The main Bath House of Toshi Ranbo is a large, fine, if not opulent affair, reflecting the care the military designers of the city took for their soldiers.  It is here that Seppun Masahi and Doji Akibeiden have come to recover from their mornings exertions and Daidoji Sakura and Kedo have come to prepare for their day ahead.

There is one main entrance into the bath house into a small waiting room where the samurai give up their daisho and other weapons and separates the men from the women (right hallway for men and left for women).  The guards look askance at Daidoji Sakura as she enters into the men's side, but exceptions are made for samurai with yojimbo.  From the waiting room the hallway becomes lined row upon row of cubbie holes (presumably for you to leave your clothes) with towels for you to take along the outside wall and there are a number of doors along the inside wall.

Inside the main part of the bath house are two streams of water on either side of the room running parallel in an inset tiled 'ditch' in the floor--left side for women and right side for men.  This is the cold water to be used for washing, and indeed there are buckets full of sand to scour your skin and wooden scrapers to help you reach more awkward locations.  Taking up most of the room, however, is one of the largest baths you've ever seen.  Wide enough to fit nearly fifty people and deep enough to reach one's chin even standing, it is one of the luxuries of Toshi Ranbo and one of the few things left nearly completely intact from the original construction.

OOC:  hope that helps
[Private to Seppun Masashi: make an Agility/Slight of Hand (conceal) check TN 25 to get your knife past the guards; or you can try to convince them why it's necessary]
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:43, Mon 11 Aug 2008.

 "Indeed they must." agrees Kedo as he steps through the doorway of the bath-house just ahead of Daidoji Sakura, automatically removing both long and short swords from his belt and passing them to the attendant who places them on the lowest and least prestigious of the display racks set aside for visiting samurai (accompanying a magistrate or not, he is after all only a lowly Ronin in a city of the Crane and not deserving of a more prominant spot, especially given that the quality of the steel is not apparent from their plain and humble furnishings),.

 That chore accomplished he awaits the pleasure of his companion, turning her various admonishments over in his mind and musing over the slightly more robust than usual construction of the bath-house, designed with a mind to make assassination just a little more of an effort than would usually be the case.

 Just a little.

[Making some assumptions here ...]

Almost subconsciously, Sakura grabbed her bathing supplies -- the bucket and requisite "modesty towel" -- and added her own to the mix. There was still a lot on her mind, and it had occurred to her that this might very well be the last day of her life in this cycle. Of course this was not the first time something like that had happened to her ...

Sakura headed to the "men's side" of the bathhouse ...

Aki lets the warm water ease his muscles and tries to let hi mind clear. upon seeing Kedo-san enter he comes out of his reverie. Perhaps he will bath near me I would like speak with kedo-san.


Edited to reflect GM post
This message was last edited by the player at 01:32, Wed 13 Aug 2008.

  Masashi, soaking in the hot water feeling a lessening of the accumulated stresses, he had turned over  his daisho but in one of the towels, close by he still had a very serviceable tessen, he had learned never to be unarmed some years before.
 He saw Kedo-san and what was her name, ah yes Sakura-san, he had only met her once but she was difficult to forget.
 Other than politly greeting Akibieden-san he had luxuriated in blissful silence the only sound being the soft laping of the water in the tub.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:47, Tue 12 Aug 2008.

 Sakura heads to the "men's side" of the bathhouse ...

 ...and is gently redirected by a light touch upon her elbow, firmly veered towards the 'womens side' of the partition unless she should happen to attempt to exert whatever authority she may have over her yojimbo.

 What degree of success that might happen to have of course depends entirely upon whether the meditative ronin considers protection of reputation in the same light that he considers protection of the body.

 As far as he's concerned, if people want to talk to members of the opposite gender, they can do so outside... or through one of the small soap holes in the partition screen between the two sections.

Sakura stopped and looked at her Yojimbo, a sad-but-firm smile on her face. A hundred responses went through her mind, but in the end she said nothing and continued towards the Women's side. There were, after all, some advantages to the choice. Besides which, Kedo would be put through enough in the days to come.

Assuming they were both still alive at the end of the day ...

[Assuming nothing happens on the way, Sakura will quickly 'pre-bathe' and then head directly to the baths for some relaxation.]

Daidoji Sakura, Kedo, Seppun Masahi, and Doji Akibieden reach the central bath with its low dividing wall--low enough to reveal heads, if not anything else, to the other side--without any incident greater than reaching for the same scraper or handful of sand as one of their neighbors.  The low rumble of ambient conversation, of course, includes the murder of Doji Kusanagi and the up coming battle with the Lion, but also the fashion for the Winter Court and the possible early arrival of Doji Kuwanan.

more detail regarding those conversations requires an Awareness/Courtier (gossip), Awareness/Investigation (notice), or raw Awareness check TN 10 (the emphases are not required but do apply)
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:37, Thu 14 Aug 2008.

 Sad-but-firm Kedo can live with - just so long as Sakura doesn't do anything foolish like trying to disagree with him on matters regarding her safety both of the body and of her reputation, both of which might lead to some degree of disagreement.

 His usual watchfulness is somewhat reduced however when he slips into the waters with an almost relieved sigh, the grime of the road and the days practise, all the unfortunate and fortunate events that have led to this time and place being eased away by the gentle caress of water that's just nearly too hot to immerse oneself in...

 ...dressed (or rather, undressed) as he is it's possible to see the tracery of fine scars here and there across his torso and limbs - none deep or serious, but rather the accumulated lessons of a Bushi of modest experience. More distinctive however are the tattoos - intricate and swirling and seemingly detailed beyond mortal skill they trail over the torso and all four limbs in a snaking expanse of dragons and samurai, coils surrounding lessons from the Tao, the teachings of Shinsei... there, the scorpion and the frog crossing the river, here an armoured figure and a wise old man with the stars in his eyes surrounded by food in a forest whilst the birds and the beasts watch on.

