Azami had intended only on striding powerfully rather than bellow, but looking up at Kyras, she cannot help but be torn with being impressed at the figure he commands, and tiredness at what lay before them in the shape of this magical being she was to protect - perhaps even from his own self. So very tired.
@Imuri: The Hobgoblin falls to the ground like a stone, knocked out cold by your masterful sword strokes. The remaining eight orcs look around, clearly cowed by your prowess and your commanding presence. However, cowed as they are, they are still orcs, and finding themselves leaderless, outnumbered, and surrounded they do what any group of orcs in that situation would do -- they panic.
As the orcs bolt, you hear a roar from a courtyard down the street -- it is the courtyard that contains the Inn of Graces as it turns out. You see a giant of a man, perhaps 10 or 12 feet tall, a gaijin by the look of him, striding mightily toward the figures of Princess Erudima, Tokine Nagano, and Sifu San Pen.
"Master!" hisses Daisuke. "That is him! The man Kyras Erodal. The one called Dragonborn. I knew Warbanians were big, but...surely that must be from some spell, yes?"
"Nagano-san, I...I can't imagine what they would want, I--"
Eru is cut off as the now-giant Kyras strides into the courtyard. Trolls and orcs everywhere cower, and the Erinyes in the sky even are given pause by his commanding presence. He and the Palace Guardswoman Azami Ito come up to the three of you.
The enemy is being routed now that the Erinyes and dragons and other devils have arrived, but still they number many. Another group of orcs and trolls looks to be coming your way, spoiling for a fight. There are 30 orcs -- an entire platoon! -- and four trolls. Two of the trolls are making a beeline for Kyras.
Kyras:
Azami:
San Pen:
Eru:
Enemies:
Tokine:
Perc 20 sound
Perc 20 sight
Imuri allows the archers to finish the orcs while he motions for Daisuke to drop the issue for now. Signaling in the direction of Swift and the shugenja, the samurai moves quickly to the Inn of the Graces, closing the distance between himself and the draconic gaijin. Just before he encounters the Warbanian, he turns to look directly at the erinyes and nods knowingly.
Kyras Erodel-san. I am Shoto Imuri. It would please the Shoto family greatly if you would join me for a few moments. I am afraid both our lives are dependent on it.
Describing Imuri to players:
Not wanting to leave the Princes's side, Tokine calls out over the din. "Kyras! Kyras! Over Here!" Getting a look at him, "Dear...He looks hurt..and there is Azami....." She mutters either to herself or Erudima.
"A devil watches us from that roof top over there. I would prefer not to reveal my powers to her at this moment...so hopefully he sees and hears us in all this...KYRAS!" She yells a final time.
Kyras strides over to Tokine, his magically-lengthened legs swiftly taking him to her side. He smiles and bows slightly while keeping his gaze on the incoming attackers. "Madame Curator. I'm sorry that I was not at your side immediately, but the Emperor wanted to have tea first. Would you mind casting any of your healing magic? We got attacked by a palace functionary in an unforeseen but ultimately inevitable betrayal."
The massive Kyras regards Shoto Imuri's request. "Afraid I'm promised to protect the Curator. You're welcome to assist us, and I'll be more than happy to have a conversation when a bunch of poorly-glamered orcs and trolls aren't trying to kill us all."
Such an odd scene - the Erinyes fighting orcs and trolls.
Catching up to walk beside him (he's not leaving me behind! I don't care if he's as tall as Mount Osiki), Azami snorts, calling up to Kyras' new height. "Well, if that wasn't a beacon to the much sought after Dragonborn..." He's not listening, he's talking to the Curators, who'd called him over after that roar. She rolls her eyes at his demeanor and description of what happened, turning her grey gaze towards Shoto Imuri, and then to the Trolls.
Finally, Azami looks back to Kyras, cutting into his posturing with the Curator by stepping into view, "How about we swoon later and kill trolls now. I'll cut, you burn?" before heading straight into the first troll.
She mutters under her breath "...tea with the emperor..." as she charges the first troll, still shaking her head. But as her blade slashes towards the troll, she seriously misjudges her swing with the ferocity of her charge, blade slicing cleanly through the air.
