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Post by Chimosa Hake on Mar 23, 2014 3:47:50 GMT -7
Obviously you have to either nerf every item in the game or you should increase the difficulty of Numa castle. If two players who just created their characters can run platinum in their first try, even if they are alts from veteran players, than something is very wrong.
Perhaps you should look into the stats of the monsters. The strongest bronze rank monster should have equal stats to the weakest silver rank monster, etc, etc. This should make platinum rank the challenge it should be.
And limit the drops per section of the dungeon to one item per person, so one person could get, at maximum, three items from the entire dungeon run. Give each member of the team a chance to take 1 item from the end boss treasure or something, or from the Daimyo chest or as a gift from the Daimyo for completing the dungeon.
And, possibly, put a (magical) barrier on dungeons that prevent people from going back in right after they come out. What if you limit the amount of dungeon runs per month, like SPQs? Or allow people only to go in dungeons which they have not completed yet? So, the Shinrai would now be locked out of Numa castle forever since they completed the highest rank possible.
What is also possible, although this isn't related to the dungeon directly, is to limit or forbid entirely the buying of items for or sending of money to characters you don't know IC. I mean, from an IC immersion point of view, one of the Shinrai brothers just got an exploding chain-knife in the mail from someone who he has never seen or even heard of before. I know there are arabian princes out there who do that but in game you should prevent these kinds of things.
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Post by Chimosa Hake on Mar 22, 2014 16:29:48 GMT -7
After the riders left, the council managed to finish some sort of plan for the defenses. Hake and the elders moved outside again and gathered the people who would stay. Roughly thirty volunteers, most of them survivors of the previous attacks on the town. There were burly lumberjacks, who worked on the edge of the forest, lean hunters, who brought in meat for the village from the same forest. The rest of them were local people, some farmers, the blacksmith, the carpenter and builder and several others. Even some young men who had recently joined the village. Most of them knew how Hake worked and they knew to trust in his commands as it had brought them to this point in time, alive.
"Start setting up barricades here, around the main square. We'll have our HQ here. The enemy is coming from the north, so focus most of the defenses in that direction. Send out two scouts to try and determine the enemy troop numbers and report back. Don't get too close." While the entire village did not have a wall around it, the houses, built at will, without any regard for location, created a maze of alleys on the left and right of the main trade road through town which came in from the North-north-east and left in the south-south-west.
The scouts immediately left on horseback as the rest of them set to work. At first, there was just the locals working but, as the first days passed, men from nearby villages trickled in, in twos or threes, joining the village defenses. One even rode in horseback proclaiming he was 'the great something'. "Help to set up the barricades on the main road and around the village center. We need all the help we can get for now. The enemy is still a few days away but time is of the essence."
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Post by Chimosa Hake on Mar 22, 2014 6:07:34 GMT -7
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
mJtyoHhc
The last stand.
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Post by Chimosa Hake on Mar 22, 2014 5:56:17 GMT -7
Hake could almost see the wheels turning in the rider's head. Shimotsuke lay behind Uesugi territory, thus it wouldn't be too far fetched to think it a ruse of some sort. He had presented the proper documents but not to the rider. Hake smiled at the rider as he accepted his offer to join him for a drink later on. No better way to settle into a new village than by sharing a drink with someone you just met. The world was full of potentially interesting people who could give so much to Hake, often while requiring nothing more than Hake's company while drinking.
Over the course of the training, Hake watched intently at everything they did. From their formation riding drills to the specifics of dodging attacks without being unhorsed. When they dueled it out, practicing their weapon skills, Hake was extra impressed by the way the men, especially the rider, could direct the horse not so much by hand but with their entire body. It was quite an interesting sight, seeing the rider practice with the cavalry troops. It was obvious that he was either in charge or highly respected by the troops as they trooped around him to listen to his instructions or to make sure they didn't miss any of them.
