Shiori takes no time in rejoicing her victory and bolts forward towards her brother.
"Takumi-kun! Are you alright? What happened? How you managed to lose the contest against that ogre?" There was genuine worry in her voice as she addressed her brother but also a tint of a mixture of joy and mockery. She then helps him to get up.
"So... which one of the contestants we shall look for now?"
"Shiori-san, that was an excellent performance of sumai"said Kitao "I wouldn't mind looking for Kohuri-san now, I do understand we all have our duties"
Takeya bows and politely claps for Shiori-san.
"Kitao-san, with all due respect, we are currently finding the contestants that had been at the Poisoned Toad last night. This realm is unknown to us, and to separate us could be all of our deaths. We shall find Kohuri-kun and the Imperial contestant in due quick time. Currently we should find the young Mantis."
Looking at the Kitsune with sad eyes the crane adds."You will understand... that it is important to find the right people first. The Mantis and then, I have a protegee, too."
Heizo nods once, emphatically.
"As you must understand, I am eager to locate Ayano as swiftly as possible. But you have my word, Kitao-san, that I will do everything in my capacity to assist you in rescuing your own protege in the fullness of time."
Miyuki nods at Heizo
and so the Great clans assist each other, just so...
Miyuki focuses on Ayano.
Takumi struggles to his feet with the aid of his sister. "I am fine, Shiori-san." Despite his obvious pain, he manages to crack a smile. "Perhaps I softened it up for you, sister." He tries to laugh, but immediately suppresses a grunt of pain.
The now-familiar gray mist begins to dissolve once more, but this time, it does not go away entirely – or rather, once it does, it seems to be replaced by thin wisps of a more ordinary fog. Sudden heat envelopes you, the warmth of late summer in the southernmost reaches of Rokugan, and there is the tang of salt and the cry of a seagull in the air.
You are standing on the edge of a cliff, a sheer rock wall rising up to one side of you and a precarious drop-off spilling away on the other, with a roaring river tumbling through the gorge far below. A narrow trail hugs the ledge between wall and chasm, curving gently rightward as it goes along. Some distance ahead, you can see that the trail reaches a fallen log that bridges the chasm, opening out onto a broader shelf edged by broad-leafed trees on the far side. Before it reaches the bridge, however, you can see that the trail is broken by a rockfall, which will require a careful scramble to cross.
Though the view is beautiful, rich forest and majestic river before you and Lord Sun sparkling on the ocean just visible in the distance, the idyllic moment is shattered by a terrified scream. On the other side of the gorge, several hundred feet away, a young woman is dangling from one of the tree branches, nothing beneath her but air and the river rocks far below. Peering toward her, you make out the features of Yoritomo Ayano, but you can see something else as well: her grip is slipping.
The whole bucolic scene astonishes Shiori. After so many years battling the creatures from the Shadowlands, Shiori usually forgot about the beautiful aspects of world, even if they were actually on a spirit realm. When she saw Yoritomo Ayano she frozen for a moment.
I'm not sure if I should act or let Heizo-san try to rescue her... the other challenges were tailored for each one of us... She then noticed that Ayano-san was almost slipping. ...No! I prefer to be blamed by foolishness than by inaction!
"Heizo-san, hold Takumi-kun! I'll rescue your champion!" Saying this, Shiori bolted forward. Knowing it would be difficult to climb the rock with her heavy armor, Shiori pushed herself harder to gain momentum. On the last minute she jumped.
With the help of the initial momentum Shiori felt confident but decided to take advantage of her movement and try to also jump from the rock, reducing the distance to the log bridge.
Her jump was once more successful. Perhaps the spirits were smiling at her. One more sprint and she would be able to reach the log bridge.
So far so good but she knew this would be the hardest part... She had good physic and strength but reflexes were not her strongest point.
As she feared, she arrived at the bridge too fast and her momentum now worked against her. The slipped on the bridge, landing on her knee at the end of the crossing. With her armor covered in mud, she lifted herself and restarted to run.
With her last sprint, Shiori was able to reach Ayano-san and grab her wrist. "Fear not, Ayano-san... I got you and I's sooner be dragged along with you land let you go!"
Suana admires Shiori's gentle and powerful moves. He knows he would never be able to move like that.
-I'm starting to think that I am here to learn from the others. Everyone of them can teach me something.
Suddenly, he realises.
-What can I teach them?
Suana emerges from his thoughts to find out Shiori has reached Ayano with astonishing ease. He carefully thinks about trying himself...
-No. I might appear conservative, but I know I'm not suited for this task. Trying just for the sake of it would be foolish. I could be needed anytime or anywhere else, and if so I should be operational. The thing is to know what for could I be useful...
