Avatar Legends - The Northern War

[jaydude]

Where the game takes place.

 

[jaydude]

Purr Psychie Sherwood Wandering Owl

The escape from Fort Baju was both hectic and risky. But in the end, it was arguably worth it. Not just for the delightful sensation of regaining your freedom, but for the looks of pure disbelief on the faces of General Daizun, the fort commander and all their soldiers. After all, who would have expected Bamboo to have access to a flying bison, nearly a full century after the last known sightings of one?

Now the four of you are sat upon the back of Yún as she flies through the evening sky, Bamboo at the reins, and Li Bao, Ichi and Liu Bing in the saddle. It's a moment for you all to catch your breaths, perhaps bask in the euphoria of having defied the supposedly mighty Fire Nation, and maybe also get to talking with each other. Some of you might not know the others too well yet, but after taking on Daizun and escaping him together, you can't deny that there's a bond of trust between you all, one that makes you want to stick together for reasons besides safety in numbers.

With regards to Liu Bing, the woman who was once a loyal subject of the Fire Nation before her defection, the other three can't deny that they saw her beating off Daizun's soldiers with her staff during the escape. And Liu Bing's instincts tell her that if she wants to start making friends on the other side of the Hundred Year War, she could do a lot worse than the rest of the quartet.


But while this might be a time of respite for you all, it could perhaps also be a time to plan your next move.

A fifth figure, a young male Earthbender named Han, is also sat upon the saddle. He was a fellow prisoner you escaped with; from what he's told you all, he's part of a local rebel group within the state of Tongdao, where the four of you are now. He's already indicated that he plans to rejoin his fellow rebels and continue the fight against the Fire Nation alongside them, meaning that unlike the rest of you, he isn't likely to stick around indefinitely.

Currently, Han is resting his back against the side of the saddle, while examining a red and gold metal tube that has the Fire Nation insignia upon it. It was previously in the office of Fort Baju's commander; Han insisted on stealing it during the escape. Apparently, the contents of the scroll within are of vital importance to the Fire Nation's efforts to conquer the region, which if successful would allow the Fire Nation to push through the mountains before splitting and encircling the Earth Kingdom forces in the neighbouring states, and from there perhaps march on the Earth Kingdom capital of Ba Sing Se.

On the other hand, if the scroll could be delivered to General Shizu, the head of the Earth Kingdom forces in the area, General Daizun's plans would be thrown into jeopardy, and the Fire Nation's efforts here would be stymied, at least for the moment.

What do you wish to do?

Spoiler: Group stats

Li Bao​

Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]
Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [_]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]
Balance: Self-Reliance - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Trust

O-Ren Ichi​

Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]
Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [_]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]
Balance: Support - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Leadership

Liu Bing​

Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]
Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [_]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]
Balance: Control - (_)-(B)-(_)-{_}-(X)-(X)-(X) - Connection

Bamboo​

Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]
Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [_]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]
Balance: Role - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Freedom

 

[Sherwood]

Liu Bing is feeling very troubled as she stares out into space, not really seeing the amazing view of the countryside as they fly along on the back of the sky bison, her hands clenched tight upon the haft of her spear hard enough to make them hurt. But she doesn't even notice it, with her thoughts a whirlwind of chaos in her mind. I have committed the ultimate in betrayal to my nation. I've disobeyed orders, fought against fellow Fire Nation soldiers, and even spilt their blood, all to help these prisoners to escape. Prisoners that not all that long ago I would have struggled to keep in place or kill to prevent them from escaping. What have I done?

The truth of the war that her people were committing had been shown to her in all its brutal glory, and as such, she could not bear to stand idly by and do nothing. Liu had to step in to do the right thing, no matter the personal cost. She looks over at the others, sitting on the back of Yun as it flies, wondering what is going on inside them. Obviously, they are all happy to be out of that hellhole of a prison, but what now? Will they stick together, or scatter off to the four winds?

What of that metal tube that Han has? Shouldn't they look into that? Finally clearing her throat, Liu asks the Earthbender, "What is it that you have there? You got it from the office of the warden, so it must be important."

 

[jaydude]

Han gives Liu Bing a wry smile, albeit a hesitant one. He might know first-hand that she's a fellow escapee and a traitor to her people, but he can't just forget the fact that she once served the Fire Nation, despite whatever efforts he might be making.

