War!! [rp]

[shinguma]

The slow pounding of hooves, sounds of music one beat
The Moto gallop toward the mountains to meet there enemy
Kazehito on his horse name “Riki”, pulls his crystal sword from his sheath.
Times slips slowly as the Unit of Moto look as one creature.
Snow fall lightly as wind blows Crane arrows in from the distance…
It is as the Scorpion had planned so far

[Matsu Domotai]

Matsu Domotai on the first line of battle was waiting for the Yobanjin to get closer. No need to lose men as Tomatsu sama said if we can kill them from afar. The sky was blackened by arrows and flaming boulders. The view was a taste of apocalypse that Domotai always loved to see when a battle started. His mind started to drift away in his past battle memories. The Lion samurai next to him falls and roars due to an arrow that pierced through is leg and Domotai leaps out of his dreams and focuses on the Yobanjin that are getting closer and closer charging up the hill we where perched on.
Domotai looked at his troups that where only waiting for a slight gesture of mine to release hell on our foes. The death seekers where showing their teeth and dribbling like angry dogs.

“Honourable samurais, wait for them, wait for them, wait for them."

The Yobanjins were now only 30 meters away. Domotai with a rapid gesture lowers his hand and cries:

"Chargeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee."

That was it. What Domotai and his whole army where waiting for. The heart of battle. This insane amount of adrenaline that runs through your body, this impression of fighting in another dimension were nothing around you cares anymore, the smell of blood, the clinging of Katanas, the feeling of bravoury, honor and glory that our ancestors have experienced before us.

Domotai is slashing through his enemies one by one while he is trying to indicate his heavy infantry to contain the enemies on both sides so they don't try and flank us. The death seekers were out of control creating huge breaches in the enemy lines. That is when I saw a Yobanjin mounted on a great black stallion. He seemed to be giving orders to the troops that where engaging us. Probably the enemy general. I ordered 10 of the closest heavy infantries in the battle to breach the lines ahead and help the death seekers.

Domotai watched quickly around him and saw a dismounted horse in the middle of the battlefield. Probably is owner just got dismounted brutally during the charge? Domotai ran towards the scared white steed and jumped into the saddle before riding frenetically in the breach that his troops had formed. Domotai rode through the breach wielding his Katana left and right of his new acquired steed. After a few seconds, that was it! He was in the open. Only that man and his steed where in front of him. The man anticipated Domotai's move and had already started a high paste gallop towards a bordering forest on the west side of the battlefield. Domotai rode after him and started to catch up with the enemy once he entered the forest. Domotai was having a hard time following the Yobanjin since his horse riding skills where not perfect and the terrain was very rough and full of turns and obstacles. After a few minutes of chasing the enemy slowed down in a turn. Domotai though this is my change to knock him off his horse but he had planned an ambush and before he realized what was happening his steed had two spears in its body and Domotai was catapulted out of his saddle and landed head first on a large stone.He tried to stand up and fight these newly arrived enemies, at least 20 spearmen, but his vision was blurred, his head was paining while a river of blood was flowing out of his upper skull. Domotai managed to slay one or two spearmen, at least he thinks, but then someone pierced his left leg with a Yari. Domotai tried to summon his last strengths but before he could even stand up he was knocked out by a whistling bulb launched at full speed into his left cheek. The last few words he heard were:

" I want him alive."

[OOC: Ok guys, I'm moving to the other RP thread for my capture now. I'll be back in this one later. Thanks for the RP it was great.]

[Akodo Jereru]

A rider's silhouette appears on the horizon. He rides at full gallop to the Generals of the allied army. While he approaches, more details are able to be seen. He wears a golden and brown yoroi and kabuto, and his mempo represents a lion's mouth. A sashimono with the Akodo mon and other war symbols is shaken by the wind and the speed of his horse. When near enough, a big scroll satchel with the word "Leadership" engraved becomes obvious.

The rider stops at the place where all the generals are watching the battle, dismounts, puts off his kabuto and bows deeply before the Clan Champions.

I am Akodo Jereru. I am greatly honoured to be here today with such important personalities of the Empire.

He then talks to Akodo Tomatsu.

Akodo Jereru ready to serve, my Lord.

He takes position amog Tomatsu's command staff, and looks at the different fronts of the battle: the Moto riding somewhere, the Yobanjin charging up to Domotai's unit, and the Crane and Scorpion making death rain on the barbarian invaders.

[Akodo Tomatsu]

Ah I'm glad you have arrived, Akodo-san. My plan unfolds another layer. He says without taking his eyes off the battle. Looks like we might need your reverses soon than we thought, our Matsu brother has gotten himself too far extended out beyond our lines.

[Akodo Jereru]

Yes, my Lord

Jereru takes his scroll satchel, and produces a small scroll from it. He breaks the wax seal, opens the scroll and reads s small oration. When he finishes, a cold gust of wind passes by, and blows gently to the hills at the back of the rokugani camp.

