Thrashia
30-03-2005, 19:50
The castle was beautiful in the light of the morning dawn. The night's mist gently dancing along the terraces before dispearing. Two guards in their uniform hakamas, hands resting on sword hilts, marching along their rounds. More guards went about their early morning activities within the grounds and passages of the castle donjon. Along a wood panelled passage, walls painted extreme colors of spring, sat a samurai retainer every six paces. Two more sat on either side of a great door at its end. The man walked down the familair hall, the retainers bowing in respect and salute, as he came to the great doors. "I am here to see Toranaga-sama (Lord Toranaga)," he stated simply. The guard bowed and entered alone into the room beyond. Moments later he returned and bowed. "Toranaga-sama says you may enter Lord Hiromatsu." The old man nodded and tightened his grizzled hand around the scabbard of his sword. The guard bowed again and opened the shoji door door for him.
Within was a great meeting hall, the shoji walls on either side hid that the room could be increased in size with their removal. Hiromatsu entered and went before the raised dias at the room end and center. There he bent his head low.
The person sitting on the dias was calmly stroking a hunting hawk gently and speaking kind words to it, not even noticing Hiromatsu's presence. After setting the hawk back to its perch he looked at Hiromatsu whos head remained bowed. Lord Toranaga bent his head slightly. Hiromatsu raised himself into sitting position.
"Good-day to you Toranaga-sama. I am here as you requested." Toranaga nodded and clapped his hands. The nearby shoji door opened and a servant came in, head very low, and presented Lord Toranaga with a small silk sack. Toranaga took it and waved dismissively at the servant who left walking backwards and bowing.
Toranaga threw the sack to Hiromatsu, who deftly caught it. "Do you know what is?"
Hiromatsu opened the sack and emptied it onto the floor. Out came a human head.
Hiromatsu had seen many heads in his time, been in so many battles and head reveiwing ceremonies, but this head surprised him. The skin was more white and the hair brown and gold, the empty eyes were grayed blue.
"It lookes like a oni's (demon) head," Hiromatsu stated matter-of-factly. Toranaga nodded somewhat.
"That is the head of a barbarian seaman who was found with others like him several days ago of the shore of Ise. With him was this." He clapped his hands again and another servant came bearing a long wooden and metal pole, or what seemed to be a pole.
"Very few of these exist within the Empire. Hiromatsu-san, this is a gun. It can fire a small round iron ball at great speeds and pierce even the heaviest armour. The range is only have that of the bow, has a slow rate of fire, and is heavy, but is quite simple to use and can be used by even a lowly peasent." Hiromatsu was struck. He had never known something to piece heavy armour, like his calvary naginata used.
"How many did the Barbarian have?"
"400. I want you to learn all you can from these guns and from the one remaining barbarian. I found that he speaks the same language as those filthy priests, Portugasu, or whatever the devil tongue is called. I want you to learn all you can. I want to try using these for my army."
"So as you order, so shall it be done master." With a bow Hiromatsu stood and walked out, considering this new task from his master Toranaga.
OOC: I am doing a fuedal japan type thing, I think it will be interesting and I'm having guns just introduced to samurai warfare as well. I hope there are others who use or have medieval type nations that I can have relations with, but if not...oh well. Like the intro? Comments? Critizism?
Within was a great meeting hall, the shoji walls on either side hid that the room could be increased in size with their removal. Hiromatsu entered and went before the raised dias at the room end and center. There he bent his head low.
The person sitting on the dias was calmly stroking a hunting hawk gently and speaking kind words to it, not even noticing Hiromatsu's presence. After setting the hawk back to its perch he looked at Hiromatsu whos head remained bowed. Lord Toranaga bent his head slightly. Hiromatsu raised himself into sitting position.
"Good-day to you Toranaga-sama. I am here as you requested." Toranaga nodded and clapped his hands. The nearby shoji door opened and a servant came in, head very low, and presented Lord Toranaga with a small silk sack. Toranaga took it and waved dismissively at the servant who left walking backwards and bowing.
Toranaga threw the sack to Hiromatsu, who deftly caught it. "Do you know what is?"
Hiromatsu opened the sack and emptied it onto the floor. Out came a human head.
Hiromatsu had seen many heads in his time, been in so many battles and head reveiwing ceremonies, but this head surprised him. The skin was more white and the hair brown and gold, the empty eyes were grayed blue.
"It lookes like a oni's (demon) head," Hiromatsu stated matter-of-factly. Toranaga nodded somewhat.
"That is the head of a barbarian seaman who was found with others like him several days ago of the shore of Ise. With him was this." He clapped his hands again and another servant came bearing a long wooden and metal pole, or what seemed to be a pole.
"Very few of these exist within the Empire. Hiromatsu-san, this is a gun. It can fire a small round iron ball at great speeds and pierce even the heaviest armour. The range is only have that of the bow, has a slow rate of fire, and is heavy, but is quite simple to use and can be used by even a lowly peasent." Hiromatsu was struck. He had never known something to piece heavy armour, like his calvary naginata used.
"How many did the Barbarian have?"
"400. I want you to learn all you can from these guns and from the one remaining barbarian. I found that he speaks the same language as those filthy priests, Portugasu, or whatever the devil tongue is called. I want you to learn all you can. I want to try using these for my army."
"So as you order, so shall it be done master." With a bow Hiromatsu stood and walked out, considering this new task from his master Toranaga.
OOC: I am doing a fuedal japan type thing, I think it will be interesting and I'm having guns just introduced to samurai warfare as well. I hope there are others who use or have medieval type nations that I can have relations with, but if not...oh well. Like the intro? Comments? Critizism?