Hey everyone and welcome newcomers. I've noticed a lot more new people and some returning people who watched the fanfic last year. Life has settled down a bit so I'm glad to be typing this up again, sorry for the delays an all.
Again would like to hear your thoughts on the series so pleasure give me reviews its the best thing that could let me gauge if you guys actually like the series. But you don't have too just a personal preference on my part.
Anyways back to the Shogun.
Sokudo Satori
The North – Kingsroad
Sokudo yawned a bit as it was early morning as he sat in one of the carriages. They had already made landfall after only a week at sea having docked at a local town so they can take a carriage to the main road called Kingsroad from what Robert has told him. Sokudo, Robert, Cersei, and Ying were all in the same Carriage keeping Ying close to make sure nothing happens as they head for Winterfell expecting to be there a bit early.
"Tired Shogun?" Ying asked.
"Just a bit Ying, Kami wasn't wrong about how long a trip across the ocean was now its a long carriage ride to this.. Winterfell was it?" Sokudo ask Robert for clarification.
"Winterfell yes. Won't be long now." Robert stated.
Sokudo leaned back being a bit carefree. "I'll trust your word on that, I'll be awake by the time we get there I promise you."
"Your rather carefree about being on grounds not your own Shogun." Cersei commented. Sokudo eyed Cersei then shrugged.
"Is there a reason why I shouldn't be? We are protected by your personal guard along with Nobunaga." Sokudo left out Jaime's name since he was apart of the personal guard. "As far as I am concerned we are perfectly safe, besides Ying here can protect us from the carriage as well."
Ying blushed a bit looking to Sokudo pouting like a child. "Hey why do I have to be the one to do it?"
Sokudo chuckled. "Its your father's joke not mine Ying. Besides I know your capable of fending for yourself. You have one side of the carriage to protect and I have the other, simple as that."
Robert stared at Sokudo. "Your honestly not going to put your life on the line to protect us are you?"
Sokudo was silent looking out the window watching the scenery around them seeing a lack of trees except for patches of it. "If I didn't, who would protect us if there is an enemy right in front of us? I've fought on the frontlines before Robert I can fight."
"But your a leader now aren't you?" Robert asked.
"A leader leads by example, if I don't stand up and fight why should I expect the same from my men Robert?" Sokudo argues.
Robert rubbed his chin a bit. "You do have a point there."
Sokudo stared at Robert silently having a sense of something amiss with him. Like he was never into being a leader or never expected to be one. Robert's secret stayed with Sokudo though for now but he knows Robert will have to learn and become the leader the Seven Kingdoms need.
Sokudo turned to Ying to change the topic. "Sorry to drag you away from the other children Ying your father wanted me to keep you near and protected."
Ying shook her head. "No it is quite alright. I'll have another chance to play with them I bet." She turned to Cersei bowing a bit. "O-Only with your permission first of course Your Grace."
Cersei stared at Ying then to Sokudo silently feeling innocence from the girl but still felt compelled to distrust them. "Of coruse I expect that." Cersei simply stated, Ying obviously took the hint and slowly nodded.
Sokudo sighed as he had a bad feeling about this.
Outside the carriage was Nobunaga guarding it beside it looking forward but looked inside to observe Ying and Sokudo sensing something was off but focused on what was ahead of him seeing the open grassland surrounding the road as they head to Winterfell.
"Quite the different look than your home isn't it?" Jaime called out coming up beside him.
Nobunaga gave a simple smirk staring at Jaime. "Definitely colder here, and more barren thats for sure."
"Its warmer south I promise you but who knows if your visiting King's Landing." Jaime stated making Nobunaga shrug.
"Wherever the Shogun goes I go, its my current mission after all." Nobunaga looked at the Carriage and whispers to Jaime. "Your sister is very protective of her children isn't she?"
Jaime rose an eyebrow as if there was an obvious answer to the question. "Its quite noticeable that she is if you haven't given her a good look. That Ying girl seems to be an exception so far but distrust is easy for Cersei to gain."
"Still she is just trying to make sure her family is protected. Its good that she keeps her guard up, I just feel bad for Ying who is in the middle of her crossfire." Nobunaga stated.