Charging attack *headdesk*
seriously? I hate this die roller. Alright DRA, what happens?
AC:20/18 for the rest of this round
HP:52/71
...and possibly weaponless. Carry on.
Imuri looks briefly for Swift, signaling a group of orcs in the street to no one in particular. He then shouts out Big Hat! Archers! and gestures towards Azami's troll. To Kyras and Tokine he curtly replies We will cleanse this place of the orcs, Curator, and then we must all have a very private talk.
Imuri finds a new pack of orcs and charges their leader. He calls back, Daisuke-san. To me.
Rolls:
Attack Confirm
Damage
Status:
AC: 23 (touch 18); Hp 31/48; Ki pool: 3
Kyras can feel the Dragon's fury welling up inside him. As usual, it will likely not bother to protect him whatsoever, so Kyras draws together an arcane shield to protect him from the sharp claws and weapons of his enemies.
Kyras roars again, a reverberating bellow that shakes the buildings themselves. It is the roar of a challenge, the roar of a dragon. With luck, they will focus on him instead of Tokine or the others.
Tokine steps behind Kyras, placing herself out of sight of the rooftop Enryne. She then channels a wave of healing over her companions seeking to deny benefit to the nearest Orcs.
She strikes the butt of the glaive on the stones, the ringing sound soothes those hurt earlier in the day.
Effects:None; Protection from Evil +2AC/+2Saves(dc16)expired after 7 min.
Channel 4d6 7/9
AoO 4
At Imuri's signals, a small force of House Shoto militia begin bolstering the defenses along with a couple ronin, probably in the employ of Imuri or his house, or somehow in his debt. Such arrangements are not unheard-of. Slightly stranger, though, is the brown-robed, very plain man who vaults off a roof and begins cutting down orcs with violent swiftness and lethal ease.
Azami misses her target badly, but is able to hang on to her sword, changing her motion into a brief and economical spin so as to maintain balance and position.
Princess Erudima assists Tokine by sending a wash of healing energy out, a beneficence from the Dawnflower for all her allies.
Sifu San Pen steps in to attack, seeking to bring an end to this bizarre incursion.
The orcs continue to be cowed by the massive and roaring form of Kyras, hampering their attacks.
As one of the orcs passes him to move towards Tokine, Kyras slashes at it with his magically-lengthened reach. The powerful strike nearly takes its head off, dropping it like it an insect. The spray of blood washes over the other orcs, further fueling their terror.
Tokine spins the glaive up to receive the wave of orcs.
Two extra swings if she could help out Erudima perhaps
As Eru lances one orc with her rapier, Tokine demolishes a second and third that were moving in to flanking position. "Eep! Thank you, Nagano-sama. I must be more careful..."
Azami's katana is stuck between two cobbles from her last miss and it comes free with an awkward jerk, forcing her to miss her target. As the orc starts laughing, the crimson-haired warrior snarls with anger and unleashes a lightning-quick swordstroke that cleaves the foul creature cleanly in two. Her grey eyes flash.
Imuri knows he cannot trust Swift, though the warrior appears to have a higher standard than a mere ronin. His desire to expose the Blackdragonflight is complicated by the presence of the erinyes on the roof, and by his desire not to see his plans for Kyras compromised. He determines to absorb the frustration stoically, killing the attacking orcs with grace rather than hatred.
Damage
Attack 2
Damage
Kyras gives in to the Dragon, allowing it free reign during the battle. Like a berserker, the Dragon turns on the poorly-glamered trolls. With a powerful strike, he nearly decapitates one of the trolls in a single strike. If not for the troll's healing factor, it would surely be a fatal strike. He roars, fully in the grip of his draconic-battle rage. Licks of fire shoot out of his mouth as he shouts his challenge, punctuated by the head-severing swing. "You! Will! ALL! BURN!"
Round 2, Initiative 11
Seeing Kyras still showing wounds, Tokine steps up to deliver a healing touch. As she reaches out, his rage makes her recoil and she falls back into Erudima in shock. "Oh my!" Not sure she recognizes what is in front of her.
Instead she channels more positive energy, thus avoiding the need to touch him.
