ShogunMaker (Inactive)

Game Master Thackery Baxter J Thorington

"Before we begin questioning them, I would speak of this insignia," Xiang said, indicating the pin he was holding. "I am unfamiliar with the crest, but I have heard rumors of a warlord who preys on the border of Lingshen and Shenmen. It is possible this is his badge, and if so, we will be riding into what he likely considers his territory. He will surely fight against us going forward, so we will have to be cautious on our journey. He will likely try again when he finds out these have failed."

You needn't describe yourself as lowly, my brother in arms.

The lord is humble, Hayashi mused.

"How long will the trail remain so that you can track it? If we learn through interrogation where he is heading, we may be able to recover a great deal of time in this pursuit."

"If the Heavens are kind and it does not rain tonight, the trail will remain for at least a few days."

Hmm...most fields are classified as [Firm Ground], or DC 15. With +1 to DC per day, +1 per rain (stacks), Hayashi may consider anything above a DC of 20 very difficult to track, or 5 days: 2 if it rains as well.

I am unfamiliar with the crest, but I have heard rumors of a warlord who preys on the border of Lingshen and Shenmen. It is possible this is his badge, and if so, we will be riding into what he likely considers his territory. He will surely fight against us going forward, so we will have to be cautious on our journey. He will likely try again when he finds out these have failed."

"You are insightful, lord. Caution is oft the mark of wise men." Hayashi agreed, nodding his head at the noble cousins. "This soldier awaits your orders: should I bring the enemy back, or should we let him go for now?"

Baolin regards the assassins with cool detachment once they have been dispatched. Gathering the group around the base of the tree, he begins to speak. He again wears his armor, holding his spear next to him with qinglong at his side. "Friends, we have been tested on our first night - and our endeavor is blessed by great fortune. Hayashi's warning likely saved my life, and for that, you have my eternal gratitude. It seems that we have enemies - enemies of the King, for it is with his blessing that we have started this journey - who wish to do us harm. We have not failed tonight, and we will not fail tomorrow. Let us discover what we can about the villain who sent these agents to murder us in the night. Barbarous! Awaken the two who are yet unharmed and separate them. Hayashi-san, Jade Moon, come with me to question one. Cousin, lead the questioning of the other."

Baolin would have checked on the proprietor to ensure that he and the servants are unharmed. I presume they are?

Hayashi and Jian Xi found the proprietors and servants bound in their rooms. The husband has a few cracked ribs and the cook (the owner's daughter) has a dislocated shoulder. No one else seems hurt. It seems like everyone else was either taken unawares or wisely didn't put up a fight.

The owner bows deeply, hand pressed to clenched fist, once he's freed. "Thank you for saving us, honored guests. You were attacked in our inn, and we can never remove the stain of our negligence. But, thank you all the same. Please, take what you will from our stores and cash box."

He's offering you up to ten days of rations and 100 gold to split among the 6 of you. It will, of course, ruin him completely. But, he's offering all the same

Hmm...most fields are classified as [Firm Ground], or DC 15. With +1 to DC per day, +1 per rain (stacks), Hayashi may consider anything above a DC of 20 very difficult to track, or 5 days: 2 if it rains as well.

Hmmm. That's sounds about accurate. I'll make the rolls now and store them for future use.

Dawei regarded the husband and cook thoughtfully. They seemed loyal, but he had only one blessing left to share. Approaching the one who seemed worse off, he spoke.

"The Eternal Emperor, who rules in the Heavens and among us, has given me this favor to use in his service. I have yet to please Him so to tend you both, but accept this divine gift in His name."

The other Cure Light Wounds.
Curing Light: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Dawei regarded the husband and cook thoughtfully. They seemed loyal, but he had only one blessing left to share. Approaching the one who seemed worse off, he spoke.

"The Eternal Emperor, who rules in the Heavens and among us, has given me this favor to use in his service. I have yet to please Him so to tend you both, but accept this divine gift in His name."

