The Day of Thunder

[Otomo Akutou]

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"Definitely much bigger bets."

Akutou turns to the other, touches his hat-brim, says "Damned fine shot, sir."

With a nod, he adds "Otomo Akutou."

[Akodo Kenji]

"Well, if you three want to start gambling I'll likely bow out." Kenji said with a shack of his head. "My shot was a bit more luck than skill after all." He continued offering a smile at the children, who were most likely thoroughly impressed with the display they had just witnessed.

"And I don't want to lose my sandals in a contest I can't win." The young lion finished with a chuckle.

[Hisomu Reo]

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"Ha! I got you to call me "sensei" instead of "sama!"

"Definitely much bigger bets."

Akutou turns to the other, touches his hat-brim, says "Damned fine shot, sir."

With a nod, he adds "Otomo Akutou."

"Hisomu Reo. And one of Ohta's teachers, if you haven't guessed." Reo offers a smile at the group.

"If you want to raise the stakes, I'm happy to have an old timer set the mark and let the young ones chase the mark."

Reo puts a bu down on the counter and lines up his bow.

"Let's see if the old man has still got it."

Reo goes for an even more complex shot, settling in with a strange amount of casual ease.

Market Archery contest: still target TN 10 with 5 raises, Gaze of Sun Tao technique (modified) | 9k4+5 ⇒ 49 (TN: 35)

He chuckles as the shot goes home.

[Otomo Akutou]

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superior archery

"I know when I'm whipped, sir!" Akutou laughs.

He nods to Ohta and adds "That, there, is a shootist, ma'am."

[Reiko Ohta]

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"I mean, it would be irresponsible of me to do anything but support the person who taught me kyuujustu in the first place, either in betting or acknowledging he is a 'shootist'. Respect one's elders and what-not."

Reo WAS a show off, but with good reason. Though she feared maybe he was trying to impress her more than the Lion or Stag.

[Akodo Kenji]

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"Looks like you get to keep your bu after all then." Kenji said with a shake of his head as the other archers bowed out of the competition. "Seems, your clan picked well when they made you a sensei."

He moved forward to collect whatever small prize he might have won and offered it to one of the children. "That's yours to keep young one." The Lion said before turning back to the group. "If we're going to compete though maybe something else? Since a winner has already been decided here." He pointed to a table with a game of Daruma Otoshi. "Perhaps that?"

[Hisomu Reo]

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"You should see what my wife can do" Reo places the bow back on the counter and pockets the coin. He take his prizes and tosses them to the small children before he looks at the other two.

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Reo smiles at Ohta. "Go. Have fun. I won't wait up." He limps off to go back to the stalls.

It's been too long since I've done field work. And I'd rather do that then face a charging Ogre again

He goes back to checking the wares in the stalls.

[Nozomi]

Soju drifted over to the musicians, preparing for her second performance of the day. Someone had pressed a cup of something warm into her hands, and since they didn't look like her daughter, she assumed it was safe to drink. A bit bitter, perhaps, but it would keep her warm until it was her time to sing.

Along with the other two who were showing their talents and offering their skills to the performance, there were a few others nearby. Nozomi seated herself with a bow to those present, a small clay flute in one of her hands. Few still played ones like this, and the tones it made didn't really match the music being played, so she didn't offer at first to join in, not unless they spoke to her.

But, seeing the Scorpion, she bowed to her and cleared her throat. "Good evening," she said. "Name's Nozomi. It's good to see the Scorpion clan here." And, though she didn't say anything too specific? She was a little relieved not to see a couple of her friends from their ranks just yet. The thought of it worried her.

[Haka Soju]

But, seeing the Scorpion, she bowed to her and cleared her throat. "Good evening," she said. "Name's Nozomi. It's good to see the Scorpion clan here." And, though she didn't say anything too specific? She was a little relieved not to see a couple of her friends from their ranks just yet. The thought of it worried her.

Soju inclined her head in greeting. "Thank you. I'm Haka Soju." She lowers her drink, holding it with both hands. "I've heard that there are a few of us around. Are you hear for the festival, or the epic battle of destiny that so many are expecting?"

[Reiko Ohta]

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Watching Reo excuse herself, Ohta turned back to the other two samurai thoughtfully, "You two gave up so easily? I never thought Hisomu-sama to be that intimidating. Even if he did make that shot under a leg."

[Nozomi]

Soju inclined her head in greeting. "Thank you. I'm Haka Soju." She lowers her drink, holding it with both hands. "I've heard that there are a few of us around. Are you hear for the festival, or the epic battle of destiny that so many are expecting?"

