[003] Into the War Camp

[Marullus]

Is there any ritual magic that requires multiple casters?

Could be? Nobody in the scene knows besides her, that's for sure. (An illusion is just an appearance; she can look like it's a coven ritual if she wants to.) You also get to describe Water Magic, what it looks like, and how it works.
This is your narrative opportunity.

[jemmus]

Toshizo's first ever shot at a real enemy hit. The boy is highly tempted to loose another togari at him, but he can't delay getting closer to the enemies in the house. Bow in hand, he lopes forward toward the tower and the house.

Run, partial encumbrance BMA 5 yds x 2 = 10 yds. So ends turn 2 50 yds from the tower? AC is 7 (heavy samurai armor) + 1 for level = 8.

[Marullus]

No, I adjusted on this post to allow you to get to 30 yards with potential surprise (which you succeeded at). So, everyone is currently at 30 yards.

I miscalculated last night on your man-ratings. You have man-rating 2, which is 30 yards for point blank. Ha has man-rating 4, which is 50 yards for point blank. You are both therefore at point blank range already where you are at 30 yards.

Also remember that Toshizo's blessing only lasts two detailed turns. So the end of this turn, that +2 goes away.

[jemmus]

Thanks!
Toshizo's first ever shot at a real enemy hit. He nocks another togari, draws the bowstring to his cheek, and looses another shot at the wounded bandit.

BCS 12 +2 (Blessing) +2 (point blank) = 16 (minus AC). At point blank, two additional damage dice for a 2-man bow, correct? [1d20+4]=4+4=8[3d5]=10

[ffilz]

Is there any ritual magic that requires multiple casters?

Could be? Nobody in the scene knows besides her, that's for sure. (An illusion is just an appearance; she can look like it's a coven ritual if she wants to.) You also get to describe Water Magic, what it looks like, and how it works.
This is your narrative opportunity.

Sorry, I'm not much on flowery narratives...

Taka and her mirrors step out and she commences a flowing interpretation of a court dance, 6 samurai ladies dancing in some kind of mystic ritual dance. Even if it doesn't attract bow shots, at least it ought to cause some distraction. I'll make a Court Dance roll just for effect:



Well, not so good... Let's see what happens...

[jmacatty]

Ha nocks another AP arrow and fires at the uninjured guard.
BCS 12+2+4+1=19-AC
[1d20]=7
Damage 5d5
[5d5]=19
OOC: That oughta leave a mark

[jmacatty]

Also, Ha is wearing AC 3 (+1 for level) which is all the armor he has.

[Marullus]

Two arrows fly at the tower - the guards fumble and panic. One drops to his knees, clutching his neck. Six noble women emerge from the edge of the trees into the pre-dawn gloaming, beginning the steps to a courtly dance in their ephemeral dresses, but there is something odd, inexplicably uncanny in their movements amidst the dark shadows of the forest path...


One guard clutches the arrow in his neck, pulling it free with a gurgling cry, trying to staunch the outpouring of blood. The other guard, his own bow now lying helplessly on the ridgeline below the tower, steps to his companion and takes up the other guard's dai-kyu to prepare to fire. He steps to the edge of the tower, speechless at the sight of the strange dancing women below...

The gentle red-orange glow illuminates the top of Mt. Hodaka Dake, the light spilling across the mists of the southern mountains. Eiji finds himself holding his breath at its beauty, a counterpoint to the imminent slaughter the others are focused upon.


Twang! Twang! Ha and Toshizo both fire, calm and level as they target the panicked guards of the tower. Their togari arrows fly true, puncturing the ashigaru armor of the guards - Ha felling the left guard and Toshizo the right - as they collapse almost instantly.


There is a moment of silence in the forest, dawn creeping above, even the birds silent in respect for the dying men.

"Well done, bushi-san," says the gravelly voice of Kobi to your rear, "They will raise no alarms. Ever again."

Actions?

OOC:

I like Taka rolling Courtly Dance and failing. I think in the pre-dawn forest, it gives it an unearthly rather than comfortingly-graceful quality...

Phase 10:
Left Guard uses the "exchange weapon" action to take his companion's bow for himself. This is a Primary Action and requires no savings throw, but prevents him from then also shooting the weapon this turn.
Right Guard is dying (use 1 Ki to act a round after hitting 0 hp... mostly for narrative flavor).

