The Last Stand
Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2006 11:52 am
It was over.
The wooden walls of Castle Kyoda were finished. The arrows that were once nothing but flying flames now gnawed mercilessly on the weak barrier. Soon, the Masaharu spearmen would pour in, and the palace would be reeking with brutal torture and death. Soon, their goal would be achieved. Soon, the Kyoda would die, either with their own blades or the blades of their foes. The latter did not seem inviting.
Ichijiro sat stiffly in the throne room, fully equipped in his helmet and well-kept black armor. His face looked youthful, but there was wisdom that was inherent in him. He looked very calm despite the current odds, the expression of a man who has accepted his fate. In front of the Kyoda lord was a group of four men, all of them kneeling loyally in front of him. They were all clad in black armor and a helmet, but their swords were in their hands, unsheathed yet prepared. They were all supposed to be prepared. Though their faces were facing the ground, one could tell that grim determination had set in, and they were ready to do whatever their lord ordered. That was what they have been told, and by their honor, that is what they must do.
"Muto, please come forward." The Kyoda lord's voice was low and soft-spoken, but the message was clear and understood. One of the men stood up, revealing a grizzled man's confident face and proud expression. His eyes burned with fervor and devotion, as if he was prepared to sink into the hellish realms themselves to honor his master. He took a step forward and beat his chest. Ichijiro gave him a stern but controlled look. "Hurry and join Kiru on the main level. Bring my guard with you, and ready your spear. The time that the Spirits have given us is few, but I am confident that a last battle would help us make our final blow devastate them."
Our time would come, but our time shall wound those who oppose us.
Muto bowed vigorously and gazed at his lord. "I shall return to you with their heads on pikes, my lord! If it means that my soul must live on and destroy him, it will my lord. They will pay for defying the Kyoda!" said Muto fiercely, the fire in his eyes burning brighter. He hastened outside the room and shut the screen door.
Ichijiro's gaze flitted to another of his vassals. "Akira, rise." One of the men stood up and gazed at his lord. He was thin and he seemed to be no samurai or great warrior, but rather someone who spent more time discussing tactics with other generals. He had light, gray eyes that showed intelligence and willpower. Ichijiro nodded slowly to himself. "Go take a horse from down the stables while the fires of the wall still burn. Ride swiftly to Castle Yoshitaka and warn lord Yoshitaka of the Masaharu's betrayal. Stay there, and if I survive, I will ride and meet you personally."
The twin daimyos shall set aside their quarrels as one of them perishes in the flames of betrayal.
Akira gave a short bow. "Yes, my lord, I shall do as you say," he said in a nervou voice. Anxiety was something to be expected from a scholarly man like Akira, but Ichijiro was proud of his effort. Akira clasped his hands together and left the room, his face pale but still obedient.
Ichijiro gazed at the two remaining samurai. His eyes lingered on one before speaking again. "Satsume and Akagi, rise." The two samurai rose as one. There was loyalty and honor in their eyes, and they looked just as devoted as the brash Muto. They bowed to their master and looked at each other, nodding. "What do you wish of us, lord?" they said in unison. Their faces were different, but their fealty made them one powerful person.
"Take my children and the other clan members to Yoshida, and guard them with your lives. If I survive from this, I will return to collect them. For now, ensure their safety. I will remain here, and I ask that one of you return here after a fortnight. If the fortress still stands, bring them here. I entrust them to you, my loyal samurai," he said quietly and calmly, as if ordering them to fetch a servant. The two bowed deeply before speaking. "We will do as you ask, our lord! Your family will live." They turned and left the chamber.
My children will live on, and their glory will be the clan's reincarnation.
The Kyoda daimyo chuckled to himself as his left hand reached for the sword stand nearby. It carried the clan's most prized possession...the Sword of Tsukishiro. The blade was forged even before the Empire was divided, and it was given to his ancestors as a memory of their service to the Emperor. Today, it would be drawn at last. The previous time it was drawn, it was when his ancestor Tsukishiro destroyed oni demons that struggled to slay him. Now, it was drawn to destroy the very real demons that awaited him outside. He grabbed the magnificent blade and stood, walking outside the room and proceeding down to the main level.
