Nobunaga/Stories

General Stories Misc

Quotes

On Sortied

All who oppose me shall taste my steel!

On Entering a Room

My foes will taste my steel!

When Quest Begins

Let us go forth!

Are your preparations complete?

Response to Beginning of a Quest

Understood! Together, we will unite this land!

Ah, how my heart loves battle!

When Controlling Character in Quest

On me!

When Receiving a Heal

My strength returns!

You have my thanks.

When Entering a Boss' Room

That's the leader. Cut them down!

This is the decisive battle!

Response to Entering a Boss' Room

Indeed. Witness my strength!

Yes! Through victory comes unity!

Upon Getting to Low Health

Hmph. A worthy opponent!

I thrive in the face of adversity!

Upon Opening a Chest

Any ingredients for tea, perchance?

Foreign treasures... Fascinating!

Boss on Low Health

Victory is near! Maintain this pressure!

Their defense is crumbling!

Boss Enters Break State

Hah! You've left yourself open!

Show no quarter!

Rare Enemy Spawns

Such a novel foe!

That enemy gives me pause...

Upon Death

How short life is... As fleeting as a dream...

My dream... But a passing illusion...

Upon Revival

My flame burns yet.

When Using Weapon/Shared Skills

Damage: Fool!

Buff Self: Power wells within me!

Buff Ally: My strength is your own.

Debuff Enemy: Hah, putty!

Heal Ally: You are a handful, aren't you?

Heal Self: I cannot be deterred.

Player Uses Damaging Skill

You bring honor to your name!

A splendid display!

When Shape Shifting is Ready

My soul burns with the dragon's fury!

The dragon rumbles within!

Shape Shifting into Dragon

With my soulpact I shall rule all of Hinomoto!

Idle During Quest

Do we have time for tea?

I will watch for the perfect moment to strike.

Quest Clear

My dream remains on course.

Quest Failure

Could this be my dream's end?

Home Screen Walking

I shall rule the whole of my land!

I will rewrite the status quo!

'Tis a peaceful, beautiful night...

I will bring good fortune to my people!

I must learn more of foreign lands!

The skies are the same in every land.

Home Screen Inside

I alone can bring eternal prosperity to Hinomoto. And to do so, I shall first unite all of its lands!

To be called a fool is a compliment! It is those who are different who will lead us to the future.

Life is short, so I have no time for trifles. I will cut away any and all who stand in my way!

Money is the blood of every nation. Prosperity in trade begets strength in battle!

The dances of foreign lands are so dynamic! I hope to learn them well.

Your Illian Church is fascinating indeed. I would very much like to hear a sermon or two.

Home Screen Portrait

I wish to foster a nation of vigor and prosperous trade, where new ideas are truly valued.

Allow me to introduce you to my attendant, Ranmaru, he's right over... Ah, it would appear I left him in Hinomoto.

I must ever be holding my fan. It's quite useful while dancing, you know, and it can even serve to signal my troops.

My territory endured a period of strife, but those days have ended, all thanks to my legendary reign.

An enlightened ruler honors the will of their people. Their dreams are my own, as is yours.

Collection Portrait

I am not troubled by my shortened life, for human existence is fleeting by nature. My life shall burn white hot and be talked of in legend.

I will adopt anything I judge to be good and worthy: the culture of foreign lands, the weapons of my enemies—all of it.

What do you think of my cloak? It was sown to mimick the fashion of your people, based of what my scouts relayed to me.

I will reshape Hinomoto into a land of novelty and progressive ideas.

Whatever dangers may lie in wait I will rend them in twain. Hinomoto will be united under me one day, and I will see it protected!

At The Halidom

Are we moving out? Understood!

If I were to attack this castle, I would first... Heh, 'tis merely a thought-exercise.

You have a smithy here, do you? Might I inspect it?

New Mana Circle Unlocked

I draw ever closer to my dream!

On Mana Circle Fully Unbound

Together, you and I shall lead our lands to a better tomorrow. Let us swear this oath now.

Adventurer Story Episodes

Episode 1

Mysterious Disappearances

What follows is the record of an incident that
occurred on the eve of Nobunaga's journey to
southern Grastaea.

