D3EE, Presentations of Yu (Special)

[Fukurokujin]

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, tea, flute music and story. 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.

Contestants make a single (Appropriate Stat)/(Appropriate skill for the culmination and final touches of their work depicting Yu. The TN is 15 (20 for those trained in the Kakita Artisan school) Success earns one sapphire point, plus one per successful raise. Failure earns no points. 15 points earned across the entire competition will earn you the honor of being named a sapphire ambassador.

There will also be two pieces that will be picked as "Best in Show" based solely off the written description that the GMs feel are best written. One piece in the entire competition will be named best in show, earning it the equivalent of 3 best in show picks. The artist who has the most best in show picks total (ties broken by sapphire points) will be named Sapphire Champion

Additionally, artists may dedicate their works to one of the three amigos as per the rules for that side game, helping to influence the host of the next sapphire tournament.

This thread is exclusively for your description and rolls. Discussion between each other and the judges is for the discussion thread.

[Bayushi Choudai]

Choudai was back in his accustomed finery, his mask covering a face that was stony in its stillness.

He carried a medium-sized jar along with the furoshiki containing his grandmother's cookware, and set it, carefully, on top of the table before he unrolled his well-loved, well-used implements.

He selected a set of small, fine-bladed knives and put them to the side, then set out several bowls with a pair of chopsticks apiece. Evidently, today's entry was suitable for audience consumption.

But first, the Scorpion donned a heavy sharkskin glove, opened the jar, reached in, and produced a live fugu fish- but not live for long.

He held it down with his gloved hand, and got to work with his blade, killing it with one swift stroke, then getting to work filleting it.

Unlike the day before, there was no performance as such, not at this stage, just quick and skillful dressing out of the lethally poisonous fish, his blade filleting it with swift assurance, the unsightly bits he removed being quickly swept out of sight into a waiting bowl.

Once he had his fillets, Choudai arranged them artfully onto a blue plate, laying out the fugu sashimi in a floral pattern, the translucent fish forming the "petals" of a flower.

Then, he picked up a pair of chopsticks, grabbed a "petal," and popped it into his mouth without a moment's hesitation. He bowed, took a step back and lef tthe "guest" bowls and chopsticks on hand for any brave enough to give his sashimi a try.


[D3/EE Event, Craft: Cooking/Intelligence, Void spent for +1k1, Inheritance grants an additional +1k1, 2 called raises, TN 25 | 8k5 ⇒ 37 (TN: 25)

2-raise success, 3 Sapphire points. Dedicating the win to Shosuro Otoko]

[Mirumoto Jakuchou]

Jakuchou had stayed in all yesterday, feeling a bit under the weather. Not uncommon at her age really. But she had spent some of that time refining her presentation for Yu. It was unfortunate she didn't get to show of the display from the previous day though, probably for everyone else as well if her performance today was any indicator.

She found a space where she had a series of thick, two foot tall stumps were placed in a circle around a center one. After the servants brought those in, she placed a small unlit brazier on each of the surrounding stumps. Taking a lit torch from one of the servants, she hopped effortlessly onto the central stump, on only one foot, before lighting the other on fire and handing off the torch to the servant. There were others nearby with buckets of water, because you don't threaten burning down paper houses, but these were small enough flames that the buckets were clearly massive overkill.
Regardless, the water was unneeded.

"True courage does not just strengthen a single warrior," she says to those observing. "It spreads into the hearts of our compatriots like the flame it is."

And with that she began a controlled and acrobatic dance, that saw here move in precarious balancing positions, eventually tapping her toe into each brazier as part of the routine, lighting them in turn. Once they were all lit, she performed a quick backflip on the central stump, the speed enough to help suffocate the fire on her foot.

"But for the future, we must know when to stop burning brightly, so we can light our courage once again and not burn out too early."

Following this, she begins a new series of less aggressive and more flowing dance steps, utilizing speed and precision to extinguish each of the braziers with the force of air from her movements. The entire routine did not take overly long, but it had fire, acrobatics and an incredible display of capability in dance, even if the presentation leaned heavily on her ascetic nature and didn't create a physical end product. She hoped that individuals would appreciate the display as she stepped down from the stump and bowed to the audience deeply and with respect born from the humility one might expect more from a monk than a samurai (though maybe not surprising for a Dragon).

