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Greetings traveller... me? Why I am Sozo of course! Researcher of all things mushrooms... guess that makes me a fun-guy! Just a little joke Sozo likes to tell. Yes, yes! Mushrooms! Mushrooms are Sozo's passion. But Sozo need more! Sozo always need more... You will collect for Sozo, yes? Yes! Sozo can't trust my followers out there. They lie, they steal, they whisper secrets about Sozo. I JUST KNOW IT! Sozo will do anything! I'll worship at your altar! Sozo will devote myself to your cause! I'LL RIP OFF YOUR HEAD! Ahem... Sozo will show you how to use the power of the mushrooms to open the fragile little minds of your Followers! But you do not need to use it on Sozo! Oh no! Sozo will follow willingly. As long as you keep bringing Sozo mushrooms, Sozo will do anything. Take the path to Anura and find Sozo mushrooms! You may not have seen them before, but now you seek them, they shall be there now.
Where am I…? Where is… my family…? My name is Dr. Sozonius. I was researching the Mushroomos that live in Spore Grotto… strange creatures, neither animal nor plant... they gave me Menticide Mushrooms, and then..l that’s the last thing I remember... I can’t help but feel that I have to you to thank for... something. You have my loyalty, I will remain here and serve you. Please, take this!
„
~ Sozo after having been re-educated, returning to his old self.
Dr. Sozonius, better known as Sozo, is an NPC in the 2022 roguelike action-adventure game Cult of the Lamb. He's a mycologist who was brainwashed after eating some Menticide Mushrooms, becoming the paranoid leader of a cult centered around mushrooms.
Sozo is an extremely paranoid individual, not trusting his followers at all (and, in turn, his followers are afraid of him). He also clearly has no concern for them, brainwashing them even if he knows this could make them terribly ill, and even eating them.
Sozo's main trait is his strong obsession with mushrooms, for which he's even ready to follow the Lamb. Regarding the Lamb, as the latter brings him mushrooms, Sozo will trust them more and more, going as far as considering them his best friend. That being said, if the Lamb refuses to bring him Mushroomo followers after having revived him, Sozo will turn against them.
He also clearly isn't mentally well and sometimes switches to talking in third person.
As Dr. Sozonius, he's the complete opposite of his brainwashed self, being calm and collected.
Biography[]
Sometime in the past, Dr. Sozonius was studying the Mushroomos that live in Spore Grotto. After being given some Menticide Mushrooms by them, Dr. Sozonius became obsessed with mushrooms and his personality changed completely, becoming Sozo.
During the crusades at Anura, the Lamb can meet some of Sozo's followers, who are looking for the Menticide Mushrooms for him, before indicating the Lamb the location of Spore Grotto. There, the Lamb meets Sozo himself, who will give them tasks in exchange for Holy Talisman fragments.
After 20 mushrooms have been collected, Sozo will teach the Lamb the brainwashing ritual and, after the Lamb has performed it, he will ask them to build a statue of him. If the Lamb does so, Sozo will start generating Devotion. There will also be a chance to meet Sozo during crusades after this.
If after some time the Lamb returns to Sozo's house, they will find him dead, with his head split in half. If the Lamb takes the mushrooms from Sozo's head and plants in their base, after some time Sozo will return back to life and become a follower. He will request 5 Menticide Mushrooms and, after this, will request the Lamb to find him Mushroomo followers: every time a Mushroom follower is brought back to the base, Sozo will eventually eat them.
If the Lamb refuses to bring him Mushroom followers, Sozo will get angry and start dissenting. After being put in prison and re-educated, the mushroom on Sozo's head will fall off, reverting his personality back to normal. He will continue to serve the Lamb as a their follower.
Quotes[]
“
Yes! Yes! Give Sozo give Sozo GIVE SOZO! Excellent... Excellent! But not ENOUGH. Bring Sozo more and Sozo will show you how to brainwash those Followers of yours. Sozo supposes you want something for your efforts? Of course! Sozo always pays his debts. Take this.
„
~ Sozo after 10 mushrooms have been given to him.
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Yes, YES! These will do just fine! Okay, Sozo will share with you this ritual, but you must not show anyone! Stand back... or you will get brainwashed too. DONE! As you can see now Sozo's loyal Followers are BRAINWASHED. They will do whatever Sozo say for a few days, and lose no Faith in Sozo. But afterward may of them will fall sick... but oh well! Now that you have seen, you can go to your temple and perform the Ritual yourself!
„
~ Sozo after 20 mushrooms have been given to him.
“
Sozo trusts you, only you, everyone else is out to get Sozo, but not you, Sozo loves you, Sozo needs you... What? Are you spying on Sozo!? Go away! Come back with mushrooms!
