1-P

## 1-P
## Intro 1
\g[Room]
\loc[Castle Odani]
\f[5|Azai]\f[2|Villager_Nobleman]\f[1|Villager_Woman]
\s[2]
Lady Azai, please, you need to reconsider!|\n
If things continue the way they are, there\n
is no doubt in my mind that the Sienne clan\n
will fall into ruin! We must strike back!|

\s[1]
Those animals from Tigris... They won't stop\n
their provocation until we push they back!|\n
These peace talks with Lord Hideyoshi are not\n
solving any of our problems; we live in fear\n
of raids from the east every single night!|

\s[5]
I have dispatched as many soldiers as I can,\n
but we do can not match Tigris' sheer numbers.|\n
Our only course of action is to try for peace.|

\s[2]
Lady Azai! You are being stubborn! We all know\n
if you were to take the field, Lord Hideyoshi\n
would think twice before striking at the Sienne!|

\s[5]
... That is not an option. If I were to fall in\n
battle or be injured, our clan would be in worse shape.|

\s[2]
This is a waste of time. Lady Azai, you MUST\n
retaliate against Tigris! Peace is not an option!|

\s[1]
Please... Father, you're losing your temper...|

\s[5]
... ... ...|

\s[2]
... I apologize, Lady Azai. I just am...|

\s[5]
Frustrated, I know. I fully understand, but\n
the situation at hand is... difficult to maneuver.|

\s[2]
Sigh... If only Lord Asakura was with us...|

\s[5]
I... I agree.|
\s[-2]

\f[2|nil]\f[1|nil]
\w[16]

\s[5]\b[5|2]
Ugh... If it is not the raids,\n
it is the ire of the villagers...|
\s[-2]

\w[16]

\f[0|Chacha]\m[0|1]\w[4]
\s[1]
Er... Azai-sama?|

\b[5|0]\s[5]
Chacha. I apologize that you had to see me like this.|

\s[1]
It is all right... I just wish\n
I could be of some help to you.|

\s[5]
Your presence alone helps me retain my sanity.|\n
Come, stay a while. How are you doing in these times?|

\s[1]
I suppose just as well as you are.|

\s[5]
I was afraid you would say that...|
\s[-2]

\m[1|2]\w[8]

\s[2]
Also, I must confess, Azai-sama.\n
I came because you have... Another visitor.|

\s[5]
What? More village elders? No, I tire of\n
trying to please then with no solutions.|\b[5|2]\n
Tell them that we are doing all we can, and\n
send them away. This is the third one today.|

\s[2]
This one is different, though. A woman\n
who hails from the far east. From Ryu.|\n
She is waiting at the castle gates.|

\b[5|0]\m[5|5]\s[5]
What? The other side of the world? Why\n
would they travel this far just to meet\n
with me...? Are they looking for your Father?|

\s[2]
I do not believe so, she specifically\n
asked for an audience with you. Do you\n
want me to send her away?|

\s[5]
No, no; it should be fine. I shall\n
speak with this visitor. Such a\n
long travel should be respected.|
\s[-2]

## Intro 2
\g[Mansion]
\r[6]\f[6|Ichihime]
\w[16]

\f[1|Azai]\m[1|2]\w[8]
\f[1|Chacha]\w[16]
\r[6]
\s[6]
Oh! Lady Azai, I presume?\n
Thank you for the audience.|

\s[2]
It is I who must thank you.|\n
I apologize for having to wait\n
outdoors, we are a bit... short on\n
staff these days unfortunately.|

\s[6]
I see... So there are problems\n
here in Ir'anga just as there\n
are in my home of Aephen.|

\s[2]
Right, Aephen... Chacha tells me you\n
hail from Ryu. ... Why come all this way?|

\s[6]
I would prefer to keep that\n
sort of sensitive information\n
private if I could, Lady Azai.|\n
Is there somewhere else we\n
can speak about such affairs?|

\s[2]
Of course. Chacha, prepare the\n
war room for our discussion.|

\s[1]
Yes, Azai-sama.|
\s[-2]

\f[1|nil]

\s[2]
In the meanwhile,\w[5] you are free\n
to come into Castle Odani.|

\s[6]\b[6|2]
Thank you very much,\w[5] Azai-sama?\b[6|0]\n
Is that how I am to refer to you?|

\s[2]
No no, only those who I am in close contact\n
with me call me that. Lady Azai is fine.|\n
What is your name, traveling stranger?|

\s[6]
You may refer to me as Ichihime.|
\s[-2]

\f[6|nil]

\w[16]

\s[2]\r[2]
Ichihime, Ichihime... The name is\n
familiar, but I cannot place it...|
\s[-2]

## Base
## Introductions
\g[Castle]
\f[2|Chacha]\f[5|Ichihime]
\s[2]
We can wait here until the\n
soldiers and servants are\n
finished preparing the room.|

\s[5]
I see, I thank you and your\n
Daimyo for your hospitality.|

\s[2]\e[2|1]
No need to thank me. Azai-sama\n
is the one who's in charge.|

\s[5]
But of course. If you do not mind\n
me asking... What is your name?|

\s[2]\m[2|2]
Oh! My apologies, Miss Ichihime.\n
I am called Chacha, a simple shrine\n
maiden of the Sienne Clan.|

