The Lord's Favor

He who increaseth knowledge, increaseth sorrow. This article contains spoilers, meaning it has information and facts concerning Assassin's Creed: Shadows. If you do not want to know about these events, it is recommended to read on with caution, or not at all. This template should be removed from the article 20 June 2025.

The Lord’s Favor was a virtual representation of one of Yasuke's genetic memories, relived through the Animus EGO.

Description

Diogo arrived in Kyoto with the Jesuits Alessandro Valignano and Luís Fróis seeking an audience with Oda Nobunaga.

Dialogue

• Diogo: Years ago, my journey started at sea. As it must for all who journey to these lands. A complex and precarious place. At war with itself for centuries. From that chaos and bloodshed, my opportunity surfaced... in the form of the most powerful warlord their history had known. Oda Nobunaga. A lord who took an interest in me. An outsider among outsiders.

Diogo narrated his journey as he and his Jesuits masters, Alessandro Valignano and Luís Fróis, arrived in Kyoto. The priests watched as other priests unveiled an ornament-decorated chair from the container, while Diogo surveyed the surrounding nature.

• Diogo: Pronto, está na hora. (It is time.)
• Luis Frois: Preparem essa cadeira, irmãos. Chegou em boa hora. (Get that chair ready, brothers. It has come not a moment too soon.)

The Jesuits meeting with Akechi Mitsuhide

Diogo and the Jesuits waited as Nobunaga's general Akechi Mitsuhide arrived with two guards, speaking to them in Japanese.

• Akechi Mitsuhide: Father Valignano, you are expected to appear before Lord Nobunaga today.

The Jesuits and Diogo bowed in agreement.

• Alessandro Valignano: Thank you, Sir Mitsuhide. We are ready.

The Jesuits following Mitsuhide to the meeting location

Mitsuhide and his guards took the lead, with Alessandro, Luis, and Diogo following right behind, making their way to the meeting location.

• Alessandro Valignano: Não podemos falhar hoje. Viajar para além de Quioto é cada vez mais perigoso. Sem a permissão do Lorde Nobunaga, a missão jesuita será um fracasso. Não podemos permitir. (We must not fail today. Travel beyond Kyoto is increasingly dangerous for us. Without Lord Nobunaga's permission, the Jesuit mission will not succeed.)
• Luis Frois: A nossa segurança deve-se ao Diogo. Sua presença dele manteve os monges e os bandidos bem longe. (We have Diogo to thank for our safety so far. His presence has kept the monks and bandits away.)
• Alessandro Valignano: O Diogo não os deterá pra sempre. Temos de garantir o favor de Nobunaga. (Diogo will not deter them forever. We must secure Nobunaga's favour.)
• Luis Frois: Vamos ficar bem ocupados quando isso acontecer. O que tens a dizer sobre isso, Diogo? Gostarias de ver o mar outra vez? (I suppose we are all going to be busier when we do. How do you feel about that, Diogo? Would you like to see the ocean again?)
• Diogo: Não sinto grande falta do mar. (It is not my favorite thing.)
• Luis Frois: Considerando a quantidade toda a água que tinhas engolido quando te encontrámos, eu percebo. (Considering how much of it you had swallowed when we found you, I understand.)
• Diogo: Isso foi a muito tempo. (That was a long time ago.)

After a short while, they reached the meeting location, Honnō-ji. As Diogo and the Jesuits entered, Diogo exchanged curious looks with the ashigaru guards and observed the samurai Hashiba Hideyoshi nearby. They then observed a lady being attended to by servants.

Lady Nene with Nobunaga's retainer, Mori Ranmaru

• Luis Frois: Aqui temos a Senhora Nene. E junto dela, Mori Ranmaru, o vassalo mais próximo do Lorde Oda Nobunaga. (I see Lady Nene is here. And that is Lord Oda Nobunaga's closest retainer, Mori Ranmaru, beside her.) Erai kata bakari. (There are only famous people here).

As they passed by Lady Nene, Diogo exchanged looks with the noble lady.

• Alessandro Valignano: Isso só nos dificulta as coisas. (Which only makes it all the more difficult for us.)

