The drums of the Lion army can be heard well before they are sighted on the horizon.  Rank upon rank of yellow clad bushi march in coordinated step across the plain towards Toshi Ranbo.  Chants praising the history of the Lion echo across the fields until the armies pause outside the walls of the city.

"Children of Doji!" the Lion commander shouts, "the Lion come to claim what is rightfully theirs, taken by treachery!  Either surrender honorably or prepare to meet your ancestors!"

"The Crane have held Toshi Ranbo for generations against the Lion!" Doji Kasarugi replies, his voice enhanced by Asahina magic, "we have held it in battle and in court, if you want it, come and claim it in battle!"

In all reality, Takashi was paying little attention to the grand posturing of the Crane and Lion.  He had a job to do, and was moving into position to perform it swiftly so he could move on to introducing Lion to his Soul.  After several deep breaths, he quietly began to move, preparing for what was next to come.

Toyozo said a silent prayer to his ancestors. His hand floated over his blade waiting for the first sign of his enemy.

Expecting no less from their old enemies, the Lion begin their inexorable advance upon Toshi Ranbo.  The Crane lining the walls put up a token resistance, firing several volleys of arrows into the Lion ranks, but the out pouring of Crane the the Lion had been expecting to flood out of the city never materializes.  Never one to be cautious the Matsu general orders his warriors into the apparently defenseless city...and the battle for Toshi Ranbo wo Shien Shite Reigisaho begins.

At your position in one of the first choke points--a wide street that, with the strategic placement of barricades, now wanders back into itself, you see the first wave of Lion Ashigaru approaching.

OOC:  roll initiative

Toyozo did not move outwardly but his spirit shifted as he awaited his foes, it would not be long now.

[Private to Kaze no Kage: 00:32, Today: Doji Toyozo rolled 37 using 7d10, dropping the 3 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 8,3,4,6,9,7,(10+3)13. init.
Add a 10 to it as a result of the Rank 1 ability of the kakita school and I have a 47.
Please let me know when it is my turn to act whose initiative score I beat by ten or more. Thanks.]

Takashi's eyes narrowed as he waited for the first wave.

[Private to GM: 22 initiative, swapping with person closest to me that is higher than myself via combat reflexes]

 For the first time since he came to Toshi Ranbo, Kedo is dressed in the simple armour that he's carried about with him in his small bundle of possessions, the plates and straps laquered and died a clear, plain pearl-grey without emphasis or mon and utterly without any evidence of ever having possessed any.

 He's been passing the time waiting for the assault to begin by delicately sharpening his sword and discussing the philosophy of smithcraft with the Crane bushi alongside whom he's been privilaged to be permitted to fight, and with the onrush of the first wave of Lion settles himself into a defensive posture on one flank, eyes unfocused, breathing slow and steady.

 ---

 01:57, Today: Kedo rolled 21 using 7d10, dropping the 4 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 2,8,1,6,1,3,7. Initiative.

Separated by the maze that Toshi Ranbo has become, only eight ashigaru make it to the position where Kedo, Takashi, and Toyozo are making their stand.

"FOR THE LION!" the ashigaru cry as they catch sight of the first enemies within the walls that they have encountered and charge towards the three samurai.

Inititive:  10
TNtbH:  15
all three of you act before the eight ashigaru, please post your actions
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:49, Tue 21 Dec 2010.

Takashi's eyes narrow as he sees the eight ashigaru.  His hand moves slowly to his katana as he closes in on one of them, drawing it with a brilliant flash.  Perhaps, in this case, the flash was simply too much, and he found that his swing simply lacked the killing efficiency he desired out of it, sliding off of the armor of the ashigaru.

[Private to GM: 00:01, Today: Bayushi Takashi rolled 15 using 8d10, keeping the 3 highest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 4,3,3,6,5,2,1,2. Free raise-damage, 3 raises damage.
00:00, Today: Bayushi Takashi rolled 42 using 8d10+11, keeping the 3 highest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 5,7,7,9,(10+1)11,1,(10+1)11,6. Iaijutsu-fast draw blade.

