#oda of iga

[odaclan]

The Conquest of Iga, as recorded in Seishū Gunki

同年の冬、伊賀住人福地某が信長の味方になり伊賀追討の兵を要請した｡故に信長は信雄に伊賀を与え、各家臣に諸方から攻め込ませた｡伊勢､名張口は北畠中将信雄である。同じく馬野口は滝川左近将監一益である。長野口は長野上野介信包である。鹿伏兎口は神戸三七信孝である。甲賀山の口は多羅尾久右衛門尉が先陣を受けた｡下口は蒲生忠三郎氏郷である。大和笠置口は筒井順慶である。 伊賀の侍は防ぐ場所を失い其々城にこもった｡信雄は丸山城を落とした｡一益は富益城を落とし､富益氏は討ち死にして滅亡した｡また、具野尾城は落ちず、信孝は柘植城を攻め落とした｡氏郷は土山城を攻め数刻鉄砲合戦があった｡伊賀は大軍を受けてかなわず有るものは討たれ���あるものは降伏しみな信雄の支配下に入った｡故に信雄は丸山城を瀧川三郎兵衛尉に与え、柘植城を池尻平左衛門尉に与えた｡また、仁木友梅（前守護・義視）を取り立て平楽寺城に入れた｡

In the winter of the same year (1581), a certain Iga resident called Fukuchi became Nobunaga's ally, and requested for an army to launch a punitive expedition against Iga. Nobunaga granted Iga to Nobukatsu, and sent vassals to invade from all directions. From Ise, Nabari entrance, was the troops led by Lieutenant General Kitabatake Nobukatsu. At the same time, from Umano entrance, was the troops under Takigawa Sakon no Shōgen Kazumasu. From Nagano entrance, came Nagano Kōzuke no Suke Nobukane (Oda Nobukane). From the Kabuto entrance, Kanbe Sanshichi Nobutaka. The army coming from the entrance of Kōkayama was led by Lieutenant Tarao Kyūemon, while from the exit came Gamō Chūzaburō Ujisato. From the Yamato Kasagi entrance came the troops under Tsutsui Junkei. The samurai of Iga lost their defences, and holed themselves in their respective castles. Nobukatsu felled Maruyama Castle. Kazumasu felled Tomimasu Castle, and the entire Tomimasu clan were destroyed and killed. Gunō Castle did not fall, but Nobutaka attacked and conquered Tsuge Castle. Ujisato attaked Tsuchiyama Castle, and a gunfight lasted for a few hours there. Iga was no match for such a massive force, and some were defeated, while others surrendered themselves under Nobukatsu. After which, Nobukatsu granted Maruyama Castle to Lieutenant Takigawa Saburōbē and Tsuge Castle to Lieutenant Ikejiri Heizaemon. Also, he brought back Nikki Yūbai (the former shugo Nikki Yoshimi) and installed him in Heirakuji Castle.

(Seishū Gunki vol. 8)

In light of the recently released Assassin's Creed trailer, this really needed to be said:

Nobunaga does not invade Iga because he hated "ninjas"/shinobi. Nobunaga never participated in the Iga invasion and never directly led it.

Both are erroneous narratives that are constantly propagated both by Japanese and non-Japanese media, and this is just frustrating at this point. Some newer takes tried to "clean it up" by saying that Nobunaga invaded Iga as part of his nationwide conquest. That's a somewhat less wrong take on it, but if you put Nobunaga in direct command of the army, then it's still incorrect.

Both times the Oda forces attacked Iga, it was under the command of Nobunaga's son, Nobukatsu. After this final conquest, where Iga was thoroughly defeated in 1581, Nobunaga only came later to inspect the region. Everything had already been cleaned up, and the Shinchōkōki even recorded that there were lavish accommodations prepared for Nobunaga to stay in for the occasion.

Now going back to the narrative.

Seishū Gunki is somewhat less reliable than Shinchōkōki in various areas, but it's still a valuable material regardless. The are differences between this account and Shinchōkōki, though. For example, here Nobutaka was also listed as a participant. In the Shinchōkōki, Nobutaka was not listed as an officer that took part in the charge.

Another difference is that while Shinchōkōki corroborated Fukuchi surrendering himself to Nobunaga, it also mentioned that he was actually from Tsuge. Meaning that there was no need to attack and conquer Tsuge. Shinchōkōki also said that one of the Oda vassals went to Tsuge to protect it, and his name was listed as "Fuwa". In the above gunki narrative, this was the castle/region that Nobutaka attacked. It's likely that this part is in error in the gunki, and Nobutaka was not actually present here.

That aside, there has been various theories about why Nobukatsu attacked Iga, and there's an odd story of an Iga resident(s) who requested that the Oda invade his own homeland that was not explained in prior articles that I've seen. This request from the Iga folk themselves was what encouraged Nobunaga to grant permission for an official invasion of Iga, something that highly disapproved of 2 years prior.

This full text in the gunki provides an insight for the possible reason: It's possibly to restore the rightful shugo of Iga to power.

In the last part of the above text, a man named "Nikki Yoshimi" was referenced. The Nikki family was originally the official shugo (governors) of Iga. In a previous chapter of the gunki, it was mentioned that at some point they lost power, and the so-called council leadership of Iga became established.

If you've read the various floating narratives about how Iga is an "independent" society that is free from samurai rulership, this is how that supposedly came to be. The Nikki family were still there. They just got overrun by the people. If the above text is to be believed, the people who rebelled weren't peasants either. They were still considered of "samurai" class (they even own castles), just that they're perhaps of lower status (some texts would call them jizamurai).

If this narrative is actually accurate, then perhaps the men who came to the Oda for help were associates of the Nikki family. What they wanted was perhaps to the get rid of the "insurgents" who had rebelled and snatched power from the "rightful rulers".

So much for the mysticism of the secret "ninja" village and all, huh? It's just more of the typical power struggle between clans that are constantly happening in this time.

Incidentally, this situation is not entirely unique to Iga. A similar situation had occurred in Kaga almost a century prior, where the Ikkō from the Honganji affiliated temples there overthrew the shugo and ruled the land for a very very long time. Like in Iga, the shugo family were actually still there. They just effectively no longer had any power. The Ikkō rule remained until the Oda forces came and got rid of them as well.

[totallyseiso]

Naoe uses a kusarigama? This game looks like it was tailor made to make me buy it.

The trailer showed her village being burned by some samurai including Yasuke, so I bet that means she'll be from Iga

[teecupangel]

So I watched the trailer of Assassin's Creed Shadows and I thought I'd give my preliminary thoughts

History-wise

Okay... so Yasuke was Oda Nobunaga's vassal from 1581 to 1582. Historically, he was captured by Akechi's forces after Mitsuhide betrayed Nobunaga which led to Nobunaga's death. Instead of killing him, Mitsuhide ordered he be shipped to the Christians (whether he did it to save Yasuke's life or because he was being racist is still unsure) where he was treated and they sailed out of Japan later on.

Naoe being an Iga shinobi... I have nothing XD Nobunaga did destroy the shinobi clans in Iga (that was a whole 'nother thing) and her last name, Fujibayashi, was one of the ruling families of Iga province. Other than that... uuuhhh... the kanji of her name 名緒絵 sorta gives the impression of an honorable, kind and talented person. 名 is usually seen in words that translate to 'name' or 'distinguished', the first thing I thought of when I saw 緒 was 'beginning' but it can also mean 'strap' or 'cord' and 絵 is a kanji that appears in words that is connected to art and painting.

Possible Storyline

Oda Nobunaga is not a Templar. He was, for a time, an ally of the Brotherhood until he got his hands on a Sword of Eden and everything went downhill from there. So I see 2 possible storylines:

This is set before Oda Nobunaga's death in Honnouji and Yasuke has a redemption arc with Naoe guiding him to the ways of the Brotherhood. They probably act independently from Akechi's forces and the end game is to take away the Sword of Eden from Nobunaga. Yamauchi Taka (who kills Nobunaga in AC canon) would appear as a support character of some capacity. (He might even be Naoe's mentor)

This is set after Oda Nobunaga's death and Yasuke is on a path of vengeance against those who conspired against Oda. He and Naoe would have a more hostile relationship first before it developed into Yasuke finally letting go of his need for vengeance and becoming a blade to save the weak from this endless bloodshed.

