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Welcome to the most informative Frequently Asked Questions Guide to that = ever popular Japanese animation show, the Ronin Warriors! If you have not= seen the show, I would suggest seeing at least a few episodes before ind= ulging in this FAQ. If you have seen the show before, then this FAQ is an= excellent compendium to the show. So, kick back and enjoy the ride!!:-) = = INTRODUCTION Text from Graz Entertainment's intro..... "Together, they face the otherworldly forces of the Evil Dynasty! Calling= on the spirits of ancient Samurai Warriors, all five have been given sup= er-powered fighting skills and weapons to wield against this tyranny. Her= oes pushed to the limits! A struggle between Good and Evil! And the fate = of Humanity hangs in the balance!" = And from Patricia Munson-Siter: Originally called --> Yoroiden: Samurai Troopers (Legend of Mystic Armor:= Samurai Troopers) is a joint production of Sunrise Animation (formerly N= ippon Sunrise) and Nagoya TV, an independent TV network. The first episod= e aired on 4 / 30 / 88 . Troopers was slotted at first for a 20-episode r= un, but proved so popular in the area where it was aired that the final e= pisodes were pulled and re-written so the storyline could continue for a = much longer run. The TV series ran to 39 episodes and has been followed b= y a number of OAVs (original video animation). = PROFILE Eyes: Color of eyes = Hair: Color of hair = Attribute: The attribute that each Ronin Warrior possesses. Color: The = color of that Warrior's Armor = Armor Name: The name of that Warrior's armor = Weapon: The weapon that Warrior wields. = Super Move: The Super Move each Warrior can do while in their armor, with= requisite Battle Cry (if applicable). = CHARACTER PROFILES RYO Name: Ryo Eyes: Brown Hair: Black Attribute: Virtue Color: Red Armor: Armor of Wildfire + Armor of Inferno (Inferno =3D Kikotei armor =3D= Sun Armor) = Weapon: Twin Katanas (Sword of Wildfire). These were shattered by Saber S= tryke. After his battle with Saber-Sryke, he gets the Swords of Fervor. H= e later rebuilds his original swords in a Mt Fuji. = Super Move: Flare Up Now, Rage of Inferno, and Flare Up, Rage of Inferno = Forehead Kanji: JIN: perfect virtue/humanity Element: Fire Birthday: 15 August (Leo) 1973 (14/15 years old in 1988) Height: 165 cm (about 5'6") Weight: 57 kg (about 125 lbs) Screen Kanji: When he uses his full power, he yells "So En Zan" (Two- Dir= ection Flame Cut). The words used with the Inferno armor are "Sen Ko Zan"= =2E = STORY: Ryo was the first of the Ronin Warriors to be found by Mia (Where was h= e found?) and Yulie. Together with Yulie and Mia, he led the search for h= is other four friends. Ryo is sort of the leader of the group. He was the= backbone of the group. Ryo was the type who never gave up. He would alwa= ys fight a battle to the end, no matter what the situation. He never let = his friends down, and was always there when they needed him. Ryo also too= k the most abuse out of the group. He has been through a lot with fightin= g Talpa and other Dynasty Warlords, such as Saranbo, Saber-Stryke and Kay= ura. But no matter how he felt, no matter what the odds, Ryo was ready to= fight at all times. Ryo is an orphan; his father was a wildlife photogra= pher killed by a wild animal. = SAGE Name: Sage Eyes: Light Blue Hair: Blonde Attribute: Wisdom Color: Green Armor: Armor of Halo Weapon: Battle Sword(Nodachi) Super Move: Thunder Bolt Cut!! Forehead Kanji: REI: courtesy Element: Spirit Birthday: 9 June (Gemini) 1973 (14/15 years old in 1988) Height: 167 cm (about 5'7") Weight: 58 kg (about 127 lbs) Screen Kanji: His battle cry is "Rai Ko Zan", or "Thunder Lightning Thrus= t". = STORY: Sage was the Second of the Ronin Warriors to be found. He was found de= ep in a cave (Name?) buried inside a huge stalactite. After he was freed,= he helped to find (?). Sage was the quiet one in the group. Sage always = felt that you should make a plan before heading into battle. He was also = constantly thinking about the Dynasty, never actually believing the war w= as over after Talpa's defeat. But still, Sage did run into a battle head = on every once in a while. Sage also had a personal vendetta against Kale.