The other Cure Light Wounds.
[dice=Curing Light]1d8+1

The owner of the ryokan, Kun Li, immediately pushes his daughter forward for healing. "Please, honorable Sir, heal my daughter's wounds." He kneels, fist pressed to open hand. "I am but a humble man, I can tend the inn with my injuries. They do not hurt as much as seeing my daughter in pain. She is our cook, without her, we cannot work at all. Daikitsu has blessed her with the Five Graces of the Hearth."

The owner of the ryokan, Kun Li, immediately pushes his daughter forward for healing. "Please, honorable Sir, heal my daughter's wounds." He kneels, fist pressed to open hand. "I am but a humble man, I can tend the inn with my injuries. They do not hurt as much as seeing my daughter in pain. She is our cook, without her, we cannot work at all. Daikitsu has blessed her with the Five Graces of the Hearth."

Dawei complied.

Baolin nods a gesture of thanks before refusing Kun Li. "Your honor is not in question, and the stain is on the soul of the barbarian who sent these vicious men. Your generosity is great, but we must decline." The owner protests, as is the tradition, but Baolin counters. "We must decline, but there is a way that you can assist us. In the coming months, we may have the opportunity to call on others to join us in our mission. Once we begin this call, I would like it if those who answer it can stop here as a waystation. You will, of course, be paid for their use of the ryokan, but I would ask that you give them information and instructions that will aid them."

Baolin nods a gesture of thanks before refusing Kun Li. "Your honor is not in question, and the stain is on the soul of the barbarian who sent these vicious men. Your generosity is great, but we must decline." The owner protests, as is the tradition, but Baolin counters. "We must decline, but there is a way that you can assist us. In the coming months, we may have the opportunity to call on others to join us in our mission. Once we begin this call, I would like it if those who answer it can stop here as a waystation. You will, of course, be paid for their use of the ryokan, but I would ask that you give them information and instructions that will aid them."

"Of...Of course, noble Sir! Of course! It will be our pleasure to assist such honorable warriors as yourselves!"

"Good. Now, it is time to learn what we can from these men. Ensure that the others are securely tied. My companion qinglong will guard the rest of the prisoners while we speak to their comrades." Baolin gives the owner another polite fist salute to take his leave.

@Baolin:
Do you want Hayashi to bring back the escaped ninja?

"Let us discover what we can," he says to Hayashi as they make their way to interrogate the prisoner. "It may be a trap intended to lead us into danger if they failed to kill us, or it may be genuine flight. It is said in the great texts of wars that the general who wins a battle is the one who makes more of his decisions in the quiet of the temple than the din of battle. It is also said that the prudent general who awaits his enemy will defeat the imprudent one who seeks his enemy without caution."

"It is also said to hammer iron while it is hot," the shinobi mused, walking behind the summoner. "Scout-neutralization and depriving the enemy of intelligence was a duty of mine during the war--as you well know."

"So...how do we want to do this? Diplomatic way or the beat them until they talk way? Normally I don't like to hurt helpless people but they tried to harm my wife." Jian Xi asks Baolin as they leave the innkeeper and his family a fire seeping into his voice at the thought of any harm befalling Jade Moon.

Xiang walked along behind Narukami and Baolin, not participating in the conversation. He did not know much of war or being a general, but he was skilled at mediation and negotiation. He would use these skills to aid in the questioning of the assassins, through which he may be able to convince them to yield information about their unseen enemy.

"Let's see if we can convince them through our words of the error of their ways," Baolin answers. "Perhaps they act out of fear or misinformation that we can assuage or correct. We won't sully our mission with unnecessary violence against our prisoners - though they don't know this."

Jade Moon Listened to Hu Baolin's suggestion in not partaking in any unnecessary violence and saw great wisdom in his words. She understood her husband's point of view but knew that making a good impression could be beneficial to them, even if it was making a good impression on an enemy. Although part of her wanted to wallop the two enemies on the head, she knew that there was always something more beneath the surface. She at the very least was going to get the satisfaction of having Yuki wet-willy the two, even if only once. The very thought of watching two assassins sqweel made her struggle not to smile. It took everything in herself to conceal a wave of laughter from breaking the surface. A spark of mischievousness flashed across her green eyes.