Nobunaga arriving on his horse after a hunt

They suddenly heard the people behind them gasp, prompting them to turn around. The ashigaru immediately stood at attention and bowed while the civilians scurried to the road sides and kneeled on the ground. Nobunaga arrived on a horse in samurai armor with a hunting trophy behind him. Alessandro, Luis, and Diogo immediately followed suit and kneeled at the road side. Nobunaga alighted from his horse and walked down the road while servants unloaded the wild boar carcass. He approached Lady Nene and whispered in her ear before giving a short glance at Diogo. Nobunaga turned around, nodded in satisfaction, and strode to the temple. Once Nobunaga was away, Diogo looked up in amazement.

• Diogo: E esse é o Lorde Oda Nobunaga. (And that is Lord Oda Nobunaga.)

Some time later, Diogo and the Jesuits wait outside the main building to be summoned for the audience with Nobunaga.

• Luis Frois: Em breve seremos chamados perante o Lorde Nobunaga. (They will call us in to see Lord Nobunaga shortly.)
• Alessandro Valignano: Deixe-me falar. (I will do the talking.)
• Luis Frois: Viu como o Lorde Nobunaga olhou para o Diogo? Será que ele nunca viu um homem negro antes? (Did you see how Lord Nobunaga looked at Diogo? Could it be he has never met a black man?)

Before they could continue, Mitsuhide approached them.

• Akechi Mitsuhide: Lord Nobunaga will see you now.
• Alessandro Valignano: Diogo, espera aqui, Não digas nada. (Diogo. You wait here. Say nothing.)

Mitsuhide insist on Nobunaga's orders that Diogo joins the meeting

As the Jesuits prepared to enter, Mitsuhide stopped them.

• Akechi Mitsuhide: Lord Nobunaga commands that the black man join you.
• Alessandro Valignano: But he is my sword bearer. A slave. He does not speak the language.
• Akechi Mitsuhide: Lord Nobunaga commands it.

Unable to refuse, Alessandro signaled for Diogo to step forward and whispered to him.

• Alessandro Valignano: Devia ter-te deixado no cais. Ou a boiar no mar, onde te encontrámos. (I should have left you at the port. Or floating at sea when we found you.)
• Luis Frois: Deus nos ajudará a superar isto, padre Valignano. (God will see us through this, Father Valignano.)

The Jesuits bowing to mark their show of respect

The three went to meet Nobunaga. Entering the hall, the were greeted by Nobunaga and his generals and retainers, and gave a bow. After observing the three, Nobunaga signaled Mitsuhide for his next command, who then signaled them to kneel down and bow their heads.

• Mori Ranmaru: Lord Nobunaga, I present to you Father Valignano. Father Valignano has come to request free movement for his priests in your lands.

Diogo and the Jesuits bowed to the ground.

• Alessandro Valignano: That is correct, Sir Ranmaru.
• Mori Ranmaru: You will address Lord Nobunaga.

The servants presenting the Jesuits' gift to Nobunaga

• Alessandro Valignano: Of course, of course. Forgive me, Lord Nobunaga. Please accept this gift.

The servants brought in the ornamental chair.

• Alessandro Valignano: A European chair. Made by the finest artisans in Portugal.

Nobunaga signaled his servants to take it away.

• Mori Ranmaru: You may rise.

The three lifted their heads.

Nobunaga challenging Alessandro's request

• Oda Nobunaga: You ask me to let your priests walk freely. But your priests are here already, Father Valignano.

Valignano stayed silent.

• Oda Nobunaga: Perhaps before you worry about your priests' feet, you may wish to plead for their heads.

Nobunaga's retainers readied their katana, which Diogo took notice of.

• Oda Nobunaga: Your black man has the instincts of a warrior. As he realized the danger you are in, his eyes found every threat in the room.
• Alessandro Valignano: I am sorry, Lord Nobunaga. He does not understand us.
• Oda Nobunaga: I would have many questions for his man, if only he understood. He is all the people of Kyoto speak about since his arrival.

Diogo revealing his capability of speaking and understanding Japanese

Diogo decided to speak up, replying in Japanese.

