Day 1 [LE] Training Grounds - Stances and Spars (Expecting)

[Suzume Rin]

Rin had spent a few enjoyable hours just wandering the Kakita Academy and marvelling at its history. All the sensei looked ever so dignified and the students seemed equally serious. And the library...well, you could fit almost ever Sparrow scroll ever written in there. And these kids could just go read whenever they wanted? Kakita samurai must know just about everything.

Still, as the day started to wind down Rin dragged herself back to the Dojo to train proper, although now it was lit more by a few well crafted lanterns than the charming natural light. Bowing politely to a few other fellow late trainers the Sparrow takes up a bokken and finds a quiet corner to slowly run through her kata. After a few minutes as she begins to relax she even begins to hum quietly.

[Ikoma Aya]

One of the fellow late trainers is a girl in Lion corners, unremarkable on most accounts except for eyes the colour of a Lion's mane that shine in the candlelight as she goes repeats a series of aggressive strikes over and over again - a number of times with her bokken, then, adjusting it back on her obi, with open hand strikes and fierce kicks with the side of her feet.

For now, she seems so focused she hardly notices the Sparrow - or so it seems, at least.

[Suzume Rin]

One of the fellow late trainers is a girl in Lion corners, unremarkable on most accounts except for eyes the colour of a Lion's mane that shine in the candlelight as she goes repeats a series of aggressive strikes over and over again - a number of times with her bokken, then, adjusting it back on her obi, with open hand strikes and fierce kicks with the side of her feet.

For now, she seems so focused she hardly notices the Sparrow - or so it seems, at least.

"Hmmm, hmm, hmm."
Cut, cut STAB!

"Through the window, I see
one shining plum blossom
that warmth of
one blossom"

Rin punctuated the phrase with a series of timed timed rhythmic strokes. At one point she catches the Lion's eyes and nods politely.

[Ikoma Aya]

"Hmmm, hmm, hmm."
Cut, cut STAB!

"Through the window, I see
one shining plum blossom
that warmth of
one blossom"

Rin punctuated the phrase with a series of timed timed rhythmic strokes. At one point she catches the Lion's eyes and nods politely.

As the girl in a drab-coloured gi finishes the unarmed kata, her ears tune in to the song.

A plum blossom? Is that...

Finally looking towards the source of the music, her eyes, which initially had a sort of glint of happiness (or hope? it wasn't easy to place), harden as if somewhat frustrated. But that is also gone a moment later, and she then simply bows.

"Good night... Suzume-san?", she says with a respectful, if somewhat rigid bow. "That was a good performance you put on today", she adds somewhat matter-of-factly.

[Suzume Rin]

As the girl in a drab-coloured gi finishes the unarmed kata, her ears tune in to the song.

A plum blossom? Is that...

Finally looking towards the source of the music, her eyes, which initially had a sort of glint of happiness (or hope? it wasn't easy to place), harden as if somewhat frustrated. But that is also gone a moment later, and she then simply bows.

"Good night... Suzume-san?", she says with a respectful, if somewhat rigid bow. "That was a good performance you put on today", she adds somewhat matter-of-factly.

"Hmmm?"
Rin pauses mid swing and looks over, hurriedly brushing some hair out of her eyes.
"Oh, Ikoma-sama, hope I wasn't distracting you. Not that you seemed distracted! If anything you were real focused."
The Sparrow bows respectfully
"Uh, yes, Rin of the Suzume here. Um, kind of you about the event today, but I was really just lucky. I'm sure on another day a different samurai would have won no problem."

[Ikoma Aya]

"Hmmm?"
Rin pauses mid swing and looks over, hurriedly brushing some hair out of her eyes.
"Oh, Ikoma-sama, hope I wasn't distracting you. Not that you seemed distracted! If anything you were real focused."
The Sparrow bows respectfully
"Uh, yes, Rin of the Suzume here. Um, kind of you about the event today, but I was really just lucky. I'm sure on another day a different samurai would have won no problem."

The girl promptly shook her head. "It's no bother at all, Suzume-san. And... not even Akodo-no-kami won every time, ne?" Her face was serious, but there seemed to be some skindness beneath the surface. Sisterly kindness, maybe? It was hard to say.

