Jade Legacy [L5R 3eR] - Act 1: Atsumari/Gathering

[Raganui Minamoto]

@ Crane Tent

"He wasn't part of it. And yes, the Matsu did win." He moved to join the other man, for tea was good. "Forgive me for being ignorant, but why do you call him a traitor?"  

[Rain Yupa]

@ Crane Tent:

After beginning the preparations for the tea, Koan would look up and address the response. "Typical. He went to go play games like a scared little child. I should have figured." He would snort in disappointment, then answer Zanzen's direction question. "I'm surprised you didn't hear about it at the Dueling Academy. Asahina Kenichi is the embarrassment of the school - a duelist who refuses to duel. From my understanding, he even got expelled from the school for his insolence. Must have been reincarnated from a Phoenix, or more likely a fearful peasant, if you ask me."

Zanzen, you can roll me an Intelligence/Know The School: Crane vs TN 10, or Raw Intelligence vs TN 15 (before any raises) to confirm whether or not this is true.

--------------------

@ Scorpion Tent:

Kan would nod and thank Maru and Kojiro for their time, before disappearing.

"Phew!" Maru would sigh in relief. "The fortunes must be mocking me. That was a close one!" She would pause and look to Kojiro. "What... do you think he might have overheard, Kojiro-san?" she still seemed somewhat taken aback by the close encounter.

After his response, she would consider his suggestion. "I... suppose I should go. This is a competition, and it sounds like it's not ONLY me Doji Kita wishes to speak to. It would probably be for the best if I did show up."

--------------------

@ Lion Tent:

Eventually, the monk Kan would return to the Lion tent, though it would only be a few minutes after Kyumi's own return. He would greeting the two competitors from their clan in turn; "Greetings, Kyumi-san, Seichiro-san. I have finished all that I needed to. How have your respective competitions been?" Bowing to them, he would afterwards add. "Though it surprised me, I was runner-up in the Courtier Debates. A Crane man by the name of Doji Koan took first place."  

[Plainsfox]

@The Scorpion Tent

Kojiro laughed. "You sound like you didn't behave in there, Lady Maru. Did you do something that nearly cost Kan his status?" The bushi shrugged and changed topics before Maru could respond. "Kan merely heard us discussing the many people we met in the day and our thoughts on them. If he heard anything that could be construed as 'plotting'....then it's obvious that he misheard things due to the muffling effect of the tent walls and that he should be chided for succumbing to thinking the worst of loyal servants of the Emperor."

"It is evening, Lady Maru. Do you wish an escort to your meeting?"  

[Raganui Minamoto]

vs 15  

[Raganui Minamoto]

@ Crane Tent

"If it was of a peasant, then he must of done something to make himself noteworthy in Their eyes." (edit when I get the info from Rain)  

[Raganui Minamoto]

Forgot splody, extra for more splode  

[Rain Yupa]

@ Crane Tent:

Asahina Kenichi is indeed a samurai from the aforementioned family that was trained in the way of the Kakita duelist. He showed much promise with a blade, and had the potential to be a shining paragon of honor and skill.

However, he lacked the backbone to enforce this destiny, and lost every duel he engaged in with another person, even those far inferior than him. He was considered wasted potential and was more or less bullied out of the academy by the other samurai in the clan.

Koan would raise an eyebrow at Zanzen's comment. "Don't you start on me. He's an embarassment to the Clan, and whomever sent him here to compete is trying to make a mockery of you and I. We can't let that dead weight prevent us from bringing much honor to our Clan."

--------------------

@ Scorpion Tent:

"It's not that. It's just that, as a Scorpion, I don't care for interlopers. You should be aware of that, Kojiro-san." She would stand from her bunk and consider his proposal. "No, I should be fine. I am a capable shugenja, and we are in a crane fortress, not some backwater peasant village. I'll be fine. Be a dear, and stay here and wait for Naizen to return. He'll be cross if no one is here for him to report to."

She would bow slightly to Kojiro, and walk out of the tent without further discussion.  

[Raganui Minamoto]

@ Crane Tent

"Of course, for martial dueling. Though he was trained in the same school as I, he seems to not want to fight. Pity. However, may I inquire if you would be able to do well in the games? Perhaps that is why he was sent. I know some of Go, but I do not think that I would do well in a tournament of it. No disrespect, Koan-san."  

[Plainsfox]

@ The Scorpion Tent

"As you wish, Maru. I shall see you soon then."

After Maru left the room, Kojiro carefully tidied up the tent by placing Maru's clothing and baggage back next to her cot. Finally, the Bushi positioned himself as he imagined Bayushi would and awaited Naizen's appearance.  

[Rain Yupa]

@ Crane Tent:

Pouring himself his tea, he would huff once in disapproval. "Games like Go are for people who have nothing productive to do with their time. I have observed a game or two - unwillingly, mind you - in my youth, and the rules seem awfully simplistic to learn. If I wanted to, I could master that too. But that is neither here nor there."

