The Rumormonger Disadvantage is triggered by Part 2 of this event.

This is it, what every artist in the Empire lives for: a chance to present your work at an Imperial Winter Court. While it would have been nice if the Empress had lived to see your work, catching the eye of the next Emperor or Empress would be a fine consolation prize. Here’s how you go about it:

Step 1: Do Art.
Make any Artisan, Perform, or Calligraphy/Awareness roll you choose. Be sure to roll high! The Base TN is 20. Successful rolls receive 1 Art point + one additional Art point per Raise. You must also post a detailed description of your piece. Rolls posted without such a description cannot be considered for points. If you should fail this roll, you have not produced your art, and cannot continue in the event.

No Crafts allowed.

Step 2: Shape the Narrative.
Art for art’s sake is a wonderful concept, but has little place in an Imperial Court. Whether you intend to send a message or not, a message will be read by the inquisitive (and sometimes depraved) minds around you. Far better to control that message.

Make a contested Courtier (Manipulation)/Awareness, Games: Sadane (Intelligence) roll, or Intimidation/Willpower roll. Assume your opponent (who is left to your imagination, but should not be a figure of High Status or a PC without their player’s permission) has rolled a neat 20 on their corresponding roll. Techniques or advantages that modify contested rolls of these types apply. You receive 1 Art point for a successful roll, and 1 additional Art point per Raise.

If you should fail this roll, the narrative of your Art has gotten away from you, and consequences may ensue, depending on the nature of your art. Please keep a careful eye on tomorrow’s Rumor mill!

If you chose the Intimidation route, the Honor Loss for use of a Low Skill applies, but you gain no infamy as the stereotype of the passionate, feral artist is cool enough among the younger set to mitigate the social backlash you might otherwise expect.

Step 3: Profit.
There are always opportunities for those who know how to create and to advocate for their creation. Access to commissions and patronage from high-status samurai has never been quite so open. Now’s your chance. Get that prestige!

Choose from the following:
A Commerce/Intelligence roll at TN 25 to hunt the koku in its lair. Should you choose this option, your patron must come from a house with a Wealth score of 25 or greater.

A Lore: Heraldry/Perception roll at TN 25 to identify the best-placed patron for your needs. Should you choose this option, your patron must come from a house with an Influence score of 25 or greater.

A Courtier/Awareness roll at TN 25 to identify a patron with similar political leanings. Should you choose this option, your patron must support the same Wind as you.

A success on this roll is equal to 1 Art Point. Each called raise earns an additional Art Point.

Results: Take stock of your Art Points. If you have scored 10+ Art Points, you earn 8 Glory and the esteem of your patron, corresponding to a commission worth 6 koku, once completed.
If you have scored 7-9 Art Points, you earn 4 glory and the respect of your patron, corresponding to a commission worth 2 koku, once completed.
If you have scored 4-6 Art points, you earn 2 glory and the appreciation of your patron, corresponding to an offer of tea.
If you have scored 0-3 Art Points, you earn 1 glory and the annoyance of your patron. They will snub you for the remainder of court.

If your Art praises a Wind as its message and you have not declared for a Wind, you may take this opportunity to declare your support. If you do so, the Glory you win is also applied to the Wind's Influence score. You may still choose to donate half your Glory as well, if you wish




When choosing a patron, you may either choose an NPC from the delegations (full delegations are listed in the thread with that title in the Almanac). The NPC you choose just does back the Wind of your choice. If you're picking a daimyo or other guy with a picture, this list of leanings will help. We will post this to the event as well.

Wind Leanings Note, these are not formal declarations.

Keihime
Otomo Tooru
Otomo Mariko
Matsu Tsuruyo
Kitsune Aiko
Moshi Akane
Ichiro Himari
Chou-sin
Mirumoto Tsukahara
Kasuga Genjiko

Gorobei
Ikoma Ryota
Gusai Rioshida
Hiruma Ichika
Ichiro Aoi

Tomaru
The Elemental Council (minus Sorami)
Shiba Rumiko
Heichi Batsuda
Agasha Akari
Yogo Tenka

Noriko
Kakita Hajime
Doji Minehime
Akodo Sanae
Isawa Sorami (Master of Water)
Shiba Higashime [Tomaru sympathies]
Suzume Ryobu
Kakita Sorashi
Asahina Junpei
Daidoji Irumi

Tatsuya
Abbot Do
Bokushi
Asako Ainojo [very quietly]

Neutral
Seppun Sadako
Miya Hachi
Togashi Mizohachi
Bayushi Kaguya
Kaiu Masahiko [inching toward Tatsuya]
Kasuga Izumi
Hida Gendo
Hida Kozume
Kuni Mirabu
Yasuki Ameiko
Kitsu Shintaro
Shosuro Ryusei
Soshi Michiko
Kitsune Fumihito
Suzume Hanae

Jihen bowed deeply to those assembled and offered up a folk-story shared by monks throughout much of the Empire with the common people.

It was a normal day in Heaven. It was morning, and the Fortunes were standing beside a pool. In the pool there were many flowers. The flowers sat on the top of the water, and they were very beautiful. The Fortunes began to walk. They walked around the pool and looked at the flowers. The flowers had a beautiful smell. The smell grew inside the flowers and moved into the air.

The Fortunes stopped walking, and looked hard at the pool. Between the flowers there was water, and under the water, they could see into all the spirit realms.

