*Disclaimer over artwork at the end*
In my last post, I mentioned the rules that I had been jotting around with for playing an RPG game solo, one of the things I really wanted was to avoid the reams of stats and modifiers found in traditional RPG types, like D&D (whilst I like D&D, I wouldn't want to play it solo).
With the rules sorted, I sat down for an hour to play through a short story which I got Marovian of A Cardboard Fortress to pick from a list I sent him.
- The character is searching for a particular Ronin.
- The Ronin is thought to have killed someone close to the character.
- The setting is a Samurai encampment
- The character is an Onna Bugeisha
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Hero: Okada Sai, Onna Bugeisha of Clan Okada.
Clan Okada are sworn in fealty to Clan Shiro.
Setting: In the year 1540, the rival forces of Daimyo Shiro Ichibei and Daimyo Yamabe Kagehisa are preparing to fight the third and largest of their battles for control of the northern plains of Shimatama.
The southern Yamabe clan were in the midst of making their most determined push yet to claim the fertile lands and trading route to the northern provinces, land which was owned by the Shiro clan for decades.
In amongst the chaos of armies gathering and preparing on the eve of battle, a lone Onna Bugeisha stalks through the Nakatama encampment on the eastern flank of the Shiro army.
Scene Goal: Okada Sai needs to discover there whereabouts of the hired Ronin in the Shiro army.
-------
Okada Sai walks through the encampment at dusk, the armies supply train is full of peasants moving supplies, dust hanging in the air from all the movement. She approaches an Ashigaru clerk trying to load arrows into a quiver.
Does he notices her presence?
Yes, But...
The Ashigaru glances up nervously, he tries to move away as if he has not seen her approach.
Not accustomed the being ignore by the lower classes, Sai gets closer.
"You there, I need your help in finding someone"
Does he stop and answer?
"You there, I need your help in finding someone"
Does he stop and answer?
Yes, But...
"Sorry, Okada-San" he says nervously, glancing at the clan mon on her kimono, "I am behind schedule and Taisho Shiro-Sama will not take kindly if I don't get these supplies to the front line troops".
"Very well" Sai says, "Can you point me to someone in charge?"
Can he?
Can he?
No, And... *Draw skill card "Shove"*
"Erm, I'm not really sure where..." He starts to say, stopping abruptly as he drops the quiver he is holding, scattering arrows all across the floor.
"For Kami's Sake" Sai utters, clearly annoyed by this bumbling fool, she proceeds to shove her way past him and moves further into the encampment, away from the front line.
"For Kami's Sake" Sai utters, clearly annoyed by this bumbling fool, she proceeds to shove her way past him and moves further into the encampment, away from the front line.
Does she notice anyone who might know about troop dispositions?
Yes, And...*Draw skill card "Feinting Attack"*
Twist, NPC, Helps the Hero *Draw encounter card "Experienced Spearmen"*
As she moves past, a group of Ashigaru Spearmen march along the thoroughfare in the same direction.
"Okada-San" one says in greeting noticing her moving along.
They have the swaggering walk of veterans, their armour has clearly seen use, but their spears are well kept, the blades reflecting the cooking fires of the camp.
Can these men aid Sai finding someone in the camp?
Yes
Twist, Item, Helps the Hero
"I am searching for the hired troops of the army, do any of you know where they might be?"She asks.
"Really? Not the kind of people I would assume you would associate with" answered on of the Spearmen.
"If you assume about me again, you wont get another chance" Sai says, resting her hand on the sheathed katana at her waist as she does so.
"Ignore him please, Okada-San, he means no harm, we are just tired from a long march.
Reluctantly she removes her hand from the katana, noticing that the spearmans' eyes linger on the flask next to it.
"I have Sake to offer if you can aid me" Sai says as a way of offering.
"We'll take you to our Sergeant, I'm sure he'll help you" the spearman replies, eyes lighting up at the prospect of drink.
"Really? Not the kind of people I would assume you would associate with" answered on of the Spearmen.
"If you assume about me again, you wont get another chance" Sai says, resting her hand on the sheathed katana at her waist as she does so.
