Walking through one of the more quiet roads that make up the massive Horogai mall, the characters hear ruckus from the one of the dark alleys. Turning to locate the sounds, they can spy two hooded figures, their long blades gleaming in the neon lights. The a dark-clad attacker approach a visibly distraught person quietly, moving slightly apart as they do so. Their apparent victim - a small person dressed in what looks like worn drags - is equally quiet, perhaps terrified by the situation, crouched as if they were trying to hide.

The scene will start with the characters stepping into the alley, the dark-clad figures 60' from their location and the small person 30' further away (90') away. This particular alley happens to be dead end (the small person leaning against the wall) with several sets of rusty fire stairs dangling on the walls.

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OOC: This thread is considered closed after two Characters have posted in it, confirming their participation. It should be noted that this thread has potential to be fatal and participants face a considerable risk of death. Your initial post should include your character's reaction to the situation as well as your initial Initiative Roll and your unarmored TN to be hit (No character can be assumed to wear armor within the city). You should also roll for Investigation (Notice) / Perception against TN 30. Also this is combat. This means that your character may die.

Walking through the mall on his way back from a spot of business he had to take care of, the shabby Akuta hears the sounds in the alleyway and his refined 'shit is going down' reflexes kick in. Taking a look around to see if anyone else is nearby, he slips into the shadows near the entrance of the darkened passage, hoping to blend in and not be spotted by what he assumes are thugs trying to mug someone. Better yet, they might be thugs he knows which means he might be able to get in on the score...or they might be people who some of his friends would want shuffled off. Either way, win/win. He had to take it slow however...getting caught unawares in this tight space could be deadly. Provided he has enough time, he readies his weapons and prowls.

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https://sakkaku.org/d10-rolls/3557 - Sneaking in, Contested Stealth/Agility. Result is a 54.
https://sakkaku.org/d10-rolls/3558 - Investigation/Perception as requested by scene prompt. Rolled a 28 against a TN of 30, a failure.
https://sakkaku.org/d10-rolls/3559 - Initiative of 5.

TN to be hit is 15.

Okuri isn't lurking. He would swear so, not that anyone would believe him. Ronin need to buy essentials, just like anyone else, and if anything the mall prices at least offer a standard to know how much he is getting ripped off. So while he isn't lurking, years of ronin life show a large red flag when he notices two hooded figures rounding into an alleyway.

Curiosity is too much for him to resist. He is treated to two dark hooded figures rounding upon a small figure? A child?

He freezes.

It's a public place. Honorable samurai abound.

And yet, no one else he can see is crawling out of the woodwork. Okuri's fist clenches. Where are they? Where are the yoriki to defend the defenseless.

The answer is a metaphorical slap in the face.

You would never have hesitated once.

His face flushes at the shame of it, and his feet begin moving of their own accord.

"Hello hooded individuals." He calls into the alley, doing his best to strut. "Now, it would appear to an outside observer that you were an animal ronin preying upon the helpless. Now, you do you, but I happen to be one of those animal ronin, and dealing with a murdered child." Okuri shakes his head and offers a 'tsk, tsk' "

"It would just be such a headache. So, how about we all do the smart thing and all scatter away?"

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[D3, LE Combat Event] Investigation/Perception - TN 30-Free Raise from Kitsuki Technique | 8k4 ⇒ 43 (TN: 30)
[D3, LE Combat Event] Initial Initiative Roll | 5k3 ⇒ 21 (TN: ?)
TN to be hit: 19

Everyone is blissfully unaware of Akuta's approach, the two shadowed figures turning to face Okuri, their blades gleaming ominously in the dark.


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Thug 1, Thug 2, Small Figure pass to act after Okuri. Okuri's turn.

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Initiative order

Thug1 38 (Attack stance)
Thug2 29 (Attack Stance)

Small figure 27 (Defense stance)
Okuri 21
Akuta 5
_____
Thug1
Initiative | 5k3 ⇒ 38 (TN: ?)
Investigation / Perception | 6k3 ⇒ 35 (TN: ?)

Thug2
Initiative | 5k3 ⇒ 29 (TN: ?)
Investigation / Perception | 6k3 ⇒ 25 (TN: ?)

Small figure
Initiative | 6k4 ⇒ 27 (TN: ?)
Investigation/Perception | 3k3 ⇒ 10 (TN: ?)

Okuri draws his sidearm lining it up. He looks down the alley at the two men, frowning as he notices the one with his blade drawn. With a point of emphasis, he aims his sidearm not at the man with the blade drawn, but at his friend and takes aim.

"Let's all walk away."

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Defensive Stance
Simple Action 1: Ready Firearm
Simple Action 2: Aim at non-nervous hooded figure
Free action: 4 words spoken
TN 22 with Defensive stance

Thug 1, Thug 2, Small Figure pass to act after Akuto. Akuto's turn.

Remaining tucked blissfully in the shadows, Akuta takes note of the other ronin who steps into the alleyway and loudly announces his presence. Good, a distraction...but what the hell, is that some kid? When Okuri draws his firearm and points it at the ronin, he braces himself to get ready for the assault, taking a moment to focus and center himself before the killing began, feeling the familiar gnawing hunger within rising to the surface.

----
Center Stance.
Weapons already readied as per previous post.

"He's seen too much!" the first cowled figure shouts, dropping his blade and pulling out his gun, pulling the trigger. He scores Firearms/Reflexes | 6k3 ⇒ 37 (TN: 22)]a hit[/url], the blast scorching his abdomen.

