Session 11. (26/1/00)

This episode opened with the sight of Mariko leading the rebel army through the pre-dawn streets of Matsuyama up to the castle. The troops consisted of 73 squads of fully trained Samurai (730 men), 10 squads of elite Samurai, 35 squads of Ashigaru, and 10 squads of Samurai from Ozu-han. Mariko sent the Ashigaru and one squad of elite Samurai up the road to the Main Gate to await a signal or sounds of battle. Lord Chozo accompanied the Ashigaru both to improve morale and to be on hand when the castle fell. The rest of the troops took the road to the East Gate and waited for the operation to begin.

As the Hour of the Tiger commenced (120 minutes before dawn), Mariko led a squad of elite Samurai, Kimori, Koei and Sugiyama through the trees to the northern outer wall and scaled it. They were shadowed by two squads of Sugiyama's Ninja, who also climbed the northern outer wall. The Samurai were heard by the Daimyo's guards in the North Turret, and in a hail of arrows, Lord Chozo's elite Samurai were cut down. All the troubleshooters survived, however, and their objective was to capture the East Gate Turret. Meanwhile, the Ninja hurried across the flat ground and climbed the northern inner wall.

Sugiyama's Ninja quietly entered the North Turret and efficiently dealt with the squad of archers that was pinning down the trouble shooters. Thus freed, Kimori, Koei and Sugiyama crept into the East Gate Turret and took on the squad of guards, outnumbering them one to three. Sugiyama uttered his Ninja battle cry: " !!", and in the fights that ensued Kimori killed four of the guards without getting a scratch, while Sugiyama killed three but received several wounds, though this was more due to luck than skill. Koei also killed three guards, tormenting them with Arrows of Fire while hovering out of reach. Sugiyama used one charge of the healing amulet provided by Koei to reduce the severity of his wounds. While this was going on, Mariko went down to the East Gate and tried to open it. However, it was sealed shut and she did not have the strength to open it. Kimori came down and helped to get it open. Once the area was secure, Kimori raised the School of the Blade banner over the East Gate Turret as a signal to the waiting Samurai to begin their attack.

The first large group of Samurai moved up and entered the East Gate. It consisted of 30 squads (300 men), roughly divided into 16 squads of archers and 14 squads of swordsmen, though all squads had reasonable capability with both weapons. As they advanced (followed by the other attacking groups), the Ninja moved silently along the eastern firing step and entered the Corner Turret. Here they found some resistance, and lost one squad while eliminating the two squads of the Daimyo's guards they found there.

The second group of Samurai arrived at the East Gate, consisting of 24 squads. The group ahead of it divided into two parts. Mariko and Sugiyama led four squads up the steep eastern inner wall, while the remainder (26 squads) carried on round to the Ichino-Mon Gate, the main entrance to the inner castle. This was made easier by the fact that the Corner Turret was empty of guards. The Ninja left the Corner Turret and took on the Ichino-Mon Turret, but they were seen by guards in the Inner Turret opposite, and between the hail of arrows and the alerted Ichino-Mon guards, they were defeated, though in the dark and confusion it is possible that a few escaped.

With the first sounds of alarm from within the castle, Mariko let off a signal rocket for the Ashigaru waiting below the (outer) Main Gate. Soon after a signal rocket was set off from within the castle, presumably to alert the Daimyo's troops in other parts of the castle. As the four squads with Mariko and Sugiyama were scrambling to the top of the wall, two guards from the little guard post by the path to the inner courtyard challenged them. Both fights were decided by critical hits, Sugiyama killing his opponent outright, and Mariko blinded her assailant before killing him. In front of the inner castle the large group of Samurai met and dispatched a single squad of swordsmen, but faced a barrage of arrows from the Ichino-Mon Turret and the basement of the Small Donjon, taking minor losses. The second large group of Samurai went round to the north of the outer flats and divided into three parts. One squad of archers went to take possession of the empty East Gate Turret. 11 squads of archers went round to attack the North-West Turret. The remaining 12 squads, led by Kimori and Koei, started climbing the northern inner wall, though it would take some time to get the 120 men to the top. Behind them all, the 10 squads of Samurai from Ozu advanced to the East Gate.

Having seen Mariko's signal, Lord Chozo and the 35 squads of Ashigaru advanced to the Inuiyagura Turret and took on the archers within. The sheer numbers of attackers decimated the guards without losing a single squad. Another large archery battle was going on in front of the inner castle, 25 squads of archers in the open attacking five squads protected by firing slits. Neither side could get the advantage, and both lost one squad. The Ozu Samurai moved up to the north end of the Parade ground to protect their rear, and the last group of Samurai (24 squads, including 9 squads of elite troops) reached the East Gate. On the north side of the castle, Kimori, Koei and the first four squads reached the top of the inner wall, and the archers killed the two squads in the North-West Turret for the loss of a single squad. Inside the inner wall, Mariko and Sugiyama led a squad of swordsmen into the Inner Turret, where they met fierce resistance from the two squads of guards posted there. The sword fights were prolonged and neither side achieved or suffered any losses.

Finally there were signs that the defenders were starting to get organised. Large numbers of archers appeared in the firing slits around the lower floor of the Donjon and peppered Kimori's and Mariko's squads with arrows. Kimori sent five of the eight squads that had now climbed the northern inner wall to seek shelter, and took the remainder to try to break down the Northern Inner Gate, with some help from Koei's Fire Blast spell - but to no avail. Mariko and Sugiyama were joined by a second squad of Samurai, and in the very crowded Inner Turret virtually everyone was wiped out; only the two troubleshooters were left standing. Outside, the other two squads were decimated by the hail of arrows. Elsewhere the allied archers were having more success. The Ashigaru took on and eliminated the guards in the Western Turret, without loss. The Samurai attacking the North-West Turret were surprised when a new squad of archers fired on them (they were the relief squad that had been asleep during this watch), but killed them for the loss of one squad. In front of the inner castle, the 24 squads of Samurai finally broke through against the troops in the Small Donjon and Ichino-Mon Turret, killing most of them.

With dawn only 50 minutes away and some 300-500 troops remaining to defend the castle, the battle was reaching a critical stage.

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