CREATURE FEATURE

Series 6. Level 1/2.

THE SAMURAI.

How a member of the ancient Japanese warrior elite came to be in Knightmare Castle is still beyond me, but the fact is that it did happen. The Samurai warrior wore thick oriental armour and wielded a curved blade with lightning expertise. It was clearly not quite all there, though, as it was translucent, and maybe even spectral. This might indicate that the Samurai did not reside in Knightmare, but was called across time and space by magic.

The Samurai is something of an anomaly as a Knightmare monster because it never actually went after a dungeoneer and tried to bring an end to the quest, as everything featured in this section thus far – with the possible exception of the frightknights - did on a regular basis. The Samurai’s two series 6 appearances on Knightmare certainly showed it in attack mode, and it was clear that this was not a foe to be underestimated.

The Samurai first appeared when summoned by a spell that Sidriss gave to Matt. The spell was cast during a meeting with Sylvester Hands, who was so spooked by the spectral warrior that he agreed to help Matt in his quest if the spell was cancelled. It appears, then, that this creature was more of a useful ally to dungeoneers than a threat like so many others.

Quite clearly, whoever cast the spell to summon the Samurai had control over it, as the scene with Matt and Hands proves. A little later in the series, Lord Fear summoned the Samurai to murder Ah Wok, so that Julius Scaramonger could have free-run of the Wolfenden marketplace again. During a meeting between Ah Wok and dungeoneer Alan, the spectral Samurai appeared, slashing his sword around menacingly once more. Like Hands before him, Ah Wok was extremely scared: ”Assassin come for humble servant!” – Ah Wok. Alan’s team managed to dispel the magic that had been used to call the Samurai, sending him back where he came from once again, and so ended two impressive but slightly anomalous appearances for this Knightmare creature.

Fear Factor: 6 Clearly a skilled and deadly opponent.

Killer Instinct: 0 Never actually went after a dungeoneer!

Gore Factor: 1 Depends how you feel about the Japanese, I suppose.

Humanity: 9 Undoubtedly human at some point, but distinctly spectral.