The great warriors enter the lover's room to find the two shinobi waking and struggling against their bonds. Yuki had pounced on one of their shoulders and was simultaneously licking one in the ear while tickling the other's nose. It's a much-needed display of levity after such a fierce battle; even while life and death hang in the balance, one is reminded of the famous saying "Never give a sword to a man who cannot dance." As hilarious as Yuki's actions are, they are quite effective in distracting the assassins from escaping their bonds. The fox stops its teasing when Jade Moon enters and bounds over to sit beside her feet.

The two men grow silent. "We shall never talk!"

Hayashi stood outside the room.
He activates Studied Enemy to the ninja who is talking, and will focus on detecting lies.

1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

With a raise of his eyebrow, Xiang steps forward and says, "Why ever not? Is it loyalty to the one who sent you? I assure you, he likely never meant for you to succeed. After all, you and your compatriots were easily defeated with no loss to our ranks. If your lord truly intended our defeat, he would not have been so willing to sacrifice you. He used you as pawns, and treated you as such. Why harbor loyalty towards one who does not consider you worth his time? Tell us what you know, and you shall be shown the honor that he did not show you. You will remain captives, but you will not be treated poorly. Is it not better, in the end, to enjoy a peaceful captivity than a brutal one? Tell us who sent you, who gave you these drawings of us, and why he sees us as a threat. We do not ask for much beyond that."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25

[dice=Diplomacy]1d20+9

The captive gulps and looks around. "I am loyal. I will not betray my masters!" The other one sneers with contempt as Hu Xiang Lun speaks. "Our Masters are powerful--more powerful than you ever could be. It was there contempt of you that they only sent us, the lowest of their servants, to test your strength, so little did they find its measure. There will be others. Many others."

With a smile, Xiang faces the one who shows defiance. "This one is as loyal to his master as a dog. Well, dogs belong muzzled and in the kennel. Take him to his kennel, and ensure his barking does not disturb our host and his staff. It is late, and no doubt they wish to return to their beds. It would not do for them to be woken by a dog."

Dismissing the arrogant assassin from his mind, Xiang turned his smile on the other one, studying him as one would a puzzle box.

With a smile, Xiang faces the one who shows defiance. "This one is as loyal to his master as a dog. Well, dogs belong muzzled and in the kennel. Take him to his kennel, and ensure his barking does not disturb our host and his staff. It is late, and no doubt they wish to return to their beds. It would not do for them to be woken by a dog."

Dismissing the arrogant assassin from his mind, Xiang turned his smile on the other one, studying him as one would a puzzle box.

The other shinobi leans back, shaking his head. "Never!"

Hu Baolin nods to Hayashi to separate the two assassins. If they remain together, they will feed off one another and remain strong - but separated, one may break. The shinobi grabs the arrogant prisoner, leaving Xiang Lun to lead the interrogation of the second one. Given some time, they may be able to convince one of them that the other has broken. "Tie him, gag him, and guard him."

"Our Masters are powerful--more powerful than you ever could be. It was there contempt of you that they only sent us, the lowest of their servants, to test your strength, so little did they find its measure. There will be others. Many others."

They might find our mettle harder than they reckoned.

Hu Baolin nods to Hayashi to separate the two assassins.

"Tie him, gag him, and guard him."

The man nodded listlessly, moving forward, and grabbed the first ninja by the hem of his clothes.
Grapple vs. flat-footed and bound opponent: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15
He then dragged the man, before hefting him over his shoulder, silent to any protests he might issue.

As long as he is less than 116 lb heavy, this scene can be done. Hayashi will gag him and stand guard over him in the courtyard, his katana drawn and at his side.
Loving the dialogue on the ninja. Ominous foreshadowing.

The man nodded listlessly, moving forward, and grabbed the first ninja by the hem of his clothes.
[dice=Grapple vs. flat-footed and bound opponent]1d20+3
He then dragged the man, before hefting him over his shoulder, silent to any protests he might issue.

