EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the log for the March 16th session, 2003. 

(1) DM Arkhandus: To recap recent events, the party returned to Otosan Uchi and reported to Akodo Kaneka, firstborn son of the late Emperor Toturi. Kaneka rewarded the party for their service, and then gave them a week to train and relax in Otosan Uchi. Then Kaneka asked the party to perform a new task for him and the Empire. Kaneka mentioned the bakemono and Oni that the party had previously tracked to the Chyrsanthemum Petal Lake, Mizu-Umi Kiku Hanabira. The creatures had built a raft or boat of some sort and sailed off, and the party decided that they couldn't catch up with the creatures at the time. Now Kaneka told the party that those Shadowlands creatures have been causing trouble in the southernmost Crane lands.
(1) DM Arkhandus: Lord Akodo asked the party to travel south to the area around the castle Daidoji Yukan-Se, the city Samui Kaze, and the town of Aketsu, the general area where the creatures have been causing trouble. Kaneka wants you to exterminate the Oni and its bakemono minions, so that they will not harm anyone else. The creatures have already slaughtered many heimin and Crane warriors, as most Crane soldiers are too busy fighting the Crab in the south.
(1) DM Arkhandus: Thus, Kaneka sent you south to deal with the problem, while he handles troubling matters near Dragon lands. Kaneka also has heard reports that the Oni and bakemono may be getting magical assistance from blood sorcerers, maho-tsukai, as the creatures have been appearing and disappearing in each of their attacks, preventing the few Daidoji family samurai in the area from doing much about the attacks.
(1) DM Arkhandus: As a result, Kaneka has also tasked you with validating these rumors, and if they are true, to destroy the blood sorcerers aiding the Oni and bakemono. To aid in these tasks, Kaneka lent you a new ally, Daidoji Aoshi, a samurai who has pledged to aid you and Lord Akodo in this matter and protecting his family's lands. The party has just begun to ride southward from Otosan Uchi now, and that is where we begin now........
(1) DM Arkhandus: The party rode for a day southward towards Minami Chushin, and arrived in the evening to rest.
(1) DM Arkhandus: In the morning, the party sets forth again, riding southward towards the town of Mizen.
** (8) Mai climbs into the carriage wagon, nibbling on a fish with Chaouji in her feline form atop a soft warm blanket **
(7) Aka: ::Aka shifts her form into her hybrid form for the trip, never knowing when the next shrub might attack the party, watching her fellow Hengy while she eats a banana::
(1) DM Arkhandus: The party rides for another day after that, arriving in Mizen easily. The party rests there for an evening and then sets out again, heading southwest towards the castle Kyuden Doji.
** (3) Korishi takes his breakfast and eats quietly. **
** (9) Kai Lyn opens her presious stash of eggs and SS and her settle down to a nice meal of raw eggs **
** (8) Mai continues trying to teach Korishi between meals and naps the language of the hengeyoki, always trying to have Aka or Kai nearby for comparison. **
** (7) Aka teaches Korishi all she knows about the many ways to talk about bananas in Hengiyoki. **
** (3) Korishi learns about bananas... among other things. **
** (9) Kai Lyn teaches her the difference in her tongue and that of the Monkey **
** (5) Kiran is always a big monkey **
(1) DM Arkhandus: The party travels halfway to Kyuden Doji, then at night they begin looking for a good spot to set up camp. The party makes camp and eats their evening meal, then retires.
(1) DM Arkhandus: ((Kai Lyn will be first watch then, Aoshi second, Aka third, and Korishi last.))
(1) DM Arkhandus: ((Kai Lyn, give me a Spot check and a Listen check. Default to a Wisdom check for either if you have no ranks in them))
(9) Kai Lyn: spot [1d20+2] -> [1,2] = (3)
(9) Kai Lyn: listen [1d20+4] -> [19,4] = (23)
(1) DM Arkhandus: A few hours after the party goes to sleep, Kai Lyn, on watch in her human form, hears several sounds of movement. She doesn't see anything, but can hear sounds approaching from four different directions.
