Part 185

Delve into the lore of Nioh 3's Part 185, uncovering the dark ambitions of John Dee and the treacherous history of Matsunaga Hisahide. Learn about their roles and impact on the world.

Characters:

John Dee

John Dee was an English politician and alchemist who secretly controlled Edward Kelley. He studied alchemy, astrology, and mathematics, becoming deeply involved in the occult. After discovering a method to transform soldiers into yokai using Amrita, he applied it to the English army's victory against the Spanish Armada, disregarding the fatal consequences for his soldiers. Driven by ambition for global power, he traveled to Japan to exploit its abundant Amrita. In his final confrontation with William, Dee absorbed all collected Amrita, transforming into a Hyakume (Hundred Eyes) yokai. His defeat came when William destroyed his Amrita eye, stripping him of his powers.

Matsunaga Hisahide

Matsunaga Hisahide, also known as "Danjo," was a general from Yamato province. He gained control of central Japan through brutal means, including killing the head of the Miyoshi clan and driving the Ashikaga shogunate from Kyoto. He eventually entered the service of Oda Nobunaga but used his position to eliminate enemies. Despite his repeated betrayals, he often escaped punishment until Nobunaga attacked his stronghold. Hisahide was a ruthless schemer but also a devotee of the tea ceremony, amassing a collection of valuable utensils. He betrayed Nobunaga multiple times but shared an interest in the tea ceremony. After his third betrayal, Nobunaga offered to spare his life in exchange for the legendary Hiragumo kettle. Hisahide refused and is said to have detonated the kettle with himself using gunpowder. His genius was first apparent in the service of Miyoshi Nagayoshi, whose clan he eventually seized control of after Nagayoshi's death. To eliminate powerful Miyoshi generals, Hisahide set fire to Todaiji temple, burning the Hall of the Great Buddha, though the Shosoin and its treasures were spared. He also rescued valuable items from the Juko Zashiki tea room before his forces advanced.

Senji Muramasa

Senji Muramasa was a legendary swordsmith from Ise province. The name was passed down through generations, with each head of the lineage referred to as "Muramasa." Famous Muramasa blades include Honda Tadakatsu's spear Tonbo-kiri and the sword used to behead Tokugawa Nobuyasu. The current Muramasa, an elderly swordsmith, entrusted his smithy to his granddaughter Tome before disappearing. The first Muramasa lived in the 14th century during the Muromachi period. His descendants preserved his techniques and developed a form of blacksmithing that incorporated Amrita over a century. These teachings were kept secret from those unable to handle Amrita, as it could cause physical and spiritual decay.