CHAPTER 1: HYMUKAI

RULEBOOK 2.0

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INDEX CHAPTER 1: HYMUKAI ....................... 1 WARRIOR'S CREED .......................... 10 GONGYE CHANG'S LETTER TO HSIANG,

DUKE OF SUNG. .............................. 11 HYMUKAI ...................................... 13 RYUNOKANI ................................... 13 THE TENNO .................................. 14 THE SAMURAI ................................ 14 HEIAN-JO, THE CAPITAL ..................... 15 THE CLANS .................................... 15 THE KUGE...................................... 16 THE BUKE ...................................... 18 THE SOHEI ..................................... 20 THE OTOKODATE ............................. 22 RELIGION IN HYMUKAI ...................... 26 SHINTO "THE WAYS OF THE GODS" ....... 26 BUTSUDO "THE WAY OF THE BUDA" ...... 26 SHUGENDO .................................... 27 THE ONMYODO ................................ 27 FORMS OF MAGIC ............................ 28 KOTOTAMA: THE POWER OF WORDS ..... 28 KUJI-IN: SEALS OF THE NINE SYLLABLES

................................................... 28 O-FUDA: KANJI MAGIC ....................... 29 ONMYODO: THE WAY OF YING AND YANG

................................................... 29 THE THREE PLANES ......................... 30

THE CELESTIAL PLANE: AMA .............. 30 THE INTERMEDIATE PLANE: KUNI ......... 30 THE UNDERWORLD: YOMI .................. 30 REINCARNATIONS AND THE WHEEL OF

DHARMA ....................................... 31 SUPERNATURAL BEINGS .................. 32 KAMI ............................................ 32 TENNIN ......................................... 32 YOKAI ........................................... 32

SHURA ......................................... 32 YUREI ........................................... 33 GAKI ............................................. 33 BASIC RULES.................................. 34 WHAT DO I NEED? ............................. 34 THE UNIT ....................................... 34 PROFILE: ........................................ 35 ATTRIBUTES ................................... 35 AT ATTACK .................................... 35 DF DEFENSE ................................... 35 W WOUNDS .................................... 36 KI SPIRIT ....................................... 36 HR HONOR ..................................... 36 IN INITIATIVE ................................... 36 FORMATION.................................... 36 DC COMBAT DICE .............................. 37 DD FIRING DICE ................................ 37 PM COMMANDMENT POINTS ............... 37 AC ACTION POINTS ........................... 37 VIEWING ANGLE .............................. 37 LINE OF SIGHT ................................ 38 TYPES OF ROLL ............................... 38 ATTRIBUTE TEST ............................. 38 ATTRIBUTE ROLL ............................. 38

MOVEMENT ROLL ............................ 38 OPPOSED ROLLS .............................. 38 MEASURING ................................... 39 THE BATTLE ................................... 40 PHASES AND TURNS ........................ 40 DEPLOYMENT OF TERRAIN PIECES ........ 40 DEPLOYMENT OF THE ARMY ............... 40 COMMAND ROLL .............................. 40 ORDERS AND ACTIONS PHASE ............ 40 COMBAT AND RESOLUTION PHASE ....... 41

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VICTORY CONDITIONS ....................... 41 DEPLOYMENT ................................. 42 HIDDEN DEPLOYMENT ....................... 42 DEPLOYMENT CARD ......................... 42 DEPLOYMENT ROLLS ........................ 42 DEPLOYMENT ZONE ......................... 42 DEPLOYING CARDS .......................... 43 CHARACTERS' DEPLOYMENT .............. 43 OCCUPYING TERRAIN ....................... 43 ORDERS AND ACTIONS ..................... 44 ACTIVATE TAISHO ABILITIES .............. 44 REGROUPING UNITS RUNNING AWAY ... 44 STRATEGIC ORDERS ........................ 45 DELIVERING A WARNING ORDER ......... 45 GENERIC ORDERS ............................ 45 COUNTERMANDS ............................ 45

GENERAL RULES ............................ 46 ACTIONS ....................................... 46 ACTION POINTS (AC)......................... 47 ACTIVATION ORDER ......................... 47 OCCUPYING .................................... 47 BUILDINGS .................................... 47 SPECIAL ABILITIES ........................... 47 ACTION OF OPPORTUNITY .................. 48 COMPLETING ACTIONS ...................... 48 MOVEMENT .................................... 49 PERFORMING THE MOVEMENT ............ 49 SPECIAL MOVEMENTS ...................... 50 HARASSERS AND LONELY CHARACTERS

................................................... 50 MOVING THROUGH UNITS .................. 50 OVERCOMING AN OBSTACLE .............. 51 INFANTRY UNITS ............................. 51 CAVALRY UNITS ............................. 51 SHOOTING ..................................... 51 LOADING WEAPONS ......................... 51 SHOOTING ..................................... 52

FIRING DISTANCE ............................. 52 FIRING DICE (DD) .............................. 52 FIRING ROLL ................................... 53 GREATER PRECISION ........................ 53 MULTIPLE SHOT .............................. 53 MOVEMENT AND SHOOTING ............... 53 DEFENSE TEST ................................ 53 DAMAGE ROLL ................................ 54 CRITICAL DAMAGE ........................... 54 REMOVING LOSSES.......................... 54 ACCUMULATED DAMAGE .................... 54 THE SPIRITUAL ACTION ..................... 55 SPELLCASTING ............................... 55 KI TEST ......................................... 55 CONCENTRATION ............................. 55 MEDITATION ................................... 55

RESULT OF THE SPELLCASTING .......... 56 BLOCK .......................................... 56 KI TEST ......................................... 56 DURATION ...................................... 56 EFFECTS ........................................ 57 TYPES OF ROLL ............................... 57 THE CHARGE .................................. 58 DECLARING THE CHARGE ................... 58 REACTION TO THE CHARGE ................ 58 WITHSTAND AND COMBAT ................. 58 WITHSTAND AND SHOOT ................... 58 THE COUNTER-CHARGE ..................... 58 RUN AWAY .................................... 59 BONUSES GRANTED BY A CHARGE ...... 59 TYPE OF UNIT .................................. 59

PERFORMING THE CHARGE ................ 59 TYPES OF CHARGE ........................... 60 DIRECT CHARGE .............................. 60 INDIRECT CHARGE ............................ 60 ZONE OF CHARGE ............................ 60 CHARGE TOWARDS A DIRECT ZONE ..... 61

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CHARGE TOWARDS AN OBLIQUE ZONE. 61 RULE FOR THE IMPACT ...................... 61 ZONE OF CHARGE AND HARASSERS ... 62 DIRECT ZONE ................................. 62 OBLIQUE ZONE ............................... 62 FAILED CHARGE .............................. 62 POSTING THE UNIT ........................... 62 MULTIPLE CHARGES ........................ 63 CHARGE AND OBSTACLES ................. 63 NORMAL AND HIGH OBSTACLES ......... 63 VERY HIGH OBSTACLES: ................... 63 IMPASSABLE OBSTACLES:................. 63 COMBAT ........................................ 64 COMBAT SCHEME ............................ 64 ACTIVATION OF ABILITIES .................. 65 DEFENSIVE POSITION ........................ 65

RESOLUTION OF THE INITIATIVE .......... 65 INITIATIVE ROLL .............................. 65 THE ATTACK .................................. 66 DC COMBAT DICE.............................. 66 MODIFIERS TO DC ............................ 66 COMBAT DICE DISTRIBUTION .............. 66 CHARGING UNIT .............................. 66 FOCUSING YOUR DC ......................... 67 LONELY CHARACTER ....................... 67 THE ATTACK ROLL ........................... 67 DEFENSE TEST................................ 67 THE DAMAGE ROLL .......................... 67 REMOVAL OF MINIATURES ................. 68 ACCUMULATED DAMAGE ................... 68 DESTROYING A UNIT ........................ 68

RESTRUCTURATION ......................... 68 COMBAT RESOLUTION ...................... 68 CONFRONTATION VALUE ................... 68 DAMAGE DIFFERENCE ....................... 68 RESULT OF THE COMBAT ................... 69 VICTORY ........................................ 69

DRAW ........................................... 69 DEFEAT ......................................... 69 RUN AWAY .................................... 70 THE UNIT DOES NOT REGROUP ............ 70 AS A REACTION TO A CHARGE............. 70 BECAUSE OF ENEMY FIRE .................. 70 DEFEAT IN COMBAT .......................... 71 CHASE .......................................... 71 DESTROYED.................................... 72 CLASH WHILE RUNNING AWAY ........... 72 LEAVING THE BATTLEFIELD ................ 72 TYPES OF UNIT ................................ 73 INFANTRY ...................................... 73 CAVALRY ....................................... 73 HARASSERS .................................. 73 CREATURES ................................... 73

