Ikoma Ryuko had the Topaz Candidates once again assembled in the library of the Kakita Dueling Academy. She was dressed quite elegantly, her kimono pristine, the gold catching the light just so. In attendance in the watching, was Shou of the Winter Wind, who was less than slick as his attention was fully on the Lion matron, though she seemed to ignore him, if only the slight curl of her lips giving any hint as to their relationship.

"As Samurai." Her voice rang out, eloquent and commanding, yet with poise and grace. Her green eyes vibrant in the light of the room, "It is our duty to bring great honor to our ancestors. For it is within us, that their honor and deeds live on. How History continues to remember, carries through in a legacy we all bear." She steps across the dais with great purpose.

"In doing so we must..."

Disadvantages that must be triggered once on a roll of the affected PCs choice, if they choose the approach tied to the disadvantage:

Cognitive Lapses (Void), Fukurokujin's Curse (Fire), Dark Secret (Void), Perfectionism (Water)

School Abilities that are applicable:

Doji Diplomat - Speaking in Silence (Step 2)
Akodo Commander - Way of the Lion (Step 2)
Asako Loremaster - Wisdom of the Ages (Step 1)

Please feel free to ask if your School Ability could apply

Magic is not allowed for this event

Scoring:
1 Ancestor Point for a Basic Success
+1 Ancestor Point for every 2 successes after the first,
+1 Ancestor Point for using Ikoma Ryuko's favored approach, if successful on the roll.
Tiebreaker 1 - Opportunity on Kept Dice
Tiebreaker 2 - Strife on kept dice (whoever has the last amount of strife kept)

1st Place - 3 Topaz Points, 3 Glory
2nd Place - 2 Topaz Points, 2 Glory
3rd Place - 1 Topaz Point, 1 Glory

Step One: "... Recall the names, and deeds of all of our ancestors. It is Tradition, within the Lion, to name back 100 ancestors. I would not expect that of anyone else, but... memories of our forebears live on in our words. In our hearts and minds. We must never forget them, lest we forget ourselves."

This is a TN 2 Culture check as a Support or Scheme Action. This is reflective or recalling the deeds and heritage of your ancestors.

Step Two: "It is then important that we write these deeds. That the passion shown in our memories inspires poetry. The Ikoma Bards are known for their poems and songs. This is your chance to be as brigh as you can, as you create such new poetry."

This is a TN 2 Composition check, as a Support Action. This represents taking those deeds, and writing a brief poem, or the beginnings of an epic tale.

Step Three: "And finally, presenting your work before all, as the Bards have done. To be honest, but always bringing honor to the ancestors. Make them smile with your flowing words. This is my final test, dear students."

This is a TN 2 Performance check, as a Support or Scheme Action.

Day 7 Test of the Ancestor

Step One - Recall the Names

Culture/Earth TN 2 | TN: 2 | Success: 3 / Opportunity: 0 / Strife: 1


Remember her ancestors was pretty straightforward, first there was ma. Everyone knew she was famous for the 12 kids. Then ma's ma, grandma. Everyone knew she was famous for never cutting her hair. Then grandmother's mother who everyone knew was famous for building a new house all on her own. And so it went.

Day 7 Test of the Ancestor

Step 2 - It is important that we write

Composition/Earth TN 2, voided | TN: 2 | Success: 2 / Opportunity: 4 / Strife: 5


Rin debates going the passionate route here. Really belting it out...but ultimately she decides to craft a simpler, more grounded story. One folks might be able to relate to.

Day 7 Test of the Ancestor

Step 3 - And finally presenting your work

Performance/Water, voided, TN 2 | TN: 2 | Success: 2 / Opportunity: 1 / Strife: 0


As for presenting her work and making her ancestors smile....well she didn't know about them, but she recommended she could make most folk smile with the tale of the octopus who got stuck in a sake cup.