(1) DM Arkhandus: The sounds are small and quiet, and she almost misses them. They are very close though once she notices them
** (3) Korishi stirs slowly, sitting up and blinking in the darkness. **
** (9) Kai Lyn shouts "Wake up we have company!" **
(1) DM Arkhandus: ((alright, now everyone will start to wake up, and whatever it is also knows that you are aware. Kai Lyn only gets to act in the first round, a surprise round, since it will take the rest a few moments to awaken and regain their senses.))
(1) DM Arkhandus: ((The critters were close when she heard their quiet noises))
** (9) Kai Lyn prepares a MM for the nearest beastie **
(1) DM Arkhandus: ((Roll initiative Kai Lyn))
(9) Kai Lyn: [1d20+3] -> [10,3] = (13)
(1) DM Arkhandus: ********* BEGIN COMBAT, SURPRISE ROUND **********
(1) DM Arkhandus: ********** CRITTER 1 *************
(1) DM Arkhandus: The nearest critter suddenly springs to action as Kai Lyn shouts out her warning, and it dashes forward. It turns out to be a large rat, about a foot and a half in length, and it moves forward to bite Kai Lyn in the leg.
(1) DM Arkhandus: Dire rat bite attack [1d20+6] -> [18,6] = (24) with damage [1d4] -> [4] = (4)
(1) DM Arkhandus: The rat bites Kai Lyn's left leg viciously, and spills much blood for such a small wound.
(1) DM Arkhandus: ((Kai Lyn, make a Fortitude save))
(9) Kai Lyn: [1d20+5] -> [16,5] = (21)
(1) DM Arkhandus: ********* CRITTER 2 **********
(1) DM Arkhandus: A second large rat acts before Kai Lyn, moving forward and biting Aoshi.
(1) DM Arkhandus: Dire rat bite attack [1d20+6] -> [1,6] = (7) and damage [1d4] -> [2] = (2)
(1) DM Arkhandus: Aoshi, rubbing the sleep from his eyes as Kai Lyn shouts, sees the critter moving in and moves just a little to get some of his leather armor to absorb the weak bite.
(1) DM Arkhandus: ********** CRITTER 3 ********
(1) DM Arkhandus: One more rat acts before Kai Lyn, moving in to bite Aka.
(1) DM Arkhandus: Dire rat bite [1d20+6] -> [10,6] = (16) and damage [1d4] -> [3] = (3)
(1) DM Arkhandus: Aka is bitten also by one of the rats, and cringes briefly as she is still trying to awaken fully.
(7) Aka: Fort [1d20+1] -> [3,1] = (4)
(1) DM Arkhandus: *********** KAI LYN *******
(1) DM Arkhandus: Kai Lyn now sees three of the large rats attacking her and her companions, but still hears one that is out of sight
(9) Kai Lyn: on rat that bit me [2d4+2] -> [1,1,2] = (4) MM
(9) Kai Lyn: 5 foot step
(1) DM Arkhandus: Kai Lyn steps back and blasts the rat near her with a magical strike, wounding the critter which squeeks painfully
(1) DM Arkhandus: ********** CRITTER 4 *********
(1) DM Arkhandus: The last rat, which Kai Lyn heard but couldn't find, now acts, deciding not to bother trying to attack in rat form. It grows to become man-sized, it's legs and arms elongating and developing dextrous fingers and toes, the back straightening a little. You now face a rat very much similar to Chet'mack'tick, only a little dirtier and more strange-looking
** (3) Korishi blinks in his sleepiness on seeing the man-rat thing... "Tell me thats a friend of yours Chet...." he mumbles. **
(1) DM Arkhandus: As the creature changes form, a long polearm oozes from its form and takes shape, hanging from a baldric upon the man-rat's back. He draws the naginata and swings it around a few times menacingly, taking only a short step forward.
(3) Korishi: "I guess not..." he says, now quite a bit more awake on seeing this.
