Testing The Totomi (Hake)

[Gabriella Santos]

Gabriella sat lazily outside one of the sake house of one of the larger village that came under the Amakusa control. It was a nice place, people going about their everyday life. While parts of the Totomi forces, passed time either helping out the towns folk or doing simple drills. With her drink, she couldn’t help doing a simply head count of the men, and where they were. Without Takehiro himself here just how much of a chance would a small force such as the men here actually do against a hostile force coming here. They had been training but just how ready were they. Standing up, an idea struck her, and she quickly finished her drink before setting out to track down one of the higher members of the miltia men.

Tracking one down she pulled the man aside. “What is it? Santos-san.” The man asked a tone of feinted respect in his voice. Apart from having come to the Totomi alongside Maki she hadn’t done much in the worlds of helping out. “I just had an idea that might impress Amakusa-sama. How would you and the men station here, feel about a training battle to test the readiness of your men. I’m sure Lord Amakusa would be impressed by the innovative action.” Gabriella suggested, the man put and hand to his chin in thought. “It’s a reasonable idea, but without some kind of cohesive leadership it would really just be testing our physical training.” The man pointed out in return. “Well I’m not much of a leader, but know something of tactics. Didn’t do much growing up but reading , plus weapons and there uses have been around me most my life. I could try and lead one side.” Gabriella suggested, hopefully it would give her more of a place in things then she currently had. “Well that does one side, but you would need some on both side to really lead an effective training exercise.” The soldier responded. “Well, if I could find another to lead a second side you’d agree?” Gabriella asked the man. “I see no reason why not to. It would be good for the men. Though good luck finding someone.” He said before excusing himself.

Sometime later, and after quite a bit of effort on her part from the fact of her bad arm. Gabriella had managed to nail up a makeshift notice board by the entrance of the town. Some more time after that she had managed to get supplies to write out a notice. Her writing of Japanese wasn’t the best but it was readable.

‘Looking for leader/strategist to assist in training battle of local Totomi armed forces. Battle detailing two sides, one protecting the village under my command, while other under the applicant on the offensive. Payment to be discussed. Please enquire with Gabriella Santos. Look for the foreigner drinking.’ 

[Chimosa Hake]

The horse and wagon came to a slow halt as the driver pulled the reins. Inside the wagon, the passengers were pushed forward slightly and then backwards when the wagon halted entirely. Stuck between a man who hadn't taken a bath since they had left Shimotsuke and a fat woman, Chimosa Hake had regretted every mile of the road to Totomi. But it was all for a good cause. The Totomi militia were one of the best militia troops Hake knew about. It was a good thing to observe them and gain some information from them. Not for Shimotsuke, but for Hake himself. Learning tactics and seeing people in action were good ways of expanding one's own knowledge.

The passengers paid the driver for the trip and slowly moved towards the edge of the village. While some were being waited on by family members or friends, others, like Hake, walked into town alone. But Hake remained at the village edge. Things were about to turn into quite an active adventure for the young man. His eye was drawn towards a large noticeboard by the village entrance on which, in somewhat broken Kanji, was written:

‘Looking for leader/strategist to assist in training battle of local Totomi armed forces. Battle detailing two sides, one protecting the village under my command, while other under the applicant on the offensive. Payment to be discussed. Please enquire with Gabriella Santos. Look for the foreigner drinking.’

Hake had to smile softly at one of the mistakes near the end of the message but was intrigued all the same. Trying to read the name correctly to himself, Hake stood in front of the sign for a few moments. With his long black hair streaming down his shoulders and back, Hake looked even more like a woman. His choice of clothes did nothing to affirm either option for his gender. A long brown robe, devoid of any insignias, frill or embroideries, covered most of his body, leaving only a little space at the bottom to avoid dragging it through the mud. It was pulled over to one side of his body and tied down with a sash of similar color. The most outstanding part of his outfit were the sleeves, which were much too big for the short stature of the man, leaving a lot of space around his arms.

Not really knowing where to find a 'drinking foreigner' Hake inquired as for the most well known tavern in town, hoping to begin and end his search there. It was rather obvious which one was the foreigner one when Hake reached the tavern. He was surprised to find this Santos person to be a woman. Or he was somewhere completely different and approaching the wrong person, about to make a fool of himself. He put up his best smile as he approached the woman. "Apologies, lady. As the only drinking foreigner in the place, are you by any chance Gabreela-San?" Hake halted himself a few steps away from the table, not wanting to intrude on the drinking. "My name is Chimosa Hake and I saw your notice outside the town. You are looking for a strategist for a training exercise, are you not?" With his hands hidden in the opposing sleeve of his outfit, Hake performed a polite bow towards the woman, hoping that he had approached the right person.

SPOILER: Click to show

Outfit base, except in brown without any decorations.

[Gabriella Santos]

Gabriella looked up from the bottle she had in front of her and to the person asking if she was who she was. At first she was going to ignore the butcher of her name, but something about clicked in her head. If someone had told this person to come see her then they would have heard her name. However they misspoke it, meaning that it was likely they had read her trying to put her name into Japanese script. The next words out of there mouth confirmed this assumption as they asked about the notice she had left. "Yes to both, Chimosa-san.. was it?" Gabriella said standing bringing the bottle up with her, and stopping it with her own thumb. "I hadn't expected someone to answer my notice so soon." Gabriella added, giving a small bow, to what appeared to her to be another women.

Gabriella slyly gave them the look over. Not what she would have expected. Then again Gabriella was going to try leading the other side and she was pretty odd as well. "Well this is slightly impromptu, to be honest. How much you looking for payment wise? It's good to know in advance. I can foot the bill, but I won't be cheated either just so you know." Gabriella said laying her cards metaphorically on the table, before she would lead the way outside. "Wait here." She would instruct before moving aside Gabriella would quickly find the man from earlier. Telling him to arrange things, as she had found someone to lead the second side of the battle. Hoping that they would be worth the expense. 