CHARACTERS ................................. 74 TYPES OF CHARACTER ...................... 74 JOINING OR LEAVING A UNIT ............... 75 CHARGE ........................................ 75 REACTION TO THE CHARGE ................ 75 SHOOTING AND CHARACTERS ............ 75 FIRING CHARACTER .......................... 75 CHARACTER TARGETED BY SHOTS ...... 75 CHARACTER IN COMBAT .................... 76 CHARACTER'S DC ............................. 76 DAMAGING A CHARACTER.................. 76 SURVIVING THE UNIT ........................ 76 RUN AWAY FROM COMBAT ................. 76 CHARACTER'S CONFRONTATION.......... 77 DECLARING THE CONFRONTATION ....... 77

LONELY CONFRONTATION.................. 77 THE CONFRONTATION ....................... 77 REJECTING THE CONFRONTATION......... 78 END OF THE CONFRONTATION ............. 78 THE TAISHO ................................... 79 COMMANDMENT POINTS (PM) ............. 79

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POSITION OF CONTROL ..................... 79 TAISHO'S DEATH ............................. 79 TAISHO ABILITIES ............................ 80 GENERAL ABILITIES ......................... 80 FOREST OF SPEARS ......................... 80 BANZAI ........................................ 80 ASHIGARU'S GENERAL ..................... 80 MASTER IN CALLIGRAPHY ................. 80 KUGE TAISHO ................................. 80 FULFILL YOUR DUTY......................... 80 CLANDESTINE PRACTICES ................. 80 BUKE TAISHO ................................. 81 EXPERT STRATEGIST ....................... 81 BUSHIDO LAW ................................ 81 SOHEI TAISHO ................................ 81 THE WHEEL OF DHARMA ................... 81

DIVINE WIND ................................... 81 OTOKODATE TAISHO ........................ 81 BUYING THE ENEMY ......................... 81 HATE TO SAMURAI .......................... 81 TRAIT ........................................... 82 COMMANDMENT .............................. 82 HEININ .......................................... 82 DUELIST ........................................ 82 SAMURAI ...................................... 82 PROJECTILES .................................. 82 LONER .......................................... 82 SOHEI ........................................... 82 ASSASSIN ..................................... 83 GREAT WARRIOR ............................ 83 LEGENDARY ................................... 83

RONIN .......................................... 83 BOW MASTER ................................. 83 HIDDEN ......................................... 83 NINJUTSU ...................................... 83 NO COMBAT ................................... 83 MARTIAL ARTS ............................... 83

FLYING .......................................... 84 FEAR ............................................ 84 ETHEREAL ..................................... 84 TERROR ........................................ 84 SMALL .......................................... 84 BIG ............................................... 84 UNDEAD ........................................ 84 WEAPONS AND ARMORS ................... 85 WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENT ................ 85 BOW ............................................. 85 OZUTSU ........................................ 85 SHURIKEN ..................................... 85 SLING (ISHITSUBUTE) ....................... 86 TEPPO ........................................... 86 BLOWPIPE ...................................... 86 FIRETHROWER ................................ 86

TILLAGE ........................................ 87 ONAGAMAKI ................................... 87 JUMONJI YARI .................................. 87 ONO (AXE) ..................................... 87 NAGINATA ..................................... 87 OMI YARI ....................................... 87 YARI ............................................. 88 KATANA ........................................ 88 JINGAMA ........................................ 88 BO ............................................... 88 SHINOBI GATANA ............................ 89 MITSU DOGU ................................... 89 SABER .......................................... 89 KANABO-TETSUBO ........................... 89 IGNEOUS ATTACK ............................ 89

WAKIZASHI ................................... 89 CLAWS AND JAWS............................ 90 NO-DACHI....................................... 90 KUSARIGAMA ................................. 90 HATA-JIRUSHI ................................. 90 ARMOR ......................................... 91

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AR ARMOR .................................... 91 ARMOR TYPES ................................ 91 SPELLS......................................... 92 SPELL PROFILE ............................... 92 ONMYOUJI SPELLS ........................... 92 CELESTIAL SPELLS .......................... 92 BOOK OF LIGHT ............................... 92 Spheres of light (Selected level) ................ 92 Power word (Lv1) ............................... 92 Spheres of protection (Lv 2) .................... 93 Blind LV2 ....................................... 93 Path to victory LV3 ............................. 93 Burning light LV4 ............................. 93 BOOK OF TIME ................................ 93 Physical disruption (Selected level) ........... 93 Fleeting moment LV1 .......................... 94

Walk over reality LV2 .......................... 94 Disorientate LV2 ................................ 94 Ripping the veil LV3............................ 94 Cloak of ashes LV4 ............................. 94 INFERNAL SPELLS ........................... 95 BOOK OF WAR ................................ 95 Projectiles of fire (Selected level) ............... 95 Cloak of terror LV1 ............................. 95 Warlord LV2 .................................... 95 Channel of fire LV2 ............................ 95 Rain of blood LV3 .............................. 96 Deflagration LV4 ............................... 96 BOOK OF RAGE ............................... 96 Tongue of destruction (Selected level) ......... 96 Ikari's rage LV1 ................................. 96

Ikari's servant LV2 ............................. 97 Guiding arrows LV2 ........................... 97 Infernal explosion LV3 ......................... 97 Sacrifice LV4 ................................... 97 EARTH SPELLS ............................... 98 BOOK OF ANIMALS .......................... 98

Poisonous projectile (Selected level) ............ 98 Essential energy LV1 ........................... 98 FLYING LV2 .................................... 98 Bolt the mount LV2 ............................. 98 Calling the birds LV3 ........................... 99 Swarm of insects LV4 .......................... 99 BOOK OF NATURE ............................ 99 Throwing stones (Selected level) ............... 99 Vines LV1........................................ 99 Changing nature LV2 .......................... 100 Favorable winds LV2 ............................ 100 Stealing energy LV3 ........................... 100 Forces of nature LV4 ............................ 100 DEATH SPELLS ................................ 101 BOOK OF SHADOWS ......................... 101 Lashes of dark energy (Selected level) ......... 101

Armor of shadows LV1 .......................... 101 Ghostly mount LV2 ............................ 101 Dark claws LV2 ................................. 101 Eternal night LV3 .............................. 102 Well of the forgotten LV4 ....................... 102 BOOK OF THE DEAD .......................... 102 Projectile of corruption (Selected level) ......... 102 Weakness LV1 .................................. 102 Shiryo LV2 ...................................... 103 Mekubare LV2 ................................... 103 Opening the Nekara LV3 ....................... 103 Breath of the dead LV4 ......................... 103 TERRAIN PIECES .............................. 104 TYPES OF TERRAIN .......................... 104 COVER .......................................... 104

SHOOTING ..................................... 104 Light cover: ...................................... 104 Heavy cover: ..................................... 105 COMBAT ........................................ 105 Light cover: ...................................... 105 Heavy cover: ..................................... 105

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TERRAIN PIECES ............................. 105 WALLS, BUSHES OR FENCES ............. 105 Normal height: .................................. 105 Very high: ....................................... 105 FOREST ........................................ 106 Edges ............................................ 106 Deep forest ....................................... 106 CONSTRUCTIONS ............................ 106 HOUSE ......................................... 107 PAGODA (TEMPLE) ........................... 107 CLAN'S CASTLE .............................. 107 ALTAR .......................................... 107 CEMETERY ..................................... 107 TORII ............................................ 108 BRIDGE ......................................... 108 RUINS .......................................... 108

HILL ............................................. 108 On the hill. ...................................... 108 RIVER, LAKE, SWAMP ....................... 109 STREAMS, BROOKS AND BOGS, RIVER

FORDS .......................................... 109 THE ARMY LIST............................... 110 SELECTING A WAY ........................... 110 LEVEL OF THE BATTLE ...................... 110 VALUE IN KOKUS ............................ 110 LIMITATIONS .................................. 110 UNIT LIMITS ................................... 111 UNITS: BASIC, SPECIAL, CREATURES AND

ELITE. ........................................... 111 CHARACTER LIMITS ......................... 111 VIRTUE OF THE WAY ......................... 111

GAME WITH MAGIC .......................... 111 SPIRITUAL CHARACTER .................... 111 CLANS AND HIDDEN POWERS ............. 112 LIMITATIONS .................................. 112 TWO ONMYOUJI IN THE SAME ARMY ..... 112 TWO ONMYOUJI WITH THE SAME

KNOWLEDGE .................................. 112

LEVEL OF THE SPIRITUAL CHARACTER .. 112 LEGENDARY CREATURES .................. 113 TABLE OF LEVEL, KOKUS, UNITS AND

CREATURES. .................................. 114 TABLE OF LEVEL AND LIMITATIONS OF

CHARACTERS ................................. 114 UNITS' PROFILES ............................. 115 BASIC UNITS .................................. 115 YARI ASHIGARU (ASHIGARU WITH SPEAR)

................................................... 115 HEISHI (LOW RANK WARRIORS) ......... 115 YUMI ASHIGARU (ASHIGARU WITH BOW)

