Sorry, folks, if you were looking forward to me dropping half a dozen haiku on you. Not even I am so insane...
In and around your contests, the other matches proceed apace, and without a great deal of fanfare or drama (at least, relative to some of the other matches of the last two days). The ronin Kenji manages to deliver a surprisingly good poem in his easy victory over Moto Tsuto, who tries to slip in some traditional "travel poetry" in the Unicorn style, but succeeds only in producing simplistic doggerel. Tamori Ryuko, of course, easily wins over Yoritomo Kagetora, though even the amateur poet does not produce anything that approaches the sublime delicacy of Megumi's contribution. Shosuro Morito declaims his poem in a classic, almost theatrical style, defeating Matsu Chigitsu in presentation almost as much as content. Though one might well have expected Kakita Amiko and Bayushi Tenmaku to be fairly evenly matched, the truth is that Amiko's poetry is not especially refined, while Tenmaku's skill with a line meshes quite well with the honey-smooth tones of his speaking voice to produce a rather one-sided encounter.
After the poetry, lunch is served before the go matches begin.
This needs to be an event, I think. I'm a natural for the Phoenix Clan Synchronized Void Recovery Stunt Team.
Heihachi takes a break from the competition. Focusing on nothing. Void Recovery 4k2=27
Like Heihachi, being Large here is a disadvantage, as it essentially negates your Free Raise. However...
After Nagatsuna completes his potion of the poem, there is a long pause, as Keitomaru and much of the audience awaits the last line of the Crab's haiku. Once it becomes clear that Nagatsuna does not intend to go on, however, Sarutomo nods slightly, evidently realizing what the Hida is about. Keitomaru, however, grins widely, clearly believing himself to have won by default. When he looks back at Sarutomo – who is now looking at him expectantly – Keitomaru delivers his own haiku rather than completing Nagatsuna's, and then looks shocked when Sarutomo shakes his head slightly.
Keitomaru's Awareness/Storytelling, untrained (2k2=7)
Under Sarutomo's steady gaze and facing Keitomaru's grin Nagatsuna is sure he has made a grave error in understanding how to approach the poetry competition. They are going give the point to Keitomaru. As Keitomaru completes his own haiku and looks expectantly toward the judge the feeling that he has lost deepens. So focused on these thoughts is he that it takes a few moments for him to realize that Sarutomo has shaken his head and awarded the point to Nagatsuna. Shocked he barely manages the appropriate bows, even then they are a tad rushed and late.
Retiring from the competition he goes to eat and refocus his mind that is a whirlwind of emotion and thought from the competitions this morning.
Finding a garden wedged between two buildings he is reminded of the Great Wall gardens and smiles at the thoughts of home as he refocuses and recenters himself listening to the trickle of the stream through it.
Ume, having won her match chiefly by her opponent fumbling it worse than she did, had been grounded back into reality a bit more than after the weapons test. She took her bows and smiled when appropriate - but knew for a fact that her last bit of success had been luck more than skill.
She wouldn't mention it if they grilled her alive over a fire, though.
Unlike some others, Ume wasn't in any particular hurry when lunch was served, and instead tried to socialize over the event. Maybe that dashing scorpion had some time for her, or the champion's son, Nimoro
Megumi seems a bit surprised as everybody takes in her poem and seems to enjoy it so thoroughly. After her match she bows politely to Tsutakito with a light smile on her face and watches as the other competitors recite their poems.
When lunch arrives Megumi is in very good spirits, this morning has been very fortunate for her. The samurai-ko enters the common room looking around for some company during the break.
Finding a garden wedged between two buildings he is reminded of the Great Wall gardens and smiles at the thoughts of home as he refocuses and recenters himself listening to the trickle of the stream through it.
Unlike some others, Ume wasn't in any particular hurry when lunch was served, and instead tried to socialize over the event. Maybe that dashing scorpion had some time for her, or the champion's son, Nimoro
Nimoro is sitting with his father at the high table, away from the rest of the competitors and audience members who are eating here, but he makes time to stop and congratulae Ume on her commanding performance in the tournament so far.
So, in fact, does his father, and Akodo Gintaku. Neither says more than, "Well done, Matsu-san," but it's enough to send whispers around the hall and make Ume a little weak in the knees.
On the other hand, the "charming Scorpion" is all too happy to offer Ume some of his time, seeking out her company and joining her for lunch. "If I dare approach the mighty Lioness," he says with a grin, "I should like to sit with you during this meal, in hopes of flattering you sufficiently that you will remember me one day when you are the Topaz Champion and I but a lowly tax collector somewhere..."
