NationStates Jolt Archive

I am Yoshi-Toranaga-noh-Minowara, Lord Toranaga. My line is ancient, one that reaches back to intiquity. I am a Samurai, as are my vassals. I am interested in trade and enjoy poetry and caligraphy as well as the cha-nan-yu ceremony (Tea Ceremony). My lands are divided into eight provences, each ruled by trusted Hatamoto (Special Retainer) who I have given the titla of Daiymo (Provincial Lord), each owes me alliegence and gives me the taxes they collect on my behalf. Each also is allowed a certain amount of retainers for themselves, each commanding a private army I have allowed them to have. I myself command my own personal army as well.

The house of a Samurai is run by his wife or consort. A Samurai may have only one wife, but may have as many legal consorts as he wishes. The wife manages all the money for the house and sees that all her lord's samurai have good armour, weapons, food, and clothing.

The sword of a Samurai is his soul. If he looses it he will never be excused. All orders from ones liege lord must be followed to the letter. Because his wife is his manager of his house he himself is free to follow the orders of his lord and train in the arts of war, to better help his lord.

My own army is a mix of Ashigaru Samurai (http://perso.club-internet.fr/jgrebet/samurai/images/sam_yari_ashigaru1.jpg), Samurai Archers (http://www.armoury.co.uk/sam1/sambigpics/cl10big.gif), and small amounts of calvary. And all of my samurai retainers can when loosing a spear or missing a bow take out their swords and use them with ease. The Ashigaru (Light-Foot) which are the mainstay of any samurai army, but I also have a heavier armed type I call Yari-Ashigaru, who carry longer pikes and are more heavily armoured. My bowmen are deadly with their great bamboo bows. In battle (http://www.cineclub.de/images/2004/01/last-samurai-6.jpg) they can wittle an enemy from 500 paces away and fire 13 times a minute.

OOC: I will express more about my Lord Toranaga's history and explain more about the organization of Daiymo and the army later. I'm using a medeival/fantasy tech for this. Hope you like the pics.

Very impressive intro.

I have to agree, very nice

OOC: I agree totally with The Imperial Navy.

Since I'm FT, It's not really apporpriate to respond to this in and IC manner. I'll respond if the original poster wants me too, however.

OOC: Thanks for the compliments.

IC:

The weapons my army uses are simple. Below my scribe has listed them according to each type of unit.

Ashigaru:
Katana (http://www.sirbubba.com/dev/oldschool/katana.jpg)
Long Spear (http://www.ishibi.pref.ishikawa.jp/msm-2d/tn_detail/syozo/05/05002600.jpg)
Armour (http://www.khm.at/data/page1754/samurai_300.jpg)(On the right, left is used by Heavy Ashigaru)

Archers:
Yoichi Long Bow (http://www.ffcompendium.com/Items/yoichibow.jpg)
Quiver & Arrows (http://www.artsoho.net/img/korpeebody-arrows.jpg)
Short Sword (http://www.samurai-collectibles.com/03-07-11%20Short%20Sword%2001.JPG)
Bamboo Armour (http://www.comune.modena.it/benvenuti/img/f4p.gif)(The archers use lighter armour than the Ashigaru for faster mobility)

Calvary:
Katana (http://www.sirbubba.com/dev/oldschool/katana.jpg)
Lance (http://www.knightsgoneby.co.uk/tep_catalog-pr2.1/catalog/images/t_da.pol.gif)
Naginata (http://img67.photobucket.com/albums/v205/aburamekyo/Naginata.jpg)
Heavy Armour (http://www.samurai.com.pl/zdj/b_przod.jpg)
(Calvary have the choice of using the lance or the naginata. The Lance is good for charges and facing other calvary while the naginata is better for melee combat)


All my samurai are uniform in dress. All have the same type kimono displaying my crest or for some the crest of their Daiymo under me. The Ashigaru is the lowest soldier in my army. He is given 2 koku a year, enough for him to feed himself and his family for a year. A Archer is given 3 for food and for buying replacements for his arrows. The Calvary, which are elite samurai, are given 10 koku a year, enough for a horse and several weapons and for feeding thier families.

Since I am in favor in trade I have started trading for guns. They are powerful and when used in formations of Ashigaru (http://www.michtoy.com/MTSCnewSite/newmetal_folder/EastofIndia/1stQ_2002_East_of_India/SCA10K_Ashigaru_Standin.jpg), they are affective. A single Ashigaru Arquebusier, or Teppo Ashigaru (http://www.riseofnations.de/einheiten/zeichnungen/Arquebusier.jpg), is a powerful force which I have begun to shape into my army.

OOC: Nice, a samurai army. Seriously, one of the more original Ideas I have seen.

[A new nation that can roleplay?! O_o We've hit upon a golden age. This is fantastic work, keep it up.]

Posted by The Zoogie People
[A new nation that can roleplay?! O_o We've hit upon a golden age. This is fantastic work, keep it up.]

OOC:There are other sites besides NationStates where you can role play...and I'm a big table-top gamer anyhow so it comes natural you could say. Besides the format of most rp sites it basicly the same. :cool:

So your an ancient nation. My nation is modern but we still use ancient roman swords but no shield like in this picture.

http://www.gladiatorschool.tv/swords.jpg

OOC: You could say my nation exists between the years 1550-1600, at present.

OOC: You could say my nation exists between the years 1550-1600, at present.

I have alwayed wonder if a Samurai and a Roman Leigon would fight and see what would happen.

My castle (http://www.mgu.ac.jp/~jfmorris/SendaiHTM/Webpics/Himeji.jpg) is situated on a moderately high plateau, which lies by the sea. The city that is in the valley below the castle is the city of Yodoka (http://www.cadcenter.co.jp/webgallery/images/webgallery_cg3m_003.jpg), thus giving the castle its name, Yodoka Castle. The city has some one million in population. Mostly farmers and filthy mercheants and moneylenders. In the city also lies a special area where the greatest craftsmen in the realm reside in their shops and forges. The city itself is surrounded by forests which help lend building materials.

