Beauty and harmony, governed by one eternal law. All that begins must end, the reign of the old shogunate is over!
Chapter List
- Ch 00: Awaken (This post)
- Ch 01: Unification
- Ch 02: Great Clan
- Ch 03: Two Fronts
- Ch 04: Tax Power
- Ch 05: Peace Time
====================================================================================
Chapter 0: Awaken
One cool night, as winter was giving way to spring, I had a dream.
The hordes of Takeda were laying siege to an Ikko Ikki stronghold.
A picked champion, a Katana Hero swaggered up to the locked gates, every step a boastful declaration of mastery and a challenge.
The monks and peasants within sent forth a single Naginata Warrior Monk to meet him.
Unfortunately for the monk, he was sorely outmatched not only in armor, but despite being fully equipped with a naginata, attack and defense as well.
The hero soon added another enemy champion to his long list of triumphs.
The Daimyo of Takeda approved heartily.
====================================================================================
I awoke, troubled. While Oda lands have always provided for our people, our enemies were many and envious; they threatened our borders, and looked for any weakness. This was not a good portent.
"Sorry, did I disturb your viewing of that?"
Years of vigilance against the possibility of enemy assassins immediately brought my weapon to hand... but it wasn't there.
"Ah, don't worry about that; I may not come in peace, but this war is definitely yours to win. Anyway, what about seeing how the vision ends?"
As the Takeda hero turned about, making his way back to cheering lines of his fellows, he tripped and fall. No, he had been shot.
It was either an expert shot by one of the fortress' Bow Warrior Monks, or simply an overenthusiastic but lucky Bow Ashigaru. Either way, the arrow had struck the hero in the neck, passing right below the lower edge of the back of his helmet. A weakness only ever so slightly exposed by his exaggerated victorious walking motion. How ironic.
Easily provoked and roaring in anger, the Takeda infantry charged the stronghold directly. It was not a great tactical move. Large numbers of them were taken out by arrows, their armor apparently providing very little protection against the piercing missiles.
Within, spearmen prepared to repel any who might make it close enough to be impaled on their yari wall. It was not obvious which side would prevail, but at the very least, the Takeda would lose much due to their desire to charge into combat.
====================================================================================
At this point, I truly woke up, and of course took my weapon in hand while eyeing the unusual visitor who had somehow made it into my inner chambers, in the fort of Owari.
"While I wouldn't recommend attacking me, I do understand why you might do so. However, you might end up losing everything on Turn 1 to the Tokugawa."
My eyes narrowed, taking in the sight and sound of someone who clearly shouldn't be here, and clearly didn't care. "Say your piece."
"It would be great if you could first give us a bit of context about the current situation, and your own faction. For the audience, though I know you can't see them. Please." That wasn't really a request, but even the Daimyo of a clan can occasionally humor a supernatural being.
"This is Sengoku Jidai, the Age of the Country at War.
For two hundred years the Ashikaga shoguns have ruled from Kyoto. Great splendor and power were theirs. Now the over-mighty clans no longer obey.
The time has come for a new warlord to become shogun. But who will be victorious?"
She simply nodded, disinterested. "So tell us about your clan's heroes."
"Hmph. Others may covet titles but ashigaru, common spearmen, are the bedrock of Oda might. All know us, the commanders of a thousand spears. It is an honor to lead such men. Our generals are battle-scarred veterans of a righteous strength."
Of all that, one thing in particular seemed to upset her. "I'm just going to gloss over how that there shows nine units, which is a thousand eight hundred spears. While your forces currently only have seven hundred and sixty spears. But anyway, that's good to hear. Down to brass tacks."
"Ashigaru are not only common spearmen, but also common bowmen. They also are common pikemen, as well as a class of soldier that we won't be employing.
As the good Daimyo here will attest to, Yari Ashigaru are likely to be the most-used and probably best overall unit strategically, and the Oda Yari Ashigaru double and triple down on this by being better and even cheaper.
There's a lot more I could say about the unit roster, but we need to keep things moving since you have some important visitors from the west. Let's get this campaign rolling!"