Avatar Legends - The Northern War

[Purr]

Bamboo nearly falls over from the force of that single blast. To himself, he thinks, "One more of those and we are finished! We must take the offensive!"

As Liu performs her leap, Bamboo yells out, "Ride like a cloud! Crash like a waterfall!" He uses his Waterbending to propel Liu - a large blast of water against her legs and back launching the martial artist straight at this incredibly-dangerous Firebender (who nearly took them out in one hit).

Spoiler: OOC

Bolster or Hinder​

Aid or impede a nearby character, inflicting an appropriate status.

Also, adding 4 to Fatigue (because taking Impaired in a situation where one more hit is going to take us all out save Smoochie seems like a bad move to make).

 

[jaydude]

Going with Defend and Maneuver/Seize a Position for Liu Bing.

Sherwood , go ahead and roll 2D6 for your stance move, adding +3 to focus.
Purr , I'll go ahead and resolve your stance roll when the time comes for the Evade and Observe techniques.

Spoiler: Exchange Participants

Bamboo
Liu Bing
O-Ren

Eel-hound duo - Major NPC (Treating as a single entity for mechanics purposes)​

Drive: Serve General Daizun
Principle: Duty 0, +1, +2
Conditions: Afraid, Angry, Panicked
Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]
Techniques: Duck and Twist (While on eel-hound), Explosive Blast

Spoiler: Group Stats

O-Ren Ichi​

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

Liu Bing​

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

Bamboo​

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

 

[Sherwood]

Rolling

total of a 15

 

[Psychie]

Can O-Ren use her own waterbending power to act as a block to other fiery explosion attacks?

 

[jaydude]

Can O-Ren use her own waterbending power to act as a block to other fiery explosion attacks?

Sure. You could create a small barrier with your water - that would be Defend and Maneuver's Ready Technique - which would give you and Bamboo the Prepared status. If you want to do that, go ahead and roll 2D6, adding +1 to the result to represent the bonus from your Focus.

 

[Psychie]

Ok! Rolling.

Total of 10

 

[jaydude]

Ok! Rolling.

Total of 10

Isn't that a nine? Your Focus is only 1.

 

[Psychie]

I thought I got an additional +1 beyond my own stat. Did I misread that?

 

[Psychie]

If so, then yes, it is only a 9.

 

[jaydude]

I thought I got an additional +1 beyond my own stat. Did I misread that?

I think you might have. Unless I've misread or forgotten something, the only bonus you get here is from whichever stat you're rolling with. For your Focus, it's only +1, since your Focus is at 1.

 

[Psychie]

Ok, my mistake. Sorry. It is a total of a 9, then.

 

[jaydude]

O-Ren gathers her water and forms it into a shield against any follow-up blasts, but for the moment, the duo on the eel-hound attempt to turn to the side in order to put some distance between themselves and Smoochie. They're not able to turn quick enough to avoid Liu Bing however; she leaps from the saddle and lands upon the eel-hound as it starts to peel away.

Spoiler: OOC - Defend and Maneuver Results

Eel-hound duo attempt to use Seize a Position to escape the battle. Bamboo could mark 1-fatigue in order to keep Smoochie close by if his player wished, but that's probably not going to be necessary here.

Similar to the above bit with O-Ren, Liu Bing only gets to add 3 to your result rather than 6, but Sherwood still rolled more than 10 anyway, so it doesn't matter too much. Also, for future reference, when you roll +10 on a stance move, you get a choice between marking 1-fatigue to use a learned technique, using one practiced technique, or using two different basic or mastered techniques during the exchange.

Without Bamboo's help, Liu Bing would probably find herself clinging to the side or tail of the eel-hound. Thanks to the boost provided by the Waterbender monk's bending however, she lands right on the beast's back, between the rider and the combustionbender. Both of them yell in surprise at this sudden arrival.

Purr , I rolled you a 5, but adding your Harmony of 2 to the result brings the total to 7. You clear 1-fatigue, and Liu Bing becomes Favored, allowing her to use an additional basic or mastered technique in the next exchange.

And with that, I'm going to bring this sequence of exchanges to a close, on the basis that Liu Bing can probably deal with the two riders by herself from her current position. Sherwood , go ahead and dispatch your foes as you see fit.

