With the beginning of the spring thaw came renewed rains. You found yourself thankful for Mr. Beretta’s modifications to your cartridges (a brass sleeve placed tightly around the cartridge’s sides, leaving only the paper at the very back exposed). Though they aren’t perfect, they’ve reduced water-related malfunctions significantly, and have proven easier to produce than initially anticipated. You had the young Italian send the design to the Shogun’s ministers in an attempt to get it adopted for mass-production, but haven’t heard anything back in the month or so since Beretta developed the workaround.

It is now near the end of March, and the warm weather has lifted your spirits. Today is a rare one, with no signs of rain whatsoever. The previous training group has already left your camp, and a new one has recently arrived. You exit the main building, yawning as you observe your camp. The cool air of early spring necessitates the wearing of your pelisse, which you throw over your shoulder as you walk toward the stables.

“Good morning, sir.” Nakajima greets you, matching your stride as you walk.

“And to you as well, Lieutenant.” You put your arms through the sleeves of your pelisse, buttoning it up.

“Going for a ride?” Nakajima nods toward your destination.

“I am,” you reply.

“Shall I accompany you?” He adjusts the position of his carbine, which he has slung over his shoulder casually.

You shrug. “Sure. Today is the cadets’ day off, right?”

He nods. “Indeed. Many of them have gone into town.”

You chuckle. “Well I hope there won’t be a repeat of last week’s incident.”

Nakajima grimaces, sighing. “I made sure to disbar that cadet from entering town, sir. He is currently assisting the cooks.”

You laugh, walking up to the stables. “Good. It’ll teach that kid some discipline.” You grab your saddle and tack, putting it on your horse carefully.

Nakajima does the same, struggling a bit with carrying the saddle. “So, do you have any destinations in mind, sir?”

>”Perhaps just a regular patrol around the countryside.”
>”Let’s visit Edo Castle. I imagine the Shogun would like a progress update.” (visit the Shogun)
>”It’s been a while since I went to Yokohama. Lets’ see if there’s anything interesting going on.” (explore Yokohama)
>”Say, the cherry blossoms should be blooming around this time of year, right?” (visit the Nakajima Residence)
>Write-in.

>>3102415
>>”Perhaps just a regular patrol around the countryside.”
some quiet time to contemplate things

or we could
>”Say, the cherry blossoms should be blooming around this time of year, right?” (visit the Nakajima Residence)
I heard that appreciating them is kinda of a tradition

>>3102415
>”Say, the cherry blossoms should be blooming around this time of year, right?” (visit the Nakajima Residence)

Let's get to know the local traditions, and maybe make Naka blush in the pricess.

>>3102415
>MEET THE PARENTS

>>3102469
ok, changing to support only
>”Say, the cherry blossoms should be blooming around this time of year, right?” (visit the Nakajima Residence)

>>3102415
>”Say, the cherry blossoms should be blooming around this time of year, right?” (visit the Nakajima Residence)

>>3102415
>”Say, the cherry blossoms should be blooming around this time of year, right?” (visit the Nakajima Residence)

Isn't watching the cherry blossoms a common couple's activity? I guess Daniel has no way of knowing it.

>>3102415
>>”Let’s visit Edo Castle. I imagine the Shogun would like a progress update.” (visit the Shogun
I rather have a progress report

“Say,” you begin. “The cherry blossoms are blooming around this time of year, right?”

Nakajima raises an eyebrow. “I believe so, why?”

You mount up, steadying yourself. “Well, your father said I should look at the garden when the cherry blossoms are in-bloom. He seemed really proud of it.”

Nakajima seems to lose his balance midway through climbing onto the saddle of his own horse, nearly falling off. “A-ah, I see…” He nods toward the exit of the stable. “So I take it you want to see the garden?”

You ride your horse out through the open stable doors. “That I do, let’s ride!” You gallop out of the camp, between the main building and the barracks. As you ride, you notice that Nakajima’s horse has a hard time keeping up, so you slow down after a bit.

You both ride alongside one-another, and you take the opportunity to admire the newly-green countryside. “I must say, this is the perfect day to be out in nature.” Nakajima scans the trees, a vigilant expression on his face. Ever since the attack on the road last year, he’s never been quite at-ease on the way to Edo. “The last few weeks have been quite the smog.”

You chuckle. “I think you mean ‘slog.’ And yes, they have been.” You grimace. “Mud plays havoc with infantry. Even more with artillery, from what I’ve read.” Shaking your head, you recall the testimony in a military history and theory book you’ve been reading. “Mud was what killed Napoleon’s chances at Waterloo. His greatest strength was his use of artillery, and the mud made all of it useless.”

Nakajima looks over at you. “Napoleon was French, right?”

You nod. “Nearly conquered Europe, if not for the Russians.” You look over at him. “Anyway, how have the modified cartridges been handling in the rain?”

Lieutenant Nakajima rubs his chin thoughtfully. “They are quite excellent. If only we could have a factory to make them en-masse…”

“Indeed. I haven’t gotten word back from the Shogun’s ordnance officials yet, so it looks like we’re stuck relying on Beretta’s hand-loads for now…”

“That is true.” Nakajima trails off. “Sir, how do you think we will fare in the upcoming expedition?”

>”With modern training and the natural resolve of Japanese soldiers? We’ll crush the enemy.” (boastful)
>”We’ve got the best arms and equipment in the world. I think we’ll be alright.” (optimistic)
>”Well I’ve heard talk of a shore landing for our forces… And shore landings are always a nasty business.” (pessimistic)
>”Our forces will only be a small part of it. The operation’s success will hinge on how well the other daimyos play ball.” (analytical)
>”It’s war. Casualties are inevitable.” (harsh)
>"I'd rather not think about that right now, Lieutenant." (change the subject)
>Write-in.

>>3102633
>”Our forces will only be a small part of it. The operation’s success will hinge on how well the other daimyos play ball.” (analytical)

>>3102633
>”Our forces will only be a small part of it. The operation’s success will hinge on how well the other daimyos play ball.” (analytical)

>>3102633
>>”Our forces will only be a small part of it. The operation’s success will hinge on how well the other daimyos play ball.” (analytical)


>Also how secure our logistics and how dig in our enemy is. Can’t make any sure predictions without at least that much intelligence.

>>3102633
"Before I answer that, how do you think we will fare? You've been in direct contact with the men and I know you have a talent for leadership or you wouldn't be my right hand on all this"
Let's get his take, he probably knows the enemy better and I want to see how he handles this.

After that we can answer

>”Our forces will only be a small part of it. The operation’s success will hinge on how well the other daimyos play ball.” (analytical)

Btw doesn’t bronze sleeve but play issues with ththe caliber and I assume this method can only be applied by our breech loaders and not the rifled muskets?

File: Sharps paper cartridges.jpg (86 KB, 540x720)

86 KB JPG

>>3102668
>Btw doesn’t bronze sleeve but play issues with ththe caliber and I assume this method can only be applied by our breech loaders and not the rifled muskets?

These are both true. The sleeve has to be precisely fitted to end right at the bottom of the bullet to avoid caliber issues. And it's really only a work around for the Sharps, since it fires paper cartridges in its current version.

>>3102656
>>3102660
+1 for getting opinons

but the answer is
>”Well I’ve heard talk of a shore landing for our forces… And shore landings are always a nasty business.” (pessimistic)
shore landings a shit

>>3102633
>”Our forces will only be a small part of it. The operation’s success will hinge on how well the other daimyos play ball.” (analytical)

Especially need to look out for the Satsuma. We need to somehow make the other daimyos actually attack. I suggest a strong show from us so they'll side with the Shogun.

>>3102688
I rather for hand filled rolls at this point considering the size. I don’t trust Japanese manufacturing budding industry at all for metal work that precise.

“Our forces are only going to be a small part of the expeditionary force.” You frown, rubbing your chin thoughtfully. “The operation’s success will depend on whether the other daimyos can play ball.”

Nakajima frowns deeply, nodding. “That makes sense. I hope the daimyos will do as they are expected to.”

You raise an eyebrow. “Isn’t that normally how they do things?”

“Most of the time,” Nakajima replies. “But not always. The Choshu Domain is a good example of a disloyal daimyo making trouble for the rest of the country.”

“I suppose so,” you say. “Let’s hope this operation shuts that sort of thing down then.” With that, the conversation soon turns to lighter subjects, mostly talk of the weather, and progress with training the troops. Nakajima has a hell of a time with his horse, a rather mean-spirited little nag that is more of a large pony than a proper horse. You are thankful that you chose one of the draft horses, whose temperament turns out to be similar to that of a warhorse now that you think about it.

Soon you both arrive at the Nakajima family residence, and hitch your horses out by the front gate. Nakajima’s mother answers the knock at the gate, and immediately lets you both in. She doesn’t speak a word of English, but you get the impression that she quite enjoys being a doting housewife. There’s something about the way she occasionally glances at your weapons that puts you a little on-edge though.

As you are both guided to the house, Shigeru steps out onto the porch to greet you. His English is an impeccable as ever. “Ah, good afternoon, Colonel.” He bows to you, which you return. “And to you as well, my son.”

Lieutenant Nakajima and his father exchange bows, and then the lieutenant speaks. “Have the cherry blossoms in the garden begun to bloom, father?”

He smiles, looking over at you. “Indeed they have. I was wondering if you’d come here in time to see the garden at the peak of its beauty.” He shakes his head, chuckling. “Though perhaps I should let you be the judge of that.”

File: Garden.jpg (82 KB, 684x455)

82 KB JPG

Shigeru leads you both around the house to avoid having to remove your boots, leading you to the garden. It is far more beautiful than you could’ve imagined from the snow-covered landscape you viewed last time. A blooming cherry tree hangs over the koi pond, which is bristling with the movement of fish. You step forward, taking it all in without speaking. “This is amazing.” You look down at the koi, their metallic scales glinting in the light. A few of the pale, pink cherry petals float on the water’s surface. There is a low, stone bench near the edge of the pond, maybe three feet from the bank.

