I heard a constant droning of chants around me, coming out of unconciousness, it seemed like part of a nightmare.  All I can remember was being hit by some foul magicks and being plummeted to the ground.  I tried to open my eyes, but when I did they caused me great pain.  I sat up and tried to adjust my eyes...   How long was I unconcious?  The droning continued, and soon my vision began to return.  I first noticed my arm...  It was covered in Kanji unknown to me, and pictures of Rokuganese legend.  I tried to wipe it off.... But then I realized...   They where Tattooes!  Its then when I looked around to see who was chanting, and where I was.  I was sitting on a stone pedestal in a large unfurnished room made of stone.  The only light was that of flickering candles, and on the floor around me was a circle.  Within the circle where a multitude of complex patterns.  The patterns I looked at, would do strange things.... A few caught fire, some turned to blood and dripped off the walls, most did nothing at all.  Around me were a dozen Phoenix Shugenja, three Kitsu shugenja frantically writing, and six Kuni Shugenja holding corroded pieces of jade.  Behind them was a multitude of Kuni Yojimbo who stood there staring at me, holding their Tetsubos' as if I where about to strike.  The shugenja took no notice of me, save but one Heavily cowled shugenja.  He coughed and wheezed as he approached.  "Who are you?"  I stared at him like he was a mad man, but I answered him just the same "I am Kaiu Maatan."  "I am glad to see you have returned, we have been trying to summon you for quite some time."   "What the hell are you talking about foolish Phoenix?  I was knocked unconcious by that Oni at Mura Ryo."  The cowl slid off the shugenja to reveal his blistered face "That was no oni, that was a Naga, and it did not knock you unconcious...  It killed you.  Your body was  brought to these halls by a strange monk who in fact was not a monk.  That monk who traveled with you was actually Togashi Hoshi, and he helped construct this circle.  He also tattooed you with things we can not even describe. Your body never decayed over the years, every now...."  I bolted toward the shugenja and shouted "Years!?!  I was unconcious for years!?!"  The Phoenix looked at me disappointedly "You have not been listening to me, you died Shiryo no Maatan.  True you are back in your body, you have..."  "MY BODY!!!   What is going on here?" "You have come back from Jigoku, but in the years that have passed, you have had many incarnations, some not even human.  In one of your Incantations you where a bloodspeaker...  You told us, for a service, you would grant us knowledge of Jigoku.  What we have learned is that the souls from Jigoku are almost beyond understanding, but they are finite.  Time itself does not exist as we understand it, and one soul can live several lifetimes in what may seem to us as moments."  I couldnt believe what I was hearing...  I sat down rubbing my head at this insane thought.  "How many have I lived?"  "I do not know my ancestor...  But the bloodspeaker granted us a boon for our favours, and we exorcised those manifistations... and now each resides in many sealed cherrywood cases...   Each one has a memory, and each one has experiences we wish to know."   "What do you want of me shugenja?"  The Phoenix coughed again with such forcefulness that some of his blistered burst, and ran with a black ooze.   "You must open all of these boxes, for we can not.  Do that, and I can grant you freedom from this circle...  You see, you are immortal now, but you will wither away in moments if you leave the circle.  Moreover, you will be damned."   I walked towards the edge of the circle, and as I placed my hand near its edge I watched it decay infront of me.  I cried out in pain as I cradled my striken hand.   Gritting my teeth in anger i replied "It appears that I have no choice shugenja."  At that moment he placed a small cherrywood box on the pedestal.   I walked over to it, broke the seal, and lifted the lid....

Turn 1    Unicorn HOF   Unicorn Honour: 13  Scorpian Honour: 3

Blackness overcame me, and flashes of memories overcame me as I relived moments of another incarnation.  I saw banners of all the clans before me as I stood on the walls of Otosan Uchi "Kisada you fool!!!  You have doomed us all!"  Darkness overcame me again and I was on a battlefield next.  I was dressed in all black cloth compared to the red armour of my Scorpian brethren.  Lead by my commander who stood with me on the walls of Otosan Uchi when the Clans betrayed the Empire...  Yokuan sama.  In our path was the Unicorn, trying to destroy our clan as ordered by the Usurper.

