NationStates Jolt Archive

sign up and overall ooc thread here (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=576454)

Kai Province, the seat of power for the Takeda daimyo, was a lush and green land, protected from the expansionist wars of its rulers by outlying settlements and a massive army. Villagers looked up from their rice paddies as a horse and rider galloped through the narrow paths, heading for the seat of the Takeda daimyo.

His clothing, a plain hakama and haori, were embroidered with the Takeda symbol, and he wore the daisho of a samurai. His horse was a good steed, well-cared for and of good stock. Despite this, his belongings were few, and worn with age and use. This was Takeda Makoto, second son to the lord of Kai, Katsuyori. He reached the castle of his father's quickly, and was ushered into a back room. Inside, his father lay ill, bedridden and unconscious. Nearby, his sister, Tsukiko, tended him. Their brother, Nobukatsu, stood in the corner, talking to the generals of the Takeda armies.

Makoto understood the urgency now. Katsuyori was the rallying point of the Takeda clan. Their enemies might try to exploit his sudden demise.

ooc: feel free to join as opposing forces, allies, neutral partners etc.

The small lands of the Kataki clans, the island of Awaji and their recent expansion into Bizen, were, for the first time in centuries, united under a coalition government.

In a river in Bizen, a bowl-like head popped up out of the water, with scraggly hair surrounding the depression. The head looked up. It was raining. Filling its head with water, the Kappa left the river, as the rain would ensure its survival.
A host of other Kappa joined it, their turtle-shell backs coated in a slime.

For too long had they been repressed by the humans. Now was their time of glory.

Makoto's homecoming was shortlived. It was suspected that an attack would be imminent, and the most imposing threat came from the Shirakawa Clan, on their western border. In his room, Makoto prepared himself, polishing his armor and cleaning his sword. His mind was so riddled with thoughts of what was to come, he did not notice when Tsukiko entered.

"Makoto-sama," she said softly. Her voice was hoarse from nights of crying and days of caring diligently for their father. He turned as she sat. "Do you really...think father's dying?"

"It...seems that way," he said carefully. "But, in this world of illusion, nothing is certain."

"I feel that way too," Tsukiko said. "Nightly, I pray to *Kannon that his strength will return...but the doctors are as mystified as ever."

"Tsukiko-chan..." Makoto began. "We can only do what we can...it is up to the Fates to decide our fortunes."


An hour later, Makoto rode off, leading a contingent of the Takeda army, some 3,000. It was a small force, but it was meant as show of force, to shore up the garrisons on the western border. His blue armor glowed deeply in the morning sun, and the large Takeda standard he wore on his back fluttered regally in the wind. As the force marched off, the peasants in the fields briefly stopped their work, bowing deeply to the proud samurai as they passed.

*the goddess of mercy

ooc: the force only has about 100 mounted samurai. the rest are archers, pikemen and ground troops.

ooc: bump?

OOC: Where are they going exactly?

Kagetora;14311739']OOC: Where are they going exactly?
ooc: my eastern borders. so, technically, dontgothere is threatened, but it's also close to your 'area' i believe.

OOC: I'll roleplay in something.

IC:
A very large family of cats, all of which have two tails, sat in the middle of the road. They have recently been exiled from the Kataki for unnecessary and unauthorized violence.

They watch the force move closer.
"What should we do?" said one of them.
The leader stood up on two legs, his two tails swishing back and forth. At full height, he was almost 5 feet tall.
"Attack."

He went back on all fours, and the group of bakeneko, who numbered about 250, moved into ambush positions on the side of the road.

OOC: Bakeneko are monster cats. These are Neko-mata. They can shapeshift, talk, stand, and reanimate corpses by jumping over them.

Kagetora;14311783']OOC: I'll roleplay in something.

IC:
A very large family of cats, all of which have two tails, sat in the middle of the road. They have recently been exiled from the Kataki for unnecessary and unauthorized violence.

