Jade Legacy - Intermission Minigame 1 - Game Thread

[Rain Yupa]

Spirit Armies in I2 vs Lion (3k1) = 8.  

[Rain Yupa]

Spirit Armies in Cn4 vs Mantis (3k1) = 9.  

[Rain Yupa]

The War of Spirits - 1140

5/19/12 - 5/20/12

Current Score
CRAB - 9 gold, 1.5 glory.
MANTIS - 9 gold, 1.0 glory.
PHOENIX - 6 gold, 0.5 glory.
LION - 5 gold, 1.0 glory.
DRAGON - 4 gold, 0 glory.

--------------------

The Crab won some important border skirmishes in the outset of this new War. This did much for the Clan's morale, but soon, things grew to a stalemate; the Spirits reinforced their southern borders, which proved to be enough to keep the Crab at bay. The sons of Hida were far too reluctant to pull dedicated numbers from the wall to engage in this new threat from within.

A Commander who had spent many times with the Crane had an idea though; he appealed to their enemy's sense of honor in one skirmish, and attempted to resolve the battle with an iaijutsu duel. One swift win like that and the Crab would have a further foothold into Scorpion Lands. It was a fine yet daring plan.

However, after the challenge was issued and this commander had moved to a cleared section of battlefield, he was shocked to find that their commander, the returned embodiment of a fat Shiba, had been replaced with a Crane! Could the pretender of the style be up to the task of beating the enemy at their own game?

The man's name would be stricken from the records and his family would commit seppuku as his foolish plan cost the Crab to relinquish some of their farming territories to the enemy - far more territory than they would have gotten in a victory.

--------------------

The Lion would try a new tactic of their own. Fighting the Spirit armies into a stalemate, as intended, they would try to attempt to negotiate for their surrender. The Spirit Armies were cut off from their supply routes - at least for a little while - and the Lion had several key tactical advantages.

However, they had asked for the assistance of Asako Rei to speak to the enemy, to convince them to see the errors of their way. She had left an hour earlier into the enemy camp to talk to their commanders, to see what kind of ceasefire could be drawn up. By refusing, the Spirits would have so much to lose and so little to gain. The Lion had the leverage here. Victory was assured.

However, morale took a bit hit when the aged Asako returned, aged almost a decade by how old and winded she looked. There wasn't a lick of confidence, not a single air of good news about her.

"Ikoma-san... I come with ill tidings. The enemy..." she would begin to explain, struggling to find the words - moreso emotionally, than anything else. "The enemy has drawn up a list of demands for you to meet as part of the agreement of your surrender. It is non-negotiable. They... they have..."

This would be the day the Lion would learn of the hostages the Spirit Army had taken from the children of the Phoenix.

--------------------

The Spirit Armies were giving the Great Clans a run for their money. The ancestors of 7 Great Clans battling and defeating their descendents. However, there was one factor that did not play out in the Steel Chrysanthemum's tactics: The birth of a new Great Clan.

The Spirits that were harrying Crane Lands were completely unprepared for the landfall of the Mantis Legions. Detachments of Yoritomo bushi would pile out in droves, catching the enemy completely off-guard. They were too busy partaking of earthly pleasures that were long-forgotten to put up any kind of real resistance. They had no chance, and were wiped out to a man.

Mantis to the rescue AGAIN! Plus, they got a favor from the Crane for their efforts! All in all, a successful campaign thus far.  

[xX_Terei_Xx]

Mantis Clan
Passed on Card

M3 attacking Cn3 { +1 for attacking from Mantis lands }
Roll :: 2k1 w/ 1 for explosions

Total: 9  

[Mongooseh]

Crab 2 attacks Crab 1.
+1 For attacking from clan province
+1 For attacking a self clan province
Card Played: The Unbreakable Stance of the Mirumoto
+2
2k1 w/Explosion dice. Result: 11  

[Plainsfox]

LION
Attacking From: L2
Attacking To: I2
Card Played: Mask Tell no Secrets (-2 to the opposing forces' highest die roll, returns to hand if battle is successful.
2k1 rolled w/ 1 die to handle explosions. +1 to roll from Lion territories
Results: 10


Ikoma Shiratoshi was dismayed as the Lion Armies withdrew from their province as a provision for safeguarding the Phoenix's children. It was all they could do. Honor demanded it. Honor also demanded that Shiratoshi make sacrifices. Fortunately, the Ikoma still had small favors left to him. The Lion had swallowed his pride and burned one of them. Perhaps it was premature, but the Clan Champion's patience was ending. It was probably only a matter of time before Shiratoshi would be invited to join his brother.

