Taking Toshi Ranbo - Autumn 1237

[Hida Tetsuko]

Okay, I have discussed this with a number of people on here already, but I thought I'd open a thread to have more input. Particularly when this battle is going to be perhaps one of the most complicated ones.

I have some maps, that will help, as well as some facts and questions that need to be answered.

Facts

* By this stage of the war, Yuhimi has fled with some forces but leaves considerable troops behind in Toshi Ranbo under the command of Daigotsu Shimekiri. The idea being the Emerald Empire break their teeth taking the City, leaving them considerably weakened.
* Taking Toshi Ranbo is primarily politically motivated, mostly by the Lion and Crane. No doubt there will be conflict in the courts over which of them controls the city.
* Taking the city will need to be a coalition of the Emerald Legions under the EC, the Imperial Legions under the Shogun, the Crane, Lion and probably forces from the other clans if varying sizes.

Questions

* The composition of the Emerald forces, not just what numbers but also what they have

* The composition of the Onyx forces, not just numbers but what they have. Do they have access to gaijin pepper weapons?

In terms of strategy, I see this happening on a number of fronts with different clans having different roles. The only two things I am sure about are this: there should be a force proceeding upriver and the final fight takes place in the Imperial City where presumably Shimekiri is.

[Hida Tetsuko]

Okay, looking at the map I'm just doing the smart way how I'd defend the city or at least try to ruin the Empire's day: create more choke points. So what Shimekiri has done is collapsed all the gales into the city except for two: the middle one on the south side with the road that leads to the Imperial palace, and the one near the word Ichidou on the north side. All bridges have been collapsed except for the one directly leading into the Imperial District, that way all traffic has to go through there which is where Shimekiri has his headquarters.

Weak points: the river, obviously but an attack by river is expected. One weak point though that he may not be expecting: the artificial lake in the Okura subdistrict. One possibility would be for some water shugenja to increase the size and fury of the lake so that it collapses the wall. Another would be the north wall of the Shitusuensha district, which is mostly pleasure gardens inside. This probably would be a job for Crab to overrun.

Doubled with an invasion from the only open gate in the south which has a nice open road to the Imperial palace. With all of this, Shimekiri's advantages are used against him as a noose is enclosed around the Imperial District.

Thoughts?

[M'thack-kir]

I find myself lacking in cognitive capacity to consider large scale strategy right now, and my insights are best reserved for Phoenix anyway, who I don't think have really been invited to the party for this fight, so...

[Hida Tetsuko]

If they aren't there, they will be known for not being there. And would they want that?

[M'thack-kir]

Considering your civil war is still probably raging, and the Phoenix were not invited into the Emerald Legions...?

[Hida Tetsuko]

The Emerald Legions still work on the merit that the Last Legion had. You just need to be able to show up.

As for the Civil War, I don't think that is still going on 17 years later.

[M'thack-kir]

*Ponders*

[Hida Tetsuko]

I'll ask Jeanne when she gets up, but the Phoenix could well be there. No doubt shugenja assistance with the artificial lake would be good.

[Shinwa]

OK. Would the Phoenix be there. Toshi Ranbo is the epicenter of the Onyx Empire. This is the last big fight of the Onyx War. This is /the/ place.

So I figure everyone who can be there to one degree or another is there. But it's messy and different people have different focuses.

(Note: Probably it was not a good idea for me to read this right before answering these questions: Fortune's Lost Module)

So What are the Phoenix doing. At the very least, they will be in the healing-legion of Jurojin's Guard. That has a certain independence from the Phoenix clan. Beyond that, the Phoenix do have smaller fighting squadrons that have been fighting in Onyx. The main problem with the Phoenix is that it does not have strong leadership. In this timeline, it is currently being run by a Council of Sensei, wise members of each family. All decisions for the group must be unanimous. It is being obeyed, but it cannot act quickly or change swiftly in response to problems. There is probably a Shiba in charge of its army too, as designated by the Council of Sensei, but his power is limited. At least that's how I see it.

Individual members can join the Emerald Legions...no clans were invited entire. So Shiba and some others caught or locked out by the internal strife of the Phoenix civil war would look to the Legions as a place to escape the crazy. So I'm sure there are quite a few there too.

After reading that module, I'm wondering if there should be a shuten doji there.

[Hida Tetsuko]

Individual members can join the Emerald Legions...no clans were invited entire. So Shiba and some others caught or locked out by the internal strife of the Phoenix civil war would look to the Legions as a place to escape the crazy. So I'm sure there are quite a few there too.

I like this. I think I'll explore it in the next story The Duty of War which will go a lot in the operation of the Legion. Fresh recruits able to show up providing they have leave to do so. Samurai, robin, peasant... they take all and find you a place.

The remainder of the Imperial Legions under the Shogun is far more traditional. Mainly because that's how it started under Kano and why ruin something that works. This is where while clans contribute units.

Funny, the less traditional Emerald Legions are under the EC Karasu, and the more traditional Imperial Legion under the "new" Shogun Utaku Chikara.

[Hida Tetsuko]

Now I've read the adventure, I think I will go with the Shuten Doji. Toshi Ranbo just got ten times more terrifying