((3 points before approaches but probably won't matter XD))

"Shosuro Katashi. Bayushi Shinji..."
"Madam it's okay, you don't actually need to list one hundred of them, you can go to the next part of the test now."
"Shosuro Hiroshi. Shosuro Izumi..."
"Madam?"
"Nao. Shosuro Yasuo..."
"I think we lost her and won't be able to stop her before she actually complete the list."
"The trial will be overdone by that point."
"Yes. Her issue, not mine."

---

D7LM | Test of the Ancestor | TN 2 Culture | Earth | Void point | TN: 2 | Success: 6 / Opportunity: 0 / Strife: 5


+3 points (Earth)
5/10 strife -> Actually, pretty sure Passion: History (Earth) 200% applies here, so -3 strife, for a total of 2/10

D7LM | Test of the Ancestor | TN 2 Composition | Fire | TN: 2 | Success: 0 / Opportunity: 0 / Strife: 0


Failure

D7LM | Test of the Ancestor | TN 2 Performance | Water | Perfectionism | TN: 2 | Success: 1 / Opportunity: 3 / Strife: 1


Failure
+3 opp
+1 strife (+4 taken and +1 Void point due to Anxiety)

6/10 Strife

Result:
3 points (Earth/-/-)
3 opportunities

Natsuko had somewhat expected this recitation. If having no ancestry to recite caused any distress, it was not apparent in her demeanor. Her cold, blue eyes were steady as she recited a list of the head sensei of the Starry Heaven Sanctuary, and their accomplishments, going back through the past two centuries. Her low voice remained even and just loud enough to avoid calls to speak up. As a ward of the school, they were as much ancestry as she'd been given.

Unfortunately, a fair number of those ishiken were either renowned for deeds that didn't make a lot of sense to those unacquainted with the mysteries of the Void, or had ended their tenure by ripping themselves out of reality or some other dramatic mistake in handling their vast and strange powers. Natsuko was aware that it was better not to mention the latter in that way, and the former...made for very erratic poetry, whose forms were purposely distorted to reflect the reality-warping accomplishments as best she could. The clumsy attempt at portraying the vast wonder and terror of the void came nowhere close, in Natsuko's opinion, to getting it right, a fact that was deeply distressing.

Her distress kept her eyes on the floor, a deep crease of consternation marring her brow as she grit her teeth and recited the piece. Somehow, when spoken, the odd meter and subject matter were oddly compelling, garnering some surprised attention and surprising approval.

***********************
Step One: "... Recall the names, and deeds of all of our ancestors.
D7 Test of the Ancestors: Part 1: Culture/Earth, Void spent | TN: 2 | Success: 4 / Opportunity: 0 / Strife: 1


+2 Ancestor Points
Composure 1/8

Step Two: "It is then important that we write these deeds.
D7 Test of the Ancestors: Part 2 Composition/Void | TN: 2 | Success: 0 / Opportunity: 3 / Strife: 1 / Magnitude: 0


Fail
Reduce strife with opportunity
1 fatigue
Compusure 1/8

Step Three: "And finally, presenting your work before all, as the Bards have done.
D7 Test of the Ancestors: Part3 Performance/Water, using void, Perfectionism triggered | TN: 2 | Success: 3 / Opportunity: 2 / Strife: 3


+1 Ancestry point
reduce 2 strife with opportunity
Perfectionism triggered: +3 Strife +1 Void
Composure: 5/8

Totals:
3 points (Earth/-/Water)
5 opportunity
5 strife

Composure: 5/8
Fatigue: 1/6
Void: 1 remaining

Masaru arrived in his most formal and traditional Lion Kimono lion mon over his heart and Kitsu mon on his back. He appeared even more formal than usual for these tests his expression relaxed and neutral but a tension in his eyes. If there were ever a test he needed to excel at it was this one, not only judged by a fellow Lion but an Ikoma of some renown and influence.

Masaru started the exam spotting some of the histories of the Lion and pulling the names from them listing the names of his ancestors, to the best of anyone's knowledge. Many Kitsu appeared, but also some Akodo as well as a handful of Crane.