Most of the Crane seem to be in fairly low spirits: Amiko is staring vaguely into nothing, while Toru watches her apprehensively and tries to hide the fact that he is doing so, and Keitomaru picks at his food and keeps looking over his shoulder as though expecting an attack.
As Megumi approaches her fellow Clan members, Amiko abruptly rises and glides out of the room. Toru watches her go, then fumbles a greeting to Megumi, followed immediately by a farewell as he rushes after Amiko. Keitomaru looks up at her with a blank expression, saying tonelessly, "Kakita-san. Please, sit." She cannot tell whether he means it or not.
Returning the bow to Nimoro, Yukari can hardly believe it as the match is awarded to her. It seemed that her inspiration had come to her at exactly the right moment. She certainly hadn't expected the final point for her gempukku to be awarded for poetry. Now, she almost felt as if she could relax a little. She had achieved the most important reason for being here, and now she could just concentrate on getting as many more points as she could without worrying over what was going to happen if she lost. Perhaps she now wasn't as useless as her ancestor always told her she was. Perhaps she'd finally be able to prove it here.
Needless to say, the battle maiden's spirits were rather high as she entered the common room to have lunch, looking around to see who was currently in the room.
Finding a garden wedged between two buildings he is reminded of the Great Wall gardens and smiles at the thoughts of home as he refocuses and recenters himself listening to the trickle of the stream through it.
Needless to say, the battle maiden's spirits were rather high as she entered the common room to have lunch, looking around to see who was currently in the room.
Tsuto seems more than willing to have the battle maiden sit with him and listen to his tale of battle against Maeda Oroko in the weapons contest earlier. Tsuto's descriptions dwell heavily on the perfection of Oroko's face and form, as well as the strength and power of his own blows while they fought. A hearer unfamiliar with the events as they actually occurred would likely have ended the conversation thinking that Tsuto had not only won the contest, but that Oroko had essentially offered to bed him later in thanks for her defeat.
Having most of the Crane take their leave seems to have Megumi thinking over her decision to sit with them. However in the end she does decide to join Keitomaru offering the Doji some tea.
"Doji-san," She says using the same politeness he offered her. "You are barely touching your lunch. Is something wrong with it?" She smiles to him hoping it will be infectious.
Having most of the Crane take their leave seems to have Megumi thinking over her decision to sit with them. However in the end she does decide to join Keitomaru offering the Doji some tea.
"Doji-san," She says using the same politeness he offered her. "You are barely touching your lunch. Is something wrong with it?" She smiles to him hoping it will be infectious.
Keitomaru looks down at his rice and fish as if noticing them for the first time. "Wrong with...? Ah, uh, no, Megumi-san. Forgive me, I... my mind was elsewhere." He starts to turn, as though going to look over his shoulder again, but clearly resists the urge. Instead, and with the appearance of great deliberation, he begins to eat.
Even though he seems to be making some effort at minimal politeness, however, most of Megumi's attempts at conversation throughout lunch are met with monosyllable replies. The only time Keitomaru actually initiates any discussion, or demonstrates any real sign of enthusiasm, is just before the end of the meal, when he says, quite out of nowhere, "Do you know anything about the Bayushi or the Shosuro?"
The samurai-ko spends her lunch attempting to get Keitomaru past one-word replies to little avail. When he asks her about the Scorpion families she is obviously surprised.
"Well, aside from them being part of the Scorpion clan I don't know anything really. In fact I don't even know a Scorpion personally. Why do you ask Keitomaru-san?"
He shakes his head. "Forgive me, I wasn't clear. I meant those Scorpions," and he nods his head toward Tenmaku and Morito, the one chatting amiably with Matsu Ume and the other conversing quietly with Yoritomo Kagetora.
"Oh," Megumi replies shortly. "No, I can't say I've had the pleasure to meet them yet. You could take the opportunity this tournament has given us and introduce yourself if you wish Keitomaru-san." She takes another sip of her tea while watching the other Crane.
"Or, perhaps-" She goes on glancing at the mysterious Crane who has instilled all the odd behaviour in Keitomaru, but eventually Megumi decides not to pursue that trail of thought any longer. "No, nevermind."
Nimoro is sitting with his father at the high table, away from the rest of the competitors and audience members who are eating here, but he makes time to stop and congratulae Ume on her commanding performance in the tournament so far.