Shigeru crosses his arms, admiring the view as well. “I am glad you like it, Colonel. This took many years to craft.” He looks over at you, gesturing to the cherry tree. “These are called Sakura blossoms.”

You nod. “They’re quite something…” You look over to see Nakajima standing on the other side of you, a somewhat distant look in his eyes.

Shigeru speaks up a few moments later. “Ah, allow me to fetch some tea for the two of you.” He turns and heads toward the house, uncharacteristically jovial. “I will be back in just a moment!” He disappears into the house after that, leaving you and Nakajima standing in the garden.

>Just admire the natural beauty silently.
>”So your father mentioned that some of these koi are over a century old.” (comment on the pond)
>”These Sakura blossoms are unbelievable.” (comment on the cherry tree)
>Go sit on the bench nearby.
>Write-in.

>>3102785
>>”These Sakura blossoms are unbelievable.” (comment on the cherry tree)

>>3102785
>”These Sakura blossoms are unbelievable.” (comment on the cherry tree)
>Go sit on the bench nearby.

Friendly conversation

>>3102785
>>”These Sakura blossoms are unbelievable.” (comment on the cherry tree)
>>Go sit on the bench nearby.

>>3102785
>”These Sakura blossoms are unbelievable.” (comment on the cherry tree)
>Go sit on the bench nearby.

>>3102785
>”So your father mentioned that some of these koi are over a century old.” (comment on the pond)

Fuck you guys, I like fish.

>>3102785
>”These Sakura blossoms are unbelievable.” (comment on the cherry tree)
>Go sit on the bench nearby.

I see what you're doing Mr. Dad. You sly you.

>>3102785
>>”So your father mentioned that some of these koi are over a century old.” (comment on the pond)

I like fish too

>>3102785
>Just admire the natural beauty silently.

>>3102785
>>”These Sakura blossoms are unbelievable.” (comment on the cherry tree)
>>Go sit on the bench nearby.

Btw what happened to the old M1841 needle rifles?

You go over and sit on the bench by the water’s edge. Nakajima follows you, sitting on it as well. You look at the pond, down at the fish, for a while. Your attention keeps getting pulled to the cherry tree, however.

“Those blossoms are something else,” you remark. “I’ve never seen flowering trees like that.”

Nakajima nods, leaning forward. “Sakura blossoms are special here in Japan. But my father seems to enjoy them even more than most people do.” He chuckles. “I remember when I was young, and he would leave for months at a time, he would always take a sprig with some Sakura blossoms on it. He said it reminded him of home.”

You look over at Nakajima. “I take it that he was away from home quite often?”

“He was.” Nakajima looks down at the water. “And for months at a time. Sometimes he would come home covered in bandages, sometimes he looked like he had seen a ghost.” The Lieutenant shakes his head. “But that was many years ago. He has since retired, and now he has this garden. He has all the Sakura blossoms he could ever want.”

You reach down, picking one up off of the ground. “Sometimes I wish I would’ve carried a piece of home with me when I was in the War.” Shrugging, you hold the blossom up to the sunlight.

“I think of such things as well,” Nakajima says. “But… Perhaps home is whatever you want it to be. I cannot think of anything from here I could take with me when I am away for long periods of time.” He shrugs. “These blossoms are nice, but they do not hold the same weight for me as they do for my father.” The Lieutenant sighs. “Perhaps they would if… Ah, never mind.” Nakajima shakes his head. “Sentimentality is unbecoming of a samurai.” He removes his cap, laying it on the bench as he runs a hand over his hair.

“I wouldn’t say that,” you reply. “It’s good to be sentimental about some things.” You nod in the vague direction of your camp. “I’ve still got my old kepi from the Army, as well as my old journal.” You lean forward. “You just need to find something to be sentimental about.” After that, you trail off, just enjoying the aesthetic of the garden. A full two or three minutes go by without any conversation. “This garden is beautiful, especially the Sakura blossoms. It almost doesn’t seem like it’d be complete without them.”

Nakajima doesn’t look at you. “It would be incomplete without the Sakura blossoms, eh?”

You raise an eyebrow, having not heard the whole sentence. “I beg your pardon?”

Nakajima looks away. “Oh, it was nothing, sir.”

>”Your father mentioned that some of these fish are over a century old.”
>”So where all did your father travel to when he was younger?”
>”You’re a samurai. Do you think you could teach me the Japanese style of sword-fighting sometime?”
>”Are you alright? You’ve been acting strange all morning.” (roll a 1d20)
>Write-in.

>>3102968
>”Are you alright? You’ve been acting strange all morning.”

File: 1523436734836.gif (1.6 MB, 400x226)

1.6 MB GIF

>>3102943
They're in storage, aside from the ones that the Lieutenants were issued, which they were allowed to keep.

Also it was a mistake to have a rum and coke before writing this. My words-per-minute are waay down from normal.

>>3102968
>>”Your father mentioned that some of these fish are over a century old.”

>>3102968
>”Are you alright? You’ve been acting strange all morning.”
>”You’re a samurai. Do you think you could teach me the Japanese style of sword-fighting sometime?”

>>3102977
I rather not pry before the campaign. Nakajima is a compant officer and I rather not start feeling self conscious sending her to combat is he is a she

Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>3102968
>>”Are you alright? You’ve been acting strange all morning.” (roll a 1d20)

Rolled 12 (1d20)

>>3102968
>”Are you alright? You’ve been acting strange all morning.” (roll a 1d20)

>>3102968
>”Your father mentioned that some of these fish are over a century old.”

>>3102985
Fair point, changing vote then.

>>3102974
>>3102983
You guys can roll now if you like.

Rolled 7 (1d20)

>>3102968
>”Are you alright? You’ve been acting strange all morning.” (roll a 1d20)

Goddammit, I can't resist it lol

Rolled 11 (1d20)

>>3102968
>>”Are you alright? You’ve been acting strange all morning.” (roll a 1d20)

Rolled 7 (1d20)

>>3102988
Density: 100

>>3102968
>”Your father mentioned that some of these fish are over a century old.”
>”Are you alright? You’ve been acting strange all morning.” (roll a 1d20)

“Are you alright? You’ve been acting strange all morning.” You look over at Nakajima.

The Lieutenant sighs, looking forward at the pond. “I… I think I just have a lot of things on my mind right now, sir.”

You nod slowly. “Well, I’m willing to hear what you have to say, if you want someone to talk to.”

Nakajima looks at you, seeming to almost say something, but he shakes his head. “I think I will be fine, sir.”

You frown. Whatever is on this kid’s mind, it isn’t healthy to leave him be. Still, there’s not much you can do to make him talk about it. “Fair enough, Lieutenant.”

You are about to say more when Shigeru returns with tea. “Here you both are,” he hands you both your respective cups.

You take a sip after thanking him, and immediately raise an eyebrow. “This is coffee.”

Shigeru nods sagely. “I understand that many Americans do not have a taste for tea. Is that to your liking, Colonel?”

You nod. “It is, thank you.”

Shigeru smiles, but then both of your attention is directed to the Lieutenant. “May I excuse myself, please?” He doesn’t look directly at either of you.

Shigeru frowns deeply when the Lieutenant walks away, leaving his cup of tea on the bench. After a solid thirty seconds, Shigeru shakes his head. “I wonder what’s gotten into him… Ah, well. There’s not much that can be done now.” He looks over at you. “Is he like that often?”

You shrug. “Not around me. I’ve never seen him act like that.” You frown. “He got that way after we started talking about the Sakura blossoms.”

Shigeru’s eyes widen for a moment, then he sighs. You think you hear a hint of a chuckle in there as well. “I suppose I should’ve expected that. He’ll be alright.”

You frown, looking at the koi pond. “I hope you’re right…”

Shigeru gets your attention. “You know, I had little appreciation for such frivolous things as gardens or flowers until I lived with the Matagi up north for a time.” He walks with you along the edge of the pond. “Walk with me, there is much I would like to show you.”

File: 1471725329915.jpg (878 KB, 1920x1399)

878 KB JPG

And that's going to be all for tonight. We'll run tomorrow at around the same time, and hopefully I'll be able to get updates written a little faster. As always, feel free to drop questions and comments here until then. Thanks for playing!
You're getting close.

>>3103129
Thanks for running, see you then

>>3103129
SO CLOSE YET SOOO FARRR

>>3103129
So did the M1865 Trapdoor get introduced yet?

by the way, i'm getting conflicting reports, can a M1861 Springfield Musket be converted to the 1866 model trapdoor?

>>3103282
>So did the M1865 Trapdoor get introduced yet?
Not in Aizu service, currently their weapons consist of Spencers, Sharps', and Springfield rifle-muskets. As well as the Needle-guns and a few miscellaneous firearms acquired in small batches before Stockton's arrival.

>by the way, i'm getting conflicting reports, can a M1861 Springfield Musket be converted to the 1866 model trapdoor?
By my understanding, yes. When I saw some Springfields at a museum recently, there didn't appear to be any major structural differences between the trapdoors and the muskets, beyond the placement of a trapdoor mechanism itself. Also some of the rifles were labeled as having been converted to trapdoors from muskets, but it was a small town museum, so I don't know how accurate the info cards were.

>>3103300
I meant in American Service.

I know the Springfield 1861 was used as a basis of conversions for the M1865.

My Question is that can the M1861 be converted to a M1866 since i heard it used the M1863 as a basis.

But the M1863 was considered a slight improvement or a minor variant of the M1861, so I'm not sure.

Not to mention a lot more M1861 were made then M1863/M1864.

>>3103300
Also can a M1865 be upgraded to a M1866?

Just curious?

>>3103316
Ah, well in that case, yes. The trapdoor is now in service in the US.

