Protagonist is the main character in Rise of the Ronin and a Veiled Edge, along their Blade Twin. The two were trained by Bladesmith, a veteran Veiled Edge from the Kurosu Clan.
Description[]
One half of a Veiled Edge, a twin warrior unit specially trained by the Kurosu clan to oppose their shogunate overlords. They lost their family when their native village was razed by shogunate spies. Together with their Blade Twin, they were taken in by the Bladesmith, a veteran warrior who trained them in the Veiled arts.
At the behest of the Bladesmith, the protagonist and their Blade Twin infiltrate one of the Black Ships to steal a secret message and assassinate Commodore Matthew Perry. All appears to be going well until their mission is thwarted by the Blue Demon, who defeats the Blade Twin and wounds the protagonist. Barely escaping with the message they were wasted with stealing, the protagonist returns to the Veiled Edge village, where they stand before the grave of their Blade Twin. Convinced that their counterpart is still alive, they resolve to forsake everything in the hope of reuniting one day.
For its involvement in a plot to overthrow the shogunate, the Veiled Edge Village is raided by shogunate spies. Amidst the wholesale destruction of the Kurosu domain, the protagonist secretly resolves to go out into the world to search for their Blade Twin. However, just before leaving, they are confronted by the Bladesmith, who refuses to allow them to abandon the Kurosu. After proving to their former guardian that they are firm in their resolve, the protagonist cuts his ties to his clan, and becomes a ronin, a masterless and free-roaming warrior.
Leaving their clan as a ronin to search for their Blade twin, the protagonist arrives in Yokohama, a port town shaken by the arrival of the Black Ships. Forming bonds with Ryoma Sakamoto and other noble warriors, they become involved in a fight to change the course of Japan's history. Together with those unable to tolerate Naosuke Ii's reign of terror, they ambush the Chief Minister at Sakurada Gate.
Together with Ryoma, who is undecided about how to change Japan for the better, the protagonist joins the pro-shogunate faction. After forming bonds with members of the Shinsengumi, they fight in the Ikeda Inn Incident and the Forbidden Gate Rebellion - dramatic events that shake the imperial capital to its core. Upon learning that their Blade Twin has been stirring conflict behind the scenes, they decide that the time has come to definitely cut ties with their counterpart.
Working alongside Ryoma, the protagonist witnesses the establishment of the new administration, though the Blade Twin's political machinations cause a schism between the Satsuma-Choshu alliance and the ousted shogunate. Ultimately, Ryoma is defeated in an ambush by the Blade Twin. After the Battle of Toba-Fushimi, the protagonist makes use of all their connections in an effort to prevent a final battle for Edo. At last, their score with the Blade Twin is settled, and Japan is visited by the dawn of a new era.
The protagonist defeats their vengeance-fuelled Blade Twin. Realising the error of their ways, the Blade Twin accepts their counterpart's offer to make peace. Expressing their intention to watch things unfold from abroad, the Blade Twin departs, vowing to remain the protagonist's other half even if apart, for such is the way of the Veiled Edge.