The Cost of Iron

NG+:

* Minor Legend increase
* 4 leather
* 3 Ghost Flowers

**The Cost of Iron** is a tale of Tsushima that becomes available during *Act 1: Rescue Lord Shimura*.

## Synopsis

Jin approaches a house full of injured survivors. He speaks to one of them, who tells them that there is a merchant working with the Mongols. The Mongols gave the merchant an iron mark, which is what the survivors were trying to take from him. The survivor tells Jin that whoever carries the iron mark is free to travel the roads without fear of being stopped by the Mongols. Jin notes that he could find a use for it, leaving the survivor a bit shocked before telling Jin that he can have it, and the merchant's cart is up the road from the house.

Jin goes to where the cart was last seen and investigates the area. The cart is surrounded by arrows and dead bodies. Jin investigates one of the bodies and notes that it isn't the merchant's. He also investigates a Mongol soldier's body, concluding that this was one of the Mongols the survivors fought. He then investigates the cart further and realizes that the iron mark isn't there, before being ambushed by Mongol archers and swordsmen. Jin takes them out, and hurries back to the house of the survivors, as if the Mongols attacked Jin here, they wouldn't be far from the house.

Jin reaches the house, only to find most of the men dead. The one man who he talked to earlier is barely alive with an arrow in his chest. The man begs Jin to save the merchant, as he is survivor's brother and that they were trying to steal the iron mark from him to save him from dishonoring his family. Jin is adamant that whoever helps the Mongols deserves to die, but the man begs for the merchant's survival. Jin begrudingly obliges, but says he cannot promise his safety. The man dies, thanking Jin in his final breath.

Jin tracks the Mongols' footprints from the house to a nearby house, with the merchant inside. Jin kills all the Mongols outside and frees the merchant. The merchant thanks him, but Jin stops him and questions why the merchant was working for the Mongols. The merchant says that the Mongols promised to protect his family and sisters if he worked for them. Jin responds that the merchant's brother led the men who tried to steal the iron mark, and he is now dead. The merchant then clarifies that he never had any iron mark, and even if he did, the marks are engraved with the bearer's name, so they'd be useless to anyone but the beholder. Jin realizes the story that is, and tells the merchant that he is free to go, but warns him about future work with the Mongols. The merchant promises that he won't, and also realizes that he can't go back to his family. The tale ends with the merchant questioning what he lives for.

## Objectives

* Investigate the home
* Search for the merchant cart
* Reach the search area
* Investigate the area further
* Investigate the cart
* Defeat the Mongols
* Return to the wounded men
* Speak with the survivor
* Search for Mongol tracks
* Track the Mongols
* Search for the merchant
* Rescue the merchant

## Journal entries

> The woods near Kuta Farmstead have seen more Mongol patrols than usual—and there are whispers of merchants traveling the area safely. I need to find out what's happening in those woods.
>
> ― Jin, before starting the Tale, after talking to a villager.
>
>

> I found some injured men who survived a Mongol attack. They mentioned an "iron mark" that allows the bearer to travel the roads safely. Even past Mongols. I'll search for this iron mark where the men were attacked, near the merchant's cart.
>
> ― Jin, after starting the Tale
>
>

## Trivia

The “iron mark” mentioned throughout this Tale is most likely a gereg, or paiza. A gereg was a small iron medallion issued to Mongol officials and nobles which gave them certain privileges and authorities, including free passage through Mongol checkpoints.