#Episode 1: One Breath on the Bridge
#Scent -- Sword at Dawn
The sound of the river drowned out every other sound in the world. Masamune stood on the bridge, hand resting on his scabbard, looking across to the other side. The fog was beginning to lift. Beyond the fog, something was moving -- things that were not human.
"Five."
Hayame's voice came from behind him. She was crouched among the rocks on the riverbank below the bridge. Masamune did not turn his head. Not because he trusted her eyes, but because he had no moment to spare for turning his head.
"Ko-oni. They have clubs. No big ones."
Masamune nodded once. Five spearmen stood behind him with yari raised. They were young soldiers. Their eyes were uneasy. For most of them, this was their first time seeing yoma. Masamune took one step forward. The wooden planks of the bridge creaked.
"We do not fall back."
It was not an order. It was something he said to himself. Yet at those words, the spearmen tightened their grip on their yari. As long as Masamune's back was visible -- the bridge would not fall. They knew it by instinct.
The fog cleared. Five shadows appeared at the far end of the bridge. Red skin. Twisted horns. Drool running from their mouths. Ko-oni. Lesser yoma descended from the mountain. They had no intelligence. No tactics. They were simply hungry, and human smell came from the other side of the bridge.
The lead ko-oni raised its club and roared. The other four followed. Masamune drew his uchigatana. The blade caught the dawn light and flashed once.
A narrow bridge. A width where only two people could barely stand side by side. Masamune stood in the middle of the bridge and took his grip on the sword. Right foot forward, left foot back. Immovable stance. A declaration that he would not move one step from here. His presence filled the entire width of the bridge.
The ko-oni charged. The first one brought its club down. Masamune raised his sword at an angle and let the club's path slide away. Wood cracked -- the bridge railing. The ko-oni's strength was fierce. But its line could be read. Masamune returned the sword along the recoil of the deflection and cut horizontally. A red line was drawn across the ko-oni's chest. It staggered and stepped back.
The second one shoved the first aside and rushed in. Masamune did not release his Parry posture. The instant the club came down, he set the blade upright and received it head-on. A dull impact of iron and wood traveled up his arms. But his feet did not move. Not an inch.
From behind, the spearmen thrust out their yari. Spearheads passed over Masamune's shoulder and stabbed the staggering ko-oni in the shoulder. It screamed and fell.
"Good."
Masamune spoke briefly. The spearmen's hands began to shake less.
Meanwhile, Hayame was moving along the riverbank. She leapt from rock to rock, circling along the riverbank toward the far side of the bridge. Muffling her sound. Quieting her breath. All the ko-oni's eyes were fixed on Masamune on the bridge. While Masamune stood like a mountain and held their sight, the wind circled along the riverbank.
The third and fourth ko-oni attacked at the same time. The bridge was too narrow for two to stand side by side, and they swung their clubs while shoving each other. Masamune let one club slide along the back of his sword and thrust at the other. The sword tip grazed the ko-oni's flank. It was not deep. Large motions were dangerous in a narrow place. But Masamune's purpose was not to cut. It was to stop. To keep them from crossing this bridge.
The fifth ko-oni -- the one in the rear -- saw the congestion on the bridge and turned its head. It seemed to be trying to descend to the riverbank. The instinct to circle around. Masamune's eyes narrowed. If that one circled through the riverbank, it could strike the spearmen from the side. But Masamune could not move. If he left this place open, the remaining three would pour through.
Then a shadow sprang up from behind a riverbank rock. It was Hayame. Her ninjato split the ko-oni's back. It fell without ever managing a scream. Perfect ambush. A blade from a place it had not seen.
Hayame stepped on the fallen ko-oni and leapt up to the far end of the bridge. Now the ko-oni were caught front and back. Ahead stood immovable Masamune; behind, Hayame the wind. The remaining three ko-oni turned their heads in confusion. Masamune did not miss that instant of opening. One horizontal cut, one thrust from the spearmen's yari. One more ko-oni fell. Hayame cut another one's leg with her ninjato. It staggered, smashed the railing, and fell into the river.
The last one. The ko-oni dropped its club and tried to run. Hayame blocked the front. Masamune blocked the rear. The final yoma trapped on the bridge screamed. Masamune's blade flashed. It was over.
The river sound returned. Masamune wiped the blood from his sword and sheathed it. Hayame leaned against the bridge railing and caught her breath. The spearmen lowered their yari and looked at one another. No one was hurt. No one had run.
Masamune turned to the spearmen. Young faces. Still trembling, but their eyes had changed.
"You held well."
It was a short sentence. But that one sentence squared the shoulders of all five men.