"You were also practicing kenjutsu.", she says, matter-of-factly. "That was an... interesting form."

[Suzume Rin]

The girl promptly shook her head. "It's no bother at all, Suzume-san. And... not even Akodo-no-kami won every time, ne?" Her face was serious, but there seemed to be some skindness beneath the surface. Sisterly kindness, maybe? It was hard to say.

"You were also practicing kenjutsu.", she says, matter-of-factly. "That was an... interesting form."

"He won an awful lot though, we have a couple stories about him winning. Amazing to think his style getting passed all the way down so now you can practice it too."

She blinks and looks at her bokken for a moment at Aya's question
"Oh yeah, that's just the Suzume style, probably a little old-fashioned compared to what you're used to Ikoma-sama."
Holding the wooden sword a little self consciously
"We have this whole thing where we let our opponents take the tempo of the fight but then we get a read on 'em. I'm probably not explaining it real well."

[Ikoma Aya]

"He won an awful lot though, we have a couple stories about him winning. Amazing to think his style getting passed all the way down so now you can practice it too."

She blinks and looks at her bokken for a moment at Aya's question
"Oh yeah, that's just the Suzume style, probably a little old-fashioned compared to what you're used to Ikoma-sama."
Holding the wooden sword a little self consciously
"We have this whole thing where we let our opponents take the tempo of the fight but then we get a read on 'em. I'm probably not explaining it real well."

She smiles at the Suzume's remark.

"Oh, he did! And from what we learn, no small amount of his victories he owed to learning from mistakes when he didn't win, ne?"

A confident nod.

"Learning always, working hard always. And when we fail... trying even harder."

There seemed to be some stress on her eyes behind that confidence, but she quickly shrugged it off.

"Un. Letting the opponent take the lead to read them, then?..." She seemed to ponder it, but didn't seem too certain. "Doesn't that expose you to an early defeat, though?"

[Suzume Rin]

She smiles at the Suzume's remark.

"Oh, he did! And from what we learn, no small amount of his victories he owed to learning from mistakes when he didn't win, ne?"

A confident nod.

"Learning always, working hard always. And when we fail... trying even harder."

There seemed to be some stress on her eyes behind that confidence, but she quickly shrugged it off.

"Un. Letting the opponent take the lead to read them, then?..." She seemed to ponder it, but didn't seem too certain. "Doesn't that expose you to an early defeat, though?"

"You sound like my sensei, he'd always tell us that the only failure was when you didn't learn anything. Then sometimes he'd whack us with a stick if we weren't paying attention."

Nodding slightly
"It can be risky if they realise what you're doing and move in, but we're pretty tough. Most folks in my family have endured a lot, though I guess it's a different sorta tough from having to fight a lot.

[Ikoma Aya]

"You sound like my sensei, he'd always tell us that the only failure was when you didn't learn anything. Then sometimes he'd whack us with a stick if we weren't paying attention."

Nodding slightly
"It can be risky if they realise what you're doing and move in, but we're pretty tough. Most folks in my family have endured a lot, though I guess it's a different sorta tough from having to fight a lot.

It's hard to say what it is exactly, but the girl's eyes drop to the ground. She takes a breath, that becomes a bit ragged midway through.

"Oh. Failure is..." She raises her eyes to the Suzume's, and there seems to be a flame behind them. "You cannot fail. Not when it counts. That's when we must learn always."

The explanation of the fighting style has her tilting her head a bit to the side. "Oh... so, you keep attentive, but also tough, then?"

A blink.

"Maybe you can show me in practice?"

[Suzume Rin]

It's hard to say what it is exactly, but the girl's eyes drop to the ground. She takes a breath, that becomes a bit ragged midway through.

"Oh. Failure is..." She raises her eyes to the Suzume's, and there seems to be a flame behind them. "You cannot fail. Not when it counts. That's when we must learn always."

The explanation of the fighting style has her tilting her head a bit to the side. "Oh... so, you keep attentive, but also tough, then?"

A blink.

"Maybe you can show me in practice?"

Rin looked relieve that whatever she'd said wrong it hadn't been too wrong, sparring was a good way to move on!

