[D14, EE, EVENT] The Devil Chase: The Selection

[Cearnach]

The Devil Chase is traditionally led by the most powerful shugenja at court. But who is the most powerful shugenja at court? Methods of selection in the past have included deadly taryu-jiai duels, interminable debates in court, and the exercise of Imperial fiat. Since the accession of Hantei Yugozohime, however, the selection has been conducted by inviting the Kami to decide, allowing them to voice their will through the drawing of lots.

Of course, to qualify for a place in the Sortition, you must have some cred. If you wish to do so, please follow these steps.

1) You must be a shugenja, and you must be nominated by another character. It is unseemly to self-promote in matters of faith. You can achieve this in one of two ways:

a) You can link to a thread in which another character confirms that they will submit your name. If this is a private decision by that character of which your character is unaware, you may link a post in the ooc thread entitled “Devil’s Chase Submissions” in which that character’s player affirms their submission of your name for consideration.

b) You can try to persuade an NPC to back you with a successful Courtier/Awareness, Commerce/Awareness or Temptation/Awareness (if you are offering a quid pro quo) roll against a TN of 25.

2) If you have been nominated, you must prove your credentials as a priest. Elucidate, for the committee, a point on either the Spirit Realms or the Fortunes. Make a Lore: Spirit Realms/Intelligence or Lore: Theology (Fortunes)/Intelligence roll at TN 20 or a Sincerity(Deceit)/Awareness check at TN 30. If you are successful, your name will be added to the list.

3) A Demonstration of Power: You must successfully cast a spell to some dramatic effect. Your spell should not inflict damage or otherwise cause mayhem–-you’re supposed to be driving away evil spirits here, not making Lord Ikoma sad. Your spellcasting roll must exceed a TN of 30 to be deemed powerful enough to be added to the Sortition list.

We will then draw a name from a hat (or, more likely, link a die roll) which will tell us who the Fortunes have chosen should lead the Devil Chase.

Characters who successfully pass step 2 receive 5 points of Glory.
Characters who successfully pass step 3 receive an additional 5 points of Glory.
The Character who is selected by the Fortunes will receive an additional 5 points of Glory.

[Agasha Sanjuro]

Sanjuro, having been nominated by Agasha Yuna, stands before the committee and bows.
When they are ready for him to begin, he starts to share a point he has learned from the Fortunes.

"We look to the past to foresee the future. The past is not what we make of it, but what we are making of it in this moment. The Fortunes of Saibankan and Fukurokujin are the Fortunes to aid us on our time of need. For Saibankan was the model of judgment, even if unto his own style of storytelling. Once he told of story of his wise old uncle Sochoku when faced with an empty seat with no heirs, who counseled, 'Stay true to the law. Though it may not bring your resolution as fast as you wish, the wait will be worth it. To act without the law may ring unrest to the heavenly order.'

Fukurokujin, over all, counsels to wisdom and comforts those who suffer in mind and body, and of course, mercy.
In learning from these, may we drive away enmity, use wisdom and knowledge, under the law to choose or not choose in the present what seems best for the future. "

The Devil Chase #2 | 5k4 ⇒ 39 (TN: 20)
Success, proceed so Step 3

Sadly his mind is distracted and the demonstration, while off to a good start, fizzles at the end….Ah well, it can happen to anyone and is not meant to be for me this time. He bows again to the committee with a smile, and departs.

The Devil Chase #2 | 7k4 ⇒ 28 (TN: 30)

+5 Glory

[Seppun Sadako]

Sadako steps forward.

"I am gratified to have been considered," she says, giving a shallow bow. "Given the other duties incumbent upon me, however, I must, with all respect, decline."

She withdraws.

[Asahina Hoshiko]

Having been nominated by a few among the court, Hoshiko is invited before the judges. She speaks of the Spirit Realms and how spirits that may not belong either in the court or Ningen-do itself might come there anyway, how many need to be carefully led back to where they belong and others might be banished. Her description of the court of Meido was exceptionally vivid.