And as far as conversions from the M1861 go, I honestly have no idea. For the sake of simplicity in this quest, let's just say that the M1863 is the only one that can be safely converted.

>>3103319
>Also can a M1865 be upgraded to a M1866?
Assuming the M1863 can, I would guess the M1865 can as well. I doubt they're colossally different. All of the Springfield rifle-muskets at the museum sort of looked the same to me, so I didn't look for dates too carefully.

>>3103324
Actually it is somewhat, it has a improved extractor, a simplified design iirc, and a better cartage.

So we can go from 1861-1865-1866?

>>3103332
>So we can go from 1861-1865-1866?
For the sake of simplicity, sure. I can't find any concrete sources saying it's impossible.

Also, I'm never, ever drinking hard liquor during a session again. That was a mistake.

>>3103362
Well at least now we know what to do in the longrun for the Shogun armory. Until domestic design catches up.

>>3103126
Hmhmhm. I predict Naka's real girl name is Sakura.

>>3103513
>yfw is Blossom

But it certanly has some meaning to the Lt. And to father too since he would take then with him.

Maybe Shigeru will show us the fish, he isbrather proud of them

Session in a little less than two hours.

File: Blue Tachi.jpg (15 KB, 645x645)

15 KB JPG

“I suppose this is a bit like a personal dojo,” Shigeru explains as he opens the sliding door to one of the buildings on the Nakajima compound. Inside is a rather open floor-plan, with samurai swords lining one wall in ornate racks, and several sets of armor lining another. “Really it is just a storage space for all the weapons I have collected over the years.” He guides you over to the swords. “Many of these were swords that I happened upon by chance, and some are quite old.”

You look over the various weapons. Some are noticeably shorter than others, and you imagine that some of them are supposed to come as a set, judging by the visual similarities between certain ones. “These are very impressive. Have you carried all of these at some point or another?”

Shigeru shakes his head slowly, smiling just a bit. “No, unfortunately. I wouldn’t want to take some of these into battle for the fact that they might get damaged.” He points to a rather long katana on one end of the display with a blue, lacquered scabbard that has been engraved deeply. You note that it has a more dramatic curve than the others. “That, for example, is from the Heian Era, which was nearly eight-hundred years ago.” He beckons for you to come observe it more closely. “Some are even older than that, but this is the oldest in my collection. I think it would be a tragedy for this sword to be taken into battle and destroyed or lost, don’t you?”

You look at the weapon, almost hesitant to get too close. “Amazing. It looks like it could’ve been made ten years ago.”

Shigeru nods. “I suppose it does. The swords of this land are of a timeless design.” He grabs it off of the rack gently, looking it over. You can see that the metal is old, and has some spots where heavy tarnish must’ve been cleaned off. He holds it out in front of you. “Would you like to examine it yourself?”

You hesitate. “Are you sure it’s alright? I’ve never even held a katana before.”

Shigeru chuckles. “Ah, it is good that this sword is a Tachi then!” He grins. “It is steel, you will not hurt it easily.”

You take it from his hands gently, weighing it in your hands before you start to examine it closely. Your fingers trace the carvings in the scabbard, a motif of dragons and ocean waves. You look at Shigeru as you place your hand on the handle, and he nods, so you draw the weapon. It feels rather nimble in your hand, though it is heavy, it feels very precise. “This is something else.” You carefully re-sheathe the ancient weapon, handing it back to its owner.

Shigeru looks at the sword once more, then puts it back on the rack. “Japan has a long history, lots of traditions.” He crosses his arms. “We like to honor the old ways, whether or not they’re the best way of doing things.” He sighs, turning toward the door. “I suppose we should get back to the house, unless you want to see the collection more thoroughly.”

>”Ah, yes. Let’s go.”
>”You mentioned that most of these aren’t swords you’d take into combat. What about the one you’re always carrying, with the black scabbard?”
>”This is a dojo. Could you teach me the way the Japanese sword-fight?”
>”What’s the story behind those sets of armor?”
>”If I was looking to find some swords like these, where would I go?”
>”How long did it take to assemble this collection?”
>Write-in.

>>3104504
>>”This is a dojo. Could you teach me the way the Japanese sword-fight?”

tom cruise get

>”You mentioned that most of these aren’t swords you’d take into combat. What about the one you’re always carrying, with the black scabbard?”
and ask about the fish at some point lol

>>3104509
Supporting

>>3104504
>”You mentioned that most of these aren’t swords you’d take into combat. What about the one you’re always carrying, with the black scabbard?”
>”What’s the story behind those sets of armor?”

>>3104504
>”This is a dojo. Could you teach me the way the Japanese sword-fight?”
>”You mentioned that most of these aren’t swords you’d take into combat. What about the one you’re always carrying, with the black scabbard?”
>”What’s the story behind those sets of armor?”
>”How long did it take to assemble this collection?”
>”If I was looking to find some swords like these, where would I go?”

My explanation for all of them is that we could certainly gain this guy's respect; he is our lieutenant's father after all, and we could definitely gain knowledge about Japan's sword-work and use it to impress later people

>>3104509
Good for me

>>3104504
>>”This is a dojo. Could you teach me the way the Japanese sword-fight?”

>>3104504
>”You mentioned that most of these aren’t swords you’d take into combat. What about the one you’re always carrying, with the black scabbard?”

>>3104514
Eh a rifle and bayonet are better unless your cavalry. But the only thing that we may take away from Japanese swordsmanship is to see and what to counter

>>3104542
oooooooor, just to learn a cool thing and not be pragmatic about it all? like a hobby or a sport since we a living around here?

>>3104544
Eh I guess so. Thought a hobby would be less militaristic like gardening or painting.

Hell I imagine sketching as a hobby due to being a POW

You gesture to the sword displays. “So you mentioned that you wouldn’t take most of these into combat. What about the one on your hip, with the black scabbard?”

Shigeru smiles, his hand drifting to the hilt of the black sword. “Oh, this old thing? It was what I carried for the longest time…” He chuckles. “It’s not really any good for combat anymore, though. You’d be hard-pressed to do anything beyond parrying with it.”

You raise an eyebrow. “Why’s that? Is it damaged?”

He shakes his head. “It doesn’t really matter. My days of killing adversaries are long over.”

“I see…” You look at the wall of swords again. “Would you be opposed to teaching someone how to swordfight?”

Shigeru looks at you. “Well, I do have a dojo. Why? Don’t tell me you’re interested in learning katana-fighting technique.”

You nod. “I am. It seems an interesting skill to learn.”

Shigeru seems taken aback, nodding slowly. “Very well. If you want to learn, I shall teach you.” He grins. “They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, let’s see if you can do the opposite.” He then walk over to one corner of the dojo, gesturing for you to follow him. There is a barrel with several wooden practice swords sitting handle-up in it. “I left these around so I could practice my technique. Take one.”

You do as he says, selecting one at random. “Are we going to begin right now?” You raise an eyebrow.

Shigeru does something between a sigh and a laugh. “No, no. You can’t be learning to fight in such restrictive clothes.” He points to the uniform you’re wearing. “Let’s get you into a kimono.”

Perhaps ten minutes later, your uniform is folded neatly in the corner, and you stand opposite to Shigeru wearing a white kimono over your underclothes. “I have to admit,” you say upon moving freely in the garment. “This feels a bit different than I’m used to.”

Shigeru laughs, grabbing a training sword of his own. “Most Gaijin feel improper in kimonos. They say it feels like they’re wearing only underclothes.”

“Gaijin?” You raise an eyebrow.

“Foreigners.” Shigeru nods. He takes an experimental swing of the practice blade, which you copy. “Are you ready?”

“I think-“ You are cut off as Shigeru lunges toward you, lifting his training sword.

>Roll a 1d20

Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>3104591

Rolled 5 (1d20)

>>3104591
f

Rolled 10 (1d20)

>>3104591
opl man shiggy is going to destroy us

Rolled 9 (1d20)

>>3104591

File: 1503278473198.jpg (80 KB, 900x702)

80 KB JPG

>>3104598
>>3104601
>>3104608

>>3104625
I see we will need plenty of practice

>>3104625
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUHHhuLUJy8

we really tom cruised it up

File: Bokken.jpg (34 KB, 1024x1024)

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You desperately try to parry, bringing your blade to where you expect Shigeru’s blade to go, only for the old man to divert effortlessly. He swings low, whacking you in the stomach. It isn’t enough to hurt you, but you certainly feel a bit insulted.

“I’ve just disemboweled you,” he says with a serious expression. Shigeru steps back, lowering his sword, but keeping it in a ready stance.

“That wasn’t fair,” you remark. “You didn’t give me time to block.”

Shigeru nods sagely. “That is the first lesson. Expect your enemies to try and take everything from you at the first possible opportunity.” He steps back. “Now I will teach you the technique to properly parry such an attack.”

The next twenty minutes or so are spent with Shigeru meticulously going over the proper technique. He spends a whole of five or six minutes on how to hold the sword alone, as well as the proper way to stand and move about the dojo. After that, the next step is him teaching you to parry an attack coming from an overhead strike. He demonstrates a move, then has you try to replicate it, then corrects your mistakes while explaining the logic behind that particular move. You’d had no idea just how much precision goes into swordplay. As Shigeru explains it, much of the technique used by samurai revolves around speed, so as to overwhelm your enemy’s ability to react. It certainly worked well on you. As the lesson progresses, you begin to sharpen, getting better at moving the sword quickly.

“Alright,” Shigeru steps back again. “I am going to attack you again. This time, parry the attack and attempt an attack of your own.” He grins. “We’ll see whether you can be made into a swordsman.”

He lunges forward, lifting his sword. You feel the world around you begin to slow as you react. The training sword in your hands moves up to meet his, the flat of the blade impacting the cutting edge of his. You push his attack to the side, then swipe down toward his neck.