"Ignore him please, Okada-San, he means no harm, we are just tired from a long march.
Reluctantly she removes her hand from the katana, noticing that the spearmans' eyes linger on the flask next to it.
"I have Sake to offer if you can aid me" Sai says as a way of offering.
"We'll take you to our Sergeant, I'm sure he'll help you" the spearman replies, eyes lighting up at the prospect of drink.
"Lead on then" she replies, her hand straying to the flask in case any try to take it first.
Over the course of the next ten minutes she discovers that these men are veterans of the previous two battles here, and that they have become quite wealthy, for peasants, through this, although they have lost quite a few of their unit in the last battle.
Do any try to take the Sake?
No
Twist, NPC, Changes the Location *Draw story card "Sergeant"*
Arriving at the tents of the unit, Sai waits for a moment whilst Gunso Ishimoto Shinzabaru, the leader of the spearman unit is informed.
The man ducks out of his tent and stands swaying slightly in front of her.
The man ducks out of his tent and stands swaying slightly in front of her.
"Greetings, Okada-San, my men say that you need help and they brought you to my tent, please tell me what an Onna Bugeisha of the Okada clan could possibly need the help of a bunch of wardog Ashigaru with?
Is he surly towards her for a reason?
Yes, And... *Draw skill card "Foreknowledge"*
"Excuse me" Sai begins "You should know how to address your superiors properly"
She is taken aback by the mans impoliteness and the smell of liquor emanating from him.
"You Samurai, your families, always using everyone in your own petty schemes for power and honour. Why are we here again? Why am I loosing men again, for what? And as for the "honourable" Okada clan, where were your troops during the last battle? eh? Consorting with Ronin instead of supporting us! Honour, Pah" Ishimoto spat towards her.
Grunts of approval issue from the spearmen who have gathered, her hand strays to her katana.
Do they attack her?
She is taken aback by the mans impoliteness and the smell of liquor emanating from him.
"You Samurai, your families, always using everyone in your own petty schemes for power and honour. Why are we here again? Why am I loosing men again, for what? And as for the "honourable" Okada clan, where were your troops during the last battle? eh? Consorting with Ronin instead of supporting us! Honour, Pah" Ishimoto spat towards her.
Grunts of approval issue from the spearmen who have gathered, her hand strays to her katana.
Do they attack her?
Yes
Twist, PC, Helps the Hero *Draw story card "Onna Bugeisha"*
Twist, PC, Helps the Hero *Draw story card "Onna Bugeisha"*
"Banzai" the spearmen yell, and launch themselves at Sai before she can draw her sword.
Fists and feet batter her as she stumbled and tries to draw her katana.
*Use card "Feinting Attack*
Fists and feet batter her as she stumbled and tries to draw her katana.
*Use card "Feinting Attack*
Throwing her elbow high, Sai feints throwing one of the men off guard, a shrill scream and gout of blood erupt from the mans mouth as the blade of a Naginata sweeps up the mans spine.
"Sorry I was waylaid Okada-Sama" the newcomer replies hurriedly.
"Sorry I was waylaid Okada-Sama" the newcomer replies hurriedly.
The new Onna Bugeisha sweeps out with her polearm to clear some space.
Does she hit any other spearmen?
Does she hit any other spearmen?
No
She steps up to the side of Okada Sai, who has had chance to regain her feet and draw her katana.
"Arigato, Sakuna-San" Sai says gratefully, "Now, hold your ground Hatamoto"
Do any Spearmen flee?
"Arigato, Sakuna-San" Sai says gratefully, "Now, hold your ground Hatamoto"
Do any Spearmen flee?
Yes, But...
Seeing two Onna Bugeisha stood before them with weapons drawn, many of the spearmen realise their error in attacking the Samurai and slink away into the shadows of the camp.
the drunken sergeant however stands his ground with his own sword drawn.
"Okada bitch! Go back to your ronin friends like your brother"
Does he hit Sai?
the drunken sergeant however stands his ground with his own sword drawn.
