Adagumo no Yaorochi

From Len'en Wiki
(Redirected from Yaoroti)
Jump to navigation Jump to search
徒雲あだぐも 八尾呂智やおろち
Adagumo no Yaorochi
a̠da̠ɡ̃ɯᵝmo̞ no̞ ja̠o̞ɺ̠o̞t͡ɕi
Adagumo no Yaorochi
Character Titles
Descendant of Orochi
Information
Species Orochi
Abilities Mowing down clouds
Location Sukune's Home (Location unknown);
Ritual Site in the Unlost Woods
Music Themes
  • 深い徒雲の下で 〜 Mow_Down! (EMS)
  • ただ空五倍子に、ただ一筋に (RMI, shared with Sukune Katano)
  • 薙ぎ払われた繋がり (BPoHC)
Appearances

Adagumo no Yaorochi (徒雲 八尾呂智) is an aloof expressionless person who is a youkai born from Orochi's arm. They have an obsession with the sword Tasouken, the legendary Sword of Kusanagi. They're the final boss of Earthen Miraculous Sword and a playable character in Reactivate Majestical Imperial, the second and third game of the Len'en Project respectively.

General Information[edit | edit source]

Personality[edit | edit source]

At first glance, Yaorochi is aloof, composed, and dignified. But to those who know them better, Yaorochi is actually simpleminded, violent, quick to anger and pathologically obsessed with the Tasouken. Their personality is indifferent to others, and because they ostracized themselves for so long, Yaorochi is a loner by nature and chooses not to socialize. They're hostile towards humans and look down on them, but if they have to cooperate with them, they acquiesce. In speech, they speak with an archaic Japanese language, all the while using a belligerent and haughty tone.

Because they were born from Orochi's arm, they have an attachment to the Tasouken. They love the sword more than anything else, even to the point of idealizing for its return to splendour. They want it to be as magnificent as it was in the ancient times. When they were born, they executed those who killed Orochi's clan in vengeance, as they felt they had an obligation for it. After they found what was left of the Tasouken, they understood that they never wanted the sword in order to exact revenge or to revive the old clan. It was simply because they were attached to it. They're shown to be manipulative and cunning (such as manipulating Sukune Katano to restore the sword) and will attack any person who gets in the way of themselves and the Tasouken. For instance, cutting down a fellow orochi in the past and attacking the heroes in Earthen Miraculous Sword, because restoring the Tasouken brought cloudy weather to Mugenri.

Abilities[edit | edit source]

Mowing down clouds

Yaorochi's main ability is to cut down clouds. If one notices closely in the stage 6 of Earthen Miraculous Sword, during the last half of the fight Yaorochi and the heroes are seen floating in the sky away from the Ritual Site and the clouds around the orochi are seen moving past them. They also have spell cards based around cutting clouds (Suppressing Force "Formation of the Cloud Mowing Sword", "Cloud Mowing Sword")

Natural swordsmanship

Being born from the arm of Orochi gives them natural swordsmanship. Because of their connection to the Tasouken and its ability to sever relationships, Yaorochi's sword's ability is defined in such a broad manner.

Backstory[edit | edit source]

The leader of a powerful clan was betrayed and killed by other enemy clans and his arm severed. Yaorochi was born from his severed arm, and because of it, they have an attachment to the clan's legendary sword, Tasouken. Yaorochi and their six other siblings decided to get revenge on Orochi's murderers, but most of them died before achieving their goal. Yaorochi was very cold and distant to their younger siblings, even escalated to violence on one occasion.

Yaorochi looked for centuries for the lost Tasouken and was very disappointed when they found that it was all old and rusted. They were so disappointed and heartbroken that they isolated themselves for years. One day, they travelled to Mugenri and saw a clay sword that greatly resembled the Tasouken. They tricked the creator of the clay sword, Sukune Katano, into giving it to Yaorochi such that they could transfer the essence of the Tasouken into it. They also had Sukune build a ritual site at which the ceremony would take place.

Preparations complete, Yaorochi pulled the sword out from storage and thrust the sword along with the clay sword into the ground, beginning the ritual. As they began the power transference, the rusted sword crumbled into dust in an instant. Outside, a gathering of clouds formed in the sky above the ritual site, leading to the events of Earthen Miraculous Sword. As the ceremony was completed, the clay sword's exterior crumbled away to reveal a magnificent metal blade within, the Tasouken was reborn.

Background Information[edit | edit source]

Origin[edit | edit source]

Yaorochi is largely based on the legendary youkai Yamata-no-Orochi and the historical figures Emperor Antoku, and in part Emperor Go-Toba.

