SephirothSage
Eldritch Abomination
Ameiko nod's slowly. "It would not do to falsely dishonor our hosts- if it turns out to /not/ be an Oni, we will have only brought dishonor on ourselves, by being foolish and Rash."
[The Thousandth Year of Peace] The Topaz Tournament
- Thread starter Silent Wayfarer
- Start date
hellrazoromega
Department of Redundancy Department.
Taking her boken and trying to appear as if she is prodding the bushes Fumiko tries to cave in the hole or at least make it seem smaller, then standing and facing the others she shakes her head, "I am sure it is not an oni. An oni would have done far worse than just try to touch Mikuru-san. No offense Mikuru-san were you alone and if it is not too rude of me, my I ask what you were doing? I don't mean to suggest fault on your part, it just may provide a clue, I see no immediate danger so I would suggest we keep our guard up and try to get a bit more information. One thing I can tell you we learn in the Shadowlands, as indeed in many dojos in the Empire I would think, is that not knowing who or what the danger is can be deadly--would you not agree Okakura-sama."
Standing at full height she looks around for any other Crab, as well as for signs of danger--even though she knows Mikuru did not see and oni Fumiko does not like what her sighting foreshadows.
Standing at full height she looks around for any other Crab, as well as for signs of danger--even though she knows Mikuru did not see and oni Fumiko does not like what her sighting foreshadows.
Silent Wayfarer
This is my spirit animal
Hiruma Fumiko
Mikuru sniffles, stifles a sob or two, then begins to answer.
"I was looking at the moon, and trying to capture its image in the Forever Memory Mirror my sensei lent me, and then before I knew it, a gigantic rat, as tall as Suzu-nee, came out of the bush and startled me. I dropped the mirror, and it looked at it, and tried to reach out and touch me, and that was when I screamed..."
Sadly, there are no Crabs in sight. Fumiko can imagine them lost in their cups now.
Akodo Okakura
Takeru turns up his nose at Okakura's objection, but stays where he is. Whether it is in deference to Ameiko's opinion or because he doesn't feel like going against everyone else remains to be seen. Or he might just enjoy safety in numbers. He carries a katana at his waist but doesn't seem particularly eager to use it.
Isawa Ameiko
Instead, he turns to Ameiko and smiles so broadly that even Laichao could tell it was fake.
"What shall we do, then? Perhaps if we found where the interlopers were hiding, you could beseech the kami to smite them with righteous fury..."
Mikuru sniffles, stifles a sob or two, then begins to answer.
"I was looking at the moon, and trying to capture its image in the Forever Memory Mirror my sensei lent me, and then before I knew it, a gigantic rat, as tall as Suzu-nee, came out of the bush and startled me. I dropped the mirror, and it looked at it, and tried to reach out and touch me, and that was when I screamed..."
Sadly, there are no Crabs in sight. Fumiko can imagine them lost in their cups now.
Akodo Okakura
Takeru turns up his nose at Okakura's objection, but stays where he is. Whether it is in deference to Ameiko's opinion or because he doesn't feel like going against everyone else remains to be seen. Or he might just enjoy safety in numbers. He carries a katana at his waist but doesn't seem particularly eager to use it.
Isawa Ameiko
Instead, he turns to Ameiko and smiles so broadly that even Laichao could tell it was fake.
"What shall we do, then? Perhaps if we found where the interlopers were hiding, you could beseech the kami to smite them with righteous fury..."
hellrazoromega
Department of Redundancy Department.
"I think I many have a idea of what happened, but I don't want to make any claims until I look about some more. I don't want to say more until I have my fact straight. Shuzuha-san perhaps you should take Mikuru-san and get her a cup of tea and some warmth from a nice fire. I have a way that I can gather more information but is is something of a secret of my school, if I could beg your indulgence for a bit I would like to gather more information before we pass this on, we would not want to insult the Crane by making any claims until we are sure of what is going on. I suggest you leave me here a bit, I will be fine, and I can meet you nearby with more information shortly." Fumiko scans the faces around her.
solyrflair
Have Towel - Will travel
She watches Takezo depart, knowing that her chance at any friendship with him departed at the same time. Not that she was hoping for anything more than friendship, but her clan respected the Dragon Clan and losing a friend was disappointing. Perhaps later, he would remember with more fondness, or maybe he wouldn't remember anything at all.
The scream shook her gaze from Takezo. Several samurai departed to search for the source of the scream, but not her. She was not one to run off into the night. That was the propensity of guards and watches, she would remain here and wait. It the Crane wanted her help, they could ask politely. She had many other things to focus on beside what might have startled the girl. Besides, it was likely to have been Mikuru-San viewing her own shadow.
She had had enough sake for one night and requested a glass of umeshu. The plum wine was sweeter, and less likely to dull ones senses to the point of idiocy. She couldn't afford to make any more mistakes. She glanced around the room, trying to determine who had not run off, and why they might have stayed behind.
The scream shook her gaze from Takezo. Several samurai departed to search for the source of the scream, but not her. She was not one to run off into the night. That was the propensity of guards and watches, she would remain here and wait. It the Crane wanted her help, they could ask politely. She had many other things to focus on beside what might have startled the girl. Besides, it was likely to have been Mikuru-San viewing her own shadow.
She had had enough sake for one night and requested a glass of umeshu. The plum wine was sweeter, and less likely to dull ones senses to the point of idiocy. She couldn't afford to make any more mistakes. She glanced around the room, trying to determine who had not run off, and why they might have stayed behind.
Esbilon
Seven Thousand Club
Liyan leans down to calm her agitated horse, drawing her hands through his mane and whispering calming nothings in his ear. She glares slightly at the exchange between Takeru and Laichao, seemingly disappointed in the both of them, but Matsukaze takes priority over petty squabbles.
"Please use your best judgement, Fumiko-san," she says when he is suitably calmed, "our clans know better than most the danger of rushing on ahead without knowledge of what one is rushing into. "
"Please use your best judgement, Fumiko-san," she says when he is suitably calmed, "our clans know better than most the danger of rushing on ahead without knowledge of what one is rushing into. "
hellrazoromega
Department of Redundancy Department.
"Just as you say Liyan-san. That is why I wish to check for I can almost certainly say that rushing in will make things worse in this case." Fumiko says with confidence
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Silent Wayfarer
This is my spirit animal
A quick and discreet search reveals that whoever - or whatever - spooked Mikuru is no longer around. On cue, the night breeze carries the sounds of the nearby lake across the group, and Liyan finds that Matsukaze has gradually calmed down.
There doesn't seem to be anything of interest remaining, and Mikuru has gradually calmed herself down enough to apologise profusely to everyone for making them worry, shaming her house in front of everyone, that sort of thing. Takeru looks superior and smug, but he always does that. Laichao laughs it off, the same way he laughs everything off, and Doji offers a surprisingly clean handkerchief to wipe up Mikuru's tears. Suzuha seems vaguely annoyed that she didn't get to hit something, but she's rather more concerned with Mikuru's safety.
With nothing else left for them here, the group makes their way back to their rooms.
******
The next day dawns as it always does, with the light of Lady Sun spreading majestically across the Emerald Empire. Okakura wakes to the sight of a thoroughly exhausted Touma face-down on the futon, his socks still stained with mud and dirt from where Daikami was hustling him around the village to "bleed off his excess energy". He doesn't even stir as raucous laughter comes from the baths, and upon entry he discovers that Laichao's brought his troop with him for the morning ablutions. The heimin bath attendants look rather distressed as the massive Crab chorus approves of the monkey business. Takeru looks on them with scorn, the same way he always does to people that weren't born into the lap of luxury like he was. Takezo looks to want to finish his business as quickly as possible.
On the ladies' side, Doji Suzuha and Asahina Mikuru are conspicuously absent. In fact, the Cranes are not present in either genders' baths; presumably they have facilities of their own, as the hosts. The mood is considerably more subdued than in the male baths, presumably because Matsu Daikami is also sleeping in late after excoriating Touma all night and there are almost no Crab women in attendance.
******
Once the rituals of excretion, ablution and depilation are done, the first day of the tournament begins in earnest! The contestants are led through the manicured gardens of the academy to a large, opulent dojo; a close examination reveals that the tatamis in the center have been replaced by extra-springy ones woven of young shoots by the finest Kakita artisans. The obligatory portraits of the Emperor sit above the place of the Son of Heaven Himself, who has not yet arrived.
Miya Shikan announces the events of the day. The first contest shall be one of sumai. The contestants shall be paired off and wrestle for three rounds, with the one who takes two matches being declared the winner. Winners receive one point, but losers receive none.
The judge for this contest draws some consternation from the assembled entourages. Togashi Hifumi is a rarity among the ise zumi, being a woman... and of the sort who wears her tattoos with pride. Which is to say, she eschews any clothing on her upper body whatsoever. Of course, her patterning is sufficiently intricate that little actual flesh is revealed, and it would be terribly improper to treat the tattoos as anything less than clothing. The tattooed woman bows to the Emperor's seat, to Miya Shikan, and then to the contestants, before seating herself where she can see the action.
