- Location
- Earth
Matsu got a hit on Kakita, he froze in fear and got his ass handed to him.
As for what was expected, well, supposedly for Kakita to win. That is his whole purpose for exsisting. He literally does nothing but specialize in duels.
In Thunder's Echo (Legend of the Five Rings Quest)
As for what was expected, well, supposedly for Kakita to win. That is his whole purpose for exsisting. He literally does nothing but specialize in duels.
Wade Garrett
Just trying to do the right thing
- Pronouns
- He/His/Him
The Kakita beheaded the Matsu with a single strike, but her decapitated head flew into the stands and hit Doji Mariko, causing a fatal skull injury?
GilliamYaeger
M'crazy.
Naoto is compelled to step in, and defeats both with a single stroke earning Doji's eternal love?
- Location
- Earth
Well if this is the way things are going, let me throw my hat in the ring:
They strike simultaneously and their blades meet edge to edge. The screech of metal flowing past metal resounds across the parade grounds. Initially surprised, they strike again and again, their blades always meeting in the middle until at last they lock blades and are left glaring at one another.
They strike simultaneously and their blades meet edge to edge. The screech of metal flowing past metal resounds across the parade grounds. Initially surprised, they strike again and again, their blades always meeting in the middle until at last they lock blades and are left glaring at one another.
4.15 - Matsu Heijiko vs Kakita Sekawa
- Location
- London, England
For a moment, you consider finding Doji Mariko and standing by her side for this, to offer her your support. After brief consideration, you decide against it - there would be no practical benefit to such a move, and indeed it might serve to fatally distract Kakita Sekawa at a critical moment. Even if he manages to win regardless, it would merely serve to highlight your connection with the Crane in the eyes of all those who are watching. You doubt that many among the Lion have missed your budding romance, but even so discretion is probably called for.
With that in mind you quickly work your way around the edges of the gathered observers, making your way towards the pair of black and red figures waiting on the periphery of the square. Bayushi Kimoko nods to you as you approach before turning her attention back to the developing spectacle, while Yogo Hanzo doesn't seem to move at all. You fall in between them, folding your arms across your chest to ward off the cold and hide any sign of nerves.
Kakita Sekawa waits patiently on the far side of the dueling field, dressed in a kimono of pale blue edged in white, utterly motionless. It has started to snow, a light rain of glittering white flakes falling from the heavens to settle across his shoulders and around his feet. Across from him, Matsu Heijiko is kneeling on the edge of the parade square, her sheathed katana laid out across her lap and her face turned up towards the darkening sky. She seems utterly composed, though you can see her lips moving in what is presumably a prayer of some kind. And... yes, there is Mariko, standing alone in the crowd with a notably empty space between her and the rest of the observers.
You note that there are four Shugenja with the mon of the Kitsu family standing around the edge of the square, holding beautiful scrolls open in their hands and murmuring prayers to the kami. You frown slightly, and it seems that Hanzo guesses your intended question, because he answers in a voice that is little more than a whisper.
"They are sanctifying the dueling field, Soshi-san." He says, his enclosing mask making his voice echo slightly. "Importuning the Kami to make sure that no unwanted magic influences the result of the contest. They should be done... now."
As he says the words, the other shugenja complete their ritual and stand back, fading into the crowd. Matsu Heijiko rises to her feet, as her Daimyo walks out from behind her and takes up a position equidistant from the two duelists.
"As lord of this castle, I claim the right to act as judge." Matsu Ketsui says, her voice cutting across the parade ground with ease. "Any who dishonour the traditions displayed here, dishonour me. You are so warned."
She takes two paces back in a ritual fashion, clearing the way between the opposing samurai. "This duel is to be fought between Matsu Heijiko and Kakita Sekawa, in defense of the honour of Doji Mariko." Whatever Ketsui's feelings on the matter of Mariko's conduct may be, she keeps her voice calm and impartial as she proceeds through the rituals of the duel. "Matsu Heijiko, as protocol demands you are hereby offered the chance to apologize for the insult."
Heijiko shakes her head slightly, gazing at Sekawa with deadly calm eyes. "I cannot, Matsu-dono. I spoke honestly, and I stand by my words."
"Very well." Ketsui says, unfazed. "Then take your positions."
With slow, careful steps Heijiko and Sekawa take up positions opposite one another, barely more than two sword lengths apart. Both of them have opted to leave their swords sheathed for the start of this, and their hands rest lightly on the hilts.
"Do either of you have anything to say?" Ketsui asks, and such is the tension in the air that her words are almost the only audible sound apart from the faint howling of the wind. Both combatants shake their heads, and the Daimyo raises one hand into the air. "Very well. The result of this duel will be considered binding in all particulars. Begin!"
Everything happens very fast.