TN to be hit is 35]
This message was last edited by the player at 05:03, Sun 19 Dec 2010.

 Kedo, separated for the moment from the companions he'd agreed to stand beside by the necessity of covering this side-street, smoothly draws both swords as the Ashigaru line closes, letting them nestle lightly in his hands, balanced to strike as the charge goes in, waiting until the very last moment before he steps out and forwards on Bayushi Takashi's left flank with a call of "Hold them in the centre while I disrupt their line!"

 The first blow is directed along the line of the charge, aimed underneath a striking spear that's deflected high by his wakizashi, intended to come out of the midriff of the charging man, reverse and dart back at neck-height, finishing him and clearing enough space for an attack upon the Ashigaru immediately behind him, who is met by a clumsier but still heavy blow that if it should hit ought to shatter armour and bone alike as it passes through an extended shoulder before a stop-thrust finishes its object...

 ...and who could have expected a Crane city to be warded by a student of Miromoto?

 ---

 Alright. Everyone on my side gets +1k1 to initiative.

 Then Kedo hits 46, 30 & 21. If any of those blows drop someone he hits 61 & 51 with his free 'someone died' blows. Those hits do 23, 19, 21, 16 & 22 respectively, except that I forgot to roll the four raises on 3 and the two each on 4 & 5. Oh well, I'm sure you'll figure it out boss.

[Private to GM:  14:55, Today: Kedo rolled 36 using 8d10, dropping the 5 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of (10+2)12,6,2,5,5,3,(10+8)18,3. Tactical check.
 Everyone gets +1K1 initiative, in case that matters. ^_^

 15:01, Today: Kedo rolled 26 using 8d10, dropping the 4 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 4,7,6,7,2,3,6,6. Initiative after the strike.

 And then, some hits:
 I get a free raise, so both the main hits are at +3 raises in order to give me a third attack. If any blow kills someone, I get one extra attack per kill.

 15:04, Today: Kedo rolled 61 using 9d10+13, dropping the 5 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 8,4,9,6,(10+9)19,6,6,(10+2)12,8. First attack, three raises.

 15:06, Today: Kedo rolled 45 using 9d10+13, dropping the 5 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 9,6,8,4,1,1,8,5,7. Second attack, three raises.

 15:06, Today: Kedo rolled 36 using 9d10+13, dropping the 5 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 2,4,2,9,3,6,3,4,3. Third attack, three damage raises.

15:10, Today: Kedo rolled 66 using 9d10+13, dropping the 5 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 1,6,5,5,(10+7)17,7,(10+9)19,9,8. And if someone dies... 1 (1 raise).

15:10, Today: Kedo rolled 55 using 9d10+13, dropping the 5 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 9,5,1,2,9,(10+8)18,5,2,6. And if someone dies... 2 (1 raise).

15:14, Today: Kedo rolled 23 using 6d10, dropping the 4 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 3,8,7,(10+4)14,9,7. Damage.
15:14, Today: Kedo rolled 19 using 6d10, dropping the 4 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 5,2,1,(10+1)11,8,3.
15:14, Today: Kedo rolled 21 using 6d10, dropping the 4 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 6,(10+3)13,8,1,1,1.
15:14, Today: Kedo rolled 16 using 6d10, dropping the 4 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 7,9,3,1,6,1.
15:14, Today: Kedo rolled 22 using 6d10, dropping the 4 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 7,7,(10+4)14,7,1,8. ]

