The gathering on the river's edge seemed a little somber, given what had happened just last night. The gathered samurai, almost all from the Lion clan, for obvious reasons, clustered around the small patch of earth that had been set aside for this purpose.

Standing at the center of the pitch, his arms folded and clearly unimpressed, Hida Kozume looked right and left at the two competitors. Kamoshita Kinuyo, confident but intense. Shimomura Shigehiko, coldly staring, lips pressed into a blue line beneath his bristling moustache.

Shit, Kozume thought, this is gonna be messy.

One of the first there wasn't someone who was duelling! This time at least...

Honoka arrived quietly, bowing, and remaining to the side observing. It was one of the rare times she wasn't smiling.

Hikaru joins up with Shimomura, having promised to act as a second. "You know, there is still time Shimomura-san. Something about this is not right..." He looks back over. "My services as second as always available, if perhaps you were a bit too jubilant light night, ne?"

There was another not Lion at this somber event. Well, not a Lion anymore. Eiji hadn't heard from either participant for quite awhile as he ran back and forth performing his duties. His first alert for this had truly been the announcement in court of the duel. Eiji wanted to believe this was a simple matter of honor. First blood would be drawn, the matter resolved and everyone could go on with their lives.

Perhaps it was the mask talking to him, but given what he knew of the two participants, he did not believe this would be the case. But he would at least be here to see what happened for himself.

Doji Hikaru wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 30, 2025 5:47 pm

Hikaru joins up with Shimomura, having promised to act as a second. "You know, there is still time Shimomura-san. Something about this is not right..." He looks back over. "My services as second as always available, if perhaps you were a bit too jubilant light night, ne?"

Shimomura Shigehiko shakes his head. "Ie, Doji-san. I am much more sober than I was yesterday, thanks to your intervention. But I said what I said and I meant it, and so did she, and that means we get to test steel. Thank you for your concern."

He snaps into a formal bow.

A few moments later, Kozume raises his hand.

"This here duel is between Akodo-ke no kashin Shimomura Shigehiko and Ikoma-ke no kashin Kamoshita Kinuyo for the honor of the House of Shimomura."

There's a pause as Kozume leans in a little closer to his notes. "And Lord Gorobei, it looks like. Huh. Anyway, the Emerald Office has decreed that this duel is to be to first blood, observing the ancient rules and proprieties as laid down by Kakita and enshrined in law by Hantei the Kami and confirmed by the Shining Prince in times long past."

He actually bows his head in reverence for a second.

"This'll kick off shortly, so duelists...you're in your positions, good. Relatives and friends can step back from the field. Right. Good. Now, as and when you two are ready, you may begin." And Hida Kozume crosses his arms and waits.

The two duelists square off. Long seconds tick by as each waits. The ancient rhythm of the duel begins to take them. A breath in, a breath out, an adjustment as Kinuyo takes up the third position of the style of Matsu, a slow maneuver as Shigehiko sweeps his grandfather's sword back into the 1st position of Ikoma Rikyo's modified version of the Hanamiko-ryu.

And then, in a flash, it is over. Hanamiko-ryu's demand for strong thighs is met as Shigehiko launches himself forward and great speed. There is a gasp as Kinuyo seems to shift her weight to the right, perhaps intending to sidestep in a strange improvisation not contemplated within the Matsu style. The swords catch the light as they swing through the air, passing within a hair's breadth of each other as Kinuyo brings her sword to the level of Shigehiko's gut, hoping to catch him there.

But it is Kinuyo who is cut first. Shigehiko's sword catches her fully across the chest, sending up a spray of blood.
Damage | 10k2 ⇒ 17

"Hit!" Hida Kozume calls.

But the duel does not end. Shigehiko's momentum carries him fully into Kinuyo's sword, causing a grievous injury.

Damage | 10k3+3 ⇒ 37

Shigehiko staggers and sinks to one knee from the agony. Kinuyo, still bleeding from the chest, coldly and precisely flicks her enemy's blood from her sword.

"Hey! Hit, I said!" Hida Kozume looks more than a little angry as he strides onto the pitch. "What in the name of Bishamon's Bouncing Tits was that? You! Kamoshita! Honorless cur, get off the field! Your people may tend your wound, if they can stomach the sight of you, but you're not welcome in these precincts anymore. Fuck off!"

He points his finger up river with a huge stabbing motion. "Akodo-san, hold it, don't get up. Lay down, let me get a look at you."

And as the old ex-general snaps his fingers to summon the attendants and begins to walk toward the stricken Shigehiko, Kamoshita Kinuyo lifts her head imperiously and takes two steps forward, her naked sword beginning to rise...

No time for deep internal monologues now.

"Drop the sword, Kinuyo!" Eiji shouted, too far to do much else but shout and hope those nearer by would be spurred into action.

Hikaru feels his blood boil and steps in between Kinuyo and her target, hand on his sword.

"I am his second. If you wish for a second round to resolve this, I am amenable to that."

Kinuyo sneers at Scorpion and Crane. "House Kamoshita will remember you! And the Shimomura will remember that the last blow is the one that counts!" she snarls. But she turns on her heel and begins to walk, wincing as the sudden turn puts pressure on her wound. It does not take her long to make her /exit.

Meanwhile, Kozume has begun to dress Shigehiko's wound himself. Medicine/Intelligence, 3 raises | 9k4 ⇒ 66 (TN: 30)

Medicine wound recovered | 6k3 ⇒ 20

"Jizo have mercy."' Eiji said, shaking his head at the display.

Hikaru skitters back to Shigehiko lying on the ground and takes a knee. "Hey there, good strike. I won't say she learned her lesson but she showed her true colors"

He looks back over to the Scorpion "Eiji-san, I hate to rely on stereotypes, but do you perhaps have familiarity with medicines that would be applied to a weapon? Something still seems wrong"

(OOC: Int/Lore: Poison? Precise Memory?)

Cearnach wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 31, 2025 3:24 am

Kinuyo sneers at Scorpion and Crane. "House Kamoshita will remember you! And the Shimomura will remember that the last blow is the one that counts!" she snarls. But she turns on her heel and begins to walk, wincing as the sudden turn puts pressure on her wound. It does not take her long to make her /exit.

Honoka, fuming, moves to try to intercept her.

"What in Jigoku was that?"

Soshi Eiji wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 31, 2025 3:46 am

(OOC: Int/Lore: Poison? Precise Memory?)

Those would work, TN 20. An Intelligence/Medicine check would also work, tn 25

Ikoma Honoka wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 31, 2025 9:39 am

Cearnach wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 31, 2025 3:24 am

Kinuyo sneers at Scorpion and Crane. "House Kamoshita will remember you! And the Shimomura will remember that the last blow is the one that counts!" she snarls. But she turns on her heel and begins to walk, wincing as the sudden turn puts pressure on her wound. It does not take her long to make her /exit.

Honoka, fuming, moves to try to intercept her.

"What in Jigoku was that?"

"Princess Honoka," Kinuyo spits, "they needed to know. Come after us, and we'll cut you harder than you could possibly. Would have been better had he been trying to kill me. The Crane robbed me of that. But still, I think the message was received."