Ninja Wars.pdf - Dorks and Dragons!

Tea PartyBenju, Yuji and Lady Satomi are sitting in the formalgardens of the castle. Twelve Samurai Officers arealso present, but at a discreet distance. The samuraiwill come forward instantly to prevent the PCs fromapproaching Benju, however.At first Benju will be angry, demanding to knowwhy the PCs have returned. If they tell him whatthey’ve discovered, particularly about Lady Satomi’scomplicity, he will hear them out. At the first accusationof treachery, Lady Satomi denies it hotly, butBenju orders her to silence. Throughout, Yuji keepslooking at Satomi speculatively (he’d always suspectedthat there was something strange about her). Whenthe PCs are finished, Benju demands proof. If theyhand over the note—and this is the only concreteproof that Benju will accept—read the following:The daimyo scrutinizes the note. Then he looksup, his eyes meeting yours. “This is her handwriting,’he says, “I recognize it.”With the speed of a striking snake, Lady Satomisnatches for the note. But Yuji is even quicker,catching her wrist in a grip of steel.The PCs should recognize that the logical next stepis to pass this evidence of treachery on to the clanYamaguchi. (If they don’t think of this themselves, eitherBenju or Yuji can suggest it.) The problem still remains,though: how do they get word to theYamaguchis?Again, the PCs should realize that Lady Satomi mustknow how to contact the ninja clan. After all, wasn’tone of their number carrying a message for her?(Again, Benju or Yuji can suggest this.)The problem is, how to get Satomi to give them theinformation. She refuses to tell them, and Benju rulesout any suggestions of torture. Unless the PCs cancome up with some innovative solution, read the following:Benju shakes his head. “She won’t tell you. She’s atough old bat, and samurai besides.” He sighs.“Well, her guilt is obvious. The sentence will bedeath . . . for her and her daughter.”“What?” Lady Satomi shrieks. “No, you can’t, notmy daughter . . . your wife.”Benju shrugs. “I know how close you and she are.I can’t accept that you’d keep this a secret from herwhich makes her an accessory, and thus liablefor the same punishment as you, neh? Unless, ofcourse . . .” He leaves the thought hanging.Lady Satomi sobs, a broken woman. “Alright,”she hisses after a moment. “One of the meetingplaces is a warehouse,” and she names an addressin the merchant quarter. “The code word is ‘LotusBlossom’. You’ll spare my daughter’s life? You bothswear it?”Benju and Yuji both swear that Satomi’sdaughter—Benju’s wife—will be held blameless forany of her mother’s actions. And as soon as thewords are out of their mouth, the woman cacklesmaniacally. Almost magically, a knife is in her handand she’s hurling herself at Benju . . .Benju, Yuji, and the samurai are automatically surprised.The PCs must make surprise checks as normal.If none of the PCs is able to stop her, she gets afree attack against Benju—with a +2 bonus to hit andto damage as a result of her ferocity. On the nextround, Yuji and the samurai enter the fray, and slaythe woman as fast as they can. If the PCs saved Benjufrom Satomi’s sudden attack, he is extremely gratefulto them, and all gain 1 point of honor as a result of hisesteem.When the matter of Lady Satomi has been settled,Benju orders the PCs to go to the warehouse and passon to the ninja clan the note, proof that they are to bebetrayed. (From his manner, it’s obvious that he considersthe PCs to be back on the payroll.) If asked, he’lltell the PCs that he believes the enemy to be EichiroTanaka.48