Scroll One: Kyōen no Torekkā

[Vardaen]

Shonogen slips out, excusing himself to use the privy. He explores the halls from the dinning room to the privy, and then makes to slip around the estate. He notices along the walls many water colors, each one a different artist. They are various quality and style, of many subjects, its... almost too much, its certainly more gaudy and crowded than most Crane would have. He slips into a chamber, a small study, it too is loaded with various pieces of art, wood carvings from drift wood, a piece of ivory, another one of marble, and there are plenty of nick nacks all over the place. Hirawara must have spent a fortune on all of this. There is a magistrate's desk tucked in the corner of the room, and the Hiruma pokes around, there are all sorts of scrolls, mostly mundane things, some about taxes due, about rice production, one especially catches his eye -- a request from Juro to be assigned to a different village, and praise for Kishiko's work noting she could handle taking over for him.

Shonogen slips out of the room before too long, he's starting to feel a bit guilty, he's been snooping like a Scorpion. Before he can slip into another chamber a pair of servants turn the corner from the kitchen with a tray of food, another course. They pause and bow respectfully, but even hemin gossip, he knows he better return to the party before anyone else catches him.

Roll

Rolling 5d10
( 3 + 3 + 9 + 2 + [1] ) = 17 vs TN 15 Success

[Hermit]

Yoshito replies simply to the rōnin, "Why yes I am, there are hardly any other options for a samurai to stay in this town. It would seem it is the Cresting Wave Inn or you might need a personal invitation to stay here with our fine host." Hirawara, with no change in his face, chimes in, "That is very true, there is no other place in town for travelers of your status to be staying Yasuki-san." Perhaps the old rivalry between the Crab and Crane over the Yasuki family still burns here for Hirawara.

“I see,” mutters Gensai with a nervous chuckle as he sinks further into his seat, an impressive feat for someone as large as himself. Desiring to steer clear of inadvertently stoking the flames of resentment between the two rival families, the shugyōsha carefully considers his next move, preferably one that doesn’t involve potentially provoking an altercation like his benefactor has done several times since the beginning of this festive occasion. Like molded clay an idea begins to take shape, and after weighing the inherent risks of his plan, decides it to be the most prudent and beneficial one for the purpose of entertainment and conceivably garnering further esteem from those gathered, Hirawara in particular.

With what he believes to be a solid plan in mind, the vagabond patiently waits for the opportune time to suggest his idea to the Magistrate.

OOC

Kenjutsu. I had also considered Iaijutsu at one point with the intention of challenging Takashi to a friendly non-lethal duel, but something tells me that now isn't the right time for that. In any case I would like to further improve Gensai's reputation among those gathered by performing a series of Kenjutsu kata's for entertainment purposes. Hopefully this will also demonstrate that in addition to his artistic talents he is a skillful warrior as well. Gensai will only be using his katana (or a bokken if the Magistrate declines on allowing him to wield an actual sword) during the performance and I'm willing to spend a void point to boost the roll.

[Muskrat]

Ryoko does her best to remain neutrally polite as Juro complains, as if trying to avoid insulting their host. She also listens with genuine curiosity to Aiko's stories. She will tell Kirino later of Juro's distress and the fact that he makes her uneasy. She suspects that he knows something about what is going on with the rice taxes--but she is unsure whether he is responsible for the mischief or if he simply knows about and is unable to take action to resolve the problem. Whatever the case, she suspects Kirino may want to speak privately with him.

[Sasori]

The young Asahina prays that the dinner will soon be over, since she get's the feeling that the Otomo is not really pleased with her answers. Or maybe she is just imagining things.
Nonetheless she is thankful for her lessons regarding these situations and wishes she could have learned more.

[Vardaen]

Diner continues on, and as the main course is being finished Gensai deftly suggests a demonstration of his swordsman ship. Hirawara all but claps at the idea, giddy with excitement. "I most excellent idea Gensai, you are full of delight tonight. Yet I don't think we can make this evening all about your skills." Hirawara stands up and scans the room, "Gensai will entertain us with his kenjutsu style katas, but I would challenge any of you to do the same so we might enjoy the differences and debate the virtues of each style. Who will do this?"

While your host waits for an answer he claps his hands at the servants, "Open the east wall to the garden, and retrieve the bokken from my dojo. We will watch from here and our competitors will use the open air of the garden. Light some torches out there to."

The heimin do as they are told, opening the entire east wall, sliding panels to the side and removing some from hinges and setting them to the side. Torches and lanterns are lit and the small courtyard area is set and cleared a perfect place for a few kata -- clearly the heimin have set up for this sort of thing in the past.

[Graven]

Jun has been mostly interested in avoiding conflict, as it seems his very existence is offensive, so the ronin's offer to provide entertainment is much appreciated. His own education in swordsmanship extends only to the basics, and nobody would expect him to have even that level of skill, so he will not be participating. His family's practices are already disreputable enough.

[Muskrat]

Ryoko rises and bows. "I would be honored to show everyone my humble understanding of the techniques of Daidoji Scouts." She can hardly honorably refuse to show her abilities.

[Orvost]

Shonogen returns from his trip to relieve himself as discreetly as possible. When Hirawara makes his call for wariors to show their skills, he wishes himself even more unnoticed. Fresh in his mind is the final charge of his Shiba sensei to keep their teachings secret. He is bound by an oath that transcends family and clan loyalties. While he wonders how this split loyalty may manifest in the future, Shonogen is certain that using his techniques as dinner party entertainment is a bad precedent to set so early in his career.

As Shonogen sits pondering his dilemma and making himself as small as possible, the moments tick by slowly as Hirawara waits for someone to answer his call. When Ryoko finally volunteers for the challenge, Shonogen heaves a sigh of relief.

[Sasori]

Kanko-Cho curiously watches the host announcing some entertainment with kenjutsu kata. A part of her is disappointed, since she had a tiny hope of someone dancing or singing or playing music. She realizes that it was sort of childish to hope for her being able to show of her skills, no one would want to see that, since she is unlucky and her being here is already enough luck. Still her artistic soul wants to show everyone to see that discolored eyes are not defining who she is and that she is a skilled artisan, performer and shugenja.

The young Asahina tries her best to hide her disappointment, since the only thing she could do at this situation would be dancing with the sword and the host does not want to see this.
So she sticks with drinking tea, enjoying the meal, trying to entertain the Otomo and watch the kata.

[ManWithDoor]

As the sword is the honor of the warrior, Doji Kyousuke sits rigidly upright as he watches the upcoming demonstration. Demonstrations of martial prowess are part of parcel of the culture of Rokugan, cemented by the Kami themselves. He himself is an avid student of the courtly duel, iaijutsu being a formal and refined art. But the study of battlefield warfare is an honorable path as well, one necessary for the very existence of the Emerald Empire. He eagerly awaits what comes.