ONE PIECE GOLD
Rayleigh is light hearted, casual, and fun loving, much like his captain Roger was. In the past, he was shown to have been impatient with the antics of the younger crew members, and took the position of crew disciplinarian very seriously. However, he has changed his personality in his older years, becoming much more relaxed even when training Luffy.
Though he often has a serious air, Rayleigh enjoys going with the flow and appearing in unexpected places and in unexpected ways, especially given his status and age. He often comments on his age and how his body “does not work the way it used to”, much like Garp.
Rayleigh is not often headstrong, looking before he leaps and taking time to plan ahead before taking action, although he does not hesitate to act if needs be. Even when entering into an unfortunate or unplanned situation such as engaging a Marine admiral in combat or having his ship sink in the Sea King infested waters of the Grand Line, Rayleigh remains completely calm, pushing forward through adversity with no hesitation.
He, like Whitebeard, seem to enjoy talking about the past and its great times, as well as the good old days of their near bygone era. In spite of this, he appeared reluctant to get into the darker topic of the Void Century. He is typically open and talkative, such as when it came to the mysterious Void Century. He was willing to divulge the whole truth to Nico Robin if she wished, but she declined his offer.
As stated by Shakky, he loves alcohol and women, which he proved when he is first introduced saving Keimi from being mistreated by Disco while holding a hip flask. He prefers to be called “Ray-San”. Despite once being enemies with the Whitebeard Pirates, Rayleigh seems to have great respect for their captain, like Roger, and shed a tear for Whitebeard’s passing.
History
Past
Before Roger formed his crew, Rayleigh met Roger after he stole a ship due to his house burning down and needing a place to live. Roger said that it was a fated meeting and asked Rayleigh to join him. At first Rayleigh declined, but some time later, he formed a bond with Roger and became his first mate.
In the New World, at Edd War, Buggy panicked at the potential conflict between two infamous pirate crews: the Roger Pirates and the Golden Lion Pirates. Rayleigh was present, and he held Buggy back, telling him not to worry. When Roger rejected Shiki’s offer to become his right hand man, Rayleigh was seen preparing for battle along with the other Roger Pirates. A battle between the two crews ensued, and a change in the weather allowed the Roger Pirates to sink half of Shiki’s ships.
Twenty-six years before the start of the story, Roger fell ill from an incurable disease, leading the Roger Pirates to take one final journey together. They ventured into the Grand Line together and conquered it. A year before his death, Roger disbanded the crew in secret and one by one the crew disappeared. Before he handed himself over to the Marines, Roger told Rayleigh that “He would not die”. Unwilling to watch the execution of his closest friend, Rayleigh toasted a drink to the man with a laugh as the blades passed, and downed a glass as his first act in the Great Age of Piracy, the Age of Dreams. Rayleigh stated that he laughed (and cried, and drank) nonetheless upon hearing the message Roger had left the world.
Some time later, Rayleigh was saved by a young Hatchan from drowning in a shipwreck. Since then, Rayleigh has been on good terms with Hachi. He, along with Shakuyaku and Nyon, also helped protect the Gorgon Sisters after their escape from slavery from the World Nobles. Eventually, Rayleigh became a coating mechanic on Sabaody Archipelagoand at some point formed a business partnership with Shakuyaku. He had been missing for six months prior to Luffy’s arrival on the archipelago.
Sabaody Archipelago
Finished at the bar, Luffy’s group headed out to look for Rayleigh. Shakky saw them off, informing them that although the Marines are aware of some of the big names on the island, they have their hands full with another matter and gave one last warning not to make a big scene before they head out.
At a Marine base, a Marine reported to Garp that Rayleigh is being sold at the auction house. Garp commented that the pirate is probably selling himself to pay off a gambling debt. He also told the Marine reporting to him not to mention this to anyone else and that he will take care of it. Garp explained that Rayleigh is not to be underestimated just because of his age, and many good men could be hurt or worse if handled the wrong way.
When the manager, Disco, mistreated the newly arrived Keimi, Rayleigh used Haoshoku Haki to knock Disco out. The giant in a cage with him noted this and asked him who he was, which Rayleigh shrugged off, saying he was just an old man. Rayleigh eventually broke out of his cell along with the giant. He revealed that he only had himself put up for auction to eventually rob whoever bought him. As the guards stood there in shock, confused as to what they should do about this new development, Rayleigh spotted Hatchan and asked what he doing there. Upon seeing Keimi, however, he connected the dots before using another burst of Haoshoku Haki on the guards, knocking them all out. Rayleigh spotted Luffy, commenting that he has been waiting to meet him.