HP 61/61 AC 20/20
Effects:None; Protection from Evil +2AC/+2Saves(dc16)expired after 7 min.
Channel 4d6 6/9
AoO 4
Orcs are flattened like blades of grass in the windstorm that is the five of you. A volley of flaming arrows comes streaking down out of the sky to crush the troll that Kyras nearly destroyed with a single swing, the other troll meeting a similar fate. A black dragon races by overhead, chasing two smaller silver ones. It is the great Inimitareh, whose name literally means "violent death" in certain arcane tongues. After it flies over, Rhon and his group are on one side of the courtyard, the Princess having rejoined them. The gorumites have painted the symbols of their god in blood for all to see, and are exulting in the destruction; the shining in their eyes betrays their bloodlust. How the slim and boyish Earenthil keeps them under any kind of control is an utter mystery. Bodies are everywhere, the enemy is slain, the dragons all gone. It is quiet for a moment.
Then there is the sound of a throat clearing.
Up on that same roof, there are now a full dozen Erinyes, all fully caparisoned for battle. Their bows are draw and their wings are out, ready to propel them into the air. Their leader, a Fury so old there are steel-grey streaks in her hair, steps forward and looks down. She seems to recognize Imuri and Tokine and Rhon.
'Scion of Shoto! Cleric of Shelyn! ...and Wizard of Tuatha." She points at Imuri and Tokine and Rhon, respectively, as everyone else remains fully battle-ready. "You have fought mightily against these terrible paladine and treacherous clerics of lesser gods. We will clean up here, you may sheathe your weapons and depart the area, and take your people with you. We would speak with the Warbanian, though, he who is known as Dragonborn, and with Princess del Solarian...alone. Their abilities are most extraordinary, and we wish to...perhaps recruit them, for when they head back to the west."
A terrible, keening howl can be heard faintly in the distance, and it seems to swing wildly around, as if multiple coyotes were calling out, or if one was...well, if it was teleporting. Abruptly it stops.
Imuri surveys the damage done to the city and fights back his anger. A dangerous opponent must be met by a dangerous samurai, he remembers Yohuro-sama saying, When was the last time you were afraid of an angry man?
He whips hips blade in a flawless shiburi, intentionally placing it back in his saya slowly. Spirit, he calls up, We are grateful for your offer, but our Empire rules us with honor. We have protocol, which mandates that our gaijin guests are secured and debriefed. Perhaps you can interview them tomorrow, after you have made your case to our Emperor and we have assessed any potential future danger. For now, it is my duty to relocate the gaijin to a secure location. Surely we cannot risk the dishonor of seeing them harmed.
He turns to make eye contact with Tokine and the Solarian princess. I would leave you with the Curator to speak with as she does not require my protection, but she has proven most stubborn in her insistence that the Princess and half-dragon not be left alone with me since my meeting with your master Inimitareh. Please tel him I will deliver my guests to him shortly.
Imuri then stretches out his arms, beckonging the Shoto troops, Swift and the others as if there was no further discussion on the matter. To the Palace, he says. There are reports to file with the magistrates, and the Emperor's personal guard will become your ptorectors now.
Diplomacy
You can't be serious.
Seeing Tokine's fear of his draconic form, Kyras is shocked back into control. He catches his breath, bit by bit, and lets the Dragon recede back into his psyche after the bloodletting. The Fury's words fall on deaf, angry ears. He growls, almost enraged, at being treated like a pawn in some power game. He turns to Shoto Imuri, and rebuffs him a bit more quietly. "Thanks for the offer, but I am not leaving the Curator's side. Azami is a guard of the Emperor as well, and she will suffice as a guard."
Kyras is clearly trying to retain control of his temper, despite his angry words. The relatively subdued nature of his accusations are not nearly as frightening as he could be, but his massive size and strength are still naturally intimidating.
Tokine tries to catch the Princess' eye and shakes her head side to side. Sending the mental plea Do not go with these Devils!
Turning to Kyras, glad to see him more...himself.."Kyras, listen. I am not important in this, but you are. This charade is but a game to them, and you are the prize. They want you and the Princess..for what I don't know, but they mean to take you if you refuse their offer. Be careful in this...I have already warned Rhon and the Princess."
