Kemji waited until the others had ascended to the rooftops before leading the way to the nearest Lion command post.  Even among his companions he was a ghost, ducking and weaving to minimize exposure to any eyes watching from below.  Any eyes that might raise an alarm make themselves fair game for the arrow-notched hankyu he carried in his hand.

OOC:
Agility/Athletics- 44
Agility/Stealth- 63
Perception/Battle- 44
Just keeping an eye on the ever-shifting tides of battle to make sure I don't lose sight of the command posts.

OOC:  okay, so now is where things get tricky ^_^
From the rooftops you can see ten command posts roughy arranged in a triangular pattern, the furthest vertex being at the outer wall of toshi ranbo--that's the one most likely to house the general.  To continue you'll need to keep making athletics and stealth checks.

From your elevated vantage point you can see the whole of the battle.  While the Crane line is fluid, it is clear that the course of the conflict is to the Crane's advantage.  At one of the Lion positions you can see a sudden explosion of motion, and two figures--one clad in ronin grey, the other in Crane blue--ascend to the top of one of the Lion held barricades.  Also moving along the rooftops is another group of bushi, also wearing the colors of the Crane.

[Stealth I can manage, but I'm pretty much guaranteed to fail an athletics check soon ... Unless we can make them all in an hour ...]

Sakura looked down to the fighting and for the first time in what felt like forever, she smiled.

"Good job, Kedo-Kun."

OOC: I don't know what to tell ya ... I'm lucky to have made it this far.

Sumi continued along the rooftops, staying to the shadows as much as possible. Luck was still with her so far. Shadows were plentiful and climbing was fairly easy.

Tsuruchi Sumi:
rolled 43 using 7k3+4, with rolls of (10+8)18,5,4,(10+6)16,5,9,7. Agility/Stealth.
rolled 22 using 6k3, with rolls of 9,4,8,2,2,5. Agility/Athletics.

Kenji moved nearly effortlessly over the rooftops, breaking every now and then to take in the ever-changing tides of battle.  Seeing that some were having trouble, he falls back to the others.
"It may suit to return to the streets and continue the fight, Bayushi-sama," he whispers, not wishing to be heard by any wary Lion.  "I will scout ahead, find the command post, and send word back.  This is to my strengths, whereas I believe yours are best used in pushing the Crane advantage on the streets.  Tsuruchi-sama, Daidoji-sama, I would not presume to tell either of you what to do."

OC:
Agility/Athletics- 42
Agility/Stealth- 50
Perception/Battle- 40

Hearing Kenji speak, Daidoji Sakura stared into the distance. There were things she could do. Things that, with a bit of luck, would completely turn the tide of this little war. The Lion Shugenja would be powerless (unless that happened to have a Phoenix Ishi handy), and there were two here who could take full advantage of it. It would cause a bit of chaos in the courts, but so be it -- that would simply mean that the Courtiers would need to earn their keep. There was only one little problem.

Tsuruchi Sumi.

A Shosuro trained Wasp may have been exposed to her techniques, even if only through rumor. Indeed, the Rumors would have been quite strong at the academy ... as a cover if nothing else.

It was, after all, where she herself was trained.

The irony was not lost on the young Shugenja. She could trust the two Scorpion if she had to -- for them to reveal her true identity would certainly mean a trip to Traitor's Grove. But, the Wasp ... the Wasp was a Dojo mate*. That meant that only Sumi and Kenji had the skills to take advantage of Sakura's spell.

And that made all the difference.

Had she not been Shosuro trained, it would have been easy enough to misdirect her, even on the off chance that she figured something out. It was the one family that would cause her trouble.

If Sumi were to recognize Sakura's magic, it could cause all sorts of trouble. Probably would. Still, this little war was very important. Murder, chaos ... the impending visit of the Emperor.

Yes the Son of Heaven was certainly worth enough to risk this. But would it work? That, indeed, was the question.

"There is one thing that I may ... may be able to do" she finally whispered, "It would require quit a bit of luck, to be honest, but if it works ... if it works, the General would be out of the battle for good."

"Possibly for ever."

She stared a long moment, staring at Kedo. A soft tune emerged from her lips, so soft that only her companions and the Kami would be able to hear it.

"Ganbate yo, Kedo-Kun!" she whispered encouragingly.

