Toyozo keeps himself from bristling at a ronin ordering him in defense of his own clan's city. "I will continue with you, ronin. Bayushi-sama, thoug hI thank you for your defense of this city you must see to your wounds, go find an Asahina, please."

He should probably be more gentle with the bushi's pride and honor but time was short and he was afterall a Scoprion.

[Private to Kaze no Kage; Kedo: Apologies for the delay]
This message was last edited by the player at 20:35, Thu 17 Mar 2011.

As you advance through the streets of the City, you hear a shout of alarm as three Lion Ashigaru, pulling back from the front, catch sight of you.  These are clearly not the farmers with sharp sticks that you allowed to retreat earlier.  These Ashigaru hold the fire of the Lion in their eyes.

Even as the ashigaru block the path behind you, three ji-samurai, advancing from the rear, step into the path ahead of you.

OOC:  due to unforeseen circumstances in the battle, the Lion have a +1k0 morale bonus to all rolls and there will be one extra enemy in each combat ^_^

-1 VP

Roll Initiative and post actions

 His blades moving smoothly into a defensive posture, Kedo glances once athis Doji companion and suggests - respectfully - "This is deadly ground, perhaps we should maneuver..?" as he indicates the buildings upon either side of the street, witht he obvious intention of using one or more of them to counteract the Lion advantage in numbers by forcing their foes to come at them three or four at a time, rather than all six together.

Toyozo nods at the ronin's words and puts his back to the wall of the nearest building and focusing his attention on the ji-samurai. He draws his sword  and swings at the nearest ji-samurai.

So...
Intiative: 43 (Kakita rank 1 tech+ my roll)
16:59, Today: Doji Toyozo rolled 33 using 7d10, dropping the 3 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 7,3,9,7,6,9,8. intiative.
Healing: 1 (sigh)
17:02, Today: Doji Toyozo rolled 1 using 1d10, rerolling max with rolls of 1. healing.
With the healing I am still in the Hurt wound rank (curse you Earth 2) so +10 wound penalty.
I will strike at the closest Ji-samurai (assuming they are within range). Now I rolled a 32 with my wound penalty, however for every ten that I beat their intiative I get a free raise to attack which I will use directly for the roll.  Also anyone I strike has a +10 to hit me.  My current TNtbH is 30.
17:29, Today: Doji Toyozo rolled 32 using 10d10-10, dropping the 5 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 3,9,9,5,8,1,7,7,7,9. Strike w/ katana.
Damage if I hit 15
17:35, Today: Doji Toyozo rolled 15 using 6d10, dropping the 4 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 5,7,8,1,2,5. damage for kakita blade.

 Kedo had something a little more... tactical... in mind, but with Toyozo's decision made - and he the greater in station of them - whatever it might have been dies stillborn in the young Dragons mind and he moves instead to cover the Doji's flank, remaining just far enough out to free his sword-arm to act at need as he waits at bay for his assailants, mind dropping smoothly out of the here-and-now and into the visualisation of meeting charging blades with a forwards step and a circular deflection, Katana rising to spill out hearts blood and dart over a falling arm to punch through the throat of a second man before the circle-and-step that would see him resume his original position with two dead men at his feet...

 ...if visualisation and reality align.


[Private to GM:  Okay, I figure two Ashigaru (or Samurai) can get to me as I guard Toyozo's flank. I swing for the leader hitting 43 for 30 damage, then if he's still alive I hit him a second time for 43 and 20 damage.

 The second guy in range then benefits from my free attack for dropping someone, which hits 39 for 21 damage (and may already have been hit by my second attack if thirty killed the first guy).

 I don't think I can legitimately call an extra hit on a target out of range when I do this though, so even if the second guy drops I probably can't call a free hit on the third.

22:52, Today: Kedo rolled 32 using 7d10, dropping the 3 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 3,3,6,9,3,8,9. Initiative.

22:54, Today: Kedo rolled 48 using 9d10+13, dropping the 5 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 3,2,8,6,9,7,9,5,9. Attack, raise for damage.
22:55, Today: Kedo rolled 30 using 7d10, dropping the 4 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of (10+4)14,8,7,5,1,8,4. Damage #1.