Not long later two groups of men would arrive and line up. Each group would be made up of 30 men, in the simplest of padded armour. While each group in turn were split in to thirds by troop type. 10 of each archers, spear-men and swordsmen.  The weapons they wielded, apart from the bow, were replicas. Training versions , spears and swords made of wood wrapped in cloth as some form of padding. The quivers of arrows on the archers back, while not visable were filled with stone arrows. Blunt, they could kill with a good shot to the head but apart from that all they did was hurt. The flight of the arrows did suffer from not being sharp, but this training exercise was going to be a pretty close one. So the diminished aim hopefully would not matter too much. "Well Chimosa-san. Pick a group. Then lead them out of town. The idea is simply to attempt to lead your men into taking the town from mine. While the weapons ain't steel, the men have been instructed to act like it though." Gabriella would explain waving a her at one group then the other, smiling as the soldier look confused at the idea of being lead by a women, or someone who looked like they were. 

(OOC: All soldiers have 10 in each stat, as thats what the amakusa faction men have)

[Chimosa Hake]

Chimosa Hake was surprised to find the woman was decently fluent in Japanese, although everything about her was far from Japanese. With a smile, his eyes moved over the woman's long brown hair. It looked soft and smooth, much like his own hair. The color made him a touch jealous. And he was just as surprised by the woman's bow. She seemed to know more about Japanese custom then some of the foreigners that had been arriving in Japan of late. "Chimosa-san, indeed. Your Japanese is quite good." He smiled at the woman as he spoke with a soft and melodious voice.

"I just happened to see it when I arrived earlier. The trip was terrible. Not the road or wagon, mind you, but the company... The sign said 'drinking foreigner' so I came here, to the most well known tavern in town, apparently." Hake laughed softly in the same melodious fashion before he quieted down. The mention of payment had slipped his mind but now he figured it wouldn't hurt. "Hmm... Instead of payment, why not a wager? It seems silly to pay me should I be utterly defeated by your skill. 20 Yen, perhaps?" While to most people it might sound condescending or a challenge, for Hake it was simply a statement. His skill was not that high and his experience even less. To him, almost everybody else was a tactician of greater skill.

While she waited for Gabriella to return, Hake mused on her accent and did his best to determine where the woman might have come from. With even his knowledge of Japan limited, his musings were more fantastical than anything else. Not long after, the woman returned, followed by a military man and fifty or so men behind him, who all spread out and lined up in formation. An impressive sight. He looked over the gathered men as they looked at him. It was obvious that most of them were not too happy about their commanders-to-be. Hake leaned in towards Gabriella and raised his hands hidden in his sleeves up to his mouth to hide it. "You'd think they've never seen a woman in charge." He smiled softly before moving back. Then he walked towards the right group and stayed there. "I don't know either group's skill so I'll go with this one." He smiled at the thirty men and saw a few of them turn soft red cheeks.

"Excuse me, gentlemen. Please march outside of town and form into 5-man groups, the archers in the back, and wait there for me." As his troops marched off, Hake turned to Gabriella with a question. "Am I allowed to scout the town for a moment or is that part of the assault?" Then he looked up, lifting one long sleeve to hide his eyes from the direct sunlight. "Late morning, wouldn't you say. Thirty minutes to prepare our forces should be enough, no?" While he attempted to make it sound casual, Hake's voice had more of a painful touch to it. Grimacing, the raven haired man brought one hand up to his head and pressed it against his temple, trying to stem the oncoming headache for a moment. Then the pain flared and moved away, leaving Hake swaying on his feet before he managed to gather himself again. "Half an hour?" Hake smiled, but it was obvious from his eyes and tone of voice that he wasn't so sure anymore.

(OOC: I mentioned 20 Yen as I read that the prices were based in easy numbers. I assume this means 1 yen = 1 dollar roughly, if not I can change the value number.)

[Gabriella Santos]

Gabriella would smile as Hake instead of listed a price suggested a bet. Gabriella was a women of vices but gambling wasn’t normally one of them for her. However there was no reason not to accept. A 50 percent chance of paying was better than a 100 percent one. “That sounds reasonable to me.” Gabriella would say agreeing to the bet simply, and would wait and watch for Hake to pick a group. Smile growing as she made the joke about the men not being use to female in positions of power.

Watching as Hake ordered the men out of town, Gabriella was amused when the other stregist asked if she could scout the town a little. “Well normally a force would have scouts, so no problem with me. Just not too good a look. Scouts wouldn’t get such a up close look normally without being pretty damn good at the job that they do.” Gabriella would agree and instruct at the same time.

-
This is what Hake would get to see looking around. The village was set upon one main road, north to south, which made the main entrances to the town. Buildings lined the road most with slightly slanted roofs but some of which were flat. The building behind those on the main road were spaced, but not much creating smaller roads and paths into and through the town. Outside the village was mostly flat ground, and gentle hills to the north, south and west. While to the eastern side of the village, slightly larger hills spotted by the occasion cherry tree came up to the town side.
-

Hake then commented on the morning and asked if 30 minute was okay to start, but something was off as Hake did so. Gabriella noticed watching him that as he looked up at the bright sky it left him momentarily dazed, but not for long. Stating the time at her again. “Sounds good to me. Just don’t attack on the dot. Wouldn’t be real if we knew exactly when or where you were coming from.” Gabriella explained deciding to ignore his brief lapse. If he had problem, that was fine, so did she herself. Gabriella would let Hake scout as he wanted quickly, before waiting until she had left the village.

