Make haste, good men, for the maniacal Mongol marauds menacingly towards our meadows:
These were dark times. Enemies poured forth from all sides, as Mongol and Russian provocateurs set forth on a mission to strike terror into the hearts of ordinary citizens, under cover of the still incessant barbarian threat. The Mongol mission became rapidly apparent when their men skirted the border guards to drive deep into the Japanese heartland. After a couple of minor skirmishes, they were engaged in a bloody battle on the banks of the River Uji, resulting in a victory for the defending forces. However, the enemies scheming then became truly manifest as Mongolian and Russian forces colluded to slay a fresh unit of reserves that had sallied forth from Kyoto, before proceeding to pillage the countryside with relative impunity.
The situation grew yet worse, when the valiant border guards were eventually overcome by sheer number of encroaching enemies, leaving the gateway to the east unprotected. With defensive forces spread thin, the only option appeared to be to protect two crucial links: the road to the Uji and the unpillaged farmlands on the eastern bank.
As if things weren't bad enough, even so-called "historians" launched attacks on the Daimyo:
This charlatan was clearly in the employ of The Assassin and would be "enlightened" (perhaps of his head) at the earliest opportunity, for wrath there was to be unleashed. With Mongol and Russian reservists encircling the town of Osaka to the south, the first recruits from the new army barracks there were pressed into service and slipped through the enemy cordon to aid in the vanquish of Japanese foes terrorising the lands around the capital, thanks to their superior training and weaponry.
Whilst these triumphs did not go uncelebrated, the need to remain vigilant remained, with word of a new menace on the horizon. Barbarians brandishing a new type of weaponry had been spotted advancing towards the capital, a sight to strike fear into even the hardiest of souls.
Dark times indeed.
: One whip for Settler + Archer and another one for an Archer + Overflow. The original dotmap had to be abandoned for noe because the barv city spawned. I settled Osaka on the hill on purpose, unfortunately it is not a plains hill. But at least it will be easier to defend then and has some good tiles to work with, especially the Iron. The Worker Steal™ really pissed me off, but I often have such sh!tty dice rolls with Barbarian Combat in Warlords.]