Yamata-no-Orochi was a giant eight-headed serpent youkai in Japanese mythology, he was slain by the god Susanoo-no-Mikoto who found the sword Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi, in other words the Tasouken, in the youkai's tail. This would explain Yaorochi's race as well as their connection to the Tasouken.

Emperor Antoku was a key figure in the conflict between the Taira and Minamoto clans at the end of the Heian period. The young Emperor Antoku was born to a Taira mother and was controlled by the Taira clan, when cornered by the Minamimoto at the sea Battle of Dan-no-ura, Antoku's grandmother took him and jumped overboard into the sea, drowning the child emperor. She also took the three Imperial Regalia with them, of which the sword is said to have never been recovered. This tale is referenced in Yaorochi's plunge into the sea after the Tasouken. Antoku being born to a Taira mother is also referenced in Yaorochi's claim that they are distantly related to Taira no Masakado.

Emperor Go-Toba was Emperor Antoku's younger half-brother and successor, famous for having ascended to the throne without all three of the Imperial Regalia. It is said that he later developed a psychological complex regarding the missing sword, which lead to his later enthusiasm for swordsmanship and swordsmithing. Being a great lover of swords, he made great contributions to Japanese swordsmithing and his patronage was even said to have given birth to Japan's "Golden Age" of bladesmithing. This obsession with swords, specifically the Tasouken, is also seen in Yaorochi's character.

Name[edit | edit source]

Their full name is Adagumo no Yaorochi (徒雲 八尾呂智). Their given name Yaorochi (八尾呂智), spelt to mean "eight tail bone knowledge", is based on the name of Yamata no Orochi (八俣遠呂智). Their surname, Adagumo (徒雲), means "vanishing cloud". It refers to the concept of ephemerality, giving the impression of a cloud that disappears as soon as you reach out to touch it. The hiragana character no () used here indicates a "belonging", thus the English equivalent of their name would be "Yaorochi of the Adagumo". In ancient Japan times, it was common for aristocrats with a clan's name to have no between their clan's name and first name.

Design[edit | edit source]

Yaorochi is of moderate height. They have long black hair tied in a side ponytail. They wear a green scarf with snake designs, a black and purple hakama with floral patterns and a pair of black detached sleeves. As an orochi, they have seven tails.

Appearances[edit | edit source]

Yaorochi in EMS
Earthen Miraculous Sword

Sukune Katano was tricked by Yaorochi into transferring the essence of the Tasouken into a clay sword, but said process made the weather in Mugenri very cloudy. Still resenting humans for murdering Orochi's clan and separating them from their sword, they attack the heroes when they arrive to stop Yaorochi. However, after Yaorochi is defeated, the Tasouken attacks on its own, wanting the protagonists to "prove their power".

After everything was cleared, Sukune reveals to them that the back of the sword acts as a bottle opener. The orochi was devastated at first, but they decided in the end that they didn't mind at all because they had the sword in their possession after centuries and it was all that mattered to them.

Reactivate Majestical Imperial
Yaorochi in RMI

There's a long out of season winter due to a sudden flow of spirits. This bothers Yaorochi, who wants to find out who's responsible for it. They bring Sukune along to the Senri Shrine for answers, but after finding nothing, they decide to head out themself to resolve the incident.

Following the flow of spirits, they reached a frozen cavern along the river, where they encounter Kuroji Shitodo and Adagumo no Saragimaru. The latter doesn't want Yaorochi to recognize them, so Kuroji helps conceal their identity. Offended after Sukune casually mentions their money problem, Kuroji attacks them and forces Saragimaru as well. After defeating them, they continue their way along the river, where they find Taira no Fumikado, who was trying to collect spirits in order to resurrect the vengeful spirit Taira no Masakado and store him in their homunculus body. After defeating them, they find out that all the spirits are attracted to a certain location. Finally, they end up in the Withered Grove, where they find the chimera soul Shion, who is the avatar of the soul-eater flower Harujion. Threatened by Shion's attempt to eat their soul, the duo retaliates.

In the end, Yaorochi and Sukune arrive at the Senri Shrine, bringing Shion with them. Shion indicated that they were attracted by the essence of the shrine and stays there.

