Chapter ᠨᠢᠭᠡ
VictortheMonarch
Victor the Crusader
Komodo Beach was a somber sight of what was to come. The battles, the violence, the death. I was no stranger to it, my father had ensured that enough. Taking me on the Conquest of Goryeo, we visited death quite often, more than nought visiting it upon others.
Still, I felt somewhat apprehensive about this invasion. It may have been nearly twenty four years since I was ‘reborn’, but I could never forget a game like ‘Ghost of Tsushima’. It was a favorite of mine, the perfect symbolism of what a Singleplayer game should have been. It may have had a few problems, but that was neither here nor there. Besides, what would it matter now? I was in the game, or at least it's universe. I was surprised when I died, I hadn’t expected to slip into the darkness in my sleep, especially not to be reborn as the game's main antagonist; Khotun Khan.
Really anyone would be surprised, but if anything it was nice. Being the nephew of THE Khagan of Yuan had its perks. I got almost anything I wanted. Of course it had it’s limits, interacting with those beneath my station was restricted. Mostly by Uncle, he didn’t want a repeat of my parents relationship, once even ordering my guards to beat me near to death for merely gifting my favorite servant with a jade ring.
He was rather incensed by my fathers marriage to my mother, who was an all too peculiar sight in an Asian court. Typically you would only see Black and Dark Brunette hair in the asian courts, but my father had taken and married a Russian woman, a Blonde, Blue Eyed, Peasant Russian Woman he fell in love with. Of course I was still vastly different, with a prominent nose, sharper features, blue eyes and blonde hair. Why I looked more European than Mongolian, save for the tan tone of my skin and a few other minor details.
Of course that could be overlooked by my Uncle Kublai, if it were not for my faith. My uncle was a Buddhist, and father held to Tengrism. But both I and my mother were fervently Orthodox Christians. So much so that we even had a few priests with us. Several of such committed to prayer rights of a group I founded and personally financed; the Riders of Yesüs. At first there were about twelve in the group, but with Father Basil out and about preaching out and about, there were plenty of conversions. So much so that there was about three hundred in my group now.
“Altan, are you ready for this?” to my left, Jianxi, my loyal friend asked. He was a Han man who had proven time and time again his loyalty to me, part of the reason why he was my hand in the affairs of the Riders. He was apart of the original twelve and had been with me since I turned eleven, being the son of a rather wealthy landlord.
“I am. This shall not be easy, but a necessary hurdle to take Japan.” I said, looking to my father who was dismounting. I knew that soon we would face the Samurai. We had after all landed at Komodo specifically to kill them now rather than later. It was something that confused me initially when playing the game. How had they congregated so quickly? How did they know where they would land? The answer was simple; they didn’t. As it turns out father had spies watching the Samurai, sending pigeons to ships disguised as fishing vessels, which would sail out and inform us of the Samurai’s location. Komodo was designated as their rally point, where all Samurai across Tsushima would go to defend the Island.
Not that it really mattered, we were tracking them after all.
I had several plans on how to minimize casualties. In the wars in Goryeo, I had several tactics I employed. My favorite was to lay traps. So the first thing I did upon landing ashore was to have holes dug with leaves laid atop them. Hopefully when they charge several of their horses will fall down a hole, either killing or severely injuring as many of the Samurai as possible. Though I didn’t make too many of them, we still needed three of those fools alive.
Then came trip-wires. They were thin enough to not be seen without closer inspection, and tough enough to not snap immediately. They were set up in a way that if not careful one may trip on the ground, leaving room for someone nearby to possibly kill them.
The final tactic was my favorite one, the Fire pit. It worked rather simply. A pit dug into the ground with loose sand or dirt nearby. If you got too close, you would fall in, and getting out was hard. I had seen many times where some foolish korean was cooked alive against it, trying to crawl out of the pit, failing against the loose ground.
With my traps laid a soldier informed me of the approaching army. The fools expected fifty Samurai to be enough to quell an invasion force that has had a day to prepare. Still, they were worthy opponents, and I cannot stop the blood from pumping at the thought of getting to fight one…perhaps that one Samurai, Harunobu? He would thank me, giving him an honorable death!
Finally they were in distance, and from here I believe that I can see Jin, the Protagonist, and heir to the entirety of these Islands. Even from here one could tell that they were menacing, and frightening warriors, unlucky for them, as we’ve plenty of ours.
Finally they sent lord Adachi down to die. The fool would be burned alive, or at least he would if my father had control over the situation. The Samurai came down on his horse, before dismounting, walking toward the crowd. “Send your finest warrior to face me!” He said, his use of Mongolian was rather nice, I don’t think that was in the game. Father came, a cup of wine in hand, he stood beside me. His dirty bulk next to my clean bulk. I looked at him, and spoke to him in Russian, “Father, allow me to handle this Samurai. I have been itching to fight one of their own.” I said, and he nodded.
