Kedo however is raised in a different school, not the hard pristine succeed-or-fail of the duellist but the grounded, practical understandings won by the Miromoto upon countless battlefields. The question of which style is the greater will always echo down through Rokugans history but it is and ever has been flawed by the failure to grasp that duels are not battles and battles are not duels.

 His own blood staining the padding under his armour and that of a full hand of spearmen staining the protective garment itself, Kedo briefly raises his katana in salute to the retreating spearmen and steps back, stating simply "You honour your Clan." and waiting until they have retreated out of ready thrusting range before he offers them a simple bow and settles back to examine his injury.

 Each wounded man after all, takes an able-bodied ally out of the fight and must be fed, treated... In the cruel mathematics of siege warfare, such things soon tell.

Toyozo watches the Scorpion take a parting swing at the ashigaru, but holds his own strike as well. Instead he drops his sword low scanning for anymore foes in the vicinity.

Are the ashigaru leaving as Kedo seems to imply or staying to fight as Bayushi-san seems to imply? If they are staying I will swing...

OOC:  the ashigaru are retreating and, injured as they are, they pose no threat.  Attacking them will result in honor loss.

on a separate note:  each skirmish/objective is worth a certain number of Victory Points, you just earned 3 VP.  1 VP for successfully defending your position, 1 VP for each wave of enemies defeated, 1 VP for defeating them in 3 rounds or less.

at this point, your options include:
Pushing back against the Lion:  2 VP Challenge (more VP will be awarded based on how well you do), +1 bonus Glory (in addition to any other Glory awards you earn)
+1d10 healing

Hold position:  1 VP Challenge, +2d10 healing

Fall back:  0 VP Challenge, +3d10 healing, -1 Glory

 OOC: There is an overarcing plan that Kedo has put together for the defence of the city, but for our purposes that plan is 'do what we most want to do as a group'.

 For my money, I say let's relocate and go get 'em. What do you boys and girls think? ^_^

(OOC: I'm good, let's go get 'em)

(charge!!!)

An Asahina Shugenja, retreating from the front lines pauses briefly to offer you her blessings.
[Private to Doji Toyozo: 1 wound healed, +1 honor, +3 glory][Private to Kedo: 6 wounds healed, +1 honor, +3 glory][Private to Bayushi Takashi: 3 wounds healed, -1 honor, +3 glory]

Moving ahead into the next bottleneck, you enter at the same moment as another squad of Lion ashigaru, led by a single samurai proudly displaying the mon of the Matsu.

Roll initiative and post actions

 Despite the potential for a swift, clean charge and the glory of battle Kedo is all too aware that this is a Crane city and that those trained in the archetypical Crane school have precedence here, the Ronin assuming a defensive stance as he cedes the right to engage the commanding Bushi to his companions and visually assesses the remainder of the opposition, standing upon their flank in a defensive posture as he asks, "Does anyone wish to challenge their leader or shall I..?" with humble curiosity.


[Private to GM:  13:43, Today: Kedo rolled 38 using 7d10, dropping the 3 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 2,(10+5)15,6,9,3,5,8. Defensive stance.

 That gives me a defence of 71 for the round... which will hopefully keep 'em off while one of my buddies makes a challenge. ^_^]

Takashi continues moving forward, his eyes focused on the lion.  Noting the Matsu mon on the man's armor lit a bit of fire in Takashi's eyes, and he boldly slid his katana back into his sheathe before speaking loudly.  "I, Bayushi Takashi, do challenge you, Matsu-sama, to an honorable duel!"  If the man had any respect for the crane's "precedence", he certainly didn't show it.

[Private to GM: 00:00, Today: Bayushi Takashi rolled 39 using 9d10+3, keeping the 3 highest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 9,(10+1)11,2,(10+6)16,9,2,8,6,1. Initiative. ]
This message was last edited by the player at 05:04, Mon 17 Jan 2011.

Toyozo curses to himself. But says nothing to challenge the Bayushi's claim.  He waits to see how the Matsu responds.

[Private to Bayushi Takashi; Kedo: Apologies for the delay, guys.]

The ashigaru fan out behind the Matsu samurai, respectful of his precedence rather than fearful of the bushi arrayed before them.

"I am Matsu Maguro, the Furious Roar of the Seventh Legion," the Matsu samurai declares, raising his no-dachi high in preparation for battle, "I put down four honorless Scorpion dogs in the Battle for Otosan Uchi, I slaughtered nine of those worthless Dragon toadies in the Battle of Kyuden Tonbo, and I defeated  Kakita Shiroi on the field of the Battle of the Forgotten Tide."

"I accept your challenge, Bayushi," Maguro sneers, "and you will face the full fury of the Lion!"

OOC:  Maguro will fight you one on one, but he'll do it with kenjutsu

20:06, Today: Kaze no Kage rolled 48 using 6d10, dropping the 3 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of (10+10+1)21,(10+8)18,1,2,1,9. Initiative.

Takashi would react with lightning speed, his katana leaving his saya swiftly to get a strike in on the Matsu.  If the Matsu would not duel under Takashi's terms, then he would die under his own.


Combat reflexes to steal the Matsu's initiative and give him my own.

13:13, Today: Bayushi Takashi rolled 26 using 8d10+5, keeping the 3 highest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 5,7,6,5,7,7,3,2. free raise to hit the Matsu.
13:13, Today: Bayushi Takashi rolled 44 using 8d10+11, keeping the 3 highest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 1,6,7,7,(10+9)19,5,3,3. iaijutsu draw.

13:14, Today: Bayushi Takashi rolled 16 using 6d10, keeping the 2 highest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 7,4,7,8,8,5. damage (assuming a hit).

Void point to increase tn to be hit by 10.  Current TN: 45

This message was last edited by the GM at 05:36, Sat 05 Feb 2011.