Shigeru dodges your swipe deftly, moving to your side and making a stabbing motion. You don’t have much time to parry it, and you feel the edge of the training sword poke your side, just below your ribcage. “Again, I have disemboweled you.” He steps back. “Excellent work on that first parry.” He shrugs. “Don’t worry too much about not being able to parry my second attack, I’ll train you to deal with stabbing attacks later.” He puts up a defensive stance, grinning. “Now attack me.”

Roll a 1d20
>Go for his legs.
>See if you can replicate that move he just did on you.
>Go for an overhand swing onto his shoulder.
>Write-in.

Rolled 6 (1d20)

>>3104645
>See if you can replicate that move he just did on you.

>Go for an overhand swing, but quickly pull back and thrust towards his abdomen

Rolled 10 (1d20)

>>3104645
>Go for an overhand swing onto his shoulder.

Oh god, His beating our ass. Help

>>3104645
no fucking clue how to get into this shit so I'm just gonna hang back and keep reading, but very interesting concept for a story OP

Rolled 13 (1d20)

>>3104645
>Go for his legs.

>>3104661
Right, I've read the pastebin and some of the threads (mostly their synopses) and now have a semi-decent understanding of the quest. Could anyone help bring me up to speed about particularly important events I need to be aware of before I start trying to jump in?

>>3104684
We're raising an army for the shogun and training his armies

>>3104696
Has there been any significant battles, or has Stockton basically just fucked around Japan until getting picked up by the Shogun to start training his men up to this point?

>>3104700
Yeah there was one, it was two threads back I believe. It was an ambush in a city, not any real like.. battle battle.

>>3104700
the shogun castle was attacked by 60~ people and after an urban battle where we cleared building by building we managed to kill them

>>3104704
Alright thanks! I'll wait for OP's next post to begin /qst/ing.

>>3104645
>Go for his legs.
Changing my post to this, to break the tie

>>3104700
>>3104704
It was a light skirmish, the enemy used old matchlocks compared to our German needle rifles but due to the scenario in which we were placed in, we suffered minor casualties

>>3104716
PRUSSIAN MILITARY SUPERIORITY

JA JA JA JA JA

>>3104721
Eh it kind of is superior to marchilocks though.

Though the Sharps and spencer rifles we are equipped with now are superior then the M1841 needle rifle

>>3104744
>spencer rifle
>superior to the M1841 needle rifle

I would honestly beg to differ on that one. The U.S. cavalry - the biggest military group in the U.S. to adopt the Spencer repeater - pretty much deemed the Spencer as useless and went back to breech loaders after having used it for a little while. The Henry completely outstripped the Spencer in every way.

Sharps rifle is a bit of a different situation though.

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You grimace, moving forward and beginning a swing at his legs. As you do, Shigeru rushes forward to meet you with a rather aggressive parry. It knocks you back just a bit, but you decide to try for a second attack. You duck down a bit, stabbing forward and a bit to the side. Shigeru manages to block that as well, knocking your blade away and making a thrust at your neck. The edge of the training blade grazes you, and Shigeru steps back.

“A neck wound from a real katana would be fatal,” he says. “That was a decent attack, however.” He rests the training sword casually on his shoulder. “Your reaction times are still a bit slow, so we’ll have to work on that.”

“You’re a lot faster than you look,” you reply.

Shigeru nods, grinning. “I was the fastest, back during my day.” He points the training sword at you. “I used to be able to take down three men before they could draw their swords.”

“Impressive.” You nod, a bit awestruck.

Shigeru chuckles. “Perhaps it was, I never paid any attention to what others thought of me. I was too busy mastering the Way.”

You raise an eyebrow. “The way to what?”

The old samurai shakes his head. “It’s not what it sounds like. The Way is-“ He is cut off mid-sentence.

“S-sir?” A voice cuts through the dojo. Looking over, you see Lieutenant Nakajima standing there, wide-eyed.

You rest your training blade on your shoulder in the same manner as Shigeru. “Oh, hey there Lieutenant.”

Nakajima’s eyes scan you, then move to Shigeru, who laughs openly. You look over at him, and see the old man walking over to the barrel of training swords. “I will teach you about the Way some other time.” He sets his training blade in the barrel, crossing his arms. “Colonel, if you wish to learn how to handle a blade in the fashion of Samurai, you will meet me here once a week for lessons.” He walks back over to you, eyes narrowing. “And from now on, when we are in the dojo, you will call me Sensei. Are we clear?”

You bow. “Of course, Sensei.”

Shigeru Nakajima laughs again, bowing. “Very well. Keep that bokken and kimono with you at all times. I might pay a visit to your army camp.” With that, Shigeru concludes the lesson. Lieutenant Nakajima steps out, not saying much, as you put your uniform back on and fold up your kimono. Once you exit the dojo, you decide it would be best to head back to camp. You and Nakajima walk beside the house, toward the gate where your horses are hitched up. You both mount up, riding down the street.

“Where shall we go next, sir?” Nakajima looks over at you.

You shrug. “Back to the base, I suppose.”

He nods. “Very well.”

>Ride silently to your destination.
>”Are you feeling better than earlier?”
>”You seemed surprised to find me in the dojo. How did I look in a kimono?”
>”Your father’s an interesting man. I had no idea he was so well-traveled.”
>Write-in.

>>3104746
Henry vs Spencer.

The Spencer cartrage was a better round then the Henry due to the heavier round.

And the reloading system of the henry was more fragile compared to the spencer as well.

Don’t get me wrong, Henry has better attributes overall but to say it’s better in every category is a little bit much.


As for the M1841 Needle rifle that’s debatable, considering the problems it had and the issue of paper carriages and poor gas sealing for long periods of time.

But the needle rifle did pack a better punch though i argue the spencer is better then the m1841 but losses out to the M1861 version

>>3104753
>”You seemed surprised to find me in the dojo. How did I look in a kimono?”

>>3104753
>>”You seemed surprised to find me in the dojo. How did I look in a kimono?”

>>3104753
>>”Your father’s an interesting man. I had no idea he was so well-traveled.”

>>3104753
>"You seemed surprised to find me in the dojo. How did I look in a kimono?"

>>3104753
>”You seemed surprised to find me in the dojo. How did I look in a kimono?

>>3104753
>>”You seemed surprised to find me in the dojo. How did I look in a kimono?”

>>3104753
>>”You seemed surprised to find me in the dojo. How did I look in a kimono?”

>>3104756
So to be clear, we are a Captain. Nakajima is our Lieutenant and therefore second in command, and his father is an old samurai type who is well-traveled and is now teaching us how to fight using traditional Japanese weaponry.

We have established a camp with barracks, a firing range, and a mess hall for our troops to rest in.

We have a few (three?) Sergeants, some of who are traditional fighters well-versed in melee, others well-versed in tactics (and probably more suited to being officer cadets, based on what I've read.)

We're on good terms with the Shogun after having been captured by him and his /lads/, and are now dedicated to training a fighting force. How large is this fighting force, btw? Given the ranks we seem to all be at, I'd assume it's close to a platoon.

So, that is the current situation of the RP?

>>3104792
Around a company, but we were training mainly officers then standard infantry.

We are rapidly increasing to a battalion iirc, by sending our new officer and ourselves to train peasants in fighing.

>>3104796
So our training camp is more like a cadet school as opposed to a boot camp?

>>3104800
It originally was and is a boot camp but it became (due to our skill set), we ended up training officers and NCOs.

Which paid dividends since the shogun rapidly expanded the forces and our lieutenants are training their own men

“You seemed surprised to find me in the dojo.” You grin. “How’d I look in a kimono?”

Nakajima looks away immediately. You figure he’s probably scanning the horizon since you’re near the edge of town. “You looked… Strange.” He seems to stop himself. “Though, not in a bad way. It was just surprising to see you wearing something other than a military uniform. And holding a bokken, no less.”

You nod. “Honestly even that bout of training was a bit exhausting. I had no idea how much effort went into Japanese swordplay.”

Nakajima nods, still scanning the horizon. “Indeed. It is not something which comes easily.” He looks your way again, raising an eyebrow. “Why is my father teaching you how to use a katana anyway?”

You shrug. “Well, he showed me the collection of swords in the dojo, and my interest was piqued.”

Nakajima fights a chuckle. “I see. That is quite surprising, sir.”

You raise an eyebrow. “How so?”

He shrugs. “Well, you seem to live such a modern, western lifestyle.”

You frown. “You mean I’m a Gaijin.”

Nakajima stutters for a moment. “N-no sir.” He sighs. “Well, technically you are, since you are a foreigner.” The Lieutenant frowns. “But usually that word is used in a disparaging way.”

“Hm, okay…” You rub your chin thoughtfully. “I suppose that explains the way Shigeru said it.”

Nakajima fights off another chuckle. “I am surprised to see the two of you getting along so well.”

You shrug. “I am too, honestly.”

With that, the conversation trails off as the two of you enter the countryside, riding leisurely on the road to camp.

>Remain silent until you arrive at camp.
>”Say, you’re a samurai. How come I’ve never seen you wear a katana?”
>”I was honestly surprised at how well-traveled your father is.”
>”How long does katana training usually take?”
>”I’ll race you back to camp.”
>Write-in.

>>3104813
>>Remain silent until you arrive at camp.

>>3104813
>”Say, you’re a samurai. How come I’ve never seen you wear a katana?”
>”How long does katana training usually take?”

>>3104813
>>”Say, you’re a samurai. How come I’ve never seen you wear a katana?”

>>3104813
>"I'll race you back to camp."

>>3104813
>”Say, you’re a samurai. How come I’ve never seen you wear a katana?”
>”I’ll race you back to camp.”

>>3104813
>>”Say, you’re a samurai. How come I’ve never seen you wear a katana?”

>>3104813
>”Say, you’re a samurai. How come I’ve never seen you wear a katana?”

>>3104813
>>”Say, you’re a samurai. How come I’ve never seen you wear a katana?”

and then we race to get things going

>”I’ll race you back to camp.”