22:54, Today: Kedo rolled 48 using 9d10+13, dropping the 5 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 4,3,6,3,3,4,6,3,(10+9)19. Attack, raise for damage.
22:55, Today: Kedo rolled 20 using 7d10, dropping the 4 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 3,4,6,2,5,1,9. Damage #2.

22:55, Today: Kedo rolled 44 using 9d10+13, dropping the 5 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 7,7,3,7,9,8,5,7,5. Attack if #1 died, 3 raises for damage.
22:56, Today: Kedo rolled 21 using 7d10, dropping the 4 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 5,1,6,9,6,3,4. Damage #3.]

Doji Toyozo's elegant strike pierces the defenses of the lead ji-samurai, but not fatally.  Unfortunately for the Doji bushi, the ji-samurai's own weapon also finds its mark, though his partner swings wide.

The circular technique used by the 'ronin' Kedo, is somewhat more effective against the advancing ashigaru.  His first strike cleaves through the advancing soldier's spear...and neck.  Without missing a beat, Kedo's second strike removes the barrier of a hastily raised defense...via the arm, and the Ronin follows through by plunging his blade through his enemy's neck.  Heedless of the fall of his comrades, the remaining ashigaru charges forward, intent on avenging his comrades...only to fail to pierce the ronin's defenses.

Ji-samurai:
Initiative 31
TNtbH 25
Health 1:  Grazed
Health 2:  Healthy
Health 3:  Healthy

Ashigaru
Initiative 11
TNtbH 18 (3 free raises from full attack)
Health 1:  Out
Health 2:  Out
Health 3:  Healthy
[Private to Kedo: +1 drama raise]

 The flowing movements of the Miromoto-trained Ronin serve to elegently underline the arguments of one side of the millenia-long dispute over which of the two premier sword schools of Rokugan is more advantageous in battle - just as a Kakita duellists would have done the same when a hopelessly overmastered opponent fell away from a lightning stroke that could barely be perceived let alone countered or evaded in the eyeblink of a duel.

 Kedos counter to the courageous stroke of the onrushing Ashigaru is a fluid sideslip to the left where his Wakizashi comes up to draw the hard-thrust spear away and out of line so as not to imperil Doji Toyozo's back, attempting instead to redirect it to impede the onrushing Ji-Samurai as he strikes with his Katana once, twice, four feet of blood-spattered and razor-edged steel licking out to kiss human flesh once more, striking for the limbs rather than chest or throat as if its master has other intentions than a clean and beautiful kill, intending to render the Ashigaru unable to press the fight as Kedo moves in close and states simply, "Tell your commander that the courage of the Lion has been seen upon the mountain." if the mans wounds force him back.

[Private to GM:  Alright, he's tried a full attack and is hopelessly vulnerable to me. I'm going to call an attack action with as many raises as you feel I need to make to redirect his last spear-thrust at me into the Ji-Samurai attacking Toyozo. If I fail, at least it might upset his aim.
 I have no idea what I would need to roll for this, so feel free to do it for me. Oh, and if it will prevent Toyozo from being hurt or better yet, let me instead set him up to get in a good blow of his own, I'll blow a void point on it - it's cooler for me to help him get a free attack or avoid damage than it is to kill someone myself.

 Then I'm going to make an attack and an additional attack (paid for with raises) with two more raises in order to deliver a pair of cuts, one to his arm, one to his leg - nasty ones, but clean enough to take him out of the fight and recover with care. I'll therefore pull damage on them.

02:31, Today: Kedo rolled 87 using 9d10+13, rerolling max with rolls of 4,(10+7)17,(10+3)13,5,6,6,(10+4)14,6,3. Second attack with raises for a third.

Oops! That's actually 63 keeping four!

02:35, Today: Kedo rolled 15 using 3d10, dropping the lowest dice only, rerolling max with rolls of 7,7,8. Damage #1.

02:31, Today: Kedo rolled 53 using 9d10+13, rerolling max with rolls of 2,1,7,5,3,3,8,8,3. Third attack made with raises.

And this is 43, keeping four.

