[LP] The Way of the Tiger. (Complete)

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Sat Apr 16, 2016 7:55 pm

Look for our companions. We're too hurt to go alone anyways.

SGamerz · Post by **SGamerz** » Sun Apr 17, 2016 12:51 am

Find our companions. If they're alive, we probably needs their protection (or healing if they can provide any).

If they're dead, we can at least loot the corpses.

angelfromanotherpin · Post by **angelfromanotherpin** » Sun Apr 17, 2016 2:30 am

You tentatively make your way through the snow, stepping lightly in case it should give way beneath your feet. You have not searched for long before you spot a lone Hainu snuffling around something. You break into a run, the snow shifting unstably beneath you. You hurl a handful of snow at the Hainu and it takes to the air with a whine, flying away.

You see a human hand poking out from the snow. You dig rapidly, uncovering a figure buried there. It is Daon – gravely wounded and barely conscious, but alive. You pull him out, shuddering at his gruesome injuries. You strap his mangled left arm to his body and start to apply bandages to his wounds as the snow beneath him stains red. You tell him not to worry, that you will get him back to safety.

You consider your options. The way back to Nasaka is now blocked by the avalanche, and you could never carry him as far as Iga. Daon stirs and shivers so violently that you fear it may reopen his wounds. 'You have to leave me here.'

You tell him you cannot.

'I survived an avalanche,' he says, 'I may yet survive this.'

He tries to stand, leaning heavily on you, but it is too much for him, since one of his legs is badly broken. He sinks back down to the ground with an agonized groan. As carefully as you can, you lift him onto your back and carry him to a rocky ledge nearby where you sit him down. He watches you with his right eye, his left gummed with blood.

'Did Gorobei make it?' he asks.

You say that you do not know. After a pause you ask him what he will do without you if the Hainu return. Daon does not answer your question.

'Be careful, I think the mage is still alive; he vanished just before my blow landed, damn him! I will try to enter a healing meditation. You need to go on without me, my friend. My trial is done.'

You ponder your options. It may take some considerable time to get Daon to safety, assuming sanctuary can be found, and would mean you may not make Iga in time to complete the trial. You doubt Daon could survive any kind of attack or prolonged exposure here and you know nothing of this 'healing meditation.' You have either to leave a fellow devotee of Kwon alone and badly injured here in the mountains, or effectively give up on your quest to become Grandmaster.

• Continue on alone for Iga, saying that you will try to send help back for him?
• Carry him on your back as you seek out help for him in the mountain range?

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Sun Apr 17, 2016 4:36 am

Do this:

Mr Shine · Post by **Mr Shine** » Sun Apr 17, 2016 6:38 am

Us becoming grandmaster is paramount. Leave him to die!

Or not.

Omegonthesane · Post by **Omegonthesane** » Sun Apr 17, 2016 8:26 am

He's not heavy, he's a fellow Kwon ninja.

angelfromanotherpin · Mon Apr 18, 2016 11:51 am

You tell Daon that you will help him to safety before you consider any other course of action.

'You would give up your chance to become Grandmaster in order to help me?' Daon says.

You tell him that you will not have any more friends die on this island, and that you have not given up on your dream of becoming Grandmaster quite yet. You undertake a quick search of the area for Gorobei, hoping to find some help in lifting Daon, but you cannot find the big monk and it is growing dark. You head back to the ledge to find that Daon is unconscious. You raise him up on your back, using your body heat to keep him warm as you start to walk into the bitterly cold snow that you sink into up to the knees with each step. Your only consolation is that Daon's body heat helps to protect you a little as well against the mountain's biting chill.

You continue step after step long into the night, your breathing labored, your legs leaden with the extra burden of weight, plodding through the Mountains of Unlimited Devotion in your desperate search for assistance for your friend.

You trudge on in the darkness, relying on your years of grueling endurance training as your legs burn and your back aches with the weight of carrying your friend. It starts to snow, growing more intense, adding to the drifts underfoot. You slip and stumble as you pass a rocky outcrop, nearly falling back down the mountain. You can go no further and you find a sheltered alcove against the cliff where you gently set Daon down. He is still unconscious, and his skin is hot to the touch, drenched with sweat in fever.

You look up to the stars above, trying to gauge your position. All you know is that you have been heading roughly west cross-country, unable to find any trail in the dark, and time is running out for Daon. Doubts about your ability to find help in time begin to gnaw at you. You could make quicker progress on your own, but you do not believe Daon will survive without you. Your decision weighs heavily upon you.