>>3104843
he seems to not be in fantastic spirits, a nice race would do him good

>>3104813
>”Say, you’re a samurai. How come I’ve never seen you wear a katana?”
>”Say, you’re a samurai. How come I’ve never seen you wear a katana?”
>”Say, you’re a samurai. How come I’ve never seen you wear a katana?”

Oh shit my bad. Meant to put in
>”How long does katana training usually take?”

>”I’ll race you back to camp.”

“Say, you’re a samurai.” You look over at Nakajima. “How come I’ve never seen you wear a katana?”

The Lieutenant rubs the back of his neck sheepishly. “Well, when I heard that I was to be serving in a military unit commanded by a foreigner, I was hesitant about wearing it.” He frowns, looking over at you. “Some westerners do not approve of the wearing of katanas, for one reason or another.”

You frown. “Why would westerners care whether a samurai wears their sword?”

Nakajima grimaces. “There have been incidents. Not long before you arrived, an English trader was killed by Ronin. And that was not the only incident either.” He sighs. “So because of the actions of a few rogue samurai, a shadow has been cast on all of us.” He shrugs. “I just figured that it would be best to avoid offending my new commander, especially since I had no idea who you were at the time.”

You nod. “I see. But you do have one, right?”

He nods. “Yes, it is in the barracks, in the storage locker beneath my cot.”

You frown. “Then how come you never asked to wear it? It’s pretty obvious that I wouldn’t mind.”

“While that is true…” Nakajima trails off. “Once you had issued the cavalry sabers to all of us lieutenants, it seemed redundant to carry a katana as well.”

>”That’s a fair point.” (have him continue using the saber)
>”Well I won’t stop you if you want to wear your katana instead of the saber.” (authorize him to wear his katana)
>”So does that mean you could teach me some katana techniques while we’re on-base?”
>”What sort of katana is it? I’ve seen them run the gambit from bare wood handles and sheaths to heavily-ornamented pieces of art.”
>Write-in.

>>3104813
>”Say, you’re a samurai. How come I’ve never seen you wear a katana?”
>”I’ll race you back to camp.”

>>3104871
>”What sort of katana is it? I’ve seen them run the gambit from bare wood handles and sheaths to heavily-ornamented pieces of art.”

If its actually a combat stylized Katana

>”Well I won’t stop you if you want to wear your katana instead of the saber.” (authorize him to wear his katana)

If its some shitty fucking ornamented piece of shitty art, Don't give him permission.

>>3104871
Could I actually use this opportunity to review the loadouts of our officers in general, as to how they're armed?

Regardless,
>"What sort of katana is it? I've seen them run the gambit from bare wood handles and sheaths to heavily-ornamented pieces of art."

>>3104871
>>”Well I won’t stop you if you want to wear your katana instead of the saber.” (authorize him to wear his katana)
>>”So does that mean you could teach me some katana techniques while we’re on-base?”

>>3104871
>”Well I won’t stop you if you want to wear your katana instead of the saber.” (authorize him to wear his katana)
I doubt he would be carrying an improper one.

>”So does that mean you could teach me some katana techniques while we’re on-base?”
Now this is a good opportunity to get some pointers, he probably spared plenty of times with Shigeru, maybe he can help us not get demolished next time.

>>3104888
>Could I actually use this opportunity to review the loadouts of our officers in general, as to how they're armed?
Presently, Stockton is only aware of Nakajima's armament since his other lieutenants are currently out training men in different parts of Japan. Nakajima's loadout is a LeMat revolver, a Blucher cavalry saber, a Spencer Carbine, and a S&W Model 2 as a hold-out weapon.

>>3104871
>”Well I won’t stop you if you want to wear your katana instead of the saber.” (authorize him to wear his katana)
>”So does that mean you could teach me some katana techniques while we’re on-base?”
>”What sort of katana is it? I’ve seen them run the gambit from bare wood handles and sheaths to heavily-ornamented pieces of art.”

>>3104943
Adding the other thing from here
>>3104893

>>3104871
>>”Well I won’t stop you if you want to wear your katana instead of the saber.” (authorize him to wear his katana)
>”So does that mean you could teach me some katana techniques while we’re on-base?”

>>3104940
That seems like a perfectly fine loadout, actually, and the presence of the Spencer Carbine should make him effective both on horseback and off of it as a dragoon, if absolutely need be.

>>3104871
>>”Well I won’t stop you if you want to wear your katana instead of the saber.” (authorize him to wear his katana)
>”So does that mean you could teach me some katana techniques while we’re on-base?”

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“I won’t stop you if you want to wear your katana instead of your saber.” You look over at the Lieutenant.

“Thank you, sir.” He bows as much as probably feels safe from atop a horse.

“Speaking of which,” you add. “What kind of katana do you have? I’ve seen them run the gambit from bare wood sheaths and handles all the way to ornamented pieces of art.”

Nakajima looks down, rubbing the back of his neck again. “Well, mine is nothing too fancy, sir. It has a tan handle wrap and a black scabbard.” He looks at you. “I have been told it was made in Kyushu nearly a century ago, but I have my doubts.”

“You think it might be newer?” You raise an eyebrow.

He shakes his head. “With how it is built, I think it may be older. Perhaps two centuries old, if other examples I’ve seen are anything to go by.”

You nod, impressed. “Interesting. Also, do you think you could teach me some katana technique while we’re on-base?”

Nakajima rubs his chin thoughtfully. “I am not sure how good of a swordplay sensei I will be, but I am happy to try, sir.”

“Excellent,” you reply. With that, the two of you pick up your speed, heading back to the base as quickly as your horses will allow. Things are exactly as you left them when you arrive. The cooks have just finished making a small lunch for those currently present, and are about to start working on dinner when you arrive. Since you’ve already trained quite a bit today, you decide to wait until tomorrow to start training with Nakajima. You do notice him wearing his katana when you next see him, however.

The next couple of hours are absolutely boring, with most of it being used to go over paperwork. Harp helps you with some, and eventually you go to take a break. As you’re walking toward the mess hall, however, as you are about to enter the mess hall you hear a commotion from the main yard. Whatever is going on over there, it shouldn’t be. You jog over, with your Dragoon at the ready. As you reach the main yard, you see several of your cadets aiming their rifles at some intruders.

The intruders in question are probably the last people you’d expected to see here. Standing casually, with his hands up in surrender, is Edgar North. He is flanked by two mean-looking bodyguards, heavily armed enough to indicate that they are probably plainclothes soldiers. North looks over at you, smiling. “Ah, Colonel Stockton. It’s good to see you again.” He walks toward you, and you have to signal to the cadets to lower their weapons. “Unfortunately, this isn't solely a social call. As it would turn out, I have quite the enticing business opportunity.”

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And that's going to be all for tonight. We'll have our next session on either Sunday or Monday, depending on my work schedule. As always, post questions, comments, concerns, and everything else here and I'll try to answer them. Thanks for playing!

>>3104979
thanks for running

damn, this guy is bad news

>>3104984
Thanks for running! I can't wait for the next one.

Rolled 1, 41 = 42 (2d100)

>>3102404

Oh you fucking weeaboos.
Why not learn how to fight with the saber we already have? Why a katana?

And before you start - no, kenjutsu isn't an inherently better way of fighting. Samurai were famed as swordfighters because they took training with the sword seriously, unlike Europeans of that time. Just buy an Angelo sabre fighting manual via mail.

>>3105468
Knowing how an enemy's weapon works is very useful anon.

>>3105565
Knowing how an enemies weapon works doesn't count for shit if you don't know how to use your own.

>>3105468
who said we are using it in battle man? It is a novelty and a good sport to keep in shape, and it probably is good to learn a little about the local culture if we are staying here, besides, given the chance to learn something new and interesting in a foreign country on your downtime seems hardly something someone would pass up.
Take it as a sport, I doubt we will ever be in close range to an enemy and if we are we will probably use our bayonet, which I bet we are fairly good with due to our war experience.

>>3105905
>>3105468
We could also learn the saber, and go for a actual swords master, and up our blade duelist skill.
If we are going to learn the nippon sword, making time for saber is probably a good way too since we might happen upon both on the battlefield, depending with who or against whom we are fighting.

>>3105905
Honestly, with that "you didn't give me time to parry" stuff, I have an impression we're absolute shit in any kind of close combat.

>>3105983
I think it's more the situation. It's a subordinates father, not a ghost.

"Civil War veteran haunted by PTSD and shadows of the dead and trusts no one" would get pretty tiring after a while

>>3106013
You lost me

>>3105983
Stockton is actually competent in close combat, at least competent enough to keep himself alive in most potential situations. The reason he got destroyed in sparring is because Shigeru is objectively one of the best swordsmen in Japan.

>>3105983
>>3106131
And also Stockton was expecting training to start with things like "here's how you hold the sword, and here's how you swing properly" and not "you are already dead."

>>3106135
Lol
Omae wa mo shindeiru

In my head canon he said that in japanese before translating it in inglish to Daniel.

It's a good thing then, we got ourselves a badass teacher.

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So I know y’all probably don’t care much for my blogposting, but I recently started watching Golden Kamuy and it’s fucking amazing. Probably my favorite anime of the season. Definitely check it out if you haven’t yet.

>>3107655

How well do you think the katana would work as a cavalry saber replacement?

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>>3107710
Generally speaking, poorly. It would probably work in the most minimal sense of the word, but when compared to something like a 1791 pattern or M1840, it wouldn't be able to compete. I'd worry about it getting damaged from the kinds of use/abuse a Western cavalry saber might be expected to endure.

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>>3107769
>1791 pattern
Excuse me, 1796 pattern. The Blucher saber. My sleepiness is showing.

>>3107769
Right.

Was trying to see how it might work. To give the japanese armies their own flair, a mix of the old and the new if you would.

