L5R: City of Lies

Game Master deusvult

Investigate: 2d10 ⇒ (3, 1) = 4 No one here but us samurai.

"Apologies Scorpion-sama. We are indeed tasked with the solving of a crime most foul. I hate to ask this, but how many men do you have here. I only ask as I will need to know how much time it will take the Oni that is following your invoice sets to rampage through this building. I am sure we could be persuaded to wait outside so as to be within the range of your screams."
sincerity: 3d10 ⇒ (6, 1, 10) = 17 1d10 ⇒ 6 22 Katsuyoshi honestly believes that all signs point to this being the next target... although this whisper merchant has jumped up his list.

The Scorpion allow the three of you to enter the dark warehouse, full of the umbral silhouettes of stacks of cargo. It feels claustrophobic between the looming piles of barrels and other containers that seem to reach like fingers towards the ceiling. Somewhere there must be a stairway up to the catwalk that runs along the interior wall well up above your heads. On the interior railings of that walkway are a handful of candles spaced irregularly throughout the perimeter of the building, dimly shedding the only illumination down onto the warehouse floor below.

One bushi says to you:

"Please accept our humble apologies about the lack of light, but as we explained earlier there are no laborers on duty tonight. The warehouse is closed for business due to the festival."

As the other bushi is set to close the door, he pauses with apparent surprised concern at Mirumoto Katsuyoshi's question.

"An investigation into an Oni led you here?"

Hideyoshi nods to Xiaoxing. '...I understand the teachings of my ancestor better than most...'

Once inside, Hideyoshi's nerves are on edge. When Katsuyoshi speaks, he grins to himself.

"Indeed. The monster has already torn apart one warehouse, and slaughtered the guards inside. We are in pursuit." He turns slowly to the guard. "If I were you, I would empty this warehouse before it arrives."

Sincerity 4k2: 4d10 ⇒ (7, 7, 1, 10) = 25 explosion: 1d10 ⇒ 5 =22

Hope this works. That was brilliant Katsuyoshi!

At Hideyoshi's understanding of her words, Xiaoxing relaxes slightly as they head inside, her gaze sweeping over both the bushi and the shadows, waiting to see the glimpse of unexpected movement.

My comrades have it right, the beast has torn through an inn, an embassy and another warehouse, and this address is next on the list we discovered

she gestures around

We were to search for a crate that might hold something the Oni is after, but as you say the laborers are not here so we have no way to find the crate, especially in this light. It will likely arrive and shred everything in here as we cannot separate out that which it will be looking for.

she turns to Katsuyoshi and Hideyoshi

Perhaps we should spend our time following our other leads if we cannot save this warehouse?

Well the Scorpion will either take the bait or they won't, either way we can proceed with our duty

The black cloth masks obscure most of the facial expressions of the two bushi as you warn them of the threat of the Oni. The bushi pulls the door shut the rest of the way and mutters,

"You don't say."

Something about how his surprise turned into sarcasm sends a chill down your spines, and only Akodo Hideyoshi detects movement on the catwalk above and in the congested walkways between the cargo piled on the floor. Although he sees nothing, he hears numerous figures converging on you all.

Before he can utter a warning, the second Scorpion bushi lashes out with a vicious iai strike just as the illumination from outside is lost as the door is pulled shut by his partner in crime. Akodo Hideyoshi was just able to dodge back, leaving only a harmless nick along the koto of his armor.. much preferable to having his shoulder sliced open! That bushi growls out loud after his surprise attack:

"They know about the Oni! Get them or they'll kill us all!"

The first bushi finishes securing the door behind him complete with sliding an oak timber to bar the door from being forced open from the outside. Next he draws his katana and assumes a defensive stance since he is unable to press his attack as well at this moment. He loudly adds to his comrade's warning:

"Don't kill them ALL.. leave one alive so we can find out how much they told the magistrates!"

Combat has begun. The Scorpion bushi are lightning fast and have an intiative score of 49. The first one attacked and missed Hideyoshi, attempting a sucker strike but Hideyoshi managed to detect the ambush. That bushi's TN to be hit is 15, but he fights in the Bayushi style and gets a +5TN against people slower than his initiative score. Furthermore it's dimly lit inside the warehouse so I'm giving another +5 penalty to attacks(to them, too though) making it 25. The second bushi secured the door and drew his katana and so didn't have an attack available. His TN to be hit is 30 due to the darkness, Bayushi technique, and his defensive stance.

Akodo Hideyoshi's initiative score is 24, Mirumoto Katsuyoshi's is 23, and Shinjo Xiaoxing's is 20. There are additional sneaky skulky types out in the warehouse and converging on your position but only Hideyoshi heard them coming. Their initiative score is 18. Katsuyoshi and Xiaoxing were both caught by surprise in the ambush, so I'm disallowing the attack and full attack stances for this first turn of combat for them. You're busy catching your wits at the sudden outbreak of combat! Hideyoshi, you're completely free to act and you're the only one allowed to get an attack in this round...

