Round 3:
Kenta continues the dance, surujin whirling around his body before being sent forward and low towards the ant...
Meteor Hammer: for Miss chance:
...and again the light plays tricks with his eyes, sending the stone into the turf.
Bai-yin moves opposite Chkaia and weaves his blade towards the ants carapace.
Attack
Damage
Miss Chance
Only to have his blade pass yet again through nothing.
Okay we are back on this. Sweet.
Kenji moves in to try and flank with someone if possible. If it is not possible just cut 2 from my attack modifier.
Kenji moves smoothly focussing on precision rather than power.
Attack: For:
Confirm Crit: For: Additional Damage
Miss chance:
Kenji smiles with joy as he connects with a furious hit.
"Oh yeah heah!"
Kenji finishes off ant number 2! Great Crit in a sea of misses!
You are now out of combat to regain your course or flee in terror!
I put my foot down on the ants head. "Haha, this was an excellent first bout on our new road. We have triumphed over our enemy." I point my katana in the direction we are heading. "And now to fulfill our appointed tast. With the might of our arms we cannot fail!" With that I clean my blade with a rag I keep on my belt, sheath it and look to the group. "We should keep moving, unless someone has bug bites that is. Is everyone okay?
Kenta kneels beside each ant in turn and checks to ensure that they have passed to the boneyard. Rising to stretch out his joints he puts his surujin back across his neck like a scarf and nods "It would be wise to continue, where there are two there are likely to be many more..." wincing slightly and looking to the wound on his leg "I have suffered, but it can be endured."
"It may be of little consequence, but I have learned healing techniques in my time across the seas. It is the healing power of the chant of Hakthi Ani. If you wish, I will guide you in the chant."
Chkaia makes a gesture of respect by placing his hand over his forehead and bowing his head.
Smiling and returning the bow Kenta adds "I would be honored to be led Chkaia"
Brilliantly done Kenji!! Giving him a clout on the back. . Those were masterful strikes. You've got great potential! Or so my master would have said were he here... but he isn't and I am. So I'll say it for him!. A shadow passes over his face before it is replaced with an exuberant grin so quickly you aren't sure you saw the look. Bai-Yin then moves on to help Tan pick up his arrows and perhaps ask him for a drink...
"You must learn to accept the cosmic power that flows through all things. To voice the chant of Hakthi Ani, is to voice the flow of life."
Chkaia gestures around him, even at the dead giant ants.
"And to respect life in all its forms. With Hakthi Ani, you will learn to reach within yourself to the wellspring of life, and heal your wounds."
Chkaia leads Kenta and any other wounded to a clear part on the road, where they sit in meditation.
After a moment of silence, Chkaia opens his beak and releases a long musical note that eventually ends as a syllable, then repeats each syllable, allowing those within hearing range to chant along with him. Somehow the tones elicit energy from the air around them, coalescing as brilliant life-giving motes of light over the wounds of those present.
Since some were not as healed as he would have preferred, Chkaia repeats the chant, allowing those near him to chant along again. This time the process is more rapid.
Kenta is a spectator during the process, respectful but does not join the chant. Afterwards his touches fingertips to his lips then forehead and gives Chkaia a bow.
I receive Bai's praise with a big smile. "My master would have been proud. Thank you for your praise."
I watch Chaika with bewilderment. "What was all that about?" I ask clearly confused.
I cross my arms lost in thought for a moment. I shrug. "Kenta was it? Your right we need to get moving. We can do the chanty stuff on the way."
Lets have some survival checks see if you can get back on the path through the forest.
Kenta is not trained in the ways of the forest, but seeks to assist those that might...
Survival (Aid Another):
Chkaia is also not skilled in understanding the nature of the woods beyond stillness and life. However, he reaches out with a glowing hand and touches the one whom he deems most skilled.
"Whatever philosophy you follow, understand that spiritual truths come from within. Including the path of truth through a forest of shadows."
I look around squinting my eyes. "It is starting to get dark. Here I will start up a light." I pull a lantern out of my pack and light it up. Once we have light I look around. "Let's see if I can find our way." I begin to look.
Survival:
Kenji easily finds the way and has you back on course to get through the forest.
Your travel goes on for quit a ways uneventfully, the skys start to darken more, and night is just about upon you.
I look around at the surrounding area and at the sky. "It's getting late guys. I suggest camping soon. I don't typically like sleeping in the company of others but we need some rest." I look back to the others. "What do you say? Set up and turn in for the night or push on till dawn. My vote is against the second option." I wait for a unified answer.
Don't like sleeping in the company of others? What...why the hell not? You do know that you're not going to catch anything by being in "relative proximity" right? Bai-Yin cocks his head trying to puzzle that one out. So, uh, I'm all for camping for the night. He fidgets slightly with his pack. But, just for the sake of full disclosure, be careful of ninja assassins....or sorcerer assassins....or just assassins really. One way or the other, they're all kind of bastards.
