- Location
- Mists of Albion
I think he was looking for a funny mate, no need to be harsh
Nobunaga's Ambition: Tenka Fubu
- Thread starter Leingod
- Start date
- Historic
Spectral Waltz
Scatterbrained Writer
- Location
- Walking the Endless Corridors
He missed the mark pretty hard if that's supposed to be funny... All I feel is insulted and for no good reason to boot.
Maybe next time he'll think more carefully about his content, because whether he intended it or not, that was a really unpleasant thing to say to the thread.
- Location
- I think somewhere. I might be nowhere though
But I wasn't being passive aggressive. I am sad because I legitimately felt this would be cool to participate in. I tell everyone because I like to give explanations rather than just randomly disappear from something I was previously participating in. Could you please not assume the worst of me?
Spectral Waltz
Scatterbrained Writer
- Location
- Walking the Endless Corridors
I apologize for assuming that it was deliberate, but I will still say next time think a little harder before you post something like that.
...I may also be slightly biased because I think it's kinda petty to leave a quest over a choice like this...
But no, I'm sorry for my mistake.
- Location
- I think somewhere. I might be nowhere though
I had thought of the possibility that people might interpret it wrong, but I like to think the best of people on SV. This place has always seemed so nice (if a bit competitive and statistical in everything) that it's hard to remember that they still tend to have human failings in emotive bias
.As for the choice, this is character generation - something that decides the entire path the quest will take. I have seen far too many crow and boar archetypes in historical Edo and Sengoku period popular culture that they are rather boring for me. I wouldn't leave if it was merely something like what battle plan to choose or which clan to ally with after the story starts, but the character generation choices are disproportionately powerful for obvious reasons.
Thank you for your apology, and sorry if I caused you (or anyone else) any distress over my post
- Location
- My room
Really contentious vote huh?
Echigo, 1536 - A Hero of Guile & Valor
Leingod
Immaculate Blooming Lotus
5 Tenbun (1536)
With the fracturing of the shōgunate's power in the wake of the Ōnin War, much of the east had fallen into the hands of the Uesugi clan, as the power of the Kantō Kubō diminished greatly. However, the Uesugi themselves fractured into two warring factions, fighting over the lands of Kantō: the Ōgigayatsu-Uesugi who made their headquarters at Kawagoe in Musashi Province, and the Yamanōchi-Uesugi who had been forced northward into Echigo. As both clans were weakened by their internal struggles, both came to rely militarily upon a retainer who displayed immense military talent.
The Ōgigayatsu came to rely upon Ōta Dōkan, who among many other feats built Edo Castle to cement their hold upon Musashi. Fearing his prowess, however, his masters betrayed and killed him, leaving themselves vulnerable.
For the Yamanōchi had acquired the services of Nagao Tamekage, who would prove a grave threat. Acting on behalf of Uesugi Fusayoshi, the Governor of Echigo, Tamekage made a fortuitous alliance with the future Hōjō Sōun. With Sōun in the southwest taking Izu and later Sagami provinces, Tamekage forced the Ōgigayatsu to fight on two fronts when he attacked them, taking Kōzuke Province in the name of the Yamanōchi and even establish a small foothold in Musashi Province itself at Hachiōji Castle. For making such gains in just 5 years, Tamekage was awarded with the position of Deputy Governor of Echigo.
But Nagao Tamekage was not a man content to be anyone's servant. In the 4th year of Eishō (1507) Tamekage suddenly lashed out in rebellion, slaying Uesugi Fusayoshi and installing his son, Sadazane, as his puppet Governor of Echigo. Shortly thereafter Uesugi Akisada, head of the Yamanōchi-Uesugi and Kantō Kanrei, attempted to bring Tamekage to heel, and was himself slain. From then on, the Yamanōchi-Uesugi was forever cut off from Echigo, which became the domain of the Nagao.
However, Tamekage's reputation was forever stained by this betrayal, and his penchant for ruthlessness and the bitter hatred of his puppet, Sadazane, made his hold on Echigo ever tenuous. Rebellions and revolts happened one after another, which, along with his attempts to expand against both the Jinbo and the Date, placed a great burden on the people of Echigo that only further soured their feelings toward Tamekage. By the end of his life, it was said that Tamekage had taken to the battlefield over 100 times.
But no matter how dire the straits he was in, no matter how his enemies and his misfortunes compounded and conspired against him, not once did Tamekage relent, and not once did he know defeat. Martial valor, brilliant tactics, underhanded scheming: all were his tools, each wielded with the same aplomb, used as the situation demanded. Bold and cunning in equal measure, he was a near unstoppable force both on and off the battlefield.
Finally, though, the constant opposition in Echigo wore down on Tamekage. After an attempt to establish his power in Kaga Province failed when he was forced to return to deal with another uprising, he hatched a new scheme and took decisive action, as he had always done.
---X---
Kasugayama Castle, Echigo Province
"Is everyone here?" Tamekage asked the assembled retainers. He had announced the council meeting so suddenly, many of his retainers had had to rush, and a few were only just sitting down.
Seeing no more vacant seats, he nodded. "Good. I have gathered you all here to announce my retirement. My son Harukage shall be my successor."
Stunned silent, none of the gathered retainers were able to speak a single word.
Nagao Harukage, the eldest son of Tamekage, bowed deeply from his position at his father's side. "I shall do my utmost as the head of the Nagao. I pray you are all willing to lend me your assistance.
"I am not the general my father is," he admitted. This was an understatement. Harukage was sickly and physically frail; all his life, he had shown not the slightest bit of interest or talent in any of the arts and ways of war. "But I hope that by ruling with justice and compassion, I can allow Echigo to know peace at last."
"As for myself, I shall be retiring to a monastery," Tamekage finished.
Many of the retainers wished to protest, but all knew they could not. When Tamekage had made up his mind, there was no arguing his decision. To hold a council like this was merely a convenient way to inform them all; there was no place for dissenting opinion.
But they did not need to worry that this would entail and actual change in the way the clan was administered. The transfer of power was a complete front; though Harukage would be the public face of the clan, Tamekage would remain the one who made all of the clan's major decisions. However, to maintain the fiction, he could no longer take the field himself, and instead dictated strategies or relied on loyal retainers, particularly Kakizaki Kageie and Usami Sadamitsu - and ironic thing, for once upon a time both of these men had fought as part of one of the major revolts against his rule.