................................................... 115 KATANA SAMURAI (SAMURAI WITH

KATANA) ....................................... 116 YUMI SAMURAI (SAMURAI WITH BOW) .. 116 KIBA MUSHA (CAVALRY WITH KATANA) 116 YARI KIBA MUSHA (LIGHT CAVALRY) ... 116 ISHITSUBUTE ASHIGARU (ASHIGARU WITH

SLING) .......................................... 117 NO BUSHI (SKIRMISHER ARCHERS) ..... 117 KURO (PEASANTS) .......................... 117 ONNA KOMUSO (WARRIOR NUNS) ....... 118 KUGE UNITS ................................... 119 KUGE SPECIALS .............................. 119 ONNA-BUSHI .................................. 119 TEPPOTAI (ASHIGARU WITH TEPPO) ...... 119 KUGE GREAT GUARD ........................ 120 ONNA KIBA MUSHA .......................... 120 ELITE KUGE .................................... 121 NINJAS .......................................... 121 YABUSAME .................................... 122 BUKE UNITS ................................... 123 BUKE SPECIALS .............................. 123 NO-DACHI SAMURAI (SAMURAI WITH

DAIKATANA) ................................... 123 YARI SAMURAI (SAMURAI WITH YARI) .. 123 JI SAMURAI..................................... 124 O BAN ........................................... 124

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BUKE ELITE .................................... 125 KENGO ......................................... 125 YUMI KIBA MUSHA .......................... 125 SOHEI UNITS .................................. 126 SOHEI SPECIAL ............................... 126 NAGINATA SOHEI (MONKS WITH NAGINATA)

................................................... 126 AMA KIHEI (NUNS ON HORSEBACK) ..... 126 MITSU DOGU SOHEI (MONKS WITH

WEAPONS MITSU DOGU) ................... 127 YUMI SOHEI (MONKS WITH BOW) ........ 127 SOHEI ELITE ................................... 128 IKAME BO (TERRIFIC BONZO) ............. 128 TEPPO SOHEI (MONKS WITH TEPPO) ..... 128 OTOKODATE UNITS .......................... 129 OTOKODATE SPECIAL ....................... 129 KATANA ASHIGARU (ASHIGARU WITH

KATANA) ...................................... 129 TEPPO RONIN (RONIN WITH MUSKET) ... 129 OZUTSU (OTOKODATE WITH CANNON) . 130 MACHI YAKKO ................................ 130 OTOKODATE ELITE ........................... 131 KYOKAKU (DEFENDERS OF PEOPLE) ..... 131 ASSASSINS ................................... 131 CHARACTERS ................................. 133 BUSHI HEROES ............................... 133 DAIMYO ......................................... 133 SHIREI-KAN ................................... 133 BUSHO HATAMOTO .......................... 134

SAMURAI DAISHO............................ 134 ASHIGARU DAISHO (BUGYO) .............. 134 SPECIAL CHARACTERS ..................... 135 KENSEI ......................................... 135 GEISHA ......................................... 135 SPY .............................................. 136 WEAPON MASTER (SENSEI) ............... 136 KABUKIMONO ................................. 137 KAGEMUSHA ................................. 137

KYUDO HANSHI JUDAN ...................... 138 SHINOBI / KUNOICHI ......................... 138 SPIRITUAL CHARACTERS ................... 140 THE ONMYOUJI ................................ 140 THE SHIKIGAMI ............................... 140 CELESTIAL ONMYOUJI ....................... 141 SHIKIGAMI ..................................... 141 YATARAGATSU ............................... 141 KITSUME ....................................... 141 EARTHLY ONMYOUJI ......................... 142 SHIKIGAMI: .................................... 142 KAMAITACHI ................................... 142 KODAMA ........................................ 142 INFERNAL ONMYOUJI ........................ 143 SHIKIGAMI: .................................... 143 INUGAMI ........................................ 143

TSUCHIGUMO ................................. 143 ONMYOUJI OF THE DEATH ................... 144 SHIKIGAMI: .................................... 144 NEZUMI ........................................ 144 NEKOMATA .................................... 144 CREATURES ................................... 145 INFERNAL CREATURES ..................... 145 AMANOJAKU (Lv1) ............................ 145 ONIBI (Lv1) ..................................... 145 SHIKOME (Lv2) ................................ 146 USHI ONI (Lv2) ................................ 146 ONI (Lv3) ....................................... 147 NUE (Lv3) ...................................... 147 JOROGUMO (Lv4) ............................. 148 HIDERIGAMI (Lv4) ............................ 148

CELESTIAL CREATURES .................... 149 RAIJU (Lv1) ..................................... 149 BASAN (Lv1) ................................... 149 KOMAINU (Lv2) ............................... 150 TENNYO (Lv2) ................................. 150 BYAKKO (Lv3) ................................. 151

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KIRIN (Lv3) .................................... 151 SUZAKO (Lv4) ............................... 152 BAKU (Lv4) .................................... 152 EARTHLY CREATURES ...................... 153 TANUKI (Lv1) .................................. 153 KAPPA (Lv1) ................................... 153 KARASU TENGU (Lv2) ...................... 154 DAI-TENGU (Lv2) ............................. 154 GENBU (Nv3) .................................. 155 SESHO-SHEKKI (Lv3) ....................... 155 MIZUCHI (Lv4) ................................ 156 DAIDAROBOTCHI (Lv4) ...................... 157 CREATURES OF DEATH ..................... 157 GAKI (Lv1) ..................................... 157 ONRYO (Lv1) .................................. 158

GORYO (Lv2) .................................. 158 HONNE SAMURAI (Nv2) ..................... 159 GAIKOTSU (Lv3) .............................. 159 ONMORAKI (Lv3) ............................. 160 SHINIGAMI (Lv4) .............................. 160 JUBOKKO (Nv4) ............................... 161 MARKERS ...................................... 162 TAISHO MARKERS ........................... 162 ACTION MARKERS ........................... 163 REACTION MARKERS ........................ 164 RUN AWAY MARKER ........................ 164 ALERT MARKER .............................. 164 MAGIC MARKERS ............................ 165 DEFEAT MARKER ............................. 165 REMOVING MARKERS ....................... 165

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WARRIOR'S CREED

I have no parents, I make the heavens and earth my parents

I have no home, I make awareness my home

I have no life or death, I make the tides of breathing my

home

I have no divine power, I make honesty my divine power

I have no means, I make understanding my means

I have no magic secrets, I make character my magic secret

I have no body, I make endurance my body

I have no eyes, I make the flash of lightening my eyes

I have no ears, I make sensibility my ears

I have no limbs, I make promptness my limbs

I have no strategy, I make "unshadowed by thought" my strategy

I have no designs, I make "seizing the opportunity by the forelock" my design

I have no miracles, I make right-action my miracles

I have no principles, I make adaptability to all circumstances my principles

I have no tactics, I make emptiness and fullness my tactics

I have no talents, I make ready wit my talent

I have no friends, I make my mind my friend

I have no enemy, I make carelessness my enemy

I have no armor, I make benevolence and righteousness my armor

I have no castle, I make immovable-mind my castle

I have no sword, I make absence of self my sword

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GONGYE CHANG'S LETTER TO HSIANG,

DUKE OF SUNG.

Sir, I have been away from the green prairies of Shenshi for 23 years, wandering through this wide world full of perils. Your majesty cannot imagine how I yearn to see the gardens bloom in the summer palace

and to feel your august presence. Not a day goes by that I do not wipe away my tears with my sleeves

recalling my children and my yearned wife. Now my feet have brought me to the kingdom of Wa, also known as the Himukai Empire (as its inhabitants call it since they believe themselves the center of the

world), which is in the archipelago known as Ryunokani or the "Dragons' Realm". The exhaustion before

so much misfortune and the latest events that have taken place in these lands make me beseech him, beg him, to allow me to come back to Sung and to free me from the exile, which I was deservedly punished

with.

As Your Excellency knows, the kingdom of Wa (Himukai) has lived indifferent to the rest of the world and in peace for innumerable centuries, governed by Sujin, heir of the divine blood of the empress Jingu, who

he succeeded when he ascended the Celestial Realms. According to the elders, this emperor has lived for

more than a thousand years, and nobody has lived enough to check it. From palace, Akai guaranteed that the darkness and the beings from the underworld remained confined further away the Infernal Gates. This

provided the Ryunokani lands with such prosperity that the arts flourished and the great capital of Heian-

Jo became one of the most gleaming places of Ashihara (as the Intermediate World is known in the language of the Isles). In this sparkling city, nobles spent their time enjoying the luxuries offered by a life

devoted to the court and great celebrations. In the meanwhile, merchants sent their ships further away the

Ancient Empire and increased their wealth both exporting and importing all sort of exotic items. Even the peasants enjoyed the abundance of food. It was known even in the distant lands of Nishi. However, as we

all know, this city could never be compared to our marvelous capital, Lo Yang, which, with its wisdom, glows over all the cities in the Seven Realms and it is even admired in the Celestial Prairies. In this

situation, nobody could presage that prosperity and stillness was ending, for the Great Spider never stop

weaving (pray the gods to keep her away from our beloved lands). Then, he narrated the events that have taken Hymukai to the present situation.

