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.