Session 1. (30/5/04)

This multi-part episode of The Stone begins with a quiet introduction to series 4 before pulling the characters in different directions with different challenges. Sugiyama (Dave Weaver) appears first, having missed the prelude adventure through other work commitments, arriving back in Matsuyama with Kimori's swords, armour and wife, Mitsumi. Sugiyama puts Kimori's possessions safe, checks in with Lord Chozo, who suggests he go for a rest cure to the mountains, and then goes to see his ninja clan in the mountains. Suganuma is very pleased to see him! While not "resting", Sugiyama improves his taisabaki (combat movement and positioning) skill. This also improves is deftness to the point where his base action phase increases.

The scene moves back to Matsuyama and forward two weeks. Mariko (Paul Burton), Kimori (Anthony Hummerston), Komako (Jim Loder) and Emiko (Denzil Brown) arrive back with one of the ships ferrying Lord Chozo's army back from Hyuga (see The Stone series 3). Sugiyama meets them as soon as he hears the ship has docked. Kimori immediately asks after the safety of his swords and armour… oh, and wife. Sugiyama tells him where he has put them for safe keeping. Kimori asks Sugiyama if he was tempted to run off with his superior no-dachi (aka "Big Chopper"), but Sugiyama said he couldn't because it was too long and heavy for him to use. "It don't mean a thing if it's too big to swing," he remarks. Kimori doesn't ask Sugiyama if he had been tempted to run off with his wife.

Otherwise the welcome home is muted. Lord Chozo gives the Trouble-shooters a few weeks to rest and train, after first sorting out the issue of back pay and battle honours. Kimori receives a fine new house in Matsuyama in lieu of battle pay, while Lord Chozo arranges for a master weapon smith in Imabari to make her a lightweight metal bo from the orichalcum the Trouble-shooters returned from their travels. Sugiyama also manages to take a piece away for study.

In the next fortnight, Kimori installs his new wife in his new house, goes back to teaching at the Academy of the Blade and installs Kempei (the ronin) at the academy. Emiko, having learnt a karma yoga scroll on the voyage home, decides to build up her strength and trains for a month. Komako also wasted no time on board ship, improving his fishing skill and managing to feed four sailors. Back in Matsuyama he studies divination at the Ishiteji "Stone Hand" Temple and improves his mind (increasing Wit to 10 and gaining another freely improvable skill). Meanwhile Mariko returns to Masaki village for a rest.

At the start of the last week of the year, Lord Chozo meets with the Trouble-shooters and introduces them to the Trouble-shooters of Lord Yamagata of Sanuki Province in North-Eastern Shikoku. They have come for a friendly challenge against Lord Chozo's renowned Trouble-shooters. Lord Chozo decrees that it will take place on the training grounds of Matsuyama Castle. As the challenged, the Trouble-shooters can choose the contests; the Sanuki team can choose who to put up for each contest. Each of the Trouble-shooters is expected to take part in one contest. Little do the Trouble-shooters know, but the Sanuki challengers are all sixth level masters of their various professions (this later causes suspicion and paranoia, but it is just down to Lord Yamagata trying to put one over on Lord Chozo and boost the honour of his province).

Komako goes first, choosing to fight with atemi-waza (similar to karate), using pulled shots until an effective knockout blow is delivered (i.e. a difference in effect numbers between attacker and defender of ten or more). Komako attacks and get a great hit (EN 17) past a weak defence (EN 6), an immediate win. Komako decides to give his opponent, Toyonari a second chance and lets him attack, but his shot is mediocre (EN 7) and only partially beats Komako's defence (EN 4). The win goes to Lord Chozo's side.

Sugiyama goes next. Somewhat limited by his Bushi persona, he chooses the simplest option of a kenjutsu demonstration - prowess in cutting bamboo mannequins and fruit. Sugiyama and his opponent, Iwazumi, each slice a melon with a single blow, trying to cut it in exact halves. Both do very well and it is judged a draw (EN 14 each). Now they move onto the bamboo mannequins. Sugiyama slices into his target, but the blow is not deep enough to be lethal (EN 5). Iwazumi takes his turn and gets a much better hit (EN 15) and wins the contest. One-all!