Turning to look around at the burning and destruction. "I really need to be gone from here..but...but not till I see you and the Princess safe." Her face is strained by terrible grief and the streaks in the ash and dust on her face show that she had been crying earlier.
The howling picks up and fades again. The city is quiet except for the occasional strange crashing sound from somewhere towards the warehouse district. If it were just one group of you or the other, the Furies would probably have just attacked, but the combined might of the five of you and Princess Eru's group is too much for them to just dive in after.
The stalemate continues. The lead Fury stares at Kyras.
Sense Motive ->
Her gaze takes in the smouldering city and then settles in on the old Enryne. She is waiting for something...knowing a Devil...not something good.... What is the crashing?....We need to move! Sudden potential realizations spring into her mind.
Seeing the anger still in Kyras' face. In a hiss. "Kyras, I need you...Focus!"
Calling to the Princess and her entourage. "Princess! This Inn is in no shape to continue to be your residence. Please, I offer my humble temple as a suitable replacement. Please come now and we can make arrangements for the evening."
Calling up to the Fury. "Kyras is currently in my employ as my bodyguard. In this terrible moment of strife, his contract is not negotiable, I am sure you can respect that. He will be made available at the Emperor's reception. You can make your formal request then and we can discuss his contract in a more relaxed setting."
Then turning to her companions and a voice the Devil might still hear, "Come. I need to get back to my temple, there are wounded in need of care."
And then in a much lower voice, "Please."
And then just in her mind, Please let there be temple.
As Tokine pleads with him, Kyras's anger fades away quickly. He nods at her lead, though he still maintains his position between the Fury and Tokine. "Yes, let's go. It's not safe here." His last comment is clearly directed at the Fury, along with a rather accusatory glare.
Imuri silently curses the forthrightness of his Imperial companions. Most days, a samurai clinging to sincerity would be aan easy tool for him.
He barks out immediately It is my duty to protect each of you. He looks to the Fury as if to convey "I have this under control." Stepping directly to Kyras, his hand on his sword, he murmurs in the Warbanian language, so only Kyras can hear, I am your friend, gaijin, and I will help you find answers, but you must follow my lead until this group is alone. I will make a play of arresting you if I must. For Tokine-san's protection and yours, tell them you will reconsider after the heat of battle has worn away.
Do not resist me, he raises his voice again. I am Shoto, I will do whatever is necessary to complete my orders.
Kyras hears Imuri's advice, considering it in his head. While the Dragon surely would revel in another melee, the Dragonflight would likely overwhelm them in time. This would put Tokine at risk, something that Kyras would not tolerate. With an inward sigh, he works his silver tongue to try to avoid the Fury's troops from attacking. "All right. Sometimes the Dragon takes hold of me, makes me unable to see clearly, makes me say things without thinking about them. This Dragon is likely the very thing you seek to recruit. But my friends are right, I can't consider any offers here, not in the middle of this bloodshed and not without the blessing of the Curator."
watches silently, letting events unfold
thinks to himself, this young Shoto bears watching- does he use his guile for himself or for the greater good?
moves to accompany Tokine
For the Erinyes Sense Motive
What is happening here? Azami thinks, allowing herself the luxury of a long blink and half a sigh. So many reaching out to touch the Dragonborn. Kyras has been granted protection and compartments at the Palace and still chooses the temple, chooses Tokine. But she does not know what he is yet.
Kyras mention of her name brings her forward to a stance a blade's edge ahead of Kyras' side. Azami wipes the foul orc blood from her katana on the red cloth at her waist before returning it to ready guard position. Casting her steel gaze briefly to Shoto - attempting to assert she hears the depth of his meaning - and then to the Erinyes leader, she responds, I am charged with ensuring his attendance at the Palace this eve. Kyras goes nowhere without me, not even to his grave.
Kyras very quietly mutters to himself, though Azami and Tokine can likely hear him. "To my grave? Well, that's comforting."
Taking the opportunity to control the next moment, Imuri signals the archers, shugenja and Swift to fall in. We move to the palace, then. Once my orders are satisfied, we will record who is acting as yojimbo to whom and you can be on your way.