 Now there's something you don't see every day.


---

14:30, Today: Kedo rolled 15 using 6d10, dropping the 3 lowest rolls, rerolling max. Perception/Notice.

Sakura slipped into the water, doing her best to remain unnoticed by her fellow bathmates while at the same time doing her best to listen in unnoticed. If asked about her behavior, she would simply say that did not wish to disturb anyone, however the chance that anyone would notice was quite small indeed ...

[09:55, Today: Daidoji Sakura rolled 19 using 6d10, dropping the 2 lowest rolls, rerolling max. Awareness/Courtier. ]
[Private to Kaze no Kage: 09:58, Today: Secret Roll: Daidoji Sakura rolled 33 using 9d10, dropping the 6 lowest rolls, rerolling max. Agility/Stealth. Note: This is her lowest ("honorable") possible number of dice ...]

  Masashi listens to the conversations though not obviously.
  Anyone looking at him would notice the toughened flesh where heavy armor sat or the straps rubbed the skin. Multiple scars attest to his experiance most are straight lines though several are the roundish mangled scars made by arrows.

Sakura smiled to herself, listening to the conversations and considering a few things. It had occurred to her that this was not a small deal -- that they were dealing with a rather large conspiracy. The conspiracy, as it was, was able to know the private contents of two imperial letters, communicate in time to have two sets of "assassins" try to intercept it, and observe well enough to know that the attempt had failed drastically.

That the Commander was involved was no small detail, but it was not as large as Sakura had once thought. There was at least one Shugenja involved, for how else would they have been able to do so much over such a distance so quickly. The Scorpion would have even had some trouble with all that information, though not as much as most Clans would suspect.

So here she was, once again a pawn, and Sakura liked it that way.

'I need to go see the governor' she thought to herself, 'and discuss my little ... side-plot with him in private.'

Sometimes a pawn had to be obvious to be of any use ...
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:59, Tue 19 Aug 2008.

The rumor mill produces little of interest:  some argue that the Lion were behind the assassination, others suggest that the Minor Clans will come to the Crane's aid, and Kakita Kuriko said that the cousin of her sister's husband, who heard it from the brother of the Governor's wife's uncle's mother-in-law said that the Jade Emperor wouldn't be visiting Toshi Ranbo this year.

make a perception/investigation (notice) check TN 20

 With little care for the gossip of others, Kedo instead settles into enjoying the water, briefly able to exist as merely another Samurai rather than a Ronin to be disregarded upon the sight of his grays - though it has to be said that his extensive tattoing in the Dragon fashion is likely to draw more than one eye and its fair share of attention.

 He does however remain aware of what goes on around him, floating serenly in the heated water as though it were a blood-warm void, distancing himself from his body as he gazes into the shadows of the rafters overhead, populating them with fanciful lessons from the Tao...

 ---

22:34, Today: Kedo rolled 30 using 6d10, dropping the 3 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 8,(10+3)13,7,5,9,3. Perception/Investigation(Notice).

11:24, Today: Doji Akibieden rolled 12 using 4d10, dropping the 2 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 4,2,8,2. percep/invest.

Aki allows himself to drift off in the warm embrace of the bath for a few moments.

Sakura stretched and thought. Still "hidden in plain sight", she was feeling comfortable ...

'a little too comfortable' she thought to herself as she let her senses go out and try to feel out the situation.

She really had expected 'them' to come after her last night. No matter, she had a few tricks up her sleeves ..

[Perception/Investigation (notice) You rolled 29 using 6d10+4, dropping the 4 lowest rolls, rerolling max of 1, 1, 4 & 5 ((5,1,4,8,(10+7)17,1)).]

The gossip continues as the steam fills the room and more samurai filter in and out of the bathing room.  Suddenly, you hear a commotion coming from the changing room as several black clad assassins rush in, cutting down the guards where they stand with short, straight blades.  Many of the Daidoji have no chance, as the attack comes from an unexpected direction.

OOC:  roll initiative (reflexes/insight rank) +10 to your roll if you made your perception check and take your actions; the ten assassins are taking out the Daidoji guards, of the 10 that were originally there, 3 are still alive and in any sort of shape to fight back.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:44, Wed 27 Aug 2008.

  Masashi, rolls out of the bath, grabbing his Tessen and a towel, not for his modesty but to entrap a blade with. He has a fleeting thought about gettihng his blades but there is no time so the thought is banished, though under armed he is far from unarmed.

[Private to Kaze no Kage: 00:57, Today: Seppun Masashi rolled 44 using 6d10+10, keeping the 3 highest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 5,(10+6)16,9,8,9,6. Iniative.  I think I have the correct amount of dice if not let me know, thanks.]

[10:57, Today: Daidoji Sakura rolled 42 using 7d10+10, dropping the 3 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 5,8,6,9,2,9,6. Initiative.

BTW -- how many is "several"? That will probably make a pretty big difference to me ...]

 There is movement.

 It doesn't even seem to require time to be processed before the ingrained muscle-memory of the tattooed Bushi sets him flowing from the water and diving towards the assailants, aiming to intercept the assassin closest to the partition between the male and female bathers even as the murderers blade is leaving the body of the Daidoji guardsman upon whom he's just fallen...

 Gracefully, the Dragon-ronin's hand darts low to try and intercept falling steel even as his hard-edged foot kicks high towards the killers throat, driven with brutal force towards the weak point in the foe even as his hammer would seek the weak point in forged metal...

