Castle Shimura

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## Castle Shimura

* Day
* Night
* Siege

### Tales

The Fate of Tsushima
From the Darkness
Honor and Ash
Heart of the Jito

**Castle Shimura** is a large fortress and home of Clan Shimura on the island of Tsushima, in Japan. The castle was captured by Mongols under Khotun Khan during their invasion but was reclaimed by the combined forces of Lord Shimura, Lord Oga and Lord Sakai.

## The Fate of Tsushima

The grounds of Castle Shimura serve as the battleground for the Siege of Castle Shimura, where Jin Sakai, Yuna, Lady Masako, Sensei Ishikawa, Norio, the Warrior Monks of Kushi Temple, warriors from Clan Yarikawa and samurai reinforcements from Clan Oga under Lord Oga battle the Mongol forces for control over Castle Shimura, leading to strategic control over the Island of Tsushima.

After conquering a wave of Mongols, a battering ram is used to force open the first gate and second gates of the castle; however the men manning the ram are quickly disposed of after breaking each respective door. Lord Shimura requests Jin to scout ahead the third gate to ensure the Japanese forces are not taken by surprise. Jin gets a bird's-eye view of a Mongolian General, accompanied by a horde of soldiers waiting on the other side of the gate. He then proceeds to poison two of the Mongol soldiers with his blowgun, before beheading the general with a single stroke of his sword. Although this effectively inspires fear into the remaining Mongols who flee, and prevents any Japanese casualties, Lord Shimura reprimands Jin for his lack of honor towards the Samurai Code.

The Japanese forces find themselves under Hwacha fire, and Lord Shimura assigns Jin to destroy the siege weapon with honor while the remaining Japanese forces hold the line and draw the fire. Yuna accompanies Jin and the pair successfully reach the Hwacha and turn it onto the Mongol forces charging out to attack the Japanese forces. Yuna comments that Jin was right to terrorize the Mongols at the third gate, and the only reason why the invasion has succeeded up to this point. Jin surmises that his Uncle's devotion to the Samurai Code will result in more death for the Japanese forces.

The next gate opens without the need of the battering ram, and after clearing out another wave of Mongols, the only obstacle from victory is the bridge that leads to the main keep. The final gate opens without opposition, and as a large group of Oga samurai and Yarikawa warriors storm the bridge, the Mongols are seen retreating back into the main keep without resistance. Realizing too late that something is wrong, Jin can only watch in horror as a horse drawn carriage of explosive barrels storms onto the bridge. As Jin, Yuna and Lord Shimura open fire on the horses, the carriage explodes, inflicting heavy casualties on the Japanese forces. The explosion also heavily damages the bridge, barring entry into the main keep.

Lord Shimura plans on repairing the bridge and attacking at dawn; however Jin believes that the loss of life caused by Lord Shimura's honorable methods will only be exacerbated with another charge, and declares his plan of sneaking into the castle to poison the guards in the night. Lord Shimura proclaims this an act of terror and forbids Jin from further dishonoring the Samurai Code; however after their disagreement, Jin requests Yuna and his allies to gather as much wolfsbane as possible with the intent of carrying out his plan. Yuna presents Jin with Taka's final gift: an outfit which enhances Jin's stealth and assassination tactics.

## From the Darkness

Jin uses his Iron Hook to grapple across the bottom of the damaged bridge, sneaking up a tower to gather a bird's-eye view of the keep. He discovers that Ryuzo is also at the castle, and the Mongols are preparing a feast, planning on gorging on fermented milk. After sneaking across the lightly defended garden path, Jin successfully slips the wolfsbane into the huge pot of fermented milk, and watches as the Mongol guards succumb to the effects of the poison. After entering the main keep to confront the Khan, Jin instead finds Ryuzo, who has been assigned by the Khan to collect the Ghost's head. Ryuzo attempts to join Jin's forces in defeating the Khan, citing that he chose to convince the Khan to give Jin a chance to join the Mongols instead of killing him outright. However Jin demands Ryuzo turn himself in and answer for his crimes. Ryuzo refuses, and the two engage in a second duel. Jin defeats his childhood friend once again and finally ends Ryuzo's life.