By the time the drills were over, Hake had moved from his distant viewing spot all the way up to the edge of the cavalry field, drawn in by the same desire to not miss a single detail of the training as the men. It had been highly interesting, especially when the split-flanking maneuver had been shown. When the rider handed his horse over to one of the men and walked closer, Hake couldn't help but clap his hands together. He seemed to be beaming as he spoke.
"Amazing. You're such a great horseman, such skill. It was a pleasure to watch the Takeda's pride at work." Hake had shifted back to his previous speech, using more official language than the one he had used to invite the rider for drinks. Their status as total strangers, combined with proper etiquette, required such speech. "You must be thirsty after such a strenuous practice. Would you like to share that drink I mentioned?" Hake gave him a flirty smile and winked softly at the rider. After such a display of both martial skill and strategical insight, Hake didn't really care if the rider was a man or a woman. So much to be learned from a person like that.
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Post by Chimosa Hake on Mar 21, 2014 23:13:03 GMT -7
Shimotsuke village, Shimotsuke Province
Year 1560 It had been a perfect morning when Hake woke up. He had felt rested and relaxed and even strong enough to go for a morning walk to the well alone. That was something that rarely happened these days. When he had arrived there, he had been invited by the village council to join them for breakfast and he had agreed. As they discussed important matters for the village side by side with discussing rumors and telling jokes, the elders and Hake had spent a splendid morning. Until the news came from the north. Two unknown forces had been spotted along the main trade route north, as well as on the trade route from Shimotsuke, putting the little town in danger the moment everyone heard it. The elders moved out of the council house to try and calm down the villagers. Hake, suddenly feeling tired again, already let his mind work on the problem. The people were calmed down long enough for Hake and the elders to direct them properly. "We don't know where the attack is coming from. The enemy is not carrying banners or markings. They have no distinguishing features that could tell us anything. We don't know if they are coming for us or simply passing through. This is but a small chance but it does exist. Please, people, remain calm while we come up with a solution. One of the elders calmed the people down before everything turned into chaos. "We will send out riders to ask for reinforcements. You can never be too sure. Those of you who can't help defend should start packing their belongings. Help your neighbors and friends were possible as well. We still have several days before the enemy arrives here, if not longer. Those of you capable of defending your homes and families, please remain here while we organize everything." Hake spoke with his soft voice to the people. It seemed that his presence had a soothing effect as well, as people started to calm down somewhat. They had seen him in action before and, even though it had been against bandits, they had survived under his leadership. "Send out riders to all nearby cities, towns and villages, even outside of our province. We want as many people as possible to gather here with us. Those of you who can ride and those of you who have friends in neighboring villages, head out now and gather as many of them as you can." Hake waved out with his hand, sending those people away. "The rest of you, start preparing. We'll need wood for barricades and walls. Stockpile all the weapons you can find here in the council house, send out people to fetch the woodsmen and the cattle herders in the hills and forests. We want everyone here by tonight."Once finished, Hake followed the village council into their building, where they would sit down and discuss their options. The beautiful morning was gone now, no longer did the birds sing their songs or did the insects chirp and tweet at each other. The room was serious as the council leaned over the table with the map on it. Between the army and the village was nothing but rolling hills. No forests to scout from or ambush from, not natural defenses they could use to stall the enemy. It was only a matter of time before they would get here. And then there would be blood and death everywhere. Hake hoped that enough of the nearby villages would understand that losing Shimotsuke village to the enemy would mean losing their own small villages and communities as well. Once Shimotsuke fell, there would be nothing left between the whole south-eastern border of Shimotsuke province and the enemy. The sounds of horses riding off in gallop sounded through the open windows of the council house. (OOC: For those of you who want to know where we are, more or less, it's in the south-east in the blue area on the map below. Shimotsuke village.) |
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Post by Chimosa Hake on Mar 21, 2014 21:46:46 GMT -7
Of course. I'll set up the thread and PM the two of you. If anyone else wants to join in, just PM me and I'll see if it's not too late for you.