02:35, Today: Kedo rolled 13 using 3d10, dropping the lowest dice only, rerolling max with rolls of 3,6,7. Damage #2.]
This message was last edited by the player at 12:39, Wed 13 Apr 2011.

Toyozo casts a quick look over to see how the ronin was faring.  He winced to himself as his competitive spirit took over.

He slides forward, raising his sword above his head, Toyozo's eyes train on the middle Ji-samurai and he lunges forward with his right foot and brings the sword down and to the left as he makes his body perpendicular to the Lion attackers.

[Private to GM:
20:30, Today: Doji Toyozo rolled 47 using 10d10-5, dropping the 5 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 9,1,7,5,8,2,8,(10+9)19,6,8. Strike w/ katana w/ 1 raise for Damage.
20:31, Today: Doji Toyozo rolled 43 using 7d10, dropping the 5 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 5,5,6,1,(10+7)17,(10+10+6)26,1. Damage.
If the guy lives my TN will be +10 for him.]

[Private to Kedo: for future reference, I'd say a stunt like that would be an Agility/Defense roll with relevant Kenjutsu emphasis to hit TNtbH + 4 raises and uses one of your attacks for the round; you have 3 free raises from his full attack and 1 Drama raise, so your TN is 18
Aaaand you rolled 51]

Toyozo's aggressive attack brings down his target, but leaves him open to the attack of the other ji-samurai in range.  Kedo's masterful deflection of the last remaining ashigaru, however, eliminates that threat as the unsuccessful spear thrust ends in the throat of the threatening Lion.  Kedo's own blades cut deeply into his enemy's leg, bringing him down with a sharp cry of pain followed swiftly by unconsciousness.  Faced with two unmatchable and implacable enemies, the remaining ji-samurai, nevertheless, charges in, catching Doji Toyozo's arm with a violent thrust.

ji-samurai TNtbH 25
Healthy

Meanwhile, the chaotic sounds of battle come ever closer.

 There is a moment of genuine regret for another death flickering across Kedos face as the Ji-Samurai falls with an allies spear driven into his throat and with Toyozo more than capable of facing his foe the Ronin moves forwards and down onto one knee, Katana and Wakizashi spinning once to face blade-down and sheathing themselves a few inches into the blood-stained roadside soil as Kedo makes haste to fashion a simple wound dressing of the still-living Lion Ashigaru's belt and harness, attempting to stem the bleeding and preserve at least one life in the midst of all this destruction, calling "We shall need to hold this road if we can honoured Doji. It will likely see courier traffic as the Lion realise their error and it would be for the best if it was interdicted." in respectful fashion as he works.

 Which naturally begs the question how the hell the Ronin seems to know that.

[Private to GM:  I figure that's worth at least three raises if the remaining Lion switches targets, and of course I get only a very low TNtbH on one knee with no swords, but I'm hoping Toyo will see to him, and it would take a real scumball to interupt battlefield first-aid. ^_^]

[Private to GM: Yes I think I will spend 2 void points to remove both stikes, thank you.

11:31, Today: Doji Toyozo rolled 37 using 10d10-5, dropping the 5 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 8,6,7,4,4,5,2,4,2,(10+6)16. Katana strike at last samurai.
11:38, Today: Doji Toyozo rolled 22 using 6d10, dropping the 4 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 9,6,4,7,7,(10+3)13. Damage. ]

Toyozo's strike, bringing down the ji-samurai, carries him forward next to the last samurai, his blade held low.   With the same ferocity as before but with slightly less power, Toyozo flicks his blade around and lifts it up and into his foes torso.

"Holding this spot is fine, for I doubt I can really press forward, Ronin."
This message was last edited by the player at 15:47, Wed 20 Apr 2011.

"RUN!" a new voice cries out, a Lion bushi staggering towards the Lion held areas, drawing the gaze of you and the remaining ji-samurai, "RUN!  IT'S A-" his cry was cut short along with his life, as his body is pierced by arrows.

Suddenly three more arrows sprout from the still living ji-samurai, and he falls silent and dead.

From around the corner, a Crane bushi--likely one of the Daidoji irregulars--appears along with several others on the rooftops.

