Remove ads

In Thunder's Echo (Legend of the Five Rings Quest)

Reader mode
Now that I think of it, the other vote was just inviting escalation, because it reads cocky and therefore we give the wrong impression of what's happening.

So, going with this vote instead.

[x] Sirocco
 
primemountain said:
EDIT: "&%"/&%$ Bandwagon is up. I'm off to sleep. Hope we are still alive when I wake up.
Also? This Kakita shit? I called it. Told you someone would take a shot if we presented this opportunity. Good night everyone.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

For what it's worth, I appreciate the aid you give as the loyal opposition. Having someone argue with me is helpful - banging on the ideas sometimes identifies real flaws, and standing up to defend them forces me to actually elucidate a fair amount of the reasoning behind them (which we know that our grand and glorious QM finds useful).
 
Sirrocco said:
For what it's worth, I appreciate the aid you give as the loyal opposition. Having someone argue with me is helpful - banging on the ideas sometimes identifies real flaws, and standing up to defend them forces me to actually elucidate a fair amount of the reasoning behind them (which we know that our grand and glorious QM finds useful).
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

Always nice to be apreciated. That said I am not annoyed with you. I am annoyed with some aspects of the human condition. When you are right, you are right. And you should win. And let's face it, you are right a lot. Like the current example. By this point it's predictable. :) Sirrocco will excel at Social Fu.

primemountain said:
I mean we could try and apologize to him, for usurping his position and insulting him.
We would lose face, but maybe no blood need be spilled.

I think Sirroco has enough rokugani social fu to try and write something like that. That stuff is just beyond me.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

And you did. Hell, you recognized we did not even need to apologize. When you are right, your right. And you should win the vote. My issue is this:

cody said:
[X] Sirrocco

MicroCephalopod is my hero.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

Now maybe that is inoccent. But Sirrocco, you have been right enough times that some people who really do not want to think about it too hard might just decide that by now, Sirrocco is always right. And if enough people decide that, we get an Echo Chamber. So I'll be sitting here in opposition. Thankless job that it is. At least you get it.

@Maugan Ra: did make it clear with that roll result that looking away is better for de-escalation, but a final thought does come to me. Since Kakitas On is cracked is there as skill we could use to see how angry he is?

As in, is he: "I am so very mad and you are gonna get it" but he is still in control of himself angry, or the more dangerous:"Now you die" incensed, where he is angry past words or reason?
 
Last edited:
primemountain said:
Always nice to be apreciated. That said I am not annoyed with you. I am annoyed with some aspects of the human condition. When you are right, you are right. And you should win. And let's face it, you are right a lot. Like the current example. By this point it's predictable. :) Sirrocco will excel at Social Fu.



And you did. Hell, you recognized we did not even need to apologize. When you are right, your right. And you should win the vote. My issue is this:



Now maybe that is inoccent. But Sirrocco, you have been right enough times that some people who really do not want to think about it too hard might just decide that by now, Sirrocco is always right. And if enough people decide that, we get an Echo Chamber. So I'll be sitting here in opposition. Thankless job that it is. At least you get it.

@Maugan Ra: did make it clear with that roll result that looking away is better for de-escalation, but a final thought does come to me. Since Kakitas On is cracked is there as skill we could use to see how angry he is?

As in, is he: "I am so very mad and you are gonna get it" but he is still in control of himself angry, or the more dangerous:"Now you die" incensed, where he is angry past words or reason?
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...


I would like to take this moment to remind any and all that there was a time, not so very long ago, where I was wrong Very Badly Indeed twice in quick succession (and took a break from things for a while in the hopes of recovering before I horked anything else over). The fact that that has happened in the past, and might yet again happen in the future is one of the reasons I cherish my loyal opposition.


It may be somewhat predictable, but it is certainly not *dependable*.

Also, we totally do still need to put in some work to make it up to the guy (assuming both of us live). Doji Mariko may be able to calm him down enough that he won't do anything rash *today*, if we're lucky. That's not going to solve any of the underlying problems. On the bright side, we've now been introduced to the man, and we can approach him asking for a favor. In retrospect, obviously, it would have made more sense to leave the duel-to-the-death to the highly trained Kakita duelist. Unfortunately, we were offended enough by the words of the Matsu that we acted without thinking, and now we would very much like to not have either us or the charming Doji Mariko die as a result. Perhaps, as a highly trained Kakita duelist, he might have a few tips?

