Legend of the Ronin (Legend of the Five Rings)
- Status
[x] Plan Have You Seen This Kitty?
-[x] Start by examining him thoroughly. Determine everything you can about him from simply looking (while not coming within reach).
-[x] Ask what he is afraid of - what he is running from. Attempt to sound sympathetic. Play good cop to Sora's bad cop. She's Scorpion, and you were Crane. It should come naturally. Possibly offer him some small kindness - a mouthful or two of water to drink or some such. He may be without a soul, but even animals can be soothed by speaking to their needs.
-[x] If you notice a place in which he is lying, let him dig himself a little deeper, then call him on it. Attempt to discern what you can of him from the pattern of his lies, and how he reacts to being called on them.
-[x] Bring up the dangers of tigers in the night.
-[x] Start by examining him thoroughly. Determine everything you can about him from simply looking (while not coming within reach).
-[x] Ask what he is afraid of - what he is running from. Attempt to sound sympathetic. Play good cop to Sora's bad cop. She's Scorpion, and you were Crane. It should come naturally. Possibly offer him some small kindness - a mouthful or two of water to drink or some such. He may be without a soul, but even animals can be soothed by speaking to their needs.
-[x] If you notice a place in which he is lying, let him dig himself a little deeper, then call him on it. Attempt to discern what you can of him from the pattern of his lies, and how he reacts to being called on them.
-[x] Bring up the dangers of tigers in the night.
- Location
- Moon-Station
[x] Plan Strong Arm
-[x] Tell him that he is not going to stay here long
-[x] Start sharpening your sword
-[x] Tell him that tomorrow, you will not be slowed down by some soulless monster who does not speak the language and is unwilling to speak anyway
-[x] Tell him about the Practice of sharpening a Katana and to check if it is sharp enough to cut through a limb in a single blow
-[x] Mention that you are probably out of practice and need to check your sword soon
-[x] Keep sharpening the sword, then tell him that it is not his fault. He does not speak the language. He is not cooperating. We are only doing the reasonable thing: Cut him loose before he is a burden to the party. Or a danger. He would not talk even if he understood. And he has four limbs and one neck to test a blade one, so it is not a full loss.
-[x] See if he is willing to talk.
-[x] Tell him that he is not going to stay here long
-[x] Start sharpening your sword
-[x] Tell him that tomorrow, you will not be slowed down by some soulless monster who does not speak the language and is unwilling to speak anyway
-[x] Tell him about the Practice of sharpening a Katana and to check if it is sharp enough to cut through a limb in a single blow
-[x] Mention that you are probably out of practice and need to check your sword soon
-[x] Keep sharpening the sword, then tell him that it is not his fault. He does not speak the language. He is not cooperating. We are only doing the reasonable thing: Cut him loose before he is a burden to the party. Or a danger. He would not talk even if he understood. And he has four limbs and one neck to test a blade one, so it is not a full loss.
-[x] See if he is willing to talk.
EtchedSteel
*mumble mumble*
- Location
- Lima. Peru
[x] Sirrocco
- Location
- Leeds
[X]Plan Sirrocco.
Vote tally:
##### 3.18
[X] Ask him about...tigers in the night.
No. of votes: 1
veekie
[x] Plan leverage our strengths
No. of votes: 4
Sirrocco, Simonbob, EtchedSteel, Dark as Silver
-[x] Start by examining him thoroughly. Determine everything you can about him from simply looking (while not coming within reach).
No. of votes: 5
Sirrocco, Simonbob, wingstrike96, EtchedSteel, Dark as Silver
-[x] Ask what he is afraid of - what he is running from. Attempt to sound sympathetic. Play good cop to Sora's bad cop. She's Scorpion, and you were Crane. It should come naturally. Possibly offer him some small kindness - a mouthful or two of water to drink or some such. He may be without a soul, but even animals can be soothed by speaking to their needs.
No. of votes: 5
Sirrocco, Simonbob, wingstrike96, EtchedSteel, Dark as Silver
-[x] If you notice a place in which he is lying, let him dig himself a little deeper, then call him on it. Attempt to discern what you can of him from the pattern of his lies, and how he reacts to being called on them.
No. of votes: 5
Sirrocco, Simonbob, wingstrike96, EtchedSteel, Dark as Silver
[x] Plan Have You Seen This Kitty?
No. of votes: 1
wingstrike96
-[x] Bring up the dangers of tigers in the night.
No. of votes: 1
wingstrike96
[x] Plan Strong Arm
No. of votes: 1
whydoyoubother
-[x] Tell him that he is not going to stay here long
No. of votes: 1
whydoyoubother
-[x] Start sharpening your sword
No. of votes: 1
whydoyoubother
-[x] Tell him that tomorrow, you will not be slowed down by some soulless monster who does not speak the language and is unwilling to speak anyway
No. of votes: 1
whydoyoubother
-[x] Tell him about the Practice of sharpening a Katana and to check if it is sharp enough to cut through a limb in a single blow
No. of votes: 1
whydoyoubother
-[x] Mention that you are probably out of practice and need to check your sword soon
No. of votes: 1
whydoyoubother
-[x] Keep sharpening the sword, then tell him that it is not his fault. He does not speak the language. He is not cooperating. We are only doing the reasonable thing: Cut him loose before he is a burden to the party. Or a danger. He would not talk even if he understood. And he has four limbs and one neck to test a blade one, so it is not a full loss.
