The men who put a blade into Asako Taishi's kidneys under cover of smoke bowed to Shiba Midori in a clearing an hour later and kept every form of the duel.
That's a woman. Our target is not a woman. Let her go. They had hold of Doji Setsuna on her Utaku warsteed, and they let go the moment they looked at her. They were working from a description and she did not fit it. What came down on the Emperor’s Road was not a robbery. It was an errand, and the errand was Asako Taishi.
He shouted his protection again and it bought him nothing again. Kakita Kazumi looked once at the smoke and said he knew the tactic. Bayushi Monban came down out of the air onto Doji Setsuna's warsteed with steel out, put a sheath-strike into one of the men holding Asako Taishi, and did not shift him. The horse did better, rearing and putting a second man in the dust. The archers were blind in their own smoke. They dropped their bows and came in on foot.
Kakita Kazumi went into the fog and stopped being anywhere. He came out of it long enough to put a yoroi-dōshi — the armour-piercer, a blade meant for a man already held — into one of them. Asako Taishi began screaming that there were assassins on him. A second bomb went in and the road disappeared entirely. Shiba Midori swung her jitte at a man's hands and lost him in the haze. Doji Setsuna took the reins of Asako Taishi's pony and walked it around until there was a horse between her and whoever was coming.
They dragged him off the road, put a blade into his chest and into his kidneys, and left him with minutes on him. Bayushi Monban jumped at a man, missed, and was on the ground with rope on his arms before he was up. From inside the ropes he announced that he was an Emerald Magistrate and would not be bound. Then he headbutted one of the men holding him.
Their leader came forward in black armour with a long-chained nunchaku, held a threat over Asako Taishi, and turned to Shiba Midori. She read him first, for whether he wanted this stopped. The two of them walked into a clearing where the smoke was thinning, bowed to each other, and kept every form of a formal duel. He cut first and cut deep. She answered, broke him, and finished it two-handed. He died on the grass with his men still holding a dying scholar.
After that it came apart. Bayushi Monban threatened what was left of them. Doji Setsuna turned her horse for the Castle of the Swift Sword. Kakita Kazumi went sideways into the shadows and nobody saw him leave. The survivors closed around Asako Taishi and carried him off gravely wounded, which was what they had come for and not how they had meant to get it. What the party had left to look at was the clothing: dark blue, matched across all of them, no clan crest on any of it. I did not expect it to go this way at all, Bayushi Monban said. He thanked Doji Setsuna, and they agreed to reassemble at the castle.
Setsuna
They had a description. It specified a man, and it was exact enough that they let go of a Doji on an Utaku warsteed rather than take the wrong person. Someone briefed them on Asako Taishi and did not brief them on the party; they did not know an Emerald Magistrate's escort would be on that road.
Dark blue, matched, no crests. That is a company with a paymaster who can outfit it and a reason to keep the outfit anonymous. Kakita Kazumi has seen the smoke tactic somewhere before, and where is worth asking him.
Two Emerald Magistrates asserted Imperial authority on the Emperor’s Road four times between them and it stopped nothing at all. The one thing that moved these men was a sword. She should not plan on the badge working in open country again.
Asako Taishi is alive, taken, and still owed the protection she gave him in as many words. Whatever he was carrying, someone wanted it enough to spend a trained company and their commander on it. The commander died on the grass without anyone learning his name.
Timeline
Smoke Ambush on Road - On the Emperor’s Road near a way station attackers set off a smoke bomb, creating obscuring terrain and a chaotic melee centered on Asako Taishi, a Phoenix scholar who claimed he was under the protection of the Emerald Magistrates. Attackers realized they had seized the wrong person and released Doji Setsuna while still targeting Asako. Kakita Kazumi recognized the smoke-bomb technique and Bayushi Monban used a kiho to move over the melee, mounting Setsuna’s Utaku Warsteed and engaging combatants. Archers lost line of sight, Kakita used Skulk and struck inside the smoke, a second smoke bomb detonated, Midori attempted a disarm, Setsuna seized Asako’s pony, and unknown assailants dragged Asako into the smoke.
