monks in the mist...
 

We marched boldy onto the field before dawn, 
to await the arrival of the Ikko-Ikko.

As the sun slowly rose above the horizon,
I watched in despair as the mist rolled in, the land took on an etheral qualty.
We waited, but the mist did not rise.

Then the lone piper I had placed on the far side of the valley signalled the arrival of the enemy with the plaintive skirl of Amazing Grace.

Slowly we advanced to a small ridge about a third of the way across the plain of Totomi.
Here we waited.
Here we would make our stand.

Time passed and my brave warriors took the time to rest.
Eventually, worried about my limited visibility, 
and knowing the Ikko-Ikko would be trying to locate and flank me, 
i sent my right flank YS towards the edge of the plain.

A runner came hurtling back through the mist a short time later, 
they had not found the enemy.
I ordered them to take up a position well forward of my right flank and spread out to await the enemy.

With little other option, i sent my left flank YS forward.
I ordered my 3 Naganita to spread out to cover the removal of my flankers.

Meanwhile, we musketeers tried hard to keep our matches lit and ready.

Minutes passed, as my YS crept forward, peering intently through the mist.
Eventually i sent a runner to order them to halt and await developments.
He returned swiftly and informed me the commander of the YS had located the Ikko-Ikko Taisho and was shadowing him, 
my YS had not been spotted.

I ordered my musketeers to readiness and we listened intently for any sound through the mist,
I sent runners to the YS units with orders that as soon as they heard us engage the enemy they were to both charge the Taisho.

They must have got nervous because they both crept as close as they could and then engaged the Taisho before we had seen the Ikko-Ikko main body.

I heard the noise of battle ahead in the mist, 
and fearing my YS had been suprised i was about to order a general advance when the Ikko-Ikko appeared from the mist directly ahead.
All my musketeers opened fire as one 
and the first wave reeled from the volume of shot.

The second wave came screaming through the mist and smashed into the Naganita who were desperately trying to close ranks.
My brave musketeers held their ground and picked off tagets of opportunity as the Naganita were overwhelmed.

Fierce hand to hand broke out between the advancing Ikko-Ikko and my first line of musketeers.

The second line of formations continued to fire as the first line withdrew through them. The first rank however rallied immediately and resumed firing into the sorely depleted ranks of the Ikko-Ikko.

A runner appeared out of the mist beside me and warned the YS were sorely pressed and requested permission to withdraw.
I estimated the number of Ikko-Ikko dead before me and knowing they had minimal leadership from their Taisho ordered a general charge of the few remaining Naganita and the current first rank of Musketeers.

Moments later i decided to gamble with my own life
and charged my bodyguard through my firing musketeers and then urged all my surviving warriors forward with me.

The Ikko-Ikko, unsure of the exact situation chose to fall back upon their Taisho.
As the Taisho saw his troops streaming back through the mist 
he decided discretion was the better part of valour, 
but as he turned to flee a Samurai ran him through with his Yari.

The Ikko-Ikko crumbled completely and the day was ours.