Session 11.

Well, they did it. They missed the barn. What I mean is, the four adventurers ignored all conventional wisdom and refused to withdraw and regroup, re-plan or even change positions, they had several more critical failures, they were outnumbered five to one, were lower level than some of their foes, and yet the bandits were still unable to kill even one of the trouble shooters.

When we left them last week, Sugiyama was just about to get up, having stunned himself trying to kick down the front door, Kimori and Mariko were busy fighting Bushi as they emerged from the lean-to (and not doing too well), and Koei was flying overhead, watching as about a dozen Budoka, Yakuza and Bushi emerged from the other lean-to and ran around the side of the shack towards Kimori and Mariko.

First of all, Kimori polished off the bandit attacking Mariko, then turned to face two more emerging from the lean-to. He tried (and succeeded) in picking up a discarded katana, but got knifed in the process. Mariko gradually whittled away at the other bandit. Sugiyama heroically leapt to his feet to attack the level 3 Bushi standing over him and knocked him down with a crashing blow, then finishing him off with three more sweeps of his sword and suffering only one hit from the dreaded no-dachi. Meanwhile, Koei cast Mud on the ground beneath the running bandits and felled all but one of them. The thick, gooey mud caused problems for the rest, and, rather handily for Kimori, they only managed to stand up in ones and twos to attack him. However, one of those in the mud, having failed to get up, spotted Koei and decided to fire an arrow at her, wounding her. Koei retaliated with fire arrows, toasting the bandit, but nearly exhausting her power.

Around the front, Kimori was having to deal with bandits emerging from the lean-to and attacking him, bandits emerging from the mud, and bandits attacking Mariko, whom Kimori kept having to finish off because Mariko's tanto didn't strike often enough or do enough damage. Fortunately the lean-to eventually ran out of occupants, and the muddy bandits arrived in ones. Mariko turned her attention to the bandits attacking Sugiyama, and between them they dispatched two more. They then went to help Kimori, who was receiving, on average, one wound per bandit killed. Then a level 2 Budoka landed an eye-watering kick and put Kimori down for the count. Meanwhile, Koei circled overhead and cast low-powered spells, usually just in time to finish off a bandit that was on its last legs, or to damage one who was not a threat. She did manage to put two to sleep with darts of wood just as they were about to attack the helpless Kimori. Mariko and Sugiyama also rushed to Kimori's defence, and Sugiyama sliced in two the Yakuza who had felled Kimori.

With all the bandits in the compound either dead, asleep or stuck in the mud, Mariko and Sugiyama on their last hit points and Kimori extremely unconscious, Koei finally descended from the heavens to heal Kimori with a Pawn of Shizari. As one pawn was not sufficient to bring him round, she decided to leave him, used one of the Bishops of Shizari to get more power and tried to kill the bandit that was still stuck in the mud. Sugiyama and Mariko, in dire need of medical help, had to enter the shack alone and unhealed, where they faced the bandit leader, a level 4 Bushi and his sidekicks, a level 3 Yakuza and a level 2 Budoka. They backed out of the door, but the Budoka leapt across the room and kicked Mariko. Between them, Sugiyama and Mariko managed to dispatch him, but by this time the Yakuza and the Bushi had come through the door after them. The Yakuza then grappled Mariko and tried to strangle her, but he was clumsy and she managed to break free. Koei was busy using several Pawns to bring Kimori round, which was just as well because Sugiyama was having difficulty with the bandit leader, parrying his blows to preserve his few remaining hit points. Kimori woozily re-entered the fray and took on the leader, allowing Sugiyama to help out Mariko and Koei to use a pawn on Sugiyama (being very careful not to get too close to one of those sharp things). Mariko, Sugiyama and Koei all landed blows on the Yakuza, Koei eventually finishing him off. Then all turned their attention to the bandit leader, whom Kimori was keeping level with. The bandit was strong, but eventually Mariko landed the killing blow. As he expired, the bandit was heard to say, "…and I'd've gotten away with it if it hadn't been for you pesky trouble shooters…."

The four were finally able to tend to their wounds. Kimori, having received more than half a dozen wounds needed a three foot Band-Aid. Mariko and Sugiyama were both patched up to about half their hit points. The four collected up the weapons from the compound, then searched the shack. Inside they found a small amount of money, a bronze figurine and a good lockpick. However, there was no sign of the Old Pearl Diver or his treasure.

Kimori advanced to level 3 (joining Koei). The four adventurers rested for a few days to heal their wounds before setting out to follow up another rumour and solve the mystery of the stone.

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