A shugenja under my command has put an Air kami into this scroll, and when I opened the seal, the kami was released. The kami was given the task to warn the shugenja that the time to advance has come.

A few moments later, from behind a hill, appears a daibutai of Akodo samurai. Most of them carry No-dachi or Naginata, suited to fight against mounted warriors. Beside the archer's kaisha marches a small unit of monks carrying bows; the Taoist Archers from Reihaido Shinsei.
Akodo Jereru then shouts at his daimyo:

Second Daibutai of the Seventh Legion ready for duty, my Lord! I have filled the Yobihei Kaisha with archers to have more fire support. In case we need them, the first and third Daibutai are ready to march here from our borders. Thanks to the small group of Kitsu attached to the fifth Kaisha, giving them the order to march will be way easier.

[Bayushi Senshi]

The battle was going to Tomatsu's plan. Every piece moving about the battlefield as it was intended. This, Senshi thought, is why I will never defeat Tomatsu in go. The sheer volume of the moment weighed upon Senshi. A gathering of clans under one man's leadership, the call of battle, the gentle snow, the burning skies. Senshi would not have been anywhere else.

Though Domotai's forces were already engaged on the left flank, closest to the cavalry, the center, containing Tomatsu's and Senshi's forces, were still 50 paces from battle, and had begun skirmishing. Archers stepping forth among both lines to pepper the enemy at close range. The right, those of the Iron Daidoji, presented a more formidable defense in its organization, and the Yobanjin were still 100 paces out, and beginning to slow. Having taken the brunt of the scorpion siege weapons, the enemy cavalry had regrouped and held their ground behind the enemy lines.

Senshi then spotted a white stag at full gallop in pursuit of an enemy commander, riding was none other then the all too familiar Matsu Domotai. And he grew alarmingly further behind enemy lines by the second and disappeared over a hill.

"Is that Domotai? Where is he going?" Senshi turned to Tomatsu, checking to be sure his friend saw what had happened. "What of his men? Will the left flank hold without him? Our cavalry still need more time to get around, if the Yobanjin break through, sama..."

Senshi turned back to the field, not waiting for an answer. It was becoming increasingly difficult to view the field as the snow thickened, blurring the skies. It was beginning to stick to the grassy fields around them. Having the reserves at hand, Senshi turned to the newly arrived Akodo.

"Akodo-san, we'll need whatever leadership you can provide on our left flank. It is critical to Tomatsu's plan that we not lose that flank. Should you spy a Moto along the way please inform him to make for the Yobanjin camp now. Our timetable has been stepped up.

"Have our artillery focus fire on the enemy's center lines. We can't have them moving to support the left assault."

[Matsu Domotai]

(OOC: I'll continue talking on this thread as an infantry of my army since nothing is happening on the other thread visibly for the moment.)

It has been now a few minutes that our general had disappeared behind that hill. We were following the orders he gave us before chasing the enemy general. Hold the line, don't let the enemy flank on the left side and continue pressing them. Basically that was what we had been taught in the Matsu dojos so it was fairly simple. The army opposing us was probably outnumbering us but not by much. We kept our line and engaged relentlessly the enemy. The departure of their general had shaken them much more than the departure of ours. They were now completely disorganized acting like if someone just kicked a bees nest. Corpses started to accumulate on the ground but I must say that much of them were enemy corpses. This was due to their lack of organisation, their lack of combat training and especially due to their very heavy weapons that where no competition for our swift katanas. I looked over my shoulder to see if Tomatsu sama was waving orders or not? The enemy is so disorganized right now that I think a final charge could just lead them to flee. But who am I to think that I should just focus on the battle at hand.

[Akodo Tomatsu]

Relax Senshi-san. The flank will hold. We need Jereu's troops for after this battle. If worst comes to worst, I will go down there and take command myself, but soon our trap will be sprung and the Yobanjin will have enough to worry about. He looks behind him, confirming that his servants had placed a small canvas and wood chair behind him as was it custom in battle. He sits in his chair, letting out a long breath and readjusting his cloak to prevent any heat from escaping. Why did the Yobanjin decide to attack in winter? They couldn't have waiting till summer was here, so we won't freeze to death?

[Akodo Jereru]

My Lord, maybe they thought during the winter it would be more difficult for the rest of the clans to mobilize their armies and come here to help.

Akodo Jereru now has a small man in orange heavy armour by his side. The man is putting a small mat on the ground, before Jereru, who then kneels there and rests on his heels. His sheathed Katana lies on his knees. His scroll satchel lies on the snow, by his right side.

It truly is a harsh weather. Maybe the thought that we are here in our military clothes, and armoured, while courtiers and shugenja are forced to wear silken kimonos, should make us feel better. At least for a while. Also, my Lord, we will be soon there fighting. We will soon forget about the cold, and the Yobanjin won't need to worry about it either.

