The Past
Four hundred years ago, the demon lord Talpa invaded Japan, determined to take control of our world, just as he had done to his own nether realm. The only force strong enough to stop Talpa was a mystic known only as the Ancient. The monk defeated Talpa, returning him to his dark world; however, the demon lord left behind his scorched suit of armor. The Ancient, fearing a return of the monster, broke the black suit into nine helms, five drawing their power from the five basic elements of nature -- fire, air, water, earth, and life -- and four drawing their power from the seasons.

In order to link the armors to human spirit, the Ancient created a bond in the five elemental armors using the five Confucian virtues -- perfect virtue, wisdom, trust, justice, and lifeforce.

The four seasonal armor bonds were formed using the four Bushido virtues -- loyalty, serenity, piety, and obedience. The seasonal armors, possessing militant essences, were focused around a lord rather than on pure ethics, and Talpa was able to return them to his control.

The demon lord then began to wait for a time when virtue would grow thin.


The Present
In the present, Talpa senses the people of Earth no longer practicing the five Confucian virtues and readies to enter our world.

The Ancient, aware of the rise of negative emotions in humanity and inevitability of the dark lord's return, selects five young men -- Ryo, Sage, Cye, Kento, and Rowen -- to bear the five remaining armors and become the Ronin Warriors.