Act 3, Scene 9

2nd of the 5th Cycle

Watatsumi has a long history of war with the rest of Inazuma, no one knows this better than the Kujou.

Every war that the Shogun had fought, the Kujou were right by her side. As the oldest and most storied clan in Inazuma, the Kujou takes great pride in keeping detailed records and histories of their clan.

In her efforts to integrate with her adopted clan, Kujou Sara took great care to read through all the Kujou chronicles. As she stared at the entrenched positions of the Sangonomiya, she could only understand what it meant, when it is said that history likes to repeat itself.

The people of Watatsumi were never Inazuman. They did not share their history, nor their culture, they weren't even the same race. How could they be Inazuman? Back when the Inazuman Shogunate wasn't yet formed, two nations coexisted in the Inazuman Archipelago. The Narukami Shogunate of Narukami Island, and the Omikami Shogunate of Watatsumi Island.

Both nations lived in relative peace, until 500 years ago, the Omikami invaded. They didn't get far, the Inazumans were ready, as the peace was tenuous at best. The Watatsumi Army spent months besieging Mumei Castle, until it was sunk beneath the waves by the Omikami.

But the brave defenders of Mumei Castle bought enough time for the Narukami Army to marshal, and Yashiori Island became the battleground.

When the Omikami was slain, with his dying breath he told the Narukami this - "Do not lay your hands on Watatsumi for as long as the Sangonomiya rule, and I will not have my corpse fester and rot."

When a god is slain, their bodies release a massive amount of energy. The Omikami promised to seal this fester away so long as the Narukami Shogun did not harm Watatsumi after his death. And so it was, and oath is sworn, and even now the Shogun does not personally take up arms against the Sangonomiya.

Useless. It seemed the Sangonomiya had forgotten their god's sacrifice. This is what Sara thought as she observed the Tatarigami fester on Yashiori Island.

In any case, because of this oath, the Sangonomiya were allowed to rule Watatsumi with negligible oversight. They swore fealty to the Shogun, but never meant it. And now they have raised their banners in rebellion.

When the Civil War started, the Sangonomiya struck with lightning speed. Their agents snuck into Yashiori Island and broke the Omikami's seals, releasing the Tatarigami. Fujitou Castle was abandoned, and the Watatsumi Army overran the island.

It was at this time the Tenryou Commision ordered the clans of Tatarasuna to dig in and wait for reinforcements. The glory-hunting fools didn't listen, and sallied out. The Sangonomiya baited them onto Yashiori Island, then encircled and destroyed them.

High off two victories, the Sangonomiya made their first mistake. They crossed the Isthmus to Tatarasuna and took Kamado City, the second largest city in Inazuma, and also where the Mikage Furnace and Arsenal of Inazuma was located.

The Tenryou couldn't afford to allow the Watatsumi Army to use the Mikage Furnace and the Arsenal. They landed an army on the eastern side of Tatarasuna, encircling the city, and unveiled a new prototype weapon, the Kamuijima Cannons. For weeks, the Tenryou bombarded the city non-stop, until a stray shot hit the Mikage Furnace, causing Electro Radiation to spew out.

The Watatsumi Army in the city surrendered, but the Tenryou gave no quarter. After executing them, the Tenryou evacuated all the surviving civilians to Kannazuka and Narukami Island. Now, Kamado is a ghost city, and a forcefield was raised around it to stop the spread of radiation.

Which led them to the current situation, the Watatsumi Army on Watatsumi and Yashiori, and the Shogunate Army on Tatarasuna, Kannazuka, and Narukami.

Kujou Sara was the third highest ranking general in the Shogunate Army, with only her older brother and the Shogun above her. Well, she was actually the same rank as her older brother, both of them were Samurai Daishou, but he was 'older' than her, and she was adopted. As such, she had to accept when Masahito gave her command of the 1st Division.

It may seem like an honour, but it wasn't. The 1st Division was to be the first wave, the fodder meant to soften up the Watatsumi Army's defences. She was to send her men into a slaughterhouse.

From her position, she could see the Sangonomiya defences. Palisades, trenches, temporary forts. Ballistae and catapults lined the beaches of Yashiori, aimed at the Isthmus. The death toll would be unacceptable.

Sara ordered the Kamuijima Cannons forward. They were heavy and bulky, and many officers protested against bringing them, but Kujou Sara saw potential in them. All 23 cannons were dragged to the front, and artillerymen began loading them.