Next as he began composing the work he poured all his focus and passions into the work. While the usual boisterous style of the Ikoma was not his default he figured he could muster a work in that more bombastic style. He knew a well composed piece could help carry even a mediocre performance and so write and rewrite he did until he had written up a history that would be accepted by any Ikoma bard. Even if some of the details were more than a little embellished but they were entertaining.

Then came time for the performance he had opted for the beginning of an epic tale, the recounting of a great victory one by one of his Akodo ancestors. How she successfully and valiantly defended the emperor from savage attackers. Where the numbers accurate? maybe. No one was there to prove him wrong. But it was a good foundation and the telling was done well.

As he stepped away he smiled, his performance may not be the best of those here today but he could rest knowing that it was his best effort.
---------------------------
Test of ancestors water 3 culture 0 | TN: 2 | Success: 2 / Opportunity: 0 / Strife: 1


1 point water, 1 strife
1/10

test of the ancestors composition 1 fire 2 seize | TN: 2 | Success: 4 / Opportunity: 2 / Strife: 2

ikoma shadow 1 reroll 1 staked honor 2 dice rerolled 1 honor lost

2 points fire
2 opps, 2 strife
3/10

test of the ancestor performance 2 water 3 | TN: 2 | Success: 3 / Opportunity: 1 / Strife: 2


1 point water
1 opp, 2 strife
5/10

4 points total (1w/2f/1w)
3 opps
5 strife

Jiro does a really good job of listening out ancestors. Perhaps because they are relatively fresh in his mind from the other day's conversation with Natsuko. He even does a decent job writing something that is poignant and thoughtful about the connection between them and himself. But when it came time to recite, he looked to the written words and realized he had forgotten an ancestor of note. In trying to stuff mention of them into the performance he completely threw it off.

D7 LM, Test of Ancestors, Culture/Earth | TN: 2 | Success: 4 / Opportunity: 2 / Strife: 2

2 Bonus Successes, 2 opps offset 2 strife

D7 LM, Test of Ancestors, Composition/Void, VP | TN: 2 | Success: 2 / Opportunity: 2 / Strife: 3

Success, 2 opps offset 2 strife, +1 strife

D7 LM, Test of Ancestors, Performance/Water, Perfectionism, VP | TN: 2 | Success: 1 / Opportunity: 2 / Strife: 1

Failed, 2 opps offset 1 strife, +3 strife anxiety

3 ancestor points (Earth, Void, Failed)
6 opps, 6 strife

Strife: 4/8

Urusai listens attentively and bows himself into the contest.

In the event, he offers a thoroughly adequate performance, being able to recite a direct line of ancestry back to the days of the first Hantei--not the Lion's hundred, of course, but the nobler lines of the Seppun tend to produce their heirs later in life. Urusai comments upon this, prompted by the voice in his mind, in the poem he composes:

Bamboo blooming late
Stalks growing in all seasons
Cover the hillside
Perhaps a single cherry
Flowers in the panda's grove