They watch the force move closer.
"What should we do?" said one of them.
The leader stood up on two legs, his two tails swishing back and forth. At full height, he was almost 5 feet tall.
"Attack."

He went back on all fours, and the group of bakeneko, who numbered about 250, moved into ambush positions on the side of the road.

OOC: Bakeneko are monster cats. These are Neko-mata. They can shapeshift, talk, stand, and reanimate corpses by jumping over them.
Years of serving as a ronin, Makoto had mastered the art of tracking. He called a halt as he noticed mysterious tracks in the path ahead. They looked like those of a cat...but not any kind he'd ever seen before.

"Form ranks!" he called, "To the trees!"

The pikemen formed on the edges, as archers formed inside along with the regular ground troops. Scattered at regular intervals, mounted samurai took command of their own units.

"Takeda-sama," his second, Hayato, said as he pulled his horse over to his commander. "What is it?"

"These tracks...they look odd," Makoto answered. "It may be nothing." His horse sniffled uncomfortably, "Steady, Chugi..."

ooc: neko-mata, like in P3rsona!

OOC: I'm not familiar with P3rsona. The Neko-mata are a Japanese yokai (folk-tale monster, like an ogre)

IC:
"Dammit." said Chisaii, the leader. He hated his name. He wasn't small.
"Wait here..." he said to his lieutenant, Jan.
Chisaii shapeshifted into a young lady, in her late teens, wearing a beautiful kimono that had recently been cut.

He walked out into the road, making noises as if he was hurt.
He started walking down the road, away from the soldiers with a fake limp.

Kagetora;14311828']OOC: I'm not familiar with P3rsona. The Neko-mata are a Japanese yokai (folk-tale monster, like an ogre)

IC:
"Dammit." said Chisaii, the leader. He hated his name. He wasn't small.
"Wait here..." he said to his lieutenant, Jan.
Chisaii shapeshifted into a young lady, in her late teens, wearing a beautiful kimono that had recently been cut.

He walked out into the road, making noises as if he was hurt.
He started walking down the road, away from the soldiers with a fake limp.
"I hear something..." Makoto said. "Wait here, don't let your guard down."

"Takeda-dono," Hayato protested.

"I'll be fine," he added, spurring Chugi forward. He came around a bend and saw a sight that, to him, was strange in his lands. It was a woman, wounded, limping down the road. What was surprising, however, is that she looked too finely dressed to be some mere peasant. And Makoto knew all the courtesans, consorts and ladies of the nearby lords and vassals.

"Lady," he called out to her, "What is wrong?"

ooc: simple rule; don't kill makoto or his horse.

ooc: neko-mata is a char. that you can use in battles, like in final fantasy.

OOC: Whatever. Am I allowed to hold them hostage?

Kagetora;14311847']OOC: Whatever. Am I allowed to hold them hostage?
ooc: hrm...makoto is kinda my mc, but for a short while...sure. but he won't go out like some punk, k?

OOC: KK

IC:
Chiisai turned around, a frightened look on his face.
"Hello? My name is..." his mind racing "Oka."
He hesitatingly took a step towards Makoto. His shadow showing his two tails swishing back and forth, preparing for a pounce.

Kagetora;14311875']OOC: KK

IC:
Chiisai turned around, a frightened look on his face.
"Hello? My name is..." his mind racing "Oka."
He hesitatingly took a step towards Makoto. His shadow showing his two tails swishing back and forth, preparing for a pounce.
"Oka...I'm not familiar with that clan..." his voice trailed, noticing the shadow. Something's not right... "Who are you?" he demanded, drawing his katana, Chugi snorting his readiness.

"No no no silly. Oka is my personal name." (Versus surname/family name)

Kagetora;14311890']"No no no silly. Oka is my personal name." (Versus surname/family name)
ooc: oh, duh. i get it now...

ic:

"Oka...?" he mused over the name, lowering his sword a bit. "Tell me, what clan do you serve?"

