EVENT: Gank Squad (D10, Late Afternoon)

Mindshred · **Joined:** Sat Dec 07, 2019 7:24 am **Posts:** 1559

Scenario: As the battle rages on between the defenders of Nikesake and the army of the Steel Chrysanthemum, an opening presents itself: the spirits move out of formation, creating a dangerous but open path leading right to Matsu Kassenko and her command squad.

It is a risky opportunity, almost suicidal, but slaying the Steel Chrysanthemum's general is sure to tip the battle in the city's favor.

Participants: Four characters, all of whom must have Glory of 4.0 or higher (as this is a time for Big Damn Heroes).

Imperialist Victory: Defeat Matsu Kassenko and her command squad. Victorious characters at Crippled wound rank or above when they are slain gain +1.5 Glory. The Empire gains +30 Imperialist Points.

Imperialist Bonus: If Matsu Kassenko and her command squad are killed before the end of the sixth round of combat, the Steel Chrysanthemum's army begins to immediately fall apart. Without Kassenko's leadership and tactical prowess, the Steel Chrysanthemum's army falls back, buying time for the Imperial Legions to arrive at Nikesake. The Empire gains +50 Imperialist Points.

Traditionalist Victory: All characters have fled or are at Down, Out, or dead wound ranks. The assassination attempt ends in a failure, and the loss of so many heroes causes despair to spread quickly among the ranks of the ashigaru defenders. The Empire gains +30 Traditionalist Points.

Traditionalist Bonus: If Matsu Kassenko is killed, but the event ends in victory for the Traditionalists, then she returns as an incorporeal slaughter spirit, an immortal ghost obsessed with victory over her enemies at any cost. The Empire gains +50 Traditionalists Points, and characters (current and future) will be allowed to purchase her as an Ancestor, to represent her guiding spirit.

Rules: This is a combat thread. Characters should include their Initiative, Stance, and Armor TN in their first post; a character may not change their Stance on the first round of combat. If 30 minutes have passed since the last post and you do not show up as being online on the forum (and you have not contact the GM to let them know you are posting), your character’s actions will be ghosted by the GM to keep the event moving at a steady pace. Please do not join the thread if you cannot commit the time to finish it.

Every character has two rounds of prep time that they can use in their first post to cast spells that do not affect the enemy, activate kata, or so on. However, after this point, five rounds will pass as the characters cross the battlefield to reach Kassenko, which may affect the duration of some spells.

All characters begin the battle 30 feet from the enemy.

Characters may flee from the battle as a Complex Action, provided that they are physically capable of movement. Doing so removes them from the combat (and the thread) at the end of the current combat round. Fleeing characters lose Honor as appropriate. Characters with the Overconfident Disadvantage must pass a Perception Trait Roll (TN 20) before taking this action; if they fail, they must choose a different action and cannot further attempt to flee combat for any reason.

Middle of the Melee: Upon finishing their preparations, each character in this thread suffers 5k2 damage as they race through the opening in the enemy army to reach Kassenko's command squad. Any Void Points spent to reduce this damage do not count as having been spent during the first round of combat. If a character moves more than 50 ft. from Matsu Kassenko, they are swallowed up by the ongoing battle, suffer 2k2 damage, and are removed from this event.

Deadly Ground:

For the duration of this thread, the Great Destiny advantage and the Dark Fate disadvantage are suspended and have no effect.

Matsu Tani · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 8:49 pm **Posts:** 493

Tani sees the opening. Sees others preparing to jump through it with her. The moment they finished whatever preparations they were planning to make, she was going to push right on through. "I am so disappointed in you, Matsu Kassenko," she muttered to herself as she prepared to face the onslaught.

------

prefight damage: 5d10o10k2 12 -5 for reduction. 7 taken.

Initiative vs Kassenko. +5 First round only: 5d10o10k3 15 (20 first round, 15 all other rounds)

Starting stance: Attack
ATN: 30
Armor: Heavy
Wounds: 7/57
Void: 3/2 (extra void from naga nonsense)

Matsu Mogami · **Posted:** Sat Apr 25, 2020 7:15 pm

Mogami was atop the walls with a unit of Nikesake ashigaru, watching over the battle below. She held no rank or authority inside Nikesake, so for now she waited for orders from one of the Lion gunso. Having received none however, she decided to keep watch and would command her two men to take shots as targets presented themselves.

When the battle for the gate began against the living battering rams, she and her men reposition off the wall and near the gates, ready to assist the counter force with supporting fire, but seeing as they made quick work of the beasts, by the time she was in position, the battle was over.

In the moments of calm after the two beasts fell, Mogami scanned the battlefield and spotted an opportunity. There, in the distance, the enemy command squad sat relatively unengaged and unharrassed, the sea of bodies between them parted as if it was a sign from the heavens.

"Tsuruga, Fuwa, today we have the chance to bring down the enemy before they can gather their forces. There, see? The command unit. Come, we must hurry if we are to seize this chance."