Once he was gone, Gabriella would turn to her troops. “Here’s the plan men. 5 bows, first flat roof available to the south and north. 5 Spears on the main road to both the south and north. 3 swords patrolling the east side of town, 2 swords the west. Last 5 sword here with me as a floating force. Call out when you see the enemy, and try to call numbers so I can make a tactical assessment. Sword to the east and west don’t engage but fall back here if you see the enemy.” Gabriella would shoot off orders, pointing with her bottle to locations as she listed of the instruction. This was going to be interesting.

-
qWW23v1p
Defensive Roll

(OOC: The simple money is for OOC, but feel free to leave it as is if you want. For a second I thought you were gonna ask for a OOC bet )

[Chimosa Hake]

Hake was glad that the other woman allowed the quick look around town. All in all, the place was a maze, except for the main street, which was straight and wide and a killing ground for anyone silly enough to walk straight into it. The surroundings of the village didn't help with the defense but Hake's force was nothing more than a skirmish and didn't allow any use of the outlying terrain. Cavalry would have been great with those hills. Hake returned to the main road, where Gabriella was waiting for him. Satisfied with his look around town and a grasp on the general situation, Hake turned to the woman.

Placing the palm of one hand on the back of the other hand, hidden underneath the long sleeves of his outfit, Hake brought both hands up to around chin level, pointing towards Gabriella. With a bow of his head he touched his forehead to his hands. "Please teach me well." Then he turned and walked after his troops, out of the small village. As he walked, plans were forming in his head, formations for his men, paths into town, paths to avoid, things to look out for. By the time he reached his men, Hake had a quick plan together for the first round.

"Form up in two teams. Five swordsmen, five bowmen and five spearmen in each. Form up as such." Hake began drawing into the dirt at his feet. "Three swordsmen up front, keep your shields up and be ready to fight. Two spearmen behind, keep your eyes up front. Five bowmen in the middle, keep your eyes up to the roofs. Shoot the enemy before he can shoot any of you. Three spearmen behind them, keep your eyes on the flanks and protect the bowmen. The last two swordsmen on the back, protecting the rear. As the offensive force I doubt an attack from behind will be happening but keep your eyes open for ambushes." That took care of one team. Now the decision was to be made for the second team. Split them up? Keep them close? Have them do something entirely different?

"Stay away from the main road, it's a killing ground. Move into the back alleys as soon as possible and stay together. No screaming or shouting when you're attacking or ambushing. Shout when you're ambushed or attacked. Your task is to move towards the middle of the village, find the other teams main force and assault them. Who's the most experienced?" One of the fifteen men stepped forward, a long scar over his cheek. "Good, you're in charge of the unit. You decide how to move but aim for the center of the village." When you were not familiar with the terrain it was always good to leave it up to local guides to take charge.

For the remaining fifteen men, Hake had something completely different in mind. "Five swordsmen, form a wall. Shields: Three forward, two upward." Hake showed with his own arms what he meant by forward and upward. The upward shields would be held at an angle above the heads of the forward shields, creating an (almost) complete wall of shields. "Stick together. Three archers behind them, shoot through or past the shields at any soldiers you see, the moment you see them. Don't hesitate, don't scream and shout." Hake focused on the remaining two bowmen and five spearmen.

"Stay together and follow one road next to the main group but stay out of sight and a little behind them. They have no rear guard so you'll provide it when necessary. The moment they're under attack you charge in and take care of whoever is attacking them. If it's less than three people, leave them to the main road team. Who's the most experienced?" Another man stepped forward and Hake assigned the spearman unit and the two bowmen to him. "I will be with the swordsmen group. Should we need to retreat from our road we will move towards the left and the spearman force there." Hake indicated that everyone should get in position. Watching the shadows on the ground, Hake waited for about three-quarters of an hour before speaking again.

"Whatever you do, do not move into the main road. On the occasion that the half force reaches the enemy HQ and fighting starts, we will rush towards them at my command. Whatever you do, do not move outside of my orders as long as you can. Let's go." Hake watched the other two teams move into the side alleys of the village, the large force on the East side of the road, the small force and his own on the left, before he followed his own team into the village. Normally strategists wouldn't move into close combat but the lack of signals and drums and flags and a set system of communication made this a closer encounter.

tac9h_Xj
Offensive roll (OOC: A roll to remain undetected as there is no fighting yet?)

[Gabriella Santos]

Gabriella watched as the men followed her orders. Marching off in the direction that she had instructed. Now it was a matter of waiting until the assault came. Taking a final sip of her drink she move over to the side of the road and placed down the bottle carefully next to one of the buildings. As much as she loved the alcohol effect to hold back pain, now was not the time to get drunk. That wouldn't be good for morale or for her planning of tactics. Gabriella waited for things to happen. 

Time passed but it wasn't long before a shout came from above. It was from one of the groups of archers atop the buildings. "SMALL FORCE COMING OUR WAY. THEY ARE TRYING TO STAY OFF THE ROAD." The archer shouted as soon as he spotted the first group of Hake force. "Come on." Gabriella would order at  the swordsmen with her, jogging off to see what was going on. It seemed that rather then flank them completely the wanted still come at them straight but through the alleys of building rather then the main road. "Spears, swords. Pair off and hold the alleys. Swords uses your shields as defence and spears attack from behind there guard." Gabriella ordered the men. "They'll be force to split there numbers of channel them from smaller road if they don't want to use the main road." She added explaining.  