"The Fire Nation typically uses these to store military orders or other important documents." he answers, before chuckling a little. "It's funny. With all the excitement of our recent escape, I never thought to look inside it until now."

He does so, and takes out a scroll which he quickly unfurls. After a couple of seconds however, his expression becomes a frustrated grimace.

"Argh, it's in a cipher. And one I'm not familiar with." he complains. "Figures..."

Spoiler: Group Stats

Li Bao​

Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]
Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [_]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]
Balance: Self-Reliance - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Trust

O-Ren Ichi​

Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]
Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [_]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]
Balance: Support - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Leadership

Liu Bing​

Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]
Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [_]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]
Balance: Control - (_)-(B)-(_)-{_}-(X)-(X)-(X) - Connection

Bamboo​

Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]
Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [_]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]
Balance: Role - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Freedom

 

[Sherwood]

Liu smiles. "Could be worse; we may not have it at all. At least this way we have the chance to do something with it." She thinks for a moment, then says, "I remember a few of the old codes that I used to use before my arrest. Perhaps it is something that I can recognize? Can I take a look at it and see? If not, we are not out anything."

 

[jaydude]

Liu smiles. "Could be worse; we may not have it at all. At least this way we have the chance to do something with it." She thinks for a moment, then says, "I remember a few of the old codes that I used to use before my arrest. Perhaps it is something that I can recognize? Can I take a look at it and see? If not, we are not out anything."

Han nods and hands Liu the scroll. "Be my guest."

Spoiler: OOC for Sherwood

Attempting to translate the scroll is a rely on your skills and training move. Go ahead and roll 2D6, adding 3 onto the result from your Focus stat. You need a total of at least 7 to succeed, and getting less than 10 will have a problematic consequence; which in this case would be getting incomplete information from the scroll.

 

[Sherwood]

Liu carefully takes the scroll, making sure to not let go of it in the wind and takes a long look at it.

Total of a 12!

 

[jaydude]

The code is very much a familiar one to Liu, and as she reads the scroll's contents, a grim picture forms in her mind.

Under Danzin, the Fire Nation has discovered a number of caves and tunnels underneath Fort Tongdao, the Earth Kingdom's chief bastion in this region. General Shizu and his forces are completely unaware of this network; were an attacking force to move through these tunnels, they'd be able to completely avoid Fort Tongdao's formidable defenses and catch the defenders utterly off-guard, allowing for an easy capture. Such an offensive is already being prepared by Danzin, and once Fort Tongdao falls, the Fire Nation's control of the region is assured.

 

[Psychie]

O-Ren is quite happy to be finally out of that hellhole of the prison, sitting upright in her seat reveling the feeling of the wind blowing in her hair and face. It isn't until she hears Liu talking to Han that she turns her attention to look at the former soldier. If it were not for her, their escape attempt may not have gone as well as it did. O-Ren remembers that spear in her hands spinning in a blur as she helped to fight their way out. A real nasty opponent; one that O-Ren is glad to have on their side.

She watches Liu look at the scroll, and asks, "Well, can you read it? If so, is it something important?"

 

[Sherwood]

After reading it over twice to make sure that she didn't make any mistakes in understanding the message, Liu says, "Well, it certainly isn't the lunch menu for the prison commandant. This says that there are underground tunnels below Fort Tongdao that the Fire Nation has discovered, tunnels that apparently the defenders of the Fort don't know about. Using these passages, the soldiers can bypass the defenses of Tongdao and get inside with ease." She looks up at the others, knowing that if it were her in charge of a squad of troops what her orders would be. It would be a slaughter of the Earth Nation's people here.

"We have to get this information to the defenders of Fort Tongdao so that they can close up those tunnels, or better yet, leave them open long enough to set a trap for the invaders and bring them down on them at the right time."

 

[Psychie]

O-Ren nods in agreement. If the Fire Nation takes that Fort, it will throw the whole region into chaos, and put them one step closer to taking the capitol. "I agree. There has to be a way to get past the soldiers laying siege to the Fort and warn the defenders about what the Fire Nation is planning for them. Lucky for us, we have a flying sky bison to be able to do just that. I just hope that they will listen to us."

