Onikage

Onikage

Gender	male
Occupation	Undead Shinobi
Affiliation	Lord Mei-Oh (former) Lord Toda (former) Burning Dawn (former) Cave Bandits (former) Manji Cult (former) Tenrai (former)
Weapon	Chinese Jian (former) Flying Kicks
Status	Unknown, possibly possessing Ayame
First Appearance	Tenchu: Stealth Assassins

Onikage (鬼陰, Onikage^?) is a demonic ninja and a seemingly immoral nemesis of Rikimaru. He was once a mortal shinobi that worshiped Lord Mei-Oh, the Demon King. Onikage served the demonic overlord for years as his representative and spy in the mortal realm.

Onikage has been involved in a personal feud with the House of Gohda for generations, and archenemy of Lord Gohda's retainers, the Azuma Ninja Clan. Onikage now exists only to torment Lord Gohda and the Azuma Grandmaster, Rikimaru.

Biography[]

The Red Sparrow[]

Onikage, known initially as Suzaku (朱雀), the Red Sparrow, once operated as a ninja under this alias. He concealed his true identity by feigning blindness, wearing a distinctive black blindfold. Within the ranks of the Four Lords of the Burning Dawn, he served as a trusted advisor, offering counsel and guidance to Lord Toda and Lady Kagami.

A pivotal moment in his transformation occurred when he ruthlessly murdered his lover, Yukihotaru, following her defeat at the hands of Rikimaru at the Buddhist Temple. Chillingly, he callously declared his disdain for weakness, professing his sole allegiance to power.

As the narrative unfolded, Rikimaru ultimately confronted Onikage during a climactic battle on a large ship in the final stages of the conflict. This encounter transpired before he faced Lady Kagami, and in both instances, Onikage met his demise at the hands of Rikimaru, who wielded the Izayoi. During his final moments, Onikage taunted Rikimaru, suggesting that it was his destiny to become like him. Rikimaru, however, vehemently rejected this notion, asserting his unwavering loyalty to a worthy master.

In a surreal and eerie twist following his demise, Onikage inexplicably returned from the dead amidst the backdrop of surrounding corpses and flames. In a haunting transformation, he shed his previous disguise, revealing his newly chalk-white skin and menacing red eyes, marking his rebirth as Onikage for the first time.

Serving Lord Mei-Oh[]

After shedding the persona of the Red Sparrow, Onikage resurfaced many years later, driven by a sinister agenda to sow chaos and pave the way for Lord Mei-Oh's arrival on Earth. During this period, Onikage orchestrated various malevolent acts, including striking deals with bandits to capture one of the Azuma Ninja, instigating the actions of the Manji Cult, orchestrating the decimation of one of Lord Gohda's castles, and carrying out the abduction of Princess Kiku.

Throughout these tumultuous events, Rikimaru found himself engaged in numerous confrontations with Onikage, oblivious to the fact that Onikage and Suzaku were the same. Strangely, Onikage never disclosed his former identity as Suzaku to Rikimaru, leaving the reasons for this decision shrouded in mystery.

In the culmination of their clashes, Rikimaru ultimately prevailed, vanquishing both Onikage and Lord Mei-Oh. With the power of the Izayoi, he banished them back to their realm, effectively putting an end to their malevolent designs.

Working for Tenrai[]

Following his resurrection by the sorcerer Tenrai, Onikage pledged his loyalty and service to Tenrai while harboring a clandestine agenda to facilitate the return of his true master, Lord Mei-Oh. In a swift and calculated move upon his revival, Onikage eliminated Tokubei Echigoya, silencing him to safeguard his secrets.

In a pivotal encounter within the Limestone Caverns, Onikage employed a shadow of his former self as a decoy to divert Rikimaru's attention, all while attempting to utilize the Shichishito sword to initiate the resurrection of Lord Mei-Oh. However, Rikimaru emerged from the portal, thwarting Onikage's plans and compelling him to flee.

