Legend of the Ronin (Legend of the Five Rings)
- Status
- Location
- Leeds
[Q] Comment on how Akodo ought to be a matsu.
- Location
- Telmar
[X] Grim amd bear it.
Roar, imma bear!
Roar, imma bear!
Vote tally:
##### 3.18
[X] Grin and bear it
No. of votes: 5
veekie, whydoyoubother, Lalzparty, Sirrocco, Terenak
[X] 'Sigh' Mountain, feather. Shrug.
No. of votes: 1
Simonbob
[X] Grim amd bear it.
No. of votes: 1
Optimist Prone
While the vote is still open. I will have an update out tomorrow.
##### 3.18
[X] Grin and bear it
No. of votes: 5
veekie, whydoyoubother, Lalzparty, Sirrocco, Terenak
[X] 'Sigh' Mountain, feather. Shrug.
No. of votes: 1
Simonbob
[X] Grim amd bear it.
No. of votes: 1
Optimist Prone
While the vote is still open. I will have an update out tomorrow.
Canon Omake by Ria: Cold Spring Message
- Location
- North Carolina
I stare at the open letter sitting before me, still frozen in disbelief.
My daughter...a ronin…
This can't be happening. I have to be dreaming - this is a twisted vision from Yume-do, sent to torment me.
I pinch myself hard, hoping to wake from this unthinkable nightmare. A small bruise forms, but nothing else happens. I don't wake up feeling foolish and relieved... and the letter doesn't go away.
No...how can this have happened? I can't believe it...I don't believe it…
But despite my best efforts, I can't deceive myself for very much longer. I always did have a knack for finding the truth.
I pick up the letter again and begin to reread it, just to be sure.
To the honourable Kakita Takehiko-san,
It is my sad duty to inform you that your daughter has been caught having an affair with my husband, Kakita no Hida Katsuie.
The circumstances of the affair are complicated. You should know that at every step, she behaved with decorum, with poise and with respect and that it was not through her error or carelessness that the affair was discovered. It was Hida Takamona, diligently pursuing the Crab's particular...dedication to making sure there are no threats in the castle. that discovered it. That she began with her brother can only be chalked up to sibling loyalty.
Your daughter is a fine young woman, and one who has obviously been raised to honour the values the Crane hold dear. It saddens me that I must punish so promising a young samurai, particularly when her only crime was to fall in love with the wrong man.
It is because of this as well as my respect for your honoured mother, Kakita Misaki-shiryo, that I have spared her life. By my right as Daimyo and she whom your daughter served, I have stripped Kakita Sakura of her Clan, her family and her name. A further token of my respect for your family and indeed for her, rather than publicly ruining her reputation as the woman who was caught sleeping with the daimyo's husband, I have instead announced that your daughter will be leaving on Musha Shugyo. Of course, she will not be completing such a pilgrimage nor will she return to the Crane unless she manages to find a way back of her own merits. If anyone could do it, I think it would be her.
Please accept my sympathies for your loss.
Kakita Ayame
Daimyo of the Kakita, Shireikan of the 1st Crane Army, Lord of the Northern Provinces, Master of Shiro sano Kakita
CHOP
I knew that had to be some sort of dire news when my daughter came home in the dead of the night with such a look in her eyes. But this...this, I never expected. The sorrow and shame she strove to hide but couldn't when she handed me the letter...that will stay with me forever.
Emotions well up inside me unbidden, uncontrolled. It's hard to sort through them all, but I can recognize the pain and grief of losing my daughter as well as my frustration that she would be so foolish as to put herself into such a situation...the gratitude to Kakita Ayame-dono for sparing her life and even her reputation...but more than anything, with an intensity that frightens me, I feel a burning hatred for Hida Takamona, the self important bitch who ruined all, and for what? Really, I just want to punch her in the face… it not being available, I slam my fist into my desk, my knuckles making a satisfying crunch against the wood.
Oh Kami...what would Mother have said?
I wince a little as I remember the lecture she gave me many years ago when Sakura first began her training.
"You're too soft on her, Takehiko. If you don't enforce good discipline in every aspect of her life, she will grow to be stupid and lazy. She will be a disgrace to this family!"
I can't help the inward cringe. Even now, nearly 10 years after she passed into the next life, the memory of my mother's voice, of her words, is enough to make me feel rather like a dog who's been caught piddling in the house. Sakura has always been strong, like my mother was. And Mother had such high hopes for her…
How can you have been so stupid as to get caught in bed with Kakita-dono's husband? Mother was right, I was too soft on you.