Every year, Sujin, the considered Celestial Sovereign (Tenno), went on a pilgrimage to the Nijiyama

Mountain, where he spent forty days in solitude in the temple of the "Sacred Well" (Mi) to enter in contact with the Kami. When he was returning from his last trip, the imperial convoy disappeared without a trace

when crossing the Kashiwara forest. Confusion spread through the Empire like a virus. According to the

rumors, the emperor had been assassinated, and that the four sacred treasures had disappeared.

In view of this unexpected event and the suspicions that Sujin was dead, the Kuge families, the rightful

successors to the emperor and lords of the Hymukai lands, plunge themselves in a long argument over

who would be the rightful successor, who would have to recover the sacred objects and if the same person would be the one to carry out both responsibilities. However, there was no hero among the courtiers,

nobody brave enough to carry out both tasks; despite of this, the different candidates strived bitterly to

become the chosen one. All of them wanted to be appointed Tenno (Celestial Sovereign); all of them

desired the power and none the responsibility that would endanger their comfortable lives. Thus a power

vacuum extended more than anyone could have desired.

It was then when the Buke, indignant about the situation and the weakness showed by the Kuge, stopped paying tributes to the court and started organizing their own armies, with whom to defend what they

called "their lands". The first independent lords started to arise. These, from their new castles, wished

more and more power and started to dream about their neighbors lands. Now, the different clans previously united under the same banner, started living under the sign of distrust. Nobody seemed to

remain loyal to his lord anymore, and the invisible threads, which kept cordiality and respect, blended in

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a fire of colossal dimensions, which threatened to spread through every nook and cranny of the

consciences. The laws of Heaven started not to be observed and when this happens, disaster is reaped.

- They have gone too far! It is time to crush these rebels and force them to retreat, or else we risk losing everything! these were the words of some of the most respected Kuge However, it was too late, damage had already been done, and they would never be able to impose order.

Thus, after several months of deliberation, and fearing the loss of all their belongings, the Sujin descendants gave up any hope of achieving an agreement and they came back to the lands they still

dominated to stifle rebellion. Most pull themself together in the cities, from which they controlled trade

and purchased new devices for the forthcoming war. There they had palaces where they could imitate the life in court. Soon, that gentle peace of yesteryear had been replaced by fear and, even more rapidly, the

war drums started to roll; this sound would ride with the wind all over Himukai, announcing the

desolation of the islands by the ruthless clutches of death.

Before this chaos, the Sohei, the monks that gazed at the world from their temples, started to preach the

advent of a new era of darkness and to create their own feuds. There they protected the old faith and the

peasants from the abuse of the Daimyio and the advance of darkness. A lot of Buke, disillusioned by everything around them, clipped their hair and become monks who joined forces. The previously modest

temples soon became fortresses, and mere monks became fierce warriors joined in armies under the

banners of the different sects.

After the heat of a thousand battles already carried out and others to come, the territory has inevitably

divided in small Shugo (feuds) selfgoverned by a family or clan (Uji) belonging to the different castes,

either Kuge, Buke or Sohei. No authority governs over them anymore or pushes them to join forces. The absence of government has led these new powers to show respect for nobody, so each of them governs

and grants their own laws in their land. These, conscious of their own instinct only, as fierce beasts, have

started to supply their armies and to contemplate the neighboring lands with desire. Each one of them, deep inside, is looking forward to being the following Supreme Lord of Hymukai, even if blood must water

the earth.

The peasants now entrust themselves to the Kami, the spirits of forests, stones, rivers, and mountains, afraid of the return of the Yokai and the creatures of the underworld, that made the most of the ancient

realm of darkness to impose fear. Some declare that the night gives shelter to strange shadows, that

voices and laughs can be heard in the Cloister Palace; and some peasants have disappeared from their villages without a trace. Even nature has become threatening, the previously protective spirits of the

forest have closed their eyes at this. Lakes and forests are not safe places anymore, people is afraid of

mountains and in coastal villages, some claim to have seen snakes with a human body. In the freezing North, the temple of Akeru and the fortress of Unebi are now mysteriously devastated and in dead silence.

A pilgrim described what he found there: heads hanging from towers, monks assassinated in the cruelest

ways in sacred altars. Even the Golden City of Heian-Jo has become an unsafe place, a no-man's land, a city self-governed by criminals and unscrupulous merchants. Numerous fires destroyed most of their

houses, turning them into ruins where only vermin and the most undesirables can live. The Imperial

Palace is now said to be the home of the Tengu and the Oni. A lot of the city inhabitants have left due to food shortages, taking refuge in the lands of the new lords or in cities were the have protection.

New dark days approach and war has started to devastate the once green meadows. All the isles have

become overnight a vast battlefield for innumerable warlords and their armies. Until today, no Daimyo have dared to cross the Heian-Jo walls and occupy the throne afraid of the rest to join forces against.

Therefore, your humble servant, tired and sick of so many disasters, ask for your permission to leave

these lands of death and to go back to our beloved native country, where your Majesty reigns and keeps the Sacred Order. I pray for your mercy and for you to release me from this horrible punishment you

impose me.

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HYMUKAI

RYUNOKANI Hymukai is "the sun-kissed land," whose fate was regulated by the Emperor or "Tenno." This Empire is

on the Ryunokani archipelago, formed by a series of islands isolated from the Ashihara continent. This has caused their culture to withdraw into itself, conditioning their whole world.

The main island is called Shikotan and has a central moon-shaped bay granting natural protection to the

capital, Hejian-Jo, and the main harbors against any possible approach of an enemy fleet from the sea. This is due to the narrow entrance that grants access to the inner bay and the rapid spread of the news

about the attack. At the center of the bay, there is a small sacred island where the temple to Hachiman,

the Defender, raises.

The Path of the North is a spit of ice connecting the continent, surrounded by a wall of mountains;

crossing this fearsome path take the terrible Shura to the land. The constant scourge of the frozen wind

and the presence of these terrible creatures turn it into a very dangerous place which nobody dares to walk through. These mountains and valleys are inhabited b the Emishi people, who praise the Kami of

wind and snow, and who were forgotten by Ayanami.

In the southeast of the main island, there are other four great islands: Awaji, Omi, Naru and Kikai. The latter is on the sacred hill of Nijiyama, one of the Emperor's sites of pilgrimage. To the northwest there

is a desolated island, called Miyako, with an active volcano and whose only inhabitants are the monks

and the poor peasant that work for them, in addition to some hidden Wako harbors. It is believed that this place was inhabited by the terrible snake Osore and thus, the ground is poisoned and almost

nothing grows on it.

There is a vast number of small islands in the archipelago that do not appear on the maps and that have

never been explored. Some pirate clans take advantage of them to hide themselves or as starting point

for their incursions.

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THE TENNO The Emperor's lineage was linked to Hikari, the Goddess of Light; thus, he was considered a Kami, so he was worshipped as such and was treated as sacred. Almost no one has seen him in person and he

hardly ever appeared in public. From his imperial palace of Akai in the capital and from Asai in

summer, which hides in the center of a lake surrounded by mountains, he governed delivering his orders to a bunch of priests and nobles.

He offered protection against the hidden forces with his predecessors' four sacred objects, which he

kept: the Katana, which represents the strength to reply and attack any threat; the O-Yoroi, which represents the kingdom's endurance against adversity, the preservation of traditions and the established

order; the Joyel, symbol of the wealth of the Empire; the Mirror, with is the knowledge of oneself, the

spirituality without which it would be impossible to rule. These symbols also reflect the four main classes of the Empire: the Buke, the Kuge, the Otokodate and the Sohei.

THE SAMURAI The samurai are warriors who protect the interests of the lord they serve. These are the main class over

the other inhabitants, submitted to the established laws in their territories.

Thanks to their belonging to the clans and the possibility of sharing their experiences, these fierce

warriors turn into an elite with the passing of time, for they spend generations transmitting their

wisdom from father to son. Among the knowledge in which they stand out, there are the arts of war, the use of weapons and the way of the warrior or "Bushido," a strict code of honor.

The samurai can reach his status by birth or for his feats on the battlefield. In the first case, his training

in the clan starts in the from early childhood, moment when they begin being taught the Bushi values and they are trained in martial arts. By the age of 5, their master gives them a wooden saber in a

ceremony and by seven, they already master a number of skills, among others, archer and hunting.

During this time, the child has to suffer grave deprivations and make continuous combat exercises. The

aim of these is increasing control over themselves, vigilance and calm. Thus, he is deprived of food for

long periods of time and must overcome the fear of death watching the executions and tortures of the captured enemies. The last ceremony, called Genpuku, takes place when they turn 15, when the

teenager is given his first katana, symbol of the spirit of the samurai and which he must bear his whole

life.