"I've heard of her. She beat my ass when she came by the Matsu dojo last year," Daikami whispers from behind Okakura. Considering the fierce Matsu taisa's pride, Hifumi's skills must be truly prodigious to get that sort of admission from her. Meanwhile, Miya Shikan has been pulling pairs of ceramic tiles from a carved jar, with each tile bearing the mon of each contestant's families. Thus, the pairings are:
Hiruma Fumiko vs Doji Suzuha
Asahina Mikuru vs Hida Teppeki
Kitsuki Kiyomi vs Moto Batukhan
Akodo Okakura vs Morita
Isawa Ameiko vs Bayushi Takeru
Yogo Saemi vs Mirumoto Takezo
Shinjo Liyan vs Akodo Touma
Laichao vs Shiba Kimita
Suzuha grins as she bows to Fumiko. "It's not swords, but I guess it's the next best thing."
Mikuru looks like she's about to cry as she looks over to the massive Teppeki, who returns her gaze with an expression of bemused curiosity.
Kiyomi keeps glancing over to Takeru, then back at the squat, powerful Moto, who is warming up in his strange gaijin way.
Morita nods to Okakura. "It hardly seems a fair contest," he says. "But then again, it seemed unfair to pit seven mortals against a god, and still the mortals won."
Takeru's smile is slick and oily as his eyes explore for his hands. "Ameiko-chan, how fortuitous. I fear I may not be able to grasp your flickering flame; though what agony and ecstasy might it bring?"
Saemi rolls her eyes at Takeru's antics, and instead bows primly and politely to Takezo, who seems rather lost at anything that isn't swordfighting.
Touma settles into a fighting stance as he faces Liyan. A quick glance behind her suggests Matsu Daikami is watching, but it seems he's going to enjoy taking the Unicorn down.
And finally, Laichao, bereft of monkeys (they watch from the trees outside the dojo), settles into a lazy stance and extends his four fingers to Kimita before curling them back in the most insolent "come at me, sis" gesture anyone has ever seen.
There doesn't seem to be anything of interest remaining, and Mikuru has gradually calmed herself down enough to apologise profusely to everyone for making them worry, shaming her house in front of everyone, that sort of thing. Takeru looks superior and smug, but he always does that. Laichao laughs it off, the same way he laughs everything off, and Doji offers a surprisingly clean handkerchief to wipe up Mikuru's tears. Suzuha seems vaguely annoyed that she didn't get to hit something, but she's rather more concerned with Mikuru's safety.
With nothing else left for them here, the group makes their way back to their rooms.
******
The next day dawns as it always does, with the light of Lady Sun spreading majestically across the Emerald Empire. Okakura wakes to the sight of a thoroughly exhausted Touma face-down on the futon, his socks still stained with mud and dirt from where Daikami was hustling him around the village to "bleed off his excess energy". He doesn't even stir as raucous laughter comes from the baths, and upon entry he discovers that Laichao's brought his troop with him for the morning ablutions. The heimin bath attendants look rather distressed as the massive Crab chorus approves of the monkey business. Takeru looks on them with scorn, the same way he always does to people that weren't born into the lap of luxury like he was. Takezo looks to want to finish his business as quickly as possible.
On the ladies' side, Doji Suzuha and Asahina Mikuru are conspicuously absent. In fact, the Cranes are not present in either genders' baths; presumably they have facilities of their own, as the hosts. The mood is considerably more subdued than in the male baths, presumably because Matsu Daikami is also sleeping in late after excoriating Touma all night and there are almost no Crab women in attendance.
******
Once the rituals of excretion, ablution and depilation are done, the first day of the tournament begins in earnest! The contestants are led through the manicured gardens of the academy to a large, opulent dojo; a close examination reveals that the tatamis in the center have been replaced by extra-springy ones woven of young shoots by the finest Kakita artisans. The obligatory portraits of the Emperor sit above the place of the Son of Heaven Himself, who has not yet arrived.
Miya Shikan announces the events of the day. The first contest shall be one of sumai. The contestants shall be paired off and wrestle for three rounds, with the one who takes two matches being declared the winner. Winners receive one point, but losers receive none.
The judge for this contest draws some consternation from the assembled entourages. Togashi Hifumi is a rarity among the ise zumi, being a woman... and of the sort who wears her tattoos with pride. Which is to say, she eschews any clothing on her upper body whatsoever. Of course, her patterning is sufficiently intricate that little actual flesh is revealed, and it would be terribly improper to treat the tattoos as anything less than clothing. The tattooed woman bows to the Emperor's seat, to Miya Shikan, and then to the contestants, before seating herself where she can see the action.
"I've heard of her. She beat my ass when she came by the Matsu dojo last year," Daikami whispers from behind Okakura. Considering the fierce Matsu taisa's pride, Hifumi's skills must be truly prodigious to get that sort of admission from her. Meanwhile, Miya Shikan has been pulling pairs of ceramic tiles from a carved jar, with each tile bearing the mon of each contestant's families. Thus, the pairings are:
Hiruma Fumiko vs Doji Suzuha
Asahina Mikuru vs Hida Teppeki
Kitsuki Kiyomi vs Moto Batukhan
Akodo Okakura vs Morita
Isawa Ameiko vs Bayushi Takeru
Yogo Saemi vs Mirumoto Takezo
Shinjo Liyan vs Akodo Touma
Laichao vs Shiba Kimita
Suzuha grins as she bows to Fumiko. "It's not swords, but I guess it's the next best thing."
Mikuru looks like she's about to cry as she looks over to the massive Teppeki, who returns her gaze with an expression of bemused curiosity.
Kiyomi keeps glancing over to Takeru, then back at the squat, powerful Moto, who is warming up in his strange gaijin way.
Morita nods to Okakura. "It hardly seems a fair contest," he says. "But then again, it seemed unfair to pit seven mortals against a god, and still the mortals won."
Takeru's smile is slick and oily as his eyes explore for his hands. "Ameiko-chan, how fortuitous. I fear I may not be able to grasp your flickering flame; though what agony and ecstasy might it bring?"
Saemi rolls her eyes at Takeru's antics, and instead bows primly and politely to Takezo, who seems rather lost at anything that isn't swordfighting.
Touma settles into a fighting stance as he faces Liyan. A quick glance behind her suggests Matsu Daikami is watching, but it seems he's going to enjoy taking the Unicorn down.
And finally, Laichao, bereft of monkeys (they watch from the trees outside the dojo), settles into a lazy stance and extends his four fingers to Kimita before curling them back in the most insolent "come at me, sis" gesture anyone has ever seen.
SephirothSage
Eldritch Abomination
She smile's with relief, as it turns out to be nothing- she heads back to her rooms, and bows a farewell to Takeru. "It is late, and I am tired- we will have many opportunities to speak and enjoy each other's company before the tourney is through; for now, I must bid you farewell."
*****
She is quiet in the Bath's, cleaning herself quickly and efficiently, before she returns to a series of low prayers to the Kami; "Do not let me Disgrace my name, please- do not let me fail so massively as to be worthless. Let my true spirit shine, and may my true skill's be unveiled, for the good of the family and clan."
*****
The Slender Woman's eyes widen, and widen- as the challenge is declared, and she realizes a Crucial hole in her education. Then she calms herself with a series of slow breath's- and smiles. It is a hole in the education of many Samurai indeed, to neglect Jiujitsu and Sumei. She at least can rely on her natural agility- and perhaps the Kami will favor her.
She step's in to the Arena, taking a solemn stance. She smiles faintly at his comments. "The Ecstasy of a flickering flame? That is in it's contemplation." She clears her mind, and attempts to seek the place of being known to some as one-ness. She makes her mind a flower- then set's the blossom ablaze. She feeds everything in to that fire- till there is nothing. Then she let's the flame be consumed by that void in her mind- as the meditative exercise clears her mind, she goes loose. Her body seems to transform from a stiff, worried woman- to a lounging predator, standing across from her courtier foe as a bird of prey about to strike at a animal low to the ground. An Insect, to be destroyed; such is her foe. There is nothing- none of those foolish sentiments fluttering through her mind, however; in her mind, there is the fire, the void- and her foe. She moves, relying more on her natural speed and agility than anything- and hoping to make the battle end fast.
*****
She is quiet in the Bath's, cleaning herself quickly and efficiently, before she returns to a series of low prayers to the Kami; "Do not let me Disgrace my name, please- do not let me fail so massively as to be worthless. Let my true spirit shine, and may my true skill's be unveiled, for the good of the family and clan."
*****
The Slender Woman's eyes widen, and widen- as the challenge is declared, and she realizes a Crucial hole in her education. Then she calms herself with a series of slow breath's- and smiles. It is a hole in the education of many Samurai indeed, to neglect Jiujitsu and Sumei. She at least can rely on her natural agility- and perhaps the Kami will favor her.
She step's in to the Arena, taking a solemn stance. She smiles faintly at his comments. "The Ecstasy of a flickering flame? That is in it's contemplation." She clears her mind, and attempts to seek the place of being known to some as one-ness. She makes her mind a flower- then set's the blossom ablaze. She feeds everything in to that fire- till there is nothing. Then she let's the flame be consumed by that void in her mind- as the meditative exercise clears her mind, she goes loose. Her body seems to transform from a stiff, worried woman- to a lounging predator, standing across from her courtier foe as a bird of prey about to strike at a animal low to the ground. An Insect, to be destroyed; such is her foe. There is nothing- none of those foolish sentiments fluttering through her mind, however; in her mind, there is the fire, the void- and her foe. She moves, relying more on her natural speed and agility than anything- and hoping to make the battle end fast.