"Do you have a think for Ying perhaps Nobunaga?" Jaime asked making Nobunaga chuckle.
"No. But she is a friend, just want her to be safe and able to come home in one piece at least." Nobunaga stated getting a nod from Jaime.
"Cersei wishes the same for her children as well." Jaime stated making Nobunaga sigh.
"Well guess we will just have to gain her trust and prove we mean no harm." Nobunaga stated while Jaime smirked unsure if her sister can give some the benefit of the doubt or gain trust with someone but was glad someone was willing to try at least.
Winterfell
"Can't believe he is early but nothing we can do about it now." One Rob Stark stated as he stood with his family in the cold waiting for the arrival of the King and his guest that a letter from the king mentioned.
The short girl Arya Stark who was waiting patiently with her sister wondering if the infamous Imp was with the royal family. Sansa Stark stood beside her with Bran Stark on the other side of Arya. Rickton Stark the youngest was right beside his mother Catelyn Stark the mother of the children.
Then there was Eddard Stark or Ned as Robert and others call him. The Warden of the North his title was. Behind him was where his bastard Jon Snow and their hostage from the Greyjoys: Theon Greayjoy.
"I was surprised too Rob. Not only is he early but he is bringing a guest too." Ned stated.
"Who is the guest?" Catelyn asked curious.
"Robert wants it to be a secret until they arrive it seems. Just to know he is an important person." Ned answered truthfully.
"Why now of all times though?" Rob ask. "Seems a bit suspicious."
"Its Robert... I'm sure it is nothing bad that might hurt us." Ned reassured his son but he was not so sure this time since Robert left out the person's name entirely. He wondered why but will soon get his answer as the Royal Family started to enter the castle.
Ned and his family shortly took a knee as the horses and the carriages carrying the Royal Family poured in, Ned looked up seeing the two carriages and saw that Robert was not on one of the horses. But one of the men was strange looking. His eyes widen a bit surprised seeing a white haired man with red eyes with black armor that he has never seen before riding one of the horses.
The man slowly got off his horse petting the head of the horse before turning to Ned and his family meeting Ned's eyes before nodding his head to Ned seeing the man greet him in a friendly manner. It surprised him a bit and calmed his nerves thinking he was not a Targaryen.
The carriages open up letting the Royal Family get out first was Robert then followed Cersei along with her children from the other carriage the windows were closed not letting a view of who else was in the carriages. Robert slowly walked up to Ned staring down at him then gestures for Ned and his family to get up.
Ned looked up then complied first his family and the people in Winterfell following suit. Robert looks Ned up and down a bit. "You got fat." At first the comment was rather rude and insulting to the others in the court of Winterfell who heard the comment. Then Ned stares and made an eye gesture to Robert's on figure before the both of them smirk and laugh then hugging.
"Its been too long Ned. Where the hell have you been?" Robert asked dumbly.
"Protecting the North Your Grace. Winterfell is yours." Ned commented then eyed the Royal Family and the strange soldier as Robert meets Ned's family. Robert greeted each member of the family smiling a bit before slowly going back to Ned after Cersei greets them.
"Your Grace if I might ask.. Is that soldier your guest?" Ned gesture to the white haired man standing near the carriage that Robert was in.
Robert looked back then smiled looking to Ned. "No that is my guest's bodyguard." Robert turned to the carriage motioning the man. "Nobunaga get those two out here."
Nobunaga nodded then motioned to others in the carriage. Rob right next to Ned stared as he first saw a young girl who was probably a bit younger than him with black semi short hair in a small side braid wearing a strange looking blue dress with a fabric covering her upper body more. He was taken in by the girl's then shook his head calming himself.
Ned narrowed his eyes a bit confused before slowly another figure emerged, he was draped with a similar dress that seems to be for men with light armor under it but in the color white, he had short black hair and had a calm demeanor to him. The man seemed young wondering if the woman was his wife or something.
The man got off the carriage then sighed looking around a bit at Winterfell a bit taking in the view like he never was here before then began to walk over to Robert and Ned with the woman and the man called Nobunaga next to him on both sides.