= He and Kale always were at each other's throats, each believing they cou= ld defeat the other. His father runs a small martial arts dojo, and his i= nterests revolve around swords, meditation, and "chatting up girls". = KENTO = Name: Kento Eyes: Blue Hair: Dark Blue = Attribute: Justice Color: Orange Armor: Armor of Hardrock Weapon: 3 Section Staff / Nunchuks (blade tipped) Super Move: Iron Rock Crusher!! Forehead Kanji: GI: justice/morality/loyalty Element: Earth Birthday: 1 September (Virgo) 1973 Height: 164 cm (5'5") Weight: 62 kg (about 138 lbs) Screen Kanji: His battle cry is "Gen Tessai" or "Rock-Steel Crusher". = STORY: Kento was the fourth of the Ronin Warriors to be found. Kento was found= buried inside a huge rock at a temple(name?) by Sage. Kento was the impa= tient one in the group. He was always itching for a fight and he was alwa= ys ready to rush into a fight, no questions asked. Kento also had an insa= tiable appetite. He never believed in fighting on an empty stomach. Kento= was once nearly drawn into the dark side after his confidence was robbed= by Dayus and Talpa, but later he regained it and went to help defeat Tal= pa. His family runs a Chinese resturant in Yokohama, and his main interes= t is eating! = ROIN Name: Roin (spelled Rowen by Playmates Inc.) Eyes: Dark Blue Hair: Light Blue Attribute: Life . Color: Dark Blue Armor: Armor of Strata Weapon: Bow and Arrow Super Move: Arrow ShockWave!! Forehead Kanji: CHI: wisdom/strategy Element: Air Birthday: 10 October (Libra) 1973 (14/15 in 1988) (Sports Day) Height: 16= 5 cm (about 5'6") Weight: 55 kg (about 122 lbs) Screen Kanji: When using his full power, he yells "Shinku Ha" ("Vacuum Br= eakthrough"). = STORY: Roin was the fifth of the Ronin Warriors to be found, and the hardest.= Roin was found traveling through space in a bubble. After Talpa's energy= bomb launched Ryo into space, Ryo helped to rescue Roin from space. He i= s the intellectual of the group, although in the US Dubbed version, he so= unds like he's not quite so smart. Roin's parents are divorced, and his i= nterests include puzzles and intellectual games such as chess, go, and sh= ogi. He is a mathematical genius. = SAI Name: Sai (spelled Cye by Playmates inc.) Eyes: Dark Blue Hair: Light Brown Attribute: Trust = Color: Light Blue Armor: Armor of Torrent Weapon: Trident Super Move: Super Wave Smasher!! Forehead Kanji: SHIN: sincerity/trust/faith Element: Water Birthday: 14 March (Pisces) 1973 Height: 164 cm (about 5'5") Weight: 54 kg (about 122 lbs) Screen Kanji: "Chor Yu Ha" or "Super Flow Thrust". STORY: Sai was the third of the Ronin Warriors to be found. He was found deep= in Torijama Bay, under a whirlpool, by Ryo. Sai was the relaxed one of t= he group. He was not one to speak up a lot, yet his opinions and thoughts= were important to the group. He was raised by his mother and an older si= ster who are both potters, and one of his interests is cooking (no wonder= he becomes one of Kento's best friends!) = THE ANCIENT Status: (Deceased) Name: The Ancient Eyes: Unknown, but glowing blue when magic is used Hair: White Armor: Unknown Weapon: Power Staff/Sword Super Move: Magic power STORY: The Ancient was the mentor to all the Ronin Warriors. He had been Tal= pa's lifelong enemy. The Ancient knew of Talpa's power when Talpa had onc= e worn his armor. The Ancient had defeated him, and to be sure that Talpa= 's reign would end, he split up Talpa's armor and called on each of the R= onin Warriors to be wearers of the mystical armor. When Talpa returned, = The Ancient helped the Ronin Warrior along the way, assisting them in bat= tle, and also guiding them mentally along the way. The Ancient also helpe= d turn Anubis around to the side of good, and not the evil side of Talpa.= The Ancient finally sacrificed his life at the hands of Talpa to help th= e Ronin Warriors gain entry into his castle. But even from the dead, The = Ancient still helped the Ronin Warriors to defeat Talpa, first through dr= eams, then through Anubis, then finally through Kayura. = His staff, a shakujo (used normally by mendicant monks to scare insects o= ut of their path so they do not accidentally get stepped on and killed), = was originally a sword that was used to to destroy Talpa some 400 years a= go and is a repository of vast mystic energy in its own right. = WHITE BLAZE Name: White Blaze Eyes: Dark Red Fur: White, with black stripes Story: He was the magical aide of the Ancient. Now he serves to protect M= ia, Yulie and the Ronin Warriors. He was badly wounded by Saber-Stryke in= saving Ryo from Saber's Fervor Attack, but recovered when Black Blaze re= charged him with life energy. white blaze now turns into Black Blaze, wit= h Black Blaze's armor, carrying the Swords of Fervor for Ryo. There are j= okes