Amidst all of these events, no one at the time remarked much upon Tamekage sending his 4th son, Torachiyo, to the monastery at Rinzenji to study under the monk Tenshitsu Kōkiku. Torachiyo was his eldest brother's virtual opposite: he was hearty and strong from the moment of birth, and though only 7 years old was already showing a virtual obsession with all the myriad aspects of war, to the exclusion of almost all else. Even most of his family members were glad to be rid of the strange and violent boy. All of them, in fact, except for one.
With the fracturing of the shōgunate's power in the wake of the Ōnin War, much of the east had fallen into the hands of the Uesugi clan, as the power of the Kantō Kubō diminished greatly. However, the Uesugi themselves fractured into two warring factions, fighting over the lands of Kantō: the Ōgigayatsu-Uesugi who made their headquarters at Kawagoe in Musashi Province, and the Yamanōchi-Uesugi who had been forced northward into Echigo. As both clans were weakened by their internal struggles, both came to rely militarily upon a retainer who displayed immense military talent.
The Ōgigayatsu came to rely upon Ōta Dōkan, who among many other feats built Edo Castle to cement their hold upon Musashi. Fearing his prowess, however, his masters betrayed and killed him, leaving themselves vulnerable.
For the Yamanōchi had acquired the services of Nagao Tamekage, who would prove a grave threat. Acting on behalf of Uesugi Fusayoshi, the Governor of Echigo, Tamekage made a fortuitous alliance with the future Hōjō Sōun. With Sōun in the southwest taking Izu and later Sagami provinces, Tamekage forced the Ōgigayatsu to fight on two fronts when he attacked them, taking Kōzuke Province in the name of the Yamanōchi and even establish a small foothold in Musashi Province itself at Hachiōji Castle. For making such gains in just 5 years, Tamekage was awarded with the position of Deputy Governor of Echigo.
But Nagao Tamekage was not a man content to be anyone's servant. In the 4th year of Eishō (1507) Tamekage suddenly lashed out in rebellion, slaying Uesugi Fusayoshi and installing his son, Sadazane, as his puppet Governor of Echigo. Shortly thereafter Uesugi Akisada, head of the Yamanōchi-Uesugi and Kantō Kanrei, attempted to bring Tamekage to heel, and was himself slain. From then on, the Yamanōchi-Uesugi was forever cut off from Echigo, which became the domain of the Nagao.
However, Tamekage's reputation was forever stained by this betrayal, and his penchant for ruthlessness and the bitter hatred of his puppet, Sadazane, made his hold on Echigo ever tenuous. Rebellions and revolts happened one after another, which, along with his attempts to expand against both the Jinbo and the Date, placed a great burden on the people of Echigo that only further soured their feelings toward Tamekage. By the end of his life, it was said that Tamekage had taken to the battlefield over 100 times.
But no matter how dire the straits he was in, no matter how his enemies and his misfortunes compounded and conspired against him, not once did Tamekage relent, and not once did he know defeat. Martial valor, brilliant tactics, underhanded scheming: all were his tools, each wielded with the same aplomb, used as the situation demanded. Bold and cunning in equal measure, he was a near unstoppable force both on and off the battlefield.
Finally, though, the constant opposition in Echigo wore down on Tamekage. After an attempt to establish his power in Kaga Province failed when he was forced to return to deal with another uprising, he hatched a new scheme and took decisive action, as he had always done.
---X---
Kasugayama Castle, Echigo Province
"Is everyone here?" Tamekage asked the assembled retainers. He had announced the council meeting so suddenly, many of his retainers had had to rush, and a few were only just sitting down.
Seeing no more vacant seats, he nodded. "Good. I have gathered you all here to announce my retirement. My son Harukage shall be my successor."
Stunned silent, none of the gathered retainers were able to speak a single word.
Nagao Harukage, the eldest son of Tamekage, bowed deeply from his position at his father's side. "I shall do my utmost as the head of the Nagao. I pray you are all willing to lend me your assistance.
"I am not the general my father is," he admitted. This was an understatement. Harukage was sickly and physically frail; all his life, he had shown not the slightest bit of interest or talent in any of the arts and ways of war. "But I hope that by ruling with justice and compassion, I can allow Echigo to know peace at last."
"As for myself, I shall be retiring to a monastery," Tamekage finished.
Many of the retainers wished to protest, but all knew they could not. When Tamekage had made up his mind, there was no arguing his decision. To hold a council like this was merely a convenient way to inform them all; there was no place for dissenting opinion.
But they did not need to worry that this would entail and actual change in the way the clan was administered. The transfer of power was a complete front; though Harukage would be the public face of the clan, Tamekage would remain the one who made all of the clan's major decisions. However, to maintain the fiction, he could no longer take the field himself, and instead dictated strategies or relied on loyal retainers, particularly Kakizaki Kageie and Usami Sadamitsu - and ironic thing, for once upon a time both of these men had fought as part of one of the major revolts against his rule.
Amidst all of these events, no one at the time remarked much upon Tamekage sending his 4th son, Torachiyo, to the monastery at Rinzenji to study under the monk Tenshitsu Kōkiku. Torachiyo was his eldest brother's virtual opposite: he was hearty and strong from the moment of birth, and though only 7 years old was already showing a virtual obsession with all the myriad aspects of war, to the exclusion of almost all else. Even most of his family members were glad to be rid of the strange and violent boy. All of them, in fact, except for one.
EmpirePlayer
Anyone need some chaos?
- Location
- Penang
What is with great warlords and age 14, anyways? I seem to have an impression that most of them just get on their horse and start being badass at that age.
Breaking minor clans backed by the Imagawa? Hm, I assume he divided and conquered? I.e. denied any attempt to have them consolidate their forces into a coherent army, then picked them off.
I know the guy's fatal flaw was his temper, but dayum that's a lot of sex. Although, with all those mention of daughters, what about any possible sons...? I doubt he would have been kind to what he does not need.
Hm. Interesting. So where does the Takeda source their food from? Money is important, yes, but in times of need or famine, you can't just magic food out of nowhere. I doubt any Takeda lord would be stupid enough to not have reserves, but that's an interesting point of vulnerability.
Hidden gold mines. Well, considering the era, I suppose mines could be concealed or be hard to acertain. (Good luck hiding the eyesores in the industrial era) But a dedicated effort should be able to unmask major veins. Considering there must be a supply chain to the smithys. And then from the smithy to the treasury.
That's not sustainable at all. Not unless the Gold Veins are big enough, and there are enough people to keep putting in those mines. You can only send so many people to the
Any relation to the Four Heavenly Generals? Hm, I know recruiting defeated enemies are a thing, but I don't think it's gonna be so here.