The castle itself occupies the entire plateau. At the entrance area (http://www.cadcenter.co.jp/webgallery/images/webgallery_cg3m_006.jpg) of the castle I keep my personal storehouses and the bath houses for the samurai in my castle. Behind this area ia where the plateau slopes down into near impassible forests and the back walls of the castle (http://www.cadcenter.co.jp/webgallery/images/webgallery_cg3m_005.jpg). The castle keep is located in the "back" of the plateau. The castle Keep, or Donjon, is where my private sleeping courters and my personal house hold and treasure rooms are located. My grandfather spent 200,000 koku in making the castle as well as using over 700,000 workers and completed it in 2 years. My grandfather not only liked a strong castle but loved the work of artisans. The rooms within the castle, especially the conference room (http://www.cadcenter.co.jp/webgallery/images/webgallery_cg3m_007.jpg) where I meet with my vassals and attend to the needs of state, are very beautiful.

And even with powerful armies and powerful castles, I do not rely on only these means on which to defend myself and my clan. One sometimes uses those who wear black to end anothers means. In the forest south to my castle lies a hidden dojo where ninja (http://www.ufrsd.net/AHS/Gallery/art2003/Elaine%20-%20Ninja.jpg) are trained. Only for specific purposes do I use them.

I have alwayed wonder if a Samurai and a Roman Leigon would fight and see what would happen.

Might I throw in the Knights Templar into the mix?

Posted by Roman Republic
I have alwayed wonder if a Samurai and a Roman Leigon would fight and see what would happen.

The samurai army would win. They have an edge over the legion. They fear death least of all. And if their lord tells them to attack and win, they will do so until the last man. no exceptions. Also I might add that samurai archers are besides English LongBowmen, the best archers in the world.

The samurai army would win. They have an edge over the legion. They fear death least of all. And if their lord tells them to attack and win, they will do so until the last man. no exceptions. Also I might add that samurai archers are besides English LongBowmen, the best archers in the world.

But look at Japan, The Roman conquered more land is consider the 1st bestes military power and after is Germany ans after that a the U.S. Were do you find Japan any were. I am proud the the Romans are the first strongest military in the ancient world, If the roman leaders didn't fuck around, it would still remain the best.

Posted Originally by Roman Republic
But look at Japan, The Roman conquered more land is consider the 1st bestes military power and after is Germany ans after that a the U.S. Were do you find Japan any were. I am proud the the Romans are the first strongest military in the ancient world, If the roman leaders didn't fuck around, it would still remain the best.

I have to disgree on this one. Japan was civilised at about the time Rome was still a small city on a hill. And the reason they didn't conquer the world is because they spent most of the time (0-1700 A.D.) in pursuit of conquering China. And Japan went through over 200 years of civil war. Also might point out that the samurai had a higher code of standards, they disdained money and thought only of loyalty to ones liege lord, where-as the legions fought for whoever would pay them. I remember something about the Praetorian Guard legion offering to proclaim anyman Emperor is he paid them enough...

OOC: Also as a side note, the Romans copied almost every culture they ever came in contact with. Japanese is all by itself and still exists within todays list of Cultures.

Well I'm done arguing, and I feel I'm hacking your thread. So I'll leave you alone.

OOC: Not at all, I like a good military arguement every once in a while, and I agree that while the Samurai army would win a battle, the Romans would take a lot of samurai to hell with them.

I have to disgree on this one. Japan was civilised at about the time Rome was still a small city on a hill. And the reason they didn't conquer the world is because they spent most of the time (0-1700 A.D.) in pursuit of conquering China. And Japan went through over 200 years of civil war. Also might point out that the samurai had a higher code of standards, they disdained money and thought only of loyalty to ones liege lord, where-as the legions fought for whoever would pay them. I remember something about the Praetorian Guard legion offering to proclaim anyman Emperor is he paid them enough...

In my countryMoney is better than loyalty. Samurais can't accept shame, They only kill themselves for honor. I find that stupid. They should accept shame like others. If I met a samurai, I'd kill him or her with my Mark 23, SOCOM pistol, and see who gets more honor.

Of my family I am the eldest. I have one half brother, Lord Nitakae, who is lord of his own provinces north to me. I have four sons and seven daughters, two grandsons and five daughters. My eldest son and heir, Yoshi-Noburo-Toranaga-noh-Minowara; Lord Noburo, is 27 years of age and is the daiymo of one of my provinces. As well as my favourite son he is also my best battle general except for my trusted friend Nakamura Katsayuri. He's 54 years old, older than me by 7 years. He once fought under my enemy Lord Oda, but when I defeated Oda making me the strongest daiymo in the realm and most ancient of liniege, he asked to become my vassal, so I did not take his head or destroy his clan.

With his help and others I soon came to dominate the realm. I now control most all the provinces within Japan. Other lords from other families submited to me and I gave them their original fiefs and titles.I am soon going to travel to Kyoto to petition the Emperor Go-Nijo to make me Sie-ti-Shogun. Making me the military ruler of Japan. Such is my ambition.

But my dream and ambition must wait for an old rival of mine, Hojo Noeshae, also wishes the Shogunate. Soon I must make my final war to end the civil strife within the realm.

I am sorry about making fun of your ancient nation.

Posted by Roman Republic
I am sorry about making fun of your ancient nation.

No sweat, now, nuff said.

OOC: Very nice introduction, I can see you getting along just fine and just to let you know, you don't have to start off as an ancient nation (but if you do, you make some great history for your nation!) just to let you know, in case you actually wanted to do modern tech but thought you had to do ancient tech first! :P

Anyway, welcome to Nation States, stay away from the number/tech/ally-wankers and you'll be just fine!

The cherry blossom (http://www2n.biglobe.ne.jp/~bakauma/sakura05.jpg) is the most beautiful of flowers, to see one when they bloom is bliss. Each year when the cherry blossoms bloom I hold a poetry contest under the grove of them which reside within my castle. To see one bloom is considered a great omen of joy sent from a good natured kami. Often when the affairs of ruling trouble me I will go and sit beneath their graceful wings and be at peace, and for a time, nearly one of the gods.

