[003] Into the War Camp

[Marullus]

Hit Points	Power	Turn Order
Ha 20 / 41 Toshizo 24 / 24 Souta 5 / 19 Taka 0 / 9 (subdual, unconscious) Eiji 11 / 11 Jīva 10 / 10	Taka 0 / 38 Eiji 7 / 28	Phase 16: Jīva (Basic Action) Phase 12: Bakemono-sho (Basic Action) Phase 10: Souta (Basic Action) Phase 9: Toshizo (Basic Action) Phase 6: Eiji (Basic Action); Souta (Secondary Action) Phase 5: Ha (Basic Action) Phase 4: Toshizo (Secondary Action) Phase 3: Souta (Secondary Action) Phase 2: Taka (Basic Action)

---

Eiji performs three successful healings and receives the minimum of 1 Shugendo.

Eiji greets the sun, then provides the propitiations of the Buddha to his companions. Facing the morning still heavily wounded, Toshizo lays out their options - to leave Taka's soul in jeopardy by resting a day, to risk going into the cave wounded and in so doing leaving her body unguarded, or guarding her body and not taking all bushi to address the cave.

Chochin, portable lanterns, are a mainstay for the dark mountainside and the group has several (along with the oil needed) among the supplies kept here by the bandits.

*bump* decide actions, please.

[jmacatty]

Ha says, We should not split up. Whatever we do, we should do together.

OOC: Sorry dudes, I started a new gig last week, which includes a return to the commute. It is really wearing me out.

[Marullus]

You don't need to apologize when you're the only one to post, Mac.

*bump*

[jemmus]

Toshizo's action for this turn (his little speech about the options) is complete, correct?

Hang in there jmcatty.

[Marullus]

I think we are ready to move when decide a plan, so you are free to talk more to reach that. Fair, though, that we are looking for others to react.

[ffilz]

I think this is mostly up to the bushi at this point. Taka is indisposed, and Eiji has offered his healing but doesn't have much else he can do at the moment.

[Samwell Turleton]

I am working towards a deadline and haven't been able to put much thought into Taka's or Souta's tragic state of affairs

[Marullus]

I think the first question is, are you planning to spend a day in rest without fighting, let Eiji heal people again, and then attack the cave more hale? But in doing so, put yourselves at risk by giving the enemy the initiative to assault you while you wait and hope?

Or, if you're attacking today, what's the plan?

[jemmus]

Toshizo replies to Ha, If we must all stay together, that means we cannot leave Taka-sama behind. So we would all have stay here. We could keep watches all day and night and use our bows on the monsters if they approach.

Toshizo has already said that he thinks resting a day is best, though they don't know what the risk of leaving Taka unconscious for another day and night would be.

[jmacatty]

Ha: Then we rest.

[Marullus]

Hit Points	Power	Turn Order
Ha 28 / 41 Toshizo 24 / 24 Souta 11 / 19 Taka 0 / 9 (subdual, unconscious) Eiji 11 / 11 Jīva 10 / 10	Taka 0 / 38 Eiji 28 / 28	Phase 16: Jīva (Basic Action) Phase 12: Bakemono-sho (Basic Action) Phase 10: Souta (Basic Action) Phase 9: Toshizo (Basic Action) Phase 6: Eiji (Basic Action); Souta (Secondary Action) Phase 5: Ha (Basic Action) Phase 4: Toshizo (Secondary Action) Phase 3: Souta (Secondary Action) Phase 2: Taka (Basic Action)

---

The group makes a difficult choice towards inaction. They keep the large fire banked for the day, stoking it back to a bonfire for a second night. Without the hard labor of chopping trees and gathering lumber on the mountainside, there is no choice but to continue burning the wood and paper walls of the building itself. By the time the next morning has arrived, there are no more interior walls left within the building, only the external shell of sturdier construction. Many of the reed tatami mats are also burned off the floors as well.

The day of rest has aided them, however, and with a day of rice and hot soups their bodies feel stronger and recovered from wounds and exertion. Except, that is, for Taka. The affliction she faces eludes them, obviously something magical, and with a dark hag known to be in the cave they fear only the worst. Unable to waken or to take any food or water, her skin grows pale and dry, her breathing shallow and without deviation. The noble daughter of the Satake clan is wasting away at their feet. They cover her with a blanket and keep her warm from chill, as that is as far as their skill goes.

The bushi take turns setting a guard, but the day passes uneventfully. They occasionally spy the reflected glint of metal or peering eyes in the darkness of the cave mouth, but nothing emerges that they see, and at the least nothing threatens the house while they rest. The only exception is the black cat that they see sitting quiet and still several times during the day, no movement but the twitch of its tail. Each time they spy it, it simply rises and drops off behind whatever it was perched on and disappears, stealthy as the mice it hunts.

...then it is dawn again. Eiji again prays and feels the blessings of the Buddha upon them, the third dawn since they arrived at the tower above, finding the valley.

1) Eiji can make seven more healing rolls before bed, if he chooses.

