Rokugan in the Shadows Ch 1: Gathering Dark

[WarHunter]

Kyorlin

Sir are you saying these forces chasing the Mantis armada, the fish/bird creatures are on ships of their own?
Can they not fly or swim? Tell me everything about this approaching enemy for if we are to join in battle let us go in prepared to win.

[~Corvus~]

Almost in answer to Kyorlin's questions, the ships have approached just close enough for you all to see...well at least a little of what's going on. Twelve ships are pursued by Large black creatures that leap out of the water, soar through the air, and try to ram themselves into the ships. Odlly, though, when they contact the ships, they seem to splash onto the ships as if they're made of...well, black water, and rise again as dark figures that seem to battle those on board.

In answer to the questions posed to him, the man replies, "It's creatures from the Sea of Shadows. I....I've never seen them before..." He remains transfixed on the docks, uncertain of what to do. Another dock worker, finished moving ships about for now, speaks up with a quivering voice, "As Imperial Magistrates, you are capable enough to engage these foes and perhaps drive away the darkness, right?" Many people are looking towards your band for guidance, or confidence at the very least.

[WarHunter]

Kyorlin

I am not knowledgeable in how to fight those creatures, is there anyone here that would know correct combat methods, weaknesses, I'll take a vague legend in the form of a riddle.
Who here would have any archives on these oni creatures? Where are your tomes and scrolls, take me to your library!

[~Corvus~]

Many of the villagers, at this request, silently back away from you and whisper amongst themselves.
"...not really Magistrates"
"...soft from being in court too long..."
"...could be a test?" "...but we are ship-builders..."
"...afraid of dying?" "or phoenix peacemongers..."

Finally, one of the villagers throws a shoe at you. "IDIOT!!" he yells, and clenches his fists. "YOU WAIT WHILE FELLOW SOLDIERS DIE AND--"
<<TOSHIO!! SILENCE!!>> an older man steps in front of the angry villager. <<He forgets that the War at Oblivions Gate was a generation and a half ago, and it must be that these Magistrates so young!>> The man speaks in a deferential tone and mixes in a little court-language. <<They are creations of Jigoku, of the Evil Realm, and so tainted that their forms can warp. They will taint the spirits of the ship's wood and the crew until they belong to the Shadow. It is your fighting spirit that must resist it and lead to its doom>>

Something feels off about this statement to Kyorlin, but as many of the villagers nod their heads, it becomes clear that this is rather well-believed, and fitting within the cosmological bearings of villagers so close to the Shadowlands.

<<Surely you were sent to this village to help rescue the Mantis ships from their fate?>> The man, in his late Thirties, looks at you with eyes that crease at the temples, as if he's looking at the sun's glare, or perhaps at something he's not sure is real.

[Swami Monsoon]

"Those things look almost like they could be my rela--they could use similar magic to mine. I'm not sure if that will help me or hinder me when fighting them..."

[WarHunter]

Kyorlin

We are to save all of Rokugan, in that mission has brought us to your ship building village. In our assessment your village is underdeveloped in the areas of defense and offense especially in regards to oni attacks. with a curt shake of his head
If you don't improve how are you suppose to not only survive but thrive? We will go to battle for you, but if we fail, if the fleet fails, what will do? Figure it out quickly.

With that Kyorlin boards the ship, waiting for his crew to join him.

[Doxkid]

Yhrashnal

The False-Swordsman's gaze is easily as harsh as his words as he prepares for battle and rouses the villages from their confusion. "If our enemies land this place will be gone. Undone. That would be a waste. However this...Mantis clan," Yhrashnal clearly does not actually remember the significance of that name, "should not be trusted lightly. Those exposed to Oni may find themselves...tainted. Defiled in spirit. Less than men.

For now do not let either land. Stop them as best you can while we do our work. We will slay who must be slain. For those who block our path there can be nothing but death; in this demons and men and gods are all equal." Despite his borrowed status Yhrashnal steps forward to take orders from the only 'boatsman' of the team.

Spoiler: OoC

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False-swordsman Yhrashnal is ready for action!

[~Corvus~]

The sun, although rising and strong in the sky, seems to cast a more powerful shadow that bleeds into the dark ocean following the ships.

