Kokyou vs Otomo Nobuko

[Vutall]

Please conduct your match here

[Otomo Nobuko]

When her name was called along with Kokyou's, Nobuko looked genuinely surprised. She had thought that pairings were to be based on what was known of each other's skills. As far as she was aware, there should be no reason she was considered anywhere on the same footing as someone like Kokyou.

She bowed first to the judges, then to Kokyou, then a second time to the judges before selecting a shorter bokken that was closer to the wakizashi she was most familiar with.

When it was asked of her, she focused on the movements of a basic form, letting herself go without thought for most of it until just at the end when a bit of inspiration hit about how to change the from so that it felt more like a part of herself. Such a change could have gone poorly, but in this instance, the execution was well enough done that it seemed to impress the judges just slightly.

After she finished, she bowed again and then stepped forward to their starting marks, bokken readied and hoping only that she could provide a good showing. Kokyou was far too much her better in the arts of combat to expect anything more.

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OOC
Ring Choice: Void
Strength 3

D4; LM; Weapons Event; Initiative: 4d10o10k3 29
D4; LM; Weapon Event; Kenjutsu (Wakizashi)/Trait; 1Raise: 6d10ro1o10k4 32 Pass +1; Raise +1 (2)

[Kokyou]

Kokyou is also surprised to have been paired with Nobuko. He grins widely. At least he paired with her at something.

With a bow to the judges, another to Nobuko then to the sensei once more, Kokyou unsheathes the wodden bokken and begins demonstrating the basic kata of kenjutsu. Nothing too fancy. The Mantis were indeed excellent warriors, yet, their weapon of excellence did not follow the same path as the many samurai in Rokugan.

After the demonstration, he bows once again to the judges and finds his spot at their marks. He crouches down, placing bokken to the ground, bows to Nobuko, and then collects the bokken again, assuming his fighting stance to begin.

In a flash, he lunges forward, bringing the bokken down at the Imperial like a crashing wave and a kiai.

"Haaar!"

--
Ring: Water
Strength: 5
D4, LM, Initiative: 5d10o10k4 36 (Quick)
D4, LM, Kenjutsu/Perception: 4d10o10k3 19 + 1 TP
D4, LM, Kenjutsu/Strength + Rank 1 Tech + VP: 8d10o10k6 47

[Otomo Nobuko]

Nobuko shut her eyes as Kokyou lunged, taking a deep breath and centering herself. Just as his hit would have landed, she stepped to the side and and let her arm extend in a very dancer-like movement. Her bokken tapped his shoulder gently as she blinked over at him, looking very much as though she were in a trance.


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OOC
D4; LM; Weapon Event; Kenjutsu (Wakizashi)/Trait + Void: 7d10ro1o10k5 52 vs 47 - Win

D4; LM; Damage Roll: 3d10o10l1 1

[Kokyou]

Kokyou received the hit with a grin, saying, "Hitting on me, Nobuko-chan?"

Then, he readjusts and lunges the blade upwards.

--
D4, LM, Kenjutsu/Strength + Rank 1 Tech + VP: 8d10o10k6 52

[Otomo Nobuko]

The comment distracts her, pulling her from her center.

"Ah... no. That is not... this is a fight-" she answered in denial of the implication of the flirtatious words while attempting to regain her center. But alas, she could not, and Kokyou's next strike landed true.


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OOC
D4; LM; Weapon Event; Kenjutsu (Wakizashi)/Trait + Void: 7d10ro1o10k5 41

[Kokyou]

Kokyou starts to grin even more, and takes another swing down. Not so focused as his previous witty hit.

--
+1 TO for going over 10
D4, LM, Damage: 5d10o10l1 1
D4, LM, Kenjutsu/Strength + Rank 1 Tech + VP: 8d10o10k6 47

[Otomo Nobuko]

She continued to try and find that inner peace she had at the start and it continued to remain elusive. The comment and the strike had broken whatever hold she had allowed to come over her that first time and now she was very much on the defensive and unable to find her footing. This time, Kokyou's swing hit her far easier.