Tactical information about the battlefield: The three of you are standing in a small open area near the door. Going out would involve spending an action to get the door unbarred and open, but isn't possible at this moment due to the guard right in front of it with a drawn katana. The door is to the South, and there are narrow walkways to the North, East, and West between the cargo. Overhead there is a wooden catwalk, but the stairs up are not close enough to see in this bad light. The big sliding cargo door facing the wharf you saw from the outside would be to the west, and would require a simple move action to reach because of having to tread carefully in the darkness. Going UP is potentially an option by either climbing the piles of cargo, or jumping up to grab the catwalk and hauling yourself up.

5k4
add half to ATN

Frowning in consternation at the nature of Scorpions, yet now reassured by her earlier suspicions being proven correct, Xiaoxing draws her katana and adopts a defensive position, backing away a pace or two so she can assess the situation.

Going full defence
reflexes/defence 5k4: 5d10 ⇒ (10, 6, 3, 9, 7) = 35 explosion: 1d10 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16 16+6+9+7 = 38. Add half to ATN is 19 +5 (base) +20 (reflexes) + 5 (armor) = 49...

Full Attack w. 1 Raise for damage 8k4: 8d10 ⇒ (8, 6, 5, 10, 3, 10, 10, 10) = 62 Explosions!!!: 4d10 ⇒ (9, 3, 5, 1) = 18 =58!!!
Spend a Void point to increase the damage, we need it.

Damage w. 1 Raise + Void point 10k3+8: 10d10 ⇒ (3, 4, 10, 9, 7, 7, 9, 2, 8, 3) = 62 Boom!: 1d10 ⇒ 10 And again Boom!: 1d10 ⇒ 8 Total Damage= 45!

Hideyoshi's eyes glow with rage as the Scorpion springs the expected ambush.
'...if they strike, little Lion, give them but one strike...'

"Ha...HAI!" In one fluid motion, Hideyoshi draws Hirano-no-kaze and drives an upward slash from the hip, opening the dishonorable bushi's abdomen like a melon.

I would think that would end him, but I'll go for the heroic phrase anyway...

Hideyoshi looks at the samurai guarding the door, over the remains of his fallen fellow. "I said to clear the warehouse. The Oni is not the only thing to fear here, Scorpion."

Breathe. In out. Pull.

swift draw,attack stance against the one Hideyoshi didn't attack.

attack: 6d10 ⇒ (6, 8, 2, 9, 9, 7) = 41 26, No way that hit with my injuries.

The Scorpion who launched a cowardly attack got his kharmic justice at the tip of Akodo Hideyoshi's katana, splitting the dishonorable samurai open from left hip to right shoulder, and drops lifelessly to the ground.

With sudden "Banzai!" shouts, a trio of of masked and black-clad warriors approach.. two from the north and one from the east. All three are brandishing cheaply forged swords that look no better quality than the flimsy machetes you all have seen Mantis sailors use from time to time.

But these men are no Mantis bushi. They wear no mon of family or clan, but as they begin to surround you they certainly display extensive martial training in their movements, silently cooperating with the remaining Scorpion bushi without words needing to be said.

These three warriors have begun to surround you. The passageways around stacks of cargo immediately to the north and east are now blocked by armed assailants. They moved up to engage you but did not have actions remaining to attack. (important tactical clue there to be mindful of.. they must spend a complex action to attack) They are in defensive stance, and coupled with the poor lighting they are TN25 to be hit.

End of round 1. Round two begins.

The surviving Scorpion doorguard hisses after watching his comrade crumple, and he strikes at Hideyoshi's exposed flank before the Lion can regroup his guard. The bushi's strike is almost too fast to watch, but after the arcing flash of silver in the candlelight, Akodo Hideyoshi staggers and grasps his hamstring in pain.. his hand comes away coated in blood, looking black in the low light.

Akodo Hideyoshi suffered 18 wounds in that attack, which is Grazed and for him a +2 TN penalty due to injury. Don't forget that you have the option to retroactively spend another void point to reduce that 18 damage by 10, to an 8 point hit, which for Hideyoshi comes with no TN penalties.

The Scorpion bushi is still blocking the doorway, but is no longer in defensive stance. His TN to be hit is now 25 including the penalty for the relative darkness. He's got three masked warriors dressed all in black helping him surround you, but those guys won't get to take actions until after you do.

That was an awesome roll Hideyoshi, nice one :)

Xiaoxing grits her teeth, assessing the battlefield before her and swiftly deciding to remove the other Scorpion bushi before concentrating on the less well equipped black-clad foes.

kenjutsu/agility 5k3+7: 5d10 ⇒ (8, 5, 2, 10, 4) = 29 explosion: 1d10 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14 14 +8 + 5 + 7 = 34
damage 6k2: 6d10 ⇒ (4, 3, 4, 3, 4, 9) = 27 9+4=13

Her blade darts around his guard and slices open his arm.

