Zhao Yun was captured by Orochi's forces and held prisoner in Ueda Castle. Many Shu officers were captured by Orochi, went missing, or joined other forces. In the Shu Han story, the Shu forces were in shambles after their battle with Orochi. However, the character selection screen still places all the characters in their original positions.
Because of the storyline, most of the characters have split from their respective factions in the original games and have been forced into other scenarios. Characters from different factions band together in each subplot to confront Orochi. Each subplot is named after one of the Three Kingdoms, and one from the perspective of the Samurai Warriors characters. More characters are unlocked as the player progresses through the story or satisfies certain conditions in certain stages. Each subplot starts the player with three characters. The story is told in four separate but related subplots. By creating a twisted new world and bringing together warriors from the Three Kingdoms era of China and the Warring States period of Japan (more than 1,300 years apart in history), Orochi wished to test the might of the warriors of these two eras. The fictional events of the game begin when the Serpent King Orochi created a rift in time and space. See also: List of Samurai Warriors characters and List of Warriors Orochi characters
