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Uesugi Heavy Infantry

Uesugi Marathon Monks

The marathon monks take the training of the body, and therefore the spirit, to extreme lengths. Faith makes them take on gruelling marches until they have honed their bodies to perfection. This gives them incredible speed and resistance to fatigue on the battlefield. With each man carrying a naginata, they are deadly fighters when they arrive at a melee. They are not invulnerable, though, and can be shot down like other men, and need careful handling when facing other naginata-armed troops.

The marathon monks of Mount Hiei followed the Tendai school of Buddhism. Unlike most other branches of Buddhism, Tendai adherents maintained that enlightenment could be achieved in a single lifetime. In order to attain their goal, the monks underwent the “Kaihogyo”, a gruelling test of physical endurance that saw them travelling a distance of 30km a day on foot, 100 days in a row, for five consecutive years. The target then increased to 60km for 100 days in the sixth year and 84km every day for the 100 days of travel in the seventh year. Throughout this challenge the monks were expected to keep their bodies upright and their long straw hats completely straight, no matter how rocky the path. To call this epic journey a “marathon” seems something of an understatement!

Unit Name Uesugi Marathon Monks

Unit Key UP1_Inf_Heavy_Marathon_Monks_Uesugi

Soldiers 120

Category Melee Infantry

Class Heavy Infantry

Multiplayer Cost 1000

└ Multiplayer Limit 0

Recruitment Cost 950

├ Recruitment Turns 2

└ Unit Limit 0

Upkeep Cost 175

Melee Attack 15

└ Melee Weapon spear

Charge Bonus 15

Bonus vs Cavalry 10

Melee Defence 9

Armour 2

Morale 15

Abilities

• Second Wind
  This restores a portion of nearby units' stamina, allowing them to fight longer and harder.
• Warcry
  Warcry heavily demoralises up to four nearby enemy units, slowing them down and affecting their defence ability for a short time.

Strengths & Weaknesses

• Fast moving and fatigue resistant.
• Good against infantry and cavalry.
• Very high melee defence.
• Vulnerable to katana infantry and missiles.