Tsukiko uses her charm

[beatrix]

Tsukiko arrives at a nondescript tea house late one evening where other geisha were entertaining. They all looked in discontent as their patrons' eyes were focused on her. She did not have her hair up, nor did she have any makeup on, and her kimono looked slightly worn from travels. The other geisha laughed and tried to get their patrons attentions back on them, but they kept on staring. Finally, one of the geisha asked Tsukiko to dance to see who was best. Tsukiko accepted, and removed her katana from her obi, setting it on the stage out of the way so that she could keep an eye on it. The twang of the instruments filled the air of the tea house as Tsukiko started dancing, using her fan. Her steps were precise, and once again, the men were focused on her, mesmerized. When the final note played, one of the men stood up and cheered Tsukiko on. He asked for her name, saying that he would like to see her again sometime. She smiled and gave it to him. He recognized the name Wakahisa from Kyoto, and gave her his condolences. He was a man of standing in this area, a rather large one. The men around him were his cronies and other people in office under him.

The official offered her a seat beside him. Tsukiko bent down and picked up her katana carefully and moved by the large man.

"Why must a delicate woman like you carry a man's weapon? You know, I could give you men to protect you on your travels."

Her ears perked up at that. With little effort, she had charmed this man to where he was in the palm of her hand. "I would like that. I do not have a stable home to go to."

"Then it's settled! You could give up that crude weapon and accept my protection!"

The party went on with the other geishas fuming at Tsukiko. That night, the official invited her to his place so that she could have room for the night. Before sleeping, he presented her with the troop that would guard her and ordered them to protect her at whatever costs. She smiled.

As the official went to sleep, she slipped out of his house, gathering the troops that he gave her and left the place with her katana in her obi.

(should be 4k troops under her command if this counts as a way to recruit)

[Fūma Kotarō [Andae]]

1,300 Characters/letters for 4,000 Ashigaru.

Approved and added to Site Bank (Back up)

[beatrix]

She had left the city officials under the guise of night with four thousand men in tow, ready and willing to lay down their life for such a beautiful woman. But how was she to feed all these men with such limited means? Surely, dancing, singing, playing music, and selling kimono was not enough to gain enough money to sustain these devoted men. Her travels took them to another town, this one more bustling than the last. The people looked on with curiosity, especially seeing a white haired woman with a geisha's kimono on with a procession of four thousand peasants. Women shook their heads, thinking she was something less than what she was.

Tsukiko stopped at a noodle shoppe and ordered a bowl of food, and suggested that her men go and find food with what money they already had. She sat there, thinking to herself as some of the men tried to talk to her but were getting no responses. With all these followers, there had to be something that she could do. Slowly eating her bowl of food with the chopsticks that were provided for her, she suddenly got an idea.

She left the table and went to the center of the town, a place that seemed to be a gathering place for festivals. She stood up on a box and looked out to the curious people of this town. She cleared her throat so that she could speak loud and clear.

"Citizens of this town. The land is in turmoil and falling apart with the lack of adequate leadership and has boiled over into war. The people up in the north have nothing to say for it but to keep fighting and to tax you in ways that you do not see. I wish to end this war, and bring about a time of peace, whether or not I am your leader will not make a difference. Join me, and we shall rid Japan of these incapable leaders, or we shall join a capable one. Who is with me?"

A loud roar erupted about the crowd as she stepped down and made her way with a smile on her face.

(Another 4k please.)

[Admin]

-1,300 Characters/Letters for 4,000 Ashigaru