Part 184

Explore Nioh Part 184 lore, including Oda Nobunaga's curiosity, Derrick the Executioner's fate, and Edward Kelley's schemes.

Oda Nobunaga

Nobunaga possessed an insatiable curiosity about the world beyond Japan's borders. He was fascinated by the globes and clocks gifted to him by Christian missionaries and showed favor to the foreigner Yasuke. As his conquest of Japan neared completion, Nobunaga eagerly anticipated exploring the world. To achieve this, he planned to use spirit stones, also known as Amrita (a mystical substance that can be used for various purposes, including powering supernatural abilities). This ambition, however, led to his betrayal by Akechi Mitsuhide, who prioritized social order over innovation. Nobunaga was also a cultured individual who enjoyed the tea ceremony, poetry, the game of go, and dance. His philosophy on life and death is reflected in the lines from the Kowakamai song and dance piece "Atsumori": "A man's fifty years, compared even to the lowliest celestial realm, are but a dream. Having been born, what shall not pass away?" Despite being offered a second life by Kelley, Nobunaga found the prospect distasteful and chose to pass on.

Derrick the Executioner

Derrick served as the executioner for the Tower of London. He had committed a crime punishable by death but was pardoned on the condition of taking on his role. Over the years, he executed over 3000 people, including political prisoners and dissidents, in public spectacles often featuring his large axe. Initially brutal, Derrick became increasingly violent. Though he faithfully obeyed Kelley and his associates, he ceased speaking and showed no signs of emotion or intelligence. Besides decapitation, he also executed individuals by hanging and invented a device for hoisting people upwards for execution. His name is still associated with this type of crane today. After being stabbed with an Amrita crystal by Kelley, Derrick transformed into a yokai (a supernatural creature or demon) and became even more violent, but was ultimately slain by William. Even after death, Derrick's yokai form did not fully decay, becoming a relentless, bloodthirsty beast. William eventually ended its suffering, allowing Derrick to finally rest.

Edward Kelley

Edward Kelley was an English alchemist who mastered the art of turning lead into gold. He uses Amrita to transform humans into monsters and reanimate corpses. Kelley possesses a Guardian Spirit named Uroboros and can disappear, disguise himself, and steal other people's guardian spirits. On the orders of John Dee, he stole Saoirse, who can detect Amrita, from William and traveled to Japan, a land rich in Amrita. Kelley is cruel and determined, willing to do anything to achieve his goals, and takes sadistic pleasure in human suffering amidst the chaos of war. Upon arriving in Japan before William, Kelley disguised himself and instigated conflict. He views Saoirse as a mere tool and uses her ability to find and gather Amrita. In an attempt to plunge Japan back into civil war, Kelley resurrected Oda Nobunaga. However, Nobunaga refused to obey Kelley and, after a battle with William, moved on. Enraged, Kelley used a massive amount of Amrita to summon the serpent Yamata-no-Orochi. William thwarted Kelley's plans, leading to the alchemist's defeat. Kelley's Guardian Spirit, Uroboros, takes the form of a serpent consuming its own tail, symbolizing cycles of destruction, creation, death, and rebirth. In alchemy, Uroboros represents unity in opposition, similar to concepts in Onmyo magic. Kelley was a homunculus created through alchemical techniques, and the Kelley who came to Japan was a vessel created by John Dee. Numerous other Kelleys await their turn to awaken back in the Tower of London.