Memorable Moments

[Fukurokujin]

Kyuden Doji Delenda Est.

[Kitsu Sayomi]

Kuni Shiori would take to the stage once more this afternoon but this time with a performing role! She was pretty apprehensive about this but she wasn't here to stay completely in her comfort zone and was aiming to kick this kemari ball out of the court (seeing as that wasn't the goal of the game, the analogy might have been apt)!

She had hoped to use the Noh medium to her advantage here to mask her lack of footwork. The mountain kami was likely a slow creature that was a stoic apparition, she would make her appearance with slow steps forward in a fanciful robe that had parts grey, blue, and white to capture all parts of the mountain. It wasn't her focus here when it came to her skills but she tried to emulate something of a floating spiriting gliding toward the sleeping hero, allowing the music to make the background feel eerie and ghastly. The Noh mask she wore would help further add to the ghostly aesthetics.

When she finally made her way to the sleeping hero, she would turn her body ever so to a degree that she was addressing both the hero and the audience watching the scene unfold.

Doing her best to adopt a shaky haunting voice, she spoke out her message, "Ooooo-Koremochi! You might think that you're so blessed with the fine company of this noblewoman but I am the mountain kami summoned by Hachiman-no-kami! I bring you a warning that you should heed, these words that will shake you to your core with dread! She's not just a woman but a demon in disguise! She plagues this mountain, constantly roaming my domain in search of her next feast, be that of an idealistic maiden or handsome man. If you remain hapless, you will be her next meal..."

...Uhm, line? There was a sudden pause as the mountain kami looked at Koremochi, the audience and then off to the side. This broke the image that the kami was a haunting stoic presence but perhaps someone lost and looking for direction.

"...But fear not! I have come to recognize that handsome samurai are not much without a sword and I just happen to have a sword to give you. Right...here, yes. This sword is blessed with my powers of mountainess? mountainism? mountains! Which will lay waste to the demon with the crushing force of plus 100 earth damage...I mean, with the force of a mountain crushing down on the demon. Remember my words and slay her, great handsome samurai with a sword. And with my message fulfilled, I must take my leave, yes...you may end the scene." She said before making a sudden quick and very uncharacteristic sudden scurry to the end of the stage so that she didn't have to take up any more of the scene.

And thus Crab draw-lot was invented? xD

[Kitsu Sayomi]

Minase was actually feeling very charitable, and after having seen the Lion Clan do their utmost to serve and run this court smoothly without much recognition, decided to help out the small Ikoma children.

Well mostly small, the one she chose to help actually turned out to be slightly taller than her when they stood up. A gangly girl by the name of Ikoma Erizako who appeared to be more arm and leg than anything else, but had the makings of a good bard with a little expert polishing.

But what to speak about. History lessons, although important at the Academy were far from the focus and, understandably, most of the ones involving the Lion were about the various conflicts between cat and bird. Luckily the (not so) little Ikoma's history lessons were much fresher to mins, although there was a slight miscommunication. A problem with accents and pronunciation that led to instead of a battle portrayed on an umbrella that Minase was referencing, Erizako ceased on a little known instance of an angry Matsu beating a Crane to death with an umbrella in a fit of rage and thus praising the prowess of the Matsu. Minase considered changing the subject but Erizako was insistent now.

"No, no, Asahina-sama. This is perfect to talk about. Imagine Matsu-dono's face when she hears the praise. Wouldn't it be lovely?"

Seeing at how fired up the young Lion was about a total misunderstanding gave Minase pause, but she was in this for the long run now. Training the words and the speech likewise progressed well at first but was soon buried under the young Ikoma's endless enthusiasm. It got a bit out of hand.

"The Crane are slain MAINLY ON THE PLAIN!!" Little Erizako pounded her chest in pride at the words, while a horrified Minase retreated behind her fan and admitted defeat. The small words of encouragement for a Lion-Crane peace treaty she had intended to slip into the speech fallen by the wayside.

"Thank you, Asahina-sama!! You've really helped my delivery. I will ace the test tomorrow now." Erizako beamed down on the slightly stunned Crane.

"Well yes, Ikoma-san, but I must be going now. I really need to get to the court on time . . . . "

My Fair Ikoma

[Kitsu Sayomi]

Kitsu Shintaro stood up and held the fan aloft, his eyes flitting here and there and practically vibrating with energy.

"This! Is a fan. This! Is the fan of the Rikugnshokan Kitsu Futo, who gave his life against the...well, you know. Anyway, you should all come and get a closer look! You! Take and pass, take and pass!! Yes, is it not a wonderful thing? It has several properties, not the least of which is its composition includes elements from 2 of the rings! Oh, wait, metal isn't...hold on...right, metal is earth, but wood is also earth. Gosh, I always get that confused. I guess you could make a case for air, though!"