Again, it is a thoroughly adequate thing, and his recitation of the same is also...adequate. Successful, yes, but not inspiring, especially not after yesterday. But then, his thoughts are filled with other things today already.

~~~~~
Step 1, Earth/Culture (Distinction, Passion, VP), TN 2, https://sakkaku.org/rolls/2897; passes at 2 sux, 0 opps, 2 strife; passion indulged, so net -1 strife
Step 2, Fire/Composition, TN 2, https://sakkaku.org/rolls/2898; passes at 2 sux, 2 opps, 1 strife; 1 opp to cancel strife
Step 3, Water/Performance (VP), TN 2, https://sakkaku.org/rolls/2899; passes at 2 sux, 1 opp, 3 strife; 1 opp to cancel strife

3 Ancestor Points (plus approaches E/F/W)
3 Opps
4 Strife

Yiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiikes.

This was not Hirame's sort of test at all. As a Mantis, ancestors didn't usually mean that much to him. Put trust in yourself, in the deeds that you would accomplish! On the other hand, he'd recently been motivated to do well at this. And, in fact, hadn't he just been talking about a famous ancestor of his? It required a bit of mumbling, but Hirame managed to list a respectable number of ancestors.

He leapt into the poetry writing with enthusiasm. And for a while, that carried him. But the rush of creativity faded, leaving Hirame stumbling at the end. Do not the brightest fires burn the fastest? As it turned out, small fires burn quickly, too.

He tried to adjust, to flow that failure into his performance, turn it around. But he found himself faltering at the same place as when he'd been writing the thing. It was frustrating, and Hirame found himself frowning as he left the stage. Was this the limit of his artistic ability? Could he not do better? Would he ever be able to prove himself?

He'd have to try harder.

---------------------------------------------------------

Test of the Ancestor, Earth 2 Culture 0 VP | TN: 2 | Success: 2 / Opportunity: 2 / Strife: 4


1 Point (EARTH) 2 opps 4 strife

Test of the Ancestor, Fire 3 Composition 0 | TN: 2 | Success: 1 / Opportunity: 1 / Strife: 1


failure, 1 opp, 1 strife

Test of the Ancestor, Water 3 Performance 0 | TN: 2 | Success: 1 / Opportunity: 1 / Strife: 1


Failure, 1 opp 1 strife

1 Point (EARTH, FAIL, FAIL), 4 opps 6 strife

An uncharacteristic furrow appears on Shinko's brow as she works to recite her ancestors.

"We begin with the kami Togashi."

It's a cop out, albiet a polite one, and in the end this whole thing was storytelling and Shinko prided herself as a charming performer, and she can see expressions soften as she weaves the story of the Togashi into the current era.

_________


D7 Test of the Ancestor - Earth 2 Culture 0 VP spent | TN: 2 | Success: 1 / Opportunity: 1 / Strife: 1
Fail

D7 Test of the Ancestor - Fire 3 Composition 1 | TN: 2 | Success: 2 / Opportunity: 1 / Strife: 2
Pass, +1 ancestor point

D7 Test of the Ancestor- Water 2 Performance 1 VP spent - dangerous allure distinction | TN: 2 | Success: 4 / Opportunity: 0 / Strife: 2
pass, +2 Ancestor Point

Ancestor Point before approaches: 3
(Fail / Fire / Water)
Opportunity: 2
Strife: 5 (8 if including anxiety)

Fluff incoming...


LM7 Step one - Void 3 Culture 0 +VP | TN: 2 | Success: 1 / Opportunity: 3 / Strife: 2

2 opp spent to -2 strife

LM7 Step two - Fire 2 Composition 0 | TN: 2 | Success: 2 / Opportunity: 1 / Strife: 2

1 Ancestor pt
1 opp spent to -1 strife

LM7 Step three - Void 3 Performance 0 | TN: 2 | Success: 2 / Opportunity: 0 / Strife: 1

1 Ancestor pt

2/4 strife

Totals
2 Ancestor pts
4 opps
5 strife

Ancestors?

ANCESTORS?!

Who gave a shit?!

Sure, there was the bastard daughter of Hantei XIV somewhere back in the family woodpile, and there was, of course, either Kaimetsu-Uo or some follower or another of his, but...

I see how it is, Crane. You throw us the sop of being aboard ship for one day, and then spend the rest of the fucking tests making it plain that we're not real samurai to you.

Get fucked.