He obviously didn’t care much, as long as I killed the man. And after aiding him and even bringing him the head of the king of Goryeo once I can safely say that he trusts me not to die. Walking out I look to Lord Adachi, despite knowing his name, I still ask.
“I am Altan Khan, son of Khotun Khan. I shall be your adversary. If I may, what is your name, Samurai, I shall return you to your family's resting place upon your death.” I said, my voice carrying the japanese words rather well.
“I am Harunobu Adachi, Descendant of the Legendary Yoshinobu Adachi! I have come to duel before this battle. The Winner shall decide whether your army may continue it’s advance, or leaves!” He said, as those in the crowd who understood laughed.
“I have heard of you, slayer of Tokiasa Yarikawa; Ikari no ken. I accept your challenge, however fruitless it may be. May the best swordsmen win.” I said, tucking my jian, Ariunout of it’s sheath. Oh how I loved the blade, I had personally forged it and my armor. Strenuous is all that could be said of that endeavor.
I got into my own stance, as did Harunobu. Just as I predicted, the Samurai would not budge, not would he be faked out. But with old age comes much vision I suppose. I charge him suddenly, faking a strike for his chest, which he blocks with his sword. Grinning, I grab his blade, my chainmail gloves protecting me from the sharp death it entails, before kicking him in the groin, illicting a sharp his, before he breaks free, swiping at me, and drawing blood, leaving a deep gash atop the bridge of my nose.
“Altan, enough playing, finish the Samurai so that we may move on.” I hear my father say, and nod. Walking forward, almost menacingly, I block an attack, before parrying, leaving his backside open, kicking his shin, I drive my blade through his unprotected armpit, leaving him kneeling on the ground, still alive, if barely.
“Well then, Mongol, kill me, but know that Tsushima shall never bow!” he said, before I nod, beheading him in an instant. “Requiescet in pace” I said, before looking at Father, whom looks at me for a moment, before finishing his wine.
“Samurai! DO YOU SURRENDER!” My father calls out, he never was one for words.
“They looked to each other, and one could tell Lord Shimura and Lord Sakai were never going to surrender, their honor depended on it, the fools. The Charge had begun.
Flaming arrows, and Samurai on horseback were headed towards us, I for one watched with glee as six horses fell, while another was wiped out from his horse tripping over that of another. The near sickening way they landed meant more of our men left alive. I watched as Lord Shimura was thrown off his horse after it tripped on a wire, it’s speed causing him to fall ass first into the sand, relatively unharmed, save a sore ass.
I returned to the battlement, killing eight samurai with my Jian, and another by smashing his head into the rocks. I hear as my fire pits cook a samurai, and watch as another falls in attempting to save him. Turning I follow the death and destruction that’s path could lead only to one thing, Lord Sakai.
I didn’t care for lord Shimura, for all his worth he hadn’t the destructive capabilities that Lord Sakai had. Left unchecked the boy will slaughter the mongol forces, and that was something I could not allow.
Finally I caught up to them, right as they had been captured. Or, Lord Shimura had been captured, Lord Sakai having been left bleeding out, two arrows in his back. Watching, my father walks past him, perhaps thinking him dead.
He walks to the kneeling Lord Shimura, bowing lightly, “I am Khotun, Father of Altan, Cousin of Kublai,Grandson of Ghengis.” He said, before kneeling, putting a hand on Lord Shimura’s shoulder. “Brother… You are a Warrior, a Leader. I can see that. You trained your whole life for this. You have won battles lesser men called unwinnable, yes?” He said, picking up the lord's sword.
Carefully I walked over to Jin, standing over him, he looked unconscious, and from a nudge he was. I turned my attention back to my father, who was being glared at fiercely by Lord Shimura. “But while you were sharpening your sword, do you know how I prepared for today? I learned. I learned your language, your traditions, your faith. Which villages to tame, and which to raze to the ground. So I shall ask you again, Samurai; Do you Surrender?” My father all but demanded.
Lord Shimura stood steadfast, it was disrespectful, foolish. If he surrendered he could save his people, at lost for what, pride? What is pride when one retains their lands and minimizes death? My father, in his anger, brought the back of the Katana down on the errant lord, as I turned my attention back to Jin Sakai.
I grabbed the Ancestral Sakai Katana, a sword masterfully made. It was sharp, that was for certain, something any sword enthusiast would enjoy. A good trophy from the beginning of the campaign. I looked at the Sakai lord, and with pity, I brought his family blade down, piercing his nape, and ending his life.