No. of votes: 1
whydoyoubother
-[x] See if he is willing to talk.
No. of votes: 1
whydoyoubother
Hmm looks like Plan Sirrocco wins.
##### 3.18
[X] Ask him about...tigers in the night.
No. of votes: 1
veekie
[x] Plan leverage our strengths
No. of votes: 4
Sirrocco, Simonbob, EtchedSteel, Dark as Silver
-[x] Start by examining him thoroughly. Determine everything you can about him from simply looking (while not coming within reach).
No. of votes: 5
Sirrocco, Simonbob, wingstrike96, EtchedSteel, Dark as Silver
-[x] Ask what he is afraid of - what he is running from. Attempt to sound sympathetic. Play good cop to Sora's bad cop. She's Scorpion, and you were Crane. It should come naturally. Possibly offer him some small kindness - a mouthful or two of water to drink or some such. He may be without a soul, but even animals can be soothed by speaking to their needs.
No. of votes: 5
Sirrocco, Simonbob, wingstrike96, EtchedSteel, Dark as Silver
-[x] If you notice a place in which he is lying, let him dig himself a little deeper, then call him on it. Attempt to discern what you can of him from the pattern of his lies, and how he reacts to being called on them.
No. of votes: 5
Sirrocco, Simonbob, wingstrike96, EtchedSteel, Dark as Silver
[x] Plan Have You Seen This Kitty?
No. of votes: 1
wingstrike96
-[x] Bring up the dangers of tigers in the night.
No. of votes: 1
wingstrike96
[x] Plan Strong Arm
No. of votes: 1
whydoyoubother
-[x] Tell him that he is not going to stay here long
No. of votes: 1
whydoyoubother
-[x] Start sharpening your sword
No. of votes: 1
whydoyoubother
-[x] Tell him that tomorrow, you will not be slowed down by some soulless monster who does not speak the language and is unwilling to speak anyway
No. of votes: 1
whydoyoubother
-[x] Tell him about the Practice of sharpening a Katana and to check if it is sharp enough to cut through a limb in a single blow
No. of votes: 1
whydoyoubother
-[x] Mention that you are probably out of practice and need to check your sword soon
No. of votes: 1
whydoyoubother
-[x] Keep sharpening the sword, then tell him that it is not his fault. He does not speak the language. He is not cooperating. We are only doing the reasonable thing: Cut him loose before he is a burden to the party. Or a danger. He would not talk even if he understood. And he has four limbs and one neck to test a blade one, so it is not a full loss.
No. of votes: 1
whydoyoubother
-[x] See if he is willing to talk.
No. of votes: 1
whydoyoubother
Hmm looks like Plan Sirrocco wins.
EtchedSteel
*mumble mumble*
- Location
- Lima. Peru
Huh... why are there many instances of Whydoyoubother?
- Location
- Moon-Station
seems the multi-faceted plan was counted for each instance.
- Location
- Leeds
Same reason there are multiple instances of Tiny squid, Simonbob, Wingstrike, you and me.
EtchedSteel
*mumble mumble*
- Location
- Lima. Peru
... I keep posting on SV after waking up. Sorry.
Interlude: Forgotten Dragon
So for reasons definitely not related Civilization V, I did not work on the update today.
So....have this instead.
------------------------------------
"You have to accept they're dead Togashi-san."
I glance over at Toshiro. The far too pretty Crane, (I'm straight not blind) didn't show the depression that hung in his soul, but I could feel it, it was one I understood too well. That feeling that you failed, that you weren't there when you should have been.
"Kakita-san, if you accepted it, you would be back with your wife as well." I say.
"We have to reinforce given the relief hasn't fully come yet."
Liar, he and I were both staying yes, but neither of us out of concern for the small relief squad that was sent four days ago. They were a tough bunch, and forewarned of the Sagonites, they'd be fine.
I take the small bottle at my waist putting it to my lips, feeling the liquor burn down my throat.
Ah that's the stuff, Lady Sake the only woman who never let me down, the only woman I hadn't let down.
Shinsei that's depressing.
"Even so, you have a pretty wife waiting for you at home don't you?" I ask.
Toshiro retorts.
"And you have meditations and whatever it is Togashi do."
I can never resist the urge to be flippant.
"Handstands mostly"
"Huh?" Toshiro asks, confused.
A confusing answer to a confused question brings me such joy.
"Meditate while doing handstands."
Toshiro looks me up and down.
"...Riiight. Still you're staying for the same reason I am."
I take another sip, there's not really an answer to that now is there.
We both stay for our comrades, me because Yukiko and Sora are the only people in this damned world I care about at this point.
Him because he owes Megumi-san some debt, or he thinks he does. Regardless, we stay because neither of us ready to admit they're dead, no matter how we tell each other they are dead.
With a shrug, I respond.