Regardless, we'll probably see Hattori Hanzo since he's part of the Japanese Brotherhood.

Plot 1 would end in Honnouji and the retrieval of the Sword of Eden... or the Sword of Eden apparently gets into Akechi's hands and we get to have plot 1 AND 2 where the sword becomes 'pass the baton' kind of deal (this will fight with the current AC canon though)

Plot 2 could end anywhere from Akechi's death during the Battle of Yamazaki OR we get as far as the Battle of Sekigahara which is always fun (I mean... not fun because so many people died there but fun in a video game-y kind of way).

Plot 2 is more broad which could lead to 'too many characters, not enough limelight' while Plot 1 is more centered and could serve to make the character development shine.

(If this Oda Nobunaga gets a laser sword as well, at least we can say Isu bullshit on that one XD)

Gameplay

As far as I know, Assassin's Creed Shadows will follow the open world rpg setup of the Layla trilogy. Considering how Mirage made use of Valhalla's engine, that might be Naoe's gameplay as well. I would suggest to wait for an actual gameplay as Ubisoft sometimes make fancy 'moves' in cinematic trailers that you can't actually do in-game.

I also want to know how they would handle the two main characters setup. Considering we see them together in the trailer, this might be a case of "same missions but who you pick decide how you approach it" kind of deal instead of AC Syndicate's "Jacob and Evie do their own thing most of the time". Same missions also means there's a good chance of wanting to replay it as a different character for a different experience and also... it means they'd be reusing the same assets during development XD

teecup Rambles

Okay, here we go.

I really want to see Assassin's Creed version of Nobunaga Oichi because she's my favorite character in these kinds of stories. She's usually portrayed as the kind beautiful younger sister of Oda Nobunaga that he once said could have been a fine warrior if she had been born a man. Also, her daughters would later marry (or become a concubine) to prominent historical figures. Her relationship with Nobunaga after the death of her first husband is also vague so she can support Yasuke regardless if he's trying to avenge Nobunaga's death or if he betrayed him.

Other than that, I think the final battle being Sekigahara would be epic. Just waves and waves of enemies to fight as Yasuke while Naoe stealth her way to the big battlefield to assassinate their actual target. Although, historically, it would make sense for the story to end with Nobunaga's death or Akechi's death since that's around the last time we hear of Yasuke.

... then again, he would just return after being shipped off and that starts the main game too.

Yeah, that's about it. I really just wanted to talk about Ichi but I couldn't add it elsewhere.

Oh and Yasuke is in Samurai Warriors 5 if you want to have an idea of how Ubisoft can handle him... also in Nobunaga's Ambition. It would be awesome if his Isu armor's helmet would look something like Nagoriyuki's (who is inspired by the historical figure Yasuke) from Guilty Gear as a reference to a reference but I highly doubt it.

[itwontstayalive]

Yasuke isn't historically accurate

Ubisoft was very clever in featuring Yasuke as the protagonist of the new Assassin's Creed. This black protagonist is being used as a shield, and any criticism of the game will be used by the developers to say, "Anyone who dislikes this game is just racist."

On the official Assassin's Creed Shadows preorder site, you can read:

"Live the intertwined stories of Naoe, an adept shinobi Assassin from Iga Province, and Yasuke, the powerful African samurai of HISTORICAL LEGEND…"

If you do a basic Google search, you'll learn that Yasuke indeed existed. He was an African who went to Japan under a mission with missionaries and met and served a Japanese Daimyo, Oda Nobunaga. However, he wasn't a samurai, much less a great warrior.

…DRUMROLLS… he was a retainer. He was a man who carried katanas and weapons of a Daimyo, that's everything he was. Nothing much different from a butler, an assistant.

That's because Oda was known to be a fan of outside culture, he liked different and exotic things. And when he saw a black man (by the way, he didn't believe Yasuke had black skin at first, Oda was surprised and even asked Yasuke to wash himself) he called Yasuke to serve under him but only as a retainer, that's all. And he only served for a few months, he had no training, he didn't go in any battles, Yasuke, to Oda, was a pet, a trophy that Oda was exposing to other Daimyos and other samurais.

I find it very amusing how they had all the opportunities in the world to make an Assassin's Creed game set in feudal Japan using real and accurate representations but chose the only African who was ever involved in the feudal period and had a pathetic level of importance.

[etymology-of-the-emblem]

Kotaro / コタロウ, Mokushu / フウマ, Kohga / コウガ, and Igasato / 忍びの里

Kotaro (JP: コタロウ; rōmaji: kotarou) is the daimyo of the nation of Mokushu who allies with Nohr in Fire Emblem Fates. Like Saizo, Kotaro is named after a legendary Sengoku era figure that may or may not have existed. Fūma Kotarō (JP: 風魔小太郎) was the alleged fifth head of the Fūma clan. This clan, practiced in Fūma-ryū ninjutsu, served under the powerful Hōjō clan until they were dismantled by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Stories of Kotarō and the Fūma clan describe them as a dreaded band of thieves causing trouble. Some say that he led two hundred men known as rappa (JP:乱波), meaning 'thief' or 'spy'. The most infamous tale of them is that they swarmed a Takeda clan camp during the Battle of Omosu, sowing chaos and spiking the death toll.

After the collapse of the Hōjō clan, it is said that the Fūma clan, though dwindled in numbers, remained active. By the rise of the Tokugawa Shogunate, what remained of them were little more than roaming bandits. The more time passed, the more outlandish the stories of Kotarō grew. The most tame say that he managed to murder his mortal enemy, the historical samurai and leader of the Iga-ryū ninja—Hattori Hanzō. Others lean into the 魔 (rōmaji: ma) "demon" in Fūma, claiming that he was a colossal man and part oni. Never mind that the rivalry between Kotarō and Hanzō only came about in fictitious accounts, and that the earliest form of the name Fūma is rendered as 風間 rather than 風魔.

The Hoshidan nation of Mokushu bears a very peculiar name. In Japanese, another reading for the word for trees or wood, 木 (rōmaji: ki) is moku. Then shu likely comes from the Japanese counter for trees, 株 (rōmaji: shu). It may also be intended to invoke 衆 (rōmaji: shū), a sonkeigo (respectful language used when speaking to a superior or customer) word meaning "people; group". Thus, the name Mokushu can be interpreted as "Trees" or "Tree People," relating to the dense forests of the land.

At least, that's the localization of the country's name. In Japanese, Mokushu is instead called フウマ (rōmaji: fūma). That's right: the original name is a direct reference to the Fūma-ryū ninjas. It seems this was considered too on-the-nose by the localizers. Unfortunately, this change broke the chain of locations named after ninja schools.

Kohga (JP: コウガ; rōmaji: kōga) was a nation destroyed by Kotaro and the Mokushujin. The name is derived from Kōga-ryū—called 甲賀流 (rōmaji: kōka ryū) in the native language—one of the major schools of ninjutsu during the Sengoku period. Originating from the city of Kōka, the ninja and samurai of this school served the Rokkaku clan opposing the mighty Oda clan. Though the clan persisted beyond the sixteenth century, the last head of the school refused to teach anyone, leaving Kōga-ryū to die in the 1900s. This may be the basis of Kohga's end.

Additionally, there may be a tie to one of the earliest published works that influenced depictions of Fūma Kotarō. In 1661, 古老軍物語 (rōmaji: korōgun monogatari) or "Old Army Tales," there is a rappa ninja called 風間の三郎太郎 (rōmaji: kazama no saburō tarō). Note that Kazama (風間), a name he received for his ability to slip through tightly guarded locations as easy as the wind, is written the same as the original form of Fūma. Kazama was said in the text to originate from Kōka. Some have also linked this Kazama figure to the legendary hero Kōga Saburō (JP: 甲賀三郎), described in the Shintōshū to be the human form of the Suwa god Suwa Myōjin. That may just be coincidence, however, as there is no overt relation to the nation of Kohga or its only known inhabitant.