(1) DM Arkhandus: The man-rat leers at Kai Lyn and those on the ground, a strange laughter coming from it's lips
(1) DM Arkhandus: ((Roll initiative now all. You're all lying prone, but I'll assume that either you've already cast aside blankets, or they only loosely cover you and will easily be removed when standing from prone))
(5) Kiran: Initiative: [1d20+3] -> [8,3] = (11)
** (9) Kai Lyn says (Hengey) "You are the impossible mating of a jackal and a skunk cabbage." **
(14) Mai: Combat Rolls: Init: [1d20 + 4] -> [16,4] = (20) Init
(3) Korishi: [1d20+3] -> [7,3] = (10)
(2) Aoshi: [1d20+4] -> [10,4] = (14)
(7) Aka: init [1d20+2] -> [3,2] = (5)
(4) Masato: Initiative: [1d20+8] -> [20,8] = (28)
(5) Kiran: Wolf Initiative: [1d20+2] -> [6,2] = (8)
(5) Kiran: Tiger Initiative: [1d20+2] -> [18,2] = (20)
(1) DM Arkhandus: Chet'mack'tick initiative [1d20+2] -> [13,2] = (15)
(1) DM Arkhandus: ********** COMBAT, FIRST NORMAL ROUND *******
(1) DM Arkhandus: ********** MASATO ********
** (4) Masato flanks the Goblin Rat as his katana flies out in a flash and slashes at the creature. **
(4) Masato: Katana: [1d20+10] -> [16,10] = (26)
(4) Masato: Damage: [1d10+3] -> [4,3] = (7)
(4) Masato: ((Okay. So I get up. Scratch myself some and yawn. Then go flank the rat.))
(1) DM Arkhandus: ********* GOBLIN RAT 1 *********
(1) DM Arkhandus: The large rat Masato has moved to flank now acts again, seeing the samurai get in his way. It decides to also change form, and rapidly mutates into another man-rat, while a small polearm oozes from his changing form and becomes a nagimaki, which he readies.
(1) DM Arkhandus: ************ GOBLIN RAT 2 *********
(1) DM Arkhandus: Meanwhile, the large rat that attacked Aoshi now transforms also, readying a kau-sin-ke whipping chain that forms from his shifting body.
(1) DM Arkhandus: ************ MAI *********
(1) DM Arkhandus: The three man-rats leer at the opponents before them, swinging, spinning, or otherwise moving their weapons threateningly
** (14) Mai rises quickly from her slumber, whispering quietly to Chaouji who slips under the covers of the wagon as she brings her hands up, stepping back and waving them before her as she brings a wide field of energy in front of her** **
(1) DM Arkhandus: The mangy critters smell faintly of garbage, rot, and other unpleasant scents.
(1) DM Arkhandus: ********** KIRAN'S TIGER ************
(5) Kiran: The tiger stands, and moves to a point south of the goblinrat
(1) DM Arkhandus: Mai scurries backwards, rises quickly, and mutters something.
(1) DM Arkhandus: ********* GOBLIN RAT 3 *******
(1) DM Arkhandus: The creature next to Aka changes form now, assuming the same half-man, half-rat form as the others, and a short ninja-to sword forms on him, which he draws. He then steps a little to the side to put Aoshi and Kai Lyn within easy reach of his blade.
(1) DM Arkhandus: ******* CHET ' MACK ' TICK ***********
(1) DM Arkhandus: The ratling gawks at these strange creatures, unbelieving. He quickly chitters something, then realizes he's speaking Nezumi and says instead in Rokugani "Not Nezumi! Not Nezumi!"
(3) Korishi: "Not Nezumi...I kinda was starting to guess that....."
(1) DM Arkhandus: Chet'mack'tick rises from his sleeping mat and draws his battleaxe, ready to defend himself and the others against the man-rats.
(1) DM Arkhandus: ********** AOSHI ***********
(2) Aoshi: [1d20+5] -> [19,5] = (24)
(2) Aoshi: (I'm attacking from prone and I'll draw one blade then)
(2) Aoshi: Crit threat: [1d20+5] -> [16,5] = (21)
(2) Aoshi: [1d6+2] -> [1,2] = (3)
(2) Aoshi: [1d6+2] -> [2,2] = (4)
(1) DM Arkhandus: Aoshi slashes the goblin rat that attacked him moments ago, and cuts the creature with some success. However, the wound quickly seals itself and leaves only the slightest hint of the wound!
