Gathering Storms

Sitting off the coast of the Phoenix lands, Broken Wave City avoided the destruction of the Scouring that ravaged the Isles of Silk and Spice. The governor, Yoritomo Ninsei, formally declared the city’s neutrality and has strived to build a haven for the clans to intermingle outside of the conflicts that ravage the mainland. He has managed through careful diplomacy and deference, to avoid the attention of the Hantei so far, without directly declaring the city’s support.

Sensing an opportunity to establish a foothold deep within Kanpeki’s territory, Yoritomo Minoko wishes to broker an alliance with Ninsei. She proposes moving her small fleet of ships up to the island undetected, land, and establish a foothold and secure a strong defensive position there before Kanpeki and his favored Mantis successor, Gusai Ichido, notice. Yasuki Soden will follow behind as soon as able with a larger Yasuki fleet to reinforce her, once it can be properly outfitted and crewed.

Minoko arrives at Broken Wave and meets with Ninsei and his son and chief advisor, Yoritomo Wakuni. Ninsei is reluctant to provoke the Hantei and does not wish to choose a side between the two Mantis claimants, fearing he might exacerbate a civil war. Wakuni accuses Minoko and Ichido of opportunistically carving the Mantis Clan up, whereas his father has demonstrated true leadership by protecting and preserving what he can of their people.

Word from an unknown informant reaches Gusai Ichido about Minoko’s presence, and he gathers his entire, substantially larger fleet and sets sail immediately. He sends a spokesman into the city on his behalf, commanding Yoritomo Ninsei to acknowledge his claim and authority, given by the Emperor, as leader of the Mantis Clan. He commands Minoko be detained immediately and turned over to him. Ninsei politely declines, as Minoko is his guest and is under his protection. He does not recognize Ichido’s claim directly but offers for both Minoko and Ichido to meet at this ‘neutral location’ and perhaps amicably resolve the situation before something regrettable happens. Ichido says he will consider the offer. Minoko, not trusting Ichido’s word, orders her forces to begin to take up defensive positions in the city and the island’s forests, against Ninsei’s wishes.

Ichido, whether always intending to attack or taking Minoko’s actions as provocation, orders an attack on the city immediately. His superior fleet engages Minoko’s among the small barrier islands. Outnumbered, her fleet suffers significant casualties, though a ship called Hiromi’s Legacy distinguishes itself not only by surviving intact but sinking several Gusai vessels, killing the flamboyant commander Gusai Runa, among others.

Ichido’s forces push through the woods after landing, where they encounter stubborn resistance by Minoko forces led by a Kaiu Wall veteran named Yoritomo Bunrakuken. His defiant stand against overwhelming odds allows Minoko’s forces to devise a plan, though Bunrakuken and all his forces are wiped out in the process. Minoko’s chief tactician, Yoritomo Sumiteru, suggests they fool Ichido by seeming to withdraw from the city.

Ichido boldly strides into the city, declaring victory. He issues an immediate order that all samurai in the city who do not declare the Hantei as the rightful ruler of Rokugan will be executed as traitors, regardless of Clan. Some refuse, but many acquiesce, either to spare their own lives or those of their retainers, servants, and families. Interestingly, a Lion Clan representative seeks a private audience with Ichido, and afterwards appears to command his personal guard to assist Ichido’s forces in securing the city, surprising many.

Minoko’s forces strike Ichido’s disorganized ground troops during this, routing those outside of the city and sealing those that remain inside, effectively cutting his forces in half. Faced with the possibility of now being under siege, Ichido orders the city to be set on fire, much to Minoko’s shock. Ichido is able to withdraw through a different damaged part of the city walls while Minoko and her forces move in and try to assist in putting out the blaze. Returning to his ships, Ichido hopes to blockade the trapped forces now and starve them out. However, he is shocked by the sudden appearance of a dozen ships flying Mantis banners that he does not recognize. He orders a withdrawal, concerned that Minoko had reinforcements he was unaware of.

However, Minoko herself is confused by the appearance of these ships. She is surprised when a merchant in the city claims the ships belong to the Colonial merchant Yoritomo Seiki. The representative, Eijiro, from a thought-extinct vassal Mantis family called the Hoji, says that Seiki is here to offer Minoko an alliance against Ichido and the Hantei, provided she will support his claim to the Mantis championship, his offer peppered with subtle threats. Minoko rejects this, despite only having a handful of ships remaining and exhausted and depleted ground forces in the still-burning city. Before Seiki’s forces can make a move, yet another fleet appears on the horizon, this one flying Crab banners. Yasuki Soden’s forces have arrived, and Seiki’s fleet makes preparations to withdraw.

The city is badly damaged, and Ninsei is found dead in the aftermath. Minoko appoints Yoritomo Sumiteru as interim governor. Ninsei’s angry son Wakuni is approached by Hoji Eijiro, who produces a letter sealed with Minoko’s personal mon. It is an internal order that seems to state her intent to remove Ninsei by any means necessary to establish control of the city. Eijiro makes an offer on Seiki’s behalf, and Wakuni and many of those vassals that were loyal to Ninsei denounce Minoko and abandon the city, joining Seiki’s fleet as they return to the Colonies.