Fleeing Ronin Initiative (+2): [1d10] = 7 — total 9
Crazed Ronin Initiative (+2): [1d10] = 4 — total 6
Aiko thrusts her katana forward and hurdles into the crazed ronin, screaming wildly! Her reckless charge pays off and she catches the man offguard: her sword skewers him through the shoulder, blood spilling out back as it rips out the other side.
(the ronin drops to "Out" Wound Rank and is rendered unconscious. Your full attack just paid off, after all!)
The sole remaining ronin flees into the trees beside the road, clutching the heavy wound in his side.
Osaru stands ready to slay the man slumped forward on Aiko's sword.
(Would you like to finish him, chase after the one running away, or something else? You can decide what to do this round and then take your next action as well.)
ooc: I'd like to finish off the crazed ronin on Aiko's sword.
“All men did have darkness. Some wore it in the form of horns. Some bore it invisibly as rot in their souls.”
― Paul S. Kemp, Shadowbred "If good people won’t do the hard things, evil people will always win, because evil people will do anything."
― Paul S. Kemp, Twilight Falling
Algrim Tirion Dwarf - HarnMaser Dalin Silverhand Dwarf Thief - Barrowmaze Elwood 'Dug' The Bounty Hunter Dwarf Swashbuckler - Hedge's Adventures in the World of Golarion Roan Gravelbeard Dwarf Fighter - Hedge's Greyhawk Adventures Torvik Shadowhood Dwarf Fighter/Thief - Nocturne
ooc: I'm not sure how many actions this will actually take to achieve but it feels cinematic, so I'll just describe my intent and make the rolls and then leave it in your hands to interpret Starbeard.
Aiko pulls her katana out of the stricken Ronin leaving Osaru to finish it. Purposefully, she thrusts both blades into the soil at her feet and then unslings her bow. The only surviving attacker is disappearing into the trees. Aiko steadies herself, breathes deep, once, twice. She closes her eyes and listens to the noise of the last Ronin's flight, visualising exactly where he will be. Then, in one swift motion, she plucks an arrow from her quiver, draws her bow and releases.
Initiative: [1d10+3] = 10+3 = 13
ooc: I couldn't remember whether you re-roll 10s on initiative but figured it probably wasn't significant.
GM commentary wrote:The final ronin is fleeing off the road and into the woods, 20 yards away. He'd normally be able to run 40 yards per round; but he's pretty wounded (Wound Rank -3), so in this case I'm going to rule that he only gets half of his move unless he makes a basic Willpower roll vs TN15.
His Willpower is 2k2, but with a -3k0 wound penalty he's dropped to the lowest possible of 1k1: [1d10] = 3
By the rules, it takes one full round to ready a weapon (unless the weapon lets you use the iaijutsu skill for a quickdraw), so she'll get a shot in next round, either before or after he enters the woods based on his initiative roll.
Osaru brings his sword down cleanly on the ronin's neck, beheading him with ease.
Aiko quickly readies her bow and looks for the final, fleeing man; he's hobbling off the side of the road, trying to reach the dense tree line. Just as he reaches the first overhanding branches of twisted pine and fiery maple, the woman-warrior draws her string and flies a slender arrow straight into his back, piercing vitals. The wound stops him in his tracks, upright and rigid, clawing at the air before slumping dead to the ground.
The battle is finished. The soft sound of rustling autumnal leaves punctuates the still carnage littering the road. Osaru now feels the deep gash in his leg; Koga lies unconscious nearby, blood covering his face; Assistant Harada's slain corpse is heaped amongst the other dead.
Actions?
Rolls…
The ronin makes it to the edge of the tree line this round.
Next round, Aiko acts first before he can move into the trees (ronin's initiative (+2 for Air): [1d10] = 2 + 2 = 6)
He is making a full defense, so he has TN10 + (defense skill 2k1) [1d10] = 10, [1d10] = 7 / 10's reroll: [1d10] = 3 = 23, and she must drop all dice that roll lower than his Reflexes+Defense of 4.
Aiko's roll of 26 against TN 23 just hits, dealing 18 damage to… [1d10] = 8, [1d10] = 5 — the torso, killing him with 1 point of damage left over!
Osaru tends his wounds as best he can then moves to try and see what he can do for Kogo's injuries.
“All men did have darkness. Some wore it in the form of horns. Some bore it invisibly as rot in their souls.”
