The New Winds

A few of the more artistic sensei are on the parade grounds, looking over it and discussing with each other. A large group of peasants arrive, each carrying large wooden planter boxes of different types of flowers. After some time, the senseis discussion turns a bit heated, unable to decide where the flowers should be planted. To help alleviate the disagreements, one of the sensei proposes a solution. As the students pass by during their activity, the sensei waves them over and asks them for input on the new garden design.

Participants: Unlimited, you may even participate if you already have a Monkey thread on Day 5.

Step One: Pick a Sensei to support
-Hida Goroharu
-Doji Murashige
-Kitsuki Tai Yu
-Shosuro Tomoe

Step 2: Pick a Skill, you may not select the same skill twice
-Lore: Fung Shui / Perception
-Artisan: Gardening / Awareness
-Artisan: Ikebana / Intelligence
-Courtier / Willpower

Each skill has a TN of 6, and gives their chosen sensei 1 debate point, with each raise increasing the debate point by 1. Repeat this step until all 4 rolls have been conducted.

When this event closes, the sensei with the highest debate points will have their garden choices enacted, and all students who supported them will gain a reward (To be revealed at event end)

Regardless, participation in this event will grant the students a bonus +3 Dojo Points.

-Hida Goroharu wants a more rugged garden, featuring hearty plants and succulents that require little care

-Doji Murashige wants a more colorful garden full of beautiful flowers, though they require replanting each year

-Kitsuki Tai Yu wants a more muted garden, still colorful, but using flowers that regrow on their own

-Shosuro Tomoe wants a more practical garden filled with medicinal herbs and secretly, some poisonous plants.

Bayushi Jiro was called over by Shosuro Tomoe to discuss the proper disposition of oleander bushes. Although he personally had no experience with gardening or the arranging of flowers, his kid sister being the one with the green thumb in the household, he was not about to refuse an opportunity to help institute a Shosuro-style garden in Imperial territory.

Courtier/Willpower, no raise=7. His initial foray was merely to establish his credentials as a Scorpion who had been in gardens and therefore had an opinion. It was mildly successful.

Artisan: Gardening/Awareness, no raise=7 His next contribution was in the matter of aesthetics. Oleanders came in many shades, and must be integrated into the whole. While a riot of color was acceptable in a place or two in a larger garden, it was much better when colors were complimentary.

Lore: Feng Shui/Perception, no raise=11 He continued with the point that the nature of a shrub was to conduct chi down its path, while preventing it from mixing with other chi elsewhere. I mean, he really had no clue what he was talking about, but it sounded convincing to most involved

Artisan: Ikebana/Intelligence, 1 raise=19. Finally, he added some useful information about groupings with oleanders, because if there was one thing that Jiro knew about, it was how to call up facts. Exceptional Success!



+6 debate points for Shosuro Tomoe. +3 Dojo points for Bayushi Jiro

"What's more rugged then a tea bush? Hida-sensei's idea of plants that take care of themselves can also benefit the dojo well. Plus, they're more likely to survive students like us practicing how to take care of them and that means they'll be here for lots of different students!" He looks to the sensei. "I like flowers and herbs, but do you want the garden to become a focus of teaching here or do you want it to be something you can study on the side?"


***************
D5 Monkey: Support Hida Goroharu Lore: Fung Shui / Perception, 1 Raise TN 8: 2d10k2 19, Exceptional Success + 3 Debate Points
D5 Monkey: Support Hida Goroharu Artisan: Gardening / Awareness, 1 Raise TN 8: 3d10k3 13, +2 Debate Points
D5 Monkey: Support Hida Goroharu: Artisan: Ikebana / Intelligence TN 6: 1d10k1 9 +1 Debate Point
D5 Monkey: Support Hida Goroharu: Courtier / Willpower, 1 Raise TN 8: 2d10k2 13 +2 Debate Points
Total: 8 Debate Points for Hida Goroharu.

He looks to the side, finishing cleaning work with Ginkarasu, and then one sensei waves to them in and explain the problem to the two.
Oooh, hardy plants reminded him home, and he would finally have tea leaves. Of course he would want hardy plants. There are already too many colorful plants in the imperial garden anyway. Besides, maybe he could call the attention of Hida-sensei.

D5 Monkey: Support Hida Goroharu Lore: Fung Shui / Perception, 1 Raise TN 8: 2d10 10
D5 Monkey: Support Hida Goroharu Artisan: Gardening / Awareness TN 6: 1d10 6
D5 Monkey: Support Hida Goroharu Artisan: Ikebana / Intelligence TN 8 one raise: 3d10 11
D5 Monkey: Support Hida Goroharu Courtier / Willpower TN 8 one raise: 4d10o10k3 23

Total: +8 debate points for Hida Goroharu. Who knew the crabs were smooth speakers.