"I suppose I am...you know death is a journey, maybe I'm just watching to see if they're passing by."
Toshiro leans against the support post beside me.
"...I'll watch with you, pass the sake."
"...I don't--"
I try to deny it. (Only partly because I didn't want to give it up, mostly because well appearances and all that)
Toshiro gives me the same look, you give a student caught stealing rice cakes.
"I was a good magistrate. You are the worst monk I've ever met Togashi-san, but I don't think that's any of my business, now pass the sake."
I hand over the bottle. He drinks and coughs.
"Yeah I forgot to get shochu on the way out of the city my bad." I say in fake apology.
Teach you to steal my liquor.
Toshiro rolls his eyes and hands it back to me.
So we wait on the watch tower, knowing that they're dead, but somehow, still not ready to give up hope.
I really should know better, I really should.
So....have this instead.
------------------------------------
"You have to accept they're dead Togashi-san."
I glance over at Toshiro. The far too pretty Crane, (I'm straight not blind) didn't show the depression that hung in his soul, but I could feel it, it was one I understood too well. That feeling that you failed, that you weren't there when you should have been.
"Kakita-san, if you accepted it, you would be back with your wife as well." I say.
"We have to reinforce given the relief hasn't fully come yet."
Liar, he and I were both staying yes, but neither of us out of concern for the small relief squad that was sent four days ago. They were a tough bunch, and forewarned of the Sagonites, they'd be fine.
I take the small bottle at my waist putting it to my lips, feeling the liquor burn down my throat.
Ah that's the stuff, Lady Sake the only woman who never let me down, the only woman I hadn't let down.
Shinsei that's depressing.
"Even so, you have a pretty wife waiting for you at home don't you?" I ask.
Toshiro retorts.
"And you have meditations and whatever it is Togashi do."
I can never resist the urge to be flippant.
"Handstands mostly"
"Huh?" Toshiro asks, confused.
A confusing answer to a confused question brings me such joy.
"Meditate while doing handstands."
Toshiro looks me up and down.
"...Riiight. Still you're staying for the same reason I am."
I take another sip, there's not really an answer to that now is there.
We both stay for our comrades, me because Yukiko and Sora are the only people in this damned world I care about at this point.
Him because he owes Megumi-san some debt, or he thinks he does. Regardless, we stay because neither of us ready to admit they're dead, no matter how we tell each other they are dead.
With a shrug, I respond.
"I suppose I am...you know death is a journey, maybe I'm just watching to see if they're passing by."
Toshiro leans against the support post beside me.
"...I'll watch with you, pass the sake."
"...I don't--"
I try to deny it. (Only partly because I didn't want to give it up, mostly because well appearances and all that)
Toshiro gives me the same look, you give a student caught stealing rice cakes.
"I was a good magistrate. You are the worst monk I've ever met Togashi-san, but I don't think that's any of my business, now pass the sake."
I hand over the bottle. He drinks and coughs.
"Yeah I forgot to get shochu on the way out of the city my bad." I say in fake apology.
Teach you to steal my liquor.
Toshiro rolls his eyes and hands it back to me.
So we wait on the watch tower, knowing that they're dead, but somehow, still not ready to give up hope.
I really should know better, I really should.
Arc III: On the Yodotai Prisoner
Hmm I was hoping for more conversation from that, but very well.
-Plan Sirrocco
You look over the Yodotai once again, letting yourself become open to study him better. The smell of sweat and wind lingers as you begin to see….
See that for all of his terror, he's still focused, still trying to live, he's not broken. Not broken like you'd expect someone chased by a Rakasha to be.
See that the scars on his legs and back aren't that old, a few weeks at most. The familiar set of the calluses on his hands give the evidence that he's fighter, not a peasant.
See that although Sora shot him in the hip, he has the presence of mind to keep the freshly bandaged wound away from the ground to try to keep it clean, and even seems to be leaning against the somewhat cleaner monument stone, applying some small pressure to help with the bleeding. Given the weakness in his limbs, you suspect that Sora must have...well, she is a Scorpion after all.
What has him so terrified, but not terrified enough to return only to instinct, much like a wild animal?
"Yodotai, do you understand me?" you ask quietly, but with a hard edge to your voice nonetheless..
He nods. "I understand you, Rokugani"
His voice is accented, like someone who studied the language purely in academics rather than with a teacher.
Good, that makes this easier than trying to pantomime things.
"What's your name?" you ask.
The Yodotai seems to consider for a moment.
"Caius."
Well, fair is fair and so you give your own.
"Megumi."
You stare at each other for a little longer before finally, you both relent. His terror is still there, but pushed aside.
Adopting a posture the Crane like to call 'Being Your Friend', you begin to ask questions.
First concern. "You're a long way from home Caius...what makes you run so far away from the lands out west?"
He shifts just slightly, and you spot the lie even before he opens his mouth. "I was on a journey."
He was on a journey, but it wasn't by his own will.
You press for more. "A journey from where to where?"
He answers. "From the lands of the Yodotai to Medinat al-Salaam."
