Shinnosuke--still a bit hoarse from his pollen-induced coughing attack earlier, but determined to enjoy the rest of the evening--taps his closed fan against his chin and glances at his companion. "Well, whose masterpiece should I be looking at first? Such a broad pool, though I fear perhaps a bit... shallow and muddy, in spots."

D11 LE--Sadane #1, base TN 10. Prodigy, 2 CR, 1 FR (KA1) | 6k4 ⇒ 33 (TN: 20)

"Let's start there," Mariko says, gesturing with her cup--how did the damn thing get empty again?--at Kichinitonda's scroll. "Oh, I grant the work is competent enough, maybe even actually good. And I suppose there is virtue in the simple--so that Dragon must be a virtuous man, indeed."

~~~~~
Sadane passes at 29, https://sakkaku.org/r/17192

"And then there's the mystery of the subject." Shinnosuke twirls the closed fan between his fingers, considering the calligraphy. "Dragon artists are known for works that invite the viewer to contemplate the unknown, the obscure, the void, the empty space. Surely this artist deserves credit for honoring that tradition."

D11 LE--Sadane #2, base TN 15. Prodigy, 1 CR, 1 FR (KA1) | 6k4 ⇒ 34 (TN: 20)

"It must be that no image can properly convey the man named," Mariko says. "And that says much, given how many images of beauty are in the world."

~~~~~
Sadane passes at 42, https://sakkaku.org/r/17212

"Well, even without a picture," Shinnosuke leans in a little to reread the short inscription, "the calligrapher has exhausted his poetic vocabulary in describing this person's worthy qualities. He is... a man. And he has a sword. A remarkable achievement. And the paper treatment is such a clever choice too. See here where this edge is unevenly trimmed? Surely that is a reminder of this peerless, rugged man-with-sword."

---
D11 LE--Sadane #3, base TN 20. Prodigy, 1 FR (KA1) | 6k4 ⇒ 33 (TN: 20)

"Don't forget," Mariko adds. "He is learned in the Tao. And so he must be accustomed to emptiness, for does not the Tao ask its students to keep nothing in mind?"

~~~~~
Sadane passed at 38, https://sakkaku.org/r/17217

"Oh, true!" Shinnosuke says brightly, nodding. "The paper, too is a most marvelous demonstration of the Taoist virtue of poverty and rusticity."

D11 LE--Sadane #4, base TN 25. Prodigy, FR to lower TN (KA1) | 6k4+5 ⇒ 48 (TN: 25)

"Well, I did hear that the artist will be marrying into the Sparrow," Mariko says. "Perhaps he is eager to begin his life of honorable poverty?"

How does her cup manage to fill and empty so often?

~~~~~
Sadane passed at 25, https://sakkaku.org/r/17242

“Oh, the Sparrow! Why, that explains the artist’s decision to render this kanji here in a way that so resembles bird scratchings.” Shinnosuke nods judiciously.

“Among the Sparrow perhaps he’ll find the words to more thoroughly describe this person he so admires. They are cousins of the Crane, after all, and a cousin is a cousin even with a different name.”

—-
D11 LE--Sadane #5, base TN 30. Prodigy, FR to lower TN (KA1) | 6k4+5 ⇒ 69 (TN: 30)

And I remembered I have to make a check in case I want to donate my score.
D11 LE--Sadane hint dropping, Courtier/Awareness, base TN 25. Prodigy | 8k4 ⇒ 32 (TN: 25)

"What's in a name?" Mariko replies. "Here, clearly, there's some kind of mistake. Perhaps the artist found his feet cold, all of a sudden?"

She drinks slowly enough to be seen, this time.

~~~~~
Sadane passed at 40, https://sakkaku.org/r/17268

GM note
We'll allow continued rolling in this thread past dayflip.
As an administrative convenience, we'll add its gains to D12. Saves us having to backtrack on things.

"That could be quite deliberate, I suppose." Shinnosuke taps his closed fan against his chin again, considering his next sally. One mustn't repeat oneself, after all. "Perhaps the person to whom this work is dedicated will find some subtle message there. They say a great artist doesn't need everyone to appreciate him, he only needs one man who truly understands his genius. It may be this artist has achieved that end--created a work that can only be enjoyed by one man."

((Surely it can't last that much longer, anyway! ))

D11 LE--Sadane #6, base TN 35. Prodigy, FR to lower TN (KA1) | 6k4+5 ⇒ 40 (TN: 35)

"If great art can be appreciated by only one," Mariko rejoins, "what of art that can be appreciated by fewer yet?"

She pointedly looks at the brushwork as she says it.

~~~~~
Wanna bet?
Sadane passed at 48, https://sakkaku.org/r/17270

"All the more refined," Shinnosuke says, airily. "So refined you could cut yourself on it! As perhaps our artist here has done."

--
D11 LE--Sadane #7, base TN 40. Prodigy, FR to lower TN (KA1) | 6k4+5 ⇒ 40 (TN: 40)

"Maybe -hic- maybe..."

It seems the drink has finally caught up with Mariko.

It took long enough.

~~~~~
Sadane failed at 30, https://sakkaku.org/r/17272
Good game!

"Let's find you a chair, Otomo-sama," Shinnosuke says pleasantly. "I think we've wrung all there is to say about this piece."

((haha, yes, thank you for the game!))