The Scorpion bushi heads toward the wooden cage, while moving he removes his mask. Takeya offers the strange orb to the woman and points to Matsu Sachiko.
"I believe I will take the young Lion as my prize. Come Sachiko-kun, we must be ready to leave this place."
He gives a dashing smile to the Lion in the cage.
You had mentioned very early on that she does not show any signs of wanting to be whisked away by a handsome stranger, I wonder what she does now?
Taking a seat among the peasants and lighting his pipe, Heizo feels more at home here than he would care to admit to the other samurai. When his turn comes, he silently gives a short prayer to the fortunes and lets the dice fly.
Getting up from the game, he heads over to the gathering by the statue and regards the art piece critically.
"A piece of earth, when expertly carved by a master sculptor, can present such an image of majesty that its form is unquestionably improved over its original state, no matter how beautiful it's natural form once was. Having said that, this piece forces me lament the loss of what once must have been a quite pleasing stone."
Miyuki picks the crystallised void up with her fan, allowing it to roll along the length as she considers it, before she let it roll in to her palm and offers it to the owner of this 'establishment'.
My companion offers you a token for the Lion, I offer yo one for our freedom to move to the next realm.
Interesting, scorpions will unite in face of enemies, but can be divided internally. One thing is clear, they are very good with words and games" Kitao can only watch the events unfold, as he does not wish to put the Lion into a precarious situation.
25
Trying his best to play with the others in the circle the crane shows his clans grace and effortlessness.
= 42
Heizo plays a masterful game of Fortunes and Winds and receives one of the void orbs. Tanawe, on the other hand, struggles with the kemari, despite his excellent reflexes. One of the void orbs manifests for his opponents, who swiftly pass it to the elderly game master. The black sphere disappears into the sleeves of her kimono as the other samurai approach her.
The matron congratulates you in a strangely satisfied manner. ”I accept your trades, samurai-sans,” she says, quickly gathering up the offered orbs. ”Clearly the Fortunes favor you, so readily have you bested your competitors. I wish you well in your journeys. Perhaps one day soon, we can again be of assistance to one another…” She smiles broadly, revealing a number of pointed teeth before the grey mist swoops in and returns you to the shifting aether.
Sachiko bows to Takeya. ”Thank you, Scorpion-san. I had not expected a rescue.” She turns to Suana. ”My apologies, Suana-sama. I have shamed our clan by being captured.”
-Yes, you have- says Suana gravely. -But we are here looking for all the participants in the tournament. Then we need to exit this strange realm, and finally help the Divine Emperor now that He is in dire need.- He directs his words not only to Sachiko, but to all the younglings. -So you better put yourself to work now. We'll all speak about shame and responsibility later.
We should focus on who next to try and reach... Miyuki reminds those present in the grey void with her.
"Suana-san, don't be so harsh on the young lady. We all make mistakes, we are mortals in this strange realm. Have you noticed that we have been arriving just in the nick of time to save our pupils? Why might that be?"
Takeya focuses his mind on what little he remembered of the young Crane. Certainly he had failed in that task.
"Ah yes, the young Crane should be our next target. Doji Arashi-kun if I remember the young man's name. We should make haste."
"By all means, Takeya-san," Heizo says the the Scorpion; winning at dice had improved his mood considerably. "The sooner, the better."
Suana ignores Takeya's attempt to tell a Lion how to instruct a Lion, and instead concentrates on the Crane youngling.
Miyuki concentrates on the Crane contestant
Trying hard to get a feeling to his protege Tanawe stills feels imbalanced by the last hours.
Shiori just watched as those more able with games managed to free the lion pupil. She also almost laughed at the notion of a Scorpion talking about how to educate and instruct a samurai.
Kitao can only shake his head slightly at the scorpion, but says nothing for now, "True colors of people can be seen under duress, and there is not enough red or elaborate mask to hide that"
Now kitao attempts to bring the image of the young Crane.
The formless gray takes on form once more, this time becoming a serene garden, with graveled paths winding among brilliant flower beds and luxuriant bushes, carefully sculpted trees and chuckling streams. Tall hedges line the borders of the garden, but a warm sun shines down, banishing the shadows.
In the center of the garden, Doji Arata stares in frustration at a small shrine, where a richly decorated daisho rests on a stand, and in front of it is a simple ink and brush set. A smiling young woman, hair dyed in the Crane white, stands next to him, watching his expression with patient curiosity.
“I do not understand your reluctance, Doji-san,” the young woman says. “Your task is simple: a poem on the meaning of duty, using the sword as your metaphor. Why is this so difficult? Why will you not proceed?”