As long as he is less than 116 lb heavy, this scene can be done. Hayashi will gag him and stand guard over him in the courtyard, his katana drawn and at his side.
Loving the dialogue on the ninja. Ominous foreshadowing.

The shinobi's eyes catch a slight movement, the assassin is free! Quick as lightning, Narukami lashes out with a quick double-strike of a fist, and the assassin coughs up blood. His head rolls to the side, and Hu Baolin's loyal agent can easily manhandle him to another room.

The other ninja stares blankly at the display and turns back to Hu Xiang Lun. "I am prepared to face my master. Are you?"

The ninja's not dead, he's only unconscious. I took some poetic license with the flavor text

The other ninja stares blankly at the display and turns back to Hu Xiang Lun. "I am prepared to face my master. Are you?"

"If Heaven wills," Dawei said. "But know that you may travel to his door by the Path of Ten Thousand Screams."

Intimidate: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

Dawei would do it, but not over the objections of his companions.

Dragonofashandflame wrote:

The other ninja stares blankly at the display and turns back to Hu Xiang Lun. "I am prepared to face my master. Are you?"

"If Heaven wills," Dawei said. "But know that you may travel to his door by the Path of Ten Thousand Screams."

[dice=Intimidate]1d20+6

Dawei would do it, but not over the objections of his companions.

The ninja gulps, but his jaw clamps shut, and he firmly shakes his head.

"Am I prepared to face your master? Well, given that we know nothing of this master, he could be some doddering old man with a penchant for enjoying rice wine. So, yes, I am very well prepared to meet an old man with a drinking problem. However, should you tell me of your master, I will be able to tell you if I am prepared. Tell me, do you serve an old man with a drinking problem?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16

Elsewhere

Baolin eyes the unconscious captive before moving his attention to Hayashi. "Well done. I would not have seen that he slipped free of his bonds, and he would have likely buried a blade in my neck. Just a single day and you have saved my life two times." Baolin grows quiet, then gestures to the shinobi. "What do you feel about what they did? That they came in the night to kill us as we slept?" He looks intently at Hayashi, seemingly welcoming his honest answer. They have a few minutes to spare before they awaken and interrogate the prisoner, then try to crack the resolve of one man or another.

Baolin eyes the unconscious captive before moving his attention to Hayashi. "Well done. I would not have seen that he slipped free of his bonds, and he would have likely buried a blade in my neck. Just a single day and you have saved my life two times."

The shinobi said nothing, having sensed the spirit-summoner wishing to speak again, but removed his hand from his katana's handle once Baolin approached.

Baolin grows quiet, then gestures to the shinobi. "What do you feel about what they did? That they came in the night to kill us as we slept?" He looks intently at Hayashi, seemingly welcoming his honest answer. They have a few minutes to spare before they awaken and interrogate the prisoner, then try to crack the resolve of one man or another.

"A hand in the dark does what its sister in the light dares not, my lord," Hayashi answered evasively in the moonlight. "This tactic is common--and there are many paths of honor. Some are less savory than others."

@GM: I assume Hayashi and Baolin are at the garden--and while the rest (with Xiang Lu) are in the room with the other ninja?

"What is honor, then? Is it stature? Hewing closely to the tenets of nobility? Doing what is right for one's family and one's people, regardless of the cost?" Baolin gazes down at the prisoner who sought to murder him while at rest, shoulder-to-shoulder with a man of similar talents. "Or is honor the integrity of one's soul? Who is more honorable - the man who sends murderers in the night, or the man who sends soldiers in the day? Do you recall the Battle of Rivers and Mists? We utilized the fog to conceal our men, ambushing the Ma army. Did that bring honor or dishonor to our cause? Curious and difficult to grasp tightly, this notion of honor. I believe that we will be given opportunities to act in a manner that is not honorable, but will provide us with an easy advantage. I hope that we resist those false paths."

I intended to move him to a fair distance (perhaps the next garden) to interrogate him separately.

