20) Sword of the Samurai Solution

[champskees]

One of my favourite FF books, Sword of the Samurai offers two paths. The western path is much easier, but I recommend trying the harder eastern path as well, because otherwise you miss out on a lot of interesting encounters. Skill 10+ is recommended. High stamina is also a big plus.

Western path
Recommended skill: Kyujutsu (Archery)

- Go west and north to the Forest of Shadows.
- Investigate the village.
- Wait for him to come to you.
- You are a master of the bow, use an arrow (-2 Armour piercing arrows).
- Test Skill. Success = -2 Stamina to opponent.
- Test Skill. Success = -2 Stamina to opponent.
- Test Skill. Fail = 3 Damage.
- Fight Sk 8 St 9 Samurai Warrior.
- Challenge anyone to an honourable duel.
- Fight Sk 7 St 9 Samurai.
- Fight Sk 9 St 8 Samurai.
- Fight Sk 7 St 9 Samurai.
- Gain 1 Honour Point.
- Gain 1 Honour Point. Take Headband, +1 Luck.
- Spare his life.
- Take him with you.
- Try to get into the castle and slay Lord Tsietsin.
- Gain 1 Honour Point.
- You have the Kyujutsu Skill.
- Try to pick off the guards as silently and quickly as possible (-2 Bowel Rakers).
- Test Skill.
        - If successful:
                o Stride forward as authoritatively as possible, salute and walk into the palace.
                o Fight Sk 9 St 8 Tseitsin’s Bodyguard.
                o Take 3 Damage.
                o Gain 1 Honour Point, 100 Gold Pieces, +1 Luck, White Eagle arrow.
        - If unsuccessful:
                o Lose 1 Honour & your sword.
                o Moan loudly as if you were ill.
                o Test Luck.
                        o If successful:
                                o Fight Sk 7 St 7 Gaoler (-2 to your attack strength, need to kill him in 4 rounds or less, otherwise death).
                                o Go right (+1 Luck).
                                o Replenish all arrows used. Take swords.
                                o Fight Sk 7 St 9 Guard.
                                o Ascend the stairs.
                                o Go into the palace in search of Tseitsin.
                                o Fight Sk 7 St 9 Samurai Warrior.
                                o Fight Sk 8 St 7 Samurai Warrior.
                                o Take 3 Damage.
                                o Fight Sk 7 St 11 Lord Tseitsin.
                                o Gain 1 Honour Point, 100 Gold Pieces, +1 Skill, White Eagle arrow.
                                o Test Luck. Fail = 3 Damage.
                        o If unsuccessful:
                                o Pretend to be wounded, grab a weapon and run for it.
                                o Turn left.
                                o Go down (you have missed out on the magic arrow).
                                o Test Luck. Fail = 3 Damage.
- You are a master of the bow, use two arrows (-2 Bowel Rakers if you still have them).
- Test Skill. Success = -3 Stamina to opponent.
- Test Skill. Success = -3 Stamina to opponent.
- Fight Sk 7 St 20 Mukade.
- Take 15 Gold Pieces.
- Pick up the war fan and open it.
- Take War Fan.
- Drink from the bottle (+3 Stamina).
- Take Healing Potion (+5 stamina when used).
- Leave the cavern.
- First riddle: EGG (5+7+7 = 19). Go to para 19.
- Second riddle: RIDDLE (18+9+4+4+12+5 = 52). Go to para 52.
- Take Jade Amulet (+2 Luck).
- Fight Sk 9 St 11 Undead Samurai. Once it is down to 5 stamina or less, subtract 2 from your attack strength and hit it one more time.
If you possess White Eagle Feather:
        - You have the skill of Kyujutsu. Try to shoot the Undead Samurai.
        - Use the white eagle feather.
Otherwise:
        - You do not wish to shoot the Undead Samurai.
        - You do not possess the skill of Karumijutsu.
        - Fight Sk 6 St 7 Skeleton, Sk 7 St 6 Skeleton and Sk 7 St 7 Skeleton together.
        - Fight Sk 7 St 6 Skeleton, Sk 6 St 7 Skeleton and Sk 8 St 9 Skeleton together.
        - Fight Sk 9 St 3 Undead Samurai.
- Take Ivory Horn.
- Recover 2 Stamina.
- Enter Pinnacle of Ultimate Height.
- You have encountered the Tatsu in the forest already.
- You have a Jade Amulet.
- The Tatsu will now fight for you.
- Enter the Elder Plains.
- Blow the Ivory Horn.
- The Tiger will now fight for you.
- Enter the Mountain of Ineffable Holiness.
- Your Honour is 5 or more.
- The Ki-Rin will now fight for you.
- Enter the Eternal Tower.
- You have a war fan.
- The Golden Company will now fight for you.
- Enter the place of battle.
- Send out the Tiger.
- Send out the Tatsu.
- Send out the Golden Company.
- Send out the Ki-Rin.
- Fight Sk 10 St 10 Dai Oni.
- Ask ‘What is the Secret of Singing Death?’.
- Learn the secret, ‘Harmony’.
- You have a Jade Amulet.
- You know the secret of Singing Death.
- Gain +2 Skill, +4 Stamina and +2 Luck (can go over initial scores!).
- Your Honour is 5 or more.
- Walk around the pit and stride boldly through the shadowy forms.
If your Honour is less than 6:
        - Lose 1 Skill.
        - Lose 1 Luck.
        - 4 Damage.
- Fight Sk 12 St 12 Ikiru.
        o If you hit him, Test Luck. If successful, you kill him outright.
        o If he hits you, 2D6 Stamina Test. Fail = -1 Skill, -1 Luck.
- A state banquet is held in your honour, and a new age of peace and prosperity begins.