in the anime community that he's the smartest member of the Ronin Wa= rriors team. = MIA Name: Mia Eyes: Blue Hair: Brown Birthday: 28 May (Gemini) 1970 (She's 17/18 in 1988) Height: 168 cm = Story: Granddaughter of Professor Yagiyu, she is his assistant in doing r= esearch and is very skilled with computers. In the beginning of the serie= s she seems to know more about what's going on than the Ronin Warriors do= =2E She uses her computer and the files her grandfather left on it to loc= ate the Warriors after they are forcibly seperated as a result of their f= irst major battle with Talpa. While she is captured and used as a hostage= several times early in the series, by episode 12 or so she's learned to = keep well out of the way and this "problem" vanishes. She's that rarity i= n anime shows - the female "sidekick" who is actually quite useful and ab= le to handle herself quite well.. = Yulie: Name: Yulie Eyes: Blue Hair: Black Birthday: 30 Jun (Cancer) 1979 (He's 8/9 in 1988) Height: 118 cm STORY: = A young boy who is caught up in events and often ends up being the one wh= o gets into trouble - which in turn acts as the catalyst for the Warriors= to go to his rescue and discover more about their own powers and abiliti= es as a result. He is a typical animation rug-rat. On occasion his antics= on his skateboard generate moments of humor as well as being an occasion= al asset to the team. We see his parents in episode #1, but they disappea= r during Talpa's invasion and do not reappear (I personally think they ar= e dead). = ANUBIS Status: (deceased) Name: Anubis Eyes: Blue / Green Hair: Red Attribute: Loyalty Color: Black (mostly) Armor: Armor of Cruelty Weapon: Mace & Blade on chain (kusari-gama) Super Move : Quake With Fear Forehead Kanji: CHU: loyalty/innocence Birthday: 5 May (Taurus) 1551 (Children's Day) Height: 173 cm Weight: 67 kg = Original Move Kanji: Ko Rai Sei (Red Lightning) Story: Originally a Dynasty Warlord for Talpa, he became a disciple of th= e Ancient. He was killed in the attempt to free Kayura from Talpa's evil = possession. He seems to be both the strongest and the youngest of Arago's= Demon Generals and has an ego to match. His compatriots don't like him = very much, taking much glee in twitting him about his various defeats at = the hands of the Ronin Warriors (not that they do much better). Also one = of the more intelligent of the cast, he develops second thoughts about hi= s service to Talpa and starts questioning orders. He finally rebels again= st his master and kneels to The Ancient. At this point he, too, manifests= a forehead kanji. He was born in or near Kyoto, and his interests are se= lf-improvement and reading and writing - in other words, he was a scholar= as well as a warrior. = DAYUS = Name: Dayus Eyes: Hair: White Attribute: Serenity Color: Purple Armor: Weapon: Nunchuka, MorningStar and 6-ExtensorBlades Super Move: Web of Deception Forehead Kanji: NIN: Bear/Endure Pain, Conceal Oneself (Endurance) Birthd= ay: In 1549 Height: 176 cm Weight: 70 Kg Story: One of his attacks utilyzes an energy field that resembles a sp= ider's web. Further, when he first appears to face a foe, it is often han= ging upside down in the middle of his energy web, or from the nearest tre= e. He can take the multiple scythes off his back and use them as a hand w= eapon; and he also has both nunchuka and a morningstar attached to the fo= rearms of his armor -- and uses both. His special power is projecting his= own image over others, so the Troopers attack each other -- thinking the= y are attacking him. He can also project someone else's image over his ow= n, and at least once has created an illusion that created the false image= s of several of Talpa's demon army warriors. Chameleon-like, he can also = fade "into" the landscape so his opponents don't see him. = KALE Name: Kale (spelled Cale by Playmates Inc.) Eyes: Brown Hair: Black Arttribute: Piety Color: Red / Black / Grey Armor: = Weapon: Dark Blade (Nodachi) Super Move: Black Lightning Slash Forehead Kanji: KO: Filial Piety Birthdate: in 1550 Height: 170 cm Weight: 63 kg = Story: He can see in total darkness, and tends to prefer attacking when = there is no light to aid his enemies. He seems to be the best teleporter = of the Dynasty Warlords. = SEKMET Name: Sekmet Eyes: beady BLACK Hair: Green Attribute: Obedience Color: Red / Green Armor: Weapon: 6 Katana swords Super Move: Snake Bite Strike, Snake Fang Strike Forehead Kanji: TEI: to serve our elders (Obedience) Birthdate - in 1551 