Legend of the Ronin (Legend of the Five Rings)
- Status
Sirrocco
Pedantic
It's really not. You're suggesting to spend a bunch of time making traps, which you will then exploit on the way out. I'm suggesting temptation-driven surgical strikes on the way in.
To my eyes, the surgical strikes are a bit of a gamble. In L5R, any time you engage in battle, you might be injured, and you might need to spend void. We don't have but so much void, and we can't really afford much in the way of injuries. On the other hand, my read is that our current situation is bad enough that we're pretty much going to have to take some risks to make it happen, and I think this is a situation where we can leverage our known skills to hopefully gain more than we lose.
To my eyes, setting up traps, in rocky terrain, when we don't have the skill for it, in the hopes of using them while we flee, is basically a waste of time and effort, for a few different reasons.
...and the temple is made of stone. Ah. That does alter certain strategies.
Dirtnap
Kanmusu Affecionado
With *what* We have our swords. Taj has his swords/knives. That's it.
[x] Sirrocco
I don't see us being able to blender through all of them, set traps or be sneaky. Best we can do is isolate the groups and Center Stance murder them hilariously because Kakita bullshit. Or something. Idk its 1 am and i'm tired.
- Location
- Leeds
All it might take to raise the alarm is a battle cry from the first set of guards or guard that we engage. This isn't XCOM enemy packs will alert other packs.
Where does temptation come into your plan? Or does Temptation cover both seduction and acting as bait?
Because we've kind of already got confirmation that the cultists won't
Sirrocco
Pedantic
Temptation covers "causing others to act dishonorably by offering them something that they want." In this case, we're causing them to act dishonorably (giving in to bloodlust and attacking directly, rather than running to alert others) by offering something that they want (the opportunity to feed their xenophobia of us and associated bloodlust, the glory of having the kill themselves, etc).
If there's a disturbance at the temple, and we come out of it with three people who were planned as sacrifices, you can bet that we'll have to go through every guard in those guard posts before we can get out of there. I go with this plan only because I see no good options, and I think this will at least improve our odds - and if killing this group causes some of the other groups to come running, then the two of us will at least have some ability to disengage and attempt a different approach (perhaps after killing another pack or two if they happen to come at us in relatively small groups) - a luxury we will not have if we have the guards in front of us and the temple behind us. If nothing else, if we stir the hornet's nest and they all come pouring out, then we can play bait for the onrushing horde while our stealthy friend fades through and tries to rescue our comrades against an enemy that is distracted and reduced in number.
- Location
- Leeds
I disagree, mostly because I think there are enough guards in the place that its impossible to fight all of them even if we got to do it as 2v1s. I think that the estimates for the number of guards suggested by Optimist Prone are reasonable and possibly even an underestimate.
There must be a way to skip at least some of the fights, because we can't beat 20 to 30 guys..
- Location
- Austrlia
They may mostly be pesant tier. If so, we could kill most of them easly, with 1-2 hits.
- Location
- Moon-Station
The odds are against us. We should be loathe to even face two of them at the same time.
- Location
- Moon-Station
.... A variation of "banging coconuts together, raising fake banners and make them believe that there is a large incoming force"?
I am sorry, i am not very detail-heavy right now, but something more akin to trickery than to brute-forcing it in any way. Not that we should be opposed to throw in with Taj and free the prisoners when it comes to a tussle.
I am sorry, i am not very detail-heavy right now, but something more akin to trickery than to brute-forcing it in any way. Not that we should be opposed to throw in with Taj and free the prisoners when it comes to a tussle.
You're welcome.
- Location
- Leeds
I do think this has potential however, what can we use to make it work?
Sirrocco
Pedantic
Some considerations...
- Not planning on fighting them all. Just planning on killing as we go, to simplify things for when we have to fight our way back out again. I certainly wasn't suggesting "kill every cultist in the temple". I'm not trying to track down any off-shift guards - I'm just taking out the guys that are on-shift.
- WRT Optimus Prone's numbers... rough numbers for the cultists suggest 12-36. His numbers are weighted towards the high end of that, and weighted towards combatants. The idea that in a cult of 36, more than half are competent combatants seems... off to me.
So... leaving aside the difficulties inherent in such an endeavor... what would it achieve? What gain do we have in convincing them that there's a largish force here? They're cannibal cultists. They know their lives are forfeit if they're caught, they're likely pretty fanatical, and they're a bit trapped in this valley. If the army is coming, they'll likely wake everyone, arm everyone, and prepare to stand and fight. That's... not so very useful for our actual plans.
- Location
- Telmar
This place is fairly rocky with exposed cliffs and boulders. We could throw rocks at them as a ranged attack.
Sirrocco
Pedantic
Technically? Yes. Functionally? No.
Unskilled low-Str Thrown rocks are not going to cut it as a way to take down an enemy at range.