You keep your on in place as you scratch out the second part of that Medinat al-Salaam...it's a great trading hub, but it's not one the Yodotai use typically. Their traders normally only go as far as the Senpet. He must be lying about where he's going, especially given he didn't name himself setting out from Calandium, the great trade city of the Yodotai and the only one that does send out great caravans to Medinat al-Salaam. No, he went with a generic 'from the lands of the Yodotai', not wrong necessarily, but not right either...and there's no way for you to disprove it easily.
"Merchant?" you ask, letting himself go deeper.
"Yes," Caius replies quickly, too quickly.
"And they whipped you for that?" you ask.
The terror fights its way back onto his face as he answers. "...They whipped me because I would not submit my pride as a Yodotai."
"Who is they?" You prod gently.
A deep breath as he masters himself against.
"The people I run from...I do not know their name. I do not speak Ivindi."
"Did they have any identifying marks?" you ask. This can't be...
"Only a Tiger's head…" he answers quietly in the moonlight.
...but it is. It's the Cult of Sagon.
That said, you have to continue. "So how did you escape?"
"I waited until night time and took advantage of an opportunity," he answers.
Finally the truth.
"Did you get lost in the mountains?"
He seems faintly offended at the thought. "No I didn't get lost in the mountains," he snaps.
Time to close this trap. "Then why were you running towards Rokugan?"
"..."
He says something in the Yodotai language. From his tone, he can only be swearing.
"So either you did get lost in the mountains, which could happen, or much more likely, you lied to me. I'm guessing it's about being a merchant. You don't get a body like that by being a profit driven parasite, and your whip scars aren't old enough to have you been captured long enough to work your body into that." Your tone is calm and in control as you give voice to your suspicions.
"....You are perceptive for a Rokugani," Caius says, clearly still angry over his mistake.
You look him over again. "One tries, Caius. Now, are you going to tell me the truth?"
"I cannot, I swore an oath. But I will tell you that I did escape, and that their hunters are even now searching for me. I will not go back to being a slave." He says proudly with a firmness that you can't deny. You can tell that that's all you'll get from him on the subject, at least for now.
The sound of an owl calling...wait, it's not time for the owl to hunt, they hunt earlier.
Your hand drifts to your sword as your head twitches to the side listening, it's faint but someone's coming...surrounding you... four people, and they are trying to ambush you.
"Megumi-san, they're here aren't they? Free me and let me die in battle." Caius all but begs, or as close as he can come to begging at least.
[] Free him.
[] Don't free him.
Having made your choice, you know you also have to prepare for an ambush. You stretch your senses out. Four of them - north, south, west and east of you, respectively. The northern one is climbing up still. The southern one is standing still, but laying something down. West and East are circling around waiting for some signal to start...they're the rushers, you'd guess.
[] Plan?
-Plan Sirrocco
You look over the Yodotai once again, letting yourself become open to study him better. The smell of sweat and wind lingers as you begin to see….
See that for all of his terror, he's still focused, still trying to live, he's not broken. Not broken like you'd expect someone chased by a Rakasha to be.
See that the scars on his legs and back aren't that old, a few weeks at most. The familiar set of the calluses on his hands give the evidence that he's fighter, not a peasant.
See that although Sora shot him in the hip, he has the presence of mind to keep the freshly bandaged wound away from the ground to try to keep it clean, and even seems to be leaning against the somewhat cleaner monument stone, applying some small pressure to help with the bleeding. Given the weakness in his limbs, you suspect that Sora must have...well, she is a Scorpion after all.
What has him so terrified, but not terrified enough to return only to instinct, much like a wild animal?
"Yodotai, do you understand me?" you ask quietly, but with a hard edge to your voice nonetheless..
He nods. "I understand you, Rokugani"
His voice is accented, like someone who studied the language purely in academics rather than with a teacher.
Good, that makes this easier than trying to pantomime things.
"What's your name?" you ask.
The Yodotai seems to consider for a moment.
"Caius."
Well, fair is fair and so you give your own.
"Megumi."
You stare at each other for a little longer before finally, you both relent. His terror is still there, but pushed aside.
Adopting a posture the Crane like to call 'Being Your Friend', you begin to ask questions.
First concern. "You're a long way from home Caius...what makes you run so far away from the lands out west?"
He shifts just slightly, and you spot the lie even before he opens his mouth. "I was on a journey."
He was on a journey, but it wasn't by his own will.
You press for more. "A journey from where to where?"
He answers. "From the lands of the Yodotai to Medinat al-Salaam."
You keep your on in place as you scratch out the second part of that Medinat al-Salaam...it's a great trading hub, but it's not one the Yodotai use typically. Their traders normally only go as far as the Senpet. He must be lying about where he's going, especially given he didn't name himself setting out from Calandium, the great trade city of the Yodotai and the only one that does send out great caravans to Medinat al-Salaam. No, he went with a generic 'from the lands of the Yodotai', not wrong necessarily, but not right either...and there's no way for you to disprove it easily.
"Merchant?" you ask, letting himself go deeper.
"Yes," Caius replies quickly, too quickly.
"And they whipped you for that?" you ask.
The terror fights its way back onto his face as he answers. "...They whipped me because I would not submit my pride as a Yodotai."
