Mission 4: Mikawa Recruitment

[Laharl]

"Agreed, we need all the information we can get on the state of affairs, both military and civil."

[Zanaikin]

"Well, Ayumu?"

"Not sure," came the response, and Sugire's chest lurched forward as if he was about to head---horse. "We only know the general area their base is in--- northwest Mikawa, within 5 miles of the border."

"Oh... generous... that's like over 100 square miles to cover."

"Better get to it then," the ninja's voice and expression was as disinterested as usual.

Akira sighed but said nothing.

Sugire shrugged, "well--- we'll be in the area in another hour or so, but these phantom steeds'll be out of magic by then. This staff doesn't have what it takes to conjure one for everyone again. I'll have one more cast: partially charged mount for everyone that'll last only about an hour (Phantom Steed [Communal]), after that we'll have to do on foot. Should we split up to cover more area?"


( regardless of what you choose, I need 3 Perception checks and 3 Survival[tracking] checks, for starters... )

[TheDude51]

"We should stay together, I don't want to split up in potentially hostile territory unless its absolutely necessary. If we don't find them today, I can use divinations to narrow down the search further."

Perception:
Terasaka (+11): 30, 18, 26
Yumi (+24): 29, 25, 36

Survival:
Terasaka (+2, aid other): 6, 21, 20
Yumi (+24): 32, 42, 33 [doesn't include any aid other]

[Laharl]

"Agreed. We should stick together."

Perception:
12+14=26
16+14=30
20+14=44

Survival[tracking]:
8+19=27
20+19=47
8+19=27

[Zanaikin]

( for anyone who wants to know the local terrain... )
( search up "Okazaki castle to Yoshida castle" on Google Maps [yes, these two places are real, you'll also see Nagoya to the northwest])
( around north of where Google labels "Mt. Hongu" and N-NW of "Mt. Horagi" would be where your search area is. )

[Sajuuk]

"Sticking together is the best course of action, in my opinion."

Perception:
1d20+18 → [17,18] = (35)
1d20+18 → [11,18] = (29)
1d20+18 → [16,18] = (34)

Survival:
1d20+16 → [3,16] = (19)
1d20+16 → [6,16] = (22)
1d20+16 → [4,16] = (20)

[Zanaikin]

By the grace of the gods and the group's superior tracking skills honed during the days of exile in the Death Lands, the party actually manages to find the resistance's trail rather easily and follow them back to the mountain stronghold... although they did encounter a number of traps ranging from snares to bear traps to spiked pits along the way--- thankfully someone had always managed to spot it before another could stumble into it, but it's clear these woods are meant to be unfriendly towards outside visitors.

The rebels' stronghold was a simple wooden fortification located on the top of a steep hill, with a tall stockade wall with several watchtowers and archery platforms built behind them. There was only one main gate, and plenty of sentries scattered around the walls. It doesn't seem like any of them have noticed the party yet though...

( also Judson, Dave requests your presence --- )

[TheDude51]

Terasaka will cast Fickle Winds on the party before they make the final approach, just in case the rebels turn out to have itchy trigger fingers. The group will then approach slowly and openly directly towards the main gate, trying not to make any threatening moves.

[Zanaikin]

"Boss!" the watchtower guard on the gate shouted into the stronghold as the group approached, "we've got visitors!" He then turned back towards you, while his comrades turned the scorpions mounted on the towers in your direction. "Identify yourselves!"

[TheDude51]

"My name is Terasaka Takayoshi! We have been sent by your lord, Tougou Tsuyoshi, to rally those who remain true to the house of Tougou!"

Terasaka then pauses his shouting to give the guards time to collect themselves.

