int + traps result of 19, plus raises is 34, if that's how you want to work it.

Sakura stayed to the side, allowing her Yojimbo to take care of the issues.

Kumi and the ji-samurai have outdone themselves with the construction of their barracade--the Lion will be in for an extremely unpleasant surprise when they try and fail to pass this particular barrier.

OOC:  your next location is a fall back point where the Asahina shugenja are preparing medical supplies in preparation for the wounded.  This is also where Daidoji Sayuri will rejoin the game ^_^

Sakura led the way to where the shugenja were preparing. Probably the most vulnerable part of the city because of their pacifistic nature, she was quite concerned ...

Kumi fell in beside Sakura, her mind, as always, on the coming violence and her part in it.
The Asahina could preach their pacifism all they liked, it would have no impact on this particular bloodthirsty Daidoji.

Daidoji Sakura and Daidoji Kumi come upon the Medic Station and find three very different situations occurring simultaneously.  Asahina shugenja are rushing around preparing scrolls as well as more mundane methods of dressing wounds.  Separately, several Kakita and Daidoji bushi are clustered around a table discussing defensive tactics.  Meanwhile, there is an extremely loud argument going on between a fussy little Asahina shugenja and a Daidoji bushi, while a familiar face--Daidoji Sayuri--looks on.

"Asahina Makuro-sama," the Daidoji snarls, "I understand your objections, but I am trying to assure your safety and the safety of your patients!"

"Obviously you don't understand, Tsuchiya-kun," the Asahina shugenja sputters, "otherwise you wouldn't keep insisting on bringing violence and bloodshed into my temple...such that it is," he gestures to the medical tent that provides shelter, but is easily transportable, "you keep your bushi outside unless they're bleeding!  I won't have you using this place as a battle ground!"

Sayuri stepped between the two with a giggle and an adorable smile. "Tsuchiya-chan, please? We don't have a lot of space in here, and we need your men outside to watch for danger." Leave the hard nose for Makuro-sama; Sayuri would turn on the sweetness-and-honey.

"Not to mention the distractions that you would cause each other, ne?"

Sakura did not introduce herself properly. There wouldn't really be any need for that, and it would probably just get in the way in any event.

"If I might be blunt, the problem of safety might be better solved with other means, ne? Barriers, decoy tents ..."

She was not trying to sound stupid, but she was making it clear that this was not her specialty.

"... and other such strategic details that Kumi-Kun is more trained in than I. We can keep your troops outside the hospital tent and provide excellent protection."

"Probably even better then if you were in here with them, ne Kumi-Kun?"

Kumi gave a disinterested half shrug.

"Bushi would be more valuable manning defences around the perimeter, while the Asahina stand ready to evacuate when the Daidoji deem the fighting to be uncomfortably close.

"Once the Lion have penetrated among the tents they will have such numbers that any bushi stationed within the tents will be overcome, leaving the Lion to execute any wounded that they find; though we might rely on their honour to not cut down the priests."

Kumi's bloodless tone suggested that whether the Asahina lived or died was nothing to her.

"We might demolish these peasant's houses to secure material to construct a rudimentary pallisade." She gestured towards the nearby buildings.

"Fine!  Fine!" the squad leader replies, throwing up his hands in frustration, "but if you are slain, Asahina-dono, don't complain to me in Tengoku!"

"Daidoji-san," he says, in a more respectful and moderated tone to Daidoji Kumi, "I have men prepared to do just that, but I fear to cut off the lines of retreat to this area from the front, as the wounded will be coming here."

Kumi squinted critically at the area.

"I see your concern. We are not trying to build the Kaui wall here, we have neither the time nor the materials, so a rudimentary barrier will have to suffice. Perhaps two overlapping walls, in that space" she gestured to one of the larger breaks in the buildings. "With a crooked path between through which the wounded might pass in good order, but which we will block with rubble when the Lion are sighted. The other buildings might also be collapsed to impede the Lion advance as the Asahina fall back."

