Toyozo exhales sizing up his opponent.

[Private to GM: 16:42, Today: Doji Toyozo rolled 31 using 9d10, dropping the 5 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 7,4,7,9,5,8,3,1,4. Assesment with 3 raises.
Give me the three traits Void, Reflexes, and Agility I think, and his Iajutsu rank.  I believe those are what I can look up, though I must admit my book is back at home right now.]

Kedo successfully defends himself against his opponents' brutally efficient attacks as he ducks into a nearby building.  Within the ricepaper and wood walls are a pair of women, masked as thieves, riffling through the goods of what appears to be a moderately successful kimono shop.  One of them stops to look at the intruder--as if they, not he, were supposed to be there.

"I know you!" one of the women cries, "you're that ronin from the bath house!  Eep!"  She is interrupted by the sudden entrance of Matsu Arukage and his nodachi.  With a wild Lion cry, the Matsu charges, swinging wildly at the grey clad savior of the bath house.  Meanwhile, Matsu Shigarami begins clearing a path for himself by applying his tetsubo upon the shoji with good effect.

OOC 23:12, Today: Kaze no Kage rolled 49 using 9d10, dropping the 5 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of (10+8)18,(10+7)17,1,6,2,5,1,8,2. Matsu attack.

---
The Ikoma is no foolish Matsu, to allow rage to cloud his focus.  Dispite his foolish demeanor, he is well prepared for a duel of this caliber.

OOC Void 3, Reflexes 4, agility 4, Iaijutsu 5

 The leap up and back carries Kedo free of the rending sweep of the No-Dachi, his pirouetting sidestep with a circling flash of steel that distracts rather than parries wards him from the Tetsubo and in a moment he's through the door, a few seconds grace bought in the tangle of pressing Lions as they race after him, in which he can offer a chiding "Unless those are to be torn for bandages for the fallen, you shame yourselves in this, what bene... Excuse me."

 The break-off of course is caused by a towering Matsu berserker shouldering through the door with the express intention of seeing Kedo spit like a war-banner, and there's time only for a small bob of the head from the Ronin towards the ladies before he's turning back to engage, giving over a little of his focus on defence in order to strike swiftly and lethally, Wakizashi moving in a straight-arm thrust to ward not the No-Dachi but the arm that holds it, while his Katana reverses in his hand to flashe out from right to left at midriff-height between Kusazuri and Do then returning at shoulder height in an effort to end the threat from one Matsu before the second can reach him.

[Private to GM:  My first blow is 51 to hit (one raise from my skill, one from the roll) and 46 damage.
 My second blow is 45 to hit (likewise), 33 damage.
 My defence however, is down to 38 when I attack so if Matsu Attack comes this round, before my initiative (when I very much hope I drop them) I'm going to get smeared. ^_^

10:50, Today: Kedo rolled 56 using 9d10+13, dropping the 5 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 4,9,8,6,2,7,2,(10+8)18,8. #1 One raise for damage.
10:51, Today: Kedo rolled 46 using 7d10, dropping the 4 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of (10+5)15,(10+4)14,8,1,2,9,(10+7)17. #1 Damage (one raise, one free raise).

10:51, Today: Kedo rolled 50 using 9d10+13, dropping the 5 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 2,1,8,(10+1)11,9,1,9,6,2. #2 One raise for damage.
10:51, Today: Kedo rolled 33 using 7d10, dropping the 4 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 6,5,9,3,3,3,(10+8)18. #2 Damage (one raise, one free raise).]

kedo's bout with the two Matsu does not even register to Toyozo. The world falls away as he takes in his opponent and no one else.

Void shall be his stat, what shall mine be?

"I believe we are done here," Ikoma Kazeguruma stands, ending the duel, "I look forward to meeting you in the upcoming Court, Doji-san," the Lion bows, "assuming the both of us survive the next few hours."

As Kazeguruma's voice pierces Toyozo's focus, he hears a sharp cry of pained anger cut off by a terrible gurgling gasp.

***

Kedo's blades strike home, streaks of red red blood exploding along the walls.  Arukage struggles to raise his blade to strike at the vulnerable ronin, but cannot even keep his feet.  Slowly the Lion sinks to his knees, unintelligible curses spilling from his lips along with flecks of blood.

"Arukage!" Shigarami screams, his tetsubo crashing through the last of the obstacles in his way, "Ronin!  Prepare to die!"

Initiative 17
TNtbH 50

 Stomach and throat open in the same half-second of flashing steel, Kedo's sword sending arcing crescents of blood and worse splashing across paper walls and wooden floors alike, bleeding the strength from the raging Matsu's counter-strike in the tiny sliver of time that his maneuvering has opened up between the two Lion's relentless assault. He leaps back from the smashing descent of the Tetsubo, centers himself and lunges back, seeking to end the fight before it can be raised again, both blades striking forwards with unchecked agression, aiming to take the raging Bushi from his feet in a while of swift-striking steel.