 ...of course, it's rather slippery in here - he might not make contact.

 ---

 16:08, Today: Kedo rolled 53 using 7d10+10, dropping the 3 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 5,9,7,8,2,(10+9)19,7. Initiative (with successful perception).

 Okay, it's dangerous but I'm going to make a full attack on the assassin I think furthest from 'his buddies' and try to smack them flat. At the same time I'll perform a complex action (requiring a raise, gulp) with which I'll try to catch the Daidoji's sword before it hits the ground.

 16:16, Today: Kedo rolled 27 using 6d10+5, dropping the lowest dice only, rerolling max with rolls of 5,1,1,5,8,3. Kedo-kick! (with a Void point).

 So I hit a defence of 22. Gack. Oh well, just in case that's enough, here's damage (+1k1 for the two raises of full attack).

 16:18, Today: Kedo rolled 22 using 4d10, dropping the 2 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 7,5,6,(10+5)15. Kick damage, if any.

 And yes, that means they're looking to hit a defence of 15 and they get three free raises to play with... I so hope I put down this guy or I'm toast in the first round. ^_^

OOC:  there are 10 assassins, 3 of whom are engaged with Daidoji bushi and 1 who is engaged with Kedo; the other 7 have already taken their action for the round
damn, Kedo, if we were playing Exalted you would have earned yourself some serious stunt dice for that maneuver ^_^

16:31, Today: Doji Akibieden rolled 28 using 7d10, dropping the 3 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 8,5,4,6,9,5,3. init no perception bonus.

At the sound of attack Aki snaps to attention. The long ingrained training of a blooded soldier takes command of his body allowing his mind to access the situation. Ninja...seven down...multiple directions of attack. His mind races as he unknowingly picks up the bucket of sand next to the bath. Have to get a weapon...who is the target. He moves quickly toward one of his fallen kinsmen. Instinctively he tosses the sand from the bucket into the assassins eyes and moves past to retrieve the sword* of the fallen guard.

16:43, Today: Doji Akibieden rolled 13 using 4d10, rerolling max with rolls of 7,1,4,1. Agility + 1 void to throw sand.

*OOC:if he had a spear/naganata I would prefer that

OOC:  still waiting on actions from Sakura and Masashi ^_^

Sakura watched the action unfold and then ... waited. There would be time enough for bravado soon ...

[Spending a Void to use Blessing of Air's ability; raises her TNTBH to 25 for the next minute. Otherwise holding her action.

Don't worry, I have a plan ...]

  Masashi, pauses momentarily his mind racing and cursing, he had not heard a thing until these baka had gotten entirely to close. He needs better weapons and if he has to he will either take one form an assassin or from one of the guards who are disabled or worse. formulating a plan he moves towards the closest assassin.
[Private to Kaze no Kage: I did roll to few dice with the quick advantage but that is no matter now.  How far away is the closest assassin?? and is he looking in my direction?]

Though Kedo's kick fails to connect, he does manage to snatch up the Daidoji's katana.  The assassin's blade comes up... and then back into a defensive position, as a gloved fist strikes the yojimbo across the temple.

Doji Akibieden's attack with the sand, while ingenious, is entirely ineffective, and the black clad assassin responds with a snap kick to the head in hopes of incapacitating him before he can retrieve a real weapon.

The assassins engaged with the other guards, now that the element of surprise is gone, seem to be holding their own.  The other assassins begin moving through the assembled bathers like the wind, striking at random and fading away.  Some of the other samurai have taken up arms, but are unable to effectively engage the assassins.

Enemy TNtbH 25 (attack)
Kedo takes 15 wounds
Akibeiden takes 7 wounds (you are so lucky that guy didn't take any raises to damage)
[Private to Seppun Masashi: the assassins are not striking at random, you can see that there is a pattern but you can't identify it]

 The circular back-and-forth of battle flows for a moment between assassin and Bushi, hard-heeled foot sweeping bare inches from an exposed throat even as the killer is compelled by position and momentum to strike out with a dizzying fist rather than hard-edged steel...

 ...and connects with a wet sound of blunt impact, driving the Ronin back down through his turn to catch himself on one knee even as his hand follows through his spinning attack with a new-caught Katana clenched in its firm grip. Whilst the blow he receives makes it hard to focus clearly upon the battle at first, the weight of that same sword returns the onetime Dragon to endless lessons upon the mountains edge, first painstakingly learning the ways of the sword, and then even more painfully unlearning it all, so that the spirit will do what the mind and body cannot.

 Visualisation passes through the Ronins mind;

 Captured steel flickers upwards across his body from bottom-left to upper-right, moving in a glittering arc of air and shed water droplets that half-way through is tainted with bright crimson as it passes across a black-clad stomach before reversing for the horizontal, throat-height cut that's the utterly unecessary second stroke of the simplest killing move a new student learns with the blade, performed with grace and economy, Kedo's free hand coming up with the intention of simply plucking a second blade from a hand too weak to hold it.

---

08:49, Today: Kedo rolled 37 using 9d10+5, dropping the 5 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 8,5,9,6,5,7,2,1,8. Kedo-chop! (raise for damage).

 Right, that's one raise for skill, one from the dice. My wound penalties are countered by said skill (huzzah), so damage is:

 08:53, Today: Kedo rolled 27 using 7d10, dropping the 4 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 2,5,5,(10+3)13,5,9,1. Kedo damage.

 Ouchie.

 For my simple action, if I take him out of the fight (I hope I take him out of the fight) I'll be catching his sword before it hits the ground, arming myself to use my school techniques. ^_^

 That leaves me on -1 void, -15 wounds (no penalty), TN 15 to be hit but they get no free raises to do so this time!