Saying a quick prayer to the fortunes, Mogami steels herself and sets off at a quick pace, but not so fast as to leave her men behind. The three of them weaved in and out of the shifting battle lines like sharks through a school of prey. Only once were they harassed, an enemy ashigaru unit seizing upon them with their spears. Unable to be bogged down, Mogami rallied a group of Nikesake's own peasant defenders, but was grazed by a spearmans thrust that caught her in the thigh. At that close of a range and threatened by the mad spearmen, Mogami and her Budoka were unable to utilize their bows effectively, but the Nikesake forces charged forth in a calculated push, overwhelming the enemy Ashigaru before they could further inflict injury on the bowmen.

She gathered herself in a clearing, a short distance away from the enemy commander, tending her wound and waiting to see if any other samurai had seen the opportunity as well, her back banner blowing in the wind and rain.

"Tsuruga, Fuwa, stay behind me for now. Focus fire on my target. You may be required to assist any others who come to aid us, so be ready to utilize the defensive maneuvers I have taught you."

She turns to face her enemy, knocking an arrow, her budoka following her lead and calls out a challenge.

"Matsu Kassenko! Prepare yourself, for I would not shoot you in the back!"

----------
Approaching Damage vs Mogami: 20 Void down 10, reduction 3=7 wounds. This uses up the free Void Shakanar gave Mogami in Early Afternoon.
Approaching Damage vs Budoka 1: 16 Void down 10, reduction 1=5 wounds
Approaching Damage vs Budoka 2: 15 Void down 10, reduction 1=4 wounds

Prep round 1: Activate Strength of the Lion Kata. Attack Stance
Prep round 2: Draw bows, string them, and knock arrows (Mogami: Yumi+Flesh, Budoka Hankyu+Willow), Attack Stance
Movement 1: Moving, Attack Stance
Movement 2: Moving, Attack Stance
Movement 3: Moving, Attack Stance
Movement 4: Moving, Attack Stance
Movement 5: Moving, Attack Stance
Combat Round 1: Attack Stance

Mogami Initiative: 24
Stance: Attack
Position: 5ft In front of Budoka, Shoulder to Shoulder with Kayou
Mogami TN: 25 (5+Ref*5+Light Armor)
Reduction: 3
Void Used: 0/2
Wounds: 7/57 +0 to TNs

Budoka Initiative: Initative 14
Stance: Attack
Position: 5ft Behind Mogami
Budoka 1 TN: 18 (5+Ref*5+Ashigaru Armor)
Void Used 1: 1/2
Wounds 1: 5/38 +0 to TNs

Budoka Initative: Initative 14
Stance: Attack
Budoka 2 TN: 18 (5+Ref*5+Ashigaru Armor)
Reduction: 1
Void Used 2: 1/2
Wounds 2: 4/38 +0 to TNs

Medicine Kit Uses Remaining: 10/10

Reactions of Round 1:
Strength of the Lion Kata: Permanent +3 initiative bonus to(Waiting on all characters to post) (Goes away if Kata deactivated)
Leadership: 8, grants +8 initative to (Waiting on all characters to post) until Reactions of Round 2.

Kayou · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 2:51 pm **Posts:** 419

Kayou steeled herself, she could not recall the last time she wore heavy armor and going into battle under the Crab mon was . . . well, not an entirely new experience. She had added ofuda to it , the paper sticking in the rain, but it made her feel better.

She moves forward, chanting a prayer to Lady Sun. She head straight forward beside Tani

Initiative: 53 +5 on first round only

Starting stance: Attack
ATN: 35
Armor: Heavy Reduction 5
Wounds: 5 taken

20 wound from gauntlet, Resistance -5, Void -10

Prep: 1) Touch of the Void Dragon for increased Air Ring
2) Ride the Water Dragon
Eight-Direction Awareness still active from earlier

Asako Kashiwagi · **Joined:** Tue Mar 31, 2020 12:56 am **Posts:** 865

Little Thunders assemble...

Kashiwagi prepped himself and clutched the scroll in hand for a pivotal spell in hand as he looked to the arrayed forces against them. A hero needs courage, a hero needs something to fight for, and a hero has to be willing to die so that others can live a better life. He never set out to be a hero, famous sure... though not intended but he was considered a hero and this fell to him to do what needed doing.

He thought of what was important to him; his wife Chidori, and his unborn children... and his service to the Phoenix. He gave a nod to Tani and then Kayou, as he put the kabuto in place. Then he glanced at the Mogami and her budoka and said to the peasants, “It will be an honor to fight by your sides, may the Fortunes favor us.”

“Well no time like the present, Little Thunders,” he hefted the battle standard of the city, “Time to be big damn heroes as my honored cousin would say.”

He followed the Matsu into battle holding the standard!

OOC: ATN is 23, Ashigaru armor, in Center stance on Round 1 when we arrive holding spell scroll.

Damage - Event: 5d10o10k2 24 - Void that down to 13 after reduction used stored magic to be at full health on Round 1.

