The Journeyman from Ryu-Kyu

[Brian]

January 4th 12:15 PM
<Brian> You've just closed out of your network connections, and are still sitting in the room above the noodle-shop.
<Brian> Currently you're on one of those small, nameless villages that can only be reached by boat under normal circumstances.  Fortunately, it's not far from where you are to a major ferry, which can get you back to Honshu, should you need to do so.
Death considers, am I strong enough to go help the noodle shop owner?
<Brian> Not only do you feel better, and rested, you feel like you've been oddly empowered.  Almost as though a smaller, weaker part of yourself has healed.
Death decides to go down and help the noodle shop owner in thanks before getting ready to leave for the ferry.
<Brian> The ferry comes by in two shifts.  One early morning, one late afternoon.  You estimate you've got about three hours to help out.
Death does so.
<Brian> It's not terribly busy in the shop (this is, after all, a very small village) but he readily agrees to let you help him dismantle the stove, and scrub some of the old gas tubes.  It's quite a bit of work....
<Brian> When it's all done, while not as good as new, the stove is something you wouldn't be ashamed to cook on, which is good (your initial ventures into the art of noodle-crafting had resulted in a spill or three).
<Brian> You've got about fifteen minutes to get to the ferry once you finish packing, and it's a five minute walk to the dock.  The shop owner has made you a farewell lunch, and thanks you kindly for your assistance.
<Brian> And yes, it's in a take-out box.
Death grabs his stuff, checks to make sure it all there, thanks the shop owner, grabs the lunch and bikes down to the ferry Goldenboy style.
<Brian> You make it without incident, bouncing a bit on the streets.  Might want to get those shocks checked.  But, you board the ferry without trouble; the pilot was an occasional customer, and nods as you board.
Death enjoys the ferry ride
<Brian> The breeze is cool, as this is winter, but it's not really cold.  More crisp.  The chill makes an excelent counterpoint to the warm take-out container you're carrying.
Death decides to enjoy lunch with the sun.
<Brian> You open up the container.  Mmm.  Delicious udon.
<Brian> You realize, however, that the shopkeeper has stuck five 1000 yen notes to the inside of the lid, which you had not previously noticed.
Death pockets the yen in gratitude.
Death eats the udon.
<Brian> It's pretty dang good.
<Brian> After finishing your lunch, you have a few minutes to idle, and then the larger island you're heading to comes into view.  From this island, you can catch one of those newer high-speed ferries to Honshu.
<Brian> Sakajima, specifically.  If you were to take a sleeper to Kyoto, you could take the express to Tokyo, and get in at around 5:00 AM at this rate.
Death will take the ferry to Honshu.
<Brian> Unless you delay, your transfer goes of without a hitch.  While you're on the next boat (which is larger, and much more modernized than the last), you've got a little time to plan out your trip.  A convenient 'touristry' cabin offers a desk with phamplets of the outlying regions for both the Ryu-Kyu islands and most of Honshu.  Hokkaido is not included, though.
<Death> Simplest route towards Tokyo.
<Brian> The simplest route is also the fastest.  And the most expensive.
Death reconsiders.
<Brian> But with the extra money from the old man you can make it comfortably without breaking into any of your savings.
<Death> What's the cheapest one?
<Brian> The cheapest would be traditional trains once you reach Sakajima, which would take about 18 hours longer, all told.
<Brian> Or just rode your bike the whole way (that might take a few days, though).
Death will take the train.
Death is stingy, not crazy.
<Brian> Alright.  You will need to rush to get a train that serves dinner, or you can hunt down something to eat and catch the later sleeper.  Doing this would allow you to hunt for local wireless access without worrying about losing connectivity on the train, as well.
Death will take the sleeper.
<Brian> Okay.  There's a few wireless cafes, but you also find an unsecured access point somewhat near a beef-bowl cart.
Death will scope out the unsecured point before accessing.
<Brian> Well, it's someone's LAN, but the rest of it is blocked off.  You could use the DHCP access, and it's free, but you have no idea if whoever runs it has set up any kind of packet-sniffer, or logs your activity.  There are warmarkings on the side of a nearby building, but there's no guarantee that the person who set up the system is trustworthy.
Death contemplates.
Death opens an SSH connection from the access point.
<Brian> Okay.  Your key WILL be broadcast, once the SSH session is secured.  However, the data is encrypted, and your session is chained your your NIC card's MAC address.  So if packets start coming from a different NIC, the server will drop them.
<Brian> You are now connected, and can use the internet securely through your tunnel.  You're limited to about ISDN speeds because it's wireless, and encrypted, but it does work.  And hey, that beef bowl place is within signal range.
