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

[Sutiiven]

"...Gemmei-san, this isn't the way to the Lore Competition" Hisashi would quip, more than a little aware that something was up outside of what he had witnessed in the tent. "Perhaps you could be a little more forward with us? I'd like to know whether this deception is a credit or disservice to yourself as a Unicorn."

(Courtier 6k3 to get Gemmei to be more forward with the Mantis)

((Also: because I can.))  

[Plainsfox]

Kojiro would look around to see where the shugenja was leading them, wondering what he was about to get into here.

OOC Raw Intelligence.
Results: 17  

[Rain Yupa]

@ Scorpion/Mantis Shenanigans:

Kojiro tries to take stock of his location, and by the general direction Gemmei was going, she was leading them... nowhere? There wasn't really anything this way.

Gemmei would slow her pace after enough distance is between her and her own tent, before turning around, eyes full of... sadness? She had always seemed to have a pleasant, peaceful expression on her face, but she did seem distressed for the first time.

"No deception, I assure you. I never said I was going to head straight there. I just want to take the scenic route while I can. I have strong suspicions tomorrow will be a rainy day, so I might not get this chance again for awhile."

She would sigh, and look longingly up to the cloudy skies. "You really shouldn't try to antagonize Sayoko like that. She's troubled enough without people confronting her like that. I genuinely believe she would have killed you if you stayed any longer."

She would turn around fully now, facing the two fellow samurai. "What was your true reason for coming to see her? Was it merely to pester her, because she follows a different path than you or I?"  

[Plainsfox]

@Scorpion/Mantis Shenanigans

The Scorpion would exhale his breath. "I had thought that Sayoko-san was a wounded animal. If nothing is done about an animal's wounds, sometimes they go wild and lash out at all around them."

Kojiro would look deeply into Gemmei's eyes to make sure he was getting his point across. "I had thought that by lessening Sayako's pain or by removing it, she would act differently. Whatever else Sayako is, she's a powerful fighter. She could be a credit to the Empire. I am sorry for unintentionally antagonizing your clan mate."

OOC:
Etiquette/Awareness
Results: 40  

[Plainsfox]

Sploding
Last two dice to take care of additional explosions.  

[Raganui Minamoto]

@ Jiujutsu Duel:

He was sure of it, if it wasn't for how much he kept reeling from the blows received, this guy would be a problem. Ducking under a wide swing, he'd rise into an uppercut.

3k3 1 accuracy, 2 damage  

[Raganui Minamoto]

3k2 damage

we'll go with 9  

[Sutiiven]

Plainsfox

@Scorpion/Mantis Shenanigans

"I had thought that Sayoko-san was a wounded animal. If nothing is done about an animal's wounds, sometimes they go wild and lash out at all around them."

Hisashi would flick a thumb in Kojiro's direction. "The scorpion can speak for himself. I blame the pirate heritage for an insatiable draw towards dangerous situations" he would remark. "I just wasn't under the impression I would be following Kojiro-san here into the den of the beast. As I said, I have no intention of revealing her as she is an individual who's bad side I would like to stay away from. That said, I cannot ignore the fact that she did indeed speak high treason. By rights, we should bring this to the attention of our gracious hosts if only to distance ourselves from what could effectively get us all killed for remaining silent."

He would look at Gemmei with a very serious look on his face. "However, you are well aware of myself and Kojiro-san's family reputation as being... ahh... 'less than honorable' at times. Therefore it strikes me as an appropriate action - and I cannot speak for Kojiro-san himself - that I hear every angle of an argument before choosing an action, damning though some of them may be."

He would then approach Gemmei, cocking a head out of curiosity and smiling - it was a courteous smile, but the meaning behind it was less than sincere. "So Gemmei-san: what is your angle?"

(Courtier 6k3 to press Gemmei for more information.)

(19)  

[Plainsfox]

@Scorpion/Mantis Shenanigans


Kojiro shrugged. "I was hoping to get to the same question later, but now is as good a time as any. Hisashi-san here is a bit more blunt."  