Independent of Kenji's own preference, he stood up to Doji-Sensei and helped her to progress. Only a fool would openly act against a sensei from his own clan. So it was no surprise that Kenji saw Ginkarasu and Aiichiro on the side of Hida-Sensei.

Although Kenji had other preferences, he gave his best to represent the Doji Sensei's point of view.

" Think about Fung Shui, only an inspiring garden can be a source of great inspiration"

To underline his point, Kenji tried to make a nice Ikebana, which was not very good. To restore his face as soon as possible, he turned to another topic: "Only when the plants die down do the students have a reason to take care of the garden. If the plants don't need any care, the place can be left lying fallow".

Kenji then debated for a while, with relatively good success
---
D5 Monkey Garden Event Lore: Fung Shui/Int TN6: 1d10k1 7 <-- should say perc
D5 Monkey Garden Event Artisan:Ikebana/Int TN6: 1d10k1 2
D5 Monkey Garden Event Artisan:Gardening/Awa +1 Raise TN8: 2d10k2 10
D5 Monkey Garden Event Courtier/Willpower +1 Raise TN8: 4d10o10k3 19<- Exceptional Success

+6 Debate Points for Doji Murashige

"Huh? Sensei?"

Sakura followed when asked to come over. She listened to each sensei, nodding along, and thought for a moment.

"Well...every sensei has a good idea, but I think a prettier garden is important. What's the point of a garden that isn't pretty?"

Sakura then went into a long talk about the importance of a pretty garden, and how every flower would look exactly perfect in every place. She seemed so sure of her argument that eventually the senseis told her to move along, looking at each other with a slight headache.

The only thing they all understood for now was that she likely supported Doji-senseis garden.

(ooc:
D5 garden event - supporting Murashige! Lore:Fung Shui/perception +1 raise (TN8): 2d10 12 2 points
D5 garden event - supporting Murashige! courtier/willpower +1 raise (TN8): 1d10 8 2 points
D5 garden event - supporting Murashige! Artisan:Gardening/awareness +1 raise (TN8): 2d10 11 2 points
D5 garden event - supporting Murashige! Artisan: Ikebana / Intelligence +1 raise (TN8): 2d10 8 2 points

8, 8 points! Ah. Ha. Ha.

Gardens weren't much of a thing among the Unicorn outside of the Ide and some of the castles built to entertain visitors from outside the clan. A nomadic people had all the natural beauty they could want without putting up walls to build it in. As such, since they reminded him somewhat of the plants of the steppes, the young man put his minor support behind Hida-sensei. It was not compelling compared to a courtier but more compelling than he had expected to be honest.

(Lore Fung Shui/Perception Unskilled - Success - 1 Debate Point
Artisan: Gardening/Awareness Unskilled - Success - 1 Debate Point
Artisan: Ikebana/Intelligence Unskilled - Fail
Courtier/Willpower Unskilled - Success - 1 Debate Point

3 Debate Points for Hida Goroharu
3 Dojo Point for Ichiro)

Normally, Harkui would agree with Doji-sensei's approach of growing the prettiest things in the middle of the parade grounds, but students are confined only to this dojo. So they need variety in what they can eat and drink, and the best way to do that would be to plant hardy plants like tea and various vegetables. That's why he's gotta agree with Hida-sensei on this one.

Crunch (Helping Hida Goraharu)

D5 Monkey: Lore:Feng Shui, 1 raise, unskilled: 2d10 12

D5 Monkey: Gardening:Awareness 1 raise, unskilled: 2d10 16

D5 Monkey: Ikebana/Intelligence 1 raise, unskilled: 3d10 19 Exceptional!

D5 Monkey: Courtier/willpower, void point used, 1 raise called: 3d10o10k2 10

9 points to Hida Goroharu
+3 Dojo Points

Zashi feels obligated to help Tomoe Sensei after her lessons. Unfortunately Zashi was worthless at Fung Shui but the kitsuni Zashi had a shockingly green thumb and eye for presentation. Even more so, the slippery Kitsune shockingly knows how to pick a side and stand by it.

"We have plenty of food. A man can live on rice alone for months and not go mad if they have enough herbs."



OOC
D5 Monkey-Shosuro Tomoe-Lore: Fung Shui/Perception-TN 6: 1d10 3 Fail

D5 Monkey-Shosuro Tomoe-Gardening/Awarenesses-2 raises-TN 10: 3d10 12+3 Debate points
D5 Monkey-Shosuro Tomoe-Ikebana/Intelligence-TN 6: 1d10 9+1 Debate points

D5 Monkey-Shosuro Tomoe-Courtier/Willpower-2 raises-TN 10: 3d10 16 +3 Debate points


+7 Debate points to Shosuro Tomoe
+3 Dojo points

Saburo, for his part, had very little to contribute to the discussion. When he was caught on his way from eating the afternoon meal to then begin proper clean-up duties, he paused and looked at the sensei with the intensity of someone trying to determine why there were aquatic crustaceans departing their auditory canals and if he should summon up the Asako sensei in the hopes of getting her to address an obvious concern of collective well being. Finally, sighing, he tried to determine something to say but there really wasn't a whole lot of convincing flare and energy behind it.