I pound my fist against my desk once more. The physical pain of my bruised and bleeding knuckles helps me control the urge to scream out loud. I remind myself that Sakura may have been foolish enough to fall in love with the wrong man, but at least she had the good sense to be smart about it. My daughter is a good girl and knows how to behave. Kakita-dono's letter was very clear about that.
Why, Sakura-chan, why could you not have fallen in love with some lowly courtier of no particular importance?
I know the answer before the thought even finishes. My Sakura has always aspired to reach the highest ideals...of course she could never fall in love with a nobody. I should have looked harder for another betrothal when the last one fell through. This is my fault, I failed in my duty as a father. If she had been married, she wouldn't have been tempted to have an affair.
I bury my hands into my face with a sigh. My wife, I must wake her and tell her. This news will crush her. We have other children, but Sakura is our eldest child, and she has always been precious to both of us.
************************
It's a beautiful spring evening, the breeze is calm just enough to cool, the smells of warm tea and perfume soothe a troubled mind, as the first sounds of life come forth. It's a pleasant scene, one I have grown used to, but tonight it all turns to ash in my heart. It's meaningless - I can't enjoy any of it at all and after my loss today, I doubt I ever will again.
My name is Kakita Takehiko, and I have lost my daughter.
My daughter...a ronin…
This can't be happening. I have to be dreaming - this is a twisted vision from Yume-do, sent to torment me.
I pinch myself hard, hoping to wake from this unthinkable nightmare. A small bruise forms, but nothing else happens. I don't wake up feeling foolish and relieved... and the letter doesn't go away.
No...how can this have happened? I can't believe it...I don't believe it…
But despite my best efforts, I can't deceive myself for very much longer. I always did have a knack for finding the truth.
I pick up the letter again and begin to reread it, just to be sure.
To the honourable Kakita Takehiko-san,
It is my sad duty to inform you that your daughter has been caught having an affair with my husband, Kakita no Hida Katsuie.
The circumstances of the affair are complicated. You should know that at every step, she behaved with decorum, with poise and with respect and that it was not through her error or carelessness that the affair was discovered. It was Hida Takamona, diligently pursuing the Crab's particular...dedication to making sure there are no threats in the castle. that discovered it. That she began with her brother can only be chalked up to sibling loyalty.
Your daughter is a fine young woman, and one who has obviously been raised to honour the values the Crane hold dear. It saddens me that I must punish so promising a young samurai, particularly when her only crime was to fall in love with the wrong man.
It is because of this as well as my respect for your honoured mother, Kakita Misaki-shiryo, that I have spared her life. By my right as Daimyo and she whom your daughter served, I have stripped Kakita Sakura of her Clan, her family and her name. A further token of my respect for your family and indeed for her, rather than publicly ruining her reputation as the woman who was caught sleeping with the daimyo's husband, I have instead announced that your daughter will be leaving on Musha Shugyo. Of course, she will not be completing such a pilgrimage nor will she return to the Crane unless she manages to find a way back of her own merits. If anyone could do it, I think it would be her.
Please accept my sympathies for your loss.
Kakita Ayame
Daimyo of the Kakita, Shireikan of the 1st Crane Army, Lord of the Northern Provinces, Master of Shiro sano Kakita
CHOP
I knew that had to be some sort of dire news when my daughter came home in the dead of the night with such a look in her eyes. But this...this, I never expected. The sorrow and shame she strove to hide but couldn't when she handed me the letter...that will stay with me forever.
Emotions well up inside me unbidden, uncontrolled. It's hard to sort through them all, but I can recognize the pain and grief of losing my daughter as well as my frustration that she would be so foolish as to put herself into such a situation...the gratitude to Kakita Ayame-dono for sparing her life and even her reputation...but more than anything, with an intensity that frightens me, I feel a burning hatred for Hida Takamona, the self important bitch who ruined all, and for what? Really, I just want to punch her in the face… it not being available, I slam my fist into my desk, my knuckles making a satisfying crunch against the wood.
Oh Kami...what would Mother have said?
I wince a little as I remember the lecture she gave me many years ago when Sakura first began her training.
"You're too soft on her, Takehiko. If you don't enforce good discipline in every aspect of her life, she will grow to be stupid and lazy. She will be a disgrace to this family!"
