The Crimson Empire is an alternate storyline from the official storyline of L5R. Crimson Empire is a "What if Bayushi Shoju and the Scorpion had won during the Scorpion Clan Coup." This is a completely different world from the official Clan Wars storyline.
*** Day Two of the Battle of White Stag, Hour of the Sun (6:00 am), The White Cliffs, South of Otosan-Uchi ***
"UTZ! UTZ! UTZ!"
The Crane and Phoenix on the cliffside echo the shouts of Oniji. They steel themselves for the coming battle. As Oniji slips the blade of the gaijin into place over his shoulder there is thunderous KA-BOOM that is echoed a score of times. The Gaijin fleet has opened fire from anchor onto the White Cliffs. The top of the cliffs is thrown into utter chaos as the canister rounds explode in massive balls of fire and earth. Pieces of the cliff are blow away, instantly killing the samurai manning the ravines. Others are sprayed in earthen schrapnel.
Oniji has already begun to move away from that location, and is a few hundred yards with his troups from the Cliffs when the cannon fire begins. He pauses to look back at the valiant Crane and Phoenix that are being peppered with the dishonorable gaijin weapons. Just then his men shout, "Skirmishers!" A dozen smaller explosions, much closer, ring out, as Oniji has lead his men down through a small bamboo patch and right into a waiting gaijin ambush. The Seppun is forced to ignore the dangers on the cliff behind him and shouts a few quick orders without thinking, "Close Ranks! Hand to Hand! Now!" He does as he's ordering and leaps through a small stand of the bamboo right into the thick of four of the enemy gaijin, each man armed with a pistol, and a saber. The Crane follow orders instantly and the advantage the gaijin might have had with their teppo is quickly lost as they are forced into melee with the Rokugani samurai.
*** Day Two of the Battle of White Stag, Hour of the Sun (6:00 am), The White Cliffs, South of Otosan-Uchi ***
Mass Battle: Battle of White Stag / Raging Seas Day 2
Day 2: 5 Battle Turns
Hour of the Sun (6:00-8:00am)
The White Cliffs '€" Seppun Oniji
Declaration: Disengaged
Tides of Battle:
Gaijin Number Advantage 3:1 +10 (This Advantage lasts a limited number of round until the Mantis join the fight thanks to Shiori and Shuhei)
Gaijin Superior Weapons (Cannons/Teppo) +5 (This Advantage lasts a limited number of round before they run out of powder thanks to Ryoko)
Rokugani Advantageous Ground +5 (Forest Cover)
Rokugani More Magical Power +5 (You have the Phoenix vs Gaijin Sorcerers)
Rokugani General Has Mass Battle Emphasis +8 (Shimazu's Mass Battle Emp 4x2)
Rokugani Tactics +0 (The Fog/Flank has not yet arrived)
An unusual characteristic begins to emerge within the monk, the blood of his ancestors calling up a bloodlust. Oniji burst into motion as both cannon and pistols erupt nearly in unison. There is no hesitation in his voice or actions as the gaijin emerge throughout the bamboo thicket. He barks out orders and sprints through the foliage with an alarming burst of speed. Soon he finds himself amidst four of the enemy and his skin goes flush sending small tufts of smoke into the air about him.
Oniji lifts his head exposing perfectly white teeth in a grin to the enemy, his eyes narrowed...
The Seppun Monk barks out orders getting his men to close the gap on the gaijin at once. He himself finds that he's within reach of four of the enemy. His body begins to smoke, tiny bits of flame leap into the air off his fists. He bursts through the bamboo thicket right at one of the gaijin before the man can even pull the trigger on his teppo.
Fire burns within the monks blood and he becomes a blur of motion and deadly precision. Oniji's fist lashes out at the gaijin's solar plexis sending sparks into the air. When his hand recedes a smoldering scorch mark is left on the mans clothing in the shape of his palm. He however does not end the onslaught there. A second strike follows quickly, his arm coming across the other mans throat and locking in place as he steps in behind the gaijin spinning him to face the monks enemies, and becoming a temporary shield against the others...
"Dance of the Flames", provides a second attack for one round.
First attack is for damage, 8k3+5(Free raise from skill level bonus to add +5 to success of roll to hit) vs. Gaijin's TN + 10(two standard raises for damage). Roll 5k3 for damage if successful.
Second attack is to grapple and spin to face enemies making gaijin a shield against Tempo fire. 8k3+5(free raise from skill level bonus to add +5 to success of roll to hit).
*** Day Two of the Battle of White Stag, Hour of the Sun (6:00 am), The White Cliffs, South of Otosan-Uchi ***
Oniji's hands burst into flame as he launches into his attacks against the skirmishers in the bamboo thickets. He lashes out at the chest of the nearest gaijin and slams a flaming, smoking fist into the center of the man. The gaijin flails his arms backwards as he lands with a crash in the bamboo, his chest burned with a palm shaped ashen mark. He is tangled up in the bamboo and not moving save for the smoke that drifts up out of his mouth and nose -- dead. Oniji isn't finished yet, and steps in behind another man, he hooks the man's ankle with his own foot, wraps his arm around the man's throat, and spins and steps, before the gajin realizes he's been disarmed, and is held like a human shield between Oniji and the other two men, his throat slowly being crushed. Struggling, he can't break free from the monk's grasp.
Initiative: Oniji 19, Skirmishers 16
Oniji: Dance of Flames (1 Void Spent):
Attack #1 8k3+5 (2 Raises for Dmg) 39 Hit for 36 Wounds! OUT
Attack #2 Grapple: 8k3 (Free Raise to Str Grapple) 20 vs 15 Success. Contested Raw STR for Control: Oniji 38 vs Gaijin 12, Oniji Wins: 18 Wounds, Held Motionless
ROCK ON! Another sweet move actually worked!