― Paul S. Kemp, Shadowbred "If good people won’t do the hard things, evil people will always win, because evil people will do anything."
― Paul S. Kemp, Twilight Falling
Algrim Tirion Dwarf - HarnMaser Dalin Silverhand Dwarf Thief - Barrowmaze Elwood 'Dug' The Bounty Hunter Dwarf Swashbuckler - Hedge's Adventures in the World of Golarion Roan Gravelbeard Dwarf Fighter - Hedge's Greyhawk Adventures Torvik Shadowhood Dwarf Fighter/Thief - Nocturne
GreyWolfVT wrote:Osaru tends his wounds as best he can then moves to try and see what he can do for Kogo's injuries.
First aid uses Intelligence+Medicine, with a TN equal to the number of wounds you've taken (9 in this case). Success means you heal a number of hits equal to your medicine skill rank. Each raise heals an extra hit.
Since Osaru doesn't have the medicine skill, that means he'll heal 0 hits on a success, +1 for each raise he makes (remember you can only raise 2 times, since your Void Ring is 2).
So he just rolls his Intelligence (2k2EDIT: 1k1 because of your current injury!), against TN14 to heal 1 point, or TN19 to heal 2 points. Don't forget that you can spend a Void point to get +1k1 to your roll and bring it back up to 2k2.
This is what your wound ranks look like right now. Healing 1 point will keep you at Wound Rank -2 (with 0 hits in that rank), but healing 2 points will bring you up to Wound Rank -1 (with 3 hits in that rank).
Last edited by Starbeard on Wed Apr 10, 2019 6:44 pm, edited 1 time in total.
With practiced movements, Aiko re-slings her bow and re-sheaths her sword, wiping the blade clean on an inner fold of her robe as she does. For a moment she does not turn. She stands, striving to control her breathing as the adrenaline of battle subsides. She breathes deep and her eyes flutter briefly closed as she recalls the awful vision of Kago falling stricken with a terrible head-wound. She is fearful of what she will see when she eventually turns. Her lip trembles and she fights the fear back down.
Having regained her composure, she turns. Harada's body lies crumpled, his arm severed and his guts spilled out. The Magistrate's Assistant is most certainly dead. Crouched nearby, Osaru, who is himself wounded, leans over her brother's stricken, seemingly lifeless, form. Blood pools from the dreadful wound to Kago's face and scalp. She cannot tell if he is alive or dead. Emotion threatens to overwhelm her once again but she swallows back the tears that threaten to burst forth and rushes to Osaru's side.
"Does he live?" she croaks desperately. "Please, Master Osaru, is my brother alive?"
ok back to all this 1k1 2k2 stuff i need stupid people terms ie how many d whats do i need to roll?
“All men did have darkness. Some wore it in the form of horns. Some bore it invisibly as rot in their souls.”
― Paul S. Kemp, Shadowbred "If good people won’t do the hard things, evil people will always win, because evil people will do anything."
― Paul S. Kemp, Twilight Falling
Algrim Tirion Dwarf - HarnMaser Dalin Silverhand Dwarf Thief - Barrowmaze Elwood 'Dug' The Bounty Hunter Dwarf Swashbuckler - Hedge's Adventures in the World of Golarion Roan Gravelbeard Dwarf Fighter - Hedge's Greyhawk Adventures Torvik Shadowhood Dwarf Fighter/Thief - Nocturne
Osaru shakes his head "I don't know I never took medicine in my trainings. I'm just trying to stop the bleeding."
“All men did have darkness. Some wore it in the form of horns. Some bore it invisibly as rot in their souls.”
― Paul S. Kemp, Shadowbred "If good people won’t do the hard things, evil people will always win, because evil people will do anything."
― Paul S. Kemp, Twilight Falling
Algrim Tirion Dwarf - HarnMaser Dalin Silverhand Dwarf Thief - Barrowmaze Elwood 'Dug' The Bounty Hunter Dwarf Swashbuckler - Hedge's Adventures in the World of Golarion Roan Gravelbeard Dwarf Fighter - Hedge's Greyhawk Adventures Torvik Shadowhood Dwarf Fighter/Thief - Nocturne
Seeing that Osaru is still bleeding from the deep wound in his leg and knowing that Koga's injuries are beyond her, Aiko does what she can to help Osaru. Unfortunately she has no real knowledge of the healing arts and there is little she is able to do for him.
Koga's injuries are much graver. She knows they must have aid if her brother is to have any chance of survival.
