Migari and Nintao step to the side and talk in hushed whispers. Occasionally one or the other looks at one of the group.
Kimiko notices her new leader but pays little heed to his actions unless his glance or Nintao's should fall on her in which case she blushes but looks back at them, curious, but not intimidated. She does pay attention though to her new companions' tales, fascinated with their confidence in their abilities.
She runs her fingers through a patch of grass and feels comforted by the closeness of even such a humble plant and smiles.
Kasani sits languidly by the fire, her armor laid aside for the evening, and listens to the assorted tales, stories, and ambitions of the others. Her unblinking eyes shine eerily in the firelight and she declines any requests to relate her motivations with a soft and polite shake of her head. Though Zamu's earnest pledge does draw a good natured grin and chuckle from her.
The trip is memorable. Travelling with a real power of the land is instructional. There are several memorable moments, such as when a dozen bandits leap out. Nintao's mount breaths a line of white gold fire that leaves three of them smoking skeletons. The rest vanish in a flurry of leaves and shouts of fear.
Another time an oni-tainted boar comes crashing out of the woods, covered in bone spurs with bloody red eyes and acid dripping from it's maw. Migari is in motion before the group can react, and in seconds the boar's head, nearly as big as a man's chest, is tumbling across the ground.
During the trip it becomes noticed that Nintao is not completely human, she has a long black tongue, and has a tendency to bite it's tip and display it when she's being funny.
...It's not unusual for those who can shapeshift to retain some small indication of their natural form...
Eventually the group crosses into the deep forest of Riku'Ki, which then turns into jungle. Several cities are passed through along the way, growing more and more wood and tree like.
Finally the group arrives at Yi'Shu, a truly massive city. Brightly colored buildings with bamboo tiles on the roofs interspersed between massive old growth trees. The city is huge, and built up against the cliffs, giving the southern edge of the city an incredible view of the ocean.
The first day or two in the city is somewhat overwhelming, the crowd, the sounds. But then Migari arranges the purchase of an old Mercenary facility. There's a barracks that can hold 40 people, an admin building, an armory, a mess hall, a stable and exercise yard, and a training ground. The buildings are not in the best of shape, but they are solidly built, in need of cleaning and minor repairs.
Once everyone is moved into the facility, Migari gathers the group into the training yard. "Alright, I need to assess your fighting ability. I did not have time or luxury to allow you to fight while I watched on the way here. So, we will do some testing now. Go to the armory, find a training weapon, and return here. When we are done with the martial assessment, Nintao will guage the skills of those with magic."
Dunja returns from the armory with a set of wooden daisho but still carries her own sword. She looks unused to the heft of the wooden katana especially. "Are we going to be dueling, Lord?" she says "Otherwise I'd rather train with my sword here. It's really the only thing I know how to use."
"I need to know what you can do. The best way to learn about someone, is to fight them. This is why we are using wooden weapons, and why Nintao is here to deal with broken bones and any bleeding."
Kimiko takes a masterwork shortbow, though she knows she is not very good with any weapons, and stands ready, albeit a little nervously, with the others.
Dunja frowns but otherwise accepts the judgement. She'd have to resort to unorthodox means if she had any hope of meeting expectations.
Kimiko takes 20 wooden arrows as well.
Yanyeeku scoops up a katana and tests it nodding to himself as he uses it two handed. "Im better in a group but we will see how this works...
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Sasayaku laughs when she sees the selection of weapons, and picks up a wooden katana and dagger, giving the one a few clumsy swings.
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After a great deal of testing on the Daikyu (Longbows), Zamu finds a one he is fairly happy with. It's pull is not so great as his personal weapon, but he sniffily declares that it will do. He spends an equal measure of time checking out the arrows and muttering about the poor quality before taking a number of them. (pointed and blunt, if available)
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Kasani paces through the armory, taking stock of what's available, her strides lanquid and easy. After looking over everything, tracing her fingertips along some of the wooden blades and staves, she stalls and turns around, plucking a hardened and weathered sansetsukon off a dusty rack. She slips a wooden waikizashi into her belt as an after thought and makes for the training circle where Migari intended to test them.
She stands patiently, arms crossed at her waist, as she watches the others assemble and waits her turn. She nods encouragingly to each with a smile as they come brandishing their training weapons.
Migari stands in front of everyone, and Nintao waits behind, ready to do healing when necessary. Perhaps somewhat disturbingly, Migari has 4 training katana's pushed through his belt loops.
