Nakahama

Kuni Junpei had thought that the Temple of Light was always something of a sore spot on the island, rather outlandish beliefs that rope people with the promise of an alternate path, while providing charity to slowly integrate themselves into the community. It has always been said in Aoihama that when someone is unexpectedly kind or eager to invite themselves over, they may be potential cult members.

Now, Kitsuki Ichitaiyo brought forward evidence that his late sensei was investigating this group for their inconsistent income and purchases before his untimely death. This was also with a yoriki who had gone rogue, trying to destroy the papertrail... That only made this group more sinister than dubious. He drove out to the Temple of Light with the intent to do some stern questioning and investigation, not even knowing that the karo and her friend had already been held hostage.

Once parked at the slope leading up to the temple, he would take a moment to put on his armour and check his ammo...

In the distance a sports car screeches around a corner ‘Tanto for what’ blasts from its speakers as it drifts into the wrong lane before swerving back and flying into the flat land at the bottom of the slope.

The car sits for a few moments, its engine ticking over gently before Ochiba springs out of the door, bobbing her head to the music, armour whirring quietly and guns gleaming at her side.

“Ahaiyo Kuni-Sama! Ready to action this noise complaint?”

The Mantis wasn’t quite sure who had betrayed who had betrayed who at this point, and why. But she knew someone had betrayed Ayame and that meant there was going to be some killing done that evening.

A sports car drives up in a frankly almost boringly discreet manner compared to the Mantis' show. Polarized windows ensure the identity of the drive is left hidden until the door opens. Out climbs a man in a full bussiness suit, the only hint as to his belonging to their growing gathering the daisho hanging on his hip. He's wearing a crimson visage with golden eyes. He takes a look around the gathered people before walking round to the trunk of the car and popping it open. He removes his jacket, revealing the tactical webbing over his shirt.

Quietly he puts his gear in order. Webbing, off. Lighteweight bulletproof vest? On. Holsters, daisho well secured. In a few moments he is ready for action, stretching with a mechanical groan laden with static and artificial distortion. As he leans into the trunk he retrieves one last surprise before closing it and locking the car as he comes around lugging a Nodachi on his hand. He balances it over his shoulder, the ensemble makes him look like an armed yakuza rather than a soldier.

The glowing eyes weep the scene with a soft whirr, stopping on each assembled person.

"We got a plan Kuni-sama? Or are we relying entirely on our moxy and good fortune?"

Sorato's been studying the temple's scripture and there are certainly things that pique his sense of... well, if not alarm, at least concern. Encountering the magistrate on his way there via the country roads definitely raised the needle to "alarmed."

He doesn't have any armor, of course. But he does have a head full of theological learning that might be relevant, and holoslate full of spells and a wakizashi and webgun at his hip in the event that's necessary, (To be honest, the gun is more typically buried in his day pack. But he has a belt holster for it, and straps it on properly now.)

Stepping out of the same car as the mantis was a heavily armored Kaiu side arm strapped to his hip along with extra reloads. Ochiba had briefed him a little on what was going on and he wanted to be there this time when things went down.

"Only wish we were bringing some siege weapons to this party then I could do some real damage." He said with a grin in jest. His daisho rested on his other hip he hadn't used that in ages but he remembered the basics, though he hoped both weapons would remain undrawn.

The final member of this team would roll in on her motorbike.

Having fully donned her riding armor, Shiwahime had highlighted it white for the occasion in the manner to the followers of the Lords of Death. I was done with make up and not paint which made run and drip in a very ghastly way.

Her appearance was not a good omen for anyone who'd she intended to bring her Lord's blessing to.

She eyed the assembly, wondering why they were there themselves but ultimately did not care much.

Choi-san has told her quite enough

Junpei eyed each samurai who joined him for this occasion as he finished strapping on his armour and considered pulling off the velcro tag that said "MAGISTRATE" in giant letters from his chest. An analytical pause from everyone's choice of weaponry, armour, and rental vehicle...This made him realize that he was perhaps easily the most subtle participant here, only after Agasha Sorato.

He put on her blazer coat on top of his armour and let out a small sigh. "Yes, I suppose there was something of a noise complaint around here. Hunting isn't exactly allowed in the perimeter of Tenjin Town except under certain circumstances under by-law 0219-1985. A provision mostly to keep jimen tori poaching at a minimum. However, I am only here for a bit of administrative accounting. Let's just say that the circumstances for this audit are a bit...precarious."

There was another look at each of them, "Tax evasion and improper revenue reporting a serious offences in Yasuki law. I'm sure you're all here for similar reasons, as impassioned law academics," he sounded skeptical, but there could be a non-0% of that.

"I see that Yasuki Umiko-sama's car is over there. Surely, she's already on this case," he said dryly with a peek to look over the hill, indicating the compact teal-ish car that the karo favoured. "You're more than welcome to follow. How about most of us stay behind his car while I sort this thing out? No reason to make this look like a lynching."

