Jade Legacy [L5R 3eR] - Act 2 Chapter 2: Shuuki/Cycle

[Paidi tou Selini]

It was all she could do to keep from squeaking in surprise as the sword zipped past her head and into the wall. She knew it had been intentional; just a message. She had been staying out of this fight the entire time, but he apparently saw fit to remind her why. Togashi's beard, how was she to protect people who were actively seeking to die? She had wanted to sacrifice herself here, but there was no longer any choice. They would just have to die with her. All of them.

"We may not be able to defeat you, but I know someone who can. Since you have such a close connection with him, I'm sure you won't mind."

She pulled out the scroll and focused with all her spirit, reciting the few words of respect appropriate before such a request. "Osano-Wo!"

There were two things she knew for certain. One, kami could be enticed to perform tasks they normally do on their own anyway. Asking a rock to move was hard, but asking fire to burn was not. Two, if you knew the name you could call upon any kami, even a Fortune, so long as they were near enough to hear. Since the Fortune of Fire and Thunder had directly interjected in their engagement at his shrine mere miles away, it seemed like a fairly safe bet to assume he was still around, and the cry of his favored kin should have been more than enough to draw his attention. She needed only finish the plea.

"Remember your servants' dedication and heed our dying wish! I have no question, only a request. Strike the thunders of wrath against those who would defile the pure and purge this tainted land in holy fire!"

[Fire/Commune 4k3 (void spent for +1k1, free raise spent for +5) vs TN 15 = 30]  

[Rain Yupa]

ROUND 4

18 - Kaiu Kagae, Disarmed, Full Attack Stance, 15 damage (Hurt, +10), TN+6
18 - Kitsuki Masuyo, 20' away
7 - Matsusuke, 24 damage, Attack Stance, Nicked (-0), Earth Fist
0 - Osano-Wo, Chargin' his lazer
X - Bayushi Kojiro, 29 Damage (Out, --), Suffocating

Masuyo would call not to the Kami, but to a Fortune - the Fortune of Fire and Thunder, Osano-Wo. Upon completing her prayer, the skies would begin to darken, and a low rumbling would begin to be heard.

However, the results were a gradual build-up - razing an entire city in 6 seconds was a bit much, even for a Fortune.

In the meantime, Matsusuke would move to grab Kagae and manhandle him a bit more... but rolls all but one of his dice as 3's or less. No amount of awesome is going to help that. Luckily for Kagae, those free raises were spent on combat maneuvers!

Kojiro, you're busy choking.

Next round, go!  

[Paidi tou Selini]

And so it was done. Masuyo would have smiled under different circumstances, but for now she could only face her death with calm determination. She quickly replaced the Commune spell scroll and pulled out another. While the Crab was keeping the fallen monk busy, there was no reason she couldn't take advantage of his relentless stubbornness and start casting one of her more advanced spells. With that in mind she unfurled the scroll and began the telltale chant.

[Channeling Earth/Grasp of Earth 1/2]  

[Mongooseh]

Kagae would draw his wakizashi and continue to slash at the tainted one.


 

[Rain Yupa]

Immediate Reaction!

As Kagae slashes wildly with his wakizashi, Matsusuke parries the blow with his steel hand, stopping the momentum dead in its tracks, before moving to uppercut the weapon with his other hand!

Free Disarm attempt from the Earth Fist kiho, with one free raise spent to remove the weapon from play.

Matsusuke's roll: 43.
Kagae, oppose with Strength/Kenjutsu to keep your sword!  

[Mongooseh]

< 6k2 with dice to handle explosions. Result: 16 >  

[Rain Yupa]

ROUND 5

18 - Kitsuki Masuyo, 20' away
15 - Kaiu Kagae, Disarmed, Full Attack Stance, 15 damage (Hurt, +10), TN+6, Prone
7 - Matsusuke, 24 damage, Attack Stance, Nicked (-0), Earth Fist
0 - Osano-Wo, Chargin' his lazer
X - Bayushi Kojiro, 29 Damage (Out, --), Suffocating

Kagae would attack Matsusuke, though the man easily deflected it, then uppercutted the weapon out of Kagae's grasp. His knuckles would catch the tsuba, sending the weapon up into the ceiling - not terribly high, but Kagae would need a boost to get it.

Before the Crab could react, Matsusuke would reach for the man, grabbing for one of his arms.

Attempted Takedown, three raises called for maneuver, and two more raises to double double the distance, and a void point spent for +1k1. Result: 44 vs TN 39.

Hoisting him upward, Matsusuke would grip Kagae's arm with one hand, grabbing at the base of his armored Do with the other. Bracing himself, he would throw Kagae at Masuyo! It was an overhead toss, not like throwing a boulder. Kagae would have to go through some wall in the process, before crashing down on Masuyo's position.

Kagae, you have 2k2 (9) falling damage coming at you, determined by the dice rolled with this post. Roll me a Stamina/Craft: Armoursmithing roll; you will reduce falling damage by that amount. The result of your roll is also the damage Masuyo takes, as well as Masuyo's TN to not lose her spell.