Anger seeps into the words of Kitao "Of course Takeya-san, the Great Clans are always first to be served, all I represent is the Imperial delegation and Kohuri-kun the imperial champion" an old fox smile creeps into Kitao's face "Tell me which is more important in the eyes of heaven then Takeya-san, the imperial families or the Great Clans families? Why does a Greater Clan student is more important than an imperial one?" a very tricky question with no straight answer as the imperials are above the rest, but Kitao is from a minor clan and Kohuri a ronin, yet they are there as imperial or at least representing them.
Kitao turns to see the Crab perform feats of strength and resilience like no other, but failing on those that require a more nimble body as expected I'm not strong enough for such test, and we don't know what else might come to risk an injury if she has already succeed
-Posted with Wayfinder
Takeya sighs at the Kitsune's words. He cradles his head in his hands as if he had a headache before lowering his hands and slowly raising his head, locking his gaze with Kitao-san before the Kitsune turns his head towards Shiori-san.
"We began with Shichiro-kun as he has specifically been watching the other competitors. Last night he was at the Poisoned Toad, the sake house in town. Due to that we continue with the Poisoned Toad. If rumor serves me correctly, I believe Takumi-kun enjoyed his sake a bit too much and he made quite the impression so we went for him next. The Crab and the Mantis have an excellent, almost brotherly, connection to each other so we seek Asuna-kun. Shichiro-kun befriended the young Unicorn contestant last night so we aim for him next. If there were any other competitors at the Poisoned Toad we will gather them as well."
He eyes the Kitsune, choosing his words carefully, but also reflecting on his own actions. Crossing his arms as he speaks.
What games do you play fox? An impossible question with no answer aside from failing to answer? I have gathered what I need to know from you right now. That anger will make me look flawless, even in red and black.
His voice, clear, harsh, and without mercy.
"For all that we know, the eyes of the heavens do not cast their gaze upon this realm. No Samurai is less important than any other, but we must have a plan of action. I put forth a plan. I acted. Nobody disagreed, they too acted. You waited silently until now to voice your dissent."
Takeya eyed the representative sent to guard the young ronin, but continued to speak. His voice softening as he laid out the plan for the Tea House.
"After we gather the competitors from the Poisoned Toad we go for our students that were at the tea house last night. My memory is very precise about Sachiko-kun, and by that logic I believe Shiori-san spoke shortly with her, Suana-san is her sensei, and Miyuki-san caught the end of my conversation with the young woman. Suana-san, did Sachiko-kun speak with anybody else? Miyuki-san, who did you speak to last night, we should gather a plan of action for after we acquire the Unicorn contestant. Now if I remember... Oh right, that is odd indeed."
Takeya gives a short laugh at his memory of the previous night.
"I do not recall speaking with you or your student at all last night Kitao-san, you were sitting in a corner drinking your tea observing us all. Thinking that because you were a member of a Minor Clan given such a responsibility that we were beyond some invisible door you chose not to open. I also do not recall any interactions between your student and any of the other members of the Great Clans. Memory and relationships with each other appear to hold power in this realm, wherever it may be."
He smiles beneath his mask, Takeya turns his head to watch Shiori-san.
"You have failed your student at this Topaz Tournament, Kitao-san, and when, not if, but when we find young Kohuri-kun you should apologize for your failings as a sensei. Did you shield your student from us, believing that interacting with the Great Clans would make Kohuri-kun somehow less of a ronin, less of an individual? Did you fill his head with ideas of proving us all wrong, and that through your student you could be somehow better than us when we all serve the same Emperor, who could be in mortal danger as we speak? Do not bother with a response, I care not for excuses and even Shichiro-kun could spot a lie you tell before you even speak it. Ask yourself those questions, reflect upon your answers, and believe them."
Takeya takes a breath and centers himself.
"We will find Kohuri-kun, and we will leave this place, all of us, together."
AYANO!! Heizo cries out over the edge of the chasm. "Ayano, whatever you do, don't let go! Hang on!"
Barely still mindful of supporting Takumi while he looks on aghast, the courtier watches in terror as his protege hangs precariously above a fall to her death.
When they arrived he was nearly ready to sprint after the young bushi himself, but after Shiori had given Takumi to him and dashed away his thoughts had cleared of his panic, and he realized how utterly futile a gesture it would have been. Long years in court had not afforded him the athleticism necessary to even make the climb over to her, much less rescue her and survive. He cursed his powerlessness as he watched the events unfold.
****************
Fortunately, it seemed that the Hida woman was more than capable of navigating the obstacles to reach Ayano. He cheered words of encouragement to Shiori as she grabbed the wrist of the girl. He's so focused on the rescue attempt that he's barely mindful of the conversation the others are having nearby.
Thank the Fortunes! If we ever make it out of this alive, I swear I've got to pay back that Crab!
Suana takes a pair of minutes to remove his armour, and tries to help Shiori on the rescue.
vs TN 15 = Fail.