Now Kimori takes on Saru at kyujutsu. Each fires three arrows at a thick bamboo pole and scores according to how accurately they hit it. Kimori fires his first arrow and gets a great hit, scoring 18. Saru is undaunted and replies with a 17. Kimori goes again and gets only 11, but Saru feels the pressure and scores 7. Kimori has the chance to put it beyond reach but scores 12 and, with a brilliant 19, Saru levels the score. Kimori goes first in the shoot-off, and scores a respectable 14. Saru replies - and also scores 14. Saru offers a draw but Kimori decides to go for glory. He shoots and scores, but only gets 5. Saru shoots, and splits the pole in precise halves. The judges award him 22 and the contest. Two-one to Lord Yamagata.

Emiko takes the next contest, challenging the visitors to a theological debate. Akizuki steps forward for Lord Yamagata and the argument begins. Emiko opens persuasively (EN 14) and Akizuki finds it hard to rebut her points (EN 3). Emiko presses her advantage with a second telling argument (EN 14) which Akizuki finds similarly difficult to defend (EN 2). Emiko puts forward a third point (EN 5) which Akizuki has better luck with the counter-argument (EN 9). Emiko's fourth point is very weak (EN 2), but by now Akizuki has no answer (EN 0) and concedes defeat without bothering with the final round. Two-all!

In the decider, Mariko decides on a simulated battle, using counters and battle rules used for teaching military tactics. Mariko and her opponent, Yasumori, each start with 10 troop points. Mariko gets the tactical advantage in the first round with her superior senjojutsu, and after equal die rolls this is the only difference, resulting in a loss of one troop point to Yasumori. The next round is similar and both sides lose a troop point, but the round after Mariko makes a brilliant move (EN 18) and takes two troupe points, though losing one herself. With the score now 8 troop points to 6 troop points, Mariko keeps her tactical advantage while the die rolls remain level, and each side loses one point in the next round. The fifth round is the turning point, with another brilliant move (EN 18) and a good die roll, Mariko takes two troop points for no losses, and gains a crucial 2-to-1 numerical advantage. While the next two rounds are stalemated (both sides losing one point, to give a 3-to-1 then a 5-to-1 advantage), Mariko mops up in the eighth round to take the victory and an overall win for Lord Chozo. Honour is maintained, while Lord Yamagata's men, only losing 3-2 as the away team, have not lost face. The reward for the winners of the individual contests is to be trained by their defeated opponent for one intensive week. Komako learns the basics of the okuden Koppo (bone-breaking); Sugiyama teaches Precision Strike (and improves his own skill somewhat); Kimori teaches Beast Killer, but has time to learn some of the kyujutsu okuden Lightning Draw; Emiko learns Perfect Recall, an okuden which allows automatic success on classics rolls and removes the need to read from scrolls (on a successful okuden roll, of course); and Mariko learns the techniques of Poetry. Lord Chozo also announces a celebratory meal with the Sanuki trouble-shooters when they return from a visit to Imabari.

After this the characters get their own interludes, starting with "Guard Duty" and "Police Brutality." Lord Chozo calls a meeting with the Trouble-shooters and fills them in on the situation in Matsuyama. Iyo province seems peaceful, but the Shogun has banned all contacts to the outside world, which hits Shikoku and Kyushu particularly hard, and won't allow this alliance to build up power. He demands the restoration of the Iyo province and promises to send a more capable daimyo (capable of putting down the rebellion, of course). Local disquiet is greatest among the Hyugan exiles, living in an enclave in Matsuyama after fleeing the war in Hyuga. Lord Chozo also says that the talk of Matsuyama is the troupe of sumotori who have been entertaining people and are very popular. They have mock sumo tournaments and demonstrations of ju-jitsu and other martial arts. However, afterwards they give political speeches against the New Order. Lord Chozo wants to shut them up, but they are too popular for him to touch - even a covert operation would turn the population against him. Finally, Lord Chozo takes Komako aside and says, "My daughter has a number of social engagements and I have need of a man of high rank, skilled at fighting without weapons, to guard her and make sure she doesn't get into trouble. There are yakuza and Hyugan dissidents in the city who would like to hurt me, and might try through her." Komako feels honoured in his new role as Chozo Takara's bodyguard and chaperone.

The New Year comes and goes peacefully. On the second day of week 1 of the Year of the Dragon, Mariko gets a message from a junior clerk at the village. Mariko goes to the village to see her and the clerk says that the village is losing money, even though productivity is up. Mariko goes through the accounts, but other than seeing that expenses are greater than income, can't find a reason why. The head accountant's mark is on all the accounts, so Mariko sends for him to help go through them.