"Okada bitch! Go back to your ronin friends like your brother"
Does he hit Sai?
Yes, But...
*Use card "Foreknowledge*
Slashing out with his katana, he clips Sai in the arm with the blade, however in his drunken state he wildly broadcast the strike, armed with this foreknowledge Sai weaves backwards away from the strike. The blade tears through her kimono sleeve, narrowly missing her arm.
Is he off balance?
Yes
Seeing that he is overextended, the Hatamoto Sakuna trips him using her Naginata, she forces him to the floor holding the blade inches from his face.
"Excellent" Sai says, Sakuna strikes the man as he struggles to rise, "let's get some answers, shall we?"
Does he know where the hired troops are?
Yes, And... *Draw skill card "Commanding Presence"*
With the man now bleeding on the floor, he begins to co-operate, self preservation taking over from his drunken confidence before.
"The hired troops are staying in The House of Kami's Blessing, north of here, just off the road to Narakita"
Having learned what she needed to know, Sai now seeks to right the insults the man threw at her earlier, by drawing her katana.
"You have insulted the honourable name of the Okada clan and my brother, I cannot, will not let that go unpunished, especially from a lowlife drunkard such as yourself"
Having learned what she needed to know, Sai now seeks to right the insults the man threw at her earlier, by drawing her katana.
"You have insulted the honourable name of the Okada clan and my brother, I cannot, will not let that go unpunished, especially from a lowlife drunkard such as yourself"
Does she kill the man?
Yes, And... *Draw skill card "Dangerous Reputation"*
Twist, NPC, Ends the Scene
Slicing her katana down, the mans shriek is cut off as his head detaches from his body and rolls a few feet until it is stopped by a foot.
Intent on their interrogation, the pair had not heard this interloper approach, both Sai and Sakuma look up and quickly greet him.
"Greetings Taisho Shiro" Sakuma says hurriedly whilst bowing.
"Hello Sadakuno, it's been a while" Sai bowed, then with a flick of her wrist she clears her blade of blood before sheathing it. The movement of the blade causes Shino's own hatamoto to move between her and his lord..
Grimacing at the headless corpse on the group, Shino looks up.
"You two had better come with me".
-------
And there we have part one.
I enjoyed creating this, an hour of creation depending on what the dice rolls were and we ended up at this opening sequence.
I enjoyed creating this, an hour of creation depending on what the dice rolls were and we ended up at this opening sequence.
The rules worked well, even with my modifications and card usage.
The story itself is very loose, not bad considering I started with just four broad lines to work from.
Parts of the story felt very "Chambara" movie-esque.
I especially like the image of Sai stalking through the camp at the beginning, very "Yojimbo" (if you've ever seen that film, if not, why not?).
In case anyone was wondering, the clans and places are fictitious, but bases upon the battles of Kawanakajima fought historically by the Takeda and Uesugi clans in northern Japan.
Being from the north, the Okada and Shino clans are my analogues for the retainers and the Uesugi clan.
Obviously I have butchered Japanese honorifics and etiquette somehow during this. I'm not fully versed in the complex nuances of Japanese social customs, but I tried.
The story itself is very loose, not bad considering I started with just four broad lines to work from.
Parts of the story felt very "Chambara" movie-esque.
I especially like the image of Sai stalking through the camp at the beginning, very "Yojimbo" (if you've ever seen that film, if not, why not?).
In case anyone was wondering, the clans and places are fictitious, but bases upon the battles of Kawanakajima fought historically by the Takeda and Uesugi clans in northern Japan.
Being from the north, the Okada and Shino clans are my analogues for the retainers and the Uesugi clan.
Obviously I have butchered Japanese honorifics and etiquette somehow during this. I'm not fully versed in the complex nuances of Japanese social customs, but I tried.
I think I may continue this somewhat irregularly as time goes on, perhaps find a way to use some of the stats from the ToH cards.
Until next time...
Until next time...
- Lewis
*Disclaimer: Obviously, I have used some artwork I photographed from my Test of Honour 2nd Edition rulebook. This is used as an aid to the story and I make no claims to owning this artwork.*
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