[The word "risky" applies here pretty strongly ...]

Sakura grabbed the "modesty" towel and wrapped it around her head. Funny how modesty worked ... in a situation like this, she could care less what of her body others saw; as long as most of the Samurai present could not identify her or at least deny knowing who she was -- that was fine. She then stood, displaying herself prominently from her place of hiding.

"Foolish Dogs!" she yelled in a thinly disguised voice, "Do you think that you can defeat us that easily!" Once again, the disguise was more for the honor of those around her -- and her own safety -- than actual deception. The Shadows began to close in around her, wrapping themselves around her naked body like a towel.

"Run! Go back to your master! Tell him ..."

She was almost gone.

"...that we come for him next!"

And then there was nothing but shadow.

[The weakness in this technique should be obvious -- should the intimidation fail, and they see where she really is, and then they come for her she's dead (she can get out, but not until her next turn). If the GM permits (I spent a void on Intimidation) I will spend the two void for encouragement (one void point goes to an ally; Kedo I would think ...).

Intimidation: 22 + any raises for "drama". Use a void. This is her worst roll since it uses Willpower instead of awareness.
          Spell Roll: Tn 20 (Base: 15 + 1 called Raise). Two free raises (rolled 20 over). All raises go to "flash" to assist in the intimidation roll.
          Stealth (sneaking): 77 + two free raises. Per/Inv. That! ;p
          Stealth (spellcasting): 52 + 1 free raise + 20 (or 25) bonus. Hit the base TN with 3 "free" raises; or something ridiculous like 72/77 + 1 free raise if they're watching for it.

22:31, Today: Daidoji Sakura rolled 77 using 10d10, rerolling max with rolls of 7,3,9,1,(10+7)17,4,9,6,(10+8)18,3. Agility/Stealth (+2 free raises).
22:30, Today: Daidoji Sakura rolled 22 using 7d10, dropping the 5 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 9,3,(10+3)13,5,2,3,2. Willpower/Intimidation.
22:29, Today: Daidoji Sakura rolled 52 using 10d10+4, dropping the 5 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 6,3,9,(10+6)16,1,4,5,8,9,5. Stealth/Spellcasting (TN:15 or cont.).
22:34, Today: Daidoji Sakura rolled 41 using 7d10, dropping the 3 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 8,1,(10+1)11,5,6,(10+6)16,5. Void/Rank (Nothing Spell; 1 raise). ]
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:37, Sat 06 Sept 2008.

The blade of the assassin's foot strikes squarely against the side of Aki's head. His vision blurs for a moment but his mind stays focused...Sword...must get sword...His training fully takes control of his body. crouching next to his fallen comrade Aki takes up the blade raising it up in defence. From Sudwari no Tori he quickly raises to Dai Jodan his spirit filling his strike. With a short but powerful step Aki drops the blade down on his opponent, "SHI-YA" the blade sinking into the flesh of the ninja's chest and torso. As he finishes his cut he rebounds off his front foot back out to Issoku itto no maai, standing ready in Gedan no kamae.




Sudwari no tori: In a crouching position the wielder holds his sword level over his head with his left hand supporting the end of the blade.
  Sudwari=crouch  tori=arch
Dai Jodan no Kamae: Aggressive High center stance
Issoku itto no maai: From the distance of one cut, one step one cut.
Gedan no kamae: Low center stance. a waiting stance.

Current wound penalty 0 Earth 3 X 2 = 6 + 2 honor = 8 wound per rank. see daidoji yojimbo rank 1

TN=28 REF 4 + DEF 5 + Fire 3 = 28  See daidoji yojimo rank 2

11:16, Today: Doji Akibieden rolled 39 using 7d10, dropping the 3 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 3,8,1,(10+4)14,3,8,9. Aki's attack on the ninja. used 1 void that leaves me only one left for today
11:18, Today: Doji Akibieden rolled 12 using 6d10, dropping the 4 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 3,5,6,6,6,6. damage for ninja.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:01, Sun 07 Sept 2008.

Stunned by Daidoji Sakura's announcement and vaporous disappearance, the assassin's hesitate for that critical moment when Kedo and Akibeiden attack.

The assassin facing Kedo manages to bring his blade down to block the first strike, but miscalculates as the Daidoji blade cuts cleanly through his left arm and torso.  Though disarmed in the most gruesome manner possible, the assassin manages to keep enough presence of mind to prevent his innards from spilling out and retreat out of Kedo's sword range.

Akibeiden's opponent strikes out with a blade this time rather than a foot, and manages to stab deeply into the Doji's left shoulder even as Akibeiden's own weapon cuts cleanly through his right collarbone leaving his arm hanging uselessly at his side.

The remaining three Daidoji guards have taken advantage of the assassin's momentary hesitation and eliminated them.


Enemy TNtbH 25 (attack)
6 assassins remaining (7 if you count the one Kedo took out, but didn't kill)

01:06, Today: Kaze no Kage rolled 18 using 4d10, dropping the 2 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 9,9,2,1. ninja damage.
01:05, Today: Kaze no Kage rolled 36 using 8d10, dropping the 4 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 2,6,(10+4)14,8,8,4,3,5. ninja attack - Akibeiden TNtbH 25.

 Visualisation blends with reality - and there is no difference between them, save that the blade Kedo plucks from the air must be shaked free of the spasming hand of an arm no longer a part of the undoubtedly doomed killer who held it. One swift rotation through the air sheds blood from steel and then everything changes.

 Neither sword is his sword, the chisel-edged straight blade in his left hand not the Wakizashi to which he is accustomed, but the essence of the teachings of honoured Miromoto is that to overcome, one must be willing to adapt.

