Session 20. (12/10/07)

While the others have been taking care of the junior pupils, Sung, Koei and Sugiyama go after the senior ninja. A junior pupil blocks his way to the balcony so he attacks; it takes four hits to clear the way (the ninja failing to land a blow) and Sugiyama climbs the wall to the balcony and disappears into the shadows. Sung finds some stairs to the balcony but half way up is surrounded by three junior pupils. He adjusts his helmet so only his eyes are visible (at which point the viewer may notice how similar his eyes are to Komako's) then lashes out a succession of rapid blows. The first five all hit the first pupil and eventually fells him. The sixth scores critically on the second pupil and cuts him in two with 36 damage. The third pupil takes three blows to fall. Sung is not unscathed, but takes just two four-point hits. Koei floats straight up to the balcony on her Wings of Heaven, seeming so serene she could be mistaken for Emiko. A junior pupil throws a shuriken at her, doing six damage, but Koei disdainfully launches three Darts of Water at him and washes him off the balcony, unconscious. Next she picks out one of the senior teachers, a L6, and launches three Arrows of Fire. The all strike, doing 29 damage, and set fire to the ninja's pyjama-armour, doing further damage, from which he dies in the next round. Then Koei picks out a group of teachers and sends a Fire Blast into the middle of them. One is toasted for 12 damage, another 13 and a third 9. Sugiyama escapes injury though he had just from nowhere to Silent Kill the third teacher for 18 damage, however, another ninja snuck up on him and did triple damage of 9. As the echoes of the blast die away, Sugiyama finishes the third teacher with an ordinary hit, then disappears again.

Sung appears at the top of the stairs and takes on two L5 ninjas. One lands a critical hit on him for 12 damage; Sung replies with a regular hit for 12 damage, followed by hits of 13, 12, 10 and 9 to finish the first enemy. Overhead, Koei is having some problems. A ninja with a glint in his eye and a maniacal laugh like Kimori's throws a poisoned shuriken at her, infecting her with a L3 lightning disabling poison. Koei fails to fight it off for one action phase, then in subsequent action phases reduces its level gradually, but in doing so she has accumulated nine distractions. Meanwhile, the ninja sniggers and throws a handful of shuriken at Sung. Three of the six connect, inflicting 14 damage. The ninja laughs evilly and slips into the shadows. Koei summons her will and casts Pure Body to replace 19 of Sung's lost hit points.

Sugiyama emerges from the shadows again to Silent Kill the ninja who had just done the same to him. It succeeds and the ninja is knocked back and stunned. Sugiyama capitalises and repeatedly strikes the stunned ninja until he is almost dead. Then Sugiyama mysteriously vanishes - only to emerge behind the ninja and finish him with 21 points of overkill. Koei now has more problems. Overwhelmed by her distractions, she lands on the balcony and is immediately garrotted by the laughing ninja. She suffers 4 damage and all seems lost when Sung breaks through and lays about the evil ninja. The ninja releases Koei and gets an arm lock on Sung, but a lucky miss by Sung catches the ninja on a wild follow-through and makes him release, then a critical hit from Sung knocks the ninja cold. Koei, now released, summons all her will and manages to cast Pure Blood on herself and banish the distractions.

Sung and Sugiyama continue to polish off the senior ninja, Sugiyama by using the shadows to get Silent Kills, Sung by rapid sword strikes. Sung is getting very battered, but Koei casts Pure Body and replenishes 20 points of his health. The last three ninja standing face Sugiyama and Sung. One is apparently a twin of the evil-laugh ninja (even while Koei is slitting his throat), and attempts Venomous Touch on Sugiyama, but he evades, slips into the shadows and Silently Kills the second ninja with 26 critical damage to the leg. Sung lands more rapid blows on evil-laugh-twin ninja, who eventually turns and runs, with the other surviving ninja. Sung chases him while Koei flies around making a details and ultimately fruitless search for the Master of the school. Sung manages to get in range of the fleeing ninja and almost finishes him with a ten-point hit, but Sung's endurance is finished and the ninja hobbles away, swearing revenge. Sung catches his breath while the other catch up to him. They follow the corridor and find that it runs parallel to the trapped entrance way, with tiny viewing ports near the traps and apertures for the sleep-smoke bombs. The corridor emerges into the school complex, which is now burning, evidently fired by the fleeing ninja.

The party returns to the Todai-ji temple to retrieve their horses. Emiko heals everyone and Komako goes to have a blazing row with the monk that sent them to the school - but being Buddhists, not even the butterflies are disturbed. It seems the monk is innocent - apparently some classes of visitor were served at the school, but the yamabushi (or ninja) at the entrance took a dislike to a party of mostly bushi entering the school and set them up.

Kimori suggests that they go up the road and find an out-of-the-way inn for rest and relaxation before tackling the last obstacle - getting into Kyoto.

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