"Kitsu Futo lived a very, very long time ago. He was known to enjoy collecting the heads of his enemies and piling them in large piles so that others could clearly identify his prowess on the field! As a method of presenting data, that does challenge the sensibilities of many symposia, but these were different times, I suppose. But then, who knows what the future brings, am I not correct?!"

"In any case, he did as bushi do for some time, and then he died. In death, he was judged meh and consigned to the realm of waiting, and he walks amongst us still, reincarnating in cycles until he figures out a different way to make a graph, or...you know, equivalent things! Um...this is a cautionary tale. But also! It is a tale of hope! For even the very ignorant are given additional chances to remake themselves to be wise! And isn't that a comforting thought?"

He stood for a moment as though waiting for an answer, blinking.

"Um...I think that is all I wished to say. Has anyone touched Asahina-san's fan yet? What, it hasn't been presented!? Oh, well, then...I shall...wait? Right. Over there. I shall wait over there."

And he wandered off the stage and into the crowd.

He was judged "meh". xD

[Doji Shinnosuke]

Otomo Gorobei was not a dab hand at poetry, but he was a tough man, and he knew if he paced himself, he could show some of these guys what was up.

Winding Water Banquet, Round 1 Earth | 4k4 ⇒ 26 (TN: 5)
Winding Water Banquet, Round 1 Artisan:Poetry/Awareness, 1 raise | 4k3 ⇒ 28 (TN: 10)

Doshi, take my right
Draw closer, and fight by me:
Deep roots well-grounded!

Winding Water Banquet, Round 2 Earth | 4k4 ⇒ 14 (TN: 7)
Winding Water Banquet, Round 2. Artisan: Poetry/Awareness | 4k3 ⇒ 22 (TN: 7)

Winding Water Banquet, Round 2. Earth | 4k4 ⇒ 27 (TN: 9)
Winding Water Banquet, Round 2. Artisan: Poetry/Awareness | 4k3 ⇒ 17 (TN: 9)

Winding Water Banquet, Round 4, Earth | 4k4 ⇒ 23 (TN: 11)
Winding Water Banquet, Round 4, Artisan: Poetry/Awareness | 4k3 ⇒ 26 (TN: 11)

Winding Water Banquet, Earth | 4k4 ⇒ 20 (TN: 13)
Winding Water Banquet, Artisan: Poetry/Awarness | 4k3 ⇒ 17 (TN: 13)

"Poetry is lots
of fun when you've drunk a lot
Rivers are fast-like."

Winding Water Banquet, Earth | 4k4 ⇒ 20 (TN: 15)
Winding Water Banquet, Artisan: Poetry/Awareness | 4k3 ⇒ 22 (TN: 15)

Winding Water Banquet, Earth | 4k4 ⇒ 22 (TN: 17)
Winding Water Banquet, Artisan: Poetry/Awareness | 4k3 ⇒ 17 (TN: 17)

Winding Water Banquet, Artisan: Poetry/Awareness | 4k4 ⇒ 39 (TN: 19)
Winding Water Banquet, Artisan: Poetry/Awareness | 4k3 ⇒ 12 (TN: 19)

"Um...I've exhausted
All my poems tonight
But I'm not done drinkin'"

And, with that, Gorobei sat his butt down.

8 Banquet Points (?!?!!)

Good man

Earth 4 is a selective club at this court!

[Shiba Ryusei]

And how about Earth 2 Yuna staying in for like, 7 rounds?

[Asahina Hoshiko]

snip

Barefoot the tall Crane starts to run straight for the combat, her ocean blue pajamas with little dog print billowing around her.
snip

Thank you for this mental image. XD

[Fukurokujin]

I was looking over things, seeing where I am needed, and this stood out to me:

Her gaze went to her hands resting on her lap. "...it's still a bit light on details and I haven't gotten everything but I am told that it is a gentleman from the Centipede Clan, who will be joining House Kuroyama and the Crab. On paper, the match seems natural, going from a Clan of pious spirituality and occasional facepaint to a Family of occasional spirituality and pious facepaint."

[Kitsu Sayomi]

I was looking over things, seeing where I am needed, and this stood out to me:

Her gaze went to her hands resting on her lap. "...it's still a bit light on details and I haven't gotten everything but I am told that it is a gentleman from the Centipede Clan, who will be joining House Kuroyama and the Crab. On paper, the match seems natural, going from a Clan of pious spirituality and occasional facepaint to a Family of occasional spirituality and pious facepaint."

[Shiba Ryusei]

"I've placed my bet on Shiba-san."

Love truly is blind

[Fukurokujin]

"If I'm in the play, it'll likely be credited as Scorpion Courtier"

It'll be "Chief Scorpion Courtier," at least.

[Kitsu Sayomi]

Oh my, the escandalo!