Lastly, Igasato is the ninja village Saizo and Kaze call home. The name combines the Japanese word 里 (rōmaji: sato), meaning 'village' or 'countryside' and Iga-ryū, another major ninja school. This practice started in the Iga Province, hence the name. The prevalence of ninja activity in both this province and the close proximity to the city of Kōka has caused many to believe this to be where ninjutsu began. Despite modern depictions of the two schools displaying a nasty rivalry between them, the Iga-ryū and Kōga-ryū were very close and frequently cooperated. Both supported the Rokkaku clan, and after the rise of the Tokugawa Shogunate, both clans would be hired by Tokugawa Ieyasu, in part to his relation with the Iga ninja Hattori Hanzō. This may have inspired how Saizo and Kaze act as retainers to the Hoshidan royal family. Similarly, the aforementioned feud between Hanzō and Kotarō likely served as the basis for the conflict between Fire Emblem's Saizo and Kotaro, after the previous Saizo was killed.

At least, I would say that if Igasato wasn't a localization change. While the team behind Fates' western release removed the direct reference to the Fūma clan, they simultaneously added a new name relating to another ninja school. In Japanese, all mentions of Igasato by Saizo instead have him say 忍びの里 (rōmaji: shinobi no sato): literally "ninja village". Given how there are likely many "ninja villages" across Hoshido, giving the "Christmas Ninjas" a proper name to their home was a wise decision.

[nermengild]

So recently I've been coming back to the old aniems I used to obsessed with and ended up having new yumeships in Sengoku Basara. Here is Magoichi Saika from Sengoku Basara and my OC Momochi Sandayu, loosely based on Momochi Sandayu, rhe leader of Iga clan. I did have plans to make him pretty but now he becomes too pretty and honestly... I love it 😳

Bits about him:

A former Iga clan leader who is currently living his (not so) peaceful life in Kii province as an innkeeper who constantly selling information they need with proper price. He is a gentle and kind individual despite having living most of his life as a Shinobi. Though he was strictly told to not have compassion and living his life as proper shinobi, Sandayu continues to live his life as he is, kind, gentle, compassionate, and wise though he can be ruthless when the situation demands him to.

He was often thought not fitting as the leader of Iga clan which puts him into so much pressure, constant abuse by the elders, and it caused him to slowly become numb and downplaying his own feelings because how used he is to be told that his feelings aren’t matter.

He was a childhood friend with Magoichi Saika and Motochika Chosokabe. They met when Sandayu’s father (who is friends with Magoichi’s master). Visited the Saika clan. Sandayu often says that the time he spent with both of them are the times when he truly felt happy.

His clan was eradicated by Oda Nobunaga during Tensho Iga War and it was said he was killed by Kashin Koji (another OC of mine). But he survived albeit losing his arms. He was given prosthetic arms which he would use as weapons later.

His Giga Basara Art is Kamaitachi. His prosthetic arms are inspired from Sekiro

[itsmarjudgelove]

ninja and thief, was boiled alive on this day, October 8, 1594.

Believed born in Iga in 1558. An apprentice to the ninja master Momochi Tamba, Goemon trained under him at Mie Prefectures’ famed Akame 48 waterfalls near Nabari. The story goes that Goemon and his teacher had a falling out when Goemon had an affair with Momochi’s wife, getting her pregnant, and later threw another lover down a well, killing her. Stealing one of his master’s swords and escaping from Iga, Goemon became famous as a thief.

Another story has him turning to a life of crime following the attacks on Iga by Oda Nobunaga, which forced the ninja networks to scatter.

Many fictitious stories surround the man. He is claimed to have attempted to have stolen the golden tiger-fish rooftop ornaments from Nagoya Castle, to have made attempts on the lives of Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi. He is portrayed as a Japanese Robin Hood, stealing from the rich and giving to the poor, amongst many other highly exaggerated claims.

Goemon was captured, and then executed on the orders of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, by being boiled to death in a huge cauldron in Kyoto. The story goes that he and his young son were sentenced to death together, and in order to save the boy, Goemon held him up over his head as the water boiled. Since that episode, the style of bathing in hot water heated over an open fire has been termed Goemonburo, or Goemon Bath.

Incidentally, the bath supposedly used to boil Ishikawa Goemon alive was used by the Nagoya Prison until just before the war. It is not known what became of the giant cauldron, but it was probably destroyed when the early wartime government went on a metal collecting spree.

[444namesplus]

aba abe abh abi abo abu acha ache achi acho achu ada ade adh adi ado adu afa afe afh afi afo afu aga age agh agi ago agu aha ahe ahi aho ahu aja aje aji ajo aju aka ake akh aki ako aku al ala ale alh ali alo alu am ama ame ami amo amu an ana ane ani ano anu apa ape aph api apo apu ar ara are arh ari aro aru asa ase ash asi aso asu ata ate ath ati ato atu ava ave avi avo avu az aza aze azh azi azo azu ba bal bam ban bar baz be bel bem ben ber bez bha bhe bhi bho bhu bi bil bim bin bir biz bo bol bom bon bor boz bu bul bum bun bur buz cha chal cham chan char chaz che chel chem chen cher chez chi chil chim chin chir chiz cho chol chom chon chor choz chu chul chum chun chur chuz da dal dam dan dar daz de del dem den der dez dha dhe dhi dho dhu di dil dim din dir diz do dol dom don dor doz du dul dum dun dur duz eba ebe ebh ebi ebo ebu echa eche echi echo echu eda ede edh edi edo edu efa efe efh efi efo efu ega ege egh egi ego egu eha ehe ehi eho ehu eja eje eji ejo eju eka eke ekh eki eko eku el ela ele elh eli elo elu em ema eme emi emo emu en ena ene eni eno enu epa epe eph epi epo epu er era ere erh eri ero eru esa ese esh esi eso esu eta ete eth eti eto etu eva eve evi evo evu ez eza eze ezh ezi ezo ezu fa fal fam fan far faz fe fel fem fen fer fez fha fhe fhi fho fhu fi fil fim fin fir fiz fo fol fom fon for foz fu ful fum fun fur fuz ga gal gam gan gar gaz ge gel gem gen ger gez gha ghe ghi gho ghu gi gil gim gin gir giz go gol gom gon gor goz gu gul gum gun gur guz ha hal ham han har haz he hel hem hen her hez hi hil him hin hir hiz ho hol hom hon hor hoz hu hul hum hun hur huz

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[megashadowdragon]

GudaGuda: The Ieyasu Implication (feat. Bluebell)

source:

source

Commentary:

Art by the talented Bluebell, who did last year's New Year's Special comic if you recall.

Now that I think about it, perhaps the reason Ieyasu hasn't shown up in FGO or even REDLINE is that his very character arc seems to break conventional narrative. He is a man who, from even his formative years of being a political hostage, seemed destined to be fodder. There's this sense that if he had been a cast member in a story rather than a real life guy, he would've been killed during either Akechi or Mitsunari's respective coups to establish a threat level. By that same token, maybe it would've been apt if he had suffered a karmic Agamemnon-esque demise for killing his own son - or perhaps his son would escape the assassination attempt and become the protagonist in a narrative where he must oppose his father's (and his father's friends') tyranny.

But that doesn't happen. He survives both coups thanks to a bunch of grit, a bit of luck, and a lot of help from his pals (Hanzo, Mototada, etc.). He successfully executes his treasonous kid. And then that kid's mother (but not their daughter who wasn't as traitorous as either of them). And not only does he wind up becoming shogun despite being kind of typical compared to Nobunaga (wildcard madman) and Hideyoshi (rags-to-royalty tactician), but he also got a consort, and then remarried, and after his second wife tragically died soon after of natural causes, he threw up his hands and decided to go full harem route over a dozen strong and spread himself around, resulting in a grand SPECULATED low-ball estimate total of 20 kids by the time he croaked (placing him below Nobunaga's 28 and above Hideyoshi's 4, if you're curious).

But he's not all villainy and vice either. Despite being less exciting (and charismatic) than either of his predecessors, he managed to strike up a lot of genuine friendships, alliances, and associations. A lot of which are tied into his abilities as a Servant.