"Haka... that's a name that brings back memories," she said, her eyes quietly closing for a moment. She was remembering a small, frail woman long ago who never seemed all that bothered by her blindness, and who had a knack for being just a little disturbing every time they spoke. "I wonder how she is..."

"Oh, hah." She barked out a quick laugh that was almost a yip. "I came following the Teacher, which I am known to do from time to time. As for why I am here? We will see the answer in time, though I have a bit of a bad feeling right now." She said it like someone who always had a bad feeling about things. "For tonight, though, I'm hoping to enjoy the festival."

[Otomo Akutou]

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"I know when t' bow to greater expertise," Akutou says. "An' I'll admit t' havin' more t' learn."

[Haka Soju]

"Haka... that's a name that brings back memories," she said, her eyes quietly closing for a moment. She was remembering a small, frail woman long ago who never seemed all that bothered by her blindness, and who had a knack for being just a little disturbing every time they spoke. "I wonder how she is..."

"Oh, hah." She barked out a quick laugh that was almost a yip. "I came following the Teacher, which I am known to do from time to time. As for why I am here? We will see the answer in time, though I have a bit of a bad feeling right now." She said it like someone who always had a bad feeling about things. "For tonight, though, I'm hoping to enjoy the festival."

"Good. I don't want to see anyone ruining things by running around and shouting about the end of all things. Festivals should be times of celebration."

She made a vague gesture to the musicians behind her. "I am preparing to sing once everyone is ready. It should be entertaining, so please hang around and listen."

[Hantei Genji]

Genji observed the kids with a smile on his face, then moved towards the center. He looked forward to the music, but also more to whatever is going to happen potentially...

(OOC: pM if interested, but expect glacial pace this week)

[Akodo Kenji]

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"I know when t' bow to greater expertise," Akutou says. "An' I'll admit t' havin' more t' learn."

Kenji gave a respectful nod to the other man as he left. "I was just trying to get things started." He said with a light chuckle. "I never professed to being an excellent shot. I expected the pair of you to pick up the challenge ."

"But that's all in the past now I suppose."

[Nozomi]

"Good. I don't want to see anyone ruining things by running around and shouting about the end of all things. Festivals should be times of celebration."

She made a vague gesture to the musicians behind her. "I am preparing to sing once everyone is ready. It should be entertaining, so please hang around and listen."

She chuckled mirthlessly. "I think others will say the quiet parts about gloom and doom out loud soon enough without me. Let's hope not tonight. Nothing wrong with a little celebration now and again." Her eyes brightened a little. "And good. I'll look forward to it. My own musical talents are ... barely worth mentioning, and the instrument isn't suited to this kind of festival, so I'll probably wait for a point later, when things are winding down."

"If you don't mind me asking, are you a priest? I know quite a few of the family have joined that order."

[Otaku Xiaochen]

Xiaochen observed the impromptu archery contest with some attention. She'd arrived late; no need to strut her own stuff. But, then, a person liked to keep in form, and while she couldn't imagine shooting as elegantly as that Spider fella, she wasn't gonna hide in the tall grass either.

She set her jaw, strung her bow, and set to work.

Stationary Target 10, 3 called raises. | 9k4+7 ⇒ 43 (TN: 25)

The whistle of the arrow followed by a very satisfying thunk. It was different with her feet firmly on the ground, but she'd done what she set out to do. With a firm nod of satisfaction, she went to go get a drink.

[Haka Soju]

She chuckled mirthlessly. "I think others will say the quiet parts about gloom and doom out loud soon enough without me. Let's hope not tonight. Nothing wrong with a little celebration now and again." Her eyes brightened a little. "And good. I'll look forward to it. My own musical talents are ... barely worth mentioning, and the instrument isn't suited to this kind of festival, so I'll probably wait for a point later, when things are winding down."

"If you don't mind me asking, are you a priest? I know quite a few of the family have joined that order."

"No," she said, shaking her head. "I am a singer, and little else. To be honest, I do not put much trust in priests of any sort."

[Otomo Akutou]

Good shot and getting a shot

Tag

You're

It

Akutou sees the shot, tips his hat to the familiar Ki-RIn.

To the others present, he says "That there were Otaku Xiaochen. Ran into 'er yesterday. Seems a solid sort."

[Nozomi]

"No," she said, shaking her head. "I am a singer, and little else. To be honest, I do not put much trust in priests of any sort."

'From the little I remember? Can't say I'm surprised a few would not trust them.' Of course, Haka had never been entirely clear on all the details, or maybe she'd been too disturbed to ask. "They have their ways. I will probably never truly understand. I'm just a hunter myself who started a new path once upon a time. I don't think I've ever heard the songs of the Scorpion, so this will be new." The hikari had never been big on music. Too much noise attracted predators.