A Broom and a Stick

[Togashi Dao]

It was Dao's turn in rotation to clean the dojo up, so he took up a broom and started to sweep even as his mind was running through the lessons he had learned yesterday from Kitsuki Tai Yu in preparation for this morning's lessons.

[Matsu Qiang]

Matsu Qiang was up early helping with cleaning as well. The young Lion tried to ease the monotony of the chore by pushing the broom around the floor using the footwork from a swordsmanship drill. These movements looked rather strange while sweeping, but turned out to be surprisingly effective of clearing the immediate area of enemies... or, in this case, dust.

[Togashi Dao]

Do couldn't help but notice the rhythm behind Qiang's sweeping technique, although he didn't recognize the footwork - his own exposure to swordsmanship was quite limited after all.

"Good morning Matsu-sama. Sleep well?" He asked his sweeping partner conversationally. Dao had struggled his way through the courtier training the day before and was trying to work on his social skills by being more personable.

[Matsu Qiang]

"I always sleep soundly," Qiang declared. "Between the training and the chores every day, I've had no trouble finding my way to the Realm of Dreams each night."

The Lion swept dust from a corner of the room, then spun his broom around in a flourish, just for fun.

[Togashi Dao]

As Qiang flourished with his broom, there was a resounding CRACK as the flourish was parried by another broom.

"I find a good spot of exercise is wonderful in promoting a good night's sleep." Dao replies with a grin as the pair crossed 'swords'.

[Matsu Qiang]

"Oho! A new challenger appears!" Qiang chortled. "Ha-ha! Take that!" he exclaimed, and began exchanging broom-handle strikes and parries with the young Dragon. There was some swordsmanship to it, but rather more enthusiasm than art.

[Togashi Dao]

"You shall know defeat knave." Dao retorts as he ripostes wit ha slash of his own. "You cannot stand against my mighty honour and..."

Dao glances at his makeshift weapon and shrugs. "And the famed nemuranai, Broom of Destiny."

[Matsu Qiang]

"Oh yeah?" Qiang retorted, concealing dismay at facing a magic broom. "Well, you shall know defeat at the end of the ... uhh ... Ancestral Broom of Hirosaka." Grinning, he snapped the ancestral broom handle at Dao's wrist in a passable attempt at a kote uchi cut.

[Togashi Dao]

The strike was true and Dao dropped his broom, lifting his wrist to his mouth to soothe the wound.

"You have dishonoured my ancient broom of legend. It will be avenged, you heathen."

He steps over to the weapon racks and grabs a pair of proper bokken, tossing one to Qiang. "Show me your stance, oh mighty villain."

D9 Tiger Iai/Awa. Assess Qiang. TN10: 3d10 20

((Exceptional success? Learning Reflexes and Void Ranks))

[Matsu Qiang]

"You dare to challenge me?" Qiang boomed in a theatrical attempt at an imposing voice as he caught the bokken from the air. "Very well! If it's death you seek, I shall assist you."

The Lion assumed a (barely) passable dueling stance, bokken at his side.

--
Day 9 Tiger, practice duel AWA/Iaijutsu TN10: 3d10o10k2 14, will ask for iaijutsu ranks
Qiang's reflexes are 3. If I understand rule correctly, you can't get an unskilled exceptional success here.

[Togashi Dao]

((Iaijutsu 0))

Dao's stance was amateurish as well there was little polish to it at all, but there was a burning focus in his eyes.

D9 Tiger duel. Iai/Void + Stance: 5d10 30+4 = 34

[Matsu Qiang]

Why, he doesn't know how to hold a sword at all, Qiang thought to himself. He began to raise his sword, but his overconfidence led him to leave an opening...

-
Day 9 Tiger, practice duel, focus VOID/Iaijutsu +Center: 6d10o10k5+4 28
Dao gets to strike first. Qiang is ATN20.

[Utaku Ichiro]

Ichiro pauses in his own cleaning to watch the exchange. Taking notes on form and style - as youthful as they are.

[Togashi Dao]

Ichiro arrived just in time to see Dao's stick slip through the Matsu's defenses and while he tried to pull the blow, it left a small welt upon his opponent's forearm.

d9 Tiger duel. Iai/Ref + stance. TN20: 5d10+4 26
D9 Tiger duel. Damage: 4d10o10l1 3

[Matsu Qiang]

"Oh-!" Qiang said in surprise. He lowered his bokken as he acknowledged the hit.

"Good shot, Togashi-san," he said. "You know, you should do more sword work, I think you'd be a natural at it. As Akodo-sensei said, it could be important in a battle, especially for a general."

[Utaku Ichiro]

Ichiro nods, "A good showing from you both. I wondered if one of you might be willing to indulge me. I did not have training in iai before coming here and I would hate to embarrass myself tomorrow."

[Togashi Dao]

"Oh-!" Qiang said in surprise. He lowered his bokken as he acknowledged the hit.

"Good shot, Togashi-san," he said. "You know, you should do more sword work, I think you'd be a natural at it. As Akodo-sensei said, it could be important in a battle, especially for a general."

"I'm sure Akodo-sensei is blessed with wisdom. I hear a blade master comes tomorrow, perhaps I will show him what I can do and see if he agrees." Dao replied, offering Qiang a bow of respect.

[Togashi Dao]

Ichiro nods, "A good showing from you both. I wondered if one of you might be willing to indulge me. I did not have training in iai before coming here and I would hate to embarrass myself tomorrow."

"I could not in good conscience do so Iuchi-sama. Before I squared off against Kuni Yotsuo-sama and Kakita Kenji-sama, I had never tried this iaijutsu thing. But the thrill of it is exhilarating." He explained as the adrenalin continued to pump through him.