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Thug1: Drops sword (Free action)
Thug1: Draws sidearm (Free action)
Thug1: Shoots at Okuri - Okuri takes 21 damage

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Initiative order

Thug1 38 (Attack stance)
Thug2 29 (Attack Stance)

Small figure 27 (Defense stance)
Okuri 21
Akuta 5

(Okuri will spend a Void point to reduce damage to 11)

"Fuck!" the second figure shouts, dropping his blade even as he draws his sidearm, taking a quick shot at Okuri. He too, hits the ronin, hitting him in the chest.

_________
Thug2: Drops sword (Free action)
Thug2: Draws sidearm (Free action)
Thug2: Shoots at Okuri - Okuri takes 21 damage

Turn over. Reactions.
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Initiative order

Thug1 38 (Attack stance)
Thug2 29 (Attack Stance)

Small figure 27 (Defense stance)
Okuri 21
Akuta 5

"Fucker!" The first figure took another shot, scoring yet another hit, striking Okuri again, the poor wolf falling down, dead.


_________

Thug1: Shoots at Okuri - Okuri takes 17 damage.
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Round 2

Thug1 38 (Attack stance)
Thug2 29 (Attack Stance) <- acting next

Small figure 27 (Defense stance)
Okuri 21
Akuta 5

Seeing the ronin fall, the second character turns his gun at the small figure, yet he does not fire.

_________

Thug2: Waits to act after Small Figure
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Round 2

Thug1 38 (Attack stance)
Thug2 29 (Attack Stance)
Small figure 27 <- acting next
Akuta 5

Okuri did not expect things to go well, but perhaps not every bad bounce that came his way. The hail of fire that arrived was brutal and effective. The first two brought him to his knees. He began to raise his gun when the third arrived.

He slumped back, staring up at the evening sky.

Ow. It hurts. But now...for the briefest of moments...I am Kitsuki Inuzuki...once...more.

And then there was stillness and silence.

The small figure drops down its cowl, revealing a face that does not belong to mortal realms, two unearthly eyes glowing in utter darkness, the red light reflecting of its robes.

"Fear me!" A voice older than mankind calls out - suddenly everyone present can feel the primordial fear of the first sentient being crawling out of a cave on a moonless night. The fear of knowing that something is out there, just beyond your vision. Fear of being hunted and struck down by something unseen. One of the four great fears, the fear of the overwhelming darkness.

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OOC: Everyone takes Fear 4 effect.

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Round 2

Thug1 38 (Attack stance)
Thug2 29 (Attack Stance)
Kurayami, One of the Four 27
Akuta 5<- acting next

Focus, Akuta, focus. They still don't know that you're here and with any luck, you can take one down after the trade shots with the oth-well shit. As Okuri goes down in a hail of fire, Akuta continues to ready himself, seeing what the thugs were going to do. Go after the kid? Wait...why didn't they shoot?

OH SHIT, THAT'S WHY! The primal sensation of bowel wrenching terror floods over him and tries to shake him to his core, but he holds firm. He's seen things worse than an empty face with some glowing eyes. Not many things, but his life on the streets steels his will, at least this time. What the hell is that thing though...

---
Maintaining Center stance
https://sakkaku.org/d10-rolls/3582 - Raw Willpower + Honor and Center bonus vs Fear 4. Rolled a 43 against TN 25: a success!
https://sakkaku.org/d10-rolls/3583 - Lore: Spirit Realms/Intelligence to try and identify this thing. Rolled a 23 against an unknown TN.

"Oh fuck!" First of the two figures swore, [urlhttps://sakkaku.org/d10-rolls/3584]his nerves failing him[/url]. With fear of darkness gripping his soul, the man began to run - paying no heed to Akuta or anything else as he made is escape


_______

Thug1: Runs 70' away from the Kurayami - almost leaving the alley.

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Round 2

Thug1 38
Thug2 29 <- acting next
Kurayami, One of the Four 27
Akuta 5

The second man did not pause to consider his options, following his comrade as quickly as he could, his hasty footsteps echoing in the alley. "Oh shit, fuck, fuck-shit." That was all his Free Action could manage.

_______

Thug2: Runs 70' away from the Kurayami - almost leaving the alley.

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Round 2

Thug1 38
Thug2 29
Kurayami, One of the Four 27 <- acting next
Akuta 5

Akuta can tell that the cowled monster is smiling - even if the creature has no lips, its eyes flickering in the darkness. A solitary rat rushes past the ronin's feet, the poor rodent fleeing the scene just like the two men.

Wrapping its robes around itself, the creature of utter darkness walks towards a wall, slipping through the cracks, leaving Akuta standing alone in the shadows with a dead man laying on the ground not ten feet from where he stands.

________
OOC: Combat is over!
OOC: Also that rat failed its Fear Check as well.

Seeing the scum turn tail and run and the creature turn to phase through the wall like some scary fuck out of a nightmare, Akuta senses his opportunity to strike. If he's going to report this to the Scorpion, he needs to have someone to take the fall and spill the beans...so one of these poor saps should do.

As soon as the slower one runs by hopefully leaving his partner behind, the ronin strikes! Leaping from his concealed hiding place with a flash of steel as his kimono falls away, revealing the ugly black and blue mark that covers his left arm, he slashes into the legs of his foe, trying to take him off his feet. "The shadows strike you, scum!," he calls out, hoping to frighten them even more.

----
Full Attack stance.
Free action speak.
https://sakkaku.org/d10-rolls/3589 - Attack roll with Knockdown maneuver. 70 against a TN of 30, a success.
https://sakkaku.org/d10-rolls/3587 - Damage roll from connecting with attack. 28 damage.
https://sakkaku.org/d10-rolls/3588 - Contested Strength from knockdown. Result is a 27.

Grievously injured, the thug falls down. "Ugh, where the fuck.." he manages to gasp, sprawled as he lays on the ground.

__________
Thug 1 is knocked down.