"Sure! Been weeks since I've had a proper partner. Ishi, he's my horse, he can't practice kenjutsu too well, so I bet I'm rusty. I bet I'd learn a lot from facing an actual Lion. Kinda funny actually, something similar happened with my great-grandfather and a Lion once, but that was ages ago."

Rin steps back a few paces and makes sure the two have some room before bowing politely.
"On your call Ikoma-sama."

[Ikoma Aya]

Rin looked relieved that whatever she'd said wrong it hadn't been too wrong, sparring was a good way to move on!

"Sure! Been weeks since I've had a proper partner. Ishi, he's my horse, he can't practice kenjutsu too well, so I bet I'm rusty. I bet I'd learn a lot from facing an actual Lion. Kinda funny actually, something similar happened with my great-grandfather and a Lion once, but that was ages ago."

Rin steps back a few paces and makes sure the two have some room before bowing politely.
"On your call Ikoma-sama."

"Oh... Suzume-san's great-grandfather trained with the Lion, then?" She seems curious... but slightly confused. Was that a Lion or a lion? And... was it a one time thing, or a period of training?

Shaking her head slightly for now, the Ikoma bowed politely as well, then positioned herself in a traditional stance, her bokken held in two hands and pointed towards Rin. She seemed to shift her weight slightly from one side to another, as if ready to pour herself to one direction or another at a moment's notice.

"Let's start!"

[Suzume Rin]

"Oh well not qui-"

Probably better to get into it later

"Hai!"

Rin extends her blade out to the side in a typical two-hand grip and plants herself firmly as she eyes Aya.

FLUFF ROLL

Sparring with Ikoma-san, earth/tactics for initiative. | TN: 1 | Success: 3 / Opportunity: 0 / Strife: 2


(( 6 For the initiative here
2/8 on strife
0/8 on fatigue ))

[Ikoma Aya]

A flame of intent seems to flicker on the Ikoma's eyes as she focuses on the Sparrow and throws herself forward, her stance suddenly shifting as she threw herself forward quickly - and somewhat menacingly, which is somewhat odd coming from Aya!

With another loud kiai shout, she strikes fiercely at the Suzume - forcing her to parry or feel the blow!


OOC:
Rolls for fluff!
Init roll - Fire Stance
Fluff init for sparring - Tactics/Fire | TN: 1 | Success: 2 / Opportunity: 1 / Strife: 2

Init 7
Opp used to ' Inflame another character in the scene with your presence, causing them to receive 2 strife.'
Composure: 2/8
Fatigue: 0/8

Turn 1!
Stance: Keeping fire stance!
Action: Strike! (Attack action)
Fluff sparring - Turn 1 - Strike! Martial (Melee)/Fire vs TN 2 | TN: 2 | Success: 3 / Opportunity: 1 / Strife: 2

3 sux, 1 opp, 2 strife; Fire stance, so 2 strife become 2 sux for 5 total sux
Damage would be 3+5 = 8 (but we are ignoring that I'm guessing, yeah?)
Opp used to reduce 1 strife taken
Using Akodo soldier tech to reduce 1 strife, suffer 1 Fatigue, and gain 1 Opp
Opp used to 'inflame another character yadda yadda, receive 2 strife!'
Composure: 2/8
Fatigue: 1/8

4 strife caused to Ren!

[Suzume Rin]

Rin lets out a loud 'oof' at the strike, her stance teetering for a moment at Aya's fierce assault.
Her solidity falters as the Sparrow realises this wasn't an attack she could simply endure.

She buys herself half a moment of respite and takes a deep breath before lunging forward, moving instinctively inside Aya's rhythm and delivering a powerful jab to the Lion.

FLUFF ROLL

Void/melee roll against Aya. | TN: 2 | Success: 4 / Opportunity: 2 / Strife: 2


((Spend the two opps for a faux 'crit' strife is at 6/8))

[Ikoma Aya]

Rin's counter hits squarely, and the Ikoma lets out a grunt. Her eyes seem to meet the Sparrow's with recognition for a split second as she nods to her opponent, but a quick turn around and she's throwing herself back at the Sparrow as in a violent pounce. The pivotting movement is leveraged with another kiai shout to launch a fierce sideways strike.

