"Shugenja!" he shouts. "Healers! Quickly, you sluggard fools! Hurry!"
"Assassins! The Emperor!" Utsuro's mind screams as the reality of what has happened sinks in, and he rushes to join the ever-growing circle of guards surrounding Toturi the 12th.
The Emperor is indeed surrounded by a swarm of Seppun guards, who form a tight cordon around him as he steps out into the garden to take in the scene. A pair of Saburashi's court shugenja, among those who treated you this morning after the weapons contest, rush toward the fallen Hoketsaku. Gintaku steps aside for them, but snaps toward some of the nearby Lion samurai, "Go! Find Nimoro at once and bring him to me!" He turns to stare at Saburashi, who along with Doji Sarutomo and his mother, O-Doji Koneko, have entered the gardens as well. "Well done, Doji-san," Gintaku snarls, venom dripping from his voice almost as thickly as it rolls off the blade near Kenji's hand, "your incompetence has managed to deprive the Lion Clan of its daimyo and the Empire of its Emerald Champion."
"You go too far," snaps Koneko in reply, her fan slashing as though it were a katana blade. "Surely the honorable Akodo-san does not need reminding that it was his own Clansman that attempted murder earlier tonight?"
"Something your Clan did nothing to prevent," Gintaku fires back. "It took three children to stop him, while the Crane remained blind behind your fans. Just as happened here."
"So what's your excuse?" Sarutomo asks, his normally-smooth tones taking on a cutting edge. "You were the one standing right here when it happened. If anyone here failed to protect your Champion, it was you."
Miya Shikan attempts to cut in, "Now, just a moment, honorable samurai, let us-" but he is shouted down by the growing chorus of Lion and Crane samurai facing off against one another in the gardens.
Behind them, Toturi XII kneels over the body of his fallen friend, face lowered in grief or prayer or both. He says nothing to the rising furor, and when one of his guards leans down to whisper something in the Emperor's ear, he merely shakes his head and pushes the man away.
Doing his best to ignore the Lion and Crane throwing barbs back and forth Nagatsuna watches the other competitors. Where is Oroko? She spent alot of time with Kenji. Could she be an assassin also? He scans the crowd for the other Ronin.
Remaining motionless while the scene erupts the samurai-ko finally gets involved trying to sooth the hot tempers of her Clansmen. Obviously her quiet pleading does not get very far and it doesn't take long for Megumi to get more involved.
A wild insult or at least a perceived insult from one of the Lion draws her in and soon enough her voice joins into the chaos.
Ume stood with her clansmen, her hands clenched white in anger and anticipation. This could only be settled with blood, lots and lots of it. Maybe including hers, a thought she found oddly relaxing, even as the anger kept rising in the room.
Whatever the Cranes now claimed, the Champions blood was on their hands as much as Kenji's. She could not imagine their ancient rivals getting away with this incident without a blooding.
Her gaze travelled to Nimoro. There still was a lot of ceremonial words to say, but as sure as night followed day, he was going to be clan champion. What would he say? What would he DO?
Nimoro, flanked by four Akodo samurai, huddles near Gintaku, looking very much like the 13-year-old boy he is. His gaze never leaves his father's body.
"A former-Phoenix ronin attempts to kill the Isawa. A former-Crane ronin assassinates the Emerald Champion. What's that other ronin.. the woman ..up to?
Looking to one of the Seppun guards, Utsuro asks, "What of the other ronin in the city - could one or more of them be involved in this atrocity?"
Doing his best to ignore the Lion and Crane throwing barbs back and forth Nagatsuna watches the other competitors. Where is Oroko? She spent alot of time with Kenji. Could she be an assassin also? He scans the crowd for the other Ronin.
"A former-Phoenix ronin attempts to kill the Isawa. A former-Crane ronin assassinates the Emerald Champion. What's that other ronin.. the woman ..up to?
Nagatsuna and Utsuro both spot Maeda Oroko near the doorway - with a dour-looking Daidoji guardsman on either side of her. Her expression of one of mixed shock, anger, and resignation, but she shows no signs of preparing for violence of any kind.
Nagatsuna and Utsuro both spot Maeda Oroko near the doorway - with a dour-looking Daidoji guardsman on either side of her. Her expression of one of mixed shock, anger, and resignation, but she shows no signs of preparing for violence of any kind.
