TaleminorTale of TsushimaAct II — A Gathering Storm

The River Children

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

RoleSide tale
Importanceminor
  • TypeSide Tale
  • Act2
  • RegionToyotama
  • Quest giverShino
  • PrerequisiteFind the start in the open world
  • RewardsMinor Legend Increase, Minor Melee Charm, +14 Linen
  • Steps12

Overview

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

The River Children is a standalone Tale of Tsushima in Toyotama — 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 grieving woman, a series of disappearances, and a folk explanation involving the kappa.

Objectives

  1. Travel to the fishing hut
  2. Investigate the docks
  3. Examine the bloody trail
  4. Investigate the riverbank
  5. Track the kappa
  6. Examine the remains
  7. Investigate the riverbank again
  8. Track the kappa again
  9. Keep going
  10. Defeat the bandits
  11. Search them
  12. Speak with Shino

Full walkthroughSpoilers

  1. 01
    Travel to the fishing hut

    Shino is inside, kneeling.

  2. 02
    Investigate the docks

    Half-eaten fish at the waypoint.

  3. 03
    Examine the bloody trail

    Just north of the fish, on the dock.

  4. 04
    Investigate the riverbank

    A small peninsula along the river; examine the tracks.

  5. 05
    Track the kappa

    More tracks beside the first set, then follow the directions along the shore across several islands.

  6. 06
    Examine the remains

    A body washed ashore near a mossy rock.

  7. 07
    Investigate the riverbank again

    Inland from the body.

  8. 08
    Track the kappa again

    The tracks give new directions; follow the orange grass and the footprints.

  9. 09
    Keep going

    Investigation points along the path, across the muddy road, between the large rocks, toward a plank bridge.

  10. 10
    Defeat the bandits

    Five at the bridge — open with a standoff. Open with the standoff. Hold until the enemy actually commits rather than pressing early, and each won standoff kills outright — against unarmoured ronin it can gut a group before the fight starts.

  11. 11
    Search them

    The last one is carrying the flute.

  12. 12
    Speak with Shino

    Back at the fishing hut, for the ending.

    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

  • 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.
  • +14 Linen
    Upgrade material. Silk, linen and leather are what armourers and swordsmiths charge to improve your gear.

Sources