Death makes a quick grab of e-mail and logs off.
Death hopes to find a response from #void
<Brian> You're disconnected.  Your password (which may have been copied) is reset on the remote server as per the script set up by you, and is already a new key (based on the time and date).
Death decides to go wait by the station to buy a ticket for the sleeper train, then hang around the station and read the dled e-mail.
<Brian> Okay.  You've got your e-mail, you doubt too many people saw you, and in short order you are at the train station.
<Brian> The platform is pretty busy at this hour, but hardly any one is actually staying still.
Death watches his wallet.
<Death> And by watch I mean always make sure I know where it is.
<Brian> Not a problem.  I assume you're reading your e-mail, now?
Death nods.
<Death> after getting the ticket
<Brian> Aside from the normal messages from friends (and a few spams) you have new e-mail: http://pishoque.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=770
Death notes to set the laptop desktop alarm to go off 5 minutes before the train he's catching is supposed to arrive
<Death> Lest I miss it while reading.
Death reads.
<Brian> Your ticket is stowed in your wallet, which you are keeping an eye on.
Death slaps a hand over his face in disbelief.
<Death> "Wonderful, we're probably all going to die now."
Death writes and posts his e-mail.
<Brian> You've sent the e-mail to Ginrai.  It's also just about time for you to board the train.
Death boards after logging off.
<Brian> It's a sleeper train.  You have a cubby for yourself, arranged much like one of the capsule hotels.
<Brian> Not a bad deal, all told.
Death catnaps.
<Brian> You sleep.
<Brian> While sleeping, lulled by the motion of the train, you dream.
<Brian> You are on a boat, lying on your back, looking up at the bright, blue, nearly cloudless sky.
<Brian> As you watch, someone blocks the light of the sun from blinding you.  You can't make out a face against the change of light, merely a soft voice.
Death tries to identify the voice.
<Brian> "Do not go to the ancient holy lands," the voice whispers.  You THINK it may be Kanon, but it's hard to tell.
<Brian> "Danger lurks there, and you are wise to fear ... but you fear an ally, when you should be fearing for your friends."
<Death> "How do I fight what I can't even see?"
<Brian> You have a brief glimpse of the wolf, again, curled up at the feet of Kanon, innocent as a 600 lb puppy.
<Brian> You see her face -- it is Kanon -- and then she shakes her head.
<Brian> You wake up when the train luches to a halt.
Death blinks.
<Brian> The conductor quietly assures everyone that this is a standard refueling stop, apologizes for the delay, and urges everyone to go back to sleep.
Death goes back to sleep.
<Brian> Indeed.  Your sleep is undisturbed, other than brief, dark glimpses of clouds around San Fransisco, again, and something stirring beneath the polar storms.
<Brian> You wake up, not as refreshed as before, but still feeling well, at around 9:00 AM.
<Brian> Your train won't be pulling in for another 6 hours or, so, though.
Death checks to see if he can log on.
<Death> If not, I will start running a checklist of easily obtainable household chemicals useful for making explosives
<Brian> You watch for a bit.  There's no wireless (or wired) access points for LAN on the train, though.  Occasionally you pass by a station, but those windows are too short to even log in through SSH.
<Brian> As far as obtaining chemicals, explosives are (generally speaking) very difficult to manufacture without having it be tracked back to you, especially since the terrorism of recent years.
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=11 ]{11}
<Brian> However, in the ways of alternatives you can make cost-effective napalm with some things you know could be gotten easily in the states.
<Death> Brian: I'm not going for high explosives, alcohol and simple black powder level
<Brian> Ah.  That is possible, then, though it would take some patience to gather, and care to assemble correctly.
Death nods.
Death knows how to make some basic boobytraps using average easiy obtainable civilian material.
<Brian> Black powder is going to be difficult to get in Japan, and you probably don't want to start collecting until you're closer to wherever you intend to use them.
<Death> Brian: Sulpher, Charcoal and Saltpeter?
<Brian> But you can indeed compile lists.
<Death> are hard to get?
<Brian> If you want to manufacture actual black powder, that's fine.  I thought you were looking for more bang for your buck, so to speak.
<Death> Brian: conventional gasoline with a 120 proof liquor is as big as I wanna go for the moment
Death likes having the means to making explosives, not the actual explosives on him, easier to alibi that way.
<Death> and less hazardous to my heath ^^
<Brian> Of course.  In that case, there's no real need to manufacture a list; you know what you want.
<Brian> But you can put it together on your computer before you get anywhere.
Death meant a shopping list
<Brian> In time, of course, you come to the end of the line, at about 3:00 PM....