Thanks to this strict formation the samurai become lethal warriors who do not fear fighting an opponent

in close combat. Thus, it is frequent that they compete with each other to enter in combat first or that

they make the Seppuku to repair an action of dishonor. The latter is a ritual by which the samurai commits suicide with a short sword, while an assistant chops his head. The saber must penetrate the

womb from left to right and after raising up to the heart. This is hardly ever necessary, for the assistant

will provide relief to the man long before. In the case of children, the sword is usually replaced by a fan which they must use symbolically.

Within the clans there are different status established according to the position of responsibility held by

the samurai. Similarly, this difference in status is also present between clans, depending of the clan's potential influence. Normally, in times of piece, the samurai are in charge of the administrative

management of a piece of territory or other works for the clan, so they receive a stipend with which

they are rewarded, without diminishing their military training.

In this era of peace, to show the class to which they belong, they always bear two swords at his waist:

the katana and the wakizashi. In times of war, the best of these warriors ride their horses and bear

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katana, bow and arrows. Moreover, the samurai usually have available infantry soldiers that do not

belong to their class, called Ashigaru.

Eventually, the warrior caste has been imbuing all the spheres in the life of the Hymukai; step by step, they have reached positions of power, so many have become lords by heritage, by marriages and

military rewards. Additionally, many of the old families have adopted the samurai way of life and

values. This has turned the samurai into the main class.

HEIAN-JO, THE CAPITAL This is the capital of the Hymukai Empire. A symmetrical city where most buildings are made of wood. The Imperial Palace is at its center and around it the main Kuge families have their great mansions.

Several temples rise in the city, each dedicated to a different Kami. Moreover, at the outskirts, in the

nearby mountains, the two principal temples of Hymukai are, whose monks are famous for their ferocity and for confronting each other in numerous combats, the Hojon-Ji and the Zacuten-Ji.

The city of Heian-Jo has always been the center of trade and culture of the islands, focusing and accumulating in them the riches coming from every corner of the Empire.

THE CLANS The clans are the most important social organization in Hymukai, these are led by a lord or Daimyo,

who all those in his domains owe loyalty. At the same time, he owes vassalage to the Emperor or other

Lord to whom he owes his position. Thus, it is highly hierarchical, so that each member of the clan knows the status and the position of the others.

When the Empire was unified by Ayanami and it started to organize, it soon arose a nobility from the

Empress's descendants. This nobility started to occupy the positions of the government and to feel superior over the rest of the population in the islands. Some of these nobles, who fall from grace before

the Emperor for conspiring or any other cause, were expelled to manage regions far away from the capital as a punishment and ended up becoming rural families.

Thus, the Empire soon divided into noble and rural families who soon after needed warriors to protect

their interests and keep control over the peasant population. This gave rise to a new warrior class that started to gather around this powerful families, who, in exchange for their protection, were given lands

and sustenance. This led these new groups to become out of the Emperor's control and caused the

appearance of the clans. This was how it soon emerged an elite of warriors called samurai.

The territory of the Empire is divided into administrative regions controlled by the Buke, Kuge and

Sohei clans. The Kuge court class was bound to the Emperor by ancient lines of succession; this entails

that it holds greater government posts and it is the only one who is allowed to be in the presence of the Emperor. These gather in the capital and spend most of their time living in the court, where they enjoy

all the pleasures. From there, they rule trade through the networks of Otodake trading clans, while the

Buke clans do the hard work of the fields, the militar training and to collecting the tributes from the peasant population, part of which they send to the capital to maintain the its inhabitants' way of life.

The Sohei are an independent power in itself, these have their own lands with which they provide for

their monasteries, from which they keep alive the Empire's spiritual traditions. These monasteries are independent from one another and each of them worships a different Kami or deity, causing numerous

conflicts among them.

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THE KUGE

The Kuge consider themselves the head of government. Together with the emperor, whom they were

related to, they made the great decisions on the fate of the Empire. They have dominated the trade

routes and the diplomatic relations with distant places for years gone by, so most of the big cities were under the Kuge families rule.

The Kuge clans assure that they are direct descendants of the Emperor and, while he was alive, they

went with him around the Court in the Imperial City spending most of their time with court intrigues. They were served and maintained by the taxes payed by the Buke and the Sohei from rural areas. Thus,

they got rich thanks to trade and speculation and fatten up at the expense of others' work.

After the Emperor's death, their excessive ambition and the arrogance due to their believing themselves

superior prevented them from reaching an agreement. Step by step the trail of death and betrayal in the

Imperial City forced them to trust nobody. They all went back to their respective hometowns and to the

lands they ruled from a distance to isolate and protect themselves from the intrigues of the rest of their caste. They built their own palaces at those rural redoubts, where they imitated life in court, and

surrounded themselves with vassals who know how captivate them with their praises. There they lived,

each of them believing themselves to be the chosen one to succeed to the golden throne.

The Kuge consider themselves to be honorable simply because divine blood flows through their veins

and they are certain of their not having to prove their honor. Thus, they will not doubt to use the most

dishonorable methods to reach their goals.

They are experts on intrigue and on the use of ninjas, who seek protection behind darkness to carry out

their plans. Moreover, to obtain foreign weapons, they have started to to let Gaijin preachers in the

islands, and these bring with them a strange religion based on sacrifice, and weapons from the distant Nishi.

There are five Kuge clans who accumulate power and who are the most decisive families. At the same

time, other minor clans who have to bow down to them belong to these families. These five families are:

The Kurozuka, who spread their power over the central lands near lake Omi. These also control the

Takame harbor.

The Munemori, one of the oldest families, believe that Takeshi Munemori is the Emperor's legitimate

heir and, although he is just a child, they protect him in their fortress of Soda from any possible attack

from other clans.

THE WAY OF THE KUGE

Hikary Yaku tied his soft, ocher-colored silk obi, fitting in his daisho before going out onto the

nightingale floor of the hall in front of his personal chambers. He was wearing his mempo depicting

an Oni's face, which was his Daimyo's personal present, and which honored him with his complete

trust among the other vassals. Moreover, he was allowed to wear bangs and a long ponytail. Just

twelve samurai had been granted the privilege to bear that venerable mempo, and Yaku was one of those proud to be chosen. Nevertheless, his willingness, attitude and expression were totally different

to that of the other distinguished Kuge. He had devoted his whole life to Bushido, becoming the butt

of most of his kind's jokes.

The Kuge had weaved, from the founding of the Empire times, an intricate web of lies, manipulations

and riches from which no inhabitant in the nation could run away. Most trade, positions in the court

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and travel taxes belonged to them, thus being immensely rich. In addition, they did not hesitated

when the time came to use those resources to hire armies entirely made of mercenaries, supply their

troops with the infamous Gaijin gunpowder or pay assassins to do their dirty work. However, Yaku was born a samurai and, being a rare individual in his clan, he has deeply assimilated the teachings

of the way of the warrior. Although he did not agree with the methods of his lineage, his great sense

of honor made him look after any obscure issue his Daimyo could hatch. Due to this, he had become the right-hand man of his lord.

He had been called for at those ungodly hours in which wind whistled in a strange way, in the

darkness of the night. When he reached Munemori's private chamber, he knelt before him, leaving his katana at his right side and he bowed until he touched the floor with his forehead. Kurozuka

Munemori, a lean man of sharp and bright eyes, waited for his loyal vassal, seated and pensive. He

watched him as he bowed with satisfaction, thinking on his place in the project approaching. The Kurozuka family had governed the province of Ume for centuries, but he expected to go down in

history as the greatest ancestor among generations to come.

- Yaku... my good Yaku... What news do we have from the lands of Takara?

The samurai was momentarily confused by the question. Takara had been, for a long time, a dull

place where people prospered in relative harmony. Although surrounded by enemy provinces, the

area had ironically maintained an almost permanent state of peace thanks to a tacit agreement established by the main factions, and by which none of them dared to gain ultimate control over these

lands, fearing serious losses.

- Takara is still a province in no-man's land, my lord. I know that the Siraki, a Buke family, have deployed an important contingent in the area, led by the powerful warlord Atasuke.

He looked at his lord for an instant, trying to guess the intentions hidden under his face. Although, as

always, they were a complete enigma. He suddenly felt something changing, his sharp senses tensed, looking around.

- Don't be afraid - Munemori said at his reaction - I have called an envoy from Suzu.

Suzu, that province housed some of the most terrible ninja families at the service of the Kurozuka. In the darkness formed by the poor light of the oil lamps that illuminated the chambers, a figure

enveloped in black clothes appeared. He could hardly be seen because of the absence of light.

I have been called for by your servants, great lord Munemori. The mysterious figure said.

- The Saotome clan has served the Kurozuka family loyally since they gained control of Suzu. Honor

your lineage - Munemori said.

The mission had been entrusted, the ninja just needed to hear the few phrases that Yaku and the Daimyo exchanged. Before any of them could notice the exact moment in which the discussion had

finished, he left to fulfill his duty.