 

[jaydude]

"I'm familiar with General Shizu. He provides intelligence and support to my resistance group whenever he's able to, and he's genuinely committed to fighting the Fire Nation." Han says in response to Liu and O-Ren's words. "If we can get to Fort Tongdao, he'll be willing to at least hear us out, especially once he learns we've got this scroll. He might be a bit uncomfortable being around someone from the Fire Nation though."

He glances at Liu as he says this last sentence, as if wondering how the Fire National will react to such an assessment.

 

[Purr]

Spoiler: Instrumental Mood Music

"Deep Forest - Forest Hymn" A positive song of gentle triumph if there ever was one!

The escape from Fort Baju was both hectic and risky. But in the end, it was arguably worth it. Not just for the delightful sensation of regaining your freedom, but for the looks of pure disbelief on the faces of General Daizun, the fort commander and all their soldiers. After all, who would have expected Bamboo to have access to a flying bison, nearly a full century after the last known sightings of one?

Once he realizes he his company are indeed freed from the awfulness and alienness that is Fire Nation's Fort Baju, Bamboo smiles with soulfelt gratitude and buries his face in Yún's fur! Knowing full well that Sky Bisons do not speak human languages except to recognize the most basic of commands, Bamboo of the Rainbow Children, instead of expressing his love for her with words, leans close to one of her ears and scratches there heartily, all the while mimicking happy Sky Bison sounds into Yún's ear. He had missed her so! He finds himself singing songs from his temple to her - sweet songs of freedom!

As they fly, Bamboo glances back in the direction of Fort Baju and frowns deeply. Only in tales had he learned that people imprisoned each other like this, but to suffer through it was a lot different than any story he had ever heard or read. And the people he was traveling with! They had suffered so much longer than he. His days! Their months!

Bamboo gives one last happy grunt to Yún before turning to her saddle and the supplies stuffed inside. "Here. For you!" He says with a shy grin. His strong hands are filled with piles of fresh, luscious berries, hearty fruit-breads, and refreshing river water from Bamboo's home which he passes to... oh yes! Their names are... Li Bao, Han, O-Ren, and Liu Bing! And this was quite possibly their first non-prison meal in what must feel like an eternity! Only after they have received these gifts does Bamboo move to partake and see to his own body's needs. While eating, he wonders how hungry Yún might be.

With her, it was never a matter of if she was hungry, but how much. As he breathed in the fresh evening wind, he felt it was a wonderful thing to be thinking of Yún's appetite instead of wondering terribly if they were ever going to see each other again. That was terrible. Sure, Bamboo had been jailed because he had refused to give Yún up to the Fire Nation in the first place, but he realized now that he would endure their punishments a thousand times if it meant Yún would fly free of their clutches.

Han nods and hands Liu the scroll. "Be my guest."

Seeing this scroll and understanding Liu Bing's ability to translate it, Bamboo immediately thinks of his responsibilities to his own people - searching for hidden histories and artifacts. While the contents of the Fire Nation scroll were neither histories nor artifacts, it certainly was something the Fire Nation wanted hidden! Given the circumstances, that was more than good enough for Bamboo to want to record it.

Then he recalls the words of his masters and another of his promises - to provide aid and succor to the downtrodden. Under the heel of the Fire Nation, what would the people of Fort Tongdao become if not downtrodden? Bamboo and his new allies could do nothing for them inside Fort Baju, but now? They were free to take action! Bamboo reaches for his quill and inkwell.

The Rainbow Child monk looks to Han. Bamboo speaks as if having chosen his every word with care. "This scroll - it is important to the safety of innocent people," then to Liu Bing, "and you clearly possess the skill to decipher it." Bamboo reaches for his beloved journal, its thickness and familiar pages reminding him of home. "Please. Allow me to copy it here, both the code and the translation. Therefore, if something happens to the scroll, its precious knowledge is not lost to those who will desperately need it when the Fire Nation attacks Fort..." what was its name again? "...Tong... Tong... Tongdao!"

Bamboo is ready to write - he lacks only permission. The humble monk prays he receives it.

 

[Sherwood]

"I'm familiar with General Shizu. He provides intelligence and support to my resistance group whenever he's able to, and he's genuinely committed to fighting the Fire Nation." Han says in response to Liu and O-Ren's words. "If we can get to Fort Tongdao, he'll be willing to at least hear us out, especially once he learns we've got this scroll. He might be a bit uncomfortable being around someone from the Fire Nation though."