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Post by Chimosa Hake on Mar 21, 2014 16:47:42 GMT -7
Hake couldn't help but chuckle at the remark about his warrior physique. If it came to it, Hake would lose in a physical contest against even a child or a woman. "Very perceptive, lady... I don't seem to recall your name. My apologies." Hake rubbed his temples with his hands, trying to determine if he had forgotten the woman's name or if he simply hadn't gotten it yet. He noticed the woman let go of her weapons and he let out a breath of relief. He hadn't planned on getting cut down over nothing like this.
"Yonezawa. I've heard the name before. That should be fine. I'll be able to find my way down south from there." Hake wrapped his robe around him and pulled over the thick fur cloak before walking to the door, opening it to let the cold wind in. Not wanting to freeze the good people of this home, he quickly stepped outside. The blizzard had stopped but the frosty winds remained. The ground was covered with a thick pack of snow but it was less cold than the last time he had been out, or at least it felt that way.
He waited for the woman to join him. "So then? Which way are we going? I have no idea where we are or which would would be north or south." Hake smiled at the woman as he let his mind run over the idea of joining the Date. He had heard about them and their leader but nothing about it really spoke to Hake. Sure, they were the people taking care of the people, peasant samurai, sort of speak, but still, the idea did not work for Hake. He kept his opinion to himself, however.
"It's rare to see a woman in the army. That must be quite a tale. Would you mind telling it to me? All that talking will keep us warm on the road ahead."
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Post by Chimosa Hake on Mar 21, 2014 16:38:11 GMT -7
Hake raised his head somewhat as the person, informed him they were not the lord or lady Hake had presumed. Straightening himself up and casually brushing his hair back, Hake smiled back, his soft pink lips splitting to show off a set of white teeth. Not only was the rider a careful person, they also carried a certain... something. Hake had difficulty putting his finger on it. Perhaps it was the inability to determine, for sure, the rider's gender.
"I am Chimosa Hake, trade envoy of Katsuba-Dono, Daimyo of South-western Shimotsuke. I'm just here because the Takeda are world famous for their horsemanship and it would be a waste not to see them perform it during my short stay here in your village." That he was here to learn their tactics or even to buy their horses were details Hake thought unnecessary for the rider as the first one was a secret and the second part was only for the ears of whoever was in charge here.
"Please, don't let me disturb your training." Hake bowed again, lighter this time before looking the rider over again. It was a fun game to the strategist to try and determine the rider's gender. A tomboy lady or a feminine man. Hake smiled at the rider. "Perhaps, once you're finished training, you could tell me something about your horses over some sake?" Hake didn't bow this time, his offer to share a drink like this was spoken as equals, without the previous honorifics or necessary bowing.
