(Day 4, EA) Mandatory Event: Artistry

[Utaku Nesrin]

Nesrin watches each who comes before her, wondering at the topic she'll be given. When she is called forward, she does not laugh that they give a Unicorn Tradition as a concept to work with. She kneels before the desk and tools provided, rolling words around in her head for as long as she dares, then absently grinding the ink onto the stone for just a few more moments to compose.

When she picks up the brush though, her hand is steady and the ink swoops and flows with an athletic grace.

Topaz traditions abound
While new training tries to begin
Are lessons learned
For a commendable commencement?
Or is it merely a moment?
What history will hold these names, chosen one by one?

She begins to recite the poem right from that spot, but quickly finds that she's badly misjudged the acoustics her. Walking is more appropriate for travel poetry anyway. So she rises, still reciting, and finishes strong. Before bowing to the judges, she lets her words linger a moment while her eyes examine the works that came before her.

___________
Ring: Void

Calligraphy / Void
D 4 EA Artistry Calligraphy / Void one raise TN 25: 5d10o10k4 38
4 points

Artisan (Travel Poetry) / Void
D 4 EA Artistry Artisan (Travel Poetry) / Void one raise TN 25: 5d10o10k4 15
0 points

Artisan (Travel Poetry) / Void
D 4 EA Artistry #2 Artisan (Travel Poetry) / Void one raise TN 25: 5d10o10k4 27
3 points

7 points total (14 if correct ring)

**********
Investigation/Perception
D 4 EA Artistry Investigation/Perception, TN 20: 6d10o10k3 24
success

[Ide Hazrat]

Hazrat recites a prayer for luck as he takes his seat, as is his custom. Several people watch as he does so, though, and there is more than a little whispering among onlookers. Paying them no mind, he closes his eyes and chants the mantra. "Zhuanlun, Lord of Changes, smile upon me and grant me Good Fortune."

Casting Reversal of Fortunes 5d10o10k3: 24 *success*

Then, before picking up his brush, he empties his mind and finds his center, doing his best to let the world flow through him.
RING: Void

Calligraphy / Void: 18
Reversal of Fortunes Re-Roll: 21 *using this one*

Given the prompt of 'excellence,' he writes:

From the pavilion one sees the sun setting behind the hills,
Unrelentingly toward the horizon stretch the fields of grass;
In order to see a thousand miles further,
To a higher level one must go.

Not knowing what other art he could demonstrate, and remembering how his sister would condense long epics into shorter poems, Hazrat tries to reverse the process, weaving a story to expand upon the themes in his poem in more detail. Careful not to make his story too derivative of any he had read before, he did his best to incorporate the idea of 'excellence.'

Perform: Storytelling / Void: 39
Reversal of Fortunes Re-Roll: 48 *using this one*

Perform: Storytelling / Void: 32 *using this one*
Reversal of Fortunes Re-Roll: 28

Long, long ago there lived a king who loved horses. One day he asked an artist to draw him a beautiful horse. The artist said, "All right, but you must wait." So the king waited. He waited and waited. At last, after an entire year he could not wait any longer. He went to see the artist himself.

When he saw the kind, the artist quickly brought out paper and a brush. In five minutes he finished drawing a very beautiful horse. But despite the quality of the picture, the king was angry. "You can draw a good horse in five minutes, yet you kept me waiting for a year! Why?"

"Come with me, please." said the artist. They went to the artist's workroom. There they saw piles and piles of paper. On every piece of paper was a picture of a horse. "It took me more than a year to learn to draw a beautiful horse in five minutes." the artist said.

Then, on a whim, Hazrat illustrated his poem with a simple drawing of a horse.
Artisan: Painting / Void: 17
It was only vaguely-equine looking, and could easily have been a cow. Or a dog.

"Of course," he quickly added, "I have spent my years learning to tell stories, and have not yet dedicated any time to learning to draw a beautiful horse. This just goes to show the truth of the story's message."

[Kaito Haruki]

Are you alone now
No,The void is everywhere
Unseen, but helping

A simple pot is presented to the judges. In it, a soup filled with various sea creatures and complementary vegetables. The important to note, is that the broth is a perfect complement to every element, both on their own and as a full spoonful.