Apparently, though, he considered the Hida's notion of feng shui at least slightly more ... unusual?

=======

Feng Shui (TN 6): 8 (Success!)
Gardening (CR TN 8): 6 (Failure - not a gardener)
Ikebena (CR TN 8): 16 (Success, so apparently he knows how to arrange things exactly so... big surprise.
Courtier (CR TN 8): 6 (Failure, but he really can't be fucked to give a shit, hah.)

Net: +3 Dojo Points, +3 Debate Points to Hida Goroharu. A splitting migraine for Saburo.

Nesrin noticed the pacing and arguing about the garden plot to be, and while it's not something she'd ever given much thought to, she definitely liked the idea of flowers, like those all over the plains, that would seed themselves again and again without care. They were beautiful in their season, little spots of color scattered in the blowing grasses, and would probably be even more impressive planted with some kind of plan in mind here. She said as much among the group that seemed to slowly gather over the debate. She really knew very little about gardening, and even less about the harmonious arrangements that some were talking about.


******************
1. -Kitsuki Tai Yu Courtier/Willpower, 1 raise
15 2 debate points

2. -Shosuro Tomoe Artisan: Gardening/Awareness
12 1 debate point

3. -Doji Murashige Artisan: Ikebana/Intelligence
17 1 debate point

4. -Hida Goroharu Lore; Fung Shui/Perception
3 fail

+5 debate points for Kitsuki Tai Yu
+3 dojo points

Prash was curious when he saw the meeting of people and four of the Sensei in the middle. He took his time hearing the students' opinions and the Sensei's proposals. He could clearly see the merits of the Doji's proposal for beauty in spite of the hard work it would need, the Shosuro's practical proposal of medicinal plants, and the Hida's succulent garden, which would be interesting and require little care.

But Kitsuki-sensei's proposal of a simple, but beautiful garden was perfect for quiet contemplation and meditation, and the idea of using plants which would regrow on their own was ingeniously reminiscent of the cycle of rebirth which all of beings go through.

He was not really trained in gardening or similar arts, but he was determined to defend the Dragon's proposal for its theological and spiritual significance.

OOC
Day 5 Monkey - Supporting Tai Yu. Courtier/Will, 1 Raise, TN 8. Rolling 3k2: 3d10o10k2 10 - 2 debate points for Kitsuki Tai Yu

Day 5 Monkey - Supporting Tai Yu. Gardening/Awareness. 1 Raise, TN 8. Rolling 2k2 unskilled: 2d10k2 6 Fail

Day 5 Monkey - Supporting Tai Yu. Ikebana/ Intelligence, 1 Raise, TN 8. Rolling 4k4 unskilled: 4d10k4 21 3 Debate points for Kitsuki Tai Yu due to exceptional success and raise

Day 5 Monkey - Supporting Tai Yu. Feng Shui/ Perception. TN 6. Rolling 1k1 unskilled: 1d10k1 7 1 Debate point for Kitsuki Tai Yu

Total:
6 Debate Points for Kitsuki Tai Yu
3 Dojo Points

Mai was a practical girl. Which of these ideas meant less work for her personally. Clearly, Hida Goroharu had the right idea. So, Mai bullshitted. Surprisingly, people took her arguments seriously. Well, then. Good for them.

D5 Monkey: Fung Shui, Gardening, Ikebana 1 Raise: 2d10 12 I meant to do all three in one roll, but screwed up. So, it will only count for the first one.

D5 Monkey: Gardening, Ikebana 1 Raise: 2#2d10 13 8

D5 Monkey: Courtier/Willpower 1 Raise: 2d10o10k1 11

+8 for Hida Goroharu

+3 Dojo Points

Perhaps for some, loyalty was blind. Certainly, Otoko supported a practical garden, as Shosuro-sensei recommended. Still, there was something to be said for the soul of a Yogo that spoke of perseverance, a sentiment echoed by a priestess of the earth. Thus, Otoko spoke up on favor of Hida-sensei's rugged garden.

She actually spoke decently for once in her life, making her case about the position and meaning such a garden could have. If only she actually knew one iota about actual gardening...

