D2LN, [readacted], see notes

[Fukurokujin]

A small door, one used to bring in food and to take out what food becomes, slides silently open in the night, and a darker shadow detaches itself from the dark night, slipping inside and sliding the door closed again. Moving slowly, pitch flowing downward and unobserved when it finally drops again, the shadow, resolving into a figure with two arms, two legs, and a head, does not form a blazing sword, but skulks along, sliding almost along the wall where the boards are joined most strongly, most solidly, and not touching the walls so as to avoid the scraping sibilance that might signal something is amiss.

As it goes, the floor creaks ever so slightly, and the figure freezes, still as a Seppun standing watch.

~~~~~

OOC: Crane PCs wishing to join this one must succeed at an Investigation (Notice) / Perception roll, TN 22 for those awake and 32 for those asleep. (That includes Shinnosuke's dog, thank you very much. And no, it isn't scent-based.) Go ahead and post your linked results below if you haven't yet.

Keep in mind that Fatigue is a thing.

Non-Crane PCs...what are you doing in the Crane House at this time of night?

[Daidoji Ryu]

Ryu was asleep, as were all decent folk.

But perhaps, just perhaps, he was beginning to stir...

--------------------------------------------------------

D2LN Inv/Per, path tech, VP, asleep | 8k3 ⇒ 32 (TN: 32)

[Doji Noriko]

In her room, a small, humble affair made smaller by the mats laid out for her and her boys, perhaps coincidentally the very room this strange shadow had just entered, Doji Noriko stirred at the sound. But, her mind whirring faster than a Kakita's blade, she masked it by rolling over in her "sleep." It does not do to trigger an intruder's reactions. Not with two small boys to consider. No. She lay still and considered her options, waiting for this interloper to make his move.


Investigation (Notice)/Perception | 7k3 ⇒ 45 (TN: 32)

[Asahina Minase]

It being the night, and Minase being an early riser she was indeed asleep, and remained as such. It was the job of the bushi and the servants to discover mysterious miscreants in the dead of night thank you very much. Artisans need their beauty sleep and to maintain their regimen and not be disturbed from such. HOW DARE you even think of doing such a thing . . . oh right . . . still asleep . . . dreaming of making tiny umbrellas to decorate tea and sake cups . . . using a pink motif that resembles a crane with a larger beak . . . I wonder . . .

--

Literally cannot hit TN 32 with 2k2 unskilled, so AUTOFAIL

[Doji Shinnosuke]

Across the screen-divided hallway, Shinnosuke is sleeping soundly. Haku is awake, but at the moment his expectant attention is focused toward the courtyard whence he expects Toichi to arrive with his breakfast.

D2 LN--Investigation/Perception, asleep | 4k3 ⇒ 17 (TN: 32)
D2 LN--Guard Dog Haku, probably awake and waiting for breakfast already. Inv (Notice)/Perception. | 3k3 ⇒ 16 (TN: 22)

[Daidoji Sae]

It was a wonder anyone had heard anything over Sae's snores.

Day 2 LN, TN 32 sleeping investigation/perception | 3k2 ⇒ 12 (TN: 32)

[Fukurokujin]

OOC: Any other takers?

[Doji Arai]

Doji Arai is certain that she heard something that cannot be explained by the servants walking around. She raises, takes her sword and opens the shoji screen.

/Investigation/Perception, vp | 5k4 ⇒ 37 (TN: 32)

[Cearnach]

From outside, a thump. Soft, but clear, and the shadow of a second figure is thrown across the paper shoji. The figure hesitates, but then springs away from Crane House accompanied by the sound of tearing fabric. The quiet pad of running feet on grass diminishes into the night in the direction of the wall overlooking the river.

It would seem that the interloper's back-up had chosen the better part of valor.

[Fukurokujin]

The figure cocks its head slightly, hearing the commotion, hearing the changes in breathing within the quiet house. It tenses, preparing to flee.

~~~~~
Time to move this along...

Arai, Noriko, and Ryu, please roll Initiative.

Your friend here has Initiative 41, https://sakkaku.org/r/15851
Attack Stance, since I forgot to include it before
ATN is 28.
Noriko is already in melee range.
Arai and Ryu will need a Simple Action to close to melee range.
I doubt anyone slept in armor...

[Doji Noriko]

Initiative | 9k4 ⇒ 26

Noriko braced herself to defend her children. [Entering Defense Stance. Armor TN=32]

[Doji Arai]

Arai dressed in her night gown, sword in hand, is ready to move towards the source of the sound.

/
Initiative | 5k3+10 ⇒ 50

I'm afraid of all these lucky rolls

[Daidoji Ryu]

Initiative: Initiative! D2LN | 6k3 ⇒ 23
ATN 24
Defense stance

[Doji Arai]

Arai strides ahead and upon seeing the courtier facing an unknown figure, she rushes to get in the middle.

/defence stance, guard maneuver, ATN 18 for +10 ATN to Noriko

[Fukurokujin]

Initiative order is
Arai
Figure
Noriko
Ryu

Since Arai has highest initiative and has declared, she moves to melee range with her sword ready, as indicated.

The figure is not sticking around to see how this plays out and runs off, abandoning all pretense of stealth for the moment. The figure flees with an Athletics roll of 50, https://sakkaku.org/r/15855, absconding out the door through which it came.

Getting to or remaining in melee range will require making an Athletics (Running) / Strength roll, TN 50. If you have a School Technique that increases your movement rate, your TN on the roll is lowered by 1 for every additional foot of movement your Technique grants you.

Noriko is up.

[Doji Noriko]

Noriko springs into action, picking up her still-snoring sons and rushing to get out of her room, putting space and another bushi between her and any other potential interlopers.

[Noriko spends a simple action to grab her boys and uses a free action to move out of the way].

[Fukurokujin]

You're up!

[Daidoji Ryu]

Ryu could see at a glance that he didn't stand a chance of catching the intruder. So instead, he grabbed his bow (and an arrow), stringing it as quickly as possible while moving towards the door.

"Intruder!" He called, his normally calm voice tight with adrenaline. "Call the guard! Quickly!"

------------------------------------------------------------------------

(no chance of hitting 50 athletics, but maybe he can try to tag the guy with an arrow next round?)

[Fukurokujin]

Other Crane in the hizzouse who want to wake now may. You'd wake this round and roll Initiative to join next round, circumstances permitting.

It is now round 2.
Initiative order remains
Arai
Figure
Noriko
Ryu

Nobody is currently in melee range.

You're up

[Doji Arai]

(is there any short cut? Through a paper wall for instance?)