[D14, LA, EVENT] The Bowman's Wager, Part IV: The Challenges

[Cearnach]

The arena today feels drawn-in and close as the crowds pack in for the finale. The pitch features a long table on which has been heaped a load of small, throwable objects. A single target has been set up about 2/3 of the way down the pitch from where the arrow supply is laid out.


After waiting patiently for the crowd to gather, The Moderator General of Imperial Entertainments stands up and orates the rules:

Mechanics
To begin, each competitor will shoot at a standard target, tn 20. A success is 1 archery pt, each raise is a further archery pt. The competitor with the greater number of archery pts is the person who may issue the first challenge.

As a mechanical matter, the TN for a challenge will be 5 higher than the previous challenge. The exact nature of the challenge will be for the competitor to say.

The first person to fail two challenges will be termed the loser. The other person shall be the winner, who will present the Cup of Defeat to the loser.

The winner's House will receive 1 Wealth Point and be thought of as pretty cool. 1 rank of glory.
The loser will receive .5 glory, but will have to imbibe the sad juice that lies within the cup of defeat. The sad juice, being composed of 3 parts woe and 2 parts triple-distilled despair, bestows the Unlucky disadvantage for 1 year.

[Hiruma Daichi]

Daichi was still rather amused he had made it this far in the competition and while he had heard some strange rumors about the cup of defeat, he had tried to push such things from his mind.

To start off they had an easy shot, and while the Crab could have tried for something fancy. He chose to go with a simple shot instead.

Day 14 Bowmans wager, starting shot. Tn 20, Hiruma 1, nothing fancy | 7k3 ⇒ 22 (TN: 20)

[Otomo Gorobei]

Otomo Gorobei nodded solemnly to his opponent and began to ready his shot.

Bowman's Wager: first shot | 7k3 ⇒ 29 (TN: 20)

Like Daichi, he elected by conservative with this early shot. As a result, they were effectively tied. Graciously, and to the cheers of a small section of the crowd (certainly smaller than it might have been earlier in court, anyway), Gorobei ceded the ground to allow Daichi to call the first Challenge.


Current Archery Point Totals
Hiruma Daichi: 1
Otomo Gorobei: 1

[Hiruma Daichi]

Well, no time like the present Daichi had one of the yellow targets from days past brought up and set out. "Center." He said simply before drawing his bow and firing.
_________________________

TN 15 shot with 2 called raises for center target. final TN 25

Day 14 called shot at yellow target. TN 15 with two raises for center TN 25. | 7k3 ⇒ 32 (TN: 25)

[Otomo Gorobei]

Tn 15 target, 2 raises for center | 7k3 ⇒ 35 (TN: 25)

Gorobei nods. It was difficult, but he matches the shot, the arrow settling in next to Daichi's.

After a second, Daichi reaches into his pocket and produces a handkerchief. He instructs the attendant to throw the handkerchief into the air so that each archer can shoot it.

(Tn=20). Tn 20 target. 2 raises. Void. | 8k4 ⇒ 27 (TN: 30)

Gorobei's attempt, however, has just a little too much Thrane on it. The arrow sails under the slowly falling silk.

[Hiruma Daichi]

The shot Gorobei had suggested was difficult more so then most of the shots either of them attempted, and seeing the other man miss only increased his own nervousness. He nodded at the man to repeat the process, and just barely managed to catch the cloth in flight.

shooting falling silk. day 14 TN 20 with two raises. final TN 30 void for 1k1 | 8k4 ⇒ 31 (TN: 30)

After a few moments of thought Daichi called over a servant and and had him take an arrow and plant in the field shaft standing straight up. he took a moment to take aim before firing a shot. The arrow flying wide of the target.

shooting an arrow in a field. day 14 TN 20 with raises. final TN 35 void for 1k1 | 8k4 ⇒ 28 (TN: 35)

[Otomo Gorobei]

Gorobei looked out the arrow sticking up in the field, and he was not sure.

Tn 20 target. 3 raises. Void. | 8k4 ⇒ 47 (TN: 35)

But he shot directly through the thing, surprising even himself.

He looked at Daichi with wide eyes, as though to ask whether he had seen the same thing. Then, shaking his head, he waved over the attendant and took off his ring. "Go hold that up against the target," he said.

Tn 25 shot.

Tn 25 target. 2 raises. Void. | 8k4 ⇒ 28 (TN: 35)

[Hiruma Daichi]

Daichi offered the man a nod of respect at the shot. if nothing else the Otomo deserved recognition for his skills as a bushi.

The ring was a new addition and one he wasn't certain of. Taking his aim he fire, the shot going wise though. perhaps due to trying to miss the servants hand.

shooting a ring on a target day 14 TN 22 with two raises. final TN 35 void for 1k1 | 8k4 ⇒ 24 (TN: 35)

[Cearnach]

"That's a failed challenge!" Calls the Minister of Sport. "Both competitors are evenly matched! That makes it Sudden Death!"

A hush falls over the crowd at the ominous words.

The final challenge: sudden death. A contested Kyujutsu/Reflexes roll. All or nothing.

[Hiruma Daichi]

Daichi nodded at the words and stepped forward to take aim and fire. Unfortunately it was quite the mediocre shot though. Likely caused by all the pressure though it's but a mediocre shot.

Well here we go. All or nothing shot. no void left base roll plus hiruma 1 | 7k3 ⇒ 23

[Otomo Gorobei]

kyujutsu/reflexes | 7k3 ⇒ 31

Gorobei's arrow flies strong and true, securing victory. He turns immediately and bows deeply to Daichi, signalling his respect for the Hiruma's skill.

[Cearnach]

The Minister of Sport comes forward to award Lord Gorobei his prize money. But behind him comes The Minister of Sport('s 2nd Deputy) bearing the Cup of Defeat: an overlarge, ugly thing of snot-green glazed earthenware, it looks harmless enough--until you notice that the 2nd Deputy is holding it with a pair of tongs, refusing to even touch the handles.

Those cursed implements are offered to the honorable Hiruma.

[Hiruma Daichi]

Daichi will drink as it's expected of him. Any thoughts of negative luck far from.bis mind.

[Cearnach]

The water inside is crisp and cool. He feels no change. But as he returns the cup to the waiting tongs of the Minister of Sport('s 2nd Deputy), the cup clacks loudly against the left tong and clatters to the ground. Wincing apologetically, the deputy picks it up and scurries away.

The Bowman's Wager is Complete!
Otomo Gorobei receives 1 rank of Glory and 1 Wealth Point.
Hiruma Daichi receives 5 points of Glory and the Unlucky advantage for 1 year.