Spoiler: Exchange Participants

Bamboo
Liu Bing
O-Ren

Eel-hound duo - Major NPC (Treating as a single entity for mechanics purposes)​

Drive: Serve General Daizun
Principle: Duty 0, +1, +2
Conditions: Afraid, Angry, Panicked
Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]
Techniques: Duck and Twist (While on eel-hound), Explosive Blast

Spoiler: Group Stats

O-Ren Ichi​

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

Liu Bing​

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

Bamboo​

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

 

[Sherwood]

With a rapid strike, Liu thrusts her spear into the heart of the combustionbender, then spins about and cracks the other rider on the head with the butt of her weapon, knocking him from the saddle and into the dirt in a heap. Dropping down into the saddle, she tries to calm the eel-hound and bring it to a stop before she too falls to the ground. "Easy! Easy! Its ok. There. Its ok. See? You're fine. Its ok."

Looking up at Bamboo and Smoochie, she flashes a grin and a wave to show that she's ok.

 

[jaydude]

Liu Bing is able to get the eel-hound under control, but the sight of her killing the combustionbender without hesitation or subsequent remorse proves disturbing to both of her friends. As for the Fire National herself, she senses that what she did will come to deeply trouble her in time.

(Bamboo and Liu Bing both mark Troubled, while O-Ren marks Insecure. In addition, Liu Bing's balance is shifted towards Control. If it's shifted in that direction again, Liu Bing will lose her balance, which among other effectswill cause her center - the "default" position of her balance - to shift towards Control as well.)

As for the eel-hound's former two riders, the combustionbender is lying face-down a short distance away, blood pooling on the ground around her torso. The other man is still moving, but he's also on the ground, clearly dazed and hurting from being thrown off of his fast-moving mount. It'll probably be a while before he can get back onto his feet. A red scroll lies on the ground a few meters away from him.

What do each of you do now?

Spoiler: Group Stats

O-Ren Ichi​

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

Liu Bing​

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

Bamboo​

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

 

[Purr]

"By the heavens! Liu, did you have to do that or was it the Fire Nation training in you taking over?" It is a real question with no sarcasm or anger anywhere in it - instead, it is born of pure alarm and sorrow.

Filled with fatigue but unwilling to pause, Bamboo would like to immediately use Refresh on the Combustion-bender before checking for signs of life (as if she has any time left in this world, Bamboo feels he cannot waste a heartbeat of it). In the heat of the moment, the red scroll is momentarily forgotten.

 

[jaydude]

Bamboo's efforts to save the woman are all for naught, and she remains motionless and lifeless upon the ground, another unfortunate being snuffed out long before her time.

Landing gently near the two of them, Smoochie gives a quiet, sympathetic growl, as if telling Bamboo that he did the best he could. Nearby, the eel-hound's rider manages to get himself into a sitting position, and looks over to where Bamboo is vainly attempting to heal the woman. His eyes widen a little as he sees the glowing water around the monk's hands, as if having never expected to see such a thing.

"I don't think there's much point, kid. I saw where that spear went in; there's no recovering from a blow like that." he says to the monk, not unkindly. "Why would you want to help her anyway? She tried to kill you and your friends just now."

His tone is in no way derisive over Bamboo helping a former enemy; just surprised and curious.

Spoiler: Group Stats

O-Ren Ichi​

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

Liu Bing​

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

Bamboo​

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

 

[Purr]

"I don't think there's much point, kid. I saw where that spear went in; there's no recovering from a blow like that." he says to the monk, not unkindly. "Why would you want to help her anyway? She tried to kill you and your friends just now."

Bamboo kneels down beside the corpse. He has trouble speaking and his voice shakes. "It doesn't mean she deserved to die for it. All life... is worthy of respect... and should know compassion before its end."

He clears his throat and whispers with emotion to the corpse as he composes her body in a comfortable pose, straightening her hair, and covering her face. "Fly to your heaven... leaving behind the hells of this... illusory world. Be at peace... standing tall alongside your ancestors... content in the knowledge that you fought well... and died a warrior worthy of the Fire Nation."

Weary and sad, Bamboo turns to the soldier. "Would you give me her name, please?"

Whether or not this is request is fulfilled, Bamboo ties the rider up (only to delay him) and leaves some food and water for him so that he does not suffer on his way to wherever he goes. He leaves the fate of the eel-hound to Liu and O-Ren. Then he takes the red scroll. "I'm sorry that we are opposing forces..." he bows to the rider, "...and I am sorry this happened." With that, Bamboo nuzzles Smoochie for a few moments and climbs back onto the saddle. There, with his back turned to everyone save Smoochie, he silently begins to copy the coded scroll meant for Earth Kingdom and the contents of this new red scroll to the journal his mother gave him. Someday, perhaps decades or even centuries in the future, someone might see it... grow wiser for it.

And perhaps, Bamboo hopes, they will not fight each other so much.

 

[jaydude]

"Her...she was Lieutenant Bakuha." replies the rider quietly.

He protests a little when Bamboo starts tying him up, but he's in no position to resist, and in any event he stops complaining once the monk explains his reasons.