Seeing Oroko is already being watched Nagatsuna turns toward the Lions and Cranes in confrontation and bellows out, "ENOUGH! Your bickering is a poor attempt at covering your own guilt in this matter! Do you serve your own interests or those of Rokugan and the Emperor?! Rokugan has suffered a great loss today. The emperor, not you, will determine who is at fault. I do not claim to speak for him but am ready to hear his decision when and IF he chooses to give it. For now.......I mourn the loss with him." Nagatsuna moves closer to the emperor and the fallen champion stopping at a respectful distance and kneels, bowing his head in prayer.
Ume moved closer to the other Lions, felling in place just besides the guard now surrounding Nimoro. She probably would have felt sorry for his loss under different circumstances, but right now, they had not the luxury of giving him time to grieve. He was as good as samurai. He was as good as Clan Champion. He owed both of these positions more than this display.
Her initial anger over Nimoro's behavior wasn't long-lived, though. The Hida, intentionally or no, made a much better target. "If there was any sincerity to your words, Hida-san" the honorific had a sharp edge to it. This was not a term of respect by any stretch. "You would not put more oil to the flames. Go off, this does not need your oh-so-humble 'not speaking for anyone.' I am sure most here are man or woman enough to speak for themselves, and need not your tongue putting words into their mouth."
Yukari keeps herself out of the arguments now flying back and forth between the Crane and the Lion - as she wasn't of either clan and indeed wasn't even an adult yet, it wasn't exactly her place to join in here. The few words she had overheard the ronin say to the Champion ran through her mind. If they had held off going to the Crane about Chigitsu, would this still have happened? Would the ronin still have had the opportunity to do as he did?
No. She couldn't think like that. She, and Tenmaku and Tsutakito had done as they had to, and Kenji would have no doubt found some other lure if he was determined enough. Looking up again, the Unicorn sees Nimoro staring at his father. She felt a deep pang of sympathy for the young Lion - the sight before them was horrific for her. She couldn't begin to imagine what he was feeling right now..
As the outbursts continue to build toward what seems like certain bloodshed, those near the Crane - Megumi and Yukari especially - notice Kakita Amiko approach Doji Koneko and whisper something hurriedly to her. Koneko turns to stare at her for a moment, then asks in a sharp hiss, "Are you certain, girl?"
Amiko nods warily. "I checked the day before yesterday; that rude Shosuro who fell ill asked about it, and I was obligated by my honor to follow through on his question, no matter how odious he was."
Koneko nods, her eyes sliding toward the Lions. "My thanks, child. You have done well." She straightens, turning toward Gintaku and Nimoro, and says in a loud, clear voice, "My lord Akodo, before you carry your error any further, it might interest you to know that the man who has slain your Champion is, in fact, here at your own family's request. Kenji's sponsor was none other than the daimyo of the Seizuka family, one of your personal vassals, I believe?" She smiles, and though she has lost most of her teeth in her age, she somehow manages to convey the impression of a wolf staring down a stag. "If you wish to place blame, you might consider looking to your own affairs first."
The announcement seems to catch Gintaku off-guard, and he seems to lose some of the righteous fury he had managed to build up, mouth hanging open slightly.
Koneko continues, stepping slightly closer to Gintaku, "Correct me if I am wrong, of course, Akodo-san, but I seem to recall that legally, the sponsors of a ronin contestant are responsible for his behavior, yes?"
Ume moved closer to the other Lions, felling in place just besides the guard now surrounding Nimoro. She probably would have felt sorry for his loss under different circumstances, but right now, they had not the luxury of giving him time to grieve. He was as good as samurai. He was as good as Clan Champion. He owed both of these positions more than this display.
Her initial anger over Nimoro's behavior wasn't long-lived, though. The Hida, intentionally or no, made a much better target. "If there was any sincerity to your words, Hida-san" the honorific had a sharp edge to it. This was not a term of respect by any stretch. "You would not put more oil to the flames. Go off, this does not need your oh-so-humble 'not speaking for anyone.' I am sure most here are man or woman enough to speak for themselves, and need not your tongue putting words into their mouth."
Nagatsuna does not let his anger at Matsu Ume's tone reach the surface that's right little lion, roar your fury out at the mountain and all you hear back is your echo. On another day you might start an avalanche that would bury you.......but not today... Nagatsuna maintains his prayer with the emperor and leaves his back to the raging lion.
Smiling wickedly at this rather convenient turn of events the young Kakita maiden straightens and smirks to the Lion, who just moments before were no doubt ready to pounce. She mutters a few words more to herself than anybody else though it is loud enough for nearby Lion samurai to catch if they pay attention.