Arata does not respond, but his knuckles tighten and turn white as he grips the ink brush in his hand. He remains so fixed on the tableau of sword and ink set that he does not seem to notice your arrival, even when the young woman turns her smile on you. “Ah, new students!” she calls out delightedly. “The Kakita Academy is always pleased to accept those who seek the beauty in life. Come, join us! Our task today is to compose a poem on the meaning of duty, one of the most important aspects of a samurai’s existence, using the sword of a samurai as the metaphor for the poem. Doji Aroshi, the father of Doji Arata-san here, has generously allowed us to use his personal daisho set to serve as our inspiration. Will you not join us?”
Kakita Tanawa bows deeply to the woman before responding...
"Only with clarity in purpose,
the sword can cut through winter air,
what are we but cherryblossoms."
The Crane woman smiles and bows. "An excellent submission, Tanawe-san. And so quickly done." She snaps back to Arata. "You see, Arata-san? This should not be so difficult."
The young Crane furrows his brow in frustration, but says nothing.
Heizo's fan casually obscures his mouth as he asks the samurai nearest to him:
"It was indeed a fine poem by Tanawe-san, but it looks like answering directly might not have been the point of the exercise. Does it need to be Arata-kun who answers to the instructor?"
Moving over to his pupil Tanawa starts to breath in a relaxing manner.
Waiting till Arata feels the pull of his void and breathing Tanawe speaks to his pupil.
"Remember the most important aspect of our art. Do not think what to do, find the moment of clarity and act on it. This moment is close but can not found by wanting, only by not wanting. Poetry is like iai-jutsu, you have done it many many times before. Empty your mind and your spirit will find the right words."
Arata looks to his cousin, his eyes full of pain. "It is not the poetry, Tanawe-sama," he says. "It is the very choice this woman lays before me. She does not want a poem. She wants me to give up my hope."
Miyuki smiles behind her fan, nodding at Heizo's comment, before stepping forward.
Hard steel spirit rests
lightest touch of hand on hilt
blade's edge knows its foe
She bows and steps back.
Suana lets the words take form in his head, directly from his soul.
-Thousand bees...
Swords... together...
While the haiku is being given life, he notices how the current situation represents the very soul of what he was taught at the Academy. Many samurai working together towards a common goal, Every Akodo is your Doshi. And here they are, different samurai from different clans working together... is this some kind of a test?
-The sting of a bee,
A hardly noticed weapon...
Hive might shake the world.
Exploding:
Takeya scratches his head, he was never very good at poetry, but his studies had one that he knew.
red lantern flickers
iron hearted samurai
mercy ungiven
Meaning of my poem:
Only if you are unwavering in your dedication, you can do your duty.
Mind and acting is one. And duty means prepare to die like the cherryblossoms.
Spending a void to gain skill rank 1
Kitao has no grace with words, he is a hunter and a warrior with some social grace, but not the soul of a poet "I'm afraid that whatever words I may come up with might end up being shaming my self, and I'm humbled by my peers that even those of simple words are of great quality looking at those around him "Nonetheless I will try my best, please be aware of my lack of skill when I try this"
Samurai
Wielding his blood sword,
A hero who fights with pride,
And slays with honor.
He is a brave soul,
Drawing blood only for peace,
Never for vengeance.
Even if he falls,
In the midst of a battle,
His name will stay on.
[ooc untrained]
Sun on blade shines,
only in her rays it cuts,
fair snow brings silence!
Heizo ponders for a moment, then steps forward.
"A single leaf falls,
One final cut delivered;
Forest, undisturbed."
The Crane woman beams again. "Well done, samurai-sans. Your poetry fills me with hope that our art will not be lost." She turns her back to you. "You may leave whenever you wish. I will remain here with Doji Arata-kun and ensure that he follows your example."
-Milady-sama- says Suana, -is Arata-chan that bad a student? I'm sure he can show us here and now what he has learned today. He makes a brief pause before going on. -You see, we are tasked with gathering the lost students and bring them to safety. I'm sure you understand we'd like to fulfill our duty to perfection, for that is why we all samurai are born to.
Suana turns his head toward his companions. -My friend Tanawe-san will be pleased to ensure what you have taught Arata-chan is not forgotten. After all, that's also why we are all here - so that our young brothers can learn from the things we do... and from the things we don't do.
"Arata-chan is a poor student," the woman explains. "I sense that he has great talent for poetry, but he seems unwilling to use it. When he writes a poem, he may leave, as you may."
Heizo strokes the whiskers on his chin and thinks while the others are talking:
So, it is absolutely necessary that Arata-kun is the one who submits a poem... But I notice that she did not say that it has to be an outstanding poem, just that he must submit one in order to leave...