[Zanaikin]

[Zanaikin]

( So based on what we spoke of at end of the meeting yesterday --- castle infiltration/raid planning and all. Since the scope of 'everything' here is a little too broad, tell me what information you need (listed is fine) and I'll give it to you. We can assume this is all being presented as a mission planning meeting with the notable local allies )

The Basics:
Mission: Retrieve Rainer's homunculus.
Target: Okazaki Castle (Tokugawa's administrative center and southern stronghold)
Target Description: A two-tiered castle of masonry and surrounded by a moat with water diverted from the nearby river.
Terrain: Elevated on a hill but surrounded by flat-ground where a castle town has built up. It is also right besides a local river and not far from the Yahagi river which is one of the major ones in the region. The terrain becomes rough and heavily wooded only 1.5miles to the northeast of the castle so getting into the region and waiting for a good moment should be easy. (You can search for Okazaki Castle on google-maps actually to see the area).

Situation: With the Oda also pressing in from the south and skirmishing within 20miles of the castle, Tokugawa's southern defense is currently operating out of Okazaki Castle, sending reaction and counterattack forces from it to support units still deployed in the field whenever appropriate. However, many believe it will not be long before the Oda sweep aside the local forces and lay siege to the castle directly.

Tokugawa Southern Defense Commanders:
--- Li Naomasa (Leyasu's 2nd best samurai commander, known for his initiative, fierceness, and ability to continue fighting despite terrible wounds)
--- Sakai Tadatsugu (ninja commander; decent but known for being too curious and somewhat alcoholic)
--- Hattori Hanzou (ninja commander; extremely capable and amongst the top 5 in Japan)
Forces:
900+ Ashigaru Spearmen (humans; low morale after being savaged by Oda troops on multiple occasions)
500+ Ashigaru Archers (50% tanuki, rest humans)
150+ Samurai (30% tanuki, but mostly of the Saji, Matsudaira, and Mizuno clans; all of which samurai families who once served under the Tougou)
500+ Ninjas (mostly tanuki)


Oda Southern Force Commanders:
--- Rance (the foreign shadow lord of the Oda seems to be leading the southern force himself, along with mostly foreign troops)
--- Uruza Planaeis (one of the Four Heavenly Lords of Zeth and a reputed tactician)
--- Maria Custard (Custom Defense Force commander; a renowned genius mage-turned-engineer from the mainland)
--- Rizna Lanfebit (mage-commander from Zeth; wields a naginata so likely quite capable in melee)
--- Maeda Toshiie (Oda samurai commanding the ashigaru of the southern force; rather average but known for being very loyal)
Forces:
500-800 Ashigaru Spearmen
300-400 Mercenary Pikemen (low morale; they were hit harder in recent fights than they were paid for)
250-350 Custom Hand-Cannoneers
100-200 Ashigaru Musketeers (low morale; unit reformed after being shattered by Kenshin's assault)
700-900 Zeth Musketeers (Gunmages)
100-400 Ninjas (some claim they wear crests from the Kingdom of Leazus)
2 Carracks (seaside fire support)

In recent battles and skirmishes between the two sides, both the Custom Hand-Cannoneers and the Zeth Musketeers have proven devastatingly effective at long ranges. The Zeth Musketeers seem to use their weapons as a fireball(+variant) staff first and musket second.


( Judson: if you want a RP-meeting with Kentarou/Miki feel free to discuss times or start it up in your RP thread =P )

[TheDude51]

Overall plan:
Step 1: ninjas sneak into Okazaki to gather information, report back.
--They will bring attuned Communication Ring and report back results in real time, so we can have them investigate further based on preliminary results.

Information needed:
-Is the city sealed to civilians? If no, what precautions are taken against infiltrators? What areas are off-limits to civilians?
-Current location of and guards posted on Rainer's construct
-Disposition of guards and military forces in and around the city (general outline)
-Watch schedules and rigor/alertness/skill of guards, both on outer perimeter and within the city (general outline)
-Possible escape routes and points of entry/exit
-Presence of magical protections or wards on areas of interest to us

Step 2: Party enters Okazaki Castle, activates the construct, and escapes
--Our goal is to do this as stealthily as possible, minimizing combat