"Who is they?" You prod gently.
A deep breath as he masters himself against.
"The people I run from...I do not know their name. I do not speak Ivindi."
"Did they have any identifying marks?" you ask. This can't be...
"Only a Tiger's head…" he answers quietly in the moonlight.
...but it is. It's the Cult of Sagon.
That said, you have to continue. "So how did you escape?"
"I waited until night time and took advantage of an opportunity," he answers.
Finally the truth.
"Did you get lost in the mountains?"
He seems faintly offended at the thought. "No I didn't get lost in the mountains," he snaps.
Time to close this trap. "Then why were you running towards Rokugan?"
"..."
He says something in the Yodotai language. From his tone, he can only be swearing.
"So either you did get lost in the mountains, which could happen, or much more likely, you lied to me. I'm guessing it's about being a merchant. You don't get a body like that by being a profit driven parasite, and your whip scars aren't old enough to have you been captured long enough to work your body into that." Your tone is calm and in control as you give voice to your suspicions.
"....You are perceptive for a Rokugani," Caius says, clearly still angry over his mistake.
You look him over again. "One tries, Caius. Now, are you going to tell me the truth?"
"I cannot, I swore an oath. But I will tell you that I did escape, and that their hunters are even now searching for me. I will not go back to being a slave." He says proudly with a firmness that you can't deny. You can tell that that's all you'll get from him on the subject, at least for now.
The sound of an owl calling...wait, it's not time for the owl to hunt, they hunt earlier.
Your hand drifts to your sword as your head twitches to the side listening, it's faint but someone's coming...surrounding you... four people, and they are trying to ambush you.
"Megumi-san, they're here aren't they? Free me and let me die in battle." Caius all but begs, or as close as he can come to begging at least.
[] Free him.
[] Don't free him.
Having made your choice, you know you also have to prepare for an ambush. You stretch your senses out. Four of them - north, south, west and east of you, respectively. The northern one is climbing up still. The southern one is standing still, but laying something down. West and East are circling around waiting for some signal to start...they're the rushers, you'd guess.
[] Plan?
Sirrocco
Pedantic
So... freeing him... He hates and fears them more than he hates us - he has no particular dislike of us, I think. If we free him, though, he's pretty much guaranteed to get away by the battle's end, and he may just flee outright. If we free him, Bayushi-sama will be displeased, as we were specifically asked to not do that, and there's no way we're getting him back once we do.
I also have a feeling that if we successfully kill these guys off without freeing him, we can manage to get some more out of him.
Mostly, though, Duty calls us to obey the orders of our superiors. We *could* reasonably go against those orders if a greater Duty presented itself (like keeping our two compatriots alive) but he's unreliable enough as an asset that That's not as strong as it could be.
Also, we have no idea what he was doing in this area. He was heading towards Rokugan, and apparently it wasn't a mistake? I'm still having trouble judging the cussing - if it was because he had gotten lost in the mountains and not realized it before or if he had gotten *very* lost in the mountains and was trying to hide that from us, or if he hadn't gotten lost in the mountains and us catching him in the "going towards Rokugan" thing caused his story to unravel in a way that was displeasing to him. If he *was* intentionally travelling towards Rokugan, that's even worse - once he does get free, he'll surely head back that way.
Hmmm...
If they want him captive, then not freeing him might distract them as they try to cart him off. They seem to do that kind of thign from time to time, and if they're carrying a struggling load, we might be able to catch up with them. (then again, Rakshasa, so....)
So, completely aside from that, they're sneaking up on us. Counter-ambush is strong if we can pull it off. For the southern one, I think maybe we can. Most importantly, though, we need to let out about as loud a kiai as we can manage when we make that first attack. Our friends in the tent need to be woken sooner rather than later.
Counterarguments welcome. This is the best I'm coming up with tonight, and I *think* it's compelling, but I'm not at my best.
[x] Don't Free Him
[x] Attack the Southern one immediately, while they're still busy with whatever they're putting down, and everyone else is still trying to get into position.
-[x] let out as loud a kiai as you can while you strike.
I also have a feeling that if we successfully kill these guys off without freeing him, we can manage to get some more out of him.
Mostly, though, Duty calls us to obey the orders of our superiors. We *could* reasonably go against those orders if a greater Duty presented itself (like keeping our two compatriots alive) but he's unreliable enough as an asset that That's not as strong as it could be.
Also, we have no idea what he was doing in this area. He was heading towards Rokugan, and apparently it wasn't a mistake? I'm still having trouble judging the cussing - if it was because he had gotten lost in the mountains and not realized it before or if he had gotten *very* lost in the mountains and was trying to hide that from us, or if he hadn't gotten lost in the mountains and us catching him in the "going towards Rokugan" thing caused his story to unravel in a way that was displeasing to him. If he *was* intentionally travelling towards Rokugan, that's even worse - once he does get free, he'll surely head back that way.
Hmmm...
If they want him captive, then not freeing him might distract them as they try to cart him off. They seem to do that kind of thign from time to time, and if they're carrying a struggling load, we might be able to catch up with them. (then again, Rakshasa, so....)
