The Day of Thunder

[Tyrus]

!!THIS IS A COMBAT EVENT. CHARACTER DEATH AND OTHER UNSAVORY OUTCOMES ARE POSSIBLE!!

Participation: Four Characters

A soft rumbling is felt throughout the village and the camp. The air filling with distant cries and calls that gradually seem to be coming closer and closer. The very ground shakes beneath your feet as the forest comes alive with the rumbling of hoof and paw, brush and trees rustling and thrashing as animals suddenly explode out, all manner of beast thundering away from the forest in a desperate and frenzied escape. Aoyama is busy directing the guard for the village to turn the stampede and minimize damage but cannot spare guards for the surrounding farmland.

You must weather through or stealthily avoid the rampaging crash of animals to reach the farmland and render aid but As the Herd thins a burning smell is caught faintly floating on the wind, you notice a few villagers were caught out in the chaos, cries of pain mingling with the din.

You also notice a pack of wolves makes its way through the farmland. They look ravenous but also strange, larger and still somehow sleeker than any wolf you've seen before and they are led by what can best be described as a horror easily twice again as big as any wolf had right to be. It's face a burning wolf skull and eyes baleful orbs of yellow and black flames. Those orbs burned with not only hate but also a terrible intelligence as it looks at the gathered samurai.

Rules:
Combat thread, when you join please post Initiative along with relevant combat stats.

Also when you join the thread make a roll with either Defense/Reflexes, Athletics/Agility at TN 20 or Stealth/Agility TN 25 to avoid the stampede of fleeing wildlife. Characters with animal handling 3+, and characters with the Touch of the realms: chikushido or Inner Gift Animal Ken advantages have the TN reduced by 5 for this roll. Characters with the disadvantage Curse of the realm: Chikushido have the TN raised by 5 If you fail this roll take 2k1 damage and make a Raw strength or agility roll TN 20 if you fail this roll as well you begin combat prone.

There are four injured people around the battlefield, for each one that dies each character suffers a loss of .1 glory. When adjacent to an injured person you may take a simple action to aid them, removing them from combat.

Rewards:
If all villagers are rescued players in this combat gain the Hero of the People advantage for the duration of their stay and .5 glory

If not all the villagers make it all characters will recieve .5 glory

[Otomo Akutou]

Hearing the cries for help, Akutou rushes in to assist.

He is perhaps too hasty as he does so, though, and in that haste, he fails to adequately conceal himself--Th' O-Iemoto'd have my ass f'r this--tripping at the edge of the fields over a risen root he really ought to have seen and falling prone, feeling a rock hit him in a tender, tender spot as he does.