Yeah, we saw that in the earlier post. Not many big stories of 'Imma marry this girl I love!' in Sengoku Jidai, unfortunately. Or at all. I think.
Hm. We know how this was to be from the previous sidestory.
Hello there, Shingen. Were you also 14 years old when you did this? *Checks wiki* 15 years old. Too bad.
Ah, the Hojo. The masters of camping somewhere and daring people to take their spot.
Emphasis mine on the bold part. Disregarding the sea routes the Hojo definitely have, the Hojo lands mean that you can't starve them out, and you can't afford to try to break them in an assault because lol casualties. (Were the Takeda renowned for their horse even then? If so, then a kind reminder that horse can't climb walls, no matter what Skyrim tells you.)
Nobutora's fatal flaw is very obvious. Wrath.
Which does sound like a good idea, actually.
Remember my mentioning of don't fight anyone with more money and influence? (Ofc, there are exceptions, like when you can very literally overrun them, and no one can save them)
Nene. Haaaaa, I immediately thought of the one Hideyoshi married.
So also massive pride. Well, it's not entirely unjustified (in fact, its very justified considering what he did.) Or is it Envy? Hmm...
Remember folks, war is expensive. Monarchies have bankrupted themselves fighting wars that were proportionally smaller than what the Takeda are taking on. Even if they are not mercenaries, samurai and horse are expensive. And you can only get Ashigaru by also weakening your own labor force. For ever son sent to war, there is one less hand to reap the harvest.
The son is more pragmatic than the father. Then again, it's Takeda 'I made Nobunaga actually lose before I suddenly died in a stroke of luck' Shingen.
Read: Conquering minor clans means jack shit when someone else can take the seat of Shogun and promptly make you submit. (Not the Chrysanthemum throne tho, taking that is a Bad IdeaTM.)
Ok. I revise my statement. Pride, Wrath and Envy, with Envy being the most prominent flaw. Though I feel like this is more pettiness than anything else.
Hm. Question here, couldn't Nobushige just abdicate in favor of Harunobu? That would have pissed off the father, but considering the clan head usually changes when the head dies...
So how did he build up such an impressive spy network without ever alerting his father to its existence? I mean, he managed the coup at... *Checks wiki* 20 Years old or so, so it means he literally made a functional, good spy network in less than 10 years or so. Like, I know he's Takeda 'Imma be sandwiched between two of my mortal enemies and still make an opening to attack the Oda' Shingen, but still.
That's one hell of a last stand there. Like, it's the type of thing that deserves to be more than a footnote in history, a storied and heroic last stand. But a footnote it is. Shame.
Getting a bit nervous about your complacency there, Nobutora. Egos kind of grow when you feed them, until they decide that it can eat you too. Like a Tiger.
Downside? War is war which means giving a warmonger more territory might be a bit of a bad idea. Sure, you can crush the upstart, but why waste men and material doing that when you can be doing something else?
You know, considering how shit he was treating Harunobu, you'd think he'd want to spend more time with his children who he sees in his day-to-day like in Takeda lands.
Read: Fuck off and don't come back. I hate you, and you're a warmongering short-sighted fool who would cost us everything when someone else takes the spot of Shogun.
This is almost a dead horse trope by now. For extra tension, have the person say exactly what the plotters are plotting. Then it turns out to be a joke.
Well, he might become a rival of sorts. Or he could get himself killed and then the Uesugi promptly get a super-leader capable of matching your son. That also works.
Harunobu's rage against his father: 7/10. Harunobu doesn't need more enemies when he takes over! Then again, Takeda 'We're surrounded by our foes? Good. Then we can beat them all up.' Shingen gives no fucks.
Wow. Erm. Harunobu's rage should be Yes/10 right now. Seriously. You are so cold to the son who seems to have great potential, and are warm to someone who literally is a rival in any other circumstance.
But its a shame. For those few sentences had shown Harunobu what Nobutora could have been to him. He could have been warm and loving to him, in another place and time. But that is what-if, and all he has his whole life was a hot-blooded, petty, angry cold ass. All too often, seeing what could have been is more painful than helpful.
Just. No, just turn back and look, for a moment. Maybe then, things would have been different. Perhaps.
And just like that, you dun goofed, Nobutora. He's going to be decisive in his actions.
Well, dude just basically did a bloodless coup, but you shouldn't rub it into his face that he betrayed his father, which is a pretty big no-no in Japanese culture, I think.
You know, it takes one hell of a poker face to greet your Father-in-law and not give away the fact that you helped in a successful coup against him.
Now imagine Itagaki with a beard, robe, and wizard hat. But in a more serious tone, were Nobutora's men his Hatamoto, or just general bodyguards? Because considering how the Hatamoto are usually higher-ranking samurai (but not a general), it would be terribly embarrassing if you accidentally locked out the head of a minor clan who helped with the coup outside with your angry father.
What is a Daimyo of Kai? Nothing but a man! Then again, try calling Takeda 'Imma fight five legendary battles to a draw with the Avatar of the Buddhist God of War' Shingen a normal man.
Well, who else would (and could) if not for your best commanding son?
Read: Take a hike in the old folk's home, and don't bother coming back until I die.
Nobutora's pissed-o-meter: 256/255, which causes an overflow, warping it back around to -1/255. In a more serious light, guy just lost his everything to his kid. I can kinda feel a bit of his pain. Being reduced from being basically a King to a hobo overnight is not fun. Wait. Was the guy also cut off from all of his concubines? Talk about pouring salt into his wounds.
Huh? Shingen died to illness or a fatal case of being shot, not a betrayal. Seriously, did Karma skip a generation to fuck over the poor guy who had to hold it all together after Shingen kicked it? Because it sounds like it did.
Nobutora's rage: I am not dying before my son/100. Seriously though, his strength in
Seriously though, when people cursed you in older times, 50/50 chance it might actually be a curse.
Then the wars start. Well, at least he knows to give his realm respite. Endless war gets old after one point.
That's a bit too much, innit? Like, that's too much, right? Right?
He agrees!
Look. On a sliding scale in stories, cripples with confidence rank somewhere between old veteran (on the lower end) and reclusive prodigies (on the higher end) on the sliding scale of implausibly good military skills.
Perfect for cracking the Hojo forts when they get to it, then. Too bad there's no real campaign planned against the Hojo right now tho.
Takes a lot of guts though.
Wat.
Whaaaaat?