So, completely aside from that, they're sneaking up on us. Counter-ambush is strong if we can pull it off. For the southern one, I think maybe we can. Most importantly, though, we need to let out about as loud a kiai as we can manage when we make that first attack. Our friends in the tent need to be woken sooner rather than later.
Counterarguments welcome. This is the best I'm coming up with tonight, and I *think* it's compelling, but I'm not at my best.
[x] Don't Free Him
[x] Attack the Southern one immediately, while they're still busy with whatever they're putting down, and everyone else is still trying to get into position.
-[x] let out as loud a kiai as you can while you strike.
- Location
- Leeds
Erm do we want to leave our sleeping friends un attended? I realise the kiai is meant to wake them up but it also tells the assassins that we're aware of them so they will just rush the tent while we're away and kill the two while they're trying to grab their katana/scrolls.
Speaking of scrolls. They probably don't have a shugenja. Yukkio is our advantage we should probably make a plan around her.
Speaking of scrolls. They probably don't have a shugenja. Yukkio is our advantage we should probably make a plan around her.
[x] Don't Free Him
[x] Attack the Southern one immediately, while they're still busy with whatever they're putting down, and everyone else is still trying to get into position.
-[x] let out as loud a kiai as you can while you strike.
[x] Attack the Southern one immediately, while they're still busy with whatever they're putting down, and everyone else is still trying to get into position.
-[x] let out as loud a kiai as you can while you strike.
- Location
- Moon-Station
[x] Don't Free Him
[x] Warn/Wake your actual comrades
[x] Attack the Southern one, while they're still busy with whatever they're putting down
[x] Warn/Wake your actual comrades
[x] Attack the Southern one, while they're still busy with whatever they're putting down
EtchedSteel
*mumble mumble*
- Location
- Lima. Peru
[x] Don't Free Him
[x] Attack the Southern one immediately, while they're still busy with whatever they're putting down, and everyone else is still trying to get into position.
-[x] let out as loud a kiai as you can while you strike.
[x] Attack the Southern one immediately, while they're still busy with whatever they're putting down, and everyone else is still trying to get into position.
-[x] let out as loud a kiai as you can while you strike.
Sirrocco
Pedantic
From what I recall, Yukkio has no scrolls, and these people don't know for a fact that there's anyone in the tent (though they can probably guess). I can see the argument for staying near the tent, but I can't see any way to effectively counterambush without moving, or to wake our allies without letting the enemy know that they've been made. Given the numerical disadvantage, I don't think we can afford to give up the element of counter-surprise.
- Location
- Leeds
Oh yeah. There was that kidnapping thing wasn't there.
I don't suppose the cultists would have let her keep them.
If we do untie the guy then we have equal numbers. Unless you're not counting Yukkio or theres something else I've forgotten.
Sirrocco
Pedantic
There are four of them. Yukkio doesn't count - as a shugenja without scrolls, she's basically a noncombatant. The guy that we could untie is unreliable - he won't turn on us, but there's no way to be sure he won't just run. Bayushi-sama is still asleep, and almost certainly without her armor.
Vote tally:
##### 3.18
[X]Plan Sirrocco.
No. of votes: 2
Dark as Silver, Simonbob
[X] Free him.
No. of votes: 1
veekie
[X] Double team the southern one first
No. of votes: 1
veekie
[x] Don't Free Him
No. of votes: 4
Sirrocco, wingstrike96, whydoyoubother, EtchedSteel
[x] Attack the Southern one immediately, while they're still busy with whatever they're putting down, and everyone else is still trying to get into position.
No. of votes: 3
Sirrocco, wingstrike96, EtchedSteel
-[x] let out as loud a kiai as you can while you strike.
No. of votes: 3
Sirrocco, wingstrike96, EtchedSteel
[x] Warn/Wake your actual comrades
No. of votes: 1
whydoyoubother
[x] Attack the Southern one, while they're still busy with whatever they're putting down
No. of votes: 1
whydoyoubother
Well then it looks like we're going to try a counter ambush while leaving the prisoner.
Neat.
Will try to have the update up today or tomorrow.
##### 3.18
[X]Plan Sirrocco.
No. of votes: 2
Dark as Silver, Simonbob
[X] Free him.
No. of votes: 1
veekie
[X] Double team the southern one first
No. of votes: 1
veekie
[x] Don't Free Him
No. of votes: 4
Sirrocco, wingstrike96, whydoyoubother, EtchedSteel
[x] Attack the Southern one immediately, while they're still busy with whatever they're putting down, and everyone else is still trying to get into position.
No. of votes: 3
Sirrocco, wingstrike96, EtchedSteel
-[x] let out as loud a kiai as you can while you strike.
No. of votes: 3
Sirrocco, wingstrike96, EtchedSteel
[x] Warn/Wake your actual comrades
No. of votes: 1
whydoyoubother
[x] Attack the Southern one, while they're still busy with whatever they're putting down
No. of votes: 1
whydoyoubother
Well then it looks like we're going to try a counter ambush while leaving the prisoner.
Neat.
Will try to have the update up today or tomorrow.
- Location
- Leeds
[X] Free him.