He is, indeed, covering himself in glory today.

~~~~~
Initiative 25, https://sakkaku.org/r/11146
Stance: Attack
ATN 23
Reduction 1
Ashigaru Armor
8/15 Healthy

Initial Stealth Roll to Avoid Damage fails at 23, https://sakkaku.org/r/11148
Damage incurred: 8, https://sakkaku.org/r/11149
Starting prone, https://sakkaku.org/r/11150

Edited to add Stance: Attack

[Ryoshun Yukara]

Yukara had followed the commotion, growing increasingly twitchy as it became more prevalent, filling with nervous energy, contained via will alone.

Once it began to grow closer, she made up her mind, pricking her thumb with Yumekiri, and sorting through her prayer beads until she found the one she wanted, placing it between her back teeth. Biting down gently, she waited till she heard a crack, and then drew the bead back out, carefully pulling apart the broken clay to reveal the jade powder contained within. With her bloody thumb, she scooped it out and spread it across the edge of the blade, preparing the weapon with a sacred dust for the battle she was now certain was coming.

(Dose with 1/3rd of a jade finger for a single strike)

Then she began to follow the sounds to their source. She wove through the wave of animals without trouble, arriving at the field with a feral smile as she confronted the beast. The bitch was bigger than she had remembered.

Her eyes lit with a strange fervor, and a lopsided smile spread across her face as her heart pounded in her chest. Her long hunt, finally bearing fruit. With almost a skip in her step she went, holding Yumekiri level behind her, blade kept flat so the jade crust would be still until it dried- all was ready. Now there was only the decisive moment.

She could not hide her excitement. "The bitch has finally stopped running. I shall give you the honor of being first to fall in the finale of this tale!"

Defense Stance.
Initiative: 28
Reduction: 3
TN to be hit: 29 --> 20 (Ref) + 5 (Armour) +4 (Defense stance)

[Otaku]

An experienced warhorse, Tsubame doesn't balk at being turned toward the sounds of chaos and smoke. Indeed, his ears prick up as Otaku leans forward in the saddle, setting her weight to urge him to more speed.

Otaku's eyes flick left and right as she charges into the fray, searching for stragglers who need help!

Animals successfully dodged:
D2 EE Combat!--Ath/Agi TN20 to avoid the stampede. No effect from armor if mounted | 5k4 ⇒ 27 (TN: 20)

Initiative: 30
Stance: Attack
ATN: 32 (Riding Armor)
Reduction: 4
Wounds 0/57 (Healthy)

Tsubame Initiative: 21
[Rule note: "A horse which is under control will move on its rider's Turn, but attacks on its own Turn in the initiative order."]
Tsubame ATN: 15
Tsubame Reduction: 3
Tsubame Wounds 0/48 (Healthy)

[Hiruma Naraku]

Naraku was set on visiting the forest that surrounded the village. His dreams and everything that had transpired the day before had been a sufficient warning to know something was fundamentally wrong with this place; besides, he was now prepared, as his supplies had been replenished and he had managed to craft the tool of his craft.

That is when he heard it. The howls. The cries of the villagers. He had been right all along!

He quickly slid into the shadows, avoiding the stampede of fleeing animals. His hand sunk into the soil and he smeared himself with the mud, hoping to at least muddle his scent to any beast. His heart was pumping with excitement as he uncorked his vial and slicked his blade with the iridescent liquid.

Today was going to be a good day

---
D2 EE | STE/AGI vs TN 25 | 7k4 ⇒ 35 (TN: 25)
D2 EE | INITIATIVE | 6k3 ⇒ 29
[Coating katana with Amaterasu's Censure]
TN: 25 (31 TN for Wolf#1 or whichever wolf is closest)
Reduction: 3

[Amaterasu's Censure: CRkCR (Corruption Rank) damage every round. Resisted vs TN 25 (30 since it was made with Naraku's blood) Earth roll. Lasts one skirmish.]

[Tyrus]

Closed will update when available

Edit: the program I used to get the map set up ahead of time is not working on my work computer so will be delayed on when I can get thing rolling. I apologize for the delay and inconvenience.

[Tyrus]

As the brave heroes faced down their opponents smoke filled the air and the crackling of burning farm houses and barns. The flames lit the battlefield nicely for this fight. the wolves howled in unison and one took off like an arrow darting around a building.
---------------------------------------------------------------


Initiative order
Wolf 1 46 ATN 20
Otaku 30 <--------
Naraku 29
Yukara 28
Akuto 25 (Prone)
wolf 3 24 ATN 20
wolf 5 24 ATN 20
wolf 2 19 ATN 20
wolf 4 19 ATN 20
Shimizu, of Primal Dreams 18 ATN 25

map is for reference not necessarily hard battle mapping just making it easier to understand where things are. players starting about 60 feet from villagers 1 and 2, 30 feet from villager 3, and 25 feet from villager 4.

starting 80 feet from big wolf and wolf 5, 85 from wolves 2, 3, 4, and 65 from wolf 1

Wolf Fight Shimizu init | 5k4 ⇒ 18
Wolf Fight wolf 1 init | 5k3 ⇒ 46
Wolf Fight wolf 2 init | 5k3 ⇒ 19
Wolf Fight wolf 3 init | 5k3 ⇒ 24
Wolf Fight wolf 4 init | 5k3 ⇒ 19
Wolf Fight wolf 5 init | 5k3 ⇒ 24

[Ryoshun Yukara]

Yukara strode forward, the spring still in her step, eyes blazing in the reflected light of the fire, striding directly toward the wolves. The peasant in her path received a sharp pull to their feat, followed by a gentle nudge toward safety.

As she closed the distance, her left hand drew her prayer beads between her fingers, hand angled vertically just in front of her breast. The chi in her veins, already blazing like fire, surged up to her skin, slamming into place like an avalanche and leaving her supernaturally hard to cut. Her alto voice rang out through the mayhem as she recited a mantra, heart pounding and spirit alight as she gazed at the prey she had stalked for a year now, finally coming to face her at last. What did it matter that she brought a pack of wolves along - the nightmare would still end tonight, one way or another.

"I stand on the hub of the wheel, the mountain is my heart - as the wheel turns I remain unmoved. As stone endures, so shall my spirit, for I am one with the Earth and it shall armor me against fate and fortune."

A flick, and her prayer beards fell back to her wrist, freeing up her left hand as Yukara strode toward her foe.

----

Move+free move to center peasant, ending ~45 ft from wolves.
Stand up Peasant as simple action.
Activate Embrace the Stone (Free Action, Void spend)

Defense Stance.
Initiative: 28
Reduction: 11 (4 rounds Embrace the Stone)
TN to be hit: 29 --> 20 (Ref) + 5 (Armour) +4 (Defense stance)
Void: 2/3
Wounds: 0

[Otomo Akutou]

Akutou has two simple actions to take on his turn.

He rises.

He strings his bow.

And with that, he bows to his fellow players. The table is yours.