D4 EA: calligraphy/void 1 raise, TN 25: 6d10o10k4 39 (Pass, 2 called raises, exceptional success, 6 points)
D4 EA: artisan:cooking/void, prodigy, 2 raises, TN 30: 7d10o10k4 42 (Pass, 2 called raises, exceptional, 6 points)
D4 EA: artisan:cooking/void, prodigy, 2 void points, 4 raises, TN 40: 9d10o10k6 49 (Pass, 4 called raises, 9 points)
Passed all 3 rolls, +5 Points
26 points total before ring reveal

Difficulty of art=2 (after spices on hand), therefore craft completed.

[Iuchi Prashant]

Prashant bows to all three judges when his turn comes to receive his theme - his face serene, a smile on his lips. He nods acknowledging particularly the Hida, whom he had seen two days before, and the Kitsuki, who had a particularly strong influence on him. He was happy to see her in person again after quite a long time, although this didn't show much besides a nod and a particularly peaceful look in his eyes.

The judges announce his theme in writing, not in speaking - and his smile changed to a grin on the left side of his mouth as he took on a thoughtful expression.

How could one express silence with words?

And how could one express those words in art?

He sat down to think as he often had done in Hirosaka - in the lotus position. His eyes open this time, he looked at the others' work and focused on the sounds around him, so that he could better understand the absence of sound.

He observes the others' movements, heard them working, hears their own poems, stories and other performances.

He then looks at the sky. A single bird crosses it, soon followed by others, moving towards where the river enters the town.

Prash finally moves, taking a brush in his hands, and trying to let it move on its on rhythm on the paper set before him.

unruffled waters -
a flight of swallows listens
to their own reflections

He looks at the paper where he wrote the poem. It would not do to read that poem aloud, of course.

He examines some of the materials exposed around for them to use, and ends up taking four small bells and some pieces of bamboo. He also takes some leaves from the ground and some cotton thread.

Using the rest of the time he has, he sets up to lengthen the clappers of all three bells, making sure they wouldn't hit the bell's lip when moved around. He then placed all four bells hanging from cotton threads inside a bamboo structure in the general shape of a gorintō shrine, leaving each bell at a different height, and all of them far enough from the outer structure so that the bells would move, but wouldn't ring when the structure was moved. Finally, he places the slip of paper with his poem and a dry leaf below it, also hanging right at the centre of the structure, circled by all four bells, but at a different height than all of them.

When he is done, he places another cotton cord on top of the resulting amulet, so that it can be hung as decoration, and his mouth moves as if saying some words atop it, although no sound comes from his lips.

The end product is an amulet looking like a bamboo frame of a gorintō shrine with four metal bells at different heights, none of which actually ring when the hanging amulet moves. The paper with Prashant's poem hangs right at the centre of the structure, with the dry leave below it. A tribute to silence, including elements alluding to the five rings.

He seems quite at peace when he's done, and pleased with the result - and apparently so do the judges.

After he's done, he hangs his trinket and goes back to watching the others work.

OOC
Day 4 EA - Calligraphy/ Void for poem, Prodigy, 1 VP for +1k1. 1 CR. TN 25: 8d10o10k5 36 - 1 for pass, 2 for CR, 1 for ES; total 4 TP
Day 4 EA - Artisan: Meishodo/ Void for amulet, Prodigy, 1 VP for +1k1. 1 CR. TN 25: 8d10o10k5 62 - 1 for pass, 2 for CR, 3 for ES; total 6 TP
Day 4 EA - Artisan: Meishodo/ Void for amulet, second roll, Prodigy, 1 VP for +1k1. 2 CR. TN 30: 8d10o10k5 52 - 1 for pass, 4 for CR, 2 for ES; total 7 TP
Plus 5 TP for passing all three rolls.

Total 22 TP before Ring announcement.

[Isawa Tanshin]

Tanshin felt a bit nervous entering into this scenario. His mind had been pre-occupied with the mysteries of Hitoshi and Satsume, so he directed those energies into this test.

