(Moon 11, Aft Deck, Afternoon) Battleship, Group A

[Yasuki Himiko]

Himiko nods lightly to O-Washi, then to Nozomi. She wasn't really in the mood, or the position, for a whole lot of talking.

[Bayushi Nobuyoshi]

Dageki stands up straight and points a finger at Nobunashi. "Oi! Scorpion-sama. You got somethin' to say make sure the whole class can hear you! This ain't your Scorpion castles where we appreciate the fine art 'o whisperin' secrets!"

Oi, Scorpion-sama and pointing? Oi, Scorpion-sama and pointing? the thought races through Nobuyoshi's mind. Bad enough to lose to an ashigaru in front of everyone, but this? This gets you remembered after the trip is over, and only because I'm not allowed to take my rights on board.

He turns to the Agasha.

"So who do you shoot first Agasha-san? The commander, the priest, or the weaponsmaster?" Nobuyoshi asks in a voice easily audible by the class, but in a voice with as much emotion as considering what kind of tea to have for the day.

[Shiba Nozomi]

The normally ebullient Crab with nothing to say and no bounce to her step? That wouldn't do. Nozomi lightly places a gentle hand atop the other woman's shoulder. Soft murmurs and the scent of rain fills the air for a moment, before the Crab most likely feels almost good as new.

"You're st-still going to have some bruising... but I c-can mix up a poultice to h-help with that." Giving the shoulder the slightest of pats, Nozomi inclines her head in a small bow and steps away.

((Himiko: + 40 wounds))

[Yasuki Himiko]

Himiko blinks a couple of times, then hops up onto her feet as if nothing had happened. "Damn, that felt good." She looked to Nozomi and grinned. "No need te worry about te bruises. They build character."

[Agasha Qian-Fan]

He turns to the Agasha.

"So who do you shoot first Agasha-san? The commander, the priest, or the weaponsmaster?" Nobuyoshi asks in a voice easily audible by the class, but in a voice with as much emotion as considering what kind of tea to have for the day.

A half smile.

"Why pick one? With a sufficient offering to the kami I can possibly strike all three with a single prayer. If forced to pick though, even the most disciplined of units can be shaken by the removal of it's commander. This of course absolutely depends on our ability to discern which is which. If the enemy is dressed as we are . . . then how do you determine who is who, Bayushi-san?"

[Isawa O-Washi]

The two female archers both raised their bows and fired badly, too intimidated by the massive Hida and his fearsome look to do a proper job of it.

O-washi, with a wry grimace, stepped up for what he was just sure was going to be a doozy of a pounding. Still...such things built commeraderie on a ship and so he'd take his blows like a man...after getting in one of his own, of course. His right hand managed to just pass the big Hida's protections and caught him in the shoulder.

Hard. {{26 damage}}

[Bayushi Nobuyoshi]

A half smile.

"Why pick one? With a sufficient offering to the kami I can possibly strike all three with a single prayer. If forced to pick though, even the most disciplined of units can be shaken by the removal of it's commander. This of course absolutely depends on our ability to discern which is which. If the enemy is dressed as we are . . . then how do you determine who is who, Bayushi-san?"

"By their actions and bearing, Agasha-san." Nobuyoshi offers.

"The priest is fairly easy to spot." Nobuyoshi comments "Likely no weapons in hand, possibly a scroll in hand or a scroll satchel at his hip, busily speaking to someone you can't see. I would assume that a fellow priest could see the kami swirling about them."

"The commander is also fairly easy to spot. Generally out barking orders. But even if they weren't, you can see it in their bearing and how those about them react to them. If you knew no-one aboard, were deaf, and could observe them unseen, could you really not figure out who our gunsos were?"

He turns his gaze to the spearman, but keeps talking to the Phoenix.

"The weaponmaster is a lot harder. He may be as ugly as the wrong side of the wall, and be of parentage uncertain. You might catch his attitude if you're really good. But generally, you'll know him by the screams of your crewmates." he concludes, ending the most words in sequence the Scorpion has said on the boat.

[Agasha Qian-Fan]

"A priest does not always need his scrolls to cast and sometimes the kami gather around the target rather than the caster, but on the whole I would agree with you."