When they were ready -

"Fire!"

BOOM BOOM BOOM

The cannons roared, firing their payloads one by one. The Watatsumi Army was hammered with explosions and cast iron balls the size of a man's head blew up around them. Each of the cannonballs were carved with runes and filled with mana, the moment they impact something too hard, they will explode.

Some of the shots went over, some landed too short.

"Readjust the angles, and fire again."

BOOM BOOM BOOM

They continued to hammer the stationary defences of the Watatsumi Army. The Sangonomiya tried to respond with catapults; flaming balls of oiled stone arched over towards them.

Kujou Sara pointed the fan at the projectiles, "Magi, intercept those projectiles!"

The magi did not disappoint, send balls of fire up into the air to meet the stone missiles. They contacted and exploded in the air, like extra black powder fireworks.

She nodded in satisfaction, and ordered the Kamuijima Cannons to fire at will.

BOOM BOOM BOOM

On the other side, sand and men flew into the air as the wrath of the Shogunate was laid upon them. There was nothing she loved more than the Raiden Shogun, Kujou Sara thought, but she had to admit, artillery came at close second.

Once their defences were violently disassembled, Sara ordered her men forward. Horns blew and flags were raised. And the 40,000 men strong 1st Division started towards Yashiori Island.

A glint caught her bird-like eyes. She swivelled her head, to their right were two islands, known as Aneki and Ototo. They lay north of the Nazuchi Isthmus, and were somewhat forested, with trees and shrubbery dominating the islands.

Kujou Sara took a closer look, narrowing her eyes. She caught a glimpse of metal, and snorted. One artilleryman looked up at her, "Ma'am…?"

"Turn the cannons to face the Aneki and Ototo Islands, you can fire at will." She ordered.

She turned to a messenger, "Give the 2nd Division this message; ambushers on Aneki and Ototo, cover our right flank."

The messenger repeated the message to her, and ran off.

Kujou Sara was a tengu, blood of the crow ran through her veins. Did the Sangonomiya fish really think they could hide from a bird of prey?

Act 3, Scene 10

2nd of the 5th Cycle

"That's fifty-six ships." Mona observed.

"An even match, then."

Aether was in command of 51 ships, including the Deicide. The Crux Fleet, right ahead of them, had 56 ships. The Watatsumi Fleet was nowhere to be seen.

"Scry General Nagamasa, tell him to keep an eye out for the Sangonomiya. We will be engaging the Crux now."

With that, the Deicide raised a red flag, the signal to advance. Almost immediately, the thundering beat of war drums filled the air.

DUN DUN DUN DUN

Oars crashed against the water to the beat of the drums, and 51 ships lurched forwards in unison. The Deicide led the fleet from the front, flanked by the other ships, arrayed in two lines. As they picked up speed, the formation readily turned into a wedge, with the Deicide as the point.

The plan was to break through and split the Crux fleet in two. Then, the heavier Castle Ships will push one half of the Crux Fleet into the Isthmus, beaching them and taking them out of the fight. The smaller galleys will buy time occupying the larger half of the Crux, until the Castle Ships can turn around and join the fight.

The Deicide is to act as the spearhead, and take out the Alcor.

The hydra roared, and torrents of water spewed from its maws. The Crux's magi tried to intercept them, but divinity couldn't be stopped so easily. Several ships were heavily damaged, but the heavy Liyuean vessels continued to push through.

The Alcor was easy to spot, easily the largest ship in the Crux Fleet, and a veritable floating citadel. The ballistae on its deck shot at them, mana infused bolts punched into the deck of the Deicide.

Aether cursed, "What in seven hells…? They have magitech ballistae?"

After a few more exchanges of projectiles, the two fleets collided. The Deicide plunged into the enemy fleet with unnatural agility, dodging boarding attempts as all 32 cannons opened fire on every side, ripping through the wooden hulls of the Liyuean vessels.

Admiral Norihisa led the Castle Ships on the left flank, and they followed the Deicide's lead, breaking into the enemy formation and ramming into the ships on the enemy right flank. The Castle Ships used their size and weight to slowly push the Liyuean ships back.

An unnatural gust of wind aided them, giving the extra push they needed. Sorceries bloomed in the air as Liyuean and Inazuman magi squared off against one another. The Alcor, now behind them to their starboard, turned port side to help against the Castle Ships.

The Deicide turned port side to meet it. Port cannons roared, ripping into the Alcor's wooden hull. They responded with ballistae, but Mona raised a wall of water between the ships to intercept the bolts.