Rayleigh managed to remove the collar from Keimi and threw it aside before it explodes without the need for a key, much to the astonishment of the Straw Hats and to the annoyance of Franky who had just found the keys; he threw them to the remaining slaves to free themselves. Rayleigh apologized to Kid and Law for the blast from earlier, though remarked that they can not be normal if they managed to survive it. Both brushed it off, rather amazed to have run into the “Dark King” himself. Rayleigh replied that he is merely a simple coater now and warned not to use the former title as he would prefer to live a peaceful life. He checked on Hachi and thanked the Straw Hats’ for saving him before telling the group that they should leave. However, the Marines had the place surrounded, and demanded that they release the World Nobles.
Rayleigh is next seen running away carrying Hatchan on his back with Franky close behind when they escaped from the Auction house, later arriving at Shakky’s Rip-off Bar to meet up with the Straw Hats. After they arrived, they talked with Rayleigh, and he revealed his connection to Gold Roger; much to their surprise. Rayleigh also revealed how he met Hachi; the fishman had saved Rayleigh’s life when he was a child, and they had remained friends till Hachi joined Fisher Tigers crew, the Sun Pirates, and then remained in Arlong’s crew after the Sun Pirates disbanded, which Rayleigh seemed to disapprove of.
After conversing a while Sanji raised the question of how Rayleigh still could be alive if Roger’s crew were captured; Rayleigh revealed that Roger actually turned himself in. The government just made it seem he was conquered to show their strength to the public. Rayleigh went on to explain that four years before he was executed, Roger contracted an incurable disease. His crew had came across Crocus at the entrance of the Grand Line and asked him to join him on his final journey to keep his disease in check.
Finally after three years they had managed to conquer the Grand Line. This surprised the Straw Hats, Brook especially, since Crocus did reveal to them he was a pirate doctor for a time. Rayleigh even told them that the reason Crocus joined was to find a certain pirate crew, which the Straw Hats reason must have been the Rumbar Pirates, bringing tears to Brook’s eyes. Rayleigh continued, telling that after they conquered the sea, Roger was dubbed the Pirate King. However the title was meaningless since he was about to die. But Roger enjoyed it anyway through parties and fighting as a way to cope with the future. Eventually Roger disbanded his crew who silently went their separate ways, fates unknown.
The Dark King talked about the last time he saw Roger, the words they shared and how he felt the day of the execution, and added that normally he would not have told the crew any of this. His old apprentice Shanks had spoke of a young boy in East Blue with the same fire and personality as their captain, and had even passed on his hat to him. On a lighter note, Rayleigh congratulated Luffy for making it this far into the Grand Line and offered to do the coating job for free, much to the Straw Hats’ pleasure. Robin spoke up and asked about the Void Century, explaining to Rayleigh her findings from the Poneglyph inSkypiea. Rayleigh replied that he did indeed find out the history of it, but advised that she continue looking for it on her own; he explained that if he told her at present, she would not be prepared for it nor have the strength and resources necessary to truly take advantage of the information. Robin politely refused the information.
Rayleigh expressed sorrow that Ohara was destroyed, noting that Clover was a truly wise man, but perhaps he and the other archeologists were too hasty in trying to arrive at the truth. In regards to Roger using the lost Poneglyph script on the Shandoran Belfry, he cryptically stated that Roger could simply hear the voice of all things. Usopp lept up and asked Robin if she really would let an opportunity to know the truth like this slip by, and started to question Rayleigh about One Piece. Luffy angrily interjected, demanding that the mystery of the treasure’s true form or even existence remain hidden, since as countless pirates risk their lives just to search for it, to know removes the adventure. He threatened to quit being a pirate if any of the crew asks Rayleigh about it, adding that he does not want to go on a boring adventure. Usopp apologized for his actions, before Rayleigh asked Luffy if he can really conquer the Grand Line. Luffy replied that he does not really intend to conquer it, but that the person with the most freedom in the ocean would be the Pirate King. This brought a smile to Rayleigh’s and Shakky’s faces, seeing the unmistakable likeness to Roger in Luffy just as Shanks saw. Rayleigh told the crew he will have their ship coated in three days, and to avoid trouble until then
Rayleigh appeared after the Straw Hats were confronted by Sentomaru and aPacifista, saving Roronoa Zoro from death by redirecting Kizaru’s kick. Kizaru greeted the “Dark King” while Rayleigh told him not to pluck the budding pirates since their era is just beginning. When Kizaru moved to chase the escaping Zoro, Usopp and Brook with “Yata no Kagami“, Rayleigh drew a sword and cut the beam of light, stopping Kizaru in his tracks.
The two engaged in a sword fight, Kizaru using a sword of light, where Rayleigh managed to draw blood by cutting Kizaru’s cheek. Despite fighting evenly with Kizaru, he is only one man, and even he is unable to prevent the Straw Hats from being overpowered by PX-1 and Sentomaru while busy. After Bartholomew Kuma arrived and transported Zoro far away with his powers, he told Rayleigh something the Dark King is unwilling to believe—that he is an officer of the revolutionary army and that he wishes to let the Straw Hats escape – before he sent the rest of the crew to distant islands.