Perform: Dance / Agility, VP +1k1, 3 Called raises, TN 30 | 9k5 ⇒ 48 (TN: 30)

4 sapphire points
No amigo support, convince me otherwise on future days

[Togashi Yoshiaki]

Yu, the concept of courage that was core to many samurai. It was basic for many bushi and easily represented as such anytime one dons their armor they must face the risk of death. Yu comes in not letting that risk turn to fear and stop one from acting.

His canvas for this virtue was a young woman, one he had seen on many occasions face daunting challenges without batting an eye at such dangers. She was the best suited to recieve this piece in honor and commendation of her dauntless spirit.

In respect for the propriety of the others this one was displayed in a curtained off area.

The tattoo was on the back of her left shoulder. It depicted a mantis, the small insects' shell shone in an imagined sunlight showing a slight iridescence as the creatures Claws were raised defiantly against a giant hornet. It was usually difficult to tell emotions in insects but the mantis radiated a sense of spirit and a total lack of fear facing what some might know is one of the few other insects in nature that can match the deadlines of the mantis. The color and tone of the scene said as much as the subject, a light shining on the brave mantis as a shadow passed over the hornet. Blue skies were in the background and the mantis stood on a detailed and strong branch. Once again it was a piece that was unarguably well done technically with perfect shading and linework, much of his sensei shone through in the exacting nature and lifelike appearance of the battling insects.

This piece Yoshiaki felt required less explanation and so simply bowed respectfully as the judges approached and evaluated the work.

----------------
D3 Yu presentation Artisan: Tattooing/awa Inherited needles +1k1, vp +1k1 3 raises tn 30 | 10k6 ⇒ 56 (TN: 30)

Pass with 3 raises = 4 points. Dedicated to Shosuro Otoko

[Doji Yoshino]

On the second day of competition Yoshino went for a very bold, some might say courageous, piece. She put four identical kanji together. Each was well drawn, but there was a marked difference in the display between them. It was a progression statement piece.

Seppuku. The words struck any who read them with their heavy weight in thick black characters. This was the thought of the deed. The initial impression.

The act followed. Red and somehow even more striking. Darker red paints had clearly been used together to create a background of blood. That which flowed. The letters laid over this, piercing and violent.

From there the words were captured in the same way an image might be on a wall or a portrait painting at a funeral. Surrounded in black. The way the words are remembered. The memory of the deceased.

Finally the calligraphy display was complete with a faded red seppuku. The act, the violence, the memory... all fading away yet still noticeable. Still there, merely muted. An impression that was still felt and very real.

The four were attached to a wall for easy viewing and reflection. It was relatively easy for Yoshino to bring the four separate pieces in and set them up, although she appeared oddly pale and untalkative today. Potentially a surprise for some after her successful display the day before.



-----

Calligraphy/Intelligence with 2 raises and void for +1k1. TN25: 42 = Pass

+3 Sapphire points.

[Kakita Mikan]

Once again, early that morning, a small area in the presentation area was blocked off with with gray screens. Within those screens a singular painting had been displayed:

In this work, there is a look of determination, a certainly steeliness in the eyes of Doji Nadeshiko. Though she is lying upon her back, long flowing hair cascading down her shoulders, there is no hint of fear as the large, menacing figure of Bayushi Choudai bears down upon her, nodachi raised high. There is, however, a hint of fear...of sudden horrid realization upon his face, and the large dark grey cloud emanating from between Doji Nadeshiko's legs barrels towards him, almost as if the fist of the Heavens had been guided squarely towards his face. There is no time to change course, the collision is inevitable.

D3 Awa/Painting, 1 Raise called, Void Spent | 10k4 ⇒ 52 (TN: 25)

Yet again, the artist did not return after setting up the painting, even for the judging.

[Asahina Asano]

Asano was a natural talent, it was true. But a natural talent could only carry one so far. So when it came to a presentation on Yu, she actually got stuck on a subject. Her flighty mind went over a lot of possibilities, going from the bravery of wild animals to a confession of love. Each felt inappropriate or imperfect in some way.

In the end, she found herself experimenting, changing her mind half way through... well, more than once, really. In the end she ended up with so little time for a blank paper, she drew the first thing that came to mind.



She wasn't sure how the frog represented courage in this case. But she certainly felt brave for displaying it.