2) Eiji has his full 28 Power back with the second dawn and can decide his actions again regarding trances, healing, and blessings.

3) Normal healing now takes effect! That is the Healing Rate (Health/5) modified by situational factors. For all of you, I will say that the house still allows you to stay "in comfort" (+2) this day, but if you continue to burn it at the current rate, that drops by 1 each additional day. You did not fight or travel so do not have a negative. For treatment, Eiji is accostomed to tending the dead, not the living, and has no skill in medicine or herbalism.
Taka is an herbalist and could give a +1 or more for healing drugs, but she is unconscious and unable to be roused. You can get a +1 from use of a "medicine kit" -- i.e. proper changing of bandages and ointments that expends supplies even if unskilled -- and there's enough supplies that you can cobble together from the bandits to do this.

• Toshizo has a base healing rate of 4 +2 for comfort +1 for medical kit = +7hp. He is already full and doesn't need it.
• Ha has a base healing rate of 5 +2 for comfort +1 for medical kit = +8hp. He rises from 20 to 28.
• Souta has a base healing rate of 3 +2 for comfort +1 for medical kit = +6hp. She rises from 5 to 11.
• Eiji has a base healing rate of 1 +2 for comfort +1 for medical kit = +4hp. He is already full and doesn't need it.
• Taka has a base healing rate of 1 +2 for comfort +1 for medical kit = +4hp. Instead, she visibly wastes away, not recovering and still unconscious.

[ffilz]

Eiji will indeed do more healing before turning in. It might not be until Monday before I can roll those.

[Samwell Turleton]

Souta's wounds appear to be healing with the help of the monk and a day's rest. She gingerly presses her hands to them in turn and winces at the pain of the deep cuts realizing she has a lot of healing to go yet. Souta spends some time soaking her cut kimono to try to clean the blood out of it and feels saddened by the damage to the beautiful cloth. The effort of lifting the damp material and moving around is a reminder to her that she will need to take her recovery slowly. She rests between trying to do light chores by watching the others taking turns stoking the fire, preparing some modest food, and keeping an eye on the pallid Taka. She brings a blanket to cover Taka and sits by her side talking to her.

[Marullus]

Eiji will indeed do more healing before turning in. It might not be until Monday before I can roll those.

*bump* 7 points of evening healing, then morning actions (healing, blessings, trance).

...then you all still need a plan of attack.

[jemmus]

"If I see that cat again, I will shoot it," Toshizo thinks. "It is surely a servant of the hag or some other evil thing in the cave."

The sight of Taka lying immobile and unconscious and wasting away makes him sad and worried. He remembers her generosity at the inn, where she bought plenty of hot dumplings for his young, hungry self and the others. I think we must go to the cave in the morning, after Eiji heals the wounded. Taka-san cannot even drink water. I don't think her body can live for long like this. We don't know how to wake her or what's causing her... sickness. But we know that there are a hag and monsters in the cave. That can be the only thing that is affecting Taka-san, I think.

If we stay another night, we'll need another watch fire. For that, we must either chop firewood in the mountains or destroy part of the house. If we go to the mountains, no one should go alone, I think.

[Marullus]

Does he collect enough for a fire for all night, if maybe a smaller one this time? Or do we need to gather firewood in the mountains before dark?

By the time the next morning has arrived, there are no more interior walls left within the building, only the external shell of sturdier construction.

You burned everything you could and kept a bright fire all night. If you need to stay another night, you either need to chop firewood or begin burning the external/structural timbers of the house (and it is no longer a comfortable (+2) shelter.)

[jemmus]

OK, revising my post then.

[ffilz]

Eiji will indeed do more healing before turning in. It might not be until Monday before I can roll those.

*bump* 7 points of evening healing, then morning actions (healing, blessings, trance).

...then you all still need a plan of attack.

Souta:

(-2 for wounds) fails
(-2 for wounds) fails
(-2 for wounds) fails
(-2 for wounds) succeeds

Souta is healed for 1

Ha:

(-2 for wounds) fails
(-2 for wounds) fails
(-2 for wounds) succeeds

Ha is healed 2

Eiji is going to take up a different profession...

[Marullus]

Hit Points	Power	Turn Order
Ha 30 / 41 Toshizo 24 / 24 Souta 12 / 19 Taka 0 / 9 (subdual, unconscious) Eiji 11 / 11 Jīva 10 / 10	Taka 0 / 38 Eiji 28 / 28	Phase 16: Jīva (Basic Action) Phase 12: Bakemono-sho (Basic Action) Phase 10: Souta (Basic Action) Phase 9: Toshizo (Basic Action) Phase 6: Eiji (Basic Action); Souta (Secondary Action) Phase 5: Ha (Basic Action) Phase 4: Toshizo (Secondary Action) Phase 3: Souta (Secondary Action) Phase 2: Taka (Basic Action)

---

...then morning actions (healing, blessings, trance).

[ffilz]

Feeling a need to do the trance:

failed
failed

And then healing Souta:

(-2 for wounds) failed
(-2 for wounds) critical failure

And I'm going to check in before proceeding...