(D1, MA) The Art Of The Blade (Expecting but Open)

[Shiba Tomoe]

"Indeed, form into function. Motion without resistance behind it will gain a learner nothing."

Tomoe smiles also. "How do you feel after our first spar, Kakita-san? Still on for a bout of iaijutsu?"

[Kakita Sakura]

"Indeed, form into function. Motion without resistance behind it will gain a learner nothing."

Tomoe smiles also. "How do you feel after our first spar, Kakita-san? Still on for a bout of iaijutsu?"

"Always, Shiba-san."

Sakura walks back into the sparring ring, breathing out softly as she focuses herself. She frowns softly- after this defeat... she very much wishes to make a good showing of herself, this time.

But she lets go of that. Let worry go- and focus on the draw. Sakura takes up her stance, her bokken in position to draw, her right arm bare and as unhindered as possible, the hand hovering just over the handle of the wooden practice blade.

Iaijutsu spar vs Shiba Tomoe Initiative roll, TN1 Meditation/Air | TN: 1 | Success: 1 / Opportunity: 1 / Strife: 2


Sakura's Focus is 5, so she has an initiative score of 6 in total. She uses the Advantage to remove one gained Strife from the roll.
Water Stance, 4/8 Fatigue, 2/8 Composure

[Shiba Tomoe]

Tomoe enters into the sparring area, going through preparatory motions. She holds her hand by the bokken's handle, ready for the draw, sleeves out of the way, as she faces the Crane. Her breath is steady and slow, her focus clear.

Iaijutsu Spar vs Kakita Sakura: Initiative (TN 1 Meditation/Water) | TN: 1 | Success: 2 / Opportunity: 2 / Strife: 1

(Focus is 2, so initiative score is 4. Using the opportunity to negate the gained strife.)
(3/8 Fatigue, 0/12 Composure, Water Stance)

[Kakita Sakura]

A duel is not a quick thing. As Sakura holds herself in position, she feels the tension begin to mount- a slow thing, at first. She runs through her mind a dozen possibilities of how the strike might go, how Tomoe might draw her blade. She runs through a dozen possibilities of how she might draw in response, but-

No. Not yet.

Taking the Center action. 4/8 Fatigue, 3/8 Composure
Iaijutsu vs Shiba Tomoe; Center roll, round 1 (Martial Arts: Melee) | TN: 1 | Success: 0 / Opportunity: 1 / Strife: 0

[Shiba Tomoe]

Tomoe searches the Kakita's defences, probing for any possibility that she will move for a strike. Unlike their first spar, she keeps herself neutral, keeping her movements to a minimum, distinctly aware of any rustle she makes, knowing it will signal her plans.

A duel is not a quick thing indeed.

Iaijutsu vs Kakita Sakura: Round 1, Center action (MA Melee) | TN: ? | Success: 2 / Opportunity: 0 / Strife: 0

(using Center action)
(3/8 Fatigue, 1/12 Composure, Void stance)

[Kakita Sakura]

Sakura tenses- perhaps... perhaps she can bait out Tomoe a little bit. She shifts her stance a little, paying attention to how the Phoenix reacts...

5/8 Composure, 4/8 Endurance, Water Stance, taking the Predict action.

[Shiba Tomoe]

Tomoe watches Sakura closely. Each subtle movement, every slight change. She tightens her stance, closing any gaps that might have emerged in her focus as she waits for the quick and nimble technique the Kakita seems to favor.

(using the Predict action)
(3/8 Endurance, 3/12 Composure, Earth stance)

[Kakita Sakura]

(Sakura's prediction was for Water, unsuccessful)

Sakura hums, tightening up her own stance, staring Tomoe down- tensing for the moment of the strike…

(Sakura sets her stance to Void and uses Calming Breath to recover one strife- 4/8 Endurance, 7/8 Composure now)

[Shiba Tomoe]

Tomoe inhales, her breath held as she meets the Kakita. Her hand twitches to draw, but she holds steady...

(using the Predict action)
(3/8 Endurance, 6/12 Composure, Earth stance)

[Kakita Sakura]

Sakura switches stances once more- but there's a twitch. An opening, as the Crane is the first to break the tension, the first to grab her bokken-

(Switching to Air, Sakura is trying for an attack- but she's become Compromised before that, so Tomoe gets to make her attack first)