The Crane Strikes Back

Infuriated...   Doji Hoturi, and his previous cohort bounded back, and reformed.  The battle at the palace of the emerald champion had infuriated him... Either that or the fact that he chose to burn the palace down.  In his tent, he planned with Daidoji Uji to strike at their reserves in the plains near the palace...  It just so happened that the reserves where the forces that had just previously fought.  Sent in reserve to rest no doubt.  As Hoturi sat back, I watched as I saw him gently stroke his fan at his side...  Perhaps that fan had more magic left in it....

Crane Deck:
Iajutsu duel x3, Coordinated fire x3, Defensive position x3, All or nothing x3, Wall of spears x3, Beyond your mastery x3, Another time x3, Strength of Purity x3, Resist magic x3, Advantage of cover x1, turtleshell x2

Unicorn Deck:
Another time x3, Frenzy x3, Parade ground practice x3, Kharmic strike x3, beyond your mastery x3, grim determination x3, Charge x3, Turtleshell x3, Coordinated fire x3, Resist magic x3.

Turn One of Twelve

Unicorn has hand of fate

Special orders:

                Asahina Tomo casts windbourne speed on Kenshinzen.

Ranged attack:

                Hurricane initiates fire at the Daidoji scoring 1 hit, 4 dmg.  no casualties.

                Hurricane Initiates fire at the Fire Dragon.  2 hits for 11 damage.  Dragon takes one wound.

It was only a couple of days before we caught up with the reserves of the Unicorn.  Their losses had been replenished, as had ours, but we where still outnumbered.  Hoturi sama looked skyward, raised his fan, and shouted... "Remember your promise to the Hantei!  I am the guardian of the Hantei!  Hear my plea!"  and from the sky, a speck of fire appeared.  As it got closer, the speck turned into  a snaking figure...   And finally landed...  A dragon of fire!  Surely this was a fan of epic proportions....

Turn two of twelve

Crane has the hand of fate

Special Orders:

                Asahina Tomo casts windbourne speed on Kenshinzen.

Ranged attack:

                Hurricane initiates fire at Daidoji for 4 hits, 19 damage.  One Daidoji takes a wound.

                Hurricane initiates fire at fire dragon.  Dragon plays the tactical card "turtle shell."  1 hit for 3 damage.  No wounds.

Dragon casts fury of Osano Wo on the Otaku battle maidens.  Tactical card "Turtle Shell" is played.

From my position, I saw Asahina Tomo concentrate on the Kenshinzen, and as he kept his hand raised, and able to concentrate, the Kenshinzen moved with the pace of horses.  The Dragon entered the forest as arrows flew at him... I saw one hit the dragon, but I think it only made it more angry...

Turn three of twelve

Unicorn has the hand of fate.

Special reports:

                                Asahina Tomo casts windbourne speed on the Kenshinzen.

Cavalry Phase:

                                Otaku battle maidens charge the Kenshinzen. 

                                Shinjo House Guard play the tactical card "Charge" and charge into the Daidoji.   The Daidoji use Uji's ability to Counter Charge.  Shinjo house guard plays the tactical card "Frenzy".

Ranged Attacks:

                    Hurricane initiates fire at the fire dragon.  No hits scored.

                    Other unit of hurricane initiated fire at the dragon.  5 hits are scored for 22 damage.   Wounding the dragon 2 more times.

                    Fire Dragon casts Fury of Osano Wo on the hurricane initiates, but resist magic is played.   No effect.

HtH Attacks:

Daidoji Uji spends 2 Void to get an extra die of damage.  The Daidoji hit 4 times for 41 damage.  Killing 2 Shinjo.  The Shinjo strike back, hitting 2 times for 28 damage.  Killing one Daidoji and wounding another.

Shinjo Tsuburo spends 2 void to gain an extra damage die.  The battle maidens hit 5 times for 40 damage.  Killing 4 Kenshinzen.   Doji Yosai spends 2 void to gain an extra damage die.  The Kenshinzen hit 2 times for 13 damage...  Wounding one battle maiden.

The Units of the Unicorn Cavalry slam into the Cranes infantry.  The Daidoji lead by their Daimyo, rush headlong into the fray, their Yaris' pointing at the throats of the Unicorn steeds.   The Phoenix shift their fire at the Dragon, and cover it in a hail of arrows, slowing it, but not felling it...

Turn Four of Twelve

Crane has the hand of fate

Special Orders:

                Iuchi Takaai casts Abomination, but is thwarted by a resist magic tactical card.

Cavalry Phase:

                Fire Dragon Charges the flank of the Otaku.

Ranged Attacks:

                Hurricane initiates fire at Crane elite archers, and score 8 hits for 44 damage.  Killing four Crane archers.

                Other unit of Hurricane initiates fires at the same unit. 3 Hits for 38 damage.  The unit of elite archers perish.

Crane Elite archers counter fire, hitting 3 times for 6 damage.  No casualties.