„
~ Sozo if the Lamb doesn't have enough mushrooms.
“
You did it, didn't you? You tasted the power of the mushrooms... yes, you are just like Sozo. Sozo knows you are a friend! Here, you must take this. A sign of friendship between two lovers of the Menticide Mushroom. Keep it safe! You can trust no one... NO ONE! I wish to give you something else. Something to symbolise your undying adoration for the Menticide Mushrooms and their limitless potential. No need to thanks Sozo. Build it at your Cult then come back to me. Sozo shall grant you one last gift. Sozo is always fair. Always repays this debts. Not like those LIARS out there.
„
~ Sozo after the Lamb has performed the brainwashing ritual, as well as him giving the Mushroom Sculpture to the Lamb.
“
You did it! Now I know I can trust you... not like those nasty liars outside. They are always watching, always listening! Here take this. You are Sozo's best friend, you are Sozo's only friend. Sozo can trust you now, Sozo will pledge himself to you! You will protect me from those liars outside and bring Sozo mushrooms!
„
~ Sozo after the Lamb has built the Mushroom Sculpture.
“
Sozo is so happy! Sozo has never had so many mushrooms before. If it wasn't for you, Sozo would never be able to get so many at once! Sozo cannot wait to see what happens!
„
~ Sozo if the Lamb visits him again.
“
Mushrooms, where are you? I hear you call to Sozo... an! Mushroom! Mushroom the size of a lamb! Mushroom, remember when you met Sozo?" Sozo had friends... followers... family... now Sozo has mushrooms... this is better! Is this better? Ha! Hahahaha! Ha...
„
~ Sozo if he's met during a crusade.
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Sozo just had the CRAZIEST dream. Sozo dreamt that Sozo had too many mushrooms and... and was happier than Sozo has ever been before! Now all Sozo can think about is mushrooms, mushrooms, MUSHROOMS... they don’t leave mush-room for anything else! Ha! Sozo must have more... it’s been so long... Sozo miss the taste... the feeling! Sozo will live here and be happy if you just bring more MUSHROOMS!
„
~ Sozo after being revived.
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Precious, perfect little mushrooms, Sozo is here now, Sozo will always be here... Sozo is busy now... Sozo must commune with the 'shrooms. You GO AWAY!
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~ Sozo if he's given 5 mushrooms.
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No Mushrooms? NO MUSHROOMS FOR SOZO? You... you... you... fine! Sozo can forgive... but Sozo will not forget.
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~ Sozo if the player refuses to give him 5 mushrooms.
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Sozo was just here, all alone, thinking about mushrooms... uh, Sozo means Sozo's little Mushroomo followers! Yes, they must be so lost without Sozo. They love Sozo! Everyone loves Sozo - especially Lamb! Without their great and beloved Sozo, Mushroomos must be so scared... YOU! You must save them! Save them and bring them to Sozo. They will be trapped in Anura. They are always getting captured when they don't have their great Sozo to protect them. Rescue them and bring them to me.
„
~ Sozo requesting a Mushroomo follower for the first time.
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The little Mushroomo had to... *burp*... leave! Yes, yes, it had to leave! But Sozo knows where there are others! Lamb must bring Sozo more, yes? Yes! Good.
„
~ Sozo after eating his first Mushroomo follower.
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Yes, Mushroomo had to go, but... another! How about another? Oh, it is so hard to be apart from Mushroomos! You would have to lock Sozo up to stop! But Lamb never do that to Sozo!
„
~ Sozo after eating his second Mushroomo follower.
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Sozo wants more Mushroomos... I mean, Mushroomos need Sozo! Another? All alone and trapped in Anura. You must help it!
„
~ Sozo after eating his second Mushroomo follower onwards.
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Yes, yes! Thank you Lamb, Sozo will be very good to Mushroomo.
„
~ Sozo whenever the player brings him a Mushroomo follower.
“
You... deny Sozo? You hate Sozo? Then Sozo hates you too. No... no! You have to help Sozo, you have to, Sozo begs, Sozo needs the mushroom... give... Sozo... MUSHROOM...
„
~ Sozo if the player refuses to bring him a Mushroomo follower.
“
Fine! Lock Sozo up! Sozo would rather be in prison forever than see stupid Lamb!
„
~ Sozo after being put in prison.
Gallery[]
Sozo, the Lamb and Sozo's followers.
Trivia[]
It's possible that the mushroom on Sozo's head is an Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, a parasitic fungus known for controlling ants and growing on them, eventually killing them. This would explain Sozo's obsession for mushrooms and his death.
This seems to have been confirmed with later updates, where it's revealed Sozo was brainwashed and said brainwashing ended when the mushroom fell off from his head.
Villains