Overview
A standalone Tale of Tsushima in the Izuhara region, told by the people living under the occupation rather than by anyone commanding it.
Honor Buried Deep is a standalone Tale of Tsushima in Izuhara — not attached to an ally questline, and told from inside the occupation rather than above it.
The side tales are where the game shows what the invasion costs people who were never going to be defended by eighty samurai on a beach. They are short, and collectively they are most of the game’s texture.
In the game’s own framing: A man in Azamo Bay sounds distressed, and finding out why turns into something other than a robbery.
What to bring
The stances are a counter-table, not a preference: each one is the answer to a specific enemy, and this tale fields the ones below.
- RequiredComplete "Unfinished Business"This tale does not appear until then.
- RecommendedStone StanceStone breaks swordsmen, who make up most of every Mongol group.
- RecommendedWater StanceWater is the only efficient answer to a raised shield.
- RecommendedStealth approachThe tale is built around grass cover.
Objectives
- Follow the villager
- Speak with him
- Investigate the home by Azamo Cemetery
- Investigate the home
- Follow the group
- Observe them
- Listen to the bandits
- Follow them back
- Defend the homestead
- Clear them out
- Regroup inside
- Escort them to Azamo Bay
Full walkthroughSpoilers
- 01Follow the villager
To his workshop.
- 02Speak with him
Once you are there.
- 03Investigate the home by Azamo Cemetery
Killing any Mongols you meet near the cemetery.
- 04Investigate the home
Three things: the bucket and the fire embers outside, and the thatched tray with eggshells inside.
- 05Follow the group
Hide in pampas grass and keep your distance, using rocks and vegetation. Crouch into the grass and let the patrol pattern settle before you move; the grass breaks line of sight entirely rather than just slowing detection.
- 06Observe them
At the cemetery, from behind the graves.
- 07Listen to the bandits
Join the group to hear it.
- 08Follow them back
To the homestead.
- 09Defend the homestead
Mongol swordsmen and shield-bearers attacking it. Shield-bearers need Water Stance, and specifically its heavy attacks — light attacks chip uselessly at a raised shield. Stone Stance handles the swordsmen; its heavy attacks do extra stagger damage and break their guard.
TipStone breaks swordsmen, who make up most of every Mongol group.
- 10Clear them out
All of them.
- 11Regroup inside
With the bandits.
- 12Escort them to Azamo Bay
Approach the gates to finish.
Enemies in this tale, and how to fight them
Strengths
- Shield-bearers — Water Stance, and specifically its heavy attacks — that is what breaks a raised shield. Trying to chip through the front of a shield with light attacks wastes the fight. Stagger them first so the guard comes up and breaks, then go through the opening quickly before it closes.
- Swordsmen — Stone Stance, whose heavy attacks do extra stagger damage to sword-wielders and break their guard. Swordsmen are the backbone of nearly every Mongol group, so Stone is the stance you will spend the most time in. Parry timing matters more here than anywhere else: blue attacks can be parried, red ones cannot and have to be dodged.
- Straw Hats / ronin — Japanese swordsmen rather than Mongols, and they fight like it — faster and more technical than the invaders, with less armour. Stone Stance still applies. Standoffs work well against them, and against unarmoured ronin a won standoff often kills outright.
Rewards
- Minor Legend IncreaseA smaller step toward the next Legend rank — the size a side tale, a liberated settlement or a cleared encounter gives.
- Minor Defense CharmA silver charm. Minor charms are weaker than major ones and go in the minor slots — you start with two major slots and unlock up to four minor ones by honouring Inari Shrines, for six equipped at once.
- +10 LinenUpgrade material. Silk, linen and leather are what armourers and swordsmiths charge to improve your gear.
Sources
- Ghost of Tsushima Walkthrough — PowerPyx
- Ghost of Tsushima Walkthrough — All Tales — PowerPyx