Sorry I was out this weekend, I was at a con and the hotel didn't have internet.

I have to confess to being a bit concerned that Sayuri and Kanisai's actions are motivated purely by OOC knowledge and motivation rather than what would make sense within the character.

If it were quite common to attack your own clan's ashigeru within a city in your own border under blockade when they are in pitched battle with a group that is primarily not even from your own clan... well, in that case I would imagine that there should be quite a few samurai charging from the courtier district to slaughter the ashigeru.

But, if I am correct in believing that such actions are nonsensical, I dare say even bordering on the heretical and treacherous, then I have to wonder what it is about Sayuri and Kanisai's nature that would drive them to begin slaughtering what appears to be their own city's law keepers on first sight-- and why has this part of their nature not gotten them into previous serious trouble?

Of course, granted, if we'd been given a more proper description of these fellows than simply "spear wielding bushi" then a lot of this confusion may have been avoided. :(

But if it is the norm to be motivated primarily by OOC information and labels, then I wonder if it is a failure that I am playing my character as a cowardly but meddlesome noncombatant who had only been aquinted with the other PC for a scant few hours thus hadn't the type of bond that would motivate him to decide to die with them rather than broker a peaceful settlement to the situation-- and thus attempt to negotiate a release with the nameless NPCs rather than take out his sword and begin hacking at the insta-spawned mobs.

 Without being quite so harsh as Lin, I'm kind of with him on the 'huh?' front... but if our friendly shugenja turns around next round and casts the same spell on us, all is forgiven. ^_^

I kinda look at it differently ...

A bunch of random people, Samurai or non-samurai, are trying to kill the duly appointed magistrate -- which every Crane, if not everyone in the city -- will know.

So, would you stand by idly while watching a Magistrate slaughtered by random ruffians?

Don't forget -- IC, it was not that long ago that a large number of people were informed that Sakura is heading up the investigation. If they were in the city -- which they pretty much had to have been since no one is getting in or out -- they know who Sakura is.

Besides which, these are not Ashigaru.

Trust me, I just got stabbed by one ... I know. *laughs*

Just as soon as I get the "GM-go-ahead", Kenshin will let y'all know this via chatter with his comrade-in-arms.

 It's stretching it some to assume that anyone is going to recognise one particular Crane in a city full of Cranes in the middle of a pitched battle - even allowing for her wearing badges and symbols, Sakura isn't anyone particularly special by the standards of the single most contested city in Rokugan and punch-ups tend by their very nature fo be confusing as all hell.

 Kenshin does raise an interesting point however.

 If I have ranks in 'know the school' I gain bonuses against that particular school. I've studied it intensively enough to know its weaknesses and flaws.

 As a Bushi, what would I need to study just to be able to recognise a given range of fighting styles without actually having enough in-depth knowledge to gain bonus dice?

To be honest, I would think that Sayuri and Kanisai are reacting to the post where KnK wrote

"Doji Kanisai and Daidoji Sayuri immediately notice the increase in traffic coming from one of the palace courtyards, and it is only moment before they hear screams of "Murder!  Ninja!  Assassins!  Lion invasion!" ringing through the courtier district."

But with that commotion going about and arriving to see spearmen attacking Crane, then you can only assume that they're running off of assumptions.

Well, Kedo, I wouldn't say that -- Sakura doesn't exactly "Blend in". A flaw, perhaps, in the initial concept. (I'm discovering a few ...)

Daidoji Sakura (aka Shosuro Kasumi) is both noticeable and recognizable by almost anyone under nearly any circumstances. Much like Bayushi Kachiko, Sakura has both Benten's Blessing & Dangerous Beauty; she's roughly the equivalent of a Rokugani "Supermodel".

As a side note, this is part of her back story -- her "adopted" family considered her looks to be her only real value until they discovered that she could commune with the Kami. She traveled extensively before the Clan War on Omiai (meetings to decide if an "arranged marriage" is appropriate), so pretty much anyone could know this IC.

 So she's a pretty Crane girl.

 You'll forgive me I hope for pointing out that this does not precisely put her in a minority, even with both those merits... and she's still at rather less than her best after the earlier fracas in the bath-house. And we're in a pitched battle just at the moment.

