THREE MONTHS AGO [hider=Akaibas Chosen Daughter] He had only visited Formaroth once in his life, when he was a teenager, just entering manhood, when his own father had sent him with a trade delegation. It had been an eye opening experience. He had found the people to be rude, the "palaces" small and dark, the castles dark and sinister. Formaroth had none of the beauty, none of the grace or patience, that could be found so widely in Seikatsu. When he had returned he had shared his experience with his father who had just nodded and reminded his son that the western barbarians might not be much to look upon, but they were dangerous. It was the reason, to this very day, that the Gaijin were kept confined to a small island off the coast of the capital. It was the only place their ships might land and they themselves were not permitted to enter the Land of the Gods. [i]And yet, I am about to send my daughter into their den.[/i] Ayeka stared up at the imposing bulk of Sadatake Castle. There was no other fortress like it in the world but he feared that even with the impressive battlements, formidable location, and massive garrison, it might now be enough to defeat the Imperium. [i]If they are battering down those walls, it means the rest of my country already lies in ruin.[/i] The thought caused a knot to form in his stomach as he imagined the beautiful cherry orchards burning, the neat little white and black homes smashed beneath an invaders boot. The feeling was quickly replaced by a savage anger. No such thing would happen while he was Shogun. [i]We will make them bleed for every inch. Oh yes, a blood letting like the world has never seen.[/i] Already the Shogunate was filled with a purposeful buzz of energy as the people prepared for war. This was no campaign to expand the Shoguns borders, no trade dispute, no ordinary war. No indeed, this was a war for the survival of their species and no one knew better than the Iba how to prepare for war. It was in their blood. It was their nation. It was in their very soul. [i]They will come, and they will die in their thousands.[/i] Ayeka curled a fist behind his back as he made the silent promise to the city that lay before him. It was home. The greatest human city the world had ever known and he would give his own life before he let a single elf call himself King of such a place. "Father." Kanna appeared on the deck behind him. He had been oblivious to the hurried movements of the crew, all of whom had given him a respectful distance as they prepared for sea. The [i]Storm Reaver[/i], his fastest ship, would carry his only daughter to Formaroth. He turned to look at her and smiled, as he always did. [i]I have been so fortunate in my children. But she is special. She will be Shogun someday.[/i] It was written into law that the first born child would become Shogun and she had arrived a minute before her brother. [i]It is just as well. There is an anger in my son that would destroy this land to achieve the revenge he seeks.[/i] He extended a hand to her and she came willingly to him for a hug. "Our home depends on you. Do not fail." He whispered the words into her ear. Simply said, carried the weight of a continent with them. He had no doubt his people would make the Imperium regret ever sailing but, in his heart of hearts, he knew survival was unlikely. Kanna took his words to heart as she embraced her father, relishing in the warmth of his embrace. "Of course father." She whispered back. The shogun's daughter was still processing what her father had discussed with her just a few days prior after her meeting with Daichi. He was sending her overseas to plead for help on behalf of the country. She had never left home before. In fact, Kanna was hesitant on leaving given what atrocities happened to her brother, but she knew she was their best chance if they were to receive help from the westerners. "Would you like me to bring you back a souvenir?" She tried to bring some humor to the situation, attempting to hide her own uneasiness. The Shoguns smile grew broader and he stepped back, holding her shoulders with his scarred hands. She was as beautiful as she was clever and he had no doubt that she would make them all proud. "Bring me back a stone for my garden. We will name it together." "Do you think they will have stones worthy enough of your garden? I think from your stories of this Formaroth, I will be hard pressed." She clasped her hands in front of her, her long kimono sleeves completely covered her hands with its black cotton fabric. She was dressed casually for travel. Her silken robes would be soiled by the voyage. "Then bring nothing back but yourself, and an army." Ayeka replied, dropping his hands to the swords at his waist. "I have asked Captain Yasuda to escort you, along with his men." He waved a hand toward the side of the ship and a dozen samurai, all