After the designated supper break, the two finalists were called to the final match. Kakita Toshimoko stands at the center line, ready for the two to commence. Before he says a word, a hand touches his shoulder.

"Allow me, old friend." Hantei the Thirty Eighth, the Son of Heaven himself, smiled at the Grey Crane. Toshimoko was shocked for a moment, and then bowed deeply to the Emperor. The Divine stood himself at the center line, his hand placed in the center. He looked to one participant, and then the other. Waiting for them to say they were ready.

Rin swallows dryly. The Son of Heaven was here...and he...he wanted to know if she was ready.

It takes a few moments to steady her nerves before she nods gravely.

"I am ready your highness."

Aya's way to the duelling this time was... unusual. Unusual, in that it was almost peaceful. Having spent lunch with Rin and the others who joined them, exchanging food, tea stories, songs and a generally pleasant time, she felt as if their way to the final was that of two friends. Or... two sisters.

It was only as she saw Toshimoko before them that the sense of where they were, and what they were doing, came tumbling back to her. Even then, she felt much more peaceful than she had perhaps since arriving in Tsuma. Or... maybe even longer. When did she last feel like that?

As she shook her head slowly trying to set the thought aside after the low bows to Toshimoko, then Rin, the Son of Heaven made his way down to them.

Made.

His way.

Down.

To them.

And asked Toshimoko to judge the match.

Should she kneel down again? How should she...
She bowed low, as low as she could, but after a moment she had to stand again. They couldn't duel while bowing, after all.

The usual flame in her eyes were now embers at most - confused embers, although still proud, in an awkward way. Her eyes sought Rin's out. How did Suzume-san feel about this? Or react to it?

Seeing the Sparrow slightly jittery first made her feel the same way... but soon made her reassure herself. She sought Rin's eyes again, nodded to her. I know we'll do our best!, the nod said to the Suzume. Let's do this!. She took the usual three breaths, and the confidence she gained from it she tried to project to her opponent as well. An opponent she now thought of as a friend.

"I... um... this one... is also ready, your Imperial highness!", she said, her deep voice cracking only slightly.

OOC:
(Sorry for the sluggishness today, folks, paying back some serious sleep debt here! Will probably be spotty until tomorrow afternoon/ evening, but I'll try to be around a bit!)

In his regal bearing, the Emperor nodded to each of the contestants. His hand never waivered from the ready position. His steely gaze looked between the two young Samurai.

"Then, it is time. Fight!" He chopped down, clearing himself from the plane, allowing destiny to take control.

Day 10 Iaijutsu Tournament One Perfect Moment vs Ikoma Aya

Initiative. Meditation/Earth | TN: 1 | Success: 1 / Opportunity: 0 / Strife: 0


Rin calms herself and looks at Aya, nodding her head respectfully before resting her hand on her weapon.

The nod was returned, her expression peaceful and actually friendly. A blink, though, and the peaceful embers in her eyes are ablaze again, her stance shifting to the same aggressive prowl Rin had seen before, the Ikoma restlessly moving around the Sparrow as if testing her solid stance.

"A great honour to stand before you like this thrice, Suzume-san!", she says in a direct voice still carrying some of that friendly tone... although it sounds almost menacing at the same time, in a way?

OOC:
Note: Had rolled earlier but couldn't post! Asked Rin's player if she'd have rolled differently since Aya is higher honour, but they said it's all good, so here goes!

D10 EE - Final vs Rin <3 Init - Fire stance! Fire(3)/Meditation(2) vs TN1. Quick reflexes! | TN: 1 | Success: 3 / Opportunity: 2 / Strife: 1

3 sux, 2 Opps, 1 Strife
3 successes!
1 Opp negates 1 strife
1 Fire Opp to Inflame Rin, causing her to receive 2 strife

Link to the duel thread in my PF! Bid is already up there

Bids are in

Ikoma Aya - 8
Suzume Rin - 4

Aya wins intiative. Gooooo!

As Aya moves slightly closer to Rin, she moves her hand on the bokken's hilt slightly, leaving the wooden sword ready to fly at a moment's notice. Her aggressive stance backs down slightly, though, as if she expected Rin's own bokken to fly at her at a moment's notice too...