Hinomoto

---

Mitsuhide's Room The disappearances have started happening in our territory as well... This is a true crisis! So a merchant couple has disappeared... And in your territory, too. Yep. It's happening in your domain too, isn't it, Nobunaga? Indeed. In the span of a single night, the whole of a samurai household was spirited away...and their whereabouts remain unknown. Goodness! Strange happenings indeed! It's a real humdinger of a mystery. Given my position, I've got to do SOMETHING. I just don't know what. You're going to pitch in on this, right, Nobunaga? Did you not call me here for the express purpose of soliciting my aid? No need to play innocent at this point. Hah, you know me so well! Now, let's get this mystery-solving show on the road! Trust that I never act in half-measures. I will slice right to the heart of this case! Mitsuhide's Territory

---

Castle Town Let the investigation begin! Go, go! I'll watch you from back here and let you know if I notice anything. Heh. Of course. I charge onward, eyes fixed firmly on the road ahead! You know, for a layabout and a hot- blooded meathead, you two make one heck of a team! I can really tell you're old pals. With you on the case, this mystery is as good as solved! Isn't that right, Daikokuten—wait, Daikokuten? *sniff* *sniff* Daikokuten? What is it, boy? Speak! I'm no bloodhound! Anyway, this pillar is positively swathed in the most divine scent of Amaterasu! Curious.... Could she have passed through here? Oh! Could Amaterasu herself be trying to out-sleuth us and resolve the mystery?! She ushered in the end of a turbulent era and built a world of peace. With power like that, I bet she could find these missing people without breaking a sweat! It's possible, but it would be strange for her to have arrived here without word of her visit making it to me. The idea of someone of her stature traveling incognito certainly is unusual. Are you certain the scent belongs to her? If I could just get a little nibble of this pillar here, I'd know quite conclusively... *nibble nibble* Daikokuten, you're gonna chip a tooth! ...Aaand he's not listening. Mm, yes indeed! This scent—this flavor! It is unmistakably Amaterasu's! Goodness, whatever is this mysterious light? Wh-what's going on?! The light is growing stronger and stronger! Bad vibes, bad vibes! BOOK IT, my lady! Nobuna— What was that? It happened right after Daikokuten bit the pillar. Could the two be related? And it sounded like Chitose got cut off while he was speaking. ...Hm? Chitose? Hey, Chitose! Where'd you go? What? So he truly is gone. Or at the very least, not near us any longer... He disappeared like so much smoke! Was he spirited away?! Oh, no! Not Chitose! ...... Chitose... Chitose! Chitose, answer me! This game of hide- and-seek is no fun anymore! Calm yourself, Mitsuhide! Your distress is understandable, but right now, we need to— How can I possibly be calm?! No one who's disappeared has come back! Chitose may be a goofball, but he's also my precious retainer! He can't be gone! Compose yourself! You are a leader, and for you to lose your wits in full view of your subjects will do naught but...bring them...unease... ...Mitsuhide, do you not sense something amiss? Was the castle town always this quiet? We appear to be utterly alone. Huh? There's no way—

---

...You're right. There's no one here. What's going on? Not just people, but dogs and cats and birds too! There's no sign of any animals! I am loath to believe this, but judging from the situation... I believe the ones who disappeared... Might have been us!