• Leave Daon and continue alone?
If you carry him onward, roll a die and add your Inner Force:
• 5 or more...
• 4 or less...

Inner Force: 3/3
Endurance: 1/20
Shuriken: 1
Ninja Tools: Ninja Costume, Breathing Tube, Garrote, Flash Powder, Flint & Tinder, Spiderfish.
Special Items: Flag of Lemne, Flag of Nasaka.

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Mon Apr 18, 2016 12:08 pm

Keep him. We only fail on a 1.

Starmaker · Post by **Starmaker** » Mon Apr 18, 2016 12:35 pm

Darth Rabbitt wrote:Keep him. We only fail on a 1.

^

SGamerz · Post by **SGamerz** » Mon Apr 18, 2016 1:31 pm

We brought him this far, we get to keep him!

Mr Shine · Post by **Mr Shine** » Mon Apr 18, 2016 5:34 pm

We carry him to the depths of Orb itself if necessary.

angelfromanotherpin · Tue Apr 19, 2016 12:29 am

You are so weary that you know you are vulnerable should you be attacked, yet you continue until you are utterly exhausted. Through lips so numb you cannot feel them move, you intone a prayer to Kwon for help.

The roll is a 2, so we squeak by.

The only answer to your prayers is the mournful howl of the wind and the crunch of your footsteps through the snow as you slog on into darkness with Daon on your back.

The wind whips up a blizzard which stings your face and makes your steps falter. Daon's still form feels as heavy as a boulder on your back. Step by step you can feel that your strength and will are being sapped by the storm and the weight of your burden.

You sense movement before you in the flurry of snow, and can just make out a large creature creeping there on all fours. You curse your ill luck and lower Daon to the ground, preparing yourself for combat. You catch just a flash of blue eyes and a furry whiskered face. Your breath catches in your chest in awe as you recognize it as a large white tiger, the Spirit Tiger of Kwon, reputed to be his chosen enemy to the world of men.

She looks at you for a long moment, making no sound, and then disappears off into the darkness. You stand uncomprehending. Has Kwon abandoned you?

Then you see the tiger's paw prints left in the snow. With haste you collect Daon up on your back once more. You follow the paw prints on into the cold darkness, your faith keeping you moving forward on a trek seemingly without end. Eventually your legs give out and you fall to the snow.

Lying beside you, Daon stirs. 'Are we lost?' he whispers.

You point at the paw prints in the snow, only to find that they are gone. Your faith begins to waver, and you wonder if it was all just an exhaustion-induced hallucination. Then in the distance you see lamplights moving closer in the storm.

You awaken abruptly. You are on a futon in a small room illuminated by daylight from a small window in the sloped wall. Above you hang bamboo strips marked with words bearing testimony to the creed of Eo. You realize that your wounds have been healed and your spirit feels at ease. Restore up to 12 lost Endurance and 1 point of Inner Force.

The beads of the doorway part as a young woman enters and bows before kneeling beside you, She is a priestess in golden robes bearing the symbol of Eo, god of Peace and Weal.

'Welcome, disciple of Kwon,' she says, pouring you some warm tea. 'Normally only those of Eo's pure faith are permitted here, but in a vision I saw Kwon's emissary outside, and I beseeched the Head Priestess to send a search party out into the storm. This is the great temple of Eo, the greatest wonder of our island, and you are safe here. My name is Divine Orchid.'

You thank her for helping you, and take the proffered cup of tea. The warm liquid soothes your parched throat. You both stand, and you ask if Daon still lives.

'The most esteemed of my order gave sanctified ministrations to him throughout the night, and through blessed Eo your friend will now live. Before you see him, though, I must know of the evil that stalks you. Recently I have felt a malevolence coalescing in these peaceful mountains, heavy and dark like a lodestone drawing all the shards of evil from their deepest holes out onto the surface.'

You say that you know little save that many attempts have been made to kill you and your fellows, and that an unknown mage appears to be responsible.

'At least for the moment, it appears that this mage has overreached himself,' Divine Orchid says. She parts the beads in the doorway and aks you to follow her to Daon.

Divine Orchid guides you into a large room containing shelves of medical instruments and herbs, and Daon is lying on a futon in the middle of the room. He sits up a little at your approach, whilst Divine Orchid leaves to stand outside the doorway.

