Shinobi 20 - Ninjas versus Pirates

Mister Andersen 2012-02-08 02:53:34
Aiko shrugs. "Eh, this idea is crazy enough to begin with that what will happen must be in the lap of the gods. All we can do is hope that any humour they derive from it will not be at out expense. That said, I'm quite happy that it's going to be the love birds who are going to be anywhere near this thing when it has to work."
Gatac 2012-02-14 20:46:47
"House arrest" turns out to be quite literal as Kasumi is shown to one of the upstairs bedrooms, again with two guards posted in front of the door. One of them knocks on the door; a few seconds later, Van Synt's voice calls "Herein!" The guard opens the door and shows Kasumi in. Van Synt is wearing a dressing gown; he sits at a desk, writing in what seems to be a small diary. "Good day," he says through clenched teeth in his semi-broken Imperial. "Sit yourself down, please."

Kasumi takes a chair - and carries it well out of arm's reach of Van Synt, just in case.

"What is up?" he asks. "Can you not 'Good day' say?" He turns back to his book.
"Good day, Van Synt-san." Kasumi looks at Van Synt curiously. "Writing your memoirs?"
"Here I have nothing else to do," he says. "I have heard, that the people of Kargbeck like you today. Justice! say they. Truth! But they have safety forgotten. Without me has Olafsen free reign."
"There's no need to pretend to me, Van Synt-san," Kasumi replies. "I know that you were working with Olafsen and Adler, so please, there are just the two of us in here. Stop pretending that you were what was holding Olafsen at bay."
"I had a agreement with Olafsen," Van Synt says. "A agreement, that him from our city away kept. Adler was undangerous. One crook was easy to control, but ten will him replace."
"And who cares what Olafsen does away from Kargbeck?" Kasumi asks, adding bite and scorn to her words. "And that Adler preyed on the children of your city, including the children of your men?"
"Pah," Van Synt scoffs. "Outside of Kargbeck is Olafsen your problem. Adler could no children recruit if somebody of them took care! That is not my task."
Kasumi fumes at Van Synt. "Yes, it is so inconvenient to care about things that don't contribute to your accounts." She smooths out her kimono. "But that is not why I am here. I need to ask you two things. One, I want the details of your meeting with Olafsen."
"And as second want you to know, how one forever live can. I am not required, myself your wishes to submit. It is even not my meeting. Go and annoy the Blue Devil, when you him see."
"No, but unless you have lived an extremely un-noteworthy life, if you want to live long enough to finish that book, you might want to answer my questions honestly," Kasumi says with a menacing smile. "Like you said, there is no love for you outside of these walls, least of all with Holger. Showing some degree of cooperation might keep your head on your shoulders a bit longer."
"I have enough time already," Van Synt says. "For to write, who I really am. I will soon my family join, Fräulein. To that, I look forward."

Kasumi's expression darkens immediately at Van Synt's mention of his family. "Anyway. Secondly, I want to know who in the Imperial court has been contacting you. I know that the trail of those who want Yukio Matsumoto dead does not end here. Who gave you the order to safeguard the meeting between the Blue Oni and Olafsen, Van Synt-san?"
"The Imperial Court?" Van Synt asks, seeming honestly confused. "Fräulein Kagawa, I speak not with Imperial citizens. You are the only exception. If it you pleases, it to know, then will I you tell that it Olafsen was, who me asked, the safety of the meeting to guarantee."
"Hmm." Kasumi stands up. "Well, that is all I want to know for now." Her eyes narrow and her right hand drifts of its own accort to her sword as she speaks again. "But if I find proof - from Olafsen or otherwise - that you were involved in the death of your family, I will be back here again, and we will be speaking in a very different set of circumstances."
"If I then still speak can," Van Synt says. "A good day, Fräulein Kagawa."
"Good day, Van Synt-san," Kasumi says, and backs out of the room.
Gatac 2012-02-14 21:33:38
Yo-ho, yo-ho, a pirate's life for me...

This is it. This is the day you've been waiting for since you set foot in Kargbeck. All schemes and plots you crossed trace back to the one man you are about to meet today - Godrich Olafsen, scourge of the east coast. With the help of the city guard and the Count of Champagne, you have prepared yourself as well as possible, with explosives and trickery and an ample supply of your own badassry, but still uncertainty looms. You do not know what ship Olafsen will take, and a man who pulls this many strings is surely someone to be reckoned with.

Aiko is the furthest from the meeting place, with good reason. She of the fleet feet stands ready to chase down Olafsen should he somehow make a break for the city. On the pier itself, Kagemaru and Toshiba hide under a tarp with the explosives - a simple powderkeg with a long fuse as their initial threat to Olafsen, and their hand-crafted mine to attack his ship with, should it come to that. Kasumi, Yukio and Takao stand out in the open, Kasumi being intent on negotiation and Yukio burning to confront the man who ordered her dead. As for Takao - he's samurai. It would not do to hide himself.

---

What of Nagani and Sadatsugu, gentle reader? Ah, their goodbyes were brief and their departure hasty, but do not fret - we shall return to them in due time.