Episode 2

An Uncanny Land

We have reconnoitered the area thoroughly and have yet to find a single person. This is fruitless. Have you turned up any clues, Mitsuhide? Yeah, I've got one piece of good news. There was food in that teahouse. The other shops were all full to bursting with meat and fish and rice and whatnot, too. Conventional wisdom dictates that where there is food, there are people, and yet... Hm. At the very least, we'll not want for sustenance. I admit I was rather ill entertaining the thought of starving to death. All this walking about has me quite famished. Perhaps I'll stop in for a bite at the teahouse. You still seem pretty downcast, Nobunaga. What's on your mind? I should think the source of my distress obvious! We are no closer to discovering a means of egress from this empty prison! I dream of unifying the lands of Hinomoto! Of becoming shogun! And those dreams will crumble to dust if we are left here to rot! Come on, we only just got here. Take a deep breath and chill out a little. How could I possibly be "chill"?! I— Wait! That's it! I know what we could do! Yes! I'm going back to our world! I will avail the power of my soulpact! Would you cool down for a second, firebreather? If we could do anything about this with a dragon's power, Daikokuten would've already solved the problem. Yep! For all my power, I'm about as useless as a parasol in a typhoon right now! I'm well aware. My goal is not to escape outright, but to inform my own dragon, Susano-o, of our predicament, and have him assist us! If I use the power of my soulpact, he will appear here, using my body as an intermediary. And then, when I release the power, he will return to our original world. Once Susano-o is aware of the situation, he will act to rescue us from our plight! As ever, you are as sharp as the blade you wield, Nobunaga! Hark! My ambition to achieve my dream will overcome even this trial! And now...! Susano-o, I call upon you! Thy fearsome power I bid make manifest! ...... ...Meep? Uh... So... Did I blink and miss something, or...? I...cannot use my soulpact! What?! What do you mean you can't use it? Like, Susano-o rejected you? N-no, that's not it! My call is not reaching Susano-o! Surely you jest! Such a thing ought to be impossible! Indeed. A Wyrmclan leader and dragon are inextricably soulbound. No matter the distance between them, one's call should reach the other without fail. So long as one of those souls has not passed on, that is... Could it be that we are...already dead? My goodness, that IS a frightful notion. Both of you, dial it back a little. You're overthinking this. We're alive. And the proof is in the pudding—or, well, whatever you're craving right now, Nobunaga. You said you were hungry, no? Ah! You speak true! To think I let my anxieties spiral out of control so rapidly... Look, let's hit the teahouse to grab a drink and calm you down. A cold drink is exactly what I need right now. That being said, a teacup will not suffice. Ah, there was a water pail at the storefront. I'll just take this, and... DRAGONS, GRANT ME STRENGTH! *splash* Wh-whoa! Nobunaga, what are you doing?! That should serve to cool my head. Soulpact or no, I must still act the part of a leader. When I said to "chill out," I didn't mean it literally. You'll catch a cold, y'know! And we can't call a doctor here, either. Hmph, me? Catch a cold? I have never in my life required the services of a physici— ...Hm? Wait... Mitsuhide. Why do you think we cannot call a doctor? Er, I mean, there are no people here besides us, right? This is the empty world we were spirited away to, after all. Suppose that's not necessarily the case. Assuming that we vanished from our world and ended up here... Would the missing shopkeeper couple not ALSO be here, in the same predicament? Ah! I think you're onto something! So if they ARE here, where exactly would they be? The same place their house was in the real world? An appropriate supposition. Mitsuhide! Show me the way to that home!

---

Excuse us, are the man and woman of the house home?! Ack! P-people?! How? We saw no signs of anyone! Could it be...that the same thing happened to them as to us?! Wait, what?! Looking at her more closely... Is that not Lady Mitsuhide, leader of the Wyrmclan?! I-it's true! Why are you here in this world, my lady?! Based on the way they're speaking, there's little doubt these are the folks who disappeared. Indeed! Now we have but to escort these people back to our world, and the matter will be resolved! N-no...! You've come to take us back?! Please, mercy! I beg you, leave us! H-hey, calm down! We're in the presence of a Wyrmclan leader! Mind your manners! A-ah! Forgive my impertinence! I am unworthy! Please, my lady, be calm. More importantly, I would hear your testimony. It beggars belief, but do you truly not wish to be returned to the real world? ...Yes. I realize how it sounds, but we wish to remain here. Why would you possibly...?