Arc III: On the Reverse Ambush
-Don't Free Him
-Plan Sirrocco
You look down at Caius and while a part of you is a little sympathetic to the desire to die in battle, the rest of you remembers Sora's orders.
"Sorry Caius, I can't do that," you say.
He slumps seemingly morose by your answer.
You draw Sakiyarumei and make your way down towards the one you sensed south.
Sakiyarumei rolls 1d10=6 gains ??? trait
Your blade feels oddly, right in your hand like it's easier to swing, maybe you're getting familiarity with it? Whatever, focus on the fight, all that matters now is the one perfect strike.
In the moonlight you see the Sagonite fiddling with a long tube. Taking a deep breath, you strike down, swinging Sakiyarumei in a perfect arc.
"FOR THE EMPEROR!" you scream, your voice carrying through the night.
When and if they tell stories about you, you rather hope that they omit the part where the Sagonite didn't even have to move in order for your blade to hit the dirt.
He looks up, and draws his knife, but you're still faster than him. Your fingers move to solidify their grip on the hilt and you swing Sakiyarumei back upwards in a perfect arc, catching him on the chin and splitting most of his face in two. He collapses to the ground, probably dead, but definitely out of the fight.
You run back towards the tent, where you see Sora just barely get nicked by a knife from a woman who came from the West side. Legs burn in protest as you charge into the woman, blade flashing. The woman tries to block, but your blade is too fast for that and bites deep into her side, but not as deep as you thought it would. She is definitely still in the fight.
Sora lets out a pained chuckle, as she finishes stringing her bow. "Megumi-san, how nice of you to join us."
With a foreign cry, another man jumps down, buying his blade deep into Caiu's shoulder and neck. The Yodotai's head drops, as he collapses into the ground bleeding profusely, even as you wonder if you could have prevented that.
"Megumi-san, take of the girl, I'll take care of the other one."
"Bayushi-sama there's a---"
From the tent behind you erupts the sound of bone breaking as a voice, distinctly male, lets out a groan of pain. Yukiko...can apparently fight too.
Sora finishes your sentence. "---Fourth one? We know. Yukiko-san is able to take care of it."
There's a note of pride there, pride in having your beloved be able to kick ass. Which is perfectly normal, honestly.
You and the woman circle around each other, as Sora launches two arrows into the one who attacked Caius. Going by the loud, pained scream, you guess it's somewhere that matters very much to him, like his face or something.
The woman strikes out at you with her knife, but long training with Sora and others, let's you side step it completely, and bring down your blade in a spinning arc into her spine. She goes down with a faint whimper.
A high pitched, strangled screech erupts from the tent. You look behind you and Sora seems...worried. She frowns.
"Megumi-san, go help Yukiko-san!" she orders, as she calmly puts two more arrows into Caius' attacker.
You charge into the tent to see a man on the ground clutching himself in a way that would be frankly obscene, even by your standards, if not for the tears of pain flowing onto the floor.
Then that scream was…
You are not a man, but even you feel a degree of sympathy for someone who goes through that.
Yukiko winds up her leg and kicks him in the face, his head goes slack, as his body decides that it is out.
Turning around Yukiko looks at you, her arm is slightly red from a nick but otherwise is fine."Megumi-san, are you alright?"
You nod. "Hai Iuchi-sama, we heard a scream and thought…"
"Ah. No, just this waste of flesh," Yukiko replies with a sneer at her crumpled opponent.
Note to self, do not wake Yukiko up from sleeping.
"I am glad to see you need no assistance Iuchi-sama, but Bayushi-sama captured a prisoner, and well I think he's dying," you say.
Yukiko frowns and hurries out of the tent over to the downed Caius and kneels down.
"Praise the Lords that I memorized this prayer at least," she mutters.
Her hands reach out and touch Caius as she begins to chant.
The water kami flow out from Yukiko and treat Caius somewhat. While it's clear that he is no longer dying, you're pretty sure that he will not be waking up for a while.
Sora pulls her arrows out of the very dead man she had been shooting at.
"So this is what the Yodotai was running from. Four on one isn't good odds, but I wonder why they were so desperate for him," she remarks as she turns to you.
"Caius," you interject.
"Hmm?"
"That's the name he gave me, I wasn't able to get much else, before the attack," you clarify.
"Still something. Well finish off the rest of them and find a stick or something to get them out of the campsite. I'm going back to bed," Sora orders.
After cleaning Sakiyarumei, you put her away. You won't dirty your soul with this, besides there are knives right here. Picking one up, you go through the grim business of killing the Sagonites. You aren't cruel about it, lift their heads and cut their throats, no pain...nothing but quick death. Still, it takes far too long for your comfort, and you really need to get yourself purified by the end of it...but orders are orders.
As the sun rises at last, you look up at it, and feel glad the night is over. When Sora and Yukiko relieve you, they say they'll have to rest another day because well, Yukiko didn't get the rest she needs. As she quietly tends to Caius, you mostly putter around.
[] Talk to Sora (Write in what?)
[] Talk to Yukiko (Write in what?)