-Enter city via mundane or magical means
-Sneak into castle using Invisibility and stealth skills
-Activate Construct, perhaps liberate some other loot/supplies if they are nearby
-Attempt to sneak out- either leave the city entirely while invisible, or hide out in an illusion-concealed Rope Trick in an abandoned building somewhere until the heat dies down, then leave
-If stealth attempts fail at any point, first response is to kill enemies in the immediate area without sounding a general alarm
-If that fails, Construct will make a beeline for the exit (path determined beforehand), while the rest of the party either flees in a different direction or goes to ground

Questions for Rainer:
Can the construct use Shigeru's extracts? [Actually a question for DM]
How fast is the construct? Can it outrun pursuit on foot? On horseback?
How powerful is the construct? Could it conceivably breakout through a city gate against heavy opposition?

[Squall255]

Question2: Answer: 50ft. move speed, (so yes to foot, horse is close) 1/hour double move 500ft. (yes that's right 500)
Queston3: Answer: equivalent response to It has a 23 Str and wields a Bec De Corbin made of strong metals. Large size. (I'm thinking yes. Unless Dai's city gates are stupidly strong. I figure Adamantine DR Pen on the doors helps a lot.)

[Zanaikin]

On the morning of November 30th, the group sets out for the woods near the Okazaki Castle Town. The two ninjas Akira and Ayumu had already left several hours ago to infiltrate the city. Of the rebels, Izayoi Touka had offered to come along to give you a hand and fill you in on local information you lack, while Genichirou is staying behind to watch the base this mind. Kentarou (& Miki, since she seems inseparable from him) also requests to come along, although he seems a little too excited at the prospect.
( Yes I do need a response for this part... )

Before the party leaves camp, Genichirou informs you all that most of his men have agreed to join Tougou and the resistance movement, once business here finishes.

Around mid-morning, after coming within sight range of the castle itself, the group, still in the trees, begin receiving the first reports from Ayumu on the scouting mission (remember; CommRing's range is limited):
--- City is not sealed to civilians. There are checkpoints that requests your reasons for coming to town and checks you for weapons, as well as plenty of patrols; but they're mostly just ashigaru and maybe a samurai and overall extremely easy to fool. The more troublesome part is that there are ninjas hidden within the town disguised as civilians. Ayumu noticed at least three during his time around.
--- Neither of them managed to confirm the construct's location. Based on what Akira gathered, it was locked away in an armory near the southeast side, which was heavily guarded and neither of them wanted to risk raising an alarm going in with orders to do so.
--- The city itself was lightly defended: about five checkpoints, each with up to twelve ashigaru and one samurai; followed by twice that number in patrols. The castle walls were also well patrolled by ashigaru day and night, usually in squads of 4 to 6 each; the towers and wall bastions were also stationed with watches of 3-5 ashigaru each. The ashigaru's positioning/scheduling was obviously done by a master of infiltration/security, as their sight range covered every angle of approach into the castle, and each group/watch was also within sight of at least two other groups at any time. It would be nearly impossible to not be noticed by them during a normal approach. However, Ayumu confirmed that they can't see invisibility--- at least, those on the outer walls and towers can't.
--- More dangerously is the fact there are ninja 'shadow patrols' in the castle: these patrols move under stealth from cover to cover, and it doesn't seem like they have any regularity, nor do they interact with the ashigaru patrols. Ayumu only spotted two patrols before he was noticed and had to escape, so he can't provide much more information than that.
--- The Castle has two entrances - north & east, but most likely we'd need to move up/down the walls. There are a number of back alleys in the town itself good for both sneaking in and out, assuming one gets out of the ~300ft wide open dirt and pavement grounds in front of the castle unscatched, not to mention the 10ft wide moat that's deeper than a man.
--- Neither Akira nor Ayumu are skilled in magic so they can't do much in the wards sensing department.

--- [DM] Yes Rainer's construct can use extracts/potions. They do drink fluids it seems.
--- Most of the gates are actually wooden, with metal frames to reinforce.