[LA4] - Stop, Thief!

[Ender]

Little Khanbuluk has been a hotbed of activity. More and more wares coming through in recents days, as well as the current troubles plaguing the city of Tsuma. The crowds in the bazaar are exceptionally thick this afternoon, as more pushcarts move through the streets than usual.

There is a crash, and the crowd swells as people are shoved. "Stop, stop! Stop him, thief!" A cry goes out from a merchant, tending to his fallen over pushcart. The Chop of Kasuga Touji is apparent on the pushed over cart.

Event Type: Cooperative
Participation: Five PCs
Goal:
To catch the thief before he escapes, the PCs must accrue 25 Stop Points within 5 rounds. If 25 Stop Points are not accrued, the thief escapes.

1 Stop Point for a Basic Success
+1 Stop Point for every 2 successes after the initial TN.

Stances will not be used. But use the Opportunity chart on pg. 328 of the CRB for guidance on opportunities regarding approaches

The Following Skills will be used, all at TN 2
Fitness - Just full on chasing after the thief.
Command - Getting bystanders in the crowd to try and slow the thief down.
Martial Arts [Ranged] - Grabbing anything in the bazaar, and chucking it at the thief to impede his progress
Tactics - Assessing the situation to try and take full advantage of the hustle and bustle to adapt to the situation and know how to best impede the thief.
Skulduggery - You know the ins and outs of cities and tracking in urban environments. The best way to catch a thief is to know how to be a thief.

In lieu of a Skill Check, any Invocation, Inversion, or Kiho that can reach a target at Range 3 or less can be used. An effect from an Invocation, Kiho, or Inversion would impose the 'Immobilized' Condition, the chase ends, and the thief is caught.

Each skill check can be performed multiple times per round, but the TN increases by 1 for each repetition of the same skill (i.e. if Fitness is used by a second PC in the same round, the TN goes up to 3, and so on and so forth).

Before rolling, please post in with what you are doing in Little Khanbuluk. Once we have 5 PCs, the skill challenge may begin.

[Shiba Haru]

Following his lunch Haru decided to take his brothers advice and search the market for some seeds. It needed to be something exotic but able to grow in a harsh environment.

"What did he say again, some kind of spice? Why a spice? Can I even afford an exotic spice that will grow in a rocky desert?" he mused to himself.

(Begins with 2 Strife, 0 Fatigue)

[Shiba Ichiro]

While they were not much of one for nostalgia Ichiro still thought it might be nice to bring home some trinket to remember the competition with... especially given how the results so far made it seem unlikely there'd be any formal trophy let alone title awaiting them. That didn't bother the young shugenja, they had really expected as much, for them this had all been a chance to test and hone their skills.

Now it seemed that fate had a different type of test in store as the Shiba set off in pursuit of the ne'er-do-well. It was not rightfully their place, they understood that, but by the time a magistrate was summoned the rogue would be long gone. Better to ask forgiveness later... besides the day had left a lot of frustration to work out.

(Ichiro is in, starting at 1 Strife, 1 Fatigue)

[Doji Arami]

Perhaps it is by sheer force of his resplendence, but as Arami slowly peruses the various stalls in the market, the pressing crowds keep a respectful distance from the Doji, giving him his space. This is just as Arami would prefer - he fans himself slowly as he luxuriates in his privilege, engaging in quiet conversation with merchants.

The particularly astute would note the slight sheen of sweat on his brow, as if he has been here for some time now.

[Seppun Urusai]

Urusai, meanwhile, is enjoying the Darjeeling tea he'd found earlier in the game, it's almost-over-steeped garnet hue carrying a bracing astringency. And it just so happens that the Tortoise's cart--A Tortoise, here?--is just outside the little spot where Urusai is drinking his brew.

(I'm in. 3/6 Strife, 0 Fatigue.)

[Kitsu Masaru]

Little Khanbulak held many items and people of interest and Masaru was always one to be drawn to the unique and interesting. The young Lion stalked the stalls like his clans patron animal looking for things to bring back to his family and friends back home.

He also watched the others there shopping, people watching was a long time favorite hobby of his.

(1 Strife, 0 fatigue)

[Ender]

The thief, a younger man wearing rough clothing, more utlitarian than what most samurai would wear, pushes through the crowd. Sweat beads on his forehead as he looks over his shoulder, trying to dodge and weave through the crowd.

Round 1 Begins!

0/25 Stop Points

[Seppun Urusai]

Urusai stands up, hops up onto the low bench where he'd been sitting, and barks out in a stentorian voice "Stop that man, in His Majesty's Name!"

