Session 4. (15/6/05)

This week begins with the party of apprentices deciding to move on before the kitsune come back for revenge. They bundle up the kitsune's treasure into sacks and head up the track further into the mountains, hoping to find somewhere quiet to rest up for the day. Initially the two level twos, Katagiri and Munataka take the lead, being the least injured. However, instead of finding a secluded glade, the older bushi spot three wolves on the trail ahead. Munataka creeps back to the party and everyone then sneaks up to get in position to shoot at the wolves. Mineo (Denzil Brown) and Haku (Paul Burton) fail to keep quiet, causing the wolves to charge the party, but the level twos, Miyoshi (Jim Loder) and Yoshi (Chris Dore) manage to get hurried shots off; Miyoshi misses but Yoshi scores a good hit and kills the first wolf. One of the level twos also hits, injuring a wolf. Katchamaru (Anthony Hummerston) is nowhere to be seen*. Now in sword range, the wolves attack but their bites miss. Yoshi hits the already injured wolf. Mineo succeeds in using his lightning draw and cuts the third wolf, which is also hit by Munataka. Miyoshi misses for the third time, Yoshi misses but Mineo gets a second hit and kills the third wolf. Katagiri also gets a hit and kills the second wolf. The party decides to move on.

For the next hour we see the party slog on through the forest, which is starting to thin out. Kachamaru and Kanemitsu are out in front and eventually find a clearing with no sign of danger. The level twos fix up a rough shelter and then prepare an early lunch; the rest of party settles down to rest for the remainder of the day. Tagaya takes the chance to explain where they are going. He points out the three high peaks at the head of the valley and says the biggest is Mount Komagatake. Between the three peaks is a large marsh with two lakes, Lake Onuma and Lake Konuma (Large Marsh Lake and Small Marsh Lake). Few people have ever been beyond the lakes; that is Ainu territory. However, it is known that the Ainu are afraid of marshes, so it is a good place for the party to rest before returning to Togenoshita and Hakodate.

First order of business is divvying up the kitsunes' loot. Miyoshi, senior of the apprentices, takes the +3AC wakizashi (for all the good it would do him!); Kanemitsu takes the Gnana-yoga relic; Haku takes the Darts of Wood talisman and the Darts of Water tanto; Mineo takes the Helm of Hachiman; Kachamaru takes the Pearl of Magic; and Yoshi takes his brother's tessen with jitte tine and instruction manual. Haku and Kachamaru also take the appropriate spell scrolls. No-one is strong enough to wield the no-dachi, so it is added to the party's communal goods to be given to the first one to gain enough strength.

The rest of the day passes quietly and the apprentices' wounds heal well. By nightfall only Miyoshi and Mineo are still feeling the effects of the fights. During the night the apprentices take turns to keep watch. With Haku and Kachamaru assigned to the dawn watch, so they can greet the sun and regain their magical power, Miyoshi and Mineo sit through an uneventful first watch. However, on Yoshi and Kanemitsu's watch, some Ainu are seen stalking along the track. Kanemitsu reckons there are five or six Ainu. They stop when they see the shelter over the camp and quickly huddle for a discussion. Yoshi sneaks back to the others to warn them, but he makes rather a lot of noise. The Ainu fade into the trees so that Kanemitsu can only see one of them. The samurai party, roused, get up, throw on their robes, gather their weapons and go to see what is happening. Seeing that the Ainu have gone into hiding, Miyoshi leads the apprentices in a charge of their position. Miyoshi gets the first hit, closely followed by Yoshi, Kachamaru, Kanemitsu and Mineo. Even Haku gets in on the act, hitting an Ainu with Darts of Water from his new tanto. One of the Ainu has a spear and gets a hit on Kanemitsu; the others just have small hunting knives and only one manages to get a hit (against Kachamaru). The apprentices go for their second strikes but Miyoshi, Yoshi, Kachamaru and Mineo all fail - Kachamaru critically, causing him to fall down, dazed. Kanemitsu gets a good hit on the spear-toting Ainu, but receives an even better hit in return. The fight hots up. Miyoshi misses (again) but Yoshi gets a good hit and kills his Ainu foe. Kachamaru starts getting up after his fall; Mineo misses; Haku's Darts of Water hit but do little damage. Kanemitsu gets a third, then a fourth then a fifth successive hit, but the spearman fights on, though without causing injury. Miyoshi misses (again) and Yoshi goes to help Kachamaru but falls over him! Mineo gets another hit and kills his opponent, then goes to help the sprawling Kachamaru and Yoshi, hits the Ainu and kills him. Miyoshi misses again... and again. Kanemitsu gets another good hit on the spearman and kills him. Miyoshi misses (again). Haku hits with another Dart of Water and knocks the Ainu out; finally Haku has got his "kill" and progresses to first level. There is now only one Ainu left, looking round fearfully as the samurai pen him in. Miyoshi misses (again), then gets a good hit, but then misses again... and again... and again... and again... and again^**. Only Haku's casting of Traitor Ground prevents the Ainu getting away, but finally he bolts for it and Miyoshi isn't fast enough to keep up. The Ainu disappears into the forest. Miyoshi will have to wait even longer to reach level 1.

The party reforms and bandages wounds. The unconscious Ainu is brought round. Tagaya declares that he is a criminal, having entered Kakizaki territory armed (admittedly with only a hunting knife), sentences the Ainu to death and gives the job to Miyoshi as he needs the practice. Miyoshi accomplishes the task with neither error nor enthusiasm, but receives no reward for there is no honour from killing a trussed-up man. The others discuss the fight. They noticed that the Ainu, with the exception of the spearman, were very poor fighters - Mineo's first opponent managed to hit himself and do significant damage! Several of the Ainu had pelts tied to their belts, and most carried small bags. Kanemitsu is beginning to have some insight into the Ainu.

After sleeping without interruption for the rest of the night, the party forges on towards the lakes, only two hours walk away. However, they haven't been travelling long when they encounter another pack of wolves, already charging towards them. The apprentices are beginning to wish for a quieter journey!

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