******
Ran slowly lifted Matsu Kohaku's sleeping hand off of his body as he carefully moved away from the snoring Lion warrior. It appeared that Kohaku-chan had returned to life with a ferocious appetite for almost everything. It'd taken some cautious encouragement, but due to Ran's looks and practiced manner, the "ronin" had been invited into Kohaku's tent.

Now, he had access to the Spirit Army's defensive plans. With them, hopefully the Lions would be able to break the siege that had surrounded Otosan Uchi for the past three years. For a second, Ran wondered what his wife would think about the task he just performed for the Clan's allies ....but this night belonged to Ran. After this assignment, the Ronin would disappear and Bayushi Jiro would resume his identity.  

[Paidi tou Selini]

Phoenix
Turn #3
Main Shiba force P3 attacking Imperial Province I1
Card(s) Used - #21: The Enterprising Fleet of the Yoritomo

Things were not looking well. The power of the risen spirits had been too great, even for the combined efforts of Crane, Lion, and Phoenix. The Crane were all but wiped out, the Lion were steadily losing ground, and due to hostages the Phoenix had been forced to avoid combat altogether. Well all that was about to come to an end. And it was all because of an unexpected new force those ancient souls couldn't have hoped to anticipate.

Once again the Shiba marched from their castles onto the field of battle, this time led by one of their own as the council was even more divided than it had ever been. The attack was three-fold. The Ikoma and Shiba would strike at their front lines, diverting their attention and reinforcements. Meanwhile the up and coming Yoritomo fleet would strike Otosan Uchi from their unguarded ports.

[Battle Roll 2k1 + 1 (Clan Bonus) + 2 (Card): 7]  

[Rain Yupa]

Spirit Armies in Cn3 vs Mantis (3k1) = 7.  

[Rain Yupa]

Spirit Armies in Cb1 vs Crab (3k1) = 9.  

[Rain Yupa]

Spirit Armies in I2 vs Lion (3k1) = 8-2.  

[Rain Yupa]

Spirit Armies in I1 vs Phoenix (3k1) = 17.  

[Rain Yupa]

Extra dice for explosions.  

[Rain Yupa]

The War of Spirits - 1141

5/20/12 - 5/21/12

Current Score
MANTIS - 15 gold, 2.0 glory.
CRAB - 14 gold, 2.5 glory.
LION - 9 gold, 2.0 glory.
PHOENIX - 8 gold, 1.0 glory.
DRAGON - 8 gold, 0 glory.

--------------------

The Mantis had made landfall over the course of the year, cutting a swathe into the Spirit armies with their kama-armed troops. When the higher ups of the enemy realized what was going on, they focused on attempting to route the interlopes by any means necessary.

Pulling all available troops out of nearby provinces, they launched a vicious counter-assault that forced the Mantis out of the occupied cities. They pushed them back, paying with blood to do so, until they had cornered them on the docks as they retreated out to sea. It was a great victory for the forces of the Steel Chrysanthemum!

Once the Mantis were clear, they would signal the Tsuruchi aboard the vessels to open fire with a volley of arrows that blotted out Lord Sun's glory itself, much to the chagrin of the Moshi on board. The Spirit Armies attempted to scatter, but failed to notice the significance of a few flaming arrows that were overshot from the rest.

Flames engulfed the dockside, trapping the Spirits to be picked apart by Tsuruchi archers; those who braved the flames would find their wounds grievous from the burning oil trap, and easily picked off by Crane insurgents.

A costly victory on behalf of the Crane - one that cost them their dockside. A necessary price, assured the Yoritomo.

--------------------

This past year had been one of sweltering rage. The concessions they had made was a blow to the pride of the Crab - one that they would pay back ten-fold.

As part of the concessions, they were not allowed onto the lands they had sacrificed; doing so would end a stalemate between the two armies, and the Spirits would happily put the Crab settlements there to the torch. So the Crab waited for the year, wanting to wage war but unable to.