Many of the people in the crowd nod slowly to Yrashnal's words. A young boy asks an older woman, "But aren't the Mantis allies?"
<<Son, it was only a little while ago that the Mantis were taken over by the Shadow and their clan tried to seize the throne and take it for themselves, along with a the rulers of the Scorpion, the Centipede, the Wasp, and the Spider that joined them. It brought about the Clan War, and it was only then, after the Mantis leader was toppled, that the current ruler of the Mantis showed great strength and proved their clan to be of Great status. I think the Imperial Magistrates are wise not to show favor to any clan. See how these ships are being attacked by those shadow-beasts? That is like the spirit of what overtook many of the other minor clans. That shadow is a terrible foe to face, and only those that have a true fighting spirit can face it and win.>>

The ships have sailed closer. The shadow from the ocean is made of small lines that trails in the ships' wakes. The shadow seeps onto their bows and flows into the creatures fighting the crew on board each ship. Their battles seem to be pitched at the moment, but could turn at any time. Eleven ships remain, now, and the Twelfth seems to covered in Shadow-figures, and is heading away from the battle, back towards the darker part of the horizon.

[Doxkid]

Yhrashnal

After a short pause Yhrashnal comes to terms with his 'captain/pilot' not being ready for this kind of naval encounter. This is unfortunate, but it is not impossible to work around it.

"We need assistance. A navigator and shiphands. I will get in this fight before they land." It is a shame he must order these people to their deaths, but he is more than willing to sacrifice a few mortals for the good of the Vasuki clan's domain at large.

[WarHunter]

Kyorlin

YellsALL ABOARD

sets sail, after untying the ship from the moors and raising the anchor.

Spoiler: sailing

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1stcheck(1d20+7)[27]2ndcheck(1d20+7)[9]3rdcheck(1d20+7)[25]

[~Corvus~]

After a few moments of hesitation, two villagers run to get on the vessel as it sails away. They gasp as they step on--you hear one say, "So this is an Emerald Magistrate's ship!" The two introduce themselves as simple sailors, Ko and Shun, and inform Kyorlin they are here to help!

Spoiler: Assist

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- DC 10 to add +2; every 10 adds +2
Ko (1d20+11)[25] +4 | (1d20+11)[23] +4 | (1d20+11)[17] +2
Shun (1d20+11)[15] +2 | (1d20+11)[22] +4 | (1d20+11)[18] +2

Bonuses to Kyorlin's checks: +6, +8, +4 for each of his 3 rolls.

[Swami Monsoon]

Jade joins the others on the deck...

"So what is our first target? We can only deal with one ship at a time. Some are going to get past us."

[WarHunter]

Kyorlin

We board the first ship we can get along side, going in the same direction- we going to be making many loops. Unless someone has a better plan?

Spoiler: sailing

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(1d20+7)[21]

[~Corvus~]

Vessels in the water aren't something that's easy to get used to. Far away, it's simple to see that some are big and some are smaller, and their dimensions change as you get closer. The fleet has five ships that are larger, wider ships than yours but they don't seem as fast. These are heavy vessels and higher in the water, with four sails each. Trails of darkness lead onto the ships, and on each of them come sounds of pitched battle, yelling and confusion.

There's a vessel in the middle of this commotion, a wide and flatter vessel, and it would have three sails if its third hadn't been...well, chopped down. The soldiers on board are busy hacking apart logs and others are building what seems to be a pyre. Each man on board carries a bow and a full quiver of arrows, too.

There are also five other ships similar to yours, still larger and more like small barges, with two sails apiece, and many people on board, also entangled with shadowy figures. You pull alongside the closest of these, and when you board, aided by the two citizens from the town, many people, armed or otherwise, turn to look at you and go back to a pitched battle and go back to their fighting, but many look relieved. A man in grand and spiked armor, much like Kyorlin's newly shaped green armor, barks an order and one swordsman disengages from the fight to talk with you.

"Gusai Hakamoto at your service" He gives a formal bow to Kyorlin and after the Draegloth's greeting, he yells to many on the ship and ten plain-faced people wielding spears or makeshift weapons disengage from the battle and join him. He motions to your vessel and says, "You are to be escorted to Fundai Mura, citizens, where you shall receive aid!" After that, the soldier asks your extra navigators, "What is your vessel's capacity?"
"Sir! Fourty-six, including crew."
"Good." The soldier turns to Kyorlin again and asks, "Have you ever fought the Living Shadow? It must be cut away completely and it forms beings with surprisingly resilient flesh. Join us in battle!"

As the man goes to re-enter the fray a tentacle of darkness oozes past the gap the citizens had made and, upon seeing the samurai returning, straightens to a line. The man deflects the strike to his chest but it still catches his clavicle. He counter-strikes, not flinching, and the bisected tentacle of darkness flops to the floor of the ship, where it turns to dust. "Normally the Shadow wouldn't be capable of boarding our ships like this but it's been strengthened. We've been picking up citizens that fled from Kyuden Hida by boat, and there aren't many left. Can any of you help us with that while we battle?