It has us showing him respect, and thoroughly retracting any implied insult that we might have given by taking over his role as her defender, while also reassuring him that we won't be doing so again in the future if we can help it. It has us giving him his proper respect as a Terrifying Kakita Duelist. (That's something he's probably been feeling a bit lacking in lately. He's a highly effective, steely-eyed killer of men! Why is everyone just *ignoring* that?) It has us owing him a favor (which helps to balance the karmic scales a bit more in his favor, and likely has him feeling better about the whole thing). Also, he is, in fact, a highly trained killer of men, and we might well learn something from whatever advice he sees fit to lay out (perhaps specific tips on dueling Matsu and/or on our particular opponent? It's pretty much a dead certainty that he's better able to evaluate her stance than we are).
 
"Kakita-san...are you okay?"
"I...I'm a steely eyed killer of men"
"Why are you sobbing?"
"BECAUSE NO ONE LISTENS TO ME!"
"Oh...uh well at least you're not a Crab?"
"....That makes me feel better thanks"
"Glad to help"
"I JUST HAVE FEELINGS YOU KNOW?"
"....What the hell was in that Sake?"
 
gman391 said:
"What a lovely evening"
"I...I'm a steely eyed killer of men"
"Yes indeed it is a lovely evening"
"BECAUSE NO ONE LISTENS TO ME!"
"Today was definetly a pleasant break from the intrigues of court"
"....That makes me feel better thanks"
"..."
"I JUST HAVE FEELINGS YOU KNOW?"
"What a strange breeze"
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
FTFY. We can't see them remember.
 
[x] Allow yourself to show surprise on your face and in your voice at seeing him.
[x] "Kakita-san! Is something wrong? Is Doji-sama in danger?"
[x] Move clear of Doji Mariko, drawing your blade and turning, so as to face directly away from Kakita Sekawa with Doji Mariko behind you. Act as if you believe the Kakita to be reacting to a threat on the far side of you, and you are moving to assist him in defending her. Who knows? It's faintly possible that he might be. There are shadowlands creatures that can fly and/or climb sheer mountain faces, after all.
 
Remove ads
4.10 - Meeting Kakita Sekawa
  • Threadmarks
    • Your sensei said there would be moments like this. Times when all of your plans and scheming come to a head, and you find yourself dancing along the edge of life and death, where all you can do is act without thought and trust to your training and the favour of the Fortunes and your ancestors to carry you through.

    Finding yourself all but alone on a gloomy hillside, facing down a trained Kakita duelist with murder in his eyes probably counts.

    "Kakita-san." You say with some (entirely justified) alarm, stepping away from Doji Mariko. You can feel the courtier's body tense for that brief moment just before you pull away, and in that split-second make the choice to gamble upon her skill more than your own. "Is something wrong? Is Doji-sama in danger?"

    He is her Yojimbo, after all. There is a faint chance that there really is an innocent explanation for this, and if there's not then it still forms a reasonable excuse for him to save face and back down honourably. To help sell the image, you draw your sword and make a deliberate, almost exaggerated scan of the nearby area for possible hostiles.

    "It appears so, Soshi-san." Kakita Sekawa says in a hard tone of voice, and hearing it you feel your chances of escaping this confrontation slip away. "Mortal peril, no less. Because, you see, it turns out that she issued a challenge in response to a lethal insult... and chose you to act as her champion."

    Ah. So that's what this is about. You wish you could say you were surprised, but truthfully you would be a fool to expect such a deed to pass without some form of comment. That it would come from this particular source is unfortunate, but potentially manageable.

    "That was my decision, Kakita-san." Doji Mariko interjects in a voice as cold and clear as the mountain frost. "You are my retainer. If you take issue with one of my decisions, you may raise your concerns in the proper way. This is not it. As your superior, I order you to stand down."

    For a moment, you dare to hope that Kakita Sekawa will take the sensible course of action and back down. It would take a few well chosen words and some invested effort to smooth over the loss of face and violation of etiquette, but it could be done. Alas...

    "No." The duelist says simply, and out of the corner of your eye you see Mariko flinch as though slapped. "My sincerest apologies, Doji-sama, but I cannot obey that order. My daimyo commanded me to stand by your side and turn back all threats to your life and the interests of the Crane. Standing down would directly contradict that order."

    "Don't take me for a fool, Sekawa." Mariko all but hisses, abandoning etiquette in her shock and anger. "We both know your heart makes this decision, not your duty."

    "A man may be driven to act by more than one motive, Doji-sama." Kakita Sekawa says calmly. "In this case, I have many causes to step in before you commit a particularly inelegant form of suicide."

    You really should stay out of this, but judging by the look on Sekawa's face you doubt that's actually an option, and you need to clarify things the situation before you know how to respond. "Kakita-san, you speak as if my defeat - and Doji-sama's resultant seppuku - are inevitable."

    You're not one for excessive pride, but the assumption there still rankles, all the more so when Sekawa simply nods.

