The Ieyasy Quelling - Tokugawa Shogunate
You had dreamed of this for so long.
Weeks at a time passed before, and all you could do was wait and hope.
The farms grew boring.
The temples kept you impatient.
The courts were drab at night.
You wanted to move up the social ladder!
When that day came, you wasted no time to leave. You've been rethinking that the last few nights.
Last spring came the glorification of Tokugawa Ieyasu, and thus began the establishment of the Shogunate of Tokugawa. It was four years ago that Ieyasu claimed martial victory over Ishida Mitsunari began building his grand Shogunate for the Empire of Japan. The winter court just months ago was the first celebration of Ieyasy as the Shogun of Japan's honored Empire. The emperor has crowned Ieyasu as Shogun, and thus, Edo holds now the new lineage of Shoguns within it's lands. Ieyasu currently maintains control of the Daimyo and cleanly disposes and transfers his non-supporters away from the core of his bakufu.
Unfortunately, one such dissenter refused to leave quietly. Having dispatched a force to deal with a remnant of Mitsunari supporters, bakufu soldiers stood waiting for new orders from their Shogun. Seeking to garner more support from the lower ranks, Ieyasu made the decision to allow a single lieutenant to hand select a group tasked with delivering orders to remove the head of this quell and prepare for the arrival of a new Daimyo to the prefecture. Through favors and friends you managed to wrangle the lieutenants favor and be sent out to deliver these orders; certainly loyal service would be well rewarded.
Five nights ago you left from Aizu returning with tale of a prepared chamber for the new Daimyo and a reception ready for both Ieyasu and his new supporting daimyo. Four nights ago you wandered lost in the woods without ability to garner direction, wondering if the feral beast that attacked and slew the lieutenant so effortlessly would attack again, taking your life now. Two nights ago, the last ashigaru sacrificed their own selves in defense of you remaining few, certain that by morning you could find the Takasaki castle-town, a mere day's journey south east to Edo. Last night the woods remained eerily quiet with only the faintest sound of rustling grass and trees. Your supplies are nearly non-existant, and your morale has long since began its fade to oblivion.
Finally comes the dusk, and camp must be made for safety again this evening. Again, tonight seems to be quiet, far too quiet for the woods of Honshu. And still you fear that beast may be watching and following you, ever leading you from safety, closer to the gate of hell from which it came.
