[The Thousandth Year of Peace] The Topaz Tournament

[Silent Wayfarer]

Striving for glory

Young samurai come of age

A new champion

​

The Topaz Tournament, held annually in the Crane town of Tsuma, is the most prestigious gempukku tournament held in Rokugan. Held in the shadow of the Kakita Duelling Academy itself, the ceremony is open to any entrant who can convince a great clan to sponsor them. Few attain such an honor, the Great Clans choosing amongst their best contenders, or sponsoring ronin or minor clan samurai who have proved themselves to be worthy to bear the patronage of the Great Clans.


It is the spring of the year 1042, and Hantei XXXVI has entered into the 16th year of his reign. As you walk or ride along the road toward Tsuma, the fresh spring air sending cherry blossoms whirling to the ground ahead of you, you see the magnificent sight of Shiro Sano no Kakita, where the famous Kakita Duelling Academy makes its home.


Situated slightly to the north is the town of Tsuma, more a village, but named a town because for a few days each year it hosts the ceremony you are attending. Many other samurai walk or ride, on horseback or in palanquins, and pride at being chosen to represent your clan swells your heart. As you enter, a small river to the left, you see large crowds of people have turned out for the event, and excitement is in the air. Though you have not yet earned them, your new daisho sway slightly against your legs as you walk through the town. The thought that you will be competing in front of hundreds of your fellow samurai makes your hearts beat faster - what if you make a fool of yourself in front of such an audience? To do so would bring dishonor on your family, daimyo and clan. To do so is unthinkable!


At the gates, Crane magistrates check your travelling papers, and when they see your name, they quickly bow and explain that the House of the Laughing Carp, the most elegant inn in the town, has reserved a room for you - all competitors receive free room and board there, where they can mingle with samurai of great social rank and standing. On the way, you pass a large building which announces its name as the Poisoned Water Sake House, an establishment known for the quality of its sake, which is served in small black clay bottles, and which, despite the name, is popular, especially with the less elegant crowd - already several ronin, Crab and Mantis samurai can be seen raising their cups in toast after toast. Tucked away on a side road, you catch a glimpse of a strange edifice, built in Gaijin style, which one of your family supporters travelling with you tells you is a Unicorn-run shop filled with exotic artifacts from beyond Rokugan. As you near the Inn where you will be staying, you see the massive stone dojo ahead where most of the events will take place, its gates currently closed and several Crane Bushi standing ready before them.


Service at the Laughing Carp is swift, despite the number of samurai crammed into the building, and after leaving your things in your room, you head back down the stairs to the main room, where food and drinks are provided for you as well as around a hundred other samurai. You catch sight occasionally of other samurai who share the same look on their faces as you expect you do - bravado and pride coupled with nervous anxiety and expectation - and realize immediately that these are your fellow competitors. A cup of sake is thrust into your hand, and you drink it down, spluttering at first as the warm liquid hits the back of your throat at the same time as a cheer from those around you is raised to the heavens.


Then, a hush descends, followed by furious whispering. At first, you think you have committed some sort of social error, and start to redden, but then you realize all eyes are drawn away from you, and that samurai are leaving the inn to go outside. Curious, you follow them, crowding into the street to see wave after wave of samurai throwing themselves to the ground, prostrating themselves. You look up the road to see what is going on, and there you see, Seppun guardsmen clearing his way, the Emperor himself.


The Emperor will be watching you as you compete in the Topaz Tournament. The Emperor will be watching you. You feel a wave of elation at the thought, thinking of how much glory you will gain as he watches you compete.


Then you feel a wave of revulsion as you realize that the Emperor will be watching you if you fail.


Catching your breath, you throw yourself down to the ground before he walks past you, followed by his two eldest sons, Hatsu and Kobashi, the one with his hair dyed white in the Crane style where he trained, the other with golden hair in the Lion style to show his affinity with his foster school. Between them, hand in hand with her two brothers, walks their youngest sister, Chisa, a smile on her face as she passes the crowds of cheering samurai. Behind the imperial family comes Miya Shikan, the Imperial Herald, his solemn, narrow face and shaven head making him look monk-like in his asceticism.


As the procession passes, it reaches the dojo, where the gates are fling open and Kakita Saburashi, the sensei of the dojo, welcomes his imperial guests and leads them inside. He gives a brief speech, welcoming the crowds and the entrants to the competition, and ends with "This is only the third time in his reign that the Son of Heaven has graced the Topaz Championship with his presence. Let us all ensure that the tournament is worthy of his gaze." With that, he closes the gates behind him, and the crowd cheers before surging back inside. Within the inn, your fellow competitors and yourself are paraded before the assembled audience, your names called out to cheers from various parts of the crowd. The list completed, you are left together to make your own fortunes for the evening.

Spoiler

This is the part where you introduce yourselves, narrate your entrances to Tsuma, or simply roleplay socialization and stuff. I'll put up a list of the contestants shortly, along with a short description of each of them.


Feel free to ask if you have any questions.

 

[Esbilon]

To say that Liyan is excited to be competing in the Topaz Tournament would be an understatement, she has hardly stopped smiling since Sensei Tashiko told her that she would be representing the Unicorn in the greatest gempukku ceremony of all. She loves every part of going, the opportunity to travel all the way across Rokugan; to meet members of the other clans who are so different from her, and yet as devoted to Bushido and the Empire as she; the trust placed in her by her sensei, her families, both the Shinjo and the Otaku, and by the Clan itself; the opportunity to test her mettle against the best in all the Empire, and some of the best in all the World! If she were the type to become dizzy, she would have fainted several times on their long journey, instead she just smiles widely and often.