Finally, the strings the Yasuki had pulled paid off; a small army of Mirumoto came under the guise of attacking the Spirits. They had claimed that they were here for the Crab to settle an old score and would destroy the obvious allies of their enemy. While engaged with the Spirit Army in a defensive battle, the Crab followed through with their part of the bargain: They would not attack the armies of the Steel Chrysanthemum. Siege weapons are so inaccurate though, and it was a lucky break the Dragon were able to call upon the Earth to shield them from the incoming fire.

The Spirit Armies, backs to the Crab, were completely unprepared for this crossfire. They were decimated by the siege warfare, and the Dragon picked off the stragglers after the boulders stopped falling.

The Crab, seeing the determination of the Dragon, would surrender, as would be the wisest course of action. As recompense for their defeat, they turned over enough rice to resupply the Dragon before they moved Northward.

--------------------

The Spirit Armies had laid siege against Otosan Uchi for over a year now. They would attack and be driven off, only to return shortly thereafter at full strength. The capital, however, was cut off from supplies, and they were running out. Morale was low, numbers were down... The Emperor and the Empire both hung at the precipice of disaster. The Lion had tried several times to break this repeated siege, to no avail.

When the Spirit Armies returned, it looked like it was the end of Otosan Uchi. This would be the day their defenses would break, and the Seppun would give up their lives in a last act of defiance against the enemy.

Emperor Toturi I stood upon the balcony of his castle, staring off into the distance. He had ignored the requests of his council and staff to take cover and attempt fleeing the city. Every time they were attacked in the past, he remained to fight. He was of both worlds now, and it felt wrong to abandon both. But today... there was something in the air, and he couldn't quite place it.

As the Spirits had just about reached the walls of the city, his instinct finally rewarded him. The sight of his former Clan riding over a distant hilltop from the south was definitely one for sore eyes. The Lion have always been driven off because they could only act on days-old information about the Spirits' movements; somehow, this time, they managed to preempt the enemy before they could dig in.

Hot on their heels, the enemy was unexpectedly pincered between the Seppun and the Lion, and both armies cut bloody swathes into their enemy's numbers. This did not stop until every one was killed, including the patient and violent general Matsu Kohaku. With her gone, Otosan Uchi was in no immediate further danger, and it would be some time before the returned Hantei would find out of this defeat.

--------------------

Elsewhere in the Empire, one Clan still suffered at the hands of the Spirits. The Shiba had reverted to guerrilla tactics, attacking and retreating against the enemy. The Mantis made several attempts at landfall, but were driven off by Spirit Shugenja each time before assistance could be delivered.

It was a losing battle. It was all they could do to stem the tide of the enemy's advance, to allow their people a chance to escape the army's path. Every day it seemed like their numbers swelled from reinforcements from throughout the empire, whereas theirs only dwindled.

Their backs to Mori Isawa, the Shiba took refuge in the forest, trying to use their familiarity of their own lands to gain them an advantage.

"Please! You have our children, you have our lands, you have our crops and supplies! What more do you want from us?" Asako Ami pleaded with the regal figure before her. They made concession after concession with the Spirits, but it was never enough.

"Your subjugation," Hantei XVI would state coldly, before turning to his guard. "Take her away. Do with her what you will."

Several armed bushi grabbed the Phoenix woman's arms as she screamed in defiance, her voice still audible even long after was dragged away. "The Phoenix have been a nuisance to us. Now they hide in their forest - one of mystical potential that they know better than us. You are my expert on the matter. How should we proceed?" he would ask, looking on at the edge of the forest before him.

Agasha Tamori would step forward, looking studiously at the woods. "If you don't mind my being blunt on the matter, Hantei-heika... the most prudent action now would be to burn the forest to the ground. Allow me the honor, and I will ensure not a single Shiba survives."

The Steel Chrysanthemum would but smile before turning and walking away.  

[BegrudginglyGood]

Dragon Clan
Commune with the Kitsu Ancestors, +2 to highest roll

D2 attacking Spirit Armies in U2 { +1 for attacking from Dragon lands }
Roll :: 2k1 w/ 1 for explosions

Total: 12  

[Mongooseh]

Sc4 attacking Cn4 (Controlled by mantis)
Card Played:
Name: Ring of Earth
Element: Earth
Effect:
Gain +0k1 for this battle.
You can play as many Earth cards out of your hand as you like, one at a time. Gain +1k0 for each card played in this fashion.

Other card Played:
Name: Hiruma Scouting Party
Element: Earth
Effect:
If you are the Crab Clan, gain +1k0 for this battle.

4k2 w/dice to handle explosions.

Result: 18