- Location
- Telmar
We have athletics which is the skill used for throwing. I was thinking more along the lines of getting them to the first wound penalty before they close rather than trying to kill them by hit and run attacks. Every little counts and it would help draw them out of position.
Sirrocco
Pedantic
Hmm... In at least one reference I saw, "throw stone" is under "Ranged Weapons" (a Ref-based Gaijin skill)
Even if you get it under athletics, thrown rock probably as a base damage of something like 0k1, and that's if you hit. I'd rather spend that time getting into their heads and convincing them to attack the way we want them to (using temptation) than expect that a thrown rock is going to turn the tide of battle that much.
- Location
- Leeds
The core book says that Tsubute under ninjitsu weapons are essentially just small disc shaped stones and a good ninja can easily improvise. They do 1k1 and do not benefit from exploding die or the users strength. It also mentions that the Throwing emphasis of Athletics uses Agility rather than Strenght like most athletics rolls.
Pages 202 and 139 for reference.
Pages 202 and 139 for reference.
Vote tally:
##### 3.18
[X] Ask Taj-san if he has any ideas.
No. of votes: 1
Dark as Silver
[X] Follow the path as close to the temple as possible without being seen then head into the mountains on the left. Follow them around to the back of the temple and try to find a way in from there.
No. of votes: 1
Dark as Silver
--[X] Rest before actually entering unless time is supercritical.
No. of votes: 1
Dark as Silver
-[X]Head towards the middle of the temple as its likely to be the most secure location to hold captives.
No. of votes: 1
Dark as Silver
-[X] Get friends and then get out, there's no way you can out run the cultists with the burden of your comrades, after you get out go to ground and hide in the mountains as soon as possible, you should have seen at least one decent hiding spot on the way in. I hope.
No. of votes: 1
Dark as Silver
-[X] If necessary Megumi will attempt to make a false trail to trick the cultists in the wrong direction. This will not end well.
No. of votes: 1
Dark as Silver
-[X] Do not be afraid to alter this plan according to Taj's ideas.
No. of votes: 1
Dark as Silver
[X]Take Dark as Silvers plan, but plan and place traps on the exit path. Including some that are essentuly sacrifice plays for us.
No. of votes: 1
Simonbob
[x] Rest first.
No. of votes: 2
Sirrocco, Dirtnap
[x] Go in a bit slow. Stick to one side. As we come to each set of guards, try to tempt them into charging you to attack (tempting them with their bloodlust, xenophobia, and hatred of you personally) rather than going for help. Taj stays hidden while you do this, and strikes where he finds best advantage. If you can get a ranged weapon off of them, great - that might help you handle runners. If Taj is any good with ranged weapons, let him be on runner detail.
No. of votes: 2
Sirrocco, Dirtnap
[x] Once the alarm is raised, discard stealth for speed. Get to the prisoners (or where Taj thinks the prisoners will be) as fast as you can. If feasible, kill everyone you meet, but don't get too distracted.
No. of votes: 2
Sirrocco,
Dirtnap
[x] If you get bogged down on your way out of the temple, try to get to a chokepoint, so that you can be facing one or two of them at a time. Alternately, if the walls of the temple are thin enough, don't be afraid to go through them.
No. of votes: 2
Sirrocco, Dirtnap
[x] Gladly accept any advice or modifications to the plan that Taj might have to offer.
No. of votes: 2
Sirrocco, Dirtnap
Current vote count.
Aside, if voting in a plan format, try to keep it all under one x eh?
##### 3.18
[X] Ask Taj-san if he has any ideas.
No. of votes: 1
Dark as Silver
[X] Follow the path as close to the temple as possible without being seen then head into the mountains on the left. Follow them around to the back of the temple and try to find a way in from there.
No. of votes: 1
Dark as Silver
--[X] Rest before actually entering unless time is supercritical.
No. of votes: 1
Dark as Silver
-[X]Head towards the middle of the temple as its likely to be the most secure location to hold captives.
No. of votes: 1
Dark as Silver
-[X] Get friends and then get out, there's no way you can out run the cultists with the burden of your comrades, after you get out go to ground and hide in the mountains as soon as possible, you should have seen at least one decent hiding spot on the way in. I hope.
No. of votes: 1
Dark as Silver
-[X] If necessary Megumi will attempt to make a false trail to trick the cultists in the wrong direction. This will not end well.
No. of votes: 1
Dark as Silver
-[X] Do not be afraid to alter this plan according to Taj's ideas.
No. of votes: 1
Dark as Silver
[X]Take Dark as Silvers plan, but plan and place traps on the exit path. Including some that are essentuly sacrifice plays for us.
No. of votes: 1
Simonbob
[x] Rest first.
