Jade Legacy [L5R 3eR] - Act 2 Chapter 1: Daiippo/First Step

[Rain Yupa]

"Mostly that. She didn't take too kindly to my ruse, nor my refusal to simply abandon the village at her behest. When she threatened to take me into custody by force, I don't think the ambush I made on her to knock her out was well received either. She bears the Kaiu name, but it's quite obvious that she's Hida-trained by her methodology. She's going to face the bandits head on, and probably get herself and a lot of innocent people hurt. She lacks a Kaiu's tactical know-how." He takes a nearby stick, drawing a rough map of the area, and where he thought the bandits hideout might be.

"Currently, I judge our location here," the man would say, drawing an X to the southwest. "The battle where they recovered you was here, where your friend Kojiro currently is..." he explained, drawing another X to the northwest of the village. "It's hard for me to gauge the exact location, since I've been trying to hold the village alone and have had little opportunity to leave to scout, but I know Kuemon's camp is about a quarter mile this way," he explained, indicating so in the northeast corner of his dirt map.

"At this point, your companions have me slated for execution, and have left me under equipped to fight the bandits myself. I've... been trying to do so without any loss of life on any side via scare tactics, but your friends here have seen to it that my efforts have been in vain." As Sanzo/Iwao explains this to Kagae, he does so right in front of everyone, with little regard to their actual feelings or any proper etiquette.  

[Mongooseh]

@Watcha talkin' bout Willis?:

"Hmmm... A delicate situation then... You are also visibly upset please calm down. I hope that when everything is clear I can make a decision the most suitable to me. Though in your opinion are the bandits likely to attack now that we have assaulted them and 'reinforcements' have arrived?" Asked Kagae studying the dirt map, "Also is there any possibility of obtaining a detailed map?"

During this Kagae racked his mind to see if he could remember Kaiu Machiko probably from his mother's gossiping.

(4k4 Lore: Heraldry vs tn ? using a gm free raise to gain a +5 to the roll. Result:28 -5+5)  

[Rain Yupa]

The man known as Bayushi Sanzo would nod. "Since your friends took Kuemon's bandits captive, he'll want them back. Since the Magistrate has executed them, he will not be happy. His hand has been forced; Having spent a month combating him with guerrilla warfare, I feel I've gotten to know him quite well. Before dawn, this battle will be lost for someone."

He would give a knowing smirk, though more to himself than anything. "And now, if we lose, I die in combat, and if we win, I get executed. Things aren't looking so hot from my perspective, so please forgive my uneasiness." 23 on his etiquette to apologize to Kagae.

@ Heraldry: Kagae's heard the name, but that's just about it. Nothing to go on.  

[Plainsfox]

@ The Armor

The Scorpion sighed as he tried his best to bring the bulky heavy armor back to the village. For all he knew, something major had happened and that was why Denbe did not follow.  

[Tei Kae]

"It's quite alright, Ujina-san" Miyako was knocked aside, but did not let it bother her. The man was under a death watch for all intents and purposes. He was allowed small allowances. But she did listen as he spoke however. What she did find amusing was watching the little crab talk so calmly and politely after watching his awkwardness and anger previously. It was like he was a different man. Interesting.

Of course, what she had done for Yasuki-san would go unacknowledged, for in the end, it had done no good. At the insult to Kojiro's intentions however, she found herself wanting to smack the man and instead resorted to drawing out her fan and cooling the air around her face to keep it from flushing.

But even this only lasted a few minutes before she decided she needed a walk and head north and around the village.  

[Psychofish]

Denbe listened for a while, hands clenching into fists again. Had he been a few years younger, he feared, he might have drawn his blade standing there- the man was certainly a Crab, and everything he said rang true. The Hare heard no hint of deception in his voice. Still, hearing his intentions and rendition, following the discussion with Kagae, the Hare felt insulted- and guilty.

And yet, what reason had he to be? This man had left them no choice- and they had done the best they could for him, hadn't they, unless he expected them to also knock the magistrate on the back of the head.

Kagae was well again though- and that, at least, was something.

"Bayushi-san has been gone for some time- I shall go and see if he has had any luck locating your armor, Kaiu-san."

His voice was stiff. Restraining himself from growling, the Hare stood, glancing at the map drawn in the dirt before stamping off in the direction Kojiro should have been in. He supposed Kagae as he was now, and Zanzen, could protect each other easily from the man if he changed his mind about whom he was again, and in the mean time the bandits were in the opposite direction. The Hare marched away from the camp for nearly a full minute, before he had cooled his head enough to look to one side- and realize Miyako was also headed away from the camp.

He was silent for a long moment.

"...my anger is unbecoming," he'd manage finally. "I suppose one should expect no gratitude or understanding from the dead. Did he not dig his own grave, though?" He asked of her, venting his frustration in quiet tones to the Scorpion.

"...I see no way for him to walk away from it all, lest the magistrate sees fit to get herself killed in combat before we can bring an end to these bandits."