Turning back to nod to the erinyes, conveying See? I control this. They won't get away from you, the Shoto takes a commander's sweep of the area, pretending to survey the damage. In reality, he takes stock of those stil interested in his new coterie.
When he turns away after taking several steps he lowers his voice again to the Imperials and gaijin around him. Do not look openly, but see if we are being followed. If so, we go to the palace, if not, we have better plans.
Oddly enough, Azami half-smirks at Kyras' muttering. Then she wishes deeply that Yohei were here.
To Shoto, she murmurs, but the edge is not hidden in her voice."I fail to see how you come to lead us anywhere."
The Erinyes stares at all of you, her lips trembling with obvious rage. Suddenly she flinches as if struck in the back of the head. Her eyes lose focus and her mouth goes slightly slack.
After a few seconds of this her obsidian eyes flash and her mouth breaks into a cruel grin. "We fly!" She calls over her shoulder to her sister-devils. They all fan their immense black wings and with powerful strokes launch themselves into the air.
They do not speak to any of you.
Just as they get far enough away to be turning to mere silhouettes, an immense shadow rockets overhead; it is the Ancient Black Dragon known to some as Inimitareh. He curls his serpentine neck back to look at all of you, making eye contact with Imuri and Kyras in particular.
There is a moaning sound after the dragon flies overhead, you all see a very old man half-buried under a pile of rubble, only his upper torso and one arm visible. There is a tremendous amount of blood. Before any of you can react, however, he waves one of his arms and almost all the rubble disappears into the air along with his wounds. He stands up, and the glamer around him fades away. Neither he nor the building next to him are very damaged at all. He sees you looking at him and bows very deeply. On his left arm is the symbol of the emperor's own personal shugenja, he is an air-wizard, a master of illusion.
"The emperor's blessings on all of you, great warriors." he says humbly. All around you, much of what appeared to be brutal damage is turning out to be mostly illusion, three more magicians appear from under the "rubble" all around them. Enough of the damage is real that the business owners around here will surely be petitioning for imperial aid, but still; it is heartening.
Kyras whispers to Azami and Tokine of the dragon's telepathic threat. "That dragon was just in my head, whispering threats. He said it would begin tonight." He remains magically enlarged, sword out and ready for more violence. He falls behind Azami, letting her lead him but staying close to Tokine to protect her.
"Seemed It was in the Devil's head there for a moment too. Clearly calling the shots."
She gives a small bow to the shugenja. A sign of relief on her face. "Oh..Blessings upon the Emperor for this grace, our city yet breathes."
She then turns to the gathered survivors of the showdown. "I am glad all are safe here." She runs over and give the Princess a hug and a small bow to her companions. "Again my city is in your debt.
She then hurries back to her companions. "The city also offers its thanks to the Shoto family." She gives Imuri a short bow but keeps her eyes on him the entire time.
To Azami, San Pen and Kyras, "I imagine the Palace will be in need of your services." Looking up to Kyras, "It is obvious you don't need my protection anymore. Having tea with the Emperor indeed." The look in her eyes does not match her words Kyras, you need help but I don't know if I am strong enough. "I value your valor and strength, but hold you free to follow your fate as you see fit."
She seems rushed through all this. "I know there is much to discuss here. Much. Illusions and plots and deceptions. But friends, my work in the city has only just begun this day. I am unsure...unsure what has befallen my temple and..and acolytes...there will be wounded....Pardons." She gives a another quick bow and turns looking as if she is about to set off running, but also keeping her face from the others.
Unwilling to let her go jsut yet, Imuri shuffles up to Tokine, nodding his assent to Kyras as he steps quickly.
Madame Curator. Nearby is a flophouse with orc prisoners. I have learned what I can from my trickery, but if there is a hobgoblin among them he may know more. SOme of my companions are prepared to gain that information by means most samurai would blanche at, but these are perilous times. I bid you come with us so that this group remains unbroken. The Shoto will help with your temple in time.