Maybe something like the shin gunto would be better.

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>>3107810
Really the best indigenous Japanese swords for general military use were probably the Kyu Gunto. They combined the best features of traditional Japanese swords with the best ones from Western sabers. That could just be my Western bias slipping through though. Or my love for the aesthetics of European cavalry sabers.

Though swords like that aren't likely to make an appearance in this quest.

>>3107810
Katana's low durability is linked to its stiff thick blade. Thing is, this stiffness is what allows it to be the kind of cutter it is, forgiving towards errors in edge alignment. So making katana more durable would require making the blade more springy, which would require a different cutting technique, and at that point it's not a katana nor kenjutsu anymore.

>>3107710
tachi were used on horseback, often one handed despite the extra length.

>>3107822
most kyugunto were just katana blades in a saber mounting

>>3107929
That is a bit of an over simplification, some katana were forged with higher quality methods than others, some had much thicker cross sections that made them more durable, this was common on swords intended for actual warfare.

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>>3112345
Interesting, thanks for the info. I should really do deeper research into Japanese swords considering the quest is set in Japan.

Also, session will be tomorrow afternoon.

Session in half an hour

You sit in your office, opposite the alleged diplomat named Edgar North. He sips a cup of coffee, smiling. “This is quite excellent, Colonel. Far better than the stuff they serve in New York, honestly.”

You frown. “What’s your business proposal, Mr. North?”

He sighs, leaning forward to rest his elbows on your desk. “No tact at all, as expected of a soldier.” The mysterious man rubs his chin thoughtfully as he sits his coffee cup down. “I’m aware of the planned campaign against the Choshu fief.”

“Is that so?” You grimace.

He nods. “What kind of diplomat would I be if I didn’t stay abreast of this nation’s affairs?” Smiling, he continues. “From what I understand, your forces are going to be the lynchpin, conducting a shore landing supported by a ground assault from the northeast.” North shakes his head. “Shore landings are always messy.”

You nod. “So what’s your point?”

North chuckles. “Well, Colonel, I have a way to guarantee your shore landing will go more smoothly.” He leans back casually, crossing his arms. “As it would turn out, a battalion of US Marines is heading back from a successful peacekeeping operation in China. Their ships, the USS Hartford and USS Wyoming, are scheduled to make a stop here in Japan to resupply within the next month.”

You frown deeply. “United States Marines? I somehow doubt the War Department is just going to let them participate in someone else’s military campaign.”

Edgar North grins widely, laughing. “See, that’s the brilliance of it. The Consul General can requisition the deployment of troops for diplomatic interventions.” He points at you. “Assisting our friends, the rightful government of Japan, in securing the safety of the country from rebels, would fall under that definition.”

You raise an eyebrow. “Is that so?”

North nods. “And the Marines are skilled in shore landings. In fact, that’s one of the things they’re specifically trained for.” He steeples his fingers. “I could pull some strings and get them under your command for the duration of the Choshu Campaign, perhaps even longer.”

>”I’d like to not get the United States government involved, thank you.” (refuse outright)
>”Nothing is ever free from you. What do you want?” (consider the offer)
>”I remember hearing less-than-ideal things about the Marines during the Civil War, how can I be assured of their combat prowess?”
>”Would their ships be under my command as well?”
>Write-in.

>>3117487
>”Nothing is ever free from you. What do you want?” (consider the offer)
Fuck norton

But refusing means giving the enemy the reaourses.
We need to play the player

>>3117487
>>”Nothing is ever free from you. What do you want?” (consider the offer)


>Also how much is just for training my men? And will you supply your own logistics?

>>3117487
>”Nothing is ever free from you. What do you want?” (consider the offer)

Quick question, I assume the marines are not that well equipped in the pacific right?

They should be equipped with 1861, 1863, or 1864 Springfield rifled muskets right

>>3117526
Also guys, no matter the offer this is a matter for the shogun to decide, do not commit to him

File: US Marines.jpg (165 KB, 708x960)

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“Nothing is ever free from you,” you reply. “What do you want?”

North smiles. “Ah, the advantages of having no tact. Right to the point, then.” He leans forward, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “While the Marines could be deployed with minimal justification, once word got back to the American people that we had troops overseas participating in a war, they would begin to ask questions.” He takes a sip of his coffee. “So a situation would need to present itself that would justify things to the public.”

“There isn’t much in this country that the American public cares about.” You frown.

Edgar North chuckles. “Ah, that’s where you’re wrong, Colonel. The most vocal members of the population back home happen to be the most sentimental. If a prominent American were to be killed in Japan by rebel assassins, it would justify sending the Marines to avenge him and defend America’s honor. Under direct guidance of the Shogunal military, of course.”

You raise an eyebrow. “Wait a second. You want me to kill someone?” Grimacing, you shake your head. “I’m not an assassin, no deal.”

North sighs. “Now I’d like you to at least hear me out, Colonel. The person in question is a rather deplorable person. A smuggler who has frequently sold national secrets to the British and French. Though, publicly he is something of a notable businessman.” He shrugs. “Someone that nobody would miss, at least until the press back home made him look like a saint posthumously.” He smiles again. “And besides, what difference does it make if it saves some of your mens’ lives in the long run? The way I see it, the nature of killing a man doesn’t matter much, it’s the result of the killing that is truly important. It’s no different than shooting an enemy in a war.”

You scowl at him. “Something tells me you’ve never fought in a war.”

“You might be surprised.” North’s smile fades, leaving a rather intimidating gaze. “Now, the target is in Edo tonight. If you care about victory, I would suggest you take advantage of this opportunity.” He smiles again. “Let’s help each other.”

>”Absolutely not.” (refuse)
>”Tonight, you say? Tell me how to find him.” (accept)
>”Is there any other way I can get those Marines under my command?” (try to bargain)
>Write-in.

>>3117627
who and why?

but I'm heavily on the
>”Absolutely not.” (refuse)


I'll only accept if its one of those confederates


fuck, just realized, its our german friend isn't it

nope

>”Absolutely not.” (refuse)

>>3117627

>”Absolutely not.” (refuse)

>>3117635
>fuck, just realized, its our german friend isn't it
I can promise you it isn't him. It's an American.

>>3117648
is it fucking Harper?

>>3117627
>”Is there any other way I can get those Marines under my command?” (try to bargain)

>>3117627
>>”Absolutely not.” (refuse)

>>”Is there any other way I can get those Marines under my command?” (try to bargain)

Or at least act as instructors for amphibious landings.

We are a army grunt, inter service rivalry lasts as long as the foundation of our conuntru itself

>>3117664
Agreed

>>3117661
>>3117664
>>3117714
Roll a 1d20

Rolled 10 (1d20)

>>3117728
Fuck my dice!

Rolled 6 (1d20)

>>3117728

Rolled 14 (1d20)

>>3117728

Rolled 15 (1d20)

>>3117728
Fucking southern hicks, God damn rebels. God damn state department.

“I’m not going to assassinate anyone for you.” Leaning back, you grimace. “Is there any other way to get those Marines under my command? Anything that your employers need?”

North pauses, seemingly caught off guard by your attempt to bargain. “There might be.”

With a serious expression, you continue. “Then I’m all ears.”

The diplomat sips his coffee for a long time, then sets his cup down. “Well, information is the most valuable currency to me, as you’re aware.” He leans forward. “If you could tip me off to some specifics of Shogunal court goings-on, I’m sure I could pull some strings.”

“You mean act as a spy?”

North grimaces slightly, feigning embarrassment. “I thought that might have been a bit much for your palate.” He adjusts the way he sits, crossing his legs as he leans back and steeples his fingers again. “What would you say to a military observer? He would be an American soldier, obviously, that would be embedded with you and your men. He’d write reports and dispatches back to the States, observe your tactics, and perhaps interview some of your men, but otherwise not be involved in your affairs whatsoever.” He snaps his fingers. “Oh, and I have a third option, since three is always better than two.”

You sigh. “Let’s hear it.”

“There have been reports of a still-active Confederate commerce raider regularly docking in Japan. The CSS Shenandoah.” His eyes narrow. “The reported location of the vessel is maybe two full days’ ride away, I’ll tell you if you accept. What I need is confirmation of the vessel’s position, as well as an assessment of her condition and presence of crewmen.”

“A Confederate warship?” You are taken aback. You’d heard rumors of one still operation, but that was months ago.

North nods. “I can’t send anyone that far away from my offices. American diplomatic employees are banned from most of Japan, and it’s too sensitive a matter to just hire locals.” He grins. “But you are a Colonel under service of the Shogun himself. There’s nowhere in Japan you can’t go.”

You sigh. “So doing any of those things will get me the Marines?”

North is silent for a good ten seconds. “Possibly,” he finally says. “Depending on the value of your results.”

>”No deal. Keep your Marines.”
>”I’ll investigate the CSS Shenandoah.”
>”I’ll accept a military observer.”
>”I’ll report government activities to you.”
>Write-in.

>>3117784
So my question then becomes this, How long would the Military observer be here for?

Also, As for the CSS shenandoah, Isn't this guy Zap the one who was with the hicks in the bar?

>>3117784
>>”I’ll accept a military observer.”
>”I’ll investigate the CSS Shenandoah.”

>>3117784
>>”I’ll accept a military observer.”
>”I’ll investigate the CSS Shenandoah.”

>>3117784
>So my question then becomes this, How long would the Military observer be here for?
For however long the War Department wants him there. Likely for the duration of the Choshu Campaign, at least.

>Also, As for the CSS shenandoah, Isn't this guy Zap the one who was with the hicks in the bar?
Stockton has no way of knowing this. As far as he's aware, the guy probably took a passenger ship over just like most people.

>>3117805
Meant for
>>3117795

>>3117784
>>”I’ll investigate the CSS Shenandoah.”

>>3117784
>>3117802
Supporting this.

Wonder if we do both we can get more support?