Eastern Path
Recommended skill: Iaijutsu (Fast Draw)

- Go east, to the ford, through the Mizokumo Fens and thence to the mountains.
- Punish the youth.
- Order them to abase themselves at your feet.
- Make them swear an oath of allegiance before going on.
- Add 1 Honour Point.
- Command the old man to show you to the sanctuary of the village.
- Join the elders at the headman's house.
- Leave the village and walk off into the sunset.
- 2 Damage.
- Fight Sk 7 St 8 Rokuro-Kubi.
- Restore 1 Luck.
- Restore 4 Stamina.
- Fight Sk 9 St 18 Black Elk.
- Take 2 Provisions.
- Take Antler.
- Cross near the frothing white water.
- Draw back from the ford and try to find a safer place to cross.
- Lose 1 Honour Point.
- Lie prone where you are.
- Run into it.
- Leave straight away.
- Fight Sk 8 St 22 Groundhog.
- Take Armour.
- Restore 1 Skill.
- You do not have a map. Head north.
- Forge ahead.
- Take the path that leads to the hill.
- Fight Sk 10 St 14 Totate Kumo.
- Hack your way through the webs.
- Fight Sk 10 St 12 Trap-Door Spider and Sk 8 St 10 Water Spider together.
- Go through The Swamps of Primordial Mire.
- Use an item against it.
- Touch the serpent with an antler.
- Take Serpent Rod.
- Go to place of battle.
- The wooden rod engraved with a serpent shape.
- You are now without allies.
- Fight Sk 8 St 10 Mantis Demon. Note that your attacks will only do 1 Damage per hit.
- Fight Sk 9 St 12 Gargantis. Note on every 3rd round, Roll D6. If odd: 4 Damage.
- Fight Sk 10 St 10 Dai-Oni. 
        - If hit by enemy: 2 Damage and Roll D6:
                - If 1 or 2: 2 Damage.
                - If 3 or 4: Lose 1 Luck.
                - If 5 or 6: Lose 1 Skill.
- Restore either 1 Skill, 1 Luck or 2 Stamina.
- Ask 'What is the secret of Singing Death?'
- You do not have a Jade Amulet.
- Fight Sk 9 St 8 Shura.
- You know the secret of Singing Death.
- Add 2 Luck (can go over initial scores).
- Add 2 Skill (can go over initial scores).
- Add 4 Stamina (can go over initial scores).
- Your Honour is less than 5.
- Fight Sk 9 St 10 Shadow Demon.
- Walk around the pit and try to stride boldly through the shadowy forms.
- Your Honour is less than 6.
- Lose 1 Luck.
- Lose 1 Skill.
- 4 Damage.
- Fight Sk 12 St 12 Ikiru.
        o If you hit him: Test Luck. If successful: you kill him outright.
        o If he hits you: 2D6 Stamina Test. If fail: Lose 1 Skill and Lose 1 Luck.
- A state banquet is held in your honour, and a new age of peace and prosperity begins.

