The New Winds

Mai finds the Lion sensei, hoping to learn a bit more about shogi.

The old general is sitting on a cushion inside the dojo with his eyes closed.

Mai approaches and bows. "Akodo-sensei. Thank you for seeing me. I hope to learn much from this lesson."

He opens his eyes slowly and nods, pointing to a shogi board nearby, but says nothing.

Mai takes her seat. He was treating it like a battle. This is what she had hoped. She had taken a lot of interested in tactics. It was interesting, and well, fun to find the right tactics. She did start to admire the Lion a little. At least, she started to understand their interest battle. She waited for the Akodo's opening move.

It was an aggressive opener, unlike the defensive ones he had been showing off to some of the other students. He remained quiet, and barely looked at the board, instead staring intently at the Mantis girl before him.

Mai was prepared for anything. She played mainly defensively while trying test the Akodo's defenses when she could.

It doesn't take long before the Akodo overwhelms her.

"Again" he grunts.

Mai goes first this time. She starts out aggressively, though not in the same way the Akodo was. She is apparently trying what is the shogi equivalent of a pincer attack.

The Akodo moves his pieces in response, always keeping them just 1 square out of capture range.

Mai makes a "mistake" hoping the old Lion goes for it. Mai suspect that her best chance is the Lion underestimates her.

And he does underestimate her. But if it is on accident, or purpose, it is hard to tell.

Mai carefully looks at the Lion's move looking at where his pieces are and what they can do turns in advance. With that, she bows to the Lion. "You win again, Akodo-sensei." She then point out the five different ways that he could counter any move she might make. Possibly one even he didn't see.

D7 Monkey: Games: Shogi/Perception VOID for skill: 4d10o10k3 52

"You concede too early, Mantis-san. If you would have played through, I believe you would have beat me."

D7 Monkey Games: Shogi/Perception: 7d10o10k4 45

"I see." Mai stares at the board and considers. "Akodo-sensei, I have question. I looked at this game as a battle. But how does one know when to continue the fight and when to conserve your people?"

"There isn't an answer to that question that is easy, Mantis-san. It is like answering which way the wind will blow tomorrow. The answer can only be given in the moment, though you can learn patterns and predictions, nothing will compare to the actual time"

Mai ponders on that. She then nods. "Another game?"

"Only if you play it to the final conclusion."

Mai nods and waits for the Lion to make the first move.

The General makes a very aggressive move to start the game.