*fans self*
*eats popcorn*

[Shiba Ryusei]

And just like that, Ryusei (and canon) help to conjure up ANOTHER wind

[Kitsu Sayomi]

Not Rioshida and Izumi throwing around more koku than most samurai see in their lifetime!

[Asahina Hoshiko]

Kitsu Shintaro raised his arms and the dew on the grass began to rise, the droplets joining into a single watery object: that of a great throne hovering in the center of the circle.

Sodan-Senzo Water Powers Activate! Void spent. 3 raises called. | 10k8 ⇒ 53 (TN: 30)

-3 to Binding TN

I really appreciate Shintaro summoning a literal throne to tempt the ghost, while imagining it sprouting shackles like some weird mechanical trap as the ghost butt hits the seat. XD

[Kitsu Sayomi]

Kitsu Shintaro raised his arms and the dew on the grass began to rise, the droplets joining into a single watery object: that of a great throne hovering in the center of the circle.

Sodan-Senzo Water Powers Activate! Void spent. 3 raises called. | 10k8 ⇒ 53 (TN: 30)

-3 to Binding TN

I really appreciate Shintaro summoning a literal throne to tempt the ghost, while imagining it sprouting shackles like some weird mechanical trap as the ghost butt hits the seat. XD

Shintaro continues to be the best of all Lions this game.

[Doji Shinnosuke]

Sh*t just got real.

Kiuchi, unable to do much else than hold the Emperor inside him, simply says to the Phoenix. "Arigato."

[Shiba Ryusei]

Sh*t just got real.

Kiuchi, unable to do much else than hold the Emperor inside him, simply says to the Phoenix. "Arigato."

...

Someone look after his dog.

[Asahina Hoshiko]

Sh*t just got real.

Kiuchi, unable to do much else than hold the Emperor inside him, simply says to the Phoenix. "Arigato."

...

Someone look after his dog.

Oh right.

[Kitsu Sayomi]

I quite enjoyed the details and the writing here. <3

Hoshiko was still not over the court's abrupt end, with absolutely nothing decided, but she was also more certain than ever that the rituals that bound the Empire to its spiritual foundations were the way forward. They couldn't have a mortal on the throne without the risk that their immense power would magnify the mundane sins that every mortal accumulated. It would take reform and adherence to the Celestial Order and to the needs of the elemental spirits to keep them from recreating the imbalance that had troubled the Empire for generations.

"The world is fallen; raise it anew."

An enormous task, the Abbot had laid on her shoulders.

The murmurs of the crowd, the shuffling of the drummers setting up, and finally a chill breeze off these foreign plains through her hair remind her that it's not just her shoulders. She just needs to convince others to bear their part of the task ahead.

One by one she dons the ritual attire, offering a prayer to each that though they too are new to their purpose, they rise to serve as best they can.

The skirt of many fabrics, a riot of reds. Embroidery of black scorpions, blue and green riverbanks, winter pines, ribbons, and kemari balls laces through the patchwork sections. The heavy pleats shimmer with every movement as Hoshiko asks the spirits of Water to bless her steps and bring their healing in the wake of the dance.

After a skirt made of Scorpion gifts, perhaps it is appropriate that a mask is donned next. It may not be gold, but the wide, toothy mouth and dark eyes are suitably fierce. She asks the spirits of Earth to grant their purity to her intent and their permanence to the work begun today.

She next lifts the bow in her gloved right hand, an instrument she's only held for such ritual purpose, but use has worn the grip into one even she finds comfortable. The size of it intimidates all on its own. When she asks the Fire to bless the bow, they respond with wild enthusiasm and the wood warms beneath her touch. After a moment of surprise, she commands them to impart their blessing without the destruction they always long for. Dark spirits will be reminded of how many this bow has slain in one world, and fear its repurposing to act in another.

The shield is lifted next, heavy iron bands wood that seems to be take from a sake barrel. Well, those ferments are blessed at some point, making it a pragmatic reuse on extremely short notice. She calls the Air to enjoy the fumes remaining and bless the shield, lending their skills to make it appear more venerable, larger, truly capable of protecting those who will follow

Armed and armored with the elements of this world, she calls now to other realms, to the Fortunes who intercede and guide the workings of Ningen-do. Calling upon Hamanri as the obvious Fortune for this unsettled time, Bishamon for Strength, Amaterasu for her purity to drive away all evil, Osano-Wo for the thunder to frighten the darkness, and Emma-O to remind each person of their responsibilities and sins so they may chose a life that lessons their punishments after.

After that, she needs only to step where others can follow, letting the drums and the forms of ritual move her and them onward. Each clash of bow against shield is meant to inspire the people behind and intimidate the spirits that do not belong here. This is not their place! They have no power here! With focus, any may become one with the dance, each one enlarging it.