Meanwhile, Komako, Sugiyama, Kimori and Emiko go to see the Sumotori showing off to the crowds in one of Matsuyama's open spaces. The sumo and judo fights are entertaining and quite realistic - one of the judo experts is injured and the tile breaking exhibition is cancelled. After the show the troupe members take it in turn to make polite political speeches, along the lines of, "Things are difficult since the regime changed, the Shogun doesn't support us and trade is cut," and "Things would be better if someone else was in charge." Some even go as far as naming the "someone else" - Nishina Benkei. Emiko remembers hearing his name as an up-and-coming businessman in Matsuyama. The crowds disperse and the Trouble-shooters do not cause trouble - Lord Chozo has stressed that this is not the time because the Sumotori are such popular entertainers that the attack them would turn the people against the Trouble-shooters and Lord Chozo.

Back in Masaki village, Mariko is grilling the chief accountant. He goes through the books and identifies the costs. A lot of them are cash payments to the village Headman. The accountant says this is normal, but Mariko sees that they have all been made in the last few months and were not evident earlier in the year. She goes to confront the Headman. He grovels and says the payments are just normal expenses, but Mariko detects the tension in his voice. Under pressure he admits that he has struggled to keep the village solvent in Mariko's absence because the yakuza from Matsuyama have been extorting protection money. They come once a month and demand more each time. Mariko demands to know when they are due but the Headman doesn't know. Mariko leaves instructions to watch the road for their arrival and to summon her as soon as they are spotted.

In the evening Komako accompanies Chozo Takara to a dance in Matsuyama. Komako stays mostly to the edges of the party activities, but later tries his hand at dancing. His lack of practice immediately shows as he falls over and sprains his ankle! Embarrassed, he is thankful when Takara signals him that it is time to leave. On the way home, two figures jump from the shadows and attack the bearers of Takara's kaga, knocking them to the ground. Komako, hobbling along behind, attacks one of the attackers and quickly renders him unconscious. Behind him the other attacker draws his sword. Takara shouts out, "Look out, he's got a sword!" but anything further she says is muffled as a third attacker puts his hand over her mouth and drags her from the kaga. She pulls out her own tanto and tries to stab him, but she can't reach. Meanwhile the other attacker swings at Komako but misses, falls over and is stunned. Komako confronts the final attacker but he holds Takara in front of him with his sword at her throat, backing away slowly. Focussing his mind and ignoring the pain in his ankle, Komako goes for a leg sweep against both Takara and her attacker, succeeds brilliantly, felling the attacker who is so surprised that he hits the ground hard and is knocked out. Deftly, Komako catches Takara before she hits the floor. Behind them, the other stunned attacker jumps to his feet and runs off into the night. Komako calls for a doshin to take away the two remaining unconscious attackers, and then rouses the bearers. Takara puts her tanto away, straightens her clothing and asks Komako to make sure her hemline is straight - and then says, "That's not my hemline!" The party continues uneventfully up to the castle. There Takara relates the evening's excitement to Lord Chozo and waxes lyrical over Komako's skill and bravery - and she doesn't even mention the dancing!

Also that evening, Sugiyama contacts his ninja clan to get some observers and infiltrators into Chiba district, home of the Sharks yakuza gang. Emiko's investigations also lead there - it is the main base of operations for Nishina Benkei, the businessman mentioned by the Sumotori

When Sugiyama arrives at the doshin HQ the following day he finds that there are some new prisoners. There is a yakuza who was caught burgling a shop who seems ready to talk, and the two men who attacked Chozo Takara, who also turn out to be yakuza. Sugiyama arranges for them to be in adjacent cells then goes to talk to "Mr Canary". He seems keen to talk and tells Sugiyama that it is the Sharks behind the recent crime wave, they are based in the Yoshima district and their leader is Mr Naoe who lives at the base. When pressed on where the base is, Mr Canary clams up. However, he hints that it is near the Iyo road, where an ambush on a gem train is planned for tomorrow night. He says that most of the yakuza will be in on the hit and the base will be half empty. Sugiyama applies a technique involving thin slivers of bamboo and Mr Canary finally reveals that the base is opposite the shrine on the Iyo road.