"Arata-kun," he says to the young Crane in a sympathetic tone, "I beg your forgiveness for what is likely my woefully inadequate assessment of your view of the task at hand, but while prudence and careful thinking are admirable strategies, hesitancy is in and of itself not a virtue. A samurai who does not choose to act at all has still committed to a course of action, and not one that will likely serve to free him from his predicament. Although there is the risk of failure, even the lessons learned from a failure can be a stepping stone to eventual victory. If you try, how have you given up hope? If you fail, use what you have learned, and then try again, and if necessary again and again, until you have overcome the task at hand. The will to action in the face of adversity, the fortitude to withstand trials and grow stronger and wiser for doing so-- that is the very essence of hope!"
Heizo's plea seems to jolt Arata and the young samurai bolts up, clutching the parchment of his yet-unstarted poem in a white-knuckled fist.
"You do not understand, Yoritomo-san," the young Crane explains, gesturing to the sword laid before him. [b]"That is my father's daisho! This... creature masquerading as one of my clan knows my desires. It knows that I wish to forsake my training as a duelist and become a poet. It asks that I use my own talent against itself. To write a poem about how I should sacrifice my dream to pursue the life my father expects of me."
-No- says Suana. -She talked about duty. Whom's your duty with? Ask that to yourself and realise to whom you should sacrifice your dreams.
"Such are the conundrums of life Arata-san, but your duty is towards your Clan and Emperor. That is the life of bushido, yet nothing stops you of pursuing both your poetry either, so I do not understand why it's so hard to do your duty, while doing something you enjoy" Kitao can almost sneer at the Crane bushi Such complaining I could expect of a boy, not a tournament contestant" "Most of us do not get to write poems to save ourselves and still wield the sword to honor our ancestors, you should appreciate that you get to do both as a bushi Arata-san. The path is clear, write the poem of your heart desire. Nothing is wrong with such thing, as long as you can remember to honor your duty to your family, clan, Emperor."
Kitao wants him to save face, both for himself and his Crane companion Kakita-san"Seppuku can come later if his actions are deemed so, but now he must act=" a sad expression in Kitao's face now "Al bushi take the sword and some are great duelists, but many great duelist only did it for duty, but had other pursuits like art, so be strong Arata-san, you know the right choice"
Hearing his pupils words Tanawe starts to laugh. "Have you forgotten so many of your ancestors. Your duty is not to be the best duelist, but the best person. We crane´s are meant to excel and since when have we looked down on poets. Yes you carry your father´s daisho, but your duty is not to be a decent duelist, but the best you can be. And if your heart lies in poetry... make your clan proud. Make your clan proud with your words. And finally.... true excellence lies in the ability to find this moment of peace before you do something."
Whilst she usually has plenty to say, the Shosuro seems content to simply watch and listen for now, her eyes flicking between the Crane and her fellow mentors following their interplay.
"A samurai is expected to master many talents," he says to Arata. "One can be both a swordsman and a poet. You will do your Clan and your father no dishonor if you commit yourself to both pursuits, and indeed may have the potential to bring increased glory in service to your lord by doing so. If you consider yourself a duelist first and foremost, that is fine, but many great duelists were also deft hands at an artistic skill. It is not betrayal, Arata-kun, it is an opportunity."
Arata nods. "Of course. I allowed my pride to cloud my judgment. As a Crane, I should strive to excel in all things. Thank you for making it clear, everyone. Especially Tanawe-sensei." The young samurai bows deeply and kneels to write.
The nature of battle
In protecting my betters
I might save myself
He hands the haiku to the young sensei. She nods, clearly pleased. "Well done, Arata-chan. You are free to leave. As are the rest of you."
With a flick of her hand, the grey fog descends once again, leaving your swiftly growing group lost in the Void.
Well done Miyuki nods approvingly.
Now, we are still missing Mirumoto Ukira, as no-one has suggested anyone else, perhaps we can think of him...
-I agree- nods Suana.
Heizo nods in approval of Arata's successful attempt at poetry. He then centers himself as best as he can manage for the attempt to reach Ukira.
"We have to find him! Honor demands it!"
Of course, the ronin has never been mentioned before... Kitao smiles and nods, trying to think of anything from memory.
"Dragon, then Phoenix, and then the Imperial contestant."
Takeya rests his hand on the hilt of his katana, he had a feeling he knew what was coming next and wanted to be ready.
The next area looks very much like the room in which you initially awakened, a large dojo with weapon racks on the walls and white paper screens on all sides. One set of screens has been opened wide, allowing passage to the outside, where a broad valley opens below the mountainside on which the dojo rests. Through the opening, a horde of black-clad warriors pours through, and each one has no face at all, only smooth skin where eyes, nose and mouth should be. They advance in unsettling silence, but their readied weapons and martial stance speak volumes.
Standing in front of the onslaught is Mirumoto Ukira, face set in a determination as he readies his swords.
4+6+8=18