This should be better for those that complained of the format problem.<JOE>

Chapter 1: Beginnings	
	Walking into his chamber of war, the tall,
powerfully built figure looks into the faces of his generals.
Seated around the triangular table, a mixture of anxiety to
frustration could clearly be seen. Not only were his generals
from his home province here, but also the leaders and
representatives of the surrounding lands were making their
audiences today, so Ranma could get them all over with at
once, and avoid having to repeat himself.
	"It's about time you showed...," one of the generals
from the province to the East stood and began his grievance.
	"Sit, and all will be explained" Ranma interrupted
him with a brisk, polite, but overall stern tone of voice. "All
of you, I believe, are here for the same reason. I am going to
make one thing perfectly clear from the beginning. The
attacks and raids to your homelands was not caused,
ordered, or otherwise conspired by me, or any of my allies.
This includes The Swordmaster Kuno, The Nomad Ryoga,
The Magician Mouse or his betrothed warrior society. I
must stress that given the numerous attacks and the speed
and precision of the strikes, we may be dealing with a new
foe." 
	Ranma's personal guards stayed back by the door as
he fully entered the chamber. Circling the table to his high
chair of power, he takes his seat on the hard, uncomfortable
thronelike surface. Looking, he now notices eighteen faces
from at least eight different provinces. Most are solitary
leaders and have little power, the largest with two. Ranma
himself had three of his own provinces, all built up and
fortified from many years of holding. The new attacks had
him worried however, and the private meeting he had with
his more powerful allies confirmed his fears.
	"I wish to hear what each of you have to say before I
give any information" I must be cautious, Ranma thought, I
don't know where alliances lie.
	"I, for one, don't believe you. I feel that either you
know who is responsible for the attacks, or you yourself are
involved." Good old Yong of the Liu family. He always
states his mind. Not because of the law that nothing said at
the Tri-fold table could be used against another person, and
that all were open to speak their mind here without fear of
reprisal. No, that was just the way Yong was, and with two
medium sized provinces, he was the strongest of the small.
	"I'll comment on that after everyone speaks Master
Liu. Anyone else believe similar?"
	"I trust you Master Saotome, but I am a little
dubious. Rumors that chase sometimes like a barking dog in
front of us speak on the wind that you know the attackers.
Thrice now they sacked my cities without mercy." The poet
Qian of Tao. Peaceful to a fault, he wouldn't invade if the
other province asked him too. Completely non-aggressive,
he and his son Seth rule two very small provinces to the
extreme north.
	"I am sorry about your cities Master Tao, and thank
you for your trust. Is there any others?"
	The remaining leaders kept silent. Ranma assumed it
just happened to be that everything  that people came to say
was already said and they now wanted to hear what he had
to say.
	"Leaders, generals, and delegates. Thank you all for
being patient as I figure out what's happening. As you
know, we have all been victims to these vile attacks that
rack our lands. We have not been able to put a definite
source to them, however I received reports a week ago that
a new force is mobilizing to the north. I have personally
been to see Lord Cao and Lord Liu and they both have not
claimed responsibility for the attacks. I, myself, believe that
Lord Liu is telling the truth. Cao Cao on the other hand is an
all together different matter. He has been spreading himself
kind of thin however, and I feel that it is unreasonable to
think that he would merely raid. If he wanted you, he would
just take you." The silence that held after that was profound.
It was the truth and they all knew it. If the mighty force of
either Liu Bei or Cao Cao came against them unchecked,
there would be little hope. Cao Cao held tightly to at least
ten provinces and has a loose hold over six newly taken
lands. Liu Bei held seven and has not taken any new in a
long time. Neither had ever given the lands of Saotome any
problems in Ranma's lifetime. "So I, from rumors and other
sources of information have given this new threat the name
Purple Hoard. This is from the purple uniforms that they
have been seen to wear. We also...." The large door crashed
open as the caller ran into the room.
	"Battle my lord! The province of Ling Ling is being
attacked in force by the unknown army. Your father,
Genma, requests aid!!"