The space has seen another physical cleaning since yesterday, plus another spiritual one after last night's thwarted attack and the morning's shaking earth. Tools stand ready nearby for things like hanging scrolls. The small statue of Emma-O and plaque for Benten* are settled with something like miniature shoji screens requisitioned to create the sense of separate alcoves around each.

Hoshiko joins the gathering group, adding some small origami pieces, like Benten's mirror, and scrolls for Emma-O depicting the many records with which he makes his judgements.

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* Assuming we didn't have a statue to add for Benten, otherwise I'll edit.

Note: the latest info I had said late morning, and I wanted to get the thread set up before crashing for the night. If the time needs to change feel free the timeslot in your posts and I'll edit this thread parent when I'm awake.

Minase arrives with the two umbrellas she had created for the decoration of said shrines. Delicate, almost see through paper and the slenderest of wicker and bamboo pieces showing that these were most definitely not for actual use. A quick bow to Hoshiko before asking where they should be placed.

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Both pieces are 3 raise artisan creations. Kakita Artisan Tech Rank 2 was NOT used in their crafting so they will not impart moods on observers.

Jihen arrived that morning struggling internally to maintain the proper decorum towards the matter due to the tragic events of the morning.

He was, however, skilled in the arts of the court and kept his on firmly in place despite the turmoil inside.

He brought with him two scrolls wrapped neatly, waiting for their unveiling and mounting in the temporary shrine that was being constructed.

Jihen bowed deeply to his hosts as he arrived…

Ryu was there, standing unobtrusively in the background, in case anything was needed. Admittedly, it didn't seem super likely that anyone would need a Daidoji for anything, but, well, he'd be there if they did!

Hoshiko returns Ryu's bow with some appreciation. After the fuss last night, it was comforting to have someone capable watching over things.

Also...it may be good to have someone here who wouldn't need a stool if they were hanging things.

Asahina Minase wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 12, 2025 12:41 pm

Minase arrives with the two umbrellas she had created for the decoration of said shrines. Delicate, almost see through paper and the slenderest of wicker and bamboo pieces showing that these were most definitely not for actual use. A quick bow to Hoshiko before asking where they should be placed.

Hoshiko's eyes widen as the delicate beauty. "Oh, those are amazing, powerful but fragile and intensely impermanent, exactly the right touch for the Fortunes of love and death." She offers a belated, but reverent bow, which puts her head at about Minase's eye level. After rising, she reaches down to (gently!) touch the one for Emma-O's shrine. "Should they display open and standing, or hung above so the scene is overhead? Either way, I was thinking that toward the outer side of each would be balanced and shouldn't shade the calligraphy scrolls."

Speaking of scrolls...

Jihen wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 12, 2025 2:48 pm

snip

She returns the young monk's bow. "Jihen-san! Greetings again. I hope the day finds you well." Even if there is a lot that is not going well in the world, it's a proper greeting. "The hanging brackets are set, and I've extra cord if it's needed to get everything attached. We're perhaps fortunate to be setting things together today, after...hopefully...the worst of the kami's upset has passed."

Sae is there a little late having taken a few moments to focus her own thoughts. It would not do for the darkness of the day to pollute this sacred undertaking.

Sadly, it did look like prayers to Death would be particularly well received.

She enters and bow politely to the assembled samurai and monks before taking up her own spot out of the way of proceedings.

"Oh they shouldn't really shade anything. Not with that fine a grade of paper, but they are designed to accompany the scene not outshine it's purpose."

She looked to the monk, hoping to catch a glimpse of his calligraphy. A more polite bow is offered to Sae, on her arrival though, delaying any perusal of art for a moment.

Jihen bowed deeply to his hosts.

“It has been an… auspicious day… hasn’t it? There is much to reflect on and much to prepare for the people.”

He approaches the spots prepared for the calligraphy pieces. “It has been my honor to prepare these pieces for the children of Lady Doji and the deities you have petitioned.”

He motions to the spots prepared, “If I may…”

He would wait for permission before unfurling each in their proper place.

When unfurled the sheets would show:

The first work:

業の均衡 - The Balance of Kharma

The second work:

恋愛の絆 - The Bonds of Romantic Love

Jihen withdrew from the area and allowed the Crane present to inspect the pieces and offer their opinions on his work.

—————

The pieces are a work of three different rolls totaling 12 Called Raises.