 Special Orders:  Iuchi Daiyu uses his innate ability to deflect ranged attacks "bullet proof"

                        Windbourne speed cast on the Shadow Assassins.

Ranged Attacks:   Scorpian Tokei casts fury of Osano Wo on Tsuburo's Heavy Lancers.  Unicorn Tokei casts gust of wind, nullifying it.

We began to move to claim the Hill, but the Unicorn scouts moved swiftly to take it.  The wind seemed to be on the side of the Unicorn, aiding them with its speed and strength....

Turn 2  Scorpian HOF

Special Orders:  Iuchi Daiyu uses his innate ability to deflect ranged attacks "bullet proof" Windbourne speed cast on the Shadow Assassins.

Primary Movement:   Ki-rin War dogs charge and become unformed, but since it is an animal unit it does not matter.

-Know the terrain tactical card played on Tsuburo's heavy Lancers.

-Know the terrain tactical card played on the Shadow Assassins.

Cavalry phase:  Iuchi Scouts charge the Scorpians strike in the flank.  The Unicorn play the card Strike at the Tail, but the Scorpians strike pass their moral test.

- Ki-Rin Wardogs engage the Scorpian Elite Spearmen.

-Tetsuko's Heavy Lancers charge Elite spearmen.

HtH Phase:  Tetsuko's Heavy Lancers hit the Elites  3 times for 32 damage.  3 Scorpian die.

-Ki-Rin Wardogs hit the Scorpian elites 2 times for 11 Damage.  1 More scorpian dies.

-Scorpian Elites miss the Wardogs all together.

-The Scorpian Elites break, but Bayushi Togai spends 1 Void to reroll the morale test, and that test passes.

-Iuchi Scouts strike at the Scorpian strike, hitting 3 times for 33 damage.  3 scorpians die.

-Scorpain Strike hit the Iuchi scouts 2 times for 20 damage.  2 Unicorn die.

The Wardogs and the Heavy Lancers descended upon our elite spearmen, catching them off guard.  The dogs shattered their formation, as they fought a desperate battle.  On the hill, the Scorpian strike leveled their spears just in time, but not in time enough to utilize their speed....

Turn 3     Unicorn HOF  

Special Orders:   Scorpian Tokei casts windbourne speed on the Black Cabal.

-Iuchi Daiyu becomes "bulletproof"

-Scorpian Tokei casts Windbounre speed on the Shadow Assassins

Primary Move:  Black Cabal engage the Ki-rin Wardogs.

-Tetsuko's Heavy Lancers engage the straw targets

- Moto chargers engage the flank of the Straw targets

-Scorpian Strike turn to face the Iuchi scouts.

HtH Combat:  Tetsuko's Heavy Lancers hit the Straw targets 3 times for 34 dmg.  3 straw targets die.   Moto Chargers hit the straw targets 2 times for 26 damage.  2 straw targets die.

- Black Cabal strike the Wardogs 3 times for 20dmg.   2 dogs die.  The dogs miss the Black Cabal completely.

- Wardogs attack the Elite spearmen 4 times for 51 dmg.  5 Scorpian Elites die.  The spearmen hit the dogs once doing no damage.

- Scorpian Elite spearmen hit 1 time against the Heavy Lancers for 4 damage.  No casualties.  The Heavy Lancers return the strike, hitting 4 times for 30 damage.  All Scorpian Elite Spearmen are dead.

- Scorpian Strike hit the Iuchi Scouts 2 times for 14 damage. 1 Iuchi dies.  Scouts hit back 3 times for 23 damage.  2 scorpians die.

-Grim determination played on the Wardogs, Straw targets break, and the Scorpian Strike break.  Bayushi Togai spends 1 Void to reroll, but they still fail.