I can't help the inward cringe. Even now, nearly 10 years after she passed into the next life, the memory of my mother's voice, of her words, is enough to make me feel rather like a dog who's been caught piddling in the house. Sakura has always been strong, like my mother was. And Mother had such high hopes for her…
How can you have been so stupid as to get caught in bed with Kakita-dono's husband? Mother was right, I was too soft on you.
I pound my fist against my desk once more. The physical pain of my bruised and bleeding knuckles helps me control the urge to scream out loud. I remind myself that Sakura may have been foolish enough to fall in love with the wrong man, but at least she had the good sense to be smart about it. My daughter is a good girl and knows how to behave. Kakita-dono's letter was very clear about that.
Why, Sakura-chan, why could you not have fallen in love with some lowly courtier of no particular importance?
I know the answer before the thought even finishes. My Sakura has always aspired to reach the highest ideals...of course she could never fall in love with a nobody. I should have looked harder for another betrothal when the last one fell through. This is my fault, I failed in my duty as a father. If she had been married, she wouldn't have been tempted to have an affair.
I bury my hands into my face with a sigh. My wife, I must wake her and tell her. This news will crush her. We have other children, but Sakura is our eldest child, and she has always been precious to both of us.
************************
It's a beautiful spring evening, the breeze is calm just enough to cool, the smells of warm tea and perfume soothe a troubled mind, as the first sounds of life come forth. It's a pleasant scene, one I have grown used to, but tonight it all turns to ash in my heart. It's meaningless - I can't enjoy any of it at all and after my loss today, I doubt I ever will again.
My name is Kakita Takehiko, and I have lost my daughter.
Arc II: Midnight Watches
--Grin and bear it.
No, complaining just gets you in more trouble, more pain. The man that rises too quickly is the first to be knocked down when adversity comes.
So you nod and put on a pleasant face.
"Good. You know your place," the Bayushi says curtly.
Part of you bristles at that, but you know better than to start a fight over it You are a ronin and whatever other reforms made, ronin are still disliked and even hated by many.
"Eat up, and then we'll continue marching."
The others settle down and take their food out of their packs. As you might expect, Toshiro has a lovingly prepared bento from Reika. Those two make your teeth ache from how sweet they are.
Izu, for his part, seems to be eating some sort of Dragon dish with noodles and not much else.
Yukiko has a...you don't actually know what that is, two pieces of bread with, ugh, meat and vegetable between it. You don't mind gaijin things but that food is just weird.
Bayushi-san seems to have already finished eating...somehow...dang it, that's not fair.
You take out the small pack of food that Sister Chou had thoughtfully made for you.
You look down at the largely foreign lunch - well she's an Ivinda...what are you going to do? As you nibble at the flat bread, you admit it's not bad...no bento though. At least it doesn't have meat like Yukiko's food. You've eaten meat when you've had to but it's never been something you'd willingly eat.
The lunch passes quietly with everyone in their own heads. It's a far cry from when you last marched with a bunch of samurai on official business. Then it was all laughter and easy camaraderie. You miss that feeling of being included, of being accepted.
This is just sullen resentment from the Bayushi, and everyone else not caring enough to break the ice.
Bah, you'll just grin and bear it….
----------
It's been three days since you reached the Eastern Watchtower, three days since you found the stone tower on top of mountain reaching up to the sky like a very small, stubby finger.
Three days since you've had to run up and down the mountain three times a day to get water. Three days since Bayushi-san (whom you've helpfully found out is named Sora - no this does not help you figure out if Bayushi-san is a boy or a girl) made you do everything.
Make breakfast? You do it.
Make dinner? You do it.
Clean the tower? You do it.
Heat the water for the bath? You do it.
Your limbs feel all noodly as you rest on the against the half wall that makes up the top most floor of the tower. From here you can see everything, and it's a fantastic view really, or would be if it wasn't the middle of the night, and you weren't bone tired.
Bayushi-san said that you'd be worked like a dog, and you have been.
So tired…
No, you have to stay awake!
You don't actually want to think about what sort of grim fate the Bayushi would come up with for you if you fell asleep at your post.
Hidden Stealth check 22
Megumi Investigation Notice Check 16
Failure
[] Use Luck
[] Use Luck with Void
[] Let it ride
No, complaining just gets you in more trouble, more pain. The man that rises too quickly is the first to be knocked down when adversity comes.
So you nod and put on a pleasant face.