Suddenly she turned and pointed at one of the archers atop the nearby roof top. "You get down here." She ordered and watched as the man quickly climbed down off the roof. "Get to the otherside of town. Bring half the other spears and archers down here as fast as you can." She ordered a them man started to run however, one of the other archers called out from the roof. "Sir there another force out there. Behind the other they are trying to linger back out of sight." The man called down. Gabriella eyes widened. A rear guard rather then a flanking action, interesting. Turning to look over her shoulder she shouted at the archer. "MAKE THE ALL OF THEM AND THE PATROLS TOO." She shouted.

Maybe there was away to get the rest of her men already moving here, before the archer got there. Reaching down she pulled out her gun. It wouldn't be fair to use it as a weapon, it would be deadly to do so. Not really part of a training exercise. However. Pointing the gun upwards she pulled the trigger. The gun shot echoed out, that was sure to get the men's attention. Apart from here, none of the men had firearms so it was a pretty good signal. Looking back up at the 4 other archers, Gabriella knew she needed to buy the men time. "Fire at there first force, random volley. Just harry them, slow there approach." She order gesturing for them to fire. It was unlikely they would have much effect in terms of inflicting losses. Due to distance and position but it would make them either cautiously approach or recklessly charge either of which was better them coming how they pleased. 

qeiZ6ed0
How well do the arrows slow, and the can the men hold the alleys until the rest of the men arrive. 

[Chimosa Hake]

The moment Hake heard the shouting from the enemy, he knew somebody had been spotted. He halted his troop and tried to see through an alley if the second group was halting as well. From where he was, on the west side of the main road, Hake had absolutely no clue what was happening to half of his force on the East side of the main street. He tried to listen carefully but, while he heard voices, he couldn't discern anything useful. Then another shouted order he picked up, again Hake could not hear what was said. Now which force had the enemy seen?

Hake's answer came in the form of the whizzing of arrows and the thuds of stone on wood of the building around them. "Shields up." The five swordsmen put their shields up, angled towards the arrows that were flying in on them now. When the shot sounded, Hake was surprised, as firearms were not known for their ability to keep people from harm. "Advance carefully." The shield wall moved a few steps forward and then waited a moment before moving again. Their advance was slow as arrows thudded against shields and the walls around them. Hake wasn't sure how the second troop, with the spearmen, was faring just behind them in the next alley.

And then they faced off against the enemy force. Finally some solid enemies. His swordsmen stuck together, two in front, with their shields up to battle the enemies while the three archers in his team fired arrows at the enemies they could see. Then the troops were upon each other. One alley had two swordsmen and an archer squaring off against a spearman and a swordsman, the other alley had three swordsmen and an archer fighting against another set of two enemies. Hake's focus was on his own two skirmishes but he could see, two alleys deeper into the town, his five spearmen and two archers pushing into another alley, squaring off against another group of men, Hake couldn't see how many.

The commander of his pincer force on the East side of town, hurried his forces forward, while keeping it slow enough so they wouldn't rush straight into an enemy force. He was met with no resistance at all as he moved forward. On Hake's side, the troops continued to fight, trying to conquer their little alleys from the 'enemy'. Hake pulled the archers back, leaving the swordsmen to fight the alley battle. "Climb up there and tell me what you can see." Hake pointed up to one of the flat roof houses that lined one of the alleys his men were fighting in. "One focuses on new enemies, the other two can fire at the enemies in the alley, make it easier for your friends."

QBt57Ddv
Counter to the slowing arrows.


Offensive roll for the alleys.


Remaining undetected of the East side force.��

[Gabriella Santos]

The arrows did there job, slowing the advance of the men on the offensive side. It wasn't for long but it would be long enough for what she needed. Quickly and quite a struggle on her own part. Gabriella climbed up on to the building where the 4 archers where still loosing arrows, and looked down as her swordsmen and spears tried to hold back the enemy in the alleys. Adding up what she could see something immediately seemed off. When the archer had told her that a second force had been approaching she had assumed it was two half's of the same force. But the numbers didn't add up. Hake didn't appear to have his entire force. 

Gabriella could see the rest of her men approaching from the other side of town. Hake men where pushing pretty hard in the alleys, and the men there would need assistance but where was the missing men. She had the patrols moved, to come assist. There was no way of knowing. Cupping her hand over her mouth she shouted to her troops coming to assist. "Swords get in those alleys to help. Archers form up behind a line of the spears, protect to men from the rear." Her voice boomed, the enemy may hear it but she had to get the orders across. 

The men would follow her orders, and in each alley that Hake men fought a extra sword would come forth. Pushing pass the spear men and adding his shield in the defence of the spear man. Looking down as the second set of spears and archers she hoped that they had formed up far enough back to deal with wherever the threat of Hake hidden force could come from. Not knowing exactly where they would come was bad, but there line could still reacted if there were near enough a good position. 

-

WGs|rfxV
Alley defence + swordsmen reinforcements.


Effective placement of Rear guard, spears and archers, against the unknown location of flanking force. 




�

[Chimosa Hake]

The slow advance on the enemy had taken time and Hake could now see fresh troops pushing into the alleys to hold of his own men. But it seemed that his side was on the upper hand. While his own men were getting wounded in the alleys, one even died, he saw a few of the enemy lie down dead as well. Both sides were suffering casualties but Hake's side seemed to be doing better. The alley deeper in town where the team of seven pushed on and out of Hake's sight. He hoped the commander would turn around and take the alley defenders from behind.

With Hake's troops pushing the defenders back, they soon gained control of the alleys as they pushed on. The archers on the rooftop tried to harry the enemy troops as best as possible. Once again they squared off, the retreating troops against Hake's five swordsmen and three bowmen on the rooftop. One of the bowmen aimed towards the enemy HQ, given away by the woman shouting order on the roof. With the enemy outnumbering his troops in the alleys, Hake was glad to see the five spearmen and the two remaining archers crashing into the enemy from another alley, joining the fray.