Kasumi recall of her ancestry was, well... poor. She knew who her mother was. She knew who her father was. She knew that the Imperial bastard's blood reached her through her father's line because it had come up in one of her parents' screaming arguments as the only reason a nobody like him had been paired with a go-getter like her mother.

But when your parents barely speak to each other and very seldom speak to you? Family lore is going to be incredibly thin on the ground.

And it got worse.

FUCKING POETRY?! OH FUCK YOU ALL.

By what could only be termed a minor miracle, she managed to compose something somewhat effective, even if it was less about her actual ancestry and more about the glories of the Mantis Clan. She honestly had no idea that she had the right number of syllables or whatever- so was so fucking furious at being asked to compose poetry about something she didn't give a shit about that her stream of consciousness ravings just happened to broadly meet the criteria.

But asking her to perform this shit?

Reciting poetry through clenched teeth wasn't exactly a good look, and a near-murderous gleam in one's eyes as if trying to stare a hole in the judge's face didn't exactly leave a good impression.

[Step 1- Unskilled Earth/Culture, TN 2 Test of the Ancestor, Step 1- Unskilled Earth/Culture, TN 2 | TN: 2 | Success: 0 / Opportunity: 1 / Strife: 1


Failure. Use the kept oppotunity to offset strife.

Step 2- Unskilled Fire/Composition, TN 2 Test of the Ancestor, Step 2- Unskilled Fire/Composition, TN 2 | TN: 2 | Success: 2 / Opportunity: 0 / Strife: 2


Fire success. 1 point. 2 strife gained

Step 3- Water/Perform, TN 2 Test of the Ancestor, Step 3- Water/Perform, TN 2 | TN: 2 | Success: 0 / Opportunity: 3 / Strife: 0


Failure. 3 opportunities. Since I can't use them to strife-soak in this event format, I have no idea what good they do.

Fail/Fire Success/Fail.
1 ancestor point
4 opps, not that I think the bookkeeping is going to be needed here ]

The Cat ancestor list was very short, considering they'd only been around a couple of decades. Wait, they expected him to go back into the Unicorn roots before that? Surely not . . .

The poem went better, something about cats being best with an audience, but the presentation was lacking. Perhaps the Destroyer of Teapots and Murderer of Bonsai was still a little upset by such things . . . ?


--

ToA Culture TN 2 unskilled Air Approach | TN: 2 | Success: 0 / Opportunity: 1 / Strife: 0


. . . 1 Opportunity I guess then. . .

ToA Composition TN 2 Air Approach | TN: 2 | Success: 3 / Opportunity: 0 / Strife: 2


1 Ancestor Point, 2 Strife

ToA Performance TN 2 Air Approach Void Spent | TN: 2 | Success: 1 / Opportunity: 3 / Strife: 1


Opp cancels Strife.

Totals: 1 Ancestor Point, 4 Opportunity, 3 Strife (2 taken)

When Aya saw Ikoma Ryuko standing before them, she knew doing well today would be especially important. She knew her performance in the previous days would not be enough by any means.

Hearing what the task was, she was even more sure of that. The pressure she placed on herself was stronger than ever - and added to it was the weight of her parents, her family, her sister's spirit, and all her ancestors.

She took a deep breath before starting. Another one. A third one, remembering a routine taught to her by the friend from the north who had trained in her school. A slight smile crossed her lips, and the pressure turned into motivation.

She knew how important this was to her people. But she also knew this was something she could do. This might not be focus of her schooling - but it lay at the core of her family's traditions.

When the time came for her to perform, she bowed respectfully to Ryuko and started listing her lineage - in the traditional style of the Lion.