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Post by Chimosa Hake on Mar 21, 2014 16:25:24 GMT -7
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��
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Post by Chimosa Hake on Mar 21, 2014 3:42:00 GMT -7
Help Hake and his village out. An unprovoked attack by an unmarked, mysterious force is heading straight for the village. The locals are in panic and are throwing up what little defenses they can. Messengers have headed out to nearby villages, trying to recruit people to join the fight. While most villages aren't interested in helping as they are just farmers, there might be talented individuals amongst them who feel the need to protect the weak or simply to join a fight when it presents itself on a platter like this. I'm still looking for at least one more person to start this off. If anyone is near Shimotsuke and would like to help Hake and Mikhael out with their problems to-be, you are most welcome to join in. If possible, try not to be too overpowered. Thanks. |
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Doodles
Mar 20, 2014 19:34:17 GMT -7
Post by Chimosa Hake on Mar 20, 2014 19:34:17 GMT -7
I've noticed there are quite a bit of artistes on the site and I decided to create my own little tidbit of creative (open minded) expression here. Sadly, I'm not a drawer, because I can't do it. I'm not a sprite-ist anymore and I've never liked paint. The one thing that I am, however, is good with computers. So I picked up digital (fantasy) cartography. I've always liked maps, what they represent and the power a well made map gives someone. I've made some (really bad) maps over the years, I've been doing this now on and off for about two years now and I like to think I've improved at least a little bit in that time. I'm specialized in large scale maps for kingdoms, continents or even entire worlds. Small time maps like cities or minor provinces make things difficult for me and I don't understand why. My interior maps are also pretty decent if I know what I'm going for in the end. Below you'll find some examples of various size and skill that I've made so far. (Edit: It seems like the maps don't show in their full scale. If anyone knows of a good host for pictures like these that shows them at full scale, that would be nice.) First off, a very quick map I made for my thread with Gabriella. It was just an idea that came up while writing things out and I had to get it on 'paper'. It took about 5 minutes to make. It's just a scratch map so there's a lot of details missing from it still. Not sure if I'll update it at the end of the thread. Just finished this one, also the reason why I wanted to create this post. It's a map of Hake's beloved Shimotsuke based on a whole myriad of information that I could gather. (There is surprisingly little information in English on the net for Japan 1560.) I did find this, which is amazing, but all in Japanese and about 300 years, give or take a decade or two, too late. But beautiful none the less. Very interesting site as well. So, in the end I (ab)used Google maps to come up with the "lay of the land" and bastardized it by a good 500 years in order to get the map that I think would have fit well in with the Shimotsuke of that era. This is not a real map, it is by all accounts a fictional creation based on my imagination. Something else entirely. A house I built and decorated for an old magic character I had once created. He didn't last long past the finishing of this map but I had fun with him because he was absolutely horrible for other people to RP with due to his inability to want to remember anything besides magical theories and skills. And last but definitely not least, a map that, although not part of anything Sengoku related, is the best piece of cartography I've created so far. It's for a different RP site which I'm helping out on but I just wanted to show it to you because of how epic it is (imo). It is a very detailed and big map so give it some time to load. I'm not sure if you can zoom in here but we'll see. The map was made on a 4000x4000 canvas and made my laptop smoke on several occasions trying to keep up with the rendering of things. |
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Post by Chimosa Hake on Mar 20, 2014 17:04:28 GMT -7
Hake was surprised to see the men. Actual soldiers? Here? In this little outback of civilization. Hake smiled at the two men. "Everyone who is not willing to fight, I suggest you start packing. Ten minutes is a short time to gather your valuables and make it out of town. Head for the Southern road and follow it into the next village if you want. Those of you who want to fight, follow me."
Hake moved back to the village edge, from where he could see the mill once again. He took aside six archers and ordered them to kill anyone on the walls they could see, to fire at will until told otherwise. The remaining four villagers and the two soldiers, he took aside as well. "Gather hay and straw and bind it together, quickly. We will smoke the enemy out. The wind is blowing from the southeast so we'll put the hay in that corner of the mill's compound. It'll smoke them out or provide us with cover to move in. Hurry up before they reload.
With the men all on their tasks, Hake moved a little back into town and simply took a oil lamp and a big stack of cloth from a nearby house. Whoever owned the place wouldn't mind it should it bring them victory and wouldn't care should it bring them defeat. While his men were firing and preparing the hay bales to stack up, Hake dipped the cloths in the oil of the lamp. Once the hay was in place he would order one of the men to fire the arrows at the hay once Hake had lit the arrows up. Everything moved rushed and quick as the men did their best to fight against the time.
