Forums of the Coast

Before the group goes on, Terasaka takes a minute to cast Blood Biography on the dead officer, learning the man's name (what he is most commonly known as) and role (these two together should include his rank and possibly the designation of his group). Terasaka then puts on the Ring of Communication, staying silent and listening in. He will remain quiet while he's wearing it, and take it off briefly if he needs to say something to the others.

(nice!)
(name: Mashiro, rank: Lieutenant / Elite Squad Leader)

Nothing at all happens for another half an hour--- then, Terasaka hears: "Mashiro! you're late for your check in! Have you reached the destination yet?".

At this point you can already see the castle's silhouette looming in the distance, just another few miles away. It won't be long before they also notice the torches of the main column marching behind the vanguard groups.

Terasaka pauses for a moment before replying, trying his best to sound stern and military. "Lieutenant Mashiro here, we've reached the destination. Area's clean, nothing to report."

(Bluff check: 32)

Reply: "Huh? well--- that's odd... must have reported the wrong position to us or something. Return to the Castle with your guys Mashiro, we'll leave this be until more info comes in."

(take 240XP, that was some quick thinking xD)

The maneuver began as successful as it had been planned...

As the strike groups and reserve units waited in the woods south of the castle, the main column, with its torches blazing and escorting various siege engines, marched around the castle and to the high ground in the north. The garrison quickly awoke after they first sighted the attacking force and took to the walls, preparing its defensive artillery weapons and heating up large pots of oil. At the beginning, they were scattered all around the castle's outer walls, unsure of where the attack will come from. But as the main column settled into the north and noises of battle, of catapults and scorpions firing and the screams of men dying, began to resound in the air, the defenders pulled almost all of their men towards the northern walls, leaving just a few soldiers here and there as sentries.

The sun was already rising in the distance. But here on the southwestern side, the tall, elevated position of the castle was casting a far shadow over the clearing--- a 200ft gap from the tree line to the 20ft high outer walls (Japanese castle walls have slitted wooden battlement with top cover).

Tougou Tsuyoshi then moved over stealthily and whispered to the party: "Ryouga's group will lead... as soon as you notice movement from his side on the right, go! Remember, you guys' are to get inside the second wall as soon as possible, seize control of that gate, and don't let them take it back! Don't let them get back in until reinforcements arrive also!"

( final buffs, initiative check, and stealth check everyone )

( also Marty: you have any Fly/Soar potions available to distribute? Levitate also works. Otherwise anyone not able to fly gets a grappling hook and rope and will have to climb the walls the hard way ).

Terasaka casts Aura of Doom (Duration: 100 minutes), Archon's Aura (Duration: 10 minutes), and then Shield of Faith on each of the four party members (Duration: 10 minutes; +3 deflection AC).

Initiative: 14
Stealth: -13 (yeah, thats a nat-1 combined with a negative modifier) (Terasaka is staying back until Ryouga's group is absolutely definitely well on their way in)

(Init: 17+10=27, Stealth: 10+17=27)

(A potion of Soar would cost 1050GP, so no, I don't have any. I can prep 5 extracts of it which I can hand out to other people, but that means no Greater Cures)

(Well 4 extracts would work best then, 1 for each.)
(Judson you might want to use a hero point to reroll, otherwise you just tripped very audibly on your way up to the walls... your choice (shrug)).

Shigeru hands out extracts of Personal Soar to everyone. (Fly 60' (Average) (40' if encumbered or in medium or heavy armor), +4 insight bonus to Fly checks)
Shiguer is also leaving his portable alchemist's lab back in his quarters along with the stuff he stores in it (since that cuts 51lbs off my load and keeps me at light load).
Shigeru uses his extracts of Personal Soar and Personal Force Shield (+4 armor to ac, raises AC to 29 when in combination with Terasaka's Shield of Faith

(Init: 3+8 = 11 (wtf, its the law of Inverse Initiative Bonuses still))
(Stealth: 18+8 = 26)

(HeP re-roll: Stealth 9)

( Init Order: Yuuta/Dave[27] -> Terasaka/Judson[14] -> Enemies -> Yumi[11] -> Shigeru/Marty[11] -> EnemyReinforcements )

Five figures came out of the treeline and began advancing towards the walls. Ryouga's squad has began the operation, and nine more from Heita and Tougou's squads quickly joined them. The party stepped out of the trees to begin moving up to the walls as well, and so far everyone is still trying to be as quiet as possible...

Yuuta reaches the bottom of the outer walls first, thanks to his ability to move quickly while maintaining stealth. But most of the squads were still 50ft out when a yell was hear from the battlements--- "ATTACK! ENEMIES FROM THE SOUTH!"

Any pretense of stealth was quickly abandoned at that point.

All four squads and eighteen battle-hardened veterans took off into the air, straight towards the battlements that provided not only improved cover but partial concealment for those behind it during this time of day. Behind them, over fifty warriors burst from the tree line and began running towards the walls...

Two arrows soared towards Terasaka, but both of them missed...

Yuuta was the first one to fly over the battlement covers and behind it... and saw only two samurai archers guarding this portion of the outer wall (within aerial charge range), with about two dozen spear ashigaru lead by two officers running towards this direction from the east (~120ft away). You could also see movement behind the inner wall battlements 120ft away, although they can't be more than a few people

Everyone else will need another round...

( Dave, go! )

[For those who don't know the different between Japanese castle walls and western designs--- here's two screencaps from Shogun2TW: ]