He glances at Liu as he says this last sentence, as if wondering how the Fire National will react to such an assessment.

Liu gives off a slight shrug. It is as it is, and no amount of complaining will change it. No matter how much the atrocities of her people hurt her. She says, "We can have someone else be the one to present the information in the scroll to this General Shizu, and I won't step forward to reveal my nation unless I am pressed to do so. It's not like I'm one of the elite firebenders; I am - I was, simply a soldier. No one of consequence to the General."

The Rainbow Child monk looks to Han. Bamboo speaks as if having chosen his every word with care. "This scroll - it is important to the safety of innocent people," then to Liu Bing, "and you clearly possess the skill to decipher it." Bamboo reaches for his beloved journal, its thickness and familiar pages reminding him of home. "Please. Allow me to copy it here, both the code and the translation. Therefore, if something happens to the scroll, its precious knowledge is not lost to those who will desperately need it when the Fire Nation attacks Fort..." what was its name again? "...Tong... Tong... Tongdao!"

She looks over at Bamboo, the member of their group that she knows the least about. But not in a harsh way; if it were not for him, they would most likely still be in the prison. It was just lucky for them all that he came along when he did. She says to the young man, "A wise idea, once we have the chance to do so." It is a wise idea, one befitting someone much older than him. If this is an example of what he is capable of, we should expect great things from him.

 

[jaydude]

Han looks doubtful that things will go smoothly, even with the suggestions Liu has voiced. Still, he nods and turns to listen to Bamboo's request, as the call of a blue jay-owl - known for being attracted to shiny things - can be heard from somewhere close in the sky.

"Having a duplicate of the scroll certainly wouldn't hurt. If you can write in this darkness, go ahead." he says, gesturing to the evening sky. "At the same time though, I'd like to drop by my group's hideout and and let them know that I escaped from Fort Baju in any case. It's only a short distance away, and we won't have to linger there for too long. As long as we have this scroll, Danzin will be out for all of our hides."

Spoiler: Group Stats

Li Bao​

Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]
Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [_]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]
Balance: Self-Reliance - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Trust

O-Ren Ichi​

Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]
Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [_]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]
Balance: Support - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Leadership

Liu Bing​

Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]
Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [_]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]
Balance: Control - (_)-(B)-(_)-{_}-(X)-(X)-(X) - Connection

Bamboo​

Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]
Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [_]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]
Balance: Role - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Freedom

 

[Purr]

At the same time though, I'd like to drop by my group's hideout and and let them know that I escaped from Fort Baju in any case. It's only a short distance away, and we won't have to linger there for too long. As long as we have this scroll, Danzin will be out for all of our hides."

"Even at night, the single cloud in an empty sky draws every eye." Bamboo pats Yún's fur with a cautious expression. Bamboo looks to Han and then everyone with a touch of worry.

"If we are being followed, we might lead unwelcome trouble to your friends' hideout. Is it safe for your friends if we visit?"

She says to the young man, "A wise idea, once we have the chance to do so."

"If the Moon and stars are willing?" Keeping his back to the wind, Bamboo searches the available starlight and moonlight, and then peers into his journal. Is there enough light to transcribe by?

 

[jaydude]

Purr Psychie Sherwood Wandering Owl
Han gives a little grin at Bamboo's bit of philosophy, before it becomes a grimace as he listens to the kid's wisdom.

"I don't like the idea of leaving them to worry about me, but you may be right, kid." he says unhappily, before looking over the edge of the saddle, possibly towards where his group's hideout is located.

Something catches his eye however, and he gives a start. "Is that...?"

The land below is largely forest within a valley. Anyone who looks in the same direction as Han however will see a collection of fires near the edge of the valley in the distance, their orange light easily visible through the trees and darkness.

"That's where the hideout of my group's located!" Han exclaims in a shocked whisper, understanding dawning upon him like a knife through the heart.

Spoiler: OOC - Major decision time!

