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Post by tsuruchi kasumi on Nov 7, 2014 10:39:53 GMT
Rokuro followed the proceedings with much interest, hoping that Kasumi would do very well. When she had finished he thought it wasn't bad. She had lost her game, but not by much. Bayushi Satomi was much more interesting to follow, as she played her game in the Yoritomo style, by trying to intimidate her opponents. And from what he could see, it seemed to work. Well, part of being a juweled champion was to be intimidating when needed. Maybe it was more something for the emerald champion instead of the amethyst champion, but still. When the match of Bayushi Satomi was done, he noticed that a young Dragon diplomat was talking to the emerald champion. Just the person he needed to see. He wanted some extra support to get a winter court in the Mantis lands, and the Dragon might just be the clan he could use. They always had more problems with their food production as other clans and with this years problems, they might be open to some trade. The Mantis had less problems as they had a lot of fish. Dried fish might not be the best of food, but it beat having no food at all. He waited politely until she had finished with the Emerald Champion, as it was not done to interrupt such a high person and then he approached her. "Good day, Miromoto-san," he said with a courteous bow, "what brings such a beautiful mountain flower to a place like this?" More like mountain tree, he thought to himself as he saw how large she was. But unlike most other large women, mostly in the Crab clan, he had met, this Miromoto somehow made it work. Kurimuzon Te
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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 7, 2014 15:57:39 GMT
Izo had to say he envies the monk slightly. Te really did not seem to give two craps about anything.. ever. Save perhaps food. "You are correct in the colors, but incorrect as the reason. As with most aspects of life it is complicated to explain. How was your summer?"
his eyes drifted to others gathered about here and there. He didn't particularly WANT to speak to anybody present, but doing so would probably be to his benefit. Ah well.
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Post by The Storyteller on Nov 7, 2014 17:14:42 GMT
After a pause the second test started by the Hour of Goat, and the contestants were required to discourse about court and etiquette, sometimes giving examples. Things varying widely in complexity as how to properly write an official letter, the subtle differences between ranks, titles and the adequate honorifics for each case, and were also required to identify mons, from the most known to the most obscure. The contestants passed for extensive questioning full of captious details about traditions and even folklore. They also were required to display some knowledge of history and religion, summing up what was considered refined and erudite in Rokugan. The five contenders were lined together and the jury alterned questioning them at random. The second test of the day was so overwhelmingly complex that took about 6 hours to finish. After that, the competitors and audience were both relieved. The Court test was quite the ordeal. OOC: Test is Court, so just follow the order and post your rolls and actions. The text above can give you a hint of what can be used to enhance the roll (Air is the base).
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Post by Kurimuzon Te on Nov 8, 2014 2:42:57 GMT
"I went home Izo-san. I got to see my sister's gempukku. I reunited with my family. I got to see my mountains again. My summer was the best I have had in years." Te started to ask about what had happened with Izo's summer when they were interrupted by the judges. It seemed like they were ready for the next test.
The contest of Court started off horribly for Te. He had never written an official letter. It didn't get much better the longer they stood there. He could tell that the rest of the contestants were getting exasperated with how long it took for him to answer. His stubbornness won him through, the last two hours of questioning were about history and religion. Finally, something he could talk about.
OOC: Air 3 + scholar of the tao 1 + Ise Zumi 1 = 5
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Post by Kurimuzon Te on Nov 8, 2014 3:08:32 GMT
What was going on? Why was she getting so much attention when the contests were so much more interesting than she could ever be? Instantly recognizing the coloring of his kimono and the style of his mon she addressed him accordingly. "Thank you Yoritomo-sama. Such flattering words you bestow on me when I obviously need to respond in kind." Mizuki reopens her fan to cover the continued blushing she is suffering through. "I am here to show support for one of the contestants, my brother. What brings you to the tournament?"
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Post by tsuruchi kasumi on Nov 8, 2014 10:03:06 GMT
"Tsuruchi Kasumi-san was once my Yojimbo," Rokuro said, nodding towards the emerald magistrate going in line for the next contest, "and there also had to be an official representative of the Mantis clan on such a big event. So you must be the representative of the Dragon clan, I presume?"
Now that he had a better look, he could see how she and the monk were related, although she was by far the more beautiful of the two.
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Post by Kurimuzon Te on Nov 8, 2014 14:26:39 GMT
"I am" Mizuki responded, "It is my first assignment". She continues to slowly fan herself. Whispering softly to herself "Kasumi, Kasumi, yes he did tell us about her didn't he." Louder she responded "She is an excellent Go player, I hope she continues to do your clan proud."