[Rain Yupa]

@ Lore Competition:

All Engineering skills are now TN 30!

Gemmei was beginning to struggle, as she seemed inwardly reflective about what to speak of next. Just as Doji Kita was about to speak up, Gemmei would interrupt with her turn. "I think now would be an appropriate time to speak of some of the constellations I have previously mentioned. There are many that dot our skies, and people have often given them shapes, stories, even lives of their own. Watching over the southern skies, Tsuruza (the Crane), Sasoriza (the Scorpion), and Hououza (the Phoenix) guard those lands. To the north, Ryuuza (the Dragon), and Kogitsuneza (the Fox) ensure the safety to those whom travel there. Holding them together as a unified force, Shishiza (the Lion) and Kaniza (the Crab) stand ready to fend off whatever dangers threaten our homeland." {Void point spent, Lore:Astronomy of 22 vs TN 15!}

All Lore: Astronomy skills are now TN 20!

Doji Kita would applaud, a very pleased expression on her face. "I am legitimately impressed this many of you have made it this far. With the strife that has plagued Rokugan over the past few decades, I've been concerned that the need for learning might have died off. I'm glad that I was incorrect with that fear. Moving on to the sixth round, Kitsuki Wazuka may lead us off!"

Gulping, Wazuka was running out of options. Spending her last Void for focus, she calls once more upon her knowledge of past events to help her. "The Dragon has been the least involved clan in terms of warfare over the centuries. Beyond the birth of the Dragonfly clan I mentioned earlier, the Lion has attacked the Dragon twice; once was several years after the first incident, where the Lion used a misunderstanding in the court to attack the Dragon, where their commander challenged the Dragonfly daimyo to a duel to end the siege. The other time was a few centuries prior, when the Lion attacked Kyuden Togashi during the middle of winter, and suffered terrible losses. Otherwise, the Dragon has mostly avoided all major unnecessary conflicts throughout their history; and not once have they instigated any of the battles." {Final Void spent, Battle Lore roll of 24 vs TN 20}

All Battle skills are now TN 25!

Kuni Kaori would be next, as she too struggled to speak. But she did not seem to have the Void available to call upon, and tried her best to think of another interesting fact about Divination. However, such a fact escaped her. {Divination roll of 19 vs TN 20} Standing up, she would bow to Doji Kita, then to the rest of the gathered group. "I'm sorry, but I find myself unable to compete further. I shall take my leave."

Kuni Kaori has been eliminated!

After Kaori had left, attentions would turn to the Small phoenix women. In the process of the past 5 or 10 minutes, it seemed like her confidence had fled from her, and she seemed to be sweating a bit. Wiping her brow, she would remove her glasses, finding it hard to see.

"Sumi-san? Are... are you okay?" Doji Kita would ask, her calm demeanor melting into concern as she moved to stand up. Sumi would lift one hand, shaking her head.

"No. I mean, yes. I'm just feeling a bit under the weather. I'm fit to continue," she would explain, ready to continue. "The Naga... it is theorized that... that they share..." {Lore: Naga Lore roll of 9 vs TN 15}

WHUNK!

Suddenly and unexpectedly, Sumi fell forward, presumbaly passed out, her head (loudly) hitting the table before her. Wazuka herself was a bit stunned and failed to do anything, but Doji Kita had moved past her quickly enough, laying the unconscious girl backwards. "Servants! Get me a cold damp towel, right away!" Servants would rush from behind the scene to deliver aid to Asako Sumi, creating a rather large disruption in the competition.

Time passes...

After ensuring that she would be okay, Seppun Benjiro would show up and take Asako Sumi back to the magistrates' tent for observation, to make sure she wasn't ill or had been poisoned or anything. Kita would be left to continue overseeing the competition.

"Sorry for the disruption, everyone. Raicho-san is a very skilled healer, and will make sure Sumi-san is properly treated. To the best of our knowledge, however... we think the heat in the room was too high, and her body wasn't able to handle it. She should be fine, though."

