Kenshin felt the blow, but continued his thrust into the Lion's Ashigaru line. He expected the Crane Ashigaru to do much better now -- now that the odds would be more even.

[ Hit both with two raises; +1 free raise on first; +2 free raises on second. Damage: 33 on first, 20 on second.
21:14, Today: Bayushi Kenshin rolled 20 using 7d10, dropping the 3 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 3,4,1,4,1,6,6. Damage 2.
21:14, Today: Bayushi Kenshin rolled 33 using 7d10, dropping the 4 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 1,2,8,7,3,(10+6)16,9. Damage 1.
21:11, Today: Bayushi Kenshin rolled 45 using 10d10+10, dropping the 6 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 3,(10+5)15,5,2,6,4,3,7,5,7. Attack 2 (calling two raises).
21:11, Today: Bayushi Kenshin rolled 42 using 10d10+10, dropping the 6 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 8,3,3,7,8,6,3,2,9,4. Attack 1 (calling two raises).]

[Sakura holds.]

Wasting no time in readying another arrow, Sumi drew and fired again at the ashigaru that had refused to go down from a shot in the leg. However, if he was otherwise occupied by someone she fired at a different one.

Tsuruchi Sumi rolled:
19 using 6k3 with rolls of 1,5,6,1,2,8 for bow shot.
21 using 6k3 with rolls of 8,6,7,4,2,1 for damage.
20 using 7k3 with rolls of 1,8,7,2,3,4,5 for Agility/Stealth (ambush). If needed again.

While Kenshin's rapid and accurate cuts and Sumi's devastating bow do not kill their targets outright, they are enough to put those ashigaru firmly out of the battle.  The remaining three peasants, faced with five fresh Crane spearmen, Kenshin's unrelenting blade, and arrows which seem to appear from nowhere, drop their weapons and hurriedly attempt to help their still living, if injured companions off the field.

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
[Private to Shosuro Kagehisa: OOC:  -1 honor; see what you did ^_^

roll battle/perception to see what options are available to you]
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:31, Mon 21 Mar 2011.

Kenshin took a step back and flicked the blood from his blade. He wasn't sure what just happened, but it was not like the Lion to abandon the battle.

"I am Bayushi Kenshin" he said, returning his now clean blade to its saya.

Kenshin took two steps back and then turned to go towards his destination.

PM

[Private to GM: 12:03, Yesterday: Secret Roll: Shosuro Kagehisa rolled 24 using 3d10, rerolling max with rolls of 9,8,7. Perception/Battle.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:24, Sat 26 Mar 2011.

The Crane ashigaru bow respectfully to Kenshin before they proceed in pursuit of the fleeing Lion, and you are free

OOC:  Roll Agility/Stealth TN 20 no untrained penalty

PM
[Private to Kaze no Kage: Sakura Made it (no surprise there)

 19:36, Today: Daidoji Sakura rolled 42 using 10d10, dropping the 7 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of (10+10+7)27,1,5,2,6,1,2,6,5,9. Agility/Stealth.]

Failed.
[Private to Kaze no Kage: 19:35, Today: Bayushi Kenshin rolled 10 using 4d10, dropping the lowest dice only, rerolling max with rolls of 2,2,5,3. Agility/Stealth.]

OOC: Tsuruchi Sumi rolled 31 using 7k3+3, with rolls of 1,2,7,7,7,(10+4)14,3 for Agility/Stealth (sneaking).

Passing through the site of a recent barricade rush, you see the scattered corpses of Crane and Lion warriors and a barricade mostly dismantled by the waves of Lion passing through.  As you proceed, Kenshin, scrambling over the makeshift wall, dislodges a table with a loud clatter.  A Lion squad, having just passed through this area, turns and catches sight of him.  With a shout, they charge.

OOC:  roll initiative and post actions
If you beat their initiative, you have a free round to use a ranged attack, cast a spell, or repair the barricade (which will give you a +2 higher ground bonus; strength/athletics TN 10); you can, of course, do these things in combat as well

Lion Initiative 23
TNtbH 18

Seeing the Lion rush toward him, Kenshin tried to repair the breech to give himself the tactical advantage of higher ground. Unfortunately this would pose to be too difficult when perched on top of a shifting table.

No matter, time was up -- the Lion were here.

[ Are these Ashigaru or Samurai?