The samurai had witnessed the brief encounter with disgust, but he would never dare to question his lord's will. Moreover, that was why Munemori valued so much having Yaku at his service. A lot of

Kuge samurai plotted under the table to usurp the prominent positions, but the strict code of honor of

the bearer of the mempo made him stupidly predictable, and that was something to be appreciated among vassals. He smiled looking at him as he fanned himself.

- War will soon break out, Yaku-san. That province hides something invaluable to me. Something that

will raise me over common men and that will raise my name to the highest position. I want you to start organizing our army to face the conflict... Hire pirates, buy gunpowder, do anything... but I

want Takara under my control before the following season.

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Yaku looked at him for an instant with those deep dark eyes that gazed from his fearsome mempo,

which depicted the jaws of an oni.

- That will be done.

Then he bowed again until he touched the mat with his forehead and he moved backwards picking up

his katana. He stood up and turned around in order to leave.

He had a task, and he was to be the only one among his family to carry that burden with absolute and unswerving loyalty. He would be the only one to lead the Yami towards the victory his lord longed

for. Nevertheless, his heart was only filled with clouds of sadness.

THE BUKE

The Buke have protected and farmed for centuries the land of the islands, paying vassalage to the

Emperor. They were considered the arms of the Empire, the strength and the sword. Since most of them

were rural samurai, a class lower than the Kuge, they were despised. While the Emperor was alive, they were honored simply because they could serve him, bound by their strict code of honor. But after his

death they were taken aback.

After much discussion on who should be the following emperor, a lot of Kuge re-considered their loyalty, and this led, over time, to the appearance of new clans governed by the Buke families. These

new rebellious Daimyo started to act on their own, stopped paying tribute to the Kuge and pulled themselves together in their territories.

Now, these new Daimyo are imposing the belief that the Kuge are corrupted and weak. They have

started to build great castles to protect themselves from the old lords and from others like them. From their walls, they gaze at their neighbors' lands and plan their conquer to increase their power. They are

resolved to start a new era in which the samurai govern the islands, a new order in which the Emperor

would be a mere puppet managed by the warriors' real strength.

These rural samurai are tough fighters, hardened from life in the mountains, who follow the ancestral

warrior's code, the Bushido. As children, they are trained in the art of swordplay and they consider the

use of foreign firearms dishonorable. They are great riders and archers; one of the most fearful warriors in the Intermediate World.

THE WAY OF THE BUKE

The rain was falling on the battlefield, covering the inert corpses in mud, as well as the bodies of those standing on them. The roar of the drops falling on the battlefield, together with the spine-

chilling sound of bolts, could suffocate neither the groans of the dying, nor the metallic din of the

weapons colliding. The explosions thundered, surrounded by the fog condensed in the dark dusk, when the coward Kuge used the infamous Gaijin gunpowder, in a futile attempt to compensate their

mediocre competence for weapons. The brooks evaded the corpses, collecting the water spilled and

accumulating it under the soles of those who were still able to take up their weapons.

Among them, in the middle of the battlefield, Hoshi Takeshi was standing on a mountain of corpses.

The Hoshi family had served the Siraki with fervent devotion for several generations. Being the

second son of this lineage, he was called that way because of his great constitution and terrible temperament. A young and promising man, famous for his strict performance of the Bushido code

and for his explosions of violence.

He gave a powerful war cry as he attacked the enemies that crowded the right flank of his line of attack. He let the tip of an accurate spear slip through the epaulet of his thick armor and he took up

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his ancient Kohaku katana with both hands. The blow he gave threw the entrails of that wretch over

the ground and he sent him with the other corpses to the Realm of the Dead. When the blade had just

come out of his body, the soldier jumped forward and buried his katana deeply in the rear lancer's left shoulder. A third one fell to the ground with a leg severed under that maelstrom of fury and steel.

Takeshi felt the warm blood together with the rain drops splashing his face, his heart beating in his

temple. He looked around with his eyes popping out of his head due to the euphoria, raising his katana, and he pointed at his enemy.

Tear them to pieces! - he roared at his men. Inflamed by his commander's performance and courage,

they roared forward and into attack with renewed energy. He gazed at his samurai with satisfaction. The Buke embodied the harshest, the most martial and the most aesthetic aspects of the Samurai

Code; they were all willing to give their lives for the sole purpose of honoring their Clan.

Takara had become a flaming hell since three nights ago the warlord Siraki Atasuke had been dishonorably assassinated while he was sleeping. Those cowards knew that if they had faced him

honorably, they would have been annihilated. Thus, they decided to blacken the name of the samurai

caste sending their infamous assassins. The Siraki's response came swiftly. The oldest brother of the Hoshi family must occupy the position of his deceased Daimyo since three years ago he had married

Siraki Keiko, lord Atasuke's only daughter. Takeshi, as the second in the line of succession, was at

the command of the armies. After being sworn in as Rikugunshokan, the first order given by his brother had been taking exemplary reprisals against the province of Takara, where suspicious

movements had been detected among the Kuge. The cowards were waiting for their movement (one

more clue of their guilt in Takeshi's eyes), but his first incursion had been a complete success. They could incur as many despicable tricks as they wished: assassins, gunpowder, pirates... the Buke's

iron martial discipline, wrought for centuries by their ancestors, would override any shameful trick.

Little by little, the enemy redoubts disappeared or left for positions that were more favorable. In less than an hour, they had vacated the Kurozuka troops and they had pulled themselves together in the

northern area of Takara.

However, the counterattack would arrive sooner rather than later, and Takeshi knew it. The Kurozuka had not post those troops and ordered them to assassinate lord Atasuke if they had not a

plan. They always were always working on a trick and their coward tongues were sharp. As the

storm abated until it became a soft drizzle, the Rikugunshokan raised a prayer thanking his ancestors in the tent and headquarters where he rested his luckily unimportant wounds.

In silence, three men waited for him to finish paying his respects. Hotaru Kei, Kawanamiya's sensei;

Kosuke Masato, Daisho of cavalry; and Shunsuke Hiroki, Daisho of the Twilight Guard. They set up the General's High Council, and although they had washed themselves to have an appropriate

appearance, they all bore their own battle marks.

- The assault is a complete success, great Takeshi sama. Although keeping such an important detachment away from the capital will require great resources, - Hotaru started. In general, he had

the privilege of speaking the first, in respect of his being the oldest counselor.

- In that case, we should soon gain the control of the lands surrounding the province. The peasants

will do their duty and feed the samurai for them to be ready for battle.

- We must deal with that issue urgently - Hiroki continued with a pensive look -. The Oyuki Temple is

nearby, controlled by the Chiharu sect.

The Chiharu were well known in the area because the most fearful Sohei were in their ranks.

Although they were peaceful people in general, their religious fervor and their extravagant (and, for

the Buke and the Kuge, sometimes insulting) belief about social order could turn them into a dangerously unstable people.

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The Rikugunshokan banged his tessen on his seat.

- I will not let a handful of mad monks prevent the peasants to do the duties imposed by Heaven!

These will feed this war and, in exchange, they will have our protection, as it has always been and will continue to be.

The council agreed, tense but satisfied. Things should return to normal... whatever the price.

THE SOHEI

They consider themselves the heart of the Empire. In the Dragons Islands, the Sohei have always been a separate power, keeping their privileges in front of the Kuge and the Buke. For several centuries, they

have trained warrior monks to protect them from any interference they consider as opposed to their way of life or their morality.

When the conflict between the Kuge and the Buke started to devastate the fields, the peasants, helpless,

had to seek shelter and beseech Sohei monasteries and temples to help them. As they contemplated the people's suffering they started to position themselves beside them, "in favor of the most

disadvantaged". Then they started to preach about a new era of darkness and about the need to protect

themselves from that era. Thus they were increasing their power and attracting more and more people who entrusted the Kami of that temple with their souls. They imposed their own rules over their

territories, based on religion, and the stopped following the Imperial Law. Some Buke Daimyo, sorry for their way of life joined their cause and they were ordained monks, built temples on their fields and

give shelter to the refugees coming from other lands. The first Sohei clans were arising.

The Sohei consider themselves the protectors of faith and tradition in the Dragon's Islands as opposed to foreign preachers, who sell firearms to the Kuge, and the Buke oppressors, who believe themselves

superior to the Heinin. But these clans are divided into uncountable sects, who struggle among

themselves for trivial issues such as who is to be in charge of the performance of the spring ritual. It is

famous the confrontation between the main temple complexes in the Heian-Jo mountains to see who

was in charge of the Ayanami millennial rites. A lot of temples were burnt to ashes in this clash, some

of the most famous rooms and the Great Statue of Ayanami. Moreover, more than five thousand bonze, both men and women, died, most of them because of the blade of the spears. It was an irreversible loss

for both the temples and the art in the islands.

