[D3, MA] En Marche!

[Doji Hametsu]

Pursuant to Regulation A-1487, Hametsu had swallowed his pride and encased himself in his Kaiu-made armor for the ride south. Meticulously shaped to fit his every dimension and subtly but elegantly ornamented, the armor was stamped with Niihara chop, as well as the maker's own mark. It weighed on Hametsu, but rules are rules.

Pursuant to Regulation A-0586, Hametsu rode behind and one place to the right of his Chui, so that he was in a position to be of service to her. He maintained a severe posture and oozed focus, while of course his mind wandered a thousand paths, spurred on by the monotony of the day's ride, which, like the day before it, bore much resemblance to the day before that.

His hand reached down to adjust the strap lashing his quiver to the saddle. Taut. Angled to 47 degrees, pursuant to Regulation E-2491. The arrows were secure. Hametsu returned his hand to the pommel of his saddle and let the day begin to drift.

[Hida Masayuki]

On such a fine day, Masayuki looked periodically to make sure his charges were in order. His thoughts wandered from time to time as well as they do on long marches. He is thinking ahead to what awaits.

What fine Kaui armor Doji-sama wears. It is no surprise someone this steadfast keeps it in excellent shape.

Daidoji Kumiko leads with discipline and focus.

He calls for the back line to remain in step as their thoughts seem to have wandered too far. Once they have stepped up, he reminds them to keep cadence and moves back to his place in line.

[Daidoji Nobu]

An enormously fat Crane legionnaire marched at the head of one of the columns following directly behind the company commander and Hametsu. He wore full armor, which had been altered and reinforced somewhat to support the man's girth, and he bore a fine looking naginata.

As Hametsu turned slightly to adjust his quiver, the large legionnaire ventured to say, "That's a nice pony you have there, Doji-sama." In truth, the march had given him little to look at other than the pony's backside.

[Doji Hametsu]

Hametsu's mind began to drift back to reality as the Hida made himself known to the stragglers.

Stragglers. In the 4th Kaisha? Unacceptable!

He was just starting to turn around when the Daidoji behind him commented on his pony.

An enormously fat Crane legionnaire marched at the head of one of the columns following directly behind the company commander and Hametsu. He wore full armor, which had been altered and reinforced somewhat to support the man's girth, and he bore a fine looking naginata.

As Hametsu turned slightly to adjust his quiver, the large legionnaire ventured to say, "That's a nice pony you have there, Doji-sama." In truth, the march had given him little to look at other than the pony's backside.

He blinked. That was a big man.

"Ah, yes. Thank you," he ventured. "Haru is a noble beast. And almost as fine as your naginata, Daidoji-san."

[Agasha Daikumo]

Not too far away there's another giant samurai. Daikumo has his yari in hand with the blade up, resting the haft on his shoulder as he marches along. He seems to constantly be inspecting their own troops, more specifically their gear. He's not too far away from the Hida encouraging people to keep up. He can also see the occasional head of fellow giants poking above the unit. But for the most part he simply continues on the march trying not to slow anyone down.

[Daidoji Nobu]

"Ah, yes. Thank you," he ventured. "Haru is a noble beast. And almost as fine as your naginata, Daidoji-san."

"Ahh, Doji-sama is kind to say so," the big Daidoji said, beaming and glancing at the head of his polearm with some affection. "It's been in my family for ages. My gramps brained an ogre with it once, he did. I figure it may come in handy where we're going."

[Doji Hametsu]

"Ahh, Doji-sama is kind to say so," the big Daidoji said, beaming and glancing at the head of his polearm with some affection. "It's been in my family for ages. My gramps brained an ogre with it once, he did. I figure it may come in handy where we're going."

Hametsu nodded slowly. "I believe you may be right. Certainly the Matsu would have us believe that an untested blade is of no worth. Logically, a weapon with some proven experience would be much more valuable." He paused, not entirely pleased with the extension of the metaphor to the Legion as a whole. Better to forget that bit. "...And it seems well taken-care-of."

[Daidoji Nobu]

Hametsu nodded slowly. "I believe you may be right. Certainly the Matsu would have us believe that an untested blade is of no worth. Logically, a weapon with some proven experience would be much more valuable." He paused, not entirely pleased with the extension of the metaphor to the Legion as a whole. Better to forget that bit. "...And it seems well taken-care-of."

"Yes, I polish it to a shine every day," Nobu said with a grin, pleased at the Doji's praise. "Good weapons and good tools need taking care of, so you can depend on them when it counts."

"I expect soldiers and legions are much like that too," he added thoughtfully. "Only it's training and discipline that polishes men into fine weapons."

[Daidoji Kumiko]

For her part, Kumiko rides with clear sign of long ease, and if she hears what goes on, she makes no comment.