With the gunshot as their guide, Hake's flanking force had moved straight for the enemy. Watching the enemy position itself they charged out of the alleys on the East side, across the main street, storming the defensive positions the enemy commander was setting up. The main street crossing, however, didn't go entirely as planned and the enemy seemed alert and well enough in formation to receive the enemy attack of five swordsmen, five spearmen and five archers. They clashed together with the enemy force under loud shouting and hurriedly yelled orders.


Hake's first alley losses: 1 remaining: 29

dcld0r_d
Hake's first group second alley offensive roll (includes single arrow fired towards Gabriella's position)


Hake's second group second alley flank offensive roll


Hake's main road flank force offensive roll (charge)��

[Gabriella Santos]

This wasn't going well, her force should have been able to hold the alleys. Alleys where good for it, obviously the men had been drilling offensive training rather then defensive training for her men to lose be pushed back into the main road. She saw men get hit with solid blows from the training weapons, and stay down on the ground as if dead. Suddenly an arrow flew at towards her direction. She saw it coming however and quickly step out of the path of the arrow, before one of the archers by her side and pointing at the archer who had dare shot at her. "Fire" She quietly order the man.

Out of the corner of her she saw, her spear line and second set of archers getting ready, as out from the east the second force appeared and charged the while ready, not optimality place defence. This was going well at all. Time for a little ace in the hole. "STEP BACK SPEARS UP." She shouted at the top of her voices. As both the second alley offesive and the flanking force charged on the her men. Raising her hand up, a small ring caught light and sent patterns of light wrapping around her. "HOLD THEM BACK." She would shout. "ARCHERS FIRE." She waving her arm toward the flanking force. 6 Archer on the ground behind the spears, as well as the 4 on the roof would all fire at the force more in the open, a serious volley of arrows indeed. 

Turning back to the men of the alleys. "KEEP THOSE SHIELD AND SPEARS UP." She shouted as the her men were charge by those from those in the alleys. "FOR TOTOMI." She said energy and good feeling from the power of her ring, filling her, and her men noticeable as they all started to fight as if their lives depended on protecting the town. 

---

(OOC: Activating Ring of Inspiration. 1/thread nearby allies gain a burst of energy and boosted morale pushing them to fight harder.)

Losses = 3 Swordsmen from alleys. 30 - 3 = 27


5flEjzCN
Single arrow return fire. (Just for the lawls)


Volley against the Eastern Force.


Spears holding back the eastern force.


Defence against the Hake's alley soldier charging. ���

[Chimosa Hake]

The sound of battle from the main road could be heard even in the alleys where the small skirmish seemed insignificant to the sounds from the main road fight. While Hake had indeed ordered the men not to move onto the main road, he was glad they had for he knew that, in order to stop a force of that size, they'd either needed an ambush or a trap or an equal force, which meant Hake's troops in the alleys were outnumbering the enemy by two. The archer on top of the roof suddenly got hit with a stone arrow and flung back, hanging over the edge of the roof. The remaining two archers on the roof started aiming for the archers in the enemy's HQ. Well, outnumbering them by one. The five spearmen, four swordsmen, 2 bowmen on the ground and two bowmen on the top focused their attacks on the alley soldiers as they once again pushed forward, towards the sounds of the main battle. If they could push them into the other force they would pincer the enemy and deliver a devastating blow.

On the main road front, the enemies had positioned themselves well enough to receive the troops and they Hake's charging force, under a single volley of arrows crashed into the enemy, the sound of practice blades hitting practice blades and shields echoed through the street. Hake's troops seemed to match the enemy as they managed to gather up enough men and form up their defense properly in the heat of battle. But the enemy's spearmen kept them at a distance after the initial clash and the troops were hard pressed in trying to get to the enemy without having some body part pierced. When the arrows volley crashed into them, the men were not prepared and some went down, dead. 

In the alleys, Hake's initial assault had resulted in little to no gain of ground as both group pushed equally hard. Another of Hake's soldiers went down while cutting down one of the enemy soldiers. Then out of the alley his spearmen unit crashed into the enemy flank, taking lives as they pushed them back further. Just as Hake thought things were going well for him, the enemy commander seemed to rouse her troops with a burst of morale and strength and his alley force came to a halt. While the shout 'For Totomi' also improved his own soldiers, since they were Totomi forces as well, they didn't seem to get the same burst of it as the enemy soldiers.

On the main road front, the same thing happened, outside of Hake's knowledge, as his remaining forces came to a halt against the enemy's defenses. With the main road force having no tricks left, a volley of arrows from the four remaining archers was fired over the front ranks into the enemy while they continued to push forward, doing their best not to trample their 'dead' friends who were crawling out of the way of the main fight.

--
Hake's alley force losses: 1 archer (return fire), 1 swordsman(alley standoff); remaining: 5 spearmen, 2 ground archers, 2 roof archers, 3 swordsmen
Main road force losses (volley): 2 swordsmen, 2 spearmen, 1 archer; remaining: 3 spearmen, 3 swordsmen, 4 archers

P3N8eay8
Hake's alley force push back attempt & archer fire on enemy HQ


Hake's main road force push back attempt & return volley fire

(No roll for volley defense as it takes the main road troops by surprise)�

[Gabriella Santos]

(OOC: EDIT - I edited this post as when I posted the dice came up blank for some reason. Just so you don't think I was trying to force a reroll. I took a screen cap. Don't understand why it happened though.