Here's the Deal- the first roll, of the round, I use a void point.
I need some more clarification to go farther- the three rolls, is each of those one round? If so, I use two void- one for the first, and one for the second, round. If these three rolls are to determine just the first round, I use one void- on the first roll only. I'll make the rolls once I know this.
The ROLLS!
[dice]5161[/dice]
[dice]5162[/dice]
[dice]5163[/dice]
[dice]5164[/dice]
I need some more clarification to go farther- the three rolls, is each of those one round? If so, I use two void- one for the first, and one for the second, round. If these three rolls are to determine just the first round, I use one void- on the first roll only. I'll make the rolls once I know this.
The ROLLS!
[dice]5161[/dice]
[dice]5162[/dice]
[dice]5163[/dice]
[dice]5164[/dice]
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hellrazoromega
Department of Redundancy Department.
"So it is Suzuha-san." lacking much training in unarmed combat Fumiko uses the few techniques she learned to use if she were ever disarmed.
"I fear you have me at a disadvantage."
"I fear you have me at a disadvantage."
unskilled so I cannot raise. [dice]5157[/dice][dice]5158[/dice][dice]5159[/dice] decent rolls but no explosion
Esbilon
Seven Thousand Club
When they are convinced that there is nothing there, Liyan dismounts and carefully leads Matsukaze back to the stables by foot. It was dangerous enough riding him in the dark when there was a possible threat to respond to, but when there is no hurry, it would be stupid.
Once back in her chambers, she removes the small statue of Otaku from her pack and places it on the table in her room. She lights three sticks of incense and kneels before the impromptu shrine. She does not speak a prayer, as Otaku was silent in life, it behooves those who would gain her favor to be silent, but sincere in their veneration of her. She remains with her head bowed and hands pressed together for longer than usual. The silent prayer is rather meditative and calming, something she desperately needs if she is to get a full night's sleep before one of the most important days in her young life.
******
Whether or not it was thanks to the benedictions of her ancient forebear, Liyan slept excellently and makes her way down to the baths bright and early. She is meticulous in her cleansing rituals, dealing with animals, even animals as noble as the Otaku war horses, is something that carries with it more dirt and sweat than almost any other honorable activity. And that is without considering the risk that the rider might carry flees or other pests to her steed.
******
As she faces her opponent, Liyan locks eyes with him, and her countenance takes the exact same form as it did the night before, silently saying you violated the spirit of Bushido, you went against the founder of your Clan, you have lost your honor. Without a spoken word, she centers herself, bringing up her hands and bending her legs slightly. As all styles taught in the dojos of the Otaku, their Jiujutsu is adapter for use on horseback, where a kick is often far more practical than the strike of a palm.
She studies the man before her, from his stance and the casual arrogance of his movements, she has little doubt that he is the more competent martial artist, but she carries her honor in her heart and in her fist, lending its strength to her every movement. She will be worthy of her ancestors, she will make her sensei proud, she will defeat this boorish excuse for a samurai.
Once back in her chambers, she removes the small statue of Otaku from her pack and places it on the table in her room. She lights three sticks of incense and kneels before the impromptu shrine. She does not speak a prayer, as Otaku was silent in life, it behooves those who would gain her favor to be silent, but sincere in their veneration of her. She remains with her head bowed and hands pressed together for longer than usual. The silent prayer is rather meditative and calming, something she desperately needs if she is to get a full night's sleep before one of the most important days in her young life.
******
Whether or not it was thanks to the benedictions of her ancient forebear, Liyan slept excellently and makes her way down to the baths bright and early. She is meticulous in her cleansing rituals, dealing with animals, even animals as noble as the Otaku war horses, is something that carries with it more dirt and sweat than almost any other honorable activity. And that is without considering the risk that the rider might carry flees or other pests to her steed.
******
As she faces her opponent, Liyan locks eyes with him, and her countenance takes the exact same form as it did the night before, silently saying you violated the spirit of Bushido, you went against the founder of your Clan, you have lost your honor. Without a spoken word, she centers herself, bringing up her hands and bending her legs slightly. As all styles taught in the dojos of the Otaku, their Jiujutsu is adapter for use on horseback, where a kick is often far more practical than the strike of a palm.
She studies the man before her, from his stance and the casual arrogance of his movements, she has little doubt that he is the more competent martial artist, but she carries her honor in her heart and in her fist, lending its strength to her every movement. She will be worthy of her ancestors, she will make her sensei proud, she will defeat this boorish excuse for a samurai.
Spending 1 void point on the first roll for +1k1. Well, the second rather, as I forgot...
Strike 1: 9+8+8(+7) = 32
Strike 2: 7+5+5+3(+7) = 27
Strike 3: 15+9+8(+7) = 39
[dice]5165[/dice]
[dice]5166[/dice]
[dice]5167[/dice]
[dice]5168[/dice]
Strike 1: 9+8+8(+7) = 32
Strike 2: 7+5+5+3(+7) = 27
Strike 3: 15+9+8(+7) = 39
[dice]5165[/dice]
[dice]5166[/dice]
[dice]5167[/dice]
[dice]5168[/dice]
solyrflair
Have Towel - Will travel
Her night was quiet. While some remained awake in the inn well after she retired to bed, it was a very peaceful night's sleep. The anticipation gave some strange dreams, but the exhaustion of the travel to the Crane lands took her into very deep slumber.
----------
When she woke, she diligently recorded her dreams, looking for some small sign that the kami were instructing her. Then set herself to casting sticks, looking for some clue about what this tournament might offer her. Her divination staffs were basic, carved well enough to read, but nothing of very high quality. It was something she might be able purchase in the Crane village, she hoped. Her set was worn some, but as a new young samurai she wanted a new set that might help clear her messages.
As she sifted though the yarrow sticks, she was looking at the broader picture. Was this going to be just a basic tournament or would there be something unusual going to influence. The scream that so many responded to might have been a preamble, or might have just been a the timid one to jump at her own shadow. It was worth looking into some purpose behind the random events. Omens could be very powerful when interpreted properly.
----------
When she woke, she diligently recorded her dreams, looking for some small sign that the kami were instructing her. Then set herself to casting sticks, looking for some clue about what this tournament might offer her. Her divination staffs were basic, carved well enough to read, but nothing of very high quality. It was something she might be able purchase in the Crane village, she hoped. Her set was worn some, but as a new young samurai she wanted a new set that might help clear her messages.
As she sifted though the yarrow sticks, she was looking at the broader picture. Was this going to be just a basic tournament or would there be something unusual going to influence. The scream that so many responded to might have been a preamble, or might have just been a the timid one to jump at her own shadow. It was worth looking into some purpose behind the random events. Omens could be very powerful when interpreted properly.
Divination 6k3, Result 21
[dice]5182[/dice]
-------------
Cleaned and washed, her hair brushed and left untethered, she joined the group for their first trial, Juijitsu. She hadn't grappled with anyone since she was 6, maybe 7. Not since the first day she began her studies in the House of Isawa Shugenja School. She had read many stories of samurai who had wrested an opponent to the ground, but her tactical knowledge was only marginally greater than her practical knowledge. She would have to rely upon inner fortitude to maintain some semblance of respect.
She did her best to avoid rolling her eyes at the choice of 'Monkey-man' as her opponent. The last thing she wanted was that master of tree-swinging vermin touching her. She bowed politely to the man, "I suspect you have learned much from your monkeys. Were this not a simple contest, I would willingly bow to your prowess and accept the defeat. But this is a chance for each of us to demonstrate our ability, and though you will surely prevail, I must at least provide you a good partner."
When called she solemnly took her place in the square. She bowed as was appropriate, then turned to her opponent as she spoke the words needed to draw the Void within her, to fill her above the brim for this contest. She had little desire give this man the chance to spread his monkey hands on her.
4k2, TN10, Result 16, +3 Void
[dice]5178[/dice]
4k3, Void Used, Result 13
[dice]5179[/dice]
4k3, Void Used, Result 17
[dice]5180[/dice]
4k3, Void Used, Result 22
[dice]5181[/dice]
[dice]5182[/dice]
-------------
Cleaned and washed, her hair brushed and left untethered, she joined the group for their first trial, Juijitsu. She hadn't grappled with anyone since she was 6, maybe 7. Not since the first day she began her studies in the House of Isawa Shugenja School. She had read many stories of samurai who had wrested an opponent to the ground, but her tactical knowledge was only marginally greater than her practical knowledge. She would have to rely upon inner fortitude to maintain some semblance of respect.
She did her best to avoid rolling her eyes at the choice of 'Monkey-man' as her opponent. The last thing she wanted was that master of tree-swinging vermin touching her. She bowed politely to the man, "I suspect you have learned much from your monkeys. Were this not a simple contest, I would willingly bow to your prowess and accept the defeat. But this is a chance for each of us to demonstrate our ability, and though you will surely prevail, I must at least provide you a good partner."
When called she solemnly took her place in the square. She bowed as was appropriate, then turned to her opponent as she spoke the words needed to draw the Void within her, to fill her above the brim for this contest. She had little desire give this man the chance to spread his monkey hands on her.
4k2, TN10, Result 16, +3 Void
[dice]5178[/dice]
4k3, Void Used, Result 13
[dice]5179[/dice]
4k3, Void Used, Result 17
[dice]5180[/dice]
4k3, Void Used, Result 22
[dice]5181[/dice]
Last edited by a moderator:
Silent Wayfarer
This is my spirit animal
Apologies for being a lazy bastard.