So the group's got a pretty big choice to make here, hence why I tagged everyone. The hideout of the local resistance group Han belongs to is under attack by the Fire Nation, and might not be able to resist them. With that in mind, there are two options for you, each with their own consequences:

1. Fly on, and prioritize the delivery of the scroll to Fort Tongdao. This will keep you out of harm's way, but leaving the resistance group to their fate will force each of you to either mark a condition or shift your balance in a direction of my choosing.
2. Intervene and try to save the resistance. The arrival of the four of you may shift the tide of battle against the Fire Nation, but besides the risk of losing the scroll and personal harm to you all, taking this detour may give Danzin time to catch up with you.

The choice is yours.

Spoiler: Group Stats

Li Bao​

Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]
Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [_]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]
Balance: Self-Reliance - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Trust

O-Ren Ichi​

Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]
Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [_]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]
Balance: Support - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Leadership

Liu Bing​

Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]
Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [_]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]
Balance: Control - (_)-(B)-(_)-{_}-(X)-(X)-(X) - Connection

Bamboo​

Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]
Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [_]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]
Balance: Role - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Freedom

 

[jaydude]

At a tug on her reins from Bamboo, Yún flies towards the fires. The four of you hear the sound of battle - roaring flames, crashing stone and clashing steel - before you see it.

Getting close, the four of you see what appears to be a small camp located against the rocky side of the valley, a river running alongside it. The camp itself is a collection of tents surrounded by a rudimentary wall of earthbent stone. There is a breach in the wall, and within the camp proper, a group of about twenty Fire Nation soldiers - Firebenders and spearmen - are fighting with a group of roughly ten people in green clothes who are almost certainly the local resistance. Some of the latter group are wielding weapons, others are sending rocks flying at the Fire Nation with punches and kicks. Some of the tents are on fire, illuminating the battle clearly despite the darkness.

With regards to the battle, the four of you can see that the resistance are giving a good account of themselves, but they are gradually getting overwhelmed by the superior numbers of the Fire Nation. In addition, two things of note stick out to you all:

• Within one part of the camp, an exceptionally tall and muscled Firebender is engaged in combat with a young female Earthbender who looks somewhat familiar to Li Bao despite the distance he's looking at her from ( Wandering Owl ).
• At the forefront of the battle is a male Firebender in what Liu recognizes as the red armour of a Fire Army Commander. ( Sherwood )

As Yún gets close to the battleground, Han places the scroll case in his belt - presumably thinking it'll be safer there than it will unsecured and atop a flying beast - and moves to the edge of the saddle, as if preparing to jump off and into the chaotic melee below.

What does everyone do?

Spoiler: Group Stats

Li Bao​

Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]
Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [_]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]
Balance: Self-Reliance - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Trust

O-Ren Ichi​

Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]
Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [_]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]
Balance: Support - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Leadership

Liu Bing​

Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]
Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [_]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]
Balance: Control - (_)-(B)-(_)-{_}-(X)-(X)-(X) - Connection

Bamboo​

Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]
Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [_]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]
Balance: Role - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Freedom

 

[Sherwood]

Liu points out the commander. "There. He's the one in charge of the attack. If we can deal with him, it will throw the rest of the attacking forces into chaos and demoralize them, making it much easier to defeat the rest." She grabs her spear and slides to the edge of Yun's saddle, getting ready to leap into the fight. "Get me close enough and I'll focus on him."

 

[Purr]

"Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected." - (Sun Tzu, The Art of War)

Liu points out the commander. "There. He's the one in charge of the attack. If we can deal with him, it will throw the rest of the attacking forces into chaos and demoralize them, making it much easier to defeat the rest." She grabs her spear and slides to the edge of Yun's saddle, getting ready to leap into the fight. "Get me close enough and I'll focus on him."

Bamboo nods but his eyes are all over the terrain. "A good idea, but before diving headfirst into new waters, it is best to know its depth."

Bamboo takes a moment to survey the surrounding terrain - where could they make best use of the battlefield? How could they use the terrain against the commander and the forces and to the benefit of Han's people? If Bamboo landed only to get surrounded, what good would that do anyone? Worse still, the Fire Nation would retrieve the scroll Han had returned to his person.

Bamboo's scholarly studies were beginning to take hold of him. All battle was gambling, all warfare deception - so Bamboo thought it best to turn the odds in one favor as much as reasonably possible before the first blow was struck.

 

[Psychie]

O-Ren looks out at the fight, trying to see the best place to join in the fighting to make the best difference in the battle. But from this high up, she is just not seeing anything that makes sense, and is getting lost in the chaos of the fighting. I wonder, is there any open water sources that I can use?