Um. What? At least sample the goods first! (Not in that way you pervs)
Well, the small fry are the best ones to test the mettle of your strategist against. It's better than much more deadlier enemies, like how Zhuge Liang had to face off against the Wu the first time he took command. Or am I misremembering stuff?
My reaction to this whole bit: Wat. I don't get it, but if they get along then ok...?
Smart of Harunobu. Forgive and make amends with those who you can trust and give them what they have lost, and you will have loyal men till the end of their days.
Nobutora: Worst commander ever, or worst father ever? I kid, but whoa there, I wouldn't want to work for a boss that's liable to kill me for whatever arbitrary reason he decides on.
How to get vassal's loyalty trope no.1: Be the one to apologize (bowing very recommended) to a vassal you have wronged directly or indirectly.
Look, it's a classic trope for 'Good' Leaders. Seriously, go watch any eastern historical drama with a 'Good' leader and odds are you'll see something like this some-point in the story.
That's as good of a goal as any. Don't be an ass, I mean.
Oh, so that's where one of those guys come from.
Well, if you want to make a statement, just kick the kid with the biggest ego on the block.
Well, that's a reason that sounds ok?
I can't parse why he has a hard-on for attacking Suwa beyond 'They have become too big for their breeches' and 'We're better off with their lands'.
Um. Oh. Er. Yeah. Ruining your younger sister's life is pretty bad on the 'Bad Karma' scale. And since Harunobu's 20 or so, Nene's pretty damn young. So that's more bad juju.
Say it with me boys: TENKA FUBU.
Read: I need your lands under my direct control. Give me all your shit.
And things get heavier.
What is with clans and underestimating new Daimyo? Sure, sometimes its justified. Then you run into freaks of nature like Nobunaga and now apparently Takeda 'I win open-field battles asleep' Shingen.
Ah, what is a good Japanese war story without fair-weather allies who run after a big loss?
Checkmate.
"I am altering the deal, pray I do not alter it further."
To think that Nene actually fell in love in an arranged marriage. Hm. That's actually pretty sad.
Silk-in-steel right there.
Ooooh, that burn. Granted, it's on a dead person, so not as good as it could have been.
Read: Yes, What do you want to do about it?
Read: Karma is gonna get you, why should I bother?
*Looks at all the bling of war everyone has* Suuuuuuuure. *Looks at all the castles built* Right, no beauty in war. Well, there isn't any in a battle, but everything else in preparing for war?
...
What is a man? Nothing but a miserable pile of secrets! Jokes aside, I can't give any comment beyond "............"
Did nobody search her at all? That's very suprising.
Oooooh, yeah.
Leingod
Immaculate Blooming Lotus
You're going to enjoy the next few sidestories in Echigo.
More or less. Attacked before the Imagawa were ready, then attacked their relief forces en route.
Some of it is made up through hunting and foraging; the Japanese got very good at maximizing the amount of food they could extract form their surroundings without ruining the local ecology over the centuries. They also got really got at maximizing their output on every scrap of available agricultural land; Yunnan Province in China may have the mot extensive terraced rice paddies in the world, but Japan's no slouch in cutting up the sides of hills and even small mountains to squeeze out more rice.
And when all else fails, you buy it. The Takeda would always have a problem with being reliant on outside sources for necessities; one of the most famous stories about Shingen and Kenshin's rivalry happened because the Takeda were reliant on their coastal neighbors for salt, after all.
Shinano isn't super-rich in prime agricultural land, but it's better off than Kai in that regard at least, which is part of why Shingen decided it made a better first target than the much more productive but much harder-to-get lands in Sagami et al.
There are a few I'll get to bring up. Maeda Toshiie is one of them.
Considering the times and circumstances, he didn't father very many sons (that got recorded, anyway). There's about 4 that I know of.
Not so much. It didn't quite start with Shingen, but he definitely put the Takeda on the map, horse-wise.
Usually but not always. It wasn't uncommon for an aging head to just retire to a monastery; nor was it uncommon for sons who would be problematic in terms of succession to also be retired to a monastery, as seen with Ujichika's sons (though he's a bit unusual in sending three of them when his eldest was already sickly). It was certainly possible for a son sent to a monastery to return to dispute the inheritance and actually receive enough support for that to be accepted by the retainers, but it usually took some special circumstance like, say, the eldest and second-eldest suddenly kicking the bucket in the case of the Imagawa.
Depending on how reliable you think the sources that attribute such an information network to him are, ninja. Specifically, kunoichi. More specifically, Mochizuki Chiyome, a kunoichi who was the widow of one of Shingen's retainers, and who came up with the idea of "adopting" various unfortunate girls that nobody would miss and officially training them in a variety of professions that could go to various places without arousing suspicion (particularly priestesses and musicians) but actually using them as spies.
If it's not flat-out made up then it's certainly gravely exaggerated. But it wouldn't be far-fetched to say that there was some kernel of truth in there, and that Shingen really did have a wide-ranging information network that made liberal use of women.
Well, one of those retainer clans will ensure that some legacy of the Unno lives on, even if the clan itself is largely forgotten even in their own time.
One tiger in particular is going to get bitten hard by this down the line.
Yoshimoto's a master of dicking you over with a warm smile on his face.
It never really gives names or indicates any importance, so presumably they were just some minor samurai who served as bodyguards, along with servants like cooks and grooms and such.
Well, the fourth is usually the one that gets all the attention. Partly, this is because it was the largest of them, but also because both sides suffered more casualties than pretty much any other battle in the period (in terms of percentages), and the tactics were very interesting on both sides.
No, he'll be dealing with being betrayed by his own blood, too. It just won't end him the way it's ended Nobutora.
The Suwa's lands are right on pretty much the only major route from Kai to Shinano thanks to all the mountains. If Shingen can't trust whoever's there (and he doesn't trust the Suwa), then any conquest he makes in Shinano is at risk of being cut off the moment they decide to unfriend him.
In other words: if he wants Shinano, Shingen needs to crush the Suwa, because they've shown through that alliance that they can't be trusted to keep the Takeda's best interests at heart.
Well, it's less a literal statement and more that Harunobu is using a metaphor wherein he conflates Suwa-hime's physical beauty with her moral purity, and the beauty at Lake Suwa that he's tainted with bloodshed thus refers to how he's tainted her childhood home and all her happy memories there with his ruthless betrayal.
Well, it's a concealed blade, and even if she is of a warrior house, she's a 15-year old girl. They aren't going to expect that much of her.
Thanks! As always, it really does great things to my motivation to keep writing when people respond to it like this.