---

The vigil is a long one, as naught but fishing boats come in and set sail again, none of them offloading any passengers. It is almost noon, and while you wonder for the umpteenth time if maybe Olafsen somehow knows that you've tried to set a trap for him, that you spot the bright red of an Imperial sail in the distance. Only official trade ships authorized by the Emperor's decree may bear such colors and trade with foreign ports, such as Kargbeck.

The ship pulls in at the pier, but its crew does not even pretend to unload cargo; they merely drop plank, and off walks Olafsen, beard and furs and all. That brazen act, more than anything, tells you you've got the right man. The absence of the Blue Oni hardly seems to perturb him, though his face is hard to read between his truly awe-inspiring beard and his expression, a face as frozen as the icy wastelands he hails from. He confidently strides towards Kasumi and the gang, stopping exactly ten paces from them. Hanging over his chest is a full bandoleer of minigonnes, and his left hand rests on a saber at his side.

"Where is the Oni?" he asks with a snort.
Gatac 2012-02-14 22:01:45
(Kasumi's Notice: Dice roller is broken, no Invisible Castle link here! 1d20+9 = 25)

Kasumi's keen eyes analyze every move of Olafsen - and his gaze lingers long on Yukio, with the barest hint of a smirk under his beard to show for it.

He knows.
punkey 2012-02-14 22:07:19
"Van Synt proved himself too incompetent to watch over his own city, let alone this meeting, Olafsen-san," Kasumi says, the confirmation of his presence the code word to light the pier fuse. "The Blue Oni is in Kargbeck, and he has some questions for you, Olafsen-san. I think we don't need to pretend that things haven't changed." She keeps her hand away from her sword for the moment - don't start nothin', won't be nothin', as Holger would say.
Gatac 2012-02-14 22:17:03
"You mean he has failed me," Olafsen says. "Van Synt is not here, so he has failed me, too. Did I pick poorly, or are you and your friends just that good, Matsumoto-san?"

Yukio's hand tightens around the grip of her sword.
MikeS 2012-02-15 03:21:14
(Takao Sense Motive: d20+21 = 26, might have to spend an action die...)

Takao barely pays attention to the conversation. He is fully focused on Olafsen from the moment he steps off the ship, watching his movements, observing how he compensates for the bad leg. He's paying attention to the tells in stance, shoulder muscles, gaze, that might all indicate that the conversation is over and it's time to fight.

Takao's shoulders are relaxed, his hands away from the blades. He knows that he will first have to cross the distance between him and Olafsen, and he needs to do so before Olafsen has a chance to draw his gonnes. When the time comes, he will move to the side of the bad leg, relying on a slowed reaction, and draw the blade in a lunge, iaijutsu-style.
Gatac 2012-02-15 05:57:07
The fuse lights with a hissing sound! Dum dum dumdum dum dum dumdum dum dum dumdum dum dum dumdum...

---

Clearly, the Northmen have a very exacting standard for a "bum leg". It's hardly noticeable in Olafsen's confident walk, but he does favor his left leg slightly when he stands. This may very well make it impossible to ride a horse into combat while standing in the stirrups - a favored tactic of the western nomads - or charge into battle with heavy armor, but hardly seems to impair Olafsen in his daily life. Still, in a fight, you have to use what advantages you can get, and attacking him on his weaker side may be one of them.

Olafsen's hands are nowhere near any of his weapons, though it's not unreasonable to suspect that all the visible weapons are really just the obvious half of the corsair's gear. His stance does not speak to imminent violence; perhaps he is not here to fight at all, perhaps he is still studying you and calculating his chances.
punkey 2012-02-15 07:43:19
"We are just here to talk for now," Kasumi says, as much to Yukio as to Olafsen. "But this is not an appropriate place for conversation. We would like you to come with us, by yourself, and we will guarantee protection from the City Guard until we're done speaking. The fact that we're standing here talking to you shows the extent of how much we are interested in having this private conversation."
Gatac 2012-02-15 07:52:11
Olafsen 's face contorts into a grin that's only half visible through his beard.

"Yes, you would like that," Olafsen says. "But why should I agree to it? I can leave just as easily as I arrived, and killing me without getting answers to your questions is not what you want." He turns to Yukio. "Without me, you will be free of assassins for a while, Matsumoto-san. But the people who need you dead will remain, and they will try again."
punkey 2012-02-15 08:09:37
"This is true, but how many of your men are you willing to lose to avoid having that talk?" Kasumi says. "There has been no blood shed so far, but we need to have that talk, Olafsen-san. We keep to our word. We would much prefer to simply escort you to and from the location, but if we have to follow through on our threats, well, we keep to our word." She looks to the spot on the pier above where the bomb has been placed, to make sure that none of his men are standing too close to it.
Gatac 2012-02-15 08:25:33
Far away from this conversation, Toshiba and Kagemaru have moved on to the next part of the plan: affixing the sea-bomb to the ship. The harbor water doesn't make for the most pleasant swim, but at least it's calm enough.