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Post by Chimosa Hake on Mar 20, 2014 16:48:23 GMT -7
Hake's eyes widened at the news of her being a Date soldier. He had gone north the whole time he thought he was going south. "I'm in Oshu?! He stood, perplexed, looking at the woman with the weapons. It didn't pass his attention that she was casually holding her weapons and that made him smile just a little. When he managed to gather his wits about him again, Hake spoke. "There is no need for those. I am a trade envoy from Shimotsuke to the Ashina territory. We were sent to broker a deal for our wares as the local market in Shimotsuke has already collapsed when it comes to our grain and rice. Once we left the Ashina lands, the blizzard came and I lost my friends in the storm. And then I lost my horse and a few hours after that, I think, you found me. There's no need to worry. I'm not a spy of any sort."
Hake waved that silly notion away as he smiled again at Jina. "I only ask for an escort to civilization. From there I will be able to make my way back to Shimotsuke and attend my own funeral. I hope they won't try to exorcise me when I arrive." Making light of a situation was usually not how people reacted when they learned they were being interrogated by an official from a Daimyo territory far up north from where they were supposed to be. But to Hake it was a simple decision. If he made fun of things, perhaps the soldier would see it that way as well.
If not, Hake's rescue would mean little as the woman would either arrest him and bring him in for questioning, which would most likely lead to Hake's death the moment they started or to kill him here, which would also lead to his death, making his earlier rescue a little useless. "I just need someone to point in the right direction, possible together with a caravan of well traveled people who can make sure I don't get lost again."
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Post by Chimosa Hake on Mar 20, 2014 16:38:57 GMT -7
Hake watched the display of formation, mock charges and a few solo practices who tried, with minute control of their horses, to move them around in a zig zag pattern in between some barrels. Their horsemanship was indeed quite something. It was with more than simple interest that Hake watched the men practice. In awe, he looked at their skills, far above anything Hake had ever seen done before. When one of the men broke off from the troops and headed in his direction, Hake did not notice until the horseman was almost upon him.
His attention turned towards the person on the horse and, to Hake's surprise, that person was quite female, but with a few touches of male. It was difficult to decide whether it was a feminine man or a tomboy female. As a onlooker and commoner, Hake immediately bowed towards the rider, his hands slipped into opposite sleeves, hidden from sight. "Dono." Hake spoke the 'd' sound hard enough for it to be mistaken for a 't'. A simple way of making sure that Hake didn't make a mistake to the person's gender and getting his head cut off.
"I've spend some time with soldiers before, Dono. I will be able to manage myself. But thank you for warning me. I was merely here to observe the practice, Dono." Hake remained bowed, something people did when confronted with military ranked soldiers or actual nobles. It was the way things worked. Hake's long black hair slipped in between his arms and hid most of his face from the person's view. Hake wondered, before catching himself doing so, if the person actually was a 'Dono' or a 'Tono'. It was not his place to think as such.
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Post by Chimosa Hake on Mar 20, 2014 16:23:36 GMT -7
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��
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Post by Chimosa Hake on Mar 20, 2014 16:09:57 GMT -7
When the cannonball hit the one of the buildings with the villagers in it, Hake knew it was time to leave. Shouting orders in the dust cloud while splinters of wood rained down on his 'troops' Hake pulled his men back to the village center. The cannonball explosion had drawn everyone's attention. Now Hake had only two avenues of action left. Charge to his death with the men he had left while leaving all these cowards here to hide in their houses was not one of them.
"The enemy has a cannon. And I don't doubt they can level the whole village from the mill. I see two paths for you. One: we pack up and leave the town to the bandits. We can find shelter in one of the nearby villages, closer to the Daimyo's castle. Two: We take up arms, like I told you to do at the start of all this, and go teach those bandits not to mess with us. But Hake knew it was already too late. Against swords and spears, farmers could bring up courage to fight. Against a cannon, even with Hake's (limited) skill in warfare, there was no way they would rally behind him.
One thing was certain when fighting a cannon, people would die before they ever even got to the fighting. With the Canon brought out, Hake understood that the farmers might prefer to leave. And, in their stead, he would take the same decision. Live to fight another day. Especially another day where you have proper Daimyo soldiers and samurai in front of you who know how to storm a cannon without getting slaughtered. Or who had horses.