Occasionally, a rider or runner reaches her, confers alongside for a time, then departs. But all that is as it should be.

[Kitsuki Edogawa]

Edogawa pays little attention to the troops. His eyes are on their surroundings. Anything that seems unusual or out of place along their path gets the focus of his attention. He knows better than to break formation to satisfy his curiosity, but he takes note of these things as they pass.

Other than those concerns, he finds himself thinking often of his betrothed, Shosuro Junko. How did she out maneuver him during their last game of go?

[Doji Hametsu]

"Yes, I polish it to a shine every day," Nobu said with a grin, pleased at the Doji's praise. "Good weapons and good tools need taking care of, so you can depend on them when it counts."

"I expect soldiers and legions are much like that too," he added thoughtfully. "Only it's training and discipline that polishes men into fine weapons."

And experience, my mother would hasten to add. "Well said, Daidoji-san. I take it you have some experience soldiering?"

[Agasha Daikumo]

Edogawa pays little attention to the troops. His eyes are on their surroundings. Anything that seems unusual or out of place along their path gets the focus of his attention. He knows better than to break formation to satisfy his curiosity, but he takes note of these things as they pass.

Other than those concerns, he finds himself thinking often of his betrothed, Shosuro Junko. How did she out maneuver him during their last game of go?

"Kitsuki-sama," Daikumo says, shifting his position in the column to be nearer his fellow Dragon. "We haven't had the opportunity to greet each other yet, have we? My memory isn't perfect and I've met so many new people these past few days."

[Hida Masayuki]

Masayuki, is settled back at the head of the right-most column, now that the troops are settled again. He sees Kumiko-sama riding nobly at the center ahead followed closely and a little to the right by the ever stiff Doji, conversing with the sizable Daidoji.

Nobu-san will not look so out of place once we get to the Kaiu wall. Indeed his size will be an advantage.

[Kitsuki Edogawa]

"Kitsuki-sama," Daikumo says, shifting his position in the column to be nearer his fellow Dragon. "We haven't had the opportunity to greet each other yet, have we? My memory isn't perfect and I've met so many new people these past few days."

"I am Kitsuki Edogawa, Agasha-san." he greeted the large man. "I do not believe we've had a moment to meet. But, I am pleased we could do so now."

[Daidoji Nobu]

"Well said, Daidoji-san. I take it you have some experience soldiering?"

"Oh, some, some experience, indeed," the Daidoji agreed blithely. "I mean, I almost have some experience. Guard duty, mainly; I've done quite a bit of that. Though, in fact, this will be my first actual military campaign. I'm hopeful that we will see some action; then we can all say we've had experience soldiering." He grinned.

[Daidoji Kumiko]

For a moment, Kumiko looks back and to her right. But only for a moment.

[Doji Hametsu]

"Oh, some, some experience, indeed," the Daidoji agreed blithely. "I mean, I almost have some experience. Guard duty, mainly; I've done quite a bit of that. Though, in fact, this will be my first actual military campaign. I'm hopeful that we will see some action; then we can all say we've had experience soldiering." He grinned.

Hametsu blinked. "Yes." A breath. "Yes, that is right." He glanced back to meet Kumiko's look, eyes wide, looking a bit as though he had been slapped. He looked back at Nobu, finding his composure. "Ah...what would you think about perhaps setting up some additional drills with your marchmates after camp? A little more training and...and drill, you know, might take us a fair distance toward success. Yes?"

[Daidoji Nobu]

"Ah...what would you think about perhaps setting up some additional drills with your marchmates after camp? A little more training and...and drill, you know, might take us a fair distance toward success. Yes?"

"A splendid idea, Doji-sama! Splendid!" Nobu declared, nodding vigorously in agreement. "I'm your man for any such training, and I'm sure all of us would be glad to join in. Isn't that right?" The fat Crane glanced back at the column behind him for support, but received mostly stony glares.

"What kind of drills will you lead us in, Doji-sama?" he inquired. "Melee combat, perhaps? Or small unit tactics? Which is your area of specialty?"

[Doji Hametsu]

-snip-

"A splendid idea, Doji-sama! Splendid!" Nobu declared, nodding vigorously in agreement. "I'm your man for any such training, and I'm sure all of us would be glad to join in. Isn't that right?" The fat Crane glanced back at the column behind him for support, but received mostly stony glares.

"What kind of drills will you lead us in, Doji-sama?" he inquired. "Melee combat, perhaps? Or small unit tactics? Which is your area of specialty?"

"Unit cohesion is the key to success against any enemy. I think that would be the primary focus of the drill." He glanced back at Kumiko. "If the Chui permits."

[Daidoji Kumiko]

snip

snoop

snap

Kumiko calls back "Hida-san might note what drills, aside from calisthenics, would best suit his comrades in the kaisha to facing Southern enemies. There is perhaps some yell that would confront them?"