The water was like a piece of glass. Above, there was Heaven, beautiful and lovely. Below, there was Gaki-do, ugly and horrible. The water stood between the two places.

Through the water, the Fortunes could see all the horrible things in Gaki-do.

First, there was the Sanzu river. It was a river full of hungry dragons, and it had a bridge going over it. Only those who could return to the cycle of birth and rebirth could walk across the bridge. There were spirits standing in the water, and if a bad person walked across the bridge, the spirits would take them and throw them into the water, letting the hungry dragons feast on them and toss them back to their rightful place.

Then, there was the Mountain of Needles. When a truly bad person came to Gaki-do, they had to climb the Mountain of Needles and would be cast down them by spirits at the top.

There was also the Lake of Blood. The Lake was made of very, very hot liquid which smelled horrible. Evil people in Gaki-do had to swim in the boiling water. And of course, there were many other horrible things in Gaki-do, but the Fortunes did not like to look at them.

Among the groups of people in Gaki-do, there was one man called Kandata. Kandata had been a very evil man. He had murdered people unjustly, stolen from people, and even burned houses with people in them. He was truly an enemy of all good people. But once in his life, he had done something good, and the Fortunes remembered this.

One time, Kandata was walking through a thick forest. He was going to steal from a man who lived in the forest. As he was walking, he saw a spider beside him. Kandata raised his foot, and was about to step on the spider and kill it, but then he stopped.

‘No, no. Even something this small has a reason to live. It would be truly evil to take its life away.’

So he let the spider live, and went to steal from the man.

As the Fortunes looked down into Gaki-do, they thought of how Kandata had saved the spider. They decided that Kandata was actually redeemable. Because he had saved the spider, they thought they should give Kandata a chance to escape from the suffering of Gaki-do.

Luckily, next to the pool of beautiful flowers, a spider was walking. It was a spider of the Heavens and remembered the kindness Kandata had shown his fellow arachnid. It was an amazing green color, and it was making a beautiful gold thread. Usually, spiders only made weak, white threads, but this spider’s golden thread was strong and made of shining gold. So the Fortunes took the spider’s golden thread and lowered it into Gaki-do deep below him.

At the bottom of Gaki-do, Kandata was swimming in the Lake of Blood, along with many others of the worst people. Occasionally, he saw something bright, and he thought it was mayhaps something that could save him. But when he looked harder, he saw that it was just the needles on the Mountain of Needles, shining in the light. All around him, people cried in pain and sadness. Kandata had stopped crying, because he was too tired. He felt truly awful, because he felt he would never leave Gaki-do. He swam in the Lake of Blood, quiet and sad.

But then... Kandata saw something shine... he thought it was only a needle, so he did not look up. But it kept shining, and eventually he raised his head. Above him, in the darkness of Gaki-do's sky, there was something bright and gold. It was a long thread that dangling softly in the air... extended unto him.

Kandata couldn’t believe his eyes. His chance to leave Gaki-do was coming down to him like a gift from Heaven. He would climb onto the thread, and climb out of this suffering! If he was lucky, he might even be able to climb into Heaven. He no longer had to swim in the Lake of Blood, and climb the Mountain of Needles. He would be free!

So Kandata climbed out of the Lake and ran to the golden thread. He took it in his hands. The thread was thin, and easy to hold onto. Kandata climbed up and up and up. Because he used to steal so much, he was very good at climbing, so it was no problem to climb up the golden thread.

After climbing for a long time, Kandata was tired, so he decided to take a break. He looked below him to see how far he had climbed. He saw that the Lake of Blood was far, far away, and that he had climbed many miles. Even the Mountain of Needles was far below him. If he kept climbing, he would leave escape. He felt so happy at the salvation extended to him.

‘I’ve done it! I’ve done it!’ he shouted, and laughed.

But then he felt something below him on the thread. He looked down, and saw that an number of bad people in Gaki-do had seen the thread. They were now following him, climbing up and up and up.

Kandata saw this, and he was surprised, and angered. He hung there, looking down at the other people. The thread was not thick, so he was surprised that it could take so many people without breaking. But if too many people climbed onto the thread, it might break, and they would all fall back down into Gaki-do. More and more people climbed out of the Lake of Blood, and started climbing up the thread.

Kandata shouted at the people below, ‘Hey, you terrible people! You awful people down there! This spider’s thread is mine. It belongs to me, and only me! Who told you you could all climb up? Get off, get off!’

Then, suddenly, the spider’s thread broke just above his hands as if cut with a blade... and Kandata fell. He fell down and down and down... until finally, he landed in the Lake of Blood with a splash, along with all the other bad people. The spider’s thread hung in the air, shining bright like one the needles on the Mountain of Needles until it slowly withdrew itself into the Heavens.

The Fortunes stood by the side of the pool in Heaven, and watched all of this happen. They had a sad expression on their faces. They had given Kandata a chance to get out of Hell, but by refusing to extend that mercy to others... Kandata had all forced them all to suffer again in sadness and regret...


Jihen's presentation was as impeccable as ever and his voice rang out clearly to all who were in attendance. The narrative takeaway from a few of the upper class attendees was one of an over compassionate monk attempting to talk his way into filling his own pockets... But Jihen knew how to navigate these falsehoods and direct people's thoughts towards greater compassion and mercy for both high and low.

