Shiro Hitusei has been kind of a sore spot for the Crane. And the Lion. And for a couple years, the Scorpion. Though it is a military castle, it is believed that it has a 100% loss rate. Every single battle that took place there, the attackers won and defenders were routed. It has changed hands more than any other location in Rokugan. It is said to be cursed to always have the occupying force lose - there were even tales of inexplicable equipment failures (weapons falling apart, armor straps snapping, and the like) mid-battle.
At one point, no one even wanted to try anymore. In a bit of a mutual unspoken understanding, it was withdrawn from and no one has occupied it since.
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As you make it through the forgotten road, you do clear the trees, and see the open gate in Shiro Hitusei's outer walls. There seems to be a man in dark blue heavy armor looking up at the structure, as if he were uncertain about entering.
--------------------
@ Hida Gahl:
SCN_ Grey_fox
Where the frack are you? This definitely wasn't Sparrow lands. You figured this would be a good place to get directions, but you've called out several times but no one has responded.
This beaten down castle looked like it was in bad condition, as the walls were loosely covered in vines of ivy. The gate itself was ajar though, as if someone had forced it open at one point in the recent past, perhaps during the Destroyer War.
Tapping his foot to some unsung song, Gahl stood in contemplation. Would entering the building built for war, result in negatively with the Lords of this land? Such a thought gave him pause for a brief moment, before the large man shrugged and continued into the building. The possibility of a map, even an old one, being on the grounds was far to great to pass up.
Given the silence and disrepair, what could go wrong?
Passing interest: Lore: Law(Intell) 2K2 untrained
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Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2018 10:19 pm
"Hm, from what I remember, it has bad memories for a number of clans. The castle that can never win a battle, huh? That doesn't explain its location on different regions so we certainly should still treat carefully, but as long as we're not trying to hold and defend it against invaders we should be okay to investi... gate... who is that?"
Ayame squinted at the lone figure by the gate when it finally came into full visual range, suspecting another ghost, considering the circumstances. Especially when the figure quickly disappeared through the open portal. Part of her wanted to mark the area and move on before she was attacked yet again, but another part was just too curious to pass up the sights that might be waiting for them behind those dilapidated walls. Still, before anything of that nature, safety first.
She continued leading the group to the gate, peeking in to catch a glimpse of whatever was immediately visible, before calling out. "Hail! I am Miya Ayame! I am led to believe this castle was abandoned! In the name of Her Divine Empress Iweko, Light of Heaven, I must insist that you identify yourself! ...please."
Gahl whistled a tone as he walked down the hollow halls. He began to open the first door he came to, when he heard a voice calling out from the entry.
Raising his arms above his head, and in easy reach of his tetsubo’s handle and it’s strap clasp. “Abandoned, you say? Well that explains the no guard policy.”
Slowly turning around; with a name like Miya, Gahl expected the voice to backed by a general’s army. Instead, found it was a little girl with the backing of 3 and a horse. With that realization, booming laughter bellowed forth from the scar-faced man, as he lowered his hands.
“For a moment there, you had me worried, lit’l one. But, Where’s my manner’s You did ask so nicely for me to introduce myself… even invoked the Divine Empress, herself, to do so… I am Crab, Hida Gahl”
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Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2018 7:55 pm
Gahl, you walk through the walled gate surrounding the castle, and walk across the open, empty courtyard and head straight for the main castle itself. It should be noted that there are several other buildings of much smaller size scattered here and there - likely barracks, mess halls, an armory, and the like - but they seem to be in a state of equal disrepair as the castle itself.
Chiharu, Tsuyoshi, Ayame: By the time you reach the gate, you call out to Gahl, who's wasted no time going for the castle. You see the same thing he does, which is there's no one around. Are you three also entering through the gate?
Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2018 2:46 pm
“But, if it is abandoned, I don’t think the previous ‘tendants would care if I claimed it for my lord and clan. So, unless if your squad wants to face me for it. Mind answering a question, while I your attention, Miya-sama. These aren’t Crab lands, and it is too green for Sparrow, where are we?”
