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Post by The Storyteller on Nov 13, 2014 22:54:20 GMT
Although some could be disappointed with the performance of the contestants in the first Day of tests, their defenders argued that anyone really need to know how to play Karuta or who wrote The Nine Fundamentals of the Gracious Bow to explore a ruined, haunted and trap-infested Tower after beating an entire inn full of greedy ronin. At least it was how the story was officially reported. The first test, Poetry, gathered a big audience in the main hall of the Palace. Once the judges and the candidates entered, silence filled the ambient. The contestant was expected to write a poetry in any style about themselves, and present it to the judges in 30 minutes.
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Post by Kurimuzon Te on Nov 14, 2014 2:49:03 GMT
Te walked to the center of the hall to present his poetry. He knew he had about as much chance of winning this as he did the game of the day before. Resigning himself to it he started to recite
Empty handed I entered the world Barefoot I leave it My coming, my going Two simple happenings that got entangled
Upon finishing he turns and walks away.
Ise Zumi 1 + Air 3 = 4
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Bayushi Izo
Scorpion Clan
Posts: 245| Likes: 75
Rings: Earth:5 Water:4 Fire:3 Air:3 Void:1
Scorpion Hatamoto
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Post by Bayushi Izo on Nov 15, 2014 17:35:25 GMT
Izo was infinitely quiet as he scribbled down some poetry.
Darkness rising like a wave, a lonely light against it all. How deep must it go? For the rest of the light to show?
Hida Bushi 1 + Air 3 = 4
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Post by tsuruchi kasumi on Nov 15, 2014 17:51:08 GMT
Kasumi decided to use the older Tanka style, which was like Haiku but with two lines of seven on extra. As someone who was known as poet she really needed to do something extra and secondly, she felt a simple Haiku was a bit too short for something like this. She had to admit that she was surprised that both Te and Izo used the Ryuka style instead of the Tanka style as Hida and Togashi (Izo had Hida training, no matter where he was now) were known for many things, but not their poets. But most poets considered the Ryuka style to be inferior and although some very nice poems had been made in that style, it was mostly used as music to sing when accompanying certain dances.
When it was her turn to recite her poem, she did so using the correct intonation and small movements to accompany the poem:
One left out of two odd one in the family way of bow and sword
assigned to war and court now searching for criminals
air 5 + tsuruchi 1 + famous poet 1 + sakura 0.5 + courting trouble 0.5 = 8 OOC: courting trouble is for awareness related challanges and poetry is linked to awareness, so I assume it counts.
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Bayushi Satomi
Unwanted Betrothed
Scorpion Clan
Posts: 1,080| Likes: 322
Rings: Earth 4 * Fire: 5 *Air 3 * Water 1 * Void 3
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Post by Bayushi Satomi on Nov 15, 2014 20:23:52 GMT
Excellent. After studying months to be able to perfectly represent the nature, the good things on life, the awe on cotidian things, the beauty of seasons, and all and every metric rokugani poetry was able to conceive, the judges decide we must speak about ourselves! My sword speaks for me...
However this thought was not followed by some real grumpy feeling, but by a good humored shrug of a person who accepted who she was and was perfectly in control. It took long talks with Sotaro during the summer, long time meditating near the lake about acceptance of the bad things in the past (but never from the bad things to come), and embracing her nature. And listening Isuke reading books and books of classic poetry every night... Satomi took all her time to think about what to write, and decided for a haikai. It wasn't her "favorite" form of poetry (it was "too Kakita" for her taste), but she wished to impress by concision and cut. She'd put the season references from the traditional saijiki words and making sure the meaning and spontaneity were more important than metrics... Oh, well, she was cynically following all the advices her tutor Shosuro Isuke gave her... But it was about herself too.
Before being allowed to present her own poetry Satomi listened the works of her rivals. Of course, some poetry has more depth than others... And some were perfectly polished just as jewels. And she liked the emotional ones better (and Izo's, particularly, hit hard in her heart: she knew what he was talking about), but probably Izo and Te forgot that there was a Doji, a Shiba and a Seppun amongst the judges.