He wasn't able to get a hold of back-up, it seemed. Was the communicator reception being affected locally? Surely not.

"Anyway, let's go," he said before taking the lead to go forward.

***
Roll Initiative! Round 1 and combat mapping will be established later tonight when I get home.
Day 10 - Early Evening, The Showdown, Initiative! | 6k3 ⇒ 28

***

Clue Points
Clue Points are shared by the group to represent the edge they have over the situation, thanks to the investigation and efforts put into the situation surrounding the Temple of Light. Clue Points work exactly like a Void Point: utilized in combat, skills or part of techniques. In addition, they can also be spent for a reroll in the same fashion as Luck and the higher roll is kept.

Please note that these work as Void Points. They do not stack or break the timing restrictions. The number of Clue Points is shared by everyone in this thread.

Total Clue Points: 5

Investigation Credits for Clue Points
1) Bed of Scorpions (Scorpion Clan delegation) plan within plans
2) Kitsuki Ichitaiyo's detective work
3) Mystery Inc. gang
4) Tamori Kanna's Divination
5) Agasha Sorato's Academic Inquiry
6) Moto Shiwahime and Kakita Haruhi's Aid and Breakfast

The Scorpion nods along as the Magistrate lays out the situation. Everyone had come with the knowledge of the armed garrison stationed at the temple. Everyone knew they'd need more than just strongly woprded declarations to get the conspirators to stand down. He checks his gear one last time. Caseless ammo, radiant weapons could be struck by EMPs. Smartsteel daisho, lightweight armored vest and kevlar weave bussiness suit from the Orchid Department's "Wolf of Yasuki Street" inspired Bussiness Security Line...

He slung the Nodachi over his shoulders and walked besides the magistrate. Close enough to pull him aside of things went south.

Inititative 28!
Active Kata: Breath of Wind Style (+2 init every reactions stage)
Stance: Defense
TN: 28 (Base 20, Light armor, Defense Stance.) 33 for enemies with lower inititative.

Meanwhile...

Umiko was sitting in the corner with Yasuki Haruto lying on the ground. She was putting pressure on the wound while the other Yasuki clung on to life, even breathing felt painful after being shot.

"Haruto-san! Stay with us!" Umiko pleaded with the elder as she put pressure with her haphazardly bundled-up cardigan.


Yasuki Haruto

"...Please, just go..." he would gasp with a few breaths, assuming that evading a few armed Crab soldiers would be as easy as asking nicely in his delirium.

Umiko would look at Honoka and Hiroto. She dragged them into this, while she was going to stay for Haruto, there was absolutely no reason why they shouldn't take the first opportunity of escape. "...he's right, you should get out of here, please..."

***
Day 10 - Early Evening, The Showdown, Initiative! | 4k2 ⇒ 14

"Absolutely not," she says, in a soft but stern way. Looking to Umiko with the eyes of someone who has decided what was important. Kneeling down beside Umiko, and looking over Haruto to see how she could possible help this situation. Deciding, in this moment of life and possible cresting into death, comfort was something she could provide. Laying a soft hand on the man's shoulder, and her other on Umiko's.

"Hiroto-san," she would break from this for a moment to look to him. "Should you find an opportunity, I do think you will need support if you are going to be doing your duty to save myself, and Yasuki Umiko, your Karo; I would suggest you take that opportunity."

Honoka turns back to look at Umiko and Haruto, but breaks back to Hiroto for one last forgotten thing, "But do please be as safe as you can about it."

***

Day 10, EE | Initiative for the Showdown! | 3k2 ⇒ 25

Nagisa just finished strapping in her armoured vest and took out her rifle from her case before looking out the window to see Junpei's head poking in the distance. She let out a disappointed sigh at this sudden development.

"Gunso, how long is our ride again?" She asked the head of her guard.



"Less than 2 minutes, captain," she would say as she got into position by the front doors, putting her back against the wall.

"Everyone else here soon? An unfortunate timing that Asataka's student would be here to see us off. No matter, this hurdle is just another opportunity for us to jump higher. Do better and get ahead in life," she said as she finished adjusting her rifle scope. "Gunso, remind me to take care of Asakata's other student if we ever find ourselves on Inari Cradle. I'm feeling like collecting them all now."

"Yes, captain," answered the gunso affirmatively.

***
Yasuki Nagisa
Day 10 - Early Evening, The Showdown, Initiative! | 6k3 ⇒ 23

Hida Gunso
Day 10 - Early Evening, The Showdown, Initiative! | 4k2 ⇒ 20

Hiruma
Day 10 - Early Evening, The Showdown, Initiative! | 4k3 ⇒ 22

Kuni
Day 10 - Early Evening, The Showdown, Initiative! | 4k2 ⇒ 15

''I'll follow your lead Magistrate-sama...but I think we'll have use force sooner then later''

she said from within her helmet, her voice modulated to sound as if an infernal engine was speaking

Her chain slid into her hand and her sword was ready to be drawn...her bike ready to go


Temple of Light Showdown: initiative | 5k3 ⇒ 25
Armor TN: 32 on Bike, 24 on foot
Reduction: 5

"That's Yasuki-sama's car?" Sorato's eyebrows spring upward in surprise. He looks a bit nervous, but remains composed. "Right. Carefully, then."

