Utaku Enkhtuya stood at the judging position for the other semi-final bout. She was a picture of poise qnd grace, waiting foe the two challengers.

"Suzume Rin-san, ready!" She looked to the Sparrow, and then to the Lion, "Kitsu Masaru-san, ready!"

Pulling her hands back, she called them to action. "Fight!"

Masaru had gathered himself a bit but the stress and jitters of the situation didn't leave him entirely. Compounded by having his duel in the eyes of the Son of Heaven himself.

Masaru bowed low to the honored audience and entered the ring a small smile as he saw the Sparrow girl he'd spoken to at the temple. He nodded in greeting before assuming his stance, more ready than he was last time

--------------------------
Initiative stance air
Semifinal Initiative air/meditation | TN: 1 | Success: 1 / Opportunity: 1 / Strife: 0
Spending opp to add kept opp die to next Martial check

Base Initiative 6

Staredown
One strain

6/10 Composure
0/10 fatigue

"Oh, Kitsu-sama! I knew you'd make it to the finals. It's a real honour. May the fortunes bless us both."
Rin bows politely.

"You know that story you told? The one about the good child and the bully child? Got my own version."
Rin keeps it short, but in this tale both the children are kind hearted and honourable.

"Different sorta story. But the point is, sometimes both sides, they're good samurai. But only one can make it through."

Day 10 Iai-Semi Finals Round 2. Vs Kitsu Masaru

Initiative roll, earth. Using Sparrow tech to roll as performance and triggering her story passion. | TN: 1 | Success: 4 / Opportunity: 1 / Strife: 3

((1 opp to cancel a strife))
She rests her hand on her weapon.

((4/8 composure with 1 from staredown
0/8 fatigue

Initiative 7 before bid))

Suzume Rin - 9
Kitsu Masaru - 6

The fight commences...

The moment stretches on...and on. For Rin there's nothing but these two duellists.

And their weapons

Day 10 Iai tournament semi-finals. Round 2 vs Kitsu Masaru

Iaijutsu cut crossing blade technique, TN 3 because of Masaru's air stance.
Martial arts melee/earth. Spending a void | TN: 3 | Success: 3 / Opportunity: 3 / Strife: 3


((2 opps to crit, 1 to reduce strife. I believe that is first strike.))

It's close, incredibly close. But the Sparrow surges forward with everything she has, the bokken swinging forward with just enough speed to catch the nimble lion solidly in the chest.

Enkhtuya was impressed by the speed and precision with which Rin struck. Her hand raised high.

"Suzume Rin-san strikes true. Excellent form."

She bowed to Kitsu Masaru, and then deeply to Suzume Rin.

Masaru looks at the strike and a bemused smile flickers across his features "and just when I was starting to hope."

He sheaths his Bokken and bowed low to Rin as he came up he whispered to her "Now go win, be a hell of a story to lose to the Topaz Champion." He said with a smile to her as he bowed once again.

Turning to the judge he bowed and then to the Emperor and entourage he bowed as low as he could and held for a moment before moving to the audience area.

Kitsu Masaru wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 10, 2021 12:51 am

Masaru looks at the strike and a bemused smile flickers across his features "and just when I was starting to hope."

He sheaths his Bokken and bowed low to Rin as he came up he whispered to her "Now go win, be a hell of a story to lose to the Topaz Champion." He said with a smile to her as he bowed once again.

Turning to the judge he bowed and then to the Emperor and entourage he bowed as low as he could and held for a moment before moving to the audience area.

Rin blushes and nods, bowing her head to Masaru.
"Don't think you ain't gonna be a hero in this story no matter how it finishes."

The Sparrow then turns and bows deeply and properly to the observers before making her exit.