"Good. You know your place," the Bayushi says curtly.
Part of you bristles at that, but you know better than to start a fight over it You are a ronin and whatever other reforms made, ronin are still disliked and even hated by many.
"Eat up, and then we'll continue marching."
The others settle down and take their food out of their packs. As you might expect, Toshiro has a lovingly prepared bento from Reika. Those two make your teeth ache from how sweet they are.
Izu, for his part, seems to be eating some sort of Dragon dish with noodles and not much else.
Yukiko has a...you don't actually know what that is, two pieces of bread with, ugh, meat and vegetable between it. You don't mind gaijin things but that food is just weird.
Bayushi-san seems to have already finished eating...somehow...dang it, that's not fair.
You take out the small pack of food that Sister Chou had thoughtfully made for you.
You look down at the largely foreign lunch - well she's an Ivinda...what are you going to do? As you nibble at the flat bread, you admit it's not bad...no bento though. At least it doesn't have meat like Yukiko's food. You've eaten meat when you've had to but it's never been something you'd willingly eat.
The lunch passes quietly with everyone in their own heads. It's a far cry from when you last marched with a bunch of samurai on official business. Then it was all laughter and easy camaraderie. You miss that feeling of being included, of being accepted.
This is just sullen resentment from the Bayushi, and everyone else not caring enough to break the ice.
Bah, you'll just grin and bear it….
----------
It's been three days since you reached the Eastern Watchtower, three days since you found the stone tower on top of mountain reaching up to the sky like a very small, stubby finger.
Three days since you've had to run up and down the mountain three times a day to get water. Three days since Bayushi-san (whom you've helpfully found out is named Sora - no this does not help you figure out if Bayushi-san is a boy or a girl) made you do everything.
Make breakfast? You do it.
Make dinner? You do it.
Clean the tower? You do it.
Heat the water for the bath? You do it.
Your limbs feel all noodly as you rest on the against the half wall that makes up the top most floor of the tower. From here you can see everything, and it's a fantastic view really, or would be if it wasn't the middle of the night, and you weren't bone tired.
Bayushi-san said that you'd be worked like a dog, and you have been.
So tired…
No, you have to stay awake!
You don't actually want to think about what sort of grim fate the Bayushi would come up with for you if you fell asleep at your post.
Hidden Stealth check 22
Megumi Investigation Notice Check 16
Failure
[] Use Luck
[] Use Luck with Void
[] Let it ride
- Location
- Moon-Station
[X] Use Luck with Void
- Location
- Telmar
[X] Let it ride.
Using luck by itself gets use a reroll with an average of 17.5. That won't help (assuming the stealth check isn't rerolled) and we only get 1 luck roll per arc. Its a terrible choice. Conserving our luck until it really matters is a no brainer.
Using the Luck and void (we got 4 which is oodles of void so no worries there) will put use at an average roll of 24.5. Thats a pass but only on 59% of rolls, by no means a sure thing.
We aren't a great fighter so we might need every void point we have. If this is an ambush then we pretty much loose initiative automatically by not rerolling. However, we don't have great initiative in ideal circumstances. I'd rather spend our void on reducing wounds or increasing armour or hitting our enemies than trying to stay in a multi-roll contest that we aren't assured of decent chances for victory.
If this is just Bayushi testing us then my vote will get us into trouble. If this is someone sneaking beyond us without a confrontation then my vote will at best just end up with Bayushi's death. But if this is an ambush I'd rather a fight where void and luck are spent where they can make a big difference.
Using luck by itself gets use a reroll with an average of 17.5. That won't help (assuming the stealth check isn't rerolled) and we only get 1 luck roll per arc. Its a terrible choice. Conserving our luck until it really matters is a no brainer.
Using the Luck and void (we got 4 which is oodles of void so no worries there) will put use at an average roll of 24.5. Thats a pass but only on 59% of rolls, by no means a sure thing.
We aren't a great fighter so we might need every void point we have. If this is an ambush then we pretty much loose initiative automatically by not rerolling. However, we don't have great initiative in ideal circumstances. I'd rather spend our void on reducing wounds or increasing armour or hitting our enemies than trying to stay in a multi-roll contest that we aren't assured of decent chances for victory.
If this is just Bayushi testing us then my vote will get us into trouble. If this is someone sneaking beyond us without a confrontation then my vote will at best just end up with Bayushi's death. But if this is an ambush I'd rather a fight where void and luck are spent where they can make a big difference.
