A path to workings that were on no map, and the snow over it swept deliberately flat. Somebody had been up there, and had taken the trouble not to be followed.
The blizzard came down at dawn and made the whole field one flat white sheet. That cut both ways and nobody could agree which way it cut hardest: the Unicorn Clan know what is under that snow and the Lion Clan do not, but the fresh fall also buried the markers the Unicorn had set to give themselves the edge. What it certainly did was hide every hazard on the ground from both armies at once.
Ikoma Akuyaku came into the General’s Tent on a stretcher with his feet ruined by frostbite and handed over a map. The Unicorn were undaunted, in good spirits and ready; their cavalry was late or lost somewhere in the storm; their strength was about equal to the Lion army's. And the cold out there was severe enough to take men without anyone fighting them.
Akodo Toronoko — his wife, and a commander in her own right — went for balms and came back with boiling sage water and a mortar paste, and worked it into his feet while the medic Akodo Kayamayako called for gentle fire, carefully controlled, to bring the limb back. He got some feeling into it. He was confined to camp and told what a second exposure would cost him. Akodo Kagekatsu chose that moment to tell Akodo Toronoko that her husband's intelligence work had been inadequate, and she did not give an inch of it back to him.
Then Ikoma Akuyaku left his tent anyway, on those feet, to watch the battle.
The general's plan was a flanking force through the mountains to come at the Unicorn from behind — no cavalry, not in that country, but mountain-born ashigaru: archers under Kitsu Somalia and spearmen under Matsu Morozane. Akodo Toronoko's archers held the left below, Akodo Kagekatsu the right.
The flanking force went up along the old mine paths. At the Frozen River the ice took Kitsu Somalia's archers — it broke, one of them died in it and four more went into the water. Matsu Morozane's spearmen crossed dry.
And then, higher up, Matsu Morozane found a path he had not been told about, running to workings that were on no map anyone in that army carried. The snow over it had been disturbed and then deliberately swept flat again. Somebody had used that path recently and had gone to the trouble of covering it. He sent scouts.
Below, Akodo Toronoko's archers put a volley into the fortified hill, pinned the enemy leader where he stood and put panic through his people. Then the flanking force came down off the mountain into the counter-attack: several Unicorn cohorts, and among them a shugenja everybody recognised, juggling fire on horseback. Kitsu Somalia threw a volley at that cohort before it could close and the forest ate most of it. Three cohorts hit Matsu Morozane's spearmen at once, killed a great many of them, and broke the rest into panic.
He could not rally them. The command techniques would not take, so he went forward at the head of what was left instead. Kitsu Somalia told her archers to put the bows down and draw swords, and they went in and did real damage. Matsu Morozane took a Lightning Raid into the shugenja's cohort and opened it.
Word came up from below that Matsu Sakura had taken the Central Hill and driven the Unicorn off it — and that the Unicorn on that hill had been thin, because their units had gone to answer the flank. The hill was bought with the mountain force's casualties. Both armies were still on the field.
Setsuna
This is the moment the mines enter the record, and they enter it as a secret somebody was keeping.
Matsu Morozane came on a path to workings that were on no map, and the snow over that path had been walked and then swept. Not weather — work. Somebody had been up there in the days before two armies met below, and had taken the trouble not to be followed. Neither the Lion nor the Unicorn knew what was on that hill. Somebody did.
That sits against Shosuro Amane at the parley. A Scorpion who knows what the hill is worth, who wants the fighting stopped before either army wanders up it, who will not be read, and who leaves quietly when refused — and a covered path on the same hill in the same week. She is the reading. The memory does not prove she made those tracks, and the memory is not evidence anyone will accept anyway.
What she can use is the shape of it, and the shape is that the Scorpion's claim to the mines is older than the battle. Their case is not that they won the ground. It is that they already knew, and were already using it, and said nothing while two clans bled at the foot of the hill. That is a strong claim in a deed and an unspeakable one in a courtroom, which is why Shosuro Aishi will never put it that way.