THE WAY OF THE SOHEI

Kaneda was born into a Buke ronin vassal family. As their descendant, he learned everything about

war and its arts. Blessed with a natural passion, he had devoted himself to everything he has found in

his life with perseverance and wishes to improve. He had been proud, that is right. Who was not in youth? Thirsty for glory, he had traveled to countless battlefields in search for their rewards. In

search for his own satisfaction, he had snatched dozens of men's lives using those arts they have get

to manage so magnificently. One day, when he was twenty-one, he was walking to the province of O-Masu, after two weeks of rest in the Aka-Mon Red District. Nothing pleased Kaneda more than being

surrounded by sake and beautiful women after getting the rewards for the blood shed by his katana.

He had never refused any pleasure this world could give him, but it was rumored that, at Masu, a big Buke army was gathering with the aim of crushing the peasant's rebellion in the province. The young

ronin knew it would be an easy job, and the reward would be high.

As he predicted, the battle soon went from a conflict between two factions to a massacre. However, the peasants, harsh people used to suffering, could not equal the discipline and technique of men that

had devoted their whole life at the control of weapons. One by one, they fell under the spears, bows

and sables, while they brandished farm tools and the few weapons they could steal. Kaneda had

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already finished eight of them when he saw a small chapel entrusted to the Goddess of the Harvest.

There great quantities of food were often stored to honor the powerful spirits; the plunder will be

substantial.

His hands covered with blood left blurred red prints in the doors when he opened them to enter the

place. Only one person kept it, an old monk too worn out to fight by time, too wise to be willing to do

it. His wrinkled eyes fixed on those of Kaneda, who could barely feel the weight of the spirit,

- Who are you? - he asked with a harsh and severe voice.

The young samurai was really taken with the figure, but that just made him show more external

anger.

- I am Kaneda... A samurai!... A Buke!... We have come to restore reason and remind you about your

place!...

The old monk went on looking at him in the same way for some quiet seconds in which the air seemed

warmer and stickier.

- Samurai? You are not a samurai.

Kaneda seemed to burst into anger at the hearing of those words, putting curses on the air while holding his katana in a threatening way, walking towards him.

- How is that you dare to question me, old man! I have killed more than twenty men and been

involved in more than eight duels! Do you say I am not a samurai?!

The monk saw the boy's gestures and heard his words without turning a hair. He went on looking at

him with a severe expression.

- That is not being a samurai. You do not understand the meaning of that word... Your heroic deeds just turn you into a strong man. That is what you are... a strong man. However, as the years go by

and strength made room for old age... tell me... what will you be then?

Kaneda stopped, looking at him. He felt that behind the old man's words there was a truth hidden beyond what he could understand. He was not a wise man, he was so young for that. However, he

was selfless and perceptive, and there, under that roof of planks and poor straw, he felt as looking his

own soul face to face...

Almost twenty years had passed since he left the old man's chapel with his tail between his legs. He

had seen the destruction caused by the army in the village. Those women who had survived death and

sacking were crying regretting their fate of their husbands and children. The cries of the dying and the smell of blood... he had felt them dozens of times but he had never paid attention to them.

Horrified, he suddenly decided to pilgrimage throughout the whole country in search for his place.

Finally, he arrived to the Temple of Oyuki, where his martial abilities and his willingness for inner peace were accepted warmly. He decided to shave his head and to be ordained a monk in order to

find harmony. Since then he has gone on practicing the arts he knew, among many others, either

related or not to the world of war or only to the world of men. He reflected on all those experiences while the relentless and freezing waterfall fell on his naked body. There, in full lotus position and

with his eyes closed, he had been meditating since dawn. Now, by nightfall, the voice of one of his

apprentices took him out of the trance he was plunged into. He opened his eyes to gaze at the boy's pale and altered face. He felt a mixture of anger and worry.

- Master Kaneda, Takara has witnessed a slaughter between armies of the clan Kurozuka and the

clan Siraki! Now they are advancing in order to try to share out the province to supply their armies, plundering our peasants. Men and women have come to us willing to fight as we had taught them.

They beg for our help.

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Kaneda nodded, getting up slowly. While living in the world of men, it was necessary to look after the

problems of men. They could not stay inactive while peasants died and paid for the egotism of those

around them. He walked on saying nothing while the apprentice run after him waiting for his instructions. He went into his chambers, looking at his sharp naginata, Chiheisen, a gift from lord

Hotaitaka.

- Warn our allied samurai clans. We will organize a resistance and gather our levies and ashigarus.

The boy rushed out the moment he received his orders, crying throughout the temple while the monks

got moving. Kaneda bore Chiheisen, feeling its weigh. After almost twenty years, he would brandish

his weapons against living men. Today, it was a sad day.

War had started.

THE OTOKODATE

The time of samurais and aristocracy has ended and a new class arises from the ashes of old clans that have disappeared because of the war. Many port cities have risen up against their lords, declaring their

independence and that of the surrounding lands. These new regions are ruled by old families of

Hymukai traders who have taken advantage of the power vacuum created by the disappearance and weakening of many lords.

The samurai have always considered traders a wretched class and they have committed all sort of abuses against them. Now, in order to avoid the increasingly frequent looting and attacks they have

organized into family clans called Otokodate. Some of them even have their own moral rules, different

from Bushido, known as Kikotsu. Their main aim is to grant safety and trade, expanding their power as a web which their enemies cannot escape from. The constant threats have led to the creation of their

own armies, which defend the new laws passed for their personal convenience.

In general, the Otokodate blame the samurai for the oppression and chaos in Hymukai, but they do not hesitate to use those who have become Ronin and adopt their same behavior. The Ronin, or lord-less

samurai, are abundant in a time in which families rise and fall at the same speed as seasons change.

The Otokodate have long controlled trade with faraway lands and have granted Hymukai wealth. Many have already savored the sweetness of power and now they dream of governing Hymukai; in order to

achieve that, they will not hesitate in using anything at their disposal. They will not fear facing the

samurai armies to carry out their plans.

THE WAY OF THE OTOKODATE

Several months had passed since the battle of Takara, after which many samurai where ended lord-

less with the disappearance of the Arakawa clan, annihilated by because they were a nuisance for the Kurozura and Siraki clans. The death of lord Arakawa Ritsuo granted Nobuyoshi with the perfect

opportunity to seize complete control over the city of Higuchi and its harbor, as well as the

surrounding lands. To do that, he only had to eliminate the few men who were still loyal to the clan and one of his sons together with his whole family. The rising was quick and easy because, de facto,

he dominated the city already. The men who came back from war had little choice but to enter the

service of this small men who never belonged to the samurai class and who now dressed up and behave as one of them. After this, Ikeda Nobuyoshi had proclaimed himself Daimyo of the province,

something unprecedented that only an era of great upheaval could have allowed, and it seems that it

was taking place in other provinces dominated by big traders. Without the emperor and lord-less, a new power was rising and proclaiming its place in Hymukai against the traditional samurai powers.

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Nobuyoshi contemplated the garden calmly while his servant, Kaito, stood at his right, almost

immobile, with a brush in his hand which slided on the papyrus, moved by the words of his lord. The

letter was addressed to Kamo Satsuma, a trader from the island of Uji with whom he kept business relations for years and who he now ask for submission.

"...The time of the old lords has come to an end. Trade is power and he who control trade can pay for

armies and hire Ronin to defend his cause. Our city follows just our rule and we will spread to the rest of the Hymukai lands with fire and blood. The fire provided by the new Gaijin weapons and the

blood is of those men who need a lord to feed themselves. The latter is endless, like rain in these

years of war..."

His writing was interrupted by the steps of a man who approached through a corridor. At that

moment, a panel of the room slided, uncovering a man solidly built dressed up as a samurai. The

man knelt and bowed until his forehead touched the floor.

- Lord Nobuyoshi, the Black Scorpio has just docked in our harbor, lord Ernesto Rodrguez ask

permission to step on the harbor and he wishes a meeting with you to show you the new items which

will make us unbeatable.

- Umm... Prepare everything in the reception hall. Make four of our best men to escort him and his

retinue.

- Yes, sir.

The man slided rearward and closed the panel again. Nobuyoshi bowed on one of his knees and

rubbed his chin with his hands, pensive. It would be a fruitful meeting, for he has longed for meeting

Captain Ernest and he had certain curiosity to know how is that he was one of the Gaijin lords. He nimbly sit up and tightened his Obi.

- Let's go Kaito, we will have to finish this letter later.

Captain Ernesto Rodrguez walked off the bridge that led him to the harbor of the Higuchi port. He fitted his wide-brimmed hat and looked the guards with suspicion. His ship, the Black Scorpio,

creaked after him for his heavy load. Three hundred musket units and several barrels of gunpowder

ready for a new owner and an old sea-dog waiting to earn some wealth. From below he delivered some instructions to his men to unload the sample cargo. One of the sailors walked off the bridge

with an elaborated wooden box and after him, Doji the interpreter, a converted native who had

become Fray Leopold's favorite. Despite he had sold weapons to the Ikeda clan a couple of times, he had never visited the city and met its lord Nobuyoshi. The first transactions were carried out thanks

to Leopold and his monks, who had already achieved to build a small church with the consent of the

Ikeda clan, establishing a web of informants and a stable link for commerce. In reality, this last reason had been the only cause for the open attitude of lord Nobuyoshi.

