(D9, MM) Arguing From the Heart (Event)

[Shika Pei Pei]

The miai candidates are assembled in the Great Hall. The Hall itself seems little changed with no unsual implements indicating the nature of today's challenge. Upon the dais's throne sits the Deer clan champion, watching the miai candidates with interest. Nearby stands Shika Pei Pei, with a small cadre of people from around the Kyuden near her. With a nod from the champion, she begins.

"I'm certain that the honorable Shika Zang fully covered the glories of martial arts yesterday in the dojo." she says, with a slightly dismissive tone. "However, a samurai is a master of summer and winter, and so it pleases us today to host a series of small debates. People from around the Kyuden are gathered here to engage you in debate. Find your opponent, and be prepared to debate the merits of your position before Lord Shika." she explains.

Choose one:

A) Debate a detached monk about the meaning of one of Shinsei’s lessons:

Either Command at TN 2 (Void 1, Earth 3, Fire 3), or Games/ Courtesy/, Performance/ Theology at TN 3 (Void 1, Earth 4, Fire 4)

B) Debate an ambitious young samurai about the best play of this year:

Either Games or Performance at TN 2 (Fire 4, Water 1) or Courtesy/Command at TN 3 (Fire 5, Water 1)

C) Debate an assertive lord about the finest blend of sake for the season.
Either Courtesy at TN 2 (Earth 4, Air 1) or Command/Culture/Games/Performance at TN 3 (Earth 5, Air 1)

You earn one momentum point per success, and one momentum point per bonus success. You need 4 momentum points to defeat your target.

Scoring priority:

Defeated the target in the least number of rolls.
Used the most opportunities to show off.
Took the least total strife (Strife cancelled with opps on the same roll does not count as strife taken).
Highest Status.
Highest Glory.
Highest Honor.


(GM Notes): For those unfamiliar with 5e shorthand, when the TN is listed as TN 3 (Ring X, RingX) it's trying to say that the TN shifts based on your approach. So if you try to use Fire/Games against the monk who says: TN 3 (Void 1, Earth 4, Fire 4) your TN is 4. On the other hand, if you picked Void instead, your TN would only be 1.)

[Asahina Bo]

Bo had meant to pick a monk. He really had. He knew a little about theology from his family while knowing nothing about plays or the finer points of sake. However, as he pointed towards his intended opponent, said monk knelt to adjust his sandal and Bo found himself pointing at a wannabe playwright behind him.

Such was his luck. Though, as usual, what at first seemed to be bad luck was apparently blessed by the fortunes. Bo's repeated, polite, attempts to disentangle himself from the situation were misconstrued as discourse by all those watching. Discourse that, in turn, led the overly opinionated playwright to, in essence, argue against his own points.

In the end all watching felt like Bo had triumphed in the exchange while the poor, lost Crane could only shrug and bow... he had never even named a play nor could have if asked....

(Option B:

Roll 1:

D9, MM: Option B, Roll 1 - Water/Courtesy | TN: 1 | Success: 1 / Opportunity: 2 / Strife: 1


1 Momentum, 2 Opportunities to show off, 1 Strife

Roll 2:

D9, MM: Option B, Roll 2 - Water/Courtesy | TN: 1 | Success: 3 / Opportunity: 0 / Strife: 1


3 Momentum (4 Total), 1 Strife (2 total)

2 Rolls
2 Opportunities to show off
2 Strife taken
35 Status
37 Glory
66 Honor)

[Kitsu Moshumaru]

Oh, didn't he recognize this young fellow?
Oh, he did.

After a civil greeting, the two sat amicably, enjoying a nice discourse before it was their turn to debate. When called, the Kitsu gave his initiative to the opponent.

"What is your favourite play of this year?"

"Oh, that's easy - it would obviously be Erratic Love, which was shown at the Theater on your second day here."

"Ah yes, I too like the same plot point explored five times and concluded once, poorly. It's nice that we're allowing pre-gempuku samurai a space to explore the stage - that is why it had no author prescribed to it, yes?"