And the whole flanking manoeuvre went up along the old mine paths. Those workings were the road. No account of this battle records that, and it is checkable — a road leaves marks that outlast a war.
Timeline
Briefing and Frostbite Treatment - A morning briefing established the Lion Clan Army’s plan and revealed hazardous conditions after an overnight snowstorm. Command assigned a mountain flanking force (Kitsu Somalia’s archers and Matsu Morozane’s spearmen), ordered seizure of the Central Hill, and kept a small cavalry reserve off the mountain approach. Scout Ikoma Ikoma Akuyaku returned with severe frostbite, delivered a map and intelligence about heavy snow, Unicorn Clan dispositions, and an abnormal cold warning. Medical treatment was performed, resulting in partial recovery, nerve damage, confinement orders, and a brief officer confrontation in camp.
Snowbound Reconnaissance and Orders - Overnight heavy snowfall concealed hazardous terrain. The Lion Clan general approved a mountain flanking plan, advised against bringing limited cavalry into the mountains, assigned Kitsu Somalia to lead mountain archers and Matsu Morozane to lead spearmen, set the main field objective to seize the Central Hill, and delegated a small cavalry reserve to Matsu Soko.
- Morning snow cover - Overnight, a massive snowstorm had blanketed the battlefield, concealing hazardous terrain that the Unicorn Clan knew and the Lion Clan did not.
- Bold flanking plan - The Lion Clan General approved a plan to send a flanking force through the mountains to strike the Unicorn Clan from the rear.
- No cavalry in mountains - The general advised against taking the Lion Clan’s limited cavalry into the mountains due to poor suitability.
- Mountain unit selection - Kitsu Somalia, a shugenja-officer, took command of a unit of mountain-born Ashigaru archers recruited from Spine of the World foothill villages.
- Spearmen unit selection - Matsu Morozane (noted Lion Clan officer) chose a unit of mountain-born Ashigaru spearmen to accompany the mountain approach.
- Main field objective - The Lion Clan Army received orders to seize the Central Hill on the field, which the Unicorn Clan had fortified.
Ikoma Akuyaku Scout Return and Report - Ikoma Ikoma Akuyaku arrived on a stretcher with severe frostbite and briefly interrupted the morning meeting. Akodo Akodo Toronoko left to fetch balms; Ikoma Akuyaku handed over a map and reported heavy snowfall and slick conditions, noted Unicorn Clan morale and allied presence, assessed Unicorn Clan strength as roughly equal or slightly larger, confirmed the Unicorn Clan knew the terrain though markers were concealed by snow, and warned of extreme, possibly unnatural cold.
- Cavalry reserve assigned - A small Lion Clan cavalry reserve was delegated under the command of Matsu Soko, remaining off the mountain approach.
- Ikoma Akuyaku’s return - Ikoma Ikoma Akuyaku, a Lion Clan scout, was brought into the General’s Tent on a stretcher with severe frostbite after trudging 20–25 miles through snow, disturbing the morning meeting.
- Akodo Akodo Toronoko’s leave for balm - Akodo Akodo Toronoko, Ikoma Akuyaku’s wife and a Lion Clan commander, obtained permission to retrieve medical balms for him.
- Ikoma Akuyaku’s map handoff - Ikoma Akuyaku handed over a map and reported heavy snowfall and slick conditions throughout the Unicorn Encampment area.
- Unicorn Clan morale report - Ikoma Akuyaku reported the Unicorn Clan were in good spirits, hungry for battle, and had allies; their cavalry was either incoming or snowed in and not present in expected numbers.
- Force estimate report - Ikoma Akuyaku assessed Unicorn Clan strength as roughly equal or slightly larger than the Lion Clan Army, but not insurmountable.
- Terrain advantage noted - Ikoma Akuyaku confirmed the Unicorn Clan knew the terrain, but the fresh snowfall had concealed their markers, potentially reducing their edge.
