(IRR) Turn 1: The Emerald Contest

[Serpenteye]

Matsu Nimuro, the former Daimyo of the Lion Clan, takes a step backwards and bows to the girl who defeated him. Though his mind is in turmoil and shock his face is composed and his voice warm and pleasant. "It is an honour to have been defeated by you, an opponent of such skill and beauty. It is the way of life that youth shall vanquish elderdom as the winter shall be vanquished by the spring. Even if you are defeated by your most worthy adversary in the final round I am still certain that you would make a wise and resourceful Champion."

---

In a hidden chamber deep beneath one of the strongholds of the Lion Clan Toshiro Akodo looked into his mirror of scrying in distaste and rising anger. Anger at Nimuro for failing, anger at himself for sending Nimuro, who he had suspected of growing soft and weak with rising age, and most of all anger at how this would make so many of his plans much more difficult. He had hoped to have the resources and authority of the Emerald Champion at his disposal, Nimuro had assured him that he would be worthy of the task, but now he had to do without them. Hopefully he could still manage to keep the unneccesary suffering to a minimum, it could still be done but even with a Unicorn or Phoenix champion on the throne it would be far from certain. No, their agendas might not be compatible with his, though their goals were surely the same. He could only rely on his own strength. Fortunately that strength was growing greater by the day.
He went down the corridor to bask in the crimson light.

 

[Lichtenhart]

OOC: Honestly, I wouldn't call Tsukune a girl. By my calculations, she in her fifties.

 

[Knight Otu]

OOC: Honestly, I wouldn't call Tsukune a girl. By my calculations, she in her fifties.

OOC: But at least people are getting used to the idea that Tsukune is female.

IC: Tsukune bows to Matsu Nimoru and smiles. "I do not think that I am much younger than you are, Nimoru-san. I believe that you would be just as good as the Emerald champion as Xieng-Chi-san or me, but the Fortunes decided otherwise. You fought well in the tournament, and showed your honor. Your ancestors certainly smile upon you."

 

[Festy_Dog]

Kaiten smiles an ironic smile, speechless at what has happened. He chuckles and bows to his opponent, when he rises its obvious he's making an effort to not scream in frustration. This feeling melts away though after a moment to contemplate the outcome.

"Truly, fate has delivered you this day, undoutedly you must be destined for the role of the Emerald Champion, I hope you are as forunate in the final duel," he says a little angrily, but he shakes his head and takes a deep breath, "I'm... deeply sorry. The judges ruling is final and I must respect that. I will offer you my services though, in order for you to gain an edge in your next fight that luck may not provide."

After the brief conversation he leaves to return to his tent, there he plays music until he calms down.

* * * * *

Back in Crane territory Mishica gets up and screams with rage. Akira, sitting beside her at the time drops his drink in surprise. The expensive china cup shatters on the floor, casting water in a radius around it.

"He has lost!" she yells.

"Be calm my dear, we can still have an Emerald Champion," he replies.

Mishica looks at him in confusion.

"We and the Unicorn are strong allies because we only believe in the betterment of the Empire, therefore with a Unicorn as Champion we are guaranteed to have a good chance in the future. If Kaiten is as good a man as I know him to be he'll offer his opponent a lesson, to give them a better chamce for next time. Also work is being done by all the clan experts on curing Taint, I will give anything to ensure our people are cured," he stands up and takes Mishica's hands, "Our story will have a happy ending."

Mishica rests her head on Akira's chest, then casts a glance at Akira's mask, resting on a table. Akira notices but doesn't say anything, he realizes she had her sister swap it for this replica but why escapes him. He closes his eyes and tries to think of all the good things that Mishica could be doing with that artifact and then hopes to be able to enter the next Tournament of the Emerald Champion.

 

[Lichtenhart]

Xieng-Chi is utterly shocked. She only wished to win or lose with dignity. But she never expected judges could be swayed by a fighter's grace. She looks at Kaiten's face and knows he's upset too, but he's a honorable man, and won't challenge the decision of the judges. But he deserved to win.

What am I supposed to do? Such a difficult decision and so little time to think! I can't pretend it didn't happen, I can't pretend tha I am what I am not. But I can't step down from the final duel and betray my Khan. What will I do?

And then she hears the answer whisper in the wind.

She bows in front of her opponent and steps close to him, whispering "We both know the judges are wrong. You should have won this match. But I can't withdraw without betraying my lord, and ask to replay the match would be to question the holyness of the Emerald Test. So, I can see only one way for us to leave this field with our honor unabated. Would you marry me, Kaiten-san?"

 

[Serpenteye]

"Youth is a state of mind, and I must admit that this day I'm feeling very old. I thank you, though, for your most gracious praise."
__

Later that day a courier arrives from Toshiro and teleports Nimuro back to Shiro Akodo.

Nimuro bows before the silver throne of the Daimyo, stoic resolve to accept whatever punishment his lord might device fills his heart, his earlier panic completely overcome.
"You have failed me, you have failed your family and your clan," Toshiro pronounces in a voice filled with grim judgement. "The finest swordsman of the Lion Clan defeated by a Phoenix, a clan not famed for its samurai. Tsukune was the best of them, but by the Gods you could easily have been better! Does your simple old mind comprehend the harm your failure has caused us and the Empire?"
"I realise the implications for us but surely the Empire...," Nimuro started.
"You could have become an Emperor in all but name, but now... Now what shall I do of you? I've half a mind to have you demoted to a common soldier and put to digging canals. Your fellow Matsu would have no objections to that, I assure you."
Toshiro calms visibly. "No, you could still make an adequate general at least. You have some, minor, experience in the leadership of men. At the very least you should be able to maintain discipline, I think I can trust your abilities that far."
"Yes, my lord. Thank you" He says calmly, but on the inside he's raging. "I can't belive his temerity. I was the Daimyo, damnit! The God-ing Daimyo!"
"You will be assigned control over the first army group in Shiro no Yogin. Make sure it remains in peak condition."
"Yes, my lord."

As Nimuro turns to leave Toshiro says in a voice of ice and steel, "Oh, and Nimuro. Remember that I am the Daimyo now. I will not tolerate further incompetence from you."

 

[Serpenteye]

Originally posted by Lichtenhart Would you marry me, Kaiten-san?" [/B]

ooc:

Wow!. I didn't see that coming. I'm impressed.

 

[Creamsteak]

ooc:

Wow!. I didn't see that coming. I'm impressed.

Me too, but then again this game is the player's game afterall...

 

[Kalanyr]

At the Jade Test an Old Druid sits in thought,

" I feared that order would crush our fire,our only hope is to play these contests by our own rules." He mumbles to himself.

With that the druid ponders a while and begins making an arrangement for a storm on the day he participates in the Jade contest.

 

[Festy_Dog]

Kaiten once again is speechless, he blinks a couple of times, goes to open his mouth but nothing comes out, he shuts his mouth and looks at Xieng-Chi.

"Utaku-san," he looks at her for a second longer, his speed of reduced to a maimed crawl, "I will accept, but how will it help us?"

[ooc: I'm assuming that Kaiten isn't married ]