No. of votes: 2
Sirrocco, Dirtnap
[x] Go in a bit slow. Stick to one side. As we come to each set of guards, try to tempt them into charging you to attack (tempting them with their bloodlust, xenophobia, and hatred of you personally) rather than going for help. Taj stays hidden while you do this, and strikes where he finds best advantage. If you can get a ranged weapon off of them, great - that might help you handle runners. If Taj is any good with ranged weapons, let him be on runner detail.
No. of votes: 2
Sirrocco, Dirtnap
[x] Once the alarm is raised, discard stealth for speed. Get to the prisoners (or where Taj thinks the prisoners will be) as fast as you can. If feasible, kill everyone you meet, but don't get too distracted.
No. of votes: 2
Sirrocco,
Dirtnap
[x] If you get bogged down on your way out of the temple, try to get to a chokepoint, so that you can be facing one or two of them at a time. Alternately, if the walls of the temple are thin enough, don't be afraid to go through them.
No. of votes: 2
Sirrocco, Dirtnap
[x] Gladly accept any advice or modifications to the plan that Taj might have to offer.
No. of votes: 2
Sirrocco, Dirtnap
Current vote count.
Aside, if voting in a plan format, try to keep it all under one x eh?
- Location
- Telmar
Yeah, don't think we'll be able to refine things any further.
[X]Tiny squid
[X]Tiny squid
EtchedSteel
*mumble mumble*
- Location
- Lima. Peru
[x] Sirrocco
Arc II: I never want to wake up this way again
--Plan Tiny Squid
Looking at the temple, you decide the first thing you need to do is rest. You're not at your best right now, and you'll need your full strength for your plan.
According to Izu, these are violent xenophobes. Therefore it should theoretically be possible to convince them to abandon their posts by saying 'Hi I'm a Rokugani - come get me bitches,' only, you know, more eloquent than that. You are a...well, still Crane trained after all. From there, speed will be your main defense - run into wherever the prisoners are, get them and then run out, fighting only when you have to.
Taj listens to that plan and then says, "Get some rest then."
You nod, feeling better after putting food and drink into your stomach.
The first thing you notice upon waking is that you aren't on the ground. The second thing you notice is that you are being carried by one of the cultists. You struggle to move, the feeling of ropes binding you. Damn, what happened to Taj?
"Be still woman… You are supposed to be unconscious. Your plan was terrible, so I modified my original one. We're going to the cells now, and from there, we will move to plan kill things, alright?"
That soft voice...Taj?
You feel yourself pouting as you go limp. It was not a terrible plan, it wasn't! It was just one that was reliant on the Heavens to work...but Fortunes, what else were you supposed to do? It's not like you were a Scorpion...
"What the..." you hear Taj say before being dropped to the ground.
You roll over and try to get out of these bindings, and notice that you can see Sora...who is a woman it appears. And she's mounting Taj while trying to punch his face in with what looks like...a metal bar.
"Stop, Bayushi-sama!" You manage to get out.
"Eh?" Sora actually stops short, staring at you.
"Why should we stop for him?" You hear Yukiko's voice.
The feeling of hands reaching for the ropes and untying you tells you where she is.
"Because I'm on your side!" Taj says, still holding his arms up to defend his face.
"...What?" The two women say as one.
You stand up, feeling the pain of returning circulation in your limbs.
"Er...Taj-san, is a Pramaka Sanka? With the Baaz Division of the Third army?"
"Pramukh Sanik," Taj clarifies a little testily.
"Then why was he dressed up?" Yukiko asks.
Taj growls.
"I was infiltrating to rescue you and someone else."
Sora looks down at the man.
"...Well, that wasn't necessary."
"Clearly. However, I still need to get my target."
"I'll be honest, we're not much help with that, we both need to get our weapons and Iuchi-san had her scrolls burned," Sora says, looking a little agitated.
Yukiko looks faintly murderous, not that I can really blame her. A shugenja's scrolls are almost like her children.
Taj shrugs.
"...A shame...I do know where the armory is, as well as the exit to get out of here...however, I can move quicker alone, so I don't think I'll be taking you."
You get the feeling that Taj actually doesn't mind that Yukiko lost her scrolls.
"Understandable, but you can tell us how to get there right?" Sora says thoughtfully, her tone and expression suggesting that she's contemplating bashing his face in again.
"Yes I can, but I won't if you continue to beat me, Bayushi," Taj says.
"..Oi, that's Bayushi-sama to you," Yukiko says a little disdainfully.
"She's not my lord. And I don't even like this position, so no inspiration there either," Taj retorts.
Wait, did he? You can't believe it. You know you should keep your mouth shut but, in spite of yourself you blurt out, "...Did you...just make...a sex joke?"
Luckily, Sora seems to be unoffended by this exchange. She blushes a little though as she gets off of Taj.
Taj stands up and brushes himself off.