Initiative: 51. Str (Unskilled Athletics): 7

21:05, Today: Bayushi Kenshin rolled 7 using 2d10, rerolling max with rolls of 1,6. Str/Athletics (unskilled).
21:02, Today: Bayushi Kenshin rolled 51 using 8d10+20, dropping the 4 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 5,4,8,5,8,9,1,6. Initiative.]

Sakura threw herself into building the barrier before the lion arrived. This was war, after all, and they would need all the advantages they could get.

Especially against the Shadow.

But now was not the time for spells ... that would come later.

[Init: 36  Str/Athletics: 12
21:07, Today: Daidoji Sakura rolled 12 using 2d10, rerolling max with rolls of 6,6.
21:06, Today: Daidoji Sakura rolled 36 using 7d10, dropping the 3 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 8,3,3,1,5,7,(10+6)16. Init.]

PM[Private to Shosuro Kagehisa: You see a squad of Lion scouts heading into the City, apparently there seems to be some sort of communication difficulty within the walls]

When they caught the Lion's attention, Sumi had an initial thought of trying to fix the barricade as well. She saw that the Daidoji had it handled though, so she quickly readied her bow with a nocked arrow and fired it into the lead Lion coming at them with hopes of maybe dropping him in the way of fellows to trip them up a little. If extremely lucky it would possibly buy her and her companions an extra second or two. And if not? Well, at least it would wound or kill one. Either was good for her side.

Tsuruchi Sumi
rolled 33 using 6k3 for Initiative with rolls of (10+10+2)22,4,1,7,4,1.
rolled 24 using 6k3 for Bow shot with rolls of 1,2,4,(10+5)15,4,5
rolled 24 using 6k3 for Damage with rolls of 6,6,8,8,8,7.

OOC:  they're ashigaru, but fully trained ashigaru

Daidoji Sakura manages to patch the barricade well enough to give Bayushi Kenshin a place to stand, and Tsuruchi Sumi injures the lead well enough to break their charge--but not enough to stop them.  Then they are at the wall, bringing their spears to bear.

Lion TNtbH:  18
Initiative: 23
all of you act before they do, however, they are in melee range
unless you retreat back from the barracade

The Lion ashigaru were getting a little too close for Sumi's liking. Of course s face-to-face melee was not her favored method of battle either. It was tactically inferior to ranged warfare, even though many would claim it not as honorable. These thoughts blurred through Sumi's mind as she gave ground and ran a short distance backward so that she could turn and quickly fire another arrow into one of the enemy ashigaru.

Tsuruchi Sumi rolled 21 using 6k3 with rolls of 3,3,4,6,6,9 for bow shot.
Tsuruchi Sumi rolled 23 using 6k3 with rolls of 6,9,7,7,4,4 for damage.

Kenshin faced the onslaught with a stoic face beneath the Mask of Honor. There were taunts he could use, of course -- every Courtier knew them. And that meant that every Crane and every Scorpion knew them. But now was not the time. These were tougher Ashigaru, but they were mere Ashigaru none-the-less.

Let them use their spears. It would make no difference.

He waited for the perfect time, knowing that the Fortunes smiled upon him. It was only a heartbeat, but the time was there. His sword flew from his saya, slicing into two of the oncoming Ashigaru.

[Using Tides of Battle to boost Init, now 56. Using his four free raises to attack two at once. Called two raises toward damage, got one extra for overkill. Damage: 25 & 28. Any extra raises he might get for Drama/Acrobatics will go toward damage.

19:50, Today: Bayushi Kenshin rolled 28 using 6d10, dropping the 3 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 8,3,(10+1)11,5,9,8. Damage 2.
19:50, Today: Bayushi Kenshin rolled 25 using 6d10, dropping the 3 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 1,9,9,7,6,2. Damage 1.
19:47, Today: Bayushi Kenshin rolled 41 using 10d10, dropping the 4 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 2,8,5,4,5,3,6,6,9,7. Second Attack (2 raises; TN 28).
19:47, Today: Bayushi Kenshin rolled 45 using 10d10, dropping the 4 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 9,7,9,3,5,7,7,5,5,6. First Attack (2 raises; TN 28).
19:42, Today: Bayushi Kenshin rolled 5 using 1d10, rerolling max with rolls of 5. Tides of Battle (+init).]

Sakura took a step back from the barrier, knowing that it would soon be covered with blood. Tales from the Clan War aside, she was not well suited for battle. Her specialty was before and after, not during.

Sakura waited.

[Hold for now.]

Another ashigaru goes down screaming as Tsuruchi Sumi's arrow shatters his kneecap--neatly amputating his lower leg in an explosion of gore.