It's revealed that the spirits came to Mugenri because of a hole in the Mugenri Barrier that separates the land from the Outside World. The hole was caused by Lumen, during the Clouds Incident and Tenkai Zuifeng was tasked to repair the hole, but is taking too long. Angry for putting Mugenri at risk, Yaorochi and Sukune go to chastise Tenkai. After finding out that Tenkai is actually an apprentice, Yaorochi mocks them, only for Tenkai to remind them about the failed Tasouken ritual. On the way back home, they are ambushed by Sese Kitsugai, a youkai they had defeated at the beginning of the story. Sese absorbs the spirits the heroes had been recollecting. After Sese is defeated, the spirits leave Sese's body. Sese still hasn't given up on their dreams to become stronger, so Yaorochi offers to be their sparring partner anytime.

Brilliant Pagoda or Haze Castle

Now living at Sukune's house, Yaorochi isn't interested about the upcoming war and decides to stay out of it, hiding at the Ritual Site in the Unlost Woods. Both the Imperial Military and the Dragonfly Army have heard about the Tasouken's immense power and want to recruit Yaorochi because of it. Meanwhile, Yaorochi is paranoid that everyone will try to take their sword away from them, so they're attacking intruders that come across the location.

Relationships[edit | edit source]

Sukune Katano

During the events of Earthen Miraculous Sword, Yaorochi manipulated Sukune Katano into transferring the essence of the Tasouken into a clay sword (requested by Saragimaru to make Yaorochi happy) by posing as a holy servant. Despite caring about nothing but the sword and being willing to hurt and manipulate people for its sake, Yaorochi did feel guilty about using Sukune. Even after discovering that Sukune revealed that said clay sword was actually a bottle opener, the two became good friends and Yaorochi forgave Sukune for the misunderstanding.

Yaorochi is a loner by nature who despises humans and weak youkai, but is friends with Sukune and after the clouds incident, both live together at Sukune's house. Despite Yaorochi's immense power, dialogue with Yabusame implies that Sukune is the more dominant in their relationship and Yaorochi acts mild towards the haniwa.

Adagumo no Saragimaru

Adagumo no Saragimaru is Yaorochi's little sibling. In the past, they had a fickle relationship and they distanced when Yaorochi abandoned their siblings in order to find the lost Tasouken. Saragimaru has not forgotten their older sibling and secretly watches them from afar. Yaorochi is too fixated on the Tasouken and has already forgotten about them and the rest of their (now deceased) siblings.

According to JynX, Yaorochi sometimes wonders what happened with their remaining siblings and they have started to notice that someone frequently looks after them.

Tsubakura Enraku and Yabusame Houlen

Like many other, Yaorochi doesn't really think Tsubakura and Yabusame are doing their job as Senri Shrine priests, by being inclined towards doing things as they please instead of doing it the traditional way. Despite antagonizing them a few times, Yaorochi is still on cordial terms with Tsubakura and Yabusame and visits them at the Senri Shrine. Even so, Yaorochi is constantly annoyed at their carefree attitude and lack of discipline.

Suzumi Kuzu

Yaorochi does not know of Suzumi Kuzu, due to the latter either having overwritten Yaorochi's memory or rewinding time after their every encounter. However, whenever the two meet, Yaorochi displays a limited perception of the multiple souls within Suzumi, perhaps due to being able to hear both Hamee and Ardey.

In their first time meeting in Reactivate Majestical Imperial stage 4, Yaorochi refers to Suzumi as multiple people, but gets confused when Sukune refers to Suzumi as a single person instead; Next in Brilliant Pagoda or Haze Castle stage 6, Yaorochi starts out referring to Suzumi as multiple people but turns to refer to them as a single person later on in the conversation; Finally, in Earthen Miraculous Sword stage 6, they refer to Suzumi exclusively as a single person.

Other Mugenri natives

Yaorochi is on bad terms with other Mugenri-natives, having been isolating themself until meeting Sukune and the events of Earthen Miraculous Sword. Yaorochi chooses not to socialize with them and looks down on humans.

Additional Information[edit | edit source]

  • Yaorochi's and Saragimaru's color schemes are inverted in Reactivate Majestical Imperial.
  • According to JynX, they're only powerful when they're using the Tasouken. They're also not so aloof and dignified as they pretend to be.
  • Yaorochi's seven tails can change their thickness and length at will, though this hasn't been written in anything.[1]
  • Yaorochi is sensitive to the cold. This is possibly a reference to their species being based on snakes, which are cold-blooded animals.

