02: Day One of the Topaz Championship

Whilst you all comport yourselves admirably during the Athletics contest both Aki and Kashita find the added element of running the course against someone to add an undue amount of presure to the procedings. Onthe other hand for Yoshi the course has a certain familiarity, bringing back memories of some of the training you would perform at the monastary.

Kakita Naomori nods in satisfaction at each of your performances, your approaches seeming to please the Crane. As Yoshi finishes he smiles "The reputation of the Ise Zumi is well known. It pleases me to know it is not unfounded" and he favours the monk with a short bow.

Out of the other competitors you note that Mirumoto Hinata did particularly well but surprisingly Hitoshi, despite seeming to run the course adequately, failed to reach the mark. As the now familiar gong sounds to indicate that you should make you way to the stables for the Horseback riding contest you notice the Mantis seems particularly tense at their recent performance.

Adjacent to the obstacle course for the athletics trial, a long series of ropes and flags have been erected on a cleared field for the horseback riding trial. Contestants must mount one of the provided horses, ride to the end of the field, collect a flag, ride back, then take an offered spear and collect rings on it from where they hang at various points across the course. Contestants will be judged both on speed and grace. The judge for this contest is Utaku Oichi of the Unicorn Clan, as you approach they smile at you "To tame a steed, you must be as fierce and bold as the horse. Good luck!". As the judge finishes speaking you hear the gong sound again and the contestants all start running to the available mounts.

The contest is over almost before you all realise it. Whilst they both fail to make the mark, Aki and Yoshi both receive comforting and complimentary words from the judge after for your efforts and approach to the contest, the only other two competitors not to achieve success in the Horseback riding are Hitoshi and Mirumoto Hinata. On the other hand Kaashita almost makes the event look easy and is only just edged out of the top spot by Moto Batbayar.

Again you have a short time to refresh yourselves and mingle before the Conduct contest begins...

Yoshi - as you finish and dismount as well as you can you take note of something about Mirumoto Hinata you had previously not realised. Whilst it would be understandable for her to show a somewhat heightened level of defference to other samurai after failing in the event it occurs to you that the Bushi behaves in such a manner during most of their interactions you have observed previously they seem to defer to others, even in some instances towards the servants.

Mirumoto Hinata returns your bow, in a notably deeper fashion than would normally required between equals "It is a pleasure to meet you Togashi Sam....San" she averts her face slightly at the momentary slip before regaining her composure. "I must say I was surprised to hear one of your order had been selected for the championship. It is quite rare to hear of a monk competing"

She nods at Yoshi's comment, seeming quite relieved not to have attention drawn to her misstep, before bowing again "And you too Togashi-san"

The Unicorn Bushi turns and smiles at Kashita whilst returning her bow, her dark skin and curly hair hinting that she may have some gaijin ancestry (not uncommon within the Unicorn clan due to their travels beyond the empire) "That we both placed so well shows well of our clan. Hopefully we can continue to represent ourselves well in the remaining events.".

As you all finish freshening up you hear the sound of another gong signalling it is time to begin the final contest of the day, the Conduct trial. You find yourselves lined up outside the same gallery in which the Heraldry contest took place. Standing before you are three samurai, Shosuro Tomoe of the Scorpion Clan, Doji Murashige of the Crane Clan, and Ikoma Ikehata of the Lion Clan. These are the judges whom you must demonstrate your knowledge and training in the correct way to comport oneself.

Doji Murashige stands slightly ahead of the others and regards you all with a look of distinct doubt in your coming performance. "I hope that you recall the lessons of your parents well when comporting yourself as a samurai should." he says before gesturing for the first one of you to follow him and the other judges inside.