\s[5]
A shrine maiden? So you are\n
not an advisor to Lady Azai?|

\s[2]\e[2|0]
Er... No, not really. I try my\n
best to sway her opinions,\n
but in the end her word is final.|

\s[5]
Hmm... Is there a reason she seems\n
to treat you differently from the\n
other soldiers and servants, though?|\n
She seems to trust you much more\n
than any others, despite being only a\n
simple shrine maiden. In your own words.|

\s[2]
Ah... That is... Not something I am\n
supposed to speak of. You will\n
need to ask Azai-sama such a thing.|

\s[5]
Oh, my apologies, I did not mean\n
to intrude upon your personal life.|

\s[2]\e[2|1]
Think nothing of it. What about\n
you, Miss Ichihime? Who are you?|

\s[5]
Er... I am not worthy of such\n
an honorific. Just Ichihime\n
will do just fine, Chacha.|

\s[2]\e[2|0]
Are you sure? You appear to me at\n
least to be someone of high standings?|

\s[5]
No, no! F-far from it, I am afraid.|

\s[2]
Ah...I am sorry for my presumption.|

\s[5]
Think nothing of it, Chacha.\n
Treat me as your equal, please.|

\s[2]
I see... If you say so.|

\s[5]
Thank you, Chacha.|
\s[-2]

## Reminiscence
\g[Room]
\f[5|Azai]
\s[5]
Sigh... Asakura...|
\s[-2]

\g[Mansion]
\loc[4 years earlier]
\w[32]
\f[3|Azai]
\f[2|Kageaki]
\f[5|Asakura]
\f[6|Akuhime]
\s[3]
Asakura-sama, are you certain\n
of this idea of yours? What\n
makes you think Lord Nobunaga--|

\s[5]
Azai-san, my wife, have you no\n
confidence in my abilities? I will\n
have the emperor in my pocket.|\n
There are none that can do what I\n
do, I would be an invaluable asset.|

\s[6]
Brother, Azai-sama's worries are\n
not unwarranted. By any means.|

\s[3]
Akuhime-san agrees,\w[5] if he were to\n
find out your intentions,\w[5] Asakura-sama--|

\s[5]\e[5|1]
What intentions?\w[20] To become a close\n
advisor,\w[5] as well as ally of the great\n
Elden clan?\w[20] Those are my intentions.|\e[5|0]\n
I only desire to prevent war and\n
suffering,\w[5] which I assume he wishes\n
to avoid just as well.|

\s[2]
I cannot help but feel this is a\n
bad idea.\w[15] Rumors have surfaced\n
about the dark emperor...|

\s[5]
Ah...\w[15] You mean the rumors of the conflicts\n
far off in the distance.\w[15] If there is any\n
truth to it,\w[5] it does not change anything.|\n
Our goal remains the same:\w[10] prevent war.|

\s[2]
Sigh...\w[15] Yes,\w[5] Asakura-sama.|

\s[3]
...\w[15] I suppose you are right.|
\s[-2]

\f[6|nil]\f[2|nil]
\w[16]

\f[6|Keiji_TR]\name[6|Keiji]

\s[6]
Asakura-sama,\w[5] it's time.|

\s[5]
Of course,\w[5] thank you,\w[5] Keiji-san.|
\s[-2]

\s[5]\e[5|1]
Now,\w[5] enough with the sad faces!\w[20]\n
I will return soon enough,\w[5] within\n
the year if I am able to,\w[5] my dear.|

\s[3]\e[3|1]
Of course...\w[15] we will await your\n
return,\w[5] Asakura-sama.\w[15] Myself,\w[5]\n
and our child to be.|

\s[5]
Good.\w[15] Keiji-san,\w[5] if I may speak\n
to Azai-san in private?|

\s[6]
Of course,\w[5] Asakura-sama.\w[15]\n
By your leave,\w[5] my lady.|
\s[-2]

\f[2|nil]\f[6|nil]
\w[16]

\s[3]
What is it?|

\s[5]\e[5|0]
...\w[15] If I do not return within two\n
years,\w[5] Azai,\w[5] you must take\n
my place as Daimyo of Sienne.|

\s[3]\e[3|0]
You will return regardless,\w[5]\n
will you not,\w[5] Asakura?|

\s[5]
Azai,\w[5] this is serious.\w[5] I need you\n
to take up the mantle should\n
I not be able to do so.|

\s[3]
But--|

\s[5]
Azai.|

\s[3]
...\w[15] Yes,\w[5] of course,\w[5] Asakura-sama.|\n

\s[5]
Thank you.\w[15] Now,\w[5] I will be off\n
to Ryu.\w[15] Wish me luck!|
\s[-2]
\w[8]
\f[5|nil]

\w[16]

\f[6|Hisamasa]
\m[6|5]\w[8]
\s[5]
Worry not,\w[5] Azai-sama.\w[15] I will ensure\n
Asakura-sama returns to you.|\n
I swear it upon my life.|

\s[3]\e[3|1]
Thank you,\w[5] Hisamasa-san.\w[15]\n
Your words bring me relief.|
\s[-2]

\f[5|nil]

\w[16]

\s[3]\e[3|0]
...\w[15] But they do not remove my fears...|
\s[-2]