Field Medical Treatment and Tension - Akodo Akodo Toronoko applied a boiling sage water and aloe/cayenne paste remedy and invoked Preserve Strength to aid the medical roll. Akodo Kayamayako ordered gentle rewarming; a shugenja used a controlled flame with Extinguish to slowly reheat Ikoma Akuyaku’s feet. Ikoma Akuyaku regained sensation in his toes but suffered nerve damage and reduced mobility, was ordered confined to camp, and a rival officer provoked Akodo Akodo Toronoko before Ikoma Akuyaku was bandaged and sent to his tent.
- Unnatural cold warning - Ikoma Akuyaku warned of extreme, possibly unnatural cold and advised the general to factor severe weather into mountain operations due to frostbite risks.
- Akodo Akodo Toronoko’s field remedy - Akodo Akodo Toronoko returned with boiling sage water and a mortar paste of aloe vera and cayenne pepper seeds and applied it to Ikoma Akuyaku’s feet, warning it would sting.
- Triage support invoked - Akodo Akodo Toronoko performed Preserve Strength (Medicine, Water), reducing the target number of the next medical roll on Ikoma Akuyaku by 2.
- Medic takes over - Akodo Kayamayako, a Lion Clan medic, examined Ikoma Akuyaku and called for “gentle fire” rewarming by a shugenja rather than destructive flame.
- Controlled fire invocation - A shugenja invoked fire and used Extinguish to keep the flame controlled while Akodo Kayamayako slowly reheated Ikoma Akuyaku’s feet over the flame.
- Rewarming outcome - Ikoma Akuyaku regained sensation in his toes but not the rest of his feet, resulting in nerve damage and significantly reduced mobility.
- Medical restriction - Akodo Kayamayako ordered Ikoma Akuyaku confined to camp for the duration of the battle and warned that further exposure could force amputation.
- Rival’s provocation - Akodo Kagekatsu, a rival Lion Clan officer, confronted Akodo Akodo Toronoko, criticizing Ikoma Akuyaku’s failed intelligence and Akodo Akodo Toronoko’s command; Akodo Akodo Toronoko rebuffed him and ended the exchange.
Mountain Flank Deployment and Recon - The Lion Clan flanking force moved into the mountains while the main field deployed along both flanks. Ikoma Akuyaku briefly slipped out to observe the battlefield as Lion Clan units took left and right positions. Kitsu Somalia and Matsu Morozane led the mountain-born Ashigaru along Old Diamond Mines; the units crossed a Frozen River with differing outcomes and discovered signs of recently used, unmapped mine paths. Scouts were detached to investigate the Abandoned Mines.
Scout Observation and Deployments - Ikoma Akuyaku slipped from his tent and reached the camp edge to observe the battlefield. Meanwhile Akodo Toronoko was positioned with archers on the Lion Left Flank and Kagakatsu was deployed to command the Lion Clan right flank.
- Bound for rest - Ikoma Akuyaku was bandaged and sent back to his tent with orders to stay off his feet; Akodo Akodo Toronoko threatened to restrain him if he insisted on moving.
- Unauthorized observation - Ikoma Akuyaku later slipped away from his tent using stealth and reached the camp’s edge to observe the battlefield from a vantage point.
- Lion Clan deployment left flank - Akodo Toronoko took position with archers on the Lion Left Flank to contribute covering fire toward the fortified hill.
Mountain Advance and River Crossing - Kitsu Somalia and Matsu Morozane led their mountain-born Ashigaru along old mine tracks toward the flank objective. Kitsu Somalia’s archers crossed a Frozen River where the ice broke, suffering one casualty and four panic before reforming, while Matsu Morozane’s cohort completed the crossing with no casualties or panic.
- Lion Clan deployment right flank - Kagakatsu, a rival Lion Clan officer, was deployed to command the Lion Clan right flank.
