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Autumn Tears
The Fall of House Hige

As recorded by ****sume Akiko no Hige no Ikoma, servant of Lord Hige and the House of Lion.

Autumn, year 927 of the Celestial Order

Summer rains lasted 2 weeks longer than expected, flooding the plains and washing away more than half of our rice crop this year. The borderlands of Lion and Crane both were owned by the water for almost a week. Some years the kami give, and some years they take. This year it is the kami who are well fed, and it is us men who go hungry.

2nd Moon, 5th day

A messenger from the capital arrived today, speaking of the treachery and lies of the Crane. Our old rivals, hard at work, spilling lies before the Emperor. This year, their words gained extra weight. They claim that we not only house the bandits that have raided their land for years, but that we even sponsor them! The Crane have produced "evidence" in the form of the head of our border captain! (I suspect Scorpion trickery, but that much is obvious).

The Emperor has granted them the Imperial authority to investigate, punish, and confiscate in his name! They have been given the right to wage war upon us. Our fastest steed and messenger has been sent to Lord Ikoma.

2nd Moon, 7th day

The Crane gather at the border, they are waiting to see if the Lion moves first before deciding how to split their forces. Lord Ikoma sent word today- we are on our own. Great lord Akodo knows the truth, but he is unable to act against the Emperor's word. The Hige have been disowned! Our land is sacrifice in order to preserve the rest of the Lion. Akodo himself sent 3 carts of spears and a scroll to Lord Hige. The messenger said, "Lord Akodo says that the spears are for you to find death with, and further instructions are contained within the scroll."

Lord Hige opened the scroll only to find it blank. "Lord Akodo sent this, in order to express that he is not allowed to say what he wishes to say. What he means is that we are to find death among the fields of dead enemies- we are to die as we have lived- as Lions!"

Soon they will come, and we will die. We will die for honor, for truth, while they will die for lies, greed, and empty pride. Even as we fall, we will stand tall amongst our ancestors, while surely they will die as they have lived- without honor.

Introduction:

In the year 927, the holding of Hige was captured by the Crane. The Crane, being particularly strong at court that year, garnered Imperial favor and were granted the authority to take Hige from the Ikoma of the Lion clan. The pretext used was accusation that the Lion were sponsoring and benefiting from bandit raids on Crane lands. Lord Akodo, was faced with the choice between defending the land against the Emperor's orders, or disowning the Hige completely. Cut off from outside support, the Hige were forced to make sudden preparations against a force that both outnumbered them and was well prepared almost a month in advance.

It is unknown how well the Hige fought, for their names were not recorded after this point. Though disowned, we can only believe that they fought like Lions.

Characters:

Players will play as samurai in service to Hige, and witness its downfall. Characters should be designed with this fate in mind, and probably will not survive, unless they flee or cut a dishonorable deal along the way. The best way to think of this is like Glory or Braveheart, it's going to end in tragedy, but how would you be remembered?

Samurai may be related to the Hige, or from another major or minor house of the Lion, as long as there is basic justification for why they are serving in Hige. Spiritual Attributes that work well include Passions, and Destiny. Conscience may also prove worthwhile.

Samurai will be young, just a few years after their gempukku. Though young and of low rank, actual samurai are few in this holding, and the players will probably find themselves in command of troops. Combat, warfare, and leadership skills will be necessary. Social skills will also be useful for dealing with characters on both sides of the conflict.

The House of Hige

In one's hand, strength, in one's heart, honor
(banner reads: strength, hand, heart, honor)

Official Title: Hige of the Ikoma, warriors of the Lion and servants to the Emperor
Crest: Profile of Lion's head, with 3 wave lines across the cheek, like whiskers
Battle flag: flags show 3 wave lines, blue on yellow/gold

History:

In 649, the land was awarded to the Ikoma after a long and complicated legal battle regarding borders and land rights almost 5 decades after a protracted border skirmish (war) between the Lion and the Crane. The Ikoma had won it through a combination of wit and good record keeping, and the Crane were forced to submit or contradict themselves and risk losing many other contested holdings.

The land was granted to Hige Shisume, descendant of Hige Matsumoto, who had fought bravely in that war, and was titled though not landed at the time. Hige Shisume remarked, "Even 3 generations hence, the Lion do not forget their word!" and vowed to serve the Lord Ikoma, the Lion, and the Emperor with all of his heart and the strength of his ancestors.

Hige has never been a very fertile land, usually making just enough rice to cover it's needs. Typically the Ikoma overlook or reduce the rice tax, in order to keep the warriors of this border holding strong. House Hige has never fielded many samurai, though its ashigaru troops are constantly trained. The peasants of Hige easily match militias in any other land. A whopping third of the male population are trained bowmen, skilled as marksmen and as archery units.

The land is mostly plains and low hills, favoring calvary. Though samurai and horses are few, the usual tactic is to gather the ashigaru to the keep, where they hold at siege warfare until the Ikoma can send their horses. Though this holding tactic has been scorned by many, it has proven effective nonetheless. Anyone foolish enough to pass by the keep and continue deeper into the land finds their supplies quickly cut off and appropriated by the Hige.

The people are hardy and independent, used to dealing with bandits and occasional raids. Raiders are fiercely met, and even if of samurai caste, they are quickly "disappeared", and when asked, the farmers never met any samurai (at least, anyone who acted with honor like a samurai...). Of course, the Crane never admit that their young warriors ever get drunk or wild or do such things, so the matter is simply marked as a curious disappearance or attributed to "bandits".

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Posts: 10 | From: Oakland CA | Registered: Jan 2005

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