"Perhaps our guests here might look to cover their own affairs before offending us so openly. They do not even tend to their new Champion before trying to heap the blame upon others. Discipline yourselves before attempting to discipline your betters."
The latest thorn actually stopped Ume's breath for a moment. She didn't really hear Megumi's jibe anymore. Things were just going out of hand, not any way she could understand. She could put the disgusting Hida into his place, but how... how could she even begin avenging this? And on whom?
She felt sick to her stomach, and her eyes stung from impotent rage. Something had to be done, but she was utterly powerless. Never in her life had she been so humiliated. Running away briefly touched her mind, but that, countless lessons and tales had drilled home, was worse than dying. Only she was not going to die. She was going to have to live with this evening for the rest of her life.
All color had left her face, and as she tried to direct some words into Megumi's direction, they stuttered and trailed off.
Words, words, words
"Enough," pleads the strangely quiet voice of Shiba Utsuro, "Just.. Enough."
"While we bicker over the body of a fallen hero like carrion crows, we only deepen the sorrow the entire Empire feels at his loss. If the adults wish to act like unruly children, then let one recently a child step forward and say that it is well passed the time we should all be in our beds. Let each of us return to our rooms, and meditate on what has happened here this evening - how petty hatreds and rivalries almost led to the death of a young man, and how vengeance unchecked took the father from another."
"Go now, quietly, and forgive my presumption. I have simply had enough of death for one day."
With that, the Shiba bows, and leaves the courtyard.
Heihachi attempts to take in everything going on around him, trying to make sense of it, while touching the void a the same time...(sort of meditating with his eyes open)
As the news that the ronin was hired by one of the Lion's own vassal families is broken, it is all that Yukari can do not to stare at the arguing parties in disbelief. First, one of the Lion competitors attempts to kill another contestant, and then a vassal arranges for the assassination of their own champion.. She would never have thought that the right hand of the Emperor would have allowed such a huge and public shaming to happen, at an event run by their historic rivals, no less!
As the arguing (unsurprisingly) heats up even further, the Unicorn only just hears Utsuro's voice amid the chaos. Glancing at the Phoenix, Yukari takes a step back towards the edge of the garden. Given the parties and the tempers involved, the young battle maiden wasn't sure if this could end in any other way but a fight - one that she didn't really want to be caught up in.
As the arguing starts to rise again in the aftermath of the (brief) pause created by Koneko's announcement, Miya Shikan steps between the Crane and Lion factions and shouts, "Enough! As the Imperial Herald, I order you in the Emperor's name to remember his peace! Withdraw, so that we can return the focus to these young samurai whose accomplishments we are here to celebrate!" He stands there, very nearly in a rage himself, glaring equally at Cranes and Lions, until Koneko pokes her son lightly with her cane, making him jump slightly. Sarutomo recovers fairly quickly, however, bowing to the Herald and then to the kneeling Emperor, followed at once by Saburashi and Koneko.
It takes Gintaku some longer time, but he finally bows as well, and Nimoro follows his lead. With a curt gesture, Gintaku motions for his samurai to leave, commanding the group guarding Nimoro to "Take him back to his chambers and guard him well."
Slowly, the rest of the samurai in the garden start to drift away as well.
Megumi seems quite willing to re-enter the argument alongside the other Crane. She isn't very reserved either, having been bolstered considerably by the announcement of Kenji's sponsorship. Instead the Kakita seems to take some amount of pleasure in reminding any Lion of their folly in this matter.
The ringing words of Miya Shikan cause her to instantly fall silent though she continues to test nearby Lion patience with a smirk and reproachful glare upon them. However she does follow suit with her Champion and bows to Shikan, profoundly to the Emperor and then departs to her room. While there she remains awake, unable to sleep for a time, while reviewing the events of the evening.
** spoiler omitted **
She sounded hoarse, her voice still kept in careful check, with each word setting off a quiver.
** spoiler omitted **
Tenmaku's Awareness/Deceit (Seduction) roll, with Free Raise for Voice (7k3+9=39)
"There is not much roar in me tonight, yet I will be what I can for now. All else will be tomorrow." She replied, extended a careful hand towards him.
** spoiler omitted **
The worst thing was she did not hate herself nearly as much as she knew she should. She would need to pray, meditate and eventually learn. But for this night, she was content to just sleep. Thinking now... was not going to work
As the group of samurai begins to disperse, Yukari also makes her way to the door. She had no real wish to remain at the gathering any longer, and it seemed that everybody else felt the same in any case.