[Doxkid]

Yhrashnal

The False Swordsman sprints forward into the gap created by the lesser beings breaking away from combat with sword ready and eyes tinged red with excitement; finally he gets to test himself properly in this new form. Without hesitation he engages the first beshadowed being/bodypart he can find with a heavy slash of his sword, sparing a moment to bark out one short order to his companions. "Fight."

Spoiler: OoC

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Charge attack the nearest shadow-member and the rest, my friend, is simply what he does best with a bit of new flare and pizzazz.

Charging Sword attack: (1d20+11)[19] (+2 from charge), Damage: [roll]1d10+9/roll]
Current AC: 18 (-2 from Charge)

[Ellowryn]

Specimen

As much fun as rushing headlong into battle would be, the though of being attacked from both sides is perhaps a little too daunting. Not to mention this haphazard way of fighting means that they will be locked in stalemate until one side tires. Taking the opportunity when everyone's attention is drawn to the enemy thanks to Yhrashnal's charge it activates its fading ability, it then moves to the closest point where it can get a good view of the whole deck in order to get a grasp of the field and the flow of battle.

Spoiler: Skill Checks!

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Stealth (1d20+29)[41], perception check for good vantage point (1d20+11)[17], climb check as necessary (1d20+10)[13], and another perception check to see WTF is actually going on (1d20+11)[21].

[~Corvus~]

Just as a bit of darkness goes to writhe out of the gap and form a new soldier out of its shifting umbral form, Yrashnal charges in. What seems to be forming as an entity in and of itself finds a blade slashing across it. The forming creature stops its morphing when cut, and falls to the ground. A soldier nearby whoops as Yrashnal does the deed and encourages him, "Kick it away! Don't let it reconnect!" Another tendril of shadow distracts the beast, threatening his attention, and the darkness retreats where he is, but with its backwards motion it forms a new contender; a shadowy version of the Barghest appears, except that it looks like a Heyena, and nearly exactly as Yrashnal has seen himself in reflections. Its hackles raise and it lunges at him, forcing him to pay (at least some) attention to the threat. Meanwhile, several tendrils of shadow sneak out, searching for the severed, partially formed body near him.

Gusai Hakamoto, the soldier that greeted you all, nods in appreciation and readies his sword again for battle and changes in to follow Yrashnal. The darkness again moves back, ready to give the samurai an opponent to face.

Baleth, the Incarnum-man, rushes in behind Yrashnal and pulls away the shadow-figure and tosses it towards the back of the ship, where the encroaching darkness has not yet reached. He then moves to another gap, further away from you all, where fighting seems to be going poorly. Azure and translucent arms fade into sight over his own, and two more appear below his arms, making four spectral claws that become visible to you.

Specimen fades from view. The ship you're on is mostly flat, but there are two masts, as mentioned, and trellis platforms that hold the ship and masts together. It's not a tough climb, and the platform actually facilitates Specimen's climb, since its designed for a single person to be able to actually manipulate a single sail; it doesn't need to climb very far. From Its vantage point it can see not only this battle but at least the other four like barges and their battle-lines. You face a maw of shadow that surrounds the ships' circle formation. Instead of teeth, tendrils bleed onto the sides of the ships and form shadowy copies of their adversaries. As the humans slay pieces of darkness and push them away, the shadow will retreat to form new menacing forms. Where it manages to defeat a foe, it covers that person and darkness sprouts from the felled person and surges forward like a plant's root trying to force its way into a stone.

Spoiler: Ellowryn

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It's clear from Specimen's observation that this shadow has little means of changing its color from the utter blackness of its creation. After a bit of study, the creature realizes that what shadow is pursuing them has little imagination; it copies what it sees wherever it forms. Oddly enough, though, Yrashnal faces what seems to be a shadow-wolf instead of a reflective copy. T is, this shadow would have little means to depict Specimen other than how it sees the kython.

[WarHunter]

Kyorlin

You, shipbuilders take the refugees to shore and return here once you are done.

The deck was slick with human blood, sea water and dark ichor, slipping into his step of the wind stance his appearance darkened as he charged forth silently towards the mass. Attacking with his claws straightened to look like he is merely chopping at the shadow stuff with his soul covered hand.

Spoiler: dark charge

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A(1d20+11)[17]cc(1d20+11)[14]Damage(1d6+6)[11]CD(1d6)[4]

[Swami Monsoon]

Jade dissolves into a blob of pale green liquid and crashes into a cluster of shadowy foes like a bowling ball...