Arc II: Hello Assassin-san!
Reroll with void
32 versus 22
Success
You aren't sure what exactly it is that causes your hand to go to your katana. The stillness of the night? The sound of the owl hooting...nope... it's definitely the sound of someone climbing.
You carefully look over the edge of the watch tower. Hmm...two people climbing up and four at the bottom. They're wearing face concealing clothes almost like those Sanjaku-tenugui that some monks...and ninja in bad plays….use that cover their entire heads and provide a face mask.
Well, that just screams assassin now doesn't it? Or at least...not good people.
Your hand hovers over the tsuba of your blade. If you call out that they're coming, it will warn your squad but they'll inevitably go outside and get into a fight leaving you to deal with the two climbing bastards….who will drop down on them probably.
Which means you have to run down into a dark melee...on the other hand, if you wait for them to reach the top and then call out...well, that will leave you facing two of them on your own.
You suppose that that will have to suffice.
Sakiyarumei 1d10=4: Trait ??? active
You drop into the stance of void. and prepare yourself to take down the first one as soon as he comes over. That will make things easier for you.
One climbs over the edge and with a mighty cry of "FOR THE EMPIRE!" you charge out of the stance of void, drawing in one smooth motion and cleave the first assassin coming over nearly in two. At least...that's what should have happened, but he manages to slightly dodge so that your mortal wound is only a very painful one.
You curse his luck, but...you'll take it.
Drawing a long thin blade, the first assassin comes at you, but you dodge nimbly. With that wound, his strikes are too slow to touch you.
The second blade, that just barely avoids cutting your neck, reminds you that there were two of them. Now is not a good time to lose concentration.
You whirl around to destroy your second attacker but he clasps the blade in his hands and chants something. A blue glow surrounds it...and then nothing happens...they both seem surprised by this.
Their confusion gives you a moment's advantage, which you use to your benefit, easily dodging the wounded one's stumbling strike.
Prolonging your advantage, you abandon all defence to stab your sword forward into the assassin's chest. He dodges to take it into his shoulder, and despite the fact that blood from the wound is even dripping down to the ground, it isn't enough to stop him,
You stalk forward, circling your opponent warily for a moment. But you realize that there's no time for hesitation now, not when you can hear the battle starting below.
Spinning around, you sweep your blade down to slash at the first opponent, opening up new wounds...but it's still not enough...not nearly enough. A part of your mind dimly thanks your grandmother for drilling you so hard when you were young. The hours of sweat, blood and tears are paying off now, when the slightest movements of your body are more than enough to dodge both of their clumsy assaults.
With a flourish, you cut open the first man's chest and finally see him collapse into a miserable pile of groaning, bleeding flesh.
The second assassin screams in wordless rage - oh...apparently it's a woman - seeing her companion go down and she lunges forward to drive a sword through your gut…
Ow.
Nothing vital but ow.
You know that you have to give everything you are on this one last strike. The wound you've taken will slow you down too much to keep fighting for long. With a shuddering breath, you bring up your katana in a reverse grip and stab it behind you, going through the second assassin's throat. She gurgles wetly and crumples to the floor, dead.
Looking at the first assassin you're left with the decision whether or not to kill him. Hmm...you don't know how to tie him up….but he's a person and with the wounds he's taken, he's no longer a threat.
While you ponder the problem, you realize that the sounds of the battle below have ceased. So you leave him there, he isn't going anywhere after all, and with the sword still in you, you hurry down to make sure your companions are alright.
Burning fires still smolder as you look around. At the bottom of the tower you see...carnage.
Izu seems to be lying against the ground, holding one arm, that's clearly not meant to bend that way, against his chest .
Toshiro is lying down with knife buried in his stomach. He breathes still...barely.
Of Yukiko and Sora there's no sign.
Izu tilts his head.
"...Hey Megumi-san...oh that looks painful…" He wheezes with pain.
"What happened here?" you ask.
"Well...we lost...you?"
"I, um, won. Left one of them down up at the top of the tower. Where's Bayushi-sama and Iuchi-sama?"
"Bastards took 'em, probably to torture Bayushi-sama, and sacrifice Yukiko-san."
"Eh?"
"The Cult of Sagon, a splinter from the old Rhulamist cult in the Ivory Kingdoms….they believe ironically that we're inhuman monsters. They think our magic works on trapping the souls of spirits and that by sacrificing our shugenja, they can release these spirits into the world to meet their proper function."
