Sapphire Ambassadors

After the previous day's competition, the servants spent the evening carefully relocating the more permanent works to the Gallery of Dusk and storing records of the one's that could not be such as cooking and dance. Then the gallery was thoroughly cleaned and blessed. The next day it slowly fills throughout the day as various artists maneuver into their spaces. Some artists arrive early, overseeing peasants maneuvering heavy statuary while certain poets arrived barely ahead of the judges. The artists' spaces have been meticulously arranged according to their art of choice. The most fragrant arts have been spaced as wide apart as possible, so the scent of, say a certain Scorpion's Garlic Gyoza does not intermingle with the scent of the ikebana displays. Those who arts contain a sound component have been staggered, so the judges might clear one catchy song from their minds before listening to an impassioned flute solo. Neutral gray screen are available for the artists whose works should be viewed shielded from the rest, while others bask in the suns rays, visible to all with eyes.

Shizenko decided that today she would show honesty a different way. Her display is quite simple once again, a flat piece of paper that was folded before into something, a mouse, and another that wasn't folded just the flat plain paper. Honestly, all her creations started just as a plain paper and they took shape in her hands. People just see what was made. Not many see how difficult it is to do such crisp folds or how to make the paper into a creature, a flower or what ever item to look like it is in real life. Not many understand the difficulty on what to make and how to make it, which fold works which way or the idea that comes behind each one.

The mouse represented her insignificant existence in this full of amazing artist contest. It had double meaning this display. The woman had been feeling quite small amongst the great clans best. A small minor clanner amongst those that have the privilege of studying in great artist schools. She had known from the start the truth; that an insignificant shugenja from the fox clan cannot beat those from the great clans.

//D6 EE Event Origami Awa 1VP +1k1 2 CR TN 25 | 8k4 ⇒ 41 (TN: 25)

Note: This is how the Character feels not the player. GMs keep the good game rolling

Honesty and Justice. There was no gray area according to Leadership. But isn't an ambush a lie about your location? So a lie in order to perform your duties is Just but isn't Honest? She always found that the absolute stringency of this tenet to be strange. Some of the others it would be fine to make absolute statements, but this one, where leadership points out specific exceptions... why is it never okay to lie, yet it's okay to lie in order to confound your enemy? Courtesy may be hypocritical in how it is applied in society, but Gi is internally inconsistent.

But when it comes down to it, this was all a bunch of artistic expression. None of it was going to help her give it internal consistency. It was going to be pretty and maybe thought-provoking. For her part, Jakuchou had developed a justice focused storyline that is told in dance form, where she used a few different cloth markers on her outfit to identify different characters.

It started off simple, introducing the protagonist as a gray cloth. The style and flow of the individual was smooth, quite sneaky, and probably a bit dishonest. Then the antagonist was introduced, a dark blue piece of cloth representing the magistrate, the dance style being more elegant and structured. Finally, a third individual, a potential victim or target of the gray and a witness for blue to use. The third individual used a red piece of cloth to represent them and their dance was a very simple style with basic steps, but switched up the basic style depending on who they were interacting with.

Following along with the story, it is revealed that blue suspects gray of doing something to red. Red, for it's part seems to respond positively to both grey and blue suggesting either that grey and red are working together, or grey has conned red. Blue continues to dog gray while acting protectively towards red. In the end it is revealed that grey had duped red into thinking one thing, lying to them, in such a way that it made it look like a crime was being committed but it wasn't. Grey's dishonesty was intended to get blue to make false claims to embarrass them and appear as a liar abusing their power, ruining their reputation.

D6 EE, Gi Performance, Perform: Dance / Agility, VP +1k1, 3 Called Raises | 9k5 ⇒ 35 (TN: 30)
4 Sapphire Points
Dedicated to Yoritomo Tomodachi

Choudai sauntered in, his replacement cookware carelessly slung over his shoulder, a steaming pot of rice in his other hand.

He bowed as he started setting up.

"Gi is an interesting, subject, to say the least, particularly here."

He set out various tools, most of them crudely made, but he got to work, using a cheap knife to chop up some common vegetables from the local markets,

"I find it highly comparable to the culinary art, as it happens."

He moved on to a bit of fish, selecting a second knife.

"In Gi, and in cooking, openness is key."

The cheap knife flashed as he sliced away, cutting the fish into discrete pieces of sashimi.

"As is timing. Taking the wrong steps at the wrong time, why, that could be catastrophic. Honesty at the wrong moment is not actually honesty, any more than rice left on too long to burn is actually food fit to eat."

