ODA ~ From Such Humble Beginnings

[caravel]

Yes, taking Omi might not have been such a good idea. It is too centralised a province for the early stages of a campaign and it vulnerable to being blitzed by the Ronin in the region. Sticking to Ise and then heading for Mikawa and Totomi would have left you in a stronger position.

From Aki again it would have been ideal to take Nagato, Iwami and Suo, strengthen the borders against the Shimazu and then head back east, while developing those aforementioned provinces for Naginta and Heavy Cavalry.

To save the campaign you may have to throw everything you've got at getting the Daimyo out of there, even abandoning Owari if necessary.

[Drisos]

Wow! Cool campaign.

- Perhaps you can move your Daimyo into Ise, and send some reinforcement from Owari the same time?
- Build a mine in Aki(!), if you haven't already.

[Wishazu]

ODA ~ Battle for Iga, Winter 1534

Winter, 1534 It has been two months since I had gotten any word from outside of Iga. For nearly a month I tried to lose my enemies in the mountains but it was no good, they knew the land too well. I tried in vain to find an open pass to Ise but there was none, heavy snow had cut off all avenue of escape. My scouts reported that the enemy army, numbering some 1500 was now blocking the valley entrance behind me, I was out of options. I was convinced I was staring death and defeat in the face, but I was not going to make it easy for them. I ordered my 600 men into the trees in an attempt to surprise my enemy and cause as much damage as possible. The Asai started a slow, methodical search of the valley, we couldnt see them through the fog but we could hear them getting closer. When I could tell that they were almost on top of us I called the charge, there was no plan or stratagem I could think of to help me see this through, I hoped only to die honourably. We erupted from the forest like a typhoon, having no idea they were so close to us, the enemy were not ready for this sudden assault and were taken by surprise. The result was a furious, chaotic melee, my warriors hacked and killed like men possesed. What seemed like only minutes passed before I heard the sounds of men screaming "Retreat! Retreat!". What was this? I had not given the order, this was a fight to the death! I suddenly realised, it was not my army abandoning me, it was the Asai.



We had fought like demons and the Asai could not face us. I could not conceive of it, we had won! It was close thing, most of my bodyguard now lay dead on the field and I had less than 60 men, but we were Gods today. We marched back into the woods, expecting another attack in the night, but it never came.



The next morning the valley was clear, I did not hesitate. We moved out. A few weeks later a scout finally located us. He brought joyous news, with the end of Winter approaching my army in Owari had launched an attack upon Ise in the hope that I might survive and they could clear a path for me to escape home. There was also a message from Hiraga saying that affairs in Aki were excellent except for some minor rioting by unruly peasants which was easily put down. I made a promise to my only surviving bodyguard, a man by the name of Li Kurosawa, who had fought particularly well, to build him a school in which he might pass on his magnificent skill with the Katana.



Spring, 1535 I have left Iga far behind me and have rendevouzed with my army in Ise. I received word today that my wife has given birth to a healthy son, I have named him Nobunaga.

Summer, 1535 Though I am safe now, I decided to abandon Ise, with most of my best warriors killed in Iga last winter I simply do not have the strength to defend both Owari and Ise against a determined aggressor. Once back in Owari I received a coded message from my Emmissary in Kyushu, someone has tried to eliminate him. He does not know who. Perhaps one of my allies does not like me having a man so close to Lord Shimazu...

Overview
Well I`m still alive, for now lol. I think I`m going to give up on my original plan to capture Iga early on. It`s just too costly at this stage of the game. I still want Omi though, it`s not worth much I know but I have fought so hard for it, next time I get it it will stay mine. It is now a matter of Honour! I`m going to take your advice Caravel and start preparing to move to conquer Nagato. That will be a huge priority for me now.

Hi Drisos I`m glad your enjoying my campaign so far. Don`t worry about Aki, I will build a silver mine there asap.

[Wishazu]

ODA ~ Winter 1539

Summer, 1536 After the recent attempt on my diplomats life I decided to increase security in my lands by building border forts in Owari and Aki. I am hoping that whoever ordered the attack on my emmissary`s life will be deterred from any attempts to infiltrate my territory.

Autumn, 1536 I received a message today from my esteemed ally, Lord Shimazu. He informed me of the great success he is having in his mission to bring all of Kyushu under his control, only Chikuzen and Bungo remain outside his influence. He stressed his desire for our alliance to continue and his hope that I would support all his endeavours in the future. I hope I do not become a victim of his success.

Winter, 1536 Good news from Suo, Hiraga Genshin has taken this province for me. I replied, congratulating him on his success and requesting that he now concentrate on increasing our infastructure in Aki so as to be able to support larger efforts to expand in the region. Nagato will be our next target in that regard. I received a letter from my emmissary in Kyushu informing me that Lord Shimazu has lost Buzen to a huge peasant revolt, everything does not appear to be going as smoothly as my ally would have us believe.

Summer, 1537 Preparations for my next assault on Omi have kept me busy the last few months, I am glad to record that Omi fell once again to my forces. I have ordered the construction of a castle to begin at once, I will stamp my authority on this land and will not be removed again! News arrived of a small rebellion that was swiftly put down in Suo.

Spring, 1538 My castle in Omi is now complete. I left a strong garrison to watch over my newest acquisition, we will not be caught off guard again. I moved back home again to Owari to begin preparations for an attack on Mino this coming winter.

Winter, 1538 Mino fell without a fight. I will winter here and stay as long as it takes to ensure the province is completely pacified. Hiraga Genshin has informed me he will be ready to take Nagato in the spring.

Spring, 1539 Nagato has fallen to Hiraga, he has begun work on building a castle there. Hiraga also informed me that we now have the facilities in place in Aki to begin training Shinobi. The men of the shadows can be usefull in sowing discord amongst friends and enemies alike.

Summer, 1539 My army in Omi was attacked last month, nothing serious, a small rabble of Ronin and vagabonds, they were soon put to rout. My agricultural and infastructural programs seem to be paying off, I am reliably informed that I am now the richest Daimyo in all Japan.

Autumn, 1539 Another message from my man in Kyushu, Lord Shimazu has crushed the rebels and subjugated the entire island. Will he be content to simply stay there?

Winter, 1539 Unruly peasants have revolted in Nagato, it seems they had the support of a large number of samurai, whether these were simple Ronin or agents of another faction has yet to be discovered. The entire rebel army was destroyed. Hiraga is proving invaluable to my war effort, I can only thank the Gods for bringing such a talented commander into my service. I ordered a port to be constructed in Owari, fast and easy access to my further flung possessions will soon be a nessecity. My patrols in Mino encountered men flying the Hojo banner on the border with Shinano, their war with the Uesugi appears to be going very well. I will keep one eye firmly fixed on my eastern borders from now on. I do not want that conflict to "spill over" into my own domains.

Overview
It`s been relatively quiet since the battle of Iga. I have to admit my original plan to control Iga by 1540 was unworkable and I have abandoned it completely. My main focus now will be expanding more around Aki. As to the region around Owari, I`m going to follow Patdj`s suggestion and create a defensive line from Owari to Echizen. Hopefully the clans east of there will continue to fight for a while and leave me alone. Sorry about the lack of screenshots in this update, I just didnt think there were any important enough events to warrant any. Maybe the next one will be more colourfull.

[caravel]

Superb and epic stuff Wishazu.

[Wishazu]

Cheers, mate. This is certainly one of the most tense and exciting campaigns I`ve ever played.

[patdj]

...and it's now running rather well, isn't it? Congratulations to your aquisitions and good luck for the next moves.

Very well written, btw.