Shuushi*:
Has the Scorpion
a more painful sting on top
or under the rock?
After she finished the words of her poetry, Satomi caught a glimpse of her master Isuke. He discreetly nodded in approval. Good, just like I were a ten years old. She returned to her seat, knowing it wasn't that bad, and knowing it was going to enter in history as her only adventure in poetry for the rest of her life.
Kaiu Engineer 1+ Air 3+ Master Zen (Void 3)+ Sakura 0.5+ Courting Trouble 0.5= 8
OOC : *roughly "what one sees/observes in autumn"
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Post by The Storyteller on Nov 15, 2014 20:37:30 GMT
Kitsu Shugenja 1+ Air 1=2
Haunted by nightmares the whole night, Kitsu Hiraku tried to write about himself. His mission, his family, his heritage... But what overwhelmed everything else was his gift,"speaking" through his brush and his voice:
Eternal bonding from mother to son renewed through realms his voice transpires
What? Oh Tenjin NO! May I seppuku NOW? the Kitsu thought, planting firmly his large feet n the floor to avoid a seizure... He was feeling that thing again...
The intrigued faces of the judges, a raised eyebrow here and there, a look of astonishment and even a noticeable shiver of fear, that's what he received as feedback of his awful poetry.
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Post by The Storyteller on Nov 16, 2014 12:51:23 GMT
The next test, duel, was taken in one of the patios of the palace. The Ruby Champion and Yasuki Hachi, the Emerald Champion, were waiting for the contenders to draw from the golden box the balls with one of their names. The audience for this test was considerably bigger than the audience for the poetry test. The windy day wasn't favoring the elaborate hats of some courtiers, or the long furisode sleeves of elegant maidens watching the event. It was a sight to see how they struggle with their own fancy clothes and try to retrieve their lost fans; however the wind direction was crucial element to consider in a duel.... After drawing a name, the rival received a sword identical as the one the Champions were using, and were expected to join them in the delimited area where the duel was meant to take place. Both opponents, the champion and his challenger, were forbidden to leave this area in both duel modalities. Kenjutsu duel would take 5 minutes to end. Iaijutsu would end at first blood or after five minutes. The judges were prepared to apply penalties on inactivity or lack of combativeness from the challengers, and to evaluate their performance by giving or subtracting points in their final score.
OOC: Please roll 1d2 for DUEL.
Edit: For the sake of comparison, you can assume that Hachi's Iaijutsu will be 8.5 and Takai's Kenjutsu will be 9.5 (based in their official stats). The more distant of this result you get, more embarrassing will be your defeat. And if you manage to surpass their scores, well, you will be legend...
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Post by tsuruchi kasumi on Nov 16, 2014 16:58:29 GMT
Rokuro was following the poetry contest like he had followed all contests. Things went a bit like he had expected with one big exception, namely Bayushi Satomi. He had never thought her a poet, but what she had done was amazing. According to the rumours he had heard she acted more like Hida O-Ushi, but here she recited poetry like a Kakita. It would probably become difficult for Kasumi with this. Now if she got the iajitsu duel, it might work, but kenjutsu had never been a focus at her school, nor afterwards.
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Post by Kurimuzon Te on Nov 16, 2014 22:47:46 GMT
Te walked toward that damnable box once again. Even if he lost the tournament he would ask if he could have it, as a memento. Nothing would give him more satisfaction right now than to see it blister and burn under his breath, along with every ball that it held. After drawing his ball he looked to the champion it indicated and bowed. He had no concern for the wind, nor for the small arena. It would be just like fighting on one of the many cliffs back home. Finally, a test he could enjoy. ooc: Sorry, got an error code on the first roll.