Their paths would intersect once more within Tenrai's fortress. Should Izayoi be repaired using the metal from Shichishito, Onikage would remark that such a fusion would deplete Izayoi's power in exchange. Regardless of this, Onikage ultimately succumbed to Rikimaru's prowess, opting to hurl himself from the fortress in a dramatic act of self-destruction, triggering a devastating explosion.

Following the demise of Tenrai at the hands of Rikimaru, Onikage assumed a pivotal role by informing the spirit of Lord Mei-Oh that the opportune moment for his return had arrived, setting the stage for the eventual resurrection of his true master.

Burning Gohda Castle[]

One year later, Onikage resurfaced, adopting the identity of Naotada Sekiya, a trusted and long-serving advisor to Lord Gohda. Collaborating with a woman named Rinshi, they embarked on an intricate and covert scheme designed to deceive the clan into believing that a war was imminent. This elaborate ruse ultimately culminated in Rikimaru being falsely branded as a traitor.

Taking advantage of the confusion and turmoil sown by their machinations, Onikage orchestrated the seizure and subsequent conflagration of the castle. Amidst the chaos, Rikimaru and Ayame were separated and led to different locations, further complicating their predicament.

In the extended ending of the game, it is strongly implied that Onikage emerged triumphant, having taken possession of Ayame, leaving the fate of the Azuma Ninja and their ongoing struggles in a state of uncertainty and peril.

Abilities[]

Onikage possesses the ability to invoke the forces of darkness, endowing him with a multitude of arcane powers and supernatural abilities. His combat style typically eschews weapons, and he instead relies on swift and formidable Tae Kwon Do-inspired kicks that exhibit both speed and power. However, during his early shinobi days as the Red Sparrow, he wielded a Jian sword with exceptional skill.

Lord Mei-Oh, and in one instance, Tenrai have recurrently orchestrated the resurrection of Onikage from the dead, with each revival transforming him further away from his human form and toward a more demonic visage.

Onikage displays sadomasochistic tendencies, deriving perverse pleasure from the suffering and demise of others, as well as his deaths. This predilection for torment and death is a notable aspect of his character, leading him to ultimately forgo the use of weaponry entirely. Instead, he predominantly relies on melee combat, utilizing his formidable leg-based techniques, leveraging a strength far surpassing that of ordinary humans.

Trivia[]

The name "Onikage" holds a significant meaning, translating to "Demon Shadow." The combination of "Oni," signifying "Demon," and "Kage," denoting "Shadow," is aptly chosen, aligning with his role and allegiance in the service of Lord Mei-Oh. This name aptly encapsulates his sinister and shadowy persona, as well as his affiliation with darker forces.
In the original Tenchu game, players have the unique opportunity to transform Onikage into a playable character through the utilization of debug mode. By activating this mode, spawning Onikage, and shifting the player's perspective to that of Onikage, an intriguing gameplay experience ensues. Initially, players can employ Onikage's roundhouse and flying kicks as their primary offensive maneuvers. However, the versatility extends to utilizing any items that have been collected throughout the game, adding a distinctive twist to the gameplay dynamic. This unconventional gameplay option allows players to explore the world of Tenchu from Onikage's perspective, providing a fresh and engaging gaming experience.
Onikage assumes a significant role as one of the playable characters in the two-player versus mode of Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven, adding a layer of gameplay depth to the title. Moreover, in Tenchu: Time of the Assassins, Onikage is prominently featured with his dedicated story mode, allowing players to delve into his narrative and experience the game from his unique perspective. This inclusion further enriches the gameplay experience and provides players with the opportunity to explore the world of Tenchu through Onikage's distinctive storyline.
Onikage's character has, at times, exhibited a peculiar and unsettling fascination with Ayame. On one occasion, he went so far as to describe her as an exemplary mortal, suggesting that a death at her hands would be deemed a "beautiful death." This peculiar fixation with Ayame adds an eerie layer to his character. In the extended ending of Tenchu 4, the narrative takes an intriguing turn as it strongly implies that Onikage has assumed possession of Ayame. This enigmatic development leaves their fate, and the implications of this possession shrouded in mystery, adding a captivating element to the storyline.