Session 4. (1/12/99)

As this episode began, Sugiyama (Dave Weaver) was pulled to one side by Kozo Tsudaze, Lord Chozo's Sergeant-At-Arms, who said to him, "You seem to have contacts with some… unusual people. For many years the Daimyo has waged a war on the local ninja groups, sending in his Death Squad when they are alone or vulnerable. Now there are virtually none left, except for a group somewhere to the west which the Daimyo maintains for his own use. Perhaps it is in your power to contact any remaining local or itinerant ninja and buy their services for a future mission? You will have funds available for this task."

Sugiyama immediately recognised this as his big opportunity to organise and lead the local ninja. He knew that Lord Chozo would give him the latitude to use the money in whatever way he chooses as long as it achieved the desired results. Forming a clan and setting up a ninja training camp would be quite acceptable. Sugiyama now had to make contact with the local ninja and gather materials for the camp. He began by visiting the herbalist's shop in Matsuyama where he had previously made contact with one ninja, Tomita. He left a message, and also tried to buy herbs for making poisons, but not all the ones he wanted were in stock. Then he toured the city looking for merchants to trade him weapons and maps. He found a couple of likely looking merchants, and although the first could only offer ordinary weapons and no maps, the second had maps of the area and said he could obtain exotic weaponry (such as a collector of ninja memorabilia might want) from sources outside the province. Sugiyama ordered some weapons and borrowed two maps of northern Iyo, which he took to Koei for copying (which she quickly did). Looking at the map, he found some possible locations for camp sites in the mountains east of Matsuyama, after reluctantly rejecting the island just off the coast on the grounds that anyone going to the island would do so in plain sight of Matsuyama Castle.

The following day there was a message waiting for Sugiyama at the Herbalist's. Tomita had arranged to meet him in a tea house that morning. Sugiyama met him there and explained how he had the finance and freedom to bring the local ninja together and set up a training camp. The motive would be to get retribution on the Daimyo and his Death Squad. Tomita was enthusiastic and promised to send out word among the ninja scattered in the mountains to come to a meeting. Sugiyama chose as a meeting place one of the places he thought would be good for the camp. Later in the day Sugiyama rode out into the hills and, without getting lost or falling off his horse too much, checked out likely sites for the training camp. The one he had chosen for the meeting was satisfactory, though it didn't have nearby caves as he had hoped.

Meanwhile, Mariko (Paul Burton), Kimori (Anthony Hummerston) and Koei (Andy Allen) were heading back into Matsuyama to continue their duties of teaching and studying when they saw a monk lying in the gutter. He appeared to have been beaten up, and while Kimori dressed his wounds he told them his story. He said that he had come across a wounded Bakemono-sho, and believing that all creatures have the Buddha within them he brought it to his temple to help it fix its wounds. His abbot warned him about Bakemono, but he kept to his beliefs. However, when the Bakemono was well enough it made off with a Golden Statue of the Buddha. The Monk, Sanyo, vowed to regain the statue to restore his honour. Within the last hour he had caught up with the Bakemono-sho, but was taken by surprise by its companions and hence his present state. He overheard them talking whilst they thought he was dead and believed they would be at a place called the "watering hole".

The kindly adventurers immediately set off with Sanyo, and after half an hour arrived at a small lake at the bottom of a small waterfall. Here they found the Bakemono-sho examining their spoils. As they approached, the Bakemono-sho saw them and turned to fight. Kimori let off an arrow into the group. By chance it hit the leader, killing it instantly and carrying it and the statue it was holding into the lake and under the waterfall! The other Bakemono charged and took on the adventurers with clubs, spears, axes and sickles. Kimori, still mounted, rode through the pack swinging his no-dachi. He hit one Bakemono, but another chopped at his horse's legs with a sickle. The horse was hurt, but Kimori rode brilliantly and remained aboard. Meanwhile, Mariko dismounted and took on another Bakemono, dagger versus club; Sanyo used his Bo on a Bakemono armed with a Masakari; and Koei cast Wings of Heaven and floated up into the air from where she cast Arrows of Fire at two Bakemono. One was severely injured and set on fire, eventually killing it; the other was less badly hurt.

Kimori rode back into the fray and killed the Bakemono he had hit previously, but its companion again chopped at his horse's legs, and this time Kimori was thrown. Kimori stormed up to the Bakemono, hit is a couple of times, then got fed up and used his Precision Strike skill to make a kebab from its brain and his sword. Koei then visited Flaming Doom upon one hapless Bakemono, turning it into a pillar of fire. It ran round in circles but was unable to put the flames out and wouldn't jump into the lake because it couldn't swim. Next Koei went off to torment another Bakemono with shuriken, which she dropped on it while hovering just out of reach of its Yari (spear). Sanyo felled his opponent and took on the one that was partly burned. Mariko finished off her opponent by chopping off its arm (impressive for a small dagger^*) and then helped Sanyo, who had taken a few hits from an axe.