"This is beyond my skill. I think I should go to try and find help," she declares. "How far do you think we are from Kakita Castle? Or, do you know of somewhere nearer?"
She tries to stay calm, refusing to give in to the dread and despair welling up inside of her. Scanning the trees for any lingering danger, she tries to work out how long it will take her to return with help. Can she afford to leave them while she does so, she wonders? By her reckoning, she has little other choice.
ooc: Just a point to note for the records, Aiko used both her void in the combat, so she is currently at 0.
Based on how far you've traveled, you expect a lazy walking pace would bring you to Kakita Castle in 4–5 hours, close toward evening. You left the Village of the First Emperor 3 or 4 lazy hours behind you. You are unaware of any Imperial waystations or villages between here and the castle, but logic dictates that there must be at least one or two.
As you consider your actions, Aiko scans the trees and finds no evidence of further danger.
Assuming Osaru has no objections, Aiko will ready herself to make the journey to Kakita castle for help. It is slightly further away but there is likely to be better aid available there from her Crane cousins, if she can fetch them in time. Conscious that it will be a good few hours, and dark, before she is able to return, Aiko will do her best to make sure Osaru and Kago are taken care of before she goes. For example, moving them into the shade and ensuring Osaru has plenty of water, some food and firewood to hand.
She will also deal with the bodies. She strips off the upper part of her kimono and ties it about her waist, so that it does not get soiled, while she beheads the tainted Ronin corpses, drags them into a pile and burns them. Once the foul work is complete, she will use a little water on a cloth to clean herself as best she can, re-dress and then set off. To be mired with gore would after all be unseemly.
"Good fortune while I am away, Master Osaru. I shall pray for Amaterasu to watch over you and Kago and shall return as swiftly as I am able."
Once she is embarked upon her journey, she will travel as quickly as she is able to, trying to set a sensible pace considering the distance she must go. Perhaps, alternating between a brisk walk and a jog, though conscious she is already tired.
Osaru gives no objections but fears survival is not in the cards with how far away any real help is.
“All men did have darkness. Some wore it in the form of horns. Some bore it invisibly as rot in their souls.”
― Paul S. Kemp, Shadowbred "If good people won’t do the hard things, evil people will always win, because evil people will do anything."
― Paul S. Kemp, Twilight Falling
Algrim Tirion Dwarf - HarnMaser Dalin Silverhand Dwarf Thief - Barrowmaze Elwood 'Dug' The Bounty Hunter Dwarf Swashbuckler - Hedge's Adventures in the World of Golarion Roan Gravelbeard Dwarf Fighter - Hedge's Greyhawk Adventures Torvik Shadowhood Dwarf Fighter/Thief - Nocturne
A lot of linear activity here, so I'll just move it along:
Aiko helps Osaru and Koga to the shade, follows the sound of running water to a nearby stream, retrieving water in a wooden pale found on the merchant cart, and gathers kindling using a hatchet also found on the cart. Careful to avoid staining herself with blood, she beheads the corrupted samurai and burns them, cleansing herself afterward with more water. Working swiftly, the whole process takes about half an hour.
She then speeds away to Kakita Castle, leaving Osaru to watch over Koga. An hour later Koga regains consciousness and Osaru informs him of the situation. The two of them pass the time warily for several hours. At one point they are alerted by a procession of foxes coming out of the woods, curious to look at the pyre of corpses—some of the foxes look normal, but others walk on two legs, and some even wear clothes, with faces that look almost human! As soon as they notice Osaru and Koga watching them, they all revert to their normal fox form and escape into the woods.
It isn't until the red sun begins to sink low over the distant Spine of the World Mountains that Aiko returns on horseback, accompanied by a priest and a small retinue of Kakita shaman priestesses and bushi.
(Aiko made a difficult TN20 test using Athletics [4k3], rolling 26 and making it to Kakita Castle in marathon time. Once there she met a temple priest of the Daimyo, and succeeded a normal Sincerity roll [5k3] against TN15 by rolled 21. The priest quickly arranged for a retinue to retrieve the wounded samurai.)
The priest helps a blind woman from his horse, and leads her to the wounded. "This is Lady Kakita Hama, a venerable shaman and healer." Lady Hama performs The Path to Inner Peace, chanting and summoning water spirits to flow through Koga's damaged body. Meanwhile, her young assistants and the priest do the same for Osaru and Aiko. Several minutes later, all three are fully healed. The priestesses wash Koga's face to remove the clotted blood, but a disfiguring scar remains across one side. The priest also performs a purification ritual for you against corruption, and exorcises/purifies the burnt corpses as well.