 Kedos eyebrow quirks slightly at the talk of the slaughter of 'worthless dragon toadies', not so much because of the insult to a Great Clan that a mere Ronin could not dare claim to claim as his own, but rather for the denigration of the foes Maguro claims as worthy victories... For where is the honour in claiming to have defeated those that were no challenge to begin with?

 Of course, the battlefield is no place for such philosophy and so Kedo simple relaxes out of his lethal stance and moves aside, conversationally asking of the nearest Ashigaru, "I do not suppose you know how the battle is going?" with an air of general curiosity.

 It costs nothing after all, to be polite.

Toyozo frowns at Kedo's casual nature but is not surprised at the frivolities of a ronin. He watches the Bayushi & Matsu battle with great interest but his hand while not tensed is ready to grasp his sword's hilt at a moments notice if need be.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:23, Wed 02 Feb 2011.

Matsu Maguro shrugs off Bayushi Takashi's blow and counters with two of his own--the first of which misses by only millimeters, but the second of which connects with some effect.

[Private to Bayushi Takashi: take 27 damage
Matsu Maguro - Full Attack Posture
TNtbH:  25 (3 free raises for you to hit)]

"Well for the Lion, Ronin-sama," the ashigaru responds with pride, "the siege engines proved unnecessary and we were almost entirely unchallenged in our attack."

 Ronin frivolity indeed, and yet... frivolity from the man who was more responsible than any other for the plan of defence that the city now uses, and who has a natural interest in observing its progression from the other side.

 "Ah, unfortunate - though perhaps not to be unexpected since I have heard rumour that Toshi Ranbo has been considered for the Winter Court... No doubt neither Crane nor Lion wish to shame themselves before the Son of Heaven with shattered walls and broken streets." he speculates idly while watching the fight develop, planting a perfectly logical notion in the mind of a foe for why so little defiance was offered, that may very well find its way up the command ladder in due course - or may not, but nothing is lost in the attempt.

"You are challenged now, and you will be repelled, I will not stop until I see all Lion driven from this city" Toyozo says, eargerly anticpating the Bayushi striking down this Matsu so he could drive off these ashigaru.

OOC:  do we wait for Takashi or move forward?

 OOC: If someone doesn't pose in a week... Hell, in a fortnight, we move on. You can roll the dice for them or fiat what happens at your discretion. They've held up what was an excellent game before it ground to a halt long enough - I want to find out what you've got in store for us next, dammit! ^_^

I yeild to the opinion of my peer in this.

"Those are not matters in which we are fit to speculate, Ronin-sama," the ashigaru bows politely, "Winter Court, of any sort, is not a place for mere peasants."


"As you say, Crane-sama," the ashigaru bows meekly.

OOC:  just a note, these are peasant ashigaru (as opposed to ji-samurai ashigaru) just trained enough to charge each other with spears en masse--basically a backdrop for dueling samurai.  They're the ones you check to see how sharp your sword is on...and they know it.

As you talk, the duel continues--strike and counter strike--though you can see it goes less well for the so called "Furious Roar" than the Bayushi Bushi who is your companion.  The Matsu's wild technique is calmly and elegantly countered by Takashi's patient maneuvers.

OOC:  make an awareness/courtier or awareness/storytelling roll to convince the ashigaru that they've got somewhere else they'd rather be.

 "If your leader should fall. It would be best were he to be carried to the rear by those who saw him fight with honour." Kedo remarks in his puzzle-box fashion, making no gesture that could be construed as hostile, his tone almost speculative rather than judgemental or harsh, head turning to lock deep, dark Dragon's eyes with those of the Ashigaru replying to him.

 ---

 12:19, Today: Kedo rolled 13 using 3d10 with rolls of 4,2,7. Not terribly persuasive.

"Peasant, when your master falls, as the ronin said you may carry the bushi to be tended by shugenja or medics. It will be in your and his best interest." Toyozo says, pleased to be watching the Scorpion gain the upper hand.

12:29, Today: Doji Toyozo rolled 31 using 7d10, dropping the 3 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 4,8,1,9,7,7,5. aware/courtier.

"We thank you for your words of wisdom and mercy, Crane-sama, Ronin-sama," the Ashigaru bow, "if the Fortunes are not with Matsu-sama this day, we will bear him to his family."

Their decision made, apparently not a moment too soon.  Matsu Maguro brings his no-dachi down, cutting deep into Bayushi Takashi's shoulder.  Blade thus trapped in the plates of Takashi's armor, Maguro is unable to parry as the Bayushi bushi drives his katana deep into the Matsu's midsection.

Their leader fallen, the ashigaru are as good as their word as they gather up his still twitching body and retreat.

OOC:  +3 VP.  2 VP for successfully meeting the challenge (which wasn't as hard as I thought it was going to be), 1 VP for defeating them in 3 rounds or less.
+1 Glory
+1 Honor

you can:
Push back against the Lion:  3 VP Challenge, +1 bonus Glory
+1d10 healing

Hold position:  2 VP Challenge, +2d10 healing

Fall back:  1 VP Challenge, +3d10 healing, -1 Glory

 The death of the brave Matsu brings with it a moment for silent thought and leads Kedo to murmur a soft-voiced, "Excuse me one moment." to his companions as he nimbly ascends the nearest convenient trellis to gain some few feet of altitude, taking in what he can of the developing situation before coming to a simple decision and indicating a side-street from which the sound of soldiers in motion issues, "The Lion press hard - it would seem the course of wisdom to seek to interupt their efforts. I would take it as a kindness if you would accompany me..?"

 ---

 Press on, trying to cut into the Lion chain of command between their forward units and their HQ in order to throw them into further confusion I think. ^_^