Nimor looks suitably impressed. "That sounds most courageous," he replies. "A test of combat truly is the finest test of a samurai; my father often quotes Akodo-kami in saying, 'The truest test of courage is the last,' and if such a thing should not necessarily occur on one's gempukku, then it should indeed be something every samurai has to face." He nods thoguhtfully. "Among my family, the traditional gempukku involves fasting, combat demonstrations, and meditation - the final test is to withstand a beating at the hands of your sensei or father, and the words, 'Let these be the last blows you accept without the destruction of your foe.' My father believes that I should undergo my gempukku here, however, in recognition of my future status as not just the daimyo of the Matsu, but the Champion of the Lion Clan as a whole. That is why I was trained among the Akodo as well.""Ah, yes, in the crab lands, our gempukku is a trial...lowers his voicea trial in the shadowlands, of combat, one must best one of the shadowlands cretures, and return to tell the tale...of course, one must also bring proof of their victory" "all the crab here have completed their gempukku
"Interesting, I think if I were to pick another clan to train with, it would have to be with the Phoenix Shugenja, their mastery of the void is truly remarkable" suddenly afraid he may have insulted the lion clan "No offense to the Shugenja of your clan Nimoro-sama"
Shisumo:
** spoiler omitted **
Yukari:
"You honour me greatly Toturi-sama," She says from behind her 'mask', then bowing to both of them at once. "I am sure my appearance must be dreadful after the events of the day. Perhaps some of the Doji tea will awaken your senses Kobashi-sama?" There is an unmistakable playfulness in Megumi's voice and when she rises from her bow her eyes are watching Kobashi a little more attentively.
Kobashi takes the cup, but shakes his head. "I could not drink it without at least hearing you do me the honor of my right name, Megumi-san."
Hatsu, however, interrupts before Megumi can reply. "Immune to tea?" he sputters with mock incredulity. "Her eyes could match the sun for glory, her voice teach the birds to sing, and the best you can say is that she will make you immune to tea?" He shakes his head in seeming disgust. "My lady, your beauty would make the least of men feel as though he were Lord of the Celestial Heavens if he were to receive but the smallest of your smiles."
Shisumo:
** spoiler omitted **
Nagatsuna:
Oroko rises from the table and makes her way - saunters, really - toward the stairs to the upper floor.
"Interesting, I think if I were to pick another clan to train with, it would have to be with the Phoenix Shugenja, their mastery of the void is truly remarkable" suddenly afraid he may have insulted the lion clan "No offense to the Shugenja of your clan Nimoro-sama"
Nimoro blinks, as though the idea is quite surprising. "Oh, no, of course not, Kuni-san, and please - call me -san. I am not even an adult yet, and even so would be just another samurai. I deserve no more, at least until my father... retires."
He shakes his head, as though getting rid of a stray thought. "The magics of the Phoenix are, truthfully, beyond me," he admits, "and the magics of my Kitsu cousins... well, they are not the sort of thing most shugenja deal with. We get few requests from other Clans to study with them."
Seeing the Isawa arrive with Yari in-hand, Utsuro walks over the the rack of practice weapons and chooses a naginata, and a couple of blunted yari for the shugenja. Approaching the younger man, Utsuro pauses and waits patiently until the other Phoenix finishes a series of moves that end with a fierce lunge at the wooden opponent.
"Forgive me for intruding, Isawa-sama, but I wonder if you might wish to spar with a more.. active ..partner? I am Shiba Utsuro, at your service." After completing his bow, he offers the two spears to the other man, and awaits his response.
Once the Isawa agrees and selects a practice weapon, they each take their places at opposite corners of the dojo's main floor, and assume a spearman's stance.
Tsutakito is still fuming, but even holding the spear seems to settle him down somewhat. By the time he has taken his stance, much of the anger is gone, and a strange tranquility has settled over him.
Tsutakito suddenly rushes toward Utsuro, a sharp kiai issuing from his lips as he launches an attack at the Shiba, a quick overhead strike that would cut the other man's head in two if it landed - and were a sharpened blade.