Also what are the marine detachment usually equipped with by 1866, I assume not the new stuff considering how far the supplies must travel.

>>3117805
No I meant, Didn't we see him with the 2 hicks and about to kill harper? but danke anyway.

>>3117784

>”No deal. Keep your Marines.”

>>3117824
>Also what are the marine detachment usually equipped with by 1866, I assume not the new stuff considering how far the supplies must travel.
Their standard-issue weapons are indeed rifle muskets at the moment.

>>3117833
Better then expected iirc armories in California still used smoothbores.

So supplies must have caught up. Still their equipment might be iffy for amphibious operations but their civil war knowledge will definitely help our units at least do their objectives

Only issues are again supplies

“I’ll accept a military observer,” you reply.

North stands up, a satisfied expression on his face. “Very well. I’ll-“

“And I’ll investigate the Shenandoah as well.”

Edgar North freezes, a grin growing on his face as he crosses his arms. “Good. I’ll tell you where to start.”

Maybe ten minutes later, you’re walking out of the main building, toward the stables. All of the necessities for a week-long excursion are in your pack, which is slung over your shoulder. North walks beside you, breaking away and heading toward the carriage that brought him and his men to your base. In one hand, you carry a set of field-glasses that North gave to you for observing your target from afar.

“Sir,” Nakajima walks briskly to catch up with you. “What happened in there?”

You slow down a bit to talk with Nakajima. “Mr. North just presented us with an opportunity too valuable to pass up.” You nod toward the stables. “I’ll be gone for a few days. Maybe up to a week. Hold down the fort for me.”

You enter the stable with Nakajima on your heels, tossing your pack over your horse’s back. You then begin putting some other things in the saddle bags, making sure to secure everything. “Why are you going to be gone?” Nakajima frowns, concerned.

You sigh. “It’s a bit complicated. Nothing too dangerous, I promise.” You frown, securing your Henry in the saddle scabbard. “I’m heading to the coast of Suruga Bay. There have been rumors of a Confederate ship making port at one of the coastal towns.”

Nakajima frowns deeply. “That is a long distance to travel, sir. I believe it would be unwise to go alone.” He looks over at his horse, a couple stalls down. “Shall I accompany you?”

>”That won’t be necessary. I need you here supervising the men.”
>”Sure, I could use the assistance.”
>Write-in.

>>3117885
>>”Sure, I could use the assistance.”
Also send a message to Harp in case we get into any shit.

>>3117885
backing this >>3117900

>>3117885
>”That won’t be necessary. I need you here supervising the men.”

Nope! Nakajima is one of the best men we have. And we need him training the men for the campaign.

Who will replace him who can teach just as well, while we are gone?

>>3117885
>>3117900
This

File: Fuji.jpg (80 KB, 640x480)

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“Sure,” you reply. “I could use the assistance.” Turning around, you head for the door of the stable. “Get your horse ready and pack what you’ll need. I’m going to let Harp know where we’re headed.”

Nakajima nods, saluting. “Yes sir.”

You let Harp, as well as your drill sergeants, know about your upcoming absence, telling them to expect you back within a week or so. However, it is only Harp that you tell the nature of your excursion to, the rest likely thinking it some sort of vacation or something. With that taken care of, you return to the stable and help Nakajima finish packing. You then mount your horses, and ride out along a southbound road.

The next couple of days are relatively uneventful. You decide to avoid passing through major towns unless you have to, sticking to the roads and only travelling while the sun is up to avoid bandits. The terrain becomes hillier and even mountainous as you get closer to Suruga Bay. Eventually, the two of you crest a hill and an amazing view overtakes you.

Suruga Bay’s wide, blue waters stretch out in front of you, with a few fishing boats dotting the surface, and at the north end of the bay is a massive mountain. You remember seeing it while in Edo, but always from a distance. Now you are able to observe it up-close, seeing just how it dwarfs the landscape around it. “Oh my God,” you remark in awe.

Nakajima rides alongside you, also staring at the mountain. “That is Mount Fuji,” he says. “The tallest peak in Japan.”

You nod. “I can tell.” Looking at the coastline, you can see that it is quite rocky, with very few suitable areas to make landfall. “This is like nothing I’ve ever seen.”

“I have only been here once before.” Nakajima speaks with a hint of amazement, even though this is more familiar to him than to you. His attention is drawn to the coastline below, maybe fifty meters from the two of you. “I do not see a ship anywhere around.” He grimaces. “How should we proceed?”

>”For now, let’s comb the coastline. There might be some evidence.”
>”I see a town on the other side of the bay. Let’s ask around there.”
>”Let’s set up camp in the underbrush and wait. The ship might not make port until after dark.”
>Write-in.

>>3117942

>”Let’s set up camp in the underbrush and wait. The ship might not make port until after dark.”

If they ARE raiders, The japs won't be too happy execpt a few and they won't be openly doing it.

>>3117942
>”For now, let’s comb the coastline. There might be some evidence.”

I rather use our skills at scouTing

>>3117942
>>”I see a town on the other side of the bay. Let’s ask around there.”
Let Nakajima ask the questions; having a Westerner do it would be obvious if they've reached port already.

>>3117942
>>”For now, let’s comb the coastline. There might be some evidence.”

>>3117964
>>3117975
Roll a 1d20

Rolled 11 (1d20)

>>3118000

Rolled 8 (1d20)

>>3118000
F

Rolled 11 (1d20)

>>3118000

File: p-5119-csa-brass-buckle.jpg (24 KB, 450x285)

24 KB JPG

“Let’s start by combing the coastline for evidence.” You nod at the rocky beach. “If a ship made landfall on this strip of coast, they’d leave something behind.” You dismount your horse, drawing your Henry from the saddle scabbard.

“Understood.” Nakajima nods, dismounting as well.

The two of you walk down the beach slowly, looking for signs of a crew coming ashore. For a while, all you find are traces of local fishermen, bits of seaweed washed up, and other detritus expected of a coastline. Nearly a thousand yards down the beach, however, you discover something.

The remains of a campfire, a large one, lay partially covered by sand and pebbles. It is a good fifty feet from the water’s edge, and has clearly been out for a while. You walk up to examine it more closely, cocking your rifle as you move. “Now this could be something.” You feel a grin spreading across your face as you get closer to the burned-out bonfire.

There are glass bottles strewn about, as well as old tin cans and other remnants of preserved foods. “This is not the work of fishermen,” Nakajima remarks as he walks beside you.

“I can tell.” You kneel down to pick up a bottle. There’s no label on it, but it definitely held liquor at one point. “Let’s search this spot with a fine-tooth comb. They must’ve left something more definitive behind.”

The two of you spread out, looking around for anything specifically identifying the bonfire’s cause as confederate sailors. Looking around the fire itself gives little in the way of evidence, mostly just remains of a veritable feast, but up away from the beach you see something metal shine in the sunlight.

You hike up the slight incline, toward the underbrush where you saw it. After a quick bit of looking around, you discover a leather strip caught on a bramble. As you pull on it, you realize exactly what you’ve discovered. In your hands rests a belt with an empty knife scabbard. You quickly find the end of the belt, where the buckle is, and immediately recognize what you see. Holding it up to the light, you see the CSA embossed on the brass, oval-shaped buckle.

“Nakajima,” you call out. For the life of you, it’s impossible not to grin. “We’re on the right track.”

File: 1529448860666.png (576 KB, 502x572)

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And that's going to be all for tonight! We'll resume tomorrow at around the same time. Though I wanted to make it to the start of the Choshu Expedition by the end of this thread, it's looking like we'll have to save it for the next one. As always, feel free to post questions, comments, and anything else here. Thanks for playing!

>>3118077
So by doing both options, what can we get besides marines.

Actually How many marines do we get again, and does this mean training, more equipment?

Also what ships are we going to be supplied with to make the journey to Choshy?

File: army-organization_0.png (745 KB, 700x875)

745 KB PNG

>>3118089
>So by doing both options, what can we get besides marines.
Well, as of right now, you get North's good favor, which equates to America's good favor. I haven't decided exactly what that entails yet, but it'll be something good, I'm sure.

>Actually How many marines do we get again, and does this mean training, more equipment?
Well I wrote the number as two battalions, but it turns out that wasn't a thing in the 1860s! That being said, it will be anywhere between 200 and 600 men. Certainly no more than 900, since that would be pretty large for a Marine detachment in the Nineteenth Century.

>Also what ships are we going to be supplied with to make the journey to Choshy?
You'll probably be transported on passenger and cargo ships. Though the Shogunate did actually have some warships of its own, so those will be there, naturally.

>>3118107
Fuck so does that mean i'm late for putting the ship list?

I think it might be closer to 200, of maybe a couple of companies of Marines. Still how much time can they teach us.


Well I hope American's good 'favor' might be either artillery instuctors or some more surplus equipment.

File: mPorts1.jpg (278 KB, 800x600)

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>>3118116
>Fuck so does that mean i'm late for putting the ship list?
Nah, not at all. There's still plenty of time for the Shogun to purchase ships from abroad, since the expedition doesn't happen until June. The fleet's composition of individual ships is still up in the air. And probably will be until the day I write the shore landing.

>>3117802
>>3117804
>>3117824
Oh lord, anons. Why would you volunteer MORE shady services for a shady guy?

>>3118236
Because the US Government can be a powerful ally?

>>3118244
And Daniel will probably aim to help advanced american aims until they start to encroach on those of his employer.

Even then tho, depending on the situation, he might still side with america.

>>3118244
Didn't like that either, but at least we didn't agree to anithing that the shady guy can blackmail us with

We really should have consulted with our employer before accepting an american observer with us tho.

>>3118298
Considering North has the influence to divert a whole regiment of Marines, it's pretty much a given that he speaks with authority of the government itself. I'd say getting the Shogunate's approval won't be that hard.

>>3118300
The thing is, we got foreigners involved in his rebel war, that may not be good PR for him and he may be not willing to let those guys participate.

