Toturi III is dead. The Empire is left without an Emperor. Toturi's wife, Toturi Kurako, rules as the Empress until her husband's written wishes can be found and acted upon.
With the Emperor dead, others seek to gain power. One such man is the Khan of the Unicorn Clan, Moto Chagatai, who currently lays siege to the Imperial City, Toshi Ranbo wo Shien Shite Reigisaho.
Winter. Winter has fallen over Rokugan, but there is no quiet. Toturi III is dead, killed in the Shadowlands, and his wife Kurako, is left to rule an Empire near collapse. The Shogun, and Toturi's half brother, Kaneka, refuses to take the throne as his own.
The Unicorn's Khan, Moto Chagatai, has begun to make war. The War of Rich Fog was a great victory, defeating the Lion, but would not end his ambition. This year Moto Chagatai has embarked on a nearly unheard of winter campaign, moving his Unicorn troops slowly toward the capital city of Toshi Ranbo.
Kyuden Ikoma
The Unicorn army rests upon a set of hills ready to assault the castle. Yet, the armies of the Lion lay in wait. Led by Matsu Yoshino and Ikoma Otemi, the Lion have prepared a plan to destroy the Khan once and for all. The plan is simple, send the Deathseekers of the Lion straight ahead as a diversion, then Yoshino and Otemi will flank the rear of the Unicorn lines and come upon Chagatai himself and kill him. Such is the glory and retribution for the Deathseekers.
Vardaen, welcome to the game! Right now no others should post here until I talk to them first. One more post then you can post Var
Last edited by TetNak on Fri Apr 18, 2008 9:03 am, edited 2 times in total.
Perhaps thirty Deathseekers charge over the small hill to reach the Unicorn army. Behind the Deathseekers are some Akodo infantry, looking to press the attack at the center after the Deathseekers have caused havoc. Some of the Deathseekers are on foot, some on horseback, but their attacks will certainly be wild, there is no doubt of that.
The Unicorn infantry all hold yari, waiting for the order to counter attack, but the Deathseekers still have not quite reached their destination. They know the glory they might gain, aiding their commanders to defeat Moto Chagatai. They know their death is a forgone conclusion, and this is their glee and delight, that in their death they may aid their family and clan to glory and victory!
The pouding thunder of the Deathseeker Cavarly deafens his ears.
My life is wasted.
The smell of the horses fills his nostrils.
My honor is dead.
The biting cold of winter stabs his flesh.
For the sake of my ancestors...
His screaming voice rings out, "..let my end be glorious!."
Matsu Akira charges across the winter white battlefield atop his steed, his armor claks against itself from the galloping motion of the samurai and his horse. In his one hand is a yari, raised up and forward into the air as he leads the charge of the cavarly of the Deathseekers. In his other a Gumbai-Uchiwa, a gunso's tessen, points forward signalling the forward charge that needs no signal what so ever. The charge of the Lion is wreckless, suicidal, and a fearful sight to behold. So the pathetic Unicorn infantry stand with yari at the ready, they shall not save them from joining their gaijin ancestors in Meido. Driving his heels into his horse's flank Akira charges head long into the first enemy.
Not sure how far we are from the front lines, if you want combat actions.
I also have to make my dislike at having to fight my clan the Unicorn in such a manner. My Winter Court buddies would not be proud
"He that breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom." - Gandalf
J.R.R. Tolkien, Council of Elrond, The Fellowship of the Ring
Matsu Akira rides into battle and rides hard. The yari wielding infantry are coming up quickly. The disgraced samurai cuts through the spears, he and several Deathseekers throwing many out of there way. Amazingly enough, he cuts through most of their lines within minutes, spotting the war fan of the commander ...
Mass Battle:
Declaration: Heavily Engaged
Tides of Battle (Matsu Shingen vs. Shinjo Shuilong: 29 vs. 10 + 5 (2 to 1 Advantage), Lion Winning Initially)
Roll: 19, Take the Enemy Banner
His heart pounds in his ears. The Matsu atop his horse strikes like a lion with his spear. He stabs down into the Unicorn infantry with reckless abandon. His spears a Unicorn in light armor through the chest and turns his horse kicking the dead body from his weapon. With a spin of the weapon he cracks another enemy on the face with the shaft of the weapon breaking his nose and sending him to the ground in a spray of blood. "Utz! Utz!" He screams out his warcries and cuts himself a swath through the Unciorn lines. Like a spearhead he drives further and further into the thick of the battle all the way taking down the purple clad gaijin that are the Unicorn. He wipes the blood of countless dead and injured from his face and spies something up ahead. "The enemy banner! It is the Lion's turn to take from the Unicorn now! To me my brothers! To vicotry and death!" He spurs his horse forward, sets his spear like a lance, and gallops full bore at the standard bearer of the Unicorn up ahead.