The man is held tightly before Oniji when his companions open fire on the Monk. The action is so fast perhaps they don't realize that the gaijin is positioned between them and the Seppun. Perhaps they are just so dishonorable they don't care and fire anyhow. Regardless of the reason, the results are the same. Two bullets bury themselves deep into the gaijin that is locked by Oniji before him. The first bullet causes the man to sag, the second one finishes the job off killing Oniji's shield in the snap of a finger. The Monk is now supporting some 200 pounds of limp body, and he drops him to the ground, dead, killed by his own men!
Skirmishers:
#2 Held
#3 Shoot Oniji (+10TN From Gaijin Shield) 23 (Missed within 10) Hits Gaijin #2 22 Wounds, OUT
#4 Shoot Oniji (+10TN From Gaijin Shield) 23 (Missed within 10) Hits Gaijin #2 32 Wounds Big Time Dead
Because he's dead, I'm forcing you to drop his corpse.
Oniji wastes no time dropping the victim to the ground. Seeing the still smoldering pistols he leaps into the air violently. Then without warning emits a shout that is deafening, "Kiiii-yaaaah!!!". The monks well muscled and coiled legs suddenly split apart and take aim on both target's chests. Calloused feet hoping to find purchase upon his foes...
Attack #1: 8k3 (+5 to roll using free raise)(tkaing two standard raises for damage +10 TN to hit), 5k3 for damage
Attack #2: 8k3 (+5 to roll using free raise)(tkaing two standard raises for damage +10 TN to hit), 5k3 for damage
Oniji's hands smoke and flare to life a second time as he leaps at the gaijin with a "Kiiii-yaah!!" He kicks one of the gaijin in the throat sending the man sprawling back into the bamboo with a crash. His second foot however misses as the enemy is hidden too well among the bamboo thicket. Landing Onji spins to face his last standing foe.
Oniji Dance of Flames (1 Void Spent (2 Total))
#3: 30 vs 25 Hit for 26 Wounds, DOWN
#4: 19 vs 25 Miss
Crapp roll on #4
The last gaijin has thrown his pistol to the ground and has drawn his cutlass. The man leaps at Oniji and cuts through the bamboo hacking a nice wound on the monk's forearm with the sharp blade. The man laughs, deep and sonorously as he connects. Spouting some gaijin talk he motions to Oniji to come and get some more hurt.
Gaijin #3: DOWN
Gaijin #4: Attack w/ Saber: 31 Hit for 17 Wounds, Oniji NICKED +5TN
The gaijin doesn't wait for Oniji to recover from the wound on his arm however. He leaps forward and hacks through more of the bamboo and lands a second blow with the blade in Oniji's chest. The monk claps his hand on the gaijin's wrist and twist, pulling the weapon away from his body, but not before the blade bites in atleast partially into his flesh. The Seppun, now truely hurt, counter attacks as he bleeds from two wounds.
Full Attack Oniji: (Free Raises to Attack) 31 Hit for 17 (Void to Soak) 3 Void Spent. 24 Wounds, Hurt +10TN
The gaijin Full Attacked, so you have 3 Free Raises to do as you will with
Oniji takes in a deep breath as he lands on his feet and looks at the two wounds which now seep crimson in the name of the empire. Then his eyes raise to meet those of the last remaining opponent. Guaging him and his blade quickly before moving in.
The monks body still sending spindrels of steam skyward, turns into an impossible blur of motion closing the distance between the two men before the other can finish blinking. Oniji's hand converts into a straight edge of calloused flesh as his arm stiffens for a devastating knife edge strike. Silently, the limb cuts through the air seeking purchase. Silently, it hunts for vengeance. "HIIIIIIIII!!!!!"...
Full Attack (+2 free raises), Enemies Full Attack (+2 free raises), Jiujutsu Rank 5 (+1 free raise)
Attack 8k3 (Use 1 free raise to offset wound penalty), (Use other four raises for additional damage).
Damage if successful: 6k4 (Hopefully I send him to heavan painlessly, 8O )
Oniji's body is still smoking, the fire having burned out visibly, but the fire still burns in his soul for the Empire. The monk launches himself into the air and within the blink of an eye has plunged his knife like hand into the chest of the gaijin. Wrapping his hand around the man's heart he yanks it free of the his rib cage, the beating organ pumps blood into the air as the gaijin screams once at seeing his heart in Oniji's hand before he topples over dead. The Seppun draws on that power and turns to look at the downed gaijin near him, but before he can act one of his Crane samurai hustling to join him through the bamboo stabs the skirmisher with his yari and strides up to the monk, who still holds the heart in his smoking hand.
Oniji: Full Attack (2 FR Dmg) (Enemy Full Attack 2 FR Dmg) (2 Other FR Att): 31 Hit for '¦3 or more exploding dice, Gain +1 Void Back
[13:10] <MUSH> +ROLL: Vardaen@IRC rolls 6 L5R d10 and the dice show: 21 18 17 8 2 2 = 64 Dmg! DEADER THAN DEAD
Oniji now has 2 Void
The Crane gulps a moment, seeing Oniji's pose, "The gaijin ambush is broken, we have turned them back or slaughtered them out right. The way to the main Gaijin flank is open -sama."
Oniji stands as the gaijin stares blankly at his still beating heart then falls to the ground with an audible thump. Blood pounds against the monks temples. Threatening to burst from its confines. He then relaxes his pose and turns to meet the Crane as the heart falls loosely onto the foreigners corpse. Now he feels the sting of the other man's cuts and looks down, showing no emotion to the wounds. "What are our casualties Crane sama?". There is a hollowness to the monk's voice as he asks...