[Private to GM: With an Initiative of 37 I get two free raises against these guys.
My TN to be hit is 30, 20+ 5 for lt armor + 5 for ranks in defense.
So First I draw my blade for free as per iaijutsu:
Doji Toyozo rolled 28 using 9d10, dropping the 5 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 9,2,6,5,1,6,5,7,1. iai draw katana.
Next I will strike with my katana, taking into account the two free raises for the higher initiative I will make two raises for a +1k1 of damage for the strike.
Doji Toyozo rolled 39 using 9d10+10, dropping the 5 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 3,6,7,2,2,7,9,2,1. Strike w/ katana w/ 2 raises for Damage.
AND ACTUALLY forgot about my Kakita blade which gives me an additional 1k1 for attacks...
Doji Toyozo rolled 4 using 1d10, rerolling max with rolls of 4. Extra die for attack K Blade. SO A TOTAL OF 43 to hit.
And damage:
Doji Toyozo rolled 25 using 6d10, keeping the 3 highest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 5,(10+1)11,1,8,6,5. damage. ]

Toyozo steps to the Bayushi's right flank, drawing his blade with a quick and practiced motion. His eyes lock on a single ashigura and all else fades away as his blade swings in an upward arc, hip to shoulder of his target.

The ronin's sudden explosive charge totally disrupts the Lion line, a fact that Bayushi Takeshi and Doji Toyozo quickly take advantage of.  Kedo's blades quickly bring down two of the outmatched Lion ashigaru and badly injure a third.  Takeshi and Toyozo are no less accurate with their iaijutsu technique, if somewhat less effective.

The one of the three injured ashigaru sallies forth bravely alongside their uninjured peers, two of them--cripplied by their injuries--attempt to fall back.  The remaining ashigaru are amazingly successful, managing to injure the three outnumbered samurai.


Kedo takes 19 wounds
Bayushi Takashi takes 12 wounds
Doji Toyozo takes 25 wounds

Ashigaru 1:  Hurt +10
Ashigaru 2:  Crippled +20
Ashigaru 3:  Down +40
Ashigaru 4:  Healthy
Ashigaru 5:  Healthy
Ashigaru 6:  Healthy

23:33, Today: Kaze no Kage rolled 25 using 5d10, dropping the 3 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 1,7,5,3,(10+8)18. Ashigaru 6 damage.
23:33, Today: Kaze no Kage rolled 36 using 8d10, dropping the 4 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 9,(10+1)11,3,3,9,2,7,3. Ashigaru 6 attack Doji Toyozo.
23:32, Today: Kaze no Kage rolled 19 using 5d10, dropping the 3 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 6,(10+2)12,6,6,7. Ashigaru 5 damage.
23:31, Today: Kaze no Kage rolled 53 using 8d10, dropping the 4 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 2,7,(10+6)16,(10+10+1)21,3,7,2,9. Ashigaru 5 attack Kedo.
23:31, Today: Kaze no Kage rolled 12 using 5d10, dropping the 3 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 1,8,3,2,4. Ashigaru 4 damage.
23:30, Today: Kaze no Kage rolled 56 using 8d10, dropping the 4 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 8,6,(10+10+9)29,(10+2)12,4,7,4,6. Ashigaru 4 attack Bayushi Takashi.
23:29, Today: Kaze no Kage rolled 19 using 8d10-10, dropping the 4 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 3,1,3,7,9,4,6,7. Ashigaru 1 attack Bayushi Takashi.

Takashi seems to completely ignore the effects of the strike that lands on him, his focus looking more towards the blade that just missed him.  Capitalizing on the opening caused by the miss, his weapon sings towards the ashigaru, aiming to cleave a deep cut in the Peasant soldier's side.

Voiding 10 damage down
05:54, Today: Bayushi Takashi rolled 30 using 8d10, keeping the 4 highest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 3,8,6,7,3,2,7,8. damage.
05:54, Today: Bayushi Takashi rolled 27 using 8d10, keeping the 3 highest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 5,(10+4)14,1,3,4,3,3,8. 4 FRS damage, Ashigaru who missed.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:56, Tue 21 Dec 2010.