Spoiler

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Using Form of the Wave, targeting nearest group of shadow creatures (ideally trying to knock them down/overboard, but I'm not sure if bullrushing is an option with this ability).
Damage (3d6)[10] Recharge (1d4+1)[2]

[Doxkid]

Yhrashnal

The False swordsman meets his imitation with yet another slash of the ruined sword as his senses track the movements of the fellow Voice Called; keeping them alive is more important that winning this fight and, should he need to, Yhrashnal has few scruples against abandoning the battle to whisk away a falling ally. Besides that, he needs to determine exactly how easily this imitation is cut by his blade; if it isn't especially durable he'll consider making use of his unarmed fighting skills in the place of clunky swordsmanship.

Spoiler: OoC

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Attack: (1d20+9)[10], Damage: (1d10+9)[15]

AC resets to normal (20)

[~Corvus~]

The builders nod obediently and shove off from your ship. One of the citizens protests, "But there are more on the other ships! Why don't you help the--"
This voice of dissent is cut off as the villagers rebuke the citizen. "Idiot! These are soldiers! You're lucky they came to you first! Can't you have faith that they have a plan?

[~Corvus~]

On your ship itself, Kyorlin cuts away yet another form from the shadow, and even the clumsy swipe of Yrashnal, terrible as it seemed, still cut into the dark form of his new foe. However, both of these attacks seemed to do little good; the darkness started to re-form...that is, until Jade crashes into them from behind you. It offers token resistance, but the acid eats away at the shadow readily, and soon a great section of the deck sizzles with cooking blood and presents no more shadow. Surprisingly, the darkness does not seem to return where it's been cut off by Jade's form.

With this surge, however, the remaining shadow strikes even more fiercely further up the ship. Several swordsmen are pierced with sudden spikes of shadow, and gasp in surprise. Others cut away the spikes, which promptly fade away. The men don't seem to be horribly injured, oddly, but take a knee to rest. The fighting intensifies, and they call back to you all for aid.

"Whatever magics your Shugenja has to cast away the darkness, we'll need it!"

[WarHunter]

Kyorlin

Having all essentia in his mantle of the storm and pauldrons of health, he manifests a shadow claw to his left and strikes with this apparition and his own.

Spoiler: shadow blade technique

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1ar(1d20+10)[12]2ar(1d20+10)[26]-i will be choosing the lower attack roll critc(1d20+10)[29] normal damage(1d6+5)[9]cold dmg(1d6)[1] +crit damage(1d6)[4]

[Doxkid]

Yhrashnal

Unfortunately, it has come to this. ..

The False Swordsman grimaces as he brandishes the Ruined sword in one hand and forms strange hand seals with the other, each manipulation of his hand summoning more and more from a shallow well of magic he has come to consider his greatest shame. A true Barghest's magic is worth more than these petty tricks, but perhaps this time half of a spell will be better than all of a sword.

"Glimmer." The free hand forms the last seal and then sweeps across the Ruined sword; if half of a spell is better than all of a sword, the two together should be greater still.

Spoiler: OoC

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Yhrashnal casts the Cantrip Light upon his Ruined Sword. It lasts 20 minutes and sheds bright light in a 20 foot radius and dim light for another 20 feet beyond that.

[Swami Monsoon]

Jade reforms and then lashes out at the closest shadow spike...

Spoiler

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Eldritch Claws
(1d20+5)[14] (1d20+5)[11]
Damage (2d6+3)[8] (2d6+3)[13]

[~Corvus~]

Jade's attack, and indeed, the attacks from Kyorlin and Yrashnal all cleave away pieces of the shadow. They fall away and what part the draegloth and the elemental had touched burn away before they hit the ground; however, the rest of the spikes remains on the ground. The shadow lurches forward, and reduced to only a few strands on this ship, it shimmers in blackness and foes that you had faced are no more. A pause, perhaps a longer pause than comfortable, lingers before the shadows lash out and this time only in fine lines.

Spoiler: rolls

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Attack: (1d20+14)[34] vs. soldier
damage: (2d12)[9] x3 = 27 -> Dead

Attack: (1d20+14)[20] vs. Jade -> miss
damage: (2d12)[16]

Attack: (1d20+14)[24] vs. soldier
damage: (2d12)[7] -> damage

Attack: (1d20+14)[28] vs. Kyorlin
damage: (2d12)[14]

Attack: (1d20+14)[33] vs. Yrashnal
damage: (2d12)[14]

Attack: (1d20+14)[17] vs. soldier -> miss but -1 AC
damage: (2d12)[5]

Attack: (1d20+14)[17] vs. soldier -> miss but -1 AC
damage: (2d12)[9]