Besides cherry blosom festivals and poetry contests I often play in Noh plays. I am happy and proud to bost that I am an acomplished Noh actor. Every now and then or on special occasions some of my vassals and I will do a play. I even have my own personal playwrite within the castle. Often when I hear or find something tragic or humorously funny I will have him make a play of it.

But one thing more than these things that please me is Bushido (http://www.budopoint.de/Bushido/BushidoZeichen_small1.gif). I will often during my meditation think of the teachings of Bushido. I am a Zen Buddist myself, finding the Way and how life is Karma. Often I wonder if I will, when I grow too old, abdicate and become a priest and shave my head as many other samurai have done. Or will I end my life by seppuku (http://www.nihon-zen.ch/clipart/seppuku_2.jpg) (ritual suicide) and thus die with great honor. But I for one would wish to die in battle, with sword in hand and my enemies piled dead around me.

In this writing I mentioned that I had a section of my city devoted to the craftsmen. I have paid Master swordsmen and armorers to come and make their shops and forges (http://aikidoka.ru/way/sword/image/sword,%20katana,%20tanto%201.files/g1.jpg) in my city. I have around fifty of the best. Not only do they make the katanas' but also make my armies spears and naginata, as well as arrows.

Besides just my army, I have within my service several special individuals. After the wars were mostly over, I offered to accept any ronin (samurai without a master) who wished to enter my service. Many came as this was their second and most likely only chance to be a true samurai. But among those were three Kensai (Sword Saint). A kensai is a warrior who has mastered the sword to such godly powers that one could easily take on men twenty times his number. One of the kensai now in my service is Matusu Kitanori (http://www.3dactionplanet.com/maxpayne/upload/files/news/dual_sword.jpg), a warrior who has survived hundreds of battles and duels, and has the scars to prove it and often wears a red scarf over his face to hide a scar that marred his face. Such was his skill I gave him a sword dojo to train certain numbers of my men in the art of kensai type fighting. Now I have a regiment of men who wield 6 foot long katana's with a grace that is unbelievable.

Many of my Provinces (http://www.seibi.or.jp/img/moyori/kensai.gif) often supply me with sometimes hidden treasures. I have become very adept and loving of these advantages. My capital which is located in the Province of Mino (province 7), is where I have centered these. Soon my legions will be gathered for the coming storm againt Hojo. Soon all with come to a head and who will rule with dominance will be decided...

IC:
What is that!? A rustling of the wind!? A tiger, waiting to pounce!? Or, perhaps, it is a cow grazing in the field. Yes. It's a cow, look! You can see its hide glistening in the sunlight.

But no, it is not a cow. This becomes aparent as six men stand up from behind tall grass. Their ebony bodies half-concealed behind towering shields of Cow-hide. (http://www.civfanatics.com/civ3images/units/small_gif/civ3_impi.gif)

A man stepped out of the crowd. (http://library.thinkquest.org/27209/images/Chaka_Zulu_King.gif) His black and powerful body contrasted against the sandiness of the tall, tan grass. In his right hand he held the powerful Assegais, or Zulu Spear, and in his left he held his Cow-hide shield. He stood before the strange men with their strange weapons, and called forth their leader calling, in his deep voice.

"I am Shaka Zulu! Lord of the Zulu people! Who are these...warriors who march into our midst!?"

OOC: I always wondered who would win: Roman Legionaries or Impis. Roman legionaries might have had the discipline, but both sides employed similar tactics and the Impi had battle drugs (hallucenogens), were not afraid to die, and had kamikazie warriors whose point it was to break through the lines.

Oh, and you don't have to understand what Shaka said. Remember, he's not speaking Japanese.

(ooc: Back in time many years)

The sea was cold and unforgiving. A lone longboat, which had crossed the great seas from its homeland, tossed about in the stormy surf, in a place no Northman had ever dared visit. Of twenty brave warriors who had entered the boat, there were only 12 remaining; Loki the trickster had sent storms their way, and the dead had been taken. So they tossed about, and their leader, Sigurd Olafsson, looked out at the storm ahead. Yet one small thing managed to catch the Northman's weary eyes. A little, white bird, sailing amongst the gray clouds, floating into the heavens, towards a distant shore. Sigurd gazed in awe, that such a creature could be alive whilst in such angry seas. A thought crossed the his mind. There must be land nearby. The white bird would lead them. "Change course," yelled the Northern warrior. "Follow the white bird!"

"Aye," the crew yelled in unison, as their oars turned the longboat toward the bird's direction. Slicing through the churning waves like a knife, the long trained and hardened crew rowed its hardest. Their rations, by now, had given way; they needed a safe harbor, and provisions. Such was their duty, as Midgard's explorers. They wanted to survive, so as to return home. But home had lost its meaning. Most of the crew only dreamed of living another day.

The clouds with great mercy began to part, and the great sun revealed itself to the eyes of the belegured explorers. They looked out, and saw a great shore ahead of them, one that none had ever before seen. Sigurd felt his reddish beard, and felt his blood run fast through his veins. A castle, upon a high plateau, next to a great city. The Gods had sent the Northmen here, thought Sigurd, but for what? To what end had Odin sent the band of wayfarers to this strange realm?

So the Northmen retracted the sail on their boat, and rowed into the harbor of the great city. Before an unsuspecting populace, they asked with whatever means they could for quarter and provisions, with but a few meager silver bars for exchange. Sigurd, with no knowledge of who these people were, made conversation in his Norse tounge, to no avail, until the Gods upon him took pity, and helped him to figure out a few phrases in the native language. So he asked the citizens of the city to introduce him to their leader, so that he might find quarter and continue his journey.

The samurai guards siezed the 12 barbarians at once they set foot in the harbor. For none came inside the city of Lord Toranaga without permission. But because they were barbarians the captain of the watch did not kill them as was law. Instead he had his men search them and take away their weapons. Then leading them guarded by 40 samurai he led them to a small walled barracks and left them guarded in the courtyard. Quickly a samurai was sent to inform Lord Toranaga.