"We came to assist, on the orders of Doji Kanisai-san," he shrugs, "but it seems that you are not in need of assistance, Doji-san, Kedo-san,"

OOC: at this point, holding position does not mean staying in the same place, just facing a challenge that is roughly equal to the one you just completed
[Private to Kedo: what kind of drinking establishment were you thinking of?  and what would it be equipped with?]

 "Then we should get you a seat Doji-san." Kedo remarks with a small smile, looking up and down the street only to half-turn and nod in approval as the irregulars arrive, pausing in his efforts only to bow and ask "I trust that the hunting has been good, Daidoji-san?" in a slightly rhetorical fashion as he moves off the street proper to duck into a small saki-house and returns a moment later with two rolled half-Tatami resting on a small upturned table with a bottle and a suguroku set, which he sets down more or less in the middle of the street, glancing down it with a brief smile towards the most likely line of Lion advance, "Perhaps Daidoji-san, you might prepare a warm welcome for any impolite enough to interrupt our game?" he then requests, bowing his head respectfully in lieu of a bow from the waist.

[Private to GM:  That's all I was after - basically when they come around the corner I want the Lion to see two Samurai surrounded by dead bodies nonchalantly playing a childrens board game in the middle of the street... After a morning of ambush and hassle that ought to be worth a good five minutes of psychological warfare. If not, we have archers. ^_^]

Toyozo bows, "My thanks, Daidoji-san. Please continue searching the area .  Kedo-san and I.." he freezes in the midst of his sentence as the adrenaline seeps away and pain replaces it.  "Perhaps a few prayers from an Asahina would be appropriate." he grits out.

OOC: I am looking for whatever gets me healing 2d10 of dice or more at this point.

"It has been quite excellent, Kedo-san," the Daidoji squad leader smiles grimly, "why we have collected enough lion pelts to decorate our walls for some time to come."

"You have a wicked turn of mind, Kedo-san," he grins wickedly, when the ronin emerges from the pub with the suguroku set, "you would have made a superb Daidoji.  I have a feeling the hunting is just about to get better." Turning, the squad leader orders his men to the alleys and rooftops.

"Doji-san," a small woman wearing the garb of an Asahina shugenja taps Toyozo on the shoulder before bowing, "Asahina Chika at your service.  If you will allow, I shall tend to your wounds."

OOC:  +4 VP; 3 VP Challenge +1 VP for clearing area in less than three rounds

+1 Glory to Kedo and Doji Toyozo
+2d10 healing

 "Sincere effort is its own reward Daidoji-san, but it is sometimes pleasant to have more tangible results." Kedo remarks rather dryly, as though discussing the simple philosophy of flower arranging or poetry rather than the ebb and flow of blood-spattered warfare, before his features flash in an honest and delighted smile at the officers closing comment, replying "Curiously, Daidoji Ryu said the same thing... And please Daidoji-san, hold your arrows until they seem prepared to charge in numbers. We are here to delay their messengers to better let your brothers and sisters destroy their lost and scattered lead forces. Better I or Doji Toyozo-san should bleed a little to earn a few moments more than we simply kill them out of hand." without any attempt to name-drop or curry favour (not here, not now) but rather in a more or less sidelong compliment to the youthful Crane stood before him.

 Then it's time to settle in, Kedo removing his swords from his Obi and laying them beside where he's chosing to sit, on the off-hand side of his body (not that that means anything at all to a... man of the mountain) and bowing low to Toyozo, accepting only the briefest of prayers from the Asahina before requesting softly that she see to his companion before he starts to set out the playing pieces in the positions from which they should start, "Doji Toyozo-san." he then voices calmly, "I had not the chance to say so earlier, but I am conscious of the honour you do me permitting a ronin to fight at your side."

 ---

 OOC: I'll redirect one of those D10 to Doji Toyozo - get her to focus on him rather than me, since he's worse hurt.

Chika's prayers have quite an effect and Toyozo finds himself newly rejuvenated.

He looks to Kedo and begrudgingly shakes his head. "You have... acquitted yourself more than honorably, Kedo-san.  There is no shame in fighting with you."  he tentatively tocuhes where before he felt great pain. The kami have done much to alleviate his pain though there is a subsconcious part of him that winces as he probes. "My thinks, Asahina-san.  Kedo, I am ready to tackle our next challenge when you are."