I watched our Scorpian strike's determination falter in face of the spearmens demise.  The black cabal stood their ground killing those damned beasts.  The Unicorn scouts nearby where becoming worn down, We where almost upon them, and soon we would kill them...  Kill them all...  Kill the Barbarians....

Turn 4 Scorpian HOF

Primary Movement:  Shadow assassins play know the terrain, and engage the Iuchi Scouts in the flank.  The Iuchi Scouts break.  Rojin spends Void to reroll, but fails again.

-  Tetsuko's Heavy Lancers break in response to the Iuchi Scouts breaking.

-Scorpian Strike get parting shots against the Iuchi scouts, hitting 4 times for 21 damage.  The Iuchi scouts become routed.

-  Tetsuko's Heavy Lancers rout in response to the Iuchi Scouts routing.

- Moto Chargers get 7 parting shots on the straw targets, hitting 62 damage.  Straw targets are eradicated.

- Right flank ninja bowmen break.

Cavalry Movement:   Tsuburo's Heavy Lancers flank the Black Cabal.

Ranged Attacks:   Scorpian Morito Tokei casts fury of Osano Wo on Tetsuko's Heavy Lancers hitting 1 time for 4 damage.  No casualties.

- Ninja Bowmen fire at the routing Iuchi Scouts, hitting 2 times for 9 damage.  No casualties.

HtH Combat:  Tsuburo's Heavy Lancers hit the Black Cabal 4 times for 27 damage.  2 Scorpians die.

- Wardogs attack the Black Cabal biting them 2 times for 20 damage.  2 Cabal die.

- Black Cabal hit the dogs 1 time for 3 damage.   No dog dies.  The Black Cabal becomes broken.  Bayushi Togai spends 1 Void to reroll and the Cabal stand fast.  In response to that test, The Scorpian Strike who where previously broken, become routed.

Anarchy and fear sweep across the field.   I watch the resolve of the legendary Black Cabal begin to falter, and the nearby Scorpian Strike break formation and flee.  Close to us though, the putrid Unicorn Scouts flee as well, followed only by their coward general...

Turn 5 Unicorn HOF

Special Orders:   Scorpian Tokei casts windbourne speed on the Shadow Assassins.  Beyond your mastery played.

- Biting steel cast on Tsuburo.  Beyond your mastery played.

Primary Movement:   Shadow assassins attempt to run down the hill at full speed, and fail their TL test.  Yokuan spends a void for a re roll, but they still fail.

Ranged Attacks:   Scorpian Tokei casts fury of Osano Wo against Unicorn Tokei.  Turtleshell is played.  No hits.

HtH Phase:  Black Cabal strike at the Dogs hitting 3 times for 16 damage.  1 Dog dies.

- Black Cabal fail to hit Tsuburo's Lancers.

- War Dogs fail to hit the Black Cabal.

- Tsuburo's Heavy Lancers hit the Black Cabal 5 times for 32 damage.  3 more Scorpians perish.

End phase:  Ninja bowmen rally

We ran towards the thinning Cabal, but the Unicorn barbarians where overwhelming them.  The left side of the field belonged to us, but the right side was quickly collapsing...  Hate... Hate.... Hate.....

Turn 6 Scorpian HOF

Special Orders:  Iuchi Daiyu goes "bullet proof"

Ranged Attacks:   Scorpian Tokei cast fury of Osano Wo on the Unicorn Tokei.  Resist magic is played.

HtH Combat:  Black Cabal attack the War Dogs, hitting 2 times for 8 damage.  No casualties.

- Black Cabal strike Tsuburo's Heavy Lancers hitting 1 time for 6 damage.  No casualties.

- Tsuburo's Heavy Lancers hit 6 times for 45 damage.   The Black Cabal are wiped out, save Bayushi Togai, who becomes broken.

Endphase:  Scorpian Strike rally.

The Black Cabal was no more...  They fought valiently, but the beasts employed by the Gaijin rended them to pieces. Bayushi Togai began to slip out... He would fight another day.

Turn 7 Unicorn HOF

Special Orders:  Iuchi Daiyu goes "bulletproof"

Primary Movement:   Bayushi Togai runs for it.  Parting shots hit 6 times for 49 damage.   Bayushi Togai dies.

