[D13, LA] Observing the archers [Open]

[Kitsu Sayomi]

"I am not sure how one could arrange a puzzle contest," Sayomi mused over Yuna's enthusiasm at Eiji's suggestion. "Besides, I feel like there might have been enough artistic and clever events... I imagine many bushi would enjoy the opportunity of a hunt, or the like."

With that, she gave a nod to Ryusei, whom she knew was also a warrior.

[Shiba Ryusei]

"The only problem with a puzzle contest or a scavenger hunt is that whoever set it up couldn't really participate."

He nodded toward the archery pitch.

"I can't say that bushi have lacked for a chance to shine, although I'd be lying if I said some sort of kenjutsu demonstration wouldn't have felt more personally rewarding."

An impish smile crossed his face.

"Perhaps a scavenger hunt where each item is guarded by a bushi with a shinai and you have to beat them to three touches to claim it..."

[Soshi Eiji]

Eiji chuckled at the Phoenix's suggestion.

"That feels less like a scavenger hunt Shiba-san, and more like a military excericse: 'The Invasion of Kyuden Ikoma by the United Courtier Forces." he said in good humor.

He looked up at the sky.

"The weather has been so awfully mild this season, hasn't it? Military excercises got me thinking about snowball fights....not that I can imagine a court sanctioned snowball fight, but what must the Crane do to write their poetry when there isn't a snowflake to be found?"

[Agasha Yuna]

"The original idea of a hunt outside the castle grounds remains a good one. And the unusually warm weather may mean there is more prey to be found."

"Do not let my selfish love of puzzles get in the way of a fun event for the bushi."

[Shiba Ryusei]

"Hey, some bushi like puzzles..."

He grinned.

A little inappropriate, but, well. Can't be helped sometimes, can it?

"And I seem to recall bushi doing quite well at the Go tournament while we're on the subject..."

[Agasha Yuna]

All very true.

"Can we think of a game that is done by a team? A team of a bushi and courtier, perhaps, though any two people could try it?"

"That might be fun."

She smiled at Shiba-san clearly imagining time spent together.

[Kitsu Sayomi]

Sayomi pondered the question...

"Three-legged race?" Was the first thing that popped into her mind. "Ah, no. Perhaps not. Some would probably consider it a bit indecent."

[Soshi Eiji]

Eiji shook his head.

"Ie, not to mention that the Devil's Chase is coming up. Another race on top of that probably wouldn't be a good fit." he said.

He looked to the sky for a bit more.

"We also need something that doesn't require much time to prepare. The Lion have been excellent hosts, but I doubt they'd care for a suggestion for us to host a mock naval battle in under a day." he mused.

[Shiba Ryusei]

"Well, there goes my plan for a castle-building contest..."

[Agasha Yuna]

Yuna grinned. "Ah, but does building a castle need to take more than one day? It is the fame of the Ageki that Shiro Ageki was raised in one day, with only a spell and the help of the earth kami."

"But the Lion do not want surprise castles!"

"Do you know what the Devil's Chase is? I didn't recognize that name."

"A regular old hunt may still be the most feasible. Perhaps with a bit of art at the end. Poems on the subject of hunting? That might theme nicely with a chase."

[Soshi Eiji]

Yuna grinned. "Ah, but does building a castle need to take more than one day? It is the fame of the Ageki that Shiro Ageki was raised in one day, with only a spell and the help of the earth kami."

"But the Lion do not want surprise castles!"

"Do you know what the Devil's Chase is? I didn't recognize that name."

"A regular old hunt may still be the most feasible. Perhaps with a bit of art at the end. Poems on the subject of hunting? That might theme nicely with a chase."

Eiji looked quizzically at the Dragon.

"Ah, truthfully, Agasha-san? It's a magic contest held at the end of Winter court where all the attending shugenja of the court gather on the night before the last day of court to drive away the evil spirits so the Empress might have safe passage back to the capital. On the last day of court the Devil Chaser dons a golden mask, a bright red skirt, a bow, and a shield and runs through the castle twanging the bowstring and smashing the bow against the shield to drive out evil." he explained.

