Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Adventures in the Far East => Topic started by: Vagabond on 18 August 2023, 11:00:22 AM
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The Shrine
There’s a small village in the Nezuko forest on the mainland of Honshu that has an importance out of all relation to its size.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/59/7162-180823091631-59759409.jpeg)
The village only consists of a few dwellings.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/59/7162-180823091631-59761649.jpeg)
A substantial store house because in spite of its small size this is a very wealth village.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/59/7162-180823091631-597622420.jpeg)
It’s often visited by Holy men who always receive a warm welcome, Kami is explaining to Masatani how she cooks the mid day meal for travellers, as her idle husband Oe looks on, slowly sipping his Saki.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/59/7162-180823091631-59763391.jpeg)
Korimi would like to receive the same warm welcome but as he is digging a new latrine for the village he knows that the smell will delay that welcome……a few weeks at least.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/59/7162-180823091631-59764571.jpeg)
Inside one of the houses the local lord Okamoto Ichiro is in deep discussion with Ichi. Ichi often passes as his wife, sometimes his concubine and some time his housekeeper, she is none of these things.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/59/7162-180823091713-597651687.jpeg)
Mate is also preparing food for some of the local workmen, she stands no backchat from these fellows, especially Inori who seems to be waving his weapon rather vigorously in her direction.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/59/7162-180823091713-59766242.jpeg)
The village wealth is based on a shrine to one of the forest gods, the shrine is guarded night and day by well armed men.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/59/7162-180823091713-59767626.jpeg)
As you can see the village is only small but as I explained very wealthy.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/59/7162-180823091713-597681463.jpeg)
If it wasn’t for the armed men guarding the shrine and Inori’s men guarding the entrance to the village you might think it was ripe for a bold man to enter and remove the wealth without too much effort.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/59/7162-180823091713-59769684.jpeg)
But you would be wrong, not having counted on the seriously scary Sorcerer Yoshifumi Susomi who lives in another of the houses with his Geisha friend Chiyo.
You might also be wondering how, if there are only 3 houses where the rest of the inhabitants sleep.
Well you’ve heard of hot bedding in modern day Tokyo, this village is where the concept was devised.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/59/7162-180823091821-59770145.jpeg)
Hirano Nagayasu has heard of the Sorcerer Yoshifumi Susomi, tall tales don’t scare him, but wealth does attract him, so he’s decided to pay the village a visit and see which of the stories is true.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/59/7162-180823091821-597711910.jpeg)
Two guards approach Hirano to see if he is friend or foe.
Kill them Hirano instructs his two most proficient retainers Katsua Takenori and Katagiri Katsumoto.
So that would be foe then!
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/59/7162-180823091821-597721940.jpeg)
The fight goes back and forth, well it’s just back for the guards and forth for the retainers. Kazu is pushed back into an obstacle and is cut down unceremoniously by Katagiri but the other guard puts up a spirited fight. Fighting desperately for his life Shoji retreats back and back, parrying each cut and thrust but he’s in dire straits.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/59/7162-180823091821-597732189.jpeg)
The noise from the fight has alerted everyone else in the village, there is confusion amongst the inhabitants. Inori the commander of the village guard sees his men fighting for their lives and wonders how he can avoid joining in.
The two Samurai guarding the shrine believe their duty is to stay at their post come what may, and so don’t move forward.
Okamoto Ichiro and Ichi come out to see what is going on, Hirano rushes forward to attack Okamoto who is obviously a man of wealth and position, someone whom he can engage in combat as an equal. Hidemoto sees Ichi take up a fighting stance and flap her fan in his direction. This confuses Hidemoto, she should run away but shows no sign of doing so.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/59/7162-180823091821-597742232.jpeg)
As Hirano tests Okamoto Ichiro’s defence he realises he is the superior swordsman, however he hasn’t remained alive in these troubled times by being rash. One fatal cut is all it takes for a man to die and he doesn’t intend it to be him, not today.