- Mountain approach begins - Kitsu Somalia and Matsu Morozane led their mountain-born Ashigaru toward Old Diamond Mines to execute the uphill flanking maneuver.
- Frozen River crossing (Kitsu Somalia) - Kitsu Somalia’s flanking archers crossed a Frozen River where the ice broke, suffering one casualty and four panic before reforming.
Hidden Mines Investigation and Scouts - Matsu Morozane discovered a Old Diamond Mines leading to Abandoned Mines not shown on maps and found deliberately covered, disturbed tracks indicating recent use. He detached a mountaineer scout element to investigate the mines and report back while the main flanking force continued descent.
- Frozen River crossing (Matsu Morozane) - Matsu Morozane’s cohort completed the crossing with no casualties and no panic.
- Old Diamond Mines found - Matsu Morozane, using a Fire approach to innovate, discovered a Old Diamond Mines leading to Abandoned Mines not shown on their maps.
- Concealed tracks discovered - The flanking force found disturbed snow with deliberately covered tracks near the mines, indicating recent use.
Hill Assault and Flank Engagement - The main fight opened with ranged assaults on the Unicorn Clan-held hill and escalated as the Lion Clan flanking force engaged Unicorn Clan counter-flankers in the slopes. Akodo Toronoko’s archers initiated covering fire and used tactics to pin the enemy leader and reduce allied attack target numbers. Kitsu Somalia and Matsu Morozane’s units fought through forest cover, suffered and inflicted casualties through charges, Lightning Raid, and close assaults; combined actions degraded a Unicorn Clan shugenja-led cohort. The Central Hill was reported seized by Lion Clan forces, the Unicorn Clan diverted units uphill, and the mountain engagement ended mid-battle with surrounding Unicorn Clan cohorts to be resolved later.
Opening Ranged Assault and Pin - Akodo Toronoko’s archers initiated an assault at range against the Unicorn Clan fortifications on the hill. Akodo Toronoko used an opportunity to prevent the opposing leader from moving and executed Righteous Example to inflict attrition and panic, reducing the target number of allied attack actions.
- Scouts detached - Matsu Morozane detached a mountaineer scout element to investigate the mines and report back while the main flanking force continued its descent.
- Opening assault on hill - Akodo Toronoko’s archers initiated an Assault at range against the Unicorn Clan-held fortifications on the hill.
- Enemy leader pinned - Akodo Toronoko used an opportunity to prevent the opposing leader from performing movement actions until the beginning of her next turn.
Flanking Descent and Counter-Flank - Kitsu Somalia guided the flanking force down forested slopes toward the Unicorn Clan flank. Several Unicorn Clan samurai cohorts emerged from the treeline to counter the flanking force, including a Unicorn Clan shugenja juggling fire atop a horse, and Kitsu focused an Assault on that shugenja cohort using an opportunity to lower allied attack target numbers.
- Righteous Example executed - Akodo Toronoko employed Righteous Example (Martial Arts, Fire), inflicting attrition and panic on the targeted cohort and reducing the target number of allied attack actions until the end of her next turn.
- Flanking descent initiated - Kitsu Somalia began guiding the flanking force down through forested slopes toward the Unicorn Clan flank.
- Counter-flankers revealed - Several Unicorn Clan samurai cohorts emerged from the treeline to counter the flanking force, including a Familiar Unicorn Shugenja performing fire juggling atop a horse.
Cover Effects and Triple Charge - Forest cover reduced the casualties Kitsu inflicted due to her low Command. Three Unicorn Clan cohorts, including one led by Moto Sosa and another using fire, charged Matsu Morozane’s spearmen from multiple angles, causing heavy casualties and multiple panic results; Matsu Morozane’s unit lost roughly half its strength but held due to no safe withdrawal and failed an attempted Touchstone of Courage before removing panic and advancing to lead from the front.
