Scroll 1 - The Master Craftsman's Tea Vessel

[ffilz]

Are we in danger of one of those old school roll until you fail situations? Might it be worth considering the "Let it Ride" rule from Burning Wheel? I've given though to that when running my old school games, and at least reduced the calls for rolls even if I don't let a single roll stand.

[jemmus]

The odds of being identified as a ninja seem pretty low, because of the multiple rolls.
-Wit ST to suspect
--A successful hensu-jutsu BCS roll can defeat that
- If not, roll a d20 vs the Effect Number of the BCS fail.
It's a lot of dice rolling for PBP, but it seems to make the skill pretty powerful. And I like the way it forces players to make make meaningful tactical decisions for their PCs. In this particular game, stealth and remaining undetected (in a city under martial law) is everything.

[Grognardsw]

Is there a lake in town for fishing?

[jemmus]

There's no lake, but a river runs through town and joins a river at the south edge of the city. viewtopic.php?t=12554&start=20 (map at post #25)

[Grognardsw]

“It seems easiest for the ‘fishermen’ to fish the day away at the river, and meet in the west alley outside the compound after dark,” Jinsei said to the others.

[Rex]

Fuma

"A good idea Jinsei."

[jemmus]

Priests' actions?

[Marullus]

Kaida finds a shrine to sit and mediate upon, as a priest is wont to do. Hopefully, minimizing her own chances of being questioned or disturbed until she can meet with the fishermen in the west alley outside the compound after dark. I am assuming there's a suitable location nearby without going through all the checkpoints again.

[Grognardsw]

Jinsei fished, discussing the zen of fishing with Fuma.

“There is a focus on mindfulness, patience, and a deep connection with the natural world. Fishing involves immersing oneself in the rhythm of the water, the sounds of nature, and the anticipation of the catch. The act of fishing becomes a form of meditation, providing an escape from the stresses of everyday life and allowing one to find inner peace through the simplicity of the pursuit.”

[jemmus]

Kaida can go back to the Hachiman shrine, passing through the same two checkpoints she just went through. Map: viewtopic.php?p=664968#p664968 It seems logical that the bushi would recognize her and probably not check her too closely. But, this being Bushido, there would be rolls (with penalties to the NPCs' STs).

The same for the fishermen Fuma and Jinsei. You can see from the map that passing back the same way would lead spots along the river close to the Hachiman shrine. The two checkpoints would have to be passed through, with the bushi probably roll with penalties to Wit ST scores.

Minoru?

[Grognardsw]

It seems there is no option without rolls, so Jinsei will go to the river point. Those rolls are done on your part?

[jemmus]

Yes, those will be GM rolls. If it's the same groups of bushi jocks, it might take Crit Success rolls for them to succeed. And then the PC would get a hensu-jutsu roll.

[Marullus]

As above, my understanding was that we were moving at the appropriate time (later). She stays at the shrine, passing through the checkpoints in the afternoon (once, not three times) and goes to meet the others at the appointed time.

Our stated actions were to spend the day, then go to the house for nighttime action. If the places to loiter are at or near the Shrine, that's why we went there to begin with.

[jemmus]

The registrar said that travelers have to report to the office during the 7:00-9:00 AM hour, every day. So a round trip is pretty much necessary, unless the group wants to skip today's registration. The people with ninjutsu could try using that instead of passing through intersection checkpoints.

[ffilz]

If we have to pass by three times, is there an alternate route for the third time? Round trip won’t be suspicious since everyone has to go to the registrar’s office and back. But a third trip later in the day might arouse more suspicion.

Minoru will accompany Kaida.

[jemmus]

If you follow the same route, you would only have to pass through the same two checkpoints twice. Once to the registrar's office and once back to the area of the merchant's house.

[Grognardsw]

As above, my understanding was that we were moving at the appropriate time (later). She stays at the shrine, passing through the checkpoints in the afternoon (once, not three times) and goes to meet the others at the appointed time.