Hayame crossed the bridge. She stood beside Masamune. Without words, the two looked toward the far riverbank. The fog had completely lifted, and the outlines of distant mountains were beginning to appear.
"It would be good if you did that next time too," Masamune said.
"Did what?" Hayame asked.
"You become the wind, and I become the mountain."
Hayame was silent for a moment. Then she laughed. Her laughing face was nothing like the hand that held a blade.
"If the mountain asks, can the wind refuse?"
Dawn light shone over the bridge. The river continued to flow.
#Law -- Session Actual Play
Kuro (GM) / Hana (Kagura Masamune) / Mei (watching)
Kuro: Good, since this is the first session, let's confirm the basic rules as we go. I'll explain the battlefield. There is one narrow wooden bridge. Both sides are riverbanks. The bridge is both the ally Front Zone and the enemy Front Zone -- we'll treat it as one zone. Since the bridge is narrow, Domination cap 5.
Hana: Meaning the number of people who can enter the bridge is limited, right?
Kuro: Right. No matter how much Domination bonus you stack, 5 is the limit. Both riverbanks are Flank Zones. Below the river is the Outside Zone -- inaccessible. So the zone structure looks like this.
[Riverbank Flank Zone (ally)] --- [Bridge (Front Zone, cap 5)] --- [Riverbank Flank Zone (enemy)]
Bridge: Masamune + spearmen / ko-oni 1~4
Enemy riverbank Flank Zone: ko-oni 5Mei: What about the Core Zone?
Kuro: This battlefield has no Core Zone. The bridge is too narrow for a melee itself to be possible. It is just both sides pushing each other on a narrow bridge.
Hana: Got it. Masamune deploys on the bridge Front Zone. The spearman squad too.
Kuro: OK. Masamune -- Energy 11, Wounds 5. Defense 14. Uchigatana. Spearman squad is 5 Minions, yari. Cohesion 4, because the family-name bonus +1 is attached, so it is 4 instead of the base 3.
Hana: I'll use Immovable Formation. I declare it.
Kuro: Wait, the round hasn't started yet. I'll place enemies first. Ko-oni 1~4 have already pushed up to the enemy-side end of the bridge, and number 5 is following from the enemy riverbank Flank Zone. All are Minion grade, Wounds 1, Defense 11, clubs. They are wandering yoma, so they act automatically without squad commands. Apply the berserk table as an uncommanded squad.
Hana: Berserk means they mostly attack the nearest enemy.
Kuro: Right. Roll 1d10: on 1~6 they attack the nearest enemy, 7~9 hold position, 10 rout. Right now, ko-oni 1~4 have already pushed onto the bridge, and number 5 is following from the riverbank. Now, Hayame's deployment?
Hana: Hayame deploys in the riverbank Flank Zone (ally side). She has Finesse +2, so Energy 12.
Kuro: OK. Then the round begins. Everyone at maximum Energy. Let's organize count first. Descending remaining Energy.
Hayame: Energy 12 (Finesse +2)
Masamune: Energy 11 (Finesse +1)
Ko-oni: Energy 10 (all identical)Kuro: Ties go by descending Finesse, and if still tied, allies first. Count 12, Hayame first.
Hana: Hayame's first breath. She moves from the Flank Zone to the enemy Flank Zone. Walk costs 2 Energy, but Wind Blade reduces movement Energy by -1, so 1 Energy. Then she waits there.
Kuro: Spend 1 Energy to walk. Hayame Energy 12 -> 11. She moves from the ally Flank Zone to the enemy Flank Zone. Flank Zones are adjacent, so it is possible. The breath has 4 Energy left within the limit. Anything else?
Hana: No, I'll cut it here. I'm saving Energy because I'll ambush on the next count.
Kuro: OK, Hayame waits at Energy 11. Count 11 -- Masamune.
Hana: Masamune's first breath. Declare Immovable Formation. 2 Energy. Since he is in the Front Zone, Domination +4. Then reserve Parry. There are already enemies on the bridge, so holding first seems better.
Kuro: The ko-oni are count 10. They haven't acted yet. On the bridge, numbers 1~4; in the enemy riverbank Flank Zone, number 5 waits.
Hana: Then Immovable Formation declaration (2 Energy), and Parry reservation (1 Energy). Total 3. Energy 11 -> 8.
Kuro: Immovable Formation declared. Ally Domination in the bridge Front Zone where Masamune stands gets +4. Let's calculate current ally Domination.
Masamune (lord): +1.5
Spearman squad (5 Minions): +2
Immovable Formation: +4
Yari Front Zone bracing: +1 (spearmen)
Total: 8.5 → but cap 5. Domination 5.Mei: It hits the cap. Even if you stack 8.5, you only get 5.