'No words can express my gratitude for your help, my brother,' Daon says, reaching out his right hand to clasp yours. 'How is it possible that you could have carried me so far?'

You reply that Kwon walked with you. You ask him how he is feeling.

'Like half a mountain fell on me! I must remain here for a while yet to heal and recover my strength. I will not make it in time to Iga.'

You commiserate with him and say that you will make sure they keep the ship waiting for him.

'No,' Daon says, 'do not. I got chased off this island many years ago, and I mean to take my time to leave it this time around, to finally be free of my past. You should go and become Grandmaster of the Five Winds, there is none more worthy.'

You tell him that you will avenge Aiko.

'Only if you beat me to it. Once I get my strength back, I will tear up this island for answers if I need to.'

You remain quiet, your thoughts turning to the events of her death. Daon breaks the silence by asking how many flags you have, and you tell him that you have two.

(You carry the flag of Nasaka.)

There is nothing more to say but farewell, and you prepare to journey on.

You advise Divine Orchid that you must depart with all haste, for you only have two days left to reach Iga. She leads you down the stairway to the doors and outside to a scene that takes your breath away.

You look up to see you have just left a pagoda-style building rising half-a-dozen stories to rival the mountain crags around it. Surrounding the area are waterfalls spilling down into a dark jagged gorge. Spray hangs in the air from the waterfalls, and the hazy morning sunlight sparkles off the golden spire on the temple roof, making the whole scene before you appear to shimmer. There are numerous golden-robed priests of Eo, meditating by the waterfalls or chanting prayers as they walk across the dusting of snow.

(There's meant to be an image of the scene here, but my scanner's being wonky. Don't worry, it's totally doesn't live up to the description.)

Divine Orchid tells you that many pilgrims face the deprivations of the Mountains of Unlimited Devotion gladly just to bear witness to this scene. You thank her for all her help and she says you are welcome to come back as you may. You head onwards through the snow, heading west.

The respite of the Great Temple does not last long, for soon you are headed along a thin mountain trail covered in snow that again comes up to your knees. The snow resumes its fall, light at first, but growing heavier until it becomes a blizzard, and you think back upon the temple refuge as being like a dream amidst the harshness of the mountains

You continue on with all haste, keen to avoid any encounters that may slow you down. Your head is bowed against the driving wind as the snowfall intensifies, all but blinding you, and leaving your skin raw with cold.

(You are not carrying an Orb of Eo.)

You shiver uncontrollably and feel your strength eroding under the elements. If not for your training you would have already perished here in these conditions. You stumble on, your white ninja hood covering your raw face and your arm raised against the cutting wind of the blizzard.

• Dig yourself a hole in the snow to wait out the snowstorm as best you can?
• Seek out what shelter you can to wait out the snowstorm?
• Pray to Kwon and press on regardless?

Omegonthesane · Post by **Omegonthesane** » Tue Apr 19, 2016 6:12 am

We have two days. The snowstorm probably won't be over in two days, and is likely related to the mage who's actively hunting us.

Pray to Kwon and press on regardless

SGamerz · Post by **SGamerz** » Tue Apr 19, 2016 3:50 pm

Trust in Kwon's protection!

Mr Shine · Post by **Mr Shine** » Tue Apr 19, 2016 6:58 pm

Search for shelter. (I'm reminded of the joke about the flood and the christian who says the "lord will protect me")

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Tue Apr 19, 2016 7:38 pm

Since we only have 1 Endurance point left, I have to agree with Mr. Shine here.

angelfromanotherpin · Post by **angelfromanotherpin** » Tue Apr 19, 2016 8:58 pm

Darth Rabbitt wrote:Since we only have 1 Endurance point left, I have to agree with Mr. Shine here.

The Eo priests healed not-quite-Avenger up to 13, actually.

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Wed Apr 20, 2016 12:52 am

Oh, I missed that. Carry on, then.

angelfromanotherpin · Post by **angelfromanotherpin** » Thu Apr 21, 2016 2:54 am

You continue on, your resolve set against the storm and conditions around you. You know you are only two days from Iga and safety, away from all the tortures of this trial caused by the attentions of some evil mage. In the snow-blown darkness darkness you find the snow giving way beneath your feet and you fall into a ravine. Your breath is blasted from you as you tumble and bounce down the mountainside until you land in a snow drift. Lose 6 Endurance (lose only 3 if you have the Acrobatics skill and cans slow your rate of descent).