Having expected a much more kind welcome, and hoping for provisions, the Northmen felt betrayed. Loki, contriver of mischief, must have had his dirty hands in this, the twelve men thought. Though without weapons, they simply sat in the courtyard. Sigurd, with his god-given knowledge of some local phrases, called out to their captors, "What is this welcoming you give us? We are guests in your house. Will you not recieve us with kindness, and allow us into your hall? We mean you no harm; all we wish for is quarter for a few nights, and provisions that we might continue our journey. We are only harmless sailors."

The guards simply ignored the red beirded barbarian, but soon three small maids entered carrying three trays, each with bowls of rice with small pieces of raw fish on top. Bowing past the samurai guards they came and set the trays down beside the barbarians then left. Ignoring the chopsticks on the trays the guards watched disgusted as the barbarians ate the rice out of the bowls with their hands, and they ignored the fish which was good for even a lowly peasent. Another samurai entered, dressed more pompously than the others. The guars bowed to him then the captain of the guards stepped forward and began reporting.

"Noburo-sama, these barbarians have no manners. I ask formally for you to allow me to take their heads. They are desturbing the Wa of the barracks." The captain bowed again.

"No Yoshinaka-san, you may not have their heads unless they try to escape or fight. Incredible though, neh? They are strange, but my father wishes to find out all he can from them, they seem to be nothing more than eta but he is our lord so we must obey." He turned to leave then added," Also before night see that they are bathed, they stink horribley."

All the samurai bowed and Noburo left to report to his father. The guards stepped forward and took away the empty bowls and trays and then led the barbarians to a small bath house and through hand gestures made them understand they were take a bath.

The food, though strange, was welcome to the Northmen, who had survived off mere biscuits and water for more then a year. A few tried the fish, but many wondered why it was uncooked, and figured that since it was uncooked, it must be poisoned or otherwise disease transmitting. They also welcomed a bath; most had not had a proper bath since their departure.

Of course, they were weary. Before, where they went, they were treated as honored guests, and given the best of provisions and an audience of the local king. Apparently, these men had no compuction for such time-honored traditions. Yet, of course, this was a strange land. The men of the North looked inquisitivly around, wondering where they were, and what this land was like.

Toranaga sat on his audiance room dias and listened to his son who sat front him. "Lord the barbarians are strange. Tall and with hair and eyes different in color from ours. Also I checked with the captain and looked over their weapons. The have swords and spears but the swords were strait and were of poor quality, the same for the spears. But they did have a type of armour I found interesting." Noburo clapped his hands and a samurai entered holding a chain mail vest. Bowing he presented it to Lord Toranaga. Toranaga felt over the small metal circles and looked over it.

"Intersting piece of armour. Have a thief from the prisons brought and have him wear this. Then test to see if the armour will hold against our own weapons. If it does then take it to the armorers and have it copied ten times." Noburo bowed and left, taking the mail with him, and headed to the prisons to test out the mail.

Toranaga himself sat and thought on the new barbarians. 'They seemed taller and more broad of shoulder than us. And from what the Yoshinaka said they have foul manners when it comes to eating. What should I do with them...' He continued to brood on it, having his evening meal brought to him and a small serving girl serving him cha. 'I think I will have to find their leader and break him. I wish to use them to my purposes, a horse must be broken before it can be riden, a man is no different.' Sipping on his cup of cha he looked out the window to his right, looking at the darkening sky.


The guards took the barbarians to a room in the back of the barracks, posted guards then left the barbarians alone. Nonuro reported that the chainmail would resist most sword strokes except from the strongest arm, but was easy to breach with arrows only 50 paces away, a musket bullet put a hole through it from 100 paces. Toranaga had it copied.

Still dazed by their encounters and relativley ill treatment, the Northmen tried to sleep in their room. One of the crew, Wiglaf, questioned Sigurd. "Why have we come to these shores? We are treated as dogs, we've had our weapons, armor, and ship taken from us, we are served foreign foods with uncooked fish and strange wooden sticks, we are under guard at all times. How can we return to our homes when we are captives of a foreign king, a king who remains to us anonymous?"

Sigurd responded with clear thought, stroking his young, small beard. "These are foreign shores we have landed upon. The men here seem to have no kindness towards their guests, as do most. What would happen should a god disguise himelf as a mortal, come here, and be treated as we have? He would be angered beyond belief, and would have his vengeance! Do these foreigners not realize that? But, perhaps, this is only a precautionary measure on their part. Perhaps a war is going on right now, and we have merely intruded. They may see us as spies, but perhaps we can serve this king and prove our worth otherwise. They seemed interested in our weapons and armor, and might be impressed by our skills in battle. But for now, we have a bed that does not rock in the waves. Let us sleep, so that we will have our strength tommarow."

And so all the Northmen laid down and slept. All except Sigurd. The Wayfarer, hindered by foul winds and un-welcoming hosts in his great journey, simply stared at the walls, lost in thought and dreams of home.

woot...........another person who wacths anime...im guessing.......if i ever go FT im using gundam and xenosaga crap lol

Posted by RevertRomance
woot...........another person who wacths anime...im guessing.......if i ever go FT im using gundam and xenosaga crap lol

not really...I do like anime but I like samurai and have a great interest in Japan. If I ever go Future Tech, I will be using samurai will power armour and energy swords. moowhaha...

not really...I do like anime but I like samurai and have a great interest in Japan. If I ever go Future Tech, I will be using samurai will power armour and energy swords. moowhaha...

i thought you WERE japanese?

OOC: Nope, just very obsessed with their culture, and I speak the language, or enough not to emberras myself. Also I learned how to use a katana, 5 years of kendo and Iaido. My sensai was a hard ass...

OOC: Nope, just very obsessed with their culture, and I speak the language, or enough not to emberras myself. Also I learned how to use a katana, 5 years of kendo and Iaido. My sensai was a hard ass...

my good friend had a couple katanas so i learned a bit but you could whip my ass i bet, and im good culture wise, but not that good with the language im only like at the entry level stuff (but like i said i know enough to not look at the subs all the time)

Posted by RevertRomance:
my good friend had a couple katanas so i learned a bit but you could whip my ass i bet, and im good culture wise, but not that good with the language im only like at the entry level stuff (but like i said i know enough to not look at the subs all the time)

at least the subs aren't too bad...and thats cool that you tried to learn a few moves with a katana. Very elegant weapon. If you like the culture you might try reading a book called Shogun by James Clavell. Good book and gives a lot of insight to the way Japanese people are and think...back in the 1500's.