The battle maiden makes her way back to the inn, her pace almost meandering as her mind goes over the day's events. Perhaps not surprisingly, instead of heading straight to the main building of the inn, she makes a detour to the stables. There, she spends some time with Arashi, speaking to him softly and giving the large animal an affectionate scratch behind the ears. There were no politics, no assassination attempts - no complications - with horses. It was a simplicity she enjoyed after the tension of the dinner event.
Eventually, Yukari remembers how late the hour is and decides to retire for the night. Giving the Utaku steed a farewell pat, she heads into the inn proper and then to her room to sleep.
Eventually, Yukari remembers how late the hour is and decides to retire for the night. Giving the Utaku steed a farewell pat, she heads into the inn proper and then to her room to sleep.
She is riding Arashi at full gallop, across a wide plain lit by lightning strikes in the distance. Dark clouds rumble overhead, purple and black even when the silver-white lightning falls. There are mountains ahead, and a faint reddish glow, like a great flame somewhere over the horizon.
"This is how it begins," a voice says nearby. Despite the wind that rushes past her ears, the quiet words carry as though spoken in a silent room. She turns to look, and a young woman, her age or a little older, rides alongside her, in the colors of the Unicorn, on an Utaku steed that might well have been Arashi's dam. The woman carries a katana across her back, and Yukari recognizes the wrappings - it is the same blade she herself carries now.
"It begins with death," her grandmother continues. "What has happened tonight will echo across the face of the Empire, and what this pebble starts is an avalanche that will one day bury us all." She turns to look Yukari straight in the eye. "Unless you have the strength to stop it, girl. Do you? Do you?"
Suddenly, the ground falls out from beneath Arashi's hooves, and Yukari and Arashi tumble downward, toward a pit that roars with fire...
The following morning, the contestants regather at the Kakita Dueling Academy for the final day's event: the iaijutsu tournament. Though this is the most popular and most watched event of the entire contest, the mood is grim. Shaken by the previous night's terrible events, the crowd is quiet, for all that the stands are packed to overflowing. Several faces are missing from the lineup that assembles: Matsu Nimoro, a hasty gempukku ceremony already behind him this morning, now sits with the Emperor's party as the Champion of his Clan; Matsu Chigitsu and Maeda Oroko both languish in the custody of the Crane, though for very different reasons and with very different outlooks for their futures; and Kenji's body has been tossed into the ocean, unsanctified and unmourned.
Nevertheless, Kakita Saburashi stands before the crowd at the appointed time, setting forth the rules for the tournament: "This tournament will be a single elimination event, with each winner earning two points toward their gempukku and the Topaz Championship! Duels will be to first blood only, and though any wounds suffered will be healed by my attendants, there will be no rest or meditation allowed between rounds! Now, let the tournament begin!"
As for the previous rounds, the remaining contestants' chops are drawn from a silken bag, but this time, they are placed on a bracket, showing not only the pairings for this round, but the shape of the tournament overall.
Nagatsuna quietly rises when the Emperor does. Once the Emperor has taken his leave he asks one of the guards given the responsibility to dispose of the body permission to examine Kenji's katana. Proper rituals must be followed for the destruction or retrieval of Kiau blades.......
Nagatsuna quietly rises when the Emperor does. Once the Emperor has taken his leave he asks one of the guards given the responsibility to dispose of the body permission to examine Kenji's katana. Proper rituals must be followed for the destruction or retrieval of Kiau blades.......
Initially, the Daidoji seem unwilling, but once Nagatsuna explains why, they permit him to examine the swords. It quickly becomes clear, though, that the blades are not Crab work - in fact, the wakizashi isn't even of ordinary quality. The katana, on the other hand, is an extremely impressive piece of bladecraft, but the maker's mark on the tang reveals it to be a Doji-forged blade. Not surprising, of course, for a Tsume ronin.
Initially, the Daidoji seem unwilling, but once Nagatsuna explains why, they permit him to examine the swords. It quickly becomes clear, though, that the blades are not Crab work - in fact, the wakizashi isn't even of ordinary quality. The katana, on the other hand, is an extremely impressive piece of bladecraft, but the maker's mark on the tang reveals it to be a Doji-forged blade. Not surprising, of course, for a Tsume ronin.
He points this out to the Crane as they may have similar traditions for their blades. He then retires for the evening.
Yukari awakens suddenly, sitting bolt upright. Her breathing is sharp, and it takes her a few moments to realise that she was dreaming. After this realisation, she relaxes a little, her breathing slowing down again.
