!!!Please note that the Court Action rules (viewtopic.php?f=12&t=11&start=2) have changed.!!!
The section "Refute Another's Position" should now read as follows:
(If it doesn't yet read that way in the linked post, please PM GM Fukurokujin to get it updated. Wisdom sometimes spreads slowly.)The PC may argue against the position staked out by another. Doing so will require an Awareness / Courtier, Awareness / Etiquette, Awareness / Perform: Oratory, Awareness / Perform: Storytelling, or Willpower / Intimidation roll, the TN of which is equal to the most recent Advance Own Position TN successfully made by the PC whose position is being refuted. (That is, if Mirumoto Kichinitonda succeeds on an Advance Own Position roll at TN 30, your TN to refute it is 30, irrespective of how wildly he succeeds.) It is a Contested Social Skill roll. Success subtracts 10 Court Points from the target’s total; each Raise on the roll subtracts an additional 5 Court Points (this can result in negative Court Point totals). Failure with no called Raises subtracts 0 Court Points; failure with called Raises loses the refuting PC a number of Court Points equal to 10 x the number of Raises called (this can also result in negative Court Point totals). A PC may only Refute a given PC once per court meeting, but a PC may Refute multiple PCs in a given meeting.
Weather
Earthquake in the EM
In this thread, the Empress chose to accept the hand of Fate in the affairs of the Empire. As a result any Divinations or Commune spells referencing the Succession from this point have their TN to succeed increased by 5, as the spirits in the palace react to the Empress’ unease and fate itself begins to shake.
High of 51/Low of 50 (11/10 celsius). Light Drizzle, 6 mph (10 kmh) winds.
The moon is waxing gibbous.
EM: EVENT: Kyufoki-kami’s Displeasure: Part 1
MM: EVENT: Kyufoki-kami’s Displeasure: Part 2 or Part 3.
EA: Court: Presiding: Otomo Keihime.
MM-LE: Hidden Emperor
Rumors
"Did you see how much he ate?"
"Yes, but he left no crumbs."
Overheard in the halls near the Miharu apartments:
Seppun Atsuke: The Empress had a visitor last night: that monk that was harassing the delegates yesterday. I was gonna tell him to kick rocks, but the Empress herself answered the door to him!
Seppun Fumiko: Really? How unusual! How did she look?
Seppun Atsuke: Fumiko-san, what a question! You know one has to avert one’s eyes! The Divine Presence!
The scuttlebutt among the dockhands in Ikoma's Eye is that the atmosphere has changed at the Old Man's Stump:
Fumio: Nodoko, does Jolly Genkei seem surlier than usual? Like, is business at the Stump that bad? He even refused a drink with me, Cap'n Fumio! Everybody loves Cap'n Fumio!
Nodoka: Shut up, Fumio. No one likes you.
They were arguing again. But that's nothing new, is it?
Suzume diplomat: I could barely sleep a wink last night with all that racket coming from the Kasuga rooms.
Ichiro retainer: Yeah, I heard Izumi was a tough boss, but that was some tongue-lashing she was giving.
Suzume diplomat: And I thought Ryobu-sama was strict! What did he even do?
Ichiro retainer: Not sure, but probably some indiscretion. We'll probably hear about it before the season's over. Not much else to do around here.
--That Mirumoto...hard to believe, him carrying on with a married woman like that.
--Who cares about that? I haven't gotten so much to drink in months!
Ikoma gunso: Hey, Hohei, go find out what was burning in town last night.
Ikoma hohei: But the earthquake? Shouldn't we...
Ikoma gunso: What did I just say?!
Ikoma hohei: *Sigh*
Really, who was that hairy fellow running about? Have they no razors here?
"Did you hear? Somebody wrote a play about the Lord Otomo?"
"Really? I wonder who's gonna play that part."
"Does it seem to you there've been a lot of new faces among the staff here?"
"Well, yes, but with as much as is happening, that's to be expected."
"Admittedly, but it seems like some pop up for an hour or two and are gone."
"'The Story of Doji Umanahari, Prince of White Plain Mountain?' I don't think I've read this one before."
My, my, my, that Yasuki reaches high.
"One must hope they will go with an anthology instead of a pillowbook to illustrate the Art Festival proposed. That Isawa Ebiko would suggest a pillowbook makes one wonder what kind of theme she had in mind for the Festival, doesn't it?!" (TN40)
So devout, those two. But what do you expect from the Phoenix and the Dragon?
Did you notice how long it took Lady Doji to conform to the Empress' will?
What do you expect? It is the same with Lady Matsu: when war is all your only tool, you are loath to throw it away.
Still...to delay the Empress. It seems as though they'll never learn.
This rumor is antagonistic to Lady Doji. If sustained in substance according to the Rumor rules, she may gain the Bad Reputation disadvantage. TN40.
Letters
In the early evening of D2, a Miya of approximately 16 years was seen weaving through the delegation houses carrying a pale yellow envelope intricately folded and tied by one blue ribbon. Upon leaving the Phoenix delegation, he was empty handed, having left it upon the community desk in their house.
Once unfolded, the sleek paper, decorated with a drawing of a violet, is written with smooth flowing red ink showing this poem:GoL roll 29The past is present
Lessons from experience
Inform the future
Look with open eyes and mind
To whence the winds blow
Intent: For clarity, to understand the chosen Wind, we must understand all sides of their past to be able to support a wise decision.
A poem scribed in a clear hand is written on golden hued paper and passed around.
Chrysanthemum Lord,
Beset by five birds in court,
None rise to his aid.
(Intent: Did you see Otomo Tooru getting smacked around in court by the Crane and Phoenix and no one siding with him?)
Game of Letters: 19
The Night Watch assigned to the Crane House is requested and required to attend at the Rostrum in the late afternoon.