dressed in the same black as her dress, lopped onto the deck of the ship. Each was heavily armed and she knew all of them from their long service in her fathers court. They bowed as one. Both Kanna and Ayeka nodded in response. "They will keep you safe. Trust no one." He stepped forward and kissed her gently on the forehead. "The Gods protect and guide you." He turned and strode from the ship, down onto the stone quay where his own bodyguard was spread out, eyes ever watchful. The Captain of the ship, forewarned that this allowed him to make sail, began to shout orders and men ran for the big square sail as the lines were dragged inboard. Ayeka raised his hand in farewell. "And you" she said in return as she watched him leave the ship. The wind that now pulled at her clothes and hair smelled heavily of salt water. Kanna turned her face to the force that would carry them westward to an unknown future. Will these people help us, or will I be wasting my time? Fear gripped her stomach at the thought. She did not fear death, but she was afraid of not being there for her people when it came to their shores. Her slender hands gripped her katana tightly as she calmed her emotions. The shogun's daughter couldn't afford to loose her nerve, the fate of her country depended on it. Kanna brought her attention back to shore when she felt the vessel lurch towards the sea, no longer bound to the land. She found her father's raised hand and returned the gesture with a heavy heart. This was the first time she ever left the country and she wished it were under more favorable circumstances. All hands were on deck, maneuvering the sea faring vessel into open waters and Kanna stayed topside until she could no longer see her father standing at the dock. Once he was out of view, she made her way to her cabin. She had a lot of preparation to do before she faced foreign monarchs.[/hider] [hider=Tanaka Castle] [i]Impressive. Most impressive. No end of stairs though, of that I am sure.[/i] Daichi stared up at the imposing bulk of Tanaka Castle. The structure had none of the beauty Sadatake Castle was famous for; rather it squatted like some monstrous toad astride the Great Silk Road as it ran north from Karaam into Noiba. The walls were built of black volcanic stone; the roof neatly tiled with red ceramic and trimmed at the edges with white. [i]I suppose it is beautiful in its own way.[/i] The wagon creaked beneath him and he glanced down at the driver who had shifted his weight. The mans gaze was straight ahead but Daichi could sense the man waiting for the word to move. It was almost embarrassing to be carted around in such a manner. He could still remember the motion of a horse beneath him and the power that it gave a mounted man over his foot slogging rival. A short shake of his head and he sucked on his gums, tongue playing along his broken teeth, before he grunted and the driver cracked the reins. A small port had been built the service the massive fortress, large enough to allow small supply ships. A road had been hacked through the broken ground and thick brush up onto the low plain. The castle was situated atop a large rocky outcropping directly in the middle of a gap between the two mountains that served as natures gateway into Noiba. The ground around the castle had been cleared right up to the mountains, leaving a massive killing ground that any enemy would have to cross in order to attack the battlements. As an added touch, the river that ran from the north had been diverted so that it formed a lake around the base of the fortress before spilling over a small waterfall and running south into Karaam. The cavalry escort closed in around Daichi as thee castle loomed above them. He had come with a token force, enough to protect himself from bandits but hardly enough to do much else. The fortress itself was still manned by Noiban troops, only recently educated as to their reintegration into the Shogunate. It was yet to be seen just how happy they would be about that. [i]I hope for a parade and open arms, but I think I'll be lucky not to just end up a pincushion.[/i] He could see spearpoints twinkling on the ramparts as they drew closer and noted that the Noiban flag still flew from the keep. [i]Not a great start.[/i] It took the better part of thirty minutes to cross the killing field and he felt, rather than saw, the siege weapons tracking him from up above. He made no effort to hide his face, nor his robe, and the four black masked Kempeitai certainly gave away who he was. Hopefully they didn't just decide to slaughter him and be done with it. A single bridge crossed from the castle and into the killing ground. It was hauntingly beautiful, a work of art done in red wood, a total of four long arches spanning the nearly still surface of the lake so that it reflected almost perfectly. [i]Even here, in this valley designed for death, man has made something beautiful.