______________________________________________________________________
It has finally come! The new story I have been making. I decided to step away from the typical Historical SI (Kind of, it will drift into that later) Already the plot is changed, or is it? stay tuned for chapter two, where we return bodies, recruit pine trees, and pet foxes.
Still, I felt somewhat apprehensive about this invasion. It may have been nearly twenty four years since I was ‘reborn’, but I could never forget a game like ‘Ghost of Tsushima’. It was a favorite of mine, the perfect symbolism of what a Singleplayer game should have been. It may have had a few problems, but that was neither here nor there. Besides, what would it matter now? I was in the game, or at least it's universe. I was surprised when I died, I hadn’t expected to slip into the darkness in my sleep, especially not to be reborn as the game's main antagonist; Khotun Khan.
Really anyone would be surprised, but if anything it was nice. Being the nephew of THE Khagan of Yuan had its perks. I got almost anything I wanted. Of course it had it’s limits, interacting with those beneath my station was restricted. Mostly by Uncle, he didn’t want a repeat of my parents relationship, once even ordering my guards to beat me near to death for merely gifting my favorite servant with a jade ring.
He was rather incensed by my fathers marriage to my mother, who was an all too peculiar sight in an Asian court. Typically you would only see Black and Dark Brunette hair in the asian courts, but my father had taken and married a Russian woman, a Blonde, Blue Eyed, Peasant Russian Woman he fell in love with. Of course I was still vastly different, with a prominent nose, sharper features, blue eyes and blonde hair. Why I looked more European than Mongolian, save for the tan tone of my skin and a few other minor details.
Of course that could be overlooked by my Uncle Kublai, if it were not for my faith. My uncle was a Buddhist, and father held to Tengrism. But both I and my mother were fervently Orthodox Christians. So much so that we even had a few priests with us. Several of such committed to prayer rights of a group I founded and personally financed; the Riders of Yesüs. At first there were about twelve in the group, but with Father Basil out and about preaching out and about, there were plenty of conversions. So much so that there was about three hundred in my group now.
“Altan, are you ready for this?” to my left, Jianxi, my loyal friend asked. He was a Han man who had proven time and time again his loyalty to me, part of the reason why he was my hand in the affairs of the Riders. He was apart of the original twelve and had been with me since I turned eleven, being the son of a rather wealthy landlord.
“I am. This shall not be easy, but a necessary hurdle to take Japan.” I said, looking to my father who was dismounting. I knew that soon we would face the Samurai. We had after all landed at Komodo specifically to kill them now rather than later. It was something that confused me initially when playing the game. How had they congregated so quickly? How did they know where they would land? The answer was simple; they didn’t. As it turns out father had spies watching the Samurai, sending pigeons to ships disguised as fishing vessels, which would sail out and inform us of the Samurai’s location. Komodo was designated as their rally point, where all Samurai across Tsushima would go to defend the Island.
Not that it really mattered, we were tracking them after all.
I had several plans on how to minimize casualties. In the wars in Goryeo, I had several tactics I employed. My favorite was to lay traps. So the first thing I did upon landing ashore was to have holes dug with leaves laid atop them. Hopefully when they charge several of their horses will fall down a hole, either killing or severely injuring as many of the Samurai as possible. Though I didn’t make too many of them, we still needed three of those fools alive.
Then came trip-wires. They were thin enough to not be seen without closer inspection, and tough enough to not snap immediately. They were set up in a way that if not careful one may trip on the ground, leaving room for someone nearby to possibly kill them.
The final tactic was my favorite one, the Fire pit. It worked rather simply. A pit dug into the ground with loose sand or dirt nearby. If you got too close, you would fall in, and getting out was hard. I had seen many times where some foolish korean was cooked alive against it, trying to crawl out of the pit, failing against the loose ground.
With my traps laid a soldier informed me of the approaching army. The fools expected fifty Samurai to be enough to quell an invasion force that has had a day to prepare. Still, they were worthy opponents, and I cannot stop the blood from pumping at the thought of getting to fight one…perhaps that one Samurai, Harunobu? He would thank me, giving him an honorable death!
Finally they were in distance, and from here I believe that I can see Jin, the Protagonist, and heir to the entirety of these Islands. Even from here one could tell that they were menacing, and frightening warriors, unlucky for them, as we’ve plenty of ours.
Finally they sent lord Adachi down to die. The fool would be burned alive, or at least he would if my father had control over the situation. The Samurai came down on his horse, before dismounting, walking toward the crowd. “Send your finest warrior to face me!” He said, his use of Mongolian was rather nice, I don’t think that was in the game. Father came, a cup of wine in hand, he stood beside me. His dirty bulk next to my clean bulk. I looked at him, and spoke to him in Russian, “Father, allow me to handle this Samurai. I have been itching to fight one of their own.” I said, and he nodded.