Doji Suzuha vs Hiruma Fumiko
Fumiko can immediately tell that Suzuha is barely more skilled than herself, and roughly as fast as she is, as is demonstrated when she efficiently takes the Crane down in one movement in the first round. However, that seems to get her opponent's blood up, because Suzuha neatly returns the favor in the second round. The third exchange will be spoken of for quite some time among the bushi of the Empire. Fumiko performs admirably despite her instinctive movements, but her struggle with Suzuha is the stuff of legend, with the Crane flowing like a river as she twists and spins around Fumiko's body and brings her gently to the ground, like the waves carrying a fallen leaf to the shore. The crowd erupts in applause as Suzuha looks into Fumiko's eyes, apparently surprised that whatever she did actually worked.
The match and point goes to Suzuha, who bows graciously to the Crab.
[dice]5215[/dice]
[dice]5216[/dice]
[dice]5217[/dice]
[dice]5218[/dice]
Total 56 for the last one.
The match between Mikuru and Teppeki is rather awkward. Mikuru has no training in unarmed combat whatsoever, and Teppeki, for all his ferocity as a Hida bushi, has absolutely no idea how to deal with a tiny girl who looks like she's about to cry. Even when he tries to imagine her as a goblin, she's adorable enough that he has to look blankly at Hida Chudoku, who simply palms his face and sighs.
In the end, he approaches her and takes her trembling hand in his, and gives her a big, goofy smile before bowing to her. Mikuru reflexively bows to him, and then they both face Togashi Hifumi, who nods. Officially, the match is a draw, with neither gaining a point, because neither won. That said, this display of grace has won the Crab some good will among the Crane contingent - most particularly from a very relieved Suzuha.
Kitsuki Kiyomi loses the first round to Batukhan's unorthodox wrestling technique, a relic of his Ujik-Hai ancestry. However, that's all the Unicorn gets, as she expertly counters his subsequent attempts to hold her with improbable insight and her own kaze-do training, and Batukhan finds himself floored twice in a row without knowing how he got there. Hifumi nods to Kiyomi, and she gets the point.
Akodo Okakura vs Morita
Few expect this to be much of a contest. After all, Okakura is a lame (literally!) duck and his opponent is a fit and healthy young man. However, Okakura was a bushi before he became a courtier, and he has retained his agility despite the impediment of his leg and a lack of training. Drawing on the lessons of the horse that crushes the leg, he overpowers Morita and pins him to the ground in the first round. A surprised Morita decides to go all-out in the second, but in a stunning display that takes the assembled audience by surprise, Okakura anticipates the leg sweep and slams Morita to the ground like the strike of Hida's tetsubo against the earth. The final exchange is a mere formality, given that Okakura has already won, but even so, Morita gamely participates to the end, and is rewarded with victory in the last round as his persistance finally pays off. It does not stop Okakura from claiming the point, however, as well as respectful nods from the rest of the Lions - even a grudging one from Touma.
Morita is gracious in defeat. "Truly, Fortune does favor the mortal man."
[dice]5219[/dice]
[dice]5222[/dice]
22 vs 17
[dice]5220[/dice]
[dice]5223[/dice]
[dice]5225[/dice]
[dice]5226[/dice]
[dice]5227[/dice]
34 vs 20
[dice]5221[/dice]
[dice]5224[/dice]
http://www.rpdom.com/dice
20 vs 21
Isawa Ameiko vs Bayushi Takeru
The Scorpion's movements are sinuous and swift, matching Ameiko's speed for speed. His eyes lock with hers and for a moment she sees the triumph in them.
Then he falls under her onslaught, using his technique to gracefully bear himself to the ground beneath her. He does so for the first two exchanges, never breaking eye contact with her as he goes to the tatami like a falling leaf. Once her victory is assured, he swiftly reverses this state of affairs, pressing himself down on her after sweeping her off her feet.
With his mouth by her ear, he whispers, "Accept this gift, freely given," before lifting himself off her body and extending a helping hand to her. Hifumi frowns, but awards the point to Ameiko.
For various reasons, Takeru chooses to keep his lowest dice when facing Ameiko.
[dice]5229[/dice]
[dice]5230[/dice]
[dice]5231[/dice]
As far as uneven matchups go, Yogo Saemi and Mirumoto Takezo roughly qualifies one; the pick of the Dragon bushi against a half-masked Scorpion maiden. Takezo, however, doesn't seem to know what to do with his hands without a sword in them, and Saemi is unnaturally ruthless for a simple courtier, bringing him down with strikes and holds that would be fatal if executed with just a bit more killing intent. Takeru glares at Saemi, whose face is flushed and her chest heaving.
It's not just exertion.
Hifumi awards Saemi the point, though she turns a quizzical eye on the Scorpion.
Shinjo Liyan vs Akodo Touma
Touma's own style of jiujutsu seems vaguely inspired by the ferocity of the Matsu technique, but just as Lady Matsu was felled by Lord Kakita, Liyan's calm and grace stands firm as a bulwark against Touma's fury. First, she kicks his foot out from under him as he begins a lunge, dropping him like a sack of rice. Then, she flips him over a raised knee and flops him straight to the floor on his belly. But Touma feeds on anger, and with a cry of frustrated rage, he grabs Liyan by the lapels of her gi with a rage that overpowers even her composed defense, but before he can deliver a finishing blow, his hand is grabbed by a stonefaced Matsu Daikami. The look in her eyes is unmistakeable - do not dishonor the Lion any further.
He snarls and climbs off Liyan, as Hifumi nods to Liyan, giving her the point.
[dice]5231[/dice]
[dice]5232[/dice]
[dice]5233[/dice]
[dice]5234[/dice]
Total 14, 18 and 50
Shiba Kimita vs Laichao
Laichao uses an unusual jiujutsu technique, rapidly shuffling his feet back and forth while seemingly hovering from side to side in an incredibly athletic display. When the match starts he immediately somersaults and backflips toward Kimita in a bewildering display, who feels arms clinch around her chest before he drops her to the ground in a sacrifice throw, then flips up on his hands before returning to his feet. He continues using his highly unorthodox and athletic style during the second and third rounds, bamboozling and outmaneuvering in turn. Even so, Kimita can tell that he's trying his best not to hurt her, though her back is sore after he slips behind her, grabs her, lifts her up and falls over to send her backfirst into the soft tatami mat.
The audience is rather unsure whether to applaud, though Hifumi seems to be giggling as she awards Laichao the point.
[dice]5236[/dice]
[dice]5236[/dice]
[dice]5236[/dice]
24, 24, 28
******
And so the first event ends, with the following results.
Hiruma Fumiko - 0
Hida Teppeki - 0
Doji Suzuha - 1
Asahina Mikuru - 0
Kitsuki Kiyomi - 1
Mirumoto Takezo - 0
Akodo Okakura - 1
Akodo Touma - 0
Isawa Ameiko - 1
Shiba Kimita - 0
Yogo Saemi - 1
Bayushi Takeru - 0
Shinjo Liyan - 1
Moto Batukhan - 0
Laichao - 1
Morita - 0
Chudoku sighs as he pats Fumiko on the back. "I suppose Teppeki could have flattened that titchy little Crane girl and gotten the point. But that would have just been bullying. In any case, you did well. There'll be other events."
As the audience is filing off, some of them notice the massive Teppeki facing Suzuha in the center of the tatami mats. They bow to each other, and then she immediately goes at him with the same speed and grace that felled Fumiko. The Crab proceeds to effortlessly grab her by the neck, stopping her attack cold.
"Gently! GENTLY!" Chudoku shouts. Teppeki nods with glacial slowness, then carefully pushes Suzuha down, bending her knees until she is practically kneeling in reverse with her head pressed to the tatami. She quickly taps out and rolls aside, gasping for air.
"Blessed Benten, he's like an ogre. Who smiles," she pants, sitting up on her elbows.
"That's our boy, Missy," Chudoku winks. "How about you, Mantis-san?" he asks Laichao, who's watching from the sidelines along with his monkeys.
"Uh, me?" Laichao asks.
"Yes, you," Chudoku says in that tone of exaggerated politeness he reserves for clueless ponies playing with their swords on the Wall. "Why don't you go a round with Teppeki-kun?"
The color drains out of Laichao's face.
"Uh... I just remembered that I have a pressing-"
"Or are you only confident in beating courtiers with no training?" Takeru chimes in from the side. His smile is as vicious as it is charming.
"I... all right, I'll do it," he sighs, before approaching Teppeki with a bow. Laichao is fast - fear for his life is speeding his movements until he's a blur of green dancing around the great Teppeki, who stands centered, strong and solid and utterly immune to Laichao's flowing-wave attacks. He only moves once, to slap the Mantis in the chest hard enough that he sends the smaller man flying several yards, the air knocked out of him.
"Was he trained not to hit girls?" Morita asks.
"Nah. That was his mom. She's scarier than he is," Chudoku replies.
Batukhan shakes his head as he approaches Liyan. "Good showing," he nods. "I did not expect to be defeated by such," he says.
Matsu Daikami is all smiles as she pats Okakura on the back. "Good job! Well, I suppose it makes up for the disappointment of some people..."