To be fair, since I'm doing a lot of adapting from video games and just expanding on the character drama and historical background and sometimes adding new tidbits here and there, it's not that hard to crank these out, especially since the format allows me to omit transitions and such.
I'll bank your reward; let me know if you have any ideas on how you want to spend it.
What do people do for fun around here?
Leingod
Immaculate Blooming Lotus
When setting a story in a particular place and time (be it real or made up), a big part of making it feel real is to have people playing games. Games are big part of the human experience, and always have been. Hence, especially while the main character is still young, there are going to be lots of references to games and such. So what do people do for fun in the Sengoku Jidai?
Shōgi: An import from China, shōgi is a variant of xiangqi, which itself is a variant of the Indian game Chaturanga that is believed to be the root of basically every chess-like game ever made (including chess) that was invented sometime in the 500s AD. It's unknown exactly when this game arrived in Japan or when it took on its current form, though the game in more or less its present state minus the "drop rule" existed at least by the time of the Heian Period, and that "drop rule" that separates it from modern shōgi is invented... in the 16th century. How about that?
Go: One of Japan's oldest Chinese imports (came to Japan as early as 400 AD and no later than 700), the game of go is said to take only a few minutes to learn and lifetimes to master. If you don't know what this is, go read Hikaru no Go, it's got a ghost from the Heian Period who's obsessed with a board game, it's great. Fun fact: go is actually much more complicated than chess and has way more possible plays. Because of that, it was only this year that a computer was able to reliably defeat the world's top-ranked go player, something that happened with chess in 1997.
"Cards": The imperial court invented a lot of different games called "awase," or "joinings." Basically, these are "match two" games using various materials. Kai-awase, for example, takes two halves of a clamshell, paints pictures on both sides, turns them over and scatters them around. The closest thing to an actual "card game" is a Heian Period invention called Hyakunin Isshū. On 100 slips of paper are the last half of ancient, well-known poems and an illustration of it, and on another 100 slips of paper are the first halves of the poems. The "caller" takes the first halves, picks one at random and reads it aloud, then the other players have to sort through the back halves to find and pick out the matching one first. The winner is the one who has the most cards at the end.
Dice: Dice are used pretty much exclusively for gambling in a game called Han-Chō. Basically, you bet money on whether a pair of dice will add up to an odd or an even number.
Hanetsuki: This game was made in the Heian Period by court nobles; that's something to be said about a lot of old Japanese games, actually. They didn't have much else to do but invent new ways to waste time, really. It's actually very similar to battledore or badmitton; two players, each using a wooden paddle, try to keep a shuttlecock (or sometimes a cherry) aloft. It's considered a childrens' game.
Horse Racing: Pretty much every outdoor activity is at least in part training for war.
Inu Ōmono: This one's kinda f*cked up. See, you set up a big outdoor arena, release some wild dogs into it, then have a few mounted samurai armed with bows compete to see who can run down and shoot more dogs than anyone else.
Yabusame: Also a way to build up horse archery skills, though thankfully this one doesn't involve murdering animals for sport. Competitors ride down a marked course and try to hit three thin wooden targets with three blunt arrows while on the move; the arrows will split the targets, and a bulls-eye splits the target more or less evenly. Winner is the one who hits the most targets/gets the most bulls-eyes.
Sumō: Sumō is a very old sport, and deeply rooted in Shintō. In the Nara period, matches were held in the Emperor's presence to predict the harvest, and in the Heian it became a form of court entertainment to watch matches throughout the year. From the Kamakura Period to the Sengoku Jidai, however, samurai have largely made it their own as a combat sport, which is much more practical than the super-ritualized professional sport practiced today, which mostly came about throughout the Edo Period. That said, a resurgence in sumō's popularity began during this period, and was jump-started when Nobunaga decided to hold a huge tournament with over 1,500 competitors in 1578.
Kemari: A game invented in the Heian Period that... look, if you played the Samurai Warriors games, you know what this is. They don't let poor Yoshimoto shut up about it, though admittedly with his noted love of courtly affectations it's very likely he played this a lot. It's a lot like that soccer exercise where you try to keep the ball in the air for as long as possible, though in kemari you can only use your feet, not your head. It's actually really popular among both nobles and samurai, though it drops off after the Sengoku Jidai ends for some reason.
Kyokusui: Pretty much exclusively a pastime enjoyed by noblemen. Two or more men sit at the bank of a stream, set small lacquer sake cups to float downstream and write improvisational poetry as the cups float by.
Shōgi: An import from China, shōgi is a variant of xiangqi, which itself is a variant of the Indian game Chaturanga that is believed to be the root of basically every chess-like game ever made (including chess) that was invented sometime in the 500s AD. It's unknown exactly when this game arrived in Japan or when it took on its current form, though the game in more or less its present state minus the "drop rule" existed at least by the time of the Heian Period, and that "drop rule" that separates it from modern shōgi is invented... in the 16th century. How about that?
Go: One of Japan's oldest Chinese imports (came to Japan as early as 400 AD and no later than 700), the game of go is said to take only a few minutes to learn and lifetimes to master. If you don't know what this is, go read Hikaru no Go, it's got a ghost from the Heian Period who's obsessed with a board game, it's great. Fun fact: go is actually much more complicated than chess and has way more possible plays. Because of that, it was only this year that a computer was able to reliably defeat the world's top-ranked go player, something that happened with chess in 1997.
"Cards": The imperial court invented a lot of different games called "awase," or "joinings." Basically, these are "match two" games using various materials. Kai-awase, for example, takes two halves of a clamshell, paints pictures on both sides, turns them over and scatters them around. The closest thing to an actual "card game" is a Heian Period invention called Hyakunin Isshū. On 100 slips of paper are the last half of ancient, well-known poems and an illustration of it, and on another 100 slips of paper are the first halves of the poems. The "caller" takes the first halves, picks one at random and reads it aloud, then the other players have to sort through the back halves to find and pick out the matching one first. The winner is the one who has the most cards at the end.
Dice: Dice are used pretty much exclusively for gambling in a game called Han-Chō. Basically, you bet money on whether a pair of dice will add up to an odd or an even number.
Hanetsuki: This game was made in the Heian Period by court nobles; that's something to be said about a lot of old Japanese games, actually. They didn't have much else to do but invent new ways to waste time, really. It's actually very similar to battledore or badmitton; two players, each using a wooden paddle, try to keep a shuttlecock (or sometimes a cherry) aloft. It's considered a childrens' game.