The critique of money-grubbing fell on deaf ears when the moneys given went directly to initiatives that fed the hungry, sheltered the homeless, and taught heimin of their proper place and role in the world. And perhaps even granted them the skills and know-how to better their communities and the empire at large... The types of initiatives that Seppun Tomaru was known to advocate for... if someone was truly perceptive enough to make the connection.

And certainly there would be a well-intentioned... perhaps aging patron who would see the value in allocating some of their vast wealth to ensuring the thread above them to Heaven didn't cut itself at sign of their desire to horde their good fortune at the expense of others...

----

D11 LE, Earthly Delights, Perform: Storytelling, 4 Raises, VP | 10k7 ⇒ 44 (TN: 40)

D11 LE, Earthly Delights, Courtier, 3 Raises, VP | 10k6 ⇒ 36 (TN: 35)

D11 LE, Earthly Delights, Commerce | 7k6 ⇒ 42 (TN: 25)


10 Art Points

Don't have a specific patron picked out. (Edit: Possibly Miya Hachi) Jihen will donate the Glory to Tomaru and the money to the Brotherhood's alms.

*Adapted from a translation of Akutagawa Ryunosuke's - 蜘蛛の糸 (Kumo no Ito)

Written on a wall-hanging scroll, Sayomi presented a poem she had written for the occasion.

A tree with no blooms
or a young sapling of green,
neither withstand cold.
Nor does the rose or the grass;
only the deep-rooted oak.

She had tried really hard to convey a message, and some found it very much too on the nose even if the poem itself was lovely. But at least one of a similar political leaning enjoyed it very much.

----

D11 LE. Garden of Earthly Delights. Artisan: Poetry/Awareness. +1k1 Void. 3 Raises YOLO! | 7k5 ⇒ 37 (TN: 35) +4 ART

D11 LE. Garden of Earthly Delights. Courtier/Awareness. 2 Raises | 7k4 ⇒ 19 (TN: 30) - Got carried away!

D11 LE. Garden of Earthly Delights. Courtier/Awareness to find a political patron | 7k4 ⇒ 26 (TN: 25) - Found a Patron! +1 ART

5 Art points, 2 Glory, appreciation of Patron (Heichi Batsuda).

Shinnosuke would have dearly loved to participate, but as his turn approaches, he comes down with a coughing fit after taking a too-close sniff of someone's ikebana display and finds that his vocal tone is quite gone. Alas! With great regret, he'll have to bow out.

----
D11 LE Event--GoED part 1, Acting (Noh)/Awareness. Prodigy, Voice, KA3, VP. 12k7 -> 10k8. Base TN 20, 5 Raises | 10k8 ⇒ 44 (TN: 45)
Holy dice spite! Ah well. It happens!

Hikaru intends to return to a performance similar to what he had done the night before. Rather, this time, rather than a longer entry he goes for short. He motions through the forms of a iaijtutsu duel with each motion.

On the days tea spills
Meet the odds with head held high
Truth will show victor

Put this time it's a bit out there and doesn't land
_________

The Garden of Earthly Delights- Stage 1 - Perform:Poetry/Awareness - Voice for +1k1 - VP spent, +2k1 due to Doji Warrior Poet technique "Way of Sword and Fan" - 4 raises - TN 40 | 9k6 ⇒ 39 (TN: 40) REALLY SAKKAKU

____

Yuna's art was calligraphy. She began in prayer and meditation, thinking about what words and how...

She found her theme in a familiar quote from the Little Teacher. "To serve the Tao is to serve the Empire. The one cannot be parted from the other, no more than the sea can be parted from the land." She began to shape the calligraphic art from those words, using a mix of paper colors and ink.

Her final product was half a golden sandy color - land, and half a bright blue - sea. The first part of the quote ran down the center crossing back and forth from sea to land to sea in order to read it. The vertical column of kanji were usually read straight down, starting with the right-most column. But here the first kanji topped the right-most sea column, and the second kanji topped the land column. Back and forth. Back and forth. Inseparable. The full quotation appeared at the bottom, simple and direct. The kanji for land appeared on that side, and for sea in beautifully drawn black ink on the blue side.

The message could easily be read by those who shared her faith, and even those who didn't. To serve the Tao is to serve the Empire. To serve the Empire well, follow the Tao. The two are inseparable. What beauty and balance and wisdom could be found with a leader who followed the Tao, like Seppun Tomaru-sama! His faith would make him a perfect servant to the Empire. As its leader should be.

The callligraphy was simple, but beautifully drawn.
34 v TN20. https://sakkaku.org/r/17087 (no raises, 1 art point)

The message was the true beauty, beautifully shaped and executed, transforming the work.
72 v TN30 https://sakkaku.org/r/17088 (two raises, 3 art points)

And finding the patron? That had been her aim. Not a buyer of art, but a person who shared her political views. A supporter of Seppun Tomaru-sama! She looked forward to that person revealing themselves to her. She definitely had their attention, and had pleased them enough for a follow-up tea.
29 v TN25 https://sakkaku.org/r/17089 (no raises, 1 art point)

UPDATE: Yuna is very happy to be approached by fellow Dragon delegate Agasha-ke no kashin Agasha Daisuke (Influence 5) (Shugenja) Lady Agasha's distant cousin and potential heir, who is part of Agasha Akari's inner circle. Their tea can be confirmation that Lady Agasha also supports Tomaru and include some address of Ageki/Lady Agasha personal plot!