"This one is Ikoma Aya, soldier from the Akodo War College trained at the Dojo of Riverside Meadow Village, second child, after the late Temple Guardian Ikoma Yumeyo, of Ikoma Haruya and Ikoma Munenaga, both bards trained near Riverside Meadow and for a time at the Castle of the Swift Sword; my father the child of the bard Ikoma Mitsu and the Chui Akodo Sakura; Mitsu the child of the Medic Ikoma Kaminari and the Soldier and gentle but stalwart Temple Guardian Ikoma Megumi, who my family named me after; Kaminari the child of the magistrate Ikoma Chiharu, born Kitsuki, and the bard Ikoma Himitsu; himself the child of Ikoma Katsuragi and Ikoma Ryuuko, born Kitsu, both soldiers; Katsuragi the child of ..."

And so on, for generation after generation, until two of Ikoma's first followers, at a steady and musical rhythm. The list had mainly Ikoma, but also other Dragon and a few Shinjo - not particularly unusual given her family's location in Lion lands.

When she sat down to create a poem, she couldn't help but think of her sister, and soon of her great-grandmother. She knew the family tradition of temple guardians hadn't started with her, but it was Megumi who her parents' stories were often about, and it was from her that the poem started. She went for a choka, which gave her more space for development, and got to work. The final result was simple and somewhat austere, but had a number of "kakekotoba" wordplays, or pivot words, and under the serious surface carried the flaming pride and emotion of her family in doing their often simple work.

With the poem itself helping much, it wasn't too hard for Aya to rely on some of the techniques she learnt at home, from parents, grandparents and her sister, to give special attention and emotion to the words or sentences on which the poem's multiple meanings hinged - quite literally - to create a rapport with the audience - and, hopefully, with the spirits of her family and their ancestors.

A low, formal bow, and she stepped back to hear the others' performances.

OOC:
Step 1
D7 LM- Test of the Ancestors. Step1: Name back 100 ancestors! Culture(1)/Earth(1). VP to Seize the Moment. Traditional Adherent distinction. | TN: 2 | Success: 3 / Opportunity: 1 / Strife: 1

1 ancestor point! Earth approach
3 Sux, 1 opp, 1 strife
Opp negates strife

Step 2
D7 LM - Test of the Ancestors. Step 2: Passion inspires poetry. Composition(1)/Fire(3) TN2. | TN: 2 | Success: 4 / Opportunity: 1 / Strife: 4

2 ancestor points! Fire approach
4 sux, 1 opp, 4 strife
Opp negates strife
Composure at 3/8

Step 3
LM7 - Test of the Ancestors. Step 3: Make them smile with your flowing words. Performance(1)/Water(3) TN2 | TN: 2 | Success: 3 / Opportunity: 1 / Strife: 2

1 ancestor point. Water approach
3 sux, 1 opp, 2 strife
Opp negates strife
Composure at 4/8

Final results
4 ancestor points. Approaches: Earth/Fire/Water
3 opp on dice
7 strife on dice
Composure at 4/8

Reciting her ancestors and their deeds? For someone of such distinguished lineage, it was only natural that she knew this very well, having been told countless times of her noble heritage and all the important people whom she honored whenever she visited the family shrine. So the Kakita maiden was quite impressive in her recitation of their names and their accomplishments.

Though Ahiru wasn't very keen on being prompted for poetry. Mostly because she preferred art to come naturally... and poetry was never her favorite. She tried to make her own creation of her ancestors' stories, but it was... mediocre. Alas.

Thankfully she more than made up the lacklustre substance of her creative prose by putting on a good performance that could gloss over the boring and tedious details as she kept the listeners captivated for a moment.

Having finished the tasks, Kakita Ahiru of a proud Kuge lineage, took a bow.


-------------

D7 LM Test of the Ancestor. "Traditiioooon!" Culture 2/Earth 1 (+1 Void Point). Kuge Lineage. TN 2 | TN: 2 | Success: 4 / Opportunity: 0 / Strife: 3

2 Ancestor Points (Earth Approach)


D7 LM Test of the Ancestor. "Blahblah poetry". Composition 0/Fire 2. Speaking In Silence. TN 2 | TN: 2 | Success: 0 / Opportunity: 2 / Strife: 1