 Oh, and new folks are likely to know her only be description at best.

 Just enjoying myself as devils advocate. ^_^

*tries to keep guts from spilling out on the ground*

Would you mind enjoying yourself at a more convenient time? I'm about two heartbeats away from "dead" as it is ...

 Heh, my initiative doesn't go off until after the bad guys... and I'm still wounded from the last fight as it is.

 Sorry old boy, but you got there a full round before I did, so you have all the glory of mopping them up. ^_^

You charged first. Alas I will be arriving even after Kedo. Probably just in time to claim victory (and the credit).
On the subject of mingled IC/OC...well let's see. If you're reacting to cries fo "Fire, Assasins, Lion Clan" I'm guessing you're either looking for fire (none) assasins (hey look, someone in the Scorpion clothing and some random gaijin - apologies to both) or the Lion Clan, no-one in that attire but at least eight people without clan emblems (six spearmen, Kedo and Lin Ru-Fang).
As for the IC description of what your charactr saw well from your description f too tall people Sayuri I'm guessing your character is not going to be able to see through the crowd too easily yet you're able not only to see the group but you also identified Sakura as of your own family. Spotting a Crane from that distance makes sense (lookit all the blue!), seeing who's with her and who isn't will be much trickier (and you did only target those attacking us players not all the ronin you could see) but seeing her mon from that far away is a bit unnerving.
Again I'm just expressing opinions on the matter. To be perfectly honest in a pitched battle like this with civilians around anyone just coming will be confused as heck. Cries about Fire and Assasins as well as someone loudly talking about Traps and Traitors will only add to the chaos.

If I die because of my own stupidity, the fog of war, or the wrath of the dice roller I'm fine with that. I *do* have a problem with PCs telling other PCs to attack me though ... it's just not "dramatically satisfying".

I'm not telling people to attack you. I'm pointing out what sterotypical rokugani assumptions see when someone yells assasins; ninja, gaijin, shadowlands creature of doom and the Scorpion clan. No more than I expect the PCs without a clear idea of what's going on to run around looking for the fire or invading Lions do I expect them to jump you becuase of random shouting.

Look, if it's that big of trouble, I'll just withdraw my post and wait out the battle.  I don't want to be a bother, and I think KnK was just trying to work in a couple of extant characters.

*shrugs*

I'm just gonna leave it up to the GM.

 Good grief, no trouble at all - everyone's welcome to join the chaos... I just enjoy pointing out that it's hard to know who to lump in against in a scuffle like this one...

 ...which of course does mean that the 'calm down eh, calm down' (which is best said in a Scouse accent) spell was the best possible choice. I was only questioning the logic that saw it thrown only at one half of the budding riot. And the less successful half at that. ^_^

Great now I have the Scouse alphabet going through my head. Thanks Kedo:)

 You're welcome... I got reminded of that show via UK Gold the other day and have been watching a lot of the episodes as they come up... I also introduced a German friend to 'Allo 'Allo the other day.

 Just call me a cultural ambassador. ^_^

Or there's always Fawlty Towers for the German auddience. Or Auf Widersehn Pet.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:30, Mon 30 Mar 2009.

I just jumped in on the side of the other gorgeous Daidoji girl, on account of her being family (and making pink hearts fill Sayuri's eyes). Sayuri will no doubt have some questions as to what's going on afterwards, but in a wild brawl? Pick the side that has verified family members and try to stay nonlethal.

Kanisai jumped in to protect me, without particularly asking which side I'd jumped in on. Yojimbo's job. ^_^

Heh.  I wonder if the GM is gonna he Aki and I run into the fight, just to make it MORE complicated.  Would be fun, but I doubt it.

lol If the fight runs into Aki he's just going to get back to Toshirou as quickly as he can he's already feeling like an idiot for leaving you.

Kaze no Kage, the first Investigation roll in the die roller was an ambush-detection check, since Aki seemed nervous. The second one is relevant :-)

Total of 42, at +5 TN.  I made three raises to get additional information, two free, one called
This message was last edited by the player at 17:21, Fri 03 Apr 2009.

I think I did my rolling right, I just did a raw intelligence check since Aki isn't much of an investigator... If I didn't do it right then just let me know and I'll try again.