Your progress is slow but steady, climbing along the rooftops is difficult but offers much less chance of detection than traveling along the streets.  A few buildings over you can see another group of Crane, also moving in the same direction.  From a distance you can see them gesturing, asking silently if you wish to join them.

Before you can answer, the release a volley of arrows into the streets.  Probably supporting their comrades or simply eliminating a small unit of Lion.  Quickly they gesture again.

Sumi gestures quickly to the Crane group that she'd seen them. Then, rather than heading directly toward them, Sumi moved in the best direction she guessed that would allow her to see what they were shooting at.

Kenji's gaze slides past the Crane warriors, barely noting their presence as he takes stock of the ever-changing battlefield.  He continues in his quest to find the primary Lion commander in the district.

OOC:
Agi/Athlethics- 24
Agi/Stealth- 39
Per/Battle- 12

Sumi can see the Crane were shooting at a small squad of Lion, probably messengers taking orders and information to and from the front.  They, however, appear to have completed their task, as the squad of Crane has turned to approach your position.

***

Chiba's squad leader has finished delaying Lion communications for the moment, and is taking the squad over to join up with the two other roof travelling samurai to get news from the front.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:31, Fri 24 Feb 2012.

On seeing that the Lion team w2as dead, Sumi climbed down off the roofs and forward to meet the Crane group. "Hello. Any news?"
This message was last edited by the player at 00:22, Sat 25 Feb 2012.

OOC:  Sorry, I wasn't clear.  The Lion are dead.  The Crane are coming to see you.  I've edited it to make that clearer.

OOC: Edited mine.

Kenji stops as Sumi climbs down to greet the Crane.  He waits patiently to continue on.  Then again, maybe the Crane would have pertinent information.

Seeing the person come to greet them Chiba bows

When one of the approaching Crane bowed to her, Sumi bowed also.

"All this bowing, you'd think Winter Court had started already," the squad leader replies dryly, bowing in greeting, "I am Chu-i Daidoji Yawara with the Daidoji Irregulars.  Where are the two of you headed?  Our mission is to disrupt the Lion communications, but I can detach a couple of my men to you if you could use them."

"I am Tsuruchi Sumi," Sumi replied. "We are searching for a way closer to the Lion high command."

Chiba straightens up, tapping the squad leader on the shoulder twice before gesturing at himself and pointing at the new group

"If you can move quickly and quietly, you can join us," Kenji says to the volunteering warrior.  "Either way, we need to move.  There is little time to waste."

Chiba nods and takes a step towards the group.

As Chiba Ibuki follows Tsuruchi Sumi and Bayushi Kenji, the three observe that as they get closer to the Lion command center, there is a veritable gauntlet of bushi awaiting any who would approach from the streets.

OOC:  make an athletics/agility and stealth/agility check

Moving along, Sumi was still very much a shadow, she began to have some other troubles though.

Tsuruchi Sumi:
rolled 10 using 6k3 with rolls of 2,1,3,3,4,3. Agility/Athletics.
rolled 30 using 7k3+4 with rolls of 5,(10+1)11,4,8,3,2,7. Agility/Stealth.

Kenji's feet were sure and silent, as he whispered over the thus far unsuspecting Lion bushi.  He glanced behind to keep an eye on his companions as they traversed the rooftops.

OOC:
Agi/Atheltics- 31
Agi/Stealth- 43

OOC moving you guys to group 1, the Lion Crisis for the climax