Legend of the Five Rings: Season of the Bandit; part 2
 

Kambei kneeled and sipped his tea. The samurai sat in two neat paralel lines in front of him giving him the appearance of a daimyo. He looked at his drawings and writings and handed them off to certain samurai. The village leaders sat nearby, Manzo supported the headman who coughed quietly.

"Sanjuro-san, Zenko-san, Benitora-san, I'd like you to help me train our troops. The rest I've given direction on fortifying the village. We'll need to split the men able to fight into two main group. These groups will alternate between fortifying and combat training. Are there any questions?"

Sanjuro said nothing. He knew his knowledge of peasant weapons would be invaluable in arming the villagers. He followed custom in such situation and did not make eye contact with his superior.

Toku also followed custom.

Tenshi, still sitting with his eyes lowered, spoke up, "Samurai-sama, if I may, I am also somewhat skilled with the weaponry that will be available. Would I be of any use with their training. I don't believe I would be much help in other areas."

"I made my consideration, and feel that a bushi would be a better teacher than a shugenja, in matters of combat." Kambei said. "If you would like to challenge one of my choices, I'm sure they would submit to a duel of skill."

Tenshi shakes his head, "I defer to your wisdom samurai sama, I merely meant that I thought they would be more talented with the weapon of bushi, whereas I have trained with the weapons more common here, the kama and such."

"All I will say about this matter is that the peasants should be trained with the spear. Their wooden tips are easily made and hardened in fires. Reach is always an advantage, by keeping your opponents at bay you keep them from striking you, preserving precious lives. Little is needed in the way of skill - only the proper knowledge of how to grasp and how to strike, and simple courage and determination will suffice for most anything else."

Benitora paused to sip at the tea which had been prepared for him, the better to slake his thirst and parched throat with.

"I am no sensei. But I will teach and lead by example. If battle comes I shall meet it with my men, and with my weapons."

"Then come shugenja and test your skill against mine." Sanjuro said. He was tired of having his weapons skill degraded by a runaway.

"Sanjuro-san! I have given my orders. We will not be fighting each other to the death." Kambei tried to put down the conflict.

"Indeed. Your fury would be better spent on the threat ravaging this village, Sanjuro-san."

Tenshi pales slightly, remembering what he had seen this man do to a unicorn bushi, and even more recently to the ogre "I did not mean any slight samurai-sama, I merely offered my aid in what I thought to be a better fit."

"These orders are only until we have fortified the village. Once the village is fortified we will start to drill and train the peasant's full time."

"Sounds like a good plan."