And as harsh as his treatment of his aforementioned scion was, he was also capable of mercy. Which, arguably, almost makes that whole filicidal capital punishment decision worse. Most crucially, he voluntarily provided sanctuary to the remnants of the Iga ninja clan after they had been shattered by Nobunaga in conjunction with their rivals, the Koga clan. And then doing the same to what was left of the Koga clan when Nobunaga turned on them, because while Nobunaga was fond of tricky gambits, he did not like being made the victim of sneak attacks and guerrilla warfare himself. Just ask those warrior monks. In fact, it’s rumored that the sniper Sugitana Zenjubo who tried to assassinate him twice was a ninja. Now, Ieyasu did not need to do this. Both clans were almost worthless in terms of military utility after this battle, and he could’ve easily curried favor with Nobunaga by using the ninjas as bargaining chips. Instead, he shielded them (this is how he met Hattori Hanzo). And years later, during Akechi’s coup, the typically feuding clans paid him back by escorting him across the country back to his territory when he was being hunted when they - still holding a grudge against Oda - could’ve just handed him over to Akechi and aided the usurper in defeating Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Nobunaga’s #2 who had been complicit in his many deeds both glorious and gruesome.

If Akechi is indeed Tenkai, then it speaks to Ieyasu’s capacity to forgive in his later years (though Chacha would understandably argue otherwise). And in FGO, this generosity imbues loyalty in Akechi so fierce that even with the entire Tokugawa lineage defeated in the Ooku Labyrinth Event, he sacrifices his life to in hopes of providing the means to defeat the mad God of Love to a potential rescuer.

So what you should glean from all this is that Ieyasu is a very wild and dark figure, but in a very unorthodox configuration. He’s not traditionally complex as much as he is objectively difficult to pigeonhole. Which is why his vassals like the Yagyu family, Adams, and Honda tend to assert themselves more easily in the minds of audiences since they can more easily synch with more concise archetypes. If Ieyasu shows up in a work of fiction, and he's not the antagonist, then chances are he'll be a supporting character at best.

Fate's rendition of him as a gloomy neurotic really intrigued me, because it was a uniquely sympathetic image. Writers tend to have him lean towards some combination of dull, cranky, or sly since to casual observation, he seemed to gain the title of shogun by just outlasting the two more interesting unifiers than through any real valor or cunning. In fact, some historians argue that his once audacious-seeming drum gambit after his defeat at the Battle of Mikatagahara - where he threw open the gates of his mostly empty stronghold and had drums played and torches lit to make it seem like he was trying to lead Takeda Shingen's forces to an obvious trap where a secret army would lie in wait - was an accidental side effect of him doing that to lead his scattered men to a rendezvous.

These four unofficial yet really beautiful illustration of him by Dd (Mori Nagayoshi's artist) also helped construct the image of Ieyasu that i had in my head. He might be delicate, broken even, but he's still awfully dangerous because he's the guy who made it to the end of the line, and commanded the respect and loyalty of several Sengoku Era standouts. He's made the tough choices, the huge mistakes, the crucial plays, and while they were truly awful experiences, they were well worth it even if he occasionally stares off into the distance and wonders why he can't taste food sometimes.

To wit, milquetoast sub-boss turned sinister seinen final boss a fraction of the time, and this the rest of the time.

And I think you could still reconcile this with his original draft as just a body double of Ieyasu who can use his link to more legitimate warriors. Just have him be the real one and then have him pretend to be an innocent body double whenever he can't be bothered to deal with anyone who has an axe to grind with him (Amakusa, Muramasa, Chacha, and whoever else). Or if he must be a body double, then at least give him some agency and incorporate as much of the historical Ieyasu's bonkers journey into his character. If he must be a Pretender, make him a great one.

Hopefully, it would make Ieyasu a fascinatingly uncomfortable figure in a franchise where the likes of Bluebeard and Ivan the Terrible already exist.

So I wanted to somehow encapsulate all that with this comic where Akechi is reminded that while Nobu might be his god, and Hideyoshi his enemy, Ieyasu was his BOSS until the day he died, and forgave him for the assassination attempt rather than execute him for this insult like he did with member of his own immediate family for reasons he may never know.

So I can't blame Hidetada for listening to his father often during the Ooku event as, well, see above.

That said, neither the Ooku event or this comic are entirely accurate, as while Hidetada was his favorite son and successor, they did have their disagreements, particularly with how to deal with the remnants of the Toyotomi (who Hidetada had once been a hostage to as a child, much like his father was to the Oda). Their joint inability to come up with an acceptable solution for all sides during a period of purported peace was one of the core contributing factors to the 1614 Siege of Osaka coming to pass, which would be Ieyasu's final military campaign (don't get too excited, he died a year after it was over).

Gudaguda as a storyline seems to really like the story arc of an individual naturally talented genius who made history but whose downfall was caused by their inability to emotionally connect with the 'normal' people around them, so Ieyasu as the bland, unmistakably human guy who just happened to outlast all of the flaming dumpsterfires on team 'Unifying the nation through force' seems a bit too slippery to slot into the story in the same way as Nobu or Kagetora.

Ironically, Fate Ieyasu's probably a bit further down the road from where Guda's mental state is heading at this point, someone who was incredibly human but still strong-willed, and earned the respect of legendary heroes and mythical warriors, but has been cracking slowly for quite a long time under the shee

r weight of responsibility that's been on their shoulders.

I feel like if any character can convince Guda to get some fucking help for their brain problems, it would be Ieyasu.

[iinexorabile]

TANBA,MAIN INFO (redux)

                       OVERVIEW

“MOMOCHI TANBA, THE IGA’S GRANDMASTER… HE’S CRUEL, BRUTAL; A NATURAL BORN KILLER.”

NAME: momochi tanba ALIAS(s): too many. AGE: 30 - 40 biologically BIRTH: 1600’s ORIGIN: japan CLASS: assassin EYES: gold HAIR: black HEIGHT: 5'8"default, but always changing ALIGNMENT: neutral evil ENNEAGRAM: 8w7 MBTI: ENTP-A

STORY

Born into one of Iga province’s greatest Shinobi clans– the Momochi– Yasumitsu was the youngest of his four siblings, and was not particularly favoured by his father at birth. Having three sons already, more than enough to ensure the stability of his family line, Yasumitsu’s father had hoped for a daughter, one he could eventually use as a political tool, and receiving yet another son did not sit well with him. In all likelihood, Yasumitsu would have been carted off to a monastery once he was old enough to speak, having no use to his family, at least in his father’s eyes, but destiny would have greater plans for the boy.

A great plague would one day strike the province, tearing through households like a raging fire, and the Momochi clan was not spared from the blaze. Each of Yasumitsu’s elder brothers perished to the blistering infection, dying slow, agonizing deaths, to which their father could do nothing but watch. Not Yasumitsu, though; strangely enough, this disease never touched the boy, even while those around him dropped like flies. When all was said and done, and the last of his brothers slipped away from this world, Yasumitsu was left as his father’s only male heir. The father had mixed feelings on this matter, wishing that it was Yasumitsu who perished instead, but like it or not, his father knew what this meant– Yasumitsu was the Momochi clan’s future.

For the rest of his childhood and later teenage years, Yasumitsu lived Kashiwara Castle, where he studied tirelessly under the tutelage of his father. Trained and conditioned in the ways of the Iga-ryu, Yasumitsu, to his father’s surprise, excelled in all areas, magic especially, and by age seventeen, he was regarded as one of Iga province’s fiercest, and brightest, a true shinobi prodigy if there ever was one. There was great hope for this to-be leader of the Momochi clan, and when Yasumitsu’s father finally passed away under ‘mysterious’ circumstances, Yasumitsu set in motion a series of events that would change Iga province forever.

Taking the name Tanba Momochi, he immediately called for a grand council of Iga’s three great shinobi clans, and there, they deliberated for four days straight. Tanba’s goal was to bring Iga’s great houses together under a single banner, to truly combine their strength and end the days where they played second to Nihon’s other major powers. Iga had been effectively independent for quite some time already, and the Divine Body that fueled the power of all Iga-ryu shinobi made them a force to be reckoned with, their but Tanba wanted to see Iga become a force that could rule all of Nihon one day.

There was great resistance to Tanba’s idea of course, and with good reason– working toward what he proposed would set many eyes upon Iga, and could easily put it in great danger. In the end, however, Tanba’s charismatic nature won out, and for the first time in history, Iga’s three great Shinobi clans, the Momochi, the Hattori, the Fujibayashi, and the smaller retainer clans beneath them, stood united under one cause, one banner, and one leader– Tanba himself. Being elevated to the post of Sōdai-shinobi (Grand Shinobi) by the heads of the Hattori and Fujibayashi, and self styling himself as the ‘Shinobi King’, Tanba immediately set out on making his goal a reality, becoming a feared presence across all of Nihon through his machinations, fighting prowess, and command of ancient magecraft, although the eventual rise of a certain warlord in Owari– Oda Nobunaga– would end up setting the stage for a war more difficult than originally expected.