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Post by Kurimuzon Te on Nov 17, 2014 3:13:17 GMT
Hachi and Te faced each other, just a few feet apart. It had been years since he had wielded a sword, and even longer since he held only one. He felt invigorated by the wind however, and it brought back the memories of his childhood and the training of the Mirumoto. The sound of it whispered in his ears, the force of it pulled at his cloak. Oh yeah, the cloak. He should take it off before the judge tells them to start. He undoes the cord at his throat and pulls the hood back. Pulling the cloak off he releases it during a particularly strong gust and lets the wind take it across the court. He knew he had judged it correctly he saw when his sister caught the large piece of cloth.
What was revealed from under the cloak caused quite a few spectators to gasp and try to step back. Te's head and face had been transformed. Instead of normal skin his looked like it was covered in fur. His ears and nose had been tattooed to resemble an animals and even his eyes had taken on the golden yellow of a wolf. Even those not able to see his face are a little taken aback at the tattoos covering his entire body.
The judge walks to the side of the arena and both combatants settle into the tachi-ai position with their one hand resting gently on their hilts. At the motion of the judge they both grasp their swords and wait for the perfect moment to draw. Te focuses his eyes, keeping them on Hachi's forearm. The second that he see's Hachi tense he draws, almost matching the champions speed. He feels the champions sword cross his gut and bounce off of a rib. His own injury he knows will be no problem. More importantly was his own sword. Looking to his blade he hopes to see blood... NO, nothing. Straightening, he bows to the champion and sheathing his Katana turns and walks off the arena.
Fire 4 Void 3+ Mirumoto Bushi 1+ Ise Zumi 1+ Tempered body 1 + Glorious day 1.5 = 5.5
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Bayushi Izo
Scorpion Clan
Posts: 245| Likes: 75
Rings: Earth:5 Water:4 Fire:3 Air:3 Void:1
Scorpion Hatamoto
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Post by Bayushi Izo on Nov 18, 2014 2:08:20 GMT
Izo seemed more then ready to take his ball. Seemingly giving it less then a cursory glance of contempt as he drew it, showed it to those concerned about such things and moved to take his place. His eyes bored into the unicorn. A representation of all the things wrong with Rokugan. A scorpion city in unicorn hands (if only just) and a Ruy Champion well past his time to move on. He bowed to the false champion and took his place drawing his sword into his right hand. His art was not kenjutsu in the best of days, but the tall large figure in red gave it his all. However as the bowed and the combatants turned to walk off the field, Izo instead spun, drawing his sword and slashing at the man from behind as he charged! A dull black look to his eyes if anyone could notice the sudden whirl of movement. Izo would continue to press the sudden suprise attack if given the opportunity, bent on Jigoku to kill the Ruby Champion with no thought of his own life. ___________________________________ Fire 3 + Hida Bushi 1 = 4 Bayushi Satomi
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Post by tsuruchi kasumi on Nov 18, 2014 6:58:45 GMT
air 5 + tsuruchi 1 + renowed duelist 1 + always ready 1.5 + Glorious Day 1.5 =10 OOC: Always ready gives 1.5 when defending in skirmishes and duels. As there is no real defense roll in a duel, I've just added it in. If not correct, let me know and I'll adapt my post (I will get a 8.5 then). I also assume that emerald magistrate won't help me here. If it does, I can add that as well.
Kasumi drew the ball and she couldn't believe her luck. She had managed to get the iajitsu. She received the sword she would be doing to fighting with, a nice Kakita blade by the look of it, but she had rather used her own sword. Well, rules were rules. She stood in front of Hachi, bowing before taking the classical Kakita stance her mother had taught her, while Hachi took his own stance, a slight smile on his face. They stood there for what looked like eternity, although it was only a couple of minutes, when suddenly Kasumi drew her sword with a lightning strike, while turning her body slightly. The assembled crowd gasped as a small red smear appeared on Hachi's right arm while his sword just passed in front of her, now turned, body. Kasumi didn't know if she was to be elated or horrified at the fact that she had managed to win a duel from the Emerald Champion himself. But he simply bowed to her and automatically she bowed back as this had been drilled in her as well. She handed the borrowed sword back and collected her own.
