Mirumoto Dai is not that accustomed to the courts and seems oblivious to many of the underlying messages.
Sorry, I didn't realize. He plans to trip all of you up during the hunt, and get the tsu-fish eggs for himself and his clan. You are hunting Tsu-fish eggs.
He plans to have Ronin ambush you and stop you from collecting the Tsu-fish eggs. He is in the process of talking to the Ronin now.
Matsu Niko walks over to Sugai talking to the Ronin and says "Well you fellows look so interesting, mind if I speak with you a bit?"
She stops and says, "My aunt is looking for some capable people, do you think you are up to the job?"
Persuasion 5k2 =17
"What do you mean, a job?" one of the Ronin asks.
Matsu Niko laughs into her hand at the response and first says, "Sugai-san, I would hate to sound impertinent but I have some business to discuss with these fine warriors."
After Sugai has gone away, she continues in a conspiratorial whisper and says using some information that she has gained from being a member of her house and what she has observed during the tournament thus far, her intentions are true, "We are looking for some stalwart retainers to assist us in the upcoming conflict. Handsome, may I see your sword hand." she then gently strokes his forearm in an awkwardly flirtatious manner.
He lifts his right hand. What you notice about his hand is that it's built, that's for sure. Built like a Crab samurai, and lacking the grace of a Crane. "What do you think? Should I flex it for you?" he says.
She says, "PLease do."
She then inspects the man's sword arm and says, "That is a very fine specimen. Why don't you join my aunt's and my service starting today. Would you like to join me for tea before the hunt?"
"I can join you for tea, before your hunt." The ronin says.
Matsu Niko smiles and says, "That would be delightful."
Matsu Niko smiles and says, "That would be delightful."
You're doing it. If you want to reduce it to a roll, I would say roll Courtier. TN 20. You're trying to defuse a terrible situation. And get the Ronin change sides.
IF you still want to roleplay it, then you're doing a good job, even though you have to act like a school girl.
________________________________________
"Well, lets go and discuss this employ of your aunt," he says.
Once she gets the ronin into the hut for the Tea, she smiles and tells him about her aunt and that the Lion and especially the Matsus are always on the look out for talented, strong ronin to make samurai and that with things the way they are, they need the best fighters.
5k3 Courtier exploding = 27
The ronin is impressed with you and your offer, and joins your cause. After he has had his tea. Since he was the leader, he forsakes Sugai and will let you hunt for the eggs unmolested.
After the Ronin leaves the ceremony, she writes a letter to her aunt as an introduction for the handsome ronin and his team to join her service, seals it and sends it by courier back to the Matsu lands.
About 15 minutes before the scheduled time, Matsu Niko arrives at the staging area of the hunt.
Alright. Since everything changed for the hunt, I'm going to need 3 Perception rolls at TN 10 to find the tsu fish eggs. Since Sugai's plan is spoiled everyone in the contest has a chance to bring home tsu fish eggs.
Perception 3k3 , , exploding
Matsu Niko has found all three of her eggs during the hunt. Sugai did so, but he was hoping to find all of them, if the Ronin didn't abandon him.
The young Isawa finds the first two eggs very quickly, but he spends some time before spotting his third.
Sugai was very frustrated that his plan was ruined. And he'd didn't know who did it, but he recovered three tsu-fish eggs. He comes to Niko and said, "I only had three tsu-fish eggs."
Niko looks at him and quotes from one of her teachers, "A samurai must be true to the thought of the moment and avoid distraction. Other than continuing to exert yourself, enter into nothing else, but go to the extent of living single thought by single thought. Sugai-san, might I give you some advice?”
Upon his agreement, she continues, "You seem to spend far too much time preparing for not what is the task at hand but other side pursuits. I wish you well."
Sugai just grunts, and takes his finds back to the Scorpion clan.
Niko brings back her eggs to the Lion clan and then gets ready for the next event.
There is no event, the hunt was the last event. It's time to take the delicacy and turn it into dinner.
Matsu Niko makes dinner with the eggs she found.
She keeps her eyes peeled for intrigue. Read lips 3k3
Mirumoto Dai mixes with the audience and congratulates the contestants if he happens to pass by them.
Matsu Niko makes dinner with the eggs she found.
She keeps her eyes peeled for intrigue. Read lips 3k3 3d10
None as yet, there was one person talking about Mirumoto Dai.
The young Isawa mixes with the other contestants, talking up what he remembers of each participant's positive performance.
"The clans have all sent promising young samurai, and everyone has had an opportunity to shine. Certainly, selecting a winner will be difficult. Many worthy contestants will have to accept not being recognized. Let us pray to the Kami that we all bring glory and honor to our schools and clans, where it belongs."