Touma freezes at those last two words, but swallows his anger and stalks off. Daikami turns to Liyan. "Well, I can't argue that Touma fell fair and square," she shrugs. "Ever thought of joining the Matsu-ryu? We don't have horses, but we don't need them."
Liyan knows that the Lion captain is just joking with her. There's genuine respect in her voice, though.
Takeru winks to Ameiko before dragging Saemi off. Our little secret.
Takezo vanishes swiftly, replaced by Laichao. He seems to be in pain, and Kimita can make out a huge bruise in the shape of an open palm on his chest where Teppeki hit him.
"Ah... so yes! Sorry about that, Kimita-san!"
He winces as he puts his hands together in supplication. Shiba has taken up position on his shoulder with a bottle of ointment in hand, but he's not going to apply it yet. A shugenja could cast the Path to Inner Peace on him if she felt like it, but she doesn't have to.
Doji Suzuha vs Hiruma Fumiko
Fumiko can immediately tell that Suzuha is barely more skilled than herself, and roughly as fast as she is, as is demonstrated when she efficiently takes the Crane down in one movement in the first round. However, that seems to get her opponent's blood up, because Suzuha neatly returns the favor in the second round. The third exchange will be spoken of for quite some time among the bushi of the Empire. Fumiko performs admirably despite her instinctive movements, but her struggle with Suzuha is the stuff of legend, with the Crane flowing like a river as she twists and spins around Fumiko's body and brings her gently to the ground, like the waves carrying a fallen leaf to the shore. The crowd erupts in applause as Suzuha looks into Fumiko's eyes, apparently surprised that whatever she did actually worked.
The match and point goes to Suzuha, who bows graciously to the Crab.
[dice]5215[/dice]
[dice]5216[/dice]
[dice]5217[/dice]
[dice]5218[/dice]
Total 56 for the last one.
The match between Mikuru and Teppeki is rather awkward. Mikuru has no training in unarmed combat whatsoever, and Teppeki, for all his ferocity as a Hida bushi, has absolutely no idea how to deal with a tiny girl who looks like she's about to cry. Even when he tries to imagine her as a goblin, she's adorable enough that he has to look blankly at Hida Chudoku, who simply palms his face and sighs.
In the end, he approaches her and takes her trembling hand in his, and gives her a big, goofy smile before bowing to her. Mikuru reflexively bows to him, and then they both face Togashi Hifumi, who nods. Officially, the match is a draw, with neither gaining a point, because neither won. That said, this display of grace has won the Crab some good will among the Crane contingent - most particularly from a very relieved Suzuha.
Kitsuki Kiyomi loses the first round to Batukhan's unorthodox wrestling technique, a relic of his Ujik-Hai ancestry. However, that's all the Unicorn gets, as she expertly counters his subsequent attempts to hold her with improbable insight and her own kaze-do training, and Batukhan finds himself floored twice in a row without knowing how he got there. Hifumi nods to Kiyomi, and she gets the point.
Akodo Okakura vs Morita
Few expect this to be much of a contest. After all, Okakura is a lame (literally!) duck and his opponent is a fit and healthy young man. However, Okakura was a bushi before he became a courtier, and he has retained his agility despite the impediment of his leg and a lack of training. Drawing on the lessons of the horse that crushes the leg, he overpowers Morita and pins him to the ground in the first round. A surprised Morita decides to go all-out in the second, but in a stunning display that takes the assembled audience by surprise, Okakura anticipates the leg sweep and slams Morita to the ground like the strike of Hida's tetsubo against the earth. The final exchange is a mere formality, given that Okakura has already won, but even so, Morita gamely participates to the end, and is rewarded with victory in the last round as his persistance finally pays off. It does not stop Okakura from claiming the point, however, as well as respectful nods from the rest of the Lions - even a grudging one from Touma.
Morita is gracious in defeat. "Truly, Fortune does favor the mortal man."
[dice]5219[/dice]
[dice]5222[/dice]
22 vs 17
[dice]5220[/dice]
[dice]5223[/dice]
[dice]5225[/dice]
[dice]5226[/dice]
[dice]5227[/dice]
34 vs 20
[dice]5221[/dice]
[dice]5224[/dice]
http://www.rpdom.com/dice
20 vs 21
Isawa Ameiko vs Bayushi Takeru
The Scorpion's movements are sinuous and swift, matching Ameiko's speed for speed. His eyes lock with hers and for a moment she sees the triumph in them.
Then he falls under her onslaught, using his technique to gracefully bear himself to the ground beneath her. He does so for the first two exchanges, never breaking eye contact with her as he goes to the tatami like a falling leaf. Once her victory is assured, he swiftly reverses this state of affairs, pressing himself down on her after sweeping her off her feet.
With his mouth by her ear, he whispers, "Accept this gift, freely given," before lifting himself off her body and extending a helping hand to her. Hifumi frowns, but awards the point to Ameiko.
For various reasons, Takeru chooses to keep his lowest dice when facing Ameiko.
[dice]5229[/dice]
[dice]5230[/dice]
[dice]5231[/dice]
As far as uneven matchups go, Yogo Saemi and Mirumoto Takezo roughly qualifies one; the pick of the Dragon bushi against a half-masked Scorpion maiden. Takezo, however, doesn't seem to know what to do with his hands without a sword in them, and Saemi is unnaturally ruthless for a simple courtier, bringing him down with strikes and holds that would be fatal if executed with just a bit more killing intent. Takeru glares at Saemi, whose face is flushed and her chest heaving.
It's not just exertion.
Hifumi awards Saemi the point, though she turns a quizzical eye on the Scorpion.
Shinjo Liyan vs Akodo Touma
Touma's own style of jiujutsu seems vaguely inspired by the ferocity of the Matsu technique, but just as Lady Matsu was felled by Lord Kakita, Liyan's calm and grace stands firm as a bulwark against Touma's fury. First, she kicks his foot out from under him as he begins a lunge, dropping him like a sack of rice. Then, she flips him over a raised knee and flops him straight to the floor on his belly. But Touma feeds on anger, and with a cry of frustrated rage, he grabs Liyan by the lapels of her gi with a rage that overpowers even her composed defense, but before he can deliver a finishing blow, his hand is grabbed by a stonefaced Matsu Daikami. The look in her eyes is unmistakeable - do not dishonor the Lion any further.
He snarls and climbs off Liyan, as Hifumi nods to Liyan, giving her the point.
[dice]5231[/dice]
[dice]5232[/dice]
[dice]5233[/dice]
[dice]5234[/dice]
Total 14, 18 and 50
Shiba Kimita vs Laichao
Laichao uses an unusual jiujutsu technique, rapidly shuffling his feet back and forth while seemingly hovering from side to side in an incredibly athletic display. When the match starts he immediately somersaults and backflips toward Kimita in a bewildering display, who feels arms clinch around her chest before he drops her to the ground in a sacrifice throw, then flips up on his hands before returning to his feet. He continues using his highly unorthodox and athletic style during the second and third rounds, bamboozling and outmaneuvering in turn. Even so, Kimita can tell that he's trying his best not to hurt her, though her back is sore after he slips behind her, grabs her, lifts her up and falls over to send her backfirst into the soft tatami mat.
The audience is rather unsure whether to applaud, though Hifumi seems to be giggling as she awards Laichao the point.
[dice]5236[/dice]
[dice]5236[/dice]
[dice]5236[/dice]
24, 24, 28
******
And so the first event ends, with the following results.
Hiruma Fumiko - 0
Hida Teppeki - 0
Doji Suzuha - 1
Asahina Mikuru - 0
Kitsuki Kiyomi - 1
Mirumoto Takezo - 0
Akodo Okakura - 1
Akodo Touma - 0
Isawa Ameiko - 1
Shiba Kimita - 0
Yogo Saemi - 1
Bayushi Takeru - 0
Shinjo Liyan - 1
Moto Batukhan - 0
Laichao - 1
Morita - 0
Chudoku sighs as he pats Fumiko on the back. "I suppose Teppeki could have flattened that titchy little Crane girl and gotten the point. But that would have just been bullying. In any case, you did well. There'll be other events."
As the audience is filing off, some of them notice the massive Teppeki facing Suzuha in the center of the tatami mats. They bow to each other, and then she immediately goes at him with the same speed and grace that felled Fumiko. The Crab proceeds to effortlessly grab her by the neck, stopping her attack cold.
"Gently! GENTLY!" Chudoku shouts. Teppeki nods with glacial slowness, then carefully pushes Suzuha down, bending her knees until she is practically kneeling in reverse with her head pressed to the tatami. She quickly taps out and rolls aside, gasping for air.
"Blessed Benten, he's like an ogre. Who smiles," she pants, sitting up on her elbows.
"That's our boy, Missy," Chudoku winks. "How about you, Mantis-san?" he asks Laichao, who's watching from the sidelines along with his monkeys.
"Uh, me?" Laichao asks.
"Yes, you," Chudoku says in that tone of exaggerated politeness he reserves for clueless ponies playing with their swords on the Wall. "Why don't you go a round with Teppeki-kun?"
The color drains out of Laichao's face.
"Uh... I just remembered that I have a pressing-"
"Or are you only confident in beating courtiers with no training?" Takeru chimes in from the side. His smile is as vicious as it is charming.