[Ryuku Katingawa]

Is this the first FF book in which the world of Titan is specifically mentioned with its 3 continents of Allansia, Khul and the Old World (see "Background" section at start of book)?

[Ryuku Katingawa]

Although I just noticed that the Old World is referred to as "Kakhabad" in my edition of Sword of the Samurai.

[The Editor (Alex B)]

Khul is first mentioned by name in Masks of Mayhem* (with Scorpion Swamp, Seas of Blood, Demons of the Deep and Sword of the Samurai) being ret-conned into being set there.

*Which is not a huge surprise as series editor Robin Waterfield would have been aware of everything being developed for Titan - The fighting Fantasy World which would be published at the end of that same year.

[paltogue]

May 3, 2015 19:03:09 GMT The Editor (Alex B) said:

Khul is first mentioned by name in Masks of Mayhem* (with Scorpion Swamp, Seas of Blood, Demons of the Deep and Sword of the Samurai) being ret-conned into being set there.

Not true. Khul is first mentioned in the Background to Sword of the Samurai. Also, Demons of the Deep isn't set in Khul!

[The Editor (Alex B)]

May 4, 2015 8:08:17 GMT paltogue said:

May 3, 2015 19:03:09 GMT The Editor (Alex B) said:

Khul is first mentioned by name in Masks of Mayhem* (with Scorpion Swamp, Seas of Blood, Demons of the Deep and Sword of the Samurai) being ret-conned into being set there.

Not true. Khul is first mentioned in the Background to Sword of the Samurai. Also, Demons of the Deep isn't set in Khul!

Yes, my mistake! I don't know why I was thinking all of that. Must of had MoM on the brain...

[Ryuku Katingawa]

From my 1988 edition of Samurai, from the "Background" section at the start of the adventure: "The World of Titan has three main continents - Allansia, Kakhabad and Khul, the Dark Continent. It is on the eastern coast of Khul that the land of Hachiman lies." Alex B, are you saying that this was not in the original edition of Samurai, but was added to the 1988 edition after the geography of Titan was firmed up in the book "Titan?"

[Ryuku Katingawa]

Or even before the geography was fully firmed up, since the Old World is referred to as "Kakhabad?"

[The Editor (Alex B)]

Er... no, as the my post above proves. I was *wrong*. I blame a long day of teaching of the error.

[Ryuku Katingawa]

No worries Alex B. Cheers to you and Paltogue. Its Hachiman setting is one thing that makes Samurai a special adventure in the FF canon. Containing the first mention of Titan and its 3 continents must surely give Samurai another claim to a very special place in the series.

[the _feeth]

Here is a solution for the harder (eastern) path.

Probably the safest way is to skip Ginsei and the enchanted garden altogether.
Going to the enchanted garden would screw up your eyes making you lose 2 vital skill points before the fight with the Black Elk (9/18) and you would only be able to recover 1 after killing the Groundhog (8/22).