Cavalry Movement:  War dogs charge the Shadow Assassins.

Ranged Attacks:   Scorpian Tokei casts fury of Osano Wo on Tsuburo's Heavy Lancers.  Tsuburo plays resist magic.

- Ninja Bowmen shoot arrows at the Unicorn Morito Tokei, failing to hit.

- Ninja Bowmen shoot arrows at Tsuburo's Heavy Lancers hitting 2 times for 17 damage.  1 Unicorn dies.

HtH Combat:  Shadow Assassins attack dogs and hit 6 times for 40 damage.  The dogs die.  Sanetama plays Grim determination.

-  War Dogs hit the shadow assassins 4 times for 28 damage.  2 Ninja die.

The Unicorn Animals reared lunged towards us...  We would show them are hatred.  Our Kasuri gama sunk deep into those foul beasts.  Revenge will be ours this day...

Turn 8 Scorpian HOF

Cavalry Phase:   Tsuburo's Heavy Lancers charge the Scorpian Morito Tokei.

Ranged Attacks:  Both units of Ninja Bowmen fire at the Unicorn Morito Tokei.  No hits.

HtH Combat:  Shadow Assassins hit Shinjo Sanetama 3 times for 24 damage.  Sanetama takes 2 Wounds.   Sanetama strikes back 1 time for 4 damage.  No Scorpian Casualties.   Sanetama plays Grim determination.

-  Tsuburo's Heavy Lancers hit 1 time for 5 damage against the Scorpian Tokei's Yojimbo.  The Yojimbo strikes back 1 time for 12 damage.  1 Unicorn dies.  The Yojimbo plays Grim Determination.

All the dogs have died, and now all that is left is their battered master....  I glanced to the side of the field to see the filthy Unicorn Lancers engage our shugenja's Yojimbo, and I saw him fell one of them.   But more consumed was I with killing this Gaijin in front of me...

Turn 9 Unicorn HOF

Special Orders:   Unicorn Morito Tokei casts biting steel on Shinjo Tsuburo.

- Iuchi Daiyu goes "bulletproof"

Primary Movement:   Scorpian Strike charge the Moto Chargers.

Ranged Attacks:  Both Ninja bowmen fire at the Unicorn Morito Tokei, and miss.

HtH Combat:  Shadow assassins hit Shinjo Sanetama 3 times for 14 damage.  Inflicting only 1 wound.   Shinjo Sanetama misses.

- Tsuburo's Heavy Lancers hit the Yojimbo 4 times for 30 damage, killing the Yojimbo.

-  Scorpian Strike hit the Moto chargers 2 times for 6 damage, no casualties.  The Moto chargers in turn hit 6 times for 40 damage, killing 4 Scorpian Strike.  The Scorpian Strike become broken.

...What!?!  The Strike are dissolving...   The Lancers are galloping near, and our Shugenja is in retreat... Damn the Unicorn Gaijin... To Jigoku with them all...  I will kill them all!

Turn 10 Scorpian HOF

Primary Movement:   Scorpian Strike break away and take parting shots from the Moto.  The hit 6 times for 55 damage.  5 Scorpian Strike die.

Cavalry Movement:  The Heavy Lancers Charge the flank of the Shadow Assassins

HtH Combat:  The Heavy Lancers hit the Shadow Assassins 3 times for 44 damage.  4 Ninja die.  The Shadow Assassins fail to hit at all.  The Shadow Assassins break.

The Unicorn will all die so I swear... Come Tsuburo you dog!  I will gut you... I will....***Gack****

I came to startled lying on the floor... I remembered being a Scorpian Bushi.... I remember dying in battle.  "What has become of me Phoenix?"  I pleaded.  "You are now only learning my ancestor..." The obviously tainted Phoenix shugenja spoke, as he bowed and walked away.

Scorpian Player Concedes... Unicorn Victory

AAR       19FEB00        1440 - 1900  "The day everyone ran"