle disappears from the enemy if Mario fails to solve the ring puzzle. King Olly also possesses the ability to turn into each of the Vellumentals in the first stage of his boss fight.

In their original origami forms, the Vellumentals have no eyes. When Olivia transforms into a Vellumental, it gains eyes and a two-pointed crown on its head. When King Olly becomes a Vellumental, alongside eyes, a three-pointed crown, and a large flap of hair like Olly's, the majority of their skin turns purple.

The Vellumentals appear to have a connection with Shangri-Spa, as the Sea Tower, the gateway to Shangri-Spa, worships their images.

Members

Each of the members represents a different element:

Member	Image (boss)	Image (Olivia)	Image (King Olly)	Location fought
Earth Vellumental				Earth Vellumental Temple
Water Vellumental				Water Vellumental Shrine
Fire Vellumental				Fire Vellumental Cave
Ice Vellumental				Ice Vellumental Mountain

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning	Notes
Japanese	カミ[?] Kami	Word-play on「紙」(kami, paper) and「神」(kami, god)
Chinese	神祇[?] Shénqí	God The character「祇」also has the pronunciation "zhǐ", which is the same as「纸」(paper), which fulfills the same purpose as the wordplay in the Japanese version in this way. In the simplified Chinese version of the game, the radical of the character「祇」is incorrectly written in the old form「⺬」instead of the new form「⺭」.
Dutch	Origant[?]	Portmanteau of "origami" and "gigant" (giant)
French	Espli[?]	Portmanteau of "esprit" (spirit) and "pli" (fold)
German	Pergamenton[?]	From "pergament" (parchment) and either "-odon" (Greek for "tooth" and a common suffix for dinosaurs) or "karton" (cardboard)
Italian	Cartomagno[?]	Portmanteau of "carta" (paper) and "magno" (greatest); also a pun on "Carlomagno" (Charlemagne)
Spanish	Papelemental[?]	Portmanteau of "papel" (paper) and "elemental" (elemental)

Trivia

• The Vellumentals are somewhat based on the Four Symbols, elemental deities of Chinese mythology, at least on a visual level. The Earth Vellumental resembles the Black Tortoise, the Water Vellumental resembles the Azure Dragon, the Fire Vellumental resembles the Vermilion Bird. The Ice Vellumental is supposed to be based on the White Tiger, but resembles a polar bear instead.
  • Elemental-wise, however, only the Fire Vellumental's matches the Wuxing of the Symbol it's based on; the Black Tortoise's is Water, the Azure Dragon's is Wood, and the White Tiger's is Metal. There does not exist an Ice Wuxing, and the Earth Wuxing is reserved for the Yellow Dragon. In the Japanese Godai system, however, the Seiryu is water and the Genbu is earth. Byakko represents air, not ice, and the Kirin represents the void.