Armour of honour - week 1 - Demonstration of worth

[Kitsuki Yuushahime]

Musori, the ronin town mayor himself, was there to open the spellcraft competition on the Friday. The venue was the large garden at the back of the castle. A number of things had been set into the garden that hadn't been there in the days preceedings it - some targets, containers with water and earth, a large bonfire, a few potted plants and a few ornate boxes with who knew what inside. Soshi Ryuta and Iuchi Mamate gathered those assembled and began to outline the competition while the third judge, Shiara, spoke to those who had come to witness the competition. Only ronin and the town guests were invited. No peasants were in the garden today, bar a few servants and one well to do merchant who had somehow talked his way in with his wife.

The competition was simple enough. Those participating had to use their known spells to affect, in whatever way they liked, those objects scattered around the garden - as long as they did so relatively safely. Those that could achieve this best, in the opinion of the judges, would then be narrowed down further via a test of communing with the kami. Finally, three would remain and they would each have to watch the judges cast and see if they could name the spell. The winner would receive a special prize while the two runners up would receive a prize too.

The eight soon to be shugenja looked quite pleased at these odds, though the vague instructions were puzzling. Unfortunately, they were not allowed to ask questions. At noon the competition began.

A young Tamori stepped up first, smiling at the crowd before summoning a large tetsubo from nowhere and crashing it into one of the targets. Laughing he smashes the target down before discarding the tetsubo so that it fades into nothingness. The judges do not look amused. The Tamori, not noticing this, follows this brutal display up by calling to the heavens and they answer, a defeaning noise being heard by all the spectators as a fork of lightning strikes one of the other targets, crashing it into the ground and setting it on fire. The Tamori turns to the crowd, grinning when a few show their surprise and awe.

Iuchi Mamate rose "enough! You can effect the garden and that within it. However, you seem to only be able to affect it in one way - with force. You still have much to learn. Force does not solve all of life's problems. Next!". The Tamori bows, begrudingly, before rejoining the other students with a now sour look on his face. Iuchi gestures once towards the now flaming target and it mysteriously turns to embers and smoke. With that she sits down and the judges join her as they watch for the next student to have a go.

[Bayushi Haruka]

Iuchi Maiko gently limped out of the ranks, trying to take charge and not shy away from the spirit of competition. Her hawk in training being cared for by one of the other Iuchi from the Unicorn retinue. But instead of calling down lightning, Maiko simply looked around first, seemingly searching for someone or something.

A mixed group of various bushi from across the empire were enjoying some drinks and were enjoying some sake while the shugenja competition was taking place. Maiko gently straightened herself and walked towards them, still relying on her walking stick to keep off her bad leg. The eyes of everyone following her as she gave a smile and bowed to one Crab bushi in the group.

"Would you mind being part of my display of worth?"

The Hida she approached seemed to look over as she arrived. He wasn't a massively built fellow, but tall compared to her. He stares at the young shugenja a moment.
"Eh, what the jigoku. All right..."

Maiko bows again in appreciation. "With my blessing, you will be able to drink and not grow drunk, you could drink any of your friends under the table for it. If you so wish.." And with a steady and sure hand she touched his shoulder armor, as her spell required some physical connection, and she read her prayer in the blessed tongue.

The Hida's eyes became a little less glazed and he exclaims in a bit of surprise. The Unicorn judge nods approvingly as the Soshi frowns a little. The Hida kampais (toasts) to Maiko and has a few drinks, nodding enthusiastically before exclaiming "It tastes the same but there is no effect!" He let out a sound bellow of delight as he bowed a bit back to the Iuchi. "I must go now."

The Hida marches off grinning, as he rejoined his drinking buddies with a glint in his eyes, and by the way he gives his challenging looks it as though he would take the shugenja's suggestion and drink his friends under the table.

Satisfied with the result, Maiko then turns and walks towards the judges. And while she moved she started to chant out another blessing. Only as she finished she put her hands out expectantly, "How about a snack for all of your hard work."

An awkward moment passed when nothing appeared to change.
One judge scoffs "We can hardly eat air."