He set out a sheet of nori. Again, nothing fancy.

"And in justice, as in cooking, it is vitally important to be thorough. A missed step, a missed question, can color your actions. The truth, the truth of Honesty, can only be found through Honest means. Just as only by carrying out every step perfectly will perfect food result."

He glanced at the rice.

"Still some time to go on this one. So. While we wait, let us speak Honestly. I committed an error in judgment in this room. We need not speak further on the error itself, as I know many here find it distasteful. And since this is not the day for Courtesy, I will not belabor my apology overmuch. But I will say, in Honesty, I had no idea it would be taken so far amiss, given the other examples I have seen in this competition. Why, only today did I discover how grievously my misstep was regarded."

He bowed.

"The error is mine, of course. That's only the truth."

He removed the cover from the rice and got to work rolling it out on top of the nori, a field of white rice covering the dark green seaweed.

"But here is another honest statement: An artist is not made by their tools. And we are more than the sum of our mistakes."

He started adding the vegetables, then the sashimi. Then he rolled the entire assemblage up deftly.

"And in Honesty, as I am responsible for the difficulties our hosts have experienced with their own culinary hospitality today, it is only right that I offer some small recompense."

He started cutting the big roll into many smaller ones.

"Help yourselves. You have, after all, witnessed almost the entire process. You know what is in this sushi."

He picked up a small roll and popped it into his mouth.

"I can do no more."

[D6/EE Event, Craft: Cooking/Intelligence, Void spent for +1k1, 1 called raise, TN 20 | 7k4 ⇒ 31 (TN: 20)- 2 Sapphire points, two amigo points for Otoko]

It's hard to believe that Hatsuki is the same person who showed up the day previous. She arrived in makeup this point, and it was bold almost to the point of theatrics.

Her eyeliner was deep black and sharp as the deadliest of blades, making her eyes look shrewd and calculating. Combined with the brilliant red shadow, extracted from the flowers of the garden, and her eyebrows darkened to be equally sharp, she looked like she was plotting something at that very moment. It drew attention deliberately away from the color of her eyes. Her lips were painted fuller than they truly were and a deep red. All of it was a sharp contrast to her skin, which was highlighted and shaded to make her features as a whole look sharper. Taken as a whole, the look could be described as "stereotypical Scorpion", especially with her mask, still the thin beaded strip with a couple of dangling pieces on the side.

Then she pulled out the skincare items she kept in her box and a cloth. Methodically, she began to remove the makeup, bit by bit.

Red lips were cleared first, revealing soft skin closer to the color of cherry blossoms than roses.

Then the contouring and foundation, revealing skin that was mostly healthy, though somewhat affected my pregnancy hormones, creating a spot or two that she casually applied something else to. Her features were far softer than anyone would have had reason to believe before, showing some small family resemblance to Nadeshiko.

The eyebrows came next, revealing a soft, dark curve rather than sharp angles.

Finally, she cleared the makeup around her eyes, revealing dark circles from fatigue, and clearing away anything that distracted from their brilliant blue. The mask remained - she was still Scorpion, after all.

"The way one sees things can be as dishonest to oneself as words can be to others."

She bowed once all was said and done and joined the crowd.

D6 Gi EE, Makeup/Awareness, Void, Tech, Kakita TN Bump, 3 Raises | 10k5+2 ⇒ 49 (TN: 35)
Dedicated to Otoko, +4 Sapphire Points

Honesty, honesty... Asano was usually an honest woman, though she supposed honesty had all sorts of ways of expressing itself, even above and beyond simple sincerity or truth. No, part of it was being honest with oneself... so what more to do than be honest with what she wanted to paint?

So it was that she found herself taking a large mural and painting flowers in a bright, bold style.



It was unconventional, a bit sloppy, and such. But it spoke to Asano. ...the thing Asano forgot about being honest with herself though is that it also laid herself bare for criticism. And there was plenty for artists to be critical of with such a work.

Day 6, EE, Gifting Gi, Painting/Awareness, TN15, 3 called raises, TN30 | 6k4 ⇒ 24 (TN: 30)

+0 sapphire points

Honesty, as tricky a subject as it was a tenant of Bushido for many. All samurai were called to be honest but anyone who spent even a bit of time in court knew tat lies were almost always told. Many find other ways to make up for this and some clans simply ignore it all together.

So he turned his gaze away from the Clans and more toward nature for this entry.

Like with all other displays he chose a brother that was the embodiment of honesty to him. The man would tell any truth even to his own detriment. He kept no secrets and talked about the world as he saw it no matter the consequences.