5 total points, all tasks succeeded

Ryusei's calligraphy.... hadn't panned out.


Having been so occupied with business, his art was only ever passable at best... and today was not his best.

--
Ryusei 4k3 Calligraphy YOLO for The Garden of Earthly Delights- TN 20 | 4k3 ⇒ 17 (TN: 20)

Kuni Shiori never expected to find herself in the art patron circuit when it came to her talents, especially when her talents were still in development in her modest estimation. However, she was in Winter Court and it was only first that she should see how far she could get with her skills. A model Crab would always try, no matter how unlikely the odds, and learn from their mistakes afterwards. Determination was everything. It was one of the few reasons that Osano-Wo picked Hida Kenzan over his first son.

Her offering would be an action epic, perhaps one she managed to procure from a combination of low-tier pillowbooks and tall tales in a Crab sake house. It told of a tale of an Emerald Legionnaire who has been content with the eventless duty of watching the northern borders of the Empire, a duty typically seen by many as punishment. However, he finds his mundane life turned upside down when he gets word that members of his former unit have been assassinated by unknown assailants.

He suddenly finds his remote home assaulted by pirates led by traitors to the Throne. They kidnap his daughter and demand that he aid in the assassination of a high-ranking official in order to safeguard his return. He seemingly goes along with this agreement at first but later reneges on it when he kills his keepers in short order

Unable to properly explain his situation, the hero charges headlong past the confused authorities to commandeer a kobune to sail to an island in the south where his daughter is being kept. In a very unlikely act of bravery, he manages to fight a whole pirate garrison on the island singlehandedly before getting revenge on the pirate leaders to rescue his daughter.

...

"...This is all great and well-told, Kuni-san, but I can't help but think that this tale is a bit inappropriate for the common audience. It's garish, outlandish, and maybe even a bit insulting to the intelligence. I find myself reluctant to support this work," Shiba Rumiko would comment with a bit of forward sadane on the presented piece of art.

Shiori didn't seem too bothered by the commentary at first and reached for the pot of tea. It didn't seem obvious at first but the movements were tense, like some with a thin veneer of threat beneath her movements, perhaps she was indirectly emboldened by the bravado of her own tale. "...how about, in the end, our hero would strike the villain with a pot of tea and tells him...'let out some steam'. Would that serve as a better ending for your sensibilities, Shiba-san?"

Rumiko gave Shiori a big blink and found herself speechless...

Rolls
Day 11 - Late Evening, The Garden of Earthly Delights (Artists), Perform: Storytelling/Awareness: +1k1 from Voice, Void for +1k1, 3 CR (Yolo?) | 6k5 ⇒ 37 (TN: 35) +4 Arts
Day 11 - Late Evening, The Garden of Earthly Delights (Artists), Intimidation/Willpower: Phantom Skill, Void for +1k1, 1 CR | 5k4 ⇒ 28 (TN: 25) +2 Arts
Day 11 - Late Evening, The Garden of Earthly Delights (Artists), Courtier/Awareness: Void for +1k1 | 5k4 ⇒ 34 (TN: 25) +1 Arts

One art, please!
I mean...
Total: 7 Art Points, +4 Glory and +2 Koku

Edit: Changing made up NPC to an actually NPC on the list, Shiba Rumiko

Ryoichi was tired. It had been a long day. A long two days, in fact. The floating banquet, followed by the desperate late night fight, followed by clan meetings, Imperial Court, betting on the archery contest. And now this… an artistic competition. There had been no time for sleep. Ryoichi knew he wasn’t a great artist, but it was his duty to try.

After carefully arranging the flowers and leaves in a pottery container, Ryoichi began trimming the flower arrangement with small snips. When he accidentally snipped off the head of one of the flowers, Ryoichi nearly despaired; the balance of the whole arrangement had been thrown off.

The Yasuki seriously considered giving up on the project right then and there, but decided he owed his family and clan an attempt to salvage the effort. Grimly, he began snipping the flowers off from the other side of the ikebana arrangement. Then he began to trim the stems. Soon, he was left with a bowl full of sticks. Artistically arranged, perhaps, but ... nevertheless, a bowl of sticks.
“It’s perfect,” declared the exhausted Yasuki. “Well, maybe not perfect, but at least it’s done!”

“What do you mean?” asked Asako Emiko, who was passing by at that moment. “It’s just a bowl of sticks!”

“You, ahhh, don’t understand the metaphor that my piece is conveying,” Ryoichi said in a world-weary voice that spoke of immense fatigue. “It's a minimalist ikebana arrangement that signifies, umm, Perseverance. It represents that even after a difficult midnight battle, the true samurai must rise up and rejoin the fight the next day. No matter that his spirit and his body have been eroded to the breaking point, until he’s nothing but a skeleton - despite all adversity, the true samurai must persevere!”

“Whoa….” breathed Emiko, impressed at the casual, almost jaded way the exhausted Yasuki spoke those intense words. “That’s… deeper than I thought. You’re right, it truly is art.”

Nearby, Abbot Do nodded thoughtfully at the Yasuki’s oratory. Truly, the ikebana captured the essence of acting with no thought - one of the key precepts of understanding the Void, and eventually, Enlightenment. Even now, the Yasuki could be seen to be piously meditating.