The man bows to him a bit a strange gesture but Ned will soon get his answer as to why he did this. "I am Sokudo Satori it is a pleasure to finally meet you Eddard Stark or do you prefer Ned?" Sokudo asked with a small smile a hand out to shake Ned's.
Ned slowly shook Sokudo's hand firmly feeling the firmness of Sokudo's grip. "He isn't some boy you randomly picked up is he Robert?"
Sokudo chuckled a bit. "Guess you left it up to me to explain everything Robert?" Sokudo stated casually surprising everyone.
"Hush, you know your land more than I do." Robert stated with a huff.
Sokudo shrugged then stared at Ned keeping the firm handshake. "Let me restart then. I am Sokudo Satori, the Shogun of the Rokugai, a unified nation in Ulthos. Robert has told me much about you during my trip here over the sea."
Ned rose and eyebrow with a bit of confusion in the air around the court. "Shogun?" Ned asked.
"Think of it as in King in your land." Sokudo stated giving a shock to everyone as they were supposedly in the presence of another king.
"King? You are a King?" Rob asked even more confused now getting a chuckle from Sokudo.
"That was the same reaction Robert had when he visited my lands and first met me but yes I am in a way." Sokudo said letting go of Ned's hand. "Regardless it is a pleasure to meet you Ned. I will explain more about where I come from later along with other details. For now let me introduce you to my friends here."
Sokudo motions for Nobunaga. "This is Nobunaga Oda. Son of the former head of the Oda Family one of the familys that controls a piece of land in Rokugai. His sister is currently in charge so he is my bodyguard for this trip." Nobunaga bowed as Catelyn was a bit shocked to hear a woman was in charge of a claim or patch of land, it was very uncommon but she focused on the man's explanation.
Sokudo then motions for the woman. "This is Ying Kami she is the daughter of one of the heads of the 9 great clans that make up Rokugai." Ying bowed as well to the others making Ned surprised she wasn't Sokudo's wife.
"I thought for a moment she was your wife or something." Ned stated making Nobunaga and Sokudo chuckle suddenly Ying was blushing and rubbing the side of her cheek with a finger sweating.
"No, no. The one Ying marries is her choice by law where we live." Sokudo stated surprising the crowd again as Sokudo looked to Robert. "So then shall we?"
Robert nodded. "Ned lets go to the crypts, do you mind if we bring Sokudo along?"
Ned was confused looking to Sokudo who looked for approval before nodding moving with Sokudo to follow Robert and make small talk.
Catelyn watch her husband run off with the strange new man and the King before turning to Nobunaga and Ying bowing. "I am Catelyn Stark. Your... Shogun is a strange one no offense."
"No offense taken ma'am. Just know our honorifics are different so please forgive us if we speak wrongly." Nobunaga stated with a bow getting a small chuckle from Catelyn.
"It is quite alright your not from around here your leader made that quite clear. We prepared you rooms with extra sets of clothes if you need them. Though I will have to find some other clothes for Ying later." Catelyn stated.
Ying shook her head. "No its fine we brought out own clothes just in case something like that happened. I appreciate the gesture though." Ying smiled as she said this Catelyn nodding a bit.
"I see that is fine as well." Catelyn noticed Rob's stares making her chuckle a bit walking up to Ying. "So is what Sokudo said true about how marriage works?"
Ying nodded. "Yes. Our land doesn't have political gain when it comes to marriage so we are allowed to go with whoever we love really to take on as a partner. Although my father does baby me a lot since my mother died shortly after I was born." Ying said sadly.
Catelyn frowned not able to picture that putting her arms around Ying surprising her a bit. "Well make yourself at home here." Catelyn steps back turning to Rob. "Rob show them to their rooms if you can."
Rob looked to his mother blushing then nodding. "R-Right Mother." He looked to Ying and Nobunaga. "Ying, Nobunaga follow me." He turned and began to lead the two to their rooms.
Sansa slowly walked up to her mother watching Rob. "He has a thing for her doesn't he?" Sansa asked.
"Leave your brother alone Sansa. Let him pursue a bit of love, besides you can't talk I saw your eyes." Catelyn noted getting a blush from Sansa as well.
Sokudo eyes the statues that lines the crypt silently noticing that they were dead family members from Ned's family. It showed how far the family has been around for his reign started with him so it really showed how young Rokugai was as a nation.