Gallery[edit | edit source]

Spell Cards[edit | edit source]

Spell Cards
Name Translated Comments Games Stage
Total: 25
毒牙「歯軋りする刃」 Poison Fang "The Sword that Grinds its Teeth" EMS St. 6: E/N
「牙噛むは雄叫び天仰ぎ」 "To Gnaw with Fangs is to Wail at the Skies" EMS St. 6: H/U
護牌「七堂伽藍の胎動」 Protection Card "Seven-Structured Temple's Fetal Movement" EMS
BPoHC
St. 6: E/N
St. 6: E/N
「七つの尾」 "Seven Tails" EMS
BPoHC
St. 6: H/U
St. 6: H/U
降誕「割り裂かれる尾」 Birth "The Split Tail"[a] EMS
BPoHC
St. 6: E/N
St. 6: E/N
「天羽々斬剣」 "Ame-no-Habakiri Sword"[b] EMS
BPoHC
St. 6: H/U
St. 6: H/U
斬整「土偶剪定」 Trimming "Dogū Shearing" EMS
BPoHC
St. 6: E/N
St. 6: E/N
「斬切舞」 "Frantic Cutting Dance"[c] EMS
BPoHC
St. 6: H/U
St. 6: H/U
込力「天の構え」 Inward Force "Sky Posture" EMS
BPoHC
St. 6: E
St. 6: E
溜力「蒼天の構え」 Gathered Force "Blue Sky Posture" EMS
BPoHC
St. 6: N
St. 6: N
抑力「雲薙ぎの構え」 Suppressed Force "Cloud-Mowing Posture" EMS
BPoHC
St. 6: H
St. 6: H
「色即是空」 "Form is Emptiness" EMS
BPoHC
St. 6: U
St. 6: U
「空薙ぎ」 "Sky Mowing Sword" EMS
BPoHC
St. 6: E
St. 6: E
「草薙ぎ」 "Grass Mowing Sword"[d] EMS
BPoHC
St. 6: N
St. 6: N
「雲薙ぎ」 "Cloud Mowing Sword" Bomb; The Brilliant Pagoda or Haze Castle upgrade lacks quotation marks. EMS
RMI
BPoHC
BPoHC
St. 6: H
Use
St. 6: H
Upgrade
「天薙ぎ」 "Heaven Mowing Sword" EMS
BPoHC
St. 6: U
St. 6: U
「黒朽縄」 "Black Rotted Ropes" Flash bomb RMI Use
『塵薙ぎ』 "Dust-Mowing Sword" RMI Standby Skill
酔剣「蛇殺酒」 Drunken Swordplay "Serpent-Killing Saké"[e][f] RMI St. 4: E/N
泥酔剣「酔いどれ眼」 Stuporous Swordplay "Drunkard's Eyes"[e] RMI St. 4: H/U
「雲薙ぎ【鳥落】」 "Cloud-Mowing Sword [Plunging Bird]"[g] RMI St. 4: E/N
「天薙ぎ【空墜】」 "Heaven-Mowing Sword [Falling Sky]"[g] RMI St. 4: H/U
斬調「土偶剪定・グロウ」 Pruning "Dogū Shearing -Grow-"[h] Co-owner with Sukune RMI St. 4: E/N
掘削「ハニーワ・カッター」 Excavation "Haniwa Cutter""[h] RMI St. 4: H/U
「二つの煌き」 "Two Glimmers" BPoHC St. 6: E/N/H/U

Notes[edit | edit source]

  1. This is referencing the origin of the Kusanagi sword, which was found inside one of Orochi's tails.
  2. This is a reference to Ame no Habakiri, a sword which Susanoo used to kill Orochi.
  3. Potentially a pun on きりきり舞い (kirikirimai), which means "to toss about in a panic".
  4. Kusanagi, or "grass mowing", short for Kusanagi no Tsurugi, or "grass mowing sword". The other versions of this card are variations on this name.
  5. 5.0 5.1 A play on "drunken boxing" (酔拳, Lit. "drunken fist"), a style of Chinese martial arts that imitate the movements of a drunk person.
  6. A reference to the Yashiori no Sake (八塩折の酒), used by Susanoo-no-Mikoto to intoxicate Yamata no Orochi, who he killed after the serpent fell asleep.
  7. 7.0 7.1 A variation on Yaorochi's final spell card in Earthen Miraculous Sword.
  8. 8.0 8.1 A variation on Yaorochi's fourth spell card in Earthen Miraculous Sword.

