They're Coming! [LM2]

Matsu Kōgyoku · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 5:36 pm **Posts:** 368

Kōgyoku was where she was supposed to be, trudging through fresh deep snow in her full armour along the ramparts, assessing the incoming refugee wave. She half-expected this might have been deliberate on the usurper's part, to incapacitate the city by dumping human burden on them. Grimness claimed her features, just as the yoriki weren't looking.

She started pondering cruel yet compassionate solutions. After what she had had to do during the plague, she was past the point of being appalled by the idea of killing some to save many more. If this was going to be what the governor would mandate, her hand wouldn't waver.

Ikoma Sugimoto · **Joined:** Sat Apr 04, 2020 1:05 am **Posts:** 132

Matsu Kōgyoku wrote:

Kōgyoku was where she was supposed to be, trudging through fresh deep snow in her full armour along the ramparts, assessing the incoming refugee wave. She half-expected this might have been deliberate on the usurper's part, to incapacitate the city by dumping human burden on them. Grimness claimed her features, just as the yoriki weren't looking.

She started pondering cruel yet compassionate solutions. After what she had had to do during the plague, she was past the point of being appalled by the idea of killing some to save many more. If this was going to be what the governor would mandate, her hand wouldn't waver.

Sugimoto was quietly smoking a pipe up on the walls, his breath steaming slightly in the cold air as he regarded the wave of humanity below. Good defensive position, plenty of guards, it might hold if it needed to. The area below was a kill zone, he could simply string his bow and rain death on the refugees alongside all the other archers.

A small child in the crowd sees the smoking magistrate and waves wildly. Sugimoto nods gravely in reply.
Hopefully they will behave themselves.

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

A Lion samurai - a Shimizu, from the mon on his sleeve - hurries up to the two magistrates and bows.

"Magistrates, I have news from the gate." He glances down toward the mob, as if only now realizing how large it truly is. Then he remembers his duty and focuses. "Many of the refugees report the enemy harassing their steps at every turn, but few of the escaping groups suffered casualties. Also, ah..."

He pauses, as if anxious about something.

Matsu Kōgyoku · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 5:36 pm **Posts:** 368

"Greetings, Ikoma-san." The Lioness honoured the senior magistrate with a respectful bow. The look below her didn't escape her, but was not relevant now. "Your thoughts?" She opted for curter, functional communication with a fellow judge.

Before Sugimoto could reply, the situation emerged. So the usurper's forces were cowherding the refugees, and the city was the pen meant to be bloated.

"Speak." Kōgyoku encouraged him, seeing the Shimizu's hesitation.

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

"Ah, Matsu-sama..." He bowed once more, out of nervousness. "Well, ah... some of the refugees, they claim that the, um... the Crane Champion was with them, ma'am. Held the line, fighting retreat, wounded in the escape. So there's, um... well, a chance that he might be down in that somewhere, ma'am." He pointed to the disorganized mess down below.

Matsu Kōgyoku · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 5:36 pm **Posts:** 368

"Bring them on." She nodded to the man to reassure him and turned to Sugimoto. "If these accounts prove reliable, we should ask the governor immediately after for authorisation of a search and rescue party. Do I have your agreement on this course of action?"

Ikoma Sugimoto · **Joined:** Sat Apr 04, 2020 1:05 am **Posts:** 132

Matsu Kōgyoku wrote:

"Bring them on." She nodded to the man to reassure him and turned to Sugimoto. "If these accounts prove reliable, we should ask the governor immediately after for authorisation of a search and rescue party. Do I have your agreement on this course of action?"

Sugimoto bows in reply as he listens to the conversation
"I do. His return, or the return of his daisho, should be our highest priority."
He returns his gaze to the crowd, as if it was now concealing the Crane champion from him.

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

The samurai bows and runs back toward the ladder with all due haste.

Matsu Kōgyoku · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 5:36 pm **Posts:** 368

"Shall we split up the tasks, Ikoma-sama? One of us stays in the vantage point, the other interrogates the refugees?" She offered, letting the more experienced man make a call.

Ikoma Sugimoto · **Joined:** Sat Apr 04, 2020 1:05 am **Posts:** 132

Matsu Kōgyoku wrote:

"Shall we split up the tasks, Ikoma-sama? One of us stays in the vantage point, the other interrogates the refugees?" She offered, letting the more experienced man make a call.

Mildly
"If we can see anything from up here I am happy to look, but it may prove difficult"

Matsu Kōgyoku · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 5:36 pm **Posts:** 368

"Someone has to monitor what's going on beyond the gates." She inclined her head, and started to go down from the ramparts to meet the witnesses.

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

When Kōgyoku arrives at the gate, she finds the Shimizu samurai frantically trying to search through the crowd as it streamed past him. "Matsu-sama! The guards sent the refugees into the city!"

Matsu Kōgyoku · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 5:36 pm **Posts:** 368

Kōgyoku looked around in search for Lion samurai she could muster to stem the tide. "Including those you spoke with?"

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

"The ones I spoke with, hai. There may be others, but..." He motions to the tide of people moving past him with a futile gesture.

Matsu Kōgyoku · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 5:36 pm **Posts:** 368

"Go get as many men as you can find. We have to stop it before we're overrun." She said, moving to those Lion she could spot with an intent to commandeer them to seal off smaller streets, trying to keep the flow of refugees to the main road fro the gate.

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

The samurai bows and rushes off to fulfill his orders.

Matsu Kōgyoku · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 5:36 pm **Posts:** 368

Hoping that Sugimoto would notice and join her, Kōgyoku moved toward the centre of the stream to attempt to win some control of it.

[Would Intimidation be an honourable action in this situation?]

Ikoma Sugimoto · **Joined:** Sat Apr 04, 2020 1:05 am **Posts:** 132

Matsu Kōgyoku wrote:

Hoping that Sugimoto would notice and join her, Kōgyoku moved toward the centre of the stream to attempt to win some control of it.

[Would Intimidation be an honourable action in this situation?]

Sugimoto's On darkens as the refugees begin streaming in to the city. Somebody was getting a berating tonight. if there are any guards on the walls he tells them to follow him as he stomps down to where the refugees are storming in

((Sugi will be either looking for signs of someone who might know something about the Crane champ (Crane samurai/servants/the wounded) or trying to stem the flood and get some order alongside his companion, whichever the GM prefers))

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

(You can each attempt some sort of check - your choice - to get information out of the refugees. It will be TN 20, and you'll have to call two Raises in order to get information out of the people scurrying past you and looking for food and shelter.)

Ikoma Sugimoto · **Joined:** Sat Apr 04, 2020 1:05 am **Posts:** 132

Mindshred wrote:

(You can each attempt some sort of check - your choice - to get information out of the refugees. It will be TN 20, and you'll have to call two Raises in order to get information out of the people scurrying past you and looking for food and shelter.)

Day 2, They're Coming1, LM, investigation roll, two raises, TN 30: 7d10o10k4+5 43

Sugimoto pulls out a small piece of crystal and squints through it before pointing into the crowd at something
"There."

They're Coming! [LM2]

Who is online