After an opportunity to change out of their sparring outfits, the students all gather in the Garden and are met by Bayushi Moriko, Kitsuki Tai Yu, and Hida Goroharu.
- Air is precise, distant, and analytical. Air does not approach the matter directly, but with care, subtlety, and planning.
- Earth is firm, grounded, and cautious. Earth prefers to act decisively, but only after due consideration.
- Fire is passionate, inventive, and direct. Fire acts swiftly and with overwhelming force.
- Water is flexible, responsive, and powerful. Water acts with confidence, flowing around the problem until it finds a solution.
- Void is the element of no element, the mind of no mind. Void does not think, plan, or react. Void simply acts, moving in accordance with instinct and the natural path of the cosmos
Tai Yu gives a bow to everyone and says:
"Much of what you have demonstrated thus far is important, but all of it is meaningless without something to live for. Art is the expression of that something, and today you will first write down, and then perform a piece of poetry in whatever way you see fit to express the words."
The judges ask each student to write their poem and create their art to represent the theme of the poem written based on the topic that they give them. The topic themes tend to be based on virtues of Bushidō, or abstract concepts such as “impermanence” or “hope.”
Judge Ring Hint: Tai Yu then takes a puff from her pipe and says "It is not we who are the poets, it is the universe itself,
Event Rules:
Participants: Unlimited (Mandatory Event)
Spells: Allowed, Each roll is considered a "Round". You cast the spell just before the event begins and may not cast during.
Kiho: Allowed, each roll is considered a "Round", Kiho must be activated at the start of the event, not during.
Kata: Not Allowed, as this is not a Combat.
Tattoos: Allowed, as each roll is considered a "Round" and you may use free actions at any time.
You may NOT target an opponent with any of these abilities before the event begins.
If you purposefully harm an opponent outside of the realm of the Sumai event (By winning the contested Jiujutsu roll) or the Weaponry event (By winning the contested Weapon roll) you loose 1.0 honor and 10 topaz points. If you do so a second time, you will be sent home in shame, removed from the tournament (and thus the game)
Also please remember that Spellcasting in Rokugan is a very spiritual thing, and to ask for the kami to do something for you is an incredibly rare thing and should not be done lightly.
Select a Ring to use during this event. Unless the roll specifically mentions a trait, you must use that ring for the entire event.
First, players must write down their poem using Calligraphy / Mental, TN 20
Then, players must make 2 rolls, all at TN 20, picking one skill (and subskill) of the following to roll to express their poem. Any artisan or perform can be chosen, as it is interpretive! (Note: The two rolls use the SAME skill you selected, so if you picked Artisan: Weaponsmith, you would make two Artisan: Weaponsmith rolls)
Acting / Mental
Artisan (Any) / Mental
Perform (Any) / Mental
Rewards:
-The student gains 1 Topaz Point per passed roll
-Additionally, students may gain an additional +2 points per successful raise
-Exceptional Success Raises may be utilized if you possess the skill you are rolling, each exceptional success (Up to your Void) granting +1 points
-If a student passes all 3 rolls, they are deemed to have sufficient knowledge of the Arts, passing the event and are awarded 5 Topaz Points
At the end of the event, the three sensei will reveal which Ring they felt was the most appropriate and you will gain +7 Topaz Points if you used it.