Gabriella smiled in satisfaction as the archer shot back at the one who had shot at her, and he went down. Her smile growing into a grin as she saw how effective the volley had been against Hake's main road forces. High ground and archers were a match made in heaven against forces on the ground. Looking over the battlefield to see how things had turned out with the surge of energy the men had things were well in places, but not in others. The combination of the volley and the spears holding back the main road force, while out numbered was going better then expected.

However down in the alleys things were not going well, as her men were pushed back, more falling as the attack came and going down for the count. Suddenly along with the men from the alleys pushing forward, more arrows came to her position along side the archers. Diving to the ground, pulling one of the archers next to her to the ground, she saw two of them with her not react in time. Grunting from the pain shooting up her arm, as she landed on the roof, she looked up at the Hake's own archers.

"Archers on the ground. Turn and fire on the foes on the roof." She shouted the order from where she was. She needed that roof cleared so the archers up here with her could start laying down covering fire once more.  "Spears protect them as long as you can, fall back if you must." She add before returning her gaze to the dwindling forces that had been in the alleys now close to the main road themselves. "Swords and spears, fall back down the main road, make a line on the other side of the archers to protect them." She would order those that remained and the would try their hardest to disengage and fall back safely.

--

Losses = 2 Archers (On roof with Gabs), 2 Spears, 1 Sword (Alley forces) , 1 Spear (Main Road Force.) = 21 remaining.

6 Archers on ground, 2 on roof. 4 Spears main road force. 3 Spears, 6 Swords Alley forces.

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Ground archer volley at Hake's archers.

 Spears still holding.

Success of alley soldiers falling back to other force.

��

[Chimosa Hake]

The moment the enemy went down in their HQ, the archers up top started shouting, thinking the enemy commander dead, even though only two arrows had been fired at four men. The shout was taken over by the alley troops who, with renewed vigor, started assaulting the enemy positions in the narrows streets. First one step, then another and another. As the enemy retreated from the alleys, Hake's force gained more ground and more morale, as the flow of the fight was going their way.

On the main road Hake's ten remaining men did their best to get past the spears as they blocked with shields and shot arrows at the men, trying to cut them down while doing their best not to be cut down themselves. The main road fight had become purely a melee, a point in battle right after the old strategy and just before the new strategy. Here it was only might and martial skill that counted. And the abilities of the general or commander.

As Hake's forces started pushing the enemy backwards towards the main road, the enemy troops formed up in formation, protecting their bowmen from two sides. On the enemy's orders, the archers shifted their arrows to the two men on the roof, who tried to duck away from the enemy fire and get off the roof. Successful or not, Hake directed his own troops to press the attack but he held back the remaining archers back. Instead of pushing them against the enemy's rear as well, he directed them back and into a previous alley leading to the main road.

From there, he sprung yet another flanking maneuver, the archers stepping out onto the main road and firing arrows into the enemy formation's side, where Hake's own men were not present. Their main fire was aimed for the archers in the middle and they managed to loose two arrows each before they ducked back into the alley. "Keep doing that and don't get killed. Confuse the enemy." Hake moved back to his alley forces to make sure things went smoothly as his remaining forces tried to push the enemy back.

Hake's Alley force losses: 2 roof archers, 1 spearman; remaining: 3 spearmen, 3 swordsmen, 2 archers(moved)
Hake's main road force losses: 1 archer; remaining 3 swordsmen, 3 spearmen, 3 archers
Hake's New force: 2 archers from Alley forces.

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Main road offensive (counter to spear defense)


Roof archers dodging the enemy attack and surviving


Hake's alley force offensive roll to determine enemy losses in their alley retreat.


Hake's remaining alley bowmen flanking fire on the enemy's main road force.

(Posted one roll too many and added losses, hence the edit. Also, editing doesn't change rolls.)����

[Gabriella Santos]

Gabriella watched as arrow flew up at the enemy archers, and quickly go to her feet pulling one of the archer with up as well. "Fire" She would order pointing down at the men pushing her forces back from the alleys in order to give them some cover. On her feet again she glanced over the battle field. Her men were falling back nicely from the alleys, and managed to get in a potion to protect her archers rear, forming a line much like the spears on the other side. 

The spear line however was faltering, while doing a damn good job the outnumber nature they were in meant they were almost pushed to braking, a couple falling when a volley of arrows came down upon them. "Encircle the archers, back up the spears" She shouted a order to the men from the alleys so that they reinforced the line on the other side of her archers.

"Archers, single out targets, aim." She would order, watching as each of the archer down on the ground would draw and aim at a different one of Hake men passed their defensive line. "Fire" She would shout, also pointing so that the archers by her would fire again as well down on Hake's men. 

---

Losses = 3 Spears, from main force = 18 remaining

Force rejoin in to one force.
Men left - 6 Archers on ground, 2 on roof, 4 Spear, 6 swords defensive circle around archers.

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Defensive Circle


Archers shooting, singling out and firing at enemy. �

[Chimosa Hake]

Hake moved his forces forward and once again into a melee with the enemy. His spearmen attacked over the shoulders of the remaining 3 swordsmen. Their attack became a defensive offense, the shields taking care of the spears and the arrows and the spears taking care of the enemy. This maneuver, if successful, would bring them right in the middle of the enemy spearmen ranks, giving them an opportunity to wreak havoc amongst them and descend on the swordsmen and the archers in the middle. They were but a small force compared to the enemy's now complete force but they were coming out of a small alley and their little force took up all the space there. Hake walked after them, careful to stay out of arrow fire but never intervening in the combat itself. 

His archers that had split off ducked away after their first volley, which caused the enemy to encircle their own archers as best they could. They jumped out again and fired once more into the enemy from the flank. Without any of their own troops between them and the enemy, their arrows were quickly aimed and loosened upon the enemy. The defensive circle of swordsmen caught their arrows on their shields as they set up the defense.