0 Ancestor Points

D7 LM Test of the Ancestor. "Bring honor to us all." Performance 0/Water 3. TN2 | TN: 2 | Success: 3 / Opportunity: 0 / Strife: 2

1 Ancestor Point (Water Approach)

3 Ancestor Points (Earth, Fail, Water)
3 Opportunity
6 Strife

Michi couldn't remember her ancestors. So she wrote whatever she could. Then said some things. It went okay.

D7 Ancestor Event, Culture/Earth, Akodo Tech | TN: 2 | Success: 0 / Opportunity: 2 / Strife: 2

D7 Ancestor Event, Composition/Water, Akodo Tech | TN: 2 | Success: 2 / Opportunity: 0 / Strife: 1

D7 Ancestor Event, Perform/Water, Akodo Tech, Void Point | TN: 2 | Success: 2 / Opportunity: 2 / Strife: 2


Earth/Water/Water
2 points
stuff
junk
carry on

It wasn't hard to think of ancestors to honor. The Kakita family had so many famous descendants, Yuji almost had too many to choose from. A host of duelists, scores of artists, but really, Yuji wanted to focus on a famous teacher. After all, teachers were truly important, guiding the future of the Empire.

Earth 3/Culture 1: 4 sux, 2 opp, 3 strife. 2 opps to cancel 2 strife.


Then came the composition of the poetry. Yuji was sweating this one a little bit. He'd been going on and on about how everyone should do poetry, if his nerves got the better of him here, he'd really look like a jerk. But they didn't. It wasn't the most inspired work of the competition, it was merely average....for someone competing in the topaz championship.

Fire 2/Composition 0 2 sux, 0 opp, 1 strife

And last came the performance. Yuji tended to lean pretty heavily on being pretty at times rather than being very skilled. Unfortunately for him, while he was giving his sweeping poem, a bug took the opportunity to check out what the inside of a Kakita's mouth looked like. The resulting coughing fit, and strained finish certainly did not make the ancestors smile. A shame, really.

Air 3/Performance 0 0 sux, 1 opp, 0 strife

Final Score:

3 Ancestor points
Earth/Fire/-
3 opps
4 strife.

For once, here is a test whose requirements are quite easy for Jun to predict based on past Tournaments. Which makes sense--one wouldn't expect wild variation in the Test set by the most tradition-bound Great Clan and meant to gauge the candidates' devotion to past generations.

So... it's possible Jun is a bit over-prepared.

"I will speak of my ancestors," he says with solemn formality. He bows to the judges. "These are their names and their deeds. My mother, Kitsuki Onatsu, seneschal of Kaitou province, married Agasha Kanehiko, priest and astronomer. Her father, Kitsuki Kiyogawa, general of the guard at Great Falls Castle, twice wounded in honorable battle. His brother, Kitsuki Kiyomizu, the renowned magistrate who unmasked the crimes of Otomo Buri and saw him executed for embezzling several thousands of koku of tax grain. Otomo Buri had also employed the assassin Kageko, who....

"...and Kageko was a disciple of the gang boss Kurome, who once brutally cut off the ears of...

"...fortunately, the poisoner was caught when my great-grandfather found the needle marks! And then another case of my great-grandmother's...

"... who was a decorated diplomat, which is fine, I guess, but anyway, his mother, Kitsuki Kojo, was Emerald Magistrate of Ryoko Owari during the reign of Hantei X, and she..."

No one can fault Jun's recall, and if they let him keep going it is possible he might actually list one hundred ancestors. Unfortunately, at this rate it seems likely the judges will also have to listen to the grim exploits of two or three hundred of Rokugan's most dastardly criminals before he gets anywhere close to ancestor #100.

Eventually, some gentle throat-clearing and hand-waving breaks Jun's recitation enough for Ikoma Ryuko to direct him on to the next part of the task. But Jun realizes just as his time for composition is up that the rhyme scheme in his painstakingly crafted original poem is all wrong. A traditional poet like the Ikoma would definitely notice that, and probably hate it. And there's no time to fix it--he'd have to redo the rhymes completely!

