Session: Into the Lion's Den

Previously…”In this Arc, the Party have gone on a mission of their own to find Strike Nebimura - who has not returned to the village after their time in the mirror world. The party, with Matsuhashi and ‘Mac’ have split up in an attempt to find Strike’s whereabouts. They have recently ran into Zareke, a member of the Yuetsu organisation who was responsible for the creations of the horrors such as the Ash Creatures.”

The Party exit the cave via the Well, and reencounter the Samurai they rescued from earlier.

Regardless of the Party’s decision. They are approached by a mysterious figure, wearing a white haori with a black suit underneath. He introduces himself as Eva, and claims that he is an adviser to the Hokage. He tells them that he’s also snuck away from the village, believing that Strike may be able to provide information to the Hokage that will prove to him that the village is not in immediate danger.

Eva himself claims that there have been rumours circulating of a Shinobi matching Strike’s description, wandering the Tundra of the Land of Wind.

IF THE PARTY ARE SUSPICIOUS OF EVA, THEY CAN INVESTIGATE HIM TO REVEAL HE HAS A STRANGE POWER THAT THEY CAN’T COMPREHEND. UPON QUESTIONING HIM, HE WILL TELL THEM THAT THEY ARE ALLIES AND KNOWING ANYTHING MORE IS DANGEROUS FOR THEM. IF HE IS EXAMINED WITH A DOJUTSU, THEY WILL SEE HIS CHAKRA PATHWAY SYSTEM IS OVERLOADED WITH HIGH AMOUNTS OF CHAKRA, AND THAT ALL EIGHT OF HIS GATES HAVE BEEN RELEASED.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Enter in the Land of Wind

The party will arrive at the Land of the Wind regardless of decisions they’ve made. They approach the Tundra that was described to them by Eva, seemingly completely devoid of life. Around the border of the tundra are various warning signs, warning about savage creatures that even skilled Shinobi cannot handle.

The party proceeds ahead, and they begin to see these creatures, They are attacked by a variety of vicious creatures. Possible encounters include

3 - 5 Giant Jackals

HP - 50, AC 12

Attacks, 3 attacks, 2 claw and one bite. (Claw is 3d4 slashing), (bite is 1d10 crushing)

Giant Desert Worm

HP - 120, AC 13 (unique trait, immune to fire damage, can hide underground)

Attacks, 2 attacks, one acid AOE, one tail slam. (Acid AOE hits three areas [3x3] with acid pool that will hit any enemy trapped in them 3d4 of burning damage for each end of turn they are in the acid, victim will also lose have their movement speed for each turn they are in the pool), (tail slam hits for 2d10 crushing damage).

After various encounters in the desert, the party arrive at a completely flat area devoid of life. Eva steps forward (ALSO, PARTY MEMBERS WITH HIGH SENSE CHAKRA WILL SENSE HIGH AMOUNTS OF CHAKRA DIRECTLY AHEAD) Eva will report that he can sense high levels of chakra ahead. He will note that there is a massive chakra barrier directly in front of them that would likely incinerate anyone who carelessly walked through it. With the assistance of the party, using their chakra, Eva deactivates the seal around the barrier, allowing them to safely walk through. When they do, they are presented with a lush and flourishing environment, with flowing rivers and waterfalls. Amongst them, are giant stone statues littered throughout the area, and stone huts by the thousands.

When the party gets through, they wander through the area until they are stopped. Eva (AND PARTY MEMBERS WITH HIGH SENSE CHAKRA) will notice hundreds of chakra signatures around them. Suddenly, creatures start appearing that were previously invisible. These creatures, are Lions.

The Lions take the party to their leader, the Great Lion Sage, Khan. Khan asks what they are doing here, to which the party can reply accordingly. Khan will not appreciate disrespectful answers, and may react violently if provoked. If the party are successful in explaining themselves, Khan will tell them that there have been three breaches of security now, the party’s breach, and two others. Khan will state that the first breach was carried out by a human fitting the description they provided, but he somehow managed to evade the border patrols using a form of Cloak even stronger than the Lion’s. The second breach however, was conducted by someone who is in the settlement now. Khan offers to take the party to meet the individual, if they agree to take them and leave. (CERTAIN PARTY MEMBERS CAN CONVINCE KHAN THAT THEY ARE WORTHY TO FORM A CONTRACT, BUT THEY MUST DEMONSTRATE THEIR MIGHT IN SINGLE COMBAT WITH KHAN).

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------This section is to be used in the event that a member of the party wishes to challenge Khan to single combat.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Khan will lead the challenger to a stone arena, teeming with a riled audience. Khan will ask the challenger to proceed backstage, where they may heal up and receive items that they may need.

Once the challenger has completed their setup, they proceed out to the arena.

[NOTE, THE COMBAT WILL BE NON-LETHAL]

Khan explains the rules of the challenge:

1. The fight will end when one is unable to carry on, due to unconsciousness, forfeit, or death.
2. Use of Genjutsu is not permitted.
3. No one is permitted to interfere in the combat.
4. There will be no time-outs, the fight will only end when it ends.

The fight:

Khan, the Great Lion Sage.

Class: Sage

HP: 158, AC: 16 +10 to hit

Perks:

* Can Cloak to make themselves undetectable to everything except Sense Chakra
* Can replenish Chakra supply with passively generated Senjutsu chakra.
* Gains an advantage on all dodge attempts due to Senjutsu chakra.

Techniques:

[TAIJUTSU]

* Claw - 3d4 slashing (this can be used twice in an attack)
* Bite - 2d10 crushing

[SENJUTSU/NINJUTSU]

* Sage Art: Divine Lions Roar - Knocks opponent to floor and gives them a disadvantage on next three attacks
* Sage Art: Roar of the Ancients - 5d6, causes opponent to become paralysed, with roll over 15.
* Sage Art: Shield of the Elders - Gives the user a passive AC buff when attacked, raises AC by 5. Lasts 3 rounds, COOLDOWN for 6 rounds.
* Wind Style: Concussion Blast - 4d4, Knocks opponent to ground and causes small lacerations that inflict bleeding damage.
* Wind Style: Tail swipe - 2d4, knocks opponent to the ground.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Success = If the challenger is successful in defeating Khan, then they will not only receive a summoning contract to summon a Lion at will, but they will also receive a Lion’s Honour Perk.

Lion’s Honour: When entering combat, user gains an advantage on their first attack roll.

Fail = if the challenger fails in defeating Khan then the following can happen.

If they managed to reduce Khan’s health to below half - Khan will respect their spirit and ability and grant them the summoning contract.

If they fail to reduce his health below half, then they will receive nothing.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The party are then led through the settlement, where Khan states that the Lions have lived in the Land of Wind for far longer than the humans have. Khan notes that they have records dating back to the time where the Land of Wind was not a desert at all, but a lush green landscape. Khan states that the desert came about due to the a powerful shinobi using the sacred tree to deplete the land of its natural resources.

However, the Lions, using their Sage Power, erected a chakra barrier to keep out Non-Lions, and preserve the natural environment. The have since thrived because of this. Khan states that they are intolerant of outsiders, and that it is clear that they need to upgrade their security barrier, as they have now had three breaches in as many weeks. Khan asks that the party leaves the land once they have the other intruder and not to return. Eva and the party agree to this.

The party and Khan finally arrive at a hut guarded by two large Lions, whom Khan dismisses.

When they enter, they see a human that is half covered in a familiar looking ash, with a red seal going all along their body. When the human looks up, they realise that the person is in fact their former comrade, Satsujin Hatake.