For years, Tanba would go on to work against Nobunaga and their allies, even working behind the scenes to string together a coalition of warlord’s to oppose the Demon King at one point. In the end, however, Tanba’s hubris would spell the end for him and many of his people. Tanba’s actions and ambitions, you see, had not gone without notice, and inevitably, he ended up drawing too much attention to Iga, putting them in the direct sights of many, including Nobunaga, who, by 1580, had either killed or subjugated most of their enemies– save Tanba.

Isolated and surrounded on all sides, Iga was invaded by a vengeful Nobunaga in 1581, and in the fighting across the province that followed, Tanba and his forces were thoroughly routed. Whether Tanba himself was killed in the fighting or escaped is unclear, but what was clear was that he vanished from the pages of history afterword.

PERSONALITY

An eccentric who’s as kind as he is twisted and egotistical, “complicated” would be the easiest way to describe Momochi Tanba. Cordial and upbeat with those he encounters, and at times prodigal with his wealth, it would be easy to mistake Tanba for a genuinely “good” person, an undeniably strange person on account of his odd and at times over the top mannerisms, but a good one nonetheless. Stick around Tanba long enough, however, and one will quickly see how morally bankrupt the man truly is behind his smiles, pleasantries, and quirks. That’s not to say that what Tanba presents to others is a front, it isn’t, what you see (in most situations) is what you get with him, but his affability and eccentricities can easily be overshadowed by the more troubling aspects of his character.

Tanba is someone who can be deceptively intelligent and astute, being able to think quickly and efficiently on his feet with unparalleled wit in any given situation, making it a mistake to write him off as a “fool”. An even greater mistake, however, would be to write Tanba off as “harmless”, for he is anything but. Tanba is, in every sense of the term, a ruthless murderer, one who takes great joy in spilling the blood of others, often brutalizing his targets in displays that show a disturbing lack of humanity. Tanba’s standards on who or what he kills can be inconsistent, but he is generally open to and okay with killing anything and anyone if he see’s the need or feels the desire to, be it man or woman, enemy or bystander, human or beast– it matters not, if someone is his opponent, they are in his way, or if he just happens to be bored, he will kill them, and he will most likely enjoy it to the fullest extent.

The ego on this man is another issue entirely– it’s not the most deplorable facet of Tanba’s psyche by far, but it can be seen as problematic. Believing himself to be, quite literally, of higher status than everyone around him, Tanba automatically assumes that those he encounters are lesser than he is in every conceivable way. Tanba doesn’t make it a point to flaunt this idea in the faces of others all day and night, and he’s certainly not above paying someone compliments about their own skills, but he has no problems with letting others know of his superiority when he believes its necessary. By extension of his own ego, Tanba believes that Shinobi in general are superior to everyone else, especially samurai, it just happens that he is the most superior Shinobi.

Tanba is also highly ambitious, harboring a dream that, if fulfilled, would give birth to a world where Shinobi reigned supreme, with him seated upon a throne as ruler of humanity. Tanba is extremely passionate about this dream, and if you spend any amount of time around him, it won’t be unheard of for him to mention it. However, Tanba’s passion for this dream usually translates into him killing others to make it a reality, meaning he leaves quite a trail of blood behind in his wake.

Looking past everything else, deep down Tanba is someone who struggles with his emotional connections to others. Tanba is more than capable of forming platonic bonds, but when dealing with bonds of the romantic nature, he experiences great difficulties. Tanba’s fumbling and awkwardness when romance is involved aside, he struggles with romantic “love” itself. “Loving” someone in the romantic sense has proved near impossible for Tanba despite his best attempts and desires to return the feelings of his various partners. Tanba is someone who wants to love, but the strings of his heart play a tune he and others often fail to understand. Tanba’s inability to deal with the troubles that stem from his romantic failings– like his tendency to run from those problems and the people he is involved with– only make things worse, but if his heart ever truly settles on another, he will never, ever let go.

PARAMETERS

STR: B+ // END: C // AGI: A++ // MAG: A // NP: A++ // LCK: C

SKILLS

PRESENCE CONCEALMENT: EX MASTER OF THE IGA RYU: EX DUAL LEGEND: C CHARISMA: B EYE OF THE MIND (TRUE): B BATTLE CONTINUATION: A GOLDEN RULE (AMBITION): B

SKILLS (in depth)

Master of the Iga-ryu: Iga-ryū (伊賀流, “the Iga School”) is a historical school of ninjutsu, according to Japanese legend. It became one of the two most well-known ninja schools in Japan, along with the Kōga-ryu. An art that taught mental, physical and magical techniques, Tanba’s degree of mastery and innovation in every one of it’s facets broke the limits of what was thought possible and then some– he may as well have reinvented the art himself.

As a servant, this skill serves as the overall representation of that mastery, allowing Tanba the use of Iga-ryu Ninjutsu and the use of Kuji-in (both on par with Magecraft from the Age of Gods thanks to their connection to a Divine Body), the knowledge to use a wide array of weaponry and tactics, and the ability to create / summon items suited to his profession in life (those of which can affect servants, but are more effective against masters or in stealth situations).

Dual Legend: A variant of the 'Double Summon' skill. According to legend, Momochi Tanba and Fujibayashi Nagato (one of Iga’s other great shinobi) were the same person, with the latter being one of Tanba’s many aliases, and while this is not true, their immaculate legends have still become mixed as a result, allowing them to benefit from one another’s individual reputations in the form of empowerment (rank up’s to each parameter, not counting personal skills, class skills, or noble phantasms), a higher leveled Saint Graph, and access to skills that would otherwise only be available to Tanba had he been summoned as a Caster (i.e Master of the Iga-ryu, which contains elements of the Item Creation skill and allows Tanba to use his unique magecraft/ninjutsu).

Technically, this skill also allows Tanba, and conversely, Fujibayashi Nagato if they are ever summoned as a servant, to use one another's Noble Phantasms, but only when they are within their Culture Sphere.

Charisma: A composite Skill consisting of a person’s charm as well as the natural talent to command or unify an army or country. Assassin first displayed this charisma when he was able unify Iga province without bloodshed, and displayed it time and time again as he led his people throughout the Sengoku Period, and strung together the Anti-Nobunaga Coalition.

Eye of The Mind (True): A heightened capacity for observation, refined through training, discipline and experience. Eye of the Mind (True) is a danger-avoidance ability that utilizes the intelligence collected up to the current time as the basis in order to predict the opponent’s activity and change the current situation. This is not a result of talent, but an overwhelming amount of combat experience. A weapon wielded by none other than a mortal, gained through tenacious training. So long there is even a 1% chance of a comeback, this ability greatly improves the chances of winning.

Battle Continuation: A Skill that allows for the continuation of combat after sustaining mortal wounds, and a skill that also reduces the mortality rate from injury. This Skill represents the ability to survive and/or the mentality of one who doesn’t know when to give up, consisting of one’s strength of vitality in predicaments.

The best result is achieved when a resilient body is combined with this Skill. Tanba’s ranking in this skill is a result of his reputation for surviving/fighting through wounds or situations that would have killed most other people, a point that turns up in his legend multiple times.

Golden Rule (Ambition): Firstly, this skill represents the fortune Assassin was able to acure in life, and how he lavishly spent or used it in some way on himself, his land, and his people. Secondly, it represents Assassin’s sheer ambition, in regards to how relentlessly he pursued his goals, either for his own benefit or for the benefit of Iga, regardless of the challenges he faced.

It is a passive composite skill, and as a result of it, Assassin is afforded two boons– first, Assassin is never without access to great wealth (this wealth usually being in the form of pure gold). Secondly, thanks to this skill, Assassin receives a temporary boost to his END parameter (+ modifier) after talking about and/or boasting about his ambitions– i.e, his desire to rule the world or anything related to it. (yes his ego is so big that it can literally somewhat empower him, crazy right?).