Official Profiles[edit | edit source]

Official profiles
 〇6面ボス  大蛇の末裔

  徒雲 八尾呂智(あだぐものやおろち)
  Adagumo no Yaorochi

  種族:大蛇
  能力:雲を薙ぎ払う的な能力


  八尾呂智の先祖は幾多の国を治める豪族であり、
  元を辿れば皇族でもあった。
  その一族が栄える際に大きな役割を果たしたのが、
  天から賜った家宝である一振りの『剣』だった。
  その剣は一振りで千の草を薙ぎ、燃え盛る火焔でさえ切り捨てたという。

  当然他の権力者達や豪族達はその一族の力を脅威に思い、
  一族の首長の抹殺を狙っていた。
  だが、剣がある限りその長と真っ向から戦える者は、
  その時代に多くなかった。

  そこで他の豪族達は、とある祝いの席を偽りその長に非常に強い酒を盛り、
  長が泥酔し衰弱した所を襲撃した。
  心の臓が止まっても尚、剣を離さなかった長は、その腕を切り落とされ、
  身体をバラバラに切り裂かれた。
  結果、家宝であるその剣は、握っていたその腕ごと強奪された。

  八尾呂智はその時に切り落とされた腕が化けた妖怪であった。
  八尾呂智は滅びた一族の無念を呑み擁き、
  数人の同士と共に卑劣な権力者達への復讐と一族の再興を誓った。
  剣さえ手に入れれば、自らの切望が叶うと信じて・・・・・

  そんな八尾呂智に初めて剣を手に入れる機会が到来したのは、
  剣が海に沈む時だった。

  八尾呂智はすぐに沈み逝く剣を追ったが、見失ってしまい。
  結局それが見つかったのは水に飛び込んでから数年後となった。
  当然剣は錆び果て、当時の威厳も霊験も既に無くなっていた。
  あれほど希っていたものを手した八尾呂智は、
  何の感情も芽生えはしなかった。
 
  もはや見る影も無くなった家宝を眺めている内に、
  八尾呂智はどこか吹っ切れたのか、
  剣を住み家の物置深くに仕舞い込み、一族の為ではなく、
  自らの道を生きていこうと決心した。
  使命を果たす事が出来なくなったが故に、
  八尾呂智の心は呪縛から開放されたのかもしれない。

  ―――そういえば、最後まで生き残った同士はどうしているのだろうか?
  ふと、そんなことを思いながらも八尾呂智は歴史の影に消えた。



  永く遠い年月が過ぎ去った。


  八尾呂智はのんびりと穏やかに日々を過ごしていた。
  もはや復讐という使命は心の片隅にも残っていなかった。

  ただ、何かが足りない・・・心の中にポッカリと孔が空いている。
  そんな空虚感とも言える蟠りをずっと抱いていた。
  過去の自分の行動も、疑問が残る点ばかりであったが、
  もはや気にしないことにしていた。

  そんな時、散歩の途中で全体が素焼きの土製作りの珍しい建物を見つけ、
  興味本位でその中を覗いてみた。
  数々の土製芸術品(?)が陳列されている室内は、
  とても整理された空間とは言えなかった。
  その土だらけの光景に半ば呆れていた八尾呂智は、
  そこで信じられない物を目にした。

  あの剣がある。

  いや、正確に言うと剣と瓜二つの形をした土製の剣だった。

  瞳から入るその姿は衝撃を発し、
  沈殿していた記憶が舞い上がる。
  空いていた孔の正体が露になる。
  今まで目を背けていた思いが呼び起こされる。

  生まれ落ちた時からある、剣の記憶・・・
  先祖から受け継いだ様々な記憶、剣への想い・・・
  常に肌身離さず共に過ごした剣との日々・・・
  共に数多の戦場を斬り捨ててきた剣との戦い・・・
  死んでも尚、離すことのなかった剣への気持ち・・・

  そう、愛しかったのだ。

  自分の生みの親がどれほどその剣に愛着を持っていたのか、
  八尾呂智はその全てを知っていた。
  持った事も無いのに、錆びれ果てる前のその剣の感触を覚えていた・・・

  故に愛しかった。
  只々愛おしかった。

  だが失った。

  錆びた剣を見つけた時の喪失感、
  突如消え去った全ての柵、
  剣を物置深くに仕舞い込んだ理由、
  その全てに合点がついた。

  八尾呂智は復讐や再興の為に剣を欲していたのではなかった。
  只々、剣を愛していただけだった。
  先祖から受け継いだ愛、それ故に剣を取り戻したかったのだ。
  だが、八尾呂智にはあの錆び果てた剣と愛しの剣とを重ねることは、
  どうしても出来なかったのだ。