Ryoichi’s eyes snapped open. Nearly dozed off again, he chided himself. Just a little longer and I can head to bed.

—
11LE Earthly Delights, Do Art, Art: Ikebana/Awareness, +5 TN from Fatigue, TN25 | 5k4 ⇒ 27 (TN: 25) succeeds for 1 Art point
11LE Earthly Delights, Shape the Narrative, Courtier/Awareness with 1 called raise, +5 TN from Fatigue, TN30 | 7k4 ⇒ 40 (TN: 30) succeeds for 2 Art points
11LE Earthly Delights, Profit, Courtier/Awareness, +5 TN from Fatigue, TN30 | 7k4 ⇒ 31 (TN: 30) succeeds for 1 Art Point

Total: 4 Art Points, somehow! +0.2 Glory and free tea!

Honoka had a grin on her face as she took her spot.

"Once upon a time in a mountaineous region, there was a Spirit who ruled over the winter. The ice, and the cold, matched its feelings. Winters were bitterly cold, and dangerous to go out in. One day, when the Spirit watched over a settlement, it saw a child stranded out in the forest Lost, abandoned. Like many before. humans, it thought to itself. So fickle.."

Honoka paused to look out as if that spirit looking down on the chid.

"Then it looked over the settlement, and it saw something it had not seen before. A man, dressed up for the weather, had left the town to try and find this child. How curious, it thought, as it flew down low to watch the man. It believed the man would soon give up, as most had."

"After a day of this man travelling into the cold, the great winter Spirit decided to prove to itself that this human would give up soon. It decided to challenge the man. First, it froze the ground when the man camped for the night, tent and all. Now he will leave! the Spirit said to himself. However, the man did not flee. Instead, he trekked on. Through the wintery trees, shivering and cold, the man continued to search for the child. The Spirit was surprised, and angry. How dare he try to prove me wrong! The Spirit came up with a plan. It came to the forest, in the appearance of a beautiful Maiden. 'Come with me' the woman said. 'I have a hut nearby with a fire, you can rest up and be warm. You do not need to go through these woods anymore'. A most wonderful plan! He will surely give up now the great Spirit thought to himself."

Honka smiled, and shook her head.

"The great Spirit however was wrong. The man replied 'I cannot, for a child is missing and I must find her.' The Spirit was angry. 'Forget the child!' she shouted 'be with me, give up!' The man shook his head. 'I cannot leave a child to die here, when I could save her. She is the future of our people.' The Spirit was shocked, as the man walked past her to continue to search. It went back into the sky, watching and pondering. Perhaps these humans do care."

The girl paused a moment, gauging the crowds before continuing.

"For ten days, the Spirit watched the man. No matter the cold, no matter how much he suffered, the man continued, until he collapsed. The Spirit could not stand to see the man go so far just to die. It floated down, a tear in its eye. 'Stand, mortal' it spoke 'follow me'. In the sky, many birds of snow formed, leading into the distance. The man, drawing on the rest of its strength, stood and followed the birds"


"When the man finally found the child, the Spirit wept with joy. So caught up in the happiness of this man helping a child, it picked them up and returned them to the village. The child was saved. The man however..." Honoka turned away "as his life drained away, the great Spirit asked him 'why did you sacrifice yourself?' The mans reply was simply 'because she is our future.' The Spirit turned to the skies, and the stars themselves moved as the man was placed among them. No longer of the mortal world, but forever watching over the world."

She turned back, with a smile.

"From then on, the winters were not so harsh. The great Spirit now watched the settlement. Watched over the child. The child grew up to be a great leader, blessed by the great Spirit of winter. But, neither child nor Spirit ever forgot the man who sacrificed himself to saved her."

Honoka bowed.

"Thank you."

She got so lost in telling her story that she didn't fully understand her own message, but as she turned to leave she caught the notice of Sanae and gave her a small smile. Then as she left.

(ooc:
Step 1 D11 LE Garden of Earthly Delights event. Perform:storytelling/Awareness+Voice+ILS2. Tn20+1 raise+5 for fatigue (TN30) | 8k5 ⇒ 46 (TN: 30) passed with 1 raise for 2 art points
Step 2 D11 LE Garden of Earthly Delights event. step 2 Courtier (Manipulation)/Awareness+ILS1+ILS2. TN20+fatigue+1 raise (TN30) | 9k4 ⇒ 25 (TN: 30) fail
Step 3 D11 LE Garden of Earthly Delights event. step 3 Courtier /Awareness+ILS2+void. TN25+fatigue+1 raise (TN35) | 9k5 ⇒ 39 (TN: 35) passed with 1 raise for 2 points

Total: 4 points! 2 glory for Honoka. Declaring for Noriko so 2 influence to Noriko, and appreciation/tea from Akodo Sanae if she isn't sick of seeing Honoka already

Feeling a renewed confidence in his work from the great way his earlier project turned out, Isawa Shingo set up a calligraphy display in the garden that was quite finely done. While one could infer a contemporary political message if they tried hard, the young Phoenix lord stayed close by his work throughout the show, actively steering discussion back to its core elements rather than any artistic activism that might be claimed.