Yari attack, with Raise for moving full Move and attacking (7k3=19, damage 2k1=8)
Tsutakito's strike falls wide, though, leaving an opening for his opponent.
Tsutakito's strike falls wide, though, leaving an opening for his opponent.
Stepping around his opponent's left, and placing the Isawa at his back, Utsuro swings the haft of his spear around to his right , attempting to strike the other man in the ribs.
"I apologize for *NGYAH!* inserting myself into your affairs, Isawa-sama."
Using the momentum of his swing, he ends his attack facing the Phoenix's back.
Even though Hatsu seems to be as jovial as ever and indeed his high praise gives the young Crane much to smile about she can only manage a weak smile to him. Fearing that she has offended Kobashi washes away any of the joy from Megumi's face and it is replaced with a bit of dread. Her head falls slightly and she grows silent searching inwardly for the right thing to say.
Even though Hatsu seems to be as jovial as ever and indeed his high praise gives the young Crane much to smile about she can only manage a weak smile to him. Fearing that she has offended Kobashi washes away any of the joy from Megumi's face and it is replaced with a bit of dread. Her head falls slightly and she grows silent searching inwardly for the right thing to say.
Stepping around his opponent's left, and placing the Isawa at his back, Utsuro swings the haft of his spear around to his right , attempting to strike the other man in the ribs.
"I apologize for *NGYAH!* inserting myself into your affairs, Isawa-sama."
Using the momentum of his swing, he ends his attack facing the Phoenix's back.
The naginata "blade" connects with Tsutakito's ribs, creating a loud "smack" but little else. Tsutakito grunts, spinning back toward the Shiba.
1k1 = -9 to him = 18 to my 13. He's still first.
Megumi remains quiet for a moment considering what could have caused offense. Her head still drooping a little she begins with a quiet, apologetic voice.
"I am sorry, I meant no offense. I am but a silly girl with no experience and the manners of..." Here Megumi pauses for a long while to tease out the feeling and sincerity of her apology. When she continues she stumbles over the words and hesitates often. "A silly girl, with manners of a... Goat!" She exclaims the last word loudly and quickly looks up at Kobashi with an enormous, brilliant smile on her face.
Though Megumi is struggling, mostly unsuccessfully, to keep herself from giggling out loud her attention is mostly upon the twins to gauge their reaction to her little joke. Immature to be sure but hopefully something her two guests would appreciate.
It takes a moment for Tsutakito to recover his position, but he suddenly steps forward, feinting toward Utsuro's right side before sweeping the spear toward the Shiba's legs.
Yari attack, declaring three Raises for Knockdown (7k3=20)
Megumi remains quiet for a moment considering what could have caused offense. Her head still drooping a little she begins with a quiet, apologetic voice.
"I am sorry, I meant no offense. I am but a silly girl with no experience and the manners of..." Here Megumi pauses for a long while to tease out the feeling and sincerity of her apology. When she continues she stumbles over the words and hesitates often. "A silly girl, with manners of a... Goat!" She exclaims the last word loudly and quickly looks up at Kobashi with an enormous, brilliant smile on her face.
Though Megumi is struggling, mostly unsuccessfully, to keep herself from giggling out loud her attention is mostly upon the twins to gauge their reaction to her little joke. Immature to be sure but hopefully something her two guests would appreciate.
Kobashi stares, blinking. Hatsu, on the other hand, bursts out into laughter. "You see?" he says, turning to his brother, "she likes goats." Hatsu looks back to Megumi, grinning. "Please, call me Hatsu, and allow me the honor of calling you Megumi."
It takes a moment for Tsutakito to recover his position, but he suddenly steps forward, feinting toward Utsuro's right side before sweeping the spear toward the Shiba's legs.
The Shiba deftly leaps over the sweeping attack, bringing the cloth-wrapped blade of his weapon down in an overhand strike at the Isawa's shoulder.
"Hii-e! Focus, cousin! Do not let the foolish girl rattle you!"
Tsutakito gets his spear up in time, and the two weapons "clack" together with a sharp sound.