Hideyoshi-san, we need light, use the sun!

The sun is a great idea, except I will give up an attack to activate it, I'd assume. We need to clear that door so we can open it on the hope Oruku is out there - or at least escape.

'...the wounded Lion strikes hardest...'

Hideyoshi grits his teeth, calling on his inner reserves to blot out the pain. Using a Void point to lower damage. Thanks GM O! He takes a step forward, placing his back to that of Xiaoxing, and strikes!

Full Attack stance +1 raise for damage 8k4: 8d10 ⇒ (8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 9, 3, 1) = 43 (8+7+6+9=30)
Damage 8k2+8: 8d10 ⇒ (6, 1, 7, 3, 3, 1, 8, 5) = 34 (8+7+8=23)

"Katsuyoshi! Unbar the door!"

"Katsuyoshi! Unbar the door!"

As a clarification, the damage Xiaoxing and Hideyoshi dealt has not yet dropped that Scorpion. He's still literally defending that door with his life.

Center stance, I'm going to need it.

Katsuyoshi breathes for a second and readies himself for what he must do next. Fixing the moment in his head, the world seems to blur around him and go black.

The pack of additional assailants press in from behind. Two lunge for Akodo Hideyoshi after watching him cut wounds into both Bushi guarding the door. The first stabs his cheaply made sword into the Lion's unarmored armpit, and as he reels in pain another black-clad warrior makes a coordinated lunge and stabs Hideyoshi in his unwounded thigh. Akodo Hideyoshi collapses to the ground as both warriors step back and hold their bloody blades up en garde.

The first attack dealt 13 damage, stacked with your existing 8 to make 21 damage. The second blow did 20 more, bringing Hideyoshi to a very dangerous 41 wounds. He's deep in the OUT category, and very nearly dead.

The third warrior lunges in to replicate his teammates' feat at Shinjo Xiaoxing's expense.. the thrust is aimed perfectly between her ribs but the tip of the subpar sword is unable to pierce through her armor. The warrior hisses at his failure, and hops back before a backhand stroke can remove his head from his shoulders.

All three of these warriors are in attack stance and TN20 to be hit. They also seem to not be as troubled by the darkness as you and the Scorpion bushi are, given the deadly accuracy of their strikes.

The Scorpion bushi staggers back against the door after suffering serious wounds at Akodo Hideyoshi and Shinjo Xiaoxing's katanas.. but hope and fire returns to his eyes as he watches his reinforcements take down the powerful Lion samurai.

"That's IT! Only two more to go!"

The wounded Scorpion is in the Crippled wound category and thus pretty darn woozy. He's naturally trying to protect himself but his attention is also split between keeping anyone from getting past him and out the door, so I'm putting him in the Defensive Stance. His TN to be hit is 30, including a +5TN for the darkness.

As she sees Hideyoshi fall to the floor, and the black-clad enemy's blade barely be deflected by her armor, Xiaoxing clamps her teeth together to try and focus. Indecision momentarily settles like a veil over her thoughts, should she protect her comrade, try for the door or keep attacking the enemy?

Her training in bushido parts the veil like a katana blade through silk... no thought, just action...

Her attention focused on the three black-clad assailants, she dares a glance backwards and, sensing the Scorpion is not currently a threat, executes an overhand chopping slash at the enemy who struck at her a moment ago.

kenjutsu/agility 6k3+7: 6d10 ⇒ (9, 6, 6, 6, 9, 4) = 40 9+9+6+7 = 31
damage 6k2: 6d10 ⇒ (2, 8, 9, 5, 3, 10) = 37 explosion: 1d10 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19 19+9 = 28

Stepping over Hideyoshi's fallen form she feels death is close, and reaches out to the void to make it her own, no fear, no concern, no thought, just the dance of blades.

Spending a void point to raise ATN by 10 for one round, ATN currently 40

Status: Void points 0/2

And strike

Katsuyoshi moves to finish the last of the bushi guarding the door,

full attack plus center from last round: 9d10 ⇒ (3, 8, 5, 8, 10, 1, 4, 10, 6) = 55reroll 1: 1d10 ⇒ 3exploders: 2d10 ⇒ (4, 10) = 14exploder: 1d10 ⇒ 6 65 to hit the tn of 50

5d10 ⇒ (7, 5, 4, 7, 3) = 26 14 damage

and delivers a stinging slash to the man.

Katsuyoshi's stroke proves masterful, defeating the Scorpion bushi's guard and opening another deadly wound across his abdomen. The Scorpion drops his katana and clutches at his belly, holding in his viscera as he crumples to the sawdust floor.