After pouring Zanzen his tea, he would put down the kettle and blow on his briefly, before sipping. "For the record, I doubt he was sent here to play childish games. That would be an even greater insult to us if it was the case."

--------------------

@ Scorpion Tent:

About five minutes later, Naizen would return, as expected. And not alone, either!

*TOSS!*

His limp form would tumble across the ground of the Scorpion tent, coming to a rest not far from Kojiro's feet. Without even asking, in would storm Kuni Raicho, looking... well, not angry. More annoyed, than anything.

"You. Scorpion. I am commanding you to do the following," she would speak loudly and firmly, with much authority. She would point down at Naizen, who would groan.

"Tch. Tell this idiot that the next time wishes to go around skulking in the night, he better not do so when he's still wimpering from his wounds. Next time I catch him around my quarters, I will be breaking his legs."

Taking a menacing step forward, she would lock eyes with Kojiro. "Yours too, if I find out you failed to do this one. Simple. Task. Got it?" Gritting her teeth, she would whirl around and storm out of the Scorpion tent without waiting for a response.  

[Raganui Minamoto]

@ Crane Tent

"It'd be foolish of me to try to win a debate against you, Koan-san. You are a professional, where as I an an artisan of the blade. Still, Go and Shogi are games that exercise the mind, meant to help learn tactics and the like. If the Crane were to win them as well, it'd help go to show our ability as leaders as well as warriors, giving the clan honor by perhaps, if the Emperor deems it to make a coalition army to go beyond Rokugan, that the Crane be given leading roles. Would you not agree?" He sips of his own tea, eyes closed.  

[Plainsfox]

@The Scorpion Tent

Kami dammit! Kojiro thought inwardly as he wrestled Naizen onto the Shosuro's cot. From the mumbling that Naizen gave, Kojiro would know that he'd get nothing of coherence from him now.

In case the Kuni was still around, Kojiro rebuked Naizen as Raicho commanded. Kojiro, you see, was rather fond of his own extremities.

After that was done, Kojiro prepared himself for bed and groaned inwardly. This day was best forgotten and Kojiro was immensely glad that Koyuki was not here to witness it.  

[Agent Sinistra]

@ Lion Tent:

Rain Yupa

Eventually, the monk Kan would return to the Lion tent, though it would only be a few minutes after Kyumi's own return. He would greeting the two competitors from their clan in turn; "Greetings, Kyumi-san, Seichiro-san. I have finished all that I needed to. How have your respective competitions been?" Bowing to them, he would afterwords add."Though it surprised me, I was runner-up in the Courtier Debates. A Crane man by the name of Doji Koan took first place."

"Kan-san, We were just wondering about how you'd done. Congratulations." Kyumi gave the monk a sheepish looking smile. "It looks like I'm the only one who didn't place... Still, it was an enjoyable competition."  

[Rain Yupa]

@ Crane Tent:

"Oh, please, tell me you're not actually going to try to correct me on something," Koan would mutter, putting his tea cup down.

"Fine. Let me put it to you this way. If a man practices speeches in a mirror, does it make him a better public speaker in court? No, it takes actual experience to improve. Just like how you did not become better at your technique simply by pulling your sword from your sheath over and over. You needed to practice in real situations, against your fellow samurai, to temper your skills. A game like Go is merely practice. Good in theory, but fails to hold up and be useful in real, practical situations."

Drinking once more from his tea cup, Koan would go on. "If the Fortunes permit, there might be some sort of mock battle. If it happens, then the Crane will truly show their mastery at leadership. If the Go game was the best this tournament has to offer, then I gladly hope that traitor is happy with his games, as long as it doesn't represent us."

Finishing his tea, and not really giving Zanzen a chance for a rebuttal, he would bow his head slightly. "I am retiring now, Zanzen-san. I wish for an early start tomorrow, to prepare myself for what lays ahead. Good night."

--------------------

@ Scorpion Tent:

Not long after Kojiro would begin to drift asleep, Maru would return, in a mood halfway between good and bad. She seemed put off that both Naizen and Kojiro appeared sleeping, so she would go to her own cot. Pulling aside a shoji screen and taking the only lit lantern with her, she would seemingly undress completely, throwing a silhouette of her shapely body against the screen. Then she would blow out the light.

--------------------

@ Lion Tent:

Kan would bow gratefully at Kyumi's kind words. "I would not worry. From my understanding, then, this puts the Lion in a three-way tie with the Crane and Phoenix. Nothing to scoff at. And the week is still young. I'm sure you will have ample opportunity to prove yourself, young Kyumi-san. Call it... a strong hunch."  

[Raganui Minamoto]

@ Crane Tent

He sips his tea slowly, not saying a word till after Koan had left, and then only in a whisper. "Ah, but a hothead like you wouldn't understand what they're really looking for. A steady hand and calm mind can make a world of difference on the battlefield over one who acts emotionally."

Draining his cup, he'd set it down then go to get his own rest.