 |
This Article Contains Spoilers -
WARNING: This article contains major spoilers. If you do not wish to know vital information on plot / character elements in a story, you may not wish to read beyond this warning: We hold no responsibility for any negative effects these facts may have on your enjoyment of said media should you continue. That is all. |
| “ | I intend to return this nation to a better era. But certain people will need to be removed. Yoshinobu Tokugawa, the Last Shogun... A fine title for a history book, wouldn't you say? | „ |
| ~ Satow preparing to launch his assassination attempt on Yoshinobu. |
| “ | Let me go! Surely you must see how wrong this all is?! The shogunate is merely an army, yet it controls the government! This nation must be restored to its rightful state! And who better to guide it than me, one who truly understands Japan! | „ |
| ~ Satow being detained after being defeated by the protagonist. |
Ernest Satow is the secondary antagonist of the 2024 action-adventure video game Rise of the Rōnin.
He is a British diplomat and interpreter who develops a deep appreciation and affinity for Japanese culture. However, his affinity eventually devolves into an obsession, leading to him allying himself with the Blade Twin to destroy the Tokugawa shogunate, believing that it is corrupting and holding back the nation he loves.
After being defeated by the protagonist, Satow sees the error of his ways and becomes an ally in the closing portion of the game, as well as a potential romance option.
Biography[]
The protagonist first encounters Satow in Yokohama in 1858, when they walk in on him learning the Japanese language from Yukichi Fukuzawa. When the protagonist requests to meet US Consul General Townsend Harris a fellow conspirator, Fukuzawa is suspicious of their intentions; however, Satow points out that Fukuzawa also wishes to speak with Harris and suggests that he allow to protagonist to accompany him, confident that the protagonist would be no match for Fukuzawa if they turned out to be an assassin. Satow reveals that Harris is currently at a temple near Kanagawa Post, but declines to accompany Fukuzawa and the protagonist, citing the recent increase of attacks on foreigners in the area.
Satow is briefly seen again in 1863, conversing with Rutherford Alcock a fellow conspirator at the British legation in Edo. He appears again the following year in Kyoto, where he is revealed to now be working with the Blade Twin. He attempts to negotiate a deal with Roshigumi leader Hachiro Kiyogawa, who intends to weaken the shogunate from within; when Kiyogawa proves uncooperative, Satow sends the Blade Twin to assassinate him, remarking that while he considers Japanese culture admirable, he cannot say the same for its people. In 1866, Satow decides to to take matters into his own hands and makes plans to assassinate shogun Yoshinobu Tokugawa and plunge Japan into civil war, believing that Britain will take over once the dust has settled and appoint him as the head of a new colonial administration, allowing him to protect Japan and its culture from further Western influence. He launches an assault on Nijo Castle, backed by British soldiers and secret agents, but the protagonist and Ryoma Sakamoto intervene before he can kill Yoshinobu. The protagonist and Ryoma fight and defeat Satow and allow him to be arrested by the shogunate. As Satow rants about how the shogunate must be destroyed in order for Japan to truly prosper, Yoshinobu orders him to be detained and imprisoned in a cell, as the shogunate cannot afford to antagonize the British. By the following year, Alcock has negotiated Satow's release, and the two men negotiate the sale of British weapons to the Satsume-Choshu Alliance, where Alcock chastises Satow for souring negotiations with his assassination attempt.
Later that year, the protagonist encounters Satow again in Edo, where the latter apologizes for his actions and admits to allowing his love for Japan devolve into obssession, realizing that the Blade Twin did not share his views and merely wished to see Japan completely destroyed. As such, he now vows to do everything in his power to protect Japan, and requests that the protagonist assist him and Koto Nakazawa in preventing the Sekihotai from destroying Kaneiji Temple. Together, the trio fight of the Sekihotai 3rd Unit leader Renzaburo Yukawa and Shinbei Tanaka. After the defeating the radical extremists and saving Kaneiji Temple, Satow admits that the plan to destroy the complex was concieved by him while he was still blinded by his obssession with Japan, and he now deeply regrets wanting to destroy such a valuable piece of the nation's culture. Realizing that the Sekihotai will now likely seek reprisals against him, he decides to retreat to his manor and invites the protagonist and Nakazawa to join him there for tea.
Just as Satow feared, the Sekihotai attack his manor in retaliation for stopping them at Kaneiji Temple. Having anticipated their attack, he preemptively prepares for their siege. The protagonist and Nakazawa sneak into the manor to rescue Satow and find him in his study, where they are attacked by former Shinsengumi member turned Sekihotai radical Mikisaburo Suzuki, who is also joined by Tanaka. The protagonist, Nakazawa and Satow succeed in killing both Suzuki and Tanaka, and Satow realizes that the Blade Twin was the one who sent the assassins to his home. Despite this, Satow remains firm in his resolve to defend Japan, reaffirming that he will do all that he can to prevent any further violence.
When the protagonist manages to bring the shogunate and the Satsuma-Choshu Alliance together to negotiate peace terms, Satow appears to wish the protagonist luck, knowing that the Blade Twin will appear and attempt to interfere with the negotiations. He informs the protagonist that he is doing what he can to ensure a peaceful resolution, telling Takamori Saigo that continued hostilities will have a negative impact regarding trade negotiations with Britain.
[]
 Villains
| ||
|
Obei Faction Others | ||