A brief look to see how the Hida and Isawa were fairing.

"Of course sinking the vessel before it gets into boarding range is a far more desirable outcome on defense."

[Hida Musasha]

The two female archers both raised their bows and fired badly, too intimidated by the massive Hida and his fearsome look to do a proper job of it.

O-washi, with a wry grimace, stepped up for what he was just sure was going to be a doozy of a pounding. Still...such things built commeraderie on a ship and so he'd take his blows like a man...after getting in one of his own, of course. His right hand managed to just pass the big Hida's protections and caught him in the shoulder.

Hard. {{26 damage}}

The armor eats a lot of it, and the hardiness of Musasha eats the rest (Absorbtion of 5, Voided down 10.)

The Hida wasn't about to change tactics, tho. He had a set idea in mind.

He reached out and picked up one of the archer girls. (32 to hit) Now he had his armor and a human shield to absorb damage. (Attack Stance) (TNtbH 30)

[Bayushi Nobuyoshi]

"A priest does not always need his scrolls to cast and sometimes the kami gather around the target rather than the caster, but on the whole I would agree with you."

A brief look to see how the Hida and Isawa were fairing.

"Of course sinking the vessel before it gets into boarding range is a far more desirable outcome on defense."

Nobuyoshi shrugs.

"Depends on who it is and what you need." Nobuyoshi counters. "Sinking a ship means you can't capture tactical information, retrieve hostages, or take important prisoners."

"Also, warships are a significant investment for a clan. If you get a reputation for sinking ships rather than capturing them, you can be sure that such tactics will be replied with in kind."

[Agasha Qian-Fan]

"Or pirates may steer clear at the merest sight. I doubt we will be engaging any clan vessels while we serve in the Ninth Legion."

He sounded quite animated for a Phoenix discussing warfare.

[Bayushi Nobuyoshi]

Nobuyoshi shrugs, his voice keeping his usual emotionless and flat tone.

"We're not a merchant vessel, pirates steering clear of us is not a desirable outcome. We want to engage them. If they've captured someone for ransom, we may even want to board them." Nobuyoshi counters.

"As for clan vessels, it would be most unfortunate to engage them, but it's not impossible. How unfortunate for those members of clans that have navies that one day they may have to choose between serving their oath to the Imperial Legions, and serving their oaths to their families." he offers in a voice completely uninterested in those in such a plight.

[Isawa O-Washi]

An interesting development, that. The girl, not at all enjoying the prospect of being a shield, squirmed to try andbreak free.

[Hida Musasha]

The beast holds firm (27 strength), and waits for the others to either attack or withdraw. He shoots a look at the other woman that screams, "Yer next."

[Shiba Naomi]

Naomi half-listened to the Agasha's conversation with the Bayushi, and mostly paid attention to Musasha's... brawl... with the ashigaru. Well, more or less fully focused.

Hm, that's a rather clever move. I wonder if I could take advantage of a shield-maneuver due to my size...

[Isawa O-Washi]

The other archer, younger and perhaps less careful, decided to try and shoot around her sister. Amazingly enough, she managed to do so, the unlit signal arrow probably not even going to make the big man so much as twitch {damage 4}

O-washi, meanwhile, threw himself into the grapple. Unfortunately, all he managed to do was get a handful of parts of the poor archer that would have gotten him slapped or worse if the woman was a samurai.

[Hida Musasha]

(Armor completely absorbs the arrow)

Musasha grunted as he unceremoniously drops the girl in between the chalk lines and sidles up to the other Ashigaru. His cold eyes fix on her, "Ready fer a swim?"

[Isawa O-Washi]

Seeing as her 'sister' hadn't been totally crushed, the girl actually flashed a cheeky grin for a moment before adjusting her stance to prepare for impact...if she broke her bow she'd be in for it, after all.

{{Full Defense stance}}}





*Edited for clarity of stance change

[Agasha Qian-Fan]

Qian-Fan slowly quietened as he focused more and more on the Hida's boarding fight.

[Isawa O-Washi]

O-washi, who was having none of this, took another swing. It didn't hit quite as hard as the last had but it wouldn't tickle, either. {{18}}