HtH Phase:

                Shinjo House guard hit the Daidoji 5 times for 40 damage.  2 Daidoji die and one is wounded.   The Daidoji strike back, hitting 4 times for 15 damage.  One Shinjo House Guard is wounded.

The Otaku Battle maidens hit the Kenshinzen twice for 25 damage.  Killing 2 Kenshinzen.  The Kenshinzen hit back 5 times for 37 damage.  2 Otaku die.

The fire Dragon plays the tactical card "Strength of purity."  Hits the Otaku battle maidens, 3 times for 117 damage.  Killing 5 Otaku and wounding one.  The Otaku hit the Dragon once for 5 damage.  No wounds.  The Otaku Battle maidens become broken.

The Dragon plunged into the Otaku, and slammed its fist into the center of the unit.  Great gouts of flame engulfed many of the Otaku.  Upon the hill, the Crane elite reached its crest, only to be cut viciously down by the phoenix arrows...

Turn Five of Twelve

Unicorn has the hand of fate.

Special Orders:

                            Iuchi Takaai casts Earthquake on Doji Yosai.  The tactical cards "resist magic" and "beyond your mastery" are played.  No effect.

Primary movement:

                            Otaku break away.  Kenshinzen score 7 parting shots for 49 damage.  2 Battlemaidens die.  The fire Dragon also deals a parting shot, hitting 2 times for 58 damage.   Killing two Otaku and wounding one.

Ranged Attacks:

                            Hurricane initiates play the tactical card "coordinated fire" and fire at the fire dragon.   2 hits for 15 damage.  Dragon takes one wound.

                            Hurricane initiates fire at Kenshinzen hitting 8 times for 37 damage.  3 Kenshinzen die.   Kenshinzen break.

                            Moshi Wakiza casts fury of Osano Wo at the dragon hitting once for 6 damage.  No wounds caused.

                            Dragon casts fury of Osano Wo on the Otaku.  3 hits for 29 damage.  One Otaku dies.   Shinjo Tsuburo is all that remains of the Otaku.

HtH Combat:

                            Shinjo house guard hit 3 times for 20 damage.  Wounding one Daidoji, killing another.   The Daidoji hit 3 times, and Daidoji Uji spends 2 void for an extra damage die.   19 damage.  One Shinjo is wounded.

Endphase:

                            Shinjo Tsuburo rallies.

Arrows from the phoenix come down like hail upon the Kenshinzen as the Otaku break away from them, stopping the Kenshinzen in their tracks.  Arrows and bolts of lightning struck down upon the dragon, but it did little.  In turn a bolt of lightning incinerated the remaining Otaku until all that remained was Tsuburo.

Turn Six of Twelve

Crane has the Hand of Fate

Special Orders:

                Iuchi Takaai gives Moshi Wakiza the Cavalry trait.

                Asahina Tomo gives the Kenshinzen windbourne speed.

Primary movement:

                Shinjo Tsuburo charges the rear of the Kenshinzen.  Kenshinzen attempt to retreat in good order.  They become unformed and begin to Rout.

Cavalry Movement:

                                    Shinjo Tsuburo charges the rear of the Kenshinzen.

Ranged attacks:

                                Hurricane initiates play the tactical card "coordinated fire" on the dragon and hit 3 times for 13 damage.  The fire dragon perishes.  The fire dragon casts Fury of Osano Wo on Iuchi Takaai as its last action, and hits 3 times for 20 damage, killing the Yojimbo.

HtH Combat:

                                The Daidoji hit 4 times for 36 damage, killing 1 Shinjo and wounding another.  The Shinjo in return hit 3 times for 18 damage, killing one Daidoji.

The Kenshinzen turn around and openly begin to flee, quickly losing formation, as the Dragon finally is felled by a hail of arrows, exploding in a ball of light.  Shinjo Tsuburo, emboldened by the turn of events, turns his steed around and rushes on the heels of the routed Kenshinzen.   On the opposite side of the field, the blood bath between the Shinjo and the Daidoji continue, as they both thin each other down...

Turn Seven of Twelve

Unicorn has the hand of fate

Special orders:

                            Iuchi Takaai gives Moshi Wakiza the cavalry trait. 

                            Asahina Tomo casts windbourne speed on the Kenshinzen.

Primary movement:

                            Kenshinzen rout and take 20 damage from Shinjo Tsuburo.  2 Kenshinzen die.

Cavalry Movement:

                            Shinjo Tsuburo charges the the Kenshinzen as the kenshinzen perform a full retreat.

HtH Combat:

   The Daidoji hit the Shinjo 8 times for 64 damage, slaughtering 3 Shinjo House guard.  The Shinjo reply in kind by hitting 4 times for 36 damage, killing one more Daidoji and wounding another.   Grim determination is played on the Shinjo.

Tsuburo cut down two Kenshinzen as they scattered.  Tomo, seeing that they would have little chance left of regaining their spirits, gave them the speed to make good their escape.

Turn Eight of Twelve

Crane has Hand of Fate

Special orders:

            Iuchi Takaai gives Moshi Wakiza the Cavalry trait.