But then additional three black-clad warriors emerge from the darkness, one each from the West, North, and East corridors between the cargo piles and the warehouse walls. These three cover the backs of the guards who press aggressively at Shinjo Xiaoxing. The one she wounded nearly struck her in return before she dodged back in the nick of time, then ducking under a powerful, two-handed horizontal chop from the second guard. But the third warrior's thrust was not so easily avoided.. as she stood back up she caught the edge of his sword under her jaw, narrowly avoiding cutting deep enough to cut her jugular.Xiaoxing takes 15 damage from that strike.

There are now six warehouse guards harrying you, but no bushi now stand between you and the barred door. Three guards are in full attack stance but each has another new arrival guarding him. One of those guards is fairly seriously damaged from Xiaoxing's attack and is in the Injured wound rank (+15 to his TNs)

Your eyes are beginning to adjust to the darkness, and now I'm calling the darkness a +4TN penalty. That makes the first three guards' TN to be hit 19s, and the three new arrivals are also 19s. If you are interested in retreating back out the door, it will require a simple action to unbar and open the door. None of the warriors are particularly focused on keeping Hideyoshi from being grabbed and drug, so that's still an option. I'll say it'd cost a simple action to secure him.

EDIT: In case you don't read the discussion thread, I realized I made a mistake and forgot to factor in Xiaoxing's and Hideyoshi's damage reduction from armor. Xiaoxing is at 12 damage, which is +0TN and Hideyoshi is at 32 damage, which for him is +17TN. All three of you are still able to act.

Ki-Rin guide my sword...

Xiaoxing takes a breath and releases it

One of us must survive! Katsuyoshi unbar the door and take Hideyoshi with you!

Stepping in front of the pair to stop the black-clad warriors from being able to strike them, she adopts a guard stance

I will hold the line... Go!

full defence 5k4: 5d10 ⇒ (10, 2, 10, 4, 5) = 31 explode: 2d10 ⇒ (2, 3) = 5 12+15+4+5=36 so atn this round is 48

Katsuyoshi moves to take up a supporting position to Xiaoxing.

"Though I appreciate the attempt you are the one most likely to be able to make it back to the magistrate, if I fall now in order to give you two a chance to report back it will be a worthy end to my story. Besides, it will require two hands to raise the bar from the door."

Standard action to speak, standard action to guard Hideyoshi raising his tn by 10 and lowering my tn by 5, guard stance raises me back up by 3. To hit of 13, hoping it keeps them from killing Hideyoshi.

Bleeding profusely, Hideyoshi groans as he staggers towards the door. "We...we...can't stop the Oni if we are dead. If we...die here...no one will know..." He struggles to get the door open, just managing to shift the bar up and out of the way as he slumps against it.

I appreciate your selflessness Katsuyoshi-san, but the door is open and your legs are as good as mine are at reaching the magistrate at high speed. I am the one who will be able to hold these filth off the longest and give you and Hideyoshi the best chance!

She flicks her head at the door causing her hair to cascade like a wave

Bar the door behind you and look after my horse!

She plants her feet, standing in between the two samurai and the black-clad enemy, prepared to die in service to her duty, her clan and her companions, so they may help others survive this night.

The pack of Cartel guards takes advantage of your tactical indecision. Four flow like water around Xiaoxing, striking her high and low.. left and right.. somehow her training guides her to parry and dodge three deadly strokes.. the fourth got through her guard and was stopped only by her increasingly-abused armor. All four missed, but one wasn't by much ;) They are in the full attack stance and are TN5 to be hit, as your eyes are adjusting to the darkness I'm only giving them +3 for next round which makes them 8s to be hit. Since they are beginning to surround you, I would have given them all a free raise, but I figured the epicness of spending void for a TN to be hit worthy of legend cancelled that. But unless the dynamic changes, they'll get free raises next round for having you so badly flanked.

Another black-clad warrior slips around the melee swirling around the Unicorn samurai. He jabs his sword between Katsuyoshi's ribs to avenge the Scorpion bushi the Dragon dispatched. This guard is in the attack stance, and is TN18 to be hit, including the darkness your eyes are adjusting to.
You take 13 wounds.. on top of the 19 you had coming into the fight that puts you at 32 wounds, which is Crippled.. +20 to your TNs and actions are promoted "up" a step.. free actions become simple actions, and simple actions become complex actions. This also applies to Akodo Hideyoshi as he's also Crippled :(

The last warrior, the one wounded by Xiaoxing's katana stroke, clutches his injuries from outside the Battle Maiden's reach. He holds his sword in a horizontal grip protectively in front of him, but becomes bold enough to smirk and become cocky after watching his comrade stick Mirumoto Katsuyoshi.

"Give up your sword, Unicorn. Yield, and you may yet live. The Boss will want to ask you some questions."