He wasn't quite sure he meant to be so condescending, but he had worries on his mind. Worries that, in his eagerness to resolve, he nearly bit the head off the young samurai entirely with words alone.

...That was that, apparently.

- - - - -

Option B, Using water/courtesy

D9 MM - Option B, Water/Courtesy (TN1, void for +1 ring) | TN: 1 | Success: 4 / Opportunity: 2 / Strife: 3


1 success + 3 bonus successes = 4 momentum, instant victory.

Rolls required: 1
Oppurtunities to show off: 2
Strife taken: 3 (or 1, depending on technique timing)

Using Heart of the Lion to agitate my opponent and lower my strife by 2 and increase my opponent's by 2

[Asahina Soyokaze]

As soon as the rules were explained Soyokaze headed straight for one of the monk’s Theology had been at the center of his entire life, this was his moment to show his father his worth. He looked very much like the Crane stereotype then, all swagger and confidence and as the monk began he smiled. When his time to respond his words were silk, his cadence timed perfectly and his quotations of the Tao were flawlessly recited. However, nothing that came out of his mouth did anything to refute the monk’s words and everyone including Soyokaze knew it. His cloak of arrogance now weighing on him like a drunk Hida. In the end he was able to argue his point but not without sweating, stammering and looking to all like he may cry.


(D9, MM) Arguing From the Heart (Event)
A) Debate a detached monk about the meaning of one of Shinsei’s lessons
Turn 1 | TN: 1 | Success: 0 / Opportunity: 3 / Strife: 0

[3 Opportunity used to show off]



(D9, MM) Arguing From the Heart (Event)
A) Debate a detached monk about the meaning of one of Shinsei’s lessons
Turn 2 | TN: 1 | Success: 2 / Opportunity: 2 / Strife: 2

[2 Opportunity used to show off]


(D9, MM) Arguing From the Heart (Event)
A) Debate a detached monk about the meaning of one of Shinsei’s lessons
Turn 3 | TN: 1 | Success: 2 / Opportunity: 1 / Strife: 1

[1 Opportunity used to show off]


3 Rolls
6 Opportunities to show off
3 Strife taken
38 Status
47 Glory
67 Honor


[3 strife & 1 Void point gained from Meekness]
[Soyokaze is Compromised]

[Shiba Raizo]

Wait. What the fuck?

Raizo was... not used to debates. He was used to orders (some of which were insane and could be bitched about, but never actively disobeyed). He was used to stating his opinion plainly.

So as he surveyed the options, he idly wished for the fleas of a thousand rats to nest in the nether regions of the Deer Clan's leadership.

I don't give a fuck about sake. I don't give a fuck about the finer points of Shintao. I don't give a fuck about what some other twit thinks of the plays.

Okay, maybe if he looked at who he'd be debating?

Monks are fucking weird. Ambitious young hotheads piss me off. And telling assertive high-ranking samurai how wrong they are seldom works out well.

Fuck me running.

He finally settled on the monk, since he had at least read the Tao, whereas his disinterest in sake and plays was matched by a corresponding ignorance.

Might as well jabber about something I've at least got some background in.

[Roll 1-
Debate a detached monk about the meaning of one of Shinsei’s lessons- Void Theology | TN: 1 | Success: 1 / Opportunity: 1 / Strife: 1


1 success, 1 opp to show off, 1 strife gained
1 Momentum

Roll 2- Still debating the monk. | TN: 1 | Success: 4 / Opportunity: 0 / Strife: 3

4 successes, 0 opps, 3 strife gained
Maxed momentum.

2 rolls to hit the target
1 opp to show off
4 strife gained]

[Kitsu Murato]

Murato stood before the monk and allowed him to choose a passage from the tao. Perhaps, thinking that the Lion would debate the pointlessness or stupidity of the tao, he chose a little known passage that was not well studied just to trip him up.

What Murato replied with in return with an in depth analysis of the passage. There was a certain stunning quality to how he seemed to understand it. Mostly unexpected from a Lion. Either this Kitsu was more familiar than other Lion with the material or he was naturally on a similar mental wavelength with Shinsei himself.