Unfortunately, his split-second decision to instead perform a rousing popular ballad about one of his great-uncle's criminal foes, the Demon Barber of Kawamachi, is perhaps not the best choice for this audience either.

--
D8 LM Test of the Ancestors--Step 1, Culture 1/Earth 3 | TN: 2 | Success: 0 / Opportunity: 1 / Strife: 0

Fail!

D8 LM Test of the Ancestors--Step 2, Composition 0/Fire 2 | TN: 2 | Success: 1 / Opportunity: 1 / Strife: 1

Fail!

D8 LM Test of the Ancestors--Perform 0/Earth 3 (I know that's not the favored approach, but maybe Jun can pass one check? XD ) | TN: 2 | Success: 0 / Opportunity: 1 / Strife: 0

Fail!

Final total: Failed everything, no points for you, lad. And possibly the eternal enmity of the Lion.

"Um... yeah... right... um.... what was the question?...riiiiiight..."


//D7 LM Event Recall ancestor Culture void approach spending void/ memory lapse triggered | TN: 2 | Success: 0 / Opportunity: 2 / Strife: 1

0 AP
2 opportunity
1 strife

D7 LM Event Compose the poem Fire approach | TN: 2 | Success: 4 / Opportunity: 0 / Strife: 3

2 AP
0 opportunity
4 strife

D7 LM Event Perform the poem Water approach | TN: 2 | Success: 1 / Opportunity: 2 / Strife: 1

0AP
2 opportunity= -4 strife
1 Strife

Total AP: 2

Kuni Mitsuko is delighted to review her ancestors. This is certainly her kind of test!

Oh. Except the poetry writing. And then... Storytelling? Um. That's...

The skinny Crab girl squeezes the omamori that Auntie Akane had sent with her, says a quiet prayer to Benten for some intervention to help her, and sets to the required tasks.

When she's done, besides a certain bitterness that Benten had left her hanging when she'd tried to make poetry, the future Crab commander stands proud at her efforts on behalf of her ancestors.

--------
Rolls:
D7 event roll 1: Culture TN 2. Earth 3, Culture 1, void point, Ancestry passion | TN: 2 | Success: 4 / Opportunity: 1 / Strife: 2

2 Ancestor points (+1 for Earth), 1 opp reduces strife, passion triggers so no net strife.

D7 event roll 2: Composition TN 2. Void 3, 0 skill | TN: 2 | Success: 0 / Opportunity: 2 / Strife: 2

0 Ancestor points, 2 opps reduce strife, no net strife.

D7 event roll 3: Performance TN 2. Water 2, 0 skill, void point | TN: 2 | Success: 2 / Opportunity: 1 / Strife: 2

1 Ancestor point (+1 for Water), 1 opp reduces strife, 1 net strife
Composure: 1/10

Totals:
3 Ancestor points (plus Earth/fail/Water)
4 opportunities kept
6 strife kept

Well, she knows about her ancestors more by what they made though. Still, it was a task to complete and she would approach it with an open mind and a willingness to do that task ahead.

Taura took a deep breath and tried to organize the names of her ancestors, she kept getting distracted by remembering what they had made and where it is now. [Earth/Culture] She feared that she digressed a bit more on such subject than the judge wished but she made it through however she felt a little rattled at the end.
Success: 3 (required: 2) Opportunity: 3 Strife: 6 Use three Opportunity to counteract Strife (damn that was a lot of strife)

Not poetry, her old enemy. She hid a sigh and set down to try and compose . . . something. [Fire/Composition] It was a good description but terribly poetry, at least it read clearly and easily.
Success: 1 (required: 2) Opportunity: 1 Strife: 1

Well, as what she had would be best presented clearly and directly, she did just that. [Earth/Performance, using Void] The Kiau were trained to pitch their voice to carry across a busy floor. While it may not have been great art, but it was ringing and clear to hear. She was not disappointed, it was very Kaiu.
Success: 2 (required: 2) Opportunity: 2 Strife: 2

She bowed again to the judges and retreated, vowing to read more of her ancestors . . . and of poetry.

Final Strife: 6