"True enough.." Maiko said, bowing and trying to cover up some slight embarrassment. She simply tries to steel herself as she dug a little deeper into her own will to try and make the spell work. Admittedly she was challenging herself to achieve more than the bare minimum.

But as she finished, yet again there was no result for her efforts.
And just as Maiko was about to apologize and try again, the judge before her raised a hand to gently pacify her attempts.

"Enough, you have much to learn."
The judge points to the waiting area for Maiko to rejoin the other competitors.
"You merely had to demonstrate your worth. Not push it. Next!"

Swallowing down her eagerness and disappointment, Iuchi Maiko bowed deeply and left the competition area keeping a quiet sigh to herself.

[Ikoma Buretto]

A figure sat demurely, cautiously, but by no means patiently as she observed the display. She would fidget, oh so slightly, at the hem of her kimono or at a lovely threaded sleeve. Her eyes cast about the display, taking note of each, seeking out details. That is until -HE- stepped up and bashed things to bits! The girl openly frowned her darling lips at the vulgarity of it all. She was inwardly pleased at the condemnation he earned at the hands of the judges, but then another stepped forth.
The young woman of the Scorpion had never actually seen a Unicorn before. Well, there were illustrations and their mons to study in libraries, but here and now was one of the supposed barbarians performing magic before her eyes. She watched intently, hoping to glimpse a measure of their tricks and secrets.
After watching the display of the Unicorn maiden offer to make a man a better sake drinker, the shugenja girl sighed inwardly. This was no magic she had heard of. She then rose upon hearing the call, "Next!" and walked gracefully out to the middle of the area. She speaks softly, yet her voice is carried across to the judges, "While we were instructed to affect the objects arrayed before us, you mentioned worth. I am quite capable of performing a spell that would create an affect, visible to the eyes upon us here, is that the full measure of my worth?" She regards the judges, eyes resting on the Soshi the longest. She speaks, addressing all of them, "You know as well as any of us, that there are the unseen and unknown ways the kami move." she kneels next to a destroyed target, her voice lowering to a soft coo, "Were you a wounded soldier, I could undo the harm put upon you. I could then grant you courage and strength with the knowledge your ancestors' eyes are upon you." She selects up a broken off piece of it, "Were you but a blade I could fortify you to strike down enemies with greater accuracy and fueled rage!" her voice raising as she turns towards the judges, she points the broken sliver of the target between them, at no one in particular. "Even if I held a sword now," as she speaks, there's a manifestation of a katana held in her hand, the length of the blade adorned in rolling flame, " is that my full measure of worth, honorable judges?"
Her unusual eyes narrowed slightly from behind her mask, awaiting their response. A few in the crowd cheer at the display, making Yumeko feel a swelling of pride in her chest. However the calls were quickly silenced and when the judgement came it was not as she had expected. The ronin judge responded to her speech with "That is for you to show us and us to decide. Come, what else can you do?". As Yumeko tilts her head and prepares to speak, the Iuchi interrupts "Your display need not have to be visible but we would appreciate you describe any such magic for the benefit of the audience though". The Scorpion leant forward to give her a stern look. Perhaps she said too much. Yumeko sticks the tip of her tongue out of her lips as she looks about the assembled targets. Under her breath she murmured softly, "Here I was hoping to be witty." her eyes finally came to settle upon the crowd. She bowed towards them and then raised her voice to explain, "My requests of the kami involve the healing of the injured, rousing the spirits of fire within a smithed weapon to grant it," she regards the illusory katana she's still holding, "something akin to this." she dismisses the currently held false display and drops the bit of wood to the ground, "Lastly, with proper preparation and care, I can ascertain the spoken words within a particular area, not that it would be proper to do such." she bows low once more, cheeks burning and ashamed she has to boldly and outwardly declare what she can do. '...describe such magic' indeed! Air shugenja practice mastery of arts unseen! Surely the Soshi should know that much, and failed to defend her! Yumeko began to doubt the importance of being judged 'worthy' by such thick-headed samurai while her pride wailed at the unfairness of this competition. Maybe that Tamori had the right approach afterall.