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Post by Chimosa Hake on Mar 20, 2014 6:46:55 GMT -7
Hake was surprised at the news. Three days? It had only seemed like a few hours to him. He remembered drinking some water at some point and he figured it must have been this lady helping him. "You saved my life then. Thank you for that. My name is Chimosa Hake and I'm in your debt. And in this family's debt." Hake tried to bow towards the woman but moving his head like that made things spin and he decided to lie down again, closing his eyes until his head stopped spinning. By the time he opened them again, he could smell the meat roasting on the fire. It brought water to his mouth.
"That smells delicious." Hake spoke softly in melodious tones as he accepted the food from the woman. Feeling his stomach rumble at the smell of food, Hake managed to use the chopsticks provided to eat the rice and the meat, taking only small bites at a time. He savored every bite of it, finding it tasted wonderful. Satisfied and with a full stomach, Hake lay himself back to rest, this time staring at the ceiling for a while before drifting off to sleep again.
------------------- Recovery timeskip --------------------
Two days later, Hake was walking around the room, albeit slowly, as he found himself back up to strength, for what limited strength he had. The family had taken care of him without asking any questions or demanding payment and Hake had accepted their kindness. Now, however, with the snowstorm having blown over, it was time for Hake to leave. "You mentioned you were on patrol, yes? That means you come from somewhere. Would you be able to guide me to civilization? I should be able to find my way from there, hopefully." Hake spoke to the woman who had saved him as he pulled on his boots and tied his hakama with the beige-brown waistband that kept it in place before pulling his robes over the whole package.
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Post by Chimosa Hake on Mar 20, 2014 3:13:01 GMT -7
The trip from Shimotsuke had been a long one, several weeks of riding, going from village to village and sleeping in inns whenever possible. They hadn't met any bandits on the road, which was quite a feat, but had run into several burning villages along the way. It seemed like war was quite active here on the Takeda-Uesugi border of Kotsuke. They had met soldiers of both sides and were left undisturbed as they moved on. While there was no single power in Shimotsuke, the province was known and they were left alone after showing their papers the Daimyo had provided them with. Hake's long raven black hair was pushed over her shoulder as he looked ahead towards the town they were heading for. Here, the Takeda forces had gathered, a border defense force which was here permanently should the Uesugi decide to attack. Even from here, Hake could see the overwhelming amounts of mounts and mounted soldiers. This was why they were here. The Takeda had the best cavalry around and also bred the finest horses in the land. So Hake had been made a part of the trade envoy sent here. Their group of twenty rode into town and headed straight for the inn. It was always good to settle in first before going out and trading. While Hake had been sent with the men, he had no idea why, as his skills did not include knowledge of horses. But then again, perhaps that was why he was here? Excusing himself from the other men, Hake left the inn and strolled around town. His beige outfit did nothing to establish any interest in Hake and he enjoyed it that way. Under the large sleeved, lose robe Hake wore a tightly cross-tied beige hakama, kept in place by a band of silk in the same beige color as the rest of his outfit. His first destination was the training field upon which he had seen the Takeda troops practicing. This would be a good place to learn something about them and, if possible, to 'borrow' some strategies from. Perhaps, if he was lucky, he'd come up with some counter strategies for their maneuvers. Hake smiled and looked ever more wonderful to the few men that noticed his beauty now. The same as Zhuge Liang, except in a sandy-beige color, without the topknot-hat, as Hake wears his hair loose.  |
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Oct 25, 2014 1:50:10 GMT -7
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Post by Chimosa Hake on Mar 20, 2014 1:44:53 GMT -7
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 djUlxWo_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.) ���� |
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Post by Chimosa Hake on Mar 20, 2014 1:25:08 GMT -7
Iemasa and Naotora are both too overpowered for this but Mikhael is more than welcome to join in. Depending on where he is in Eusugi territory it's quite possible he's close enough to get a messenger to his location. (Hake's village is located between the 'mouth' of Kotsuke and the S of Shimotsuke) I'm hoping for at least four of us in total so I'll give people some time to read and decide before starting up the thread.