Ichi appears to be in trouble, she has fallen back before the pick on a stick that Hidemoto is wielding, but she retains her confidence that her training will help her beat the crude fighting style of the man she is facing.
Hirano’s retainers want to help their Lord but know if he perceives they have impugned his honour by implying he needs help, there will be consequences.
Consequences they don’t want to risk.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/59/7162-180823091912-59775650.jpeg)
Swift as a striking snake Hirano slices through Okamoto’s leg and then plunges his katana into his chest. There is some smug satisfaction in knowing he was right. Okamoto’s defence was suspect.
Hidemoto is starting to be worried, his initial success against this frail woman has failed to end the fight and even with the help of Suma she is holding them back. Worse than that, she isn’t even slightly out of breath and he’s panting like a dog on heat.
Having killed the guard, Katagiri has rushed along the street towards the shrine, he hopes to be the first to fight the Samurai there. This will bring him great renown and he hopes reward from his Lord. He’s a rash young man with no caution, this might be his undoing.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/59/7162-180823091912-597761081.jpeg)
A close up of Ichi, her fan is edged with sharpened steel blades. Centuries later a Birmingham gang called the Peaky Blinders would steal her ideas.
In the background the Sorcerer Yoshifumi Susomi has also emerged from a small house close to the shrine. He chants a spell of summoning. The chant reaches a crescendo, light flashes all around him and a pale green spectre appears above his head. He has summoned a Wraith.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/59/7162-180823091912-59777938.jpeg)
Everyone reacts to the Wraith.
It turns out it’s not as scary as I thought it would be.
Kami shouts to her child playing in the street to get inside the house, and together they go into the building, followed very closely by Masatani. He reasons that a religious man shouldn’t get involved in street fighting, it is far beneath his dignity, besides that Wraith is a bit worrying.
Most of the characters involved in the story just take it in their stride. I’m a little disappointed by this response, I had great hopes of the figure.
Yoshifumi Susomi is exhausted by the summoning and can’t find the energy to direct it to attack anyone.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/59/7162-180823091912-59778208.jpeg)
Hirano wanted to engage the Sorcerer in combat but he too is exhausted from his combat with Okamoto and can’t jog fast enough. He could have tried to run but that’s beneath his dignity.
Katagiri as I’ve said, is young and foolish, so he charges straight into combat with the Sorcerer. Yoshifumi fights back but the summoning has exhausted him and very quickly Katagiri’s steel finds an opening in his soft flesh and he falls beneath the blade of the proficient swordsman. As soon as the last breath leaves his body his summoning disappears back into the void and the whole raison d’etre for the game is gone.
Finally one of the guards from the shrine charges forward and attacks Hirano, the other one still maintains his vigil.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/59/7162-180823091912-59779571.jpeg)
Seeing his paymaster killed and hearing the Wraith’s demonic scream as his Summoner is cut down, Inori decides he might as well find other employment and he and the last remaining gate guard leave the area.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/59/7162-180823092003-597802123.jpeg)
After a combat that has taken forever to resolve, Shoje is finally cut down. Korimi the latrine cutter looks on in dismay but wisely decides not to intervene.
I think there might be some problem with my understanding of the laws of probability because although I’m trying to get some ebb and flow in a sword fight this one went on for about 6 turns with 2 rounds per turn, At one point Katsua was rolling 11 dice against Shoje’s 2 and still he refused to be defeated.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/59/7162-180823092003-597812185.jpeg)
There’s a time when honour becomes secondary to survival and Hirano realizes that Kobiyashi the guard is a very proficient swordsman but he has the added advantage of wearing full armour. He is happy to allow his two retainers to assist him in defeating this opponent.
Meanwhile Ichi has finally got into her stride and is forcing her opponents to retreat before her ferocious attacks.