Kuro: Yes, because it is a narrow bridge. And reaching the cap = Blockade. The allies have blockaded this zone. As a zone property, long weapons such as yari and nodachi get +1 on checks, and short weapons get -1. The spearmen have yari, so their volley attack gets +1.
Mei: Do we have to designate a blockader too?
Kuro: Yes. The blockading side declares one of its units as the blockader. That unit gets Defense +1. Who?
Hana: Masamune. The one standing in the center of the bridge is him.
Kuro: Good. Masamune Defense 14+1=15. And if a ko-oni tries to enter the bridge now, normal movement is impossible; only Blockade Breakthrough Target Number 15 is possible.
Hana: Allies have control. The ko-oni can't just enter.
Kuro: Right. Now count 10 -- ko-oni actions. Because they are berserk, they attack the enemy in front of them. Numbers 1~4 that already have feet on the bridge attack Masamune, and number 5 on the riverbank tries to break through the blockade and come up. First number 1. Rolling 1d10... 4. Attack nearest enemy.
Kuro: Club attack roll. 2d10... 5, 3 = total 8. Masamune Defense 15. Miss.
Hana: With Defense 15, most things won't hit.
Kuro: Heavy armor shines here. Now the second ko-oni acts too... 1d10, 2. Attack nearest enemy. Club attack. 2d10... 8, 7 = total 15. Defense 15. It exactly hits!
Hana: Parry! I reserved it, so it triggers for 0 Energy.
Kuro: Parry check. Uchigatana Parry uses a Finesse check. 2d10 + Finesse(+1) >= enemy attack total(15)?
Hana: Rolling 2d10... 8, 6 = 14. +1 makes 15. Success!
Kuro: Exactly. Parry succeeds. The ko-oni's attack is completely negated, and Parry retaliation damage goes in. Since the ko-oni is a Minion, hit = instant death. 1 ko-oni defeated!
Mei: So that's how reservation works. Pay 1 Energy in advance and wait, then defense + counterattack for 0 Energy.
Kuro: Right. If you hadn't reserved, it would be an improvised reaction at 1.5 times cost, rounded up to 2 Energy. And after the count has already moved on, 2 Energy is a heavy burden.
Hana: Immovable Formation can't move, but in a defensive fight like this it is overwhelming.
Kuro: Let's handle the remaining ko-oni 3, 4, and 5. Number 3: 1d10 = 5, attack. Club 2d10 = 3, 2 = total 5. Miss. Number 4: 1d10 = 1, attack. Club 2d10 = 6, 5 = total 11. Miss.
Mei: Number 5 is still on the riverbank side, right? So it can't attack together?
Kuro: Right. At this point the allies are in Blockade, so for ko-oni number 5 to newly enter the bridge, it needs Blockade Breakthrough Target Number 15. 2d10... 9, 7 = 16. Barely succeeds. It forces its way through the spearmen and gets onto the bridge. But that is all for this action. It spent its breath getting up there, so it can't swing the club yet.
Kuro: All count 10 actions are done. Ko-oni Energy 10 -> 7. Next count is... Hayame 11, Masamune 8, ko-oni 7, in that order.
Hana: Hayame at count 11! Now the ambush goes in. Move from enemy Flank Zone to enemy Front Zone (bridge) + attack. Moving from Flank Zone into an adjacent zone + attack is a basic ambush, right?
Kuro: Right. Move from Flank Zone to adjacent zone + attack = basic ambush. The first attack roll gets +2.
Hana: Wind Blade makes movement 1 Energy. Ninjato attack 2 Energy. Total 3 Energy. Energy 11 -> 8.
Kuro: Target?
Hana: Ko-oni number 5. The one that just broke through the blockade and came up.
Kuro: Ninjato attack roll. 2d10 + Courage(+1) + ambush(+2) >= Defense 11.
Hana: 2d10... 7, 6 = total 13. +1 and ambush +2 makes 16. Hit!
Kuro: Ko-oni are Minions, so Wounds 1. Even without a Critical Hit, ko-oni number 5 dies instantly.
Hana: Hayame leaps up from the riverbank and splits its back.
Mei: Good use of the Flank Zone. Masamune holds their sight in the Front Zone, and Hayame circles through the Flank Zone for ambush.
Kuro: That is the basic samurai + ronin combo. Immovable Formation + Wind Blade. Now, count 8 -- Masamune.
Hana: Masamune's second breath. Squad command: volley attack (2 Energy). Masamune has Wisdom +0, so no discount, 2 Energy as-is. Then uchigatana horizontal cut (2 Energy). Total 4. Energy 8 -> 4.
Kuro: Resolve squad command first. The spearman squad makes a volley attack with yari. Target is a ko-oni on the bridge. 2d10 >= Defense 11. 2d10... 7, 4 = total 11. Hit! 1 minion ko-oni dies instantly.