Sayuri spoke up. "Why block the hole, so to speak?" she asked. "Couldn't you block it with men, turn it into a killing path?"

"As fun as that sounds, the Lion will have more men than us, so in a straight battle of attrition they will win. We must fight where we can from a position of tactical superiority. Heavens know, where we do secure a tactical advantage it won't last long." Kumi frowned.

"See to it," the Daidoji squad leader orders his men, before turning back to Kumi, "our advantage lies in being able to force the Lion into the channels that we want and being able to kill more of them faster than they can do the same to us," he shrugs, "it's not a strategy that I'd like to try out on the plains, but it's one that's worked well for the Dragon in their mountains and it's one that I think will work here."

"It will work, provided the Lion troops follow the paths we have set out for them. Unfortunately, city streets do not offer the same reassuring solidity as the Dragons' mountains. We must hope they do not force their own path - and adapt when they do - since we can be certain they shall not retreat."

"Do not be so certain" Sakura interjected. She had watched quietly, tactics not being her specialty, but there were ways to make the Lion retreat. They were not Crane ways, but the ways existed.

"The Fortunes may yet deliver a victory without blood. Prepare for the worst, but always allow for good fortune."

Sakura could do it herself, but the risk would probably be to great.

Probably.

"Of course, Daidoji-san," the Daidoji replies to Sakura, "I would greatly appreciate the opportunity for all of the survivors of the Clan War to see another year.  But sometimes the Fortunes do not smile."

"We have set some...obstacles for the Lion, in case they decide to diverge from the plan," he says to Kumi, "a few are traditional--baracades and the like--but we have also weakened the floors of the buildings along their path.  If the Lion should choose to make their way through the residences, they will find themselves in basements full of spears."

Kumi gave a narrow smile at the information.
"You seem to have everything in hand here now, Daidoji-san. May the Fortunes see to it that we meet again to share our tales of fighting over a warm cup of saki."

OOC: I'm not really sure what I'm supposed to do here. It seems we are mostly done.

Then let's move on to the next location!

Kumi bowed in farewell to the gathered guards and returned to her charge's side.

"I believe matters are now in hand here, Daidoji-sama. Where to next?"

For the next several hours, the Daidoji Trio of Kumi, Sakura, and Sayuri travel across the width and breadth of Toshi Ranbo refining strategy, discussing tactics, and and creating new ways to make the life of the Lion as short and unpleasant as possible.  This pattern would most certainly have continued if a young messenger had not arrived to inform Sakura of a rather important arrival.

"Daidoji Sakura-sama," the young peasant says breathlessly, "there is a troop of Scorpion at the southern gate and the Governor requests that you go to speak with them."

Sakura nodded to the messenger. "Please tell the Governor I will see to it immediately." Sakura then turned to her two companions.

"Time for a detour."

Sakura made her way to the Scorpion contingent, confident that the other two would follow.

Sayuri followed along at Sakura's heels, quietly clutching her medicines and scroll satchel.

Kumi's expression became even more sullen. Scorpions. What price would they extract for their help? In all likelyhood it would be greater than the cost of losing the city to the Lion. And Scorpions were difficult to kill.

Still, now was not the time to lose focus. Her duty laughably demanded she accompany the shugenja wherever she went, so follow she did. The mornings experience at least reassured Kumi that come the battle she would not be stuck in the rear watching over a soft priest. Sakura, it seemed, liked to get her hands dirty.

The three of you are quickly ushered to the southern gates of Toshi Ranbo.  On the other side of the gate, under an open pavilion drinking tea, sit the governor, the Daidoji commander, and a Scorpion dressed in great armor with a steel mempo depicted a horse-faced demon of some variety--presumably this is the commander of the Scorpion forces currently present.  Standing, watching everyone and everything warily are the various assorted yojimbo.

OOC:  move to Chapter 8 - Helping Hands