Our stated actions were to spend the day, then go to the house for nighttime action. If the places to loiter are at or near the Shrine, that's why we went there to begin with.

I’m sorry I’m officially confused now on optimal routes and locations. I defer to whoever can tell me the easiest place to go or stay. Alternately, we can fast forward to night time outside the compound.

[Rex]

As above, my understanding was that we were moving at the appropriate time (later). She stays at the shrine, passing through the checkpoints in the afternoon (once, not three times) and goes to meet the others at the appointed time.

Our stated actions were to spend the day, then go to the house for nighttime action. If the places to loiter are at or near the Shrine, that's why we went there to begin with.

I’m sorry I’m officially confused now on optimal routes and locations. I defer to whoever can tell me the easiest place to go or stay. Alternately, we can fast forward to night time outside the compound.

I am for forwarding along too.

[jemmus]

It seems like I've confused everyone. Hopefully this map will help. So far, every intersection the nakama has passes through has been a guarded checkpoint. This morning, coming from the Hachiman shrine to the registrar's office, they passed through the two checkpoints at the northwest (orange boxes).

The smaller checkpoint (to the south) had a samurai and three ashigaru bushi. The bigger one, on the highway-city main street had two samurai and six ashigaru bushi.

Jinsei wants to fish during the day today. He can do that on the east bank of the river on the western side of the map. To get to a less populated part of the city, and closer to the Hachiman shrine base and the merchant's house, he needs to pass through the same checkpoints again. But he just passed inspection going through the same ones, so the odds of the guards paying him much attention seem low. Kaida mentioned that she (and everyone else) has a fresh pass from the registrar's office, so if she's suspected, she has a good story.

This being Bushido, the NPCs get Wit STs to suspect her disguise, but at significant penalties.

Kaida leaves the registrar's office and returns the way she came for a day of meditation and communion with the sacred kami. The samurai at the checkpoint on the nearby Kaishu-Kaido pay her scant attention, the ashigaru with their wakizashi and long yari wave her through.

She approaches the nearby smaller intersection and its checkpoint. The front line samurai pays her little attention, as do to of the three ashigaru. But one, who appears to be a young country bumpkin, with some of the canny shrewdness of oppresses peasants everywhere, gives the ninja clan shugenja-as-priest a strange look. He says to his ashigaru comrades, The priest doesn't walk like an ordinary siting around and collecting offerings priest

Major checkpoint: [1d20]=6[1d20]=8[1d20]=18[1d20]=8[1d20]=3[1d20]=7[1d20]=10[1d20]=10
Smaller checkpoint: [1d20]=12[1d20]=1[1d20]=20[1d20]=8
Even with the penalties to the Wit ST, a 1 always succeeds in Bushido. Kaido needs to win a roll on her hensu-jutsu, at +3 to BCS if she presents the registrar's pass. Additional bonuses for RP in presenting a plausible story may apply.

To move things along, I assumed that Kaida used the advantage and bonuses of going through the same checkpoints again. I don't want to belabor things and drag things out, but the city of Kofu is currently quite a dangerous place for anyone who isn't local, known to the locals, and honestly going about their daily business. The Takeda are quite concerned about internal or external informants, spies, saboteurs, arsonists, and even assassins. As the Kumo clan knows, they should be. The art of subterfuge is quite advanced in Nippon.

Jinsei, Fuma and Minoru, please say if you do the same as Kaida and pass through the same checkpoints again. You have other options for moving around. Based on your skills and a look at the map. (For example: ninjutsu undetected movement; karumi-jutsu climbing, leaping and jumping (for rooftop travel); bypassing checkpoints by "jaywalking" streets between intersections (at the risk of suspicion, hensu-jutsu rolls, and somebody reporting a suspicious character to the nearest guards), and any other creative solution of your there might be(?)

Once the members of the nakama each get to a discrete space, we'll move forward to nightfall.

[Marullus]

Hensu-jutsu [1d20]=18

Kaida shows her valid registration and explains she is on her way to meditate upon the Kami...