After reading this thread I would wish you good luck and have a good future in Nation States and also remeber to have a good and fun time in Nation States.
P.S. The only foregin unit I could think that is capable of fighting a samurai may be a knight during the middle ages and I do admire the Japanese culture for their great honor and their great history.

Posted by The Scandinvans:
After reading this thread I would wish you good luck and have a good future in Nation States and also remeber to have a good and fun time in Nation States.
P.S. The only foregin unit I could think that is capable of fighting a samurai may be a knight during the middle ages and I do admire the Japanese culture for their great honor and their great history.

Thanks, and yea I'd have to agree that a knight would be the only person who'd have a real good chance at beating a samurai.

The guards woke the barbarians, kicking some of them who wouldn't get up. The dawn had just come, its rays coming through the doorway and small window. Yoshinaka stood to one side as they were brought out into the courtyard again. He stood in front of them and started talking. "Today I'm going to teach you some manners, until that you will not be fed. Now bow!" The barbarians just stared at him unknowingly, but one began to bow a he had seen a samurai bow.

"You do not bow to me like that! Guards, make them bow!" Several guards rushed forward and using short staffs smacked the barbarians onto their knees.

"There, thats better, you bow like a peasent to a samurai. Wakimaska? Do you understand?" One of them nodded and spoke to the others. They all nodded.

"Good, that will have to do for now. Bring some rice!" Several serving girls came from a shoji door holding trays of rice again and set them down. He set guards about the courtyard, then sent his report to Lord Toranaga.

OOC: Actually, the Roman Legion, with Steel weapons and armour, would have been an even match for the Samurai. Many times Roman Legions have shown little fear of death - a good example was the legion of Marius. Futhermore, Romans fought against many different cultures with many different fighting styles, and their Tetsudo formation is difficult to defeat.

It really depends on the strategic skills of their leaders - Romans are strong in a different way to Samurai.

Some Swiss Mercenaries, Knights and Paladins, Beserks, and other such elite warrior gorups could match up against Samurai, although most wouldn't have the advantage.

I've always been interested in the Samurai - their weapons crafting was always a great intrest to me. I love quality weapons, and the Samurai had the best. I've learnt several Sword-fighting techniques, mostly European. Recently, I had a mock battle with someone who fought as a Samurai - that gave me an insight into their skills.

To the soverign nation of Yoshi-noh-Minowara

IC:

I would like too make several proposals to you. Firstly, you stated you require guns. I have an offer to make you on that account. Instead of guns, we offer you someone with the skills to not only teach your craftsmen to make guns, but improve them. In exchange, we wish to take account of your nation, it's strength, culture and other factors such as climate and topography. I assure you, this is not to make way for an invasion. If I wished to do that, you would be dead already. I see the oppurtunity as a way of extending the hand of trade and friendship.

If you accept, the smith will arrive on the south of your borders. He will be accompanied by 25 guards, (I heard you were at war, I must ensure my people's security). Your force can be as large as you wish.

OOC: The reason I'm telling you to wait for me is to avoid you seeing a spaceship - I'm guessing you want to stay Samurai.

The Northmen looked at the rice, and the accompanying sticks, and wondered again what to do. Many continued eating with their hands, though Sigurd looked carefully at the sticks, and tried at one point to make use of them. With one stick in one hand and another in the other, he attempted to pick up the ball of rice before him, but to no avail. He tried doing it with one hand, but found this again awkward. So he put down the sticks, and began using his hands as the others did.

OOC: Wow. People completely ignored my post. Fine then, I'll make a better one.

IC:

It had been a few small boats, and to blown off course like that...

It was lucky their shanty boats weren't destroyed, let alone upright in the still water.

The crew members of the three boats were dazed and confused: for three days they had been drifting on the open sea. They were hungry, tired, and most of all thirsty. They had to row through the Eye constantly, causing them to break up into shifts of men. Their muscular ebony backs caked with sweat as the unconcealed sun (for, in the eye there were no clouds) beat mercilessly on them. A few of them were almost at the brink of death, only the Isangoma who had been with the Warriors during their ordeal was able to help them with his umuthi. However, all of the men in the boats knew what was happening: they had already lost nine men. In another day their company would no longer be alive: the lifewater will have run out from them.

The Isangoma, named Mzimela, realized their only hope was to call upon the Great Creator, Nkulunkulu, to help them. For without Nkulunkulu's guidance, they would be dead. He asked the men to stop their rowing and call out Nkulunkulu's name! He told his men to remember that if the Chameleon had come to humans first, they would be Immortal! Why can the Chameleon's words not be true! He told them to raise their hands in the air, and with their last strength call out Nkulunkulu's name!

The thirty men who were left raised stood up and raised their hands. Some collapsed before they could even speak, some of the boats rocked so violently that many felt they should jump off to save themselves, but the men stood firm and, raising their hands, they called out “Nkulunkulu, Guide Us! Protect your people! Let the Storm-Wall break!” over and over again, calling out towards the wall of the storm!

Then, the storm wall passed, the clouds came back, the sky was clear again.

Nkulunkulu had guided them.

What they saw next shocked them.

It was a great building of stone upon a hill, its slanted roofs visible from here. They were many times the size of even the chief’s hut, the Induna. In fact, it looked as though it were many-times as large as an entire village! Mzimela was amazed, if only Shaka was here to see this. He ordered his men to row up to the island on which the castle stood, already shrouded in mist from the edge of the storm. They washed up on shore to see, not men of black skin but men and women with eyes as though an i-klwas (spear) had been thrust into skin that covered their eyes. And their skin was not black, but pale: as though they were stricken with some disease. Mzimela decided to call these people “the Pale Spear-faced.”

Mzimela called out in isiZulu to the people, “Pale Spear-faced, I ask you for water and shelter for our mighty Zulu warriors.”