[Bayushi Senshi]

"All the same, Tomatsu-sama, I will not count on a leaderless unit to hold. Its too critical to the battle plan, we need the cavalry to make for the camp now. While we still hold the ad-" Senshi was cut off then by the sound of a Yobanjin war cry, carried throughout the as of yet unengaged forces. They charged. Throwing themselves upon the Imperial lines.

Senshi watched as the enemy fell upon his ashigaru troops' spears. Now we will see if my men have the mettle to match their Lion counterparts.

He turned to Tomatsu, back to business, "We are now engaged on all fronts, sama. Should our artillery and archers cease fire?"

[Akodo Jereru]

Forgive me the interruption, Senshi-sama. Jereru spoke without taking his eyes away from the battlefield. But Domotai's troops are not without leadership. Domotai is there no more, that is true, but there's someone who has already taken leadership, and another one ready to take it should the new leader fall. That's the nature of an army: soldiers are trained to obey, but also to lead. That is why Akodo himself named his manuscript the way he did.

[Matsu Domotai]

The lines were holding just fine when we heard a large noise. It was the center of the Yobanjin forces charging the scorpion troops. I hope their troops are as trained as our Lion forces . If ever they loose this position we will have to fight on two fronts and that will be very very difficult and I would even say impossible. Lets wait and see. If ever it happens we will have two options. Either charge the disorganized enemy lines on the left flank so that we won't be attacked by both sides or try run and regroup a bit higher on the hill but this will obviously compromise the whole situation of the battle.

The Lion general took a quick look around him. The heavy infantry was holding the lines and applying pressure just as Domotai suggested. We were advancing meter by meter pushing away the panicked Yobanjin troops. Our rear was covered by our light infantry that I will send to the middle front if the scorpions need help. The death seekers are scattered in little groups within the enemy lines killing every Yobanjin at hand and contributing to the global disorganization and chaos of their left flank.

[shinguma]

MOTO kazehito, felt a nudging from the spirit.

Kazehito wanted to stay and fight, but he remembered his orders, he bit his lip, and call for the with draw, begin to start the maneuver to draw the yobanjin away... as the best as he could act, the MOTO calvary with drew... drawing the enemy flank closer...

As kazehito lead his unit away a smallest smirk crept across his face.
We will be back gaijin... and this time we won't withdraw... you will pay in blood for this encroachment of the empire.

[Bayushi Senshi]

The Yobanjin reserves gave chase to the fleeing multi-clanned cavalry. Even the hammered enemy cavalry, sensing blood in the water, broke to pursue. The feet and hooves of the eager Yobanjin were outlined by small cascades of white as they made up the hill. Atop the hill, helping to sell the feint to the enemy, two samurai one a Scorpion the other a Crane began to call out conflicting orders to each other's troops, they even began arguing atop the hill. The two were so caught up in the act of it, they hardly noticed how close the enemy cavalry had gotten. Almost comedicaly the scorpion tripped over his own feet to get to his mount, racing down the hill after his Crane ally.

Past the hill the cavalry made through the lines of Tomatsu's reserves, those under the command of Akodo Jin. They closed their lines as the cavalry passed them. Ruse delivered, the Yobanjin plowed into Tomatsu's forces, and proceeded to get chopped up piecemeal.

Senshi grinned as he watched the cavalry sweep around a nearby hill in almost perfect diamond formation. The Moto he just met in the lead position. Heading toward the enemies backfield. meanwhile on the battle lines the fight continued to wage, no real advantage to either side had been given as of yet, but the Imperial forces had the benefit of acting defensively, and as promised Domotai's men did a damn good job of slaying the enemy, even without their general.

Senshi turned his grin to Tomatsu, "Ah, the true success of the Lion clan. You guys don't need generals," he looked around the small fire, "We're obsolete!"

As the battle continued and the snow grew thicker, it became near impossible to view the field. Individuals from the line would approach and give reports to the gathered generals. From all acounts the battle was going well. The artillery and long range archers, lacking any targets, had ceased fire several minutes ago.

A bearded officer, looking to be from the Lion clan, though his kimono and battle dress seemed to be loose fitting, approached and bowed low. He handed a scroll to Tomatsu, then turned and ran back to his unit.

"He had an odd look to him, didn't he?" The battle must have been really harsh for him, Senshi thought.

Once opened the scroll read, "Our apologies for our late arrival, my men number 750. We have reached the East end of the Keep and are heading towards your position. Signed, General Ikoma."

[Akodo Tomatsu]

Courier! He barked, waiting for the man to approach. Find out new reverses to the east, tell them to hold position till after the battle. He then motioned behind him and a servant brought forth two tea cups and a tea pot, offering the first cup, steaming hot, to Senshi as Tomatsu spoke, Do not believe that all plans go off this perfectly. While this particular plan seems to be going smoothly, Akodo always said "never count on any plan from the moment where steel is first drawn, for it is as likely to be cut down as any soldier".