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That day the ground trembled with the sound of rumbling hooves

Banners grew from the horizon, war cries filled the air

Our men swiftly grabbed their swords, loyal unto death

The cavalry in the distance kicked up a storm of dust

Incense lit in every house, prayers filled the rooms

To the spirit of the mountain for our protection

The din outside grew louder like the coming of the waves

Is this our doom?

In an instant, the two sides met

The samurai were relentless, decapitating all in reach with their naginata swings

The archers rode behind them, hailing flames from the sky

Our buildings were igniting as panic filled the air

The line of our defense lay slaughtered, dead in the field

The first of our enemies rode swiftly through the gates

Those running were cut down as chaos seized the entire town

The gates were blocked to shut us in while the warriors circled us from within

Was this our doom?

We watched in horror as our houses burned

Those who were hiding were thrown to the ground

And run through before they could even stand

"We claim this village for the Eastern Empire!"

We were sorted young from old

From small to great, to be sold

The young were bound, packed in a cart

Pulled away, families broken apart

The captain of the warriors turned to us

"You are of some use

Your rice fields can feed hundreds

Half of what you collect is to be shipped out east."

Thus began our days as slaves