Yokai Invasion: Shinrin Grove and Green Shell
Yokai Invasion: The Village Behind the Gate
Miko has spent her life directing the powers of a priestess of love toward healing. After her father's death, protection demands something more. She wants to become a stronger fighter and seeks the Shinrin Do, an enchanted cuirass said to have helped a battle priestess defeat a terrible dragon. With the Hero beside her, she hopes it can strengthen her against Jaaku and Orochi.
Kame interrupts their search. He questions whether their purpose is truly protection and worries about the armor falling into the wrong hands. Their assurances do not settle his suspicion. He decides to fight them, and the Hero defeats him. Kame survives the encounter with a new request: perhaps their strength can help save his village.
The forest spirits have become hostile amid the war's negative energy. Otoroshi, normally a guardian that attacks evil people, now blocks the villagers from their own gate. Kame suggests luring it down with a meal. The Hero gathers reishi caps and flame, offers the food, and defeats the creature. The way into Green Shell opens.
Inside, Kame finds his home damaged and overrun. Fires and wandering spirits have made the rescue more than a matter of reopening the gate. The Hero gathers lake water and extinguishes the Tsurubebi, then drives possessing spirits from the village's lanterns. They reach the trouble before everything burns.
The villagers' spilled barrels also need refilling. Kodama in the grove have been attacking anyone who tries to gather more moglinberries. The Hero subdues enough to persuade them to stop, then collects berries to replenish the supply. Kame hopes they have not been hurt too badly; the spirits' disturbance has made enemies of creatures that otherwise mean well.
With the village operating again, Kame acknowledges the help he has received. He has promised the Shinrin Do, but cannot simply hand it over. The cuirass lies in a locked chest inside a cave beneath the lake, guarded by a monster. Restoring his home has earned his cooperation, not removed the last obstacle to Miko's armor.
Yokai Invasion: The Shinrin Do
Kame makes a water-breathing potion from luminous spores and rain lilies. Unlike the kappa, the Hero needs help staying underwater. With the potion, the search can continue through the lake, clearing merdraconians until the chest is found. The guard seems absent, and Kame suggests taking what is inside.
Nagami appears before the chest can be opened. The Hero tries to avoid another fight, explaining that they want the armor and will leave afterward. Nagami says it was never Kame's to promise. Nagami claims both the Shinrin Do and the whole grove, accusing the kappa of forgetting their place. Devouring their heroes, Nagami threatens, will remind them.
The Hero and Miko overcome Nagami. Miko finally holds the cuirass and feels its power flowing into her. Wearing it, she finds new confidence in the task ahead and promises to avenge Daisho. She has gained the strength she sought, but Jaaku remains beyond the village and valley.
Kame and the other kappa stop the departing party to offer their support. Their blades will join Miko's against the shogun. She accepts the alliance with confidence. The Hero gathers more food for the road, preparing to feed the larger company rather than leaving the village's needs behind as a completed errand with no consequence.
They learn that Jaaku's fortress lies across the valley. The armor and their new allies give Miko a way forward; they do not make the coming battle unnecessary. She must still confront the enemy who killed her father and threatens the rest of Yokai.
Elsewhere, an unseen speaker warns Jaaku that the princess is growing stronger and will soon come for him. He dismisses her as a flea and insists that healing Orochi must come first. The voice reminds him who wounded his dragon. Miko's gain has reached her enemy's ears, even while he refuses to treat it as urgent.