Sculptor

## Description

The **Sculptor** (仏師) is the hermit who inhabits the Dilapidated Temple, where he passes his days carving Buddha Statues. He rescued Wolf after his defeat at the hand of Genichiro and gifted him a Prosthetic Arm to replace the one he lost. Despite his stoic appearance, he'll help Sekiro on his quest to save Kuro by upgrading his new arm, which he calls a "**Shinobi's Fang**", with the Prosthetic Tools the man brings him and by giving him the Prosthetic Esoteric Text, that he himself wrote, and the Shinobi Esoteric Text.

He's later revealed to be a former shinobi named **Orangutan** (猩々), who became the new sculptor of the temple to repay his karmic debt. Orangutan trained in the Sunken Valley with his partner, a woman named Kingfisher. He later joined forces with Isshin Ashina to fight for the rebellion. One day, in the aftermath of a fight, while scouting the battlefield, he found a lonely child named Emma, who'll later be adopted by his friend Lord Dogen, a notorious doctor. Driven by bloodlust, Orangutan found himself on the verge of becoming a Shura, but Isshin intervened and cut off his left arm to prevent this. To help him, Dogen crafted a prototype of what will later become the Prosthetic Arm the Sculptor will pass on to Wolf.

As Sekiro returns to the Dilapidated Temple, after the final invasion of the Central Forces, he discovers that the Sculptor has left his home and, when questioned, Fujioka explains that he was heading for the battlefield, muttering about "the flames". Following a trail of burning buildings in Ashina Outskirts, Sekiro finds himself face to face with the Demon of Hatred, the vessel of wrath the Sculptor turned into.

## Location

* Dilapidated Temple: sitting inside carving wood.

## Progression #1 (Shinobi's Fang)

### Ashina Outskirts (Dilapidated Temple)

As suggested by the Sculptor, everytime Wolf obtains a Prosthetic Tool, he should bring it to the hermit so that he could assemble it on his Prosthetic Arm.

When Wolf brings the Slender Finger to him, he recognizes it as belonging to his old sparring partner Kingfisher. If Wolf obtains the Malcontent's Ring, once the Sculptor upgrades his Finger Whistle with it, he admonishes the shinobi about the power of its somber melody.

## Progression #2 (Battle Sense)

### Ashina Outskirts (Dilapidated Temple)

Once Wolf obtains his first Skill Point, upon talking with the Sculptor, Sekiro will receive the Shinobi Esoteric Text.

When Wolf retrieves and installs at least three Prosthetic Tools, the Sculptor will gift him the Prosthetic Esoteric Text.

## Progression #3 (Honing the Fang)

### Ashina Outskirts (Ashina Castle Gate)

Defeat Gyoubu Oniwa to obtain the Mechanical Barrel.

### Ashina Outskirts (Dilapidated Temple)

Bring the Barrel to the Sculptor to unlock the option to "**Upgrade Prosthetic Tool**" through Purifying Agents.

## Progression #4 (Dragonrot)

### Ashina Outskirts (Dilapidated Temple)

Should Wolf die four times, the Sculptor will end up afflicted by Dragonrot, but he'll reassure Sekiro that this disease can't kill him as he is no ordinal man. Yet, if not cured, it won't be possible to complete **Progression #5** and **Progression #6**.

Talk with Emma and reload the area to find her tending to the Sculptor: she'll now tell Wolf that she can create a cure to Dragonrot if the shinobi fetches her the blood sample of another infected person.

After fulfilling her request, reload the area to have Emma gift Wolf the Recovery Charm and Dragon's Blood Droplet [x1]: now consuming said item at any Sculptor's Idol via "**Dragonrot Restoration"** will heal all affected characters.

Once the Sculptor's has recovered from his disease, speak to Emma to receive Ashina Sake.

## Progression #5 (Death Wish)

### Ashina Outskirts (Outskirts Wall - Gate Path)

Speak to the Timid Maid to receive the Young Lord's Bell Charm.

### Ashina Outskirts (Dilapidated Temple)

Interact with the statue of the kind-faced Buddha inside the temple to enter the Hirata Estate memory.

### Ashina Outskirts (Dilapidated Temple)

Upon returning from the memory, interrogate the Sculptor and "**ask what the Buddha showed to him**" to have him reply that all he can see are incessant flames consuming everything in sight.

Before defeating Great Shinobi - Owl, offer the Ashina Sake, the Monkey Booze and the Unrefined Sake (order doesn't matter) to the Sculptor.