Rising to her feet, Yukari realises that it is time she should be getting ready for the day's events in any case. She didn't feel like she'd had the best nights sleep ever, but hopefully she would wake up more once she'd had a little to eat and some fresh air. Dressing herself, she then made her way downstairs for a light breakfast before heading to the tournament.
All regret she could muster paled against the fact that he had felt good. That being with him had, for the moment, dispelled the depression and despair. Even though she now had something to fear from him, that was worth a lot.
When the time to rise came, she still had not gotten any sleep. She took another long, throughout bath. If nothing else, she wanted to look presentable for the big finish of the tournament.
Ume moved towards the breakfast looking somewhat out of form. She was visibly tired and worn. There was nothing indicating surrender anymore, though. She went through the motions, and would try her dearest to at least restore some honor to the lion - and herself.
Megumi awakens and proceeds with her regular morning routine. Little has changed from her fitful sleep, the events of the prior evening having kept her awake for a large part of the night. But she heads out to the dueling academy the familiarity of the building acting as a reassurance to the young Kakita.
While the chops are being drawn Megumi's eyes wander over the other Kakita in the tournament briefly until she sees who she is paired up with. Watching her first opponent for a few moments she realises that his skill is quite unknown to her and to take him lightly could be a huge mistake. Her mind wanders again to her years in this very academy training under Saburashi trying to call forth the years of lessons from the master duelist.
Heihachi eventually heads to bed after the evening's unpleasantness. He has to focus and meditate before he can sleep.
He rises early in the morning, and heads to the river for a cold morning bath and to give the river kami an offering. He heads back ready for the Iaijutsu duels ahead, well as ready as a shugenja can be for an Iaijutsu duel. Too bad I have to face a clansmen in the first duel he thinks as he walks back.
Shosuro Morito offers his traditional deep, overdone bow to Nagatsuna as they prepare for their duel. "May the Fortunes guide us, and may our ancestors watch over us! Today, we face the ultimate test of a samurai - today, we take death itself into our grasps!" he says, settling into a stance that is as formal and theatrical as everything else about him.
Kakita Toru's face is calm, almost expressionless as he bows to Yukari and settles into his stance. The only flicker of emotion comes as he catches sight of Kakita Amiko on the sidelines, preparing for her own duel against Doji Keitomaru. Toru's jaw tightens and he looks quickly away, though, returning the full force of his focus to the duel in front of him.
Toru's Awareness/Iaijutsu (Assessment) roll, with two Raises for information - TN 15 (4k2=10)
Hida Chorotaku is wearing a broad grin as he faces off against Heihachi in the dueling circle. "We've shown them all already what it means to be a Crab," he tells the Kuni, "but I guess we can play with the Crane's little game one last time! Hida's blessings on both of us, and everyone else - watch out!" Chorotaku roars with laughter, then takes his stance.
Chorotaku's Awareness/Iaijutsu (Assessment) roll, with one Raise for information - TN 10 (3k2=13)
Yoritomo Kagetora bows easily to Ume as they face off in the dueling ring. Ume notices that the Mantis' stance is open and surprisingly broad - he also hasn't stopped moving, swaying slightly from one foot to the other, as though he were standing on a ship. "Never had much use f'r this sorta thing," the Yoritomo says as he readies himself, "but I guess we're all in for't, whether we like it or no!"
Kagetora's Awareness/Iaijutsu (Assessment) roll, with one Raise for information - TN 10 (3k2=15)
After his morning stretches and athletics Nagatsuna manages to bury the recent diversions into the back of his mind and focus on the duels to come. Looking over the brackets he can't avoid a momentary hopeless feeling as he sees that every single Crane is on his side of the brackets. Shaking himself mentally, I would not turn away from impossible odds in the Shadowlands and I will not do so HERE! The Crane will learn what it is to face a Crab as the fear grips their hearts. Seeing Heihachi on the other side of the brackets he smiles, May the spirits guide you to victory also. Taking note of his first duel he chastises himself, One thing at a time. Worry about the Crane later.
Raw awareness:
2d10=14
<----makes that face while he's assessing...
(just kidding)
"Good luck brother, may the Kami guide you in this contest"
Edited to remove the raise...since I'm Clueless, errr skill-less
Raw awareness:(I hope that's DC5 + raises, not DC10 + raises.)
2d10=14
• The opponent’s rating in the skill he/she used for the Assessment roll, usually Iaijutsu (some Techniques can change this, though)
• The opponent’s Awareness, Reflexes, Agility, or Void
• The opponent’s Insight Rank
• The opponent’s remaining Void Points
• The opponent’s current Wound Level