Masuyo, if you prefer, you can give me a Raw Reflexes roll against the TN instead. You will automatically lose the spell, but you will take no damage if you do so. Kagae, you end your turn prone regardless of the outcome.

As a simple action, Matsusuke turns and quickly moves towards the wounded, treated captive you guys took from the night before.

After Kagae then Masuyo makes their rolls, then you have initiative! Matsusuke's Tides of Battle roll reduces Kagae's initiative by 3.  

[Mongooseh]

<5k2 Stamina/armoursmithing roll. Result: 8>  

[Paidi tou Selini]

[Damage - 8, Nicked (+3)]

Suddenly, flying crab! Like any self-respecting rock, Masuyo did not so much as flinch as she steeled herself for impact.

[Earth/Shugenja2 5k3 (First 7) vs TN 11 = 21]

She did wince as Kagae slammed into her. Thankfully a timely twist, lowering her shoulder and allowing the crab to "roll" off of her, kept her on her feet and still chanting. It was but a moment later when she declared "Grasp of Earth!" and let the kami do their thing.

[Earth/Grasp of Earth 5k3 vs TN 23 = 24]  

[Rain Yupa]

Masuyo would get only briefly tagged by Kagae, but she managed to not stumble upon her prayer and cast the spell she had been trying to accomplish.

Though no one else would see it but the Shugenja, hand-looking tendrils of greenish-brown spirit energy would emerge from the ground beneath Matsusuke's feet. They would seemingly paw and grasp at the air around him, as if held off by some kharmic force, not actually managing to grasp him. They would soon fade, unable to sustain themselves without a bond to their target.

Grasp of Earth failed!

Kagae, go!  

[Mongooseh]

Kagae stands.  

[Rain Yupa]

ROUND 6

18 - Kitsuki Masuyo, 8 damage (Nicked +3), 30' away
15 - Kaiu Kagae, Disarmed, Full Attack Stance, 16 damage (Hurt, +10), TN+6, 30' away
7 - Matsusuke, 24 damage, Attack Stance, Nicked (-0), Earth Fist
0 - Osano-Wo, Chargin' his lazer
X - Bayushi Kojiro, 29 Damage (Out, --), Suffocating (Rounds until Death: 18.)

Masuyo's spell would fizzle against Matsusuke, and adjacent to her, Kagae stands.

Matsusuke picks up the injured young man, hoisting him over his shoulder, and then move to the other, older 'hostage'.

Everyone you have initiative.  

[Mongooseh]

Kagae moves 20' towards whatshisface.  

[Paidi tou Selini]

The little Dragon frowned. She had known suffering quite well in her short lifetime, but this was the first time she was truly introduced to the displeasure of despair. They couldn't touch him physically, and now it seems the kami offered him the same reverence they did her. There was no way her spells could touch him. He was, quite simply, unstoppable. And that Kami-blessed Fortune sure was taking his sweet time. Yet despite the odds, how could she run? Nevermind that there were two unpleasant bushi throwing themselves at death's door without thought or care. Sure, it was hard to watch a person die, but it was equally hard to stop active suicide. No, the difficult part was that she had the same suicidal idea... in face of such a terrible power, how could she sit by idly and watch an unfathomably evil nemuranai fall into these hands? They couldn't stop him, but if they could stall him long enough for OsanoWo to do his thing... she had to try. At the very least they had one distinct advantage, in that the bizarre monster wanted them to live for some reason.

Slipping her scroll back in its pouch and pulling out the first again, she moved to block the entrance as she called out to the kami once more. ...but as usual she would find no help from her closest friends.

[Fire/Fires of Purity 3k2 vs TN 18 = 5]  

[Rain Yupa]

((I've tried to post at work several times with no avail. Let's see if this works this time.))

ROUND 7

18 - Kitsuki Masuyo, 8 damage (Nicked +3), 30' away
15 - Kaiu Kagae, Disarmed, Full Attack Stance, 16 damage (Hurt, +10), TN+6, 10' away
7 - Matsusuke, 24 damage, Attack Stance, Nicked (-0), Earth Fist
0 - Osano-Wo, Chargin' his lazer
X - Bayushi Kojiro, 29 Damage (Out, --), Suffocating (Rounds until Death: 17)

Masuyo attempts to conjure up some fire kami to invoke their wrath, but the duress of battle was preventing her from focusing, and the prayer fell upon deaf... kami?

Kagae would rush towards Matsusuke, clunking along in his heavy armor, ready for more.

"I'm sorry that you lot are so bent on my death, even when I clearly outmatch all of you. I've made a mistake and have come to rectify it. I am trying to save lives. You are only trying to end it. Contemplate that, the next time you encounter Lost who are so hateful towards you."

Shaking his head lightly at the deceased man's state, he would still hoist him up, and moving towards the wall of the temple, content with going through the weakened wall.

Kagae, he doesn't get far and you can still reach him this turn as a simple action. Go!