• Diogo: Lord Nobunaga. I do understand you.

Though Nobunaga's retainers were impressed at Diogo's ability to speak Japanese, Nobunaga was angry at the perceived trickery.

• Oda Nobunaga: Have you been deceiving me, Father Valignano?
• Alessandro Valignano: No! Lord Nobunaga, even I am as surprised to hear Diogo speak like this.

Nobunaga spoke directly to Diogo.

• Oda Nobunaga: Your name is Diogo?
• Diogo: Yes, Lord Nobunaga. That is what they call me.

Nobunaga issuing an order to speak to Diogo alone

Nobunaga signaled to Ranmaru to give an order.

• Mori Ranmaru: Lord Nobunaga would like to speak with Diogo. Alone.

The Jesuits and the Nobunaga's retainers got up and left the main hall. Alessandro glared at Diogo before leaving. Diogo then crawled forward towards Nobunaga.

• Oda Nobunaga: Sit.

Diogo got up into a sitting position.

• Oda Nobunaga: Has your skin always been this way?
• Diogo: Yes, Lord Nobunaga. My homeland is very far from here. All the people there have this color.
• Oda Nobunaga: I had thought to kill you all. If the Christians were gone, it would be one less thing to consider. But they have proven fair traders and a bulwark against the Buddhists. Luis Frois amuses me. We've shared tea. But this Valignano, I do not know. What are you to him, Diogo?

Diogo revealing the truth about his role as a slave bodyguard

• Diogo: I am like a bodyguard. I am to ensure he is safe in this land that is foreign to him.
• Oda Nobunaga: You are his bodyguard, but also his slave, are you not?
• Diogo: Yes, Lord Nobunaga. I am.

Nobunaga looked at Ranmaru, giving him an order. Ranmaru then stood up and left the hall.

• Oda Nobunaga: Valignano will not be pleased that I kept you here. What do you think he will do with you? Kill you?
• Diogo: I... do not know. I have been subject to worse men, and I yet live.
• Oda Nobunaga: These worse men. Who are they?

Before Diogo could reply, Ranmaru returned with Alessandro and Luis. As Ranmaru returned to his seat, the Jesuits got into a seated position.

Nobunaga granting Alessandro's request in exchange for Diogo serving under him

• Oda Nobunaga: Father Valignano, I will grant you what you came for. Your priests are free to move in these lands.
• Alessandro Valignano: Thank you, Lord Nobunaga. You will not—
• Oda Nobunaga: But your servant, Diogo, stays. He may yet prove useful to me.

Diogo looked on in shock.

• Alessandro Valignano: Very well. Though he is good for little more than bearing sandals.
• Oda Nobunaga: Under me, sandal bearers become lords. I see potential in this man. A warrior whose spirit can inspire armies. He will be tested. He may become a legend. Or he may die.

Outcome

Diogo impressed Nobunaga with his overall stature and intelligence, entering into his service as a retainer.

Gallery

• 
  Over of Kyoto
• 
  The Jesuits receiving their cargo
• 
  The Jesuits unveiling a European ornamented chair from the cargo
• 
  Diogo observing from a distance
• 
  Luis, Alessandro and Diogo greeting Mitsuhide
• 
  The Jesuits arriving at Honno-ji
• 
  The ashigaru guards giving Yasuke a curious look
• 
  Hashiba Hideyoshi with his servant
• 
  Lady Nene taking a glimpse at Diogo
• 
  The Jesuits inside the complex
• 
  The present audience bowing to Nobunaga
• 
  Closeup of Nobunaga in his samurai armor
• 
  Servants tending to Nobunaga's hunt
• 
  Nobunaga whispering in Lady Nene's ear
• 
  Nobunaga taking a look at the surrounding sight before going in
• 
  The Jesuits waiting outside the temple
• 
  Ranmaru introducing the Jesuits to Nobunaga
• 
  Diogo noticing potential danger
• 
  Nobunaga asking for Diogo's name
• 
  Diogo left alone in the hall with Nobunaga
• 
  Ranmaru returning with Alessandro and Luis