He begins by clearing his mind, and reaching to the Fire kami to enhance his skills:
D4 EA Cast Fire Kami's Blessing TN 15: 7d10o10k5 55

He crafts out a poem which he feels is relevent to his thoughts and the circumstance:
D4 EA Write Poem Calligraphy/INT +4R +1V TN 40: 10d10o10k6 50

His prose is of a Father, proud and distant who looks upon a young man who reminds him of himself in youth.
He feels that he cannot accept the boy as a relative, though he smiles at the thought of a past love he had experienced.
The father imposes multiple tests upon the boy, who repeatedly rises to the occasion
the poem concludes with the father awarding the boy a place in his house for all his deeds as an adopted son.
D4 EA Write Poem Calligraphy/INT +4R +1V TN 40: 10d10o10k6 50

Tanshin looked over his work with satisfaction. The lines of calligraphy were nearly flawless. Now, to perform it.
He had some skill in acting, though mostly to walk among the heinin without notice. He performed the contents of the poem as a soliloquy, with the father feeling anguish over his legacy ... if he could embrace it.

D4 EA 1st Acting/INT +4R +1VP TN 40: 10d10o10k6 61

Estimated TP: 12 Raises, 3 Exceptional Raises, 3 Tests Passed, +5TP for Passing all 3 = 35pts

[Asako Saburo]

In the last several days, while Saburo had clearly been more than competitive enough to wish to demonstrate the full range of his skills here as he had been taught them, almost anyone who had seen him would have noticed a distinct difference from the days when they had first met him at the academy. He focused, rather on perfection and angling towards ensuring that every last thing he did was a complete masterpiece, on ensuring that he never lacked for sufficient skill on his own merits and completed each test without a failure. His countenance was less grave and considerably less aggressive when he approached and presented his haiku.

Humility... a difficult concept for samurai who were seeking the position of Topaz Champion. yet, within the tenet of Compassion, the truth was that Humility was a real part, to acknowledge that each was a tool of their lord.

Praise shifts with each breeze
Duty strengthens the oaks roots
sustains forever

His sincerity and clarity of mind carried the day in his presentation easily.

==================
Selected Ring: Void
Required Rolls:
Void-Calligraphy (TN 20), Void for 1k1: 33, Exceptional Success +1
Void-Perform: Poetry (TN 20), Void for 1k1: 40, Exceptional Success +2
Void-Perform: Poetry (TN 20), Void for 1k1: 51, Exceptional Succeess +3

Final Result:
3 (Completed rolls) + (0 Called Raises) + (6 Exc Raises) + 5 (Completed all five tasks) = 14 before possible Ring Bonus

[Akodo Kichiro]

Following along with the instructed theme of hope, Kichiro steps up to stage and recites his art.

I’ll turn a new leaf,

May it be a golden one

Heart of mine grateful.

Put on display are a small collection of shattered pots, once broken and without purpose, now reforged in beautiful gold mending its pieces together. Its damaged form now altered into something far more beautiful than its original. A testament to how the scars of life only further elevate us.


________________
Ring: Void
(Artisan and Calligraphy same rank)

D4:EA Art Event Art-Calli/Void ALL VOIDED +3 Raises TN35 on all: 3#7d10o10k6 56 33 47
Failure on roll #2. Using Luck
D4:EA Art Event Art/Void VOIDED +3 Raises TN35 LUCK REROLL: 7d10o10k6 53

Points breakdown: +3 from three passes, +18 from total of nine successful raises, +5 for exceptional, +5 for passing event

Final score before ring reveal: +31 points

[Ikoma Nijiro]

Nijiro is not prepared for this, his mind is somewhere else.

(Ring Void)

Day 4 EA Calligraphy Void 1 vp for skill: 4d10o10k3 13 (fail)

(Activating bond)

Day 4 EA Preform Storytelling 1 raise for each TN 25: 2#5d10o10k3+5 21 35 (fail, Pass +1 +2 for raise +1 for exceptional roll)

(+4 before ring)

[Matsu Qiang]

“My poem is called Resolve,” said Matsu Qiang. He presented a scroll covered in beautiful, perfectly formed calligraphy.

Stand against the waves
Defy all adversaries
A man will not break

In support of his written words, the young Lion had also shaped a mighty tsunami wave from blue and white origami paper - a difficult construction due to both its size, and the irregularity of the wave’s shape. In front of this huge wave of blue and white paper was another origami construction, a small man folded from sea green paper, raising a sword defiantly against the wave that was about to crush him.

A thoughtful art critic might perceive a certain symbolism in the colors of paper that had been chosen to form the two exhibits.