 

[Purr]

Bamboo's scholarly studies were beginning to take hold of him. All battle was gambling, all warfare deception - so Bamboo thought it best to turn the odds in one favor as much as reasonably possible before the first blow was struck.

There was a time for study and a time for action. Bamboo had studied as much as he could by surveying the terrain (and immediately realizing that he needed more practice in that regard!), so now it was time to take what he had and make the best use of it all.

The young monk climbed up his Sky Bison's head and did his best to ask her to "Snatch" up the Fire Nation Commander! If nothing else, they could take the Fire Commander to a spot where they would surrender - Bamboo thought of the many different places they could do this and immediately decided that straight up was probably the best solution since he and his company could fly, but the Fire Commander... seemed to lack wings! Besides, the higher they flew, the less likely the commander might be inclined to hurt his Sky Bison (which would likely drop the commander to his doom - a sad ending Bamboo in no way wanted to see).

Besides, even if they missed, they might draw the Fire Nation's attention off of Han's people - that sounded like a good thing, too!

"Hang on tight, everyone! We're going for the Fire Nation Commander!"

 

[jaydude]

Spoiler: OOC

A more successful roll this time around: a seven!

Han jumps from the saddle as the bison passes over the camp walls, leaving a small impact crater in the ground as he lands, having clearly used his earthbending to soften his descent. Meanwhile, the bison follows Bamboo's command and hurtles straight towards the Fire Nation commander, her mouth open in a gaping roar.

For a few moments, the battle comes to a cease, all the combatants on both sides stopping their fighting and staring dumbfounded at the flying bison that has appeared seemingly from nowhere.

As the commander turns at the sound of the roar, and his expression turns to abject shock, Liu is able to recognize him as Mako, the same man who tried to have her commit an atrocity, and had her arrested when she refused to go through with it ( Sherwood ). Then the bison's teeth clamp down on his upper torso, and he's plucked off the ground like an eagle-pelican grabbing a fish from the sea.

Purr

Spoiler: Complication

Two of the Fire Nation soldiers - a Firebender and a spearman - close to Mako are less dumbfounded than their compatriots. As if in slow motion, Bamboo spots the two of them diving for his bison's tail as she flies past, as if intending to cling onto it.

You have two choices:

1. Mark 1-fatigue to yank hard on the reins and pull up before the two soldiers can cling onto your ride.
2. Do nothing. The two soldiers grab onto your bison's tail and climb up towards the saddle, allowing them to engage the PC's in a combat exchange.

 

[Purr]

Mark 1-fatigue to yank hard on the reins and pull up before the two soldiers can cling onto your ride.

Bamboo does what he can to only keep the riders he wants onboard.

 

[jaydude]

As the bison flies away with Mako in her mouth, you manage to hear a few surprised and incredulous shouts from the Fire Nation soldiers.

"What the heck?!"

"That wind buffalo just ate the commander!"

Fortunately, the resistance are able to get over their surprise first and take the chance to go on the attack. The Fire Nation are taken off-guard and without their commander, but they still hold the numbers advantage. The battle could go either way right now.

Still held between the bison's teeth, with only his lower body visible from outside, Mako has wasted the last few seconds struggling and kicking in vain. Common sense dictates that it'll only be a few seconds more before he thinks to use firebending on the inside of the bison's mouth, which will no doubt hurt her and force her to drop him.

Spoiler: OOC for Dannigan

Purr You've grabbed Mako, now what do you want to do with him? You've only got a few seconds before he thinks to use his bending on the inside of Smoochie's mouth, at which point she'll roar in pain and let go of him. Remember that as part of your Yip-Yip! move, you have to mark a condition every time your bison gets hurt.

Spoiler: Group Stats

Li Bao​

Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]
Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [_]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]
Balance: Self-Reliance - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Trust

O-Ren Ichi​

Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]
Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [_]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]
Balance: Support - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Leadership

Liu Bing​

Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]
Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [_]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]
Balance: Control - (_)-(B)-(_)-{_}-(X)-(X)-(X) - Connection

Bamboo​

Fatigue: [X][_][_][_][_]
Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [_]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]
Balance: Role - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Freedom