 Gathering himself, Kedo springs towards the partition that seperates the male half of the bathouse from the female, feet seeking and finding first a soap-hole in and then the upper edge of the gaily painted hunting scene that serves to protect the modesty of young Crane ladies from the interest of young Crane men.

 The first warning any of the killers attacking the women have after Sakura's stunning cry and disappearance is the descent of a naked, tattooed thunder-strike from heaven in their midst, a blade clenched in each fist, unstoppable and terrible.

 Kedo fights in silence, no ringing cries of energy-focus, no blood-curdling screams. Where his feet fall, he strikes. Where his eye lands, he strikes. Steel blurs about him without conscious focus as the Ronin hurls his unarmoured form into the whirlwind of battle.

 The Dragon comes down from the mountains.

 ---

 This is where it gets ugly, and I didn't realise how ugly 'till I started rolling. ^_^
 Kedo gets two attacks after leaping the partition (his move action for the round, plus one because I'm going to make raises, plus one for every person he kills with a sword. There are (assuming they split 50/50) 5 assassins on the womens side for him to land in the middle of.

 I'll put the rolls at the bottom and just deal with numbers here to try and keep it simples. Against a TN of 25, Kedo gets:

 48 (four raises for an attack, hits 28) and does 26 damage.
 58 (four raises for an attack, hits 38) and does 37 damage.
 50 (two raises for damage, hits 40) and does 24 damage.
if one dies:
 83 (two raises for damage, hits 73) and does 47 damage.
if two die:
 48 (two raises for damage, hits 38) and does 28 damage.
if three die:
 48 (two raises for damage, hits 38) and does 33 damage.

 That leaves me on -1 void, -15 wounds (no penalty), TN 33 to be hit.

 11:43, Today: Kedo rolled 48 using 9d10+18, dropping the 5 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 5,1,9,8,5,1,6,7,4. First attack (plus four raises).
 11:54, Today: Kedo rolled 26 using 7d10, dropping the 5 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of (10+3)13,1,6,7,(10+3)13,9,5. Damage 1.

 11:46, Today: Kedo rolled 58 using 9d10+18, dropping the 5 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 3,2,4,(10+10+2)22,2,5,2,7,6. Second attack with those raises.
 11:54, Today: Kedo rolled 37 using 7d10, dropping the 4 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 9,2,9,(10+9)19,1,2,7. Damage 2.

 11:47, Today: Kedo rolled 50 using 9d10+18, dropping the 5 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 1,7,6,(10+2)12,4,5,3,3,7. Technique attack (2 damage raises).
 11:55, Today: Kedo rolled 24 using 8d10, dropping the 5 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 9,3,4,2,4,7,1,8. Damage 3.

 11:47, Today: Kedo rolled 83 using 9d10+18, dropping the 5 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of (10+9)19,6,(10+2)12,3,8,1,(10+5)15,(10+9)19,3. In case someone dies.
 11:56, Today: Kedo rolled 43 using 9d10, dropping the 5 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 9,1,6,(10+2)12,5,7,4,8,(10+4)14. Damage 4.
 11:58, Today: Kedo rolled 4 using 1d10, rerolling max with rolls of 4. Oops, forgot one.

 11:52, Today: Kedo rolled 48 using 9d10+18, dropping the 5 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 9,5,9,4,3,4,7,1,2. In case someone dies 2.
 11:58, Today: Kedo rolled 28 using 8d10, dropping the 4 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 2,5,5,7,9,4,4,7. Damage 5.

 12:00, Today: Kedo rolled 48 using 9d10+18, dropping the 5 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 5,4,7,1,5,9,2,2,9. In case someone dies 3.
 12:01, Today: Kedo rolled 33 using 8d10, dropping the 4 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 8,2,9,3,5,7,9,7. Damage 5.

Sakura smiled to herself as the erstwhile Ronin proved to all present why Sakura had requested him -- and why Doji Kuwanan had approved him -- for this mission. His honor got in Sakura's way on occasion, but his skills and wisdom made it more than worthwhile.

Sakura had intended to do something a bit more ... dramatic, but now felt that unnecessary. Kedo and the others would need only a few more seconds to finish off these pretenders. All that was left, now, was for her to move ...

Keeping to the shadows, Sakura moved towards the bathhouse entryway.


[Slow, stealthy movement heading basically towards where Kedo is fighting.]

I spend 1 void to reduce damage taken to 8 that put me at 15 wounds All TNs are at +3

As the ninja's blade sinks into Aki's flesh his stance becomes like the wind bending around the attack. His sword snaps up into Cudan no Kamae as the ninja finishes his step. As Aki's shoulder rolls away from the attack minimizing the damage his own sword sinks into the belly of the oncoming ninja.



09:57, Today: Doji Akibieden rolled 16 using 5d10, dropping the 3 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 7,3,7,6,9. damage for ninja.
09:55, Today: Doji Akibieden rolled 33 using 6d10, dropping the 3 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of (10+1)11,6,2,(10+3)13,6,9. Aki's attack on the ninja.

There are screams of terror as the bloody unclothed shape of the wild yojimbo flies over the partition and splashes down among the bathers and black clad assassins.  Kedo's borrowed blades flash out once, twice, thrice, and one last time cutting down two of the unprepared assassins down in their tracks.

Akibeiden's attack hits home, cutting deeply into the assassins torso.  "You will regret this interference, Crane," the assassin hisses, retreating.

The remaining assassins, seeing their fellows cut down so easily, flee as quickly as they can.


Enemy TNtbH 25 (attack)
3 assassins remaining (4 counting the one retreating from Akibeden) 2 on the women's side, 1 on the men's[Private to Daidoji Sakura: one of the assassins passes close to you on its way out.  "There are shadows among you," the assassin whispers, "beware."]
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:58, Fri 19 Sept 2008.