The piece itself offered several levels of appreciation, for from a distance the characters were clearly grouped to evoke a tall tree in the center, well rooted in the earth, nourished by several large characters for water, with small clusters of air and fire floating about its branches. Looking more closely reveals the elemental characters to be accompanied by various virtues of samurai, from the major tenets of Bushido to less famed but still essential qualities like humility and constancy.

Looking even more closely at the characters packed in to make the trunk, roots and branches, a viewer finds not only those samurai virtues that were associated with each element, but the names of several notable Seppun heroes. The first Seppun herself is prominent in one of the great tree's roots - relatively so, anyway, given that all the names are inconspicuous unless one takes the time to parse every group of characters. Though the attention to one samurai family is notable, the calligraphy tree doesn't name any living Seppun. At worst the design is a rather naked appeal for attention from the Seppun, but it is undeniably artistic and an homage to truly selfless examples of the samurai ideal.

Shingo is quite persuasive to a fellow Isawa who gently challenges whether he has stepped out ahead of their champion in backing a wind. He notes the various features built into the design to argue against such a simplistic reading, and his cousin nods and departs amiably. Beyond him, Shingo can see that he's caught the eye of a certain Seppun daimyo who may not wish to draw too much attention just now, but is clearly interested in his work.

-------
Do art: success w/2 raises. 3 art points.

Narrative: success w/2 raises. 3 art points.

Patron: success. 1 art point.

7 Art Points, so 4 glory and the respect of your patron, corresponding to a commission worth 2 koku, once completed. Patron: Seppun Sadako, no influence on winds yet.

Eiji had been on the edge of not competing. The events of court had left him disheartened. If people would not move to action when he roared for them to stand up, why would they care what he had to say here? Clearly, there were more supernaturally tatlented artists here, who needed him?

But after speaking with Honaka and Yuna, he'd been brought around. Half measures were not going to cut it tonight. Either he was going to roar with his whole heart, or he was going home. But which story? He was half tempted to tell the story about the lonelist monk, but no, this was not the night for that. Instead, he was going to speak of the slow hound If this didn't get a tear from the audience, he'd shave his own head.

Eiji nodded, launching into a tale (With eternal gratitude to the original author, Mikal the Ram):

High in the Dragon mountains hidden in hoarfrost,
There was a hunter who lived by the hides
Of elk and of bear of otter and badger
To buy his rice for he had no brothers.

But he had his hounds. They were his helpers
The happiest host any lord could have.
Loyal and faithful, his orders were followed
By his true family; these hounds so fine

Each was the son Of the same sire:
A hound like a stag, the hunter's prize stud.
Their dam was the best of the villages' beasts;
Dauntless and brave like all of her blood.

The hunter would come each year to the court.
And in that land a feast would commence.
Each man would swear his dogs were supreme.
each telling stories of their great skills.

But in the fighting his hounds were fiercer.
Driving their foes well off of the field,
They were the swiftest, the wildest and surest.
All save the slow one who stayed by his side.

When they would hunt, his marvelous hounds
Would fly over hills chasing the hind.
Not to be shaken from the prey they sought.
All save the slow one who stayed by his side.

"All of my hounds are stout hearted;
Speed like the winds and courage like heroes.
All but my Sathi who runs so slow
And stays by my side. He cares not for slaying.

Are you then fearful to take to the field?
All of your fellows run like the fire!
Is your heart weak, Your courage like water,
That you still wait to walk where I walk?"

Many the season they hunted the snows.
Ran on the steeps. Followed the spoor.
Much koku was bought with hides of the beasts
Brought to their bay by Sathi's fast brothers.

On one cold morning they hunted the mountains.
Deep in the mists such music they made!
Hounds on the scent! Wild hunt singing!
All save the slow one who stayed by his side.

Their prey ran far, so they ran faster;
Howling so fierce rang in the forest.
Leaving their master behind on the mountain,
Much slower moving than running mastiffs.

Only slow Sathi remained by his side.
Trotting so silent keeping his speed,
Beside the hunter, at his right hand.
Ignoring the howls of the far hunt.

Up rose a bear out of a brook.
A great angry beast mad with the baying.
The hounds were singing still far on the scent,
All but the slow one who stayed by his side.


The hunter was fearful. He saw his fate;
Here he would fall before this huge foe.
He readied his spear, his chances were spent.
All but slow Sathi who stayed by his side.

The hunter was ready, the great bear roared,
With his paw reached the hunter to rend.
Sathi gave a loud bark and leaped at the beast,
Seeking to bitenand taking the blows.

The bear was strong and wounded good Sathi,
Ripping his shoulder leaving bone showing.
But Sathi bit deep even while dying,
Clawing and digging wounding him dire.

The hunter was free a target to find.
His spear flew into the fur,
Seeking the blood of the great bear.
Striking the breast of the wild beast.

When it had fallen, from the cold field
Came his fair hounds hearing the fight.
He brushed them aside away from the slaying,
Away from good Sathi who'd stayed by his side.

"All of my hounds have stout hearts;
Speed like the winds and courage like heroes.
All but my Sathi who runs so slow,
and stays by my side, and cares not for slaying.

Staying to ward against all the wild.
Staying to watch. Willing to wait.
Of all my hounds, This was the hero!
Knowing his heart and what he would hold."

There in the trees he raised a tower
Of heavy timbers stacked by tens.
Laid on that pile the hunter's protector;
Sathi the proud upon the high pyre.

