Post by SAKAMOTO RYUICHI on Feb 23, 2011 2:29:35 GMT -5
In the mountains lies a castle town as unique as it quirky. Ironically named, "Tengoku", this castle-town stands at the base of one of the largest mountains in the Yamabushi Mountain range, using a portion of the mountain range as natural barrier against attack. Oddly, the castle stands at the forefront of the town, being the first thing one would see when approaching the castle-town, followed by the town behind it. There is a method to this breaking of japanese code. As per the Sakamoto's inquisition, the castle could always be rebuilt, but the people and their houses — if lost during a battle, would serve as a much more detrimental blow. The reasoning for this comes from the mining of raw materials that is also done in the town area, the town complete with several smelting huts, and primer blacksmiths. If one single crude cannonball, or fire caught to these areas, it would be catastrophic blow to supplies and the people's livelihoods.
Again, it for this reason that the castle is in the front, and the town in the back, the left side (facing the castle's entrance, the right side covered by the mountain) and the in front being much higher than normal walls. This both increases arrow coverage, arrow defense, and wall defense (much higher ladders needing to be built to scale the walls. Other steps have been taken to compensate for the lack of space between the castle and the walls, by simply making a larger square, and much more stairs than one would see at the usual castle entrance. This puts an enormous amount of distance between the main gate, the caste, and the town behind it. This also acts as a staging area during war periods, or if raided upon and the walls breached, acts as the center stage for all fighting that isn't done in the castle. Despite the Sakamoto ruthlessness, the towns people take this as the ruler being just, nice, and true — even though it's the opposite, Ryuichi seeing it as protecting his only commodity — people, labor, and raw materials.
The Castle itself is not much different from a Japanese castle of the day, besides the stark contrast to the town behind it. Whilst the castle seems immaculate, well tended, and beautiful; the town seems dirty, sooty, and unkempt. This is besides the case however, the people of the town are quite hygienic people, but rather it is the constant mining, smelting, and hearth-work that keeps the town dirty.
