The line of questioning from the three judges is quite different. Whilst Doji Murashige focuses on matters of courtly etiquette Ikoma Ikehata's questions revolve around matters of protocol when fighting serving under a Daimyo in the field and during battles. Shosuro Tomoe's questions are the hardest to deal with as they do not seem to follow any predicable pattern, often placing you in situations where any action you could take would leave you in a situation where you would lose face, leaving you to try and determine the solution with the lesser impact on yourselves.
Kashita - Whilst you find the questions levelled at you by Doji Murashige to be mostly beyond your experience and leaving you desperately trying to trawl your memory for answers you find those posed by Ikoma Ikehata to be almost simplistic in comparison with the Lion judge nodding in satisfaction at your answers to the Crane judges almost scowl of disatisfaction. Shosuro Tomoe's questions take you quite by surprise, mostly focusing on the proper way for a Samurai to interact with gaijin leaving you to wonder whether the Scorpion is trying to trap you in some admission of impropriety. You are almost surprised when Doji Murashige sighs and nods after you successfully answer one of Ikoma Ikehata's questions before dismissing you with an almost begrudging acknowledgement of you achieving the required standard to pass.
OOC:
Qralloq - The reroll for that is fine
- such matters of conduct are mostly beyond you, the finer points of courtly behaviour falling outside of your training in the monastery. The bemused looks on the faces of the judges, Doji Murashige in particular, informs you before they even say anything that you have not done well however Shosuro Tomoe makes a comment seeming to genuinely acknowledge your effort in the contest.
OOC:
CESN - man, that's a rough roll! I'm assuming you're just keeping one die to get the opportunity you mentioned?
- whilst your training has also been focussed on area's other than those of court or battlefields you find that your experience of dealing with and entreating the Kami to be somewhat translatable. By transposing the various parties in the scenarios to be differing Kami in your mind you find it almost simple to provide acceptable answers and even Doji Murashige seems happy with your answers by the end of the contest. As you finish he gives you a satisfied nod and dismisses you.
As you all gather outside you notice there is a board with the current standings listed. Leading the competition, and being the only competitor so far to have enough points to have achieved their Gempuku, is Kashita. Aki and Yoshi are both listed as being joint second, just below the line to have also achieved their Gempuku. The other competitors are all jostling for position beneath the three of you with Hitoshi being dead last with a single point currently. As you take in the board and the remarks of congratulations directed to Kashita in particular there is the sound of another gong. As it rings out you all turn to see Kakita Toshimoko standing with last years champion, Kitsuki Yuikimi, and the runner up of last years contest Bayushi Sugai. Toshimoko regards all of the competitors with a wide smile before speaking
"Today has been a testing day for you all but happily most of you have done your clans and the Emperor proud. As such food and sake have been provided for you all at the Poisoned Water Sake House. Go and relax tonight and return to us tomorrow refreshed for the remaining contests!". There is a polite applause as the slightly inappropriate dismissal before you and the other contestants find yourselves heading to the Sake house.
OOC:
Can everyone make me a Sentiment (Water) roll as you watch Toshimoko and the other two Samurai during his short speech. This will be the last thing we do in this scene so everyone's strife will drop down to half their Composure rating at the beginning of the next scene if it's already higher than that.
