Ok, I'm trying to ascend one of my guys to Samurai. I know I have to go to some grave and get an item from a dead samurai..... but where is it? I assume it's in the area around Ishad'-Na, but I can't find it. Can anyone give me some directions to the spot?

You need to fight the Samurai ghost in a cemetary at the west side of Shurugeon Ruins, near the moat. He'll drop a baton.

It's on the EAST side of the castle. You need to enter the moat near where you can see turrets over the moat area. On that side of the castle there are three turrets/towers. Two are right next to one another (in the overhead map view). Between the first 2 turrets/towers and the 3rd one is an area where you can exit the moat and explore the woods. Your samurai quest can be completed there.

Wyv