- Preemptive volley ordered - Kitsu Somalia ordered an Assault focusing fire on the shugenja’s cohort; an opportunity was used to reduce target numbers for allied attacks.
- Forest cover limited effect - Despite hits, the Unicorn Clan’s forest cover blunted Kitsu Somalia’s inflicted casualties due to her low Command.
- Triple charge on Matsu Morozane - Three Unicorn Clan cohorts—one led by Moto Sosa and another using fire—charged and struck Matsu Morozane’s spearmen from multiple angles, inflicting heavy casualties and multiple panic results.
- Cohort held under losses - Matsu Morozane’s spearmen lost roughly half their strength but held position due to having no safe avenue to withdraw.
Close Assaults and Lucky Reroll - Kitsu Somalia ordered her samurai to switch to swords and conducted a close Assault, dealing two damage while shedding accumulated strife. Matsu Morozane executed Lightning Raid against the Unicorn Clan shugenja-led cohort, imposed substantial panic, used Famously Lucky to turn an opportunity into a success and immediately followed with a second Assault, cumulatively inflicting significant damage and panic on the targeted shugenja cohort; Kitsu Somalia then struck a neighboring cohort causing further casualties.
- Touchstone attempt failed - Matsu Morozane attempted Touchstone of Courage (Command, Earth) to bolster discipline but failed, then spent opportunities to remove two panic and advanced to lead from the front.
- Kitsu Somalia closes to melee - Kitsu Somalia ordered her samurai to switch from bows to swords and conducted an Assault in Fire, inflicting two damage while shedding accumulated strife.
- Lightning Raid launched - Matsu Morozane executed Lightning Raid (Command, Fire) against the Unicorn Clan shugenja-led cohort, imposing panic equal to his Fire Ring and breaching their position.
- Lucky reroll secured - Matsu Morozane used Famously Lucky to convert an opportunity into a needed success and immediately followed with a second Assault, inflicting additional damage.
- Shugenja unit degraded - The targeted Unicorn Clan shugenja cohort accrued three total panic and significant cumulative damage from Matsu Morozane’s combined Lightning Raid and follow-up Assault.
Hill Capture and Tactical Outcome - Reports from the main field indicated Matsu Sakura’s forces had captured the Central Hill and driven off Unicorn Clan defenders. Observers noted the Unicorn Clan had weakened the hill’s defenses after diverting units uphill to counter the flanking force; the flanking force was granted additional damage and panic for surprise and positioning. The mountain engagement concluded mid-battle with Unicorn Clan cohorts still surrounding Matsu Morozane and Kitsu Somalia’s forces to be resolved in the next session.
- Secondary strike by Kitsu Somalia - Kitsu Somalia executed another Assault in Fire against a neighboring Unicorn Clan cohort, causing further casualties.
- Hill seized below - Reports from the main field indicated Matsu Sakura’s forces had captured the Central Hill and driven off the Unicorn Clan defenders.
- Counter-flank tradeoff noted - It was assessed that Unicorn Clan strength at the hill weakened after they diverted units uphill to counter the Lion Clan flanking force.
- Flank bonus applied - Due to surprise and positioning, the flanking force was adjudicated additional damage and panic against the counter-flanking Unicorn Clan cohorts.
- Engagement ongoing - The mountain engagement concluded mid-battle with Unicorn Clan cohorts still surrounding Matsu Morozane and Kitsu Somalia’s forces, to be resolved in the next session.
Entities named this session
Characters
- Akodo Kagekatsu
- Akodo Kayamayako
- Akodo Toronoko
- Familiar Unicorn Shugenja
- Ikoma Akuyaku
- Kitsu Somalia
- Lion Clan General
- Matsu Morozane
- Matsu Sakura
- Matsu Soko
- Moto Sosa
Locations
- Abandoned Mines
- Central Hill
- Frozen River
- General’s Tent
- Lion Left Flank
- Old Diamond Mines
- Spine of the World
- Unicorn Encampment