For this tattooitwas a rare one, not one many hold and not one taught as standard. It detailed a sunrise of a nature scene, those first rays of light banishing darkness and revealing all around. The work was, as always, spectacularly done. While the judges could knock his grasp of concept he had not yet submitted a piece that looked anything less than excellent.

"For honesty I looked to the sky and to the great amaterasu herself. Her rays banish the secrets of darkness, lay bare the honest truth of the morning. Shadows and obscuring mists are burned away and we cannot find a more pure arbiter of justice, which at its core seeks honesty."



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D6 Gi artisan:Tattooing/awa Inheritance +1k1, vp +1k1 3 raises tn 30 | 10k6 ⇒ 51 (TN: 30)

4 sapphire points, 4 points for Otoko

Today, Sriyani adjusts the lamps to provide strong, direct light, not the flattering haze of dawn or the harsh glare of noon.

They light a worktable, well equipped with small pliers and snips, clamps and files, gritted paper and soft cloths for finishing pieces.

All art is an illusion of sorts, offering something mere images as something real, evoking layers of meaning. But all art is also honest in a way, with a voice that sometimes takes skill to hear.

So she breaks the illusion, and an unassuming bit of rough driftwood sees her slowly carving a raised image that seems to rise organically from the wood. Watching the artist find the shape there rather than forcing one upon the grain, allows onlookers to see the effort and honest conversation between artist and artwork for a small time. The resulting cabochon-like form becomes obviously Ebisu over the course of the presentation, though it cannot be finished in that time.

The moonstone rings rest on the worktable, allowing Emma-O to, perhaps, judge whether the time is well spent.

***********************
Day 6 Presentation: Gi. VP for +1k1, 3 Raises. TN 30 | 8k5 ⇒ 32 (TN: 30)

4 points, dedicated to Shiba Aibou

This one. Integrity. That...Inori smiled. She had an idea. Not sure if it was a good idea, but it was an idea.

So the picture that took shape under her brush showed a hillside, a steep hillside like they were found in the countryside in many places, with a winding path up that hill. No rain, but a relatively dense cover of clouds above. Some detail here and there, plants, rocks, a small stone lantern. The landscape, idyllic and simple, took shape but Inori knew she did have neither the focus nor the speed to add more without missing the actual point.

So there it was. A Samurai, clearly, as seen both from the light armour and the Daisho shown at his belt, as well as the topknot. And on his shoulders he carried a massive stone tablet. A huge, heavy stone tablet, inscribed only with the character for "word"/"talking"

言

The figure, such as it was, was visibly straining, with sweat on his brow - and yet, above him, was the only break in the clouds, bathing the struggling warrior in the bright, warm light of the sun.

Just so Inori thought. This should get the point across

Maybe it did

3 Sapphire points, dedicated also to Shiba Aibou

Ahhh Honesty. If there was one thing that the Tsi were known for it was their blunt honesty. Hamada sees no reason to avoid the reputation there. In fact, she makes a point of it.

Set on the table in a naked tanto-style blade, unadorned, even without the standard ray skin and cord handle that would accompany it. The handle is barely wide enough to wrap a hand around to wield, the tip at an abrupt hard angle. It is elegant and sharp enough to cleanly be used by a master chef, thick enough to chop bruse...and the tip thick enough to punch through armor.



Depicted below it is a scroll written in elegant calligraphy.

"The Blade Itself Invites It's Master to their own Aims"

From there, Hamada says no more in explanation.

Let them view it as their would, and force themselves to be honest about what they see in it. Is it a tool...or a weapon?

_________________________

Presentation of Chugo-Crafting a Tanto-Craft:Weaponsmith/Intelligence-2 called raises-TN 25-VP used-Dedicating to Yoritomo | 6k5 ⇒ 26 (TN: 25)

3 Sapphire points, used to push Yoritomo

A little unusually for Yoshino, who has so far stayed out of the limelight, today the Doji courtier decides to tell a story as her contribution to the theme of honesty. It started with a deep breath and a single rock forward and back on her heels. This seemed to help her over her lacking confidence so she could begin to tell the story to those who would listen.

"Once there was a very loving couple that had been married for over 10 years without any children. Not one. It would soon be their eleventh year together. Haru and Hina stayed with each other and greatly hoped that they would have a child before their eleventh year of marriage runs out because they were under persuasion from their Lord and family members to get a divorce. However, they couldn’t let go because of the strong bond of love between them. Both had reluctantly agreed to the divorce if the year passed as sadly as the other ten. Months did indeed pass, yet one day, while Haru was returning from work, he saw his wife walking down the path home with a man."