The others just nod to acknowledge what the young Isawa Asao said.
Dusk comes. IF you had no dinner, now is the time to have it. Tomorrow is a big day for the people who had their contests. Only a few contests left, and then time to choose the Topaz Champion. :-)
Mirumoto Dai eats with the others and compliments the various contestants he passes for areas that they excelled in. He listens to the chatter to see if there are any especially interesting events planned for the next day.
The next day means, Mirumoto, one last fight. Don't worry, the weapons are going to be blunt.
Matsu Niko eats her dinner and tries to keep Sugai in her sight, knowing he is always up to some chicanery. She makes appropriate small talk with the other contestants and shows the proper respect to her family in attendance.
Matsu Niko eats her dinner and tries to keep Sugai in her sight, knowing he is always up to some chicanery. She makes appropriate small talk with the other contestants and shows the proper respect to her family in attendance.
Sugai looks disappointed that he didn't gather all the tsu fish eggs. He wanted to gather them all. He looks to you with a grudge look. Whether you like it or not, you have made an enemy.
She shoots back at Sugai with a look as if he had drawn first blood and he should know it(which he did) and well, Matsu Niko has no qualms about separating Sugai's head from his neck with her Odachi or with her bare hands for that matter but she is also flirting with him because well she is lecherous after all.
All the while using the proper etiquette 5k2+3 exploding = 26
She giggles into her hands in a flirtatious manner.
Sugai still looks disappointed. He didn't get the flirt.
Matsu Niko finishes her sake and goes to bed, a bit disappointed that Sugai is so thick headed and stupid.
Mirumoto Dai will stay up late enjoying the celebration of the tournament before retiring for the night.
Mirumoto Dai wakes early in the morning to go through his own kata before cleaning up and going to find a good spot to watch the last of the competitions.
The young Isawa tries to enjoy the celebration as much as anyone else, though he does try to include any representatives from the minor clans in any discussions he joins. He also treats the servants as people, and not objects . . ..
In the morning he goes through his daily prayers before trying to prepare for the more formal ceremonies certain to come.
As the hour of Hantei approaches, the shugenja have finished blessing the courtyard grounds. Their prayer drums echo from the temple across the river. The golden barge of the Emperor lies at anchor in the river's center. Many on it's deck are straining to gain a glimpse of the coming contest. The Asahina shugenja have cleared away the clouds to ensure Amaterasu's blessing. Those that have attained adulthood (Both Iswa Asao and Matsu Niko, along with Bayushi Sugai) enter the circle of spectators and encircle the ground where some say, Hantei dueled with his brothers and sisters on who would rule the empire. The shugenja have smoothed a five foot circle of earth in the center. Opposite you, the Emperor sits on a small throne while Lady Kachiko waits nearby with the bowl full of chops that are used to decide the pairs.
Rules: This is a part of tournament where the heroes face off with each other and the best. The pairs are decided by chopsticks. This competition uses metal weapons, but blunted. You roll the usual number of dice, but keep only one. Contestants are given no time to meditate to reclaim lost void. Who ever wins the tournament is given a triple Banzai cheer.
When it is Matsu Niko's turn, she bows to the Emperor in the appropriate manner afterwards she makes her way to Lady Kachiko and bows towards her as well and then choses a chopstick from the bowl.
Etiquette 5k2+3
She shows proper deference to the Emperor and respect to Lady Kachiko.
Yep!
Miramoto Dai finds a good place to watch the fights in the shade of a tree.
The young Isawa follows the examples and bows to many of the people around the arena, completely to the ground for the Light of the Heavens, of course.
He draws his chopstick before seeking out a training fan to use during the fight.
The final tournament begins. First it's Sugai verses Asao.
As he is called to the ring, the young Isawa moves as calmly as he can to his position. He chooses not to acknowledge his opponent, other than the mandatory bow. He does not hesitate to follow the formula of bowing to the ring, judge, Son of Heaven, and opponent, in the order indicated by the ring judge, of course.
Yeah, I know. Bare with me for a moment.
-- Are you familiar with the dueling rules? We can modify them.
Matsu Niko is a bit disappointed that she was not drawn with Sugai but she hopes her companion will fair decently against him.
She sits and shines the blunted Odachi while watching and sits next to Miramuto Dai and says, "Miramuto-San, who would you surmise will be the winner of this contest?"
"I doubt Isawa-san has spent much time working with his kata. I hope he can make a good show of up, but I would think Bayushi-san is likely to win this encounter." Mirumoto-san says as he considers the formal training both men had received. "What are your thoughts Matsu-san?"
She smiles and says, "I am not sure how good Isawa-san is with his fan but I must say I would have liked to have crossed my o-dachi against Sugai-san."