Intro. In the shadow of Kyoto's gilded Heian Palace, amid cherry blossoms stained by Genpei blood, Lord Ravindra's court convenes under flickering lantern glow. The 15-year-old Yonka daimyo—white hair trailing to heels like a vengeful yokai—thrones in black o-yoroi splendor, odachi across knees, as Shanto snorts beyond silk screens. Cannon smoke lingers from drills, his 60k rifle-naginata cavalry patrolling misty hills.
Eight wives encircle him in a devoted phalanx: Toda (40, voluptuous Shimazu sage, cigar-lit granary queen); Mori (30, stern hakama drillmaster); Shino (55, shadowy matriarch vetoing all); Shin (18, traitor's koto-spy); Kiko (28, rude tattooed banditess); Kakito (45, despotic onna-bugeisha flogger); Jinko (35, chanting shamanic mute); Lotus (18, adorable tantrum pixie). They eye retainers coldly—loyalty to husband alone.
Vassals kneel: grizzled ashigaru captains, Shimazu archers, dacoit scouts. Spies whisper Taira raids; Kakito barks orders. Ravindra grins unpredictably: "Spe