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

[Psychofish]

And here came the hard part. Denbe looked over all of the men, wondering how capable he'd be of out-maneuvering them and leading the horse around, or if he should just blow past and hope he didn't get hit. Only problem was, he didn't know if he could without plowing into someone.

With a deep breath, the Hare started the pony forward at a decent pace. It could move on it's own, but truth be told, he was counting on a lot of horseback ducking and weaving to save his noggin here.

He just hoped the thing would cooperate enough for that to do.

[4k4 Horsemanship: 32 vs TN 20]  

[Rain Yupa]

@ Shogi Competition:

Kitsu Kyumi has 3 banked raises.
Soshi Maru has 5 banked raises.

Maru would look up(?) at Kyumi, and a smirk would appear upon her lips. She leaned forward, her loosely garbed chest resting on the table's surface in plain sight of Kyumi, and she would rest her cheek on one hand. "It depends. Will you stop being such a b***h?"

Maru would almost absent-mindedly move a piece forward, a move that did her more harm than good. {1 raise, 10 vs TN 20, Kyumi gains a banked raise!}  

[Psychofish]

And coming to the final stretch, Denbe turned the pony down, and determined to do something well, tried to spur it ahead hard and at least make the last bit quickly, if not do it standing or some such.

Unfortunately, he never got to attempt at showing off, since the beast seemed to realize they were done and decided it could take it's time about finishing.

[4k4 Horsemanship: 15 vs TN 5]  

[Rain Yupa]

@ Ceremonial Competition, Round 3:

First check: Kan gains a Free Raise for his final roll!
Second check: Kan gains a Free Raise for his final roll!
Third check: Kan gains a Free Raise for his final roll!
Kan's TN is increased by 5 due to his Lost Love disadvantage!

Kan would smile a bit more again, once more sipping his tea. "Though, you have to admit, you still swing a sharp piece of metal with the best of them. Your victory on the first day is testament to that. But the competition is still but halfway over, and you have the chance to gain more victories. Not for your Clan, but for your Self. How far you came in the Kyujutsu and Lore competitions should show you that you are a man of many talents, not just one."

The servants would knock upon the frame of the sliding door, signaling that the round was about to end.

"Well, Seichiro-san, I fear that is our cue. Let us enjoy one last cup together. I will see you after the competition."

{Void/Tea Ceremony roll of 8+15 = 23}  

[Agent Sinistra]

@ Shogi Competition

Kyumi's expression would tighten, and somehow managed to keep herself quiet. Whether this was because she hadn't thought up a suitably derogatory remark to spit back at her opponent or had actually decided to stay silent remained to be seen.

Instead, she would stare back down at the board and quickly move yet another piece forward on the board.

((3k3 + 1 raise, using a raise to lower Kyumi's TN; 20 vs TN 15 ))  

[Rain Yupa]

@ Shogi Competition:

Kitsu Kyumi has 4 banked raises.
Soshi Maru has 5 banked raises.

Suddenly, Maru's face would contort. She seemed dumbfounded by Kyumi's last move. Snarling, she would suddenly raise her voice. "You're CHEATING! That piece was not there before! I can't believe you would try to cheat like that during this tournament!" A few samurai from other tables would pause their games to look over curiously, trying to learn what was going on.

"I refuse to be humiliated by a cheating tramp like you! Benjiro-sama! Benjiro-sama! I need your assistance!" she would call out, waving in the general direction of the magistrate.  

[Raganui Minamoto]

@The Athletics Competition

After Denbe's run, Zanzen would walk forward. "I hate to admit, I've never ridden for competition before. Hopefully my Daidoji clanmates have well groomed horses."

Mounting up, he took a few breathes before starting.

Obstacle 1, TN 10

Agility: 3k3

and the dice kami decide that riding shall not be his forte this lane with a 9 vs tn 10  

[Agent Sinistra]

@ Shogi Competition

Kyumi would stare at Maru, somewhat dumbfounded.
"Excuse me?" She would look down to the board, as if to make sure it was the same as it had been the last time she looked. She'd then scrutinize Maru.

((Rolling investigation to see exactly what's going on, raising once if that's allowed. 5k3 = 24 ))  

[Raganui Minamoto]

Stumbling over some logs, he grunted and patted the horse, pulling around to the next lane.

Obstacle 2, TN 10
Agility: 3k3

And he continues having riding trouble, getting smacked as his horse decides it doesn't like his rider.