[] Time Skip to Caius Waking Up
Megumi currently has 3 void.
-Plan Sirrocco
You look down at Caius and while a part of you is a little sympathetic to the desire to die in battle, the rest of you remembers Sora's orders.
"Sorry Caius, I can't do that," you say.
He slumps seemingly morose by your answer.
You draw Sakiyarumei and make your way down towards the one you sensed south.
Sakiyarumei rolls 1d10=6 gains ??? trait
Your blade feels oddly, right in your hand like it's easier to swing, maybe you're getting familiarity with it? Whatever, focus on the fight, all that matters now is the one perfect strike.
In the moonlight you see the Sagonite fiddling with a long tube. Taking a deep breath, you strike down, swinging Sakiyarumei in a perfect arc.
"FOR THE EMPEROR!" you scream, your voice carrying through the night.
When and if they tell stories about you, you rather hope that they omit the part where the Sagonite didn't even have to move in order for your blade to hit the dirt.
He looks up, and draws his knife, but you're still faster than him. Your fingers move to solidify their grip on the hilt and you swing Sakiyarumei back upwards in a perfect arc, catching him on the chin and splitting most of his face in two. He collapses to the ground, probably dead, but definitely out of the fight.
You run back towards the tent, where you see Sora just barely get nicked by a knife from a woman who came from the West side. Legs burn in protest as you charge into the woman, blade flashing. The woman tries to block, but your blade is too fast for that and bites deep into her side, but not as deep as you thought it would. She is definitely still in the fight.
Sora lets out a pained chuckle, as she finishes stringing her bow. "Megumi-san, how nice of you to join us."
With a foreign cry, another man jumps down, buying his blade deep into Caiu's shoulder and neck. The Yodotai's head drops, as he collapses into the ground bleeding profusely, even as you wonder if you could have prevented that.
"Megumi-san, take of the girl, I'll take care of the other one."
"Bayushi-sama there's a---"
From the tent behind you erupts the sound of bone breaking as a voice, distinctly male, lets out a groan of pain. Yukiko...can apparently fight too.
Sora finishes your sentence. "---Fourth one? We know. Yukiko-san is able to take care of it."
There's a note of pride there, pride in having your beloved be able to kick ass. Which is perfectly normal, honestly.
You and the woman circle around each other, as Sora launches two arrows into the one who attacked Caius. Going by the loud, pained scream, you guess it's somewhere that matters very much to him, like his face or something.
The woman strikes out at you with her knife, but long training with Sora and others, let's you side step it completely, and bring down your blade in a spinning arc into her spine. She goes down with a faint whimper.
A high pitched, strangled screech erupts from the tent. You look behind you and Sora seems...worried. She frowns.
"Megumi-san, go help Yukiko-san!" she orders, as she calmly puts two more arrows into Caius' attacker.
You charge into the tent to see a man on the ground clutching himself in a way that would be frankly obscene, even by your standards, if not for the tears of pain flowing onto the floor.
Then that scream was…
You are not a man, but even you feel a degree of sympathy for someone who goes through that.
Yukiko winds up her leg and kicks him in the face, his head goes slack, as his body decides that it is out.
Turning around Yukiko looks at you, her arm is slightly red from a nick but otherwise is fine."Megumi-san, are you alright?"
You nod. "Hai Iuchi-sama, we heard a scream and thought…"
"Ah. No, just this waste of flesh," Yukiko replies with a sneer at her crumpled opponent.
Note to self, do not wake Yukiko up from sleeping.
"I am glad to see you need no assistance Iuchi-sama, but Bayushi-sama captured a prisoner, and well I think he's dying," you say.
Yukiko frowns and hurries out of the tent over to the downed Caius and kneels down.
"Praise the Lords that I memorized this prayer at least," she mutters.
Her hands reach out and touch Caius as she begins to chant.
The water kami flow out from Yukiko and treat Caius somewhat. While it's clear that he is no longer dying, you're pretty sure that he will not be waking up for a while.
Sora pulls her arrows out of the very dead man she had been shooting at.
"So this is what the Yodotai was running from. Four on one isn't good odds, but I wonder why they were so desperate for him," she remarks as she turns to you.
"Caius," you interject.
"Hmm?"
"That's the name he gave me, I wasn't able to get much else, before the attack," you clarify.
"Still something. Well finish off the rest of them and find a stick or something to get them out of the campsite. I'm going back to bed," Sora orders.
After cleaning Sakiyarumei, you put her away. You won't dirty your soul with this, besides there are knives right here. Picking one up, you go through the grim business of killing the Sagonites. You aren't cruel about it, lift their heads and cut their throats, no pain...nothing but quick death. Still, it takes far too long for your comfort, and you really need to get yourself purified by the end of it...but orders are orders.
As the sun rises at last, you look up at it, and feel glad the night is over. When Sora and Yukiko relieve you, they say they'll have to rest another day because well, Yukiko didn't get the rest she needs. As she quietly tends to Caius, you mostly putter around.
[] Talk to Sora (Write in what?)
[] Talk to Yukiko (Write in what?)
[] Time Skip to Caius Waking Up
Megumi currently has 3 void.
- Status