 His leading sword slides through a chink in the Matsu's armour low on the chest, while his second scores a jagged line along the laquered steel and fails to penetrate, leaving the Ronin momentarily vulnerable...

[Private to GM:  Initiative 45
 TNTBH 38, but he has three free raises.
 Aggressive attack (lowering the DC to hit him by 10 and using 1 for extra damage, which adds to my existing free raise for an additional 1k1)

11:02, Today: Kedo rolled 45 using 9d10+13, keeping the 4 highest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 4,4,8,7,8,7,7,9,1. #1 Aggressive (2 damage, 2 to hit).
11:04, Today: Kedo rolled 47 using 7d10, keeping the 3 highest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of (10+9)19,3,4,(10+9)19,9,2,3. #1 Damage (1 raise, one free raise).

11:02, Today: Kedo rolled 37 using 9d10+13, keeping the 4 highest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 7,2,2,5,5,1,7,5,3. #2 Aggressive (2 damage, 2 to hit).
 Attack misses!]

Toyozo relaxes out of his stance and gives the Ikoma a short bow.  He looks to Kedo and holds back his instinct to charge to his defense.  No, this is Kedo's battle, only if he falls or another engages will I risk dishonoring his skill.

Matsu Shiragami coughs as Kedo's blade enters his chest, piercing a lung, blood flecking his lips.

"I'll kill you, you grey bastard," the Lion hacks out, raising his tetsubo with weakening arms, "if it's the last thing I do."

However, his attack fails to connect, the tetsubo thumping solidly on the ground.

12:52, Today: Kaze no Kage rolled 12 using 9d10-20, dropping the 5 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 1,1,5,3,7,3,2,(10+6)16,4. Attack Kedo.

TNtbH 35

 The samurai is a man who is dead. His life is the property of his Lord to be spend or hoarded according to the needs of family and clan... But a Ronin has no family, no clan. His life is therefore worth nothing and his honour similarly without value. That is the attitude that has grown up since the appearance of wave-men across the Empire... but it is not necessarily a traditional one merely because it is widespread.

 The Miromoto (for example) tend to feel that the final arbiter of the value of a Samurai's life is determined by the manner in which that life was lived - a harsh judgement perhaps, but one that has led them to better relations with wandering swordsmen than most, and something of that attitude has rubbed off on Kedo, which means that while his heart is town with sympathy his mind is filled with disgust for a man who cannot die with grace.

 It is his heart which is ascendant however, and so as his blade whispers from the pierced body of his lion foe he gently whispers "Sleep now Matsu Shiragami, and know that you served your family with honour." as his sword whistles around in a keen-edged sweep designed to separate head form body as cleanly and swiftly as possible, while the grey-armoured Bushi steps in in and past the foe, aiming to avoid the inevitable splatter if his blow strikes true.

 ---

22:43, Today: Kedo rolled 43 using 9d10, keeping the 4 highest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 2,2,2,8,9,8,(10+8)18,2,7. Kedo, chop! (one raise for damage).

22:44, Today: Kedo rolled 20 using 7d10, keeping the 3 highest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 8,2,4,7,5,1,4. Damage.

Seeing the other two Lion Bushi dead or near death, Toyozo calls to the Ikoma, "I believe that concludes things here Ikoma-san.  You may of course head back to your lines or stay here until the battle has past and we are to begin collecting our dead."

Like Arukage before him, Matsu Shigarami falls to the sweep of Kedo's blades.  He dies standing upright, his head falling from his shoulders before his body strikes the ground.  Kedo's grey remains so, unblemished by the blood of the fallen.

***

"I believe that I shall head back to our own lines, Doji-san," Ikoma Kazeguruma replies, inclining his head politely, "to bring word of Shigarami and Arukage's deaths to their families.  I expect that they will be comforted by the fact that they fell in battle to a superior foe.  You, Doji-san, I expect to face upon the battlefield of Winter Court, so do not die before then.  I am known to fight my own duels, and I will be training with you in mind."

With a final bow, the remaining Lion bushi departs from the field of battle.

 In the shattered remains of the kimono shop, Kedo pauses to take up a length of moderate-quality cloth and wipe both his swords before putting them away, looking about him for the two women he caught in the act of theft as he does so - and rather predictably discovering them to have employed discretion over valour when a trio of warring Bushi stormed through the door and wall.

 He then steps out of the store and down the steps, one Ronin returning where three Bushi hastened away, pausing to offer a deep and respectful bow to Ikoma Kazeguruma as the third Lion conducts himself in a manner both honourable and courageous, mention of the fallen Bushi's families stirring him to remark "They fought with great courage and determination. In death, as in life, they were Lions." for what little comfort it might offer.

In reply to Kaze no Kage (msg #128):

"Until Winter Court then." Toyozo says simply.  He gives a nod to Kedo, "Well fought Kedo-san. Your legend grows amongst the Lion no doubt."

