Alesha
Spider Clan
Fallen Crane * Duelist * Bloodspeaker * Tactician * Maho-Bujin
Posts: 418
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Post by Alesha on Sept 24, 2011 12:36:38 GMT -5
As Keisuke refuses, the Kakita Shireikan frowns, the rage of battle devouring the words he exchanges with his command squad. Seeing the gate fall he rallies the Kakita First Legion to his side, several units composed primarily of daidoji trained guards take their positions by the gates, presenting a spear jungle and bracing their yari for the incoming cavalry as their general joined them.
As he raised his fan and released it, a valley of arrows of finest Kakita archers arose from behind the spear forrest falling like a steel rain at the cavalry in its densely packed formation charging through the bottleneck of the breach, soon stream of the unicorn cavalry and lion infantry is forced to ride over the bodies of their fallen comrades and their steeds as they try to charge through the iron warriors...
"For the Empire!" - he cried as the first wave of the unicorn cavalry reached their positions, when the two forces finally crashed he started moving towards front line, his ancestral katana finally leaving its saia with lightning speed as he beheads one dismounted battlemaiden gunso, her tear filled eyes embedding like artwork of a master in his memory forever as he reunited her with her fallen steed.He pressed on with the chosen Kenshinzen that made up his command unit, katanas glittering like lightning, in dance of death with the Lion. He dreamed of dying this way...
... Then he heard the whispers for the first time...
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Kakita Hiroshi
Crane Clan
* Duelist * Courtier * Magistrate * Warrior Poet *
Posts: 285
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Post by Kakita Hiroshi on Sept 24, 2011 16:44:49 GMT -5
At the ram...
“Agreed.”
Kakita Hiroshi took a few steps forward, to move away from the ram. He stopped, bowed to the Lion gunso, and assumed the initial position for a duel, waiting for the opponent.
(OOC: I would prefer a Lion roleplaying the gunso and determining the outcome with me via PM, any takers? Keisuke-dono?)
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Akodo Keisuke
Lion Clan Mod
Lion Clan Regent ?Samurai ?Daimyo ?First Among Generals ?Tactician ?Commander ?Loyal
Posts: 704
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Post by Akodo Keisuke on Sept 26, 2011 0:36:03 GMT -5
Posting as Ikoma Shikuru ----------------------
Shikuru stepped forward and after the shortest of bows drew back into a ready stance. The Lion focused his attention on the Crane, and then was nothing left, there was no expression on his face. Not fear, not hate, not concern, not even anger. Nothing at all, only the cold steel, of his still eyes.
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Kakita Sojiro
Crane Clan Global Mod
When you die, will you be remembered, or will you be just another strand in the tapestry?
Posts: 900
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Post by Kakita Sojiro on Sept 26, 2011 1:07:49 GMT -5
(OOC: Crap! Out of touch all weekend due to a family issue 600 miles away, and now I'm playing catch up on the thread...)
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Kakita Sojiro
Crane Clan Global Mod
When you die, will you be remembered, or will you be just another strand in the tapestry?
Posts: 900
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Post by Kakita Sojiro on Sept 26, 2011 1:21:25 GMT -5
Bleeding from dozens of wounds and wearing the proverbial "crimson mask" of blood - both his own and his enemies -, Sojiro did his best to hide both his wounds and his anxiousness as Hiroshi accepted the challenge from the Lion Gunso. His left shoulder had been stabbed by a yari during the initial press on the ram, and he barely had the strength in it to keep ahold of the wakizashi in his hand, much less to perform properly in an Iaijitsu duel. Beside him, Saiko bled heavily from his right arm, and less severely from several other wounds. He noticed the bows that he and his friends received from the Lion samurai, but his face remained an impassive, blood smeared mask.
He watched. He waited. And he bled.
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Post by Ikoma Kibo on Sept 26, 2011 2:52:35 GMT -5
She rode to Keisuke-sama with a quick report on her observations of the defensive works and enemy dispositions she'd gained by using a carefully placed observation platform their Crab allies had emplaced along with the spyglass that had been handed down from her Mother's side of the family.
Keisuke recieved the diagrams with a grin and gave quick directives to the soldiers to concentrate their attacks on the locations where the defenses were thinner, and where the Crane would have to commit any reserve troops- if there were any at all.
