Did the Miya mean to say "Shiko" rather than "Sachi"... or is this a deliberate attempt to lie to us (if so, should we try to roll something in order to determine if we're being lied to IC)?

no, that's just me failing to keep all of the names of my NPCs straight ^_^;;;

Ok no problem!  ;)

I actually thought that might be the case (ie. an OOC error)... but in Rokugan (where nothing is as it seems on the surface)... well... I felt it best to check just to be sure.  ;)

no, thank you for pointing that out, I may try to pull that in the future ^_^ but I'll try not to be so obvious about it ^_^

Here's a "quickie" for y'all:

I have "Heart of Mortality", a spell which "mystically binds" a Shugenja to one other person -- in Sakura's case it would be Yoshiko, assuming Yoshiko permits it. This spell enables the Shugenja to cast a spell on the other as if the other was in range (only useful for Sakura -> Yoshiko in this case); Further the two always know "range and direction" to the other. It also used to give "general condition" (i.e. "Alive and well", "almost dead"), though that appears to have been removed. Also the spell says nothing -- one way or the other -- about Kiho.

The spell is "permanent" until one of the two become unwilling or the spell is re-cast with another target.

How this is useful to the rest of the party: Sakura also has Sympathetic Energies, which allows her to transfer a spell from herself to another person. Effectively this means that she can create magical bonds between any two willing PCs (but only two). Timing would have been before we left "home base".

Let me know if you are interested. I thought of Musashi/Ukyo as well as the other Yojimbo/PC pair, but not everyone likes this sort of thing ...

Well I'm certainly cool with this idea.  ;)

If Ukyo is interested, then I think this would be a neat character development.

While not exactly a "yojimbo", I do feel there is a similar bond between Musashi & Ukyo (with Musashi looking out for Ukyo's physical as well as spiritual health).

Being a dedicated yojimbo, I'm sure she would. ^-^

Came home from work sick today, not up to writing a proper post. I hope I'll be feeling better in the morning.

That's fine by me.  Ukyo looks to Musashi as both confidant and advisor.  So i think such a thing could work well character wise.

I'm still under the weather, but I'm able to resume posting.

Well then, consider it done. :D

Ok cool!  ;)

Well that's a 2nd "bonded pair" on the team.  ;)

This is Daidoji Yoshiko's brother. He's been admitted to the hospital with appendicitis. It's not too serious, but he's going to be unavailable for a couple of days at least. He asked me to inform you so you wouldn't think he'd disappeared.

IIRC from previous talk, the Lion and the Crane are not on the best of terms, right?  So us goign through their lands may be a bit "hinky."  However, we are escorting an imperial messenger, and to impeded us would be an insult to the emporer, correct?  Also, what of the writs we were given?  i presume they are only valid within Crane lands, and perhaps imperial lands, but not lion lands, correct?

(Oy vey... trying to learn so much!)

only if they were to stop you, delay you with "official paperwork" is still acceptable ^_^


they're totally acceptable within Lion lands, but they give you no authority (so if you got attacked, killing your attackers might be seen as a crime) and no protection from "official inquiry" (so if you were accused of a crime, you might be in big trouble), just the ability to travel

But the fact that we're now on "official Imperial business" (guarding a Herald) does make a difference, right? I mean, most of the above is just if we were traveling "on our own" so to speak, ne?

Back, more or less recovered, will be catching up asap.

I'm going to be away from my computer for one week (until Monday the 28th).

GM please feel free to NPC my character as needed.

okay, have fun on your trip ^_^
thanks for letting me know ^_^

Understatement of the year.

Regarding Sakura's question to Musashi about "crystal"... would Musashi be likely to have some on him?  Is crystal something that would be found in medical kits?

no, pure crystal is exceedingly rare and in this point in Rokugani history, no one carries it as a matter of course--actually, in no point in Rokugani history does anyone carry it as a matter of course, though in a decade or so, after the War Against the Shadow, it does become somewhat more common.

Further analysis of the foot prints may come in the form of an Intelligence/Lore:  Shadowlands check TN 20 (if you want to know if you know more about them) or a Percpetion/Investigation (Notice) check TN 15
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:35, Fri 01 June 2007.

I'll be unable to go online for most of the weekend. Normally things should go back to normal late Sunday night though.

unless you're going for special effects (i.e. take raises) or the rules specifically call for a roll, then no you don't need to roll (but the spell still counts against your daily total ^_^)

I'm completely confused right now: is Sakura saying we need to destroy the creatures that attacked the 'bandits'?