"I... all right, I'll do it," he sighs, before approaching Teppeki with a bow. Laichao is fast - fear for his life is speeding his movements until he's a blur of green dancing around the great Teppeki, who stands centered, strong and solid and utterly immune to Laichao's flowing-wave attacks. He only moves once, to slap the Mantis in the chest hard enough that he sends the smaller man flying several yards, the air knocked out of him.
"Was he trained not to hit girls?" Morita asks.
"Nah. That was his mom. She's scarier than he is," Chudoku replies.
Batukhan shakes his head as he approaches Liyan. "Good showing," he nods. "I did not expect to be defeated by such," he says.
Matsu Daikami is all smiles as she pats Okakura on the back. "Good job! Well, I suppose it makes up for the disappointment of some people..."
Touma freezes at those last two words, but swallows his anger and stalks off. Daikami turns to Liyan. "Well, I can't argue that Touma fell fair and square," she shrugs. "Ever thought of joining the Matsu-ryu? We don't have horses, but we don't need them."
Liyan knows that the Lion captain is just joking with her. There's genuine respect in her voice, though.
Takeru winks to Ameiko before dragging Saemi off. Our little secret.
Takezo vanishes swiftly, replaced by Laichao. He seems to be in pain, and Kimita can make out a huge bruise in the shape of an open palm on his chest where Teppeki hit him.
"Ah... so yes! Sorry about that, Kimita-san!"
He winces as he puts his hands together in supplication. Shiba has taken up position on his shoulder with a bottle of ointment in hand, but he's not going to apply it yet. A shugenja could cast the Path to Inner Peace on him if she felt like it, but she doesn't have to.
hellrazoromega
Department of Redundancy Department.
"Well won Suzuha-san, that final move was both unexpected and well executed. I suspect that had we sparred last night that the Fortunes would have been with you." Fumiko bows at the end of their match, with a bit of a look of confusion on her face, as she is unsure of what happened, and doubts she ever will be. One minute she was on her feet and in the next instant---behold the stars!!! Not that it had been a rough fall, which perhaps was the oddest part of all.
Stepping off the mat Fumiko moved off to the other Crab, deep in thought trying to replay what had happened--that was one way a samurai stayed learned from training. But try as she might 2+2 always came out to 8 or 9 or sometimes even 3.
"As you say Chudoku-sama, I know there are events that my skills would be better suited to I just hope that I can make a good account of my ancestors."
After watching the exchange between Teppeki and Suzuha, Fumiko shakes her head. "Come on Teppeki-kun, we have other events to prepare for, stop trying to woo the ladies." She says with a small friendly grin, her composure regained as she looks forward to other events.
Stepping off the mat Fumiko moved off to the other Crab, deep in thought trying to replay what had happened--that was one way a samurai stayed learned from training. But try as she might 2+2 always came out to 8 or 9 or sometimes even 3.
"As you say Chudoku-sama, I know there are events that my skills would be better suited to I just hope that I can make a good account of my ancestors."
After watching the exchange between Teppeki and Suzuha, Fumiko shakes her head. "Come on Teppeki-kun, we have other events to prepare for, stop trying to woo the ladies." She says with a small friendly grin, her composure regained as she looks forward to other events.
Esbilon
Seven Thousand Club
Lyingn on her back with the furious Lion above her, Liyan knows a moment of fear, though she does her best not to show it. Does he really have so little control? Can a champion of the mighty Lion not be trusted to act with honor in a duel between samurai? She rises as soon as he has removed himself from her and nods with gratitude and respect to Daikami.
"Thank you," she replies with a smile as Batukhan approaches her, "and that only goes to show that you should spend more time learning how the others fight, and less time learning how the Crab sing."
At Matsu Daikami's offer, however joking, she is momentarily stunned. That was so far outside of what she had expected even at such an extraordinary event as this that she had no answer ready. Liyan recovers quickly, however, and smiles, taking the joke for what it is. "You do me too great an honor, Daikami-sama, but no. You have no horses."
"Thank you," she replies with a smile as Batukhan approaches her, "and that only goes to show that you should spend more time learning how the others fight, and less time learning how the Crab sing."
At Matsu Daikami's offer, however joking, she is momentarily stunned. That was so far outside of what she had expected even at such an extraordinary event as this that she had no answer ready. Liyan recovers quickly, however, and smiles, taking the joke for what it is. "You do me too great an honor, Daikami-sama, but no. You have no horses."
Silent Wayfarer
This is my spirit animal
Hiruma Fumiko
Suzuha simply grins, and punches Fumiko lightly on the shoulder. "You're all right, Fumiko-san."
She's about to continue when Mikuru drags her off with a pleading look in her eyes, and Suzuha shrugs before trailing off after the worried-looking Mikuru. Teppeki comes to heel like an obedient puppy. "She's pretty, Fumifumi," he says, reaching his massive paw out for hers.
Shinjo Liyan
Batukhan smiles.
"I like them. There's no place like home, but they're close. And like us, they've lost their kin to the Shadowlands..."
His face hardens. Liyan remembers that he had an elder sister, who rode with Moto Tsume and is now part of his Black Guard.
Daikami grins at Liyan's refusal. "We have lions, though. Lots of them. My sister is a Beastmaster, she's drowning in cubs. Cutest little things ever, but they'll tear a man apart in battle. Are your otaku war steeds like that? They're noble beasts, but I've heard none may touch them lightly..."
******
There's time enough for a tea ceremony or a meditation session, to find one's focus, before the next event begins. Said event takes place in one of the large pavilions overlooking the story garden Ameiko and Takeru were walking through last night, and Miya Shikan, once again, is the announcer for this event, which will be a test of heraldric knowledge. None will compete directly with each other for this event, but nobody who does not pass more than three out of the five tests will be awarded a point.
The Miya have access to a huge collection of mon designs accumulated over a thousand years of empire, and they randomly select five of them for a contestant to identify, in increasing order of difficulty. Some of the mon they choose are of truly obscure origin...
Suzuha simply grins, and punches Fumiko lightly on the shoulder. "You're all right, Fumiko-san."
She's about to continue when Mikuru drags her off with a pleading look in her eyes, and Suzuha shrugs before trailing off after the worried-looking Mikuru. Teppeki comes to heel like an obedient puppy. "She's pretty, Fumifumi," he says, reaching his massive paw out for hers.
Shinjo Liyan
Batukhan smiles.
"I like them. There's no place like home, but they're close. And like us, they've lost their kin to the Shadowlands..."
His face hardens. Liyan remembers that he had an elder sister, who rode with Moto Tsume and is now part of his Black Guard.
Daikami grins at Liyan's refusal. "We have lions, though. Lots of them. My sister is a Beastmaster, she's drowning in cubs. Cutest little things ever, but they'll tear a man apart in battle. Are your otaku war steeds like that? They're noble beasts, but I've heard none may touch them lightly..."
******
There's time enough for a tea ceremony or a meditation session, to find one's focus, before the next event begins. Said event takes place in one of the large pavilions overlooking the story garden Ameiko and Takeru were walking through last night, and Miya Shikan, once again, is the announcer for this event, which will be a test of heraldric knowledge. None will compete directly with each other for this event, but nobody who does not pass more than three out of the five tests will be awarded a point.
The Miya have access to a huge collection of mon designs accumulated over a thousand years of empire, and they randomly select five of them for a contestant to identify, in increasing order of difficulty. Some of the mon they choose are of truly obscure origin...
Give me 5 Intelligence/Lore: Heraldry rolls.
solyrflair
Have Towel - Will travel
Kimita returns to her room and requests water to be drawn and brought to her. She had simply bowed at Laichou's attempt at apology. She had respected his abilities before the match, but could not feel less than deflated at the way he simply man-handled her. She had hoped to provide some small challenge, but failed miserably. Her pride was damaged more than her body, but she felt dirty after the monkey-man had grabbed her so decisively.
While others took time off to relax and meditate, she scrubbed until the sensation of the monkey-man fingerprints had left her. Then she dressed once more and assembled for the next contest. Hopefully, she wouldn't fail as badly this time. She expected to do better, she had always been fascinated with books and learning, but heraldry was not her specialty the way omens and theology were.
While others took time off to relax and meditate, she scrubbed until the sensation of the monkey-man fingerprints had left her. Then she dressed once more and assembled for the next contest. Hopefully, she wouldn't fail as badly this time. She expected to do better, she had always been fascinated with books and learning, but heraldry was not her specialty the way omens and theology were.
Sage advantage 4k3 = 50[dice]5279[/dice]
[dice]5284[/dice]
[dice]5285[/dice]
Sage advantage 4k3 = 24
[dice]5280[/dice]
[dice]5286[/dice]
Sage advantage 4k3 = 23
[dice]5281[/dice]
Sage advantage 4k3 = 31
[dice]5282[/dice][dice]5287[/dice]
Sage advantage 4k3 = 22
[dice]5283[/dice]
[dice]5284[/dice]
[dice]5285[/dice]
Sage advantage 4k3 = 24
[dice]5280[/dice]
[dice]5286[/dice]
Sage advantage 4k3 = 23
[dice]5281[/dice]
Sage advantage 4k3 = 31
[dice]5282[/dice][dice]5287[/dice]
Sage advantage 4k3 = 22
[dice]5283[/dice]
Last edited by a moderator:
hellrazoromega
Department of Redundancy Department.