~~~~~
Initiative 25, https://sakkaku.org/r/11146
Stance: Attack
ATN 23
Reduction 1
Ashigaru Armor
8/15 Healthy

[Hiruma Naraku]

Naraku sneaks towards Shimizu.

---
Defense stance
Move + free move towards Shimizu
Init: 29
TN: 34 vs Shimizu (28 vs rest)qñ
Reduction: 3

[Otaku]

Otaku [apologizing profusely for her player's absence at a work social thing that turned out to be waaaay longer than anticipated] kicks Tsubame into a canter. "Get the farmers out first!" she cries, her lovely but habitually quiet voice louder than anyone here has likely heard it before. She suits action to words by riding hell for leather toward Villager 1 and pulling him/her upright.

Tsubame takes his 2 simple move actions (50" x2) toward villagers 1 and 2.

Otaku takes a simple action to pull Villager 1 up, allowing them to flee.

Tsubame moves the remaining 40" from Villager 1's position toward Villager 2.

If Villagers 1 & 2 were less than 40" apart, Otaku uses her second simple action to pull Villager 2 up. If she hasn't reached Villager 2 yet, she instead readies her katana.

Initiative: 30
Stance: Attack
ATN: 32 (Riding Armor)
Reduction: 4
Wounds 0/57 (Healthy)

Tsubame Initiative: 21 [as per GM fiat, Tsubame will take all actions on Otaku's turn 'cos it's easier]
Tsubame ATN: 15
Tsubame Reduction: 3
Tsubame Wounds 0/48 (Healthy)

[Tyrus]

The wolves rush forward as the heroes move to rescue the injured villagers, Otaku galloping by and rescuing two quickly getting them to their feet and they shakily make their way toward the village.