 There is nothing 'easy' about the taking of a life - it is an act as profound as that of creation itself, and yet necessity drives and those who would do murder cloaked in shadows have forfeited all right to honourable consideration.

 Bodies fall away from him as Kedo rises out of the half-crouch that his leap across the dividing partition ended in, a single fluid motion that combines with a half-snap of both swords to shed honourable Daidoji steel and crude killers metal of blood before he lunges towards the first retreating man, longsword angled straight and low like a spear as it flies towards a running ankle while his other hand, almost without conscious thought snaps back, blade whirling once through the air before it's cast overarm at the further killer's retreating back...

 ---

 Okay, I'm going to try and hamstring the fellow closest to me and then I'm going to throw the nasty, dishonourable short-sword in my off-hand at the guy running away. I figure that's straight agility is that.

Hamstring (normally needs two raises, I went for three 'cause he's running).
 47 (three raises for a called shot, hits 37) and does 13 damage.

Thrown Sword.
 25 (one free raise for damage, hits 25) and does 17 damage.

 16:25, Today: Kedo rolled 47 using 9d10+13, dropping the 5 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 7,3,3,(10+5)15,5,7,1,5,3. Hamstring (2 raises plus one free).
 16:27, Today: Kedo rolled 13 using 7d10, dropping the 4 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 3,5,2,2,4,4,4. Hamstring damage.
 16:28, Today: Kedo rolled 25 using 5d10+8, rerolling max with rolls of 2,3,3,3,6. Agility plus void to throw a sword.
 16:31, Today: Kedo rolled 17 using 6d10, dropping the 4 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 6,1,1,(10+1)11,5,2. Thrown sword damage.

Moving the modesty towel from its place around her head to its proper place, Sakura allowed herself to be seen once again. The look on her face was plain, though difficult to decipher.

'They did not know who I am, but once they discovered what I can do they ... warn me? Do they know who I am? What do they suspect? What do they know?'

"I wish to speak to one of them" Sakura said aloud, "assuming they do not kill themselves on your blades ..."

'Do I have an odd sort of ally?'

Aki charges after his foe. "Honorless dog, save my blade the disgrace and fall down dead!" Aki's feet transition flawlessly from the run to the step of the cut his foot striking the floor as his blade slices through the air.

full attack one raise to strike one for damage

22:37, Today: Doji Akibieden rolled 24 using 6d10+5, dropping the 3 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 9,2,6,4,3,3. attack.

Stunned at the miss aki curses himself for being so slow. Running down the enemy was not a critical part of the spearmans training.

OCC the dice gods have turned their backs on me lately. the other day i made a new DnD character and had to reroll stats 4 times because the total bonus was negative.

Kedo's explosive attack on the assassins is a terrifying force as his borrowed katana tears a bloody furrow through the first assassin's legs and then the thrown sword buries itself in the second assassin's arm.  Both killers grunt in pain, but don't otherwise make any other sound--the first falls to the floor, unable to flee any farther, while the second jerks the blade out of his arm, and continues to retreat.

Akibeiden's target bows briefly at the exit, as if in respect to his enemies, and fades into the shadows.

 And with Kedo unwilling to stray far from the side of his charge, the wounded killer will no doubt make progress on his attempt to escape, though the blood-trail from his injury will hopefully provide some measure of aid to the Crane guardsmen now tardily drawing near - In any case Kedo's remaining sword rises and falls once more as the last remaining killer sprawls beneath him - but while it's the blade that lifts it's the pommel that descends, firmly rapping him on the back of the head to forestall any foolishness with poison needles, bitten tongues or other amateur dramatics.

 And that leaves only a blood-soaked, tattooed Bushi stood in the ruins of what mere seconds before was half of a dangerously capable assassin team and adjusting his grip on the one sword left to him to a two-handed one, smoothly taking up a protective stance between the entrance to the Bath-house and the assorted specimens of Crane womanhood that have survived the attack.

 Well, now that was exciting, wasn't it?

[Private to Kaze no Kage:  And now that I think about it, a tiny touch of metagaming enters here, though it's filtered through a mind that thinks in terms of stance and style... TN 25 means those guys were really pretty damn' good, in the absence of armour. So were they very high reflexes and defence (4 and 5 respectively) or were they trained in some sort of school technique?
 And if so, is there any chance of my recognising it, or being able to recognise that it was a technique? ^_^]
This message was last edited by the player at 02:05, Wed 24 Sept 2008.

"Thank you, Kedo-Kun" Sakura almost purred.

Sakura stopped and picked up a spare blade, something to touch the corpses with, and began a quick investigation. She moved to a random corpse and started moving cloth in a seemingly random manner. She was, of course, trying to prevent other from learning that she was looking for a Daidoji tattoo.

She suspected that she would not find one.

After her quick search, she turned toward the other pair -- the Imperial and the Crane. Her modesty towel was in position, but it was clear that she retained it for the honor of others rather than herself.

"Akibieden-San" she said politely, "when the Eta get here, I will need to closely monitor one or two of these bodies. They must all be searched for anything that will tell us more. I will personally take charge of the prisoner -- unless ..."

She then turned to Masashi.

"... unless, of course, an Imperial Magistrate or their representative takes charge instead."

"In either case" Sakura said to the trio, "The Lord of this City must be informed of this immediately. And I must question the sole survivor as soon as feasible."

Aki makes the slightest of bows to the lady. Then looking to one of the remaining guards barks, "I want this entire castle locked down right now, send word to the captains and our lord immediately. Every able bodied cranes to be armed and report for duty." Glancing to one of the serving girls, "Bring me a towel and my effects, NOW!"