Horse Racing: Pretty much every outdoor activity is at least in part training for war.
Inu Ōmono: This one's kinda f*cked up. See, you set up a big outdoor arena, release some wild dogs into it, then have a few mounted samurai armed with bows compete to see who can run down and shoot more dogs than anyone else.
Yabusame: Also a way to build up horse archery skills, though thankfully this one doesn't involve murdering animals for sport. Competitors ride down a marked course and try to hit three thin wooden targets with three blunt arrows while on the move; the arrows will split the targets, and a bulls-eye splits the target more or less evenly. Winner is the one who hits the most targets/gets the most bulls-eyes.
Sumō: Sumō is a very old sport, and deeply rooted in Shintō. In the Nara period, matches were held in the Emperor's presence to predict the harvest, and in the Heian it became a form of court entertainment to watch matches throughout the year. From the Kamakura Period to the Sengoku Jidai, however, samurai have largely made it their own as a combat sport, which is much more practical than the super-ritualized professional sport practiced today, which mostly came about throughout the Edo Period. That said, a resurgence in sumō's popularity began during this period, and was jump-started when Nobunaga decided to hold a huge tournament with over 1,500 competitors in 1578.
Kemari: A game invented in the Heian Period that... look, if you played the Samurai Warriors games, you know what this is. They don't let poor Yoshimoto shut up about it, though admittedly with his noted love of courtly affectations it's very likely he played this a lot. It's a lot like that soccer exercise where you try to keep the ball in the air for as long as possible, though in kemari you can only use your feet, not your head. It's actually really popular among both nobles and samurai, though it drops off after the Sengoku Jidai ends for some reason.
Kyokusui: Pretty much exclusively a pastime enjoyed by noblemen. Two or more men sit at the bank of a stream, set small lacquer sake cups to float downstream and write improvisational poetry as the cups float by.
Last edited:
- Location
- The Middle of the Howling Wilderness
So, this sounds like it was just a fancy excuse the nobles made up so they could sit down by the river and drink sake all day?
Leingod
Immaculate Blooming Lotus
Well, poetry is very serious business to a Japanese noble, so a lot of them would likely be offended at the suggestion that they would use it as an excuse to get drunk.
But yeah, it was probably a way to spend a day drinking with the boys and still be considered classy and sophisticated.
Prologue, pt. 3
Leingod
Immaculate Blooming Lotus
You shake your head. "It's alright, Sir, I don't want to cause any inconvenience," you say dutifully.
Sir Masahide strokes his beard. "Well, if you're sure, we'll convene once you've gotten clean. And you as well, Young Master!" he says loudly, making Lord Kippōshi click his tongue in annoyance.
"Yeah, yeah, you don't need to tell me," he grumbles. "You know Old Man, at your age you shouldn't get excited so easily. Bad for your heart."
Sir Masahide merely sighs and shakes his head.
---X---
Once you quickly clean up and have a servant guide you to where the classes are held, you're a little surprised to find all the rowdy boys sitting mostly quietly, albeit with some fidgeting and whispered conversations here and there; Inuchiyo looks to be the worst of them.
You sit on an open cushion that's next to Gorō, one of the only ones who sits properly and without any signs of discomfort or boredom.
"Sorry about the Young Master," he says apologetically, turning to you. "He's… um, a bit eccentric at times, but he's an amazing person once you get to know him."
'Amazing is one word for it,' you think to yourself. "Thank you. I won't hold it against him. Gorō, right?"
He gives you a skeptical look at those words, but accepts it and nods in affirmation. "Yes, I'm Niwa Gorō. A pleasure to meet you."
At that moment, Lord Kippōshi steps in. Though he's clean and is wearing his kimono properly, it's very obviously old and worn, totally unsuited for the son of a daimyō to wear. You had expected him to slouch or chat, but he sits straight and tall, his full attention on Sir Masahide.
Sir Masahide, at the end of the room where he can face all of you, begins once Lord Kippōshi sits down. "Now, as you're all well aware thanks to that… incident earlier, young Rikimaru has reached an age where his father believed it suitable for him to attend classes. As our newest student, I hope that all of you will treat him well and act fittingly as his seniors."
You can't see his face, but you can almost imagine a smug smile on Lord Kippōshi's face as he replies. "Don't worry Old Man, I'll keep them all in line."
At the other side of the room, you can see Inuchiyo stifle a laugh.
"I shall hold you to that," Masahide says reprovingly. "How a man treats his lessers says far more of his character than how he treats his superiors. You would all do well to remember that. Now, let us begin by practicing writing. As always, the younger students will focus on learning the characters, and the older ones will practice their brushstrokes. Inuchiyo, put your hand down. If you complain of a cramp again you will be learning how to write with your teeth."
The rest of the day continues in that vein, with Sir Masahide instructing you all on various levels of writing, etiquette, and poetry; Gorō later tells you that on other days other subjects are covered, including music, religion, history, and of course, strategy and the myriad arts of war. Despite his age, Sir Masahide is a very animated teacher, lecturing passionately and walking around the room many times to spot students struggling or making errors.
The highlight of the day for you is when Sir Masahide, at the urging of some of the students, reveals a copy of Ōe no Masafusa's treatise on warfare and reads aloud a selection, then expounds on its meaning and uses. It's only out of the corner of your eye as you listen in rapt attention that you notice Lord Kippōshi may actually be paying closer attention than you are, as he leans over so far to hear every word that you idly wonder later on how he managed not to fall over.
Finally though, the class ends, your head spinning at all the new information. Most of the boys run out immediately to go back to playing after having to sit still for so long, but your own legs have fallen asleep. As you shake the pins and needles out, you notice Lord Kippōshi speaking with Sir Masahide about something. Though it doesn't seem like they're trying to be secret, they're both keeping their voices too low for you to make anything out.
When he's done, Lord Kippōshi walks right up to you, hooks an arm around your shoulder, and leads you out of the room. "Come on, Crow, the old man needs his rest. Let's go play with the others."
"So. You decided to go to my class," he says as he leads you out the door. "Why? Your brother got scared away and hit it off with Kanjurō and the Pigeon. Why not follow in his footsteps?"
"Get off me first!" you say, throwing his arm off of your shoulder, to his mild amusement. "Even if you are my future lord, right now you're just a bratty child that dresses like a dirty peasant. And until you become my lord, that's all you are. So I'm not going to let you decide my actions."
"You know, words like that could get you in a lot of trouble," he points out, his voice and face giving no indication of his thoughts.