"What is honor, then? Is it stature? Hewing closely to the tenets of nobility? Doing what is right for one's family and one's people, regardless of the cost?" Baolin gazes down at the prisoner who sought to murder him while at rest, shoulder-to-shoulder with a man of similar talents. "Or is honor the integrity of one's soul? Who is more honorable - the man who sends murderers in the night, or the man who sends soldiers in the day? Do you recall the Battle of Rivers and Mists? We utilized the fog to conceal our men, ambushing the Ma army. Did that bring honor or dishonor to our cause? Curious and difficult to grasp tightly, this notion of honor. I believe that we will be given opportunities to act in a manner that is not honorable, but will provide us with an easy advantage. I hope that we resist those false paths."

I intended to move him to a fair distance (perhaps the next garden) to interrogate him separately.

we can say he's in one of the rooms on the other side of the inn.

"What is honor, then? Is it stature? Hewing closely to the tenets of nobility? Doing what is right for one's family and one's people, regardless of the cost?" Baolin gazes down at the prisoner who sought to murder him while at rest, shoulder-to-shoulder with a man of similar talents. "Or is honor the integrity of one's soul? Who is more honorable - the man who sends murderers in the night, or the man who sends soldiers in the day? Do you recall the Battle of Rivers and Mists? We utilized the fog to conceal our men, ambushing the Ma army. Did that bring honor or dishonor to our cause? Curious and difficult to grasp tightly, this notion of honor.

"My lord assumes too much, if he expects this poor soldier to answer such a question," the man said softly. "The wise shall have the answers--not people like me."

"I believe that we will be given opportunities to act in a manner that is not honorable, but will provide us with an easy advantage.

I hope that we resist those false paths."

"If that is your wish," the man answered, just as he answered Clan Hu in their war.

Why am I getting flashbacks from Naruto on this scene? The [Senya] OST part, at least.

"Am I prepared to face your master? Well, given that we know nothing of this master, he could be some doddering old man with a penchant for enjoying rice wine. So, yes, I am very well prepared to meet an old man with a drinking problem. However, should you tell me of your master, I will be able to tell you if I am prepared. Tell me, do you serve an old man with a drinking problem?"

[dice=Diplomacy]1d20+9

The ninja looks between Hu Xiang Lun and Tsui Dawei, his face alternating between utter contempt, and something akin to terror. "I.. My masters will drink your blood, feed your bones to their dogs! My masters rule the..." He gulps and starts to sweat, shaking his head fiercely. "No more! I will say no more! I will eat my tongue before I betray my masters!"

"Well, that doesn't sound particularly appetizing. Why under the Heavens would you go through such pain? Out of misguided loyalty to a bandit with delusions of grandeur? That is no reason to eat your tongue. Come, come, tell us of your master. Regale us with stories of his...might."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18

"She of the Jasmine Mists will flay the skin from your bones!" His face contorts in horror and he stares at the far corner of the room. He shakes his head fiercely. "Please! No! I am loyal! I am yours!" He grows calm, almost tranquil. "Of course, I understand I live to serve." His mouth pulls open wide, bones cracking and skin splitting as the man's jaw stretches far beyond anything a human can achieve. Right when his mouth has nearly doubled in size, eight glossy black spider legs crawl out from his mouth, hauling a bloated body covered coarse hairs. The creature bounces once, twice, off the man's chest, and skitters towards the door. The shinobi falls forward in his bonds, dead.

Xiang looks into the corner of the room the shinobi is looking at, but sees nothing. Returning his gaze to the prisoner, he steps back in shock as the man's mouth stretches beyond possibility, and as the spider bounces down his chest and heads towards the door. Recovering himself, Xiang yells, "Do not allow that spider to escape! We must study it!."

He then casts a spell and begins sweeping the room to detect any lingering traces of magic.

Casting Detect Magic. Here's a Perception check to look for anyone, and Spellcraft check to attempt to study and identify any magic auras I find.