Um yeah Kimita beats Fumiko so bad before I roll that I should just call in dead
Fumiko sighs lightly as she looks over the symbols, Heraldry was another weakness of hers. It was not as if the things that ran about the Shadowlands wore much in the way of crests. If nothing else Fumiko fits the picture of the dull Crab as she stumbles through the event. She only prays to the Fortunes that it will make others underestimate her in events where she is more skilled. After she is finished she offers a bow to the assembled sensei and moves to the rear of the room to mentally prepare for the next event.
Int rolls 2k2 [dice]5288[/dice][dice]5289[/dice][dice]5290[/dice][dice]5291[/dice][dice]5292[/dice]
Fumiko sighs lightly as she looks over the symbols, Heraldry was another weakness of hers. It was not as if the things that ran about the Shadowlands wore much in the way of crests. If nothing else Fumiko fits the picture of the dull Crab as she stumbles through the event. She only prays to the Fortunes that it will make others underestimate her in events where she is more skilled. After she is finished she offers a bow to the assembled sensei and moves to the rear of the room to mentally prepare for the next event.
Int rolls 2k2 [dice]5288[/dice][dice]5289[/dice][dice]5290[/dice][dice]5291[/dice][dice]5292[/dice]
Esbilon
Seven Thousand Club
Liyan nods gravely in response to Batukhan's words. Nothing she can say will change what has happened, better to show determination and resolve.
She smiles at Daikami's words, though less warmly than before, the reminder of the black mark on her Clan's history dampening her mood. "A war steed may not tear an enemy apart, it can and will freeze him in his tracks, and kick in his skull. And can you ride a lion?" Her smiles becomes just a little crooked, "perhaps once I have mastered the ways of the Otaku, I will take you up on your offer and learn how to ride lions into battle."
When the post-contest conversations have died down, Liyan approaches Fumiko and gives a slight bow, "Fumiko-san," she says respectfully, "I was wondering if you would be willing to take tea with me."
***** ***** ***** ***** *****
Regardless of the other's response, she makes her way back to her room and puts on the small metallic tea pot she has brought with her from beyond the Red Waste. As the water comes to a boil, she sets the small table for two before measuring off exactly the correct amount of dried leaves and pouring them into the bubbling water. When it has steeped, she carefully pours into each cup before sitting down and raising her own in silence.
***** ***** ***** ***** *****
Clearing her head of all distractions as she sits kneeling before the collected mons, Liyan focuses on the task before her. She has studied heraldry before, but only enough to learn the very basics; the Families of the Unicorn, their prominent neighbors, three gaijin symbols and the Great clans and major Families. If she gets the more obscure ones right, she muses, it is by sheer luck.
She smiles at Daikami's words, though less warmly than before, the reminder of the black mark on her Clan's history dampening her mood. "A war steed may not tear an enemy apart, it can and will freeze him in his tracks, and kick in his skull. And can you ride a lion?" Her smiles becomes just a little crooked, "perhaps once I have mastered the ways of the Otaku, I will take you up on your offer and learn how to ride lions into battle."
When the post-contest conversations have died down, Liyan approaches Fumiko and gives a slight bow, "Fumiko-san," she says respectfully, "I was wondering if you would be willing to take tea with me."
***** ***** ***** ***** *****
Regardless of the other's response, she makes her way back to her room and puts on the small metallic tea pot she has brought with her from beyond the Red Waste. As the water comes to a boil, she sets the small table for two before measuring off exactly the correct amount of dried leaves and pouring them into the bubbling water. When it has steeped, she carefully pours into each cup before sitting down and raising her own in silence.
***** ***** ***** ***** *****
Clearing her head of all distractions as she sits kneeling before the collected mons, Liyan focuses on the task before her. She has studied heraldry before, but only enough to learn the very basics; the Families of the Unicorn, their prominent neighbors, three gaijin symbols and the Great clans and major Families. If she gets the more obscure ones right, she muses, it is by sheer luck.
Starting out by a 4k3 Tea Ceremony roll, and then moving on to the five Heraldry rolls with 3k2. I will spend a Void point on the 3rd and 4th roll.
Tea Ceremony: 17+6+3 = 26, success!
Heraldry 1: 16+9 = 25
Heraldry 2: 19+7 = 26
Heraldry 3: 6+4+3 = 13
Heraldry 4: 9+7+7 = 23
Heraldry 5: 9+3 = 12
[dice]5296[/dice]
[dice]5297[/dice]
[dice]5298[/dice]
[dice]5299[/dice]
[dice]5300[/dice]
[dice]5301[/dice]
[dice]5302[/dice]
[dice]5303[/dice]
[dice]5304[/dice]
Tea Ceremony: 17+6+3 = 26, success!
Heraldry 1: 16+9 = 25
Heraldry 2: 19+7 = 26
Heraldry 3: 6+4+3 = 13
Heraldry 4: 9+7+7 = 23
Heraldry 5: 9+3 = 12
[dice]5296[/dice]
[dice]5297[/dice]
[dice]5298[/dice]
[dice]5299[/dice]
[dice]5300[/dice]
[dice]5301[/dice]
[dice]5302[/dice]
[dice]5303[/dice]
[dice]5304[/dice]
HairyDM
New Member
Buoyed from his success in the jujitsu contest, Okakura is looks forward to the Heraldry test. He has always enjoyed the slight subtleties that separated one mon from another, though the mons may be almost identical the families are only related by the most tenuous of bonds. He finds the way that family mons evolve over time, through the formation of vassals, fascinating. He is somewhat nervous however as he walks towards the mons that have been chosen for him by Miya Shikan. He knows that failing here would bring greater shame upon him than failing in the last contest would have, considering his ailment and his subsequent upbringing. Electing to stand rather than kneel after bowing to the small crowd, Okakura studies the mons set out for him, digging into the depths of his memory for the names that are attached to the shown icons.
Roll 1: 25= 15+6+4
Roll 2: 19= 9+6+4
Roll 3: 17= 7+6+4
Roll 4: 21= 9+7+5
Roll 5: 24= 9+8+7
[dice]5305[/dice]
[dice]5306[/dice]
[dice]5307[/dice]
[dice]5308[/dice]
[dice]5309[/dice]
[dice]5310[/dice]
Roll 2: 19= 9+6+4
Roll 3: 17= 7+6+4
Roll 4: 21= 9+7+5
Roll 5: 24= 9+8+7
[dice]5305[/dice]
[dice]5306[/dice]
[dice]5307[/dice]
[dice]5308[/dice]
[dice]5309[/dice]
[dice]5310[/dice]
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hellrazoromega
Department of Redundancy Department.
Fumiko would accept the Tea ceremony--to be polite since she is not down any Void
Fumiko watches the other and marvels at their knowledge of such things, but alas she is young and it is a skill she will have to acquire. If nothing else this will show her where she needs to improve.
Fumiko watches the other and marvels at their knowledge of such things, but alas she is young and it is a skill she will have to acquire. If nothing else this will show her where she needs to improve.
SephirothSage
Eldritch Abomination
Even as Ameiko, bowing to her opponent rises. "Perhaps you would care to join me, for a cup of Tea Between Matches?" She offered, with a faint smile on her face. She smiled, and without waiting for a reply began to leave to do so- expecting him to follow.
------------------X
As she goes and sets her small kettle to boil, and then pours in to small porclein cups. She is soft, and smiling with a faint grace as she prepares the Tea.
----------------X
And then comes the challenge. She frowns, unsure of many of the mons- and then trusts to luck and the Kami to guide her..!
[dice]5325[/dice]
[dice]5326[/dice]
[dice]5327[/dice]
[dice]5328[/dice]
[dice]5329[/dice]
[dice]5330[/dice]
------------------X
As she goes and sets her small kettle to boil, and then pours in to small porclein cups. She is soft, and smiling with a faint grace as she prepares the Tea.
----------------X
And then comes the challenge. She frowns, unsure of many of the mons- and then trusts to luck and the Kami to guide her..!
[dice]5325[/dice]
[dice]5326[/dice]
[dice]5327[/dice]
[dice]5328[/dice]
[dice]5329[/dice]
[dice]5330[/dice]
Silent Wayfarer
This is my spirit animal
Takeru is only too glad to take tea with Ameiko. "You do your house honor," he smiles, as he admires, sniffs and samples the tea in accordance with tradition.
******
Kimita effortlessly identifies the first four of the five mons, though she hiccups a little on the last; not that anyone can fault her for mistaking one of the myriad Crane sub-family mons for each other (when two of them are the same design distinguished only by the blue-on-white and white-on-blue coloring...)
Somehow, Fumiko manages to identify the first three mons. It helps that they are all Crab mons and she's seen them all before in her youth. However, the last two are Scorpion in origin, and her luck doesn't hold out then.
Liyan stumbles on the second (Morito Clan) and the last (Suzuha's sub-family; Amane) mons, but manages all the others. Her performance is met with polite applause, though Suzuha sticks her tongue out at the Unicorn before winking to show that no offense was taken.
Okakura turns in the best performance of the lot, correctly identifying all five without hesitation. Miya Shikan is quite impressed by the way he manages to pick out his own personal mon, and not the one he uses as the Emperor's Herald.
The kami don't exactly come through for Ameiko, but neither do they abandon her. She manages the first two easily, but is stuck on the third when a sudden gust of wind directs her attention to the smiling Takeru; specifically, the fact that he's from the Shirogane sub-family, which happens to be the one she's stuck on. Unfortunately, no living man has worn the last two mons for the past two centuries, being that they're from the Chuda and the Ichiro clans, so the kami can't avail her there.