On the Inazuman right flank, the Liyuean ships were slowly pushing back their galleys in an attempt to break through and help their own right flank. Meanwhile on the Deicide, the hydra charged up another torrent of water.

"Aim for the Alcor! Below the waterline, hit it below the waterline!" Aether screamed.

The hydra listened, and 5 rays of divine water tore through the Alcors hull below the water. They immediately began listing to starboard side.

"Mona, scry the Yougou, Chinju and Araumi! RAM THE ALCOR!"

The Youhou and Araumi turned around and started on a collision course towards the Alcor, coming from its port side. The Chinju turned as well, aimed for the middle of the Alcor from the starboard side. The Deicide slowed down just in time for the Chinju to pass in front of them, oars sweeping across the water to the beat of their drums, bronze ram shining in the Sun.

With a resounding crash, the three ships smashed into the Alcor, ripping the Liyuean vessel in two. Flagship now quickly sinking under the waves, the Liyuean left flank began to give to fighting retreat. The tumultuous creaking of wood caught Aether's attention, right in front of the Deicide were was the Liyuean right flank, wrecked against the shore.

With the Castle Ships beginning the reverse, Aether told Mona, "Scry the artillery ships, aim for the wrecks!"

Nary a moment later, blazing balls of fire arced over their heads, landing in the midst of the beached ships and setting them ablaze. The screams of the Liyuean sailors as they were burnt alive echoed in his mind.

"Hey Mona, does Teyvat have any laws of war on land and sea?"

"There are laws of war?"

"Nevermind, then."

The Deicide turned to port side and began hounding the retreating Liyuean warships. As it were, this was a resounding victory for him, yet something still tickled in the back of his head. What was he missing…?

That's right, where was Captain Beidou?

"Mona, scry the other commanders, check if they had seen Captain Beidou."

"Negatives, no one had seen her."

That wasn't good, what was she planning?

"Wait, the army had seen her! Apparently she took the Crux's best marines and hid them on Aneki and Ototo Island, along with the Sangonomiya marines. They were planning to ambush the 1st Division from the rear."

"Planning?"

"General Sara spotted them, and General Masahito used his 2nd Division to cover her flanks."

"Wonderful! Scry General Nagamasa, tell him he has the go ahead!"

"Right!"

As the Sun began to touch the horizon, the 20,000 men strong 3rd Division landed on the northern end of Yashiori Island. Facing encirclement, the Watatsumi Army opted to retreat back to Fujitou Castle. The Sangonomiya and Crux marines were cornered, and surrendered after being pushed back to Aneki Island.

The campaigning season had started off with a decisive victory for the Shogunate, and many officers were optimistic that they could retake Yashiori Island before the end of the year.

Act 3, Scene 11

4th of the 5th Cycle

Report on the Battle of Red Shores.

Shogunate Forces:

1st Division: 40,000 men.

2nd Division: 40,000 men.

3rd Division: 20,000 men. 72 ships.

1st Armada: 51 ships

2nd Armada: 102 ships.

Losses:

1st Division: 9,142 men.

2nd Division: 2,091 men.

3rd Division: 787 men. 0 ships.

1st Armada: 19 ships.

2nd Armada: 63 ships.

Watatsumi Forces (est.):

Watatsumi Army: 54,000 men.

Sangonomiya Marines: 6,000 men.

Crux Marines: 3,000 men.

Crux Fleet: 56 ships.

Watatsumi Fleet: 98 ships.

Losses:

Watatsumi Army: 21,000 men.

Sangonomiya Marines: 1,984 men. 4016 captured.

Crux Marines: 672 men. 2328 captured.

Crux Fleet: 22 ships. 19 captured.

Watatsumi Fleet: 16 ships. 2 captured

High ranking prisoners:

Sangonomiya Yoshika, Sangonomiya Akemi, Sangonomiya Seihachi.

Yuna Nozomi, Yuna Hikaru, Yuna Mashiro, Yuna Atasuke.

Nagata Yoshihisa, Ichihara Koutoku, Kaida Ryouma.

Beidou, Kaedehara Kazuha.

*Sangonomiya Kokomi was spotted with the Sangonomiya Marines, but managed to escape by sea using her vision or bloodline.

Glory to the Shogun and her everlasting reign!

Kujou Sara put down the report and massaged her temples. Her rival had managed to escape her clutches once again.