Day 3, EE, Presentations of Yu, Awareness/Painting, TN15, 3 called raises, TN30. Void Point 1/3 from day 3 for +1k1 | 6k5 ⇒ 24 (TN: 30)

[Tsi Hamada]

The sword was the soul of a samurai. In Hamada's mind, nothing else could speak of the courage that was most treasured in Rokugan. Hamada sets out a whetsone and cord, finishing off a forged wakizashi, finishing an elegant product. Weapons...Hamada knew how to make, elegantly setting the new Tsi family colors inset within the handle to make everyone knew where this was coming from.

Presentation of Yu-Craft:Weaponsmith/Intelligence-3 called raises-TN 30-VP used | 7k5 ⇒ 41 (TN: 30)
4 Sapphire points-Dedicating to Yoritomo

[Bayushi Ameiko]

Ameiko took her flute with her and prepared to perform. Dressed in her training garb today, as if she were ready to take some manner of action, she bowed. To any who were watching she gave a small preamble.

"Often duty and courage can be mistaken for each other", she said. "As a Scorpion, I know that duty is what must be done. There is no room for anything else, and death means little compared to success. It has been argued that courage is unneeded to complete one's duty, as loyalty to one's lord and a true belief in their cause is enough." She paused here, as some think very differently than this, but she continued to smile and went on. "My small experience has taught me that courage is to act in the face of danger when you truly carry consequence. Not simply of failing, but of succeeding. It could be a conversation with a friend or lover, a moment in battle one sees great risk in. For every act we must decide where our courage lay, in the moment or in dealing with the consequences afterward."

And so she played a song, one that gave thoughtfulness until it eventually roared into action.

OOC
Perform TN 30 (3 raises, still going for Kakita difficulty): 47
Dedicated it to Shosuro Otoko

[Kitsune Shizenko]

Shizenko had prepared her new display. Taking inspiration on the 7 thunders, she crafted 8 distinctive figures: a Blue and gray crab that represents Hida Atarasi, a crane in powder blue and silver accented paper representing Doji Konishiko, a dark green dragon representing Mirumoto, a orange and yellow lion for Matsu, a red and orange phoenix for Isawa, a crimson and black scorpion for Shosuro, a purple and white unicorn for Utaku all arranged in a circle surrounding a black and dark blue Dragon representing the one that shall not be named.

Raakun just played around with some paints.


//D3 EE Event Artisan Origami awa 1CR 1VP +1k1 TN 20 | 7k4 ⇒ 28 (TN: 20)

2 SP

[Horiuchi Sriyani]

Sriyani has assembled and scrapped multiple concepts for this particular tenet. Each feeling more hollow than the last. They feel fraudulent while she conceals her own fears. And so…she borrows a prop, of sorts.

Hana is slow, old, and rather round. Grey speckles the velvet brown of her nose and rougher brown of her haunches. Both art and battle are rather beyond her. But she’s still able to take a saddle.

Sriyani remains in the simple purple kimono, designed to serve simply as a backdrop for her jewelry, as she moves to take the old horse’s lead from the stablehand. Her own hands shake on the rope, gripping it with a fierce determination.

Hana may be past her days of riding to battle, but stubborn she can manage just fine. Allowing herself to be led by a Unicorn as nervous and skittish as an overbred racehorse? That’s beneath an old battle mare’s dignity. Sriyani pulls and begs, insults Hana’s ancestors and entreats the fortunes to send some semblance of obedience into the rude pony’s head. All to no avail.

So instead, she walks into the hall with the stablehand leading the slow, proud pony behind her.

A large, wooden comb sits in an arch before her piled hair. Tiny hooks along the upper curve hold a metal fringe composed of thin rays of serrated, painted metal. The fringe quivers with every movement and breath, reflecting the wearer’s own trembling as she rests a hand on the demon horse’s shoulder. She schools her features to blandness, as much as one can with a tightly clenched jaw, and steps closer to get a foot up into a stirrup once within gallery.

…only to have Hana dance away, pivoting as the servant holds her head. After the third such dance, Sriyani's composure near to shattering, the more knowledgeable stablehand waves over another to stand at the pony’s other side to block her, finally allowing the Unicorn to scramble to an ungraceful seat. There’s a jangle from the comb at the sudden movement, slowly modulating to a gentle buzz as she settles. Emma-O’s stern visage flashes from the moonstone rings as she grips the front edge of the saddle tightly. They shimmer in the lantern light as she slowly loosens each finger to bring her hands to rest on her thighs as she seeks to become a proper display while everything in her shrieks that she should scramble off and get away from the way Horse currently fills all her sense.