"Alright, the armory from what I can recall is down the third hallway branching off of this one, on the left and up a set of stairs. There's only one way in or out, so you'll have to be fast. From there, you have to go down the stairs, and back to the first hallway. Then take the right and go up the stairs and follow it outside. Once outside, go behind the temple to the third mountain in the west. Half way up is a cave system. Wait for me there."
You look as Sora and Yukiko nod, preparing to go out. You can guess they'll be okay on their own, but you did come to rescue them so going with them makes sense.
Leaving Taj alone though…That doesn't fill you with great confidence. Neither does it seem particularly good of you, even if he did tie you up and carry you inside like a sack of rice.
[] Go with your fellows, and leave Taj to his fate.
[] Go with Taj and help him with his problem.
[] Write in?
(Megumi has regained all void points.)
Looking at the temple, you decide the first thing you need to do is rest. You're not at your best right now, and you'll need your full strength for your plan.
According to Izu, these are violent xenophobes. Therefore it should theoretically be possible to convince them to abandon their posts by saying 'Hi I'm a Rokugani - come get me bitches,' only, you know, more eloquent than that. You are a...well, still Crane trained after all. From there, speed will be your main defense - run into wherever the prisoners are, get them and then run out, fighting only when you have to.
Taj listens to that plan and then says, "Get some rest then."
You nod, feeling better after putting food and drink into your stomach.
The first thing you notice upon waking is that you aren't on the ground. The second thing you notice is that you are being carried by one of the cultists. You struggle to move, the feeling of ropes binding you. Damn, what happened to Taj?
"Be still woman… You are supposed to be unconscious. Your plan was terrible, so I modified my original one. We're going to the cells now, and from there, we will move to plan kill things, alright?"
That soft voice...Taj?
You feel yourself pouting as you go limp. It was not a terrible plan, it wasn't! It was just one that was reliant on the Heavens to work...but Fortunes, what else were you supposed to do? It's not like you were a Scorpion...
"What the..." you hear Taj say before being dropped to the ground.
You roll over and try to get out of these bindings, and notice that you can see Sora...who is a woman it appears. And she's mounting Taj while trying to punch his face in with what looks like...a metal bar.
"Stop, Bayushi-sama!" You manage to get out.
"Eh?" Sora actually stops short, staring at you.
"Why should we stop for him?" You hear Yukiko's voice.
The feeling of hands reaching for the ropes and untying you tells you where she is.
"Because I'm on your side!" Taj says, still holding his arms up to defend his face.
"...What?" The two women say as one.
You stand up, feeling the pain of returning circulation in your limbs.
"Er...Taj-san, is a Pramaka Sanka? With the Baaz Division of the Third army?"
"Pramukh Sanik," Taj clarifies a little testily.
"Then why was he dressed up?" Yukiko asks.
Taj growls.
"I was infiltrating to rescue you and someone else."
Sora looks down at the man.
"...Well, that wasn't necessary."
"Clearly. However, I still need to get my target."
"I'll be honest, we're not much help with that, we both need to get our weapons and Iuchi-san had her scrolls burned," Sora says, looking a little agitated.
Yukiko looks faintly murderous, not that I can really blame her. A shugenja's scrolls are almost like her children.
Taj shrugs.
"...A shame...I do know where the armory is, as well as the exit to get out of here...however, I can move quicker alone, so I don't think I'll be taking you."
You get the feeling that Taj actually doesn't mind that Yukiko lost her scrolls.
"Understandable, but you can tell us how to get there right?" Sora says thoughtfully, her tone and expression suggesting that she's contemplating bashing his face in again.
"Yes I can, but I won't if you continue to beat me, Bayushi," Taj says.
"..Oi, that's Bayushi-sama to you," Yukiko says a little disdainfully.
"She's not my lord. And I don't even like this position, so no inspiration there either," Taj retorts.
Wait, did he? You can't believe it. You know you should keep your mouth shut but, in spite of yourself you blurt out, "...Did you...just make...a sex joke?"
Luckily, Sora seems to be unoffended by this exchange. She blushes a little though as she gets off of Taj.
Taj stands up and brushes himself off.
"Alright, the armory from what I can recall is down the third hallway branching off of this one, on the left and up a set of stairs. There's only one way in or out, so you'll have to be fast. From there, you have to go down the stairs, and back to the first hallway. Then take the right and go up the stairs and follow it outside. Once outside, go behind the temple to the third mountain in the west. Half way up is a cave system. Wait for me there."
You look as Sora and Yukiko nod, preparing to go out. You can guess they'll be okay on their own, but you did come to rescue them so going with them makes sense.
Leaving Taj alone though…That doesn't fill you with great confidence. Neither does it seem particularly good of you, even if he did tie you up and carry you inside like a sack of rice.
[] Go with your fellows, and leave Taj to his fate.
[] Go with Taj and help him with his problem.
[] Write in?
(Megumi has regained all void points.)
- Status