Session 1. (25/5/05)

This completely new series called The Wood (from the makers of "The Stone") begins by introducing the characters as they make their way from their home towns in the frontier territory of Ezo to the city of Hakodate. Haku (Paul Burton), a short, pudgy youth, pale of complexion but colourful of dress, gallops confidently across the mountainous, forested landscape in a playful race with his older brother. He carries no weapons, but his precious collection of spell scrolls travels in his saddlebag. Kachamaru (Anthony Hummerston) sets off from his family's kabuki school in Esashi with swords, both real and props, and a basic knowledge of the magic of the theatre. Kachi is accompanied over the mountain road by his uncle. Next we meet Miyoshi (Jim Loder) and Mineo (Denzil Brown), both travelling from Shiriuchi in the company of Mineo's cousin. Miyoshi is from the powerful Takeda clan, third in rank in the territory. Mineo's family are retainers to Miyoshi's family, and both are well aware of their respective positions, but Miyoshi's sister is married to Mineo's cousin, so Mineo can get away with a bit of impudence. Finally there's Yoshi (Chris Dore), a slim youth in fine armour, who joins Miyoshi and Mineo on their journey along the coast as they passes through his home town of Kikonai. All five main characters are 15 years old and subject to the rule of the Kakizaki clan.

It is Autumn, and in the frontier lands of northern Nippon, when the sons the leading families come of age they must be blooded before they can be called Samurai. By tradition, they are going to Hakodate where they will take part in an Ainu hunt. Here they learn about the Ainu, a race of savages, closer to Bakemono than human, that are indiginous to Ezo. Some say they are pale apes, some hairy humans. They live on the north side of the mountains and have been making raids into Kakizaki territory, ambushing peaceful parties of fishermen and driving away the game. There is a long history of fighting between the Wajin (that is, the people from the mainland, such as the Kakizaki) and the Ainu, and these have been particularly frequent in recent months. It is customary that young Kakizaki boys must kill an Ainu before they can be regarded as a samurai.

The apprentices meet up at the Daito-ryu school where they are briefed and receive a week's intensive training. Haku tries to learn a spell but runs out of time. Mineo improves his iaijutsu and practices the Lightning Strike okuden. Yoshi studies kyujutsu, shinobijutsu and kenjutsu, reaching a professional level in all of them. Miyoshi works on kenjutsu, kyujutsu and senjojutsu, while Kachamaru improves kenjutsu and School of Acting magic.

At the end of the week the hunting party is formed. It comprises Tagaya (a level 3 Bushi), two Level 2 bushi, the five main characters and another apprentice, Kanemitsu. As the party is about to set off, news comes that a group of Ainu warriors has been seen in the vicinity of Togenoshita, so the apprentice samurai are instructed to find any Ainu and drive them back across the mountains.

On the first day of the hunt the apprentices are in good spirits. On Tagaya's orders, the apprentices take it in turns to go ahead in pairs to look for danger or any game for their meals. The first pair, Mineo and Kachamaru stumble over some squirrels. Kachamaru refuses to shoot at them, saying it is a waste of arrows and anyway a squirrel isn't worth the effort; Mineo gamely tries to hit them but only loses two arrows as the squirrels scatter among the trees. The rest of the party catches up and Tagaya sends the other apprentices after the squirrels. Haku tries to trap them with his Traitor Ground spell but it fizzles; the others chase but only Miyoshi keeps up, and his only chance at a bow shot misses. The apprentices contemplate their failure, hungry and glad they didn't meet anything more dangerous!

For the next hour Miyoshi and Yoshi are on point. Yoshi spots a pair of deer ahead, fires an arrow and kills one outright. He fires a second arrow and wounds the other deer. Miyoshi now spots it, fires an arrow and kills it. The others congratulate them, tie the carcases to a pole to carry between them, and look forward to venison for lunch.