Instead, she forces herself to remain sitting, and she breathes, spine straightening with remembered lessons. The comb slowly settles as she remains still, the serrated bits able to catch and hold, allowing the fringe to become a momentarily solid surface painted to depict Bishamon in his ferocious aspect. Courage, or at minimum the ability to present a courageous front, invoking a greater power. And while her hands draw slowly into fists where they rest, she is able to find enough stillness otherwise to project that essence of courage, for those who have the eyes for it.

**********************
Day 3: Adjacent to presentation Horsemanship/Agi. TN? +10 VP for skill | 3k2 ⇒ 16

Day 3 Presentation: Yu. VP for +1k1, TN +10 for horse involvement, 1 raise. TN 30 | 8k5 ⇒ 35 (TN: 30)

2 SP, Dedicated to Shiba Aibou

[Shosuro Hatsuki]

Despite feeling ill earlier in the day, Hatsuki was raring to go by the time the competition proper rolled around. As usual, the need to prove her art to the masses fired her up.

This time, she decided to add a bit of a performance element to her presentation. She stood in front of a small table, on which she placed her kit. She herself was completely bare-faced, without makeup, though her barely-there mask for displaying her creations was present, little more than a beaded string across the bridge of her nose with a couple of beaded dangling portions on each side.

There was, notably, no mirror.

"Sometimes, courage is taking a leap of faith and trusting what you have at hand to see you through."

With that, she began applying the makeup completely blind to what she was doing. Yellow along the lid, and then red over that, washing over it like a wave. Courage was not the absence of fear, but overcoming it. Along the upper lid, she did black liner, sharp as a blade or a talon. The red wrapped around that, even, blending out farther. Along her lower lid, she added a line of bright, pure white, the color of death, coming to a stop just short of where the red met. Samurai live close to death, always, facing it with their courage forward.

Her lips were painted a deep crimson.

She wasn't sure how it looked as she finally finished, packing up her supplies. Whatever it was, she was stuck with it for the evening. If that wasn't courage, she wasn't sure what was.

D3 EE: Yu - Technique, Void, 3 Raises for TN 35 | 10k5+2 ⇒ 81 (TN: 35)
4 SP, dedicated to Otoko

[Matsu Inori]

The painting, this time, was larger than the last.

It showed a lone figure, a Samurai in full armour as seen from the back. The Warrior was standing straight and unbowed, in a wide stance as if to shield something behind him. He held a spear decorated with dark yellow tassels, defiantly facing the background of the painting. That was more vague - a grey backdrop, foggy, dark, with ominous red and orange lighting as if from burning fire. More than just dark. Teeth and claws here. A sword or spearpoint somewhere else. Shapeless faces under helmets and masks. A knife dripping ominous fluid.

In a way it seemed the entire world was bearing down on the lone defender.

And yet he stood. Not alone either - it seemed as if a pale white and orange mist infused him, and vague, ghostly shapes stood behind him and to his side, faint outlines of men and women in clearly older, more ancient armour. One of the ancestors, ghostly sword held in her right, had laid a ephemeral left on the Samurai's shoulder.


Inori nodded. This would do. Putting the last stroke to the canvas she put away her paint brush, stepped back and joined the crowd already mingling and discussing the works.

OOC: Artisan: Paintings vs. 15 + 2 Raises Passed with a 30 for 3 sapphire points

[Doji Nadeshiko]

Today Nadeshiko’s one of the last to enter.

She’d woken crying. In her dreams, they’d sat together under the cherry blossoms, talking about – she doesn’t remember, but it was good. He’d been alive. Alive. For a brief moment the loss of summer had been forgotten, and now that bitter truth’s hit her yet again it’s made her wish she’d joined him. The Doji lets herself lay in bed longer than anyone would ever consider proper. It’s only after the memories of Akihito chide her that she finally pulls herself together: those who survive have to keep on living for the dead. You have to take care of yourself, Nadeshiko.