"In the end, a samurai has nothing left but his pride and his regrets," you say, quoting your father. Internally, of course, you're all but screaming in fear about what's going to happen to you, but you can't shut yourself up.
"So. You won't lower yourself to listen to me while I'm just Nobuhide's son who wears ratty old clothes?" he asks for confirmation.
Not trusting yourself to speak, you try to nod solemnly.
Too quickly for you to realize what's happening until it's already over, he pushes you into a puddle. "That's fair. But when I do become lord, a disobedient samurai is worthless to me," he says, already walking away.
"Become a lord worth serving and it won't be a problem!" you fire back.
He freezes at those words, and there's an odd look in his eyes as he turns back to you. Finally, he grins. "A lord worth serving, huh?"
He reaches out a hand to you. "Come on, Crow, get up. You'll miss all the fun if we don't get to the others."
"What?" you ask, more than a little confused at the sudden shift.
"Gorō's going to nag at me for hours if I don't bring you along," he explains. "I swear he's been taking lessons from the Old Man in private. Besides, Inuchiyo and the others get a bit too rowdy and need someone to nag them, and Gorō gets run ragged trying to do it for all of them.
"Now, are you coming, or would you rather sit in that puddle for the rest of the day?" he says, clearly getting a little impatient.
[] Take his hand
[] Stand up on your own
---X---
AN: Ōe no Masafusa (1041-1111) is a famous scholar and poet of the late Heian Period. A high-ranking nobleman in the imperial court back when a few of them still actually did stuff, he's most famous nowadays for an encyclopedia of various court rituals and rites that provide an invaluable insight for historians, but he was also the author of the oldest Japanese treatise on warfare, and in addition to serving as tutor to three different emperors, he also taught the arts of war to Minamoto no Yoshiie, a warrior of the Heian Period whose exploits in war earned him the nickname "Hachimantarō" i.e. "Hachiman's first son."
Sir Masahide strokes his beard. "Well, if you're sure, we'll convene once you've gotten clean. And you as well, Young Master!" he says loudly, making Lord Kippōshi click his tongue in annoyance.
"Yeah, yeah, you don't need to tell me," he grumbles. "You know Old Man, at your age you shouldn't get excited so easily. Bad for your heart."
Sir Masahide merely sighs and shakes his head.
---X---
Once you quickly clean up and have a servant guide you to where the classes are held, you're a little surprised to find all the rowdy boys sitting mostly quietly, albeit with some fidgeting and whispered conversations here and there; Inuchiyo looks to be the worst of them.
You sit on an open cushion that's next to Gorō, one of the only ones who sits properly and without any signs of discomfort or boredom.
"Sorry about the Young Master," he says apologetically, turning to you. "He's… um, a bit eccentric at times, but he's an amazing person once you get to know him."
'Amazing is one word for it,' you think to yourself. "Thank you. I won't hold it against him. Gorō, right?"
He gives you a skeptical look at those words, but accepts it and nods in affirmation. "Yes, I'm Niwa Gorō. A pleasure to meet you."
At that moment, Lord Kippōshi steps in. Though he's clean and is wearing his kimono properly, it's very obviously old and worn, totally unsuited for the son of a daimyō to wear. You had expected him to slouch or chat, but he sits straight and tall, his full attention on Sir Masahide.
Sir Masahide, at the end of the room where he can face all of you, begins once Lord Kippōshi sits down. "Now, as you're all well aware thanks to that… incident earlier, young Rikimaru has reached an age where his father believed it suitable for him to attend classes. As our newest student, I hope that all of you will treat him well and act fittingly as his seniors."
You can't see his face, but you can almost imagine a smug smile on Lord Kippōshi's face as he replies. "Don't worry Old Man, I'll keep them all in line."
At the other side of the room, you can see Inuchiyo stifle a laugh.
"I shall hold you to that," Masahide says reprovingly. "How a man treats his lessers says far more of his character than how he treats his superiors. You would all do well to remember that. Now, let us begin by practicing writing. As always, the younger students will focus on learning the characters, and the older ones will practice their brushstrokes. Inuchiyo, put your hand down. If you complain of a cramp again you will be learning how to write with your teeth."
The rest of the day continues in that vein, with Sir Masahide instructing you all on various levels of writing, etiquette, and poetry; Gorō later tells you that on other days other subjects are covered, including music, religion, history, and of course, strategy and the myriad arts of war. Despite his age, Sir Masahide is a very animated teacher, lecturing passionately and walking around the room many times to spot students struggling or making errors.
The highlight of the day for you is when Sir Masahide, at the urging of some of the students, reveals a copy of Ōe no Masafusa's treatise on warfare and reads aloud a selection, then expounds on its meaning and uses. It's only out of the corner of your eye as you listen in rapt attention that you notice Lord Kippōshi may actually be paying closer attention than you are, as he leans over so far to hear every word that you idly wonder later on how he managed not to fall over.
Finally though, the class ends, your head spinning at all the new information. Most of the boys run out immediately to go back to playing after having to sit still for so long, but your own legs have fallen asleep. As you shake the pins and needles out, you notice Lord Kippōshi speaking with Sir Masahide about something. Though it doesn't seem like they're trying to be secret, they're both keeping their voices too low for you to make anything out.
When he's done, Lord Kippōshi walks right up to you, hooks an arm around your shoulder, and leads you out of the room. "Come on, Crow, the old man needs his rest. Let's go play with the others."
"So. You decided to go to my class," he says as he leads you out the door. "Why? Your brother got scared away and hit it off with Kanjurō and the Pigeon. Why not follow in his footsteps?"
"Get off me first!" you say, throwing his arm off of your shoulder, to his mild amusement. "Even if you are my future lord, right now you're just a bratty child that dresses like a dirty peasant. And until you become my lord, that's all you are. So I'm not going to let you decide my actions."
"You know, words like that could get you in a lot of trouble," he points out, his voice and face giving no indication of his thoughts.
"In the end, a samurai has nothing left but his pride and his regrets," you say, quoting your father. Internally, of course, you're all but screaming in fear about what's going to happen to you, but you can't shut yourself up.
"So. You won't lower yourself to listen to me while I'm just Nobuhide's son who wears ratty old clothes?" he asks for confirmation.
Not trusting yourself to speak, you try to nod solemnly.
Too quickly for you to realize what's happening until it's already over, he pushes you into a puddle. "That's fair. But when I do become lord, a disobedient samurai is worthless to me," he says, already walking away.
"Become a lord worth serving and it won't be a problem!" you fire back.