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24

Hayashi stirred to vigilance once he heard Xiang Lun's shout, pausing mid-answer, before turning to the room. He drew his katana swiftly from its black sheath, moving like a dark wave towards the door to aid his ally.

Dark magic! Dawei had seen things done before, but none like this. Still, he mastered his disgust and threw himself after the spider.

Give chase if necessary. If it's still within reach, Dawei will try to take it alive with a grapple.

Grapple: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Xiang studied the aura, trying to determine if he'd ever studied such magic during his tutelage.

Knowledge (arcana): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

The spider jumps out of the way as Dawei crashes to the ground. The spider lands and tries to run again, only to be pinned to the tatami mat by Narukami's blade. It squeals with an oddly human voice, although it makes no intelligible sounds. As Hu Xiang Lun draws nearer, he realizes that this this is magic he's never encountered before. It is truly a dark magic that is forbidden at the Academy.

@GM: Thanks.

The spider lands and tries to run again, only to be pinned to the tatami mat by Narukami's blade.

The shinobi pressed his blade, sticking the struggling creature firmly to the ground.

Looking at Narukami, Xiang said, "Keep it pinned. We must find a crate or some such to trap it in. Cousin, would you be kind enough to study this with me? It is a dark magic that was forbidden at the academy, and I have never encountered its like."

Knowledge: Local (regarding local legends about spider creatures) 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

Hu Baolin drags that prisoner back to the garden, where he unceremoniously deposits him with the pair being guarded by qinglong. The dragon looks up at him and nods, knowing Baolin's intent to keep them under guard while he investigates. He walks into the room, scanning the strange sight before him. "Dark magic, indeed," he mutters as he looks between the open jaw of the corpse and the strange spider pinned by the shinobi. He kneels down to take a look at it. "You're far more equipped than I am to make such determinations. It may have been forbidden to you, but I am an utter novice when it comes to matters of magic. My own magic is a blessing from the gods, but I don't know much of it."

He looks back over his shoulder. "Perhaps we should keep a closer eye on the others. Did he give any warning before that foul creature made itself known?"

"He said that 'She of the Jasmine Mists will flay the skin from your bones' before he started speaking to someone who wasn't there. His body has the remains of powerful death magic, but also magic of the mind and visions. I suspect someone may have been watching through his eyes as we interrogated him - indeed, may have been watching through all of their eyes during the fight. It is likely something similar may happen to one of the others should we attempt to break them. Perhaps we should surrender them to the magistrate, and prepare to be off in the morning. We will likely learn nothing else of significance from the other."

Knowledge: Local (regarding local legends about spider creatures) 1d20+6

The spider looks up at Hu Baolin with malice in its eight eyes. It shrieks a human-like wail of rage and hatred and tries to stab it fangs into Hu Baolin's foot. Its legs thrash uselessly on the floor as it tries to tear itself free from Hayashi's blade. The prisoners look on in stoic silence. If any of them know about what happened in the room, they aren't letting on.

If our enemies see and hear us through it, then we should slay the spider at once," Dawei said. He looked pointedly at the spider, "We may harm them if we do."

Jade Moon's eyes enlarge and her fangs begin to grow. Her tail wraps around her feet much like a frightened cat trying to make themselves small. Her blood runs cold as she stares into the spiders eyes and a frightening realization churns in her gut. "Gentlemen, I hate to say this but we may need to cut open the slain ninjas and see if any of them have more of our black, eight-legged friends hiding inside. Perhaps if this miserable creature will not give us some form of insight into our enemies plan, maybe another of them will." She takes a breath and tucks her hands into her sleeves to combat a soft chill running through her body. "Xiang Lun, I will help you study this creature. I believe there is much we can learn from it." She breaks her gaze from the foul beast and looks to Jian Xi for comfort. She never expected to be woken up by something so terrible. "If this creature is venomous, we could collect its poison and possibly create an antidote. At the very least we could use their own poison against them or find a cure in case any of us are ever bitten." She glares again at the spider and let's out a low growl that is barely audible. Her lips curl back revealing a more feral side to herself.

K-Arcana: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14