Episode 3

Happy to Stay

What do you mean you wish to remain here? Why would you not return to your own world? This place is a paradise, free of worldly obligations like work. I had the same thought—that it would be nice to carve out a placid existence in this empty world, eating and sleeping... Right? We've got meat, fish, rice... There's more food stocked in the shops here than we can feasibly eat. And when we eat it, it replenishes itself before we know it! If that's not paradise, then what is? Truly? I've never heard of such a thing. We thought it was curious at first, too. But when we considered that it could be yet another of Amaterasu's blessings... What?! Hold a moment! Why would you think it the doing of Amaterasu?! Why, because it was she who brought us here! Whaaat?! What is the meaning of this? Amaterasu is behind this predicament?! Amaterasu, the culprit behind the disappearances? Preposterous! Disappearances? Ah, yes. I suppose to the world at large, it would seem as though we had disappeared, wouldn't it? You mean to say that you really weren't brought here against your will? That's right. Several nights ago, as my husband and I wandered the world of dreams, we each heard a voice proclaiming itself to be Amaterasu. She asked us: "Do you wish to live in peace and happiness?" Naturally, we each said yes, and before we knew it, we found ourselves here. Hm, and yet we had no such dream before WE were transported here. It's gotta have something to do with the pillar that Daikokuten bit into. Seemed like it had something to do with Amaterasu. Maybe when he messed with it, we were spirited away here in a fashion that even Amaterasu could not have expected. Oh? Could it be that you do not possess one of these stones, Lady Mitsuhide? This...this is a heavenly gleamshard! We received them from Amaterasu. She bade us use them if we wished to return to our world. Oho! Yes, yes! These gleamshards are indeed the genuine article! I can feel Amaterasu's power radiating forth! Gleamshards are near-priceless. Even we Wyrmclan leaders only get them when we embark upon our fortune-spreading trips to distant lands. I see. I believe we can safely conclude, then, that all of these events are of Amaterasu's design. However, one mystery remains: What was her motive? I'm sure she had her reasons— unfathomable to the likes of us, no doubt—but worrying about it won't get us anywhere. After all, Amaterasu is a great and powerful dragon who created a world of peace and harmony. ...Yes, you're right. And with that, the problem's solved. Hey, you two mind if we take that gleamshard off your hands? Not at all, my lady. Here. Thanks. Now, how's about we use this and head home, you two? Mitsuhide, are you saying you wish to leave these people behind here?! How callous! You wound me. Now, if I were to force them to come back with us against their will, THAT would be callous. After all, they're the ones who decided to come live in this world. Surely you wouldn't shatter the happiness they've attained by dragging them back kicking and screaming? That is exactly what I plan to do! What?! B-but—please, I beg you! No! And I as well! Please, we wish to live here, in paradise! You keep saying the word, but I see no paradise here! Here in this soulless husk of a world, you can only pass your days in idle solitude, never knowing the transformative power of change! And yet we crave nothing more! We were so, so tired of living in a world of naught but worry, toiling our days away just to survive. You grew tired of living?! Pathetic! What merit is there in a stagnant existence, devoid of progress? ...... That's enough, Nobunaga. You have your values, and they have theirs. Pah. So you've been ensnared by this world's vile temptations, too. More or less. It suits my chilled-out lifestyle just fine, after all. But you know what? Even if I did view the world the way you do, I'd still leave these folks here and go home. Why? Please, Mitsuhide. I want to understand. Everyone's got their own idea of what happiness is. I just wanna do whatever it is that makes these people the happiest. Thank you so much, Lady Mitsuhide! You truly are a worthy leader! You honor us with your concern for our feelings! A "worthy ruler"? So to be worthy, one should always grant the people their desires? But... No, if you only ever look at the world through the same eyes as the people, you cannot lead them into the future! If your goal's to have a strong, wealthy kingdom...then yeah, you're right. But there's no one right answer. The pursuit of happiness is different for everyone. Some people will seek the same kind of happiness you do...and some of them won't. That's all there is to it. Hm. I see. I think I understand better, if only somewhat. Yeah. Now, let's get ourselves home. (Not everyone has the strength to walk this path. Though I may find fault in the weak for balking at hardship, they will balk nonetheless.) (If so, then it is the destiny of the strong...) (...to cut through the suffering running rampant through this world of worry and sorrow, and guide the people towards happiness!)