 With the stop-thrust successful and a second Ashigaru falling away in blood and ruin Kedo's blade hisses smoothly out of the collapsing soldiers breast, circling once and crossing the path of the spear that lunges out at him from the third charging warrior, slashing open his arm even as the spear-point takes the flowing Ronin high on one flank, scoring agonizingly across his torso between the light plates of his armour.

 The wound - though debilitating - is insufficient to slow the Ronins blades however, and the dance continues as he moves past and through his assailant, steel flashing once, twice on the way striking for the spearmans advanced leg, looking to sever the great blood vessels in his thigh before looping up and around at neck-height to decide the matter, another circule step-and-thrust putting a fifth Ashigaru in range of an extended lunge if there should be need and opportunity.

 ---

 Okay, the uninjured guy who stabbed me. I hit 44 and 43 for 25 and 26 damage respectively, then if I have a 'killed someone' stab at the end it goes on whomever is nearest that is uninjured or still looking to engage us. It hits 55 and does 26 - if they go down, feel free to roll the dice for another stab on my behalf.

 My defence stays at 38 and I just hope they don't get that lucky again or I'm screwed. ^_^

[Private to GM:
13:11, Today: Kedo rolled 49 using 9d10+8, dropping the 5 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 1,(10+8)18,7,7,3,1,3,9,6. Attack with one raise for damage.
13:11, Today: Kedo rolled 25 using 7d10, dropping the 4 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 4,8,3,8,9,5,3. Damage for each.

13:11, Today: Kedo rolled 47 using 9d10+8, dropping the 5 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 1,5,(10+3)13,3,7,6,8,9,9. And again..
13:11, Today: Kedo rolled 26 using 7d10, dropping the 4 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 6,9,3,9,8,7,8.
13:11, Today: Kedo rolled 55 using 9d10+8, dropping the 5 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of (10+4)14,(10+8)18,6,4,6,2,9,2,1. And in case someone dies.
13:12, Today: Kedo rolled 26 using 7d10, dropping the 4 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 1,5,3,(10+2)12,5,6,8.]

[Private to GM: So I shall also spend a void point to reduce some wounds but dang does that still leave me at 'hurt' level. So my two free raises for having a higher initiative vs. these guys pretty much will be going to lower my own Wound penalties...
01:56, Today: Doji Toyozo rolled 47 using 10d10+3, dropping the 5 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 9,6,8,3,7,(10+3)13,4,5,2,7. To Strike ronin 6.
and for damage I screwed up and left it at dropping five lowest... and i rerolled where instead I should have just noted what dice I should have kept. So I should for all intents be keeping the dice roll of the first one which is 22 damage instead of the crazy slice your head off 44.
01:59, Today: Doji Toyozo rolled 8 using 6d10, dropping the 5 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 6,5,4,8,8,3. damage.
01:59, Today: Doji Toyozo rolled 44 using 6d10, dropping the 3 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 3,4,(10+8)18,(10+8)18,8,7. oops correct damage.
PS Strike #6 if he stays fighting I know have an additional +10 to be hit by him bringing me to 40 vs #6 30 vs everyone else... oh plus wound damage :(]


The Crane lets out a hiss and quick slashes at the ashigaru who struck him.  The Crane is clearly hurting but there is certainly a sense that he could be much worse off.  He connects with his foe and does some damage to him though it remains to be seen if this will drive the peasant away from the battle.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:46, Fri 24 Dec 2010.

Two of the remaining ashigaru fall, unable to stand against the fury of the samurai.  The other two, horribly injured by the whirling blades, attempt to disengage and retreat.  The courage of the Lion holds even in their ashigaru, however, and they do not turn to run--choosing not to abandon their more injured companions who are still stumbling away.

Takashi saw little point in attacking people who were retreating, so he chose to refocus himself.  He took time to breathe, to calm himself, before the next storm.

(OOC:Fixed for misunderstanding information)
This message was last edited by the player at 20:55, Wed 05 Jan 2011.