Character Relationship Map: Rat King

Characters

• Juri (played by Max Ovaska) — protagonist

  Juri is a student who spends much of his time playing an online game as Mordred or Juryman, neglecting school and struggling with German. When Niki asks for help, he becomes involved in the game's dan...

• Mia (played by Niina Koponen) — supporting

  Mia is someone Juri tries to appear normal around as he prepares for his final German examination. She is among the people close to him whom Niki threatens to use as leverage, making her part of the d...

• Niki (played by Julius Lavonen) — supporting

  Niki is an online-game player who suddenly contacts Juri and asks him for help, claiming that other players are pursuing her. She draws him into completing the game's assignments, then reveals a plan...

• German Teacher (played by Maarja Jakobson) — supporting

  The German Teacher criticizes Juri at school over his poor test result. This interaction reflects the academic difficulties he faces while neglecting his studies for gaming; the summary also notes tha...

• Jamppa, "Jasso92" (played by Marten Tall) — supporting

  Jamppa, known online as Jasso92, is Juri's friend and one of the long-time players who disappears. He reaches the game's final level and dies after trying to quit. Juri later learns that Jamppa refuse...

• Pet Shop Clerk (played by Kadri Kilp) — minor

  The Pet Shop Clerk speaks with Juri during his visit to a pet shop as he prepares for his German examination. The clerk provides information about rats, poison, and products made from animals, knowled...

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Juri → German Teacher (Professional Student) — The teacher represents Juri's neglected school responsibilities.

  The German Teacher criticizes Juri's poor test result, and Juri later prepares for his final German examination.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Juri → Pet Shop Clerk (Social Customer) — The clerk provides information that helps Juri understand the rat-related task.

  Juri visits a pet shop and learns from the Pet Shop Clerk about rats, poison, and animal-derived products.

• Niki → Mia (Conflict Threatened Target) — Mia becomes leverage in Niki's attempt to force Juri's compliance.

  Niki threatens people close to Juri, explicitly including Mia, during the final coercive bargain.

• Juri → Mia (Social School Acquaintance) — Mia is part of Juri's ordinary school-world identity.

  Juri tries to appear normal around Mia while continuing his school life.

• Niki → Jamppa, "Jasso92" (Conflict Accused Killer) — Niki is directly implicated in Jamppa's death through Juri's accusation.

  Juri accuses Niki of killing Jamppa after learning that Jamppa refused to complete the rat-poison task.

• Juri → Niki (Alliance Reluctant Ally) — Juri temporarily cooperates with Niki while trying to understand and survive the game.

  Niki contacts Juri for help, hides with him, and asks him to assist with the game's assignments.

• Juri → Jamppa, "Jasso92" (Social Online Friend) — Their long-term online connection motivates Juri to investigate the game's dangerous disappearances.

  Juri has known Jasso92 and other players online for years before Jasso92 disappears.

Story Analysis

A gaming-obsessed student is drawn into a deadly online system and must resist being used in a violent public spectacle.

Plot Progression

1. The Vanishing Players — Juri is absorbed in an online game while neglecting school and German studies. The disappearance of Jasso92 and other players introduces the game's hidden danger.
2. Niki's Dangerous Assignments — Niki asks Juri for help and explains that leaving the game can lead to death. Juri assists her with increasingly disturbing tasks involving cameras, forced behavior, rats, and explosives.
3. The Rat Poison Revelation — Juri tries to preserve a normal school life while investigating rats and poison at a pet shop. He discovers that Jamppa refused a task involving poisoned school lunches.
4. Niki's Public Spectacle — Niki reveals that she wants to destroy the school and make Juri famous online. Juri rejects her plan and accuses her of killing Jamppa and exploiting him.
5. The Poisoned Choice — Niki threatens Mia and others close to Juri, then offers freedom in exchange for Juri eating poisoned food. The story ends with coercion giving way to Juri's return to ordinary life and graduation.