D2 Making Sacred Calligraphy, Calligraphy, 4 Raises, VP | 10k8 ⇒ 43 (TN: 40)

D2 Making Sacred Calligraphy, Divination, 4 Raises, VP | 10k8 ⇒ 45 (TN: 35)

D2 Making Sacred Calligraphy, Meditation 4 Raises, VP | 10k6 ⇒ 55 (TN: 35)

Sae's eyebrows raise slightly.

"Each of these pieces is exquisite, I would say they border on being a masterpiece, at least to my eyes."

She looks over at the rest of the Crane.

Ryu bowed agreement. It was sincere, although it was a little hard to tell.

"Indeed. Very good pieces." He said.

Minase examines the pieces closely. She takes her time. The Artisan Academy graduates take art seriously.

"Exquisite. Worthy of any Shrine."

Eyes still wide, Hoshiko's hands clasp before her heart at the calligraphy. "Oh...these are splendid. Look at the perfect weight of the line for the sense of the characters and their place in the phrasing...the movement..." She offers another, deeper bow to the monk. "Your artistry is worthy of the Fortunes I believe, though theirs is the final judgement." And she didn't honestly expect either fortune to come rip substandard offerings from the walls.

Turning to her fellow Asahina, she asks "Do you want to hang your umbrellas, or...?" The space that seemed right for Emma-O's shrine was on the lower side, with Benten's higher, as was appropriate for one of the Seven.

Jihen bowed deeply at the praise offered to his works by the collection of Crane.

"When the rest of the offerings are in place, I will offer an incantation inviting the presence of the fortunes to abide within their temporary homes. Please let me know when the preparations are ready."

Jihen bowed and moved out of the way to allow the Crane to decorate in the way they saw fit to honor the two deities.


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OOC: Fukurokujin has suggested I roll a Lore: Theology/Void roll as a dedication to the site. I'll do that when everyone is ready.

Ryu stood by, ready to assist as needed. Perhaps that included reaching tall things. It probably didn't include decorating. Not that he didn't feel reasonably competent at it, but it wasn't his place to do so.

Minase took a moment to examine the shrine site from an aesthetic point of view.

"Ryu-san, could you hang the decoration for Benten just there please?"

She indicated where it should go without mentioning in the slightest anything at all about not being able to reach that place herself . . .

"And the one to Emma-O should go here, Hoshiko-san."

Although she could reach that one, perhaps it would be better for a priestess to place it. One with normal eyes.

"Yes, that should leave more than enough room for the scrolls to be seen and admired."

Asahina Minase wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 13, 2025 5:06 pm

"Ryu-san, could you hang the decoration for Benten just there please?"

Ryu was only the second tallest Crane present... but of course one did not say Oh Emerald Magistrate, could you please hang that decoration?

And so, his expression politely neutral, Ryu hung the decoration where indicated. Frowning, he stepped back, then made a little adjustment.

"How's that?"

The artisan viewed it silently from three different positions before smiling.

"Yes, thank you, that will do nicely."

Nodding precisely, Ryu stepped back to his supporting position at the edge of the little group. He would remain there, ever-vigilant. For who knew when something else high up might need to be reached?

He would be ready.

Seeing each of the Crane step forward as appropriate and offer their best efforts to the veneration of the deities filled Jihen with renewed purpose and focus.

As they finished their final preparations, Jihen stepped forward and bowed deeply to the shrine which they had put together.

He then sat down in a specific posture which centered himself between the two altars. He closed his eyes and let out a long breath, bringing up his hand to his chest height with a ritually determined positioning in fingers. Were he to have another arm, it undoubtedly would have found its way to its proper place as well... but having what he had, his mind's-arm came to fill the void in the physical world that he could not fill.

As he chanted, his hands would change on specific changes in the memorized dharani. Those of the visible world and the invisible world working in tandem with the words he spoke to invite the presence of the Fortunes to accept this humble offering as a temporary residence.

At the completion of the ceremony Jihen placed his arms back at his side... his mind's-arm disappearing from even his own perception... and he slowly opened his eyes upon the finished project.

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D3 Shrine Dedication, Lore: Theology/Void, 4 Raises, VP | 10k6 ⇒ 50 (TN: 35)

(OOC: feel free to retroactively describe something you may have done if you were going to do something. Just wanted to get this out into the ether before the day ends tomorrow.)

The shrines in response resonate at a level that all present can feel. They are sanctified, now, carrying the touch of that place wherein the Elements dance together and the gods look on with joy.

For the rest of D3, the room where the Shrine to Benten causes all people within it to function as if they are Touched by Tengoku; the room where the Shrine to Emma-O is causes all people within it to function as if they are Touched by Meido. Refer to the Core book, pg 154.