Height - 172 cm Weight - 70 kg Story: He can control - perhaps through a type of telekinisis - all of h= is six swords at the same time, while also projecting an image with six a= rms. He can also join all six swords together in what amounts to a razor= -sharp whip (Snake bite strike). Sekmet has a full range of rather nasty = poisons in his arsenal of weapons as well as his swords. The poisons he u= ses in his attacks frequently cause prolonged suffering in his victims. = TALPA Status: dead, then alive, then dead again, then alive, then finished off = for good. = Name: Talpa Eyes: Glowing Red (when "excited") Hair: White Armor: Has the combination of all nine armors Weapon: A large Battle Sword, as well as Magical Powers Super Move: When he first possesses the Ronin Warriors, he obtains their = Super Moves. He has a range of Magical Powers, as well. = STORY: Talpa is the master warlord of evil. He would like to take over the plane= t Earth by breaking down or dissolving the "wall" between the Demon World= and our own, making the two one - with himself as the ultimate ruler, of= course! = Talpa is a demon who rules another dimensional plane (referred to as "the= Demon World") and has his eye on adding ours to his empire. He has manif= ested several times before on our world, in Japan at the time of the samu= rai. At that time he appeared as a human-sized (well, very large human-si= zed) warrior. When he was defeated, the doorway between dimensions was cl= osed. Recently, he has forced the doorway open once more. This time he br= ings helpers - initially, the four Demon Generals as well as his "demon a= rmy". Later, other servants of the Demon Lord also show up to battle our = heroes. When Talpa first manifests in our time period, all technological = equipment fails and dies wherever Talpa's influence touches - it seems he= actually absorbs the power, not only from technological sources but also= from the humans within range. Because technological weapons are useless = against him, mystic forces are needed to oppose him. As he gains more pow= er, Talpa manifests a solid body instead of only the transparent, ghostly= helmet he appears as in the beginning of the series. = SARANBO Status:(deceased) Name: Saranbo Eyes: Glowing Red. Glowing Blue Hair: N/A Armor: Err... His own armor. weapon: Pole AXE Super Move: Wave of DESTRUCTION!! Story: Erm... He'd like to have Ryo's Inferno armor for himself. That's a= bout it. Oh, and he'd like to take over Earth too... but everyone wants t= o do that, so it doesn't really count.. = SABER-STRYKE Status:(deceased) Name: Saber-Stryke Eyes: N/A Hair: N/A Armor: erm.. his own. again. Weapon: Swords of Fervor Super Move: Uses the swords of Fervor in his attacks. = Story: Erm... He would like the Armor of Inferno as well. He has had a fi= ght with Talpa in the distant past, and still bears a scar on his chest. = S.Stryke bears a large grudge against Talpa, because he feels Talpa is no= t worthy as the Emperor of the Dynasty. He challenged Talpa to a duel, bu= t Talpa won, slashing Saber in the chest, and knocking him down into a de= ep chasm. Black Blaze followed, ever true to his master. Saber feels that= the Inferno armor is the one thing that could overthrow Talpa, and put S= aber on the Dynasty Throne. He finds out that Ryo is the only one who can= wield the Inferno armor, and loses his life because of it. = BLACK BLAZE Status: (essence transferred into White Blaze) Name: Black Blaze Eyes: Yellow Fur: Dark Grey with Black stripes Armor: White armor with blue. Carries the scabbards (and the Swords thems= elves) for the Swords of Fervor. = Story: He serves Saber-Stryke as the Sword carrier, and protector. He is = the antithesis of White Blaze, until Saber tells B.Blaze that the Ronin W= arriors are the only path to ending Talpa's evil. At that time, Black Bla= ze gives his life force to White Blaze, as well as his armor. = SUN DEVIL Status: deceased Name:Sun Devil Eyes: Glowing Red Super Move: Black Ice The Demon Envoy has control over water's temperature, and can turn it int= o either ice or steam. Story: He is sent after Ryo and fails... = LADY KAYURA Name:Lady Kayura Eyes: Dark Blue Hair: Blue Weapons: Twin Jitte (ancestor to the Sai) Super Move: Star Sword Scream Birthdate: 12 Dec 1559 (Sagittarius) Height: 158 cm Weight: 44 kg Story: Seemingly Anubis's replacement after the Dynasty Warlord's defecti= on, she is known as the Demon Princess, and is an even nastier fighter th= an the other Demon Generals. She seems to have been