Getting to work on transcribing both scrolls, Bamboo sees that the contents are instructions from General Danzin, presumably intended for the contingent of Fire Nation troops gathered around Fort Tongdao. From the detail on the handwriting, it looks to have been written fairly quickly:

The tunnels under Fort Baju have been compromised. A group of rebels in possession of a flying bison have stolen plans for our offensive, and are almost certainly on their way here now. If this message arrives before them, initiate the planned attack immediately. We don't have as many troops in position as we would like, but if General Shizu is still ignorant about the tunnels, we should still be able to successfully take Fort Tongdao.

Spoiler: Group Stats

O-Ren Ichi​

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

Liu Bing​

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

Bamboo​

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

 

[Psychie]

O-Ren lowers her guard against the now deceased combustionbender, and hops down to check on the status of the other rider. She keeps a wary eye on Liu throughout this, not entirely sure what to think of this. Yes, the bender was a serious danger to them all. Yes, the pair of riders were out to warn the Fire Nation troops about their plans being discovered. But even with that in mind, was it really necessary to kill him? It is the kind of thing that O-Ren would expect from a Fire Nation solider - not a member of the resistance.

But Liu was a Fire Nation soldier, or at least, a former one. It is somewhat understandable that the other woman would resort to her base training in a time of stress. But this cannot become a habit. She will have to talk to Liu before too much longer.

 

[Sherwood]

Feeling the initial rush of the successful effort to stop the eel-hound and its two riders fade away, Liu watches without speaking as Bamboo tries desperately to revive the fallen bender with no success. Suddenly, the gravity of the situation starts to lay on her heavy, realizing what she's done. She thinks about her actions, wondering why she was so quick to use lethal force against the pair. If I hadn't killed the combustion-bender, he could have killed the lot of us with his powers. But was there any other way besides stabbing him to end the threat to us all? Not to mention the lives of all the people in the Fort that would have lost their lives if we hadn't stopped them.

Liu bends down and snags a dirt clod in her hand, looking at it as she weighs her actions. Finally, she clenches her fist and crumbles the dirt between her fingers, scattering the dust. She shakes her head, saying, "I used to fight for the Fire Nation, killing at the orders of my commanders. It is time I turned my back on that life and start a new one. No more killing. No more." Wiping her hands clean on her trousers, she turns away from the body of the bender and walks a short distance off, needing to be alone for a time.

 

[Purr]

"Liu," Bamboo offers without looking up from his scribing. "The Earth Kingdom people do not have time. Ponder your thoughts with us? It is time to go." Bamboo prepares for immediate flight. He will keep his back to the wind as much as he can while continuing to copy while navigating. He spares a glance O-Ren's way to see if she too is ready to depart.

"Liu, If it is forgiveness you require, consider it offered by me. I cannot understand your actions nor read your mind or heart, but I don't think you're evil. Please make your peace with Lieutenant Bakuha and hop on? You are still welcome to come along."

 

[Sherwood]

With a growing lump in her throat, Liu nods and lets herself be steered back towards Smoochie. She doesn't say much, just wipes at her eyes as she struggles not to cry at the kindness being shown to her even after she did . . . that. With her seated up in the saddle once more, she feels a grim resolve and repeats to herself the promise not to kill again.

 

[jaydude]

With the matter resolved, the three of you get back aboard Smoochie and resume your flight towards Fort Tongdao.

New scene incoming. All of you clear your fatigue tracks, and I'm going to assume Sherwood wants to clear Troubled from Liu.

Do any of you want to talk with each other or try and clear conditions during the journey? Or shall we skip to the end of it?

Spoiler: Group Stats

O-Ren Ichi​

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

 

[Purr]

As Bamboo scribes, he gives it one more try.

"Do either of you want to talk about what is bugging you? Problems are like... snow. If you let it pile up, it will overwhelm you and you will find yourself under it."

 

[Sherwood]

Liu is quiet for a moment, then says, "As a member of the Fire Nation army, I was trained to take the life of my opponents without hesitation, because if I delayed striking, it could cost not only my life, but the lives of those around me. Seeing the explosive power of the bender, and knowing that if I didn't do something about it, she could kill all of us. I reacted with my training, and not with the realization of the lies that I've been taught over the years. I shouldn't have done it. Killed her, I mean. But if I hadn't, not only our lives were at risk, but all of the defenders of the fort."

She looks out at the countryside passing far below them, and once more feels the tears start to flow. "I won't do it again. Never again. But the fact that the training came to me so easily makes me afraid. What do I do if there is another kill-or-be-killed situation? What if in the heat of battle I fall back on what I've been taught? That possibility terrifies me, and I don't know what to do."