Travelling through the lands of the Lion and the Crane is everything she dreamed it would be and more. Everything is at once exotic and familiar, the food, the customs, even the clothing. In everything she can feel how it came from the same root as the ways of the Unicorn, but how they are different because they never went into the gaijin lands. The only thing that really staggers her is the almost complete absence of horses, even their ponies are few and far between. Intellectually, of course, she knew that this would be the case, but the reality of it hits her with almost physical force, and she cannot help feel sorry for them, to have something that is so central to her life completely absent from theirs.


When not exposing herself to the strange cultures of the other clans along their path, Liyan has taken every opportunity to learn from the other members of their party. She has quizzed Ide Junzo on the finer points of courtesy and etiquette among the Crane, she has conversed at great length with Iuchi Taiko on the subject of religion in the rest of Rokugan, and at every opportunity, she has tested her skills against Moto Batukhan's. Though they are rivals in the tournament, either of them winning would bring honor to the Clan, and to the other, so the better they both are, the better for the both of them.


At their arrival in Tsuma, it is all Liyan can do to constrain her exuberance to a wide smile and roving eyes striving to take in every last bit of her surroundings. The sounds, the smells, the sights, the colors, the people! Everything is so far beyond even her wildest dreams that she can hardly keep from pushing Matsukaze to break from the group and take her swiftly and surely through the entirety of this wondrous place. When they come to the House of the Laughing Carp, she knows uncertainty for the first time since setting out on this journey. Should she trust her hosts with her horse, or offer insult, however slight, at demanding to see that he is taken proper care of. She dismounts and begins following the stable hand who is visibly uncomfortable with handling such a magnificent animal. His temper is not improved by the young shiotome who seems insistent on supervising him. The situation is defused when Otaku Shihei puts a hand on her shoulder and promises to take care of Matsukaze.


Liyan descends from her chambers some time after Batukhan, despite them arriving at the same time. She has washed up, combed her hair and even applied make up. Though she could never pass for a courtier or a crane, she looks a far cry from the savage barbarian many would expect a Unicorn to resemble. She has with great care dressed herself in the kimono given to her by Sensei Tashiko just before her departure from the Unicorn lands. It is the traditional purple and white of the Unicorn clan, and carries the Shinjo family mon on a white background on its left shoulder, the right shoulder is purple, breaking the garment's otherwise perfect symmetry. Since Liyan is not of the Otaku family, she cannot carry their mon, but the coloring of her kimono leaves little doubt among those who know how to look which family guides her sword arm.


She hesitates when they put the warm sake in her hand, she's young and slight of build, eyeing the other assembled contestants, she has no doubt that many of them could handily get her quite drunk if they made the effort, particularly that giant of a Crab. Her hesitation only lasts for a moment, however, and then the warm liquid is making its way down her throat. The blink of an eye later, they are all outside watching the Emperor, the Emperor!, pass by and Liyan is the first to fall to her knees before him. As she presses her forehead against the moist spring grass, she takes a moment to be relieved that this way of honoring the Son of Heaven allows her to hide the exuberant grin that is currently splitting her face. It is not polite to show such emotion, even if the emotion is joy at the chance to serve the Emperor.


When it becomes her turn to stand before the crowd, Liyan has coaxed her face into obedience and the smile she gives the sensei and the crowd is quite acceptable. She walks onto the platform with her back straight, and only slight traces of the wobbling gait that is all too common among the riders of the Unicorn. Standing before the crowds like this does make her heart swell with pride, but it is the Emperor's eyes upon her that matter to her more than every other set of eyes combined.


Later, when the sixteen contestants are gathered alone, she regards them each with a friendly and open countenance. Though they are here to compete, they are all here to honor the Kami, the Emperor and Rokugan itself. She is tempted to try breaking the ice and get to know them all better, but she is worried that what they will see as gaijin habits will make for a terrible first impression, so for now she looks to others to get them all talking.

 

[solyrflair]

It had been her sister's idea to sign up for this. Of course, her sister was Bushi and much more familiar with the need to be deemed a champion. Kimita had only earned her name just a few months ago, and was already without prospect for a position. This might be the best place to find a position, but it also meant that she would be watched by everyone. She didn't like that.


Kimita was more studious, less out-going than many of her friends. She was no longer the screaming oni she had played at as a child, but she was no flamboyant fire mage either. The fact that her father had thought it a good idea also forced her hand somewhat. She couldn't say no to her father, and yet saying yes had opened a whole new set of problems for her.


She had walked slowly, those from the Phoenix clan talked and joked about the upcoming contests, but it only added more concern to her. What would she do if she performed poorly? What if she insulted someone without knowing what she was doing. School was one thing, but being presented in public was something else entirely.


Once they arrived, she checked into her room and stowed away her possessions. She had changed and bathed quickly, not to get to the crowd below, but so that she could run through her scrolls once more. She needed a job, someone to give her a position before she was married off. She had best make her efforts early, before she was excused from the competition.


As she came down the stairs from her room, she saw the ret of the contestants move quickly outside to view a procession. It was only when the two large oafs bowed so low that she realized that it was the Emperor that had come. She blanched as she bowed in respect, muttering prayers to any ancestor that would listen to keep his attention far from her. She wondered if her sister and father would have guessed he would attend a millennial contest.