[RangerShade]

Death disembarks from the train and decides to check the station's local directory for the nearest temple dedicated to Kanon in the city. Although by now his stomach is growling a bit, Death ignores it for now in favor of more important matters.

[Brian]

You find a pamphlet at a tourist booth:

Senso-ji temple
(Senso-ji)
The origins of the Senso-ji temple find their way back to 628, in the Asuka period when Buddhism was still young in Japan, The legend is that a figure of the boddhisattva Kanon was found by fishermen in the Sumida River, and the temple was built to commemorate this miraculous event and over the centuries has counted warriors as well and literary personages among the members of the parish. During the Edo period (1600-1868), it was a major Buddhist temple for the townsman culture of the shogun's capital. Today it remains a symbol of downtown Tokyo and is a favorite mecca for visitors.

It also gives an address.  Would probably take you about an hour to get to, by bus.

[RangerShade]

Death decides to get a map and bike it out to the temple, figuring it'll be faster then waiting in the city traffic.

[Brian]

By your estimates, you actually beat the bus to the temple.  [http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3001.html]

Now that you're in front of it, it looks more touristy than you had hoped, however.

[RangerShade]

Death takes the disappointment in stride and locks his bike up
on a bike rack before entering the Kaminarimon. Browsing briefly
through the Nakamise, Death decides to buy some small inexpensive items
as an offering for Kanon and then go in through the Hozomon to
make his offering and brief prayer for luck and guidance in the temple
proper.

[Brian]

Praying at the temple doesn't grant you any new information or guidance, but you do feel a little more at peace with yourself afterwards.

Code Select Expand

Luck roll:
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 2#1d6 for luck --> [ 1d6=6 ]{6}, [ 1d6=5 ]{5}

On your way out of the temple, someone slams into you with a bike, nearly knocking you over, and throwing themselves off of the bike.  Your shin is bruised, and you're holding the bike up with one hand.  A youth is lying on the ground in front of you, looking to be perhaps sixteen years old, and still wearing his highschool uniform.

It's a nice bike you're holding, too.  Especially since it was yours in the first place.

[RangerShade]

Death smiles down at the youth.

Then gets ready to kick the crap out of the thief while yelling loudly "You dirty thief!". Aiming for mainly for the head, ribs, groin, knees. If he goes for a weapon, crack his elbows.

Once he's out cold, loot the body.

[Brian]