"Kiaaaa"

OOC:
Round 2!
Aya's Turn
Stance: Fire!
Action: Strike!
Fluff sparring, Turn 2 - Strike! Melee/Fire vs TN 2 | TN: 2 | Success: 2 / Opportunity: 3 / Strife: 1

2 Sux, 3 Opp, 1 Strife. Fire stance: Strife becomes 1 extra sux, so total 3 sux
Damage would be 3+3 = 6 (but ignored!)
1 Opp used to 'inflame yadda yadda'
2 Opp used for a mock critical strike.

Composure: 3/8
Fatigue: 1/8 (since we're ignoring Fatigue hits!)

Strike + Mock crit: 2 points! With 1 from Round 1 makes 3 total points for Aya.
Ren has 2 points from Strike + mock crit in round 1!

2 more strife caused to Ren!

[Suzume Rin]

Rin tries her best to dodge away but the sudden attack catches her flat-footed again and the sparrow winces at the impact before holding a hand up.

"Ooof, I yield Ikoma-sama. Think you more than lived up to your clan's stories."
She bows very formally to the Lion

"It's like fighting a roaring lion....who keeps whacking yah on the head if you don't move fast enough."

[Ikoma Aya]

Rin tries her best to dodge away but the sudden attack catches her flat-footed again and the sparrow winces at the impact before holding a hand up.

"Ooof, I yield Ikoma-sama. Think you more than lived up to your clan's stories."
She bows very formally to the Lion

"It's like fighting a roaring lion....who keeps whacking yah on the head if you don't move fast enough."

With the match over, Aya lowers her sword, slowly, takes a long, deep breath, and bows low and formally as well.

"Your form was good as well, Suzume-san - you got me good there at one point. It's been an honour."

Another deep breath, still bowing.

"And it will be an honour to train besides you as well in the coming days, if you are open to it." Raising her eyes slightly, but still bowing. "Suzume-san said... your great-grandfather had trained with, or met, a Lion?

[Suzume Rin]

With the match over, Aya lowers her sword, slowly, takes a long, deep breath, and bows low and formally as well.

"Your form was good as well, Suzume-san - you got me good there at one point. It's been an honour."

Another deep breath, still bowing.

"And it will be an honour to train besides you as well in the coming days, if you are open to it." Raising her eyes slightly, but still bowing. "Suzume-san said... your great-grandfather had trained with, or met, a Lion?

"Of course, training with someone like you's bound to make me improve. Well, that or get thwacked a bunch of times."

Rin looks a little awkward at the question, shifting from one foot to another.

"Uh, met. There was a bit of a disagreement clan to clan back then. A small force of lion arrived, things got heated. Think my great-grandfather ended up challenging the Lion commander to a duel to resolve things without more folks getting hurt. And then he got cut down. But it resolved things and everyone could go home at the end of the day. It made for a good family story, and it's still part of the reason the rest of the clan is nice to my family."

[Ikoma Aya]

"Of course, training with someone like you's bound to make me improve. Well, that or get thwacked a bunch of times."

Rin looks a little awkward at the question, shifting from one foot to another.

"Uh, met. There was a bit of a disagreement clan to clan back then. A small force of lion arrived, things got heated. Think my great-grandfather ended up challenging the Lion commander to a duel to resolve things without more folks getting hurt. And then he got cut down. But it resolved things and everyone could go home at the end of the day. It made for a good family story, and it's still part of the reason the rest of the clan is nice to my family."

Rin's remark on their training got a small grin out of the girl. "Oh... we'll both thwack each other a number of times, no doubts there, Suzume-san".

The story got her serious again, though. And apparently... somewhat uncertain. She blinked a few times, finding no words.

Another nod - more a bow, really - and she finally said... something.

"Your great-grandfather... seemed like a good man, Suzume-san. An honourable man."

More silence.

"I... can't know what happened. It isn't my place to judge, but by his actions, he was a kind and honourable man. Sometimes that's all that matters, ne?"

Her eyes couldn't quite meet the Sparrow's as she said that, and when she was done talking she seemed to wipe something off one eyes. Or maybe scratch it. Might be some sort of allergy, really...

One way or another, she bowed again. "I... really look forward to sparring with you again, Suzume Rin-san. A skilled bushi of honourable ancestry." When her eyes went up for a split second before shifting away again, there seemed to be a melancholic smile hiding somewhere in there. "Ne?"