Despair and Wisdom: Imperial March

As the camp stirs to wakefulness, Kakita Hana is already out in an open area, drawing and sheathing, again and again and again. Already, despite the temperature, sweat beads out on her forehead. But she is a soldier in the Imperial Legions, and she is a student of Kakita-ryu, and she has still not lived enough years to have completed her ten thousand days of sword...

~~~~~
Be a good place to get some general Metagame points, folks, as well as to smell a flower.

EDITED TO CORRECT TIMESLOT

Edogawa stood at the edge of the open space, watching the Crane. He had come to train with his own blade, but the opportunity to watch a Kakita draw their blade in this way did not come often. There was much that could be learned here.

At length, Hana notices that she has an audience. She draws and releases a short breath, shoulders rising and falling with it, the sigh escaping her nostrils bespeaking the expectation that such a thing would occur. Her sword slides sibilantly into its sheath, clicking shut with a startling sharpness.

Looking over, she finds that she does not recognize the observer as someone in her chain of command, so she offers a shallow bow. Flinty eyes focus for a moment, and then she says "Kitsuki-san, I trust you've had rice today."

She adds "Kakita Hana," just to be sure.

"I have. Thank you." he bowed. "Kitsuki Edogawa, fourth Kaisha. I apologize for disturbing you. My clumsy kata would have likely been a worse distraction."

Hana nods slightly.

"Each of us can work to improve," she says. "Whatever other tasks we may have in the Legion, we are an army and so must each of us be ready and able to fight.

"But does not your kaisha commander have the unit running drills?"

"Not at this moment. And, I felt I would benefit from some extra practice." he explained. "To date, my duties have been largely related to court or to the application of law. Exercising my swordsmanship has been limited to standard dojo practice. It would do me well to adjust my footing to different ground."

"Ten thousand days," Hana replies.

She puts her fists on her hips, feet at shoulders' width. "I've never seen Kitsuki-ryu in action," she says. "Might be worth a look."

"Perhaps."

He stepped into the open area and took a cleansing breath as he drew his blade. What followed was a fluid series of strikes, parries and feints, showing an ability to adjust quickly to the flow of battle. The skill with the sword was adequate. How the Kitsuki would be able to apply it in actual combat was unclear. But, he did show a keen awareness of his surroundings.


- - -
D2EM, Gotta Train (Open), Metagame, Improve the Legion’s Strength | TN: 2 | Success: 2 / Opportunity: 1 / Strife: 1
Opportunity used to remove Strife
+1 Strength

Hana nods.

"I've seen worse," she says. Then she grins. "Once or twice, I've faced worse. It was a mistake. For them."

The grin fades. "But I've also seen better, and not only when I've looked in a mirror. It looks like you've handled the weapon, but you've never had anyone trying to actually hurt you with one. Do I have the right of that?"

"Correct." he nodded. "Trained, but not tested. That is part of why I am here."

"It'll be a sharp lesson, then, when it comes," Hana says. "I remember the first time someone came at me and meant it. I won the fight, of course, but it was...different than anything in the dojo.

"It did make some of Sensei's comments make a lot more sense, though."

Nearby, a very large Crane legionnaire was leading a small group of soldiers through a series of unarmed combat techniques. Despite his massive bulk, the big Crane moved with surprising grace, shifting fluidly from one stance to another as he demonstrated the proper forms.

—
2EM Metagame: Lead martial arts training, Water/Martial Arts (Unarmed) TN2 | TN: 2 | Success: 6 / Opportunity: 1 / Strife: 3

Succeeded, +3 to unit Strength
Spend 1 opportunity to negate 1 strife

Kakita Hana wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 13, 2024 9:43 pm

"It did make some of Sensei's comments make a lot more sense, though."

"Ah. I am quite familiar with the riddles of a sensei." he nodded. "Both literal and figurative. And, I suspect the lessons we learn during this march will be quite unforgiving."

Kitsuki Edogawa wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 13, 2024 11:44 pm

"Ah. I am quite familiar with the riddles of a sensei." he nodded. "Both literal and figurative. And, I suspect the lessons we learn during this march will be quite unforgiving."

"Like as not, yes," Hana replies.

Then she gestures towards the big Crane. "You know him?" she asks the Dragon.

Kakita Hana wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 13, 2024 11:46 pm

"Like as not, yes," Hana replies.

Then she gestures towards the big Crane. "You know him?" she asks the Dragon.

He nodded. "Daidoji Nobu-sama is also with the Fourth Kaisha. It seems our drills have begun."

Kitsuki Edogawa wrote: ↑

Fri Jun 14, 2024 3:20 am

He nodded. "Daidoji Nobu-sama is also with the Fourth Kaisha. It seems our drills have begun."

"Daidoji Nobu..."

Hana trails off.

"The name's familiar, but the face is not. Maybe an introduction's in order; would you do the honor, Kitsuki-san?"

Daidoji Nobu wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 13, 2024 9:45 pm

Nearby, a very large Crane legionnaire was leading a small group of soldiers through a series of unarmed combat techniques. Despite his massive bulk, the big Crane moved with surprising grace, shifting fluidly from one stance to another as he demonstrated the proper forms.

Kakita Hana wrote: ↑

Fri Jun 14, 2024 11:50 am

"The name's familiar, but the face is not. Maybe an introduction's in order; would you do the honor, Kitsuki-san?"

"Of course." He nodded again.

"Daidoji-sama, do you have a moment?" He called out.

Kitsuki Edogawa wrote: ↑

Fri Jun 14, 2024 12:33 pm

"Daidoji-sama, do you have a moment?" He called out.

Wrapping up the final repetition of an unarmed kata, the big Daidoji lowered his guard and bowed to the other martial arts students. Dusting off his large hands, Nobu turned and approached Edogawa.

"Kitsuki-san," he rumbled. Nobu wore an oversized practice gi of simple blue cloth, which bulged at the middle as he bowed politely to Edogawa and Hana. "How may I be of assistance?"

"Daidoji Nobu-sama, I would like to introduce you to Kakita Hana-sama, of the Sixth Kaisha." he motioned to the other Crane. "I was admiring her Kakita-ryu before you and the others arrived."

D2 Metagame Roll - Improving the Legions DISCIPLINE- Fire Approach (Fire 3, Performance 1, Wandering Blade ability) | TN: 2 | Success: 3 / Opportunity: 3 / Strife: 3
Since in Fire, using the strife for Additional Successes after the initial success roll
Final Total: 6 successes (+3 Discipline Metagame Points, 3 opportunities (Using 2 opportunities for a tidbit of information), and final remaining Opportunity to perform the skill in an extra flashy way. Since doing things in a flashy manner is my Passion (Daredevil), I recover three Strife, though I have one fatigue.

The Ronin was stationed with a group of Ashigaru. At his side, his Katana was ever present. The wide brimmed hat was drawn back, held around his neck by a tie, as his hair fluttered in the wind.

"Oiiii!" He called to the ashigaru as they stood. His blade drawn in a flash, the early morning sun glinting off it's keen edge. "Move through the basics with those training sticks! Follow" he commanded. His strikes and cuts were pristine, the kata practiced in a flashy, over exerted manner. The movements were like Fire, the patterns designed to press through the passion needed to strike deeply, and cut through any fear.