Episode 4

A Shattered Dream

Hinomoto

---

Mitsuhide's Room Milady! Oh, I can't tell you how afraid I was that I might never see you again! WAAAAAAH! Sorry to make you worry, Chitose. The trip was worth it, though—we found out the truth behind all the disappearances. And with THAT, the investigation's all done and wrapped nice with a bow. Isn't that swell? Uh, come again? The LAST thing we want to do is incur Amaterasu's wrath by butting in on her business, guys. (She speaks true. Had we forced that couple to return, it could have been interpreted as us presuming ourselves above an act of divinity...) (Nonetheless, I cannot turn a blind eye!) I am going to continue the investigation on my own, Mitsuhide. Uhhh, I JUST said we shouldn't poke our noses where they don't belong. I know that, but I remain...unconvinced. Is that couple TRULY happy? Is there not a way for them to live happily here? In this world? I cannot rest until I discover this for myself! Far be it from me to stop you, Nobunaga. But as the leader of the Mouse Clan, I'll have no part of this. We're out of here, Daikokuten—BEFORE we end up bringing the wrath of the heavens down on our heads, preferably. Er, Lady Mitsuhide, did I miss something? Better for you not to get involved, Chitose. There is a reason why Mitsuhide has elected to leave matters as they are. Look, I may be overstepping by nosing in on what seems like a big ol' secret, but... I can't bear the thought of my loved ones disappearing before my eyes—especially without being given a chance to stop it! To disobey Lady Mitsuhide's orders would be to disgrace myself as her attendant... But as her protector, I want to know the truth behind what's been going on. Lady Nobunaga, please! Tell me what's going on. I want to help, whatever it is! Very well, Chitose. I acknowledge your conviction! Now, listen well!

---

Whaaat?! Amaterasu is responsible for the disappearances?! That's wild! The merchant couple accepted her invitation to a life of peace, and thus were sent to that other realm. But that "peace" is false! I refuse to believe that Amaterasu would so callously erase people from this world! How is that any different from straight-up kidnapping them? We need to get to the bottom of this, Lady Nobunaga! And so, under Nobunaga's direction,
Chitose began to investigate.
After several days... Lady Nobunaga! Come here! You have to see this! Oho! This document is unmistakable proof that they had an attachment to this world! They wanted to open their own restaurant. They labored towards this goal day after day, saving bit by bit. They had even chosen a location, and were on the cusp of opening shop. But in the end, they didn't. Why did they give up on their dreams, I wonder? Who knows? They must have had their reasons. We have but to ask them directly. No way, you can't mean— I do. We will once again abscond to that other realm, and I have already secured the means!

---

So this is where you all were whisked off to? Indeed. Daikokuten bit into this pillar, and we were spirited away. And by that token— Something came out of the pillar! Whoa, wait a sec! This is a gleamshard! As I suspected. But wait... No, this cannot be! It's broken apart?! I sliced only the pillar. Why in the world would the gleamshard be damaged? Sooorry! I am quite sure that's my fault. When I bit the pillar, I also nipped the gleamshard! Whoops! Daikokuten?! Why are you here?! Mitsuhide asked me to deliver this to you! Is this...another gleamshard?! It was given to her by Amaterasu to use in her new year's journey. And now it's yours! But why? I thought Mitsuhide had washed her hands of this matter. As the leader of the Mouse Clan, yes! But is she not also your dear friend? Hah. Rather roundabout, but also very much in character for her. I'm in your debt. I will gladly use this gleamshard! Chitose, Daikokuten— get back! You can't mean to go in alone! If we want to rescue that couple, discretion is essential. Going alone will permit me to resolve this without too much provocation. ...I see. Very well! Come back safe! I must impose upon you once more, citizens! Ack! Wh-what's going on?! You have returned?! Indeed! I will return as many times as necessary, if it means guiding you to happiness! I thought we had explained that our happiness is living here in tranquility... Do you truly mean that?! Did you not once have dreams in the real world?! What?! H-how do you know that?! I conducted an investigation. I know of your plans to open a restaurant. Why did you give up when you were on the cusp of realizing your ambitions? ...We didn't give up. If we COULD open it, we would. Even now. But that dream is dead. Our home was robbed, depriving us of everything we had saved. We spent years saving up that money! And then in a single night...gone! The misery—the cruelty—it was too much! That's why we grew tired of living! ...I see. The injustice of the world tore your frail hearts asunder. Your feelings are understandable. Those possessed of virtue but weak of constitution are as a tiny boat, tossed to and fro by the tempestuous seas of grief. Yet that frailty must be protected! It is the duty of the strong to cut through the injustice of the world and guide the people towards happiness! That is their destiny! Listen to me! I will take responsibility for your dream! What?! But our dream is already— I will tread upon every last blade of grass in Hinomoto to capture this thief! Your funds will be returned to you if it is the last thing I do! You would really do such a thing?! I shall cut through the impossible to make it possible! That is the essence of who I am: Nobunaga, of the Twelve Wyrmclans! Take my hand, and open your eyes! We make for the new beginnings that await you in the real world! If someone in your position would truly stake so much upon helping us...then we accept. We will entrust our dreams to you. Yes. I will believe in you—in your strength, and in your hope. Your faith is well-placed. Together, we will make your dreams come true! Oh, welcome back, Lady Nobunaga! And you two, as well! Indeed! Consider this matter resolved! Yet more remains to be done. We have yet to uncover the truth behind the disappearances. What in the world is Amaterasu's true aim?