***
"CHARGE! DIE FOR THE KYODA!" screamed Muto at the top of his lungs. The boisterous samurai's spear was broken, and his sword was in his hands. He cut down a passing Masaharu clan peasant warrior and looked around. Only a hundred men left, barely enough to contain the six hundred Masaharu that stormed the walls. The Kyoda warriors pulled back and let go of their bowstrings, unleashing a brutal torrent of arrows towards the poorly armed Masaharu ashigaru. Bodies slumped to the floor, their armor serving them naught.
More ashigaru charged and Muto struggled to avoid their long, deadly yari spears. However, massing is the purpose of the ashigaru in battle. The samurai commander deflected a blow before being stabbed deeply by a menacing Masaharu warrior in the belly. The crimson lights, the fire...they were fading. Everything turned gray, and before he could glance back, the last vision of a well-armed swordsman battling appeared in his eyes. Then he knew nothing more.
Ichijiro cut his way through four cowering ashigaru and raised his sword to signal his men onward. His vassals cheered and unleashed another rain of arrows towards the retreating peasant warriors. They quickly grabbed their spears and charged again, led by their daimyo on horseback. For them, the tides have turned, and victory reeked in the air.
Ichijiro screamed at the top of his lungs and deftly maneuvered his horse away from a nearing spearman and jabbed his spear at him. Another came forward only to receive the same fate. He looked at a nearby hilltop and yelled, "To the hill! Archers, to the hill!" His bowmen rushed with all speed to the hilltop and began their rounds once more. His spearmen continued the battle near the gates, doing their best to prevent the Masaharu from successfully pouring through the destroyed walls.
Suddenly, Ichijiro noticed a man in yellow armor appear from the gates. He rode a mighty steed, and behind him flew the banners of the Masaharu. The man was holding a daikyu long bow, and an arrow was notched, only waiting for the signal. The tip burned with the raging flames of the Masaharu clan, and Ichijiro suddenly noticed the rider's aim. But it was all too late, as the arrow flew towards the Kyoda lord's heart. The Kyoda clan leader fell down, the hatred in his eyes only rising when it was too late. He was dead. And the hordes of charging ashigaru did not change that.
When the river flows
It survives the waterfall.
It just flows once more.
The Kyoda will rise again...and vengance will be served.
The wooden walls of Castle Kyoda were finished. The arrows that were once nothing but flying flames now gnawed mercilessly on the weak barrier. Soon, the Masaharu spearmen would pour in, and the palace would be reeking with brutal torture and death. Soon, their goal would be achieved. Soon, the Kyoda would die, either with their own blades or the blades of their foes. The latter did not seem inviting.
Ichijiro sat stiffly in the throne room, fully equipped in his helmet and well-kept black armor. His face looked youthful, but there was wisdom that was inherent in him. He looked very calm despite the current odds, the expression of a man who has accepted his fate. In front of the Kyoda lord was a group of four men, all of them kneeling loyally in front of him. They were all clad in black armor and a helmet, but their swords were in their hands, unsheathed yet prepared. They were all supposed to be prepared. Though their faces were facing the ground, one could tell that grim determination had set in, and they were ready to do whatever their lord ordered. That was what they have been told, and by their honor, that is what they must do.
"Muto, please come forward." The Kyoda lord's voice was low and soft-spoken, but the message was clear and understood. One of the men stood up, revealing a grizzled man's confident face and proud expression. His eyes burned with fervor and devotion, as if he was prepared to sink into the hellish realms themselves to honor his master. He took a step forward and beat his chest. Ichijiro gave him a stern but controlled look. "Hurry and join Kiru on the main level. Bring my guard with you, and ready your spear. The time that the Spirits have given us is few, but I am confident that a last battle would help us make our final blow devastate them."
Our time would come, but our time shall wound those who oppose us.
Muto bowed vigorously and gazed at his lord. "I shall return to you with their heads on pikes, my lord! If it means that my soul must live on and destroy him, it will my lord. They will pay for defying the Kyoda!" said Muto fiercely, the fire in his eyes burning brighter. He hastened outside the room and shut the screen door.
Ichijiro's gaze flitted to another of his vassals. "Akira, rise." One of the men stood up and gazed at his lord. He was thin and he seemed to be no samurai or great warrior, but rather someone who spent more time discussing tactics with other generals. He had light, gray eyes that showed intelligence and willpower. Ichijiro nodded slowly to himself. "Go take a horse from down the stables while the fires of the wall still burn. Ride swiftly to Castle Yoshitaka and warn lord Yoshitaka of the Masaharu's betrayal. Stay there, and if I survive, I will ride and meet you personally."