Migari then nods at Nintao, who takes a silk scarf from her outfit, and holds it in the air. When next a draft blows through the arena, she releases it. The short scarf floats in the air, dances on the draft, and then as the draft dies, it plummets toward the ground.
Round 1
With only unfamiliar weapons available Dunja is not keen on charging the samurai on her own. Rather, she turns her concentration inwards, calling out to her companion.
Around her the air becomes still and the faint whispering can be heard. Dunja opens her mind and let's the spirit of Gough take hold. A foreboding aura permeates the area around her; invigorating allies and unnerving foes.
Before anyone can charge him, ruining her aim, Kimiko will target Migari with a wooden arrow, trying to still the shaking in her hands.
But nervously, she cannot keep from shaking, ruining her aim.
Sayayaku holds the katana in her left hand, and raises it over her head as she circles around Migari.
When she finally moves to strike, instead of swinging the sword at him, she thrusts with the dagger in her right hand.
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Drawing his Great Clan bow, Zamu falls into a familiar stance as he draws the arrow back.
Yanyeeku begins his tonal chanting,
he keeps his weapon at the ready but otherwise allows the others to move/act.
Kasani snaps the sansetsukon taught and holds it defensively in front of her as she interposes herself between Migari and Zamu. Though she knows Migari could pierce through her defenses like paper, she still does her best to defend Zamu and possibly Lingfeng as well. She grins wryly to herself and enjoyment flashes in her eyes as she briefly catches Migari's gaze. "Don't let up, Zamu!"
--Kasani--
HP: 20/20
AC: 25 (17 T / 18 FF)
CMD: 17
F/R/W: +3/+2/+4
Oathbound (reroll charm/compulsion) used: 0/1
Challenge used: 0/1
Resolve used: 0/1
Serpent's Fang used: 0/6 rounds
Level 1 Spells cast: 0/4
Ongoing Effects
battle spirit: +1 morale bonus to attack and damage
skald: +1 enhancement bonus to weapon + 1 time surprise accuracy
total defense
Mostly all the attacks go wide. One of Zamu's training arrows bounces off at an angle as it hits Migari's arm. The other lands a good solid hit on his chest, generating a pleased grunt from the Samurai.
The Samurai then turns on Tsume, and brings one of the wooden swords up in an arc.
Then the wooden sword slams into Tsume's chest a second time as he brings it back.
A third slash starts low and comes up against the feline, who miraculously is missed as he staggers to the side from the last blow.
Seeing Migari close with Tsume, Kasani dashes forward and lashes out with a series of quick strikes and feints, hoping to needle their new captain enough to make an opening for Dunja to perhaps capitalize upon.
--Kasani--
HP: 20/20
AC: 23 (15 T / 18 FF)
CMD: 17
F/R/W: +3/+2/+4 (+2 vs mind-effecting + poison)
Oathbound (reroll charm/compulsion) used: 0/1
Challenge used: 0/1
Resolve used: 0/1
Serpent's Fang used: 0/6 rounds
Level 1 Spells cast: 0/4
Ongoing Effects
battle spirit: +1 morale bonus to attack and damage
skald: +1 enhancement bonus to weapon + 1 time surprise accuracy
fighting defensively: -4 to hit, +3 dodge
This was not a terribly comfortable situation for Lingfeng. She felt obligated to show Lord Migari her fighting chops, but those weren't exactly juicy chops. Lingfeng had once attempted to study martial arts; a monk passing through her family's inn had agreed to stay for a few months to teach her some basics. It had not gone particularly well; the patience required in learning the various stances, the tedious and monotonous forms and katas... Lingfeng had come out of her time with that monk knowing less about fighting than when she had started. She still had great admiration for the martial arts, and for warriors of all sorts- but she had learned quite well that she was not meant to be one of them. She would stick to sorcery.
That made her current situation rather uneasy. Migari wished to test the mettle of his newfound "comrades"- Lingfeng didn't like to think of herself and her peers as his "servants," personally- and Lingfeng supposed he had every right to know how bad she was at melee combat. She just didn't want to get thwomped with Migari's wooden sword in plain view of everyone. So, as she finds herself standing across the training yard from Migari, watching and wincing as Migari lays into Sasayaku with blow after blow while avoiding taking even the slightest bit of damage from their party.
Well, might as well give herself the best chance she can! Lingfeng breathes deep and taps into the dragon's chi within her, and again exhales the colorful particles that will shape themselves into her armor.
"Pfeh, I thought you'd hit hard," Sasayaku says, the bravery of her words somewhat undermined by the way she's swatting at the stars that are circling her head.