"But Bayushi-sama isn't a shugenja"
"You're right, but Bayushi-sama is the heir to the Scorpion delegation head."
"Oh…" Well that changes things.
"Listen, you've done more than I can ask….but….well, I have a Tamori healing potion, but it's not going to work on me, not after Yukiko-san already healed me. Mika-chan was very clear that these kami were jealous about that sort of thing. If we get that sword out of you, you can go after them. You know how to track right?"
You nod.
"So will you do it? Will you go after them and try to rescue them?"
[] No, you're in no state to do that, and you probably can't help anyways.
[] Yes, samurai do what they have to no matter the odds.
(Megumi is currently out of void and has 26 wounds, the potion will heal 30 wounds.
32 versus 22
Success
You aren't sure what exactly it is that causes your hand to go to your katana. The stillness of the night? The sound of the owl hooting...nope... it's definitely the sound of someone climbing.
You carefully look over the edge of the watch tower. Hmm...two people climbing up and four at the bottom. They're wearing face concealing clothes almost like those Sanjaku-tenugui that some monks...and ninja in bad plays….use that cover their entire heads and provide a face mask.
Well, that just screams assassin now doesn't it? Or at least...not good people.
Your hand hovers over the tsuba of your blade. If you call out that they're coming, it will warn your squad but they'll inevitably go outside and get into a fight leaving you to deal with the two climbing bastards….who will drop down on them probably.
Which means you have to run down into a dark melee...on the other hand, if you wait for them to reach the top and then call out...well, that will leave you facing two of them on your own.
You suppose that that will have to suffice.
Sakiyarumei 1d10=4: Trait ??? active
You drop into the stance of void. and prepare yourself to take down the first one as soon as he comes over. That will make things easier for you.
One climbs over the edge and with a mighty cry of "FOR THE EMPIRE!" you charge out of the stance of void, drawing in one smooth motion and cleave the first assassin coming over nearly in two. At least...that's what should have happened, but he manages to slightly dodge so that your mortal wound is only a very painful one.
You curse his luck, but...you'll take it.
Drawing a long thin blade, the first assassin comes at you, but you dodge nimbly. With that wound, his strikes are too slow to touch you.
The second blade, that just barely avoids cutting your neck, reminds you that there were two of them. Now is not a good time to lose concentration.
You whirl around to destroy your second attacker but he clasps the blade in his hands and chants something. A blue glow surrounds it...and then nothing happens...they both seem surprised by this.
Their confusion gives you a moment's advantage, which you use to your benefit, easily dodging the wounded one's stumbling strike.
Prolonging your advantage, you abandon all defence to stab your sword forward into the assassin's chest. He dodges to take it into his shoulder, and despite the fact that blood from the wound is even dripping down to the ground, it isn't enough to stop him,
You stalk forward, circling your opponent warily for a moment. But you realize that there's no time for hesitation now, not when you can hear the battle starting below.
Spinning around, you sweep your blade down to slash at the first opponent, opening up new wounds...but it's still not enough...not nearly enough. A part of your mind dimly thanks your grandmother for drilling you so hard when you were young. The hours of sweat, blood and tears are paying off now, when the slightest movements of your body are more than enough to dodge both of their clumsy assaults.
With a flourish, you cut open the first man's chest and finally see him collapse into a miserable pile of groaning, bleeding flesh.
The second assassin screams in wordless rage - oh...apparently it's a woman - seeing her companion go down and she lunges forward to drive a sword through your gut…
Ow.
Nothing vital but ow.
You know that you have to give everything you are on this one last strike. The wound you've taken will slow you down too much to keep fighting for long. With a shuddering breath, you bring up your katana in a reverse grip and stab it behind you, going through the second assassin's throat. She gurgles wetly and crumples to the floor, dead.
Looking at the first assassin you're left with the decision whether or not to kill him. Hmm...you don't know how to tie him up….but he's a person and with the wounds he's taken, he's no longer a threat.
While you ponder the problem, you realize that the sounds of the battle below have ceased. So you leave him there, he isn't going anywhere after all, and with the sword still in you, you hurry down to make sure your companions are alright.
Burning fires still smolder as you look around. At the bottom of the tower you see...carnage.
Izu seems to be lying against the ground, holding one arm, that's clearly not meant to bend that way, against his chest .