The main force pushed forward as well, trying their best to get in close to the spearmen while their own archers provided covering fire. The swordsmen used their shields to deflect the enemy spears and then get in close, using the enemy as cover for the arrows while rendering their spears useless in the process. This was a common tactic for swordsmen versus spearmen fights as the spearmen tried to keep the enemy at a distance and the swordsmen tried to get in close to the enemy.

With the shouted commands of the enemy, Hake's own troops were aware of the arrow fire that was about to head for them and they were more prepared than the first time. When the order came, they ducked behind the shields of the swordsmen as best they could and his two flanking archers ducked back in the alley when the arrows flew into Hake's force. The three archers, in the main force, instead of ducking away, used this opportunity of openings in the enemy defense to fire arrows right back at the archers in the middle.

Hake's alley force losses: 1 spearman, 1 swordsman. Remaining: 2 spearmen, 2 swordsmen
Hake's main road force losses: 1 archer, 1 spearman; remaining: 3 swordsmen, 2 spearmen, 2 archers
Hake's flanking force losses: 0, remaining: 2 archers

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Hake's alley force Semi-phalanx attack from the alley into the main road (counter defensive circle)


Flanking archers fire (aimed for archers only)(counter defensive circle)


Main force wedge attack on the enemy spearmen


Defensive maneuver against arrow fire (counter shooting roll)


Main force archer counter fire (aimed for archers only)


(Just a little something I was thinking about and had to make. Still needs some more details.)

SPOILER: Click to show

����

[Gabriella Santos]

Gabriella watched as her men became surrounded. They had more blades and spears while she had more archers. But in the current position archers weren't as good as men with swords and shields would have been. However the men knew they were going to become surround so didn't get surprised by the fact. At this point things were going to be a slog out. 

The men defending the archers, would get pushed on all sides, Hake's men trying to break through the lines. However as they tried, Gabriella's own men would attack back. A swordsman would step up, shield coming under and pushing a spear up wards, before swing a sword low at the legs of the swordsmen trying to guard him. When those men falter or tried to block, one of Gabs spearmen would stab out under the emeny spear to into the swordsmen as well, pushing them backwards into the spearmen they were meant to be protecting. 

However, Hake men out numbered hers, and where Gab's men blocked other got through the gaps. Also a slew of arrow aimed at her archers flew passed, the line. 2 Archers got hit by arrows and went down. Gabriella pointed for her two archers to fire down at those men getting passed the defensive line before they could cause to much hassle, but not fast enough to stop another 3 of her men going down. The archer remaining in the circle also drew bows and fired at those breaching the line as quickly as the could, hoping to take down the enemy before they could be reached. 

---

Losses 2 Archers on the ground, 2 swords 1 spear. Remaining 4 ground archers, 3 spears, 4 swords, 2 Roof archers. = 13 left

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Shield, Sword then Spear defensive attack. 


Roof archers



Ground Archers

(OOC: Damn that map is damn good)��

[Chimosa Hake]

With both sides being from the same faction, it was obvious their strengths and weaknesses were the same as well. The men fought well but for every soldier they took down, one of Hake's men went down as well. The wedge managed to get in deep enough to do some damage but was pushed back again by the enemy's counter tactics. With no cards left to play, Hake focused on the orders from the enemy commander, listening in to see how she reacted and if she could maneuver any strategies in a close encounter like this one.

Some of his men fell with arrows in them, fired from the enemy's high ground, from where they could see most of the battle. But neither side faltered, making damn sure to take as many men with them as possible before going down under Totomi weapons. Then his men managed to break through the defensive line and charged the few steps into the enemy archers, running right into them, shield up, and ramming them aside before swinging swords left and right.

Outside of Hake's knowledge, his flanking archers had moved around, through the alleys, until they had a proper shot on the two roof archers remaining next to the commander. With both commanders taking a pure strategist role in this fight, they aimed for the archers to take them out, which would render the enemy's high ground mute. Their arrows fired, shot quickly before his troops disappeared back into the alleys.

Hake's force losses: 1 swordsmen, 1 spearman, ; total remaining: 4 swordsmen, 3 spearmen, 4 archers = 11 remaining

min8uSyK
breakthrough and charge on the ground archers


Fire on enemy HQ (aimed for archers only)


Offensive roll for melee��

[Gabriella Santos]

Gabriella watched taking in the battle below. Hake men were going after the archers down there, as if nothing else would matter. Then a idea blossomed in her. A battlefield would always have losses, it was obvious. However a good starergist could decide what those losses would be, and what price the enemy would pay to inflict them. As HAke men would once again turn attempt to get at the archers through the men what gabreilla would shout next would probably take the man by surprise. "SIDE STEP LET THEM THROUGH." Gabriella would shout her order. 

Down on the ground the men would obey. Avoiding Hake men as the pushed forward and tried to charge the archer, only for Gab's men to turn round as the charged passed and attack them in the back. Yes the archers were going to get hit before her men could do the damage but, the losses such a attack could inflict on Hake men to was staggering. Down on the ground out of a alley, archers appeared and fired on them. Gabriella didn't see it in time to pull one of the archers to the ground, diving for the floor, not knowing that the archers were not aiming at her. 

---
Looses 2 roof archers, 2 ground archers. 

Remaining 2 ground archers, 3 spears, 4 swords. = 9 left

aepI8Xco
Side step and Back attack

[Chimosa Hake]

First, nothing happened, his men pushed, the enemy pushed back and attacks were blocked or dodged. And then, suddenly, with shouted commands of the enemy commander, Hake's men pushed through the enemy defense line and crashed into the archer forces. The moment they did, Hake shouted counter commands. "Break through, charge and join the main force. Cut down as many as you can." Hake yelled at his troops as they assaulted the enemy archers while being attacked from behind. Spears and swords flashed out towards the enemy archers as his men tried to charge through, only to fall upon the backs of the enemy defense line between them and Hake's main force.