Presence Concealment: This skill is the capacity to hide one’s presence as a Servant. In life, Assassin shared an affinity with the shadows that could scarcely be matched, with it being said he and the shadows were at times one and the same. Assassin was never seen or detected if he did not wish to be, not once, even when he came up against the most keen minds or greatest of magical defenses. As a servant, Assassin’s presence, at his ranking, is completely hidden at all times, outside of combat or otherwise, making perfect sneak attacks always possible, though servants with Instinct or other supernatural abilities like Clairvoyance are far more likely to snuff those attacks out before they land. A target’s luck parameter, if high enough, may also cause Assassin’s otherwise ‘perfect’ sneak attacks to fail, even if he is not detected.

As a result of his ranking in this skill, Assassin’s parameters, skills, and even true class designation, cannot be reliably viewed by outside sources, save for those with the skill True Name Discernment, although Assassin can still evade this with a successful luck check.

NOBLE PHANTASMS

Getsuruitō - Sword of Lunar Tears (Massacre by Moonlight) | Anti-Unit / Anti-Army / Anti-Fortress C ~ A++ Said to have originally been forged by the moon god Tsukuyomi, it is a katana-like blade that was passed down between leaders of the Momochi clan, and was bestowed upon Tanba when he became head of his family. When activated by the phrase ’watch now as the moon weeps; Getsuruitō!’, this noble phantasm gains the ability to manipulate moonlight and the shadows it casts, allowing it a number of effects. This noble phantasm’s classification, power, and ranking vary depending on what phase the moon is currently in.

The Thousand Golden Blades | Anti-Unit / Anti Army D They are kunai-shaped daggers with golden trimmings (similar to the Dirk’s used by the Hassan) that Assassin uses as throwing weapons or for close melee. They are noble phantasms of the passive nature, their blades inflicting a devastating poison-like effect upon enemies, but they are weak enough to be deflected by most magical armours. They are most effective when used in mass, and can utilized in such a way easily, with Assassin being able to multiply their number whenever they are thrown at a target if he wishes. The Thousand Golden Blades are especially effective during surprise attacks, too, though Assassin can utilize them in just about any combat situation with deadly skill.

Hensōjutsu - The Seven Ways of Going (Art of the Many-Faced Crow) | Anti-Unit (self) EX While Assassin has access to a wide array of Ninjutsu based magecraft, this specific area was converted into one of his noble phantasms due to his sheer level of skill in this particular area and how much his use of it influenced his legend. 'Hensōjutsu' itself is the art of disguise and impersonation, but in life, Tanba took it to levels never seen before him. Tanba did not merely disguise himself as a foe or impersonate them with simple shapeshifting, he rediscovered, tapped into, and then improved upon the Iga-ryu's most ancient and taboo arts that hailed from the Age of Gods, and used them to change his being and truly become whoever or whatever he wanted.

As a servant, Assassin need only look upon a target and hear their voice once to assume their complete identity, while also gaining the skills, powers, and/ or noble phantasm’s they have displayed despite not truly possessing them himself.

Replicating the full power of Noble Phantasm’s that are beyond the destructive anti-army classification is also not possible (unless he is within his culture sphere), though Assassin can still use said Noble Phantasm’s at anti-army capacity, regardless of their true classification. This Noble Phantasm’s ability to let Assassin assume different forms or identities extends far beyond human targets as well, giving it a wide variety of applications in truth.

Being ‘killed’ while assuming the form of someone else does not kill Assassin himself, but it will force him back to his normal appearance, and leave him in a severely injured state. It can be partially utilized without a chant, and is technically always active for Assassin in a passive-effect sense, but to activate its true power, Assassin must speak the phrase 'This crow has many faces, as the world will soon see; Writhe in fear, for I now walk the Seven Ways of Going’.

Tsuki no kage (Shadow of the Moon) | Anti-Unit (self) B At one point crafted by the same deity responsible for Getsuruitō, this set of light armour was passed down between leaders of the Momochi clan, and like Getsuruitō, it was bestowed upon Tanba when he became head of his family. From dusk till dawn, this armour will completely protect the wearer from projectile attacks, hostile magical attacks/effects (including those dealt by noble phantasm’s), curses, and from the effects of poison, with the arm and shin guards in particular resisting all manners of damage. However, weapon’s, magic’s, poisons, and beings of demonic nature can bypass these defenses with ease.

Raijū (Thunder Beast) | Anti-Unit / Anti Army D An obsidian colored kusarigama with gold trimmings, it was said to possesses qualities that likened its slashes to bolts of lightning, and was recorded to have been used during a few of Tanba's engagements against Oda forces. In life, this weapon's origins were unclear, with some saying it was personally forged for Tanba, and others saying it was passed down to him. As a servant, Assassin does not utilize it as much as he does his other lesser Noble Phantasm, the Thousand Golden Blades, and depending on the power of his Master, he may not even be summoned with it, but if he does possess it, Raijū can have many useful applications during combat against single or multiple opponents.

[odaclan]

Iga riots post-Honnouji

In Wikipedia there was a short passage saying that Nobukatsu wasn’t able to participate in the battle against the Akechi forces after Honnouji because there was a riot in Iga. He had difficulty taking care of the issue because many of his army had been taken by Nobutaka to be part of the Shikoku conquest, and so he was outnumbered.

The Wikipedia passage says “this is doubtful” due to the existence of a conflicting account, but it only addressed the part where his troops were taken by Nobutaka. It didn’t say the riots in Iga was doubtful or false. 

The story was also mentioned in this blog post. The blog contains a couple of citations to real documents, but this particular bit was simply narrated without source.

The story says that Nobukatsu was supposed to join his older brother, who had made a last-minute decision to stay in Kyoto unprepared, and bring reinforcements. However, Honnouji happened before he was able to move his army out. He brought his troops to Oumi province, but wasn’t able to trust that there are no more traitors, and so he camped in Suzuka Pass instead of entering Azuchi.

At that point, Akechi troops supposedly turned to Iga to stir up riots, and Nobukatsu ended up having to head out there to take care of that mess. 

So what’s the verdict, though?

The story about Iga actually has merit, because the Tamon’in Nikki did record that “on the 5th of the 6th month Gohonjo’s (Nobukatsu) troops entered Iga, pacified the province, and took hostages”.

Tamon’in Nikki has long been considered a highly reliable source, so at the very least it’s not entirely dubious.

The relevant bit from the Tamon’in Nikki transcript digitised online in the Japanese archives:

What happened in Iga before and after this is still something I can’t account for, though. If on the 5th everything is settled, it does not look like the situation is still ongoing in the days that follow, unless there were still stray rioters that needed to be rounded up in Iga.

[doomxdriven]

“MOMOCHI TANBA, THE IGA’S GRANDMASTER… HE’S CRUEL, BRUTAL; A NATURAL BORN KILLER”

                       OVERVIEW

NAME: momochi tanba ALIAS(s): too many. AGE: biologically in 40’s BIRTH: 1600’s ORIGIN: japan CLASS: assassin EYES: gold HAIR: black HEIGHT: 5'8"default, but always changing ALIGN: neutral evil ENNEAGRAM: 8w7 MBTI: ENTP-A

STORY

Born into one of Iga province’s greatest shinobi clans– the Momochi– Yasumitsu was the youngest of his four siblings, and was not particuarly favoured by his father at birth. Having three sons already, more than enough to ensure the stability of his family line, Yasumitsu’s father had hoped for a daughter, one he could eventually use as a politcal tool, and recieving yet another son did not sit well with him. In all likelyhood, Yasumitsu would have been carted off to a monastary once he was old enough to speak, having no use to his family, at least in his father’s eyes, but destiny would have greater plans for the boy.

A great plague would one day strike the province, tearing through households like a raging fire, and the Momochi clan was not spared from the blaze. Each of Yasumitsu’s elder brothers perished to the blistering infection, dying slow, agonizing deaths, to which their father could do nothing but watch. Not Yasumitsu, though; strangely enough, this disease never touched the boy, even while those around him dropped like flies. When all was said and done, and the last of his brothers slipped away from this world, Yasumitsu was left as his father’s only male heir. The father had mixed feelings on this matter, wishing that it was Yasumitsu who perished instead, but like it or not, his father knew what this meant– Yasumitsu was the Momochi clan’s future.

