Thread by @Herms98

Age 553: nearly a century after Piccolo’s rampage, Roshi’s grief over Mutaito’s death has subsided enough for him to start up a first-rate porn collection. On an unrelated note, he eventually becomes unable to ride his magic cloud fit only for the pure of heart. #HistoryofEver

Actually, let’s back up a bit here: while still a young man (aged 18 or so and therefore pre-Piccolo, if the anime’s character design is any guide) Roshi trains with Karin. I discussed this before, but I never tire of this clip.

While there, Roshi receives two important pieces of Journey to the West memorabilia: a chunk of Karin’s gigantic Kinto’un (Nimbus), and the Nyoibo (Power Pole) that connects the tower to the divine lookout above.

These are based off Monkey King Sun Wukong’s two famous accessories: the Jīndǒuyún (Somersault Cloud) and Rúyìbàng (Compliant Rod), so it’s appropriate that they both eventually find their way to Goku.

(Look, just don’t even try to imagine why Roshi would’ve been desperate to borrow a big red rod that grows and shrinks on command. Trust me, you’re better off that way)

Roshi originally tells Goku that he received his magic cloud from Kami/God (one of the earliest uses of the term in DB, long before any of the series’ familiar gods had appeared), but this is later clarified/retconned to be Karin (hey, he is called “god of the martial arts”)

Anyway, with these treasures in tow, Roshi sets up shop on his island home and starts collecting porn (and teaching his pet turtle to speak, let’s not forget). According to the Adventure Special’s section on Kame House, he’s been collecting these dirty books for 200 years.

Based on this, the Daizenshuu 7 timeline dates the start of Roshi’s collection to Age 553, 200 years before the Piccolo arc in Age 753 (the Adventure Special came out in the middle of the Piccolo arc, making that the “present day” for all its in-universe info).

Amongst Roshi’s collection: the book “Bob and Margaret’s Forbidden Games”. That’s the title DB Online gives for Roshi’s questionable choice of classroom reading, and in DBO lore the book inspires Mister Buu to create a female companion for himself, thus spawning the Majin race.

It’s possibly around this time that Roshi invents the Kamehameha, a grueling process that takes him 50 years. Or at least that’s how long he claims it takes to learn the technique, so presumably that’s how long it took for him. God knows it doesn’t take anyone else that long.

Tomorrow: the Saiyans’ salad days!