OOC: Lol

IC:
Chiisai's mind began racing again.
"I served the Nagano clan. The city I lived in was recently set upon by the hordes of the Awakened. Very few got out alive."

OOC: I'll post again later. I have to go.

Hopefully school is cancelled

Kagetora;14311897']OOC: Lol

IC:
Chiisai's mind began racing again.
"I served the Nagano clan. The city I lived in was recently set upon by the hordes of the Awakened. Very few got out alive."
ooc: ok.

ic:

Nagano? thought Makoto. He had heard nothing of such an attack in the Takeda province of Shinano.

"How long ago was this?" Makoto asked. "There's been no word of this out of Shinano."

In his cattish voice, Chiisai said
"Oh screw this."
In a fluid motion, he shapeshifted back into the Neko-mata form, and pounced at the samurai, emitting a blood-curdling screech.

Kagetora;14312698']In his cattish voice, Chiisai said
"Oh screw this."
In a fluid motion, he shapeshifted back into the Neko-mata form, and pounced at the samurai, emitting a blood-curdling screech.
Chugi neighed in fear and defiance as Makoto reigned him in. His sword was at the ready in an instant, slashing at the neko-mata as it pounced on him.

"At the ready!" he yelled to his men, warning them of impending danger. He made another slash before wheeling Chugi around, placing distance between himself and the neko-mata.

Chiisai was rolling on the ground, blood seeping from where his ear used to be, and a long cut across his left arm, screeching the entire time.

After he fell, the rest of the Neko-mata, in a form looking like a house cat ran and leapt out from the sides of the road. A loud cattish hiss began to overpower the sounds of the woods.

The cats began to jump, claws extended, at Makoto and Chugi.

Kagetora;14313722']Chiisai was rolling on the ground, blood seeping from where his ear used to be, and a long cut across his left arm, screeching the entire time.

After he fell, the rest of the Neko-mata, in a form looking like a house cat ran and leapt out from the sides of the road. A loud cattish hiss began to overpower the sounds of the woods.

The cats began to jump, claws extended, at Makoto and Chugi.
Makoto grimaced, drawing his wakazashi in his other hand. He lashed out, controlling Chugi to keep them moving, away from their claws.

ooc: gtg to work. will respond later.

OOC: KK

IC:
Several of the cats had already died, but that was no problem. Their comrades just brought them back to life by jumping over them. The only difference was now they had to follow the orders of the one who had brought them into the world of the undead.

The cats continued to dart in and out of the horse's legs, biting and scratching in an effort to topple the steed.

Kagetora;14313798']OOC: KK

IC:
Several of the cats had already died, but that was no problem. Their comrades just brought them back to life by jumping over them. The only difference was now they had to follow the orders of the one who had brought them into the world of the undead.

The cats continued to dart in and out of the horse's legs, biting and scratching in an effort to topple the steed.
"Chugi," Makoto ordered, "Back to Hayato, warn him!"

With that, he vaulted off of his horse and wheeled in a circle, both blades lashing out. He cleared a path for his horse, and paused, thinking out his next move. He lunged forward and ran a neko-mata through that had just been resurrected.

OOC: Since I can't find any legends that tell what happens when an undead person dies, I'm going to assume they are permanently dead, mostly to be fair.

IC:
The neko-mata mob continued their assault on Makoto, who was surrounded by at least a dozen of them in every direction. Backing out of range of the sword, the mob morphed into their true shape, standing about 4'6" tall on average. Then they renewed their assault.

Their arm's reach had also increased with the size change, so more of them could come at once.

Kagetora;14315469']OOC: Since I can't find any legends that tell what happens when an undead person dies, I'm going to assume they are permanently dead, mostly to be fair.

IC:
The neko-mata mob continued their assault on Makoto, who was surrounded by at least a dozen of them in every direction. Backing out of range of the sword, the mob morphed into their true shape, standing about 4'6" tall on average. Then they renewed their assault.