D10 EE--Initiative | 6k3 ⇒ 18
Stance: Defense (ATN 24)

"Huh...weird."
Ochiba drums a hand on the side of her armour for a minute.
"Could just be something boring I guess."

Then turning quietly to Ryosei:
"Be careful, okay?" And giving one of his armoured shoulders a squeeze.

"Agasha-san, you stand behind us too. Until Kuni-sama hears the details of my festival you can't die either."

The nodding at Shiwahime and Hinata.
"And it's...you. Oh hey, the woman who fought the lizard, sick. Be awesome I guess."

Initiative: 29
Stance: Defence (assuming we're making our way up to the temple and so combat might begin from a decent distance)
ATN: 32 (36 against first ranged attack)

***
Sorry, Katas must be activated in combat!

Combat will start tonight!

Gathered initiative so far...

Yoritomo Ochiba 29 🢀
Kuni Junpei: 28
Bayushi Hinata: 28
Yasuki Honoka (and Yasuki Hiroto): 25
Moto Shiwahime: 25
Yasuki Nagisa: 23
Hiruma Marine: 22
Kaiu Ryosei: 20
Hida Gunso Marine: 20
Agasha Sorato: 18
Kuni Marine: 15
Yasuki Umiko: 14

Hey would look down to the Mantis nodding at her, his voice slightly modulated as he put on his mempo "You stay safe too. I have a dinner to take you on." he winks before he also carefully advances

-----------------
D10 combat init | 4k2 ⇒ 20

Initiative: 20
Stance: Defense
ATN: 28

And the group would make their way towards Yasuki Umiko's car. It seems there was a still silence atop the hill. Those who've been to the temple before might notice that it lacked a certain open reception. There was a great lack of background heimen to even indicate the place was open in the slightest. Something was wrong here...

Yasuki Umiko's car and the other car grants (some) cover (+5 TN vs Range).
The other car is 70' away.
The entrance is 100' away.
The extra (side door) is 100' away

Current Clue Points: 5

Round 1



Yoritomo Ochiba: 28 🢀
Bayushi Hinata: 28
Kuni Junpei: 28
Yasuki Honoka (and Yasuki Hiroto): 25
Moto Shiwahime: 25
Yasuki Nagisa: 23
Hiruma Marine: 22
Kaiu Ryosei: 20
Hida Gunso Marine: 20
Agasha Sorato: 18
Kuni Marine: 15
Yasuki Umiko: 14

Shield Icon means Cover!
Buff Icon means Elevation Bonus!

“Well that’s fucking ominous. Okay, I’ll go poke the hornet’s nest. Don’t do anything as stupid and awesome as this until you know if you’re gonna get shot or not.”

Ochiba puts her head down and explodes out from behind cover at a dead sprint, rapidly serpentining left and right in case of answering fire as she hustled for the next car ahead.

It was a pretty decent distance but for a few moments she’d be exposed to fire.

((Two simple actions to move 60’ directly towards the next car and cover. Free action move to look good doing it. Spending a void for +10ATN just in case.
ATN is 42 and 47 against first ranged attack
2/3 void remaining.))

Hinata doesn't bother to duck behind the car as they approach, seeing the Yoritomo break into a sprint does urge him into at least tryng to match her enthusiasm. Even if he doesn't seem to be in a similar rush he does look attentively to the temple's walls in case anyone deems it appropriate to poke out.

Remaining in Defense Stance
Simple Action to Activate Kata, Breath of Wind Style
Simple action to Move (20 feet)
Free action to Move (another 10 feet)

Spending a void for +10TN
(2/3)

40 feet away from second Car.

Current TN 43

"Did I not just...?" Junpei looked rather frustrated that these guests decided to move forward before he had the chance to investigate and defuse the situation. He supposed that he only had a few short months ahead of them, so he wasn't that far off either. With a groan, he would take the same approach forward. However, he wasn't going to act all squirrelly about it. Magistrates and Witch Hunters represented authority, after all!

This had to be better than that wedding, at least.

Defensive Stance
ATN: 28
Wounds Taken: 0
Void Used: 0

Simple Action x2 to move up (60 Feet)
Kuni Junpei is 10' from the Other Car!

***
Round 1 Initiative
Yoritomo Ochiba: 28
Bayushi Hinata: 28
Kuni Junpei: 28
Yasuki Honoka (and Yasuki Hiroto): 25 🢀
Moto Shiwahime: 25
Yasuki Nagisa: 23
Hiruma Marine: 22
Kaiu Ryosei: 20
Hida Gunso Marine: 20
Agasha Sorato: 18
Kuni Marine: 15
Yasuki Umiko: 14