Suana runs to the rockfall, but his momentum is not good enough.
vs TN 15+5 = Fail.
His climbing is certainly poor, and he ends up full of bruises and wound up.
vs TN 15+20 = Fail.
Running to the bridge would have been an easy task, had it not been for the lack of breath and the bruises from previous efforts.
vs TN 15+15 = Fail.
Suana slips several times while on the bridge, though he finally...
Watching the Crab run, jump, climb and finally rescue the Mantis, Miyuki cannot help but nod in appreciation of Shiori's athletic prowess.
She politely ignores the heated words being exchanged nearby and looks over only when asked a question.
Takeya-san, aside from yourself I spoke only to Ukira, the Dragon's contestant.
she slowly waves her fan, seemingly deep in thought
I do not hold a title as lore keeper or scholar of etiquette, but even a child knows that Imperial sponsorship or not, a ronin simply does not have the same status as even a minor clan samurai.
she flicks her gaze at Kitao
The Imperial family, may the heavens keep them safe, have declared Kohuri as their representative yes, he is to be accorded respect for the skills he has surely demonstrated for the Emperor to have placed such faith in him. But let us not forget, he has no family, he does not borrow the name of Hantei, he was simply permitted to shelter under it for the duration of the contest.
she glances around in an exaggerated manner
Indeed I fear that the competition that brought us all together here never truly started, which brings us back to the task we have been set in retrieving the competitors. We are all bound in this task we have been charged with to find our students, and as samurai we will continue to pursue this task until it is done. Fox-san, in the face of all that has been said, I hope you realise why the order of searching is as it is, all things under heaven having an order that is not to be challenged.
And with that, Miyuki quiets as the group waits for Shiori to return with Ayano.
"I cannot fail something that has yet to transpire, I do not recall the Topaz Championship to have started or ended, so I cannot have failed" Kitao smiles "Not all samurai are the same, yet the struggle of the minor clans are real, something you will never know, or can presume to know which your words reflect" Kitao retains his usual On "Do you believe I shielded him, when I did not. Kohuri-kun was to be focused on his training, he has more to probe by being a ronin than any other contestant, but I never forbade him from or told him to interact with anyone, just to be mindful that he was a ronin and his place as an imperial representative at the same time, and responsibility that comes with it"
Bowing slightly to both Miyuki and Takeya "My apologies" keeping his On and a smile, but the intent was obvious Miyuki made it even more so, on how just for being of a Minor Clan and Kohuri a ronin have put them in the current order of saving, the struggle of a minor clan to be heard or understood among the Great Clans, work twice as hard for less recognition, and do twice as much for less reward.
Shiori quickly outpaces Suana, grabbing Ayano by the wrist before the Mantis can fall to her death. The younger samurai lets out a cry and then gasps when she realizes that she's been saved. When pulled back up, she sinks to her knees in deference. "Arigato, Hida-san. You saved my life."
After the rest of you reach the tree, it becomes obvious as to what Ayano was trying to reach: a house, on tall bamboo stilts, perched on the cliff edge overlooking the sea, surrounded by the strange, broad-leafed trees of the Mantis isles and largely hidden from view save fo those in the nearby clearing.
"I slipped while climbing to it," the Mantis girl explains, sheepishly.
vs TN 15 = Fail
Suana said he was going to do it, and a Samurai knows he has to do it well or don't do it at all. He calls to all the Akodo that have failed before him, and all that have succeeded, to bring him strength.
vs TN 15 = Success
Miyuki watches the assembled bushi as they display their prowess, applauding. She shows every indication she is deliberately ignoring Kitao's reply, aside from politely acknowledging his apology.
She turns to the others.
We should move on, we were warned that this realm may not last, speed may be our wisest ally.
She nods at Takeya
I believe Moto Katsu is the next contestant we should seek. Let us think upon the Unicorn bushi...
Takeya prepares himself to leave the realm, unless the house has some importance.
Despite your collective concentration on Moto Katsu, the familiar mist does not descend. You remain in the tropical environment.
Heizo had been preoccupied with ensuring his ward was unharmed, but now that he noticed that the scenery had not changed as the group attempted to locate Moto Katsu, he was puzzled.
"What's this? Shiori rescued Ayano; why have we not moved on?"
"Is your focus not pure?"
Kakita Tanawa takes a deep breath and pictures his pupil. His smile, his last words, moments of intimacy shared together a few weeks ago at a sake house.
This is odd, different from the other tasks we have been placed in...
she taps her fan distractedly, before raising her voice just enough to carry the distance, and not a decibel more
Perhaps you should see what is in the house daring samurai? What it was that our Mantis was so desperate to seek!
Shiori rescued Ayano
Suana has a look at where Miyuki is pointing, and walks to the bamboo hut. With suspicion, he closes in while unsheathing his katana.