Still, the Crane woman’s listless when she finally joins the others in the gallery. Dressed head-to-toe in white save for her tattered blue ribbon (tied around the chignon at her neck), Nadeshiko carries a nagamaki etched from top to bottom in hand, blade-down, half-wrapped in a plain white cloth and cradled to her chest. Her eyes are red and puffy; she’s not bothered with makeup or perfumes – today, she allows herself to again be a woman in mourning.

It’s only appropriate.

Despite the din of the gallery, Nadeshiko’s alone. Her inner quiet is not from force of will: her heart and her mind have been scraped raw by what she plans to do. All that’s left is silence where once there had been singing.

The judges have to address her twice before she notices them. With a soft apology Doji Nadeshiko bows and introduces her day’s work.

“Today I present two pieces of art: a poem and a nagamaki. Its original creator is unknown, but the carpenter Takeuchi from Kyuden Doji repaired and etched its shaft, and the blacksmith Kyuryo from Kyuden Doji etched its blade, both upon my request. I dedicate this to all who lost their lives in the war in Naishou, and Shosuro Otoko, who would see the Scorpion Clan host the tournament next year. It is offered to help mend that which was broken.”

Breathe, girl. You chose this. You wish to speak to something true, so look your pain in the eye and meet it half-way. That’s what this is about. That’s what this means. When she next speaks Nadeshiko has the even keel of a warrior recently returned from the battlefield:

“Birds shriek, circling
As fog chokes the littered ground.
Red soaks to the roots.
A field of broken weapons
Brought us a little more time.

All that stand between
Desolation and fortune
Are men and a Wall.
Me today, you tomorrow.
There’s no flinching from that fate.

This Empire is built
Upon warriors whose strength
Was not enough.
Victory is bought with blood
And two deaths: your fear and yourself.”

Again the woman gives both herself and her audience time to sit with the work. This poem is not a child to be cradled, but a shadow embracing her with such a ferocity it’s almost impossible to tell where she ends it and it begins – she shakes it off, promises they will speak again, but they must part for now. Nadeshiko bows her head to hide her face with her sleeve as she continues with the second act of her piece.

“This nagamaki was recovered from the forests of Naishou the previous summer.”

And that’s all she can get out before she chokes on her own voice.

The moment the judges are done with her the woman slips from the gallery like a ghost, speaking to no one as she leaves. They don’t need her: the art can speak for itself.

Day 3 Tournament Event: Artisan: Poetry / Awareness, Avant-garde emphasis. Prodigy for +1k0. Void point spent to gain +1k1. 2 called raises for Sapphire points. 1 called raise to give every listener pause as they think of those they survived, by whose loss their own lives could continue. TN 35. | 10k4 ⇒ 44 (TN: 35)
+3 Sapphire points (unless I am mistaken)

Dedicated to Shosuro Okoto: +3 Amigo points (see above "unless I am mistaken" note, lol)

[Kaiu Kunio]

Kaiu Kunio intentionally waits to present his piece, allowing for the others to shine before asking for the attention of some of the distinguished guests. The host, Doji Utemaro, and the honorable representative from the capital, Otomo Gaitsu, are respectfully asked to participate in a ceremony for his display. If they accept, Kaiu Kunio explains how as the Empire inevitably new things will become part of it. With that in mind, for his display on courage, he will use one such ingredient, this "Kof-Fee" that was talked about the day before in an effort to show his willingness to include these future citizens into the spirit of this first competition. After the ceremony is completed, he gives thanks to Shiba Aibou for giving him the coffee and then gives a heartfelt thanks to the judges for their time today.

D3 EE, Event, Tea Ceremony/Intelligence, Void Point used, 2 raises, TN 25 | 6k5 ⇒ 66 (TN: 25)
Pass with 2 raises, 3 Sapphire Points and 3 Amigo Points for Shiba Aibou.

[Doji Utemaro]

After the judges complete their circuit of the offerings, they confer for awhile before passing their findings on to Utemaro. Word of the imminent announcements brings a hush to hall.

"Art is a courageous act in itself. You share a very private part of yourself and leave yourself open to critique in the faint hope of sharing your vision with those you don't even know. You should all feel proud of your offerings today, you are all ambodiments of courage."

He pauses a moment.

"That being said, the judges have nominated two artist's offerings as their picks of the highlights of today's competition. Those two artists are Doji Nadeshiko and Mirumoto Jakachou. May you inspire your fellow competitors to even greater heights of courage. Thank you for your efforts today, and we look forward to the displays tomorrow." he announces.