—
Matsu Qiang chooses VOID.
Day 4 Art Test, write poem with 2 called raises, VOID/Calligraphy +Void Point TN30: 6d10o10k5 52 succeeds with 2 called raises and 2 exceptional success for 7 Topaz Points
Day 4 Art Test, first attempt at interpretive origami with 2 called raises, VOID/Art: Origami +Void Point TN30: 6d10o10k5 46 succeeds with 2 called raises and 1 exceptional success for 6 Topaz Points
Day 4 Art Test, second attempt at interpretive origami with 2 called raises, VOID/Art: Origami +Void Point TN30: 6d10o10k5 31 succeeds with 2 called raises for 5 Topaz Points
Passed all 3 rolls for 5 Topaz Points

Total for this event: 23 Topaz Points

[Vutall]

Hitoshi—male Mantis bushi. Surprisingly, Hitoshi does well here, though nothing incredibly noteworthy (receives points for passing 3 rolls, passing the event, and selecting the correct ring)
+16

Kakita Riku—female Crane bushi. Riku was thought to be one who would do well having trained at the Academy, but her performance isn't anything impressive. (receives points for passing 3 rolls, passing the event, and selecting the correct ring)
+16

Bayushi Mei Lin—female Scorpion bushi.Mei Lin completes the task without trouble (receives points for passing 3 rolls, passing the event, and selecting the correct ring)
+16

Mirumoto Hinata—female Dragon bushi. Hinata has an odd demonstration using needles and an orange skin, and her poem is puzzling, but she passes. (receives points for passing 3 rolls, passing the event, and selecting the correct ring)
+16

Shiba Tōya—male Phoenix bushi. Tōya composes a poem of pure beauty, and their performance of oration was extraordinary (receives points for passing 3 rolls, 3 raises, passing the event, and selecting the correct ring)
+22

Moto Batbayar—female Unicorn bushi. A tale about exploring the wide open plains and a demonstration of throat singing. (receives points for passing 3 rolls, passing the event, and selecting the correct ring)
+16

Kitsu Tsubasa—male Lion shugenja: Tsubasa's poem is on the nature of the water kami, and he performs a dance that is said to make rain fall. (receives points for passing 3 rolls, passing the event, and selecting the correct ring)
+16

Yasuki Jun—male Crab courtier: Juns poem, and performance were the things people will talk about for ages...but not because they were any good. (Jun fails this event)
+0

Utaku Himeko—Female Unicorn Bushi: Once again, Himeko insists on going after her brother, matching him in performance. (Receives points equal to Utaku Ichiro in this event)
+? Topaz Points

[Vutall]

Mai: 13
Bayushi Jiro: 22
Kaiu Aiichiro: 29
Bayushi Kaiden: 11
Toritaka Sasaiko: 19
Zashi: 34
Ikoma Eichiro: 26
Kitsuki Asahi: 33
Yasuki Ginkarasu: 23
Moto Ichiro: 15
Kuni Yotsuo: 11
Kokyou: 12
Kakita Kenji: 17
Otomo Nobuko: 20
Kakita Kazuko: 16
Miya Wyn: 20
Togashi Dao: 30
Mirai: 24
Utaku Nesrin: 14
Ide Hazrat: 18
Kaito Haruki: 33
Iuchi Prashant: 29
Isawa Tanshin: 35
Asako Saburo: 21
Akodo Kichiro: 38
Ikoma Nijiro: 11
Matsu Qiang: 30

[Utaku Ichiro]

Ichiro was hardly an artist. His Togashi family-to-be had told him some of the basics of tattooing and he had learned the bare bones of calligraphy in the Ruby Dojo. Still, in he end, while his knowledge of tattooing was sufficient but not spectacular his brushwork was exquisite and the poem serviceable.


(Approach: Void

Calligraphy/Void, VP for +1k1, TN20 = 53 - 4TP
Artisan: Tattooing/Void, VP for +1k1, TN20 = 22 - 1 TP
Artisan: Tattooing/Void, VP for +1k1, TN20 = 25 - 1 TP, +5 for passing all three

Total: 11 Topaz Points + potential ring bonus)

[Kaito Kai]

It would be exceedingly generous to say Kai was a practiced artisan. If anything, it was obvious she was just writing and moving around in whatever way felt right at the moment after clearing her mind.

That it was effective was somewhat disquieting.

----
Use Ring: Void

D4 EA Calligraphy/Void TN20: 6d10o10k5 53 +4 TP

D4 EA Dance Dance Kaito TN20: 2#6d10o10k5 36 +2 TP 60 +5 TP

All rolls passed

Total TP: +16