Smoke Ambush and Wrong Capture - Attackers detonated a smoke bomb on the Emperor’s Road, creating obscuring terrain and a chaotic melee around Asako Taishi as he cried for Emerald Magistrate protection. The attackers then realized they had seized the wrong person and released Doji Setsuna while continuing to target Asako.
- Smoke Chaos Begins - On the Emperor’s Road near a way station, attackers set off a smoke bomb, creating obscuring terrain as a chaotic melee broke out around Asako Taishi, a tall Phoenix scholar on a small pony, who screamed he was under the protection of the Emerald Magistrates.
Crane and Scorpion Counterattack - Kakita Kazumi regrouped with the party and identified the smoke-bomb technique. Bayushi Monban lofted through the air using a kiho, moved over the melee, slid onto Doji Setsuna’s Utaku Warsteed, drew steel, used a controlled sheath strike against a samurai holding Asako’s pony reins, and the Utaku Warsteed reared and kicked an attacker near Asako’s pony.
- Wrong Target Realized - Attackers realized they had seized the wrong person and released Doji Setsuna, refined Crane courtier on an Utaku Warsteed, while continuing to target Asako Taishi.
- Kazumi Returns to Scene - Kakita Kazumi, Crane duelist wearing a blue demon mask, regrouped with the party and recognized the smoke bomb technique in use.
- Monban Airborne - Bayushi Monban, Scorpion bushi employing a kiho that lofted him through the air amid snowflake-like motes, moved over the melee as the Doji cortege lingered behind.
- Monban Mounts Warsteed - Bayushi Monban slid onto the back of Doji Setsuna’s Utaku Warsteed and drew steel.
- Sheath Strike at Reins - Bayushi Monban used a controlled sheath strike to cuff the ear of a samurai holding Asako Taishi’s pony reins; the samurai kept his grip despite the ringing blow.
Smoke Tactics and Hidden Stab - Attackers’ archers lost line of sight in the smoke, switched weapons, and advanced. Kakita Kazumi activated Skulk, vanished within the obscuring terrain, and struck a restrained target inside the smoke with a yoroi-dōshi; a second smoke bomb then detonated, expanding the obscuring terrain.
- Utaku Warsteed Kicks - Doji Setsuna’s Utaku Warsteed reared and kicked, sending one attacker sprawling near Asako Taishi’s pony.
- Archers Disrupted - Attackers’ archers lost line of sight in the smoke, switched weapons, and advanced.
- Skulk Initiated - Kakita Kazumi activated Skulk, vanishing within the obscuring terrain to approach an unseen target unobserved.
- First Hidden Stab - Kakita Kazumi struck a restrained target inside the smoke with a yoroi-dōshi, an armor-piercing knife; a yelp followed and Asako Taishi screamed that assassins were upon him.
Disarm Attempts and Abduction - Shiba Midori attempted to hook an attacker’s nunchaku with her jitte but failed in the dense smoke. Doji Setsuna maneuvered her Utaku Warsteed to seize the bridle of Asako Taishi’s pony and block an attacker; Asako scrambled toward Bayushi Monban’s saddle for protection, but unknown assailants pulled him back off the Utaku Warsteed and into the smoke.
- Second Smoke Bomb - A second smoke bomb detonated, expanding the obscuring terrain around the fight.
- Midori Attempts Disarm - Shiba Midori, Phoenix shugenja on a small pony, attempted to hook an attacker’s nunchaku with her jitte to disarm them but failed in the dense smoke.
- Setsuna Seizes Pony - Doji Setsuna maneuvered her Utaku Warsteed to cut in front of Asako Taishi’s pony and, with firm commands, seized the bridle to guide it beside her while blocking the attacker.
- Scholar Seeks Shelter - Asako Taishi scrambled to climb into Bayushi Monban’s saddle for protection, pleading for his life.
Struggles and Targeted Killings - The engagement shifted to focused strikes, grapples, and efforts to extract or eliminate targets. Kakita used Crossing Blade and other strikes while Bayushi Monban attempted a kill but missed amid confusion; explosions and movement prompted Midori to withdraw and Doji Setsuna to spur her warsteed away toward the Castle of the Swift Sword. Multiple Masked Assailants grappled and bound Bayushi Monban, and Kakita’s repeated stabbing pushed a restrained target past their fatigue limit. Bayushi Monban freed himself by impaling a captor on a broken tree branch while Kazumi later stabbed to ensure a target’s death and an impaled attacker declared the mission accomplished.