Attack: (1d20+14)[17] vs. soldier -> miss but -1 AC
damage: (2d12)[10]

Attack: (1d20+14)[34] vs. Incarnum-man
damage: (2d12)[6] x3 = 18

One soldier drops, impaled through the eyes, and although one takes a hit in the side several others manage to deflect the darkness as if they'd been mere spears. Their armor and weapons, however, bear the damage regardless of the miss. Jade, meanwhile, seems to have missed the darkness, which instead hits the (recently detached) piece of shadow she'd detached from its main area. Jade surges forward, again becoming a wave and attempts to push the darkness back. It recedes at her touch, and soon another portion of the barge, covered in what seems to be her acid, does not yield itself to the shadow's approach.

Only a small portion or darkness holds itself on the ship, close to Yrashnal and Kyorlin, and another bit near the Incarnum-wielder. It lashes out again, this time spearing the incarnum-wielding man in the shoulder along with a few more guards. The guards fall but the man swipes with his azure claws and spectral arms and detaches some shadow from its form.

[Tjallen]

Watching the fighting that takes place on the barges, Snich mutters curses at the lack of consideration given to his words of warning.
Grumbling orders at Skree to fly down to the man with azure claws and be ready to grab him at a moments notice. Not wanting to have to fight the humans he casts several spells, just in case. The most, or least depending, obvious is when he turns Skree completely invisible.

As he approaches he starts shooting arrows at the darkness closest to his quarry.

Spoiler: Spells and rolls!

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Mage armor and cat's grace on Snich
Invisibility on Skree

Attacking the darkness.
Round 2
(1d20+9)[17] for (1d8+9)[13] if they are flatfooted an additional 4 damage and reflex dc 16 to avoid being entangled.
(1d20+9)[19] for (1d8+9)[11] if they are flatfooted an additional 4 damage and reflex dc 16 to avoid being entangled.

Round 4
(1d20+9)[13] for (1d8+9)[14] if they are flatfooted an additional 4 damage and reflex dc 16 to avoid being entangled.
(1d20+9)[20] for (1d8+9)[14] if they are flatfooted an additional 4 damage and reflex dc 16 to avoid being entangled.

[~Corvus~]

On its great bat, silently, the ratling Snich arrives just as the battle started, as observed by Specimen. Arrows fly from its bow, delving into the darkness before Jade sweeps the darkness from one section of the ship. Before Jade sweeps another section, other arrows fly into the writhing dark, and the darkness, again, does not move further back onto the ship.

Specimen bears witness to the great bat disappearing from its...heat-sight, even though it still carries a scent (and the ratling, mounted, can be seen as the beast gingerly moves its master behind the Incarnum-man. Also, finally, near where Yrashnal's light swings from the tip of its sword, so too recedes the darkness from the ship temporarily.

All of this Specimen bears silent witness to as the battle unfolds.

Spoiler: battle notes

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Waiting on action from Kyorlin, Specimen, and Yrashnal. Jade has acted this turn.

[~Corvus~]

Many of the other soldiers on your barge have noticed your attacks, and one puts it together:
"These recruits have command of the elements! The Shadow here is weak to them!" Another notices that the Darkness is shying away from the Yrashnal's sword imbued with light, and another says, "Ah, that sword...it shines like a torch! Perhaps we can drive it back with more light!"

[Doxkid]

Yhrashnal

With his blade now 'enchanted' the False Swordsman presses forward toward the quarterdeck of the ship and the source of the darkness, his movement and attack overtly wild and unhinged compared to his earlier movements. He swings the Ruined Sword with eagerness and impulsive abandon that lacks the proper cadence of swordsmanship he has been refining allowing him to focus more on his steps and, more importantly, his kicks. The off-balanced swing of his sword is followed by a swift sweep-kick aimed at the same strands darkness he has just attacked, in hopes if flicking away anything he severs before this annoying entity can reattached them.

Spoiler: OoC

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Yhrashnal will use his Ruined Sword 'one handed' as an exotic weapon to free up a 'hand' for Two weapon fighting with unarmed strikes. This imposes a -4 Exotic Weapon improficiency penalty to his 'main hand', and a standard twf -2 to both his 'main' and 'off' hand for a final attack bonus of [+1/+5] (down from his usual TWF attack bonuses of [+7/+7].)

(Light 'Enchanted') Ruined Sword attack: (1d20+1)[7], Damage: (1d10+6)[12] (+6 damage instead of the normal +9 damage because the katana is being wielded 'one-handed'.

(Sweeping Kick) Unarmed Strike Attack: (1d20+5)[22], Damage: (1d4+6)[9]