Episode 5

The Truth Uncovered

I have done some thinking of my own on Amaterasu's aims in causing these disappearances, Mitsuhide. And? Don't keep me in suspense. There are three keys to consider: the food in the other world, our soulpacts being rendered impotent, and the dream dreamt by the husband and wife. Those things are all connected? How? The first key is the food, as I said. There was meat, fish, and other food in great quantities in that lifeless world. I surmise that it was brought there from OUR world. And not just enough to feed that couple. What was there would have fed scores and scores of people. Why do you suppose that is? It IS weird, now that you mention it. If the goal was just to save those two people, Amaterasu could've zapped over waaay less food. This brings me to the second key: the nullification of my soulpact's power. As you recall, I was unable to make contact with my dragon in that world. My call is not reaching Susano-o! I was so thoroughly distressed that I failed to realize it at the time, but... That world is so far isolated from this one that the soulpact's power couldn't reach it, huh? Impressive. Indeed. It is a world outside our own, impossible to even contact without a gleamshard. In short, it is an impenetrable fortress. I still don't quite follow. So Amaterasu created that world, but...why duplicate the castle town in its entirety? Not to mention all the food. It's like she was preparing to shelter all of Hinomoto in that world. Indeed. I surmise that was precisely her intention. It was? Further supporting that hypothesis is the final key: the words Amaterasu spoke to the citizens within their dream. She posed a question. "Do you wish to live in peace and happiness?" Meaning that her goal was for the people to live...well, just so. She prepared a great deal of food, and brought the people to a space firmly isolated from the outside world. This implies that she wanted to sequester them there—to protect them from something. Sounds reasonable, given all of your deductions so far. It's still weird, though. Who would attack us? We're at peace domestically, and have friendly relations with other lands, too. You speak of our closest neighbor, Taiwu. But what about other nations? Surely the divine Amaterasu would have a firm grip on the state of affairs abroad! Could it be that right now, for some reason unbeknownst to us, Hinomoto is threatened by some distant foe?! Whoa, you're right! I hadn't even considered that, but it probably WOULD explain everything. Looks like I was right to let you head up this little investigation, Nobunaga. You even got the merchant couple to come back, too. Knew you had it in you. Hmph. Your refusal to act simply foisted the task on someone else. Namely, me. Yeaaah, but can you imagine ME running around, trying to inspire courage and valor in folks? I've had more plausible nightmares. I suppose I've no room to complain. I learned from this incident, too. I learned that happiness takes different forms for different people, and knowing that is key to guiding them ably. As such, I cannot help but feel Amaterasu's actions are thoughtlessly self-righteous! A plan like that may protect the people's lives from outside threats, but it cannot protect their dreams! I have made up my mind! I will go forth and ascertain whether she is truly just! Er, what does that mean, exactly? And why did my stomach just do a backflip? It is simple! I will go and assess the situation in other lands myself! It is my belief that one must ascertain firsthand where their friends and enemies lie—near, far, wherever they are! And fortuitously, a traveler headed to a foreign land stands right before me! Wait, are you saying you're going to come along on my journey to Alberia? That explains the intestinal aerobics... Are you sure about this? It's unprecedented for two clan leaders to both go on the journey of fortune-spreading. The word "unprecedented" hits the ear rather nicely! May we break many an outdated mold together, Mitsuhide! Now, we're off—to protect Hinomoto from devastation, and to unite all lands within our nation!