Iskander bows. "Senyor Elder."

Chou-Zhen, seeing the group gather and head for the elder's hut, joins them.

When greeted by the Elder, he bows deeply.  "It is a good morning, elder."  He also bows to the shaman and Ming-Sa.

In reply to Chou-Zhen Mou (msg # 634):

"I thank you for your service to us in dealing with these yokai. Our workers have spotted the approach of the baron's men, and you will not be clear of this place with your oxcarts before they arrive, and they will seek to tax us on not only the rice intended for your Omo, but also for your oxen and the carts as well. There may not be a way to peacefully disuade them,."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:04, Sat 23 Sept 2023.

In reply to Village elder (msg # 635):

"Then we must prepare a defense. There is Chye, and also Tanaka-san, and other warriors here."

"They would tax your village on the presence of visitors?  If they will not see reason, they deserve whatever they receive.  I fear, however, the consequences to your village if we should slay some of them before they flee."

In reply to Chou-Zhen Mou (msg # 637):
"Perhaps the Omo can send some mercs we hired recently to protect his interests here.
Are you in contact, through his messenger pidgeons, Elder-sama? If so, we'd best send the message as soon as possible, so they arrive in time."

"I could build some traps around the parameter, and help organize a tactical advantage in the defense of the village."

Ales considers a method of defense for the village. He was not going to let a bunch of thugs harass a village of peaceful peasants.

19:38, Today: Ales Konstantin rolled 6 using 3d6.  Tactics 12.

19:37, Today: Ales Konstantin rolled 8 using 3d6.  Strategy 12.

22:33, Today: Iskander rolled 14 using 3d6.  soldier ~ 13.

22:32, Today: Iskander rolled 10 using 3d6.  traps ~ 13.
Iskander manages to set some traps, in conjunction with the defense points raised by Ales.
He doesn't lend anything else particularly innovative, beyond that.

In reply to Iskander (msg # 641):

You dig out some of the elevated roadway and lay wickerwork accross it and mud, laying in two trenches so that anyone jumping would fall in. You dig 1 yard trenches, are you going to spike them?

In reply to Narrator (msg # 642):
Yes, Punji-Stakes.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 00:08, Tue 25 Feb 2020.

Chou-Zhen examines the traps being dug in the road.

"We should supplement this with a stone wall, I think -- I can shape the earth of the road itself and convert some of it to stone."

While the digging is going on, Chou-Zhen moves the earth of the road to form a third trench about a yard wide, four feet deep, and long enough to cross the road, 120 cubic feet total (further from the village, two yards beyond the second of the hand dug trenches) just behind a wall six feet high, two feet thick, and ten feet wide (or as wide as the elevated road, if narrower).  He then transforms a six inch layer of the wall's surface (both faces and the top, leaving a foot thick layer of earth in the middle, plus a  two foot deep reinforcement on the trench side to make up 75 cubic feet) to solid stone.

With the work completed, he sits down with his back against the village side of the wall to rest (this will require an hour and ten minutes, likely done before the hand-dug trenches are finished).

[Private to GM: 19:08, Today: Chou-Zhen Mou rolled 15 using 3d6.  Shape Earth (roll to cast) 125 cubic feet = 5 fp.
19:14, Today: Chou-Zhen Mou rolled 9 using 3d6.  Earth to Stone (15) (less than 75 cubic feet = 9 fp).  Now at zero FP
19:15, Today: Chou-Zhen Mou rolled 12 using 3d6.  Will (12) to say conscious.]

"With all this, it will be immediately apparent we aim to rebel. We'll need the Omo's protection for sure here, and there will be more fighting to come. I'm sure the village will agree they'd be better off under his protection, than these renegados."
This message was last edited by the player at 00:34, Tue 25 Feb 2020.

19:35, Today: Chye Isuel rolled 18 using 3d6.  soldier ~ 13.

19:35, Today: Chye Isuel rolled 11 using 3d6.  leadership ~ 13.
Chye rounds up some recruits to drill them, in hand to hand combat.
He accidently hurts somebody during sparring however...
"Chye sorry! If Chye hurt you so you miss work, Chye pay you after danger is over, okay?"

Ales goes and finds Miko and asks if the catfolk has any skills as a scribe.

In reply to Chye Isuel (msg # 646):

"Relax Chye, if I am going to remain here as guardian I  can take on pupils. We will need the Omo to send us swords. When we have done with these men, they and their gear must be moved far from this place, so that they are not found here and the village found suspect. That area of low magical energy might be good."

"Osu."
Chye acquiesced.
Thinking for a moment, Chye recalled the spot his Tanaka spoke of. The place they had encountered with the meteorite disturbed the local mana, and make the plants grow funny.
"Hmm.. or maybe we cart all their spoils back on the cart with us, and sell them off in Northport's markets. Anything with their crest, we burn.. or we keep one thing to show the baronet when we return. That is another thing we must do."

"We must be wary yet.  If the baron's men are able to ride through the paddies, they will outflank our defenses.  Magic that covers a large enough area may be beyond my strength.

"If it will not damage a harvest, it may be preferable to flood the paddies.  We could drive stakes into the ground, and sharpen them to be below the water surface, as a further obstacle."

In reply to Chou-Zhen Mou (msg # 650):

"The outskirts of the paddies are hau ted by swarms of ka, the baron's men tend to stick to the road."
This message was last edited by the player at 14:46, Wed 04 Mar 2020.

"Still, if they can go through the paddies, they may, when they find the road blocked.  I suppose that will give us warning, at the least; there is no cover, other than the levees between sections."

"Perhaps Akitsu-sama will help. He could herd the Ka, onto the bad men."

"We have his blessing, but we may need to make him aware of our need this time, and explain who these bad men are and how they harm the village he protects."
This message was last edited by the player at 00:32, Thu 05 Mar 2020.

In reply to Iskander (msg # 654):

"I will call Akitsu-Sama then, but I would rather he be out of reach from the cruel arrows of the baron's men."


Ooc: waling in the paddies is bad footing and reduces mv. Walking off the road by its side is bad footing.

"I would be most disappointed if Akitsu-Sama were to be harmed by the baron's men.  Is there no bait that will attract the ka to the paddies nearest the road?"

"Perhaps they could be driven into the traps, I set."