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Post by Chimosa Hake on Mar 20, 2014 1:16:57 GMT -7
Well, the more people join the bigger the enemy army will be so that it won't end quick. But what I'm mostly looking for is a strategical battle, not a mass powered slaughter of troops. I'm going to need some losses on Hake's side in order to facilitate future threads sprouting from this one.
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Post by Chimosa Hake on Mar 20, 2014 0:22:09 GMT -7
Help Hake and his village out. An unprovoked attack by an unmarked, mysterious force is heading straight for the village. The locals are in panic and are throwing up what little defenses they can. Messengers have headed out to nearby villages, trying to recruit people to join the fight. While most villages aren't interested in helping as they are just farmers, there might be talented individuals amongst them who feel the need to protect the weak or simply to join a fight when it presents itself on a platter like this.
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Post by Chimosa Hake on Mar 19, 2014 21:46:26 GMT -7
Hake was glad to see another person. It did help to reassure him of the state of him being dead. Things were better. "I'm...ok, thanks." The woman's hands were all over him the moment he seemed awake and the experience was a little disturbing, although not unpleasant. Hake waited for the woman to finish what she was doing and was glad to hear the woman deemed him 'well'. He didn't really feel like it, though. "Can I have some water?" Once again he drank a little of the water presented to him and then slipped back into a recovering sleep.
A few hours later, Hake woke up again and looked around once more, taking in more details of the room. He managed to push himself up into a seated position this time, although it made his head spin when he did so. He wasn't sure if the spinning head came from his endeavor or from his physical state of being. Hake blinked several times as he did his best to recollect his memory of the past... what? How long had it been?
Hake waited, sitting up, for the person to come to check on him. Once she was with him, he would, albeit quietly, try to get some answers from the woman. "Where am I? I don't remember finding a house before collapsing. Did a bear bring me here? How long have I been out?" For a recently almost frozen to death person, Hake was glad to know he retained his ability to flood someone with questions when needed.
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Post by Chimosa Hake on Mar 19, 2014 16:19:46 GMT -7
It was nice and hot now, where Hake was. He remained asleep for a long time before ever opening his eyes, but his breathing remained steady. By the time the fire crackled, Hake managed to open his eyes long enough to understand he was somewhere near a fire, most likely in a house. Somehow, he felt like he had seen these things already once before. When a person came closer to look on him, Hake tried to focus on them. "Water." If it was brought to him he would take a few sips and fall back asleep.
His dreams were filled with white falling from above him and pooling up below him. Then the white massed together into a giant bear that took Hake's leg in his mouth and tugged him backwards towards a dark spot in the white. Both snow-bear and Hake disappeared in the darkness and started falling. As they fell, the warmth became hotter and hotter and then unbearable as it started to burn at Hake's skin. In his dream, he screamed in pain.
While usually a very talkative person, Hake's brush with death and exhaustion kept him asleep again for several hours as his skin returned to its normal, sickly pale, color. He shifted in his sleep a few times due to his dreams, another good sign since normally frozen people don't move around, and finally woke up again with a sudden scream of pain, finding himself staring at the roof of the building, sweating. His head was pounding and his entire body felt sweaty and wet. But the fire had only been a dream. Wondering where he was and how he had gotten there, Hake made an attempt at sitting up which resulted in some grunting and no movement what so ever.
"Hello?" Hake spoke, unsure if anyone was even there. His limited field of vision allowed him to see the roof, the fireplace and the wall opposite the fireplace. The rest of the room was beyond his weakened body's ability to see.
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Post by Chimosa Hake on Mar 19, 2014 16:00:43 GMT -7
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.
4o9ZSEKW
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.)����
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