OOC:
Aya's turn round 1!
Shift to Earth stance
Action: Prepare Item (Ready bokken)

Composure at 1/8
Fatigue at 1/8 (since Natsu patcher her up slightly during lunch!)

Should be Rin's turn!

Rin does her best to stay centred even in the face of Aya's intensity as her eyes probe for weakness in the Lion's stance.


OOC:
Rin round 1
Stay in earth stance
Action: Predict

Composure at 3/8
Fatigue at 0/8

The Hantei watches both, the tension in the air growing.

Round 2
Take 2 strife.
Bid.

Bids in

Aya - 8
Rin - 4

Goooooo!

As Aya senses Rin's awareness of her movements, she takes a half-step closer, her eyes narrowing slightly and drawing Rin's in to hers..

OOC:
Round 2!
Aya means to switch to Fire stance... can she?

Ikoma Aya wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 12, 2021 1:36 am

As Aya senses Rin's awareness of her movements, she takes a half-step closer, her eyes narrowing slightly and drawing Rin's in to hers..

OOC:
Round 2!
Aya means to switch to Fire stance... can she?

(( Rin did not predict fire!))

The half-step becomes a full step closer, and Aya's torso projects in the direction of her friend, as if she were ready to pounce. But she knows, despite her bold approach, that Rin's defences are too focused to be truly breached as she is now. So instead of an actual draw, which her experience and her previous sparring with Rin ensured her would not find its target, she instead forces another step forward, as if trying to overwhelm the Sparrow's movements with her own, and focused her eyes deep into Rin's own, almost as if daring her to try to draw and come for her.

Although not an actual swing, a watchful observer would understad it was, in some ways, even fiercer than one.

OOC:
D10 EE - Final vs Rin! Aya Turn 2 - Strike! Fire(3)/Martial [Melee](2) v TN2. VP to Seize the Moment! Akodo Soldier's Drilled Precision at Step 4; removes 1 Strife (to 2/8); adds 1 Fatigue (to 2/8); adds 1 Opp. | TN: 2 | Success: 2 / Opportunity: 2 / Strife: 3

Akodo Soldier's Drilled Precision activated; Composure down to 2/8; Fatigue up to 2/8; adds 1 Opp!
Total: 2 sux, 3 opp, 3 Strife; Fire stance - Strife become successes, up to 5 sux
Succeeded!
1 Fire opp: Inflame Rin! Causes them to receive 2 strife.
2 Fire opps: Other characters must receive 2 strife to choose you as the target of their Attack and Scheme actions until the start of your next turn. (CRB pg. 328)
3 Strife taken;

Fatigue caused on Rin: 5 (2H bokken) + 3 (extra successes) - 2 (clothes physical resistance) = 6 (to 6/8?)

Aya's Composure after strike: 5/8
Aya's Fatigue after strike: 2/8

Rin's Composure after strike should be at... 7/8?

It's a furious assault conducted only only through careful steps and positioning, Rin feels herself begin to falter before the Lion's assault. The Sparrow's natural instinct is to reach deep down into herself to find her pool of calm. And when she finds it she strikes.

But that was just what the Lion had been waiting for....

Day 10 iaijutsu Final vs Ikoma Aya

Round 2, Iaijutsu Cut: Crossing Blade on Aya TN 2

Martial Arts Melee/Void. Spending a void point as well. | TN: 2 | Success: 3 / Opportunity: 2 / Strife: 2


((Rin will compromise as she strikes from Aya's opp spend which will trigger a free finishing blow for the Lion before Rin's attack can land!))

Just as the Sparrow's bokken jumps forward towards Aya, her right hand tightens on the hilt of her own bokken, and it flies up with ferocious speed.

Did I actually get you this time, Suzume-san??, is all that crosses her mind as her hand guides the bokken towards Rin's right side, her body instinctively preparing for Rin's incoming strike as well.

'THWACK'

Aya's swing connects, a bit stronger than she'd hoped, striking Rin's right forearm.

The incoming strike hits as well... but... was that weaker than she expected?

She looks at Rin, the flame in her eyes back to friendly embers... and she suddenly seems... maybe somewhat lost?

Her eyes scan the scene as she takes a step back, quickly bowing low to Rin. "Suzume-san!", she says simply, her voice friendly, but also...

Was that concern?