So, in fact, does his father, and Akodo Gintaku. Neither says more than, "Well done, Matsu-san," but it's enough to send whispers around the hall and make Ume a little weak in the knees.
On the other hand, the "charming Scorpion" is all too happy to offer Ume some of his time, seeking out her company and joining her for lunch. "If I dare approach the mighty Lioness," he says with a grin, "I should like to sit with you during this meal, in hopes of flattering you sufficiently that you will remember me one day when you are the Topaz Champion and I but a lowly tax collector somewhere..."
Ume exchanged some pleasantries with the champion's son. The compliments and the commendations send a bit of warmth into her cheeks, especially when the champion commands her. To herself, she hoped a certain young Akodo took the right kind of notice.
When Tenmaku approached her, she offered him a seat. "Up to now, you've not given me even the need to be flattered. And you will not end up a mere tax collector, Bayushi-san." The formal address was a bit more playful than serious.
After quickly eating a bit of rice, she added. "Besides, I am about as flattered and honored as I can be right now. Detached statements of being impressed by my performance so far I have plenty."
"Oh," Megumi replies shortly. "No, I can't say I've had the pleasure to meet them yet. You could take the opportunity this tournament has given us and introduce yourself if you wish Keitomaru-san." She takes another sip of her tea while watching the other Crane.
"Or, perhaps-" She goes on glancing at the mysterious Crane who has instilled all the odd behaviour in Keitomaru, but eventually Megumi decides not to pursue that trail of thought any longer. "No, nevermind."
Keitomaru, apparently misunderstanding, nods in agreement, though Megumi gets the impression that he is talking at least as much to himself as to her. "Yes, you're right. There's no need for anything so..." He trails off, and Megumi notices his attempts to keep feeding himself seem to have trailed off as well. The rest of the lunch passes in an awkward silence, and it is with some relief that Megumi eventually excuses herself to prepare for the afternoon contests.
Ume exchanged some pleasantries with the champion's son. The compliments and the commendations send a bit of warmth into her cheeks, especially when the champion commands her. To herself, she hoped a certain young Akodo took the right kind of notice.
When Tenmaku approached her, she offered him a seat. "Up to now, you've not given me even the need to be flattered. And you will not end up a mere tax collector, Bayushi-san." The formal address was a bit more playful than serious.
After quickly eating a bit of rice, she added. "Besides, I am about as flattered and honored as I can be right now. Detached statements of being impressed by my performance so far I have plenty."
"Aha!" says Tenmaku, with mock glee. "She is unsure about her future - a weakness I can exploit!" He frowns, as if to himself. "Now, all I have to do is figure out how to make her start losing..." He grins impudently at Ume once more, then begins to eat his meal.
Ume grinned, and quickly caught a small bit of fish between her chopsticks, munched down on it. "Their words, not mine? I intend to rack in so many points that even the Katika can not beat me anymore, even if their blades struck before being drawn."
With a knowing grin, she added. "Besides, Bayushi-san, isn't it said that a person with no secrets is immune to your clan's wiles? So the more I aim to hide, the more vulnerable I become?"
Ume grinned, and quickly caught a small bit of fish between her chopsticks, munched down on it. "Their words, not mine? I intend to rack in so many times that even the Katika can not beat me anymore, even if their blades struck before being drawn."
With a knowing grin, she added. "Besides, Bayushi-san, isn't it said that a person with no secrets is immune to your clan's wiles? So the more I aim to hide, the more vulnerable I become?"
Tenamku nods soberly. "It's true," he says. "So, you'd be safest if you just tell me everything about yourself now."
Ume laughed, and put down her chopsticks for the moment. "What? And give you no reason to ever talk to me again?" She shook her head, and the grin on her lips was beyond dispelling.
Tenmaku chuckles, before lowering his voice to reply,
Tsuto seems more than willing to have the battle maiden sit with him and listen to his tale of battle against Maeda Oroko in the weapons contest earlier. Tsuto's descriptions dwell heavily on the perfection of Oroko's face and form, as well as the strength and power of his own blows while they fought. A hearer unfamiliar with the events as they actually occurred would likely have ended the conversation thinking that Tsuto had not only won the contest, but that Oroko had essentially offered to bed him later in thanks for her defeat.
Yukari will listen to Tsuto as she eats lunch, allowing the Moto to enthuse over the weapons contest. She was somewhat skeptical about his exaggerations - from what she had seen, his fight had gone somewhat less well than his story implied, but he seemed to be enjoying his storytelling, so she decided to let it lie. "Well, it's certainly been an exciting morning," she responds, once he finishes his story. "The business with the yari was worrying though.." she muses, her good mood seeming to dip slightly as she speaks.