He obviously didn’t care much, as long as I killed the man. And after aiding him and even bringing him the head of the king of Goryeo once I can safely say that he trusts me not to die. Walking out I look to Lord Adachi, despite knowing his name, I still ask.
“I am Altan Khan, son of Khotun Khan. I shall be your adversary. If I may, what is your name, Samurai, I shall return you to your family's resting place upon your death.” I said, my voice carrying the japanese words rather well.
“I am Harunobu Adachi, Descendant of the Legendary Yoshinobu Adachi! I have come to duel before this battle. The Winner shall decide whether your army may continue it’s advance, or leaves!” He said, as those in the crowd who understood laughed.
“I have heard of you, slayer of Tokiasa Yarikawa; Ikari no ken. I accept your challenge, however fruitless it may be. May the best swordsmen win.” I said, tucking my jian, Ariunout of it’s sheath. Oh how I loved the blade, I had personally forged it and my armor. Strenuous is all that could be said of that endeavor.
I got into my own stance, as did Harunobu. Just as I predicted, the Samurai would not budge, not would he be faked out. But with old age comes much vision I suppose. I charge him suddenly, faking a strike for his chest, which he blocks with his sword. Grinning, I grab his blade, my chainmail gloves protecting me from the sharp death it entails, before kicking him in the groin, illicting a sharp his, before he breaks free, swiping at me, and drawing blood, leaving a deep gash atop the bridge of my nose.
“Altan, enough playing, finish the Samurai so that we may move on.” I hear my father say, and nod. Walking forward, almost menacingly, I block an attack, before parrying, leaving his backside open, kicking his shin, I drive my blade through his unprotected armpit, leaving him kneeling on the ground, still alive, if barely.
“Well then, Mongol, kill me, but know that Tsushima shall never bow!” he said, before I nod, beheading him in an instant. “Requiescet in pace” I said, before looking at Father, whom looks at me for a moment, before finishing his wine.
“Samurai! DO YOU SURRENDER!” My father calls out, he never was one for words.
“They looked to each other, and one could tell Lord Shimura and Lord Sakai were never going to surrender, their honor depended on it, the fools. The Charge had begun.
Flaming arrows, and Samurai on horseback were headed towards us, I for one watched with glee as six horses fell, while another was wiped out from his horse tripping over that of another. The near sickening way they landed meant more of our men left alive. I watched as Lord Shimura was thrown off his horse after it tripped on a wire, it’s speed causing him to fall ass first into the sand, relatively unharmed, save a sore ass.
I returned to the battlement, killing eight samurai with my Jian, and another by smashing his head into the rocks. I hear as my fire pits cook a samurai, and watch as another falls in attempting to save him. Turning I follow the death and destruction that’s path could lead only to one thing, Lord Sakai.
I didn’t care for lord Shimura, for all his worth he hadn’t the destructive capabilities that Lord Sakai had. Left unchecked the boy will slaughter the mongol forces, and that was something I could not allow.
Finally I caught up to them, right as they had been captured. Or, Lord Shimura had been captured, Lord Sakai having been left bleeding out, two arrows in his back. Watching, my father walks past him, perhaps thinking him dead.
He walks to the kneeling Lord Shimura, bowing lightly, “I am Khotun, Father of Altan, Cousin of Kublai,Grandson of Ghengis.” He said, before kneeling, putting a hand on Lord Shimura’s shoulder. “Brother… You are a Warrior, a Leader. I can see that. You trained your whole life for this. You have won battles lesser men called unwinnable, yes?” He said, picking up the lord's sword.
Carefully I walked over to Jin, standing over him, he looked unconscious, and from a nudge he was. I turned my attention back to my father, who was being glared at fiercely by Lord Shimura. “But while you were sharpening your sword, do you know how I prepared for today? I learned. I learned your language, your traditions, your faith. Which villages to tame, and which to raze to the ground. So I shall ask you again, Samurai; Do you Surrender?” My father all but demanded.
Lord Shimura stood steadfast, it was disrespectful, foolish. If he surrendered he could save his people, at lost for what, pride? What is pride when one retains their lands and minimizes death? My father, in his anger, brought the back of the Katana down on the errant lord, as I turned my attention back to Jin Sakai.
I grabbed the Ancestral Sakai Katana, a sword masterfully made. It was sharp, that was for certain, something any sword enthusiast would enjoy. A good trophy from the beginning of the campaign. I looked at the Sakai lord, and with pity, I brought his family blade down, piercing his nape, and ending his life.
______________________________________________________________________
It has finally come! The new story I have been making. I decided to step away from the typical Historical SI (Kind of, it will drift into that later) Already the plot is changed, or is it? stay tuned for chapter two, where we return bodies, recruit pine trees, and pet foxes.