The small child in the street seems to have been forgotten in the excitement of the contact.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/59/7162-180823092003-597821239.jpeg)
Kobiyashi is slowly loosing ground to the combined attacks of 3 opponents and his armour is taking quite a beating from their attacks. Hirano shouts above the din of combat and offers Kobiyashi quarter but he disdainfully refuses.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/59/7162-180823092004-59783467.jpeg)
Try as she might Ichi can’t seem to land a killing blow and she is getting tired fighting two opponents.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/59/7162-180823092004-597841839.jpeg)
The other guard Shida Takeshi decides that he should support Kobiyashi and he runs forward….slowly, but is met by Tada Zumi and Katsun Takenori. Katsun has run all the way from the village entrance after finally despatching the guard there. Together they make short work of Shida.
Yet again Hirano offers Kobiyashi quarter and this time with the odds so against him, he accepts.
He knows this will not enhance his reputation and employment with a new lord might be had to find, he contemplates his future mournfully. Then looks at Shida, bleeding on the ground and realises, at least he has a future.
PIC26
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/59/7162-180823092036-59785458.jpeg)
Ichi might have been tiring but with a flurry of blows she finally cuts down her two opponents and as Katsua runs towards her she decides discretion is always the better part of valour and quickly runs away.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/59/7162-180823092036-597861040.jpeg)
With her lipstick slightly smeared she makes her way out of the village, the only question now is; how will she get her revenge?
Well the other question is; will Hirano find the treasure in the shrine?
And I suppose a final question is; will he escape with the treasure if he finds it and if Ichi doesn’t get her revenge?
I guess there is the other question; who is Ichi?
You might have some other questions as well but these should keep me busy planning my next game.
If you got this far thanks for reading and I'd like to thank Osmosis particularly, it was reading his thread a few weeks ago that got me enthused enough to let my old Samurai see the light of day again. That and the fact I'd bought some Wraiths from eBay and wanted to try them in a game.
They didn't have the staring role I envisaged. :'(
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if at first they don't succeed..
Nice AAR, shame the sorcerer ran out of puff to push things along
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I see the Cambodians had better success in their invasion than the Mongols.
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Brilliant looking game and it sounds like it was entertaining. 👍
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and the whole raison d’etre for the game is gone.
Shit happens….. :D
However, it was a cracking looking game, well presented set-up and an absorbing AAR so the sudden removal of its main function didn’t spoil the fun.
I see the Cambodians had better success in their invasion than the Mongols.
You’re going to have to explain that to me - it beyond my pay-grade :)
Doug
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Great looking game: I really like all the incidental details on the table.
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Shit happens….. :D
However, it was a cracking looking game, well presented set-up and an absorbing AAR so the sudden removal of its main function didn’t spoil the fun.
You’re going to have to explain that to me - it beyond my pay-grade :)
Doug
Some of the background goodies are very Khmer.
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if at first they don't succeed..
Nice AAR, shame the sorcerer ran out of puff to push things along
Cheers, they'll be back, ;)
I see the Cambodians had better success in their invasion than the Mongols.
Kitty haven't you researched the 1st and 2nd Guppy wars, the Cambodians were able to infiltrate the Japanese mainland with clandestine Buddhist Monks posing as aquarium sellers. They were far more successful than the Mongols who just got wind and left.
Brilliant looking game and it sounds like it was entertaining. 👍
Cheers Grumpy it was solo and fun.
Shit happens….. :D
So true, especially in my games. ;)
Great looking game: I really like all the incidental details on the table.
Thanks Blacksoilbill, you're no relation to Korimi the Latrine digger are you? :D
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Lovely looking village.
Interesting story.
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Great fun as always John. I always enjoy your story telling. Pity about your wraith.
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great scenery and figs and an entertaining read on a Satarday morning !
Brian
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Great fun as always John. I always enjoy your story telling. Pity about your wraith.