Counterattacks, Explosions, and Withdrawal - Kakita Kazumi closed and used Crossing Blade to slash a target within the smoke. Bayushi Monban dove intent to kill a samurai but missed in the obscuring smoke; another explosive distraction detonated, Shiba Midori withdrew her pony to guard and avoid striking allies, Doji Setsuna spurred her Utaku Warsteed toward the Castle of the Swift Sword, and Kakita retrieved his pinned yoroi-dōshi from a roadside cart before slipping back toward the smoke.
- Scholar Dragged Away - Unknown assailants pulled Asako Taishi back off the Utaku Warsteed and into the smoke.
- Crossing Blade Strike - Kakita Kazumi closed and used a jutsu, Crossing Blade, to slash the same target within the smoke, adding to their fatigue and applying a critical effect.
- Monban’s Kill Attempt Fails - Bayushi Monban dove from above, intent to kill the samurai he had struck earlier, but his blade missed in the obscuring smoke; the terrified foe begged for mercy.
- Flash Bang Distraction - Another explosive distraction went off nearby, deepening confusion and limiting visibility.
- Midori Withdraws to Guard - Shiba Midori rode her pony out of the smoke perimeter and guarded, unwilling to strike blind into allies.
- Setsuna Breaks Away - Doji Setsuna spurred her Utaku Warsteed toward the Castle of the Swift Sword, kicking through any resistance and intending to rally with her attendants behind.
Monban Grappled, Target Pinned - Multiple Masked Assailants in dark blue clothing grappled Bayushi Monban at the smoke’s edge and dragged him outward, inflicting minor fatigue. Shiba Midori charged a visible assailant and missed, and Kakita Kazumi’s repeated stabbing with the yoroi-dōshi pushed the restrained target over their fatigue limit, rendering them incapacitated.
- Knife Retrieved at Cart - Kakita Kazumi emerged near a roadside cart where his yoroi-dōshi had pinned a terrified attendant’s clothes to the cart; he retrieved the knife, signaled for silence, and slipped back toward the smoke.
- Monban Grappled - Multiple Masked Assailants in dark blue clothing and half-helmets with no clan crests grappled Bayushi Monban at the smoke’s edge, dragging him outward and inflicting minor fatigue.
- Midori Strikes and Misses - Shiba Midori drew her katana, charged the nearest assailant visible through the haze, and missed.
Scholar's Despair and Binding - From within the smoke Asako Taishi cried that he was murdered and accused the Empress Protectors. Bayushi Monban’s arms were bound behind him in a Shibari-style tie as captors tightened ropes and urged him to leave the matter alone; he declared his Emerald Magistrate authority and, despite the bindings, shot upward and headbutted a binder’s helmet.
- Target Immobilized - Kakita Kazumi’s repeated stabbing with the yoroi-dōshi, ignoring armor with poison and precision, pushed the target over their fatigue limit, rendering them incapacitated.
- Scholar’s Despair - From within the smoke, Asako Taishi cried, “I am murdered! The Empress Protectors have forsaken me!” as Emerald Magistrates present faced the honor-stinging accusation amid the chaos.
- Monban Bound in Ropes - Bayushi Monban’s arms were bound behind him in a Shibari-style tie as captors tightened ropes and urged him to leave the matter alone; he declared his Emerald Magistrate authority and refused.
Leader Revealed, Mortal Stab - Shiba Midori glimpsed the attackers’ leader, armored in black and using a long-chained nunchaku to choke Asako while others stabbed. Kakita Kazumi stabbed the incapacitated target again, placing blades deep in the chest and kidneys to ensure death within minutes; Bayushi Monban slammed a captor onto a broken tree branch, impaling the minion and freeing his hands while the impaled attacker boasted the mission was accomplished.
- Aerial Headbutt - Bayushi Monban shot upward two range bands despite the tethering rope and headbutted his binder’s helmet, ringing it but doing little harm; the captor maintained the rope hold.
- Leader Revealed - Shiba Midori glimpsed the attackers’ leader—tall, armored head-to-toe in black with a menpo—using a long-chained nunchaku to choke Asako Taishi while others stabbed.
