Session 5. (8/12/99)

This episode began in the familiar way with Lord Chozo briefing his troubleshooting team. He told them that their second sabotage raid against the Daimyo was to be on a gem train that regularly carries gems from Uchiko to Matsuyama. This would reduce the Daimyo's wealth and increase funds for the rebellion. The gem train should be an easy target - it relies on secrecy, but information about its route and timing had been purchased. The Daimyo might have had wind of a plot, as there was news that a contingent of the Daimyo's army would escort it through Masaki village.

The adventurers used a map of Iyo province to plan an ambush. The gem train was to leave Uchiko in two days' time, just enough time for the adventurers to intercept it anywhere on its route. Its route would take it, in three days, through thick forest, mountains, a valley, a gorge, over hills and across the coastal plains to Iyo City where it would wait at the Lotus Flower Inn for its escort to Matsuyama. It would spend the two nights at inns in Nakayama and Yotsumatsu, but Lord Chozo wanted to avoid trouble there as it would risk alienating the Lord of Ozu-han (the region where the towns are), whom he is counting on for support in the rebellion. The three Bushi, Kimori (Anthony Hummerston), Mariko (Paul Burton) and Sugiyama (Dave Weaver) decided to ambush the gem train in the gorge north of Nakayama. Koei (Andy Allen) decided to stay in Matsuyama studying magic, so Sugiyama enlisted the help of Nishina as a scout and guide^*.

Before dawn the following day the gang of four set off for the gorge. They arrived at dusk and camped out for the night. The next day they scouted the gorge and prepared for the ambush. They fixed two ropes across the gorge, one at torso height for a rider, and one just above the ground to trip a horse. Sugiyama fixed the ropes to trees at one end and stakes, cut from the trees, into the face of the gorge on the other. They camped overnight, and in the morning took their positions and waited for the gem train.

When the Daimyo's gem train arrived, it consisted of four guards, two riding at the front, two at the rear, with two merchants and three porters in between, all on horseback. As the group reached the narrowest part of the gorge, where a shallow ford crossed the road, the adventurers struck. Kimori fired an arrow and hit the guard riding front right, Sugiyama leapt onto the back of the horse at back right, behind the guard that was riding it. Nishina ran out and attacked the guard back left, and Mariko ran out and tried to stab the horse of the guard front right. Unfortunately, she ran into the horse and fell to the ground, stunned^**. Kimori's victim spurred his horse and rode at Kimori, drawing his sword. Kimori fired again and scored a telling blow, but by now his opponent was on him and hacking with a sword. Kimori dropped his bow, took out his "Big Chopper" and chopped away, scoring several more severe and eventually fatal hits. Nishina, attacking a mounted guard from the ground, missed, while his foe (as per his instructions) spurred his horse and took off down the road. Deprived of a fight, Nishina menaced the porters and merchants, underlining his threats by severely wounding one of the merchants. Meanwhile, Sugiyama was trying to deal with his opponent from a range of inches with a three foot sword, on the back of a skittering horse whose rider was turning this way and that trying to unseat Sugiyama and elbowing him as well. Somehow both men stayed on the horse long enough for Sugiyama to score several hits before landing a critical, fatal blow. Sugiyama then got the horse under control and rode after the escaping guard. Mariko staggered to her feet and stabbed the horse a couple of times before it threw its rider. Then she and Kimori dealt with the guard.

The guard that was escaping arrived at the ropes without seeing them, but although he was unseated by the first rope, the stake securing it was pulled out of the ground, and the guard remounted immediately and rode off. When the horse reached the second rope it spotted it and jumped over. Sugiyama followed for a while before realising that the guard had a much faster horse, and had to give up. Back at the gorge, the porters handed over the gems - 160 in all! Delighted with their spoils, the adventurers set off back to Masaki, intending to leave the road as soon as they reached the plains to avoid any imperial entanglement if the escaped guard managed to reach Matsuyama.