She turns to the judge - the Emperor, that is! - and bows low, as low as she can. It takes a moment, and then she turns to Rin and bows again - although, perhaps as a side-effect of the whole situation, her overexcitement... or her concern about how loud the 'thack' sounded, her eyes keep scanning the whole scene as she does.

OOC:
D10 EE - Final vs Rin! Finishing blow triggered by Rin's strike - Fire(3)/Martial [Melee](2) TN2 | TN: 2 | Success: 2 / Opportunity: 1 / Strife: 0

Akodo Soldier's Drilled Precision activated! Strife -1, to 4/8; Fatigue +1, to 3/8; +1 Opp
Total: 2 sux, 2 opp
2 successes - Finishing Blow connects!
2 opp: Notice something missing or out of place in the vicinity that is not directly related to the task. At the GM’s discretion, you may establish an absence, such as a lack of shoes outside indicating the occupant’s absence. (If relevant!)

Rin suffers a Severity 6 Crit ( ); she can roll Fitness to resist!

Fatigue caused: 3 (1H grip) - 2 = 1; to 8/8;
Aya's Composure: 4/8

The 'crack!' of the strike echoes throughout the small Sparrow's body as she feels her arm bend back unnaturally.

'Huh, that ain't good'

And then she sees the ground rushing up.


Day 10 Iaijutsu tournament vs Ikoma Aya

Fitness/Void to resist a severity 6 crit, compromised | TN: 1 | Success: 0 / Opportunity: 0 / Strife: 0


When she stirs a few seconds later on the dirt her forearm hurts like that time she fell out of aunty's tree and the adrenaline is still making her hands shake. But she forces herself to her feet holding her right arm gingerly and bows deeply to the audience and then to Aya.

"Well struck Ikoma-sama. Or should I say, well struck Topaz Champion Ikoma Aya-sama?"
And just for Aya
"Don't you go worrying 'bout me, the arm'll be fine. Reckon seeing you as champion is already making it feel fine and dandy."

Suzume Rin wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 12, 2021 3:00 am

The 'crack!' of the strike echoes throughout the small Sparrow's body as she feels her arm bend back unnaturally.

'Huh, that ain't good'

And then she sees the ground rushing up.


Day 10 Iaijutsu tournament vs Ikoma Aya

Fitness/Void to resist a severity 6 crit, compromised | TN: 1 | Success: 0 / Opportunity: 0 / Strife: 0


When she stirs a few seconds later on the dirt her forearm hurts like that time she fell out of aunty's tree and the adrenaline is still making her hands shake. But she forces herself to her feet holding her right arm gingerly and bows deeply to the audience and then to Aya.

"Well struck Ikoma-sama. Or should I say, well struck Topaz Champion Ikoma Aya-sama?"
And just for Aya
"Don't you go worrying 'bout me, the arm'll be fine. Reckon seeing you as champion is already making it feel fine and dandy."

Seeing Rin get up and holding her arm, Aya bows yet again, her concern now more clearly visible. She does nod to Rin's comment, though.
"Ah!.. no need to get so formal, Suzume-san!, she says in a low voice, then adds to her in a whispered tone.
"Suzume-san knows I will worry! Let's take a look at your arm later, please!

Ikoma Aya wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 12, 2021 3:09 am

Seeing Rin get up and holding her arm, Aya bows yet again, her concern now more clearly visible. She does nod to Rin's comment, though.
"Ah!.. no need to get so formal, Suzume-san!, she says in a low voice, then adds to her in a whispered tone.
"Suzume-san knows I will worry! Let's take a look at your arm later, please!

Rin goes to flap her sleeve and then notices the arm flapping too, so instead she does her best to set her On to 'stern and respectful'

"Gosh, I'm so glad it was you who won Ikoma-sama. Most honourable samurai here, nicest person who's ever broken my arm, then you offer to set it back right too. That temple of yours is gonna have a famous protector now!

As the Sparrow lunges out, caught quickly by the prepared bokken of the Lion, the Divine Emperor raised his hand on Ikoma Aya's side.

Crane healers quickly run out, an Asahina Priest with them to tend to the arm of Rin. It simply would not do to allow any guest of the Tournament to leave with any serious injury.

The Emperor looks to Ikoma Aya. His eyes focused on her features.

"Congratulations, Ikoma Aya-san." There is the barest hint of a smile on his lips. "My new Topaz Champion."