No longer trying for fanciness, Tsutakito leaps into the air and tries a direct attack, hoping to hit his cousin through sheer speed and power.
Yari attack, no Raises (7k3=34, damage 2k1=9)
He gets a solid blow in, which rattles Utsuro, leaving him bruised.
Shisumo:
Oroko rises from the table and makes her way - saunters, really - toward the stairs to the upper floor.
Nagatsuna watches from the darkness her very distracting form disappear up the stairs. He does take a moment to watch Kenji's reaction carefully. After downing two more cups to finish off the sake he is feeling pretty good and attempts to act as if he is retiring to his own room if any of the occupants are even bothering to pay attention and heads to the room she said she would be in.
Deceit roll: 4d10.open(10).takeHighest(2)=12
Nagatsuna:
And that pretty much does it for you for the night. It's an exceptionally enjoyable sequence of events, but it does cost you two points (not Ranks, just pips) of Honor.
Several minutes later, the Hida finishes his drink and heads up the stairs.
Shisumo:
And that pretty much does it for you for the night. It's an exceptionally enjoyable sequence of events, but it does cost you two points (not Ranks, just pips) of Honor.
Megumi can't contain it anymore and she bursts out into laughter with Hatsu. Her attention turns to him with a warm look.
"Of course you may call me Megumi, by all means." She watches Kobashi again noticing he hasn't taken any tea. "Kobashi-sama, is something wrong? You haven't touched your tea." She takes a sip herself and as she does it seems as though something dawns on the Crane.
"May I call you Kobashi as well?" She asks him sincerely though her voice is greatly humbled from just a moment ago.
Shisumo:
Tenmaku shakes his head ruefully. "You flatter me, Utaku-san, and I do appreciate it, but I did nothing to earn my victory over Kagetora-san save be fortunate in my assigned horse. Mine walked a little faster than his, and that is all the victory I can claim there. I did manage the heraldry exam, it's true, but I - and anyone who can read the score slate - know very well that I am outclassed by both my lovely companions, and especially by the many talents of Ume-san."
"There are still two more days to go, Bayushi-san. It is still early in the championship afterall, and it seems that tomorrow will require many different skills from today. I am sure that there will be many opportunities for your talents," Yukari replies to the Scorpion. She had a feeling that many of the events tomorrow would be testing her weaker aspects personally - she only had any real experience with the skills required for weapons. Go, poetry and courtier skills were never something she had really touched on herself. Hunting wasn't something she'd practiced either, but she could possibly rely on her decent eyesight and weapon skills there.
Shisumo:
** spoiler omitted **
Nagatsuna:
As for what having low Honor does... well, truth be told, it's not that having low Honor hurts you (aside from, say, certain specific Techniques or spells, most of which are fairly rare) as it is that having a high Honor can help you in several ways. Yes, it restricts your behavior, but it also has some mechanical benefits - it helps you resist Fear, for instance (though it didn't do much for Amiko), and you can use it, once per module, to retry a failed roll, but you must use your Honor in place of either the Trait or the Skill used in the roll, so having an Honor of 1 is not going to make that as comforting as having an Honor of 4 would. (Megumi actually did this already, when she was attempting to meditate for Void, and went from 5k4 and a terrible dice roll to 7k4 and an easy success, once the dice were behaving as they should have been.) Plus, of course, certain NPCs may judge you by your Honor, which is something that others can make a guess at if they try.
Megumi can't contain it anymore and she bursts out into laughter with Hatsu. Her attention turns to him with a warm look.
"Of course you may call me Megumi, by all means." She watches Kobashi again noticing he hasn't taken any tea. "Kobashi-sama, is something wrong? You haven't touched your tea." She takes a sip herself and as she does it seems as though something dawns on the Crane.
"May I call you Kobashi as well?" She asks him sincerely though her voice is greatly humbled from just a moment ago.