Toshiro is lying down with knife buried in his stomach. He breathes still...barely.
Of Yukiko and Sora there's no sign.
Izu tilts his head.
"...Hey Megumi-san...oh that looks painful…" He wheezes with pain.
"What happened here?" you ask.
"Well...we lost...you?"
"I, um, won. Left one of them down up at the top of the tower. Where's Bayushi-sama and Iuchi-sama?"
"Bastards took 'em, probably to torture Bayushi-sama, and sacrifice Yukiko-san."
"Eh?"
"The Cult of Sagon, a splinter from the old Rhulamist cult in the Ivory Kingdoms….they believe ironically that we're inhuman monsters. They think our magic works on trapping the souls of spirits and that by sacrificing our shugenja, they can release these spirits into the world to meet their proper function."
"But Bayushi-sama isn't a shugenja"
"You're right, but Bayushi-sama is the heir to the Scorpion delegation head."
"Oh…" Well that changes things.
"Listen, you've done more than I can ask….but….well, I have a Tamori healing potion, but it's not going to work on me, not after Yukiko-san already healed me. Mika-chan was very clear that these kami were jealous about that sort of thing. If we get that sword out of you, you can go after them. You know how to track right?"
You nod.
"So will you do it? Will you go after them and try to rescue them?"
[] No, you're in no state to do that, and you probably can't help anyways.
[] Yes, samurai do what they have to no matter the odds.
(Megumi is currently out of void and has 26 wounds, the potion will heal 30 wounds.
- Location
- Moon-Station
[X] Yes, samurai do what they have to no matter the odds.
Much as it galls me, we have to make a good report.
Much as it galls me, we have to make a good report.
- Location
- Leeds
[X] Yes, samurai do what they have to no matter the odds.
Its win-win.
- Location
- Leeds
Oh out of interest, could we see the rolls anywhere?
I do my rolls on Kaze no Shiro, it doesn't save the number. I do have a log of the general actions. (What rolls would be made and their general rates of success.) Honestly doing all the dice rolling is probably the most tedious part of writing an update that has a fight. Because of that outside of special actions I don't note the actual roll just the general result as it's marginally less work.
Megumi initiative 41
Red Assassin initiative 29
Blue Assassin initiative 12
Round One
Megumi exits Void Stance
Megumi acts (7k5) attack veruses 25 against Red=Success
Damage=34
Red Voids takes 24 damage
Red is now Crippled -20 to all rolls
Red acts (6k3-20) attacks versus 20 against Megumi =Failure
Blue acts (6k3) against versus 20 against Megumi= success
Damge=13
Poison triggers on 5 or lower
Roll 6
No poison
Megumi is now knicked for -3 to all rolls
Round 2
Megumi acts (5k3-3) attack versus 25 against Blue= Failure
Red acts (6k3-20) attack versus 20 against Megumi=Failure
Blue spends Void to activate 'Age of Iron Passes"
Rolls to destroy weapon
AUTO FAILURE due to Sakiryumei's ??? Trait
Round 3
Megumi spends a void for atn boost (+10 atn) and switches to Fire Stance (+2k1 to attack rolls, -10 atn)
Megumi acts (7k4-3) attack versus 25 against Blue=success
Damage=34
Blue Voids to take 24
Blue is now crippled -20 to all rolls.
Red acts (6k3-20 attack versus 20 against Megumi=Failure
Blue acts (6k3-20) attack versus 20 against Megumi= Failure
Round 4
Megumi spends a void for atn boost (+10 atn) and maintains Fire Stance
Megumi acts (7k4-3 against Red versus 25= success
Damge=16
Red Voids for 6
Red is still crippled -20 to all rolls.
Red acts (6k3-20) attack versus 20 against Megumi= Failure
Blue acts (6k3-20) attack versus 20 against Megumi= Failure
Round 5
Megumi switches to Water Stance (-2k1 to attack rolls)
Megumi (5k3-3) acts against Red versus 25=success
Damage 12
Red is out of void!
Red is down!
Blue switches to Fire Stance (+2k1 to attack rolls, -10 atn)
Blue acts against Megumi (8k4-20) versus 20=Success
23 damage!
Megumi voids to take 13
Poison triggers on 5 or lower
Roll 9
No Poison
Megumi is now injured -10 to all rolls
Round 6
Megumi switches back to Fire Stance (+2k1 to attack rolls, -10 atn)
Megumi acts against Blue (7k4-10) versus 15=Success
20 damage
Blue is out of void!
