2nd Scroll - Flight from Okitsu

[jemmus]

The arrow in Kentaro's ribs causes a shot of pain with every step of Tafu's hooves. The big bushi was wounded, but he was still reasonably strong. He didn't know who these horsemen he rode with were. He only knew that they were fellow refugees fleeing the catastrophe outside a village called Okitsu, and that made them allies. Their horses were tired, but the kept them at a lope. They had to get as far north as possible and away from the battle site before the horses' strength ran out. Then they could walk and rest. Or they could take less risk, ride them to death, and get farther away for Taira patrols. And then walk to Kai.

Ahead, an armored bushi emerged from foliage. One hand held a dai-kyu with the tip down, the other was raised in greeting. The horsemen reined in. Kentaro saw that it was his friend Hiroshi, whom he had escorted the kuge with and lodged with for three months in Kofu. The novice bushi had survived Okitsu. He approached the horsemen, and Kentaro assured the other two that this was a friend. The one on the left said, Understood. The younger one on the right merely grunted his understanding. Nnnn. For the first time, Kentaro really looked over his stranger companions. Fine o-yoroi, ornate kabuto helmets and dai-sho hilts, good horses. Obviously samurai, both. The young one, perhaps 16 years old, was upright in the saddle, but was pale and appeared weak. There was an arrow standing from his shoulder, another through his thigh, and a swollen red flap of skin dangling from his forearm. The other was older, perhaps 20 years old or so. He had a yari puncture through his cuirass and a bloody gash through his trousers and thigh. He seemed in better shape than the young one.

When Hiroshi joined the group, the little older samurai bowed to each everyone from the saddle. Hiroshi and Kentaro thought the break from protocol strange. Samurai bowing to ronin? It seemed the samurai had cast off rank and protocol in favor of solidarity and working together to survive. I am Matsumoto no Ryusuke, he said. Yoroshiku, onegai shimasu. He again bowed from the saddle, obviously ignoring some pain.

The pale young samurai rose to more upright in his saddle. I am Minamoto no Yukinori, of Sagami province, the heartland of the Minamoto. The Minamoto are grateful for your assistance and your hard work today. Today, we are defeated. We retreat, but only to heal and come back stronger. You honorable warriors are invited to fight with us again, when the time comes. Yoroshiku, onegai shimasu. And once again, a samurai bows to a samurai and two ronin. A light late afternoon snow again begins to fall.

Things the PCs know.
-This is the Imagawa's home ground, but you didn't see them at the Battle of Okitsu. They'd be shamed for not being there, so they'd be looking to regain their honor by getting some Minamoto refugee heads.

-In Nippon, roads and towns lie in the valleys between mountain ridges. If you follow the road, you will go through villages or towns, like you did on the Koshu-Kaido highway. Those towns will have Imagawa samurai administrators, like the Takeda ninyo you met in Kai. It's a matter of guessing as to whether the village samurai are at full force, or out in the field with an Imagawa army or armies. You do know that the second time you visited the Takeda village of Chiyoda, about 2/3rds of the samurai were gone.

-The rice fields are dry this time of year, so you can travel on them instead of using the road. That would decrease your chances of being spotted by Imagawa samurai or peasants some. But in places the bunds walls are high and hard for horses to cross. Bajutsu BCS successes would be needed. If a fail, you would need 5 minutes to try again.

-The social rule about not traveling at night doesn't apply in this situation. You're basically outlaws, so not many social rules apply at all. Travel at night decreases the odds of encounters with humans, but increases the odds of encounters with everything else.

-You could try crossing the mountains into Kai instead. The horsemen would very likely have to leave their horses behind at some point. If the weather gets bad (randomly determined), you could face some tough Health STs.

-Sorry to spring this on you late, but I just thought of it. Bushi don't take non-weapon possessions (food, water, furoshiki, etc.) into a battle. Doing so would show that the bushi intends to run from the battle and live another day if things get rough. The idea is to fight the battle, win, pursue, and return to camp. Or the camp moves up to the victorious army's new position. If you want to have taken your possessions into the battle, you can do that and lose 10 On. There's plenty of water around. Food is a problem, but you might be able to raid peasants' winter gardens (at some risk).

-If you can reach Shinano, you'll be in Matsumoto land and presumably safe. You guess that that you would reach the border on the 3rd day, if you travel on the valley road during daytime. Nighttime travel could take twice as long. Once you're in Shinano, you guess that it will take another 3 days to reach Kofu.

I'm doing everything randomly using the encounter tables. The NPCs were randomly determined to be Minamoto and Matsumoto.