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OOC
D4; LM; Weapon Event; Kenjutsu (Wakizashi)/Trait + Void: 7d10ro1o10k5 24

[Kokyou]

Kokyou's grin faded a bit as he saw how cute she got being a bit off-footed. With a frown, he tries to strike her again, forgetting to add any kiai.

---
+2 TP first hit (forgot to count)
+2 TP this hit
+2 TP exceed opponent's roll by 20
D4, LM, Damage: 5d10o10l1 1
D4, LM, Kenjutsu/Strength + Rank 1 Tech + VP: 8d10o10k6 30

[Otomo Nobuko]

Nobuko didn't quite find her center again, but Kokyou's lack of continued commentary gave her enough to almost fall back into that state she had been in. She parried his blow and landed one of her own.

But it came down much harder than she intended and she immediately pulled her arms back, horrified that she might have actually hurt him in some way, "I'm so sorry!"


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OOC
D4; LM; Weapon Event; Kenjutsu (Wakizashi)/Trait: 6d10ro1o10k4 48 vs TN30 - Win
D4; LM; Damage Roll: 3d10o10l1 8 THAT WAS LOW???


EDIT: Totals so far: 7 (2 for demo, 2 for 1st win, 2 for 2nd win, 1 for exceptional)

[Kokyou]

"Ha-haar! Fiesty one, eh!" He says with a swollen black eye, now. Then, Kokyou moves back a bit, and raises bokken doing so, trying to take advantage of the long blade.

--
Wounds: 9
D4, LM, Kenjutsu/Strength + Rank 1 Tech: 7d10o10k5 39

[Otomo Nobuko]

It was probably the adrenaline that allowed her to push the tip of his bokken to the side with her own deflecting strike. But it was her fear of harming him further that allowed her to tap her bokken lightly on the underside of his wrist with the upswing before backing off and bowing deeply.

"Ah, Kokyou-san, forgive my lack of control. I am not as well trained as you are in these arts. I do not know why they paired us," she said, as if she hadn't just somehow won with that last little love tap.


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OOC
D4; LM; Weapon Event; Kenjutsu (Wakizashi)/Trait: 6d10ro1o10k4 42 vsTN39 - Win (+2)
D4; LM; Damage Roll: 3d10o10l1 1
+10 for 3Wins

Total Points: 19

[Kokyou]

Happy to be hit three times by Nobuko, Kokyou smiles and bows to her, deeply. "Once again, the Heavens show their blessings to those that are closer to the Emperor. Otomo-sama needs not to apologize. She is mighty skilled, and proves it so. This humble one apologizes, instead, for being so rude with his words."

p-
TP total: +8 (pending ring)

[Otomo Nobuko]

She stared at him, mouth agape and forgetting herself and where they were for a brief moment. How could he say such a thing when she had accidentally given him a black eye? Her skills were lacking any real sense of control!

"I..." she shut her mouth and bowed again, deeper this time, "Your words were intended to distract and worked. It is not the kindest method of combat, but it is effective. You are a worthy opponent and I am honored to have faced you today, Kokyou-san."

[Kokyou]

"The honor is mine, Otomo-sama." He says keeping his bow and makes sure to maintain it she comes from the bow herself. Then, he finds a good place to meditate on what happened.

--
D4, LM, Meditation (Void Recovery)/Void TN 20: 5d10o10k4 40
+1 VP

[Otomo Nobuko]

Nobuko rises and after Kokyou leaves the ring, turns to face the judges and bow to them. Then she replaces her bokken and finds a spot to try and center herself. Calm her soul. She could contemplate how she had managed to win later. In the moment... she just wanted peace.


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OOC
D4; LM; Meditation/Void: 7d10o10k4 25 +2 VP