Kobashi lets out a breath, as though he had been waiting for something and it had arrived at last. (Megumi notes a grin dancing around the edges of his mouth too, however.) "Ah, the sound of my name on your lips... If only you would say it a hundred times. Yes, Megumi-san, please, call me Kobashi." He takes a sip of his tea at last, and smiles appreciatively. "Ah, perhaps I will need to admit an error to my brother - it will do him good to hear it once in his life - for this tea is indeed delicious. Or perhaps it is merely your presence, Megumi-san, that makes all things wonderful."
"As if she has nothing better to do than to just repeat your name, you boor!" Hatsu cries. "No, indeed - I will let her listen, rather than mindlessly repeat such drivel. Megumi-san, if you will permit me?
"The cold of winter
All frozen stillness and dark
Until your spring dawned."
All:
"The cold of winter
All frozen stillness and dark
Until your spring dawned."
He gets a solid blow in, which rattles Utsuro, leaving him bruised.
"Hah! Very nicely done! Now let's see how well you can..." The Shiba lunges for his opponent's head, and at the last instant reverses his strike and sweeps his spear at the Isawa's legs, "...stay on your feet!"
"Hah! Very nicely done! Now let's see how well you can..." The Shiba lunges for his opponent's head, and at the last instant reverses his strike and sweeps his spear at the Isawa's legs, "...stay on your feet!"
Contested Strength/Insight (3k2=9)
The spear catches the shugenja's legs just as he comes down from his leap, and Tsutakito topples to the ground, breathing hard. He nods once, then rolls away and stands, bowing. "My thanks, Shiba-san, for the practice... and the assistance." He frowns, looking at the bruise already forming on Utsuro's shoulder. "If you will permit me to tend that...?"
"If you will permit me to tend that...?"
"Hai. I would hate to go into tomorrow's contests already wounded. Thank you, Isawa... ?"
The joy quickly returns to Megumi and she listens attentively as the two sons heap praise upon her once again. It is obvious she has fallen into her own little paradise sitting at this table with Hatsu and Kobashi. She takes another sip of tea while her eyes wander over to each of the twins in turn.
"I am glad you enjoy it Kobashi, the Doji have many lovely things and tea is but one of them. I would think it would be an enjoyable drink even without my presence." Her face is one of extreme delight as she goes on. "I willingly admit that the company I share has made this the best tea I've had in my life. Whatever have I done to enjoy such praise and beautiful poetry this evening?"
"If you will permit me to tend that...?""Hai. I would hate to go into tomorrow's contests already wounded. Thank you, Isawa... ?"
Tsutakito nods, and gathers some treatment materials from the dojo's supplies.
Intelligence/Medicine, spending a Void for the skill (4k3=29), healing (1k1=4)
As he works, he says somberly, "I heard what you said earlier about the Tamori getting what she deserves. I will likely need your testimony when I request permission to duel her."
The joy quickly returns to Megumi and she listens attentively as the two sons heap praise upon her once again. It is obvious she has fallen into her own little paradise sitting at this table with Hatsu and Kobashi. She takes another sip of tea while her eyes wander over to each of the twins in turn.
"I am glad you enjoy it Kobashi, the Doji have many lovely things and tea is but one of them. I would think it would be an enjoyable drink even without my presence." Her face is one of extreme delight as she goes on. "I willingly admit that the company I share has made this the best tea I've had in my life. Whatever have I done to enjoy such praise and beautiful poetry this evening?"
"Entered the room," Hatsu replies at once.
"You dolt, we entered the room," Kobashi shoots back. "She was already here." He turns to Megumi. "You merely had to look my way, and your eyes did the rest."
Hatsu snorts, but turns back to Megumi. "My lady, you are right about the beauties of the Crane lands, and truly, none that I have seen compare to you. But perhaps you would allow me to accompany you through the gardens of this inn, so that we might partake in some of the other delights your Clan might have to offer together?"
"Or," cuts in Kobashi, "would you perhaps care to join me in a ride to the sea shore, where we might watch the ocean together beneath the moon?"
"I heard what you said earlier about the Tamori getting what she deserves. I will likely need your testimony when I request permission to duel her."
