Onikage (Tenchu)
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Onikage is one of the primary villains in the Tenchu series of video games. He is a servant of the evil Lord Mei-oh and is Rikimaru's primary enemy throughout the series.
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[edit] Character History
Nothing is known about his early years. Onikage makes his first appearance in the game Tenchu 2: Birth of the Stealth Assassins. At this time he was known as Suzaku, one of the four lords of the Burning Dawn. The Burning Dawn was a sect of renegade ninja led by Lady Kagami, the head ninja for Lord Tohda. Kagami dreamed of a world in which the ninja would not have to exist in the shadows. To accomplish this goal she and her four direct subordinates initiated a war against Japan's reigning nobility. A very young Rikimaru encountered Suzaku in Lord Tohda's camp and the two commenced to duel. He was caught off guard by Rikimaru's skill and fled the battle, vowing that the next time they met Rikimaru would die.
Their next confrontation occurred near the end of the game, when the two once again crossed swords on a warship. The fight was long and brutal, but ultimately ended with Rikimaru striking Suzaku down and leaving his (apparently) lifeless corpse on the ship. However, just as the ship was about to sink into the sea Suzaku arose from the flames and swore his loyalty to a then-unknown sorcerer named Lord Mei-oh, making it likely that the demonic wizard had already bestowed upon Onikage the power of resurrection.
[edit] Tenchu: Stealth Assassins
Onikage would return to plague the Azuma ninja ten years later in the original Tenchu game. Rikimaru was sent by Lord Gohda to a cave system to rescue Ayame, who was being held captive in a jail cell. After killing a large bear that was guarding her prison, Rikimaru heard a demented laugh and a mysterious figure stepped out of the shadows, stating that his name was Onikage. Rikimaru did not recognize him because his appearance had changed in the intervening years; it is interesting to note that Onikage chose not to reveal his old identity to his enemy (in reality, of course, the story for Birth of the Stealth Assassins is a prequel to the original game and the authors retroactively inserted this subplot). Onikage simply told Rikimaru to become a more worthy opponent for him and then disappreared into the shadows of the cave.
Sometime later Gohda dispatched Rikimaru to annihilate the Manji, a religious cult. The leader of this arcane order possessed a stone that contained the energy of an evil spirit, and was using the stone to brainwash people to turn them into disciples of the cult. Rikimaru ruthlessly butchered the leader and took the stone, but was then confronted by Onikage. He charged forward and engaged the ninja in combat, but Rikimaru skillfully defended himself and pressed the attack. Overpowered, Onikage fled into the night.
While Rikimaru was away on a mission, Onikage stormed one of Gohda's castles with an army of ninja and demons. Since a frontal assault was impossible, Rikimaru was forced to scale the castle tower, eliminating many enemies along the way. He finally reached the top of the tower only to be confronted by Onikage again. Rikimaru brutally hammered at the evil warrior and thought that he had killed him, but Onikage's body vanished in a flash of light. Rikimaru was startled and confused, but did not have the time to ponder this mystery. He had learned that Mei-oh had kidnapped Princess Kiku and quickly hurried to save her. Kiku was being held in the catacombs of a volcanic underground cavern, but before he could descend to the fiery depths he was intercepted by Onikage, and once again the two engaged in a fierce fight, with Rikimaru again emerging victorious. Mortally wounded and in agony, Onikage told Rikimaru where to find Kiku, but also warned him that she was being guarded by Lord Mei-oh himself. He then collapsed to the ground and died, his powers of resurrection exhausted.
[edit] Wrath of Heaven
Onikage would return a year later. Rikimaru's shadow had been sent to a limestone cavern to investigate a mysterious band of ninja that had infiltrated Gohda's castle. The shadow made its way into the darkest depths of the cave, and to its horror encountered Onikage. The evil warrior revealed that a sorcerer named Tenrai had brought him back. The two fought, and Onikage was defeated. But suddenly a hand appeared and slit the shadow's throat. The real Onikage attempted to open an interdemensional portal in order to take possession of the Shichishito, Lord Mei-oh's sword. The gateway opens, but suddenly Izayoi, the legendary sword of the Azuma ninja, fell from the sky and imbedded itself in the cave's stone floor. Onikage was horrified when the real Rikimaru, and not his shadow, jumped out of the portal. Onikage exclaimed that only Lord Mei-oh had ever survived the gateway. Rikimaru was in no mood for conversation and immediately engaged his old foe. Onikage was bested and collapsed, but just as Rikimaru was about to leave with the Shichishito the dark warrior revived. Rikimaru, whose attention had been diverted by the arrival of several enemy ninja, was unprepared and Onikage cut his face. Instead of killing Rikimaru, however, he ran from the cavern without taking the Shichishito. Rikimaru tried to give chase but Onikage had vanished.
Later in the game Rikimaru stormed Tenrai's castle, where Onikage was waiting for him. The two fought and Rikimaru once again defeated him. Onikage apparently committed suicide by throwing himself into a deep crevasse, where he exploded in a rush of fire.
But at the very end of the game it is revealed that Onikage is still very much alive, and he falls to his knees and prays to Lord Mei-oh. It is highly likely that he will again torment the Azuma.
[edit] Personality
Onikage is evil and twisted. He is also patient and very devoted to Mei-oh. He is perfectly willing to bide his time until he thinks the moment is right to strike.
[edit] Powers & Abilities
Aside from the ability to return from the dead, Onikage appears to have no other supernatural powers. Lord Mei-oh seemingly gave him the gift of immortality in the first two games since he was able to resurrect himself, but even this power appears to be limited since he was finally killed in the original game and was only able to come back due to the efforts of Tenrai. He has the strength of a normal human in very good condition. Though a skilled fighter, his talents are not on par with those of Rikimaru, as evidenced by the fact that their battles always end with him fleeing the fight or being defeated.