As they stood, she maintained a pale and bewildered look that she couldn't suppress. Someone handed her a warm cup and she sipped, thinking it might be tea, finding out it wasn't. She sputtered slightly in surprise before taking a second sip and catching her breath. She looked at the boy who had handed her the cup, a yojimbo from the Miromoto family. Another moment of dread struck as she remembered the letter from the family entreating her to meet a fellow contestant by the name of Takezo. She wondered if he had recognized her, but he departed quickly enough that she doubted he could have recognized her already.


And more bad news, as they were later announced to the crowd as contestants. There was no way she could avoid meeting Takezo now. She knew exactly what he looked like, and he must know what she looked like now. She tried to hide the dread she felt while up there but she performed properly enough to the crowd. She couldn't dishonor her family yet.


With the first ceremony over, she retreated to a distant corner to consider the events to come. He wondered just how far she could go in this. Could she manage to impress a few people and maybe be assigned a position as a junior magistrate somewhere, or would her father prove himself right and she earn a position among the Jade Magistrates. She just hoped her stomach would remain steady enough.

 

[SephirothSage]

Ameiko was amazed, shocked, and perhaps more than a little worried, when she was told that she was to compete in the Topaz championship.


Amazed, and filled with Joy at realizing she was considered good enough by her parents, by her teachers, by her family.


Shocked, that this was in spite of her unclean nature, her failure in school.


Worried, that she would fail in a way that brought worse than Dishonor to her family.


And so it was with an heart full of butterflies, that she came in to the beautiful town, walking alongside her fellow Pheonix and the Yojimbo who escorted them. Her eyes wandered, wide with appreciation of all the thing's around them- a red and gold mask hangs from her pack, a cage with a Cricket sits atop it- little Daigotsu chirping in his cage. A smile spreads itself upon her face, as a headstrong passion swells within her- and a desire to /win/.


I will not Fail. I will not Fail. I will not Fail! The Mantra, it repeats endlessly in her head on the trip- and is pressed away as she enters the city. She smiles, and nods to the Gate guards when told her her destination. She walked, Katana not worn at her side, as a Shugenja is often wont to do; instead, it is within her pack, sticking out at an Angle. She carries it, for she might need it- but she knows she is no warrior, and surely is no duelist. She wears her Waikashi, however, truly properly.


As she sputters, and a warmth unfamiliar to the Tensai of fire spreads through her at the Sake, her eyes widening- she looks up, and see's the crowds. After a moment, she rises, and goes to join them- and stands in awe of the Emperor, for a full moment- a few seconds, even! - before dropping to the ground, face on the floor- eyes scanning up to watch in awe at his family. His beautiful, strong, family.


Truly, there are none more blessed of the spirits than the Emperor Hantei and his line! Truly!





It rings through her mind, the thoughts, the reverance, the joy- and perhaps less than honorable thoughts about the Emperor's son... and daughter. Regardless, she pushes them away. I will never marry- and no one marries in to the Imperial Family save the children of Daiymo's- and that I am not. She reminds herself- and then inside, looks around. She smiles, at the other competitors, as she takes her seat back, and looks around. "... Greetings, Honored Fellow Competitor's in this grand tournament! I am Isawa Ameiko, and I am so happy to meet you all- and even more greatly honored to be here, and to be in the view of the Emperor himself!" She speaks, putting as much of the meager fire left in her as she can in to it.

 

[hellrazoromega]

Hiruma Fumiko relished the walk to the Crane lands, which were as beautiful and well mannered as the Crane themselves. The fact that the Crane were all a bunch of preening popinjays, she kept to herself as she had been instructed until her Sensei was blue in the face. Well it would not kill her to at least comment on the beauty of the land, something she had done several times along the way when she encountered Crane commoners, who it turns out did a fair bit of bowing and scraping. Apparently Crane common folk did not work along side those of the Samurai class as much as they did back home. But that was all easy to overcome--it was nothing compared to what lay beyond the Wall. She'd bet a years wages for a 200 ashigaru that Crane would not be so ordered if the Shadowlands where knocking on their door.


As she entered the town she made a stop at the Poisoned Water to pay respects to some of the Crab she saw there, as was proper for an up and coming Onna-bugeisha. After that was done she move on to the Laughing Carp and entered the room taking stock of who was there. Fumiko could easily be taken for another unkempt Crab, her hair was wild but tied back, and she still wore the dust of the road. But to assume that meant she was unprepared would be to make the same error that many who had found themselves on the wrong end of a Crab blade had made. Fumiko brush her hair back a bit not out of vanity but practicality, not being the kind of girl who would ever be called gorgeous, plain might describe her best.


Fumiko bowed as she was handed a cup of what the people of these parts called sake, back home it might be called water. She may have mentioned that at some point, earning herself several reproachful stares that were thankfully chalked up to her being an uncultured Crab who in all likely-hood drank mud. It took her a cup or two before she realized that she should go clean up as she was representing her Clan. It was an adjustment being as she was so used to scouting and not coming near water--or any water you'd want to wash with--for days, made her even less sensitive to such things than most Crab. Ever efficient, as scouts are trained to be, Fumiko did only what was necessary to clean herself and her armor, in fact she spent twice as much time on her weapons and armor as she did on her person.


Returning to the common room just and everyone leaves she shook her head a bit before following the crowd in time to see the Emperor--the Son of Heaven himself--here?! Falling to her knees she saw nothing she averted her eyes until the procession had passed, there are some things even an "uncultured Crab" knows better than to tempt. Now she had to add the Emperor's gaze to the things she'd hve to worry about, as if struggling to keep the fear of failing one's Clan hidden was not task enough.


