The main hall of the Laughing Carp has been decorated with the Mons of all competing Clans and Families. Servants remain unobtrusive, placing out drinks, trays of food in the center of tables. On a raised dais at the end of the room, a kindly, if serious looking samurai stands. His dress is formal, fine silks of pastel blue and white.

The balding pate leading to a dutifully tied topknot. The Grey Crane, Kakita Toshimoko, his light blue eyes are alight with joy and promise, as he appraises this years competitors as they enter the feast hall.

[Please feel free to RP amongst yourselves, at any one of the tables presented, after you place your entrance in this thread]

Confidence. That was the key. It didn't matter if you didn't have the right clothes; although really, where would such a fine sharkskin jacket be out of place. It didn't matter if you didn't speak the language; well, that certainly gave him an edge over that time with the gaijin ship. All that mattered was boldly putting your best foot forward to let them know without a doubt who you were.

Those thoughts guided Hirame as he stepped into the feasting hall, his stride easy, with a hint of a strange roll to it. He paused as he entered, bowing respectfully to the highest ranking fellow about, as was proper. His hazel eyes glinted as he bowed. Enthusiasm? Mischief? A promise? Hard to say.

Straightening, military precision touched with an abundance of energy, and he was off to one of the tables.

The other Mantis, Kasumi, was dressed a little more... normally by the standards of their hosts, although she was evidently still getting used to moving around in a formal kimono.

Her garments were well-made, and plainly a bit spendy, but for all of that an astute observer (of which there were no doubt many present) would note that she moved like someone accustomed to wearing fewer layers- and not so tightly wrapped.

And of course, her complexion was too tanned and her hair too sun-bleached to really fit the traditional attire as designed either- especially since she wore her favored hair ornament in the bargain.

Still, her movements when she made her bows were fluid, if not precisely dainty, and she maintained a certain... reserve as, the formalities done with, she turned to find a table.

Urusai enters boldly, forwardly, his carriage erect and his bearing sure, and his clothing freshened from the journey. Eyes flicker about the room, noting not only the positions of those in attendance but also of the servants--and the guards--and the exits.

Approaching the high table, he bows sharply and low to the esteemed sensei. "Honor to the Left Hand," he says, "and glory to this house. Urusai, son of Tokaji, of the Most Noble House of Seppun, with gratitude for the opportunity."

He straightens, gives another short bow, and finds his way to the table hard by the right of the high table.

The Cat entered . . . well like a cat, with grace and the unerring sense that he belonged here. With the proper bow to host and dignitaries done, the Minor Clanner selected a table on a whim and sauntered over to it.

Kakita Yuji made his way to the banquet hall. Here would be the first true gathering of the competitors of Tsuma. He had put on his finest clothes for this auspicious meeting, and offered the proper bow to the master of the Academy. Toshimoko was a brilliant sensei, and while Yuji may not have been his star pupil, the honor of attending the banquet was a heady experience.

Prime and proper in her classically cut red robe and traditional courtly makeup, Kaoru was the living image of what would be expected of a Scorpion courtier in such occasion. So much there wasn't really anything to complain but also to remember about her appearance.

She bowed appropriately to each of their hosts and quietly took place at one of the tables.

Kaori entered in her finest kimono.....which wasn't technically her only kimono. Still, her clothes were decent but obviously not rich. She bowed deeply to her hosts. "Miya Tetsuo-sama sends his warm greetings and salutations Kakita-sama. May the Sun and Moon smile upon us for an auspicious Tournament."

That said, she decided to look for somewhere to eat.

Jiro entered the hall with a steady step and a soft smile playing at his lips. He didn't move with any great confidence, but but the way he walked revealed an ease and comfort that displayed a different form of self-assurance. The importance of the event and the people didn't seem to break his stride or give him pause in the least.

"It is a great honor to have the opportunity to participate, Kakita-sama. I humbly thank you and your clan." He bowed with propriety to the host before finding his way to a place at one of the tables.

Leaving plain sandals amid the growing pile, Natsuko pauses a moment to remind her later self that her pair remember last year's spring floods with thinner stalks woven into the edges. It might be enough to avoid slipping on someone else's at the evening's end.

She watches, silent though a greeting or three before stepping forward on quiet feet to bow and speak her own in careful words that seem barely to clear the edges of her heavy hood before dissipating into the light and growing noise. There's the appropriate wait for acknowledgement before she turns to the nearest table and drops to a seat with a rattle of her satchel beside her.

Speaking together, Doji Shingo and Asahina Tenshin walk in. The two men speak in hushed tones, fans drawn over their faces, before sharing in soft laughter.

The Topaz Judge bids the other man a farewell, before heading to meet with Kakita Toshimoko.

Tenshin, and his looming bodyguard kept themselves near the entrance, smiling at the contestants, politely bowing

Isaac takes a second to undo his cloak and put it onto a rack before taking cautious steps into the hall, observing the competition on his way in. He does the standard greetings to the hosts first before taking a position at a table.

The young Kuni's arrival at the feast was understated, even modest in terms of the fanfare that she expected and received. Just as Mitsuko would want, not drawing undue attention in her midnight blue kimono with bone white mons: Crab Clan on the back, Kuni family on her left lapel and an obscure variation on the Hida mon for the elite Battle Leader school on her right.

Her most noticeable feature was probably her traditional Kuni facepaint, made more remarkable by the lack of any scroll satchel, like a shugenja would have. A Hida-trained Kuni sent to Topaz? How curious...

Kuroneko came to join the festivities. He gave a bow to the Kakita host and found himself somewhat lost, he wondered who to join. So many new faces, so many friends to have.

Kiriko floated in after the other Phoenix, almost looking as though she had sleep-walked in. Her eyes were intent, yet looked at the world as if she was half-dreaming it. Still, she was friendly enough as she found a seat, smiling and nodding to the people around her.

In a deep purple kimono, Jingyi entered the hall. Her boots fell heavily on the wooden floor as she found herself a seat. A small, brightly colored monkey scampered behind her, climbing up to her shoulder when she sat down.

Shosuro Yuuko enters the room side by side with her identical twin. They entered with grace, expected of the performers they were. Approaching the point with synchronous movements it was Yuuko who spoke on the twins behalf. Giving what honors were expected with a rare pleasantness among the samurai. Actors as they were, Yuuko knew well how to make her voice carry and she assuredly made it so. With their attendance noted she would turn to her sister, and the two would depart toward one of the tables.

Asako kept her mouth shut, just as her sister wanted. Sure, there were matters on her mind, but nobody would be pleased to hear her... appraisals. Indeed, the only kind thing she had to say was that they recognized the twins' talents as worthy of this occasion.

Shinko looks around, uncertain where to sit. No familar mons stand out to her that she can see, no other members of the Dragon, and is acutely aware of how alone she is here.

Easy there. You've got this! You've started over before.