The requisite elements of a duel were all in place. The officers of the Emerald Office were remarkably efficient about such things.

Kakita Hajime stood at mid-point, waiting for the combatants with his customary good humor.

Togashi Mizohachi was there, too, of course, his normal heavy robes replaced with the simple clothes of a lowly bushi--no armor to speak of. His tattoos were, of course, extensive. He waited by the shoreline, absently resting his right hand on the hilt of his sword.

Honoka arrived soon after, walking with an air of confidence despite her young age and the massive inexperience compared to the two other men who were waiting for her. She also had her trademark smile. Much like the others, she had no armour, just her daisho a nice kimono and her hair tied back.

She bowed deeply to the two men.

With a portable desk and brush in hand, Kichinitonda sets up to witness and record.

He will feel it's not up to standard, of course, but it reads well and clearly, his writing.

Sayomi was there to observe the duel, and to hopefully provide some support to her fellow Lion.

Clashing swords with a Clan Champion was a rare opportunity to witness...

While he might no longer be a Lion, Eiji was not going to miss watching a clan champion duel. On the one hand, if Honoka won the duel, he would be bearing witness to a new hero of the Lion to be famous in the histories, her name covered in glory. Should she lose, he would be witnessing a star crash to earth, and the vindication of a rather sweet Dragon. Like the upcoming sumai tournament, giants were sizing each other up, but there would only be one victor.

Ikoma Honoka wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 20, 2025 5:27 pm

Honoka arrived soon after, walking with an air of confidence despite her young age and the massive inexperience compared to the two other men who were waiting for her. She also had her trademark smile. Much like the others, she had no armour, just her daisho a nice kimono and her hair tied back.

She bowed deeply to the two men.

Lord Togashi bowed in return, deeply, as to an equal. His expression was calm.

Hajime, however, merely nodded.

"Alright, this is a duel to determine whether the Dragon clan lapsed in their word, slighting the Lion, when they did not process an agreement between themselves and the Lion to the degree that the Lion had done, such that other agreements were finalized that ended the Dragon's capacity to fulfill the agreement between themselves and the Lion."

"Ikoma Honoka represents the Lion clan in this duel. Lord Togashi has deigned to acknowledge and to accept Ikoma Honoka's challenge, though he was under no legal obligation to do so." He scanned the crowd to make sure that, if Shiba Higashime was present, she heard that and was mollified. Seeing that she was not, he continued. "This matter hinges on a trade dispute. It is not a matter that approaches the requirements for a duel to the death. Therefore, let the duel be to first blood, according to the traditions laid down by Kakita and Mirumoto at the Dawn of the Empire."

"Let the duelists begin."

Honoka took her place, listening to the speech then looked at her opponent. She was prepared.

(ooc: [D8, EM] A Solemn Occasion initiative | 7k4 ⇒ 26
Centre stance entered)

Lord Togashi bowed to the Emerald Champion, bowed a second time to Ikoma Honoka, and settled into a comfortable, loose stance. There was something just a touch archaic about his posture, but then he probably did not train as a bushi. It would make sense that he chose this stance if he learned it from a book.

Initiative (Insight Rank/Reflexes) | 10k5 ⇒ 35
Assessment roll: Kenjutsu/Awareness. Spending Void. 1 raise called. | 10k6 ⇒ 56 (TN: 30)

Togashi Mizohachi would like to learn Honoka's Void Ring and her Kenjutsu skill.

The TN for the Assessment check for Togashi Mizohachi is 35.

Despite not showing it, the young Ikoma had a good read on her opponent...

(ooc: [D8, EM] A Solemn Occasion assessment. ILS2, Void. TN35 | 10k5 ⇒ 46 (TN: 35)
Void ring please!
I lost by 10 so 1k1 to Mizohachi's focus roll

Togashi Mizohachi's Void Ring is 8.

Togashi looks at Honoka as though this is just another day at the beach.

Focus roll. Void 8+Center Stance+Assessment bonus+Kenjutsu 5 + Void Spend | 10k10+27 ⇒ 100

Honoka stared back, judging the stance with her smile intact. She had complete confidence...


(ooc [D8, EM] A Solemn Occasion Focus. ILS 1+2, void, centre stance. | 10k7+9 ⇒ 58
8 free raises to Mizohachi)

TN to hit is 25 if it matters )

Togashi lunges forward at incredible speed. To the casual viewer, Honoka's strike seems almost to run him through as he moves through the intervening space at speeds no eye can track. But then he is within her arc, and he has bent her sword arm at the elbow, and he has cut them both with her sword. Him on the shoulder, her on the neck.



Strike/Reflexes. Togashi spends 5 Free raises to reduce Honoka's TN to be Hit to nil. He then calls 5 more raises and applies the remaining 3 for effect. | 10k6+8 ⇒ 38 (TN: 25)

[Roll damage, Honoka. It will be applied to both you and Togashi. This is a kharmic strike].

Honoka's eyes widened, and then within the blink of an eye something happened

[D8, EM] A Solemn Occasion surprise self-damage roll! | 6k2 ⇒ 15

Hajime chuckled in delight at the novel maneuver.

"This duel has resolved as a kharmic strike. The matter is thus resolved without ramifications, the heavens having judged both parties and found them equal. Let us speak of this no more, but rather go about and enjoy the days remaining to us."

He looked at the combatants. "Also, someone should see to the duelists. That was a palpable hit."

...and from such a lesson may all profit, including the most eminent Agasha-ke no kaishin Nishimura Ayamari.

Kichinitonda's brush stops at last.

After a few moments Honoka had caught up in the moment, taking a step back and placing a hand on her neck. As she moved it back she saw the blood, which was when she finally felt the stinging from the cut. Hearing the words from the Emerald champion brought her fully back to the moment and she looked at Mizohachi. Seeing where he was cut, and finally realised what happened.

She shook the blood off her blade and sheathed it. Then bowed to each of them.

"Hai Kakita-sama. Thank you" she said, a smile finally returning to her face. Even if it didn't match what was happening inside "and thank you Togashi-sama" she also added politely.

(ooc: [D8, EM] A Solemn Occasion, Etiquette/awa. ILS2 | 8k4-3 ⇒ 35

Hikaru had risen early to witness the duel but had held back. It wasn't his place to participate. His only place would be in the aftermath, no matter the result. This...would be an interesting fallout.

Thanks to Eiji's courtiers training, he watched the entire proceeding without betraying his thoughts. This was not the place to rely on a mask.

I told her things are never straightforward when a Togashi is involved.

While kharmic strikes made for great drama in stories of romance with shi duels, the conclusion of a first duel blood with a kharmic strike was less satisfying. It reminded Eiji of the story of the illf-fated tournament where an arrogant lord refused to accept the result of a kharmic strike and ordered the partipants to strike again and again, and yet the Heaven's judgement never wavered. Kharmic strike after kharmic strike rained down, to the point that healers had to be called to keep the partipants from bleeding out before they could complete their duel to 'first' blood.

Would the young Lion come away with a lesson learned or would she only grow more arrogant and brash? The story would have to be continued, it seemed.