Once the crowds had broken up she headed back into the Carp and got to work. Doing what she had been trained to do for years, one of the primary duties of a scout, assessing the strengths and weakness of her opponents. How they moved when the walked, when they sat, or stood up. How they picked objects up and how they held them, whether they reached for things without taking their eyes off what was in front of them. Every little detail meant something and all of them taken together painted a picture of those she would have to face. As she scaned her way around the common room Fumiko's eyes fell on a pretty girl wearing the Shinjo mon, with out hesitation she approached and and bowed deeply--acknowledging the bond between the Shinjo and the Hiruma. "Greetings Oneesan, I am Hiruma Fumiko may the Son of Heaven and the Fortunes shine on you during the Championship." Fumiko said extending her social skills, or lack thereof to the limit to manage that much.

 

[Esbilon]

A brief look of surprise passes over Liyan's face as Fumiko addresses her in such a manner, but she quickly recovers her composure and returns the bow with one of the same depth, signifying that she too recognizes the bond between their families and considers the other her peer. "You honor me, Hiruma Fumiko. My name is Shinjo Liyan, I pray that they shine on your likewise, and that your ancestors watch over you."

 

[HairyDM]

Akodo Okakura is relieved to see Tsuma, and the end of his journey. The weeks of travel from the Loin lands had been taxing, not least because of Touma's constant insults. Okakura had learned very quickly that keeping a straight face, not lashing out, pretending to his cousin that his constant jibes didn't pierce him was a far better defense than rebuttals. As Tsuma came into sight Okakura demands his palanquin lowered. He will not be carried to the Topaz Champoinship like an invalid, even if he is one. The pace of the Loin contingent slows to a crawl, and Touma starts complaining. Again. Blocking him out isn't hard, Okakura just concentrats on the stabbing pains running from his hip all the way up the back of his neck, and the respite that is Tsuma.


An age later they reach the gates. After showing the guards his papers he gets directions to the House of the Laughing Carp, where he will be staying for the Championship. Upon reaching the guest house Okakura bypasses the crowds and heads straight to his room, asking one of the staff to send him a masseuse to ease the pain in his back. After bathing and having the pain in his leg and back relieved under the magic hands of the masseuse Okakura puts on his second best kimono, puts his fan and unearned wakizashi through his obi and heads downstairs. Upon entering the common room a cup of sake is thrust at him. He bows, takes the cup, and drinks it in one quick swallow. One cup would not impair his judgment, although he reminded himself to be wary of drinking more.


No sooner had Okakura sat down, than whispers erupted around the room and the common room started emptying. Labouring out of his seat Okakura followed the others outside, wondering what could possibly pull the entire guest house outside. He ended up standing beside Touma, who looks at Okakura with a mad light in his eyes. " The Emperor! The Emperor is here to see me win the Topaz Championship!" Okakura cranes to catch a glimps of the Son of Heaven, and gets his wish as the samurai around him prostrate themselves. Okakura is left standing for half a second, panicking, before Touma sweeps his legs from under him. Suppressing a grimace, Okakura rearranges himself into a proper bow, with his cursed right leg awkwardly extended behind him. After the Emperor has passed Okakura recovers his walking stick and struggles to his feet. Turning to Touma he smiles and, through gritted teeth, says "Thank you, cousin, for knocking me over just then. I would have hated to bring shame upon the Clan so early in the Championship." Touma turns to him with a sneer. "I didn't do it so save you or the Clan face", he growls, "I did it so the Emperor wouldn't be predisposed against the Lion." Okokura just smiles wider. He knows that he will need to show his best manners for the next few days, and who better to practice on than his most aggravating cousin.


As the crowd reentered the guest house, and the competitors had been introduced, Okakura found a corner with a good view of the room. He took out his charcoal set and started pretending to draw, observing the room the whole time. He looked at the younger samurai, in particular, his rivals. He watched for tells, who was lying when, who got drunk too quickly, who was making friends with whom. He saw a young Crab woman examining the room in much the same fashion, though she was far less subtle about it, nearly staring at people to the point of rudeness. *Probably another competitor*, he thought to himself. *Typical unsubtle Bushi.* He froze as the enormity of what that thought signified, then filled it away to be examined later. Okakura kept a particularly sharp eye on Touma. He was wont to get drunk quickly at family gatherings and Okakura knows that he will need to smooth any feathers his overenthusiastic cousin leaves dangerously ruffled.

 

[hellrazoromega]

Fumiko nods to Teppeki, " I am sure my Clan brother would offer you fortune as well if he was not into his sake. I thank you Shinjo Liyan, your family did mine a great service in a time of need and the Crab clan does not forget those that aid us in our duty." Fumiko turned to take another look about the room, "It should be an interesting Championship."


With a nod of resolve she spoke in a loud voice," Brothers and sisters, may the Son of Heaven shine on you all in the days ahead, Honor to His Name and Honor to Rokugan!!" she said boldly, playing the loud and boisterous Crab as the words of her mentor rang in her ears...make them think you are other than what you truly are and then as he often would he quoted Sun Tao even though he scoffed at some of his ideas, "If you are skilled, appear clumsy. One with great skill appears inept, both to confuse the enemy and to be aware of the path that has been traveled.” It was not that Fumiko could not be loud and what the other Clans would consider rude, but her true self, the scout she was in her heart was whisper quiet and efficient, but none here need know that until it was too late.