(I'll assume you ask about the foxes at some point) — Lady Hama suddenly speaks up, eyes staring blindly ahead: "The foxwives of the forest are shapeshifters and vile tricksters, but usually harmless unless you cross them. They are watchful and know all that goes on in the forest, and they despise the taint of the Shadowlands. It is said that he who outsmarts a foxwife will be blessed with prosperity in all things for the rest of his days. Perhaps they know what caused these ronin to become corrupted."
Rolls:
Hama heals Koga: 6k3 vs TN5, casting time 2 actions; she will double the casting time for a free raise, and make 3 raises for extra healing to TN20: 9, 9, 8, 4, 3, 3 = 26 — success! 5 wound ranks healed, bringing Koga up to the -2 Wound Rank.
Hama heals Koga again: double casting time, 1 raise to TN10: rolled 41 — success! Koga is fully healed.
Assistant 1 heals Osaru: 4k2 vs TN5, double casting time, 1 raise to TN10: 7, 7, 2, 1 = 14 — success! 3 ranks healed, Osaru is now fully healed.
Assistant 2 heals Osaru: double casting time, no raises; 4k2 vs TN5: 9, 6, 4, 3 = 15 — success! 2 ranks healed, Osaru is now fully recovered.
Shugenja priest heals Aiko: 4k2 vs TN5, passes easily. Aiko is now fully healed.
I suppose I should pause here, in case you would like to follow up on the foxwives; otherwise, you will continue by horse to Kakita Castle, arriving during the night sometime after the duel between Yego and Sugonori from the other thread.
Sorry, I read my notes wrong. If you head to Kakita Castle right now, you'll arrive the night before Kenta and Senichi get there and have their encounter.
Osaru bows his head "My thanks Lady Kakita Hama. I would stand and give the appropriate bow if I were not still sore. How can I make it up to you for healing us?" the ronin asks.
“All men did have darkness. Some wore it in the form of horns. Some bore it invisibly as rot in their souls.”
― Paul S. Kemp, Shadowbred "If good people won’t do the hard things, evil people will always win, because evil people will do anything."
― Paul S. Kemp, Twilight Falling
Algrim Tirion Dwarf - HarnMaser Dalin Silverhand Dwarf Thief - Barrowmaze Elwood 'Dug' The Bounty Hunter Dwarf Swashbuckler - Hedge's Adventures in the World of Golarion Roan Gravelbeard Dwarf Fighter - Hedge's Greyhawk Adventures Torvik Shadowhood Dwarf Fighter/Thief - Nocturne
Lady Kakita Hama places her hands together and bows toward Osaru. "No repayment is necessary, except that you allow me to serve you tea tonight at the castle."
Escorted by the noble Crane retinue, you ride up to Kakita Castle. The sight is breathtaking in the moonlight: thousands upon thousands of paper lanterns fill your vision, lining the causeways to the castle, perched on windows and banisters, hanging from trees and roof eaves.
The village below glows with lanterns of all colors, and lantern boats float and bob along the stream that snakes through the town. Your procession rides past a parade of peasants dressed up in the likeness of all manner of celestial creatures, with four long parade dragons surrounded by sparkling firecrackers at the front. Children and carefree adults scratch wishes onto strips of paper, then light them with magical sparklers that send the burning papers floating high up into the heavens for the Buddhas to answer.
(Aiko receives 2 Honor points for being able to attend the festivities, and rises up to Honor Rank 3!)
Festival goers can participate by making a donation to write wishes, there are dice games in the tea houses, samurai participating in impromptu contests of art for prizes, and you can always just cut up the town and look for trouble. I'll say there's only enough time for each character to do 2 things.)
At some point during the evening, the shrine maiden Lady Hama delivers you to a secluded little tea room in one of the castle gardens. Her blindness does not seem to impede her ability to perform the tea ceremony with beautiful precision (everyone regains 1 Void Point). Afterward, a young girl apprentice brings sweets.
Priestess Hama suddenly grows solemn and distant, and recounts a terrible vision as though speaking to herself. "I see a lake of restless spirits, the dead of many wars. They rise out of the water, waterlogged with hatred and despair, clawing their way upon the shore and into the houses of destitute fishermen. They curse the villagers and take their children, then sink back into the depths of the lake. I have dreamt this dream three times."