At the top of the barricade, Bayushi Kenshin ignores their threatening spears, cutting through them...and the arms of those wielding them--with two whirling strikes.

Two more ashigaru step up to take their place, but stumble over their companions writhing bodies.  Meanwhile four more soldiers choose to ignore the unstoppable force that is the Bayushi samurai and clamber atop the barricade attempting to reach the others behind it.

Lion TNtbH:  18 (the climbing ones have TNtbH 9)
Initiative: 23

Kenshin's sense of Honor struck a cord as the two Ashigaru climbed, attempting to bypass the temporary Yojimbo. He allowed his blade to speak for him before he spoke for himself.

"Is this what your Samurai teach?!?" he asked firmly, the anger showing clearly in his voice, "To ignore the Honorable Samurai Bushi standing in front of you?!?"

"Whatever Samurai has been given the misfortune of leading these honorless dogs will apologize to me -- in this life, or in the next!"

He was not a happy Scorpion.


[Init now 63; Strikes at the two climbers; hits both for 29 & 57 damage respectively.

Did I mention how much I want the Scorpion Rank 5 Technique right now? ;p

22:36, Today: Bayushi Kenshin rolled 57 using 9d10, dropping the 3 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 9,8,1,1,(10+7)17,9,7,7,2. Damage(total 8 raises toward damage).
22:35, Today: Bayushi Kenshin rolled 29 using 8d10, dropping the 3 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 8,3,1,3,7,6,2,5. Damage(total 6 raises toward damage).
22:33, Today: Bayushi Kenshin rolled 77 using 10d10, dropping the 4 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of (10+7)17,(10+5)15,1,8,(10+10+1)21,9,7,7,3,2. Second Attack, ibid.
22:33, Today: Bayushi Kenshin rolled 54 using 10d10, dropping the 4 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 8,1,2,5,(10+6)16,7,9,7,6,7. First Attack (call 4 raises; TN 29).
22:31, Today: Bayushi Kenshin rolled 7 using 1d10, rerolling max with rolls of 7. Tides of Battle.
]

Sumi drew a bead on the lead one that clambered atop the barricade and fired again. The tactic was pretty simple, but it was working well enough so far, and needed to stop them from reaching her and the others.

Tsuruchi Sumi:
rolled 8 using 1d10 for Tides of battle.
rolled 26 using 6k3 with rolls of 6,9,8,1,6,9 for Bow attack.
rolled 28 using 6k3 with rolls of 4,2,2,(10+5)15,8,5 for Arrow damage.

Sakura took a step back, making it easier for Kumi to intercept any Lion that was unfortunate enough to make it past Kenshin. She was beginning to see why the Mistress of Secrets had chosen to keep him in the Clan of Secrets.

The first of the climbers dies as Kenshin's perfect strike removes his head from his shoulders.  The second is more fortunate, losing only the left arm as he flings it up in a futile attempt to protect himself.  But even that small felicity is lost as Tsuruchi Sumi's arrow takes him in the throat as he begins his inadvertent descent from the barricade.  As the two climbers fall, the remaining ashigaru take a step back out of striking range--though it is clear that the maneuver is not out of cowardice, but out of respect for the approaching Lion samurai.

"We teach them to accept that there are some challenges that cannot be overcome by mere Ashigaru, Scorpion," booms the voice of an Lion samurai in Great Armor, wearing the mon of the Matsu, "we teach them to take on the challenges to which they may aspire, not to waste their lives in a futile attempt to reach the pinnacle of Bushido.

"I am Matsu Minako," she declares, raising her nodachi, "the Red Lion of Shizo Sano Ken Hayai and Defender of Renza Muzai!  I bested Bayushi Rei in honorable combat and Shosuro Chiba when he refused to abide by the will of the Fortunes!  My blade has tasted the blood of dozens of Scorpions, I doubt one more will slake her thirst!"

[Private to Bayushi Kenshin: +1 Drama Raise, for your speech on the barricade ^_^]

"Maybe we should teach her to starve!" Sumi had already tired of the Matsu's bragging. Being a more pragmatic sort than one who would stand in the open and shout their achievements, Sumi drew another arrow from her position under cover and fired in at the bragging samurai.

Tsuruchi Sumi
rolled 7 using 1d10, rerolling max with rolls of 7. Tides of battle.
rolled 35 using 6k3 with rolls of 1,4,8,8,3,(10+9)19. Bow attack.
rolled 23 using 6k3 with rolls of 1,3,5,7,8,8. Arrow damage.