As were these hounds servants to hunter,
Bound by the heart to serve his hand,
Your warriors sing for glory and slaying.
I'll be the slow one and stay by your side.

(Awa:Perform Storytelling: 3 Raises ROAR!: 38 vs. 35, pass!)

Control the Narrative: 21, vs 30 Fail!

Profit, 2 raises 30 vs 35, Fail!

It was a very impassioned telling, but telling a story about a guard on a day he'd been upset about the failure of those to guard was not likely to play well, especially among the Seppun. It wasn't really the time to commission artwork on such a theme either, but he'd gratefully accept tea with Akodo Sanae.

4 Art Points!
Glory to Noriko

Rather than origami, Hoshiko dips into her skills with brush and ink for this display. Two verses, recognizable from some versions of the Tao, mark heavy, ivory paper with fine black ink.

Overcoming others takes strength,
overcoming yourself takes greatness

To live til you die
is to live long enough

Surely there is a message to be received, though the reception will depend quite a bit on the receiver.

If Hoshiko had hoped for a patron, she was not terribly astute in the methods of acquiring one.

*****************************
D11 LE Garden of Earthly Delights: Calligraphy/Awareness VP for +1k1 2 raises | 8k5 ⇒ 78 (TN: 30)
3 points
D11 LE Garden of Earthly Delights: Courtier (Manipulation)/Awareness VP for +1k1 2 raises | 8k5 ⇒ 39 (TN: 30)
3 points
D11 LE Garden of Earthly Delights: Courtier/Awareness VP for +1k1 1 raise | 8k5 ⇒ 29 (TN: 30)
nope.

6 Art points
2 Glory, no patron
Donation of Glory to Noriko

That Masaki leaned again on her straw-work to prepare a piece for the Garden of Earthly Delights certainly came as no surprise for those who had seen her gifts in court or been at the Art Festival three days before.

The specific piece she brought forth today, however, was very much a surprise. Instead of detailed figurines, like those of the Ho-oh and Ki-rin or detailed ornamental, or sculpture-like flowers, she presented to those who visited her stand a mino - a straw cloak. In some ways, her piece was similar to those often used for protection against the weather, it was and clearly inspired by them - but, as expected for an event such as this, it obviously went beyond that.

Seijō-mino ("Straw Cloak of Purity")
A traditional straw cloak in essence, but with a surface much more delicate than usual and covered with coloured wara-zaiku amulets and ornaments.

One larger ornament at the back, created with green and brown-coloured bundles of straw, is shaped as a stylised pine tree - a symbol of longevity, good fortune and steadfastness. The inside of the cape is similarly a mix of brown and green-coloured straw - likely also in reference to the pine tree symbolism.

A number of other ornaments are placed over both shoulders and in the parts of the cloak that cover the front of the body and the arms, all of them wara-zaiku flowers made with straws in white, red, and different tones of pink. A closer look reveals that those are all lotus flowers (white, pink and red) and white lilies - both of them known to include the meaning of 'purity' in the language of flowers..

The intended message of the cloak is clear to those wishing to open their hearts to it: a celebration of the Empire's 'longevity' and 'perseverance' - both highlighted by the pine tree - while highlighting the importance of 'purity', or 'a pure heart', to safeguard Rokugan's future (or 'help it weather storms' - much as a straw cloak).

Masaki tells those who visit that straw cloaks similar to this one are said to bring good fortune in Kawagoi lands and its surroundings. She will mention there are even stories in her homeland of some such lucky capes - perhaps awakened - issuing warnings to those wearing them when great danger approaches, or if great danger await in their future.

She'll say, of course, that her creation for the festival could never be one of those capes - it had just been created, after all. But it might still bring good luck - so any who want to try it on are welcome to!

-------------------------------------------
OOC:
Step 1
D11 LE - Garden of Earthly Delights, step 1. Creating a Mino Straw cloak covered with coloured wara-zaiku amulets and ornaments. Artisan: Wara-zaiku/Awa, base TN 20, 2 Raises called. Blessing active for +4. VP spent. | 8k5+4 ⇒ 40 (TN: 30)

Success with 2 Raises: 3 Art Points

Spell cast before Step 2 (as allowed here: viewtopic.php?f=11&t=114&start=660#p14436):
D11 LE - Casting Benten's Touch before Step 2. Air ML 2 | 7k4 ⇒ 53 (TN: 15)

Step 2
D11 LE - Garden of Earthly Delights Step 2 - Shaping the Narrative. Courtier/Awareness, Benten's TOUCH and AKB apply. Void Spent. Base TN 20, 3 Raises called. | 9k6+8 ⇒ 46 (TN: 35)
EDIT: Benten's TOUCH, not blessing. The spell cast just above.

Success with 3 Raises: 4 Art Points

Step 3
D11 LE - Garden of Earthly Delights Step 3 - Commerce/Intelligence, VP spent. Base TN 25, FR from Yasuki Courtier 1 + 1 Called Raise. | 8k5 ⇒ 40 (TN: 30)

Success with 2 Raises: 3 Art Points.

Total: 10 Art Points
Result: 0.8 Glory and the esteem of a patron, corresponding to a commission worth 6 koku, once completed.

Patron still not chosen (waiting on some answers!)