The local people obviously had no idea what he had said, but one thing was certain: they were afraid.

Mzimela was cautious, holding his whitening hair as he said, “I wish to speak with your chief. You chief! Do you not understand me? Chief, chief!”

He then raised his hands above his head feigning a great plumed hat, and striking a mighty warrior pose.

He then said, “Bring me and my men water! Water!”

He then cupped his hands and brought them to his lips and feigned drinking sounds.

The Pale Spear-Faced seemed to understand, at least the first part. Some of them went up towards the castle: intent on finding their lord…

OOC: Oh, and to give you an idea about what these warriors look like...

Zulu Impis (http://www.kwazulu.co.uk/cwsmart.jpg)

Posted by The Zulu Impis
OOC: Actually, the Roman Legion, with Steel weapons and armour, would have been an even match for the Samurai. Many times Roman Legions have shown little fear of death - a good example was the legion of Marius. Futhermore, Romans fought against many different cultures with many different fighting styles, and their Tetsudo formation is difficult to defeat.

It really depends on the strategic skills of their leaders - Romans are strong in a different way to Samurai.

Some Swiss Mercenaries, Knights and Paladins, Beserks, and other such elite warrior gorups could match up against Samurai, although most wouldn't have the advantage.

I've always been interested in the Samurai - their weapons crafting was always a great intrest to me. I love quality weapons, and the Samurai had the best. I've learnt several Sword-fighting techniques, mostly European. Recently, I had a mock battle with someone who fought as a Samurai - that gave me an insight into their skills.

To the soverign nation of Yoshi-noh-Minowara

IC:

I would like too make several proposals to you. Firstly, you stated you require guns. I have an offer to make you on that account. Instead of guns, we offer you someone with the skills to not only teach your craftsmen to make guns, but improve them. In exchange, we wish to take account of your nation, it's strength, culture and other factors such as climate and topography. I assure you, this is not to make way for an invasion. If I wished to do that, you would be dead already. I see the oppurtunity as a way of extending the hand of trade and friendship.

If you accept, the smith will arrive on the south of your borders. He will be accompanied by 25 guards, (I heard you were at war, I must ensure my people's security). Your force can be as large as you wish.

OOC: The reason I'm telling you to wait for me is to avoid you seeing a spaceship - I'm guessing you want to stay Samurai.

OOC: You said you gained insight to the japanese sword fighting by fighting the guy, but did you beat him? ;) And sorry for not responding, I've been having to drag some hours at work. As to your proposal, not bad but the only improvement in guns for me that I might want would be to go from the old matchlock to the musket, like the British Brown Bess (http://lapetoire.free.fr/public/pn%20epaule/B/Brown%20Bess%20fabr.%). If your smith can offer that then I will be happy to.

IC:

Lord Toranaga read over the proposal and nodded. He looked up and motioned for his son Noburo to come forward. The young man shuffles forward and bowed.

"Noburo, you will go with a hundred men and escort the smith here. You are responsible. They may keep the arms they bring, but watch them carefully. Take also fifty men of the Teppo Ashigaru."

"Hai Toranaga-sama. Wakimasu." (Yes, Lord Toranaga, I understand.)

Noburo bowed then left the audiance room. Toranaga put the letter away then leaned on his knees thinking, still brooding over a report from his spies in Korea as well as the report Captian Yoshinaka about the other barbarians.

OOC: Uh...am I supposed to be the "other barbarians?" I don't know if I should continue to RP or not...I don't want to god-mod.

OOC: Anyone from outside their lands are called barbarians. Nothing personal. Lord Toranaga is interested in your trade agreement and is simply being catious with the situation. Nothing to worry about god-modding because I dont plan to kill your men.

IC:

Within the day Noburo rode out of the castle, a long line of mounted cavalry (http://samourais.free.fr/Yamazaki_1.jpg) and Teppo Ashigaru followed him.

OOC: What I mean is: are you going to RP the reaction to these thirty dudes, or should I?

Would you mind making at least 1 million of your samurai swords, I need to see if they are better then a Gladticus sword.

OOC: Okay, I just want to throw my glove into this debate about "Who would win, Roman Legionaries or Samurai?"

That's the same as asking "Who would win, God or a rock?" The Romans, although their Legionary was advanced for its time, were at a totally different level of technology compared to the Japanese. A samurai army had better technology than a Roman army did. Tactics wise, they were pretty much the same (although, the Japanese had experience taking down castles and the Romans had experience taking down large animals (such as elephants)).

Now, a Gladius, made from Spanish steel, was a good sword. For the Ancient world, that is. A Samurai's Katana is not made from just iron, it's made from many different layers of metal. Even today, they are concidered the finest swords in the world. A katana would only be concidered good if it was able to chop through a person in half with no resistance. A Gladius just can't compare with that.

However, Samurai armor was not heavy. It was designed to deflect attacks rather than resist them. If a Roman Legionary were to get near a Samurai, and was able to penetrate them, then the Samurai would be down.

Also, there's the issue of training. A Roman Legionary was trained to attack in formation with other soldiers. A Samurai was trained to be like a European Knight: a major force to win the battle and to pick out individuals in fights. A single Roman Legionary is a footsoldier, a single Japanese Samurai is someone whose trained for years to kill men one-on-one in swordsplay as well as with support from Samurai armies.

Enough babbling, let me give you my take of what would happen one-on-one: a Samurai v. a Roman Legionary (let's say...a Helvetii).

The Samurai and Helvetii would meet eachother in combat. The Samurai has knowledge of how to take down an oponent who uses swordplay. The Roman Legionary knows how to take down a soldier whose equiped with anything. The Samurai may wait for the Roman Legionary to do his move, or might charge himself. There are two possible outcomes: For both outcomes, the Roman Legionary would use the same tactic: batter the enemy down with their tower shield, then do a quick stab with a sharp Gladius.

The first outcome is the Samurai, completely unprepared to deal with a warrior with such a large shield, is battered down and killed by the gladius penetrating the light armor.