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Post by The Storyteller on Nov 18, 2014 8:05:16 GMT
The audience watched in horror when Bayushi Izo and his large and impressive frame seemed to be tirelessly seeking a chance of slaughtering the Ruby Champion with his powerful blows. His heavy steps resounded in the patio, causing some dread in the faint of heart. Utaku Takai had some difficulty to parry one or two attacks, just because of the sheer force used in the kenjutsu maneuver. Fortunately, even if old and weakened, the Ruby Champion excelled in technique and his perfect moves were enough to defeat the Bayushi opponent, disarming him quickly when the old Unicorn noticed his rival wasn't respecting the competitive nature of the challenge. What is wrong with this man? He thought, but bowed respectfully all the same when the duel was over, deciding to watch closely Bayushi Izo from now on. -- The next duel, Tsuruchi Kasumi and Yasuki Hachi, was another source of horror and awe. The Mantis woman flashed her sword in a fraction of moment and then, it was over, the Emerald Champion bleeding, his sleeve fabric noticeably sliced and draping in the wind. Was it another stone on the downfall of Hachi, or was Tsuruchi Kasumi really that good? People couldn't believe in what they'd just witnessed. While in the heat of the moment the polemic ruled, in the future, this day was to enter history as when Tsuruchi Kasumi defeated A Emerald Champion, no matter who. OOC: tsuruchi kasumi that was perfectly assembled. Congrats for the victory! @izo, you could have used Dark Countenance and Feared due the special nature of your action and intentions, but those were not mandatory.
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Post by tsuruchi kasumi on Nov 18, 2014 8:26:27 GMT
Rokuro knew that Kasumi was good in iajitsu, but even he was surprised. But then he started thinking. He knew that he could use this to his advantage to get the winter court in the Mantis lands. He was sure that Kasumi would be invited to the Winter court, no matter where it would be held, either as direct assistant of the Emerald Champion, or if he didn't (and he might after this defeat, Rokuro wasn't sure as he didn't know the man all that well), the Mantis champion would invite her.
He would have to start some rumours that, should the winter court be held on the Mantis Isles, Tsuruchi Kasumi would give a demonstration. That should convince some other clans like the Crane to support this choice. Maybe the Empress would support the Mantis claim in light of this victory. Stranger things had happened before, he knew. Something to think about, maybe discuss with Kasumi as soon as the day was over.
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Bayushi Satomi
Unwanted Betrothed
Scorpion Clan
Posts: 1,080| Likes: 322
Rings: Earth 4 * Fire: 5 *Air 3 * Water 1 * Void 3
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Post by Bayushi Satomi on Nov 18, 2014 8:36:47 GMT
For a monk, Te went wonderfully well with the sword, but hey, he was a Mirumoto too, Satomi disovered last day. How? IN a span of nine hours, Satomi received at least twelve messages signed as "a friend of yours" basically telling her that her fiancé Hachi was hitting on Te's sister, Mirumoto Mizuki. Then Bayushi Izo entered the duel field. What the hell is Izo doing? Satomi couldn't help but wonder, there was something very wrong with him... But for a moment her attention was diverted from Izo to Kasumi and her perfect blow... something Satomi knew she'd never be able to reproduce. Whatever. Hachi is paying anyway, later. I am not going to be ridicularized because his womanizer's tendencies. the Scorpion woman thought. She'd prefer to draw Kenjutsu, but it was just her luck that it wasn't the case. However, for politics and her own future, Hachi must be spared from further massacre. When Hachi returned, his would properly bandaged, he wasn't in the best of his humor. Satomi kept her eyes low, avoiding to look into his eyes (what if she'd burst in laugh? It wouldn't be proper). Then she attacked slow enough to let him cut her swiftly and precisely. But well, Satomi collaborating or not, he'd do it either way, wouldn't he? Kaiu Engineer 1 + Air 3
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