-------------------------------
Courtier/Willpower, Hida, 2d10 = 12 (Success)
Artisan: Ikebana/Intelligence, Hida, 2d10 = 16 (Exceptional Success)
Artisan: Gardening/Awareness, Hida, 2d10 = 2 (Uhhhh...)
Lore: Feng Shui/Perception, Hida, 2d10 = 12 (Success)

4 DP for Hida-sensei, +3 DP for Yogo-tan.

Yotsuo was ever the pragmatist. While he could see the reasoning behind Hida-sensei's ideas, Shosuro-sensei's suggestion of medicinal herbs made more logical sense to him. Having herbal remedies on hand that could be used for ill students. Also, having an example of living plants to act as demonstrations for what is helpful and harmful if one is foraging in the wild seemed a far more logical to the Kuni. You could be shown a picture in a book of what plants could be used for medicine, but having an actual example of the plant made identifying it so much easier.

----

D5 Monkey, Shosuro Tomoe, Lore: Feng Shui / Perception, TN 6: 1d10 6 1 Debate Point
D5 Monkey, Shosuro Tomoe, Artisan: Gardening / Awareness, 1 CR, TN 8: 2d10 13 2 Debate Points
D5 Monkey, Shosuro Tomoe, Artisan: Ikebana / Intelligence, 1 CR, TN 8: 4d10 20 Exceptional Success + 1 raise, 3 Debate Points
D5 Monkey, Shosuro Tomoe, Courtier / Willpower, 1 CR, TN 8: 2d10 14 2 Debate Points

+8 Debate Points for Shosuro Tomoe, +3 Dojo Points

Dao listened to Tai Yu describe her plans and nodded along. Flowers were different than rocks, though, and Dao preferred rocks.

He surprised himself though when he asked if creating rows of flowers to channel the harmonious energy and was complimented on a good idea. His thoughts on irrigation were also lauded and recommending which flowers should be grouped together to make the most aesthetically pleasing areas.

The delivery of his points was a little blunt however, as his mind was still running from the martial display he made at the battle training exercise.

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Day 5 Monkey - Supporting Tai Yu. Feng Shui/Perception. TN6: 1d10 9 = 1 point
Day 5 Monkey - Supporting Tai Yu.Gardening/Awareness 2CR. TN10: 2d10 10 = 3 points
Day 5 Monkey - Supporting Tai Yu.Ikebana/Intelligence 2CR. TN10: 2d10 18 = 3 points
Day 5 Monkey - Supporting Tai Yu.Courtier/Willpower TN6: 1d10 5 = 0 points

Total 7 support for Tai Yu
3 dojo points for Dao

When they asked the Lion his opinion, he was reluctant at first, but after some encouragement, he spoke up.

“Well, I don’t really know gardening,” Matsu Qiang admitted. “But if the tactical objective is to take this field, I’d advise swift and decisive action with overwhelming force. A vanguard of the most powerful plants should form your main battle line in the center of the field, supported by hardy skirmishing plants on either flank. With that in mind, Hida-sensei’s suggestion, which include spine-covered plants that require minimal logistical support, seems the best order of battle to achieve the objective.”

—
Day 5 Gardening with 2 raises PER/Lore: Feng Shui TN10: 3d10 19 passes (I rolled 3k2 by accident, but it's the same number of dice)
Day 5 Gardening with 1 raise AWA/Artisan: Gardening TN8: 1d10 7 fails
Day 5 Gardening with 2 raises INT/Artisan: Ikebana TN10: 2d10 13 passes
Day 5 Gardening with 1 raise WILL/Courtier TN8: 1d10 9 passes

Total: 8 debate points for Hida Goroharu

"Gardens should be practical, and have places for useful plants, like red mint, else the flow of energies will be distorted and... you may die!"

Monkey 5. Tomoe! Feng Shui. TN6.: 1d10 8

[+1 Point]

"And it all grows better if you add plants like red mint that help other plants grow, seriously!"

Monkey 5. Tomoe! Gardening. Raise! TN 8.: 3d10 13

[+2 Points]

"Herbs are really great in floral compositions! Consider the red mint..."

Monkey 5. Tomoe! Ikebana. Raise! TN 8.: 4d10 20

[+3 Points]

"And I actually could go on and on about the virtues of a garden Shosuro-sensei proposes, but I am sure others want to support it too!"

Monkey 5. Tomoe! Courtier. Raise! TN 8.: 4d10o10k1 9

[+2 Points]

[+8 Points to Tomoe, +3 Points to Shiso!]

"Eh? A garden here? Hmmm... I'd go with Hida sensei. Hardier plants that require less effort are best. They can survive the chaos of the students, and it takes less time and resources to manage, meaning that they may be spent elsewhere."

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Crunchy Bits:

D5 Monkey: Garden Building L:Fung Shui/Per TN6: 1d10k1 6
D5 Monkey: Garden Building A:Gardening/Awa 2 raise = TN10: 3d10k3 20
D5 Monkey: Garden Building A:Ikebana/Int TN6: 1d10k1 5
D5 Monkey: Garden Building Courtier/Wil TN6: 1d10k1 7
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Rewards:
+5 Debate Points to Hida Goroharu
+3 Dojo Points to Asako Sanzo