Sugiyama now moves onto the next prisoner. Softened by the screams from the next cell, he quickly confirms the same information as Mr Canary. However, he refuses to admit knowing anything about a gem train ambush and eventually faints under torture. Sugiyama goes to the third cell, making sure its occupant sees the bleeding, unconscious body dragged away. Again the basic information is confessed, but when pressing for the name of the leader, Sugiyama unfortunately cuts an artery and he is unable to prevent the yakuza from bleeding to death.

The Trouble-shooters get together at the castle to discuss tactics. Emiko reports her findings on the businessman. Sugiyama receives a report from "his people" in Chiba who have seen yakuza activity but haven't had time to get anyone on the inside yet. The Trouble-shooters debate whether to save the gem train or attack the half-empty yakuza base. They eventually decide to intercept the gem train as it leaves Iyo town. Mariko tells Lord Chozo that they can't make it to dinner with the Sanuki trouble-shooters. Lord Chozo agrees but delays dinner so that they might be able to attend later in the evening. Kimori goes to see if Kempei wants to help defend the gem train but he can't be found. The Trouble-shooters set off for Iyo town, so they can spend the afternoon gem train spotting, which they expect to pass through by 6pm. Sugiyama hangs back and secretly arranges for his ninja clan to attack the yakuza base having obtained permission from a very reluctant Lord Chozo. As he sets off to catch up with the others, Sugiyama is accosted by a street urchin with a message to go to the herbalist's shop urgently. Giving the urchin 2CP and a clip round the ear, he diverts to the back streets. The herbalist tells him that a high-born foreigner has been poking around trying to hire an assassin to enter Matsuyama Castle. Sugiyama thanks him for the information and gives him a silver coin. The herbalist gives a phial to Sugiyama saying that the contents are good for a stomach upset. Taking this to mean it is a lethal poison antidote, Sugiyama returns to the castle and searches the kitchens. He finds nothing, so he questions the kitchen staff but they are all clear. He reports the assassination plot to Lord Chozo and makes sure the most trusted guards are in key positions around the castle.

On the Iyo road, just north of the town, the other Trouble-shooters are getting bored. Nothing like a gem train has been through and it is 6pm. 6:30 comes and goes. At 7pm Komako has had enough and walks into town to see what he can see. There is no evidence of a gem train on the streets or in the inns. Komako reaches the far end of town, can see nothing approaching across the Iyo plain and returns to the others. Emiko decides to try and see the future and goes into a trance. She sees them returning immediately to Matsuyama and herself and Komako tackling a major fire, so they decide to return immediately to Matsuyama. Kimori and Mariko ride off ahead with their superior bajutsu skills and soon come to Masaki village. Here they are flagged down by a villager who says that the Headman's daughter is being held hostage in the Headman's house. Mariko rides straight up and, ignoring the Headman's pleading that it is dangerous, marches straight through the door. Inside are six armed villagers, the Headman's wife and the Headman's daughter. Two of the villagers have swords at the necks of the Headman's family. Mariko wishes herself good luck and lashes out at the chief hostage-taker with her tanto. It scores critically and leaves the man severely injured and unconscious and releasing the Headman's daughter. The second hostage-taker slices the throat of the Headman's wife, killing her instantly, while the other villagers swing their crude weapons at Mariko, though none connects. Kimori comes charging in, sees the close confinement of the fight and switches to his wakizashi. Mariko stabs one of the villagers and Kimori chops another. Three of the villagers dash for the door as Kimori finishes off a fourth and Mariko confronts the murderer. She gets a good hit, but the murderer gets a critical strike and Mariko is dazed. Kimori sets off after the villagers who split up. Two disappear into the night, but Kimori chases one down and kills him. Mariko is cut once more but this rouses her and she stabs the last hostage-taker with a killing blow. Mariko takes the King from the Chess Set of Shizari and revives the Headman's wife, then, making sure there are enough villagers to keep the peace, rides off with Kimori for Matsuyama.