  そしてその失ったはずの愛しの剣、それが目の前にある。
  土製であるし、僅かに違う箇所もあるが、それでもそっくりであり、
  微弱ながら霊験すらも感じた。

  八尾呂智の中で長い間眠っていた思いが一気に膨れ上がり。
  八尾呂智は剣を手にしようと建物に侵入することを反射的に決意した。

  その時、帰ってきた建物の主人『片埜 宿禰』と
  ばったり出くわしてしまった。

  しかし宿禰は八尾呂智が自分の作品に見惚れていたとでも
  思ったのだろうか、八尾呂智のことは特に何の疑いもせず、
  建物の中に招き、自らの作品を自慢し始めた。

  確かに、宿禰の作品はどれも不思議な力を感じさせるものであった。
  芸術的にどうこうというわけではなく、
  心の内の古い記憶に訴えかけるような何かを感じた。
  ・・・が、何かが足りない。自分と同じで孔がある。
  同属だからこそ、八尾呂智にはそれが分かった。
  あの剣も宿禰の作品の一つらしい。

  なんという偶然・・・
  いや、この者の天賦の才が呼び起こした奇跡なのだろうか。

  そこで八尾呂智は自らを神司と偽り、
  物に魂を宿らせることが出来ると偽った。

  そして宿禰の作品を(これは本心から)褒め上げ、
  「宿禰の作品は素晴らしい物であるが、全て未完成だ
   是非一つ自分に貸してもらいたい
   そうすればそれに魂を宿し、完成品にしてみせよう」
  っと提案した。

  宿禰は喜んで作品を差し出した。
  宿禰もまた、自分の作品がどれも未完成であることを自覚していたらしい。

  そこで八尾呂智が選んだ作品はもちろんあの剣であった。
  魂を宿すことなど自分には出来ない・・・だが、
  この土製の剣に自らが持つ錆びた剣の力を遷せば、
  当時のあの威厳が蘇るだろう。

  魂を遷すためには力が逃げないようにする為の『器』が必要だった。
  そこで儀式場として宿禰に巨大な土製の『器』を用意させ、
  さらに、儀式が終わるまで絶対に中に入って来てはならない、
  ・・・っと宿禰に言い聞かせた。

  八尾呂智は住み家の物置に仕舞い込んでいた剣を引きずり出し。
  土製の剣と並べるよう地面に突き立て、儀式を始めた。

  力の転移を始めるや否や錆びた剣は見る見る崩れ落ち、
  外では天に叢雲が立ち込めた。 
  八尾呂智と宿禰、両者の心中は期待で溢れていた。

  儀式は数日に亘って続いた。
  儀式中に宿禰が心配して中に入って来ないか心配だったが、
  どうやら外で作品の完成を辛抱強く待っているらしい。
  八尾呂智は次第に騙していることに多少の罪悪感を覚え始めた。

  儀式が間もなく終わるその時、外で大きな音がした。
  どうやら邪魔者が来たようだ。
  だが、剣は既に九分九厘の力を転移し終わっていた。

  試し斬りには調度良いか・・・

  八尾呂智は土製の剣を抜き、刀身を地面に軽く叩きつけた。
  すると、土製の剣は表面が砕け落ち、中から光り輝く剣が現れた。
  初めて握るというのに自分の体の一部のように馴染む。

  遥か昔に夢見た愛しの剣・・・
  万感交到りながら、それを確と握り締め、
  侵入者を迎え入れるため儀式場の屋上に向かった。

  その目には復讐心は全く無かった。
  一族の復讐や復興という目的など最早どうでも良かったのだ。
  八尾呂智はただ、遥か昔に求めた・・・
  ・・・恋した剣が愛しかっただけなのだから。

  剣を天に翳すと、天に蔓延っていた叢雲は割れ、
  切れ目から日の光が射し込んできて八尾呂智を照らした。
  まるで天が一人と一振りの悠久の時を経た再開を祝福するかの如く・・・

  数ある呼び名のどれとも違う剣の名を囁きながら、蛇は舞った。


  心にあった孔が満たされた八尾呂智の瞳には、
  剣の姿しか映っていなかった。

◯ Stage 6 Boss — Descendant of Orochi

Adagumo no Yaorochi

Species: Orochi
Ability: Something like mowing down clouds


Yaorochi's ancestors were a powerful clan that ruled over several states.[a]
If you go back to their origins, they were even royalty.
In the golden age of the clan, they had a very important responsibility,
a "sword" that was given to them as an heirloom by the heavens.[b]
It's said that the sword could mow down a thousand blades of grass engulfed in a blazing flame with a single stroke.

Of course, other powerful clans and influential people thought of them as a threat,
and aimed to eliminate its leader.
However, there weren't many people back then
who could go head-to-head against the leader of the clan, as long as they had the sword.

