Tales of the Jewel

The Ra'Shari camp had been a routine hangout for Rufus, and tonight it was serving as an alibi as well. He had been out patrolling already, dealing with some of the scum of the local underworld who had been making moves on the camp, and there was some goodwill already generated from chasing them off. So when monsters from potentially the literal underworld arrived, it wasn't great, but he was at least somewhat armed and armored. He isn't afraid of the monster as it arrives. He sends a look over to Raya and steps forward, making himself a target for the creature.

EN Hungry City (Attack) - Fear Check TN 20, VP spent | 3k3 ⇒ 37 (TN: 20)
Stance: Defense
Base TN: 27
Armor Reduction: 5
Defense: +3 Tn from Air Stance
Current TN: 30
Initiative: EN Hungry City (Attack) - Initiative | 4k3 ⇒ 26 (TN: ?)

When Rufus explained what was going on, Raya was happy to volunteer her help. As always, she seemed too cheerful, but there was an almost steely look about her as she approached the agreed spot. Rather than her usual colourful outfit, she was dressed very plainly in black.

There was a nod to Rufus as she also moved, quieter and a slightly different way to how the louder Yodotai moved. Her own foosteps were quiet, measured, calculated.

(ooc:
D2EN Hungry City event. Fear 3 roll (TN20). VP spent, Integrity added | 3k3+1 ⇒ 32 (TN: 20) Not afraid
D2EN Hungry City event. Initiative | 3k2 ⇒ 11 (TN: ?)
D2EN Hungry City event. Stealthing. +1k0 from school | 8k4 ⇒ 37 (TN: ?)

Stance: Attack
Init: 11
TN: 15

In the tangled maze of city streets it was sometimes hard to notice a threat until it was far too close. Though the two were on their guard a shallow alley, hidden behind a stall, concealed their foe until the two forces were almost on top of each other.

Snarling it burst through the stall, coming up just short of them, though it seems focused solely on the Yodotai at the moment.

(D2, EN: Initiative | 4k3 ⇒ 14 (TN: ?) - Attack
D2, EN: Smell the Sneaksy? | 5k2 ⇒ 19 (TN: 37)
How far? | 5k5 ⇒ 16 (TN: ?)

The ghul and the characters are 16 feet apart.

26 - Rufus - Defense - TN30
14 - Ghul - Attack - TN20
11 - Raya - Attack - TN15

Rufus is up)

Rufus draws his knife and waits, putting himself into the direct pathway while shielding Raya, effectively offering the ghul an obvious target, while offering her the chance to flank and get a clean shot in on the monster.

_____
Simple Action: Draw Knife
Simple Action: Guard Raya
Free action: Advance 5 feet to ghul
Stance: Defensive

Whenever Raya is within 5 feet of Rufus, her TN is 25 (+10) and his is 25 (-5)

The ghul watches the man warily... he was near but not near enough to pounce.

Hoping to lure him nearer the creature scoops up some of the broken pottery from the stall and hurls it, ineffectually, at the Yodotai.

(Complex action attack
D2, EN: Attack - Throw! | 4k3 ⇒ 15 (TN: 30)


26 - Rufus - Defense - TN30/25
14 - Ghul - Attack - TN20
11 - Raya - Attack - TN15/25

Raya's up)

Raya, staying in the shadows, moved slightly closer....

(simple action move
Simple action draw knife

The piece of the pottery crashes nowhere near close to Rufus. While his adrenaline surges, years of training kick in. A noble samurai of Rokugan, or a swashbuckler might feel compelled to charge the creature, or to face it in single combat. But as much as Rufus thought of himself as Gallim, at the end of the day he had been trained to fight as Yodotai. If there was a single thing that the Yodotai war machine relied upon, it was that it was steady tactics. If the creature was throwing something, there was a reason it chose not to change the range. With its current aim, Rufus had time. His posture shifts to a more neutral one, readying himself, saying nothing to the creauture.

____
Enters Void stance
+1k1 to next action
Tn 27

(D2, EN: Willpower - shouldn't let the tasty hit me, but the tasty is *right there* | 2k2 ⇒ 8 (TN: 15))

The ghul growls and snarls at the man before finally giving in to its base urges and moving to engage with him though it does remain somewhat aware of the danger it is putting itself in.

(Defense stance for what little it does
Simple move to engage

26 - Rufus - Center - TN27
14 - Ghul - Defense - TN21
11 - Raya - Attack - TN15

Raya's up)

Raya didn't move. She let the creature fly past her, and prepared for the perfect strike from the shadows....

(Going into centre stance this turn, +10 to init next turn)

Rufus holds steady, letting the creature get close without.

Any moment now would be great Raya. This is going to hurt.

_________
Holding action, will use VP to reduce damages if hit