Though badly rattled by Migari's attack, she makes another thrust with her dagger as she steps back.
Continuing to intone his song Yanyeeku changes the pitch slightly to manifest a spell...
Migari's sword slips out of his hand and lands in the dust. He raises an eyebrow.
Lingfeng stares, goggle-eyed, as Migari's sword slips from his hands. Gonna have to learn that trick, she thinks.
Round 2
Knowing she stands no chance in a duel with Migari, the possessed Dunja keeps her distance while continuing to harrow him.
Lingfeng grimaces and reluctantly goes on the attack, trying to slam him with a staff hit.
Despite a good solid swing, her staff seems to bounce off the Samurai's hard armor.
Tsume, seeing Kasani trying to aid him, moves back in and attacks the Samurai.
Despite a valiant effort, his attack also glances off the armor.
Zume then runs in as Xu manages to disarm the Samurai, and grabs the greasy sword.
Migari draws another of the training katana's from his belt as he goes into motion, attacking swiftly.
The blade all but leaps into his hand as he spins to strike Zamu, the tengu sent flying backwards and to the ground by the hit, unconscious.
The wooden sword shatters as it hit's Lingfeng in the chest, sending her crashing backwards.
The samurai draws the third wooden katana from his hip as he spins in place and hits Tsume again.
Again, the wooden shaft shatters as the training sword slams into the catfolk solidly. There is the sound of bones breaking as Tsume slams to the ground. The samurai continues his spin, drawing the fourth weapon from his hip.
However, Kasani manages to duck the last, and least accurate, blow.
Nintao, who had moved down closer to the fight during the first round, and has since been watching, floats over to Tsume, touches him lightly, and white energy flows from her hand into the catfolk.
Lingfeng
Tsume
Zamu]
Kasani glances to her left and right after deflecting Migari's final strike and her eyes widen to see everyone around her splayed out on the ground. She offers her captain a bashful grin and a shrug, as if to rhetorically lament her hopeless situation. Skipping back a step, she taps into a portion of her ophidian heritage and, a moment later, shoots a viscous glob of mucus at Migari.
A tanglefoot bag is a small sack filled with tar, resin, and other sticky substances. When you throw a tanglefoot bag at a creature (as a ranged touch attack with a range increment of 10 feet), the bag comes apart and goo bursts out, entangling the target and then becoming tough and resilient upon exposure to air. An entangled creature takes a –2 penalty on attack rolls and a –4 penalty to Dexterity and must make a DC 15 Reflex save or be glued to the floor, unable to move. Even on a successful save, it can move only at half speed. Huge or larger creatures are unaffected by a tanglefoot bag. A flying creature is not stuck to the floor, but it must make a DC 15 Reflex save or be unable to fly (assuming it uses its wings to fly) and fall to the ground. A tanglefoot bag does not function underwater.
A creature that is glued to the floor (or unable to fly) can break free by making a DC 17 Strength check or by dealing 15 points of damage to the goo with a slashing weapon. A creature trying to scrape goo off itself, or another creature assisting, does not need to make an attack roll; hitting the goo is automatic, after which the creature that hit makes a damage roll to see how much of the goo was scraped off. Once free, the creature can move (including flying) at half speed. If the entangled creature attempts to cast a spell, it must make a concentration check with a DC of 15 + the spell's level or be unable to cast the spell. The goo becomes brittle and fragile after 2d4 rounds, cracking apart and losing its effectiveness. An application of universal solvent to a stuck creature dissolves the alchemical goo immediately. Crafting this item is a DC 25 Craft (alchemy) check.
--Kasani--
HP: 20/20
AC: 20 (12 T / 18 FF)
CMD: 17
F/R/W: +3/+2/+4 (+2 vs mind-effecting + poison)
Oathbound (reroll charm/compulsion) used: 0/1
Challenge used: 0/1
Resolve used: 0/1
Serpent's Fang used: 0/6 rounds
Level 1 Spells cast: 1/4
Ongoing Effects
battle spirit: +1 morale bonus to attack and damage
skald: +1 enhancement bonus to weapon + 1 time surprise accuracy
adhesive spittle: 1/6 rounds
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Yanyeeku again casts the grease spell this time around Migari's feet. He then moves to circle away from the samurai an attempt to keep distance between them....
Kimiko gasps as she sees her companions falling and takes aim again, moving back from Migari to stay out of his reach...
She sighs as she sees her arrow fly off in a direction not quite where she had planned...