Session 2. (1/6/05)

Continuing from last week's cliffhanger ending, we find the apprentices facing seven hairy Ainu warriors. Yoshi (Chris Dore) and Haku (Paul Burton) have taken a few hits but now the rest of the party rushes up to engage the enemy, although Tagaya, the party leader, holds back the other two veterans and watches to see how the apprentices fare. Miyoshi (Jim Loder)^* and Kachamaru (Anthony Hummerston) are the first of the new arrivals to score hits; Mineo (Denzil Brown) misses miserably. One of the Ainu hits Miyoshi back, while another sees through Haku's deception (you will recall that Haku has produced six images of himself) and stabs him. Haku manages to cast an area of Traitor Ground under five of the Ainu. Next Yoshi gets a hit on one of his two opponents - seeing the trouble, Tagaya moves up and hits one of them but the Ainu gets a lucky hit in return and stuns him. One of the Ainu stabs one of Haku's images and is shocked when it disappears with a "pop". Miyoshi, Kachamaru and Kanemitsu miss; Mineo misses miserably. The fight progresses... Miyoshi and his opponent miss each other, Yoshi gets a big hit on one of his opponents but both Ainu hit him. Kachamaru also gives and takes a hit. An Ainu seriously wounds Mineo; Mineo misses miserably. Miyoshi and Kachamaru get second hits on their foes and Kachi's goes down. Haku casts Mirror of Deception again and now there are eight imaginary Hakus doing random tasks. In the confusion Mineo manages to get a hit! Kachamaru turns to help Yoshi and scores a colossal critical blow, felling the Ainu. Miyoshi, Yoshi and Kanemitsu all get hits; Mineo misses miserably. The Ainu score yet another hit on Yoshi and one gets a good hit on Miyoshi and knocks him down. While he scrambles back to his feet, Yoshi gets a big hit on his last opponent and kills him outright.

With three Ainu down the tide starts to turn. Miyoshi's opponent ran away while Miyoshi was on the ground so Miyoshi goes to help Mineo and immediately scores a hit. Yoshi goes to help Haku and quickly lands two blows; Haku meanwhile tries unsuccessfully to punch the Ainu. Kachamaru takes on Kanemitsu's opponent but both fail to score; Mineo misses miserably. Then Kachamaru gets another critical hit and kills another Ainu. Miyoshi, helping Mineo, misses once then gets a hit; Mineo misses miserably. Miyoshi gets one more hit and, with the Ainu about to breathe his last, Mineo finally gets a hit and kills the Ainu. The last Ainu is finished off by Kachamaru with five hits from six attempts (all doing 5 damage except one that did 10) while Haku punches ineffectually at thin air in the vicinity of the Ainu's face.

After the fight the samurai gather and bind wounds. Yoshi was hit six times and he comments that he has "...more bandages than limbs!" Tagaya, slightly embarrassed by his trip to the floor, announces that Kachamaru, Yoshi and Mineo, having got their kills, can progress to first level, call themselves samurai and wear the second sword. Of course, Miyoshi was very unlucky not to get a kill^** while Mineo was very lucky to get his. Haku helped the party with the Traitor Ground and Mirror of Deception spells, but had very little chance of actually damaging an opponent. Tagaya says that Haku should practice some offensive spells or skills. In the meanwhile, the party will continue up into the mountains to look for more invading Ainu so that the others can get their first kills.

For the remainder of the morning the party heads up the track towards Togenoshita, taking it in turns to go out in front, but there are no more encounters. On reaching the village, a local doctor makes some improvements to the wounds of some of the injured while other villages prepare a lunch that includes barbecued squirrel. After lunch the party heads further into the mountains, now off the last of the roads, up the valley towards the biggest peaks in the area. It isn't long before Haku and Kachamaru, out front, spot a family group of wild boar. Their excellent Wit rolls (criticals both) allow the whole party to sneak up into optimal range without the boars noticing; Tagaya and the level two bushi hang back to watch the fun. They know what the apprentices don't, that the Nipponese boar often fight on for some time after they have been killed because they are so tenatious^***.

The four bushi and the kabuki warrior let fly the first volley of arrows: Yoshi gets a critical hit on the sow, stunning it, and Kachamaru also hits it; Mineo hits the big boar but Miyoshi and Kanemitsu miss. While the fighters reload, Haku casts Traitor Ground under the boars to hinder them. Another volley of arrows flies at the boar. Miyoshi misses again but all the other arrows hit their targets. Yoshi hits the badly wounded sow for 14 damage. This kills it but the sow hasn't finished yet. One of the piglets winds the apprentices and charges towards them. Again the bushi reload and fire another volley. Miyoshi hits the big boar, killing it, but again it doesn't give up. Yoshi hits the already dead sow, prompting it to charge along with two more of the piglets. Mineo and Kanemitsu miss, while Kachamaru tries to cast Stage Flash but fails. Haku just stands there, unable to help. Three of the bushi draw their swords, ready to meet the charging sow and piglets. Miyoshi fires at the already dead big boar, hitting for more damage. Yoshi hits a charging piglet and kills it on his second strike. Kanemitsu gives another piglet a light flesh wound. Mineo misses with both his actions and Kachamaru again fails to cast Stage Flash. Miyoshi finally gives up on the big boar (which now decides to charge) and shoots a piglet, killing it but also making it charge. Yoshi deals more damage to the piglet he has already killed and Kachamaru succeeds in casting Stage Flash, blinding the two remaining piglets. Miyoshi now draws his sword, ready to take on the charging boar, but Mineo gets (yet another) critical failure and falls down dazed. One of the piglets realises it is dead and collapses. The big boar arrives and slashes a minor wound in Miyoshi; Miyoshi replies with a minor wound to the boar. Yoshi helps him out, trying his ni-to-kenjutsu skill and lands a blow with one sword but dazes himself with the other! Kachamaru slices one of the piglets, and Kanemitsu hits it twice more, killing it. Then the big boar and another of the piglets finally fall down dead, leaving only two piglets harassing Mineo and Haku. Mineo manages a hit while the others move into position. Yoshi finishes off Haku's tormenter and it drops dead immediately. Finally Kachamaru and Mineo slash at the last piglet: Kachamaru lands two hits, the first killing it and the second being overkill; Mineo misses miserably.

The party gather up the carcases and Tagaya scratches onto the hides the names of whoever killed them, so he can work out who is learning well for his report when the party returns to Hakodate. The scores on the boars read: Miyoshi 1½ budo (but no on - he hasn't reached samurai status yet); Yoshi 1½ budo 1 on; Kachamaru 1½ budo 1 on; Mineo 1½ budo 1 on; Haku ½ budo; Kanemitsu 1 budo. What's more, Kachamaru reached level two during the fight - Tagaya notes him down as one to watch!

Next week: the apprentices continue their work with endangered animals, look for Ainu for Haku, Miyoshi and Kanemitsu, and enjoy a rest in the deep forest.

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