Cheers Lon, yes the Wraith was a bit disappointing but at this very moment there as a black clad ninja running round the village in the dead of night. Well not running but moving very quietly. Who he works for I can't say but she's a ferocious fighter.
Hirano is planning to go underground tomorrow looking for treasure in the shrine and I think it's very likely he will meet at least 1 Wraith down there. 2nd time lucky.
Maybe.
Khusru2 and skip, pleased you enjoyed it and thanks for saying so.
Cheers
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Great battle report and a WONDERFUL table! I love all the little details that really bring it to life.
(I better lift my game on my own table!)
Thanks for sharing!
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Great scenario, scenery and figures.
Can you tell something aubout the dwellings , did you build them yourselve?
And wich miniatures did you use?
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I normally don’t like supernatural elements in my ancient Japanese war games but this narrative was wonderful. The table and figures looked great too (Khmer or not). Looking forward to the next instalment.
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Great scenario, scenery and figures.
Can you tell something aubout the dwellings , did you build them yourselve?
And wich miniatures did you use?
The buildings are all scratch built, the store and hut are Viking buildings, if you search on the LAF for Vagabonds Viking Village I ran a thread covering the building process, basically asking what I should do and having a stab at it. They're all foam core and coffee stirrers with towelling thatch roofs.
The 3 Japanese buildings are foamcore, with paper prints stuck on and teddy bear fur roofs. I bought some paper printed buildings, 6 of them for very little money. The 3 I built have the outside of 3 prints and I used the outside of the other 3 as the inside of the ones I built. If that makes sense. Then printed wood floring and used that.
The figures are all Perry, but a couple of them are EM4 pre painted figures, I don't think they are available anymore.
Great battle report and a WONDERFUL table! I love all the little details that really bring it to life.
Thanks for sharing!
Cheers Tas the bits and pieces get used all the time, different periods although not Khmer ;) and are well wirth the investment in time and effort to create them.
I normally don’t like supernatural elements in my ancient Japanese war games but this narrative was wonderful. The table and figures looked great too (Khmer or not). Looking forward to the next instalment.
Cheers Bowman, I didn't make it clear, I bought some of these GW wraiths of ebay. I think they are brilliant figures, I've no idea what they are in their universe but they're wraiths in mine. I'm going to use them in European Gothic Horroepr but I wanted to use them and my Japanese figures so it's mix and match I'm afraid. I know that's a bit of an anathema to some but it gave me a fun game.
The ninja has run round the table, been discovered and scampered off.
Hirano and his band of desperados are going underground. Unfortunately I only have a western castle so I'll have to use my inagination a little. :D
Cheers
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Remell sorry I forgot to mention go a little furthe down the board and look for the thread started by Osmosis, he has some lovely looking buildings, most look to be scratch built.
I made my paper and foamboard ones quite quickly just so I could create some terrain and play a game, but always intended revisiting and building something better. Osmosis is what I'm aiming to emulate.
Cheers
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Thank you so much. Thanks for the pointers.
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Excellent report and a great looking game. Looking forward to seeing more...
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….. but a couple of them are EM4 pre painted figures, I don't think they are available anymore.
Cheers
Actually, they are but now sold unpainted:
https://em4miniatures.com/collections/historical-miniatures (https://em4miniatures.com/collections/historical-miniatures)
Doug
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Huh. I don't normally check in on this Board, but I'm glad I did. Quite an entertaining report you did there. Lovely table and figures, and an absorbing story.
My guess is Ichi and Susomi will make another appearance in your stories...looking forward to it... :D
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Thank you so much. Thanks for the pointers.
I found my paper files they were from Black Ronin but I can't find any reference to them on the internet! However I came across these.
[https://papierschnitzel.com/samurai-village-builder-i-released/]
Which look pretty good, my main suggestion with printed paper buildings is that you do a 3d roof to get texture into it.
Cheers
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Thank you for posting this. I enjoyed all aspects of the game narrative and table images.