The convoy escorted by four soldiers of the guard, captain Ernesto and his two crewmen went over

the streets of the city until they reached the entrance of the stunning castle. It was magnificent, its walls made it seem impregnable and had several defense towers and inner rings. The walk seemed

labyrinthine until they eventyally arrived to the main tower, where they were asked to take off their

shoes and, after passing several halls, they reached the entrance of the reception hall. Two guards

opened the sliding doors for them and move to the side by stepping into the room. Ikeda Nobuyoshi

stood at the end of the big hall, sitting on a flooring that put him over the other men, who sat

motionless from right to left. From there, he watched them enter in silence. One of his men approached him and, kneeling, he invited the guests to come in. Then, with a gesture Nobuyoshi told

captain Ernesto to come closer. Their rough movement, the smell and dirt that pervaded them did not

go unnoticed by any of those present, who look at them patronizingly and with some disgust, although their faces did not seem to reflect that.

KENSEI Page 24

- Salute, my lord Nobuyoshi, my name is Ernesto Rodrguez, captain of the Black Scorpio and servant

of his imperial majesty Fernando. It is my honor to meet you in person-. He bowed at Nobuyoshi

taking his hat. Many were surprised by this sudden gesture, moving imperceptibly. "I am thankful and glad about being able to call you friend and trade partner and I hope to be able to fulfill your

expectations with this new delivery." He made a gesture with his hand for his man to approach with

the cargo.

While the interpreter was still translating, his companion moved forward with the wooden box in his

hands and placed it on the floor. The guards moved with the intention of intervening, but Nobuyoshi

stopped them with a little gesture, feeling curious. The man went on abruptly opening the box and taking out a hand-carved musket with golden inlays. Ernesto delivered the order and the man started

to load his teppo skillfully and quickly . Those who sat both sides took their swords and suddenly

stood up; while Nobuyoshi stepped back, the guards moved forward to cover their lord. The only sound heard was one similar to that made by the wind when moving along a narrow place and, in the

blink of an eye, the sailor was lying on a crimson puddle, headless. Only Kaito stood next to his body

while the bloody katana was dripping still warm blood. When Ernesto realized his mistake, he paled;

deep inside him he knew that could mean his and his men's death. The interpreter, who was also

terrified, remained knelt without lifting his head from the floor. Nobuyoshi regained composure and

told them to bring him the weapon. Kaito picked up the teppo and crossed the room to hand it to his lord.

The sovereign took the weapon and aimed at the place where Ernesto was. The captain could do

nothing, he felt an idiot and his mouth seemed sealed by terror. Then an explosion was heard and he thought that his time had come. As in a dream, he heard a cry of pain; then he turned his head to

have a look and he saw Doji, the interpreter, knocked down in a ridiculous posture; the man was

holding his abdomen and moaned. The musket was emanating smoke and Nobuyoshi looked at it impressed.

- Very well, how much? -said Nobuyoshi in Gaijin. Ernesto was surprised that he spoke his language,

unaware that Nobuyoshi got advantage of his monks to learn more about the Gaijin culture and that, in this way, he prepared himself for a possible future confrontation.

- Three hundred as ordered, with them, we deliver thirty barrels of gunpowder; besides the transfer

of a little terrain next to the church to create a small monastery in your city - Ernesto said, ignoring the event that has just taken place and controlling himself.

- His monks are a nuisance, but that won't be a problem. I'm impressed, Captain; if the whole load is

of the same quality, I see a long and profitable business relation, as long as you don't do anything like what you've done today - he smiled slightly -. Learn some manners if you want to be alive for a

long time in these lands -. He handed in his musket to one of his men who was already kneeling next

to him -. Captain, I hope that you enjoy your residence in Higuchi, have a bath and enjoy the company of one of our geishas. You are my guest, so don't hesitate to explore the castle and the city;

you can stay here as long as you wish, I would like to talk someday and that you tell my stories of

your land. One of my servants will take care of all your needs and wishes. Please, excuse me now, for there are urgent matters that need my time -. Ernesto bowed and vanished with politeness.

Gracefully, he wore his hat back and left the chamber, escorted by two guards. He felt he had been

born again, but his feelings were contradictory, they went from gratitude to cholera and incredulity. This way he cursed the barbarians he could not understand yet. The closed the sliding doors behind

him.

- Kaito, make sure to check the weapons and pay this man as usual. He and his crew must get the best Sake in Higuchi and, as a gesture of his gratitude and friendship, they will receive twenty units

of purple silk - he looked at the two men who were lying on the tatami -. Give the monks the sailor's

corpse; regarding that, use him to try my new katana. No wicked man will help the Gaijin again without my permission -. Then he left to the indoor gardens.

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Oguro Netsuma entered the calm garden and he approached his lord making enough noise to make

his presence felt.

Maybe, Oguro was one of his lord's few confidants and one of his most loyal servants, together with Yasuhiro Kaiito. He was an ugly and thin man whose face had several scars. He was orphaned of

father and her mother had committed suicide after being repudiated by her family, so, although he

had samurai origin, he would have never been able to claim a position higher than that of informant. Now, by the side of Nobuyoshi, he had achieved a certain status and his lord considered him the

leader of the clan's assassins and spies. Between them there was no need of behaving for they knew

their origin and they had been friends since they could utter a single word. He assassinated Shiro Arakawa and ended with the remains of his family. That way he helped the Ikeda clan, which had

adopted him since his childhood, gain power over the city. Many considered this man almost as

dangerous as Nobuyoshi himself.

- So... Did he bring enough? - he asked straight away...

- Yes, he did... all in order. Nothing to complain about, at least in this.

- The son of his cousin Ikeda Kijohiro arrived one hour ago. Are you sure that he still wants me to direct his forces against the buke clan Dazai? Maybe...

- Yes, I'm sure! - he interrupted - you know, I saw this type of weapons in the battle of Takara... Men

were brushed aside, even great samurais perish not even entering in combat. The Dazai won't have a chance against their destruction and we cannot afford to waste this advantage. In the meanwhile, you

must go north to meet the clan Saeki and offer them an alliance. If lord Saeki wants a reliable proof,

I can reward him with a high position in my army and give him the Kaimei castle. My authority still walks on a thin layer of ice and I must reinforce it. It is imperative that we end up with the Dazai and

that we establish a natural frontier in river Megumi.

Inspired and based on The Trade by Jan Zimmer.

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RELIGION IN HYMUKAI Magic and religion in Hymukai are closely connected and one is not understood without the other. In Hymukai there are several sects and beliefs of various types, which also come from different religious

trends, some of which are quite violent and others which devote themselves to contemplation and peace

of mind. Originally, the main religion in Hymukai was the Shinto religion, which claimed the belief that everything has a sacred spirit and that hundreds of Kami look after every living being; but trade

and migrations with the Celestial Empire and Baejke's kingdom have brought other religions from

beyond the sea, such as the Bodhisatva Amitabha's butsudo teachings and the mystic belief in Ying and Yang energies spread by Laozi and Zhuangzi. These have become ingrained and have fused in many

cases with the old Shinto beliefs, creating a complex web of sects and religious groups. Therefore,

disputes among these groups are not infrequent and it is even usual that blood is shed. In many cases, monasteries of rival sects have been burnt to ashes and all the inhabitants have been killed.

With the arrival of the Namban, apart from bringing their precious fire weapons and some new

technologies, the Monks of the One God, who preached that there is only one god and that the world

has a beginning and an end planned by him. These beliefs have become ingrained into the hearts of

some of the island's inhabitants and some Daimyo have adopted it as official religion, something that has granted them a relation of privilege with the Namban against their rivals. But this has had a cost for

them, for the clans despise them and the inhabitants of their lands often leave them. However the work

of the Namban monks has achieved to create a tide of fervent believers ready to die, not only for their lord, but for their religion too.

SHINTO "THE WAYS OF THE GODS"

It is the ancient religion of Hymukai. According to it, any natural object or element is bestowed a spirit and it can be worshiped as such. Thus, everything has an inner intelligence, a divine spirit which can

manifest by means of the appropriate rituals and the invocation of its actual name. Some of these are

considered Kami and are in a parallel plane called Shinkai, thanks to which they connect with the

world. These are hundreds of gods with whom on can interact by means of priests who intermediate

between them and he who needs their help.

Apart from this, the Shinto religion believes in the direct interrelation between the world of the living and of the dead, as well as in the state of trance to communicate the different planes of reality and in the

possibility of the abandonment of the body by the spirit during sleep. The cult to the Kami promotes the

worshiping to the ancestors and the spirits who rule the different places.

Their main priests are Shamans who connect the world of the spirits and the Kami with the world of the

living by means of rituals, dances and hymns. Between them there are the Miko (priestess who devote

themselves to use the power of the Kami and divination) and the Geki (their masculine counterpart). The Shinshoku o Kanushi is with them; he transmits the words of the gods.

Most Kuge keeps follow these beliefs