The twin daimyos shall set aside their quarrels as one of them perishes in the flames of betrayal.
Akira gave a short bow. "Yes, my lord, I shall do as you say," he said in a nervou voice. Anxiety was something to be expected from a scholarly man like Akira, but Ichijiro was proud of his effort. Akira clasped his hands together and left the room, his face pale but still obedient.
Ichijiro gazed at the two remaining samurai. His eyes lingered on one before speaking again. "Satsume and Akagi, rise." The two samurai rose as one. There was loyalty and honor in their eyes, and they looked just as devoted as the brash Muto. They bowed to their master and looked at each other, nodding. "What do you wish of us, lord?" they said in unison. Their faces were different, but their fealty made them one powerful person.
"Take my children and the other clan members to Yoshida, and guard them with your lives. If I survive from this, I will return to collect them. For now, ensure their safety. I will remain here, and I ask that one of you return here after a fortnight. If the fortress still stands, bring them here. I entrust them to you, my loyal samurai," he said quietly and calmly, as if ordering them to fetch a servant. The two bowed deeply before speaking. "We will do as you ask, our lord! Your family will live." They turned and left the chamber.
My children will live on, and their glory will be the clan's reincarnation.
The Kyoda daimyo chuckled to himself as his left hand reached for the sword stand nearby. It carried the clan's most prized possession...the Sword of Tsukishiro. The blade was forged even before the Empire was divided, and it was given to his ancestors as a memory of their service to the Emperor. Today, it would be drawn at last. The previous time it was drawn, it was when his ancestor Tsukishiro destroyed oni demons that struggled to slay him. Now, it was drawn to destroy the very real demons that awaited him outside. He grabbed the magnificent blade and stood, walking outside the room and proceeding down to the main level.
***
"CHARGE! DIE FOR THE KYODA!" screamed Muto at the top of his lungs. The boisterous samurai's spear was broken, and his sword was in his hands. He cut down a passing Masaharu clan peasant warrior and looked around. Only a hundred men left, barely enough to contain the six hundred Masaharu that stormed the walls. The Kyoda warriors pulled back and let go of their bowstrings, unleashing a brutal torrent of arrows towards the poorly armed Masaharu ashigaru. Bodies slumped to the floor, their armor serving them naught.
More ashigaru charged and Muto struggled to avoid their long, deadly yari spears. However, massing is the purpose of the ashigaru in battle. The samurai commander deflected a blow before being stabbed deeply by a menacing Masaharu warrior in the belly. The crimson lights, the fire...they were fading. Everything turned gray, and before he could glance back, the last vision of a well-armed swordsman battling appeared in his eyes. Then he knew nothing more.
Ichijiro cut his way through four cowering ashigaru and raised his sword to signal his men onward. His vassals cheered and unleashed another rain of arrows towards the retreating peasant warriors. They quickly grabbed their spears and charged again, led by their daimyo on horseback. For them, the tides have turned, and victory reeked in the air.
Ichijiro screamed at the top of his lungs and deftly maneuvered his horse away from a nearing spearman and jabbed his spear at him. Another came forward only to receive the same fate. He looked at a nearby hilltop and yelled, "To the hill! Archers, to the hill!" His bowmen rushed with all speed to the hilltop and began their rounds once more. His spearmen continued the battle near the gates, doing their best to prevent the Masaharu from successfully pouring through the destroyed walls.
Suddenly, Ichijiro noticed a man in yellow armor appear from the gates. He rode a mighty steed, and behind him flew the banners of the Masaharu. The man was holding a daikyu long bow, and an arrow was notched, only waiting for the signal. The tip burned with the raging flames of the Masaharu clan, and Ichijiro suddenly noticed the rider's aim. But it was all too late, as the arrow flew towards the Kyoda lord's heart. The Kyoda clan leader fell down, the hatred in his eyes only rising when it was too late. He was dead. And the hordes of charging ashigaru did not change that.
When the river flows
It survives the waterfall.
It just flows once more.
The Kyoda will rise again...and vengance will be served.