Prep: Cast Blessed Wind TN 16: 5d10o10k3 25 TN versus range non-magical range is 38

Initiative: 6d10o10k3 25

Mindshred · **Joined:** Sat Dec 07, 2019 7:24 am **Posts:** 1559

Initiative

Mindshred · **Joined:** Sat Dec 07, 2019 7:24 am **Posts:** 1559

At the heart of the enemy army stands Matsu Kassenko and her command squad: another bushi bearing an Akodo mon and two Kitsu shugenja.

Kayou · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 2:51 pm **Posts:** 419

Kayou closes with Kasseneko and shout "For Rokugan!" and is enmeshed in swirling winds. Unfortunately, her lack of recent practice with heavy armor cause her swing to go wide.

OCC: Trigger stored Striking the Storm with 3 raises stored within Kayou. Activated as a Free Action by the words 'For Rokugan'. Effect:
Your Armor TN is increased by +20 against both melee and ranged attacks. The force of the winds surrounding you prevents you from hearing others if they speak to you, however.
Duration: 6 rounds

Matsu Kassenko · **Joined:** Sat Apr 18, 2020 6:31 am **Posts:** 12

Kassenko steps back as a windstorm erupts around the monk.

"Noa."

(Delaying)

Mindshred · **Joined:** Sat Dec 07, 2019 7:24 am **Posts:** 1559

One of the Kitsu, an older woman with a stern expression, clasps her hands together and mutters a prayer. Water kami surge into Kassenko, filling her with the unstoppable strength of a roaring tsunami.

"It is done, Matsu-sama!"

Matsu Kassenko · **Joined:** Sat Apr 18, 2020 6:31 am **Posts:** 12

"Thank you."

Kassenko surges forward, seemingly unhindered by the wind storm as she slashes twice, catching Kayou with the first of the two attacks. It nearly cuts the monk in half.

(Kayou suffers 49 damage.)

Mindshred · **Joined:** Sat Dec 07, 2019 7:24 am **Posts:** 1559

Akodo Shen darts forward through the wind, his katana flashing in the rain as he slashes through a gap in Kayou's armor. An alarming amount of blood spills out into the mud. His finishing stroke is fortunately deflected by the wind.

(Kayou suffers 36 damage.)

Matsu Kassenko · **Joined:** Sat Apr 18, 2020 6:31 am **Posts:** 12

Kassenko jabs a finger towards Kashiwagi. "Mei, fire shugenja on the battlefield."

Mindshred · **Joined:** Sat Dec 07, 2019 7:24 am **Posts:** 1559

"On it, Kassenko-sama!" The shugenja withdraws a scroll and mutters a prayer, sending fire kami racing toward Kashiwagi. They burn his flesh and singe his clothes, then hover around him like a corona of fire, screaming angrily at him in the language of the fire kami.

(Spellcasting succeeds with +6 Black Scroll penalty. Kashiwagi suffers 23 damage. For next 5 rounds, if he casts a Fire spell, he suffers 3k3 wounds and the spell automatically fails.)

Asako Kashiwagi · **Joined:** Tue Mar 31, 2020 12:56 am **Posts:** 865

Kashiwagi stands firm, an endures as best as he can.

OOC: Void down to 12 wounds. Still in Center.

Matsu Mogami · **Posted:** Sat Apr 25, 2020 11:49 pm

"Tsuruga, Fuwa, Protect Asako-sama"

Mogami draws back her Yumi and closes her eyes, letting the world around her disappear. She feels a faint whisper, something inside her mind that whispers

"Kayou must live"

She lets out the breath and shakes her head for a moment, relaxing her draw.

She then looks at the command unit in front of her and remembers her training. A leader is nothing without their followers. Drawing the bow back again, she releases it in almost an instant, sending the arrow straight into her target, the force of the blow strong enough to knock someone down.

--------
Kharmic Ties Activated, +1k1 to all attack rolls this fight.
Targeting Kitsu Noa, Knockdown. TN40. 44
Damage: 19
Knockdown: 15

Mindshred · **Joined:** Sat Dec 07, 2019 7:24 am **Posts:** 1559

The arrow staggers the shugenja, but fails to knock her down.

Matsu Tani · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 8:49 pm **Posts:** 493

Tani stood fast for the moment, standing between the enemies and Kashiwagi. Hopefully the shugenja had something else planned given what just occurred. She stood near him, waiting to see what the next move would be.

/simple action, guard Kashi.

ATN: 25, attack.

Matsu Mogami · **Posted:** Sat Apr 25, 2020 11:58 pm

Tsuruga and Fuwa both take a defensive position around Kashiwagi

Mogami shouts,

"Be the hero, Kashiwagi."

--------
Tsuruga and Fuwa Guard Kashiwagi, +20 to his TN
New Budoka TN: 13.

Reactions:

Target Kashiwagi for +3 Initiative from Strength of the Lion, Permanent.

Target Kashiwagi for +8 Initiative from Leadership, ends Reactions Round 2
Leadership: 8

Matsu Kassenko · **Joined:** Sat Apr 18, 2020 6:31 am **Posts:** 12

Kassenko shouts some quick orders at Noa.

EVENT: Gank Squad (D10, Late Afternoon)

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