However, the first sign of trouble came much sooner. As they were coming down the road into Yotsumatsu, the troubleshooters spotted a roadblock manned by at least 20 warriors - who also spotted them. Immediately a chase ensued, the four adventurers scattering into the hills. At first they got away, but soon the warriors caught up. Looking closer, as the troubleshooters had been hoping to avoid, the warriors were recognised as being from the Daimyo's Death Squad. Mariko and Kimori headed down a long sweeping valley; their pursuers kept pace along the tops of the valley sides. Sugiyama and Nishina took turns in making riding mistakes, and soon were in striking range of the leading chasers. A few sword blows were exchanged before the two Ninja got away again, and turned down a narrow gully with steep sides that got deeper as it went on. With no pursuit behind, they seemed fairly safe, but suddenly a rock fall threatened to engulf them. The Death Squad were evidently pacing them out of sight outside the gully and starting rock slides. Sure enough, another fall of rock swept past and only good reactions saved the two Ninja. Then Sugiyama spotted a cave in the side of the gully, and, bidding Nishina follow him, leapt off his horse and sprinted into the cave. The two riderless horses continued along the gully taking the pursuit with them.

Meanwhile, Mariko and Kimori managed to get a little distance between them and the Death Squad and, while concealed by a grove of trees, made a sharp turn and headed down a narrow gully with steep sides that got deeper as it went on (sound familiar?). Suddenly two riderless horses flashed past going the other way and there in front of them was a cave. They dismounted and sneaked into the cave, but as they found in the previous series of The Stone^© (available from no reputable book store for £19.95 + p&p), it just isn't possible to sneak into a dark cave from daylight. Fortunately Sugiyama and Nishina recognised their comrades and didn't kill them in a horrible and un-warrior-like way. The party reunited, they looked round the cave to see how it could be defended, and decided that the giant lizard would be defence enough. Kimori looked for some place to tie up the hors-WHAT GIANT LIZARD?! Oh, the one that just clawed Nishina, who wasn't paying attention. Immediately the four set about the lizard, but soon found that it was heavily armoured, and even when they did land a blow it didn't seem to hurt it much (except Mariko's tanto stabs, which knocked it to the floor at one point). Sugiyama got clawed and Nishina was bitten and the lizard seemed full of fight, when an old man appeared from the back of the cave and laid into the lizard with his sword. Immediately the lizard started feeling pain. Kimori noticed that the old man was using a special technique, related to Precision Strike, to hit the lizard. In no time at all the lizard was dead. All the party learned from the experience, and Sugiyama finally reached level 4. While Sugiyama calculated his new status and Kimori discussed techniques with the old man (whose name was Hiraga Hidehana and had developed a special okuden he called Beast Killer, involving precision strikes between the scales of the lizard), an arrow flew past Kimori's head. The five turned to see that the Death Squad had caught up and had sneaked into the dark cave from the daylight outside. With a "Follow me!" the old man dashed to the back of the cave through a hole into utter blackness. He said "This leads to another exit, and proceeded to lead them through a maze of twisty passages^***. After a journey of about ten minutes the troubleshooters could see daylight, and they emerged to find themselves on top of the cliff that formed one side of the gully. Down below, about 200 yards away, they could see the Death Squad waiting at the cave mouth. Just then they noticed that the old man was no longer with them. Sugiyama turned to Nishina to ask if he knew where the old man had gone and discovered that Nishina was missing as well. He went back to the cave exit to find Nishina emerging, saying he had noticed the old man go off part way up from the cave, and had followed him, only to lose him in the pitch dark. As the others watched the gave mouth they saw the old man emerge and challenge the leader of the Death Squad to a duel. He obviously accepted, and after sparring for a short time and mouthing imprecations, he cut the old man down appallingly quickly. The troubleshooters took this as their cue to leave, rounded up the horses and went back to Masaki without further trouble.

Lord Chozo was delighted with the haul of gems, estimated to be worth about 200 gold pieces, and awarded substantial bonuses to the team (which should be used to buy spectacles if this week's display of observation is anything to go by). They had to make up time at the school, which they did, and had applications from two more teachers, of levels 2 and 4, which should make it a bit easier to take time off in future.

^* The collection of all Ninja clans is sometimes known as "The Scout and Guide Association of Nippon", and special salutes are in use.

^** She later asked "Did anyone get its number?" but no-one knew what she was talking about.

^*** All the same.

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