She shifts her seating to face you and bows to the floor. "Young lords, I hear you are approaching Beiden Pass. Will you not put an old woman's mind at ease and investigate these matters?"
Despite their recent harrowing experience and the sad death of Assistant Magistrate Harada, Aiko cannot help but marvel at the breath-taking spectacle of the thousands upon thousands of paper lanterns that flicker across Kakita Castle and the Crane village below it. It is a magical sight and Aiko sighs in wonder at being there to witness it.
"Kago, Master Osaru, it is so beautiful is it not?" she gasps in delight. "I am so glad we have made it here to see it."
Sometime later, when Aiko has the opportunity, she will make some small donations to write several wishes and watch the burning papers float high up into the heavens.
First, she wishes for Amaterasu to welcome Harada's spirit and guide it safely to the Spirit Realm.
Second, she wishes for Kago, Osaru, Kenta, Senichi and herself to complete their journeys to Beiden Pass safely and for there to be no more death on this trip.
Thirdly, she wishes that in her life she will get to witness many more marvels as wondrous and beautiful as the Star Festival.
And finally, she wishes for the Buddhas to provide her with a way to repay Lady Hama for her generous aid and the saving of her brother.
ooc: Aside from making the wishes, I feel Aiko would be more likely to wander around the festival basking in the sights and sounds, rather than undertaking any of the specific activities you've mentioned. If there were an opportunity to purchase a cheap trinket as a memento, say a small and inexpensive Crane-themed pendant she might do that. Otherwise, she will simply enjoy the magic of the festival and the sights and sounds of being there amongst the happy people.
Later still, Aiko watches with great admiration as Lady Hama performs the tea ceremony with beautiful precision and then listens carefully as the shrine maiden recounts her terrible vision and requests their aid. It seems the Buddhas have already heard her fourth wish. She hopes they are as accommodating about granting the other three.
"Lady Hama, I would be most honoured to do this for you, both as a mark of my esteem for a distant and respected Crane relative and to repay you for saving my brother's life. We first have an obligation to travel to Assistant Magistrate Harada's family home in the Lion lands to notify his kin of his death and to return his daisho and other possessions but that is on the way to Beiden Pass, where we will be travelling soon after. And, I confess some self-interest in undertaking this mission on your behalf, as it would also mean we would have to visit you on our return journey, which I would very much welcome."
She bows respectfully.
ooc: I'm conscious that we will miss festivals at Prosperous Plains City and Daidoji Castle but I don't think it was ever possible to get to all of the festivals (the travel time between Matsu Castle and Prosperous Plains City is too long) and, though we could feasibly get to the festival at Daidoji Castle, it makes very little sense in the context of the game for us to head back south for it after visiting the Lion lands. So basically, it seems sensible to me that we miss these two despite other considerations.
Osaru"Yes it is very nice Aiko, no need to call me Master. I am Ronin and not deserving of the title Master holds." later on "As my friend says it would be a welcome undertaking but one we would have to take on in our return trip if that is acceptable." the ronin lets Aiko do the talking the ronin remains silent and bows respectfully when required.
Last edited by GreyWolfVT on Sat Jun 08, 2019 1:37 am, edited 1 time in total.
“All men did have darkness. Some wore it in the form of horns. Some bore it invisibly as rot in their souls.”
― Paul S. Kemp, Shadowbred "If good people won’t do the hard things, evil people will always win, because evil people will do anything."
― Paul S. Kemp, Twilight Falling
Algrim Tirion Dwarf - HarnMaser Dalin Silverhand Dwarf Thief - Barrowmaze Elwood 'Dug' The Bounty Hunter Dwarf Swashbuckler - Hedge's Adventures in the World of Golarion Roan Gravelbeard Dwarf Fighter - Hedge's Greyhawk Adventures Torvik Shadowhood Dwarf Fighter/Thief - Nocturne
GreyWolfVT wrote:Osaru"Yes it is very nice Aiko, no need to call me Master. I am Ronin and not deserving of the title Master holds." later on "As my friend says it would be a welcome undertaking but one we would have to take on in our return trip if that is acceptable."
Ed, I think I may have confused you with what I wrote. The task Lady Hama has asked us to undertake is at Beiden Pass, which is our destination (via the Lion lands). Aiko's reference to returning to Kakita Castle, was regarding us subsequently having to come back and report to Lady Hama on the outcome. I'm not sure if that was clear.