Yukari will listen to Tsuto as she eats lunch, allowing the Moto to enthuse over the weapons contest. She was somewhat skeptical about his exaggerations - from what she had seen, his fight had gone somewhat less well than his story implied, but he seemed to be enjoying his storytelling, so she decided to let it lie. "Well, it's certainly been an exciting morning," she responds, once he finishes his story. "The business with the yari was worrying though.." she muses, her good mood seeming to dip slightly as she speaks.
Tsuto nods, his boisterous mood dimming slightly as well, though Yukari can't decide if it's because he's worried about the event or because he's not talking about himself anymore. "That was weird," he agrees. "Guess the Crane don't have it as all together as they want us to believe."
"Really, and that just moments after me making a horribly second-grade poem about honesty?" She replied, and tried to both shift the subject, but not disapprove in any fashion.
** spoiler omitted **
After lunch, the contestants reassemble in the Great Hall, where benches have once again been placed around the edges of the room, and small tables have replaced the longer ones that held the dishes and food only a few minutes before. Each table holds a beautifully-made go board of polished granite inlaid with ebony, and two sets of white and black stones.
The go matches will be judged by Akodo Gintaku and O-Doji Koneko. Both wander among the tables, examining each position and the players carefully. Gintaku's steely gaze is penetrating and merciless, with a slightly raised eyebrow the only sign of surprise or disapproval when he spots an especially good or bad move. Koneko, however, seems to miss the good moves completely, while having an astonishing insight into every mis-play - and unlike Gintaku, her responses are out loud, casually cruel, and have a painful tendency to carry perfectly to the watching crowds, who respond with shaming laughter to each sharp gibe.
When Oroko approaches Nagatsuna to begin their game, she offers him a respectful bow. "Once more, we struggle for victory, Hida-san," she says politely.
Lowering her voice, she adds,
Chorotaku bows to the battle maiden as they prepare for their match. "You rode well yesterday," he rumbles. "I respect a woman of strength." Without further ado, he seats himself and begins to play, showing more skill than his brute attitude might have suggested.
The Mantis bushi is jovial as he meets Utsuro to begin their game, offering a respectful bow and a friendly grin. "Confession time," he says, leaning close in conspiratorial fashion. "Never touched this game in m'life. Pieces kinda slide around on a ship, eh? Looks you might sailing a fast current to another point, but let's see what we got, eh?"
When finally, the time approached for the Go competition, she wasn't so sure she hadn't started playing with fire.
Go. Black and white stones competing for territory. Probably any child in the emerald empire would be able to recite the basic rules - but Ume never had much interest or aptitude at it.
Some of her teachers even considered it a good exercise in strategic thinking, but she always found it too abstract, remote from what really mattered. So when Ume realized she was going to play the Ronin, she quietly thanked the fortunes - it might actually be one of the easiest draws in the tournament.
She remembered the lessons in Go drilled into her before her departure - last hours could not make up for years of neglect. But they had put some basic ideas of strategy into her she now frantically tried to build on. So she played a very much by the book game, no inspiration or daring, easy to defeat by a trained player. For another beginner, though, that playstyle would be hard to beat.
When Shosuro Morito meets Kakita Megumi near their game board, his bow is, much like the rest of him, theatrically exaggerated, replete with so many flourishes that the Crane maiden begins to wonder if she is being mocked somehow. "My lady," Morito says, "I am honored by the meeting of our minds and skills this day. May the Fortunes guide our play as they guide us in all things, and may we each demonstrate the fullest power of our cunning and guile. We are, each of us, stones on a board, moved by Fate and Destiny to the ends they have chosen for us - may we be so resolute as we take on those same roles for these, our faithful warriors." He makes a grand gesture toward the piles of stones, and bows, flourishes and all, to Megumi once more.
** spoiler omitted **
She remembered the lessons in Go drilled into her before her departure - last hours could not make up for years of neglect. But they had put some basic ideas of strategy into her she now frantically tried to build on. So she played a very much by the book game, no inspiration or daring, easy to defeat by a trained player. For another beginner, though, that playstyle would be hard to beat.
Kenji says nothing as he bows to Ume before the game begins, but she sees something simmering in the depths of his eyes, an unexpected drive to win that catches her off-guard with its passion. When they sit, Kenji, though clearly something of a novice at the game, seems to be playing as though his soul itself depends on victory.