Up ahead, Emiko and Komako have arrived in Matsuyama, having missed the excitement in the village. There is no sign of action at the gem train ambush location so they head up to the castle. On the way they see flames licking up the side of a building. It turns out to be the Head Priest's house in the grounds of the Shrine of Shizari. They go to tackle the blaze and Emiko is about to cast her quench spell when she sees two figures lighting another fire on the back wall of the shrine building itself. Komako hits one and Emiko swings her bo staff over the head of the other. A splint drops to the ground and ignites the lamp oil poured there, and flame leap up the wall of the shrine. Komako hits his opponent again and Emiko hits the other. From out of the shadows an arrow flies and hits Komako. Emiko backs off to cast a spell, leaving Komako alone with the two arsonists and the hidden archer. Komako gets two more hits on the first arsonist and knocks him out, and is hit by another arrow for his pains. Emiko casts her quench spell and it completely extinguishes the flames on the shrine building. Now she tackles the fire on the Head Priest's house while Komako tackles the second arsonist. Ignoring the blows and arrows raining in, which turn him into a sort of bruised porcupine, Komako lands three blows on the arsonists to lay him out. Emiko casts quench and reduces the flames, but they have a good hold on the building, with one wall well alight and flames spreading to the roof. Emiko quenches half the flames as Komako makes a dash for the archer in the shadows. As he gets there the archer swaps bow for sword and strikes at Komako, just missing him. Komako lands a heavy punch and then a kick. The archer/swordsman manages a light wound on Komako before a roundhouse kick leaves him studying his eyelids from the inside. Emiko casts a final quench spell and puts out the last of the fires.

At precisely the same time, Sugiyama is enjoying the festivities up at the castle, but between courses makes a tour of the castle donjon and checks on the guards. On the floor above the feasting room (the first floor), Sugiyama finds the guard collapsed on the floor. He looks round and sees nothing, but feels a sharp pain in his neck. Sugiyama quickly pulls out the poison dart and leaps for the shadows. The dart seems to have no effect. Looking around, Sugiyama sees the end of a blowpipe sticking through the window's shutters. He makes a heroic leap and swings his sword straight through the shutters. There is a crash as a black-cloaked figure falls backwards onto the narrow roof to lies prostrate, covered with shards of shuttering and blowpipe. Sugiyama hits the ninja twice as he struggles to get up but is the hit by a poisoned shuriken; however, he again shrugs off the poison. Finally Sugiyama tries for Silent Kill, succeeds, and kills the ninja outright. He hauls the body back inside and examines it for evidence. There is little to go on, but Sugiyama deduces that the ninja is not from Shikoku.

Also at precisely the same time, Mariko and Kimori arrive back in Matsuyama only to discover a gem train entering the city, consisting of a convoy master, two porters and a guard. They tell them about the yakuza threat and offer to guard them. As they say this, five yakuza emerge from the shadows and attack with swords. Mariko and Kimori take on all five. Kimori lands some nice shots on the first of his three and is hit only once, while Mariko tries to get into range for her tanto and is also hit once. Kimori gets a critical hit and kills the first yakuza. Mariko gets two hits but then her opponent breaks his sword and runs away. The other three yakuza continue to flail away with the swords ineffectually. Kimori hits his second opponent and knocks him unconscious. Mariko takes on her second and hits him as he hits her. Then both Mariko and Kimori are hit from behind - the convoy porters are attacking them! Mariko whirls round and gets a massive hit on the porter, knocking him down. He gets up but Mariko finishes him with three quick thrusts. Kimori disposes of the other porter in three swings (two hits and a practice), then takes on the convoy guard, the most proficient-looking of their opponents. He lands several telling blows while the bushi is completely unable to penetrate Kimori's defence. In desperation he swings wildly, falls over and dazes himself. Kimori ends it quickly. Mariko is fighting the convoy master and lands one blow from her tanto then a critical hit, killing him. All this time the two remaining yakuza have been landing the occasional blow on Kimori's and Mariko's backs, but now their time is up. Both yakuza land maximum hits on the Trouble-shooters, but both Trouble-shooters get critical hits (Kimori's through use of Precision Strike) and they both go down with single blows.

As the bodies (dead and unconscious) are brought to the castle, with the Trouble-shooters' various tales, the night's questions mount up:

• Why did the gem train not pass through Iyo Town?
• Why did the porters and guards side with the yakuza?
• Why did yakuza target the Shrine of Shizari?
• Who was the target of the ninja climbing the outside of Matsuyama Castle?
• Why are bushi and yakuza working together?
• What happened when the ninja attacked the yakuza base?

Some of these questions might possibly be answered in the concluding part of episode 1 of The Stone 4.

< Previous  |  Home  |  Bushido  |  The Stone 4  |  Next >