[/i] The sound of hooves on the wooden deck was suddenly loud and Daichi cast his gaze to the north where a thick mist clung to the mountaintops and lush green forests spread down to carpet the valley bottom. A waterfall fell dramatically over one mountain spur, tumbling away until it vanished into the forest below. A land of perfection. "Halt! Papers!" The bark of the Samurai guard who stood in the middle of the bridge brought the wagon to a halt. The cavalry escort had closed in behind Daichi and only his Kempeitai stood in front of him, Mamiko among them. She stood forward to present the papers issued to him by his father. The Noiba Samurai held them between thumb and forefinger as if they might contaminate him by their very touch. "Today." Mamiko hissed the word and the samurai bristled at the tone. Daichi's eyes narrowed he flashed his broken grin. The man recoiled instinctively. "You know who I am. Stop wasting my time with your bad manners." The samurai met Daichis gaze for a moment but then quickly bowed with mumbled apologies and handed back the papers to Mamiko who strode past him without a glance. Daichi spared the man a short nod and saw relief in the dark eyes. [i]Never insult a man unless you intend to fight him, and I can't fight anyone.[/i] Ahead of them the castle gates, massive steel affairs set into the volcanic stone, stood open with another samurai guard barring the way. Again the formal reading of papers and ritual bows occurred before they were waved on with greater ceremony than the bridge. The gatehouse here was actually a water filled courtyard spanned by a pair of drawbridges, one narrow enough for men to walk single file, the other large enough for a cart. Both were down but Daichi could see shadows moving behind the arrow slits above him. Still more gates, more inspection of papers, and more bows, as the cart climbed a long ramp that ran around the base of the fortress; climbing slowly toward the summit. [i]Bless them, I could almost walk this myself.[/i] The easy climb was misleading however, at every angle he could see firing platforms that would allow defenders to pour arrows into an attacking force; more than a few runes glowed faintly on the stone. This was a fortress designed to break any army that crashed against its walls. It was no wonder that Karaam had never made an effort. They reached level ground at last and a final gatehouse, as thick and intimidating as the last half dozen, loomed over them. A sharp left turn, followed by a sharp right, and two more gates, brought them at last into the courtyard of the keep. A small unit of samurai was drawn up as an honour guard behind a tall thin officer dressed in light green tunic and white armour. [i]General Shizuo Yokoyama I presume.[/i] Daichi had read everything he had available on the garrison commander and the livid white scar that bisected Yokoyamas face was all the more impressive when seen in person. Mamiko stepped forward to fold down a set of stairs from the cart and Daichi descended carefully to the courtyard. His hip clicked and pain shot up his spine every time his right foot touched a stair. He forced himself not to grimace. Only when he was safely on the ground did he note that it was finely cut flagstones or brick but rather the polished stone of the mount itself. An impressive feat and he found himself wondering just how miserable had been to make it just so. [i]Click. Tap. Drag. [/i] The sound echoed in the courtyard and Daichi forced himself not to flinch at the noise. [i]The rhythm of my life and yet it still bothers me. Will I ever get used to it?[/i] The Kempeitai had closed in around him as the cavalry dismounted and held their station behind his wagon. He could see the General assessing him. [i]And what does he see? A cripple with no teeth, duck feet, and a lame limp. This ought to inspire all sorts of confidence in my taking command here.[/i] [i]Click. Tap. Drag.[/i] "General Yokoyama-san." Daichi spoke first. He had come to realize that most military men needed to be addressed quickly before they could speak down to him; using their rank tended to make them somewhat more cooperative. "Crown Prince Daichi-sama. Welcome to Tanaka Castle." The general bowed bowed low. The movement was echoed by the honour guard behind him and it caught Daichi off guard. He quickly bowed himself, not as low as the General but more than enough to be polite. The military man straightened and glanced at Daichis escort. "Perhaps your men might like to make themselves comfortable?" "I am sure they would, thank you." Daichi nodded to Mamiko who relayed the order. "After you, General." "No, please. I insist." Came the calm reply. No expression crossed the scarred face and Daichi found himself warming to the man as he made his way into the keep. [i]Click. Tap. Drag.[/i] [/hider]