Separated from the rest of the continent by mountains and sea, lies the far eastern valley nation called Nihon. This nation of proud warriors is the land of legends, tales of master swordsmen, invincible warriors, and of boundless riches.

It is the year 1052 a.y. (Allusian Year); it is during this year that a child named Jiro was born . . .

In an area near the southern mountain range, close to the border of a kingdom called Drakkar, lies a small village called Samusa.

One stormy night, near the end of summer, in this small village, in the residence of the Masamune family, pillars of the samurai code, the second child of Kazuyuki and Ayane Masamune was born.

�Father, is that my brother?� asked a four year old boy. A middle-aged man with black hair and light brown eyes turned to him and answered, �Yes, Suzuchiro, this is your brother. His name is Jiro.�

Suzuchiro then turned to his mother and asked, �Mother, is Jiro going to become a samurai like father and me?� His mother, a beautiful young woman with long brown hair and dark brown eyes, answered, �Yes, if your father has his way with him. Right, Kazuyuki?�

Kazuyuki then retorted, �Ayane, it is the duty of the Masamune men to become samurai to defend the family, I will train Jiro to become a powerful samurai.