The large fiery wolf dashes impossibly fast snapping at Yukara's leg before darting back with a disturbing grace for something so grotesquely large.

another wolf moves to menace the remaining villager as the first one to move darts forward from behind the building and sinks sharp fangs into Tsubame's front leg growling in triumph.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Wolves move free+simple

Shimizu move simple, simple action attack Yukara, free action move away
Shimizu attack on Yukara | 7k4 ⇒ 23 (TN: 29) miss (forgot to note Free raise irrelevant)

Wolf 1 free action move, complex attack Tsubame
wolf attack on Tsubame | 6k3 ⇒ 32 (TN: 15) (Pack tactics free raise for damage)
wolf damage on Tsubame +1k0 from FR on attack | 6k2 ⇒ 16 13 damage past reduction

Otaku engaged with wolf one and two, 15 ft from 3, 30 ft from 4, 60 from 5, 35 from SHimizu
Yukara engaged with wolf 3, 20 ft from Shimizu, 5 ft from 4, 20ft from 2, 25ft from 1, 30ft from 5, 25 ft from villager
Naraku 10 ft from 3&4, 30 ft from Shimizu, 25 from 2, 30 from 1,25 from 5, 20 ft from villager
Akuto 40ft from 4, 45 from 3, 55 from 2 60 from 1, 30 from 5, 25 from villager, 60 from Shimizu

Initiative order
Wolf 1 46 ATN 20
Otaku 30 <--------
Naraku 29
Yukara 28
Akuto 25
wolf 3 24 ATN 20
wolf 5 24 ATN 20
wolf 2 19 ATN 20
wolf 4 19 ATN 20
Shimizu, of Primal Dreams 18 ATN 25

[Otaku]

Tsubame shrieks in rage and kicks out at the wolf that hurt him, but Otaku reins him back down. "No! Back." The horse is too well trained to fight her, even though his battle instincts are up. Horse and rider wheel away from the pair of wolves and dart toward the last villager--and the lone wolf menacing them.

Here Tsubame exacts his revenge! Well, he tries. His wild kick does no more than distract the lone wolf into dodging while Otaku gives the last villager a hand up and a shove out of the fray.

--
Tsubame takes 13 wounds from the wolf attack! (Reduction 3)

Tsubame makes 1 simple move action and 1 free move (50" + 25") toward villager 4 and wolfie 5

Tsubame attacks the wolf with a kick but misses: D2 EE Combat!--Round 2, Tsubame's revenge! Kick wolf #5. +5 Wound Penalty | 4k3-5 ⇒ 14 (TN: 20)

Otaku uses a simple action to save the villager.

Otaku uses a simple action to ready her katana.


Initiative: 30
Stance: Attack
ATN: 32 (Riding Armor)
Reduction: 4
Wounds 0/57 (Healthy)

Tsubame Initiative: 21 [as per GM fiat, Tsubame will take all actions on Otaku's turn 'cos it's easier]
Tsubame ATN: 15
Tsubame Reduction: 3
Tsubame Wounds 13/48 (Grazed +5)

[Ryoshun Yukara]

(Assuming Naraku delays to get advantage of Yukara's Order of Heroes technique)

Yukara almost laughed as the claws of the wolf swung at her feet, nimbly stepping away from the attack and keeping her eyes on her target. Still... there were others here, so she could not be entirely selfish in this quest. Her left hand drew an arc from her chest to the following form of Hiruma Naraku, the air rippling as she drew some of the exultant chi which flowed through her, and released it to energize his motions.

Then she surged forward, following behind the massive beast with playful steps, covering the ground with a reckless abandon that defied caution, blade flicking low as she did, feinting and threatening, while her voice berated the monster, taunted it. "All these months, you have fled from me. Now you play so coy? You really are just a child's nightmare... but I have outgrown you, beast."

Then Yumekiri flashed up and around, Yukara digging in her heels as she caught the range, the bisento carving a series of vicious arcs, feinting low, and then spinning high and dropping in a guillotine blow as the lithe woman twisted, kicking one foot to add velocity to the spin of the attack, a blow executed with the absolute confidence she would know where the wolf would go. She was right. The blade caught Shimizu in the shoulder, with the full force of Yukara's momentum driving, and was immediately ripped free, trailing blood, and brought about for a second blow, the onslaught staggeringly aggressive.