After triggering the first invasion of Ashina Castle by the Central Forces, eavesdrop on Emma and the Sculptor, then talk to the former. Reload the area to have her disappear and speak with the Sculptor, who'll tell Wolf he'll be the one to kill him.

### Ashina Outskirts (Flames of Hatred)

While fighting the Demon of Hatred, Wolf will now have some unique lines.

## Progression #6 (Sake)

### Ashina Outskirts (Dilapidated Temple)

If offered different drinks, he will reminisce about what each one reminds him of:

* Ashina Sake reveals Dogen, Emma's foster father, created the Prosthetic Arm as a gift for the Sculptor.
* Dragonspring Sake reminds him of the time he found a young Emma on a battlefield.
* Monkey Booze reminds him of his training as a rogue shinobi in the Sunken Valley with Kingfisher.
* Unrefined Sake provokes him to tell Sekiro that Isshin Ashina took his left arm to save him from turning into a Shura.

* After Waking Up
* Prosthetics and Skills Related
* After Defeating Genichiro
* Eavesdropping
* Drinking Sake

**Wolf**: What is it...?
 **Presenting First Tool** | **Wolf**: I've found one...
**Sculptor**: A shinobi tool?
**Wolf**: Yes.
**Sculptor**: I said before that your prosthetic arm was a fang... But by fitting shinobi tools to your arm you'll be able to change the form of that fang. Thick shields? Break them into splinters... Swift foes? Bring them down from afar. Fitting more devices means more ways to slay your enemies. If there's someone that needs killing, there's a proper way to kill them... That's all there is to it.
**Wolf**: ... Seems you know this prosthetic very well.
 **After Acquiring Mechanical Barrel** | **Sculptor**: Ohhh... I see you've acquired something quite interesting. A mechanical barrel. It's a mechanism that can serve as the very core of the prosthetic. Hand it here. I'll fit it to the arm for you.
**Wolf**: What difference does the barrel make?
**Sculptor**: With a versatile base such as this... I can use various purifying agents to further hone that fang of yours.
**Wolf**: Purifying agents?
 **After Fitting At Least 3 Prosthetic Tools To Your Arm** | **Sculptor**: The Shinobi prosthetic... Appears you've taken to it quite well. Here, this is for you. *(Gives Shinobi Esoteric Text)*
**Wolf**: What is it...?
**Sculptor**: It contains ways to... Bite into your foes with that fang of yours... In other words, fighting techniques for your prosthetic arm.
**Wolf**: ...I see.
 **Talking After Obtaining the Finger Whistle** | **Sculptor**: What's that you have there... Where did you get that finger?
**Wolf**: The Guardian Ape of the Sunken Valley... I found it in his belly.
 **Talking After Crafting the Malcontent** | **Sculptor**: ... Listen. That finger whistle I've fixed onto your arm... I'm sure it'll play a somber... but enjoyable tune. Make sure you use it well.

**Emma**: Yes... That should be enough. Thank you, Orangutan.
**Sculptor**: Emma. What are you going to do... with the coughed-up blood of an old bastard...?
**Emma**: I'm going to research the Dragonrot. I want to find the cure for it. Orangutan... I'm doing this for your sake, too.
**Sculptor**: ... You are, are you? I don't need your meddling, I'll get over it on my own...
**Emma**: ......... Hmm. Now then... let me take a look... Dragonrot infected blood... How exactly... Is this illness caused...?
 **After the Central Forces invade Ashina** | **Emma**: Orangutan... The Central Forces are here.
**Sculptor**: ... Are they now? They never change their thieving ways...
**Emma**: Are the flames... still burning?
**Sculptor**: Emma... The answer to that isn't going to change. I could carve Buddha idols for all eternity and the flames of hatred would still rage on. The most I can do is keep them in check.
**Emma**: ......... Orangutan.
**Sculptor**: What is it?
**Emma**: If the time ever comes, then I'll...
**Sculptor**: ......... I have Buddha to carve... Good-bye...