The others do about as well as expected. Suzuha and Mikuru acquit themselves well, while Teppeki miraculously manages to get the last three (the difficult ones) right. Kiyomi and Takezo of the Dragon manage their share as well, while Touma, surprisingly enough, gets four out of five correct, the same number as Morita. Takeru misses a complete giveaway mon, but gets enough to scrape through, while Saemi, Batukhan and Laichao... don't quite make it.
The final standings are:
Hiruma Fumiko - 1
Hida Teppeki - 1
Doji Suzuha - 2
Asahina Mikuru - 1
Kitsuki Kiyomi - 2
Mirumoto Takezo - 1
Akodo Okakura - 2
Akodo Touma - 1
Isawa Ameiko - 2
Shiba Kimita - 1
Yogo Saemi - 1
Bayushi Takeru - 1
Shinjo Liyan - 2
Moto Batukhan - 0
Laichao - 1
Morita - 1
There is a break for lunch and then roughly an hour after that for free time before the next contest, the obstacle course, is scheduled to take place in the lands behind the Kakita Academy.
Between paddy fields, a path has been marked where contestants will race in the athletics event. Miya Shikan again produces his ornate vase and pulls out the chops of two contestants at a time, who will race each other along the course, a large circle that involves a sprint to a small log bridge that has been set up over a very muddy stream, which they will have to cross, to be followed by another run of a few hundred feet which culminates in a large 12 foot high fence that has been erected across the path, which the contestants will have to climb. The contest ends with another sprint to the finish line where the judges stand waiting. Whichever of the two contestants finishes first in each race wins the point.
The pairings for this race are:
Hiruma Fumiko and Mirumoto Takezo
Akodo Okakura and Asahina Mikuru
Isawa Ameiko and Morita
Shiba Kimita and Kitsuki Kiyomi
Shinjo Liyan and Laichao
Hida Teppeki and Moto Batukhan
Akodo Touma and Yogo Saemi
Doji Suzuha and Bayushi Takeru
******
Kimita effortlessly identifies the first four of the five mons, though she hiccups a little on the last; not that anyone can fault her for mistaking one of the myriad Crane sub-family mons for each other (when two of them are the same design distinguished only by the blue-on-white and white-on-blue coloring...)
Somehow, Fumiko manages to identify the first three mons. It helps that they are all Crab mons and she's seen them all before in her youth. However, the last two are Scorpion in origin, and her luck doesn't hold out then.
Liyan stumbles on the second (Morito Clan) and the last (Suzuha's sub-family; Amane) mons, but manages all the others. Her performance is met with polite applause, though Suzuha sticks her tongue out at the Unicorn before winking to show that no offense was taken.
Okakura turns in the best performance of the lot, correctly identifying all five without hesitation. Miya Shikan is quite impressed by the way he manages to pick out his own personal mon, and not the one he uses as the Emperor's Herald.
The kami don't exactly come through for Ameiko, but neither do they abandon her. She manages the first two easily, but is stuck on the third when a sudden gust of wind directs her attention to the smiling Takeru; specifically, the fact that he's from the Shirogane sub-family, which happens to be the one she's stuck on. Unfortunately, no living man has worn the last two mons for the past two centuries, being that they're from the Chuda and the Ichiro clans, so the kami can't avail her there.
The others do about as well as expected. Suzuha and Mikuru acquit themselves well, while Teppeki miraculously manages to get the last three (the difficult ones) right. Kiyomi and Takezo of the Dragon manage their share as well, while Touma, surprisingly enough, gets four out of five correct, the same number as Morita. Takeru misses a complete giveaway mon, but gets enough to scrape through, while Saemi, Batukhan and Laichao... don't quite make it.
The final standings are:
Hiruma Fumiko - 1
Hida Teppeki - 1
Doji Suzuha - 2
Asahina Mikuru - 1
Kitsuki Kiyomi - 2
Mirumoto Takezo - 1
Akodo Okakura - 2
Akodo Touma - 1
Isawa Ameiko - 2
Shiba Kimita - 1
Yogo Saemi - 1
Bayushi Takeru - 1
Shinjo Liyan - 2
Moto Batukhan - 0
Laichao - 1
Morita - 1
There is a break for lunch and then roughly an hour after that for free time before the next contest, the obstacle course, is scheduled to take place in the lands behind the Kakita Academy.
Between paddy fields, a path has been marked where contestants will race in the athletics event. Miya Shikan again produces his ornate vase and pulls out the chops of two contestants at a time, who will race each other along the course, a large circle that involves a sprint to a small log bridge that has been set up over a very muddy stream, which they will have to cross, to be followed by another run of a few hundred feet which culminates in a large 12 foot high fence that has been erected across the path, which the contestants will have to climb. The contest ends with another sprint to the finish line where the judges stand waiting. Whichever of the two contestants finishes first in each race wins the point.
The pairings for this race are:
Hiruma Fumiko and Mirumoto Takezo
Akodo Okakura and Asahina Mikuru
Isawa Ameiko and Morita
Shiba Kimita and Kitsuki Kiyomi
Shinjo Liyan and Laichao
Hida Teppeki and Moto Batukhan
Akodo Touma and Yogo Saemi
Doji Suzuha and Bayushi Takeru
Five rolls, por favor.
A: Stamina / Athletics (Running) roll (initial sprint)
B: Agility / Athletics roll (getting over the log bridge)
C: Stamina / Athletics (Running) roll (second run)
D: Agility / Athletics (Climbing) roll (to climb the fence)
E: Stamina / Athletics (Running) roll (for the final exhausting run back)
A: Stamina / Athletics (Running) roll (initial sprint)
B: Agility / Athletics roll (getting over the log bridge)
C: Stamina / Athletics (Running) roll (second run)
D: Agility / Athletics (Climbing) roll (to climb the fence)
E: Stamina / Athletics (Running) roll (for the final exhausting run back)
Last edited by a moderator:
SephirothSage
Eldritch Abomination
Ameiko, smiling, takes a short while to pray between the Matches- closing her eyes and offering thanks to the Kami for their aid; which is, of course, what she knows it was that allowed her to identify those Mons. Then she heads to eat, and enjoys simple fare in the Inn she is currently sheltered in, polite and dignified; drawing inner strength from her outer success, even as she attempts to bite down her pride- unsuccessfully. She does, however, manage to prevent herself from bragging.
X
Later, it is the Race- and she smiles, knowingly. She affords herself a perhaps indecent grin, as she looks out on the field, and thinks of a Childhood spent, darting and running around her Father's home, giggling as her loving parent chased her about. She lets her mind drift back to those days, for a while- and let's out a sweet sigh, savoring memories of that Childhood innocence- as her life comes crashing back to the present. She claps her hands together, faintly, and smiles as she clasps them before her face.
So far... yet so little. Let me fly, on the wings of the Kami. Let my feet show their grace.
As she then raises her head- and as the race begins, she takes off!
[dice]5346[/dice]
[dice]5347[/dice]
[dice]5348[/dice]
[dice]5349[/dice]
[dice]5350[/dice]
[dice]5351[/dice]
X
Later, it is the Race- and she smiles, knowingly. She affords herself a perhaps indecent grin, as she looks out on the field, and thinks of a Childhood spent, darting and running around her Father's home, giggling as her loving parent chased her about. She lets her mind drift back to those days, for a while- and let's out a sweet sigh, savoring memories of that Childhood innocence- as her life comes crashing back to the present. She claps her hands together, faintly, and smiles as she clasps them before her face.
So far... yet so little. Let me fly, on the wings of the Kami. Let my feet show their grace.
As she then raises her head- and as the race begins, she takes off!
[dice]5346[/dice]
[dice]5347[/dice]
[dice]5348[/dice]
[dice]5349[/dice]
[dice]5350[/dice]
[dice]5351[/dice]
hellrazoromega
Department of Redundancy Department.
Fumiko is thrilled to hear about the next even, something she enjo---no, loves. With a bow to her opponent she waits for the signal to set out.
"May the fortunes shine on us all," She says with in earnest.
Taking a bit of a slow start, for her, in the initial sprint Fumiko sets out, despite the start her movements are steady and even. While she can sprint, as a scout most of her running is done at a steady pace made for endurance.
"May the fortunes shine on us all," She says with in earnest.
Taking a bit of a slow start, for her, in the initial sprint Fumiko sets out, despite the start her movements are steady and even. While she can sprint, as a scout most of her running is done at a steady pace made for endurance.
Note Athletics Rank 3 Grants her: No impediments from moderate terrain. Difficult terrain only reduces water ring by 1 rather than 2---so however that will play into this.
[dice]5353[/dice] 6k3=18 Initial sprint
[dice]5356[/dice] 6k3=20 Log bridge
[dice]5357[/dice][dice]5358[/dice] 6k3=34 2nd run
[dice]5360[/dice] 6k3=30 Fence
[dice]5361[/dice][dice]5362[/dice] 6k3=33 Run back
[dice]5353[/dice] 6k3=18 Initial sprint
[dice]5356[/dice] 6k3=20 Log bridge
[dice]5357[/dice][dice]5358[/dice] 6k3=34 2nd run
[dice]5360[/dice] 6k3=30 Fence
[dice]5361[/dice][dice]5362[/dice] 6k3=33 Run back