He looks up to Kyras and Azami. I lead because I had lunch with the Black Dragon today, and because I embroiled myself in a plot to impersonate Kyras Edorel in order to find out who wants him and why. I lead because I have spent today defending the Empire and discovering the early secrets that we will pursue to rid ourselves of this blight. I lead because I am Shoto, and we are great allies and terrible enemies. Best to think of me as a friend, noble warrior.
Imuri looks around once more to satisfy himself that the dragon and erinyes are not nearby. If it please each of you, no one will be looking for us at the flop house. We can heal and exchange stories without being distracted or influenced further.
Princess del Solarian and Rhon Tai approach the group while Earanthil, Ghar and Gilly try to keep the three gorumites on their team from engaging in some sort of gruesome corpse-desecration ritual in the middle of the square. Her face cut and her snow-white armor badly burned and beat-up, the princess is quite a sight, her painfully young eyes peer out from a soot-blacked face, already robbed of an innocence they will never recover.
"Noble Imuri." she intones as she bows deeply to the Shoto scion. "We will follow you, at the very least to see if we can assist with what we know of politics in the west. "
Rhon also bows to Imuri, and the rest of the group, and then looks up at Kyras. "We need to get to the bottom of why there's so much trouble over you, friend."
Tokine bites her lip in worry. "You ask much of me young Imuri."
She wipes at her face and turns back to face the group. "If you will offer your men, I am sure there is s swift one among them. If word could be brought back of how my temple fares...and letting them know that I will return as soon as possible. It will be the only way I will have the peace of mind to stay."
Ghar, the disturbingly tall and gaunt elven rogue in Earanthil's employ, steps forward, speaking in his trademark dry rasp. "I will check on your temple, curator." Then, without another word, he takes five steps and vanishes down an alley without a sound.
Kyras smiles at Tokine's decision to stay, and her words earlier. He responds to her, "I will do exactly that, Madams Curator. I'm glad that someone is giving me any sort of choice amidst all this trickery and discussions of my fate. When everyone wants you for their own purposes, freedom to choose your own fate is a welcome blessing. Coming from you, it only reinforces my decision." He smiles broadly at her.
As he turns to Imuri, he raises an eyebrow. "Impersonation? Good. This nation was sorely lacking in intrigue and decoys. Who has the questonable task of playing the man sought by apparently every faction in this war, for unknown but surely nefarious purposes?" His sarcasm bites every word. The frustration of being chased and hunted must be aggravating him.
Imuri bows slightly to Tokine. I regret anything I must ask of another samurai, but you may trust I only ask out of necessity.
He stifles the urge to take a breath of relief and turns to head toward the palace. Come, Princess Solarian and others. We will move toward the palace and then when we know we are not being followed, we will travel to the safe house. Once we have satisfied one anothers' curiosity, we will consider a course of action.
As he walks, he looks to see if Swift is nearby. Guard your thoughts, samurai, the Shoto whispers. I fear every moment the next few days we are either laying a trap or walking into one.
Swift, walking two abreast with Imuri, looks at the Shoto Samurai and his face is, as always, utterly inscrutable. "Traps?" he whispers back. "Yes. I walked into at least one myself today. I feel you are more right than you may know." The strange man's speech is as affectless as his body language and facial expressions.
The seven of you make your way through the streets unhindered, coming to the Shoto safehouse with no further difficulty.
The scion smiles at Swift's comment, allowing the irony of his statement to amuse him for a moment, though even this is simply a gesture to create trust with the ronin criminal.
Indeed, Swift. So the question before us is are we allies until the Black Dragonflight poses no threat? Or are we still laying traps for one another? I think we both owe it to Yohuro-sensei to conquer this foe for the honor of the Broken Promise, yes?
@Imuri:
@Everybody:
As the lot of you ascend the stairs, you can hear low conversation. After a coded knock, the door opens to reveal a strange sight; two more ronin, one a slim female samurai with a masterwork katana and the other a gigantic, bulky, tusked half-orc brawler, are guarding a small group of prisoners, all of whom are clearly from the invading "army" that you just helped to fight off.
The brown-robed ronin moves into the room and beckons you all to follow. Once the door is shut he speaks to Imuri; "So. Shoto. What now is our move? As you say, our city is of utmost value, but the battle now is done and you and I still have unfinished business to attend to."