(1) DM Arkhandus: ********** KAI LYN *********
(9) Kai Lyn: MM gobrat 3
(9) Kai Lyn: [2d4+2] -> [1,3,2] = (6) MM
(1) DM Arkhandus: Kai Lyn steps away again and this time blasts the goblin rat between Aoshi and Aka! The creature cringes as the magical blasts strike.
(1) DM Arkhandus: ************* KIRAN ***********
(1) DM Arkhandus: Kiran orders his tiger to attack the goblin rat near Korishi and Aka, and orders his wolf to attack the goblin rat fighting Masato. Then Kiran mutters an incantation and casts a spell, invoking Eagle to grant Korishi strength.
(1) DM Arkhandus: Kiran, bull's strength spell upon Korishi [1d4+1] -> [3,1] = (4)
(1) DM Arkhandus: Korishi feels a surge of strength as his muscles bulge!
(3) Korishi: "Thank you..." he replies as he feels the spell taking effect.
(1) DM Arkhandus: Now the young monk is no longer the scrawny kid he was before, but actually looks almost as strong as a full-grown man....
(1) DM Arkhandus: Kiran rises up to his feet then.
(1) DM Arkhandus: *********** KORISHI *********
** (3) Korishi flips up and leaps to attack rat number 4 **
(3) Korishi: Tumble [1d20+9] -> [2,9] = (11)
(1) DM Arkhandus: Korishi attempts to roll forward and attack the goblin rat, but does a poor job of it and the creature slashes at him with its naginata in the process.
(1) DM Arkhandus: Naginata [1d20+2] -> [11,2] = (13) and damage [1d10] -> [4] = (4)
** (3) Korishi still manages to dodge around the naginata. **
** (3) Korishi slams his fist into the rats jaw with a snap punch. [1d20+5] -> [14,5] = (19) **
(1) DM Arkhandus: Korishi, however, barely avoids the naginata as his tumbling almost brings him right into its path. He springs up to attack.
(3) Korishi: [1d6] -> [3] = (3) dmg
(1) DM Arkhandus: Korishi solidly punches the creature, his enhanced strength inflicting decent damage, but the creature shrugs off the attack and no bruise is evident.
(1) DM Arkhandus: ******** GOBLIN RAT 4 ********
(1) DM Arkhandus: The creature steps back from Korishi and strikes with his naginata.
(1) DM Arkhandus: Naginata [1d20+2] -> [8,2] = (10) and damage [1d10] -> [7] = (7)
** (3) Korishi easiliy swats the blade aside. **
(1) DM Arkhandus: The goblin rat misses, however.
(1) DM Arkhandus: ************ KIRAN'S WOLF ********
(1) DM Arkhandus: The wolf moves in as Kiran instructed it, attacking the goblin rat before Masato.
(1) DM Arkhandus: Wolf bite attack [1d20+3] -> [15,3] = (18) and damage [1d6+1] -> [2,1] = (3)
(1) DM Arkhandus: The wolf snaps at the critter, which squeaks irritatedly, but ignores the feeble attack, which leaves only the tiniest of blood streaks, and no wound......... You are beginning to notice a strange pattern.
(1) DM Arkhandus: ********** AKA *********
(3) Korishi: "We can't hurt these things... What ARE they?"
(7) Aka: ::Aka cries out in pain when the rat awakens her with it's bite...she see's her assailant so close and quickly starts to crab-walk as fast as she can away from the creature, backing in the direction between Masato and Korishi before popping up to her feet::
(7) Aka: ::Aka gets up and orients herself..scanning the area, and noting that Goblin Rat that Korishi faces has backed up a bit...meaning he's open to attack...she points her finger and says the command word for her headband...a beam of pure white light streaks from the middle of the band towards the rat creature::
(7) Aka: Attack and no penalty for people in way [1d20+2] -> [10,2] = (12)
(1) DM Arkhandus: Aka's bandana unleashes a magical bolt of light at the creature, but misses!
(1) DM Arkhandus: ((can finish the battle and move on next session.))
(1) DM Arkhandus: ((that's the end of the first round))