Marineford Arc.
While Whitebeard’s death was aired at Sabaody, Rayleigh, who had escaped Kizaru’s arrest, watched from afar while drinking. He remarked that Whitebeard was finally dead with a smile on his face and tears in his eyes.
fter the war, Rayleigh set off on a ship to Amazon Lily. However before he could even reach to the Calm Belt, his ship sank in a storm and thus forced him to swim the rest of the way to the island. He killed several Sea Kings when he was getting closer to the shore of the island, something which surprised and almost frightened the Heart Pirates who were watching from the shore. When he got to the shore, he remembered Trafalgar Law from the Sabaody Archipelago, and told them he thought Luffy was on the island.
He saw Luffy and Jinbe coming toward him. When Luffy asked about his crew, Rayleigh said he doubted they were all back yet. After telling Luffy that Law said to take it easy for another two weeks, he proceeded to greet Nyon, Boa Hancock, and her sisters, whom he had met 13 years ago; he had protected them when they had escaped from the Celestial Dragons. Elder Nyon is an old friend of his, and Rayleigh passed on a message from Shakky. He reassured them that the Marines would not even think to look for Luffy on Amazon Lily, and that he was completely safe there.
Rayleigh recalled what Kuma whispered to him back on the archipelago. He explained that Kuma told him the general direction in which he sent Luffy, which happened to lead right to Amazon Lily. After going back through the events of the war with Shakky, she was able to surmise (correctly on all three accounts) that Boa Hancock was hiding Luffy on her home island, that she was doing so out of love for Luffy, and also as a means of hiding him from the Marines. Rayleigh commented that a woman’s intuition was a truly frightening thing. He said he would get to the main reason he came to find Luffy. Rayleigh asked him if he wanted to return to Sabaody, and Luffy replied yes. Rayleigh reminded him of what happened there before, saying that gathering his crew there again would lead to the same result as before. He started to propose an idea he has to Luffy, giving him the choice of rejecting it if he so chooses.
He infiltrated Marineford with Luffy and Jinbe and took part in stealing a Marine ship and circling Marineford once with it. He was seen on the Kuja Pirates’ ship with two Kuja pirates pulling on his cheek. He told Luffy that his crew most likely got the meaning of his message, due to its abnormal nature, and said that he had a hunch that the others would understand the message.
He and Luffy went to Rusukaina for special training. Rayleigh told Hancock that none of the Kujas are allowed on the island during the training and tells her that if she is worried then she should pray for Luffy. Once the Kuja Pirates are gone, Rayleigh began Luffy’s training by mentioning that the island was once inhabited, but the chaotic climate changes and the ferocious nature of the wildlife eventually killed all the natives. As a wild elephant came charging at them, Rayleigh explained the basic concepts of Haki, using the elephant as a demonstration for them.
Rayleigh told Luffy that there are three kinds of Haki: Kenbunshoku Haki, Busoshoku Haki, and Haoshoku Haki. He used Kenbunshoku Haki to dodge the elephant’s attack and used Busoshoku Haki to repel the elephant. When Luffy started to understand Haki, Rayleigh subdued the elephant using the Haoshoku Haki. The two began training on the island. Luffy realized that he has seen these techniques before in some form or another during his adventures. Rayleigh hoped to use those two years to teach him the basics of controlling the different types of Haki, as it would take longer with a normal person. The two began training on the island.
two years later
Return to Sabaody Arc
Rayleigh returned to Sabaody Archipelago half a year before Luffy. He was seen again in Shakky’s bar commenting on how strong the Straw Hat pirates have become. He also finished coating the Thousand Sunny.
Rayleigh met Nami, Robin, Franky, Chopper, and Usopp on the Thousand Sunny. He informed them that Luffy had arrived on the island and is about to teach Nami on how to operate a coated ship. He told her to move the ship to Grove 42 and to wait until everyone assembled, saying it was finally time to restart. Rayleigh went to Grove 46 to check up on Luffy. He also commented on how Luffy strengthened his haki.
After Luffy had declared that he would be the Pirate King, Rayleigh was shown smiling with tears in his eyes. As the Marines begin their pursuit, Rayleigh drew a line on the ground with his sword and warned the Marines not to cross it, declaring that Luffy is his student. By doing so, he bought some extra time for the Straw Hat pirates to escape to Fishman Island.
Once the Straw Hats left, he revealed in a conversation with Shakky that a previous owner of Luffy’s straw hat was in fact, Roger. After reminiscing about the day he first met Roger, Rayleigh started tearing up, and commented that Luffy is a man worthy of that hat. Rayleigh added that it is not a bad idea to live a little longer.
