Requires
- Arts:
Enables
- Buildings:
- Arts:
Effects
- Enables "Banzai!"
- +1 experience for all sword-wielding recruits
Description
Warfare is not the struggle of one man against another. It is the struggle of armies, and the skills needed for large-scale battle are not necessarily those required for a duel. As the lone warrior gives way to the formed mass of troops, the techniques of swordplay must also change. Sword expertise improves the skill and experience of sword-armed units, and allows some to use the banzai ability. This significantly increases the movement speed, charge and melee strength of a unit for a short time. Equally importantly, it makes the unit's morale temporarily unbreakable.
Historically, Japanese Emperors were proficient in all kinds of cultural activities, ranging from tea ceremonies to swordsmanship. During his exile on the island of Oki, Emperor Go-Toba, the 82nd Emperor, dedicated himself to the study of swords. He gathered the greatest swordsmiths and encouraged them to share the secrets of their trade. In return, he gave them his patronage and the title of "goban kaji" or "smiths in attendance to the Emperor". He became a talented swordsmith in his own right, but never signed his swords. Instead the 24-leaf chrysanthemum crest was placed on the hilt of every weapon he made.