If you want to attack the wounded, bragging guard his TN is 23

int/investigation 4k2: 4d10 ⇒ (8, 2, 6, 7) = 23

Xiaoxing feels the dig of another sword against her armor, as she dodges and parries for her life. Understanding settles on her like motes of dust struck by dying sunlight in a unused room.

She almost laughs as the warrior asks her to surrender

You are incapable of understanding, to give up my sword would be to lose my life.

Flicking her blade out at the black-wearing vermin, as she shouts over her shoulder

Akodo-san, Mirumoto-san, if you do not leave we will all die here, you have a duty to tell Oruku-sama everything we have found, go! Now!!

Her attention focuses on one of her assailants and everything else fades away, his over-extended reach makes him vulnerable...there...strike!

kenjutsu/agility 6k3+7 w/2 raises for damage: 6d10 ⇒ (5, 10, 10, 8, 8, 4) = 45 explodes: 2d10 ⇒ (8, 10) = 18 explodes: 1d10 ⇒ 5 25+18+8+7 = 58
damage 8k2: 8d10 ⇒ (9, 1, 3, 1, 8, 7, 10, 7) = 46 explodes: 1d10 ⇒ 5 15+9 = 24

Exquisitely aimed, the edge of her blade slices the length of his arm, opening up a large wound that immediately gushes blood.

Returning her katana to a guard position, Xiaoxing allows herself to hope momentarily, if enough were wounded perhaps they would think again, about attacking, the cowards would run away!

Xiaoxing's ATN has now returned to 30, damage: 12 boxes

...
Center stance.

"Out...step out...they can only...come at you...one at a time through the door...call...the horse." Hideyoshi turns to guard the door, knowing his allies will do the sensible thing and come out through the easily defensible opening.

Seriously that was the point of opening the door. One trained person can hold a door against many lesser opponents. And, Xiao, you have a horse! Combat horse? If nothing else, faster than we can run.

The four warehouse guards circling Shinjo Xiaoxing prove to be quite adept at moving gracefully and fighting in the dim light. They take advantage of their dark kimonos to blur their movements, making their strikes even more difficult to avoid. Wherever the Battle Maiden puts her back, there is an assailant striking her from behind. She twists away from the first lunge, only to find that the second member of the pack was ready.. thrusting into her ribs but again her armor deflects the sword tip without penetration.

The third member of the wolf pack catches her in that moment of relieved realization that the armor held.. going after her less-armored legs and slipping his blade behind her knee, drawing it out with a quick slash. As pain shoots up her wounded leg, Shinjo Xiaoxing finds that her leg still bears her weight without much complaint, and she is able to easily defeat the last cautious attack from the guard she just wounded. Xiaoxing is still barely holding them off.. one attack missed by less than the margin of her armor TN bonus. The one that did hit only did 2 damage after reduction.. still that adds up to 14 total wounds, and that puts her in the Nicked wound category now for +3 to her TNs.
The first three guards are still in full attack stance and TN 8 to be hit, including +3 for darkness. The wounded guard that attacked Xiaoxing is in standard attack stance, and is TN 18 to be hit, also including darkness penalty.

The guard that tauntingly demanded surrender becomes less cocky as the heroic samurai refuse to fall, and even dealt another dangerous wound! Cowardly, he remains back just out of the fray rather than helping his comrades struggling with finishing you three off. He points at a stack of cartons and barrels nearby, and barks an order to the guard that stabbed Mirumoto Katsuyoshi.

"Don't let them escape!"

That guard contemplates his order for a moment, then sees what the lieutenant wants him to do. He backs away from Mirumoto Katsuyoshi to go around the other side of the indicated stack of containers, and heaves, tipping the haphazard stack onto the floor just in front of the doorframe. Everything from pickled vegetables and raw fish to iron poles and cords of wood clatter to the ground in an unholy racket, with bits of broken wood and porcelain flying this way and that from the impact.

It's a clumsy attempt to keep you from escaping, but it is going to litter the ground with unsteady footing which will halve your movement rate to pass through the doorframe (I'll say an Agility/Athletics TN10 will ignore the "rough ground") However, Mirumoto Katsuyoshi and Akodo Hideyoshi are directly in the avalanche. I'm going to need a Reflexes/Athletics TN5 (no unskilled penalty) to avoid being knocked down. Wound penalties WILL apply here. I'll also say that failing by 15 or more will also result in being clobbered so severely by crates and barrels that 1k1 damage will be dealt in addition to knocking you prone.

Deeper in the warehouse, off to the West, you hear a blood curdling scream that only someone falling to one's death can make. The source sounds like it fell from the catwalk near the big sliding cargo door facing the wharves. The scream abruptly stops with a wet crunching sound as the screamer impacts the floor in the darkness beyond your line of sight.