- Kazumi Ensures Mortality - Kakita Kazumi stabbed the incapacitated target again with the yoroi-dōshi, placing blades deep (heart and kidneys) and ensuring the target would die within minutes without intervention; he vanished back into the smoke.
- Monban Tree Impalement - Bayushi Monban slammed a captor onto a broken tree branch, impaling the minion and freeing his hands while bracing the skewered foe against the trunk.
Duel, Aftermath, and Extraction - The encounter culminated in a formal duel between Shiba Midori and the Black-Armored Leader and then transitioned to extraction and aftermath. Midori damaged the leader’s armor and assessed his sincerity; attackers coordinated to drag the gravely wounded Asako Taishi off the roadway while Bayushi Monban struggled against bindings and engaged remaining assailants. The duel escalated through exchanges and finishing blows, ending with Midori delivering a two-handed finishing strike that killed the leader. Afterwards the party and remaining combatants recorded the scholar’s critical condition, noted attacker gear and weapons, asserted magistrate authority, and planned to reconvene at the Castle of the Swift Sword.
Armor Damage and Ultimatum - Shiba Midori’s successive katana strikes damaged the leader’s shoulder pauldron and reduced his armor’s protection. The leader warned Midori to walk away to avoid further deaths; Midori used Truth Burns Through Lies to assess his sincerity. Attackers coordinated to drag Asako Taishi off the Emperor’s Road, Bayushi Monban failed to snap remaining ropes and hurled words from above as four Masked Assailants drew katanas and warned him they would grant him a good death if he insisted.
- Dying Boast - The impaled attacker spat blood and told Bayushi Monban his mission was accomplished; Bayushi Monban denounced a “traitor to the Empire.”
- Armor Damaged - Shiba Midori persevered against the Black-Armored Leader; after successive katana strikes she inflicted a critical that turned into a close call, damaging his shoulder pauldron and reducing his armor’s protection.
- Threat and Ultimatum - The Black-Armored Leader told Shiba Midori no more death was necessary if she walked away, warning that if forced to draw his sword she would regret it.
- Sincerity Assessed - Shiba Midori used Truth Burns Through Lies (sentiment insight) and determined the leader was sincere about avoiding further deaths yet confident he would overpower her if he drew.
- Scholar Dragged Off Road - Attackers coordinated to drag the grievously wounded Asako Taishi off the Emperor’s Road to the roadside, while a riderless horse trotted toward the direction Doji Setsuna had gone.
- Monban Fails to Break Bonds - Bayushi Monban struggled to snap remaining ropes and failed; from above he hurled scorching words to rattle nearby minions, then dropped down near the dying Phoenix scholar.
Formal Duel and Exchanges - Shiba Midori and the Black-Armored Leader bowed and assumed dueling stances as a divine wind cleared the lingering smoke. The leader executed 'Striking as Water' from the draw, reducing Midori’s resistance and cutting her for seven fatigue; Midori countered in Void stance and inflicted a bleeding wound on the leader’s sword arm, escalating duel strain.
- Minions Draw Steel - Four Masked Assailants dropped Asako Taishi’s limbs, drew their katanas, and warned Bayushi Monban that, if he insisted, they would grant him a good death.
- Duel Agreed - Shiba Midori and the Black-Armored Leader bowed and assumed dueling stances as a divine wind cleared the lingering smoke between them.
- Water Draw Cut Lands - The Black-Armored Leader executed Striking as Water from the draw, reducing Shiba Midori’s resistance and cutting her for seven fatigue before taking a calming breath.
- Midori’s First Critical - Shiba Midori countered in Void stance and inflicted a bleeding flesh wound on the leader’s sword arm where his pauldron had been knocked off, hampering his Water actions.
Compromise and Finishing Blows - During the next exchange both duelists became compromised; the opponent attempted a finishing blow but also tipped into compromise. Shiba Midori interrupted and delivered a two-handed finishing blow that overwhelmed the leader, then vaulted and drove her katana through the leader’s neck and into his torso, killing him outright.
- Duel Strife Mounts - As the duel progressed, escalating strife threatened to compromise both duelists amid the formal exchange.