Yoshino paused to check how the audience was taking her story. She motioned gently with her hands to suggest the passage of time.

"So, months had passed and this day, while Haru was returning from work, he saw his wife walking down the road with a man. The man had his hand on her arm and they looked very happy. Of course, this made him anxious. For over a week, he saw the same man with his wife at various places and one evening while Haru was returning from work he saw the man drop her off at the house after giving her a hug just within the gateway of their home. Haru was angry and sad but he didn’t speak of it with his wife. He had hid and later said nothing."

She touched her right hand flat to her lips as she lifted her eyebrows. Moving the hand back, fanning herself with it, she continued. "Two days later after a hectic day in service to his Lord, Haru was carrying a tray with his tea set when a messenger arrived with a note. He took it and folded it open without caring that it was for Hina. 'Hello dear, I’ll be coming to your house this evening to see you as promised.' It read." Yoshino shook her head. "The calligraphy was masculine, confident and learned. Haru was sure the person was the man he had always seen his wife with. He suddenly became shaky with the thought that he has lost his wife to another man. As he picked up the tray with his tea set he fell to one knee. The pot hit the floor hard and his prized cups shattered into pieces across the entryway."

There was a pause for dramatic effect. So far her words carried well and resonated with the tone of the story. As it moved to its climax more emotion slipped into her voice, though never more than could be permitted.

"His wife came running to ask, 'Is everything okay?' In anger, Haru gave his wife a push and she fell. She wasn’t moving or getting up. Haru then realized that she fell where he broke the cups. A large piece of one had pierced her. He felt her breath, pulse, and heartbeat but there she lay lifeless. In a total confusion, he saw a letter in her hand. He took it, opened it and was shocked by its content. It read:"

For further dramatic effect Yoshino now paused to take a letter from inside her kimono. She unfolded it and carefully brushed it flat with a caress. She read it sweetly as if in the wife's voice.

“My loving husband,

Words can not express how I feel so I had to write it down. I have been going to see a court physician for over a week and I wanted to be sure before I give you the news.

The physician confirmed it that I am pregnant with twins and they are due three months from now. The same court physician is my long lost brother whom I lost contact with after our marriage. He has promised to take care of me and our baby, and to give us the best without asking for anything in return.

He also promised to have dinner with us today. Thanks for staying by my side.

Your loving wife.

Hina."

The shocking letter was then dropped to the floor, falling in such a way the contents could be read and confirmed by those closest. Yoshino took a steadying breath as she blinked a few times.

"The letter fell from his hand. There was a knock at the door and the same man he had seen with his wife came in and said, 'Hello, is that Haru-san? I am Ichigo, the brother of your wife.' Suddenly, Ichigo noticed his sister lying in a pool of her blood. He rushed to aid her and she was in a coma. She survived with his help, but she had lost her twins."

Yoshino placed her hands together as if in prayer for a moment.

"Hina returned home in time, but she found just a note waiting for her. It had only four words. 'I questioned your honesty'. Her husband had left in shame to wander the waves."

A bow concluded the story. She bends down to collect the note, which she places on one of the display tables. This was honesty.

-----
D6 EE perform: Storytelling/awareness with voice +1k1 and void +1k1. TN15 +2 raises for TN25: 34 = pass
3 Sapphire points

((Might change descrip depending on how Mikan stuff plays out, please be patient with me!))

Again one of the later entries, Nadeshiko has an air of serenity about her tonight as she awaits the judge’s attention. Her hair is tied back with her tattered blue ribbon but otherwise left down, her kimono plain pink, baring only the mons of her family, school, and Clan. In her hands, a silver-backed mirror, its glass surface pressed against her heart.

Life is good, she thinks.

There’s still much to be done for Mikan – but she’s taken the first step for herself. With time she might be able to mend that which has been broken by her actions. What form that will take is unknown to Nadeshiko, but she’s hopeful. What little she can do to help, she will. One has to try.

At the advance of the judge she bows.

“Today I present two pieces of art: a poem and a mirror crafted by the silversmith Kotone from Kyuden Doji. I dedicate my work to Shosuro Otoko.”

The mirror is pulled back, its surface catching the light. Nadeshiko opens her eyes to see herself in its cracked glass; she’d accidentally dropped it this morning, clumsy girl that she is. And yet… she can’t simply throw it away, replace it and pretend it didn’t happen. Both because she’s not one to let things go, and because of what it would mean. The smile it reflects is sweet even as it’s fractured. Ihat smile seeps into her voice as she speaks.