The confederate ship is something we would do regardless, but if the Shogun doesn't want foreign troops(and we fail to convince him) we may trade the confederate ship job for other things

>>3118311
Perhaps we get the stuff about the CSS ship done first.

When we get back we can inform the shogun that we have secured the support of US troops who can aid in the assault.

We offer him the option and if he rejects at this point, we can change the marine divisional support into some favours we can cash at a later date.

>>3118314
>>3118311
The Marines can still be useful in training our men, even if they're not committed to combat. Having an actual Western unit to train with would be useful for our guys to learn from.

>>3118322
Agreed, regardless, I thibk we have to discuss this, north's propositions and the usefullness of the troops with the shogun as soon as we are back from the recon mission

The daiymos will not look favorably on foreign supporting troops in a civil war. Daiymos on both sides.

>>3118461
I was thinking the same thing, maybe we can trade the ship job for some shore landing instructors and some equipment for it, but like it has been said, we should discuss this with the shogun.

>>3118464
Well whatever we do we really need to renegotiate the Marine support. Probably into something long term like you said with landing instructors or maybe some artillery pieces + instructors.

Since you guys decided to do TWO things for some reason we might have more clout at the negotiating table to get some extra stuff.

How old is the MC by the way? The only indication that I remember reading the archives is the gray at the roots of his hair and saying his dad got them in his early thirties.

>>3118493
Stockton is 27, though he looks a bit younger at a glance from all the weight he lost while in Andersonville.

Also, session will be in approx. 3 hours.

>>3118657
hey boss just wanted to let you know i love the quest and looking forward to future sessions.

>>3118753
Thanks, Anon! I'm glad you like it.

How come our other two Lts never hang out with us?

I know you all are on your reverse trap fixation but Sato, Subaru, and Hideo Kojima need love too!

>>3118857
>other two
other three*

Whoops

>>3118857
>>3118859
They are out training troops in different locations with their respective sergeants, with the goal of getting as many troops trained for the Shogunate as possible. Nakajima and his sergeants are conducting training at the original camp, Sato is training troops at an academy in Edo, Subaru is training troops in Fukushima, and Kojima is training troops up in the mountains of Shinano Provence.

>>3118857
They are not around anon, we only got Naka with us

We'll probably see them at the battle tho, Sato proved to be a good line cammander and we and Naka did pretty well in flankong and close quarters

File: CSS Shenandoah.jpg (82 KB, 739x513)

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“The fire is out, sir.” Nakajima crouches beside you in the underbrush, his features illuminated by the light of the full moon. “You think they will come to this spot again?” The two of you set up a small campsite far back in the woods away from the coast to wait for nightfall, which came maybe an hour ago.

You nod. “There was un-burned firewood hidden a ways back, as well as what looked like a small dugout.” You grasp the field-glasses, bringing them up to eye level and scanning the bay. “They’ll be here.”

“Why are Confederate raiders operating in Japan anyway?” Nakajima scowls.

You pan across the bay, looking for any signs of a ship moving. “It’s probable that they got kicked out of Australia. The British Empire doesn’t want to be seen housing non-surrendered Confederates.” A gust of cool wind blows past you, chilling you to the bone. You consider heading back to the campsite to get your pelisse, but then you see something. “I think that’s them.”

A three-masted clipper, under full sail, glides across the bay in eerie silence. Judging by the shape of her hull, you guess that she’s maybe two-hundred feet long. It’s too far away to see if they’re flying a naval ensign, but you can’t imagine that this would be any other ship. You notice that the vessel turns slowly toward your position, rocking in the nighttime surf as she gets closer.

“They’ve not got any running lights on,” you remark. Any vessel would normally have red and green lights on the sides of the hull, as well as some lights on the deck to allow sailors to see. “Whether they’re Confederates or not, they’re up to no good.”

Maybe ten minutes go by, as the Shenandoah gets closer to the strip of coastline beneath you. The vessel eventually hauls up her sails and drops anchor perhaps two-hundred yards from shore. You hear shouting from the vessel’s decks as men move about. Scanning the decks with you binoculars, you see the crew preparing the launches and longboats. “What are they doing?” Nakajima squints to see the ship more clearly.

You hand him the field-glasses. “They’re coming ashore.”

Nakajima looks through the device, seeming to marvel at the compact magnification technology. “The world, brought closer.” He smiles. Then he lowers the field-glasses, handing them back to you. Another observation shows you that a couple longboats, filled with sailors, are now approaching. “How shall we proceed?”

>”Let’s stay a while and see why they’re making landfall here. There must be a reason they’re not berthing in an actual port.” (observe in-depth)
>”Let’s observe just long enough to confirm they’re who we think they are, then leave.” (observe minimally)
>”As a red-blooded American, it’s only right that I go down there and accept their official surrender.” (EACH DIXIE BOY MUST UNDERSTAND THAT HE MUST MIND HIS UNCLE SAM)
>Write-in.

>>3118941
>”Let’s stay a while and see why they’re making landfall here. There must be a reason they’re not berthing in an actual port.” (observe in-depth)

>>3118941
>>”Let’s stay a while and see why they’re making landfall here. There must be a reason they’re not berthing in an actual port.” (observe in-depth)

>>3118941
>>”Let’s stay a while and see why they’re making landfall here. There must be a reason they’re not berthing in an actual port.” (observe in-depth)

Very tempted to accept their surrender

>>3118941

>”Let’s stay a while and see why they’re making landfall here. There must be a reason they’re not berthing in an actual port.” (observe in-depth)

File: 1537828977238.jpg (79 KB, 447x559)

79 KB JPG

Roll a 1d20

Rolled 6 (1d20)

>>3118976

Rolled 8 (1d20)

>>3118976

Rolled 13 (1d20)

>>3118976

Rolled 17 (1d20)

>>3118976

“Let’s stay a while and see why they’ve made landfall at this spot in particular.” You frown. “There has to be a reason they aren’t berthing at a real port.”

“Understood,” Nakajima nods. He goes from kneeling to sitting cross-legged like the Japanese do on their floors. You decide to do the same, finding a part in the underbrush you can observe through.

The first couple longboats make it to shore, and the men aboard quickly dismount. You notice that many of them are armed with muskets, and wearing gray kepis. They all fan out and form a perimeter on the beach while the next couple boats arrive and the first two head back toward the ship. It would appear that they’re ferrying a good number of their crew ashore. But why? Once the next few boats deposit their passengers, some men go and get firewood, starting a bonfire on the spot where the old one was. Some others lay logs out around the fire for seating. Eventually, a good forty men have been deposited on the beach, a good portion of the crew, if you had to guess.

One final boat comes ashore, carrying perhaps fifteen men. Among them are four older men in officers’ uniforms. Once the boat hits the beach, one of the officers steps out onto the rocky sand, barking orders at the men already there. He wears a gray topcoat and white naval cap. When you get a closer look at the man through your field glasses, you can tell that he’s obviously the captain. He looks to be in his thirties, with a large mustache and overall frightening disposition.

“What’s he doing?” You mutter to yourself as you see the captain walk past the bonfire. He crouches over the sand, a good ways away from the water’s edge, and moves his hands around in it. You realize exactly what he’s doing when he wipes the sand away, revealing a wooden hatch beneath its surface. He throws the hatch open, barking more orders at the men. A couple sailors grab a large sea-chest from the longboat, carrying it over and placing it beside the hatch. You see the sailors climb into the cellar next, and then your vision is obscured by men moving around.

“What do you think they are hiding in there?” Nakajima moves from a seated position to crouching, to get a better look.

You grimace, doing the same. “Not sure. It could be whatever things they’ve raided.” You scan the beach with your field glasses, looking at the various sailors. They all stand around, some with nervous expressions on their faces. They certainly don’t seem to be on this beach for rest and relaxation. “But it almost seems like they’re waiting for someone.” Your heart skips a beat as you hear rustling and clinking somewhere nearby in the darkness.

>Hightail it back to the horses and leave. You’ve seen enough.
>Stay and try to get a better look at what they’re doing.
>Sneak around and see if you can’t get the drop on whoever’s making that racket nearby.
>Write-in.

>>3119021
>Sneak around and see if you can’t get the drop on whoever’s making that racket nearby.
>Have Nakajima keep watching

>>3119021
>>Sneak around and see if you can’t get the drop on whoever’s making that racket nearby.

bring naka together, we may need more than just ourselves to subdue whoever it is without firing our gun and alerting the confeds

>>3119021
>Sneak around and see if you can’t get the drop on whoever’s making that racket nearby.

>>3119021
>Sneak around and see if you can’t get the drop on whoever’s making that racket nearby.

>>3119021
>Hightail it back to the horses and leave. You’ve seen enough.

We've got enough, let's GTFO

>>3119032
>>3119034
>>3119040
>>3119043
>>Sneak around and see if you can’t get the drop on whoever’s making that racket nearby.
Roll a 1d20 for Sneeki Breeki

Rolled 16 (1d20)

>>3119051
1 for the surrender

Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>3119051

Rolled 11 (1d20)

>>3119051

>>3119058
Silent, but deadly.

We good to go?

>>3119296
4chan died for hours last night, interrupting the session.

QM is probably working right now

File: 1515548648190.jpg (48 KB, 648x674)

48 KB JPG

>>3119304
>QM is probably working right now
Not quite, I head to work in about an hour. Not really enough time to knock out the rest of this session, so I'm postponing it to Sunday afternoon.

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>>3119304
>>3119454
Also another quick heads-up, we won’t be having a new thread on Monday, seeing as that’s Christmas Eve. The next actual thread will be the following week.

>>3119577
Do you have any quests you could reccomend in the meantime QM?

>>3119764
I'll toss one out. The author is deepwinter on anonkun.

>>3119765
I was reading it but then anons started to warm up to the reich and I dropped it, did they go further?