Asako Sumi has eliminated herself!

Kita would gesture to Seichiro, nodding in his direction. "As long as you promise not to let the stress get to you, Seichiro-san, you may pick up where we left off."



Matsu Seichiro, you have loritiative!  

[Rain Yupa]

@ Scorpion/Mantis Shenanigans:

Gemmei would listen to what both men had to say, and turn around to continue her walk. "We are still closer to camp than I care to be, so if you gentlemen wouldn't mind continuing to escort me." With that, she would begin to walk once more. I assume the two of you will follow behind.

"Sayoko-san has indeed been gifted with the art of battle. Our empire has suffered so much recently, and if her mind was settled, she would be very important to re-establishing the might of the empire one day. But the person you spoke with is not the Horiuchi Sayoko I speak of. The woman you just spoke with is but a child, albeit one consumed by rage."

"Jiro might have been willing to give her up for a lost cause - something I'm still unsure if you two will do or not - but I won't give up on her. There is some traumatic event in her childhood that drove her to madness, something which she has not been able to overcome. I have spent the previous few days with her, slowly earning her trust. But whatever happened, she still has not seen it fit to describe to me the events in question."

"I feel that I have been making progress. She has no friends, you know. No allies, no confidants, no one she can be close to. She was apprehensive about letting me in at first; I imagine the headway I've made to getting her to trust me... no, to trust anybody... has been substantial. Once she can tell me what happened in her past that made her become who she is today, then I can help her heal from it."

Slowing her pace considerably as the group was making its way around the large open dueling area of the Daidoji training ground, she would turn to face the two of you. "I will confess; I fear the two of you have stemmed my progress, even setting it back, with your good-intentioned intervention. I won't know until tonight. But ultimately, your paths are now intertwined with ours now; even if that path is simply playing along and convincing her to bide her time, like I have done. It would be easier simply to turn her over to a magistrate, but I feel her destiny would be squandered if we did so."

Looking upward as she walked, she turned her gaze forward once more. "I need to know where the two of you stand on this."  

[Rain Yupa]

@ Jiujutsu Duel:

Zanzen was quickly become adept at fighting in this style, a sharp uppercut causing Susumu's head to whip back. {9 damage, for a total of 32; Susumu is Crippled!}

"When I get my hands on you, I'll rip ya limp from limb!" Susumu growled angrily, once more Full Attacking in a desperate gambit to get ahold of the Crane! Again, a kick that lightly grazed Zanzen, but didn't quite connect!

((Missed by 5 with the +20 penalty!))

Zanzen, initiative and 3 free raises!  

[Plainsfox]

@Scorpion/Mantis Shenanigans

The samurai took a few seconds to consider all the facts he had in his possession. This could all be a smoke and mirrors ploy....but it was preferable to the alternative. Still, Kojiro needed more time to sort through matters to make sure that this ended to the benefit of his clan.

The Bayushi would sigh. "I'll play along. Understand that the risks of this gambit are high. Let us hope Sayoko finds her mind before too long."

OOC:
Perception/Investigate (Interrogation)
3k2 The last two are in case of explosions.
Result: 14  

[Sutiiven]

@ Scorpion/Mantis Shenanigans

The courtier released a minor "hmph" at the revelation of the information he had been seeking. "Fine. My aid is yours. But at the first sign of trouble, I cannot promise that Sayoko won't find an arrow in her back or the Magistrate being informed of her actions. As a mantis, I've no lack of risk in my life to begin with, but putting my life on the line for the 'destiny' of a unicorn with a temper problem is not my idea of a good time."

He would close his eyes and mutter "I already have enough trouble babysitting belligerent twits in my own family..." to no one in particular, contemplating the drunken mantis antics earlier.  

[Raganui Minamoto]

@ Jiujutsu Duel:

Zanzen frowns, backing a bit and shooting a look towards Kuni Raicho. Well, the guy was asking for it. Stepping in, he'd again throw a quick jab towards the man's face.

3k3 1 accuracy, 2 damage.