All things considered, lashing the barrel to the ship is easier than you expected - the lack of waves helps a lot. Why, this might actually be a viable form of anti-ship combat, worthy of being added to the Ayami library! (No such category yet exists there, as most ninjas have little occasion to assassinate ships.)

With the bomb in place, it's time to swim like hell and hope for the best.

---

"Have you made threats?" Olafsen asks. "You see, when I make a threat, I say things like 'I will kill you all and burn down your village if you do not give me your silver.' I did not hear you say anything like that. But I see how Matsumoto-san is grasping her sword, so I can understand the implication. But this conversation you keep talking about - it will not be had here today. Draw your conclusions accordingly."

He pauses briefly, following Kasumi's gaze at the pier.

"What are you hiding back there? More samurai? I thought they do not cower and sneak like that."
Kasumi smiles. "No."

...da-dah! The pier bomb explodes!

Well, really, it's more of a deflageration given the lack of effective containment from a mere wooden barrel, but fireballs are quite impressive, too, and produce less shrapnel to boot. Even Olafsen flinches back slightly from that sight.

"A bomb, hm?" Olafsen says. "You have my attention - what was your name again?"
punkey 2012-02-15 08:36:28
"The Crane," Kasumi replies. "If you've heard of me, then you know my reputation, and if not, then it will do for now. More importantly, while my associates in front of you here are samurai, Olafsen-san, I am not, and neither are my associates who have placed not only this bomb, but a much more powerful one against the underside of your ship."

Kasumi takes a step forward and her smile darkens. "You mentioned the difference between your idea of a threat and an implication. Allow me to issue a threat, then. If you do not come with us, right now, we will blow your ship apart and kill all of your men inside, and take you by force. We do not wish to do this, but we will."
Mister Andersen 2012-02-15 10:25:18
Aiko grunts in something that might be silent approval: the damage from the blast is far less than she'd been fearing. Part of her burns to know what is being discussed, to question the pirate on any possible involvement he might have had in the murder of her lord. Bu she knows from past experience what happens when the backstop on an arrest lowers their guard so she contents herself for now knowing that she provides a critical function and that Olafsen won't be going anywhere before she can question him.
Gatac 2012-02-16 12:37:28
"Now that is a threat," Olafsen says. "But before you do something you may regret - that is not my ship. It belongs to the Emperor, as does its crew. It is not necessary for them to die." He cocks his head to the side. "You've proven that you won't go down easily. My plans to kill Matsumoto-san have failed. And I don't particularly like my chances going up against three swordsmen at once. So, I think that it's time to align our interests."

"Here's my offer: you disable the bomb and present it to me, so I know that you were not just pulling a cheap bluff. Then we all get aboard the ship and set sail. 'tis neutral ground - unlike this nest of snakes, Van Synt's treachery has proven as much. But out on sea, we will be undisturbed. Then we can talk about the plot against Matsumoto-san, and I will extend a formal proposal for a purpose-bound alliance."

His hand rests on the pommel of his saber.

"I do hope we can come to a peaceable agreement this way. I would hate to shed your blood, Crane."
punkey 2012-02-16 18:41:24
"The Emperor is missing, presumed dead," Kasumi says. "Unless you can communicate with the dead, I highly doubt that this is the Emperor's ship. Prove that this ship and it's crew take their orders from the Emperor - and for this voyage - and not his court, and we might have a deal. Otherwise, know that this town has been made safe for you for today only. The guard will give us leave for this transaction, and this transaction alone." She cocks an eyebrow. "Well? Do you have this proof?"
Gatac 2012-02-16 18:53:46
"I have no such proof," Olafsen says bluntly. "It doesn't matter where the Emperor is, this is one of the ships under his flag crewed by men sworn to his service. Blow it up and you will draw the wrath of the Imperial Court down on this city."

Olafsen eyes Kasumi suspiciously. "Hmm, you seem to be willing to risk that. Are you that certain that you know everything you need to survive?"

(Kasumi's Sense Motive: 1d20+12 = 27)

Kasumi studies Olafsen carefully for tells of bluffing, but finds none. He's telling the truth.
punkey 2012-02-16 19:20:58
"Never," Kasumi says back. "But I've gotten accustomed to having to make it up as I go. Something we're both used to, I believe."

"Indeed," Olafsen says. "You're a tough negotiator; I appreciate that. You have my word that this ship is no trap. You may take whatever measures you wish to ensure that you are not overwhelmed by the crew out at sea. You see, Crane, I've already sunk considerable effort into having Matsumoto-san killed, and I see no signs of success in that. Fighting you is simply no longer the best way to achieve my goals."

Kasumi smiles. "I have a few ideas." She looks away from Olafsen and towards the water. "Out of the water and down to the pier, everyone! And bring the bomb with you!"

As the Toshiba and Kagemaru climb out of the water, Kasumi turns back to Yukio. "You don't have to come with us, love. I'd understand if you don't want to go into the ship of a man who's tried to have you killed multiple times on my say-so. You can stay here and Holger's men will protect you."
Gatac 2012-02-17 09:56:29
"I will see this through," Yukio says, and that settles that.

"Do we have an agreement, then?" Olafsen asks.