It was not a thought he relished, and that was plain in his voice.  

[Plainsfox]

The Scorpion carefully carried the armor to the village where it's wearer currently resided. Kojiro had hoped he wasn't too noisy in his movements....but on the other hand, maybe cutting down a bandit or three would calm this bloodlust he felt lately.

At any rate, he finally found the village and noticed Denbe and Miya-chan talking to each other. "Forgive me. Am I interrupting something? Also, I am sorry, Ujina-san. I had heard you say something and assumed that you were following after me. I had found Kaiu-san's armor and the trail of someone who looked to have taken Kaiu-san's effects and daisho."

Kojiro let out a deep breath as he set the thing down. "I had waited for you at the armor so that we may remove this collective blight to our honor together....but the timing seems to have suggested that things changed here."

The Bayushi would then bow to his former betrothed. "Forgive me, Shosuro-san. The frustration of the moment overcame me and I left you unattended without your leave. I had failed to fully grasp the situation and sought only to quickly remove a mark against us. Rest assured that I would only be parted from your side only if I saw a greater duty that needed to be performed."

OOC:
Apology to Denbe Awareness/Etiquette 5k3 w/ 3 dice to handle explosions : first eight dice
Raises: 0
Results: 30
Apology to Miya-chan: Awareness/Etiquette 5k3 w/3 dice to handle explosions. second eight dice.
Results: 50
Raises: 1 to impress the urgency of the situation on Miya-chan. That he wouldn't hare off for just anything.

on a side note, Kojiro is being Canadianesquily effective at apologizing to people right now and has regained a void point for doing so.  

[Mongooseh]

@Mein armour:

As Kagae was talking to the Yasuki he spied Kojiro carrying his armour back to the camp.

"Hold that thought..." He said to his new tactical advisor as he rose and walked over to where Kojiro placed his armour. Bending down to inspect it he found nothing wrong and probably as expected put it all on except for the helmet which he kept under his arm.

"Thank you Kojiro but I was rather really hoping you would return with my daisho rather than my armour..."

Returning to the dirt map Kagae picked up a stick and drew an arrow before sitting down.

"If they are to attack they will surely attack from a place more convenient to them. There doesn't seem to be much advantage from approaching from the west or east seeing as marching on an open road doesn't fair well for a surprise attack and trying to attack from the south means marching over those roads, once again losing surprise. Also is there any weapons hanging about? My daisho would of been preferable but I wouldn't mind a polearm of sorts."  

[Plainsfox]

@ Back in the Village

The Scorpion bowed towards Kagae. " Forgive me, but the Daisho was not in a position to be so easily reclaimed as was hoped. I had found tracks that may lead to the bandit's lair , but a miscommunication prevented me from following them. As it stands, your armor was what I could recover without aid. "

"If I may suggest," Kojiro offered in a helpful tone. "Kakita-san has a no dachi that he rarely seems to use and might be able to spare you. If he is unwilling, then I might lend you my kusari-gama. I will warn you, it is a very tricky weapon to use."

OOC:
Still being Canadian. "Sorry, eh?"
Awareness/Etiquette 5k3 w/3 dice to handle explosions
Raises: 0
Results: 23  

[Mongooseh]

@War room ground dirt:

Offering Kojiro a stick he prompted to the dirt map on the ground.

"Mark in which direction you think the tracks lead Kojiro-san it may help."

Peering curiously at Kojiro's offer he would seem a bit put off, "A no-dachi is all well and good but Kakita-san would have to give it up willingly plus it is a real nuisance to use in forest areas due to the space needed. A kusari gama? I'd rather not it isn't the most wieldly of weapon and is more your signature weapon." Waving the offer out of the way as if the other matters were a bit more concerning.  

[Plainsfox]

The Scorpion looked down at the map and did as directed. "All weapons have their time and place. The kusari-gama might be my signature weapon, but I am equally skilled with the bow and blade. Something tells me that they will be needed more in the upcoming battle than the kusari-gama."  

[Mongooseh]

Kagae stared at the weapon with a large amount of disdain knowing he really didn't want to use it.

"As kind as your offer is Kojiro-san I will only accept it if the crane is unwilling to relinquish his No-dachi. A kusari-gama is too much of a specialist weapon for me to feel comfortable with."  

[Rain Yupa]

((All attempts to raise Raga have been unsuccessful.))

Kakita Zanzen must have stepped away from the group at some point... though most of you are unsure when. Perhaps he's blowing off steam, perhaps he's on some sort of solo mission right now without consulting the rest of you.

Either way, it strikes most of you as not feasible to go look for him right now until you know what has become of him.  

[Plainsfox]

@ THe Village

Kojiro simply shook his head at the Crane's absence. "Well...I'm sure other arrangements can be made....but my offer still stands."  

[Mongooseh]

@In the village:
"Gah..." Sighed Kagae in disgust as he realised he was speaking to thin air since the crane had gone mia, "fine, thank you very much Kojiro-san hand the Kusari here I'll twirl it around for a while."