Take the opportunity.
+1k0 Initiative while mounted. 6k3
"He that breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom." - Gandalf
J.R.R. Tolkien, Council of Elrond, The Fellowship of the Ring
Akira spots the banner of the enemy general. The standard bearer is atop horse, as many Unicorn are. The Matsu has passed through a big chunk of the infantry and has pulled close to the command position. Matsu Akira is unable to spot the general himself, and he probably would not know him if he saw him, but he knows the banner. To steal this would bring great honor to the Lion and confuse the forward infantry of the advancing Unicorn army.
Akira 24 (+3, Combat Reflexes), Moto 23
"Kings have no friends, only subjects and enemies."
Matsu Akira is a Deathseeker, and so he rides to seek his death or glory for his clan. The banner shall be his, or he shall die in the attempt. He rides forward as hard as his mount can handle. His feet slam into the side of the horse over and over until he is within reach of the Moto standard bearer. "BANZI!" The Matsu crashes his horse forward with all speed and strength that it and he has. He attacks without regard for his own safety, and strikes with his yari with a force that could shatter stone screaming his Lion battlecries at the top of his lungs. His half mempo splattered in blood, the straw mane flapping in the wind a bright crimson already.
Full Attack Posture:
Yari Skill Free Raise to Att Roll (+5 to Roll). Heart of Vengence (Unicorn) Keep Extra Die. Att Roll: 8k4+10 (One Eye +5 to Enemie's TNtbH)
Warden Rank 1 Tech: Free Raise to Att with Yari (To Dmg), Deathseeker Rank 1: Reduce My TNtbH by 15 for 3 Free Raises to Damage. Full Attack 2 Free Raises to Damage. (6 Raises to Damage Total: +3k3 Dmg) Deals +1k0 Dmg while mounted.
Damage: 7k3 Damage + Raises 3k3 = 10k6 Dmg
"He that breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom." - Gandalf
J.R.R. Tolkien, Council of Elrond, The Fellowship of the Ring
The Moto samurai standard bearer does not even see the attack coming. Before he knows it, Akira has lanced his yari through the Unicorn's chest, puncturing a lung and nearly throwing him form his horse. The Moto is delirious as he spits up blood.
Attack: 45 vs. +5 TN, Success. Dmg 41 - 10 (Void to Soak) = 31, Down, +40 TN, Must use Void to Act!
The Moto spins and slashes with his gajin curved blade wildly. It is a hard and skilled swing, but the injury he has sustained does not allow him to complete it as he would like, and the blade flies out of his hands and lands on the ground.
Akira, unharmed, watches the Unicorn falls from his leather saddle and fall to the ground. The banner of the enemy sticking up from his lifeless left hand beneath the Matsu samurai.
Use Void to Attack: 43 (+3 Free Raises (Vs. Full Attack), +2 Free Raises (Full Attack) vs. 13 + 40 = 53 TNtbH, Fail
Matsu Akria wheels his horse around, leaving his Yari in the chest of the fallen Ki-Rin samurai, and would spit on the corpse of his enemy if his mempo didn't prevent it. He kicks his horse forward again and riding hard he grabs the banner in his left hand, plucking it from the Unicorn's grip. His horse he guides over the fallen body of the enemy, careing not if the man is crushed beneath the hooves at this point. He hoists the banner high, waves it from side to side for a moment and then lowers it like a lance, bring it down and out of view of all but the closest Unicorn. He gives another shout, "Kiiiah!" and kicks his horse into a gallop turning and heading for his own lines, the banner of the Unicorn battlion he holds like a spear, spinning it around to loop the fabric around it keeping it out of reach of his horse's hooves and legs. He turns the enemy banner into his personal yari pressing hard for his own command group and his Daimyo there.
"He that breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom." - Gandalf
J.R.R. Tolkien, Council of Elrond, The Fellowship of the Ring
Declaration: Engaged
Tides of Battle (Matsu Shingen vs. Shinjo Shuilong: 17 vs. 12 + 5 (2 to 1 Advantage) -5 (Banner Captured) = 12, Lion Winning, Unicorn Infantry Taking Losses)
Battle: 27 vs. TN 20, Success.
Battle Opportunity (14): Save a Wounded Opponent.
Decision?
Matsu Akira begins to withdraw with the banner. He is pushing his pony hard to bring it back to his general, Matsu Shingen. He can tell around him that Shingen's army is causing a great deal of trouble to the Unicorn's larger army. Perhaps they can even break the line and save the day quickly!
Akira looks over his shoulder and spots a Unicorn rider following him as quickly as he can. He will not get away with the banner without a fight. His horse thunders past a previous battle spot, a young Unicorn samurai not much older than fifteen reaches up and gasps for help ...
"Kings have no friends, only subjects and enemies."
