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11 Chance Encounters is the third of the three story types in Onimusha: Way of the Sword, alongside the main Way of the Sword story and Mysteries of Kyoto. Even after part of Edo-Era Kyoto has been cleared of corruption, its residents may still need help, and Chance Encounters are those requests.
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33 Optional, Not Mandatory
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55 As with Mysteries of Kyoto, only a few Chance Encounters affect the main narrative, and none are required to finish the game. Completing them earns various rewards, following the same clue-icon system used for Mysteries of Kyoto: people holding a Chance Encounter clue are marked with an icon above their head, and speaking to them starts the encounter.
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77 All 18 Chance Encounters
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99 Community documentation of the shipped game counts 18 Chance Encounters. Each one is marked on the map with a notebook icon, and walking up to the person at the marker starts it. They do not all appear at once: two are available as soon as Chance Encounters unlock, and the rest are added as specific main missions are completed, so it is worth checking the map again after each stage of the story. The mission order is on the Main Missions page.
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1111 The table below is drawn from player guides to the finished game rather than from Capcom. Available After gives the main mission that has to be completed first. Map is filled in only where the encounter's destination is part of its title, and Charm Reward lists the charm the encounter awards, where guides agree on one; the other encounters award materials rather than a charm.
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1313 #Chance EncounterAvailable AfterMapCharm Reward1Pale Lights (full title varies, see below)When Chance Encounters first unlockNot documentedCharm of Zeal2Clear Space, Clear MindWhen Chance Encounters first unlockNot documentedSadist's Strength3Ace Archer: Kiyomizu-dera TempleBloodbath on the BridgeKiyomizu-Dera TempleNo charm4Ace Archer: Nijo-jo CastleBloodbath on the BridgeNijo-jo CastleNo charm5The Growling GhostA Tempest at the TempleNot documentedCharm of Stamina6Ace Archer: Kyoto Imperial PalaceA Tempest at the TempleKyoto Imperial PalaceNo charm7Hidden Treasure No. 1A Tempest at the TempleNot documentedNo charm8Hidden Treasure No. 2To Live is to SufferNot documentedNo charm9An Ugly BusinessNot documentedNot documentedReaper's Charm10Noisy NeighborsTo Live is to SufferNot documentedCharm of Dexterity11Hidden Treasure No. 3Okuni's Kabuki DanceNot documentedNo charm12The Odd CouplesOkuni's Kabuki DanceNot documentedCharm of Enticement13A Fishy StoryThe Demon on the MountNot documentedCharm of Awakening14Ace Archer: Mount OeThe Demon on the MountMount OeNo charm15Hidden Treasure No. 4The Demon on the MountNot documentedNo charm16Ace Archer: ArashiyamaIn the Light of an Icy MoonArashiyamaNo charm17Hidden Treasure No. 5In the Light of an Icy MoonNot documentedNo charm18Restless SpiritsIn the Light of an Icy MoonNot documentedCharm of Oni Power
1414 Player guides disagree on the full title of the first encounter: it is recorded both as Pale Lights in a Night Sky and as Pale Lights in the Night Sky. They also disagree on when An Ugly Business becomes available, so that cell reads Not documented. Each of the five Ace Archer encounters sends Musashi to the map named in its title to shoot down targets with the Oni Bow.
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1616 All Chance Encounters can still be finished up to the point of no return at the start of The Clash at Rendaino, and the game returns the save to just before that mission after the credits. Chance Encounter progress does not carry over into New Game Plus.
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1818 Rescuing Townspeople
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2020 A related field activity plays out directly in the streets rather than through a marked NPC: Genma attack townspeople out in the open, and stepping in to defeat the attacking Genma before it is too late earns a token of the rescued person's thanks. This can happen while simply passing through an area, without needing to seek out a specific Chance Encounter first.
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2222 Achievements
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2424 Steam's achievement list ties two achievements directly to this rescue activity: one for rescuing 30 townspeople in total, and a separate one specifically for rescuing a merchant.
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2626 Two further achievements track the encounters themselves: Life-Saver for completing a first Chance Encounter, and No Job Too Small for completing all of them.
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2828 How Chance Encounters Differ from Mysteries of Kyoto
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3030 Both optional story types share the same clue-icon system and the same rule that only a handful of entries touch the main narrative, but they are tied to different circumstances. Mysteries of Kyoto arise directly from advancing the main Way of the Sword story and a certain individual's requests, while Chance Encounters surface specifically in areas that have already been freed from concentrated Malice, once the immediate danger to a district has passed and its people can be helped with smaller, more personal problems.
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3232 Practical Notes
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3434 Because rescues can happen opportunistically while exploring, it is worth staying alert to Genma attacking bystanders even when not actively pursuing a Chance Encounter lead; the 30-rescue achievement adds up faster when every attack on a townsperson is answered rather than ignored.