The second outcome is the Samurai slices onto the sword. Several people I know of have done the calculations and even attempted to cut through a Euorpean Knight's armor with a katana. A katana can cut through European armor with enough strength. Therefore, it is possible that the Samurai cuts through the Legionary's shield and kills the Legionary.

In the end, it wouldn't matter. A Berserker or Impi could kill both of them.

Posted by the Zulu Impis
In the end, it wouldn't matter. A Berserker or Impi could kill both of them.

LOL, very good, and your arguement is the same as mine. And Roman Republics, it would take a couple hundred years to fulfill such an order of 1 mill swords. My present force of blacksmiths can make perhaps 40 every two months, 200 spears a month, and 900 arrows a month. Thats just in my capital. If I were to use my entire domain I could maybe get off with 400 swords a month, 12,000 spears, 60,000 arrows. And even then it would take me forever. I dont want to even think of how much metal it would take...

... as well as the cha-nan-yu ceremony (Tea Ceremony).

Cha-nan-yu? Who have you been talking to? The tea ceremony is known as chaji. Cha-nan-yu isn't even Japanese, that sounds more Chinese or Korean.

Anyway, since I live in Tokyo, I may be of some help to you in the future. Just telegram my nation (t-gram Tokarev (http://www.nationstates.net/cgi-bin/index.cgi/page=display_nation/nation=Tokarev), not Bittereinder) if you ever need help setting a Japanese setting or getting the right word or whatever.

And watch out, I am sneaking in the castle ... :)

http://www-personal.engin.umich.edu/~chancl/images/Japan_Sanyo_Trip/with%20Yehliu_Himeji%20Castle.jpg

Also, samurai were not lords. The word even means "one who serves." Like European knights, they served feudal lords.

(EDIT: Although I have not done much research into the feudal history of my own country, I am just going by what I remember from school.)


And can you read yet? 挨拶

Also, samurai were not lords. The word even means "one who serves." Like European knights, they served feudal lords.

(EDIT: Although I have not done much research into the feudal history of my own country, I am just going by what I remember from school.)


And can you read yet? 挨拶

OOC: Lord doesn't mean leader, it can also mean "one who is of noble blood." Basicly, saying lord to anyone means "you are my superior."

The Noble Aristocracy of Europe, ususally Knights who fought for feudal lords, were almost identicle to Samurai in their status and wealth.

Thanks, and yea I'd have to agree that a knight would be the only person who'd have a real good chance at beating a samurai.

OOC: ~pokes nose in~ I'd have to disagree. Samurai enjoyed great mobility in their armor, and had few visability problems. Knights had visibility problems galore, moved like behemoths, and did not have the style of combat Samurai considered normal. Samurai would have won easily.

OOC: ~pokes nose in~ I'd have to disagree. Samurai enjoyed great mobility in their armor, and had few visability problems. Knights had visibility problems galore, moved like behemoths, and did not have the style of combat Samurai considered normal. Samurai would have won easily.

OOC: Again, it depends. A knight on horseback would easily lose. A knight on horseback had so much armor on that if it fell of its horse it couldn't move. And, as I mentioned earlier, a katana could pierce a European Knight's armor. However, if you're dealing with a Knight's Templar equivalent, then it might be a fair fight...with a slight advantage for the Samurai.

Again, I say it doesn't really matter. A Berserker or Impi would destroy all of them.

OOC: You know, I've mentioned it two times, so let me tell you why I think a Berserker or Impi would win.

First of all, they both share one common weapon: drugs. The Norsemen and Impi's would take halucenogenic mushrooms and drugs before combat that would elevate them into a combative blood-lust so fierce that some accounts have said that Berserkers had taken bites out of shields and Impis had been penetrated by several spears before finally succumbing to death.

Also, they were both fearless. The Berserkers were simply so wound-up that they wouldn't even notice when they were losing (which, as far I as I can tell, never really happened till they settled down). And the Impi? Well, let's just say they felt they were immune to British rifles after several cerimonies and potions.

Finally, their tactics. Now, the Berserkrs have a tactic which many people overlook: they're essentially medieval marines. They come out of nowhere and invade, plunder, kill, and rape, before vanishing into the sea. They struck with terror so great, that the old famous phrase was born "God save us from the fury of the Norsemen." It was only when the Norse began to settle down did their Berserker's effectiveness was destroyed.

The Impi had a radically advanced tactic which has been theorized would overwhelm even a Roman Legion (mainly because of its concentration on the weak Roman flanks...), called the "Horns of the Bull" (izimpondo zenkomo). Also, Impi were, essentially, the first mechanized infantry (mechanized in the sense that they had a system of helpers who followed the warriors and kept them constantly move with food and drink). They could travel staggering distances in the hot sun, and were even able to out-run British cavalry during the Anglo-Zulu war. However, speed and tactics were never good against guns...

OOC: The "radical strategy" is a standard encirclement, which his main foes were not used to dealing with - the difference between "war as ceremony" and "war as business". He also introduced "shield as weapon" and "enough shield to cover whole body", radical at the time, but definitely necessary to his victories. Shaka Zulu changed the nature of warfare in Africa from a ritualised exchange of taunts with minimal loss of life into a true method of subjugation by wholesale slaughter. Half a century after Shaka's death, the Zulu nation still employed his tactics to defeat their enemies and repel invaders, reinforcing Shaka's reputation as one of modern Africa's most influential military leaders.

Against the Romans, this would not work as well - The normal arrangement was to place the infantry in the centre and the cavalry on the wings. The function of the latter was to prevent the centre from being outflanked and once the battle turned and the enemy started to retreat the cavalry moved forward and cut them down. - Horsemen were always a secondary force in ancient warfare, the main fighting being done by the infantry.

To the best of my knowledge, Impis had no cavalry equivalent, and as such would get outdistanced and clobbered by cavalry tactics, unable to achieve the encirclement they saught. Secondly, the Roman weaponry was superior to the Zulus (steel will go through cowhide, and they carried steel shields and wore steel armor) as was their armor.

Zulus advantage would be in stamina, infantry mobility, and drug-induced insanity. However, it would appear the Roman Cavalry would be the turning point.