 

[solyrflair]

Kimita approached the one woman in her purple kimono, the one she recalled as Liyan, and bowed to her. It was a strange name, one she had never heard before, either in histories nor in regular use. "Your kimono is very interesting," she said in a complementary way. "I would not have expected such detail presented in such a style. It is very unique." She was curious about its manufacture, since it seemed to have several deviations from the standard Rokugani forms. She had little doubt, based on family name or from the colour scheme that the family was from Unicorn clan.


In addition, the name Liyan was also unique, something that had caused her to remember it. "Would you instruct me Li-yan-san in your name's proper pronunciation? I am anxious to learn, and would like to know its origin." If this woman was a contestant it might be best to learn if she had any concept of history, heraldry, or any form of education. She might be no better than any of the other brutes with their swords.

 

[SephirothSage]

Even as she sits down, slightly put out by not being addressed, Ameiko looks to her fellow Phoenix, and flows towards her- joining her to listen in.

 

[Esbilon]

"The Crab were among the very first to welcome the Unicorn back into Rokugan," Liyan replies to Fumiko's thanks, "we are no more forgetful than you, and repaid your acceptance and assistance with pleasure. And yes," she adds after the other has addressed the room, "it most certainly should."


She then turns to Kimita, surprised, but pleased, at being something of a center of attention. "Thank you," she replies with a smile and a bow, "it was a gift from Otaku Tashiko, my sensei. Aside from being a fine garment, it signifies that I was born to the Shinjo, but trained by the Otaku shiotome. As for my name," she continues, "I am hardly surprised you have never heard it before, it is one of many the Ki-Rin Clan learned while we were travelling outside the Empire. It is pronounced Liyan," she says, stressing the last syllable and making it long while still keeping it sharp. "The first Ki-Rin to bear it was a general of the Kitai people from beyond the Burning Sands who swore a blood oath to Shinjo and was welcomed into the Clan. When her people first encountered the Ki-Rin, they fought us hard at every turn, but eventually their king was swayed by the Divine Shinjo to join us. Before their king surrendered, Liyan spoke passionately against joining us, developing tactics to fight us, and composing great songs and poems about their own greatness. But when the king made up his mind, she obeyed and served the Ki-Rin faithfully to the end of her days."

 

[Silent Wayfarer]

As the cool embrace of night spreads across the land, a small chorus of shouts comes up from the opposite corner of the Poisoned Water's spacious floor. Apparently, some of the local Crane bushi have encountered their traditional enemies in the form of the Akodo and Mirumoto swordsmen. Specifically, Akodo Touma and Doji Suzuha are staring each other down, hands reflexively going for the swords that they left behind at the inn's entrance.


"The Crane only understand Bushido by its absence!" Touma roars. It's clearly directed at Suzuha, who's trying her best not to rip into Touma, especially with Asahina Mikuru hanging off her arm. The impossibly delicate shugenja is clearly out of place here, and she's evidently unsettled by the rowdy clientele*; but she's more worried that her friend will do something rash.


"Akodo-san, we're just here for a drink," Suzuha says between gritted teeth. "Let's save the hostility for-"


"Exactly! Nothing but honorless hedonists from the clan of the overstuffed birds!" Touma says, managing to insult both the Crane and the Phoenix in one breath. "You lot only know how to fight when your opponents haven't even drawn their blades!"


Suzuha's eyebrow twitches. She casts Mikuru aside (she's caught by a mysteriously prescient Morita) and puts a foot up on the table.


"Hey, Touma-chan," she retorts with a derisive honorific. "Do you praise your ancestors with that mouth? Don't they care that you're speaking their names with that feces-stained thing you call a tongue?"


The Crabs seem terribly amused by this and raise glasses to Suzuha as she continues her tirade.


"Or is that vaunted honor of your just for show, like your sword?"


The disdainful look at his crotch makes it clear which sword she's referring too, and the Crab chorus (who are all too aware of lewd subtext anywhere) chimes in with drunken laughter. An incensed Touma surges forward to strike Suzuha and is only barely restrained by his more cooler-headed brethren. A familiar tapping draws both their gazes - it's Mirumoto Takezo, clacking his wooden boken (katana and wakizashi, carved out of oak) together.


"Talk is air. Neither of you know the meaning of true struggle. I will gladly strike you both down and prove the dominance of the Mirumoto-ryu!"


Beside them, the Crab chorus is chanting "fight, fight, fight," while Suzuha and Touma take in the interloper.


"So, the do-nothing Dragon finally shows up!" Touma says. "Fine with me! I'll take you both on! Doorman, my sword!"


"What, you couldn't afford a real daisho?" Suzuha snorts. "Tell you what, why don't I show you what quality steel is? Doorman!"


"On the contrary, sticks are good enough for beating dogs. But since you insist, I will fight you with live blades."


Takezo beckons the doorman arrive with their weapons, as the clientele begin to clear a space in the center of the sake house's floor for the impending fight. The Crab chanting intensifies as all eyes go to the poor doorman, who doesn't know whether to bring the weapons as instructed and instigate a bloodbath, or deny three very angry samurai their katana and get horribly killed one way or another.


"Is this common here?" Moto Batukhan asks, having decided to show up beside Liyan.


"The Crane, Lion and Dragon have a strong rivalry, on many levels," Yogo Saemi replies. "The Matsu have always scorned the Kakita, ever since their House founders first met. Mirumoto and Kakita were the premiere swordsmen of their generation and they have ever wanted to defeat each other to prove the primacy of their technique."