[Private to GM: 11:52, Today: Doji Toyozo rolled 17 using 2d10, rerolling max with rolls of 5,(10+2)12. healing.
Removes all wound penalties. Most excellent.]

 "And yet there are those who would judge based only upon what they have heard, rather than upon the evidence of their own senses..."  replies the well turned out, if rather blood-spattered robin, no doubt completely unaware of the hidden censure that might be considered to lay within his words for one touchy about the disgrace of standing at a wave man's side when the storm of battle breaks. After all, it's hardly the time for lessons in philosophy and expanding world views even if it were Kedo's place to offer them.

  Smiling, Kedo casts the pieces to begin the game, humour dancing in his eyes, "Patience Toyozo-san, our next guests shall come to us, and soon. It is your move, by the way..."

The two samurai (and their hidden allies) hear a Lion marching song as a Lion squad enters the killing zone.  The song falters as the approaching troupe sees the ashigaru corpses littered about...and the two samurai nonchaelantly playing a board game in the middle of the street.

"What in the name of Akodo-kami..."

Toyozo had been preoccupied with the Priest's prayer that he had not realized kedo had brought out a game.

He frowned at how the Lion must perceive them.

"Greetings, Lion. I am Doji Toyozo, this... is Kedo. Tell me who do we have the honor of facing on this day."

 OOC: Oh well, so much for nonchalantly. Kedo should have been explaining the plan to Toyozo, not our reinforcements.
^_^

 ---

  There are those born with a certain natural flair for deception and manipulating the minds of others, and there are those who are trained to it. For all his marked gifts in the field - gifts that have contributed their modest share to seeing most of a Crane city turned on its ear since his arrival - he's no trained courtier, and that lack briefly puts his head despairingly into his hand as his Crane companion speaks up, before it occurs to him that blithe innocence might work as well to delay Akodo's children as artifice, and he recovers to offer a small seated bow to the Lion officer and his men.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:49, Fri 03 June 2011.

"I am Koritome Ichiro, Doji-san," the Lion replies, "and it is my honor to face you in battle.  But before one of us dies--preventing forever the satisfaction of my curiosity--I must know what occurred."

 Since each minute that passes delays the opening of the street to the Lion, and in so doing maintains the Crane stranglehold upon their communications that is the keystone of Kedo's strategy in the matter of defending the city, the thoughtful Ronin allows himself to look up and then around at the carnage in some semblance of surprise, his expression almost comical (and in fact quite deliberately shaped after the vastly more skilled efforts of the artisan-actors of his Crane hosts when performing for the young, then remarking to Toyozo, "Doji--san... do you remember that noise earlier? I think there is a battle happening!"

 This of course could be taken any number of ways - but it will be down to Toyozo (as is right and proper) to  determine where the Ronins sally goes next.

Toyozo remains stoic. "Other than a battle between the defenders of this land and invaders, nothing happened." Toyozo said simply.

"Yes, yes, they fell facing the brave Crane defenders of Toshi Ranbo," the Lion squad leader replies impatiently, "but what were the circumstances..." his eyes narrow as he takes in the entire scene.  Turning to his second, he says something quietly before handing his weapons to an ashigaru.

OOC: roll perception/invesitgation (notice) TN 30 to hear what he said, the notice emphasis is not necessary--you may roll raw perception if you do not have investigation

"Very well then," Ichiro says, looking shrewdly at Kedo and Toyozo, removing his helmet and sitting down at the game board, "if a game of sugoroku is the price of knowledge, then I shall gladly pay it.  Minobu-san!" he commands, not taking his eyes off of the two samurai, "get another board!"

The ashigaru holding Ichiro's weapons takes the weapons of another samurai who quickly dashes into the same bar that Kedo emerged from and retrieves another game set.

"Choose your opponent, Doji-san, Kedo-san," the Lion smiles as his second takes a seat beside him and all but one of his soldiers retreats beyond your field of vision, "if you should prevail, I will depart with my curiosity unsatisfied, if I should prevail, you will divulge how these Lion died before we face each other in deadly combat.  Are those terms acceptable?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:51, Wed 06 July 2011.