3 v 10.  

[Raganui Minamoto]

Shaking his head to clear it, he'd approach lane 3. Hopefully his horse would calm down for this.

Obstacle 3, TN 15.
Agility: 3k3

And somehow, he makes it!

16 v 15  

[Raganui Minamoto]

But now was the hard one. Dodging past the guards would be easy on foot... but on horse? He shuddered and whispered a prayer to the Fortunes before heading into it, focusing on the swinging wood.

Obstacle 4, TN 20.
V-v-v-void! Spending point for 1 rank.
Agility/Horsemanship, 4k3

And that's 23 vs 20  

[Raganui Minamoto]

After all the pain of the last runs, he finally was on the last. Hopefully his horse was at least fast if reckless. Leaning in low, he kicked back on it's flanks once, issuing promises of hard straw for it's matting if it didn't make it quick.

Obstacle 5, TN 5 (RAISE, TN 10)
Agility, 3k3

15 v 10  

[Rain Yupa]

@ Shogi Competition:

Kitsu Kyumi has 4 banked raises.
Soshi Maru has 5 banked raises.

Kyumi's investigation showed that there were no illegal moves done, to the best of her knowledge. And, likewise, to the best of her knowledge, no pieces got accidentally moved.

Now, she might be suspicious of Maru's motives, but her Raise (good job calling that, btw) informed Kyumi that Maru actually believes an illegal move was done. She was angered and made the claim because of it, rather than she made the claim simply out of spite. This wasn't deceit at all, but a simple misunderstanding or confusion blown out of proportion.

"What is it, Maru-san?" Seppun Benjiro would ask, approaching the table. He looked sternly down at the two girls, but didn't seem angry at being called over.

"I demand that Kyumi automatically loses the match! She's swapping pieces around when I'm not looking and making moves to guarantee her victory! She's a cheater! And I won't tolerate the likes of-

"That's quite enough," Benjiro would interrupt, holding up a hand up to call for the Scorpion woman's silence. "Show me what piece was illegally moved,"

Snorting and turning to glance(?) at Kyumi, she would gesture towards one of her bishops. "That one right there."

Then, something unique would happen. At least, to Kyumi. Seppun Benjiro would reach over the table, placing his fingertips atop the offending Bishop. There was this ambient energy that seemed to flow through his arm, an aura that was barely visible. Kyumi probably expected the entire lot of samurai who had their attentions diverted to notice, but no one else seemed to. Was this some form of spiritual or kharmic power that Benjiro manifested?

"Hm," he would say suddenly, pulling his hand away, the energy vanishing immediately. "No illegal moves were made. Kyumi has played honorably up until this point. No penalty shall be incurred." The magistrate would place a hand on Kyumi's shoulder and smile softly to her. He would lean forth, and whisper something quietly in her ear.

"If you bring out your Gold General, you can take both her knight and bishop, and there's nothing she can do to stop you." {Kyumi gains 2 free raises which may be spent only as +5s to her rolls (either combined in one, or two separate rolls)!}

Smiling to the young Kitsu, he would walk away, leaving Maru dumbfounded.

"... what? How... no, you... wait... she..." Having suffered a great injustice, she would slam her fist into the table. Then she would move her bishop up on the board. {1 raise, 18 vs TN 20. Kyumi gains a free banked raise!}  

[Agent Sinistra]

@ Shogi Competition

Kyumi would watch Benjiro leave with curiosity for a moment, and for a brief second was tempted to even ask exactly what he'd just done. Then it occurred to her that doing so, publicly at least, might not be the best idea... Especially when he was trying to run the competition.

"Sorry to disappoint." She would add with a wry smile as she made her move on the board. Kyumi would move her gold general forward. Far be it from her to ignore whispered advice when it had been given.

((3k3 + 1 raise, 16 vs TN 10
Banking the raise! sweatdrop I really need to stop forgetting to add that in.))  

[Rain Yupa]

@ Shogi Competition:

Kitsu Kyumi has 6 banked raises.
Soshi Maru has 5 banked raises.

Sssscccccciiiiitttttccccchhhhhhh

That's the sound Maru's nails would make as they dug into the table. "You'd be wise to wipe that smirk off your face..." she hissed through her teeth. She would (angrily) move her knight up the center of the board, trying to make a move for the King, ignoring its protecting pieces entirely, it seems. {Void point spent for +1k1, 1 raise, 13 vs TN 20. Kyumi gains a free raise!}