Hana: Ko-oni number 3 defeated. What remains is number 1 (wounded) and number 4.
Kuro: Masamune horizontal cut. Target ko-oni number 1. 2d10 + Courage(+2) >= Defense 11.
Hana: 2d10... 6, 5 = total 11. +2 makes 13. Hit!
Kuro: Since it is a Minion, hit = instant death. Ko-oni number 1 defeated. Only number 4 remains.
Hana: And I reserve Parry (1 Energy). Energy 4 -> 3.
Kuro: Count 8, Hayame can also act. Hayame has Energy 8.
Hana: Hayame attacks too. Ninjato attack (2 Energy). Against ko-oni number 4. Energy 8 -> 6.
Kuro: 2d10 + Courage(+1) >= 11.
Hana: 2d10... 9, 3 = total 12. +1 makes 13. Hit!
Kuro: Ko-oni number 4 dies instantly. Ko-oni wiped out!
Mei: That ended fast. Before even one round passed?
Kuro: We are still in the round. Masamune has Energy 3 and Hayame has Energy 6 left, so we haven't reached lull. But the enemies are wiped out, so combat ends. Combat end condition -- all members on one side incapacitated.
Hana: Let me summarize Masamune's total Energy spent. Immovable Formation 2, Parry reservation 1, squad command 2, horizontal cut 2, Parry reservation 1. Total 8. Energy 11, remaining 3.
Kuro: Parry trigger costs 0 Energy, so it is not included. Correct.
Mei: What about Hayame?
Hana: Move 1, ninjato attack 2, ninjato attack 2. Total 5. From Energy 12, remaining 7, not 6... Ah, was there another move?
Kuro: Hayame's first breath was Flank Zone movement 1 Energy, second breath was movement from Flank Zone to Front Zone 1 Energy + ninjato attack 2 Energy = 3 Energy, and third breath was ninjato attack 2 Energy. Total 6 Energy spent. 12 -> 6.
Hana: Without Wind Blade, movement would have cost 4 Energy. The -1 applied twice, saving 2 Energy.
Mei: Does Masamune's spearman squad have no Energy?
Kuro: Squads have no Energy of their own. Masamune spends 2 Energy with squad command to move them. A Minion squad is structured to borrow and use the commander's Energy.
Mei: Then if Masamune falls, what happens to the spearmen?
Kuro: They become uncommanded. Cohesion immediately -1, and from the next round they roll on the uncommanded action table. These spearmen are regular troops, so use the regular-army table.
Mei: Using Immovable Formation and Parry reservation together really feels like nothing can get through.
Kuro: In exchange, you cannot move. Masamune cannot take even one step from this bridge. If the enemy circles through the Flank Zone, he cannot respond. That is why Hayame is needed -- to cover where Masamune cannot go.
Hana: Mountain and wind.
Kuro: Good expression. Can I use that? Now, let's summarize. Since there were 5 Minion-grade enemies, this scenario is for rules practice. 5 bodies handled within one round. Core rules confirmed:
[Rules Confirmed]
1. Count = descending remaining Energy. Higher Finesse acts first. Ties go to allies.
2. One breath basic limit 5. Masamune first breath: Immovable Formation(2) + Parry reservation(1) = 3. Room remains.
3. Immovable Formation: Domination +4 in the Front Zone. Cannot move.
4. Reservation: pay 1 Energy in advance for Parry. Triggers for 0 Energy.
5. Wind Blade: movement Energy -1 (walk 2 -> 1).
6. Flank Zone -> adjacent movement+attack = basic ambush (first attack roll +2).
7. Squad command: 2 Energy (Masamune Wisdom +0, no discount).
8. Narrow bridge = Domination cap 5. On reaching cap, **Blockade** triggers (zone property: long weapons +1 / short weapons -1. Designate 1 blockader, Defense +1). Enemies cannot enter normally; only Blockade Breakthrough Target Number 15 is possible.Mei: If Masamune had a Swordsmanship license, would Parry reservation become 0 Energy?
Kuro: No. The license is 0 Energy, but Masamune is 1st dan, so he does not have the license yet. The license unlocks at dedicated skill 3 points or higher. Right now, reservation 1 Energy is correct.
Hana: Next scenario, give me a stronger enemy. Ko-oni have good atmosphere, but they are too weak.
Kuro: Next episode uses a Core Zone gimmick, so the difficulty will jump. Look forward to it.
Mei: I want to participate directly in the next episode.
Kuro: The next episode has two different characters. Mei's full participation starts after that.
Mei: Got it... Watching was fun.
"On the bridge, one breath is enough. Simply because one person stands there."