"Master Kedo you certainly are a man I am glade to have on my side of a fight. It was an honor to witness such skill in battle." Aki bows to the ronin slightly more than is required.

"My lady Sakura you will be provided with whatever you need." Then to Masashi, "I trust the villains where not so stupid as to lay arms against a member of the Imperial Cort." Aki bows once more to the honored guests.

He then takes the newly arrived towel and begins the task of cleaning himself of the battle enough that he can cloth himself. All the while scanning the room. Who where they after? Aki looks over the dead and wounded to try a determine the reason for the attack.

22:54, Today: Doji Akibieden rolled 16 using 4d10, dropping the 2 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 2,8,8,5. percep/invest.

 "I was honoured to be of assistance." replies Kedo, deftly rotating his borrowed sword through a hundred eighty degrees until it points downwards and then stooping to run first one, then the other edge along the cleanest part of the clothing of the nearest killer, removing the blood that stains the blade before rising once more and answering Akibieden's bow with a slightly deeper one of his own, ever conscious of the lowly status of a gray-clad (metaphorically at the moment) wave man.

 "I am but a student of the Way, honoured Doji." he replies before offering his borrowed weapon on the palms of both hands, "If you would do me the honour of seeing that this is returned to the family of the man who bore it, along with the knowledge that its edge claimed the lives of those who threatened his charges?"

"It may not be that simple ..." Sakura replied in a whisper meant only for the three Bushi.

"Let me get my scrolls and I will see what I can do to deal with the wounded ..."

Sakura looked around, apparently distracted by something ...

[Sense Elements, Element of "Nothing", Subtly cast.

Sense Element (Nothing): 47 (I don't have my book with me so I don't know the TN ...)
Stealth(Spellcasting): 63 + free raise + a ton of bonuses (Nothing Spell, Innate Ability, ...)

20:12, Today: Daidoji Sakura rolled 47 using 7d10+4, dropping the 3 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 9,5,2,(10+8)18,8,8,7. Sense Elements (Nothing).
20:11, Today: Daidoji Sakura rolled 63 using 10d10+4, dropping the 5 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 6,3,4,4,(10+7)17,5,1,8,1,(10+10+3)23. Stealth (spellcasting; plus free raise).]

A number of servants file in bringing in the various pieces of clothing for all of the people in the bath house.

[Private to Kedo: "Samurai-dono," the still living, but hamstrung, assassin rasps after Kedo has wiped the blade clean on his clothing, "either kill me or take me prisoner, I have knowledge that may help your mistress but may also cause her some difficulties if someone else interviews me."]
[Private to Doji Akibieden: you cannot see any pattern to the killings--except that they are all samurai.  Among the dead are Crane known to you and lesser ranking samurai not known to you.  You might be able to determine more information if you search for similarities among the dead.]
[Private to Daidoji Sakura: the dead assassins are not Daidoji Harriers, but some of them do have Shadow Brands]

Aki graciously takes the sword from Kedo. "Certainly it will be done. You have brought honor to his death, his family will be made aware of it."

Looking to one of the remaining guards, "No one is to leave this place until we have a list of everyone's names and where they can be found. Also ascertain the identities of the slain and bring us a list."

 Pssst. Kaze.

 I knocked him out.

 ---

 Kedo smiles gently and answers (perhaps a little geerously) that "I did only what he would have done had not treachery struck him down." as he gives over the blade graciously and lowers his hands, before seeming to become for the first time aware of the spreading bruise on the side of his head and the general blood-sodden state of his body, which of course would demand a bath were it not for the... compromised... nature of the pools just now. Grimacing in visible distaste at his state, the Ronin takes a few paces back to acquire a clean modesty towel and begins to make such repairs to his state as can be managed whilst the elegent Crane repair matters with their usual grace.

 And yet all the while he remains quite close to Sakura, visible scrutinising each person that happens to draw close to her, a measure of his leftover attention doing much the same to others in the vicinity - you might almost think he considers the possibility that all that blood and slaughter was nothing more than a childish distraction.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:05, Thu 25 Sept 2008.

Sakura looks at bodies of the slain assassains. She is visibly troubled by something.

'Scorpion? Could it be? If they moved like this without telling me, then things are truly dire indeed ...'

"I must meditate for a minute ..."

[Private to Kaze no Kage: Does the live/captured one have a Shadow Brand?]

 Kedo suddenly looks up, his eyes thoughtful as he swings around to face Doji Akibieden, swiftly counting the assembled guards that have come running in response to the clumsy, noisy and above all else, crude assassination attempt. And when one has a loud and unsuccessful distraction, one should look to...

 Distraction.

 "Honoured Doji, the thought occurs that the target of this ill-conceived assault may not be present. If you would accept my counsel, please ensure that the majority of those Bushi who have come in response to the battle return to their posts and alert them to the possibilty that something may be amiss elsewhere in the city." the thoughtful Ronin advises swiftly, without - it must be noted - taking his own attention away from his ward, who may after all have been at the heart of things.

"No" Sakura whispered, this time even lower though loud enough for the three Bushi to hear, "the targets were here. I will explain later."

"It would probably be wise to see to the others. Perhaps a trip to the Governor would be in order ..."

Not waiting for an answer, Sakura hastily dressed and retrieved her scrolls. Kasumi had much work to do, and Sakura could not be holding her back ...