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Post by tsuruchi kasumi on Nov 8, 2014 17:42:34 GMT
"I hope so too, Miromoto-san," Rokuro said, "as I'm sure your brother will do the Dragon proud." Especially in the unarmed combat, he thought, as he knew that not many could stand against the Ise Zumi in unarmed combat. "There is something else I would like to talk to you about," he said, coming to business before the , "something that might be to the benefit of both our clans. But I think now is not the time to do so. Maybe we can discuss this later after the next test, which I see is about to start."
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Post by Kurimuzon Te on Nov 8, 2014 18:26:38 GMT
"I would be happy too. Maybe we could meet somewhere for dinner? I'll let you pick the place however since we've never been here."
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Post by tsuruchi kasumi on Nov 8, 2014 21:58:46 GMT
"I know a nice place not far from the palace," Rokuro said. He had been here only twice, but his mentor had told him of it and he had used it both times. "Let's say about one hour after the court test," he proposed, "I'm not sure how long that will take, but that way you can speak to your brother should you want."
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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 9, 2014 17:38:39 GMT
While he had spent much of his time avoiding the courts and the dangerous web of intrigues they presented he had received quite the fast track education in that regards. Official letters were almost a routine to him, a despised routine. The subtle differences in ranks posed a slight bit more of a challenge when it pertained ot military ranks as he had spent time as a hohei for the briefest of times. When it came to mons he felt like he really shone through, the most difficult part about that was politely denouncing the families that had fallen to the Shadowlands such as the snake clan. Summing up what was considered Erudite and polite was also somewhat of a difficulty as such things were scarcely of use to him hence why he avoided the Crane like the plague.
For whatever reason the list of questions had been swapped out and the questions were more difficult then originally intended.
OOC: Hida 1+ Emerald magistrate 1 + Air 3 + Hatamoto 1 + Empire's True History 1 = 7 Sabotage Kasumi
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Post by tsuruchi kasumi on Nov 9, 2014 21:24:33 GMT
Using focus to partly offset sabotage (although I was planning on using it on this test before I got the sabotage): Tsuruchi 1 +air 5 + emerald magistrate 1 + gifted poet 1 + courting trouble 0.5 -2 sabotage + 1 focus = 7.5
Kasumi found it difficult, as the guy who was asking her questions was really going into the details of things and she was often interupted by another. But luckily for her this was something she was good at, so she kept concentrating on her answers without letting the interrupting questions annoy her, recognising a technique she had used as well as a magistrate. Writing official letters was something she had done often as a magistrate, especially the past couple of months and she had always found her skills in poetry helped in finding exactly the right words for the occasion. when they got to the part of identifying mons, she managed to recognise a couple of the more obscure ones simply because she had seen them recently in her Kolat investigation. While she had been recovering from the attack on her and her twin sister, she had read quite a lot, so history and the Tao she knew a bit more about than most regular bushi, although she was sure that Te and Hiraku would do much better on this part of the questions.
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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 9, 2014 22:58:14 GMT
Focus 1, Kaiu Engineer 1, Air 3, Courting Trouble 0.5 =5.5
Satomi had studied a lot with Isuke's help, but of course it wouldn't be enough to impress the judges. However, she tried… her knowledge about positions, mons, history as she studied to be a good strategist in the Kaiu were her strong points… Comment about what were the proper prayers on a funeral… uhn, not that much.
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Post by The Storyteller on Nov 9, 2014 23:22:55 GMT
As Hiraku
And to think he had the opportunity to pass this Tournament and indicate someone more worthy to represent the Lion in the Tournament...
Air 1+ Kitsu Shugenja 1+ Clan magistrate 1=3
OOC: guys don't forget to ALWAYS add your school (if you have multiple schools you will choose one of them) to ALL the rolls unless it's required otherwise. You received formal education, and even if basic, you learned something more than holding a bo, a bow or a tetsubo.
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Post by tsuruchi kasumi on Nov 11, 2014 18:15:12 GMT
Rokuro was under the impression that the judges were a lot more difficult when judging Kasumi, but he didn't have any proof and even with a much harsher judging, she had done very well. But now he had to prepare for his dinner with the lovely Miromoto. He went back to his quarters and after a quick bath, he put on another of his very good kimonos. Before his bath, he had given his yojimbo some instruction and when he arrived at the inn, he saw that they had been carried out. The innkeeper came towards him with a deep bow. "Yoritomo-sama," he said, "Please follow me."
He was escorted to a seperate room at the back, which was lighted by nicely coloured lanterns. A bottle of Friendly Traveler Village sake was already waiting, the cups had mountain scenes on them and the chopsticks were made of plum wood, a wood which had special meaning for the Dragon. The Scorpion and the Crane weren't the only who know who knew how to make people feel at home. Most of the time the Mantis courtiers went for extensive displays of wealth and he had always found it useful to be different, as people where surprised when he did something like this.
Now he just had to wait for Mizuki.
Kurimuzon Te
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