Cavalry Movement:

            Shinjo Tsuburo charged Asahina Tomo.

HtH Combat:

            Daidoji hit 6 times for 41 damage killing 2 Shinjo.  The Shinjo hit 4 times for 36 damage, killing 2 Daidoji.

            Shinjo Tsuburo scores no hits on Asahina Tomo's Yojimbo, and the Yojimbo likewise misses.

            Tsuburo saw the Crane shugenja, and let the Kenshinzen flee, as he charged at Tomo.  Tomo's Yojimbo lept in front of him, and their blades met...

Turn Nine of Twelve

Unicorn have the Hand of fate

Primary Movement:

                           The Kenshinzen quit the field.

HtH Combat:

                           Tsuburo strikes the Yojimbo twice for 17 damage. Causing One wound.

                           The Daidoji hit 1 time for 6 damage.  No casualties.  The Shinjo hit 5 times for 47 damage.  2 Daidoji

die.  Grim determination played on the Daidoji.

    The Kenshinzen completely scatter, as Tsuburo and the Yojimbo clash.   The bloodbath between the Shinjo and the Daidoji continues.  Each seem to gain ground only to lose it again...

Turn Ten of Twelve

Crane have the hand of fate

Ranged Attacks:

                        Moshi Wakiza casts fires from within on the Crane elite archers, scoring 3 hits for 12 damage.   Killing one Archer.  The Archers fire back but are thwarted when Iuchi Takaai casts gust of wind, negating their ranged attacks.  Both Wakiza and Takaai become spent.

HtH Combat:

                        Yojimbo hits once against Shinjo Tsuburo for 7 damage.  No wounds.  Tsuburo hits 2 times for 20 damage.  Th Yojimbo dies.

The Daidoji hit 3 times for 24 damage, killing 2 Shinjo House Guard.  The Shinjo in turn hit 3 times for 28 damage.  Killing one Daidoji.

With a quick slash of the Yari, Tsuburo plunges it deep into the heart of the Yojimbo, leaving only the Shugenja, and him.   Upon the hill, amidst the bodies of the Crane elite, I saw a site I could not believe.  It was Moshi Wakiza,  I do not know how she survived from the last time I saw her, but there she was... Fire leaping out of her hand and lapping at the other unit of crane archers.  They tried to fire at her, but a gust of wind deflected their arrows.

Turn Eleven of Twelve

Unicorn have the hand of fate

Primary Movement:

                Tsuburo charges Asahina Tomo, and routs Tomo.

HtH Combat:

                Tsuburo hits Tomo 2 times for 17 damage, wounding Tomo.

                The Daidoji hit 3 times for 34 damage, killing one Shinjo and wounding the other.  The Shinjo in turn hit the Daidoji 3 times for 22 damage.  Killing 1 Daidoji.  The Shinjo House Guard break.

Tomo ducks a slash by Tsuburo's Yari, and leaps to the side.  The Daidoji finally seem to be gaining the upper ground, as the Unicorn appear shaken.  Wakiza's Yojimbo grab her arms and drag her behind the hill, beyond the vision of the Crane.

Turn Twelve of Twelve.

Crane has the hand of fate

Primary Movement:

                       Asahina Tomo routs.  Tsuburo gets a parting shot against Tomo for 44 damage.  Killing Tomo.

                        Shinjo House guard break away.  The Daidoji score 4 hits for 29 damage.  Killing one Shinjo.

Ranged attacks:

                                                                        Moshi cast fires from within on the crane elite archers.  Crane elite play the tactical card "turtle shell."  5 hits are scored for 28 damage as 2 more crane elite die.  The crane attempt to counter fire but are stopped once again by the gust of wind from Iuchi Takaai.

Tsuburo uses the shaft of his Yari to smash it against the head of Tomo, knocking him to the ground.  Moshi walks up the to the hill again and rains fire down upon the Crane as wind makes their arrows useless.  It will not be long now before the Crane is decimated, and Hoturi signals to begin the retreat...

Unicorn VP:  12                                 ENDPHASE                               Crane VP:  4

AAR  14MAR99   1600 - 1900

This battle is almost a carbon copy of the last battle, with a few minor changes.  Like I mentioned before, the gameplay, while very confusing the first couple of games, is now getting manageable.  Also the fact that I am documenting everything makes things much easier, its very easy to lose track of things.   A note about how I construct things though... My maps are simplified, and I leave out bits of terrain that had no effect on the battle, which are usually to a side where nothing is happening.  Also the maps show what is happening at the end of the turn it is listed under.  The dragon in this battle did a whopping amount of damage, but it was not enough to offset the VP bonus for killing it.  The battle actually looked like it was a draw on the table, but oddly enough, the crane where unable to take out any opposing personalities, which makes it a disaster as far as VP is concerned.  I think this will be the last of our battles from the basic set only battles, as the Unicorn player is defecting to the Phoenix.  But all in all, it was still an exciting battle.   That is my humble opinion.

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