Naturally, the wounded guard barking orders hears the guard falling from the catwalk as well as you. He hisses up at unseen figures on the catwalk above you:

"They're flanking us! Go deal with it!"

Both the cargo toppling and orders giving guards are in defensive stances and TN 23s to be hit, including darkness.

perception/i9nvestigation 4k2: 4d10 ⇒ (7, 7, 6, 6) = 26

Whilst she winces as the blade is drawn across her skin, leaving a gash that starts to seep blood in to her hakama, Xiaoxing grits her teeth and her eyes are bright in the darkness.

Whatever it is they are fighting a war on two fronts, Sun Tzu would be frowning!

She shouts in exultation as her blade lashes out once more, seeking the head of one of those without their mind on any defence.

If we can just survive long enough, injure them enough that they cannot prevail!

kenjutsu/agility 6k3+7 w/2 raises for damage: 6d10 ⇒ (4, 2, 2, 1, 9, 2) = 20 9+4+2+7 = 24
damage 8k2: 8d10 ⇒ (6, 7, 1, 9, 2, 7, 2, 7) = 41 9+7 = 16

OMG keeping a 2?! Also, 8 dice for damage and not a single explosion...gah!!! The Dicebot appears to have turned its baleful eye on me this round!!

I wanted to be just outside the door to hold it as they came out. I basically had to posts to do so.

I wanted to be just outside the door to hold it as they came out. I basically had to posts to do so.

Well, Hideyoshi's crippled state made openning the door a complex action. A potential free move action through the door would cost a simple action, which he would have to wait to do. But it's my job as GM to make such things clear and I failed to do so, so I'll say Hideyoshi stumbled through the doorway in the process of unbarring and opening the door. So he won't risk being under the crate avalanche and thus has an action available this round. If you don't get another post in before we move to the next round I'll say this round was the 2nd round of openning and passing thru the door as action economy would normally have required.

Don't need an action, just need them to get through the door THAT WE CAN DEFEND AGAINST ONE OPPONENT AT A TIME! Did I make that clear enough, you two? It's not 'the Lion being sensible', it's 'the Lion being tactical.'

All good Hideyoshi-san, "On narrow ground, if you are the first, you should fill it up to await your opponent.". Your thinking is wise :D

Now, all we need do is survive!!

Seeing the opening Katsuyoshi breaks his concentration and steps back out of the doorway.

Not even trying perception at this point.

Mirumoto Katsuyoshi's dodge of the avalanche 3k3+3: 3d10 ⇒ (5, 6, 9) = 20

Mirumoto Katsuyoshi is caught by surprise when sundries and cartons begin to tilt and then fall around and upon him. In his moment of clarity he twists away from the heaviest and most solid falling projectiles and is unhurt by the avalanche. Unfortunately he looses his footing in the slippery stew leaking from barrels and vats and falls in a tumble amid the disarray. I included the bonus from your Center stance on that roll, and you BARELY failed :( Since you're in the crippled wound rank it'll be a complex action to either stand back up or to crawl out over the toppled cargo. I presume you're choosing to crawl out?

Up above you, two persons run along the catwalk towards the disturbance to the west, obeying orders given last round. You can hear their confused shouts as they apparently find no intruders.

Down in front of the doorway, the swirling wolfpack of cartel guards continues to harry Shinjo Xiaoxing. The first one almost ducked under her decapitating stroke, getting Nicked as her katana took a patch of scalp. Hissing in pain, he slashed a vicious horizontal strike in retaliation that dances just above her cuirass. As blood runs down her chest, the next warrior lunges at her and feels so confident he could defeat her guard in this moment of weakness he focused on disarming her of her katana.. sparks glow for an instant as blade edges slide and her superior training carries over being swarmed by numbers.. she pushes the warrior back on his heels before he can twist her blade away.

Her victory is short lived however, as the third guard capitalized on her steel-on-steel distraction. Noticing her slight limp, he targets her good leg and takes it out from under her with the business end of his blade. Not only does she fall prone, another long wound is opened up from calf to hamstring. The first guard scored a hit and dealt 15 damage despite your having struck him last round. The next attempted to disarm you and failed. The third attempted a knockdown and was successful, dealing 14 more damage. 19 damage on top of your 12 puts Xiaoxing at 41 damage and OUT. No strength check necessary to put her on the ground :(

The guard giving directions barks a victorious "HA!" as he watches the Battle Maiden fall. He steps forward to collect her swords while giving additional orders to the other guards.

"Don't let those other two escape!"

He is apparently annoyed by the confused shouts off to the west:

"What do you mean noone's there!?! You expect me to believe that Shinji just fell off all by himself!?!"

The remaining wounded guard begins tossing crates and obstructions out of the way, while the one who tipped them over picks his way through and stands in the doorway, sword at the ready.