"To fall while facing a worthy opponent is second in honor only to success," the Ikoma bows, "you may be certain that their tales will have a conclusion worthy of their end.  Until Winter Court, where I expect to face the two of you in a different sort of conflict."

 Rising out of his bow, Kedo breaks into a wry, boyish smile for a moment and remarks "I am accumulating a number of social obligations at the Winter Court today... I only hope that I have the fortune to be able to meet them.", which is as close as he's likely to come to acknowledging the giddy adrenaline-thrill of being alive when your foes are not.

 Rejoining Toyozo, he glances back over his shoulder for a moment, seeking a flash of Daidoji colours and then suggests politely to the Crane "With the barricade here secure I expect there will be archers of our own to hold it in due course... Would you care to chose a place where we might make our presence felt?"

Toyozo gives a small nod and glances around the city.  Trying to get a feel for the flow of battle.

[Private to Kaze no Kage; Kedo: What does it look like currently on the field of battle?  Would you like me to roll battle? And isn't Akimitsu supposed to be nearby?]

Just from a cursory observation, it is clear that the battle is going well for the Crane and poorly for the Lion.  What had been an aggressively staged advance on the part of the Lion, now seemed to be a cautious retreat.

OoC:  if you'd like more detailed information, you can make a perception/battle roll.
Yes, akimitsu was supposed to be around, but his player seems to have disappeared. :-(

Toyozo looks around and frowns. It is painful for him to say this... "I yield to your judgement, Kedo-san." he says thru a great feat of keeping his On.

Ha,
16:54, Today: Doji Toyozo rolled 11 using 2d10 with rolls of 7,4. Perception/Battle roll.

 If Kedo notices that he is being consulted due to a failure of perception upon his companions part rather than as a simple courtesy he gives no indication of it and instead gives a swift, deep bow before looking about him, eyes lingering for a moment on an arrow-feathered bodies of Lion messengers laying atop the debris of earlier battle, ears picking up the sounds of engagement drums outside the walls... And assessing accordingly.

 "Thankyou Toyozo-san... as I am sure you are aware, the Lion are engaged heavily within the city and it seems as though our allies have arrived... Shall we then go and see if it is possible to further disrupt their plans with a visit to their commander?" - he indicates the street ahead, beyond which lies the breach in the wall with a wakizashi-filled hand.

Toyozo nods. "You continue to prove a worthy addition to the Crane's forces, Kedo-san." Toyozo says as he moves off in that direction.

 "You are more generous than I deserve, Toyozo-san." replies the architect of the defence plan for Toshi Ranbo softly, with the typically soft-spoken, grey-clad Dragonish humility that's all the more frustrating because they have an annoying tendency to believe in it, "I am here only to remind some few people of who they always were, and to perhaps learn something of Steel. The strength of the Crane is and always was what shall carry this day."

Doji Toyozo and Kedo advance on the Lion.  As they make their way to convince the Lion commander that his presence in Toshi Ranbo was unwelcome, they see a number of ashigaru being dispatched to the ever advancing front.

OOC:  I'm taking a page out of the 7th sea book, so these ashigaru only take a successful hit to take out, no need to roll damage--so feel free to take raises for extra attacks per round.

Every round more ashigaru will arrive, so as long as you take out all of them, you can advance in that round, if you don't then you're stalled until you're overwhelmed by numbers or you get past them.  Think of it like those chains of enemies being cut down by a single samurai ^_^

Current Ashigaru count:  3
TNtbH:  13

 Permitting his companion precedence, Kedo automatically falls into position on Toyozo's flank, swords at the ready to face the charge and attempt to slice a path through whatever portion of the onrushing foe successfully passes his steel.

 With the Crane heading forwards to engage, Kedo takes his flank and wards it, moving to bring his blades into position to intercept threats to his companion and - when opportunity allows - slice through the bodies and limbs of the courageous, but ultimately outclassed Lion Ashigaru.

 ---

 Ceding initiative to Toyozo, I'll try and carve through what's left.

[Private to GM:  I hate to say this... but at their TbHN it's not possible for Kedo to miss. He gets two attacks a round, bonuses to make the raises for more and whenever he kills someone, he gets a free attack. I can't quite bring myself to glory in slaughtering brave, but hopeless foes so do you mind handling Kedo's part of backing up Toyo narratively?]
This message was last edited by the player at 17:19, Tue 13 Mar 2012.

Toyozo nods and lunges forward he strikes down the first ashigaru and follows thru slashing upward at a second target.

[Private to Kaze no Kage; Kedo: With higher initiative (which I assume I have) I get extra raises so my second swing would still hit the second guy. First swing was obviously a hit.
12:52, Today: Doji Toyozo rolled 49 using 9d10, dropping the 5 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 7,(10+9)19,(10+4)14,1,4,9,3,2,7.
12:52, Today: Doji Toyozo rolled 8 using 9d10-20, dropping the 5 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 1,4,1,2,9,9,3,2,6. 4 raises for 2nd attack against 2nd ashi.]

OOC moving you guys to group 1, the Lion Crisis for the climax