If you are still alive, you shelter in a rocky hollow in the ravine until the worst of the blizzard passes, huddling against the cold. A couple of hours later, you wearily rise and continue on, heading downhill and hoping the worst of the mountain range is now behind you.

And back down to 7 Endurance we go.

The air turns increasingly temperate and the sun pokes through the clouds as you follow the trail down west, along a worn dirt path between towering rocks, snaking down through wooded valleys where the snow has melted. At some points the trees are so dense that their canopy forms a roof above you in which flits small birds, their songs filling the air.

Eventually you reach a lake fed from the numerous waterfalls and streams in the area. The lake itself spans the whole valley, between two towering leviathans of mountains which you pick your way along the edge of. You take the opportunity to remove your white ninja costume, and assume the clothes and appearance of a traveling pilgrim.

You trek on, the rocky terrain gradually giving way to rolling hills and then lush forests. You take a brief rest and eat some apples from a tree, and may restore up to 2 lost Endurance points. As you continue down the trail, you see black shapes moving in a grove. You creep in between the trees to see that it is crows which are pecking at the naked corpse of a man who has been staked to the ground, his insides splayed.

You turn as you hear someone moving up the trail. You see a samurai dressed in blue who wears a helmet that obscures all but his eyes. The cloth at his ankles has been torn in places from his travels in the forest, and his hands cautiously drop to the hilts of his sheathed katana and wakizashi.

'I saw it all, stranger,' he says. 'That man and his assassin, they were both without honor.'

Oo, up to 9.

'My name is Rin of the Three Blades,' the samurai says, 'and I have been wandering these Bakemono-infested forests for days.'

You have heard of Bakemono – twisted humanoids that are native to this island. You ask Rin why he is here.

'A tribe of Bakemono attacked river vessels from Takahiri, and I was tasked along with five others to lead a punitive raid into Bakemono territory. The Bakemono were waiting to ambush us, and I alone fought my way out. I have heard it said that some spellcaster has brought the Bakemono out of their tribal hunting ranges in enormous numbers, in order that they patrol near these mountains. Beware the Bakemono, stranger, for as well as their savagery, some of their tribes know of magic.'

You ask Rin what happened to the man in the grove.

'I was resting nearby when I heard fighting. A ninja of the Way of the Scorpion had tracked another through the mountains, and left him mortally wounded for the animals. I overheard the assassin telling him that he had failed his mission because he only killed the Daimyo of Lemné and now his wife Singing Wind as well. They also spoke of a traitor among Singing Wind's guard, who will soon try to correct that mistake.'

You vow silently that you must send word to Singing Wind as soon as you reach Iga. Those who follow the Way of the Scorpion revere Nemesis, the Supreme Principle of Evil.

Rin tells you he plans to make for Iga and then catch a ship to the east of the mountains, which are too treacherous to cross at this time of year, ultimately heading back to Takahiri.

• Give a pair of Ivory Dice to Rin, if you have them?
• Seek medical help for a fellow contestant found after the avalanche?
• Say that you are an enemy of these ninja and tell Rin the truth of your journey?
• Say that you are a simple traveler on your way to Iga?
• Advise Rin that you must press on?

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Thu Apr 21, 2016 3:04 am

Ninja Honesty Go!

Mr Shine · Post by **Mr Shine** » Thu Apr 21, 2016 11:13 am

Agreed.

angelfromanotherpin · Post by **angelfromanotherpin** » Thu Apr 21, 2016 1:03 pm

This is going to be an interesting one, because the author is clearly a Japan fan as well as a Way of the Tiger fan. So, did he notice that the regular authors always rewarded ninja honesty? Or will he honor the more traditional ninja secrecy?

SGamerz · Post by **SGamerz** » Thu Apr 21, 2016 1:30 pm

Saying that we're a traveler on our way to Iga isn't exactly a lie anyway, so go with that.

angelfromanotherpin · Post by **angelfromanotherpin** » Fri Apr 22, 2016 1:08 pm

Full disclosure it is.

Rin listens to your tale patiently and agrees to help you any way he can. 'Kwon is an honorable god, and one whose followers fight well. I have trekked these lands and know the movements of the Bakemono tribes – I can guide you a safe route ahead, if you will travel with me.'

You need to get to Iga quickly and safely, but are used to journeying alone.

• Agree to his help?
• Say you prefer to work alone?

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Fri Apr 22, 2016 1:21 pm

Accept his help.