The guard standing in the doorway took a complex action to get there, and so gets no attack. He's in defensive stance, but the oil lanterns in the street give enough light that he's no longer in darkness. He's TN20 to hit.

Contextual recap: There are two fairly seriously wounded guards, one of which is the bossy lieutenant. A third guard is only in the Nicked wound rank. Three more near the door are still unwounded, and one is in the doorway. At least 2 more unseen guards are running around on the catwalk and shouting about how they don't see anyone. Akodo Hideyoshi is outside the door, along with Mirumoto Katsuyoshi who is still prone. Shinjo Xiaoxing has been knocked unconscious and is still inside the warehouse.

Hideyoshi, bleeding from multiple wounds, strikes at the guard in the doorway. But he cannot find his target in the gray haze before his eyes.

Attack Stance 6k3: 6d10 ⇒ (9, 3, 3, 8, 8, 7) = 38 =25

A pool of blood starts seeping out from the multiple cuts on Xiaoxing's body.

Come back with those swords you horrible man! :'(

Katsuyoshi makes his way to his feet with much pain and annoyance.

Completely missed the avalanche in the text.

In the better light, you can see that the warehouse guards are dressed in peasant clothing of various mismatched dark earth tones. With such dress the only warning onlookers have of their Scorpion Clan affiliation is their traditional facemasks.. like the ji-samurai who you already cut down they wear simple black facecloths that are common of the Shosuro family. Of course, you've seen firsthand that these apparent "masked bandits" are also identifiable as much more by their competent martial prowess...

The masked figure in the doorway arches his back far enough to cause Akodo Hideyoshi's wide, deadly swing to miss. He reaches out with a free arm to grab the Lion's right arm in a juijitsu lock, displaying a working knowledge of anatomy and pressure points by twisting that arm painfully, trying to get the Lion to drop his katana.

Behind that guard you can see his comrade is still clearing the avalanche away for easier footing just inside the doorway. The bossy shouting guard is still barking orders; coordinating a search for an unseen intruder and also telling some guards to go out the "other door" and come around behind those magistrates outside.

The cartel guard succeeded in initiating a grapple on Hideyoshi. This initially does no damage but puts both characters into a grapple that the guard begins "in control" of by default. But he goes last in the round, and at the start of every round a grapple has opposed strength/juijitsu check.

Cartel Guard's Strength/Juijitsu check 3k2: 3d10 ⇒ (5, 3, 2) = 105+3=8 0.o

If Hideyoshi usurps control of the grapple (but remember wound penalties) he may end the grapple, or inflict automatic unarmed damage on the opponent, throw the opponent, or move some small distance while maintaining the hold. Of course, if Hideyoshi loses the roll, the guard is then eligible to do any of those things. Either way, whilst in the grapple the guard's TN to be hit is a 5.

Jiujitsu 5k3: 5d10 ⇒ (9, 3, 4, 7, 10) = 33 explode: 1d10 ⇒ 3 =22 exactly

Hideyoshi twists free of the guard's arm lock, ending the hold.

[dice=Jiujitsu 5k3]5d10 [dice=explode]1d10 =22 exactly

Hideyoshi twists free of the guard's arm lock, ending the hold.

I count 13+9+7=29, and your TN was to beat a 28, including your wound penalties. So, yes you do have control of the grapple. You may spend a complex action to do an automatic Strength/k1 damage to the guard; alternately you can spend a simple action to end the grapple and do something else with your 2nd simple action. Thirdly you also have the option to hip-toss the guy.

I thought I was a +17 for wounds and a TN 5 for a 22. No matter. I don't have any 'simple' actions any more. I'll just break the hold. This is going to end tragically.

Katsuyoshi calmly pulls out a scroll and takes a step back to give himself some room. legacy of kaze no kami

Xiaoxing continues adding clan colours to the floor of the Scorpion warehouse.

The last hazy memories you have are Mirumoto Katsuyoshi taking a few long moments to center his spirit to suppress the distractions of his battered body, and Akodo Hideyoshi warding off any further attempts by the guards to come out through the door.

The Lion curtly pleaded for the Dragon to hurry once additional Cartel thugs began coming into view around the corners of either side of the warehouse.. all armed with swords or hooked chains. Bushi guarded shugenja, keeping the rabble away until the spell could be completed, at which point a nightingale lands on his forearm, and listens to the warnings about Scorpion corruption and collusion with the Oni, the location of Daidoji-san's sword, and the identity of a mysterious ally. The nightingale then takes flight and swoops away, moving faster than the wind.

By this time the half-dozen or so sword and chain wielding thugs surround the pair and overwhelm the two valiant samurai.. whose final memories are of being knocked down to the ground and kicked and struck until unconsious.

Some time later:

Each of you are abruptly awoken by smelling salts. Your minds reel in confusion in those first moments as you come to realize you're awake. There are hoods over your heads and you cannot see, but once your minds clear you smell the wet and the rot of the river. In addition to that strong odor is something sickeningly sweet that is difficult to identify.