When it's time to prove her power she moves outside, and calls up protective winds, sending them sweeping toward a tree well off across the field to swirl around its empty branches for as long as they cared to test the demonstration by shooting arrows into the winds or merely flinging stones.

*******************************
1) Nomination in the main thread viewtopic.php?f=11&t=1128

2) prove your credentials
D14 Devil's Chase: Lore: Spirit Realms/Intelligence: TN 20 Void point | 7k4 ⇒ 22 (TN: 20)

3) A Demonstration of Power:
D14 Devil's Chase: Spellcasting Summoning the Gale (defense keyword for a FR (Effective Rank 4, Ring 3) void for +1k1 Base TN20 +2 raises for range | 8k4+5 ⇒ 44 (TN: 30)

10 points of Glory

[Kuni Shiori]

The Devil Chase was a strong tradition throughout the Empire after several centuries the Kuni didn't hold any monopoly over the honoured role of Devil Chaser. While the other Clans were less affected by the proximity of the Shadowland and such things were rarely a part of polite conversation in the Northern Clans, there were enough spiritual families that would key watch over spiritual matters. In this case, the devil or oni itself was more of a representation of bad luck, a far throw from the actual reality found in the Crab.

However, that wasn't to say that Shiori would take the opportunity to accept such a nomination and lead the ceremony lightly. She would be more than open to sharing her knowledge of the custom, albeit a bit washed for polite sentiments. It wasn't like the committee needed to know about the weaknesses of a true oni or the best ways to dissect a goblin. There was a bit of showmanship involved and Shiori would ply the earth kami to her command for this effort, causing the earth to shift unexpectedly and suddenly shoot up several pillars of earth at once to form an impromptu wall. It was impressive, despite the mess it left behind.

...well, hopefully, someone could make use of this wall now.

Rolls and Info
Step 1: Very kind nominations here, thank you!
Step 2: Day 14 - Early Evening, Devil Chase Selection: Lore: Spirit Realms/Intelligence | 6k4 ⇒ 35 (TN: 20)
Step 3: Day 14 - Early Evening, Devil Chase Selection, Earth Spellcasting: Void for +1k1 | 7k4 ⇒ 48 (TN: 30)
+1.0 Glory!

[Yasuki Masaki]

Masaki stands before the judges as well, having been nominated by some of those involved in the ritual since the previous day, as well as Shin.

Perhaps it's the stress of the two weeks of court. Perhaps the many issues happening at the same time muddle her thoughts. Perhaps it's the same doubts that often creeped into her mind, a well-known voice yelling at her and reminding her of her failures.

Or perhaps listening to Hoshiko and Shiori just leads her to acknowledge their expertise on spiritual matters - which she had in fact witnessed before to be greater than her own, with her mixed training and political bent.

When her time to speak to prove her credentials comes, she steps forward, keeps silent for half a minute. She then finally speaks, in a low, serene voice. "I thank Daikoku-no-kami and Hotei-no-kami for their guidance, as well as for the opportunity to be here today. But having seen wisdom up close", she says, her eyes shifting to Hoshiko and Shiori, "I know better than to spoil it with less than insightful words."

She bows deeply, and takes a step back.

----------
Step 1: Shin and others nominated Masaki here:
viewtopic.php?f=11&t=1128#p17773

Step 2:
D14 EE - Devil's Chase: Selection. Prove your credentials. Lore: Theology/Int TN 20, VP | 5k4 ⇒ 18 (TN: 20)

Triple 4? No no no we don't want that leading the chase even if this roll had succeeded XD

[Abbot Do]

Devil Chase Sortition. 1: Asahina Hoshiko. 2: Kuni Shiori | 1d2 ⇒ 1

Furrowing his brow and sticking the tip of his tongue out of the side of his mouth, Abbot Do reached into the peaked hat held by Lady Shiba and withdrew...

The name of Asahina Hoshiko. He looked with grim severity at the Crane lady and uttered the immortal words. "The world is fallen; raise it anew."


Awards
Asahina Hoshiko: 15 Glory
Kuni Shiori: 10 Glory
Agasha Sanjuro: 5 Glory