[Butei, Ninja, and Shosuro Deceivers all attend the same Dojo. Ironic in the extreme ... LOL!]
[Private to Kaze no Kage: For obvious reasons, I'll need the GM to post her encouragement in Kedo's thread. She used Whispering Wind to make her voice appear right next to him. A lesser warrior would probably miss it in the heat of battle; Kedo won't.]

Sumi stopped in one of the nearby dark shadows to listen to Kenji speak. "Bayushi-sama, please tell me what you need me to do and I will treat it as a serious suggestion. Do not worry about whether or not you should tell me what to do. I can remain unseen on the streets just a well as I can on the rooftops, but when it comes time to fight it is to my strengths to remain in a high place."

"Very well, Tsuruchi-sama, you are with me on the rooftops," Kenji whispers.  "Bayushi-sama, Daidoji-sama, I will send Tsuruchi-sama to you when I have the location we need."  His free hand seems to twitch for a moment against his thigh before clenching in a fist and resting again.

[Private to Bayushi Kenshin; Daidoji Sakura: Kenji signs, "Non-Scorpion trustworthy?"]

Sakura brought her hands up to her face, deeply pondering something. Finally she brought her hands down and nodded her understanding.

"Of course" she whispered softly, "I am a fast learner, but obviously I cannot keep up to the two of you."

[Private to Bayushi Kenshin;Bayushi Kenji: Sakura signed, "Scorpion Magic; Scorpion preferred."]

Kenshin looked at Kenji behind his mask.

"I too would hold you back, cousin" he whispered, "I will keep her safe until Tsuruchi-san returns."

"Very well.  Tsuruchi-sama, stay close, from here our every move brings naught but danger," Kenji whispers.  He nods to Kenshin and Sakura before he disappears whisper-soft across the rooftops once more.

OOC:
Agi/Athletics- 29
Agi/Stealth- 40
Per/Battle- 33
Moving toward the Lion command post toward the middle of their lines in this sector.  Avoiding contact as much as possible.

Sumi nodded visibly signaling that she understood. within just a few moments she was on the rooftops and then she was gone into the shadows.

Tsuruchi Sumi
rolled 30 using 6keep3 with rolls of 6,8,(10+1)11,3,7,(10+1)11. Agility/Athletics.
rolled 37 using 7keep3+4 with rolls of (10+6)16,4,7,9,7,7,8. Agility/Stealth.
rolled 8 using 2keep2 with rolls of 6,2. Perception/Battle.

Kenshin did his best to hide in the rooftops, keeping close to the Daidoji Shugenja. This was a bit much for him ... but, so be it. He had his duty.

Kenshin kept quiet, waiting ...

Sakura sat down close to Kenshin and faded into the shadows. She waited for a long moment, well long enough for the other pair to disappear -- and be out of earshot. Finally she whispered something to him. It was a soft whisper, one that wouldn't carry any further than the two of them.

"Tsuruchi-San was undoubtedly part of the 'public' Dojo" she began, keeping her eyes on her surroundings, "but there is still a small chance that she could recognize my magic."

"And you know the trouble that will be caused if anyone ever finds out my true identity ..."

OOC:  okay, I'm moving Kenji and Sumi over to a new thread for group 9

Sakura and Kenshin, what's your plan?  Stay at your current position, try to join up with another unit, or go find trouble on your own?

Kenshin nodded his understanding and assumed a Fudo-za seated posture. The posture would allow quick reaction if such was needed and still provide room for his meditations.

Kenshin smiled to himself. If anyone had told him coming into this that he would be sitting on a rooftop meditating, he would have told them they were crazy. But the fortunes had an odd way of working in a Samurai's life.

Kenshin's meditations focused outwardly, on each and every sound being made while simultaneously releasing thoughts and judgements about them.

[They said to wait here, so we wait here. Ne?]

Seemingly content, Sakura settled down and began silent prayers. She prayed to the Fortunes for guidance -- and the Void Dragon for something special.

Something very long term.

[We wait.]

[Private to Kaze no Kage: Basically, she knows that her soul can be forfeit if she screws up too badly, and that would be a betrayal to the Clan. So, she's basically looking to have the Void Dragon take custody of it.

I haven't got the faintest clue what that would mean long term. LOL!]