There is no long delay as the duelists size each other up, no dramatic pause as you might find in a play, or indeed in your own duel with Kakita Sekawa earlier in the week. Even as the command leaves Ketsui's lips and her hand swings down, Matsu Heijiko is leaping forwards, hauling her sword free of the saya with ferocious force.
There is a horrible tearing sound.
Matsu Heijiko slides to a halt several paces past her opponent, snow piling up around her feet as she struggles to control her own momentum.
Kakita Sekawa blinks, once. His feet do not move from their spot, fixed in place like the roots of a giant tree.
His torso hits the ground.
His victorious opponent looks around, smiles, and raises her sword to the heavens above.
"MATSU!"
How do you respond?
[ ] Write in
With that in mind you quickly work your way around the edges of the gathered observers, making your way towards the pair of black and red figures waiting on the periphery of the square. Bayushi Kimoko nods to you as you approach before turning her attention back to the developing spectacle, while Yogo Hanzo doesn't seem to move at all. You fall in between them, folding your arms across your chest to ward off the cold and hide any sign of nerves.
Kakita Sekawa waits patiently on the far side of the dueling field, dressed in a kimono of pale blue edged in white, utterly motionless. It has started to snow, a light rain of glittering white flakes falling from the heavens to settle across his shoulders and around his feet. Across from him, Matsu Heijiko is kneeling on the edge of the parade square, her sheathed katana laid out across her lap and her face turned up towards the darkening sky. She seems utterly composed, though you can see her lips moving in what is presumably a prayer of some kind. And... yes, there is Mariko, standing alone in the crowd with a notably empty space between her and the rest of the observers.
You note that there are four Shugenja with the mon of the Kitsu family standing around the edge of the square, holding beautiful scrolls open in their hands and murmuring prayers to the kami. You frown slightly, and it seems that Hanzo guesses your intended question, because he answers in a voice that is little more than a whisper.
"They are sanctifying the dueling field, Soshi-san." He says, his enclosing mask making his voice echo slightly. "Importuning the Kami to make sure that no unwanted magic influences the result of the contest. They should be done... now."
As he says the words, the other shugenja complete their ritual and stand back, fading into the crowd. Matsu Heijiko rises to her feet, as her Daimyo walks out from behind her and takes up a position equidistant from the two duelists.
"As lord of this castle, I claim the right to act as judge." Matsu Ketsui says, her voice cutting across the parade ground with ease. "Any who dishonour the traditions displayed here, dishonour me. You are so warned."
She takes two paces back in a ritual fashion, clearing the way between the opposing samurai. "This duel is to be fought between Matsu Heijiko and Kakita Sekawa, in defense of the honour of Doji Mariko." Whatever Ketsui's feelings on the matter of Mariko's conduct may be, she keeps her voice calm and impartial as she proceeds through the rituals of the duel. "Matsu Heijiko, as protocol demands you are hereby offered the chance to apologize for the insult."
Heijiko shakes her head slightly, gazing at Sekawa with deadly calm eyes. "I cannot, Matsu-dono. I spoke honestly, and I stand by my words."
"Very well." Ketsui says, unfazed. "Then take your positions."
With slow, careful steps Heijiko and Sekawa take up positions opposite one another, barely more than two sword lengths apart. Both of them have opted to leave their swords sheathed for the start of this, and their hands rest lightly on the hilts.
"Do either of you have anything to say?" Ketsui asks, and such is the tension in the air that her words are almost the only audible sound apart from the faint howling of the wind. Both combatants shake their heads, and the Daimyo raises one hand into the air. "Very well. The result of this duel will be considered binding in all particulars. Begin!"
Everything happens very fast.
There is no long delay as the duelists size each other up, no dramatic pause as you might find in a play, or indeed in your own duel with Kakita Sekawa earlier in the week. Even as the command leaves Ketsui's lips and her hand swings down, Matsu Heijiko is leaping forwards, hauling her sword free of the saya with ferocious force.
There is a horrible tearing sound.
Matsu Heijiko slides to a halt several paces past her opponent, snow piling up around her feet as she struggles to control her own momentum.
Kakita Sekawa blinks, once. His feet do not move from their spot, fixed in place like the roots of a giant tree.
His torso hits the ground.
His victorious opponent looks around, smiles, and raises her sword to the heavens above.
"MATSU!"
How do you respond?
[ ] Write in
Sekawa 7k3 = 19
Heijiko 4k2 = 10
Neither duelist manages to gain any information about their opponent.
Heijiko 4k2 = 10
Neither duelist manages to gain any information about their opponent.
Sekawa 9k5+5 = 45
Heijiko 7k5+4 = 66
Sekawa has a notably better pool than Heijiko does, but does not get any exploding dice. Heijiko... manages to score 28 on a single dice, and beats him by 21. This is enough to secure the first strike and gain three Free Raises on the Strike roll.