"Um. If I might submit a thesis - I believe the current hostilities are due to an excess of pride and the close association of martial skill with personal value and worth. It is a necessary consequence of our warrior-"


Kitsuki Kiyomi trails off into bashful blubbering as the oil-slick Bayushi Takeru sidles up next to Ameiko, a smile on his face and a cup of sake in hand. The Dragon courtier is clearly smitten by him, but Takeru only has eyes for the Phoenices.


"Such savages," he says in a liquid, mellifluous voice. "Still, their mutual slaughter may yet work out to our benefit. Would you care for a drink, fair lady?"


The doorman yelps as he's bumped aside by the largest person any of you has ever seen.


"Hello Fumifumi," Hida Teppeki says, a vacant smile on his goofy-looking face. He sounds (and looks) like the village twit, but he has forearms like most peoples' thighs and muscles in places you wouldn't expect them. The massive bushi immediately goes to Fumiko's side like an obedient puppy.


"I do hope none of you are planning on escalating this brawl," Morita says, pulling up a stool for a swooning Mikuru. "It would not be good for the first day of the Topaz Tournament to be marred by bloodshed."


* especially the Crab contingent, who, for the most part, are busy raping her with their eyes

 

[hellrazoromega]

Fumiko smiles softly at Teppeki before returning her gaze to the scene unfolding before her. "Teppeki-kun."


She looks for any subtle clues as to their personal quirks within the respective styles they practice. Without taking her eyes off the potential combatants she takes mental notes and speaks softly to Morita, "I would not see the point in making it any worse--which I would surely do if I intervened. On the other hand I see no folly in letting them decide their own fates and they will learn something, as might we all. And as Bayushi-san pointed out it may be to our advantage, I would have preferred it were not so an that we met as intended under the eyes of the Emperor. I only hope they bring honor to their Daimyo if they go through with this."

 

[SephirothSage]

Ameiko smiles faintly, at his flattery, as she keeps an eye on the three contestants. "No- I am not over-fond of Sake as some in this room; clearly such is the cause of the unfortunate conflict we are about to see occurring? I see more to be gained from being the one to keep bloodshed from igniting itself under the eye of the son of Heaven. Surely, whoever did such a honorable thing would be noted quickly in his eyes, as one worth watching, no?" As she smiles pointedly at the Bayushi courtier and his slick words, her eyes flicking to the Yogo for a moment, more interested in her response... not that she discounts the Handsome scorpion who just so boldly flirted with her.


Even as she tries to convince him to try and end the fight with her own silvered tounge.


[dice]4898[/dice]


[dice]4899[/dice]

 

[Esbilon]

What are they doing? Liyan asks herself as the three Bushi trade insults and call for blades, they bring dishonor to themselves, to the tournament and to their families. In the back of her head, a smooth voice chips in, this is great. We always knew the Iaijutsu challenge would be the biggest obstacle for us, if these three can harm each other before them, we stand a far better chance at winning. At the very least, this may tell us of their weaknesses. Liyan can almost hear that voice cackling, but it is right, isn't it? Yes, adds another voice, just like the Scorpions.


"To whom does the life of a samurai belong?" Liyan asks with a strong voice as she steps forward towards the three posturing bushi. "To the Son of Heaven," she answers her own question. "To strike a samurai is to damage the property of the Emperor," she says without fear as she stands between the three drawn blades, "and as every samurai is loyal to the emperor, such a deed is unthinkable, is it not?" Her eyes rest disdainfully on the Lion for a moment as she speaks again, "the Kami Akodo teaches us that a samurai must be courteous not only to his friends and allies, but also to his enemies. Courtesy is Bushido, trading insults is the province of those who have turned their back on it, who are without honor." She lets her words sink in for a moment before driving home her message, "every child of the Unicorn knows these things," she asserts as she turns and looks each of the others in the eyes, "and you call us barbarians."

 

[HairyDM]

Okakura returns from the outhouse to find the main floor of the Poisoned Water empty, and the crowd concentrated around the walls. As he struggles through to the front of the throng he sees the three soon-to-be-combatants in the middle of the street, and hears Liyan give her stinging rebuke. Okakura hobbles forward. "You forget yourself, cousin," he calls, "or don't you remember cautioning me about bringing unfavorable attention upon the Lion Clan?"


As he comes abreast of Touma Okakura lowers his voice to a hiss. "The Emperor will not look fondly on blood flowing in the street the night before the Championship, nor will your father. Mark my words, he will hear about this, should you choose to continue. Besides dueling while drunk, which you are, is a sure way to lose life and honour. You will have a grand stage to prove your superiority over these two in three days time."


Touma's eyes darken, and he opens his mouth to reply, but Okakura cuts him off. "I suggest that you do not break the bounds of propriety, here cousin. I will put up with your taunts in private, but question my honour in public and you will never make anything of yourself, I assure you that. I advise you to postpone this duel until tomorrow at the earliest, and go back to your room and let you head cool in anticipation of tomorrow."


Raising his voice again, Okakura addresses Liyan. "Liyan-sama, I thank you for intervening tonight. You make some very good points. All of us here stand to learn something of honour and courage from you. The Unicorn and Shinjo are to be commended on raising such a promising young samurai." Okakura bows deeply to the Liyan. Turning to Suzuha and Takezo Okakura announces "my cousin has wisely decided to delay this folly until a later date. You can expect to receive a formal challenge tomorrow, although of you two wish to continue this with each other, I will not intervene any further."