"I'd assumed you would be performing the ritual, if not being named the Devil Chaser yourself."

"But perhaps the first idea, a hunt, is best if Kitsu-san can arrange it."

[Agasha Yuna]

"I am not a shugenja," she said quietly. "It is only the rest of my family that is."

"But I look forward to seeing it. And I'm rather glad I was born un-gifted, because it has given me the chance to have this life. The life where I came to winter court and got engaged to Shiba-san."

[Kitsu Sayomi]

Ancestors give me strength...

Sayomi wasn't someone who disliked romance or any such thing, but even this was starting to become too much for her. Still, she smiled politely. At least she could relate to Yuna being a non-shugenja in a family of gifted individuals. "I always thought that chasing out the bad luck for the new year was the standard in the Empire. I didn't consider that there could be different rituals around the new year in other clans."

[Soshi Eiji]

Eiji blinked at that.

Yuna had certainly SOUNDED like a shugenja. She talked quite a bit about the vows the shugenja of her family took. She spoke of their affinity for earth. But she bore neither insignia of training as one nor did she go around with a scroll satchel. It wasn't like shugenja went about casting spells left and right about the court, but he'd never, in all their conversations, actually talked about her training.

He wanted to say...something to that, but that word, 'ungifted' really marked this as an open wound sort of topic.

So he instead spent a few moments hoping that either Ryusei was going to be so overwhelmed by passion he'd drag Yuna off into the bushes, or there would be another earthquake and the ground would swallow him up.

[Kitsu Sayomi]

Eiji might've found his escape from the current conversation as the last archer suffers the worst possible fate when interacting with horses.

Sayomi visibly flinched as the horse bucked and fell back on top of Shosuro Asakaze.

[Shiba Ryusei]

Ryusei simply stood by Yuna.... until the Shosuro archer had a gruesome fall.

At which point he stepped into her line of sight, as if by accident.

"Seeing that, I feel my elimination yesterday much less keenly..."

[Agasha Yuna]

Yuna flinched. "Oh! Oh no!"

And then Shiba-san blocked her view, and she took a step just a hair closer to him. Not touching him. Not leaning against him. Just ... he had been part of this competition! She had bet on him, hoping he'd advance! He could have faced those horses. He could have... He could have...

She couldn't quite catch her breath.

[Soshi Eiji]

Eiji raised his fan at the horrible accident.

"Ah that is...unfortunate." he commented after a respectful silence.

He looked over to Ryusei.

Black humor at the reminder that even in a competition, those who followed the martial path were never too far from seirous harm.

He decided to look back over at the Kitsu. The Dragon needed sometime to compose herself, and if Ryusei wasn't going to lead her to privacy, he could at least play a passable wall. It'd be rude to try and peek around it.

[Kitsu Sayomi]

Sayomi's expression was set stoic and firm. "A samurai always lives close to death... but I hope Shosuro-san will pull through," she said in a quiet tone, one that shared she wasn't unused to seeing things like this.

[Soshi Eiji]

Sayomi's expression was set stoic and firm. "A samurai always lives close to death... but I hope Shosuro-san will pull through," she said in a quiet tone, one that shared she wasn't unused to seeing things like this.

Eiji nodded.

"I'm certain he will receive the very best care, Bayushi-ue is clearly intent on that." he offered from behind his fan to Sayomi. "But these types of injuries are very hard to predict. From what little I know of shugenja, the water kami can easily be entreatied to treat simple wounds, but injuries of this nature are not so easily mended. He may fully recover, he may lose the use of one or both legs, he may perish. Only the doctors will know for certain. At least as a courtier, should his injuries leave his legs impaired or worse, he can still serve the clan as a courtier much easier than a warrior could similarly afflicted."