If you decide to camp for the night, are you going to set up a watch? If so, could you tell me who is keeping watch when?
Kenta measures his words before speaking "It would serve us better to arrive safely and ready for whatever might be waiting than push through the night and risk arriving with tired heart and mind"
"I would see us rest this night, and will take first vigil."
"I will take vigil in the night as well, and keep my own company with the stars."
I nod. "I am often most alert in the morning so I will take last watch." I sit down pulling some food out of my pack. "That said, I'm going to eat and hit the hay."
I look around at the others as I eat. There is a clear look of unease in my eyes. During my meal I seem strangely watchful of the group as though I am ready for you guys to attack me. I am also paying a marginal amount of attention to my surroundings.
Jianguo, sullen for most of the day after fumbling with his bow, just kind of looks around. "You know what I hate the most about the forest? No tavern."
Despite this, he stumbles over and crumples into a snoring heap.
The Night passes rather uneventfully, though the person on guard could swear they continually hear the ant's 'clicking sounds' right over their shoulder...
Kenta awakens early to watch what can be seen of the dawn in silence, cross-legged and deep in thought. When the others are ready, he seeks to assist Kenji in finding the trail once more...
Survival (Aid Another):
I sit with my sword polishing it as I keep watch. I merely nod at Kenta as he awakens. I keep my eyes peeled until everyone wakes. "Okay we should get back pn track so we can get where we need to be." I look for the trail.
Survival:
"What are you doing?" Jianguo calls out to the others. Having headed off into the underbrush, he adds, "The way out is this way. Sun's over there, at least."
Chkaia munches on something that looks suspiciously like birdseed as he observes the others .
"Perhaps Tan is the most correct."
He looks around for a few minutes.
"Ah, Clarity comes with a full stomach. It's this way."
He points, very certain of himself.
Kenta is gracious in accepting the correction of Tan and Chkaia as to which direction to travel.
I shrug. "The trail looks different in the mornings I guess. Lead on birdman. I finish gathering my belongings and wait for birdboy to lead the way.
The remaining trek through the forest is rather uneventful, and the clicks from the ants seems to be left behind you.
Your party begins to approach a tree line suggesting the forest is about to end, the humanitarians you are looking for could be anywhere beyond that treeline.
If your navigating wasn't accurate, you could step out of this tree line dangerously close to Hwanggot.
Kenji looks around. "Well if the info we got was accurate, those huma-guys should be around here somewhere. Lets look around"
I begin my search
Perception:
Survival:
Chkaia also looks around.
Jianguo grunts. "Let me step out first, see where we are, make sure we aren't in the wrong spot."
Your keen perception picks up on some voices not far from the tree line.
Kenta's hand goes to the three-sectioned staff at his waist, but he does not yet draw it to make ready. Pausing within the twilight at the edge of the forest he waits for Tan to give an update.
I nod at the treeline. "Possibly enemies. Let's go and see." I begin to nun too stealthily make my way over to where the voices are. Keeping my hand on the hilt of my sword.
Stealth:
Perception To see if I can see whose talking or at least hear them better.
As you move a little closer, the voices are coming from a group of about 8 individuals, speaking in a clearing not far. If you were to move out to where you could make out the conversation, you would likely reveal yourself as well.
Mulling over the tao before him, Kenta comes to a decision "I will walk forth to speak with them. You may walk with me or remain in shadow... but I will see them."
Kenta then keeps his hands out to the side clear of his weapons and begins to walk forward towards the voices.
They turn to look at Kenta as he approaches, shocked and a little confused, not quite sure how to react just yet.
Kenta walks forward untroubled and unbowed by their stares and attention, stopping about thirty feet from the group before giving a short bow with his hands still held wide "Hail fellow walkers of the path. May the ancestors smile on you this day. I am Kenta"
Diplomacy:
The two groups look at one another, as if trying to decide who is going to speak and address the Nagaji. Finally one man steps closer, his hands out the side, in a gesture of peace as well...
"The empire is but one of my masters... and it is not the highest power that I follow." pausing a few moments to let the man savor the statement "All I wish for this moment is to talk, will you sit and warm my ears?"
If he grants consent to talking: "I am here with others also, with your consent may they step out of shadow and into the light?"
The man speaking with Kenta looks nervously over his shoulder, and then forward towards the trees to see if he can make out the rest of Kenta's party.
Go speak with your comrades, and I will speak with mine... Return here if they can remain peaceful, lets all move slowly and keep our hands in plain sight... There is no need for the Empire to be the cause of more needless bloodshed.
With that he turns and his group huddles together for a quiet conversation.