The second impact was not so deep, but it still scored a carving blow, and Yukara pivoted, drawing Yumekiri downward, as if inviting the wolves to do their worst.

----

Free move 15+5' to point blank with Shimizu
Simple Attack 1: Raise for damage, feint, Hit 47 -- Damage 45 = 35+4(tech)+6(feint, 47-35=12, /2)
Simple Attack 2: Hit 42 -- Damage 26 = 22 + 4(tech)

Spending Void to give Order of Heroes Tech to Hiruma Naraku.

Full Attack Stance.
Initiative: 28
Reduction: 11 (3 rounds Embrace the Stone)
TN to be hit: 15 --> 20 (Ref) + 5 (Armour) -10 (Full Attack stance)
Void: 1/3
Wounds: 0

[Tyrus]

Otaku swings in and saves another villager! her horse lashing out at the wolf deterring it from following its meal.

Yukara deftly cut into the monster twice he blade slicing through dense muscle, sinew, and hide. The monstrosity was in tatters but animated still either by pure hatred or some other malevolent force, its baleful yellow eyes flickered but did not go out as black ichor spurted from open wounds.

The villagers were saved but now the samurai were left just with these monstrous wolves whom they had just denied dinner.

--------------------------------------------------
Initiative order
Wolf 1 46 ATN 20
Otaku 30
Naraku 29
Yukara 28
Akuto 25
wolf 3 24 ATN 20
wolf 5 24 ATN 20
wolf 2 19 ATN 20
wolf 4 19 ATN 20
Shimizu, of Primal Dreams 18 ATN 25

Naraku and Akuto left to go!

[Hiruma Naraku]

With a deceptive feint, Naraku's body blurred and twisted in a fluid movement. In an instant, his katana sliced through the air with unparalleled precision and raw strength, a graceful arc that belied the devastating force it carried.

And then, in one stroke, Naraku's blade met its mark with a resounding clash. A clean hit, his poisoned blade biting deep and carving the flesh of the monstrous wolf.

---
Free Move: 10' to Wolf 3
Stance: Attack
D2 EE | Attack | +1k1 from Yukara | +1k0 Hiruma Tech 1 | 2 Raises Feint | TN 30 | 9k5 ⇒ 38 (TN: 30)
D2 EE | Damage | +4 from Feint | 5k2+4 ⇒ 39
TN increased to 30 (36 against Shimizu)

[Otomo Akutou]

Akutou stands, breathes, draws back the bowstring, and feels the swell of the elements around him.

But his arrow does not know the way, flying far aside from the fifth wolf in the pack. Perhaps he will have drawn its attention, though, and keep it from haranguing the others.

He whistles to be sure, and shifts out away from where he had fallen prone before. There's bad footing there, as he well knows, and it'll help to get away from it.