Your bodies protest against the battering they've taken and you're re-familiarized with your wounds you recently suffered. As you try to reach up to remove your hoods you realize you're hogtied on a tatami floor in a kneeling position... ankles and hands bound together behind your backs. The uncomfortable grimaces of the other two captives let all three of you realize you're all being held together, even if you can't see each other. You realize there is a fourth voice murmuring behind you all.

Then a fifth voice in front of you mutters:

"That did it.. they're awake. Leave us."

Each of your hoods is lifted from your heads by an unidentified female Shosuro who then leaves the room through a sturdy wooden door. The room is well lit by candles and lanterns, and you see that the walls and ceiling are crudely constructed of stout stone blocks that glisten with wetness. You realize the brightness of illumination in the room is coming in part from a large number of candles behind you, and their unusual composition must be the source of the odd aroma you smell.

You see that the other two characters are at your sides and in a similar state: bound and bloody, but also bandaged. Akodo Hideyoshi's and Shinjo Xiaoxing's armor are in a corner of the room.. the cords were clearly cut to remove the armor expediently from them. On the other hand, all of your swords (and scroll satchel) are respectfully stored on a wall mounted weapons rack, accompanied by a staggering arsenal of all sorts of weaponry.

Stalking back and forth like a caged animal is a Scorpion bushi wearing respendent crimson and black heavy armor. He pauses his pacing to bow respectfully to you before introducing himself, his mempo causing his voice to echo eerily.

"I am Shosuro Hodei. I was not expecting your visit."

By couching your police raid as a social call, he is communicating a willingness to discuss things peacefully with you. It's unclear why at this point, but perhaps it's as simple as adhering to good manners on his part.

Your wounds were patched to the extent that you're all conscious but still fairly seriously banged up and in the Crippled wound rank (+20/17 to TNs if you try to slip your bonds or such.) No dice rolls are necessary for verbal interaction with your captor.

Hideyoshi bows his head...the best he can do in his current bound and wounded state.

"Akodo Hideyoshi. We were not expecting the welcome to our visit, for certain."

Xiaoxing wakes with a start, a sharp intake of breath signifying her realisation of the situation. Quickly she extends her senses, assessing, calculating.

Working her jaw, bruised from where she dropped to the floor, she waits for Hideyoshi to finish then adds

Speaking of the welcome, if you had wanted us dead we would already be walking with our ancestors. You have a captive audience for whatever you have to say, we will be as polite with you as you have been with us I'm sure...

Xiaoxing tentatively stretches and tests the strength of her bonds as she waits for the Scorpion to speak.

Katsuyoshi remains silent, not having anything to add to the conversation at this time. Consciously adding another tick to the ever growing number of reasons why the Scorpion were as deserving of disgust as the Crane.

Xiaoxing tentatively stretches and tests the strength of her bonds as she waits for the Scorpion to speak.

Whoever bound your wrists and ankles seems to have had practice at it. They're not tight enough to cause your fingertips and toes to tingle, but you can't find any loose knots either. Still, since the bounds aren't nearly as tight as they could possibly be, it should be possible to struggle a hand free with sustained effort.

Behind you the constant murmuring continues, and you begin to realize there must be a lot of candles behind you as well, judging by the warmth you feel on your backs. Looking over your shoulder you see a man kneeling and chanting within a ring of burning dark red candles. He looks to be of retirement age (40 or so for samurai of Rokugan!) and of questionable health.. despite a fit physique he appears haggard and drenched in sweat.. and you only see the whites of his eyes. You see open and leaking wounds on his palms. A knife with a bloody blade is set before him accompanied by a porcelain bowl.

Shosuro Hodei goes back to pacing. It looks very much like he has nervous energy to burn off. His air isn't one of hyperactivity but anxiousness. After hearing your introductions, such as they were, he continues. His mempo hides his expression, but his voice sounds wistful and you imagine he must be smiling to Shinjo Xiaoxing when he tells her:

"Killing you wouldn't change anything."

He continues to all three of you:

"I understand your search for an Oni led you to us. What is it the magistrates already know?"

Xiaoxing tilts her head to the side, staring at the Scorpion

Being a mere yoriki, I would not seek to rise above my station by claiming to know what an honorable magistrate would

she deliberately turns to indicate the old man chanting on one side of the room.

This man does not look well, forgive my impertinence but have you thought to seek out some medicine for him? He appears to be quite unwell...

"We go where Duty demands, and where we are directed to go. We know of the Oni only because we have faced it...twice. As to what it means on the great canvas...we are not in a position to say. Such things are not our place to know."

Sincerity 4k2: 4d10 ⇒ (2, 9, 8, 8) = 27 =17 Not sure if that is what Sincerity is for, but there it is.