Kenji's Games: Go roll (spending VP for the skill) (3k3=38)
At first, Ume's textbook strategy seems to be working, but she notices from the corner of her eye that Akodo Gintaku is watching the game more closely than she would have expected - and with a slight frown. Though she cannot immediately see why, within just a few stones, Kenji has managed to capture nearly half the board in a strategy that is as unorthodox as it seems to be effective. Within just a few more moves, Ume's loss is as clear as it is inevitable, and she cringes when Koneko snipes, "Looks like our little Lion cub forgot which color she was supposed to be playing."
Chigitsu greets Heihachi for their go game with a brusque attitude that seems the height of Lion terseness, but he seems distracted even to the usually-oblivious Kuni. He talks little during the game, but does toss looks around the room at times, as though trying to see how the other matches are going even while he is still playing.
Heihachi greets Chigitsu as well, "May you play your best game Chigitsu-san."
Spending void for the skill point. (do I suffer for being large?)
Heihachi greets Chigitsu as well, "May you play your best game Chigitsu-san."
Spending void for the skill point. (do I suffer for being large?)
Heihachi greets Chigitsu as well, "May you play your best game Chigitsu-san."
Spending void for the skill point. (do I suffer for being large?)
oops, then drop the lowest = 21. I love this game system, but I've been away from it for so long I forget so much.
A decent game, not that of a master, but it looked as though Heihachi knew what he was doing.
"Never touched this game in m'life. Pieces kinda slide around on a ship, eh? Looks you might sailing a fast current to another point, but let's see what we got, eh?"
After the two men finish their quiet conversation, they settle down to play. The Crane Matron pauses several times during their game to comment on how absolutely *wretched* their game is, but the two men join with the laughter of the crowd and continue making bad plays. Incredibly, it seems as though they are both actually trying to lose the game and eventually the judges leave them alone, clearly disgusted at the complete lack of respect being shown to the game.
Kagetora's Games: Go roll (unskilled) (2k2=6)
Utsuro's Games: Go roll (unskilled)2k2=7
Sadly, *someone* must be the winner, and as the game ends Utsuro stands and congratulates the Mantis for his loss.
When Oroko approaches Nagatsuna to begin their game, she offers him a respectful bow. "Once more, we struggle for victory, Hida-san," she says politely.
Lowering her voice, she adds,
** spoiler omitted **
Sure he had seen the game played from afar once or twice but never understood the attraction. Seeing his opponent a smile crosses his face, "Sitting across from you is never a struggle but a victory despite the outcome, Oroko-san."
Lowering his voice in return,
With possibly the worst demonstration of how to play Go between them Nagatsuna isn't sure until the final count of who won.
After a more than polite bow. "Perhaps a rematch later?"
A decent game, not that of a master, but it looked as though Heihachi knew what he was doing.
Heihachi plays a solid, if not necessarily inspired, game, but it seems clear that not only is Chigitsu largely unfamiliar with the game, but Koneko's frequent side comments to the crowd are getting under his skin. Every time he loses concentration and makes his situation worse, however, Koneko snipes again, sending the Matsu spiraling into a loss largely of his own making. By contrast, Koneko's occasional shots at Heihachi rattle the Kuni not at all, and the end is clear from long before it actually arrives.
"Never touched this game in m'life. Pieces kinda slide around on a ship, eh? Looks you might sailing a fast current to another point, but let's see what we got, eh?"** spoiler omitted **
After the two men finish their quiet conversation, they settle down to play. The Crane Matron pauses several times during their game to comment on how absolutely *wretched* their game is, but the two men join with the laughter of the crowd and continue making bad plays. Incredibly, it seems as though they are both actually trying to lose the game and eventually the judges leave them alone, clearly disgusted at the complete lack of respect being shown to the game.
Kagetora's Games: Go roll (unskilled) (2k2=6)Utsuro's Games: Go roll (unskilled)2k2=7
Sadly, *someone* must be the winner, and as the game ends Utsuro stands and congratulates the Mantis for his loss.
Indeed, when Gintaku awards Utsuro the point, Kagetora beams as though he had gotten it instead. Leaning in again, he "whispers" to Utsuro, "New samurai are a zeni to the bushel, but free drinks? Now there's a treasure worth the plundering!"
With possibly the worst demonstration of how to play Go between them Nagatsuna isn't sure until the final count of who won.
After a more than polite bow. "Perhaps a rematch later?"