Not that anyone else could see it, but Kitsu Taiko hovered nearby with the most displeased Lion glare at Murato. He may not speak with him for a whole day or so.

----

D8 MM, Argument, Debating Monk, Theology [Void], Void Point, Haunted | TN: 1 | Success: 6 / Opportunity: 1 / Strife: 5

Success

Number of rolls: 1
Opportunities to show off: 1
Least Strife: 5

[Shika Nesshin]

Unless Nesshin gets paradoxed out...

Nesshin makes a point of bowing low to the Lord Shika and to Pei-Pei-sama, having been rebuked and wanting therefore to be on his best behavior. That done, he circulates through the room until he finds--Yuki-sempai, playing the part of an assertive young lord holding forth on superior sake. Nesshin smiles tightly, having had very much this same discussion with her no few times before, the advantage of years of training and working together; he knows her tells, he knows her preferences, and he knows that she really does prefer rotgut likker to decent or good spirits.

This gets pointed out, of course, amid the contest, as Nesshin recalls one time when they had both come in off of guard duty and..."Okay, Nesshin-san! Enough!" she says, knowing that the ears that would hear would not be pleased to hear what he would be about to say.

Nesshin bows to his opponent. "Always a pleasure to see you, Yuki-sempai. Perhaps soon we can share a bottle again."

~~~~~
Option C
Air / Culture, TN 1
Roll 1, https://sakkaku.org/rolls/1460, passes at 311; +3 Momentum, Opp for showing off
Roll 2, https://sakkaku.org/rolls/1461, passes at 111; +1 Momentum, Opp for showing off

Defeated the target in 2 rolls.
Used 2 opportunities to show off.
Took 2 total strife (Strife cancelled with opps on the same roll does not count as strife taken).
41 Status.
42 Glory.
36 Honor.

[Kitsuki Edogawa]

"No, I'm sorry. I don't think you fully understood the nuances of the play." the Dragon shook his head. "Each challenge the protagonist faces represents conflict within the different tenents...."

- - -
(D9, MM) Arguing From the Heart (Event), Option B, Games/Water TN 1 | TN: 1 | Success: 4 / Opportunity: 1 / Strife: 2


Number of Rolls: 1
Opportunities to Show Off: 1
Total Strife: 2
Status: 64
Glory: 52
Honor: 30

[Seppun Yuzu]

Yuzu didn't care anymore. These tests have brought his name into the mud for the last couple of days. Not only his, but also of those that paired up with him. A disgrace to his name.

As he goes to find the monk and discuss about Shinsei's Lessons. He simply mentions, "Shinsei's words are only heard since the Child of Heaven's first gave him ears. Not the opposite. Never forget that, monk-san."

--
Debate a detached monk about the meaning of one of Shinsei’s lessons. Blessed Lineage Distinction. Seize the Moment! GLORY TO HANTEI! | TN: 1 | Success: 3 / Opportunity: 1 / Strife: 1


EDIT EDITION: I could have made it in 1 roll, but I didn't read the 4 momentum for some stupid reason.
Debate a detached monk about the meaning of one of Shinsei’s lessons. Blessed Lineage Distinction. Edit edition.... sadness | TN: 1 | Success: 1 / Opportunity: 2 / Strife: 1



Number of Rolls: 2
Opportunities to Show Off: 3
Total Strife: 2
Status 50
Glory 31
Honor 55

[Usogawa Narumi]

Fluff incoming.


----------
D9MM Event, option C: Culture/Air. | TN: 1 | Success: 1 / Opportunity: 2 / Strife: 1

+1 momentum.
2 opps used to show off.
strife 3/10

D9MM Event, option C, R2: Culture/Air. | TN: 1 | Success: 2 / Opportunity: 2 / Strife: 2

1+2 = 3 momentum.
1 opp used to show off.
-1 strife via opp.
strife 4/10

D9MM Event, option C, R3: Culture/Air. | TN: 1 | Success: 4 / Opportunity: 0 / Strife: 2

3+4 = 7 momentum.

3 rolls to achieve 7 momentum.
3 opportunities to show off.
4 total strife gained from event.