Whether the imperial’s crew shows no attempt, or threat of attack, or not. Gahl would draw his tetsubo and walk in the direction of the armory. He wasn’t in search of any kind of new weapon, but if weapons and armor were present then he could assume with greater affinity that their would be a map in the castle(as a weapons and armor, would pose a greater use to a ronin or bandit than a map).
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Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2018 9:52 pm
Ayame would not enter through the gates just yet. Not with a potential ghost right there. Though that possibility seemed less and less likely with how he responded and... started laughing. She huffed at the childish nomenclature, but for once she couldn't entirely justify a reprimand. Even fully astride her Miya steed, the giant of a man was at least a match in height, if not taller.
"Ahhuh. You're a long way from home. This is- wha-?" she began, only to watch him draw his weapon and start to walk away. She blinked a few times and looked askance, internally reciting a prayer to Kobiru-Tadashiko for help, before her head tilted with the weight of the figurative candle flickering to life above her head. "Y'know. It would be interesting to see just how this curse manifests. Well you heard the man, Doji-sans. The Hida have laid claim to a castle Meido-deep in Crane lands. You have my blessing to conquer it back again. For science~♪"
Pulling out a scroll from her satchel, she unfurled it and spoke the prayer inscribed upon it, invoking a prayer to the water kami. The kami would begin to encircle Tsuyoshi, like a barely visible airborne whirlpool before fading from sight.
Quote:
Reversal of Fortunes, 10 vs TN 10
For the first 3 rounds of combat, Tsuyoshi my reroll any one roll per round. This is done after the first roll is completed, and Tsuyoshi may keep either result.
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Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2018 9:48 am
Tsuyoshi, if you are obliging Miya Ayame's orders, you will need to roll me initiative! If he does, Gahl, you need to roll as well!
Gullible Chiharu didn't question it and immediately opened up with magic sweatdrop
Since Gahl left the cancel to start walking towards the armory, he is only about 30 feet away.
@ SCN:
Initiative for you will be your Insight Rank (currently 1) + your Reflexes, keep reflexes. 4k3 for you.
In addition, when you roll initiative, you must declare your stance for the first round of combat. After that, you change your stance whenever your turn comes up beginning round 2. I have a thread of game mechanics if you want to review the stances.
Also note that at rank 1, you cannot take a full move action (waterx10') and attack, since moving that far is a simple action and attacking is a complex action. Moving half speed is a 1/turn free action, however. You are allowed 1 complex or 2 simple actions a turn, and up to 1 use of each free action. (Speaking more than 5 words is 'simple' so don't get verbose!)
"Wha- no, you can't claim this! You stand on Crane la--"
"...wait, Crab and Sparrow?"
Tsuyoshi blinked in confusion cutting through his indignant outburst, turning his head slowly to the Miya beside him, even as he drew the satsumata as instructed, frowning.
"I appreciated the importance of our task, Miya-sama, but I had not realized the map situation amongst the other clans was quite so dire."
"I wonder if a map would have helped..." she commented dubiously, pulling out her fan to hide her smile. Initiative rolled if it's needed but with every intention of remaining a neutral party, paying close attention to the castle and participants to see if any supernatural effects took place to the naked eye.
Upon the Miya’s words, Hida turned to face his soon to be attackers.”Crane lands you say, It is though battles that lines shift. Come, lit’l birds, prove d’is land be yours by right of force alone.”
Gahl is ~30 feet from the two Crane, ~40 feet from the Imperial --------------------
Chiharu seems satisfied with her prayer to the water kami, and merely puts her scroll away, taking no further actions.
Ayame, if you don't want to do anything in particular, let us know, so Tsuyoshi can go next!
Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2018 8:49 pm
Ayame passes her turn, content to observe and record.
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Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2018 8:36 pm
Tsuyoshi holds the polearm close to his body, maintaining an aggressive posture, closing half the distance between himself and the Crab with the gall to joke about taking Crane lands.