He freezes at those words, and there's an odd look in his eyes as he turns back to you. Finally, he grins. "A lord worth serving, huh?"
He reaches out a hand to you. "Come on, Crow, get up. You'll miss all the fun if we don't get to the others."
"What?" you ask, more than a little confused at the sudden shift.
"Gorō's going to nag at me for hours if I don't bring you along," he explains. "I swear he's been taking lessons from the Old Man in private. Besides, Inuchiyo and the others get a bit too rowdy and need someone to nag them, and Gorō gets run ragged trying to do it for all of them.
"Now, are you coming, or would you rather sit in that puddle for the rest of the day?" he says, clearly getting a little impatient.
[] Take his hand
[] Stand up on your own
---X---
AN: Ōe no Masafusa (1041-1111) is a famous scholar and poet of the late Heian Period. A high-ranking nobleman in the imperial court back when a few of them still actually did stuff, he's most famous nowadays for an encyclopedia of various court rituals and rites that provide an invaluable insight for historians, but he was also the author of the oldest Japanese treatise on warfare, and in addition to serving as tutor to three different emperors, he also taught the arts of war to Minamoto no Yoshiie, a warrior of the Heian Period whose exploits in war earned him the nickname "Hachimantarō" i.e. "Hachiman's first son."
Last edited:
- Location
- USA
[X] Take his hand
Did we just put an idea in his head?
Did we just put an idea in his head?
Alexander89
Pet the pretty kitty? Y/N
- Location
- Italy
[X] Take his hand
We're gonna play the straight man to Nobunaga. Suddenly I feel pity.
We're gonna play the straight man to Nobunaga. Suddenly I feel pity.
A Nation's Virtue
南國山河南帝居
[X] Take his hand
No reason not to.
No reason not to.
Spectral Waltz
Scatterbrained Writer
- Location
- Walking the Endless Corridors
[x] Stand up on your own
EmpirePlayer
Anyone need some chaos?
- Location
- Penang
[X] Take his hand
But the problem is that I worry for the MC's pride and patience with antics. It might wear thin over time, and if things go wrong he might be a bit too fed up with Nobunaga's fooling around and might decide Nobuyuki is better instead. (Then again, I wouldn't object to the MC being part of Nobuyuki's Rebellion, considering that Nobunaga did recruit Katsuie out of that mess. But I won't want to risk that.)
But then again, it should be considered that by being less involved with Nobunaga, the MC can have a fresher perspective on him compared to being in his circle of friends. I.e., he might be less frustrated with Nobunaga's antics, and might be more able to pick up on Nobunaga's true character. But I don't want to take too much of a risk. Taking his hand is better, in my opinion.\
Oh, right. Things aren't in a vacuum. We can also buddy up with Niwa Goro, aka Niwa Nagahide, one of the more iconic Oda retainers, too! If Nagahide's there as a counterbalance, then I doubt the MC could be pushed to beyond his breaking point easily, with someone also helping to stop the MC from feeling isolated and unattached. Yeah, with that realization out of the way, picking taking his hand is the way to go in my opinion.
Windows Word says 554 words.
You only realized that now?
Wait a minute here. This is a matter of practicality, innit? Of course Nobunaga's not going to wear fancy clothes when he doesn't need to.
Hint Hint, Rikimaru. Don't dismiss it!
Oh damn. If things go the way it does IRH, we're going to have to face off against the MC's bro.
As if he really gives a rat's ass about how other people might view those comments.
I keep thinking about a quote somewhere, and I can't figure out where I heard it. But nonetheless, this reminds me. I think that Nobunaga as a person has no use for disobedient underlings and simpering sycophants. The first because they are practically useless in the grand scheme of things, the second because they'll turncoat the moment the winds change.
But what is a lord worth serving? I really hope the MC picks up that he really should consider the implications behind some of what Nobunaga does and that he's not what he seems. Especially once he moves into the 'Fool of Owari' stage. That would be the breaking point of the MC's tolerance for Nobunaga's antics if there is one. If he can move past that stage, then it should be relatively smooth sailing relationship-wise.
So we're basically going to be the team nag. Well, it's fine. Right?
Right, this option is obvious. We join Nobunaga's scooby gang, and try to get along with them. Being relatively young, I'd say the MC should be able to integrate into the group as long as there's nothing too 'hard'. Ease the guy into being more casual when it doesn't really matter that much. It also means that the MC is willing to give Nobunaga a chance to prove himself a capable lord.
But the problem is that I worry for the MC's pride and patience with antics. It might wear thin over time, and if things go wrong he might be a bit too fed up with Nobunaga's fooling around and might decide Nobuyuki is better instead. (Then again, I wouldn't object to the MC being part of Nobuyuki's Rebellion, considering that Nobunaga did recruit Katsuie out of that mess. But I won't want to risk that.)
Being aloof might seem like a bad option, but on further consideration, it could also mean that the MC remains aloof, but still part of the class, observing Nobunaga. But it's going to piss on their relationship even more.
But then again, it should be considered that by being less involved with Nobunaga, the MC can have a fresher perspective on him compared to being in his circle of friends. I.e., he might be less frustrated with Nobunaga's antics, and might be more able to pick up on Nobunaga's true character. But I don't want to take too much of a risk. Taking his hand is better, in my opinion.\
Oh, right. Things aren't in a vacuum. We can also buddy up with Niwa Goro, aka Niwa Nagahide, one of the more iconic Oda retainers, too! If Nagahide's there as a counterbalance, then I doubt the MC could be pushed to beyond his breaking point easily, with someone also helping to stop the MC from feeling isolated and unattached. Yeah, with that realization out of the way, picking taking his hand is the way to go in my opinion.
Windows Word says 554 words.
Leingod
Immaculate Blooming Lotus
Cool. That's 2 for you. I won't comment on the stuff in there so as not to guide the vote, but I appreciate the analysis all the same.
Crow
Falling is a Pleasure. Regardless of its Fate
Now this reeks of character development!
Actually thinking of it, we may be able to provide a good influence to Nobu so a certain old man doesnt need to do something truly drastic.
If there is one person that can rein in all these personages in one room its Masahide.
He's a cool old man. Nobunaga wouldnt have been Nobunaga without his influence.
Ehh kinda ? I mean he's a very practical person but also an incredibly eccentric one , later in life he showed off great displays of his wealth and power in various forms, its said he was the first japanese person to wear western clothing too.
And Azuchi castle not only was a military fortress but a mansion to display his power, lavish apartments, decorations and cultural what-have yous in great abundance.