The New Winds

Please conduct your match here

Asako Saburo stepped into the ring opposite the Kakita. There were a few whispered murmurs among those who attended this particular match-up, though there were fewer than perhaps the Kakita might have liked. After all, for her to be pitted against a shugenja who looked more than a little bit on the sullen and not particularly well side, of the Phoenix no less, wasn't exactly what would be considered an especially good match-up to demonstrate her prowess. There were other matches that would be much more fascinating. The Togashi was present. There were multiple Crab and Lion. There was even that incident of an Otomo picking up and carrying around Bayushi like a rag-doll. Honestly? It was lucky anyone was paying attention to what should have been a foregone conclusion.

As he took his position, he bowed across at her, speaking in a polite, smooth and yet intensely calculated tone. "I have studied the ways of the Kakita extensively in the last year. I look forward to seeing them in practice in the art of Sumai." It was all very polite, but there was a clear-cut hint undercutting it that he knew exactly what a Kakita was capable of in Sumai and was not duly impressed. Once the the two of them had performed their kiai in preparation and the bows were under way, they could begin in earnest.

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Selected Ring: Fire (Agility/Intelligence for active Intimidation & Jiujutsu rolls)
[b}Strength Score:[/b] 3 (+1k0 damage due to Jiujutsu 3.)

Required Rolls:
- Intimidation-Intelligence Untrained: 20
- Willpower w/ Honor to resist Intimidation: 16
- Initiative: 16

Riku bows to Saburo.

"I look forward to our match.

Earth Ring, Strength 5

D2 Sumai Init: 5d10o10k4 33
D2 Sumai Intim: 6d10o10k5 45 - Saburo suffers -1k0
D2 Sumai Resist: 5d10o10+6 44 - Riku resists

She rushes forth and pushes on Saburo with great force

D2 Sumai Attack: 6d10o10k5 22

The Kakita came at him with fury and raw power, and it was matched with the whipchord speed of the flicker of flames. Though he looked briefly rattled, when her hands came at him, his body twisted and it was she who began to move backwards, leverage and force moving at Saburo's discretion as he aimed to take the initiative away from the Kakita. A simple grunt, and there was a reaction when the weak looking young man did not yield and instead began to press the attack.

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Contested Agility-Sumai -1k0, Void: 33 - Exceptional Success
Sumai Damage for successful roll, keeping lowest - 2 Damage

Saburo: 1
Riku: 0

She tried to gain a new angle, setting her feet and pushing once more.

D2 SUmai Attack: 6d10o10k5 31

The new angle was finding no purchase in the ishiken. Though she had a shattering nerve to her, and though she was putting her back into it quite literally, Saburo was driving her ever closer to the edge, his amber eyes set with determination as he continued to flicker like a burning, guttering flame, teeth set and gravelly growl of exertion showing the strain. A steady stance, the Hida had said, but he was testing the resolve of how steady this one's stance was against the burning of his passion and limberness of his limbs. And, as her feet neared the edge of his ring, there were definitely a few people who were ... surprised to see the Kakita having this much trouble.

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Contested Agility-Jiujutsu, -1k0, Void: 40
Jiujutsu Round 2: 1 Damage kept

Saburo: 2
Riku: 0

One last attempt from the Crane as she struggles to overcome the Asako

D2 Sumai Attack,: 6d10o10k5 26

She started to make progress finally against Saburo. For all that he had pushed thus far, he was still very much in this fight, but the exertion was showing, a reminder of the fact that the Hida warned against not using a solid, steady stance.

Contested Jiujutsu for Round 3: 15

(Roll damage)

D2 Sumai Damage: 5d10o10l1 3

Thinking she has an upper hand, Riku extends herself into the push, putting her a bit off balance

D2 Sumai Attack , 2 raises: 6d10o10k5-10 15

It would cost her. In the moment, as she started to feel the give, to get purchase back and try to push him back, Saburo felt his second wind kick in. He drew on the last of his reserves and those amber eyes flared. Not today. He heaved with all of his might and took advantage of the change in her center of gravity. Thrusting hard, he pushed her past the edge of the ring, and out of bounds with a pant of exertion. It had taken everything, but he was standing there panting as a few murmured gasps attended those who were present.

Standing, he immediatedly moved into a proper posture for sumai and bowed to her. "Moving you... is like moving a small mountain, Kakita-san. Thank you for giving me a real challenge."

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Contested Jiujutsu Round 4: 39, Doubly Exceptional Success
Sumai Damage, keeping lowest: 2

Result:
Asako Saburo 3 - 3 Exceptional Success Points (+19 Topaz Points)
Kakita Rika 1 - No extra raises (+2 Topaz Points)
(Correct Ring To Be Revealed)

She returns the bow, a little stunned she lost, but quickly recovers.

"Thank you as well, Asako-san."

He rose from the bow, looking at her carefully. She did not look especially injured, and thus he did not offer healing services, not unless she requested it. Breathing a sigh of relief, he grunted once and offered a smile. "I am pleasantly surprised to see how solid your stance was. You had an excellent sensei. I will be looking forward to seeing your skills in the weapon trials." And, ideally? Not being on the receiving end. He was rotating an arm carefully, reflecting on the fact that this woman was easily as strong as Mai was. And that? that was saying something.

Seeing the proctors approach, he bowed to them as well and looked over at her. "I believe we have a moment to recover, though I suspect they will need the field for the next match." And he wished to take a moment to recover for himself. Just as others would be receiving healing spells, he had one of his own.

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Void Recovery:
Void-Meditation TN 30: 35 - Success (+2 Void Points)
Cast Drawing the Void, TN 10: 41 - Success (+2 Void Points)