[Toku Hirotomo]

Ikoma Arami slid closer to the arena. Curious. I know nothing about this sort of thing. Using magic for competition? How adorably Phoenix.

The Unicorn's display was intriguing. Perhaps he could get her to cast that spell on him. There was glory in out drinking a Mantis or Crab. Perhaps he could use it to his advantage. Something about her pulled at his heart. "Don't get attached. Bad things can happen. Don't share my fate." A cold shiver went through Arami as he thought of his ancestor's fate. Yes, Revered Ancestor. he said in the recesses of his mind.

He then maneuvered his way to the Unicorn. "I may not be a judge, but I was impressed, ehu, Iuchi-san." He brushed his hair aside to cover his looking at her mon. "No matter what they say, I'm sure your ancestors are pleased."

[Doji Naetaru]

Ide Keiji arrived at the garden. Strolling at the back of the castle he found himself in front of the venue. Before approaching to the spectator side he pulled his sleeves and adjusted his hat, looking at his hands and his nails he reached for the white silken Ide gloves. After that he arrived at the spectator's side.

There he saw the magnificent Unicorn shugenja, her elegance, her grace, her beauty. His gaze fixed on her, he was watching her rather entranced. Keiji was on the Unicorn retinue and had seen her before. He tried to recall any memories of her...

After a small attempt he quickly gave up and kept on watching the match. As she left the scene he thought of attempting to approach her, but as he saw the young Ikoma approaching he decided to let her go. Later that day he would find the moment...and he kept on watching the match.

[Kitsuki Yuushahime]

Shiara smiled and stiffled a chuckle "The young ones don't wish to importune it seems. Or even talk to the kami and see what they have to say".
"Nor even summon some water" Adds the Soshi, looking bored.
The ronin advisor turned to the Soshi "Yes, well... I think they are trying too hard to think of things to impress us rather than just doing what they can"
Mamate added her thoughts "Now, now. This is different to a dojo. This situation is unusual for them. Perhaps they merely lack flexibility? It will come..."
Shiara nodded and Ryuta did too, grudingly. He turned to the woman before them, hidden behind his mask and being sure to show no favouritism to even someone from his Clan. "Not all spells are visible or even useful on physical items but all shugenja should be able to achieve something thanks to their training. If you have nothing else to demonstrate then you are welcome to finish your performance". His words were dry.

[Kitsune Poxo]

Even though Shosai made a point to watch the shugenja competition he saw it no ore then an exertion of the will of just the shugenja. While the results were undeniable, and even throughout history, he still held to his belief that they had been abandoned by those alien forces. One example to his belief is the current conflict.

[Ikoma Buretto]

Yumeko's shoulders fall some as she listens to the continued discourse. When once again having attention drawn to her, she remarks, "Although I cannot speak for everyone, I believe given that this is a competition to display our 'worth', each of us desire to show what our sensei have taught us above and beyond the most basic and rudimentary." The girl bows fluidly, "I shall do as instructed and expected." She turns and regards the dish of water, murmuring prayers to the kami to have them caper up and make the water dance, then to the air kami to carry the waters around to the plants, gently caressing the leaves to leave sparkling drops reminiscent of morning dew. Lastly she entreats the fire kami to rise up, consuming more of the bonfire to reach higher into the sky without smoke and changing color from typical red-orange to a brighter yellow and white. Once the importunes are complete she bows towards the judges and awaits dismissal.

(OOC: Liberties taken, I'll change if not allowed, but I always imagine Shugenja doing "prestidigitation" effects with elements as simple displays of having access to spells of that element. )

[Yasuki Chad]

Shina watched intently as the Shugenja competed. It was a diffrent kind of contest then he was used to and he wished to witness it personally. So far though, it had been a dissapointment. The Tamorai was most impressive in his opinion but his performance had drawn scorn from the judges. The unclear objectives were a clear riddle, but one whose answers apparently should have been found in any shugenja school.