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TalecoreJin's JourneyEasyAct I — Rescue Lord Shimura

The Iron Hook

Jin collects the finished grappling hook from Taka — the tool that unlocks vertical traversal for the rest of the game, not just the castle climb it was built for.

RoleMain story
Importancecore
RewardGrappling hook
  • TypeMain Tale
  • Act1 – Rescue Lord Shimura
  • RegionIzuhara
  • Quest giverAutomatic
  • PrerequisiteComplete "The Tale of Sensei Ishikawa", "The Tale of Ryuzo", "The Tale of Lady Masako" and "Hammer and Forge"
  • RewardsMajor Legend Increase, Grappling Hook
  • Steps24

Overview

The grappling hook is presented as a piece of siege equipment. It is really the moment the map opens up.

Taka finishes the hook and Jin retrieves it, completing the equipment needed to storm Castle Kaneda. Narratively it is the last item on the checklist before the act's climax.

Mechanically it is one of the most consequential unlocks in the game: from here Tsushima becomes vertical. Cliffs, temple roofs and camp walls that were scenery become routes, and a great deal of the island's optional content — shrines especially — assumes you have it.

In the game’s own framing: Jin has his allies for Castle Kaneda. First Taka finishes the grappling hook, then the Straw Hats want their people out of Fort Yatate.

What to bring

What this tale expects you to have on you.

  • RequiredComplete "The Tale of Sensei Ishikawa", "The Tale of Ryuzo", "The Tale of Lady Masako" and "Hammer and Forge"This tale does not appear until then.
  • RecommendedGrappling HookThe route through this tale requires it.
  • RecommendedFocused HearingThe steps rely on it to place guards through walls.
  • RecommendedStealth approachThe tale is built around grass cover.

Objectives

  1. Find Yuna
  2. Speak with Yuna
  3. Go to the forge
  4. Speak with Taka
  5. Meet Ryuzo
  6. Speak with Ryuzo
  7. Travel with Ryuzo
  8. Assemble the Straw Hats
  9. Hear the plan
  10. Ride to Fort Yatate
  11. Dismount and approach
  12. Grapple across the cliffs
  13. Navigate the rocks
  14. Finish the climb
  15. Approach the prison quietly
  16. Eliminate the guards silently
  17. Free the first cage
  18. Clear the circling patrol
  19. Clear the secondary posts
  20. Free the last two cages
  21. Fight through the inner fort
  22. Signal Ryuzo
  23. Open the inner gates
  24. Hit them from behind

Full walkthrough

  1. 01
    Find Yuna

    Follow the waypoints to Komatsu Forge.

  2. 02
    Speak with Yuna

    Taka has finished the thing Jin asked for.

  3. 03
    Go to the forge

    Follow her in to see the grappling hook completed. Hold the grapple prompt until the line catches before jumping; releasing early drops you.

  4. 04
    Speak with Taka

    He hands over the hook.

  5. 05
    Meet Ryuzo

    He is calling for you outside the forge.

  6. 06
    Speak with Ryuzo

    Straw Hats are being held at Fort Yatate.

  7. 07
    Travel with Ryuzo

    Ride out to meet the rest of his men.

  8. 08
    Assemble the Straw Hats

    Gather with the remaining soldiers.

  9. 09
    Hear the plan

    Ryuzo briefs the assault as you travel.

  10. 10
    Ride to Fort Yatate

    Continue with the Straw Hats to the fortress.

  11. 11
    Dismount and approach

    Leave the horse at the hilltop and move to the cliff edge. Whistle the horse rather than walking back to it, and remember a charge is itself an opening move against a loose group.

  12. 12
    Grapple across the cliffs

    A run of grapple swings and climbs — hold the grapple prompt, jump between platforms. Hold the grapple prompt until the line catches before jumping; releasing early drops you.

  13. 13
    Navigate the rocks

    Squeeze through the narrow gaps and take the handholds up.

  14. 14
    Finish the climb

    Swing the last grapple points to reach the fort’s clifftop. Hold the grapple prompt until the line catches before jumping; releasing early drops you.

  15. 15
    Approach the prison quietly

    Focused Hearing marks prisoners in white and Mongol patrols in red. Focused Hearing shows enemies through walls and floors, so use it to place everyone before committing rather than to react once you are seen.

  16. 16
    Eliminate the guards silently

    Chain assassinations, and tall grass between them. 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. Take the ends of patrol routes first, where a body will not be walked into — a discovered corpse raises the alarm just as reliably as being seen. Chain assassination only pays where two targets are genuinely close; starting one you cannot finish leaves you standing in the open mid-animation.

  17. 17
    Free the first cage

    Two Straw Hats inside.

  18. 18
    Clear the circling patrol

    One Mongol walks a loop around the large rock.

  19. 19
    Clear the secondary posts

    Two stationary guards behind the log wall, plus the patrols by the tanning rack.

  20. 20
    Free the last two cages

    Open both to release the rest.

  21. 21
    Fight through the inner fort

    The freed Straw Hats fight alongside you.

  22. 22
    Signal Ryuzo

    Set off the signal fireworks at the waypoint.

  23. 23
    Open the inner gates

    Push through Fort Yatate’s interior.

  24. 24
    Hit them from behind

    Ryuzo’s men engage the front while you attack the rear.

    Checkpoint

Enemies in this tale, and how to fight them

Strengths

  • 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

  • Major Legend Increase
    A large step toward the next Legend rank. Legend gates your Ghost Weapon unlocks and your health and Resolve upgrades, so main and Mythic Tales are the fastest way to raise it.
  • Grappling Hook

What this unlocks

Characters in this tale

Sources