Hinomoto

THE HALLOWED SWORD OF SHINTARO

Hinomoto was the name of the katana wielded by Shintaro, one of the original 7 founders of the Ryujin Elites, master swordsmen of the ruined city of Nal. The gleaming golden blade was forged by the reclusive mountain sage Barayuga when Shintaro visited his monastery atop Seppletea during his pilgrimage to Culland’s Grave. Barayuga posed a series of questions to Shintaro, testing his wit and intelligence, but also his morality. The wise sage was so impressed by Shintaro’s purity of character that he had a sword of the finest-grade sunsteel forged and enchanted by the hieromancer Almandoz as a gift to the traveling swordsman. Reacting to Shintaro’s virtue of heart, the sword was said to fill him with vigor and vitality. In battle, a shimmering scroll of prayers and invocations would surround the blade, bathing the swordsman in a divine light. With the lustrous sunsteel in hand, Shintaro made his way to Culland’s Grave where he vanquished the corrupt Minister Torero and his Publican Militia who had been harassing and placing an unjust tax on pilgrims to the Hero’s Grave. A large statue of Shintaro, hoisting high his heavenly blade, was erected in the town square in his honor.

Though Hinomoto was said to fill one pure of heart with strength and stamina, the opposite was true of one whose heart was clouded by greed and selfishness. After Shintaro fell in battle against the Bloodless Horde, Hinomoto was claimed by the Horde’s underchieftain, Kesmet. The grip burned his hands to the bone and the blinding light reflected off the blade robbed him of sight. Unable to wield the katana, but unwilling to let it go, Kesmet wore it on a rope around his neck until his dying breath - which came only weeks after he tore the sword from the hands of Shintaro’s corpse.

Hero's Grave is © MMXXI Shane Henderson.
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