Their arm's reach had also increased with the size change, so more of them could come at once.
ooc: we're keeping this strictly rl, or are there like 'mystical' elements?

ic:

Makoto continued to attack, using his niten-ichi ryu technique to fend off blows as he lashed out with his own attacks. Several blows he could not defend, and it wasn't long before his armor was perforated, traces of blood seeping through the links...

"STOP!" yelled Chiisai, clutching at his arm. All the neko mata drew back out of reach of the samurai's swords.
"Human, we will let you walk out alive, as long as you leave your force's foodstuffs here in the road."

Kagetora;14316383']"STOP!" yelled Chiisai, clutching at his arm. All the neko mata drew back out of reach of the samurai's swords.
"Human, we will let you walk out alive, as long as you leave your force's foodstuffs here in the road."
"We march to possible battle," Makoto replied, "We cannot part with our provisions. If you require foodstuffs, however..." his stance became less threatening, his swords at his side. "I'm sure we can find an agreement."

"Very well. What are you proposing?"

"There are villages nearby..." Makoto said, sheathing his wakizashi, "Some I'm sure could part with food for you..." He looked them over, "Can you do that illusion, again? They won't be so welcome to you in your present form."

"Of course we can you numbskull. And how do you propose we go about getting this food?"

Kagetora;14316591']"Of course we can you numbskull. And how do you propose we go about getting this food?"
"I am the son of the daimyo," Makoto said, annoyed at the numbskull comment. "I'll facilitate for you...if you're willing." He thought long before sheathing his katana as well.

"One more thing. Round up the cats of the village, and have them drink lamp oil. If you do this, we won't have to kill you."

Kagetora;14316644']"One more thing. Round up the cats of the village, and have them drink lamp oil. If you do this, we won't have to kill you."
"Might I ask why...?" Makoto asked, curious.

"Same reason you humans bear children."

Kagetora;14316682']"Same reason you humans bear children."
ooc: seriously, mind explaining...?

ic:

"I'll see what we can do," Makoto said, walking backwards towards his men. "Follow us."

OOC: That's the easiest way for a cat to become a neko-mata. He wants to expand his ranks.

IC:
"Fine. You will not see us, but I assure you, we will know if you don't pull through."

Makoto made his way back to the men, who were still ready for a battle.

"Milord!" Hayato said, noticingh is state. "What happened?" Murmuring from the men grew.

"Have the men break for the night, there's a clearing...not far down this road that you can use," he ignored the question. "Hayato, you'll go with me to the village over that way," he pointed to a fork in the road.

"Uh, yes, Takeda-sama," he answered. He turned to the next in command, a youthful samurai named Katsushiro, "Take the men to encampment...we'll join you later," he said.

A soldier brought forth Chugi, none-the-more for wear, and both men rode of towards the village.

"Makoto-sama, mind explaining this now?"

As they rode to the village, Makoto explained what had happened and the agreement.

Onna, a female neko-mata, hopped around through the bamboo grove, following the humans to the village.

Kagetora;14316796']Onna, a female neko-mata, hopped around through the bamboo grove, following the humans to the village.
Shinano

The head of Shinano, Nagano Shinano no kami Shichiroji, was a close friend of his overall master, Takeda Katsuyori, and as such, had betrothed his daughters to Takeda's sons. His eldest, Rei, was dead set against her marraige against Nobukatsu, and had, in recent times, considered taking on the tonsure of a Shinto priestess. And for all his threatening and boistering, Shichiroji was no match for his daughter's stuborness, a trait of his she had inherited.

As he pondered this, Rei was getting ready to leave. She had heard of the ill fortune of Takeda, and was departing to offer her services. With her were a pair of samurai and her acolyte from the temple.

OOC: What am I supposed to do now?

Kagetora;14317211']OOC: What am I supposed to do now?
ooc: whoops, sorry. i meant to also have a part w. makoto but...slipped my mind

ic:

Makoto and Hayato rode into the village, aware of the amazement of the inhabitants. After all, it wasn't every day that high-ranking samurai rode in. Most bowed respectfully as they rode by, a pair of elderly men approached them.