"And you shall have it, cousin, just as I will need yours when I request the same from my lord. That is one Dragon who is destined to find her destiny on the end of a Phoenix blade. Now, let us put today behind us and prepare ourselves for tomorrow. It's a bath and to bed for me."
Ume sipped from her tea thoughtfully, and regarded the Bayushi for a moment. Tried to make up her mind what to make of him. "Yes, the first two days are for getting five points. You don't want to wager on the luck of the draw in the tournament. After that, you have to win the duels, and that is no easy prospect with students of Katika-sama competing. Of course, I want to win the Topas Championship, but unless I can get to the finals at least there is slim to no chance of that occurring."
"You are too generous!" Megumi protests but it is plain to see how much she is enjoying herself. "To enjoy these gardens with you, Hatsu, would be to see them in all their beauty." She begins softly. "And yet to witness the sea lit by the moon in your company Kobashi would be to see it as if for the first time."
The young Crane's eyebrows raise in thoughtful contemplation and her hands instinctively begin to fidget with her kimono to smooth out the various wrinkles. Another sip of tea seems to ease the decision for the samurai-ko. She appreciates the familiarity of the Crane beverage and knowingly looks to Kobashi with the warmest of smiles on her face.
"If you might forgive me Kobashi your brother has won my company this evening merely by being first to ask. Perhaps we can enjoy each other's company again sometime in the future?"
"If you might forgive me Kobashi your brother has won my company this evening merely by being first to ask. Perhaps we can enjoy each other's company again sometime in the future?"
Kobashi sighs, clearly disappointed, even if he is also overplaying it for a certain amount of humor. "Once I have collected the broken piece of my soul, you mean?" he asks. "I would enjoy that very much."
Hatsu, however, beams. "My heart has never been more full," he says, rising and bowing. "If you will accompany me, Megumi-san?" With a triumphant grin at Kobashi, and a bow for the rest of the room, Hatsu escorts the young Crane samurai-ko out of the common room.
Ume sipped from her tea thoughtfully, and regarded the Bayushi for a moment. Tried to make up her mind what to make of him. "Yes, the first two days are for getting five points. You don't want to wager on the luck of the draw in the tournament. After that, you have to win the duels, and that is no easy prospect with students of Katika-sama competing. Of course, I want to win the Topas Championship, but unless I can get to the finals at least there is slim to no chance of that occurring."
Tenmaku nods thoughtfully. "It's true," he sighs, "the duels are a potent force in determining the victor. In this regard, it would seem the Crane have read their copies of Leadership." He quotes from the great work on strategy, originally written by Akodo-kami himself. "'Always meet your opponents on ground of your choosing. Meet him where you are srong, and he is weak.' We are indeed on ground of their choosing."
"At the same time," he continues, "there are 11 points available before the iaijutsu tournament. A solid performance before the duels begin, and, well..." He shrugs. "Nothing is settled."
Megumi will rise gracefully still watching Kobashi. The disappointment marked in his face reaches out to the young Crane and she also feels some of the sting of it. "If you would excuse me Kobashi, until the next time we meet." She manages a smile toward him then quietly joins Hatsu.
** spoiler omitted **
The two of you enjoy a lovely walk through the gardens, with more flattery and entertaining conversation with the charming and witty prince. It is fairly late when you return to your room, but it will surely be a night you will remember for a long, long time.
"Interesting, I think if I were to pick another clan to train with, it would have to be with the Phoenix Shugenja, their mastery of the void is truly remarkable" suddenly afraid he may have insulted the lion clan "No offense to the Shugenja of your clan Nimoro-sama"Nimoro blinks, as though the idea is quite surprising. "Oh, no, of course not, Kuni-san, and please - call me -san. I am not even an adult yet, and even so would be just another samurai. I deserve no more, at least until my father... retires."
He shakes his head, as though getting rid of a stray thought. "The magics of the Phoenix are, truthfully, beyond me," he admits, "and the magics of my Kitsu cousins... well, they are not the sort of thing most shugenja deal with. We get few requests from other Clans to study with them."