The other thing making this route harder is that there is only 1 honor point to be earned on the whole eastern path maxing your honor at 4.
So you will automatically fail the honor check (5) to have Ki-Rin as an ally, making you vulnerable to the Dai-Oni's spells.
Neither will you be able to bypass the Dai-Oni's Shura, since you haven't met Tatsu.
You will fail the honor check (5) to defeat the shadow demon with one blow and fail the honor check (6) to counter Ikiru's lightning (makes you lose 1 skill, 1 luck and 4 stamina points)

Use Iaijutsu to start every fight with a -3 stamina hit to the enemy. Skill 11+ recommended.

1 Turn east, to the ford through the Mizukomo Fens.
29
43 Punish the youth.
59 Order them to abase themselves.
111 Make them swear an oath.
163 Gain 1 honor. Command the old man to show you to the sanctuary.
179
5 Join the elders.
319 Leave the village.
11
15 Lose 2 stamina. Fight Rokuro Kubi (7/8).
153 Gain 1 luck.
397 Gain 4 stamina. Fight Black Elk (9/18).
391 Gain 2 provisions. Take antler.
381
227 Cross the ford near the green depths.
201 Lunge your sword at the nearest creature.
233 You have the skill of Iaijutsu.
357
395 Stand your ground and fight.
13 Fight three kappas (8/14, 8/12, 7/13) until one's stamina is reduced to 4.
31
41 Lose 2 stamina.
129 Think about their strange flat-topped heads.
255
393 Try to talk to them.
325 Test luck.
If lucky:
367 Speak to them.
If unlucky:
373 You are wearing armor.
333 Lose 2 stamina. Try to talk to them.
361 Take phoenix shaped ruby.
335 Lie prone where you are.
103
273 Run into the other cave.
329 Leave.
375 Fight groundhog (8/22).
305 Take armor. Possibility to gain 1 skill, but your skill is still at the initial value.
295
17 Head north.
285 Forge ahead.
309 Take the path that leads to the hill.
261
149 Fight Totate Kumo (10/14)
143 Hack your way through the webs.
79 Fight two spiders (10/12, 8/10).
87
8 Enter the Swamps of Primordial Mire.
98 Use an item against the serpent.
258 Try to touch the serpent with an antler.
290 Take wooden rod engraved with a serpent shape.
8 Enter the Endless Sands of Akhon.
78 You have the Phoenix Ruby.
348 The Phoenix will be your ally.
8 Enter the Place of Battle.
138 Use the carved wooden rod.
228 Send out the Phoenix.
320 You are now without allies.
364 Fight Gargantus (9/12, 50% chance to lose 4 stamina every third round).
292 Fight the Dai-Oni (10/10, if he hits you, you lose 2 extra stamina or 1 luck or 1 skill)
74 Gain 1 skill, 1 luck or 2 stamina if you have lost any of these by spells. Ask 'What is the Secret of Singing Death?'.
206 You don't have a jade amulet.
270 Fight Shura (9/8).
76 You know the secret of Singing Death.
152 Gain 2 luck, 2 skill and 4 stamina (can go over initial). Your honor is less than 5.
174 Fight Shadow demon (9/10).
212 Walk around the pit and try to stride boldly through the shadowy forms.
298
121 Your honor is 5 or less.
131 Lose 1 skill, 1 luck and 4 stamina.
199 Fight Ikiru (12/12).
If you hit him, test luck.
If lucky:
235 You kill him.
If unlucky:
Continue fighting.
If he hits you, test stamina (2 dice).
If pass:
Continue fighting.
If fail:
47 Lose 1 skill and 1 luck.
400 Ikiru is no more, Singing Death is returned to the Shogun.

[Francisco]

You can actually bluff the Kappa and they will give you the Phoneix Ruby giving you another ally.

I'm almost positive there's another honor point to be had on the eastern path letting you have the Ki-Rin (though not 6 so you can't win outright)

At that point The Enchanted Garden is probably worth it if only because Eleanor the Enchantress will take out Gargantous. If you start at skill 10-11 a net -1 can be overcome.