- Finishing Strike Triggered - At the outset of the next exchange, Shiba Midori became compromised by duel strain, triggering the opponent’s finishing blow against her.
- Finishing Blow Interrupted - The Black-Armored Leader also tipped into compromise in the act, allowing Shiba Midori to interrupt with her own finishing blow.
- Decisive Two-Hand Cut - Shiba Midori delivered a two-handed finishing blow with her katana, the deadliness effectively doubled and augmented by her successes, overwhelming the leader who could not keep dice while compromised.
Post-Duel Maneuvers and Retreat - Bayushi Monban landed beside the Phoenix scholar and glared into the smoke, declaring, 'You’re next,' while four drawn blades faced him around the dying victim. Doji Setsuna continued riding hard toward the Castle of the Swift Sword trusting attendants to follow, and Kakita Kazumi slipped away unseen under Skulk’s effects.
- Leader Slain - Shiba Midori vaulted and drove her katana down through the leader’s neck and into the torso past the helmet’s rim, killing the black-armored commander outright.
- Monban’s Intimidation - Bayushi Monban landed by the Phoenix scholar and glared into the smoke, declaring, “You’re next,” while four drawn blades faced him around the dying victim.
- Setsuna’s Escape Maintained - Doji Setsuna continued riding hard toward the Castle of the Swift Sword, trusting attendants to follow and leaving the melee behind.
Casualties, Gear, and Observations - Asako Taishi bled heavily from repeated stab wounds to chest and kidneys and labored for breath, with minutes to live unless saved, as attackers shifted him off the roadway. Shiba Midori and Bayushi Monban observed the assailants wore dark blue clothing over padded armor, half-helmets, and masks with no visible clan crests; Midori identified the long-chained nunchaku used to throttle Asako. Doji Setsuna held control of Asako’s pony beside her Utaku Warsteed; Kakita Kazumi spared and warned a pinned cart attendant, Bayushi Monban invoked his Emerald Magistrate status to the rope-handlers who refused to desist, and he repeatedly strained at his bindings during the engagement. Attackers and hired muscle hauled the victim off the Emperor’s Road to avoid a corpse bleeding in the thoroughfare as the duel concluded.
- Kazumi Disengages - Kakita Kazumi, his task completed, slipped away from the scene unseen under Skulk’s effects.
- Scholar’s Condition - Asako Taishi, repeatedly stabbed (chest and kidneys), bled heavily and labored for breath, with minutes to live unless saved, while being shifted off the roadway.
- Attacker Gear Noted - Shiba Midori and Bayushi Monban observed that the assailants wore dark blue clothing over padded armor, half-helmets, masks, and bore no visible clan crests.
- Nunchaku Chain Identified - Shiba Midori identified the long-chained nunchaku used earlier to throttle Asako Taishi before the stabbing began.
- Warsteed Control Secured - Doji Setsuna held firm control of Asako Taishi’s pony by its bridle beside her Utaku Warsteed, having blocked the earlier reins-snatcher.
- Cart Attendant Spared - Kakita Kazumi spared the cart attendant pinned by his knife by retrieving the blade quietly and warning them to silence before reentering the smoke.
- Magistrate Authority Asserted - Bayushi Monban invoked his status as an Emerald Magistrate to the rope-handlers; they refused to desist, insisting the matter did not concern him.
- Rope Binding Resisted - Bayushi Monban repeatedly strained at his bindings through the engagement, seeking a moment to cut or snap them amid aerial maneuvers.
Aftermath and Reconvene Plan - With the Black-Armored Leader dead and the melee subsiding, remaining assailants focused on extracting the wounded Phoenix scholar while engaging Bayushi Monban at the roadside. The party planned to reconvene at the Castle of the Swift Sword to address the attempted roadside murder and its consequences.
- Empress’s Road Desecrated - Attackers and hired muscle hauled the victim off the Emperor’s Road to avoid a corpse bleeding in the thoroughfare as the duel concluded.
- Duel Aftermath - With the Black-Armored Leader dead and the melee subsiding, the remaining assailants focused on extracting the wounded Phoenix scholar while engaging Bayushi Monban at the roadside.
- Session Close Intent - The party planned to reconvene at the Castle of the Swift Sword to address the attempted roadside murder and its consequences.