Our second play of Tenkatoitsu!

Wow what a different gaming experience.

Prior play thru:

https://bigboardgaming.com/tenkatoitsu-brief-aar/

The battle of Sekigahara [more background]

This time through lets explore with a little narrative.

Evening prior to battle.

Ieyasu’s mind raced nervously as it always did in times of great stress and tension. Options, assessments, considerations of who was loyal, who was not, how to give battle what could be done differently. His vast mind considered all the options rapidly.

Yet outwardly, he sat impassively upon a camp stool in front of the brightly burning brazier, thick arms folded across his expansive frame, trunk like legs splayed before the fire drying the last vestiges of the incessant rain from his leggings. Around him key advisors waited patiently enjoying warmed Amazaki and the heat of the fire. The modest tent was utilitarian at best, they knew they masters modest ways. The Generals quietly nodded to one another as Ieyasu heavily lidded eyes, stared unblinking into the depths of the coals, nary a muscle twitched all was calm they thought.

Finally he broke the silence, ‘Ensure Asano is positioned well near Tarui village to guard against any treachery from the Mori, if they strike all is lost. At midnight we will decamp and move quietly and as quickly as the mud allows to a more central position, ensure the men have food and water tomorrow we destroy everything and everyone who opposes us. The morning may bring more rain, but there will also be fog early in this valley. We shall use it to close silently with the enemy.’

The generals nodded, none could see fault with the plan, either way they were potentially surrounded if any one of a number of delicate agreements, or treacherous lies surfaced. They may as well be close and personal to the action. They did not desire to seek stratagem, they were confident in their sword arms and their honour to carry the day.

Ieyasu continued, ‘we have paid, and promised but I sense that the leaders of Ogawa, Akaza, Wakisaka and Yasuharu will not do as they promised. Therefore they will die first. We will lull Mutsunari into a comforting sense of security. My spies inform me he is upon the hill, hiding in a panoply with many warm fires, but very few men. Tsutsui, and Tamaka restrain yourselves hold as long as possible, before striking at him. When the time is right, Kuroda who is nestled in the fork of the rivers quickly Tanaka, filter through the trees to take them from the flank, my honor guard and I will ride out to watch his army flee as Tanaka, Kanamori and Ikoma then pass thru the lines of Kato and charge the hill and press into him. ‘ He paused sipped more tea and looked meaningfully around the gathered generals, all reeds he thought, alone easily broken, but like Nippon, the value of them was in binding their wills together. Then they became a powerful force, a bonded kendo blade, useful, strong and , deadly, if need be. ‘Yes, so in the meantime, all of you must restrain your men, until word of Chosabe Morichika is confirmed. Then loose all formation, all at once. Ensure the weapons of the gajin, are kept dry, they will be key to breaking up any charges. Do not engage the Kobayakawa and Matsuo, we cannot afford a mistake with them am I clear? ‘Ieyasu knew the striving of his Daimyo’s could often be more dangerous than the sharpest blade.

‘With Nishio, Okudaira and the rest of you centrally placed near Sekigahara with me, we can move accordingly to the need. Fear nothing for Mitsuinari is predictable he will use the enveloping Crane as he always does. His men will attack too soon and we shall know before he the outcome.

Muddy sandals, wet armour, sodden clothes were no match for the zeal in the Tokugawa followers. Their path was set. In a few hours the sun would rise, their destiny awaited them.

Kumi and Fukushima took advantage of the darkness to get close to the river line and pressure the line. All the while glancing across the river hoping the weaker but well positioned Ogawa and Kutsuki would attack the rear of the powerful Kinoshita staged at the streams edge. Yet no messenger had yet arrived!

As Ieyasu predicted the Ishida followers grew nervous as the fog lifted, seeing the vast array of the Tokugawa forces much closer than they expected! Others were not intimidated and rushed forward to give battle and earn honours for first to fight!

Konoshi saw the advancing Ukita and Akashi, the brash general would not brook the Ukita clan having first honours.

Tsutsui, was equally brash, and responded in kind.