His grin faded as he realized that they needed to take the city quickly before the main enemy moved South to try and relieve the siege. Hopefully, Permission City could hold out and tie up a sizeable body of troops to give them time. If they could crack this nut, they could perhaps break the attack and Permission City and deliver a crushing blow to the morale of the enemy. He knew that odd Ikoma samurai-ko would continue to deliver reports as often as she could. The more information, the better he could efficiently deal with the rank amateurs defending Toshi Ranbo....
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Kakita Hiroshi
Crane Clan
* Duelist * Courtier * Magistrate * Warrior Poet *
Posts: 285
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Post by Kakita Hiroshi on Sept 26, 2011 6:03:50 GMT -5
Hiroshi kept his stance, looking deep in the eyes of the Lion, muscles relaxed, but ready to act at the mind's command. He tried to pierce the Lion's calm and look into his soul, like his sensei taught him.
“Look into your opponent's eyes. They will betray him. The soul knows what man does before the man realizes, what he just did.”
He moved his fore leg minimally, using the amended stance his grandfather invented and taugh his father, who then passed it onto him...
He waited...
The time stood still...
(OOC: Sent a PM, Keisuke-dono.)
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Post by Shoju on Sept 26, 2011 9:19:51 GMT -5
Posting as Yamuso
Yamsuo had cut down many at the ladder. He was working his way down the ladder as he saw the ram. He saw a small group of samurai attacking, and knew. Surely, the success or failure of defending this city resided heavily with the outcome of their assault. He carved a swath through the fray as he made his way towards them. Some Ashigaru who saw him as he fought through the fray screamed about the monster who fought against them. The countenance of Yamuso, while not vile, or distorted, was remarkably unsettling in its softness.
He reached the ram as the Crane and Lion prepared to duel.
"As old as the Empire itself." Yamuso muttered under his breath. He waited. Watching as the Duel began to unfold.
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Kakita Hitoshi
Crane Clan
Be more concerned with good actions than great ones
Posts: 306
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Post by Kakita Hitoshi on Sept 26, 2011 19:38:21 GMT -5
Hitoshi watched as his clanmate faced off against the Lion and hoped. The small band was hopelessly outnumbered and the gate was breached anyway. For a few moments he felt a blinding rage; it was often said that in Rokugan honour was more powerful than steel, but right now that seemed a poor sentiment.
He noticed that he was gripping the hilt of his katana so hard that his knuckles were turning white, and he turned his focus inward forcing himself to concentrate on his breathing and relax. Pushing the treacherous whispers aside, the moment passed, and became aware of his surroundings once more.
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Kakita Sojiro
Crane Clan Global Mod
When you die, will you be remembered, or will you be just another strand in the tapestry?
Posts: 900
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Post by Kakita Sojiro on Sept 27, 2011 0:48:54 GMT -5
Sojiro noticed the figure joining the group around the ram. He had seen the man on the ladder earlier, judging by the shadows still trailing off of him in tiny wisps. He saved his questions for later, though - right now, his focus was on the duel, and making sure his kinsman didn't notice his wounds. He didn't want to worry them, although he was certain that Saiko had already taken a good measure of the shape he was in - it was hard to hide that sort of thing from someone who knew you that well. He cast a sideways glance to the newcomer with his mismatched eyes and muttered "Welcome to the mess."
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Kakita Hiroshi
Crane Clan
* Duelist * Courtier * Magistrate * Warrior Poet *
Posts: 285
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Post by Kakita Hiroshi on Sept 27, 2011 3:34:30 GMT -5
Ikoma Shikuru noticed the slight movement of Hiroshi's leg, and – believing he has a chance to catch his opponent off balance – lunged into a swift attack, unsheathing his blade.
For a moment, it looked like he was right. The Kakita's response seemed to be late.
When the Lion was close, Hiroshi unsheathed his blade with lightning speed, made minimum contact with the Lion's katana, driving it just off target, and turned it, aiming at the gunso's neck, for a fatal blow.
Ikoma Shikuru noticed that split of a second too late. With the momentum of his lunge, he could not help but land on the Kakita blade. But he did not show fear. He was a Lion. He was born to die on the battlefield, in battle or in duel, and honor his ancestors.
In the very last moment, Hiroshi span, retracting his blade, and moving himself with it aside, leaving a shallow cut on Ikoma's neck.