<Brian> We're begining combat with phase zero.  Shade, you're a speed 2, so you act on phases 0, 6, and 12.
<Brian> Your assailant does not get a phase 0 action, as he is prone (and at 1/2 DCV).
<Death> which way is he facing?
<Brian> He's on his back, staring up at you with wide eyes.
<Death> head toward me or feet?
<Death> or his sides?
<Brian> Side, really.
<Death> right or left?
<Brian> His head is to your right.  His feet (and the bicycle you're still holding with your left hand) are to your left.
<Death> are his feet still tangled up in the bike?
<Brian> Well, his left ankle is underneath the centerline of the bike, but generally speaking, no.
<Death> He wearing shoes?
<Brian> Yes.
<Death> School shoes or actual ones that can take punishment?
<Brian> Actual outdoor shoes.
<Death> you said he was in a school uniform so that means those long dark pants right?
<Brian> Yep.
<Death> okay, for phase 0 I'll use the bike to pin his left ankle under the gears
<Brian> Okay, roll 3d6
<Death> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=15 ]{15}
<Brian> It's a bit awkward, but you roll the bike onto his ankle.
<Brian> Phase 4.
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=9 ]{9}
<Brian> The kid rolls away, getting out from under the bike, and climbs to his feet a few steps away.
<Brian> Phase 6.
<Death> facing to me or away?
<Brian> Facing you.
<Death> I grab the pouch of salt and fling it open in his face
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Death> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=8 ]{8}
<Brian> Right.
<Brian> He raises his sleeve over his face and blocks the salt from hitting his eyes.
<Brian> Phase 8 -- he already aborted his action to dodge.
<Brian> Phase 12.
<Death> Run up and kick him in the groin while his vision is blocked.
<Death> Hard.
It's phase 12, so you can't actually do it while his vision is blocked (he gets an action at the same time, and sequences first, because he's got a higher dex).
<Brian> However, he's holding his action, so you can get the first attack in.
<Brian> First, roll 3d6 to see if you can push your strength.
<Death> Roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 3d6 --> ]{13}
<Brian> You failed your ego roll -- no extra strength.
<Brian> You may still attack as normal, though.
<Death> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 3d6 --> {11}
<Brian> You hit.
<Brian> Roll 3d6 normal damage
<Death> roll 3#1d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 3#1d6 --> [ 1d6=5 ]{5}, [ 1d6=1 ]{1}, [ 1d6=1 ]{1}
<Brian> You do 1 body, 7 stun to your opponent.
<Brian> He grunts in response, stepping back, but you only got in a glancing blow.
<Brian> In retaliation, he pulls a box-cutter from his pocket, and attempts to slash at you with it.
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=8 ]{8}
<Brian> Your DCV is 4, so you are hit.
<Brian> This is a 1/2 die killing attack, plus his strength mods (total 1d+1 killing).
<Brian> roll 1d6+1 killing damage
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 1d6+1 killing damage --> {6}
<Brian> roll 1d6-1 stun multiplier
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 1d6-1 stun multiplier --> {2}
<Brian> You take 6 body and 12 stun in killing damage (PD does not apply)
<Brian> There's now a cut from your thigh to just over your heart.  People all over the temple are staring in shock, and at least a few of them are running away.
<Brian> The kid looks genuinely shocked at what he's done.
<Brian> You're currently dazed (12 stun is more pain than your CON 8 can handle).  Post segment 12 -- take a recovery, and regain 4 Stun.  You're no longer dazed.
<Death> its his move now I believe
<Brian> His move is to run like hell.
<Brian> A pair of policemen enter the court at a run from the East, and see the kid, box-cutter in hand, and you, bleeding from a long cut.
Death takes one of his locks and checks it hard at the guy's head as he runs.
<Brian> Okay, roll 3d6 for an ego check first.  You're in an awful lot of pain.
<Death> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 3d6 --> {14}
<Brian> After CON is applied, you have the presence of mind to throw a lock at him, though it will be at a -1 penalty.
<Brian> So, roll 3d6 to hit.
<Death> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 3d6 --> {13}
<Brian> He's at DCV 0, so you hit him by exact count.
Death cheers
<Brian> roll 3d6 for hit location
<Death> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=8 ]{8}
<Brian> -5....  You've pegged him straight in the back of the head.
<Brian> Go ahead and roll 3#1d6 normal damage
<Death> roll 3#1d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 3#1d6 --> [ 1d6=2 ]{2}, [ 1d6=5 ]{5}, [ 1d6=5 ]{5}
<Brian> x5 stun, x2 body.
<Brian> 6 body, and 60 stun.
<Brian> You've dropped him like a bad habit, and he slides across the ground like a rag-doll.
<Brian> The police officer who was chasing him slows to a halt, eyes wide, and looks at you in astonishment.  The other runs up to you, and insists that you sit down while the ambulance is on its way.
<Brian> You are bleeding pretty badly....
Death tells the incoming officers that the kid tried to steal my bike and then attempted to kill me when I tried to apprehend him for the police, request they arrest him and tells him if he's got something to slow the bleeding.
Death will use what's left of his shirt as a crude bandage too.
<Brian> The policeman nods, and explains that they'll take a statement once you've been tended.  Before you can get your first aid kit, however, one of the temple priests runs out to you with his own, which is better equipped.  He quickly field-dresses your wound, while muttering about thieves.
<Brian> It doesn't take long after that before the paramedics arrive, and you're rushed to a hospital (the police officer says that your bike will be kept at the station, since you can't take it in the ambulance).
Death thanks the priest and the police, requests a receipt for his bike so he can collect it from the station later.
<Brian> You're given one.  At the hospital, they decide that the cut is particularly nasty (it's actually gone deep enough to cut into your intestines, and has scored your ribcage), and that you're going to need to be put under so they can put in sutures.
Death mutters "Send the bills to that thief's parents."
<Brian> You wake up the next morning in a hospital bed.  There's a flowerpot sitting on the table next to your bed (next to your laptop) with a card wishing you well.  It's from the temple.
<Brian> roll 2#1d6 for luck
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 2#1d6 for luck --> {6}, {4}
<Brian> You notice that they've got you on an antibiotic drip, and you read the label, realizing that they never asked about your allergy ... luckily, it's not penicillin.
Death claps his hands and thanks Kanon for large favors.
<Brian> You don't know which hospital this is, but there's an ethernet cable on the table.  It must be a good (and modern) one, though.
Death checks for his laptop.
<Brian> After you clap, a nurse walks in, bearing a bowl of soup.  "Good morning!" she greets.
<Death> "Morning. Excuse me, but where am I now?"
Death looks for the name badge on the nurse.
<Brian> She sees you reaching for your laptop, and frowns.  "You mustn't move your abdominal muscles," she chastizes you, pushing you back into the bed to lie down.  You are powerless to resist Takahara Kaori's nurse-ly might, but she does give you the remote to raise the bed so you can eat.
Death eats the soup and asks the nurse what happened while he was out.
<Brian> "This is Nerima general," she says.  "Well, they had to open you up a little more to put some sutures in your intestines -- you were cut in three places.  You've got some staples in you, so you're not going to be able to do a whole lot of moving around for a few days."
Death groans.
<Brian> "Until everything heals nicely, you're restricted to a bland liquid diet.  If you behave, and don't stretch your abdominals, I'll help you get your computer set up."
Death nods eagerly.
<Brian> Your soup is particularly tasteless.  But then, that's probably for the best, given you don't want it leaking through holes in your intestine into the rest of your body.
<Brian> Once you finish, she slides a stand with a reaching ledge across the bed in front of you, and hands you your laptop.  "Now, I'll be back in a bit, so don't push yourself too hard.  If you need anything, the call button's right there."  She smiles at you, then takes the empty soup bowl away, leaving you a large sealed glass of water, and a straw.
Death sticks the straw in the water and sips as he goes online.
<Brian> Your wounds burn a bit.  Not horribly blindingly painful, but a constant minor ache.  You suspect that the gash in your thigh is going to become a problem, if you don't exercise it properly once it heals.
It's about 11:30 AM local time (about 6:30 PM PST), on January 5th.