"I see..." Ned stated, he was being fed information about Rokugai but also about the secret dealings the Lannisters were making and the plan Sokudo and Robert came up with. "So you want me to make sure the trading actually succeeds then?"
Sokudo nodded. "Robert has told me he trusts you very much. If thats the case I can put my trust in you to for sure this plan can succeed."
"If it goes through Lannisport the Lannisters will hog the treasures themselves. With you Ned I can make sure it goes straight to paying off the debt of the crown!" Robert stated.
Ned rubbed his chin in thought then looked at Robert. "Making me the new Hand of the King and giving me this secret plan made by you and a strange is on the other side of an ocean?"
Sokudo frown. "I know you probably can't trust me Ned but this has to be done. For Robert's and the kingdom's sake." He stated calmly.
Ned stared at Sokudo silently sensing truth in his words with little deceit. "...Alright I'll trust you, I'll have Rob know and make sure he sends the treasures from Winterfell to King's Landing so it can be sold by the crown."
Robert hugged Ned. "Thank you Ned. I'm in your debt." He turned to Sokudo. "As well as yours Sokudo."
Sokudo smiled at Robert. "Just doing what I can Robert. Now then I'm sure you have questions about me right Ned?"
Ned rubbed his chin then stood up as Robert went off to look at a specific section of the crypt. "Your what... 35? How did you become Shogun?" Ned asked.
Robert was interested as well turning to Sokudo. "Hmm... I have a feeling I'll be telling this story a lot." Sokudo stated with a small chuckle then went silent. "My friends and allies named me Shogun for starters. We all wanted someone to represent the unity of the clans and to manage the nation as a whole. I can't be too powerful but I have my influence."
He turned to one of the crypts in thought. "There was a long ending war that my clan was apart of. The Satori's were at the center of the land waving the White Dragon. Some people laughed at it saying a Dragon symbolizing peace was not something that goes together."
He kneeled a bit. "My father didn't bend from that belief though, when the Clan Wars started he brought that same ideal onto the battlefield... Until he died that is." Sokudo stated looking at the ground. "He died unexpectedly due to illness, some suspected poison but no it was due to simple illness. He was sick before the war even started but fought through it for his dream. When he died though that dream and ideal fell upon me."
He paused then continued. "I cried for my father's death for a day before the news quickly spread and my home was attacked with soldiers and siege weapons all around. I threw away my tears, took up my family's sword and gathered every soldier in my castle and came up with a plan."
Ned rubbed his chin. "A plan? What kind of plan could get you out of a jam like that?"
Sokudo chuckled. "It wasn't just to get me out of a jam, it was to win and end the war Ned." He declared surprising Ned and Robert who didn't hear the full story of that fated battle yet.
Several Years Ago...
The destined and chronicled as The Battle of Oshu the capital of modern Rokugai was Sokudo's first real battle as the head of the Satori Family after his father passed. Word of the head of the family's death spread like wildfire traveling to the head of the other families. Soon three of those families decided to band together to bring down the Satori Family once and for all.
Tado Shizu home of the most trained soldiers in the land, Yatturo Kishu home of the best horses and cavalry, with their support from the Shinrins the resource producing family. Hana Shinrin was not the head of the family at the time it was her father, Asai Shinrin who joined Tado and Yatturo in battle with his specialized unit of the Golden Rangers, a series of soldiers that can shoot a bow well and known for their guerrilla tactics and freestyle fighting. They carry along with them a katana as well but despite the weight of their blades, they are light making them high in terms of movement.
The three families had formed a powerful alliance that could dominate the entire land if not stopped so Sokudo acted fast to beat and end this alliance which could end the war as well.
Sokudo Satori
Oshu - The Battle of Oshu
A young Sokudo in his early 20s is observing his troops running around as the enemy has surrounded them. Making any chances of running away unscathed impossible, course he didn't plan on running but even if he wanted too the chance was not there. His advisers run up to him bowing to him. "My Lord! The Family Head is dead and the troops are in disarray! We should think about terms of surrender or something!"