Th' O-Iemoto ain't gonna be happy t' hear 'bout this, he thinks.

~~~~~
Attempted shot at Wolf 5 fails, https://sakkaku.org/r/11232, likely due to cockiness

Lateral movement 15' south, unimpeded by moderate terrain

Initiative 25, https://sakkaku.org/r/11146
Stance: Attack
ATN 23
Reduction 1
Ashigaru Armor
8/15 Healthy

[Tyrus]

Yukara hears a terrible sound, wet and hacking like a mix between a bark and a laugh black ichor spattering on the dirt "Do..not...turn your back on ME!" The monster lunges forward jaws closing around Yukara's mid section piercing teeth and burning fire she moves to pull yumara to the ground and savages Yukara whipping head side to side letting the teeth tear and mangle the woman. The minster has no concern for how open it leaves itself its only desire to bring this woman to the grave with it. The fastest of the Wolves darts down growling and snapping at anything moving close to the pack leader imposing its body in the way if danger.

Naraku cuts cleanly through the wolf the severing head from shoulders. Seeing him distracted two other Wolves darted forward biting at his ham strings and ankles to bring the warrior low.

The wolf engaged with Tsubame dodges the hooves deftly and darts back in biting at the uninjured leg. Akuto's arrow going just wide thinking into a building.


-------------------------
Wolf 1 simple action move to Shimizu, simple action guard

Wolf 2 free action to engage Naraku complex attack
Wolf 2 attack on Naraku | 6k3 ⇒ 32 (TN: 28)
Wolf 2 damage on Naraku | 5k2 ⇒ 13

Wolf 4 free action complex attack
Wolf 4 attack on Naraku fr from pack tactics | 6k3 ⇒ 29 (TN: 28)
Wolf 4 damage on naraku +1k0 from fr | 6k2 ⇒ 21

Wolf 5 complex to attack Tsubame
Wolf 5 attack on tsubame | 6k3 ⇒ 27 (TN: 15)
Wolf 5 damage on tsubame | 5k2 ⇒ 7

Shimizu simple attack, simple attack
Shimizu attack on Yukara full attack fr from pack tactics for damage | 9k5 ⇒ 39 (TN: 20)
Shimizu damage on yukara +1k0 from raise | 7k3 ⇒ 54

Shimizu attack on yukara fr from pack tactics cr for knockdown full attack | 9k5 ⇒ 54 (TN: 25)
Shimizu damage on yukara | 6k3 ⇒ 43
Knockdown strength roll | 3k3 ⇒ 18
Yukara also must make a roll to resist corruption tn 15

Initiative order
Wolf 1 46 ATN 15 (-5 guard)
Otaku 30
Naraku 29
Yukara 28
Akuto 25
wolf 5 24 ATN 20
wolf 2 19 ATN 20
wolf 4 19 ATN 20
Shimizu, of Primal Dreams 18 ATN 25 (-10 FA, +10 guard)

Otaku engaged with 5, 20 ft from 4, 30 ft from 2, 40ft from Shimizu, 45 from 1
Naraku engaged with 2 and 4, 20 from Shimizu, 20 from 1
Yukara engaged with Shimizu and 1, 15 from 2 and 4
Akuto 25 from 5, 40 from 2 and 4, 60 from 1 and Shimizu.

[Hiruma Naraku]

(OOC: Taking Otaku's turn, talked with player)

Naraku's face betrays no emotion as the two wolves lunge at him. He manages to dodge one of them by the length of an hair but the other manages to get his jaws on him although, fortunately, only getting the taste of his armor.

His expression changes as he sees the demon wolf lunging on Yukara, her blood being flinging as he sinks his teeth onto her flesh.

"Get your damn dirty fangs off of her!" he shouts as he closes the distance towards her. The villagers are safe, so now the first priority is ensuring the survival of his comrades.

He twists his sword into the closest wolf, slashing downwards and sinking his poisoned steel with extreme prejudice onto the wolf that had just attacked him.

"Lady Otaku! We need to protect her!"
---
Free Move: 10' closer to Yukara
13 dmg - 3dmg (reduction) - 10 (void) = 0 dmg suffered
Stance: Attack
D2 EE | Attack vs Wolf 2 | TN 20 | 8k4 ⇒ 35 (TN: 20)
D2 EE | DMG 5k2 +1k0 from mastery | 6k2 ⇒ 20
TN increased to 35 (41 against Shimizu)
Wolf 2 is poisoned

[Otomo Akutou]

On his initiative count...

Akutou hears Naraku call out, and he sees the truth in the other man's words.

Again, he stands, breathes, draws back the bowstring, and feels the swell of the elements around him.

Again, though, the arrow goes wide.

Th' fuck's goin' on? he thinks, and he moves towards what he hopes will be a more advantageous position.

Gotta start makin' shots!

~~~~~
Attempted shot at Wolf 1 fails, https://sakkaku.org/r/11265

Free action to move in 15', unimpeded by moderate terrain

Initiative 25, https://sakkaku.org/r/11146
Stance: Attack
ATN 23
Reduction 1
Ashigaru Armor
8/15 Healthy