    "I asked around about your opponent, Soshi-san. The Lion were more than pleased to tell me all about her." He says levelly. "Matsu Heijiko is twenty four years old. She is a decorated and experienced Bushi. During the Second Day of Thunder, she stood with her sisters on the front lines and claimed the head of an Ogre in single combat. In a duel to first blood you might be fast enough to have a chance, but fighting to the death she will take you apart."

    Ah. That is... concerning. You strive to keep your reactions off of your face, but judging by the look in Sekawa's eyes you don't quite manage it. He smiles without humour.

    "If you merely decided to challenge her on your own, I would not care, Scorpion. But I do not trust your skill to keep my kin from death." He says levelly. "So. I challenge you, here and now, for the insult you offer me by seeking to usurp my family's sworn duty. Defeat me, and maybe you can be trusted to defend Doji-sama against the Lion. Fall, and I will take your place."

    "I would need my lord's permission." You point out.

    "For a duel to the death, absolutely. But this is merely a test of skill, to be ended when one combatant can no longer stand. And I rather doubt that a Matsu will object over being given a chance to cross blades with a Kakita." Sekawa replies, his expression shifting from murderous to oddly serene. "I will not be so easily deflected, Soshi-san. Face me or forfeit. Choose."

    How do you respond?
    [ ] Accept the challenge (will begin an Iaijutsu duel against Kakita Sekawa)
    [ ] Forfeit, and yield your right to stand as Mariko's champion.
    [ ] Write in
     
  • Threadmarks
    • ...if we duel him, he'll likely murderize the fuck out of us.

    if we don't we lose waifu and practically all of our inroads with the Crane delegation.
     
    Or... we could just tell him to fuck off because we have no obligation and if he has a problem he can raise it with his sword.

    E-Honestly I'm tempted to just run the fuck at him and yell "FIRST BLOOD WINS JACKASS" and remind him that the duel is kenjutsu and not iaijutsu.
     
    Last edited:
    [X] Accept the challenge (will begin an Iaijutsu duel against Kakita Sekawa)
    If we do well enough in the awareness phase and he turns out to be too skillful for us, there is no honor loss for backing out or at least we regain some for acknowledging a superior opponent. If we do badly and can't tell, we can either go ahead or state his control over himself in the duel has proved himself worthier than us. No need to go fully in unless victory is assured. We can play it off as wanting Mariko to survive and therefore want the better champion to represent her. The main problem would be how would the Lion react to us backing out of being her champion...
     
    Last edited:
    The only way we might win this is if we make an Honor Roll for it and even then I do not like our chances versus the Kakita. Because he is a Kakita. We don't owe him a damn thing; why should we consent to his stupid dichotomy? I say we rush his ass down and Void it to knock him on his ass, and show him that his nonsense Honor doesn't mean a damn thing when your life is on the line.
     
    [X] Accept the challenge (will begin an Iaijutsu duel against Kakita Sekawa)
    ^This. No dishonour in backing down in the first phase of an Iaijutsu duel against an opponent who outclasses you several times over.
    And if Sekawa continues to push the issue after that? He's in the wrong. This gives us an out everyone can accept.

    Edit: Changing vote
    [X] Sirrocco
     
    Last edited:
    See, this sort of thing is exactly why I didn't want to be her champion in the first place. I - and a lot of other people - warned you all that the Lion challenger would be powerful enough to stand a decent chance at killing the trained duelist.
     
    [X] Point out that the duel is Kenjutsu.
    -[X] Accept his challenge as a Kenjutsu duel.

    Well, this is my vote, or something like it. And yes, there's a good chance we'll lose, which is not good, but...hrm. Eh, better than dying.
     
    I feel like this is simple. He wants to duel us to show who would better represent Mariko in the fight. He wants to do that with iaijutsu dueling. The only problem here is that the duel won't be iaijutsu. Bitch boy is posturing for Mariko and his ego.

    And if there'es one thing we're good at as a Bayushi Bushi, it's popping egos.

    [X] Call calmly, "With kenjutsu, not iaijutsu, Kakita-san."
    -[X] Draw your sword, then advance in Full Attack
    -[X] Burn Void on damage
    --[X] If we don't connect with him, use Void to reduce any damage taken

    MAMA SAYS 7K4+ANY RAISES )AND 7K3 DAMAGE) KNOCK YOU OUT
     
    Last edited:
    [X] Forfeit, and yield your right to stand as Mariko's champion.

    Time for some Scorpion pragmatism. Let him stand as champion and all three of us have the best chance of living. And we have the best chance of all.
     
    Reader mode
    You must login or register to reply here.
    Remove ads
    Back
    Top