[Marullus]

Kentaro's gaze lingers on the Matsumoto for a long moment. When he speaks, however, he addresses the higher ranks Minamoto. ""I am Togakushi no Kentaro, grandson of Togakushi no Daisuke, who overcame the dragon of Hida, but who's Daimyo surrendered to the Minamoto at the Battle of Three Hills. I too am a Bushi of the Hida mountains." He considers the horsemen. "The mountains are known to my feet, and it is where they are bound, on my way back to the city of Kai. I welcome you to accompany me."

Kentaro considers his own situation, then that of the other two. He was out of food, anyway, but it is his nature to keep his meager belongings bundle on Tafu... he's never been in battle, but he and Tafu have covered many miles of the mountains together. His bandages, salve, and rope are things he expected to need at the battle, so they are in the bundle. The only thing otherwise not a weapon... his samisen. It was a precious to him, and he would never have abandoned it behind. It was frivolous to have secured it to Tafu when he knew he was going to dangerous battle, but now he is glad that he did so. He considers the spoils of war... the bundle of ashigaru armor of his defeated foe and the eight human heads now quickly tied to Tafu's rump. All of this for such things, and a loss to face with stoic honor. He thinks suddenly of Okinawa no Ryō as he sees the juxtiposition of the samisen and the human heads. Ryō would be saddened by him this day.

"Let us tend these wounds, then we walk across the fields to save the horses. I have salve. Bandages."

Bandages x6, salve x6. Can't keep riding without pulling the arrows out.
Then we walk to save the horses.
If they don't object to him taking the lead, Kentaro will plot a course as near the mountains and away from the roads as he can without risking the horses. He won't take a path that risks losing Tafu. Hopefully, he is smart enough about mountains to do so.

[ffilz]

Is it at all appropriate to go into battle with a packet of bandages and healing salve? Note that he does have Physician skill. What about one's coin purse? Hiroshi was seeking to regain honor and status so would not carry anything inappropriate into battle. Now that we are on the run without food, well, Hiroshi is used to being on the trail hungry and having to scavenge or beg for food, such is the life of a ronin who tries to live an honorable life.

[Marullus]

The good thing about bandages and salve is that they don't require the physician skill.

What makes sense to Kentaro as a mountain bushi is sometimes not what gets him On. Your call on the On effects; he did what he did.

[jemmus]

Lets say that carrying bandages and salve is OK. Coins are also OK for all castes (including samurai) because they can conceal them.

The samurai NPCs will follow Kentaro's advice about offroad travel. Are you traveling during the daytime or nighttime? Nighttime travel would probably take around twice as long.

[ffilz]

Lets say that carrying bandages and salve is OK. Coins are also OK for all castes (including samurai) because they can conceal them.

The samurai NPCs will follow Kentaro's advice about offroad travel. Are you traveling during the daytime or nighttime? Nighttime travel would probably take around twice as long.

OK, so Hiroshi has a belt pouch with his coins and either a belt pouch or a furokishi sack with his bandages and healing salves. Barefoot or geta for battle? Are any clothes (other than furondishi) worn under armor? Hiroshi will have to wear his armor until he can acquire a trunk or pack frame to carry his armor.

I think Kentaro will lead the way.

We may be able to raid a wood cutter's shack for some supplies.

[jemmus]

Straw sandals are worn in battle, except for sohei, who wear geta. Bandages plus salve heal 2 HP, correct? If anyone knows off the top of their head.

[ffilz]

Straw sandals are worn in battle, except for sohei, who wear geta. Bandages plus salve heal 2 HP, correct? If anyone knows off the top of their head.

Yes, bandages plus salve is 2 hp. A physician success can heal 1 more point.

[jemmus]

I missed answering you question about clothing. Yes, clothing was worn under armor. A shirt and pants. Sometimes the shirts were pretty colorful, with dyed flower patterns. Samurai wore gaudy Sunday best stuff to battle that they wouldn't normally wear in daily life.

[ffilz]

I missed answering you question about clothing. Yes, clothing was worn under armor. A shirt and pants. Sometimes the shirts were pretty colorful, with dyed flower patterns. Samurai wore gaudy Sunday best stuff to battle that they wouldn't normally wear in daily life.

Ah, well then when Hiroshi has reason to take his armor off, he won't be nearly naked...

[Marullus]

Travel by day. Speed is more important.

Can we apply the 2hp for bandages and salve? If the Samurai don't have their own, Kentaro shares and bandages them.

[ffilz]

Travel by day. Speed is more important.

Can we apply the 2hp for bandages and salve? If the Samurai don't have their own, Kentaro shares and bandages them.

Once we have a bit of breathing room, Hiroshi will patch folks up. How many Physician rolls do I need to make? Can I do Physician on myself?

[jemmus]

Yes, Hiroshi can use Physician (Igaku) on himself. Each application to a character requires a BCS roll. Success heals 1 HP (one roll per day).