OOC: The "radical strategy" is a standard encirclement, which his main foes were not used to dealing with - the difference between "war as ceremony" and "war as business". He also introduced "shield as weapon" and "enough shield to cover whole body", radical at the time, but definitely necessary to his victories. Shaka Zulu changed the nature of warfare in Africa from a ritualised exchange of taunts with minimal loss of life into a true method of subjugation by wholesale slaughter. Half a century after Shaka's death, the Zulu nation still employed his tactics to defeat their enemies and repel invaders, reinforcing Shaka's reputation as one of modern Africa's most influential military leaders.

Against the Romans, this would not work as well - The normal arrangement was to place the infantry in the centre and the cavalry on the wings. The function of the latter was to prevent the centre from being outflanked and once the battle turned and the enemy started to retreat the cavalry moved forward and cut them down. - Horsemen were always a secondary force in ancient warfare, the main fighting being done by the infantry.

To the best of my knowledge, Impis had no cavalry equivalent, and as such would get outdistanced and clobbered by cavalry tactics, unable to achieve the encirclement they saught. Secondly, the Roman weaponry was superior to the Zulus (steel will go through cowhide, and they carried steel shields and wore steel armor) as was their armor.

Zulus advantage would be in stamina, infantry mobility, and drug-induced insanity. However, it would appear the Roman Cavalry would be the turning point.

Survey-says: BZZZT!!!

Cavalry would NOT be able to outdo Impis.

Dude, just think about it: Big shields and big spears. Remind you of anything? Triarii, perhaps? And what do Triarii do well? Say it with me...

Kill Cavalry

Also, depending if they were on rough ground or not, the Impi would be able to overtake horsemen, as it was proven during the Anglo-Zulu war. British cavalry, this is cavalry with rifles, mind you, were outrun over the rough terrain by Zulu warriors.

OOC: Lord doesn't mean leader, it can also mean "one who is of noble blood." Basicly, saying lord to anyone means "you are my superior."

The Noble Aristocracy of Europe, ususally Knights who fought for feudal lords, were almost identicle to Samurai in their status and wealth.

Yoshi-noh-Minowara is saying that the leader of his kingdom is a samurai, and I am 80% sure that is inaccurate. Since you seem to have more knowledge on feudal matters then I do, you can tell whether I am wrong or not.

OOC: During most of Japan's fuedal period (12th-16th centuries) different clans and provinces were ruled by a Daimyo (Lord). A samurai ( one who serves) was a title given only to warriors. And only until the late 13th century almost anyone could pick up the two swords (daisho), after this time they became a seperate class of society. Samurai controled land and income. A samurai had the right to kill anyone who wasn't a samurai, so long as it was within the law to do so. Over the period of the Sengoku (Country at War) several powerful Daimyo's strove to make themselves Shogun. The Emperor was mostly powerless and controlled very little money, but was still respected, and no samurai would ever go against the Emperor; for only the Emperor could give a Daimyo a imperial mandate, and giving him the title of Shogun, this being if he was a decendant of the Minomotos who were the Daimyo's who started the title and position of Shogun. I am typing this in reference to Bittereinder, if you wish to discuss and argue who would win between a samurai and a roman legionair then I suggest you go to the General section of the forums, because your crowding my thread with it.

My nation even though in modern tech has dicovered a new kind a metal that I call Mrinathmail(unbreakabale metal). We have forged it using ancient metal making techniques but we use modern made furnace to allow for more heat durable furnace becaue the required tempatue to make is 2100-2500 degrees and it is made of gold 8%, silver 12%, iron 45%, copper 15%, diamoond 5%, emerald 5%, refined steel 5%, and 5% secret substances esstenial in it's making. We would offer you a full suit of armor and two samuri swords and a cermonial spear.

.

OOC: You said you gained insight to the japanese sword fighting by fighting the guy, but did you beat him? ;) And sorry for not responding, I've been having to drag some hours at work. As to your proposal, not bad but the only improvement in guns for me that I might want would be to go from the old matchlock to the musket, like the British Brown Bess (http://lapetoire.free.fr/public/pn%20epaule/B/Brown%20Bess%20fabr.%). If your smith can offer that then I will be happy to.

IC:

Lord Toranaga read over the proposal and nodded. He looked up and motioned for his son Noburo to come forward. The young man shuffles forward and bowed.

"Noburo, you will go with a hundred men and escort the smith here. You are responsible. They may keep the arms they bring, but watch them carefully. Take also fifty men of the Teppo Ashigaru."

"Hai Toranaga-sama. Wakimasu." (Yes, Lord Toranaga, I understand.)

Noburo bowed then left the audiance room. Toranaga put the letter away then leaned on his knees thinking, still brooding over a report from his spies in Korea as well as the report Captian Yoshinaka about the other barbarians.

OOC: Yes, I won, and a good match it was. Two Swords with armguards > Samurai of any type or armament. Armour is great and all, but unarmed blows can jar or shake the body long enough to beat them senseless, or help to wear them down. That was exactly what occured.

The Xenonian Guards had arrived several hours earlier. They wore personal shields, although they had no intention of using them. Each held one Sword, slightly longer than the standard Katana. The blades could change shape with an impulse, beocming all sorts of weapons. They wore light Padded armour, and stood to attention. Their leader - Rendei Dros, stationed guards to keep an eye out for the receiving party.

The Twenty five Guards wore the Black and Orange uniforms of the Xenonian Expeditoinary force. The smith was unarmed, and had no gifts other than his marvellous mind. As a means of establish friendship, and respectable tribute, he intended not to give the lord he would assist a sword, but commence the making of one the moment he got there.

It was the best way to investiagate the natural resources, and techniques of the smiths of this land, after all.

Noburo sat in a small clearing on the outskirts of his fathers domain waiting for the smith to arrive. His guards emcircled the wooded area. He had stationed a few men within the bushes, their harquibsies ready and primed, just as a precation. He had a few local maids bring tatami mats for himself and the guest to sit on as they drank a cup of cha and discussed his fathers request and terms. Breathing deeply he half closed his eyes and waited.