Several heads snap in his direction, see the chrysanthemum-and-bamboo mon, and move to slow the fleeing thief down.

~~~~~
Commanding Rd 1, https://sakkaku.org/rolls/2630; succeeds at 2 sux, 1 opp, 1 strife; use opp to eat Strife.
+1 Stop Point
Still 3/6 Strife, 0/8 Fatigue

[Shiba Ichiro]

Ichiro had not needed the Imperial direction but it was still reassuring to have some hierarchical cover in case any Crane got testy about a Phoenix chasing down a criminal within their territory.

Allowing the flow of the city to pass through them the Phoenix moved swiftly and smoothly passing through the crowd as if it was not there - bodies moving out of the way just the moment before the Shiba passes through where they had been.

(Round 1 - Fitness

D4, LA: Round 1 - Fitness/Void | TN: 2 | Success: 4 / Opportunity: 1 / Strife: 1


2 Stop points, 1 Fatigue (2 total), Opportunity eats Strife

Group is now at 3 Stop points)

[Shiba Haru]

Haru noticed the shouting and that a shugenja of his clan was in pursuit of the thief and his training kicked in. He ducked down and began to rapidly weave his way between people and carts in an attempt to encircle the young man but making sure he was close enough to reach his cousin of he needed to.

Probably just a hungry Ronin short on coin

Skullduggery skill used.
[D4, LA] Stop, Thief!
Round 1 | TN: 2 | Success: 4 / Opportunity: 0 / Strife: 2


2 Stop Points gained
4/10 strife

[Kitsu Masaru]

As soon as the crash was heard the Kitsu boys eyes widened and he back away like many people a look of concern and shock on his face. A sharp eye however might notice that his wide eyes were focused and darting about.

Masaru took a second to identify the culprit and the layout around then as well as others giving chase. He was no battlefield commander but he was a Lion and every Lion could do basic situation assessment.

-------------------------------
D4 Stop Thief! Tactics/air | TN: 2 | Success: 3 / Opportunity: 0 / Strife: 1

One stop point gained
2/8 Strife

[Doji Arami]

Ghosting- Command | TN: 2 | Success: 2 / Opportunity: 2 / Strife: 2

Using the 2 opportunity to negate the 2 strife

1 Stop Point added

[Ender]

Currently at:

7/25 Stop Points

Round 2:

The Thief is beginning to feel the pressure of the crowds coming in on him, as well as the focus of his pursuers.

[Shiba Haru]

Haru found a seam through the crowd and was almost parallel to the thief but there was still a mass of people between them. Stayed low hoping to avoid notice, if the thief suddenly turned his direction he would run right into him.


[D4, LA] Stop, Thief! Round 2
Skullduggery/Water | TN: 2 | Success: 2 / Opportunity: 1 / Strife: 1

Opportunity used to perform the task more quickly.


1 Stop Point gained
5/10 Strife

[Shiba Ichiro]

Ichiro frowns as they fail to gain ground on the fleeing thief but they still manage to cut off some escape routes and direct the fleeing man towards their fellows-in-chase.

(D4, LA: Round 2 - Fitness/Void | TN: 2 | Success: 1 / Opportunity: 3 / Strife: 0


No points, no strife, 1 fatigue (3 total). 2 Opportunity to provide assistance (Next character to roll Tactics adds a skill die), 1 Opportunity to lower my next check to TN1 if it uses Earth)

[Kitsu Masaru]

So much commotion and attention centered on the thief and those trying so hard to catch them. Surely no one notices the small boy in courtly dress grab a rock and with the flick of a wrist send it flying at the thief's ankle to knock him off balance

-------------------
D4 Stop Thief! Ranged/air seize the moment | TN: 2 | Success: 2 / Opportunity: 2 / Strife: 1

1 point 2 opps spent to make the action subtle so others don't notice.
3/8 strife

[Seppun Urusai]

"Be brave in the pursuit of His Majesty's justice!" Urusai shouts from his position. And he sees an opening where the thief is heading, plunging off into it to close it before the thief can flee. Best to lead by example, always, says the voice in his ear, and the youth hazards himself without complaint or hesitation, his heart burning with right.

"Stop, thief, in His Majesty's Name, and face a son of the Seppun! Follow me, O valiant people!"

~~~~~

No points, no strife, 1 fatigue (3 total). 2 Opportunity to provide assistance (Next character to roll Tactics adds a skill die), 1 Opportunity to lower my next check to TN1 if it uses Earth)

Rd 2 Tactics roll, https://sakkaku.org/rolls/2659; passes at 5 sux, 1 opp, 3 strife; opp to cancel 1 Strife since Stance bonuses do not accrue ( )
Now 11 Stop Points
5/6 Strife EDITED: PER GM COMMENT, REDUCE TO 2/6 STRIFE; I LIVE DANGEROUSLY!
0/8 Fatigue

[Doji Arami]

Ghosting - Command (Air) TN2 - Speaking in Silence | TN: 2 | Success: 0 / Opportunity: 3 / Strife: 0

Spending 2 advantage to grant assistance to next PC

[Ender]

Currently at:

11/25 Stop Points

Round 3:

Hearing the words of the Seppun, the Thief hesitates for just a moment, then barrels on, shoving some out of the way.

[Kitsu Masaru]

Masaru saw an opportunity and ducked into the crowd of people and began to stick between crowds and shadows to follow the their as they fled through the market.

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Stop Thief! Skullduggery/air | TN: 2 | Success: 2 / Opportunity: 0 / Strife: 1

1 stop point
4/8 Strife