 

[Silent Wayfarer]

Spoiler

And I had a nice big post ready in reply... oh well.


Takeru glances over to the three combatants, then to Ameiko, and his face is caught somewhere between terror, false composure, and a winning smile when Liyan and subsequently Okakura step forward.


After they;re done, Suzuha grits her teeth, and shakes her head in Okakura's direction.


"No, Akodo-san," she says. "There will be no need for further intervention. In my anger I have shamed the house of Doji and it has taken the words of an... outsider to remind me of what I took for granted."


She looks to Liyan and nods quietly. The Unicorn notes that Suzuha's trying to maintain that immaculate poker face Liyan's seen on the Ide during particularly tense negotiations. It's clearly not succeeding, which is why she storms out of the teahouse, followed by a worried-looking Mikuru, and catcalls from the Crab, who were hoping to "ruffle her feathers" or at least see a good bar fight.


"Where in Jigoku do you think you're going, Crane? This isn't over yet!" Touma shouts after her, and then Takezo steps between him and... Takezo?


It's too early in the evening to be seeing double, but the fact remains that there is a man who is the spitting image of Mirumoto Takezo standing between him and Akodo Touma, hands empty and a serene expression on his face.


"Akodo-san," he says in a voice that is the very model of mild politeness. "I hope the only thing that will flow tonight is sake, and not blood. My name is Mirumoto Musashi, brother to Takezo, and for the sake of the noble young woman who stepped in to remind us all of our duty," he indicates Liyan, "let us not trouble the Emperor by having him learn that three of his finest young bushi slaughtered themselves for no good reason."


However, the Lion's not to be deterred, and he's about to spit in Musashi's politeness when a strident female voice captures everyone's attention.


"Touma!"


A muscular woman in Lion colors and with very big hair, almost like a mane, bursts in through the front door. She looks like she could wrestle a bear, and she tosses her no-dachi to the assistant doorman before sweeping past Musashi, Takezo and Liyan, and grabbing Touma's face with one huge paw. The Lions behind him quail; she is apparently not one to be messed with.


"What's this I hear about you starting bar brawls? Is there too much energy in you? Wonderful! Then you won't mind if we go for fifty circuits of the village now!

!"
Okakura recognizes her as Matsu Daikami, a ferocious shosa in the Lion's Pride and one of the few people that Touma genuinely fears. He's heard that she was assigned to chaperone Touma during this visit to Tsuma, and it seems it was a prudent move.


"And you, Okakura," she says in passing. There's something of a trace of pride in her tone. "You stay here, and do some good for the Lion. Though from what I saw just now, you're already hard at work. Don't mess this up, we can't kill all the Cranes on our way out."


She pats him on the head with a toothy grin before herding Touma out with a snarl. Okakura reflects on the fact that Daikami is also the only person he knows who has never thought any less of him for his condition. In fact, her preferred modus operandi is to let him do the talking while she practices her war face on Crane emissaries from behind him. The combination is quite effective.


Then, just as they leave, the pattering of feet reaches the door to the Poisoned Water.


"Sake's here! 997 Yomeishu, from the best rice plains of the Crane. I brought enough for everyone!"


The speaker is Laichao, the unusually-named Mantis bushi. He has seven monkeys hanging off him, and a trio of servers with casks of sake on their backs. He's effusively polite, almost too eager to offer drinks to everyone he can find, aided by a particularly well-groomed simian filling sake cups for him from a position over the shoulder.


"Here you go, and you, and you, ah, Chudoku-san, this is for you and your squadron, please enjoy it..."


It doesn't take long before he gets to Okakura and Liyan; he pours the sake for them personally, and presents them with both hands, as though offering a pearl of great price.


"Thank you for defusing a hostile situation," he smiles. "I came as fast as I could with the sake, but I fear I would have entered a bloodbath if not for you. Please, accept these and enjoy yourselves."


He goes on to pour for the Scorpions. Yogo Saemi accepts with a polite nod, though her eyes are on Okakura, while Takeru refuses to acknowledge Laichao's existence, and Laichao simply shrugs, leaves the cup on the table beside him, and pours for Ameiko and Kimita.


"The Fortunes favor us tonight, to have two young beauties to rival Benten herself among us. Please; accept this sake with my warmest regards."


He moves on to Fumiko and Teppeki. "Big guy!" he smiles, and reaches into his kimono for a small sack. "This is for you, big guy. No sake, all right? Nobody can move you but yourself." Laichao nearly jumps as he notices Fumiko in the massive Teppeki's shadow.


"Thousand pardons, Hiruma-san," he nods. "Didn't mean to miss you out. Yomeishu 997; they say the Crane don't make anything productive, but I disagree; they have some of the best-tasting sake in the land."


"I would dispute that," Saemi says calmly. "You seem to be forgetting the holdings of the Scorpion."


Laichao snaps his fingers in agreement. "Right you are, Yogo-san. I've been dreadfully remiss in not mentioning the Takara Rice Fields. It's a different taste, for when Crane sake doesn't satisfy..."


"But it does," she says with a dismissive nod. "Do attend to the others, Laichao."


Laichao moves on, doing his best to help the innkeep soothe frayed nerves. In his wake, Bayushi Takeru's nose finally comes down from its upturned and locked position.


"Honestly, the nerve of that man," he scoffs. "Isawa-san, permit me to properly serve you; an uncultured monkey like that knows nothing about how to treat a lady..."