Mirumoto Kichinitonda, who has been busying himself with all manner of scribal activities, decides in his own stuttering way to contribute. So it is that before all assembled, he writes in an exquisite High Rokugani hand the following: "Glory to the Taoist Swordsman, Agasha-ke no kaishin Nishimura Ayamari!"

The calligraphy is stunning in its quality.

Unfortunately, when asked why Ayamari should be praised, Kichinitonda stammers and stutters, words that flow so freely from the end of his pen crowding one another in his mouth so that few emerge, and those battered. And while none will deny the quality of the work itself, what patron wants to associate with so inept a speaker? Why, if such a man is all that patron can sponsor, that's not a good patron, now, is it?

~~~~~
Doing a Art
FR + 3 CR means TN 35
Passed at 62, https://sakkaku.org/r/17174

Shaping the Narrative
Courtier, TN 20
Failed at 14, https://sakkaku.org/r/17175

Profit
Courtier, TN 25
Sakkaku strikes again for 24, https://sakkaku.org/r/17176

5 Art Points
No control of the message
No new patronage
Good thing he's already got a job lined up...

Forget the Bowman's Wager, this was the event Kenji had been waiting for. His Calligraphy set was all in order. The finest quality paper was at hand. Nothing could go wrong!

Kenji set about his artwork like a swordsman. For those watching his work it was hard to draw a distinction between his brush strokes and the skilled sword work of an Akodo sensei.

The artwork took shape: a blizzard of kanji in the shape of two swordsmen. On the left a Crane, full of tiny bird-like shapes that on closer inspection were kanji, a passage from Kakita's The Sword. On the right a Lion, full of tiny cat-like shapes that were kanji, a passage from Akodo's Leadership. They were in the midst of a duel. Blood flew from a single perfect strike. Depending on how one looked at the image either samurai could be judged the winner. It was a duel to first blood though, and the "blood" was tiny kanji for the virtues of Bushido.

A Shiba artisan approached to discuss the work with him. Kenji explained that it represented the strength of the Empire's right and left hands. Perfectly balanced. Each way was different. Each way was correct. It all depended on your point of view.

The work attracted the attention of one Crane in particular. A certain Doji Hajime. The Emerald Champion looked at the calligraphy for a very long time, lost in thought. Eventually he turned to look at the artist and nodded, seemingly impressed.

---
Do art:
D11. LE. Do art! (Or do I?) Calligraphy/Awareness. 1FR. 3CR. Void. Prodigy. | 10k4 ⇒ 43 (TN: 35)

+5 art points

Shape the narrative:
D11. LE. Do art! Shape the narrative. Courtier (Manipulation)/Awareness. +1k0. 1CR. Void. | 8k4 ⇒ 42 (TN: 25)

+2 art points

Profit!
D11. LE. Do art! Profit! Lore: Heraldry/Perception roll at TN 25 +1k0. Void. | 5k4 ⇒ 30 (TN: 25)

+1 art point

Total of 8 art points

(Would like Kakita Hajime to be my patron)

Sanjuro decided to participate in the event.

Through the time allotted, he heats, hammers and folds the metal into the shape of a chrysanthemum hairpin, which he attaches to a small hastily made stand so it can be seen better.

When asked the significance of the piece, he explains his mind had been on the simple beauty of the chrysanthemum, the symbol of the throne, and of rejuvenation. That even though we are in a state of uncertainty during this short time, the throne will go on and be rejuvenated, as will Rokugan.
"The winds of tomorrow will blow tomorrow."

Garden of Earthly Delights #1 | 5k4 ⇒ 23 (TN: 20)
+1 Art point

Garden of Earthly Delights #2 | 8k4 ⇒ 45 (TN: 25)
1 Raise
+2 Art points

Garden of Earthly Delights #3 | 5k4 ⇒ 29 (TN: 25)
+1 Art point

Total 4 Art points, 2 Glory
Tea with Shiba Higashime

Results: Taking stock of your Art Points.

If you have scored 10+ Art Points, you earn 8 Glory and the esteem of your patron, corresponding to a commission worth 6 koku, once completed.
Jihen (Tomaru) {Miya Hachi]
Yasumi Masaki [?]

If you have scored 7-9 Art Points, you earn 4 glory and the respect of your patron, corresponding to a commission worth 2 koku, once completed.
Agasha Yuna (Tomaru) [Agasha Akari)
Akodo Kenji [Kakita Hajime]
Isawa Shingo [Seppun Sadako]
Kuni Shiori [Shiba Rumiko]


If you have scored 4-6 Art points, you earn 2 glory and the appreciation of your patron, corresponding to an offer of tea.
Agasha Sanjuro [Shiba Higashime]
Asahina Hoshiko (Noriko) [no patron]
Ikoma Honoka (Noriko) [Akodo Sanae]
Kitsu Sayomi (Tomaru) [Heichi Batsuda]
Mirumoto Kichinitonda [no patron]
Soshi Eiji (Noriko) [no patron]
Yasuki Ryoichi (Tatsuya) [Abbot Do]

If you have scored 0-3 Art Points, you earn 1 glory and the annoyance of your patron. They will snub you for the remainder of court.

If your Art praises a Wind as its message and you have not declared for a Wind, you may take this opportunity to declare your support. If you do so, the Glory you win is also applied to the Wind's Influence score. You may still choose to donate half your Glory as well, if you wish.