TaleminorTale of TsushimaAct I — Rescue Lord Shimura

The Laughing Bandits

A standalone Tale of Tsushima in the Izuhara region, told by the people living under the occupation rather than by anyone commanding it.

RoleSide tale
Importanceminor
  • TypeSide Tale
  • Act2 – Retake Castle Shimura
  • RegionKechi, Izuhara
  • Quest giverSaki
  • PrerequisiteReach Toyotama (Act 2)
  • RewardsMinor Legend Increase, Minor Melee Charm, +10 Linen
  • Steps10

Overview

A standalone Tale of Tsushima in the Izuhara region, told by the people living under the occupation rather than by anyone commanding it.

The Laughing Bandits 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 woman called Saki reports what has been happening in Kechi and asks Jin to look at it.

Objectives

  1. Travel to Saki’s home
  2. Investigate inside
  3. Investigate outside
  4. Follow the tracks
  5. Speak with the injured man
  6. Travel to Komoda Ruins
  7. Search for the bandits
  8. Kill the bandits
  9. Talk to the woman inside
  10. Return to Saki

Full walkthroughSpoilers

  1. 01
    Travel to Saki’s home

    She is the crying woman at the pier; the house is north. A hot spring fast travel point nearby saves time.

  2. 02
    Investigate inside

    A body and a paper scroll.

  3. 03
    Investigate outside

    A dead dog in the backyard, and tracks leaving the property. Kill the dogs on sight rather than managing them — they close instantly and interrupt whatever you were mid-way through.

  4. 04
    Follow the tracks

    Uphill, then left onto a wider path, to a wounded man beside a dead horse. Whistle the horse rather than walking back to it, and remember a charge is itself an opening move against a loose group.

  5. 05
    Speak with the injured man

    He points you to Komoda Ruins.

  6. 06
    Travel to Komoda Ruins

    Fast travel if you can.

  7. 07
    Search for the bandits

    Near the main pathway.

  8. 08
    Kill the bandits

    A small group.

  9. 09
    Talk to the woman inside

    In a nearby structure. Further fighting here is optional.

  10. 10
    Return to Saki

    And report.

    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.
  • Dogs — They close instantly and interrupt whatever you were doing, so they are worth killing on sight rather than managing. A single light attack usually does it. Where the tale gives you distance, the bow is cleaner — a dog that reaches you at the wrong moment costs more than its health suggests.

Rewards

  • Minor Legend Increase
    A smaller step toward the next Legend rank — the size a side tale, a liberated settlement or a cleared encounter gives.
  • Minor Melee Charm
    A 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 Linen
    Upgrade material. Silk, linen and leather are what armourers and swordsmiths charge to improve your gear.

Sources