As the Strategist, Hake would normally not be here with the main force, yet now he was alone in the alleys, looking at the enemy force. Leaving his forces for a moment, Hake staggered back into the alleys to try and move around to the main road and approach his own troops from the South, rejoining them. With already his mental stamina taxed by the battle, Hake's body had trouble keeping up and he moved slowly, using the walls of the buildings as support to keep himself from collapsing.

The archers, after having fired on the enemy HQ and taking another enemy down, had moved through the alleys, past the enemy HQ and further North, where they emerged once more into the main road, firing another two arrows into the fray of enemies. This time, however, seeing their two forces attempt to join, they moved down the main road towards their own forces, rejoining them as well, combining all of Hake's task forces together into one remaining troop. As they moved closer to fired what remained of their arrows at the enemy before drawing their knives and joining the fray.

Hake's losses: 1 spearman 1 swordsman; remaining: 3 swordsmen, 2 spearmen, 4 archers; total remaining: 9 men (no arrows left, short swords or knives melee fighters)

znAR43o1
Charge through & offensive roll for breakthrough


Hake's escape


Archer flank attack on enemy main force��

[Gabriella Santos]

Much like Hake archers, with the immediate threat in front of the Gab's archers dropped bows and drew short sword in order to try and defend them selves. They would gold back the enemy between them and her soldier from along as they could before they felt. Hopefully managing to inflict some form of losses before they did fall. 

However attacked from the inside and flanked on the outside Gabriella formation started to crumble, and the current battle turned more from military action, to that of a bar room brawl. Formations breaking down. THis was starting to reach it's conclusion it seemed. Gabriella men gripped weapons and pushed by desperation lashed out and attack, where they could a final stand against Hake forces.

---
Losses 2 archers, 1 sword man. 

Remaining  3 spears, 3 swords. = 6 left

F_hZ9YGf
The last stand.

[Chimosa Hake]

Hake's own forces felt the sudden change in the enemy, forgoing all thoughts of strategy and simply ducking it out. Friends, split by the choice of their commander into opposing teams, crossed swords or spears with each other, trying to down the other side before they went down themselves. Hake missed the start of it all but managed to move around and back into the main road after escaping his predicament earlier, which hadn't turned into much thanks to the breakthrough of his forces.

Stopping next to the enemy HQ, on the ground level, Hake waited for a while as he watched the fight. Men went down left and right as they fought and he noticed some of them standing up again to continue the fight. What had been a proper mock battle had now turned into a friendly brawl between comrades. "Perhaps we should stop it here? Before anyone breaks anything." Hake spoke to nobody in particular, although the low building the enemy had occupied as an HQ would allow his voice to travel up there easily.

Hake's losses: 2 archer, 1 swordsman; Remaining: 2 swordsmen, 2 spearmen, 2 archers; Total = 6 men

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The last stand.

[Gabriella Santos]

Gabriella would watch as the brawl eventually came to a end in the favour of Hake side of the conflict. Gabriella would approach over. "Alright that's enough everyone. Go gather up the fallen and help them nurse of their coming headaches." Gabriella would order to the men, the battle was done and there was no reason not to order them any more. 

Looking around, Gabriella would find where Hake was before approaching him. "Congrats Chimosa-san." She would say fumbling in her clothes for a pouch of coin. She would toss it towards the man. "There is a fair payment. You won you deserve it." She would tell him with a smile.  Hoping that she could twist things when Takehiro heard about to make the men sound better at defending the town then they had been. 

[Chimosa Hake]

Hake smiled as the men started picking up their comrades. There were a lot of bruises to be taken care off, even an unconscious soldier or two, but all in all, the practice had been very interesting. The Totomi militia was impressive indeed. They had fought for every square inch of the town they were protecting, even in a mock setting such as this one. Hake was impressed. As a proper strategist, Hake did not mingle with the soldiers after the fight, leaving them to their own victories and defeats and their celebration thereof.

The enemy strategist approached and Hake smiled softly at her, bowing towards her as she congratulated him. Or so Hake thought at least. Her choice of speech was very much slang and Hake had trouble putting it right in his head. He bowed and lifted his sleeved hands up, bringing them together in the middle as he bowed to the woman. "Thank you, Gabreela-San. Your instructions were very interesting. I learned a lot from you." Hake's sentence ended with a pouch of money fumbling through his hands and hitting the ground. He knelt down to retrieve it before looking at the woman.

"Perhaps you'd like to share some Sake together? We could go over the strategies we played?" Hake offered. While most people would be tired now and ready to rest, Hake was getting more into now that the analytical breakdown of the fight could be discussed. "I do have some extra cash I could treat you with." Hake smiled as he suggestively weighed the pouch of money in his hand.

[Gabriella Santos]

Gabriella couldn't help cringing, not only as her name was once again slightly mispronounced, but it was mostly due to the sight of the dropped money. How could someone reactions not be good enough to catch a pouch, into not like she had been trying to make the man miss it. Letting money fall to the ground, could get it stolen. Well not here it wouldn't the people of Totomi were mostly up standing, Takehiro wouldn't have it differently.

"Certainly. I'm always up for a drink." Gabrella said with a laugh at the offer. "Though you may have notice that already." She said continuing to laugh. "I almost thought I was going to win for a while. But you out positioned me. Come on that drink sounds good." Gabriella would congratulating Hake in her own way, fore turning and leading the way back to the sake house.