For the rest of his childhood and later teenage years, Yasumitsu lived Kashiwara Castle, where he studied tirelessly under the tutelage of his father. Trained and conditioned in the ways of the Iga-ryu, Yasumitsu, to his father’s surprise, excelled in all areas, magic especially, and by age seventeen, he was regarded as one of Iga province’s fiercest, and brightest, a true shinobi prodigy if there ever was one. There was great hope for this to-be leader of the Momochi clan, and when Yasumitsu’s father finally passed away under ‘mysterious’ circumstances, Yasumitsu set in motion a series of events that would change Iga province forever.

Taking the name Tanba Momochi, he immediately called for a grand council of Iga’s three great shinobi clans, and there, they deliberated for four days straight. Tanba’s goal was to bring Iga’s great houses together under a single banner, to truly combine their strength and end the days where they played second to Nihon’s other major powers. Iga province had been effectively indepenent for quite some time already, but Tanba wanted to see Iga become a force to be reckoned with, a force that could potentially rule all of Nihon one day.

There was great resistance to Tanba’s idea of course, and with good reason– working toward what he proposed would set many eyes upon Iga, and could easily put it in great danger. In the end, however, Tanba’s charismatic nature won out, and for the first time in history, Iga’s three great shinobi clans, the Momochi, the Hattori, the Fujibayashi, and the smaller retainer clans beneath them, stood united under one cause, one banner, and one leader– Tanba himself. Being elevated to the post of Sōdai-shinobi (Grand Shinobi) by the heads of the Hattori and Fujibayashi, and self styling himself as the ‘Shinobi King’, Tanba set out on making his goal a reality, becoming a feared prescence across all of Nihon through his machinations, fighting prowess, and command of magecraft, although the eventual rise of a certain warlord in Owari– Oda Nobunaga– would end up setting the stage for a war more difficult than originally expected.

For years, Tanba would go on to work against Nobunaga and their allies, even working behind the scenes to string together a coalition of warlord’s to oppose the Demon King at one point. In the end, however, Tanba’s hubris would spell the end for him and many of his people. Tanba’s actions and ambitions, you see, had not gone without notice, and inevitably, he ended up drawing too much attention to Iga, putting them in the direct sights of many, including Nobunaga, who, by 1580, had either killed or subjagated most of their enemies– save Tanba.

Isolated and surrounded on all sides, Iga was invaded by a vengeful Nobunaga in 1581, and in the fighting across the province that followed, Tanba and his forces were thoroughly routed. Wheter Tanba himself was killed in the fighting or escaped is unclear, but what was clear was that he vanished from the pages of history afterword.

PERSONALITY

An eccentric who’s as kind as he is twisted and egotistical, “complicated” would be the easiest way to describe Momochi Tanba. Cordial and upbeat with those he encounters, and at times prodigal with his wealth, it would be easy to mistake Tanba for a genuinely “good” person, an undeniably strange person on account of his odd and at times over the top mannerisms, but a good one nonetheless. Stick around Tanba long enough, however, and one will quickly see how morally bankrupt the man truly is behind his smiles, pleasantries, and quirks. That’s not to say that what Tanba presents to others is a front, it isn’t, what you see (in most situations) is what you get with him, but his affability and eccentricities can easily be overshadowed by the more troubling aspects of his character.

Tanba is someone who can be deceptively intelligent and astute, being able to think quickly and efficiently on his feet with unparalleled wit in any given situation, making it a mistake to write him off as a “fool”. An even greater mistake, however, would be to write Tanba off as “harmless”, for he is anything but. Tanba is, in every sense of the term, a ruthless murderer, one who takes great joy in spilling the blood of others, often brutalizing his targets in displays that show a disturbing lack of humanity. Tanba’s standards on who or what he kills can be inconsistent, but he is generally open to and okay with killing anything and anyone if he see’s the need or feels the desire to, be it man or woman, enemy or bystander, human or beast– it matters not, if someone is his opponent, they are in his way, or if he just happens to be bored, he will kill them, and he will most likely enjoy it to the fullest extent.

The ego on this man is another issue entirely– it’s not the most deplorable facet of Tanba’s psyche by far, but it can be seen as problematic. Believing himself to be, quite literally, of higher status than everyone around him, Tanba automatically assumes that those he encounters are lesser than he is in every conceivable way. Tanba doesn’t make it a point to flaunt this idea in the faces of others all day and night, and he’s certainly not above paying someone compliments about their own skills, but he has no problems with letting others know of his superiority when he believe’s its necessary. By extension of his own ego, Tanba believes that shinobi in general are superior to everyone else, especially samurai, it just happens that he is the most superior shinobi.

Tanba is also highly ambitious, harboring a dream that, if fulfilled, would give birth to a world where shinobi reigned supreme, with him seated upon a throne as ruler of humanity. Tanba is extremely passionate about this dream, and if you spend any amount of time around him, it won’t be unheard of for him to mention it. However, Tanba’s passion for this dream usually translates into him killing others to make it a reality, meaning he leaves quite a trail of blood behind in his wake.

Looking past everything else, deep down Tanba is someone who struggles with his emotional connections to others. Tanba is more than capable of forming platonic bonds, but when dealing with bonds of the romantic nature, he experiences great difficulties. Tanba’s fumbling and awkwardness when romance is involved aside, he struggles with romantic “love” itself. “Loving” someone in the romantic sense has proved near impossible for Tanba despite his best attempts and desires to return the feelings of his various partners. Tanba is someone who wants to love, but the strings of his heart play a tune he and others often fail to understand. Tanba’s inability to deal with the troubles that stem from his romantic failings– like his tendency to run from those problems and the people he is involved with– only make things worse, but if his heart ever truly settles on another, he will never, ever let go.

PARAMETERS

STR: B+ END: C AGI: A++ MAG: A NP: A LCK: C

SKILLS

MASTER OF THE IGA RYU: EX DUAL LEGEND: C CHARISMA: B EYE OF THE MIND (TRUE): B BATTLE CONTINUATION: A GOLDEN RULE (AMBITION): B+ PRESCENCE CONCEALMENT: EX

SKILLS (in depth)

Master of the Iga-ryu: Iga-ryū (伊賀流, “the Iga School”) is a historical school of ninjutsu, according to Japanese legend. It became one of the two most well-known ninja schools in Japan, along with the Kōga-ryu. An art that taught mental, physical and magical techniques, Tanba’s degree of mastery and innovation in every one of it’s facets broke the limits of what was thought possible and then some– he may as well have reinvented the art himself.

As a servant, this skill serves as the overall representation of that mastery, allowing Tanba the use of powerful shinobi magecraft, the use of Kuji-in, the knowledge to use a wide array of weaponry and tactics, and the ability to create / summon items suited to his profession in life (those of which can affect servants, but are more effective against masters or in stealth situations). Dual Legend: According to legend, Momochi Tanba and Fujibayashi Nagato (one of Iga’s other great shinobi) were the same person, with the latter being one of Tanba’s many aliases, and while this is not true, their personal legends have still become mixed as a result, allowing them to benefit from one another’s individual reputations in the form of empowerment (rank up’s to each parameter, not counting personal skills, class skills, or noble phantasms), and a higher leveled Saint Graph. Charisma: A composite Skill consisting of a person’s charm as well as the natural talent to command or unify an army or country. Assassin first displayed this charisma when he was able unify Iga province without bloodshed, and displayed it time and time again as he led his people throughout the Sengoku Period. Eye of The Mind (True): A heightened capacity for observation, refined through training, discipline and experience. Eye of the Mind (True) is a danger-avoidance ability that utilizes the intelligence collected up to the current time as the basis in order to predict the opponent’s activity and change the current situation. This is not a result of talent, but an overwhelming amount of combat experience. A weapon wielded by none other than a mortal, gained through tenacious training. So long there is even a 1% chance of a comeback, this ability greatly improves the chances of winning. Battle Continuation: A Skill that allows for the continuation of combat after sustaining mortal wounds, and a skill that also reduces the mortality rate from injury. This Skill represents the ability to survive and/or the mentality of one who doesn’t know when to give up, consisting of one’s strength of vitality in predicaments.

The best result is achieved when a resilient body is combined with this Skill. Tanba’s ranking in this skill is a result of his reputation for surviving/fighting through wounds or situations that would have killed most other people.

Golden Rule (Ambition): Firstly, this skill represents the fortune Asassin was able to acure in life, and how he lavishly spent or used it in some way on himself, his land, and his people. Seconldy, it represents Assassin’s sheer ambition, in regards to how relentlessly he pursued his goals, either for his own benefit or for the benefit of Iga, regardless of the challenges he faced.