"Milord," one addressed Makoto, bowing deeply to him. The other followed. Makoto dismounted, removing his horned helmet.

"Good day," Makoto said, "I'm sorry to impose on your village. I have some...guests that require your hospitality."

"Milord, we're a poor village, there is only so much we can offer," the other village elder said.

"Whatever you can spare is welcome," Makoto said. "And now..." he explained the request that he'd been given.

"That is indeed a strange request," said the first elder, "But if it is what Milord requests, we will do what we can."

As the village cats began to lap up the lamp oil, strange changes came over them. A cry came from a nearby grove where Onna waited. The village cats all ran toward it, twitching as they ran, many having their tails become forked.

"So, are they coming?" Hayato asked.

"I don't know, we did as they asked...perhaps I shouldn't be so trusting..."

"It's a good quality in a man," Hayato replied, "In moderation."

"Hai," Makoto agreed, taking an offered cup of sake from the village elder.

Onna let loose a loud screech, calling to Chiisai with the confirmation.
Within a few minutes, Chiisai walked out of the grove in a human form. Even in human form, he was missing his ear, and a gash was apparent on his arm. Behind him followed a small retinue of 5 of his most trusted followers.

Kagetora;14318991']Onna let loose a loud screech, calling to Chiisai with the confirmation.
Within a few minutes, Chiisai walked out of the grove in a human form. Even in human form, he was missing his ear, and a gash was apparent on his arm. Behind him followed a small retinue of 5 of his most trusted followers.
"Makoto-sama," Hayato nodded to their visitors.

"Elders, do not be frightened, these are the visitors I mentioned." With that, Makoto walked over to greet their 'leader,' noticing the missing ear.

"I see you humans are most trustworthy than the Yuki-onna*. Now what is it you request of us in return?" said Chiisai coldly

Kagetora;14319337']"I see you humans are most trustworthy than the Yuki-onna*. Now what is it you request of us in return?" said Chiisai coldly
"Well, first I would like to know if you plan on staying in our lands," Makoto said. "If that were the case, attacking our people would be considered...unconsciounable."

"That depends on what else you have to offer. I personally hate this nomadic life. I think a partnership would be of great benefit to both of us. You feed us, and we serve you."

Kagetora;14320010']"That depends on what else you have to offer. I personally hate this nomadic life. I think a partnership would be of great benefit to both of us. You feed us, and we serve you."
"It is treason in these lands to *swear oaths between one another," Makoto said. "But if you wish to serve the Takeda clan...you would need to speak to my brother, Nobukatsu." He turned to Hayato, "Lead the men to the border, I will bring them before my brother."

"Hai, Makoto-sama," Hayato bowed.

"Before I bring you before him, however," Makoto said, "May I ask for your name?"

*An actual house code of Takeda Shingen

"Very well. My name is Chiisai (Small/little)."

Kagetora;14320121']"Very well. My name is Chiisai (Small/little)."
"Chiisai-sama, are your people ready to serve a lord...? Do you know what it is to serve a daimyo?" Makoto asked.

"My people have been serving someone or another most of their lives. A new one wouldn't bother them. And I would not allow the negotiations to go anywhere where my people would not remain under my power."

Kagetora;14320138']"My people have been serving someone or another most of their lives. A new one wouldn't bother them. And I would not allow the negotiations to go anywhere where my people would not remain under my power."
"I wouldn't dream of it," Makoto said. "So, it's settled. Tonight we rest here, and tomorrow you accompany me back to Kai Castle where you'll meet Nobukatsu."

"I trust you humans about as much as I trust the Kitsune. I will be in the forest tonight."

OOC: I g2g, probably be back in about an hour

Kagetora;14320167']OOC: I g2g, probably be back in about an hour
ooc: ok. gives me a break to eat, lol