[RangerShade]

Death decides to take it easy, resting and surfing the web. Looks like its time to heal up.

[Brian]

It seems quite likely you won't be able to do much more than that for a while.

But seeming is not truth.

You have enough time to catch up on your e-mails, and send a few out, when you're interupted by someone knocking on the door.  When you glance up, you see a police inspector, and his assistant.  "Hello," he says in almost completely unaccented English.  "How are you doing today, Mr...."  He trails off, then looks at the name in a paper card stuck through a frame on the door below the room number (4), "Mr. Fujinaka?"  He turns back to face you, and smiles warmly.

He is slightly shorter than average, dressed in the severe brown suit all Japanese businessmen seem to wear when they aren't wearing blue.  His hair is neatly trimmed, and he wears a pair of wire-frame spectacles.

His assistant, by contrast, is taller, a little thinner, and wears no glasses.  He also looks like he hasn't cut his hair in a while, which is somewhat surprising, all things considered.  It's just the slightest bit unruly.  Both are carrying pads of paper, and pens with silver taps and nibs.  They step into the room uninvited, and await your reply to their question.

[RangerShade]

Death nods politely.

"Takeshi Fujinaka. Forgive me, but I'm unable to get up to properly greet you."

"You're here about the incident that put me in here, I presume?"

[Brian]

"That would be correct," the investigator says, nodding.  "I'm Kenichi Yamada, and this is my partner, Yosaku Moboshi."  The unkempt, and still silent assistant offers a polite bow.  "Now, with regards to the incident, if you're feeling up to it, could you give us a complete rundown of the incident from your point of view?  And please, spare no details."  The man seems sincere, putting his pen to the paper in preparation of taking notes.

[RangerShade]

"I was just finished making an offering at the temple when (detailed description of thief here) nearly crashed into me and I noticed he was using my bike as his means of transportation. I attempted to stop him and he pulled out a boxcutter and slashed me. That was when the officers showed up so he turned and tried to run, so I stopped him by throwing one of my locks at him. After that your officers probably know better then I do, I think I went into shock when the ambulance arrived."

[Brian]

"I see," the inspector says, frowning, and scribbling in his notebook.  "Well, we just needed a statement from you.  Everything seems reasonably straightforward from here."

The assistant nods, not scribing anything, and merely staring at you intently the entire time.  With that done, the pair turns to leave, their voices echoing indistinctly in the hallway, though you can't make out what they're saying.

Shortly thereafter, another nurse enters the room, and quickly checks your chart, before nodding to herself.  She then goes about tidying up your room as though you weren't there, completely ignoring you.

She appears of average height for an Asian woman, with slightly less than shoulder length hair.  Her eyes are dark but don't ever meet yours.  Regardless, your laptop is still running and connected, granting you time to catch up on your e-mails, surf the net, or work on fanfics.