[LM4] - Test of the Wilds

[Ikoma Aya]

Aya liked horses. She did. She was reminded of that when walking with Yuji two days back. But similarly, she was reminded that she didn't know much about them at all. She had no practice at all with riding in tense situations... much less shooting while doing it.

She paid great attention to the Shinjo judge's demonstration and instructions. Adaptable... she could do that. But that wasn't all, and she knew that.

Knowing it, in fact, didn't help much. It made her remember her sister, while no experienced rider, enjoyed riding... and was much better at it than she was. Taunted her about it, even. But she had never given it much thought - there was so much more she had to improve in to come close to her...

When she got atop her horse, the tried to do her best. She did. But memories coming back to her, overthinking and second-guessing herself got in the way, and the horse was soon doing whatever it wanted to. It made shooting hard - and she was no experienced shooter to begin with. Unsurprisingly, the first arrow went wide, despite her best efforts to the contrary. That at least gave her some poise while shooting wide... but wide the arrow went. By the time she got ready for the second shot, she was as certain that she would fail as she was that she couldn't.

Those who fear to act have already failed. You need only know that you cannot be defeated..

Too late, of course. Her best efforts couldn't salvage it when her mind and will were working against her.

She rode back as if she had a dark cloud over her head. Her distinction the day before did little to dissipate her frustration and anger at herself.

I will never do her proud. I'm shaming her spirit and her memory. I'm a failure - and right where I CANNOT be one.

She bowed low to the Shinjo judge, apologising profusely. Some quick bows to others around, thought, and she saw herself out, returning alone through the forest...

OOC:
Step 1
Test of the Wilds - Step 1, "Rider and Horse". Survival/Water, VP from Temple help to Seize the Moment! | TN: 2 | Success: 1 / Opportunity: 1 / Strife: 1

1 sux, 1 opp, 1 strife.
Fatigue 0/8
Composure 1/8

Step 2
Test of the Wilds - Step 2, "The first shot". Martial (Ranged)/Water, VP to Seize the Moment! Must reroll two sux/explosive sux due to failing Step 1 (ticking Adversity box to reflect that!) | TN: 2 | Success: 0 / Opportunity: 5 / Strife: 2

0 sux, 4 opp, 2 strife; +1 opp from Akodo Soldier tech (forgot to add in description!), removing 1 strife and adding 1 fatigue
Total: 0 sux, 5 opp, 2 strife (as shown above)
1 of the opp used to remove 1 strife
Fatigue 1/8
Composure 1/8

Step 3
Test of the Wilds - Step 3, "The second shot". Martial (Ranged)/Water. Using Akodo Soldier tech again (forgot to add in description for Step 2!). | TN: 3 | Success: 0 / Opportunity: 2 / Strife: 2

0 sux, 2 opp, 2 strife; +1 opp from Akodo Soldier tech (added in description, but forgot to add opp die!), removing 1 strife and adding 1 fatigue
Total: 0 sux, 3 opp, 2 strife
2 opp used to remove 2 strife
Fatigue 2/8
Composure 0/8

Results:
Failed all three rolls - no points! (All rolls used water, but doesn't matter since all failed!)
8 opp
5 strife

[Doji Nanako]

Nanako turned up at the event with her faithful companions, Ringo the pony and - daintily perched on the saddle near the Crane - Nyaneko the cat.

Taking a few breaths to calm herself, the Doji maiden nodded to the languorous cat. "Wish me luck, neh?"

The cat's response was inscrutable, as ever, as it stood up and stretched. It raised its tail in the direction of its human companion and gracefully alighted to the ground, to view the ensuing proceedings from a more stable and comfortable position.

Clicking her tongue at her horse, Nanako urged it forward with subtle gesture and sound. She trusted in the training the horse had received from her family's trainers and remembered something about not spooking the animals by being brash with them. Ringo, for their part, seemed to understand what the gangly girl was about and set off at a trot.

Fumbling for her bow, Nanako felt a sense of rising doom mixed with panic as the bowstring snagged against the tack. What a bad sign, how could this happen!? With unsteady hands, she tried to line up her shot. It missed, not by much, but it did. Even if she knew it was coming, it still stung Nanako.

Admittedly she was closing her eyes to keep the welling tears from coming out, rather than trying to replicate the Shinjo's feat. With her emotional state where it was, there was no way she was going to pull off a feat of zen archery. Her shots came close but, again, did not find purchase with the targets.

Riding back sullenly, Ringo the horse made something of a consoling snort to their rider and tried to smooth out their stride to ease the way. Nyaneko, for their part, leapt down from their perch and rubbed their head against Nanako's hand. Perhaps they just wanted their cuddles, but maybe it was also a way to comfort the Crane girl for her subpar performance.
-----

LM4 Event - Step 1 - Giddyap, Ringo! | TN: 2 | Success: 2 / Opportunity: 0 / Strife: 1


(Air)

LM4 Event - Step 2 - Arrow! | TN: 2 | Success: 1 / Opportunity: 2 / Strife: 2


(Water. Omens of Bad Luck triggered, +3 Strife, +1 VP)

LM4 - Step 3 - More Arrows! | TN: 3 | Success: 2 / Opportunity: 1 / Strife: 1


(Void)

Results:
1/3 successful rolls
+7 Strife
+3 Opp

[Chiaki]

Chiaki didn't knew anything about horses or how to apply martial arts into them. She was, after all, an artisan, and her main focus was courtly

She failed miserably on this part, having troubles with controlling her horse, and having no idea how to properly shoot a bow from one.