-A successful roll by a character using Physician Skill heals 1 point.
Each character may benefit from each of these methods only once
per combat. The players must indicate that first aid is one of the first
things they will attend to after the game leaves Detailed Action Scale,
or they lose the opportunity to apply it. For example, if the players
indicate that their characters will search the bodies of their late foes,
post a lookout against further danger, and then say, “Oh yes, we will
also put on bandages and have Ito make lgaku rolls for all the
wounded guys,” the Gamesmaster is justified in refusing to allow it.

[jemmus]

Note to all of us: Warhorses are NPC with attacks in combat, and subject to wounds if targeted. Healing rules should apply to them too, it seems to me. They'd be big targets for stray arrows in Battles, and also focused targets for mobs of ashigaru with polearms. But the rules are silent about that. Maybe better to just not get into that. Unless it's miniatures-wargamey interesting to people. In any event, we have to remember that warhorses fight. GM's job, really.

[Marullus]

Okay, so Kentaro applies bandages and salve to himself and the two samurai if they don't have their own. Together with Hiroshi, they remove the arrows. Your post didn't answer how many rolls Hiroshi needs, though?

[ffilz]

I think we have 4 bushi



So Kentaro and Ryusuke each get a 3rd point of healing.

[jemmus]

The good thing about bandages and salve is that they don't require the physician skill.

What makes sense to Kentaro as a mountain bushi is sometimes not what gets him On. Your call on the On effects; he did what he did.

I respect the roleplaying over roll-playing. The -10 On applies to the mountain ronin who puts pragmatism and survival ahead of pride.

[jemmus]

The bushi see a little wooded hillock rising like an island above the flat dry fields. They take cover in it, drink water from their flasks, and sit for a moment. Then they untie pieces of their armor and examine their wounds. Hiroshi wounds are the lightest, followed by Kentaro's and the Matsumoto Yukinori's. Ryusuke of the Minamoto clan's are grave indeed.
He is pale, and it seems that he has lost a lot of blood. Arrows are wrenched out of bodies, or pushed through limbs. By pure will alone the young men and the boy avoid crying out in pain.

The four set out toward the north and Shinano, avoiding the road, walking the edges of fields along the mountains. They can generally walk and ride single file along the tops of bunds. But where the adjoining mountain slopes are steep, there are no bunds, and the bushi and horses must. Most of the bunds are low and easily stepped on and over. But some are waist high or higher. It would be hard for horses, especially Kentaro's horse laden with battle spoils, to clamber up and over them. The bushi and horses can walk along lateral bunds and north-south bunds and avoid descending into the lower fields. But they are trained warriors, and they note and assess the possible impact on a combat.

Rice fields and bunds (in summer)

The bushi pass a village, 400 yards to the left, as quietly and unobstrusively as they can. They can't know of they were observed or not. They can only remain alert and try to hurry on.

It starts to grow dark, and the exhausted bushi find a place of concealment in foliage at the foot of mountain. There's a rivulet with water running over dry leaves for refilling water flask. The horses drink, drink, and drink the little they can get in at a time. There is no grain for them, or even green leaves to eat. The warhorses snort steam, but don't complain. The have been through a battle too today, and it seems they understand that all are running from strong enemies. The bushi don't dare make a fire for warmth. They lie down in their armor on the snow-covered leaves. Each takes inventory of his throbbing wounds. But before they know it, they go into deep, deep sleeps, their minds only aware of their bodies' awareness of the frigid cold and tenderness of wounds. Memories of the long battle seems an eternity away. The bushi can hardly remember if it was today, yesterday, or a week ago.

Do you set watches? The PCs are utterly exhausted. Staying awake during a watch will require a Heath+Will/2 ST. Modifiers for current HP will apply. Standing a full watch will cost 1d4+1 Health (= net effect on total HP). Note the everyone has bajutsu skill and knows that horses are prey animals who just doze standing and stay semi-alert (and ready to bolt with the herd) through the night. And they know that these are exhausted horses that need many, many calories per day. And they haven't gotten any since before the battle this morning.

Only Kentaro has rations. The bushi don't even think about eating tonight, they just assume it isn't an option. I'll say that buke (only) can stoically go one day without food, without needing an ST of any kind. When they're in that state, food will serve as a unexpected surprise Blessing. After the first day, ST rolls for Heath+Will/2 ST will be needed. Failed ST - 1d4+1 Health (= net effect on total HP)

[jemmus]

Please ignore. I posted a duplicate of the above. The first one took some time to post, I thought it was lost.

[Marullus]

Kentaro doesn't eat either, saving his meager food for breaking their fast the next day, when he shares it among the others. He continues stoicly onward.