Sokudo stared at his troops thinking about this then shook his head. "No, my father had a dream, I will not let it end here!" He quickly stormed into the castle determined. "Call in Bam and Jin from division one and two from the White Ninjas. Then gather the commanders of the castle force for a war meeting on the double!" Sokudo stated as he had a plan the adviser seeing he can't reason with his lord ran off to send out messengers quickly.
Sokudo arrived within a spacious room with a table bringing out a map of the castle quickly reading it as his commanders quickly filed in along with the two White Ninjas he called for. The castle was a 3 tier castle like a wedding cake. The largest walls was on the lower tier with a gap before you get to the next lower set of walls up the hill before being met with the walls that will lead you to the castle.
Sokudo points to these walls. "We are out numbered and they have siege equipment but that is exactly why Oshu is strong, it was built in a way where their only effective spot of hitting us with siege equipment is through the front gates." The commanders nod. "But they can still target the walls to take out archers."
Sokudo nods. "Thats why we are not putting archers on top of the first wall. We need every man we need so we will station most of the archers on the 2nd and castle walls!" Sokudo declared making the commanders look at each other then nod. "The 1st wall will take the brunt of the damage and hits from their siege equipment. Which means we can counter them and make them smaller in numbers as they run into the castle." Sokudo stated pointing to where their army is and drags it to the gate. "We will station out Samurai and Cavalry at the front gate and fight them this way. I will formalize this tactic as the bottleneck." Sokudo declared getting nods from the commanders.
"We will set up the troops at once sir!" One of the commanders stated before running off. Sokudo looks at the other commanders. "If they start to defeat us in the first tier we will retreat to the 2nd tier. We will go from there." He looked to the commander of the cavalry. "I want you to keep majority of the cavalry within the castle walls. I have a plan for them if they force us to retreat to the 2nd tier. Not all of them have a few be on standby and take out strays from their army in the field between tiers one and two." He told the commander who nodded.
The commanders were all given their roles then Sokudo focused on the White Ninjas. "I have a special series of tasks." He went to a desk and opened a drawer going to the Ninjas handing them two envelopes. "Give these two letters out to Terra Basshin and Baku Chie through the channels, then during the battle I want your divisions to work hard in this fight. Your not fighters but your skills can make the difference."
The ninjas look at each other before nodding as they were given their instructions before leaving. The ninjas split up and got to their cabin known as the white room, a room that has multiple tools to get messages out to other ninjas across the land. The ninjas got a hawk for Basshin and sent a ninja down a tunnel to quickly get to Chie's country. Bam and Jin quickly nodded once the messengers got out safely and went to do what Sokudo asked for them to do.
Sokudo watched from the castle as the soldiers and archers got into position his ninjas were also in their spots judging from the signals that the head ninja quickly taught him so they can coordinate more efficiently, he was given a small mirror to make it easier to do his own signals. Still he was ready, his advisers were around him trying to figure out all of the kinks in Sokudo's plan a bit. The plan was daring but they can survive due to it.
Sokudo checked the sky as it was nearing the middle of the evening meaning this battle will be a night battle. He looked down at the walls of the fortress a bit then turned to his advisers. "Where is my father's armor and blade?" He asked surprising the advisers before one bravely nodded and showed Sokudo the way. They were skeptical since they can't lose two heads within two days but they respected their lord's wishes.
Sokudo was slowly shown to a room at the top floor of the castle where a White Set of samurai armor was located with a white pristine blade with a blade guard and hilt. White was the rarest color and ore of the darksteel ore used to make the weapons of the families. He walked up to pick up the sword that was on display then picked up the sheath to put the sword back in it's sheath. He slowly put on the armor his father wore then closed his eyes as there was a small cape hooked on the shoulder pieces of the armor. It was an odd set of armor and unique in its style but it was his father's, and he will wear it proudly.
Sokudo opened his eyes then turned around from a painting of his father behind the pieces used to display the armor and sword then walked off. "Watch over me Father."
We will be moving on to the full Battle of Oshu next chapter. Thought it would be good to cover it now to give some backstory on Sokudo. For now tell me what you expect to see next chapter or for the future from now. Would really like to hear your thoughts on the series so far.
On another note: No there isn't cannons or guns.