The Lion's charge ended. For several seconds, which felt like hours, the two men stood still, not changing their stances.
Then, they turned to face each other. Hiroshi cleaned his blade, saluted the Ikoma, and sheathed his sword.
“You are a worthy opponent, Ikoma-san,” he said. “I hope to face you once more in the future, in more favorable circumstances.”
Having said that, he took a bow, honoring his opponent.
A fresh cut on his right arm let out a few drops of blood...
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Post by Shoju on Sept 27, 2011 10:57:22 GMT -5
[ooc] For those who don't know what Yamuso looks like, Here is a brief description from another thread:
Yamuso wears loose pants, and no shirt. His body looks... Wrong. He is a thin athletic man, and from the neck down, he looked to be the picture of health. Lean muscles, long thin fingers. His face though.....
There are no lips. His nose is muted, and shallow against his face. His eyes look far to thin, and his eyelids almost non existent. He lacks any hair on his head and face.
he is brandishing a sword slightly shorter than a standard Katana, Some will recognize it as a Ninja-to. Currently, he is only wielding one, instead of dual blades.
Yamuso's smile looked more menacing than intended. "And what a fine mess we have indeed!" Yamuso surveyed the Ram, and its defenses. Since the Spider were routed and sent running from their defense of Toshi Ranbo, he had watched the events unfold, and relayed the information to Shoju. He was curious to see if the clans had the military might to stave off this assault without the snake's insanity.
Yamuso was gauging the engineering of the structure with an eye for detail. We must bring this thing down if we wish to have any hope of saving this city. Any Idea on how to accomplish this?
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Akodo Keisuke
Lion Clan Mod
Lion Clan Regent ?Samurai ?Daimyo ?First Among Generals ?Tactician ?Commander ?Loyal
Posts: 704
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Post by Akodo Keisuke on Sept 27, 2011 12:37:08 GMT -5
Posting as Ikoma Shikuru
Shikuru, removed his soiled glove from his left hand moving it to cover the wound on his neck. He felt the blood trickle through his fingers, not his first wound this day and not the last. Shikuru raised his sword in salute to the Crane.
Kakita Hiroshi, you have won this duel but I still hold you to your your agreement you and your men must retreat from before the gate.
Stepping back, he waited to see what the Crane would do.
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Yasuki Chad
Crane Clan
Crab Clan
*Crab Clan Courtier *Experienced *Samurai *Daimyo *Hero *Experienced *Commander
Posts: 476
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Post by Yasuki Chad on Sept 28, 2011 21:02:58 GMT -5
The Unicorn charged into the burning courtyard, deep into the line the Yasuki and the Kenshinzen formed. Both sides were tooking terrible casuaties. Here the Kakita Shireikan forced a duel with a Utaku officer, who fell rapidly. Almost next to this Utaku Mai runs down a Chui of the Yasuki, the man slightly to slow to leap out of the way of her charge. The Yasuki and Kakita are forced slowly back toward the Western Gate of the City. Lion troops stream over the wall an into the courtyard.
(Near the Ram with Yamuso)
The ram is a massive, though new, construction of wood and iron. It is of average construction and was probably built on sight. A massive blow to any of the wheel axles would render it immobile. Fire would too, although how to set such a large object on fire while in the middle of an army protecting it may require some inventiveness. For that matter it would take something along the lines of an ogre with a tetsubo to break an axle.
Yamuso's words seem to alert the nearby Lions of his presence. One lunges at him and is effortlessly killed by the unatural man. Nearby his friends shout, "NINJA!" and rush him. Battle once more erupts near the ram.
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Kakita Sojiro
Crane Clan Global Mod
When you die, will you be remembered, or will you be just another strand in the tapestry?
Posts: 900
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Post by Kakita Sojiro on Sept 28, 2011 22:40:57 GMT -5
"NO!"
Sojiro steps between the Lion and the unknown stranger, his allies quickly forming up around the man. He deflects a few thrusts with his katana and returns the strikes with the back of the blade, stunning men but killing none. His blue and green eyes lock with the Lion Gunso Hiroshi had just dueled.
"You said we could leave the battlefield. All of us. Call off your men and keep your word, Lion-san."
Sojiro turns the katana's edge towards the Lion soldiers once again, punctuating his words with an unstated promise of many more dead Lions. Around him, several Lions stumble back to their feet, nursing their newly gained concussions.
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