“Before the first mirror
One kneeled over still waters,
Bowing to catch truth.
Humility was the price
Knowledge demanded of us.

Poets pay with pain –
Seeing the world as it is
And as it should be,
Dipping below the surface
Knowing what they find might bite.

The highest of arts
(That which we scrape from our hearts)
Reflect something back –
Whether you see your own face
Or the glittering of stars.”

At the poem’s end she turns the mirror to face Kakita Akuba, its fractures doubling her reflection, an unintentional reminder of her missing partner.

“I bought this mirror from a traveling merchant named Gorou on my journey to Teitaku. I’d forgotten mine in my haste. Today, I accidentally dropped it while unpacking for the competition. I almost didn’t bring it, but I thought about it, and…” Her gaze lowers. “A broken mirror is still a mirror, and the truth is still the truth, even if it isn’t pretty. I hope to have it repaired when I return home.”

Day 6 Tournament Event: Artisan: Poetry / Awareness, Avant-garde emphasis. Prodigy for +1k0. Void point spent to gain +1k1. 2 called raises for Sapphire points. TN 30. | 10k4 ⇒ 27 (TN: 30)
0 Sapphire points.

-3 Amigo points for Shosuro Otoko.

For once, Kaiu Kunio decides to create something not for a practical reason. An elaborate and small purple vase with numerous cracks filled back in with gold. It also has a pattern to it, one which very well could represent a personal mon, but the exact details are difficult to make out through the cracks. However, one who knows him would tell that it is his personal mon before joining the Imperial Legion. Next to it is one that is in nearly pristine condition, large enough to hold the first and emerald in color, with a mon for the Imperial Legion. There is also a note with the display thanking Shiba Aiobu for showing him techniques on how to efficiently create cracks in all the right areas.

D6 EE, Event, Artisan: Pottery/Intelligence, Void Point, 2 raises, TN 25 | 6k5 ⇒ 28 (TN: 25)
(Pass with 2 raises, +3 Sapphire Points, +3 Amigo Points for Shiba Aibou)

Moshi Tatsuya had been in and out of the gallery throughout the day, second- and third-guessing himself about his display or portions thereof. It wasn't simply that honesty is a difficult trait to present visually, but that his mishandling of the duty presentation the day before had wounded his sensitive pride. It made today and the remaining days all the more important, and Tatsuya pushed himself extra hard to present well again.

At first the display seemed very much as to be expected of the Mantis cartographer, with a well-made map sitting in the center of a ring of origami figures, all of them facing the center from edges similar to where their homelands would lie if viewed from Tengoku. All, save a small Mantis, which was set off to the side, drawing attention to a small circle of glass affixed to a simple wooden handle.

The importance of the magnifying glass might become more obvious when another, even smaller Mantis is noticed near the center of the map itself, seeming almost lost among what must surely be the Spine of the World Mountains. A judge taking up the glass and looking near that smaller Mantis would find, very subtly but unmistakably, a path marked through the seemingly impenetrable mountains, connecting one small Scorpion village to the south with one small Lion village to the north.

In the lower right corner of the map was a dedication, in Tatsuya's usual style: "From Moshi Tatsuya, humble student of the Yasuki School, to the honored samurai who embody bushido by bearing forth with truth, regardless of convenience."

--------------
Roll:
D_, EE: art of Gi. TN 15, 2 CR for TN 25. Craft: Cartography 3, Int. 4, VP for 1k1. | 8k5 ⇒ 34 (TN: 25)

3 Sapphire points

Dedicated to ally Yoritomo Tomodachi

At the last possible moment, Kakita Mikan presented a single, simple origami lion for the judges.

With the notable absence of her husband, Akuba had no one to discuss her decision with. Instead, she simply informed Utemaro. One could detect a certain amount of surprise on Utemaro's face, if they were watching carefully, it was fleeting. Nor did Akuba stand around waiting to justify herself, instead returning to her quarters to care for her husband.

Utemaro took a moment to compose himself, before having the servants call attention in the hall.

"Once again, you we are all honored by the results of the competition today. I hope you have all found inspiration in today's works Again a talented field of competitors, but the judge has selected two artists who stood above the competition today." he said.

"The first is Matsu Inori. The second is Bayushi Choudai." he announced.

"Please continue to enjoy the hopsitality of the Crane and we will look forward to seeing your presentations tomorrow."