So the other clans threw a fake celebration for the leader, giving them unusually strong saké.
When the leader was dead drunk, the opponents attacked them.
Even after their heart had stopped, the leader wouldn't let go of their sword,
so they severed the arm holding the sword, and cut the body into pieces.
As a result, the heirloom sword was stolen along with the severed arm.

Yaorochi is a youkai transformed from the severed arm.
They took in all the regret of the destroyed clan,
and vowed to exact revenge on the crooked people and their allies, as well as to revive the clan.
If they could just get a hold of the sword, they believed their hopes would be fulfilled...

The first opportunity for them to retrieve the sword,
was when it had fallen into the ocean.[c]

Yaorochi chased after the sinking sword, but ultimately lost sight of it.
It was many years after the sword had fallen into the ocean before they were able to find it again.
Of course, the sword had rusted away, and it had already lost it's dignity and miraculous nature.
Yaorochi, who had aquired what they were hoping for,
but only in such a state, didn't feel anything at all.

While looking at the heirloom which was a mere shadow of it's former self,
Yaorochi put the sword far back in a storage room in their home,
but not for the sake of the clan;
They had resolved to live following their own path.
They were unable to complete their mission,
and so perhaps their heart was released from a curse.

———By the way, what happened to their allies who survived?
Occasionally wondering so, Yaorochi disappeared into the shadow of history.



Many long months and years passed.


Yaorochi passed their days idly.
There was no longer even a trace of their mission of revenge left in their heart.

However, something was missing... A void was in their heart.
They always held that feeling of emptiness.
Concerning their past actions as well, they were full of doubts,
but they had decided to give up on caring about those things.

One day, while out walking, they found a strange building completely made out of pottery clay.
Out of curiosity, they decided to look inside.
They found themself in a room displaying numerous pieces of clay artwork(?),
which couldn't be described as tidy at all.
Yaorochi was half astounded at the scene made entirely of dirt,
which is when they laid their eyes on something unbelievable.

It was the sword.

No, correctly speaking, it was a clay sword with exactly the same shape as the sword they knew.

The figure of the sword that entered their sight ignited something in their mind,
and their buried memories came whirling back to them.
The true form of the void in their heart became apparent.
The thoughts that they had until now turned away from were calling to them.

The memories of the sword, from the time they was born...
The many memories inherited from their ancestors, thoughts about the sword...
The days they spent always carrying the sword...
The many battles where they mowed through their opponents with the sword...
Their feelings towards the sword which they wouldn't let go of even as they died...

Yes, they loved it.

Yaorochi finally understood,
how much their parent had loved the sword.
Although they had never actually held it, they remembered the feeling of the sword before it had rusted...

And so they loved it.
They loved it dearly.

Yet they had lost it.

The sense of loss they felt when they found the rusted sword,
all their feelings of obligation that had suddenly disappeared,
and the reason they put the sword away into storage;
they understood it all.

Yaorochi had never wanted the sword in order to exact revenge or to revive the old clan.
It was simply because they loved it.
It was because of the love they had inherited from their ancestors that they wanted to retrieve the sword.
However, although they had loved the sword,
the rusted sword it had become wasn't able to even compare to it.

And the sword that they were sure they had lost, was there in front of their eyes.
Because it was made of clay, there were some flawed parts, but those too were just like the real thing.
While it was weak, they were even able to feel some of it's miraculous nature.

The thoughts within Yaorochi that had slept for so long suddenly welled up.
Yaorochi reflexively decided that they had trespassed into the building in order to take the sword.

Just then, the owner of the building, "Sukune Katano",
unexpectedly came home.

Sukune had seen Yaorochi looking in fascination at their creations,
and without questioning Yaorochi's presence at all,
started boasting about their works.

Sukune's creations certainly made Yaorochi feel a mysterious power.
They weren't exactly what you would call pieces of art, but they brought up old memories in their heart.
...Except, something was missing. There was a void inside them, just like what they felt inside themself.
Because they were something like kindred spirits, Yaorochi could understand.
That sword was also one of Sukune's creations, it seems.

Then, by some chance...
No, perhaps it was a miracle brought about by their natural talent.

It was then that Yaorochi feigned to be a holy servant.
They lied and said that they were able to make objects house spirits within.

Yaorochi (going back to being honest) then began praising Sukune's creations:
"Your creations are so wonderful, Sukune, but they're all incomplete.
Please let me borrow one,
I'll make it house a spirit, and complete it for you."
...was the plan they proposed.

Sukune was overjoyed and lent it to them.
It seems that Sukune themself had come to realize that their creations were somehow incomplete.

