The New Winds

Sakura had spent some great times at the forge. Making so many different things...now it was time to give back. She was carrying some carefully treated woods, putting them onto the table before getting the last bags of jade left behind.

Looking over the materials, she took some time to think about how to approach this...

"HAAAAAR!"

Kokyou invades the forge swinging a huge piece of crystal in the air.

"Ah!"

Sakura jumped, turning quickly brandishing her Jade tanto, eyes wide.

"K-koyou-san! You scared me!"

She quickly bowed, the tanto vanishing as quickly as it appeared.

"I know. Sorry. I wanted t' surprise ye. 'tis huge ain't it?" He bangs the piece of crystal in his hand.

Sakura did indeed stare at the giant crystal when he waved it again.

"Ooh...what a pretty crystal..."

"Come on. Don't be shy. Touch it." He offers the item with two hands.

Sakura did get drawn in like a moth to the flame, reaching out before pulling her hands back at the last moment.

"Ano..that would be rude. Please accept my apologies" she bowed.

"No. 'tis fine. I wanted t' give it t' ye so ye work it out on somethin' greater still." He says, offering it again.

Give? Wait is this...Yippeee!

Sakura looked up at the boy, her eyes lighting up.

"Ano...but it's yours, don't you want to create something great with it?" she offered a second refusal.

"In me hands, 'tis jus' a huge piece or rock. In yers, it can become a deadly weapon." He offers it again. "Let the Empire see the greatness those wee hands can do."

Sakura smiled brightly, reaching out to accept the giant crystal, holding it close to her.

"I promise to make something amazing with it Kokyou-san. Thank you" she bowed to him, smiling brightly "you're one of my best friends. I'm glad to have met you."

"I know." He says.

Sakura kept smiling, then turned back to the forge.

"Hmm...Kokyou-san, want to make something with me?"

"Aye! How can I be o' further help, poppet?" He asks, looking to the forge and inhaling a lot of air while his hands rest on his waist.

"I got this wood treated so it would be able to resist heat, and I was going to put some windchimes up in this furnace as a thank you for allowing me to work here. Want to make some with me? I can show you how, although I've never done it before myself" she looked over at Kokyou "I was going to ask whoever joined me today to join in, as I wanted to leave this forge feeling pretty and welcoming."

"Yaar. Tell me wha' t' do. I am no artisan, albeit being an extraordinary heroic bushi 'n 'n powerful shugenja in trainin'." He mentions, checking what she said.

Sakura giggled.

"Ok, here's what you do!"

She explained the process of making a windchime. It sounded pretty simple, and they were using basic materials so it wasn't too hard to work with either. Sakura wasn't very experienced with wood and string, but she was able to demonstrate making a very simple wooden windchime.

(Craft:Woodworking/agility vs TN10)

D9 Hare craft:Woodworking/Agility TN10: 4d10 10

With a knife in hand, the boy is nearly miraculous. He scoffs, saying, "I be such a fast learner. Check this piece o' art."

--
D9, Hare, Craft: Woodworking/Agility TN 10 Unskilled: 4d10 31

Prash gets inside the forge again, this time not to work on anything specific, but looking for the small Doji.

As he sees her talking to Kokyou and starting some work, he bows to them both, respectfully, but tries not to meddle much.

"Doji-san, Kokyou-san. Nice to see you again here", he says, smiling. "Doji-san, I was hoping to see you working and maybe help you with something if possible to learn a bit from you, but it seems you already have able helping hands! Would you mind if I just watch your work, then?"

"Ooh, Iuchi-san!" Sakura turned round with a big smile, bowing "come come. We're making windchimes to hang around the forge! Come make one too!"

She looked back at Kokyou, impressed.

"Wow Kokyou-san, that looks great!"