a member of The Ancie= nt's clan and was one of those who was being trained to defend Earth from= Talpa and his ilk about 400 years ago. She was captured at the age of 5 = and brain-washed by the Demon Lord; the gold-colored chest plate she wear= s keeps her under Talpa's thumb. When it is destroyed in one of her battl= es with Ryo, her mind is freed and she eventually joins the battle agains= t the Demon Lord. When she initially appears, she is accompanied by the v= ision of wisteria blossoms and petals. Her weapons are twin jitte - the j= itte a much older cousin to the sai. Instead of the central rod we're familiar with in the sai, this ancient form of jitt= e has a slender two-edged sword blade. She becomes the Ancient's successo= r, after Anubis sacrifices himself to save her. She also gets Anubis's ar= mor. = GASH (GASHURA) Status: deceased Name:Gashura (Gash') Eyes: Beady Black Hair: N/A Story: A ninja-demon summoned by Badamon to asassinate Anubis, Mia, Yulie= , and also to get the Jewel of Life. He fails miserably, getting stabbed = through by Anubis with the shakujo. The shortest-lived baddie in the whol= e show. = BADAMON Status: Deceased Name:Badamon Eyes: Black Hair: Black Story: The head NetherSirit, he is a sorcerer-demon dressed as a Chinese = Confucian scholar. He is one of Talpa's servants and is tasked with disco= vering the secret of the Mystical Armor and Inferno armor. He has full co= ntrol over the NetherSpirits. He possesses Kayura's body at the end of th= e series, and is only driven out of her body by Anubis's sacrifice. = DARA Status: deceased Name:Dara Eyes: Glowing Yellow Hair: N/A Story: One of Talpa's demon commanders, Dara seems to have been one of = the original inhabitants of the Demon World who chose to submit willingly to Talpa rat= her than fight him. He uses the "Yoroi Sword" Talpa creates out of energy= from the Hardrock, Halo, and Torrent armors against Ryo, as well as lead= ing his own army against the two remaining Warriors in episodes 30 - 31. = In the US Dubbed version, Dara has a *_VERY_POOR_* voice. = NETHERSPIRITS: Story: The Netherspirits are the spirits of evil men who have died on Ear= th. They are energized by Talpa's power and have no life of their own. Th= ese spirits have become semi-autonomous parts of the Demon Lord, and act = as a channel for his energy. They seem to be one way Talpa can channel t= he power he pulls from various sources, including the life energy he abso= rbs from the human beings he has imprisoned. He uses them in creating bal= ls of energy in episodes 9 and 10. In episode 11 they play several types = of flute-like instruments, the mystic music from which create a barrier t= hat prevents the Ronin Warriors from being able to call their armor. In e= pisodes 14 they bombard Anubis with energy in an effort to force the Dyna= sty Warlord to gain greater control over his own abilities and power (to = be used against the Ronin Warriors, of course). In episode 16 he uses them to attack the mystic bridge The Ancient has created and which t= he Troopers are using to attack his floating castle. In episode 17 -- aft= er Anubis has joined the Troopers and then been captured by his former co= mrades in arms -- the Netherspirits subject him to various tortures in or= der to keep him too weak to escape. In the rest of the series they act as= channels for the power Talpa is raising to bring Earth and the Demon Wor= ld together, as well as helping control the wayward Dynasty Warlords. Th= ey are dressed in garb much like the ceremonial outfits worn by some Shin= to priests.. = This FAQ was written by: Alan Saqui (Eyedol2All@aol.com) Richard Hagen (Beverins@aol.com) with help from Seawasp (seawasp@wizvax.wizvax.net) = and MAJOR HELP from these kind souls: Patricia Munson-Siter = Presented by Silver Dragon Productions and Argon of Cantee = Selected Passages, phrases, and data- = = Copyright 1989, 1993 by Silver Dragon Productions and Patricia Munson-Siter Credit Where Credit Is Due Alara Rogers was a help in translating articles on this show from various= animation magazines. V. Perry and D. Messerschmidt wrote a short piece = on the show for one of the APAs we all belong to that I also used as sou= rce material. Carol Hoeke, Elyse Grasso, and Gloria Oliver. All helped wi= th translations of episode titles, names, and so on. Several people also= sent corrections and such in response to the short article I did on this= series that appeared in the October 1988 issue of Celluloid Diversions. = Thanks, all! =