It is a passive composite skill, and as a result of it, Assassin is afforded two boons– first, Assassin is never without access to great wealth (this wealth usually being in the form of pure gold). Secondly, thanks to this skill, Assassin recieves a temporary boost to his END parameter (+ modifier) after talking about and/or boasting about his ambitions– i.e, his desire to rule the world or anything related to it. (yes his ego is so big that it can literally somewhat empower him, crazy right?).

Presence Concealment: This skill is the capacity to hide one’s presence as a Servant. In life, Assassin shared an affinity with the shadows that could scarcely be matched, with it being said he and the shadows were at times one and the same. Assassin was never seen or detected if he did not wish to be, not once, even when he came up against the most keen minds or greatest of magical defenses. As a servant, Assassin’s presence, at his ranking, is completely hidden at all times, outside of combat or otherwise, making perfect sneak attacks always possible, though servants with Instinct or other supernatural abilities like Clairvoyance are far more likely to snuff those attacks out before they land. A target’s luck parameter, if high enough, may also cause Assassin’s otherwise ‘perfect’ sneak attacks to fail, even if he is not detected.

As a result of his ranking in this skill, Assassin’s paramaters, skills, and even true class designation, cannot be reliably viewed by outside sources, save for those with the skill True Name Discernment, although Assassin can still evade this with a successful luck check.

NOBLE PHANTASMS

Getsuruitō - Sword of Lunar Tears (Massacre by Moonlight) Anti-Unit/Anti-Army C ~ A++ Said to have originally been forged by the moon god Tsukuyomi, it is a katana-like blade that was passed down between leaders of the Momochi clan, and was bestowed upon Tanba when he became head of his family. When activated by the phrase ’watch now as the moon weeps; Getsuruitō!’, this noble phantasm gains the ability to manipulate moonlight and the shadows it casts, allowing it a number of effects. This noble phantasm’s power and ranking vary depending on what phase the moon is currently in.

The Thousand Golden Blades  Anti-Unit / Anti Army D They are kunai-shaped daggers with golden trimmings (simmilar to the Dirk’s used by the Hassan) that Assassin uses as throwing weapons or for close melee. They are noble phantasms of the passive nature, their blades inflicting a devastating poison-like effect upon enemies, but they are weak enough to be deflected by most magical armours. They are most effective when used in mass, and can utilized in such a way easily, with Tanba being able to multiply their number whenever they are thrown at a target if he wishes. The Thousand Golden Blades are especially effective during surprise attacks, too, though Tanba can utilize them in just about any combat situation with deadly skill. Hensōjutsu - The Seven Ways of Going (Art of the Many-Faced Crow) Anti-unit (self) A++ While Assassin has access to a wide array of ninjutsu based magecraft, this specific area was converted into one of his noble phantasms due to his sheer level of skill in this particular area. Hensōjutsu itself is the art of disguise and impersonation, but in life, Tanba took it to levels never seen before him. Tanba did not just disguise himself as a foe or impersonate them with simple shapeshifting, he used ancient, taboo magic that hailed from the Age of Gods to change his being and literally become them.

As a servant, Assassin need only look upon a target and hear their voice once to assume their complete identity, while also gaining the skills, powers, and/ or noble phantasm’s they have displayed despite not truly possessing them himself (though skills/powers/noble phantasm’s he hasn’t witnessed a target use will remain out of his grasp until he see’s them). Replicating the effects of noble phantasm’s beyond the anti-unit classification is also not possible (unless he is within his cultre sphere), though Assassin can still use them at anti-unit capacity, regardless of the noble phantasm’s actual classification. This Noble Phantasm’s ability to let Assassin assume different forms or identities extends far beyond human targets as well, giving it a wide variety of applications in truth.

Being 'killed’ while assuming the likness of someone else does not kill Assassin himself, but it will force him back to his normal appearence, and leave him in a severely injured state. It can be partially utilized without a chant, and is technically always active for Assassin in a passive-effect sense, but to activate its true power, Assassin must speak the phrase 'This crow has many faces, as the world will soon see; Writhe in fear, for I now walk the Seven Ways of Going’.

Tsuki no kage (Shadow of the Moon)  Anti-unit (self) B At one point crafted by the same deity responsible for Getsuruitō, this set of light armour was passed down between leaders of the Momochi clan, and like Getsuruitō, it was bestowed upon Tanba when he became head of his family. From dusk till dawn, this armour will completely protect the wearer from projectile attacks, hostile magical attacks/effects (including those dealt by noble phantasm’s), curses, and from the effects of poison, with the arm and shin guards in particular resisting all manners of damage. However, weapon’s, magic’s, poisons, and beings of demonic nature can bypass these defenses with ease.

[daeva-agas]

Yep, those games! It's even worse in SLBP because they revealed Sakuya and Nobu are responsible for the Mitsuba massacre, (with Sakuya doing it because he's the son of the Iga leader and Nobu because they refused to share the secret of the dragon tears). Surprisingly, Nobu was okay with the Iga until Sakuya betrayed him for you, and I was surprised because Nobu route avoided the "I hate ninjas" cliche, and I was like: Is this a legend or what? Because this wasn't the first time I've seen this

Oh wow, Nightshade had that too. I thought it would be safe-ish because it was "Hideyoshi era" (even if I don't particularly like the Hideyoshi portrayal), but yeah. That is a major Dealbreaker for me, so I guess Nightshade is not gonna be for me then. Even if it doesn't actually happen on-screen, I still don't like the premise.

Anyway, yeah, "Oda invasion of Iga" is a historical fact, so it's like... him doing that is not wrong per se. It's just the "why" that's kind of hairy.

SLBP actually has this before, it's just not in Nobu's route because it doesn't suit the "Unification" theme of his storyline. It's kind of just a thing that happened, so it was mentioned in Saizo's route instead.

That "Oda invaded Iga" thing makes the timeline really weird because like... it happens 10 years ago in-game, but Nobu doesn't look like he's older than 30, so...? Did he do that as a teenager, right after his father died? This don't make sense, and SLBP writers are obviously just writing whatever and there's no editor to keep the timelines straight.

Anyway, I guess the Sakuya thing is maybe because that Bansenshukai and record of Iga insiders defecting exist? Or it's just gameplay mechanic (so that each clan/faction has at least one ninja) and the writers being "whatever" again.

The Sanada has Saizo and Jinpachi, Takeda has Big Sasuke, Uesugi has Hotaru, Tokugawa has Hanzo, Oda has Sakuya, Date has Genya, and Toyotomi has Goemon (kind of)

Honestly, I don't know why SLBP is running with that stupid trope in the main routes. I hated the Sakuya main route and sequel because of it, and it ends with Saku serving Shingen. I prefer the events because he's still there in Kiyosu. Like... why can't you just keep it that way? They can just make Honnouji happen in the sequel or something, and then Sakuya can leave without having a big brouhaha about Nobu hating Iga for the bajillionth time.

Main RouteS plural, because if you played Shima route, there's this guy called Ban Naganobu who is actually supposed to be an Oda ninja in legends/folkelore, but he's written to be this kinda weird guy who is off on his own. Like, is the idea of Nobu having a ninja vassal that willingly serves him without any trickery involved so offensive to you or what?

WOW I DIDN'T INTEND TO RANT AGAIN

Anyway yeah, if you still have questions feel free to ask again (hopefully I will answer with less ranting next time)

[my2dhusband]

Nightshade — Análise

Nightshade: Onde sombras do passado entrelaçam destinos e revelam segredos ocultos no coração do Japão feudal, cada escolha entrelaça amor e dever em uma tapeçaria de intrigas e honra.

Historia Durante o Período Sengoku, as duas principais facções dos clãs ninja, Iga e Kōga, guerrearam entre si durante décadas. No ano de 1593, Nobunaga Oda iniciou a guerra Tenshō Iga, dizimando a maioria dos ninjas Iga no processo. Os poucos que sobreviveram foram absorvidos pelo clã Kōga, apesar de suas rivalidades anteriores. Após 17 anos, o Período Sengoku finalmente chegou ao fim e o Japão…

[little-ninjai]

Info: Biggest Ninja Battle in History