"Wisdom is always welcome Kedo-san. Orders are not." Aki says in a flat tone, more as a statement of fact than accusation. "You men there, the fight here is over. Two of you remain here to assist the survivors the rest return to your posts."

looking back at the ronin, "I greatly prefer an enemy who stands in front of me. let that man call me a coward, let him curse my house and family. The truth of it will be found in honorable combat. These treatorous dogs, they kill good men and flee into the shadows. I am certain you have avenged the honor of more men than just the daidoji who lent you his sword today. I have known many men of many stations kedo-san, I know the honorable ones when I see them." With that Aki finishes dressing himself. "You are to be armed at all times henceforth. I will speak for it, besides as I see it you carry the sword of a daidoji anyways." aki glances at Sakura-san as he finish this statement, then continues. "There are only a few men here who have rank on me now, and if this attack was indeed a diversion that list may be shorter still."

 Quite what is going on behind the calm exterior (so very calm, for one so recently in the heat of battle) of the towel-clad Ronin is anyones guess, though he accepts the statement of both observation and warning without so much as the merest hint of offence - it is after all, only proper that one should ensure that a wave man does not get above himself and so Kedo bows in gratitude for the instruction and the praise alike, ill-deserved though (in his opinion) the latter might be.

 "Perhaps." he remarks, when Sakura claims some measure of insight as to what has transpired here, indicating several bodies scattered through the water, "Those Bushi I recognise from our meeting with the Daidoji council, yet several others from the same meeting were actively avoided by the killers." - not all of the bodies he indicates are however Daidoji, nor even Crane, and of those he remarks, "Here also, specific targets - that Samurai-ko's killer evaded two Daidoji to reach her... And yet..."

 He shakes his head thoughtfully, "This is too clumsy by far. The men had no technique that I could perceive, but were excellently trained of their sort - after the fashion of the Scorpion, or perhaps more accurately after the fashion of one who wished them to appear that way. Not Bushi then, and dressed this way?" - Kedo indicates the black clothing of the men with another smooth gesture - "They could not more openly advertise their calling if they came banging drums, though there was no warning of their approaching the bath-house. I shall be interested to hear what the Eta have to say on the matter of their dress beneath such foolishness."

"Come Kedo-Kun" Sakura said, perhaps a little too quickly, "we have work to do. If the Emperor's cousin and the Captain* wish to accompany us, so be it, but we must move quickly." Sakura knew now why her cousins had done what they had done, and Sakura could feel something larger in the wind.

The war brewing was much larger than any the Lion could conjure up ...

Captain! your damn right captain. Does she forget we are not in Kyuden Doji. The title of captain has allot more weight out here on the front lines than whoever fate decided to make your parents. Strictly speaking there are only a dozen or so men I need answer to now. If if I do run into a snag with a self richeous courtier I can simply defer to one of them and ignore the matter on grounds of military precedence.

The ronin at lest should understand. That man kills his enemies, and right now are enemies are the same. I would put my own sword in his hands if I could, the ronin can cut where I cannot. In the end we will probably all be dead within the week anyways.

Aki's dark thoughts continue as he walks with the group toward the lords chambers. He stops only long enough to repeat his orders to the bushi in the bath house. He wants that list of names.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:58, Fri 26 Sept 2008.

 Kedo inclines his head towards Sakura and hastily moves to do what he can to repair his appearance with clean towels and a bucket of untainted water freshly drawn, though without the time given for a more thorough job, he's going to be about the only person ever to come out of a Crane bathouse more grubby than when he went in - though since the 'grubby' mostly consists of other peoples blood, it's probably not going to be something he gets called on any time soon.

 "That one lives, may I suggest that he be kept unconscious under guard until such time as it is possible for Shugenja to prevent him from taking his own life, then interrogated vigorously?" he suggests diffidently, indicating the last killer that he ran down before the final two escaped as he pulls on his clothing, still damp from having been swiftly laundered whilst he bathed (when you have one set of grays, you wear it as hard as you need to) and places himself alongside Sakura, ready to move out (he'll grab his Daisho at the door).

Unaware of the still living ninja until this moment aki stares at the still breathing pile of a man. "Call the eta to bind a gag that man. He is to be placed under guard. I want at least four men on him at all times. If their is no suitable place for this dog to be held than have the servants dig a hole and throw him in." 

OCC I didn't know if their was a dungeon here or not. Considering the punishment for most crimes is either "we kill you or you kill yourself" I really don't see the need for a formal detention area. Although I guess there would have to be a place to torture people for confessions.

"I will be interrogating him myself" Sakura said. She waited for Kedo to become a bit more presentable before moving on to where she expected to find the Lord of the City.

'I hate leaving him here like this' she thought to herself, 'but there is little I can do for now. Besides, if he is as well trained as I think he is he'll get away on his own.'

Then she was off to see the governor.

As you approach the offices of Doji Kasarugi, you notice the conspicuous absence of any guards.  Entering into his suite, it becomes clear that even his ever present trio of yojimbo--Daidoji Kanna, Daidoji Mari, and Daidoji Macchi--are nowhere to be seen.

"This does not bode well" Sakura said aloud. She would not tell the Bushi to be on guard, as they would undoubtedly do this without her suggestion.

Sakura stopped, listening and looking for anything of use to tell where the governor was ...

[I'm kinda lost here ...]

OOC:  sorry, this was supposed to be tension generating, but it looks like it failed ^_^;;;

You enter into Doji Kasarugi's main office and you see a sight of horror.  Three Daidoji lay dead, Unicorn scimitars clutched in their hands.  Doji Kasarugi is seriously wounded, but a strange looking samurai bearing the mon of the Asako seems to be tending to his injuries.  A Unicorn shugenja, bearing the mon of the Moto, is also present along with a still bleeding Satoru.  The four of them are gathered around the dead body of one of the Daidoji.

you can now post in the Lady Doji's Shrine thread