Jin exits the main keep, where he is met by Yuna. They are shortly joined by Lord Shimura and a sizeable portion of the remaining Oga forces. Lord Shimura looks on with disgust at the dying Mongols, and ends the suffering of a soldier still in his death throes. Jin announces that the Khan has begun marching north; however despite accomplishing their goal with no further casualties, Lord Shimura cannot overlook Jin's use of underhanded tactics to liberate the castle. He proclaims that the Shogun will demand a head for this violation of the Samurai Code, and implores Jin to renounce his ties to the Ghost and blame Yuna for his acts of terror; Jin refuses, and by extension denounces his title of Jin Shimura, Lord Shimura's honorable son. Jin is arrested for his crimes, but not before handing his weapons to Yuna with instructions to find the Khan in Kamiagata. Lord Shimura sorrowfully allows the adoption papers meant for Jin to burn.

## Honor and Ash

Jin is held captive inside the castle, watched closely by a lone samurai. After an unspecified period of time, Kenji visits Jin's cell, offering the samurai guard some sake before the others finish it. The guard eventually relents, and Kenji takes the opportunity to free the Ghost. Jin initially refuses to leave his cell, not wanting further conflict between those loyal to the Ghost and those loyal to Lord Shimura. However Kenji reveals that Jin will be shipped to the Shogun for judgement if he stays longer.

Kenji reveals Yuna's location at Kin near the sacred tree, and Jin, barehanded, evades the samurai forces on his way to the stables by slipping through a fence that was damaged during the siege. On his way out of the keep, Jin overhears the samurai expressing both their disdain at Jin's use of underhanded tactics as well as their fear of his poison. Lord Oga reveals his increasing doubt regarding Lord Shimura's abilities, citing how he allowed the Khan to escape and his inability to control his nephew. Jin manages to escape on his horse, however not before his horse suffers two arrows to the rear.

## Heart of the Jito

After observing the Khan's stronghold at Port Izumi, Jin and Yuna come up with a plan to infiltrate the fort and kill the Khan before he can bring Jin's deadly poison to the mainland to topple the shogunate. Jin surmises that he needs more men to mount a successful invasion, and offers to enlist the help of his uncle, much to Yuna's chagrin. Jin decides to infiltrate Castle Shimura and leave a note for Lord Shimura, using his knowledge of the hidden paths through the walls to remain undetected. Jin infiltrates the castle through the cliff face, where he is warned by a nearby fisherman that the samurai are actively looking for the Ghost. Jin decides not to kill any samurai in his way, as to prove he is not the monster the Shogun makes him out to be.

Although the only path towards the main keep via the bridge is heavily guarded, Jin manages to sneak into a horse drawn cart to make his way to Lord Shimura's quarters. Just outside the main keep, Jin observes his uncle giving a rousing speech to the Oga samurai, intent upon finding the Khan in Kamiagata and ending his life, whilst simultaneously denouncing the fear inducing tactics and poison of the Ghost. Inside the main keep, Lord Shimura laments on the fact that he and Jin should have given the speech together, instead of being enemies. It is revealed in a conversation between Lord Shimura and a samurai that he despises Jin to the extent of instructing others to not speak his name in his presence, as Jin's use of poison during the siege allowed the Mongols to reverse engineer the wolfsbane to use against the people of Tsushima.

Jin is able to enter his old room in Castle Shimura, where he briefly reminisces on his old life under Lord Shimura's care. After successfully delivering the message inside Lord Shimura's quarters, he is able to escape the castle before Shimura is able to call for guards to capture Jin. It is revealed that the message was successful in its purpose, as prior to its delivery Lord Shimura was unaware of the location of the Khan's residence in Kamiagata, yet he is present in the final battle.

## Tales

* *The Fate of Tsushima*
* *From the Darkness*
* *Honor and Ash*
* *Heart of the Jito*