"Very well Nimoro-san" "More tea? or some warm sake?"
calls a geisha over
"Very well Nimoro-san" "More tea? or some warm sake?"
calls a geisha over
Nimoro takes some tea, looking a little green at the idea of sake.
"Very well Nimoro-san" "More tea? or some warm sake?"
calls a geisha over
Nimoro takes some tea, looking a little green at the idea of sake.
"Ah, hai, I prefer tea as well"
orders some more green tea
"Ah, hai, I prefer tea as well"
orders some more green tea
"I assumed the ultimate victor to have a solid showing prior to the tournament." Ume admitted. She had really not thought about someone just doing well in the tournament, had more or less assumed someone to master the duel so completely as to win to not fail the previous tests so completely.
"As for the ground of their choosing. It is important, but by far not enough to assure victory."
"Ah, hai, I prefer tea as well"
orders some more green tea
"I assumed the ultimate victor to have a solid showing prior to the tournament." Ume admitted. She had really not thought about someone just doing well in the tournament, had more or less assumed someone to master the duel so completely as to win to not fail the previous tests so completely.
"As for the ground of their choosing. It is important, but by far not enough to assure victory."
Tenmaku nods once more, adding, "Of course, Ume-san - but when skilled warriors meet, the one who chooses the ground is the more likely to prevail, I think." He looks over at the somewhat forlorn looking Kobashi, chuckles once, then rises and bows to Ume and Yukari. "If you will excuse me, I think perhaps I should console Toturi-sama on the loss of his competition with his brother. I look forward to seeing you both in the morning." He collects Kobashi, and the two approach Nimoro as well.
"Ah, hai, I prefer tea as well"
orders some more green tea
Nimoro and Heihachi chat for awhile, with the Lion doing a fairly decent job of covering for the Kuni's general lack of social graces. When the Bayushi and the prince come up to speak with him, though, he excuses himself, and the three leave the inn.
Upon waking the young Crane rises wondering if the previous evening was merely a dream. It certainly seemed as though it was, had she really gone through the gardens with Hatsu? Memories of that exquisite night came flooding back all at once and Megumi smiled outwardly because of it. She wanted to return to the garden if only to make sure it wasn't actually a dream but instead she simply prepared herself for the day. On this second day of the event she took special care of her appearance however almost to the point of making sure she was ready for a day in the courts. Hatsu would be watching after all.
Afterwards the samurai-ko enters the common room again and takes a seat for a small meal and perhaps to converse with another competitor. There is still some time before the first event of the day.
Shisumo:
Day Two of the competition! How do your mornings begin?[/ooc]
After a simple breakfast of miso and rice, Utsuro heads out to one of the more modest shrines in the area, and offers a prayer Ebisu, as well as a small wooden replica of a farm implement.
He arrives to the competition grounds about 30 minutes prior to the event, and begins going through some stretching exercises and basic kata. Anyone who looks can see a faint purple and red bruise around his right eye.
Yukari rises from the table, returning the Scorpion's farewell before turning to Ume. "I should retire for the night myself, I think. It has been a full day, and I suspect that tomorrow will require a good night's rest. Farewell Matsu-san - I hope we get the chance to talk again tomorrow." Bowing to the Lion, the Unicorn will then head to her room to sleep.
The next morning Yukari rises early, eating a small breakfast before heading to the stables. Knowing the best way to settle her nerves, she saddles Arashi with the intent of taking him for a short ride around the fields next to the village. She does not ride for long, just enough to allow the Utaku steed to work out some of his energy, to relax herself and to gently stretch her muscles for the weapons event. On returning the horse to the stables, she will then head to the tournament grounds for the beginning of the first event of the day.
Heihachi's day begins as a normal day, wash, meditating on the void, followed by a light breakfast of rice and some fruit. He don's his clothing and prepares for the competition.
Ume enjoyed a rare treat - she awoke fully refreshed and full of optimism. She had enjoyed the evening, and after the long travel, a second night in a decent bed was just what she had needed.
She bathed, and said a prayer to her ancestors - it all went easy for her, so when she arrived for breakfast, in her good clothes, she was practically beaming with positivity.