This immediately drew in Tanaka as he was not going to allow the old fool Tsutsui who could barely raise a katana to out shine him. Ieyasu rolled his eyes….”Yasutoshi, I wished to preserve you for the great battle on the hill. But it seems that the rash fools will soon be in trouble. Please be kind enough to move in some of your men on the Tanaka flank to shore them up” ‘Hai”

Yari, Chigiriki and Kama armed Ashigaru marched forward, clashing in waves. No side gained much advantage. Each sides men probing the others tatami gusoko armor of small plates, or hara -ate frontal armour to penetrate jab or maim. Mounted officers and generals provided leadership and backbone to the men. Their linked and layered armour was far superior to the Ashigaru foot soldiers. Solid laced lames lined every inch of their bodies. The 9 foot long Yari or spears would have trouble penetrating the Samurai armour, but presented a fearsome challenge when wielded enmass.

Hosokawa charges into battle! The shinjin style attack is met with a yuri defence. Both forces stall into melee ebbing and flowing.

Both sides inflict losses of cohesiveness to formations and inflict casualties. The pole armed men would down ‘spears’ and draw katanas and even when it got desperate a dirk style blade. Hands, forearms, leg and shoulder were targeted.

Seeking to alarm Ishida into a rash move the Honda and Hosokawa re double their efforts. Their greater mass and elan begin to show as the death toll mounts and the forces fray for Yukigawa. One of his formations breaks away! The dishonour is complete. “To me, to me” He roars. Their katana wielding general and his body guard attack again!

Hosokawa clan drive back the Konishi who retreat in disarray! Hosokawa forces with their blood up surge after them, ignoring the calls to reform. This leads them directly into Ishida’s force!

Results

Start Turn 5

Allegiances move and change.

The VP total on the right reflects [18] the net grants by Tokugawa clan and do not figure into calculations yet.

In the far distance we can see Tokugawa forces engage the recalcitrant clans who were supposed to switch allegiance.

Pat of Konishis’s force continues to retreat past many other clans causing confusion and disgust at the hasty retreat.

Ieyasu give the order for Todo, Kyogoku and Kani clan to engage the Wakisaka who were supposed to switch sides. They quickly crumble under the vicious attack.

South

They press the attack home!

Seppuku. The shame of glory over honor is too much for this general. He commits seppuku in the field after his force is mostly destroyed around him.

The battle seems to sway like a reed in a strong breeze, each side ebbing forward, and rolling back. As forces push, stab, and fight.

Seeing the fight is still relatively even Iseyasu orders more forces to close in on Ishida, they are fresh and ready for the fight. In the woods, the brittle hesitant forces of Ishida, who were paid to join Tokugawa, are attacked relentlessly. The fall back in disarray.

Combat chit:

As each side is forced to fight again due to the combat chit being pulled, losses mount, once great odds attacks, now seem like bad ideas.

The worst of both worlds back t back combat chits. First one side must attack all adjacent enemies, now the next side must do the same. Locked in battle both sides bleed.

From his camp stool on the hill Ishida can see his center weakening. Runners sent to the forces hidden in the woods and ordered to attack Iseyasu have not returned and what he thought were allies, now seem to be at best neutral observers. Tokugawa clan forces continue to mass on his center, and also appear to be advancing towards him.

In the distance he can see forces flee the woods.

..

Once again the Gods of war decree that incessant war must be waged. Both sides combat chits fall early. Literally continuing from whence they were in the last turn. Ogawa’s forces wilt before the onslaught of Tokugawa near the river. If Otani was not careful soon he would be enveloped!

Otani launches himself into the fray, sensing the danger, and trying to drive towards the flank Tokugawa Iseyasu and encourage the sidelined forces to join the battle!

Iseyasu’s forces bloodied but not beaten make a tactical withdrawal and allow fresh men into the fray. They advance towards Ishida.

‘Now’ says Iseyasu, ‘now!’ Messangers race out, spreading the word. All forces are to attack!

Losses mount for both sides.

Double box cars …again! Rivers of blood!

The VPS mount up, and the tide has shifted away from Ishida. With the center ready to collapse, and one flank crumbling there is no hope for defeating Tokugawa,

At the end of the battle his generals gather. Heads are presented, shamed leaders executed and celebration is had to honor those that died on both sides who fought with honor..