Next Miyoshi and Mineo take the lead, but they see nothing of interest. Yoshi and Kachamaru take over and soon see a group of four grouse. Yoshi bags the first one; the grouse take flight but both Yoshi and Kachamaru score hits - a total of three grouse for the pot. The party decides to have lunch, and while none of them likes the menial task of cooking, the older samurai show them how to cook simply over a camp fire.

After lunch the hunting party heads away from the coast up the road to Nanae, their evening destination. Kanemitsu and Haku take point, and they spot six more grouse. They go back to the others and all the apprentices get into position to shoot the grouse. Yoshi, Kachamaru and Mineo manage to sneak close up and in the opening volley, Kanemitsu, Miyoshi and Kachamaru hit and kill their birds. Yoshi has the unfortunate experience of having an arrow break while firing. As the birds fly off, Kanemitsu and Yoshi get kills while Miyoshi gets a hit but only wings it.

As the road heads into the higher ground and deeper forest, Miyoshi and Kachamaru take the lead. Kachamaru spots three semi-wild pigs snuffling among the trees. They decide to sneak up and try their swords. Both get close to their quarry and attack. Kachamaru hits one pig, injuring it slightly, and in its panic to get away it falls over. Kachamaru gets a couple more good hits and the pig is badly injured. Meanwhile Miyoshi has missed his pig and has to chase it through the forest. He manages to keep up whilst inflicting three or four minor wounds, but eventually runs out of breath and the pig gets away. Suddenly aware that he doesn't know the way back, but too proud to shout for help, Miyoshi picks a direction at random and walks on. Kachamaru finishes his swordwork and kills his pig. Realising that Miyoshi isn't there he waits for a while then drags the pig back to the party. They wait for a while but Miyoshi doesn't reappear. Miyoshi has by this time realised he is going the wrong way and picks another random direction. Back at the party, Kachamaru decides to fire a humming bulb arrow to help Miyoshi. No sooner has he fired it than Miyoshi appears out of the woods. He has by chance picked the right direction, but he doesn't let on that he was ever lost.

The day is drawing in and Yoshi and Kanemitsu are out front. Kanemitsu is the first to spot two giant spiders in the road ahead of them. Fortunately the spiders don't spot them (both got critical failures on Wit saving throws) so they call up the rest of the party - remembering how hard it was to kill squirrels and pigs, they prepare an all-out attack. The senior bushi watch the apprentices with interest. Miyoshi and Yoshi both score with arrows; Kachamaru casts Stage Flash and blinds both spiders. Mineo and Kanemitsu score with two more arrows and Haku casts Traitor Ground, rendering the spiders immobile. Miyoshi and Yoshi hit again with two more arrows and both spiders are killed. Tagaya is very impressed with his charges' work.

As the day ends, Mineo and Miyoshi are on point. They spot four more grouse. They call the others; Yoshi and Kachamaru sneak up close, but Kachamaru is too noisy and the grouse fly off, so they just have time for one shot and both down a grouse. Mineo also manages to get a shot off but misses. The party reaches Nanae as the sun sets and the villagers prepare a lavish meal of grouse, pork and venison - but no squirrel!

The next day, the party of apprentices sets off on a track that leads to Togenoshita, where the Ainu warriors were seen. And after less than an hour they walk straight into them. Haku and Yoshi are on point and suddenly find themselves in the middle of the Ainu. They are fair skinned and incredibly hairy, but definitely human. Three of the Ainu throw spears and Yoshi is hit but not badly. Yoshi draws his sword and slashes at one of the Ainu but fails to land a blow. The Ainu fight back with their knives, and Yoshi is hit again, but fortunately one of the Ainu dazes himself. Haku tries to cast Traitor Ground but is distracted. Yoshi manages to hit one with his sword, but the damage doesn't look too severe. Two try to hit him with their knives and two more throw spears, but all miss their targets. Haku manages to cast Mirror of Deception and immediately there are five more images of Haku doing various random tasks. The Ainu are clearly puzzled. Meanwhile the rest of the party runs up to join the fray. The odds have evened!

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