And so, Yaorochi of course chose the sword to borrow.
They couldn't actually make anything house a spirit...
but, if they could transfer their rusted sword's power into the clay sword,
they could revive its dignity from back then.

In order to transfer the soul, a "vessel" was needed to prevent power from escaping.
And so Yaorochi had Sukune prepare a huge clay "vessel" as the ritual site.
In addition, until the ritual was complete, Sukune couldn't enter inside...
...is what Yaorochi told them.

Yaorochi pulled the sword out from storage.
They thrust the sword along with the clay sword into the ground, the ritual had begun.

They began the power transference, and the rusted sword crumbled into dust in an instant.
Outside, the sky was enveloped by gathering clouds.
Both Yaorochi and Sukune were overflowing with anticipation.

The ritual went on for several days.
As the ritual continued, Sukune became worried, and was conflicted about whether or not to go inside,
but they somehow managed to patiently wait outside for the completion of their creation.
Yaorochi began to feel guilty about tricking Sukune.

As the ritual was about to end, there was a loud noise outside.
It would seem that an intruder had somehow gotten in.
However, almost all of the sword's power had already been transferred.

The intruder had come at the perfect time for Yaorochi to test the new sword out on them...

Yaorochi drew out the clay sword, lightly tapping the ground with the blade.
As they did so, the clay sword's surface crumbled into pieces, revealing the brilliantly shining sword within.
It was the first time they had held it, but to Yaorochi, the sword was like a part of their own body.

It was the beloved sword they had seen in a dream so long ago...
While a flood of emotions raced through their mind, they grasped the sword tightly,
and headed towards the rooftop to welcome the intruder.

There was no trace of revenge in their eyes.
They no longer cared at all about the revenge or revival of the old clan.
Yaorochi only cared about the sword they had loved...
...Which they had sought after for so long.

They held the sword up to they sky, splitting the gathering clouds above,
and sunlight poured down from the gap onto Yaorochi.
It was as if heaven itself was celebrating the reunion of the person and sword after an eternity apart.

While Yaorochi whispered to themself the names of numerous other swords, the snake danced about.


Now that the void inside their heart had been fulfilled,
nothing but the figure of the sword reflected in Yaorochi's eyes.

 〇大蛇の末裔

  徒雲 八尾呂智(あだぐものやおろち)
  Adagumo no Yaorochi

  種族:大蛇
  能力:雲を薙ぎ払う的な能力

  もうちょいで八岐大蛇な妖怪。
  愛剣の『蛇叢剣(栓抜き)』に異常なまでに執着している。
  最近は久しぶりに剣の稽古をしているので、
  栓抜きの扱い方にもなれてきた。
  このごろ妙な視線を感じているとかなんとか。

  ナベではおでんがスキ。

〇 Descendant of Orochi

Adagumo no Yaorochi

Species: Orochi
Ability: Something like mowing down clouds

They're a youkai a tail away from being Yamata no Orochi.
They're very attached to their beloved sword, "Tasouken (with bottle opener)".
Recently, they've finally gotten back to practicing with the sword,
and as such have become used to handling the bottle opener as well.
They've been saying they feel like someone's watching them.

As for nabe, they like oden.

大蛇の末裔

徒雲 八尾呂智
Adagumo no Yaorochi
●種族
大蛇
●能力
雲を薙ぎ払う
      的な能力

八岐大蛇もどきな妖怪。

愛剣の『蛇叢剣(栓抜き)』のこと以外は特に興味はなく、
今回の戦乱も全く無関心だったのだが、
双方の勢力から勧誘を受けていて迷惑している。

不気味な視線を感じながらも、蛇叢剣と出合った場所にて
事の成り行きを見ていた。

Descendant of Orochi

Adagumo no Yaorochi
●Species:
Orochi
●Abilities:
Something like mowing down clouds

An imitation of Yamata no Orochi.

They have no particular interest in anything other than their beloved sword, Tasouken (bottle opener).
They would have been completely nonplussed by this ongoing war,
had they not been pestered by both sides wishing to recruit them.

Feeling an ominous gaze staring down their back,
they observed the affairs from the place where they first found Tasouken.

Notes[edit | edit source]

  1. This likely refers to the old provinces of Japan.
  2. That is, the Tasouken, a.k.a. the Sword of Kusanagi. The story about the clan is based on the legend of the Yamata no Orochi.
  3. This is a reference to the Kusanagi being thrown into the ocean during the Battle of Dan no Ura.

Official Sources[edit | edit source]

Official sources

References[edit | edit source]