Shiori ponder for a couple seconds before giving her opinion. "Perhaps we are looking this wrongly and our previous experiences were just a coincidence... in the scorpion court, we only rescued Shichiro-kun, after you won the debate and in the Shadowlands arena we only rescued Takumi-kun after I defeated the ogre... perhaps these realms are not linked to rescue of our charges but to some challenges inside..." Shiori pauses before continuing. "For example, what would have happened if Takumi-kun have defeated the ogre? Would we still find him on the arena or would he been lost in the void? The same happened here perhaps. The challenge is inside the house and rescuing Ayano-kun is merely a consequence, even if it is our only objective."
Heizo considers this.
"Then the house is where we must go," he says, beginning to walk in that direction. "as I can see no other logical choice, for whatever value logic has in this game."
"I agree Yoritomo-san. But it is more a feeling here. The fortunes favor the bold!" Taking a deep breath Tanawe moves forward confidentely.
Miyuki eyes the treacherous terrain ahead of the group.
Well if we must, we must.
she begins moving towards the house, slowly and carefully, taking her time to ensure each step is a safe one.
The house is a simple Mantis peasant affair: a non-descript paper and bamboo construction kept above the stone of the cliffside by a frame of bamboo designed to let air flow under the floor. No sounds come from inside the house, although you can hear the crash of the waves below. The door is closed.
Upon arrival, Heizo pauses and turns toward the others.
"Shall we knock first? As strange as this situation is, perhaps we should formally announce our presence to whomever may be occupying it rather than simply barging in."
Miyuki arrives last, seeming to take a hundred dainty footsteps in just approaching the door.
there are no servants to greet us Yoritomo-san, as such I believe we will have to announce ourselves in this place
She turns to face the door
Good day to you occupants of the house, we find ourselves here by chance.
She reaches out with her fan and gently pushes the door open.
The door opens to a vast, grey space, filled with the same mists that you are used to in this bizarre realm. It stretches into the distance, far beyond the apparent size of this house.
-Uhm.- Suana tries to spot in the distance. -It seems to be this way, yes.- He goes into the mists, always ready.
"Well, no use in dallying..."
With Ayano in sight, Heizo steps forward through the doorway after Suana.
Moving deftly forward Tanawe moves to their next destination.
Odd that this realm differs, perhaps indeed the hut is what was sought, so the hut is the destination to pass through the mists... definitely something worth remembering for the other situations we will find ourselves in...
Miyuki steps through the doorway and is swallowed by the mist.
Takeya silently steps through the mist behind Miyuki.
After everyone has moved through the door, it slides shut abandoning the group of samurai in the formless grey mists of the spirit realm. The scene shifts gradually, coalescing into a wilderness identical to those surrounding Tsuma.
You are standing alongside a small stream running through a forest whose trees are just now budding with the first blossoms of spring. Ahead of you, Moto Katsu, the Unicorn contestant, is pacing back and forth in front of an old man seated at the base of a tree, cheerfully eating plums while Katsu fumes and stomps around angrily. The seated man looks to be Megumi, the monk tending the shrine outside the Inn of the Tranquil Lotus, but he shows no discomfort or confusion about his present circumstances. The same cannot be said for Katsu.
"Welcome, my friends." Megumi greets you, smiling. Katsu bows deeply to you, his superiors, but does little to hide his frustration.
Suana bows slightly to Katsu, and a bit deeper to Megumi.
-Greetings to you both. What, if I may ask, are you two doing out here?
"I have been stuck here for hours, Akodo-san," Katsu shouts, pointing angrily at the monk. "He seems to know what I am supposed to do to leave, but he will not say what it is! He only babbles of keys and eggs and doors, none of which are here! Speak plain, old man! We need to return home!"
Megumi merely shrugs at Katsu's outburst and continues to smile.
Kitao bows deeply to his host, but just enough to maintain his On and etiquette to Katsu "I'm but a humble guest in your home, and thank you for allowing us entry" courtesy is always a good way to start regardless if things turn sour or not after it, but giving thoughts to Katsu-san complaints about what Megumi-san has told him "A form of riddle perhaps, or maybe something to decipher and meditate upon?"
Perhaps Katsu-san, you should repeat word for word the wisdom and challenge of wise Megumi-sama, that we might consider what it means..
Miyuki smiles sweetly, her fan swaying gently under her face as she regards the young Unicorn.
Heizo taps the ashes from his pipe nonchalantly. Now that Ayano had been successfully recovered he was considerably more at ease.
"Yes, please share with us," he asks the young Unicorn. "Perhaps a group effort is all that's required to overcome this challenge."
Megumi cheerfully repeats what he said to Katsu. “All passages are doors, and we must all pass through them to reach what will follow. To every door there is a key, and the key is the world – like an egg, we are born from the world, set free from it, and so we move on.”