Monouchi: The Field

A masterless swordsman holds open ground in feudal Japan against waves of attackers that arrive from every bearing and never stop. There is no final wave and no way to win. Every run ends the same way. The question is how many you take with you. Monouchi is the last third of a katana's edge, the part that actually cuts. FOUR CUTS, AND EACH ONE IS A CHOICE Attacks are directional and independent of where you face, so you can cut behind you without turning. Two wide slashes buy breathing room. Two narrow stabs reach past anything's swing for double damage, if you can aim them. A GUARD YOU HAVE TO POINT It covers what is in front of you and nothing else, takes a beat to raise, and holds exactly three blows. Empty it and it breaks, and everything lands in full. A DODGE YOU HAVE TO COMMIT TO The roll goes the way you were already steering and cannot be turned once it starts. Read the…