Post by Airi Momoi on Apr 20, 2024 19:59:25 GMT
So you're Kyoji Seijuro, a ninja from the Kaga clan (of whom I could find no historical information on, even when searching up his name in kanji). You're currently in the service of Lord Torii Mototada, garrisoning Fushimi Castle. Lord Hideyoshi is dead, and tensions could not be higher between Lord Tokugawa Ieyasu and Ishida Mitsunari. With Uesugi Kagekatsu's provocative construction of a castle in Aizu against Lord Ieyasu's demands, it seems war is inevitable as Mitsunari marches eastwards, right towards Fushimi Castle.
You're guarding the gate to Fushimi Castle when Natsuka Masaie, the guy who made sure you paid your taxes shows up. Before you can even tell him that since Lord Hideyoshi is dead, you will not pay the Go-Bugyo, he smacks you. Frightened, you flee behind the walls which to you seems impregnable; Lord Masaie can't do anything to you! ...right?
Not so fast. Natsuka Masaie already has your family taken hostage, and he will brutally kill them if you do not cooperate with him. He states so clearly, sending an arrow over the walls, and demands you to betray your lord (and Tokugawa) by setting fire to the walls, irrevocably damaging them and guaranteeing the fall of Fushimi Castle. It's a cruel dilemma, and one that you definitely can't take lightly... but you can't lose your family. You accept, burning down the walls and opening the doors for Mitsunari's army. Masaie shows satisfaction at your choice.
But before you begin eagerly helping your newly found comrades, you begin to think. Wait... if he had to coerce me into cooperating, maybe he does not trust me. I know what happens to traitors - they die. You decide to call some friends and hide in the forests away from the castle instead of helping out in the assault. With their forces, Torii Mototada is a dead man even if you don't assist the attack. You watch from afar as your former lord valiantly fights to his death, the remaining garrison loyally sticking with him even as they have the chance to escape. You feel a little bit of guilt at your cowardice, but self-preservation still takes precedence over any sort of remorse.
And your instincts were right. Once Torii Mototada dies, Natsuka Masaie makes the order. Purge the Kaga ninjas. You give your final order to your comrades - run for the hills, as Masaie has gone back on his word. He was never going to spare you or your family. As Mitsunari's massive army marches towards you cowering in the corner, you begin to wonder what would have happened if you didn't listen. As he starts attacking your forces, you issue self-restraint - refusing to attack unless you know there will be no reprisal. With that, any thoughts of what could have been dispels - as you have survived.
But do those "what ifs" fully dispel? Well, to answer that thought, it turns out that Natsuka Masaie didn't really care if you agreed or not. The walls would be blown up anyway. In this alternate timeline, you bravely stand with Torii Mototada, joining forces in a valiant effort to kill as many as possible before they kill you. The other scenario in my opinion is easier to pull off as Mitsunari and Masaie have way more reinforcements than you can imagine, and most of their initial forces are generals on elite samurai, making them extremely difficult to kill. If you decide to try this, you will have the same goal as normal mode - kill 16 units, and you will once again gain all the castle units. For that one, I say good luck.
No matter which choice you make, your troops should ideally be around the level 15 range if you want to have hope of keeping them alive through both routes. Mitsunari's army is no joke, they can whittle you down just by sheer numbers.