Heijiko 7k5+4 = 66
Sekawa has a notably better pool than Heijiko does, but does not get any exploding dice. Heijiko... manages to score 28 on a single dice, and beats him by 21. This is enough to secure the first strike and gain three Free Raises on the Strike roll.
Heijiko gets to attack first. She decides she wants to take full advantage of her chance, and calls two raises on the attack roll for extra damage and place all three of her Free Raises into doing the same. Her modified TN is now 33.
Heijiko 6k4+4 = 35.
Heijiko hits. She uses the special ability of the katana to spend a Void point on the damage roll. Her total damage roll is 14k3+7, which becomes 10k5+7 because you cannot roll more than ten dice at a time in L5R.
Heijiko 10k5+7 = 64.
Heijiko 6k4+4 = 35.
Heijiko hits. She uses the special ability of the katana to spend a Void point on the damage roll. Her total damage roll is 14k3+7, which becomes 10k5+7 because you cannot roll more than ten dice at a time in L5R.
Heijiko 10k5+7 = 64.
Da Boyz
The Cutest Apocalypse.
Matsu dueling OP pls nerf.
- Location
- United States
Well....let the (new) waifu wars begin!
Alectai
Speaks Words of Wisdom... On occasion
Wow, he got flattened.
Poor girl, but that's the problem when you're basically set up to die.
On the other hand? It's a damn good thing that we weren't on the field there, holy shit.
Da Boyz
The Cutest Apocalypse.
Drop the Crane plotline and pretend like this never happened.
The forecast is sunny with a chance of Ketsui.
- Pronouns
- They/Them
Okay, I called it. She's dying now.
Which, I admit, is one downside to having dice decide so much. Because yeah, my vote's to drop the whole plotline as if nothing ever happened, because there's not going to BE a Crane to be plotting things by the end of it.
Sucks that we invested so much time and care only for bad luck to ruin it, but ah well.
Which, I admit, is one downside to having dice decide so much. Because yeah, my vote's to drop the whole plotline as if nothing ever happened, because there's not going to BE a Crane to be plotting things by the end of it.
Sucks that we invested so much time and care only for bad luck to ruin it, but ah well.
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mothematics
How wide is the concept of "you"?
- Location
- the bottom of a coffee cup
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Well fuck.
Does Mariko need to commit sepukku now? Or will it be at an arranged time?
Does Mariko need to commit sepukku now? Or will it be at an arranged time?
- Location
- United States
Up to the GM. Usually it happens very soon after. At the latest tonight.
Alectai
Speaks Words of Wisdom... On occasion
There's generally some preptime in advance, but you're typically expected to spend it setting your affairs in order if I'm not mistaken. Especially given how your lord has to approve of you killing yourself.
Should be enough to at least get to check the letter by promising to avenge her.
She's essentially doomed, but should have a few days before her Lord approves of it (Or chooses not to for whatever reason, and making her live with the dishonor, which is a really dirty trick, especialy when the insult given that led to this happening was allegedly based on their orders.)
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Wade Garrett
Just trying to do the right thing
- Pronouns
- He/His/Him
He gave his life so we could keep pursuing Matsu Ketsui.
Kakita Sekawa: Best Wingman Ever.
Kakita Sekawa: Best Wingman Ever.
mothematics
How wide is the concept of "you"?
- Location
- the bottom of a coffee cup
- Pronouns
- She/Her
It.... Might be possible to get her out and hide her. I say might - and I don't even argue we should because at this point there'd be no reason to beyond "We want her to live." Which really isn't worth it
- Location
- Earth
Anybody got an idea how to get the letter before she commits sepuku?
As I am assuming no one has an idea how to stop this trainwreck.
As I am assuming no one has an idea how to stop this trainwreck.
Alectai
Speaks Words of Wisdom... On occasion
Yeah, the only reason we'd want to do this is to get to the bottom of this whole pile of shenanagans, Honor and pragmatism pretty much demand we let her kill herself at this point, because we gain very little from stopping it, and doing so is against Bushido anyway.
Fortunately, she's not a Bushi! So she only needs to kill herself the relatively quick and painless way of stabbing herself in the neck.
We may or may not be nominated as her Second though, which would give us one final chance to chat with her and get some info.
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mothematics
How wide is the concept of "you"?
- Location
- the bottom of a coffee cup
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Lemme get on computer in a hot second, phone typing's a bitch.
- Location
- Canada
unfortunate, but given Rokugan's traditions I don't think there's any way that we can save her life. So our priority number one is to come out of this without looking bad, with priority two being to see if we can get the letter before everything goes to hell. The one surviving crane must be really fearing for his life by now, so we have a good chance there, even if we don't get Doji to give us the letter.