The clang and shouts of battle were heard all around the small home Toshi sat in. Here she was, the so-called Golden General . . . hiding in this hut? And for what? To take the cowards way out.
Takaka had insisted that she take care of things herself; she reminded Toshi, in graphic detail, of the horrors should would endure at the hands of her enemies were she taken alive. No, she said, this was the best way for you. She sat across from Toshi now, as she finished mixing the drink.
Toshi felt herself entranced by the swirling of the waters, and the odor of the incense. She remembered the enemies had started to come from all sides . . .
She sent her armies forth and they dealt with a small attack from the American near the Ivory Coast. . .
But little did she know, that this was a mere diversion, and her enemies were moving towards Ishiro's Hope in force!
They gathered their forces their, and wasted little time.
The soldiers then called it "the End of Hope."
Her lieutenants had warned her to stop their talk as it was bad for morale, but how could she, when she felt the same?
She had little time to weep, though, for her enemies gave her no rest:
She had wanted to stay there . . . to die in the spot where her grandfather did so many moons ago, but Takaka and her staff would have none of it. The warriors needed her to lead them, they told her, to inspire them. She knew she would only lead them to death. But she relented and let herself be lead away.
But she had no more tears left to cry when the town was taken.
When she arrived at the Coast, it seemed the American was now ready with his own attack force as well
and her enemies would race to see who could kill her first . . .
With their backs against the sea, the last remaining members of her adopted people awaited the onslaught from the enemies of Tokugawa:
And oh did it come. Even now it raged closer and closer till Toshi thought she would leap out of her skin from the sounds. Takaka, still, stayed maddeningly quiet. At one point, a sword clanged off the outside of the hut, sending dust down onto their heads and into the drink.
"Takaka, I am leaving! I will not die a coward!" Toshi leapt to her feet and grabbed her sword. Takaka made no move.
As Toshi reached the door, Takaka spoke: "Toshi," she said so quietly Toshi had to strain to hear her, "Your Grandfather would be proud." With that, Takaka drank the hemlock mixture. Toshi's eyes misted briefly, but cleared.
She burst through the door into the raging battle. Her troops were badly outnumbered with enemies on horse- and elephantback. She quickly dispatched several of the enemy, but was cut by an unseen blow from her left.
It caught her on the top of the thigh, and brought her to one knee. The next instant, she felt the cold steel plunge into her unprotected side, and glance off her ribcage.
Toshi fell to the ground, her strength pouring out of her. She didn't even see the face of the man that killed her; he had already moved on to kill or be killed.
The pain was intense, so intense, that when Death came for her, he welcomed him as a friend.
Damn is all i can say!
What a great ride all! I played more than 10, obviously, but when i lost Ishiro's Hope (again) and I saw the army arrayed against us, i knew it was just a matter of time. And so i played it out.
I hope you all had as much fun as I had and hopefully some of you will sign up for my next AW game starting in the New Year: "PH07: Resolutions!"
Zipped Replay
I agree that joining him would be a good move, but to what? I don't think i can get behind joining him to an HA. Any chance we'll have an axe soon to stick him to soon?
) 