Blue is slain!
Combat over
Megumi is at 26 of 52 wounds and is hurt
Megumi is out of void
Red Assassin initiative 29
Blue Assassin initiative 12
Round One
Megumi exits Void Stance
Megumi acts (7k5) attack veruses 25 against Red=Success
Damage=34
Red Voids takes 24 damage
Red is now Crippled -20 to all rolls
Red acts (6k3-20) attacks versus 20 against Megumi =Failure
Blue acts (6k3) against versus 20 against Megumi= success
Damge=13
Poison triggers on 5 or lower
Roll 6
No poison
Megumi is now knicked for -3 to all rolls
Round 2
Megumi acts (5k3-3) attack versus 25 against Blue= Failure
Red acts (6k3-20) attack versus 20 against Megumi=Failure
Blue spends Void to activate 'Age of Iron Passes"
Rolls to destroy weapon
AUTO FAILURE due to Sakiryumei's ??? Trait
Round 3
Megumi spends a void for atn boost (+10 atn) and switches to Fire Stance (+2k1 to attack rolls, -10 atn)
Megumi acts (7k4-3) attack versus 25 against Blue=success
Damage=34
Blue Voids to take 24
Blue is now crippled -20 to all rolls.
Red acts (6k3-20 attack versus 20 against Megumi=Failure
Blue acts (6k3-20) attack versus 20 against Megumi= Failure
Round 4
Megumi spends a void for atn boost (+10 atn) and maintains Fire Stance
Megumi acts (7k4-3 against Red versus 25= success
Damge=16
Red Voids for 6
Red is still crippled -20 to all rolls.
Red acts (6k3-20) attack versus 20 against Megumi= Failure
Blue acts (6k3-20) attack versus 20 against Megumi= Failure
Round 5
Megumi switches to Water Stance (-2k1 to attack rolls)
Megumi (5k3-3) acts against Red versus 25=success
Damage 12
Red is out of void!
Red is down!
Blue switches to Fire Stance (+2k1 to attack rolls, -10 atn)
Blue acts against Megumi (8k4-20) versus 20=Success
23 damage!
Megumi voids to take 13
Poison triggers on 5 or lower
Roll 9
No Poison
Megumi is now injured -10 to all rolls
Round 6
Megumi switches back to Fire Stance (+2k1 to attack rolls, -10 atn)
Megumi acts against Blue (7k4-10) versus 15=Success
20 damage
Blue is out of void!
Blue is slain!
Combat over
Megumi is at 26 of 52 wounds and is hurt
Megumi is out of void
- Location
- Leeds
Did he have ten reduction?
No I'm an idiot he voided for reduction. Okay move along, nothing to see here.
He's trying so hard.
Whats the word? Gambatte.
Can't remember what this does, presumably breaks weapons but could you say which book it was?
Would you mind explaining to a newby why we swapped here.
I assume that it wasn't worth taking the -10 since it increased their chances of hitting us by about 25% and at that point it was mostly a fight to win with as little damage taken as possible rather than a serious chance of us losing.
Red got pretty badly hurt in the first round and that just set the tone of his match. (I tend to name opponents after colours so it's easier for me to keep track)
Poor assassin, didn't figure on dealing with Megumi.
Age of Iron Passes is actually a unique tech I made for our Cult of Sagon so you won't find it in any book.
It's effects are as follows.
Age of Iron Passes:
"In exchange for a void point, after an opponent has failed to hit you. You may make a contested void roll against your opponent if you succeed their weapon gains the brittle quality, and may be sundered if you make a disarm check against them. This may only be attempted once per skirmish"
Brittle is also not found in any books but is a catch all to represent the effects some weapons have.
Specifically: Ninja-to and paranagu both break if you do to much damage with them. (30 damage)
So if another weapon gets the Brittle quality it has that same issue. However, Megumi's sword had other ideas so it never got to contested void.
While I switched Megumi to the Fire Stance (Full attack stance in the book) she was -10 to her armor TN but using void to negate that penalty. I switched her back when she was down to one void. I if I can always save that last void in case a lucky hit gets through and needs reduction.
It might not always be the best policy, but I find it's good to have one for the save because I don't feel like stopping half way through a fight to ask if you want to save it.
That said, if the next time a potential skirmish comes up, you guys want to vote a plan in for void spending I'll stick with it.
- Status