**Sculptor**: Oh, is this Dragonspring? I'll have some. Hooh.... Dragonspring...? That's fine quality sake. I'll take it then. Now that really hits the spot... There's nothing quite like this.
I often drank this with Dogen... Emma would keep our cups filled. Have you known Lady Emma for long? That was a long time ago... I found her on a battlefield... a battlefield. She crept up slowly towards me, her eyes fixed, unwavering on the rice I held in my hand. It became too much to bear, so I gave it to her. Then she just started following me. After that...
 **Given Ashina Sake** | **Wolf**: I brought some tea.
**Sculptor**: *(Sniffs)* This "tea" smells pretty good. Suppose I'll have some. Oh, I needed that.. This tea reminds me of Emma's father. About Lady Emma's father... Dogen... He was an extraordinary doctor. He was also very well-versed in mechanisms and devices. ... Better put, he was obsessed with mechanisms to the point that it affected his health... He didn't take much else seriously, but I owed him my life... Ah, and we could say that you owe him your life as well.
**Wolf**: What do you mean?
**Sculptor**: When I lost my left arm, Dogen created that thing... which has now become your left arm. The first version was a complete failure, didn't work at all. So he remade it. Then he remade it again, and again, countless times. *(chuckles)*
**Wolf**: What?
 **Given Monkey Booze** | **Wolf**: I brought something for you.
**Sculptor**: ... Monkey Booze, is it? Haaa! It burns the throat, same as ever. This really brings back memories.
**Wolf**: Did you drink this often?
**Sculptor**: I trained in the techniques of the shinobi in the valley where the monkeys dwelled...
**Wolf**: ... By yourself?
**Sculptor**: ... No. There were two of us. We were rogue shinobi... There was no proper master for the likes of us. That's why we went to the valley. To run, to jump, to clash swords... where one slip would mean your doom. That was how we trained.
... We came to move exactly as monkeys did after a time. I'd drink this Monkey Booze whenever I tired of training. And I’d listen to the howl of my partner’s whistling finger while I drank.
**Wolf**: Howl...?
**Sculptor**: It was from his unique ring... Whistling through that ring... Would fill the valley with a somber melody.
 **Given Unrefined Sake** | **Wolf**: I brought some sake.
**Sculptor**: Don't mind if I do. Hmm...
**Wolf**: Is it not to your liking?
**Sculptor**: ... No, it's damn good. Ahhh! But it does make my old wounds ache.
**Wolf**: Your left arm?
**Sculptor**: Yes. And this sake was a favorite... of the man who cut it off.
**Wolf**: Who was...?
**Sculptor**: Lord Isshin.
**Wolf**: ... Isshin? Why?
**Sculptor**: ......... He... did it for my sake. Ahhh. I was on the verge of being consumed...
**Wolf**: Consumed by what?
**Sculptor**: ... Shura. ... Well, whether you believe me or not, that's for you to decide. But you'd do well to beware... Shura's shadow.

## Notes

* If failed to acquire prior to the Sculptor's disappearance, both the Shinobi Esoteric Text and Prosthetic Esoteric Text will be found near his Workshop.
* In New Game Plus, if one has chosen to abandon Kuro's Charm in the young lord's hands, the Sculptor (and later his Workshop) will hold Kuro's Charm, in case the player desires to retrieve it, but it won't be possible to separate from it again for the rest of the whole playthrough.

## Trivia

* His japanese name 仏師 literally translates to "sculptor specialized in Buddha statues".
* In japanese, his old shinobi name 猩々 refers to a spirit with red hair and face called shōjō, that has a particular fondness for alcohol.
* The temple where the Sculptor resides is covered in ofuda, sacred talismans used to repel or imprison evil spirits.

## Cut Content

* It is revealed through some text files in the game that there was going to be another way to cure Dragonrot, that involved Wolf giving the cure, a medicinal drink, to those affected by the disease:

 **After Giving Dragonrot Cure** | **Sculptor**: ........ *(Cough)*
**Wolf**: Any change?
**Sculptor**:Well... Breathing's a bit... easier now. ...Well? Need something else?
**Wolf**: ......... Sculptor. You said you're "not normal." What does that mean?
 **With Emma** | **Sculptor**: Emma. What are you going to do... with the coughed-up blood of an old bastard...?
**Emma**: I'm going to research the Dragonrot. I want to find the cure for it. Orangutan... I'm doing this for your sake, too.
**Sculptor**: ... You are, are you? I don't need your meddling. I'll get over it on my own...
**Emma**: ......... Hmm. Now then... Let me take a look... Dragonrot infected blood... How exactly... Is this illness caused...?
**Sculptor**: ......... Hah. Dougen... Emma is just like you.

Gallery
Carving Buddha StatuesOld AchesCarving of a BuddhaConcept ArtConcept Art