Meanwhile, Takezo is sitting down alone at a corner table. Musashi is nowhere to be seen. Kimita has a prime chance to approach him, if she so desires.

 

[Esbilon]

"You do me too much honor, Okakura-san," Liyan replies with a bow to the Lion's kind words, "surely we are all equal until the Topaz Champion has been found."


She stands slightly uncertain in the middle of the room as the Cranes leave, the Lioness fetches her uncouth charge. She is somewhat surprised that worked so well, she knows her skill on a horse and on the battlefield, but she has never tested her mettle in a social setting like this before. She smiles slightly, satisfied that she has also succeeded in this endeavor when the strange Mantis with the monkeys shows up and hands her sake far more refined than she can properly appreciate. She thanks him and stands for a moment with the warm cup, sending glances around before sipping it and moving back towards her seat next to Moto Batukhan.


As she sits down, she sends several long glances in Mirumoto Takezo's direction, slightly worried that she has made an enemy of the Dragon swordsman.

 

[hellrazoromega]

Fumiko bows in Liyan's direction as she retakes her seat," You shame us Liyan-san, but rightfully so, in reminding us of our duty to the Empire. Perhaps I should have attempted to intervene but I lack your skill with speech and I surely would not have done as well as you. "


Fumiko take another cup of the sake, which while tasty, still leaves something to be desired in its strength. She watches Teppeki, for whom a cup like her's would be but a thimble as she takes a seat nearby. "Well if nothing else this should be an interesting Championship," She says as she produces a piece of paper and beguns to fold it as she studies the room again.

 

[SephirothSage]

Even as Ameiko smiles, and looks to the man, raising an eyebrow. "My, how Noble the Ki-Rin Bushi was, no? Certainly, she was truly brave to act so quickly, and with such speed, yes? I think I will go speak with her- though, I am sure we will later have much to discuss, Bayushi-San." She lilts, as she rises from her seat- only lightly sipping at the Sake, despite her strong constitution- she must not reveal too much too soon.... if there is anything that living with her... condition, has taught her, it is subtlety despite her passions. She even makes a face, as if unused to strong drink of any sort.


She flows over towards Liyan, with an delicate and slight stride, smiling at her. Her own robe is a deep, maroon red with golden trim; emblazoned with the phoenixes that are her clan's symbol. She then bows. "I am most impressed, Shinjo-Sama; for truly, it was a great feat to diffuse the wrath of such mighty warriors without incurring it upon yourself! Truly, you are one whose honor cannot be denied, it seems; I hope to see how you fare in the true championship, with such good showing already!" She is beaming, smiling cheerfully, a sudden change from the leaning predator at the bar.

 

[hellrazoromega]

Fumiko leans over with a bow of her head to Ameiko, "Pardon Liyan-san but honor demands I point out that you may have made yourself the competitor to beat, a great many eyes are on you now. They were before but for wholly different reasons and with far more subtlety than now. While the hot-heads will be discounted for their lack of levelheadedness if not their martial skill, you have shown yourself to be calm in a crisis, quick of action and decisive . I expect many here have revised their mental list of who they need be most concerned with during the Championship."

 

[Esbilon]

"Please, Ameiko-san, there truly is no call for such formality," Liyan says with a bow to the young Phoenix. "Perhaps I acted more swiftly than others would have, but I am certain another would have stepped forward a few moments later. Okakura-san did in fact intervene only moments after myself."


To Fumiko she presents a slightly puzzled expression, "surely everyone would already do their utmost in every competition for the glory of the Son of Heaven. No entrant in the tournament for Topaz Champion can be dismissed, we are here because we are the ones our clans believe can bring the most honor to the Emerald Empire."

 

[HairyDM]

Okakura sips his sake. It really is as good as Laichao claimed. As Liyan drifts to a table Okakura follows her, strangely fascinated by the young Unicorn. He had always been told that the Unicorn were a bunch of dishonourable gaggle of uncultured gaijin, yet she had intervened where no one else would. She would make an interesting friend. Fumiko and Ameiko approach the table, and Okakura bows to each. As Ameiko begins talking to Liyan her demeanor changes completely. She will be one to watch out for in the days to come.


"I cannot help but agree with Fumiko-san on this point. Surely no entrant can be dismissed, but it is also best not to make a target of yourself. The most devastating attack is the unexpected one, and you may have revealed to much tonight. I, for one, found it very enlightening. Then again," he smiles broadly, "I am trained in such matters. It may be that some of our more martial rivals may not read as much into it." He leans back into his chair, rubbing his leg, and sips his sake."Now that my hot headed cousin is gone I might be able to enjoy the rest of the night. The fellow should have been born a Matsu, he now nothing of restraint."

 

[Esbilon]

"It is true that surprise is a great advantage when attacking another, but we are participating in an ordered competition, not a vulgar brawl," Liyan replies oblivious to any suggestions that the slighted samurai might choose to act outside the framework of the tournament. "Though I must say that I am curious as to what you believe I revealed that I should rather have kept hidden. After all, Honesty and Sincerity are essential parts of Bushido as well."

 

[HairyDM]

A small smile tugs at the corners of Okakura's mouth. "Now, now Liyan-san. You can't expect me to reveal all my secrets," he chuckles. "However, I will say this. It wasn't just you that I learned about as a consequence of this evening. You did, however, show that you are very idealistic, which I commend. Never lose that idealism. Some might consider that a weakness, though," his eyes slide over to the Scorpions. "You would do well to watch yourself around courtiers, myself included." This last remark is accompanied by a devilish grin and a wink.