02: Day One of the Topaz Championship

Hida Goroharu grunts, seeming less than impressed "Kindness was not my intent Togashi-san. You did well and earned the victory. Nothing more" he nods at you and Aki and moves away as the shugenja comes to talk with you.

You have only had a short while to mingle before the gong sounds for the next contest, the Heraldry contest. You are directed to another area within the Kakita dojo and find yourselves waiting in front of a small gallery. The judge for this competition, Doji Murashige of the Crane Clan, stands in front of you all. "Consider, that the design of each heraldic emblem contains clues as to its origins that can be unlocked with careful study." the judge says before gesturing to one of the competitors to enter and begin.

You are each taken, one at a time, into the gallery and presented with five pieces of heraldry. Doji Murashige gestures to them "Please identify these". The first is obviously the heraldry of one of the Great Clans but the rest seem to be increasingly obsure. Murashige Sama waits patiently.....

Yoshi - just as you are heading into the heraldry competition you glance over at Hitoshi and realise something that has been lingering on the edge of your mind since you met the Mantis. Seeing him stood amongst so many members of the Crane clan you are struck by how much he resembles members of that clan, most mantis that you have encountered previously favour their Crab ancestry. Perhaps these thoughts intrude on you overly as you enter the contest as you find it hard to focus on the task at hand and whilst you do as well as you can you can tell from Doji Murashige's disapproving expression you have failed to reach the required mark.

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Aki - As you stare at the five pieces in front you you let your mind wander, speaking more our of instinct than from any real sense of recollection. As you reach the end of your inspired recitation you realise you are not sure how long you have been talking. As you look up you see a surprised expression on Doji Murashige's face before he nods at you in satisfaction.

Kashita - As you stare at the emblems you try to center yourself but you find it keeps slipping away from you, the confines of the gallery pressing in on you and you find yourself missing the clarity that so easily comes to you on the open steppes. As your words falter Doji Murashige shakes his head slightly before dismissing you.

Kashita - as you are about to leave Doji Murashige says to wait a moment. As you turn you can see quite a surprised look on their face as they study one of the more obscure pieces. It is one which you failed to identify but your thoughts had lingered on several of the finer, more energetic background imagery "I had never considered that aspect on this piece before. Your approach was certainly unexpected but it appears to have revealed equally surprising meaning in this". As you leave he is studying the other pieces with a renewed interest.

All - as the Heraldry contest draws to a close you can see a number of samurai giving quiet congratulations to Kitsu Tsubasa for his performance in this event. From what you can glean the Lion Shugenga was the only competitor to successfully identify all five pieces. Hitoshi and Moto Batbayar appear somewhat subdued and you assume they both failed to achieve the required standard.

You have but a short moment before you are ushered off to prepare for the Athletics contest. After you have changed into more appropriate attire you are lead to the edge of the forest outside of Tsuba where an obstacle course appears to have been assembled. The judge, Kakita Naomori of the Crane Clan, stands before you all. "The best way to overcome the obstacles of your fate is by being flexible enough to adapt to them." she says before the gong sounds to signal the start of this event.