************************************

[OOC - Rolls]

1.
D4- Rider and Horse, Two Become One, Water Approach, Survival | TN: 2 | Success: 1 / Opportunity: 1 / Strife: 2


Fail
Water Approach
Success 1
Oportunity 1 (Using to reduce strife)
Strife 2

2.1
D4 - Event; The first shot, Water/Martial Arts Ranged, Failed First Part, Reroll Successes, | TN: 2 | Success: 2 / Opportunity: 0 / Strife: 0


Pass. Rerolling two dice due to failing part 1

2.2
D4, Part 2 Reroll 2 Dice with Successes | TN: 2 | Success: 1 / Opportunity: 1 / Strife: 1


Fail
Water approach
Success 1
Oportunity 1 (Using to reduce strife)
Strife 1

3.
D4 - Event, Part 3, Martial Ranged/Water, | TN: 3 | Success: 1 / Opportunity: 0 / Strife: 0


Fail
Water approach
Success 1
Oportunity 0
Strife 0


Results

0 Wild points
2 Oportunity (Using to reduce strife in their respective rolls)
3 Strife (Reduced by -2 due to oportunity)

[Isawa Natsuko]

Natsuko had been pretty sure there would be archery. She really had not expected it on horseback though. At least she'd ridden before, and had little difficulty making friends with the horse provided. Spending a bit longer than necessary getting acquainted did stretch out the enjoyable part of the contest at least. Listening to the wind, she found a name that the mare responded to when she whispered it into one soft ear and they were set from that point on.

While she'd shot a bow a few times, and had a carved support that could be bound to her wrist to help steady and hold the bow when her maimed hand would have failed at the task, she hadn't used it all that much and definitely not while moving. Both arrows went wildly astray, and her whole arm ached with the exertion.

***************************
Step One: "Rider and Horse, Two Become One."
Day 4 Event, Test of the Wilds: "Rider and Horse, Two Become One." Survival/Air | TN: 2 | Success: 2 / Opportunity: 1 / Strife: 1


+1 point
use Opportunity to remove strife (Strife 0/8)


Step Two:
Day 4 Event, Test of the Wilds: Shot #1 Martial Arts - Ranged /Water | TN: 2 | Success: 1 / Opportunity: 1 / Strife: 1


use Opportunity to remove strife (Strife 0/8)

Step Three:
Day 4 Event, Test of the Wilds: Shot #2 Martial Arts - Ranged/Water | TN: 3 | Success: 0 / Opportunity: 2 / Strife: 2


use Opportunity to remove strife (Strife 0/8)

1 Wild Point (Air)
4 opportunity
4 strife

[Kaiu Taura]

Well, this one likes horses, but has little experience with riding. While archery she has practiced . . . but not from a horse.

The young Crab did her best to focus herself and carefully approached the horse. She did her best to convey calm . . . and it seemed to work. While no one would confuse her for a Unicorn, she managed to ride competently (and keep her panic in check).
Success: 2 (required: 2) Opportunity: 0 Strife: 2

If she had her bow, she would have been much more confident and the movement of the horse threw off her usually decent aim. But she learned something and hoped her next attempt would be better.
Success: 1 (required: 2) Opportunity: 1 Strife: 2 Use 1 Opportunity to reduce Strike.

Hitting a moving target from a moving platform, she could calculate how to do it . . . and to her surprise, the arrow and target intersected! She yelped in pleased surprise and then was a little embarrassed.
Success: 3 (required: 3) Opportunity: 0 Strife: 1

In many ways, that had gone much better than she had expected. She would like to try to use her crossbow from horseback though, that would be an interesting experiment.

Final Strife 2

[Shosuro Asako]

Due to prior exposure to animals, Asako was able to do well enough with a horse. She took her first shot adequately as well, giving a triumphant smirk once she hit the first target.

As for the second... it didn't go so well.

"Are you kidding me?" She tapped the horse on the side with her feet. "My last show was beyond perfect. You failed me here, you know." The horse let out a single neigh and stomached dealing with... well, Asako, for as long as necessary.

---

D4 LM Event Roll 1: Survival/Air TN 2 | TN: 2 | Success: 3 / Opportunity: 2 / Strife: 2


D4 LM Event Roll 2: Martial Arts [Ranged]/Air TN 2 | TN: 2 | Success: 3 / Opportunity: 1 / Strife: 0


D4 LM Event Roll 3: Martial Arts [Ranged]/Air TN 3, VP Spent | TN: 3 | Success: 2 / Opportunity: 2 / Strife: 3

[Ender]

Batzorig seemed quite pleased with the way all the competitors distinguished themselves.

"You all have performed admirably, and have shown why hunting is such an honored past time for all Samurai." He bowed deeply to the contestents.

"Akodo Michi-san." He spoke the name tersely, the current troubles between their clans ever present. Yet he would not deny the honor to a scion of Akodo. Batzorig bowed to her, deep and respectfully. "You rode and shot well. Your Ikoma scholars would do well to prepare to remember your name." Polite, before stepping to Kitsuki Jun.

"Kitsuki Jun-san. I would not have expected such from one as yourself, yet the Dragon show they always have surprises in store. Congratulations." A bow to the magistrate in training.

And reaching Shinjo Jingyi, his smile broaded. "And to you, Shinjo Jingyi-san. Your training carried the day. You honor our patron, and our clan." Bowing deeply to the winner, offering her a fine, fur collared cloak.

"This concludes the Test of the Wild. Congratulations." He bowed again, before heading off to gather the horses.

3rd Place - Akodo Michi, 1 Topaz Point, 1 Glory
2nd Place - Kitsuki Jun, 2 Topaz Points, 2 Glory
1st Place - Shinjo Jingyi, 3 Topaz Points, 3 Glory, a fine fur-lined cloak.

Favored Approaches
Step 1 - Air
Step 2 - Water
Step 3 - Void