The last Bakemono ran away, but was toasted by Koei over four Arrows of Fire. The one that had been burning was put out by Kimori, who finally showed some mercy. It was alive, but only just. Mariko ordered Kimori to dive into the lake and retrieve the statue. Very, very reluctantly, Kimori removed his armour and waded into the lake, trying to feel the statue with his feet, but it was too deep under the waterfall. Coughing theatrically, he said he couldn't do it. Mariko, exasperated, had to look for it herself. She got Koei to give her Eyes of True Sight and saw the statue 15 feet down. She dived down, but failed to reach the statue. She tried again and failed…and again… and again. She focussed her will and tried again…and failed…and again…and again. The effort was taking its toll and Mariko was close to collapse when, on the eighth attempt she retrieved the statue^**. Sanyo was overjoyed to have the statue back. He decided to take the charred Bakemono back to the temple and nurse it back to health. The adventurers were happy that although they received no tangible reward, they would get their reward after death or, possibly, next time they prayed at a temple.

A few days later Sugiyama went into the mountains to meet the ninja. About a dozen had turned up. Like Tomita, they were excited at the prospect of forming a clan; though it was clear that individually they were afraid of the Death Squad, together they felt they had a chance. With Sugiyama leading them, the ninja started collecting materials and by the end of the week they had a rudimentary camp. It was set up in a place recommended by one of the ninja, close to but concealed from a road through the mountains, with connections to the north, east and south of the province without having to pass through Matsuyama. The small town of Kawakami was nearby, and some of the ninja decided to set up there under assumed names.

As the days passed, more ninja turned up as the word spread further, and eventually some 23 ninja had arrived. However, among them was Nishina, a fourth level ninja and therefore senior to Sugiyama (and a local). He was evidently a little put out that Sugiyama was leading the group, and said as much. He said he should take over from Sugiyama as leader, but the other ninja weren't too happy - Sugiyama had brought them together while Nishina had not even tried at any time in the preceding years. Before the argument got heated, Tomita stepped in and suggested that Nishina and Sugiyama should have a skill contest to decide who should lead the group. Both men readily agreed. Tomita said that a contract had just been placed to assassinate Tagaya (a Matsuyama Yakuza Lord) and his right-hand man. The fairest contest would be for each contestant to kill one of the yakuza - the more successful or skillful one would win. The clan agreed, and they decided to proceed at once and carry out the contract that night. To decide who would kill whom, Sugiyama and Nishina drew straws. Sugiyama got the Yakuza Lord, to his delight.

The yakuza's house was on a rocky outcrop in the outskirts of Matsuyama. Each contestant had to start by climbing the 40 foot rock face to the house. It was a dark and moonless night, and neither ninja had any idea where the other was or what he was doing. Sugiyama climbed to the top without pause (so did Nishina), then hid while a guard walked by (so did Nishina). Then, moving silently, he crept down a corridor, dodged a guard and arrived at his victim's room (so did Nishina). Opening the door, he spotted a snag wire across the opening, and ducked under it (so did Nishina). However, he didn't spot the trip wire, caught it with his foot and sounded a loud alarm bell (so did Nishina!). Quickly he looked around for the yakuza. The bed was empty - Tagaya had been sleeping in a chair, in partial armour and with a sword by his hand, which was now slicing through the air towards Sugiyama's head! Quick as a flash, Sugiyama activated Koei's magical shuriken, trying to blind him. The yakuza managed to blink, but missed with his blow. Sugiyama now swung his sword and hit Tagaya in the head, killing him outright. The sound of approaching footsteps made Sugiyama leap into the roof void. As the guards burst in, Sugiyama used the ceiling-walking technique to escape. The guards followed, but fell over their own feet. Sugiyama dropped back to the ground and ran back the way he had come in. As he got to the parapet the guards closed in. Sugiyama threw a pot of pepper and ash into their faces and leapt off the cliff. Bending his knees and rolling as he landed, Sugiyama made his escape into the night.

Sugiyama was first back, and reported his success to the clan. A while later Nishina turned up. It turned out that he had proceeded exactly as Sugiyama had, but unfortunately only wounded his victim, and though he left poisoned caltrops, thought that he would survive. He accepted Sugiyama's victory with good grace and promised to help Sugiyama reorganise the ninja and make the camp work. His position now assured, Sugiyama was left to reflect sorrowfully that his best ever kill had to be kept secret from the other troubleshooters.

^* There may be an inverse relationship between the size of the weapon and the seriousness of the wound - think of paper cuts (ouch!). Mariko says that size isn't important, but she seems to be impressed by Kimori's massive chopper!

^** It must have been wedged between the bicycle and the shopping trolley.

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