The War of Spirits - 1141
5/20/12 - 5/21/12
Current ScoreMANTIS - 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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