Phase 6:
Eiji isn't acting in combat - I'll assume he takes the 'Observe Situation' and roll a Spot Hidden Things for him.
Eiji Wit Save (BCS 7) Hidden Things [1d20]=20
...or not. Critical failure - His attention is captured utterly beyond the fight happening.

Phase 5:
Ha hits for 19 damage. Toshizo hits for 10 damage. More than double the hit points needed to kill them, respectively.

...Detailed Turns done for the moment, except that the Mirror Images last for 10 Detailed Turns and have only been here for one right now. Taka can continue to do things with them for another 9 turns, which I'll assume is just a reasonable amount of non-combat action, narratively. (Some amount of time less than what it takes to get all the way down to the house below.)

[jemmus]

LOL, my meta knowledge did me in. The bandits in the rules have a lot more HP than that. I was wondering why he dropped after taking just 5 HP damage....
Character sheet updated (-1 Ki)

[jemmus]

Toshizo's joy at hitting his first enemy fades when he realizes he wasted a togari, and worse, time, on a mortally wounded foe. "You are still a foolish tyro, aren't you," he thinks, He says to Ha, We should come back for the heads later, right?. Dai-kyu still in hand, he runs directly toward the house.

Run, 10 yds

[ffilz]

Taka and her watery illusory entourage will keep up with the bushi as best she can in hopes that should the alarm be raised anyway that anyone who looks over the wall will be confused.

[jmacatty]

Ha begins to move to the camp. Slow down and save your breath! No alarm will be raised. Caution is required. As he passes the tower, Ha will drop his bow and draw his katana.

[jemmus]

Toshizo slows to a walk.

A turn before reaching the house he'll drop his bow and draw his katana and wakizashi. He use Iaido to use the wakizashi for defense for +1 AC (AC 9).

[jmacatty]

OOC: We've obviously looked at the house. Can we get a drawing or description of doors, windows, etc?

[Marullus]

Just giving Enoch time to post. Do you allow Eiji enough turns to Bless you now after dawn before rushing the house, or is moving ahead without it intentional?

[jemmus]

If there's a Blessing coming, Toshizo will wait for it.

[jmacatty]

we'll wait

[Enoch]

Eiji should still have enough power to bless everybody who either failed or used theirs already. I'm assuming everyone needs one again:
Kamine: Blessing (BCS 9): [1d20]=10 Failure.
Ha: Blessing (BCS 9): [1d20]=1 Success. Sadly, no rules for critical successes on blessings, but the Buddhas seem to favor you!
Sataka: Blessing (BCS 9): [1d20]=15 Failure.
Eiji: Blessing (BCS 9): [1d20]=8 Success.

[Marullus]

Toshizo speculates about returning later for the heads that are, after all, worth two silver pieces each. Ha drops his dai-kyu by the tower at the top of the trail, leaving it behind as he draws his katana.

The two bushi and the the samurai noblewoman kneel to receiving the blessings of the Noble Buddha from Eiji before continuing on to the valley below. Kobi clambers up onto the 12' tower and tosses down the bodies, then busies himself severing and bagging the heads from the two guards and also collecting their dai-kyu and katanas. After a little over two minutes in prayer (and with the multiples of the shugenja now dissipated back into a fine mountain mist), the group hurries down the trail.

From the vantage atop the ridgeline, you can see the shape of the building below to your southwest. In the dim glow of the dawn, whose rays haven't fully descended into the bowl valley, you can also see the shuttered windows on the north side of the east end, and the double sliding doors on the east side of the building facing towards you.

Brigand Building.png (41.33 KiB) Viewed 246 times

As you hurry down the path, two guards in ashigaru armor exit the building, chatting with each other in the misty morning and coming up the path presumably to replace those at the watchtower with dawn now arrived. "Sugoine!" they exclaim, expressing their abject surprise, but draw their katanas.

Actions and initiative! You are 10 yards apart when you emerge from the mists. They are not surprised and are free to act.

Rolls:

Eiji Blessing Time [4d10]=22
22 Detailed Turns is just over two minutes.

Are guards surprised? [1d6]=6
Distance [1d6+5]=5+5=10 yards

[ffilz]

While the blessings were being done, Taka greeted the rising sun (restoring her magical power).

Taka will again cast Mirrors of Deception.



And fails (using 1 power)