Bayushi Kenshin's meditations bring to his attention something...odd.  As he sinks deeper into his center, as his focus becomes sharper, he can see the shadows darkening.  Just the shadows.  And a raspy whisper, unintelligible, incomprehensible reaches his ears.

[Private to Daidoji Sakura: You don't really want to do that, Kasumi-chan, a pleasant voice whispers, you and I, we understand each other.  Why would you want to change that?

OOC:  well, this could get...interesting ^_^]

[Private to Kaze no Kage: LOL! I suppose now's a good time to tell you I was planning on raising her Void to 5 ...]
Silently, ever so silently, Sakura drew a scroll from her satchel and gently clutched it in her hand. Then, ever so reverently, she drew the hidden Crystal Wakizashi from its place and put it upon her lap. That the Hidden Darkness would act so openly, and in the full sight of Lady Sun, told Sakura much. This city was that important to it? Was she that important to it?

It made no difference.

"There is no failure" she whispered as she began casting her spell, "only success or death."

[Casting Commune, Void Dragon. One free raise from using the scroll; spending a void (free raise). Let's shoot for three called raises (TN 30).

Made the roll, and to spare ... I hope (LOL!): Commune made with more than 10 extra giving her 6 raises total.

Subtle Casting was 43 plus a free raise (Dojo bonus).]

[Private to Kaze no Kage: I'm guessing it's a Void based roll.

Question -- Do you use the optional rule for "Heroic Casting"? That is, by giving up their lives in the casting of a spell, a Shugenja can perform miraculous deeds (essentially, they can have virtually unlimited raises, but it has to be "dramatically correct")? Of course, that's only important if her commune fails ... LOL!

14:49, Today: Daidoji Sakura rolled 44 using 8d10, dropping the 3 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of (10+1)11,1,6,(10+2)12,1,7,7,7. Commune with Void Dragon (Void based?).
14:49, Today: Daidoji Sakura rolled 43 using 10d10+4, dropping the 5 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 2,2,8,6,1,(10+1)11,9,1,3,5. Subtle Casting (Stealth).]

The Honorable Kenshin had no idea what was going on. He focused entirely on the situation, unsure what was going on but assuming that the Shugenja had everything under control.

Kenshin Focused his mind.

The whispers grow louder and more sinister as Sakura's prayer begins, shadows darkening, coalescing into vague, shapes...

[Private to Daidoji Sakura: Oh Kasumi-chan, the voice laughs, becoming, as you listen, voices.  Plural.  there are so many other choices.  You mistake us if you think we seek to corrupt you.  That would not serve our purposes at all

Sakura senses her prayer reaching towards the heavens, tendrils of her spirit reaching out towards salvation.   In her state of heightened awareness she can see touches of Shadow reaching in the same direction--though whether to stop her or join her, she cannot say.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:35, Thu 01 Mar 2012.

PM[Private to Kaze no Kage: I take it her first spell failed? Or is that "not clear"?]

[Private to Daidoji Sakura: OOC:  Whoops, no it succeeded--I meant to add a bit more to that post and forgot.  I've edited it a bit.  You can use Banish to try to dismiss the Shadow or you can let it ride along.  If you wish to continue instead of banishing, make another commune roll--you're reaching out to the Void Dragon, I can't make that too easy ^_^  For the purposes of this encounter you can disregard the spells per day limit]

OOC:  this is a pretty epic undertaking, so Sakura will be in prayer for a while.  But during that time Kenshin has to keep her body safe from the Shadow.

[Private to Kaze no Kage: Well, since she doesn't have banish that's a pretty easy call! LOL!]
Sakura continued her prayers, buoyed up by the knowledge that the what she was doing had gotten its attention. She paused only for a moment, to address her fellow samurai with two critical pieces of information.

"Use the Crystal sword" she whispered, "it's immune to everything else. If the time ever comes that you can no longer see me through that sword -- or if I fade to far from sight -- then kill me immediately, and make sure Our Lady knows what happened here as soon as possible."

With that one, small concern off her mind her prayers got significantly more intense -- and seemingly more effective.

[Private to Kaze no Kage: Called 3 raises, made 20 over for a total of 5 raises.

20:06, Today: Daidoji Sakura rolled 51 using 8d10, dropping the 3 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 2,8,(10+5)15,4,4,6,9,(10+3)13. Void/Commune (call 3 raises; TN 30).]