Kyūdō is a semi-religious practice, extremely ritualized, where one fires an arrow without looking at the end of a lengthy preparation. If the person did all the steps right, there should be in harmony with the world and the arrow simply strikes true.
Well...
Maybe trying it for the first time live on stage just to show off wasn't the best of idea and she should have stuck to pointing at the target and pulling the string instead.
But then, if the judges had been expecting actual archery, not just the form of it, there would be in the forest right now and her on a horse, not in socks in a building. So she felt confident it would be fine.
Well, she knew which way to hold the bow, so she had that going for her!
Her father being Hiruma, he had begun to teach Narumi about his past and pass on some of his skills to his only child.... She still held onto memories of that happier time. Before her education to become a nakodo. Before she lost her parents.
Long ago, when things were simple.
She drew back to those memories and dusted them off, picking up the bow and loading the arrow into place. She aimed with the eyes of her father, and the shot rang true.
A small, sad smile.
She aimed a second arrow, and it rang true again.
... She missed her father then.
Emotion caused tears to blur her vision, and the third shot went wild.
Narumi took a deep, cleansing breath - thanked the attendant - and dismissed herself to the observation area.
------------ D6MM Air/Martial Arts (Ranged) | TN: 1 | Success: 2 / Opportunity: 3 / Strife: 3
-1 strife via 1 opp.
2 opp spent to show off.
Carries: A paper umbrella, expertly painted to portray a section of the River of Gold. Lucky cricket.
D10+: A netsuke of a tanuki appears hooked over her obi at her left hip.
Also D10+: sports a split lower lip.
D12+: bruising across the back of both hands
Aimi is slightly bemused by the contest. Certainly she's familiar with the idea of archery, the way of the bow and all that, but its not like she ever had much opportunity to practice it. On the road she kept to her words and the guidance of the kami, and before that... calloused fingers? Absolutely not!
Still, the first target is easy enough that even a complete novice could hit it. Which she is! And so she does, before promptly failing the second shot and sighing at her own misfortune. If it was not for yesterday's Go tournament she would have consistently underperformed the entire length of the miai, and what a horrible thought that was.
(Hit one target, one opportunity used to show off)
The Kaito seemed uneasy at this competition. She knew people had expectations for her. She took her first shot the arrow went flying it bounced from a column to the target by sheer luck. "Eh gomen" The girl took a deep breath and focused on the next target precisely on the center of the target. Next one the Kaito closed her eyes and let the arrow fly, hitting the third target on the center. The fourth target wasn't an easy one to hit so she let the arrow fly just to hit the edge not quite where the judges would like to qualify her for the next challenge.
//Rolls in PF
3 targets hit 7 7 5
H=46 G=44 S=30
•Phoenix Clan •Shrine Maiden •Water •Clumsy •Softhearted •Lucky •Medic •Random Samurai #71
Smells like flowers
From: D5 Carries a white crane feather D7: Carries Bells
D7:carried a copper bells.
•H: Idealistic Samurai •G: Apprentice •S: Samurai and Monk
Nesshin has spent all his time in training working in close quarters and with poor lines of sight due to the trees and brush. He's not an archer; even at range, he prefers spears. So the bow is unsteady in his hands, unfamiliar. The snap of the string at his first shot is an awkward, dissonant thing, although the arrow finds the way to its target.
For the second, though...the bowstring breaks in his hands. And that's a clear message to him, one that he heeds as he bows, shamefacedly, to Zang.
Hardest target hit: TN1
Total opportunities spent to show-off on successful shots: 0
Total successes: 1
Total Opportunities: 0
40 Status
42 Glory
36 Honor
Kaikoga nee Shika Nesshin
Male Deer Clan Gamekeeper / Security Personnel
Glory 42; Honor 36; Status 41
Profile here: http://kyudenshika.fallenash.com/viewto ... 80&start=4
Normally in traveling clothes with a blue-and-gold obi, carrying a wakizashi, a fancy damned fan, and an omamori; carries a tsunoyari outside, too; carries a tsunoyari and wears ashigaru armor on watch, too; has trinkets, etc. at most times
Starting D1, has a silver and purple ribbon tied to his obi, as well.
D9, has a broom in hand and bandages on his hands.
D10-12, has a small whisk broom also thrust through his obi.
D11+, has a second fan.
Playful, irrepressibly flirtatious, blessed by Benten, blessed in lineage. Often smells of cedar.
Courtship Points: 31
"You look lost. Let me show you the way to something nice."
Hikimasu didn't have a good feeling when he went in. Unlike many others here, he was trained with a bow, and used it fairly regularly. He hadn't practiced since coming to Shika lands, due to working on his spear technique.
His first two shots went incredibly well, it honestly terrified him when picking up his third arrow. It was almost a relief when it missed, though something very, very deep inside him was angry he'd failed. Not that it showed. He simply bowed to the dojo and left when excused.
OOC D6, Archery Event, shot 1. Ranged/Air, TN 1 | TN: 1 | Success: 3 / Opportunity: 2 / Strife: 1
Remove 1 strife from roll, 1 to show off. 2 extra successes.
TN 2 most difficult
3 opportunities to show off
7 total successes
At 6 strife
Shosuro Hikimasu Scorpion Clan • Bushi • Soldier • Dead Fish Eyes • Friend of Yūdaina Honor: 41 Status: 35 Glory: 44 Carries: clothing, daisho, fan, mempo. Has ashigaru armor, daikyu and magnificent steed for battle. Description "Fulfillment is just another form of arrogance."
Dragon * Chronicler * Too Thin * smells like mochi * fireworks
Starting day 5, Shichi charm with braided ribbon, yellows, greens, and a red
Starting day 6, LE has weirdly mottled hands, all colored in browns and yellows, as if her skin had changed color. (fading D10, gone d13)
Starting day 9, LA, has ink stains on fingers. (gone d11)
Starting D13, new bracelet
Honor is the ideal. Unremarkable Retainer. Average Samurai
Matsu Ishioka comes into the challenge cool and confident about a respectable showing. He's no scout or warden, but he's practiced enough to make the closer shots without concern, adding little affectations like shooting from the hip and shooting without aiming in order to impress observers. It's not much, not ostentatious, but it certainly puts some swagger back in the Matsu after the go fiasco.
Focused and composed throughout the event, Ishioka finally falls to a narrow miss on one of the longer distance targets, but as he steps aside for the next shooter, he shows no sign of anything but modest pride in doing his duty well.
Hit up to 3rd target successfully
3 opps showing off on successful shots.
Total successes: 11
Total opportunities: 6
Last edited by Matsu Ishioka on Wed Aug 18, 2021 9:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Lion Clan * Bushi * "The Stone Matsu" * Few words, many thoughts * Isn't mad at you, but is disappointed
Honor: 61 | Glory: 51 | Status: 35
Courtship points: check courtship tracker.
Wears/carries: fantastic poker face, common Lion bushi garb, daisho, fan with meditative/skeptical lion painted on it. Description
Senseki knew his training with bows, or any other ranged weapons at that, was very limited. He'd used the slings his clan was known for now and then in the wild - he even carried one - but his martial training had very much focused on swords and staves only.
He had become even more aware of that as he spent time with his long-time friend among the Fox. He'd picked up on how to fight - and hunt - with a Yari from him, but his friend sometimes even mocked him. How come a woodsman wasn't able with a bow?
As they were presented to today's task at the dojo, he felt that coming back to his mind, and it troubled him some. He felt he had to do decently well today. He felt he owed it to to his friend, to himself, to his position as a woodsman.
Then he took a deep breath, and smiled. He owed it to no-one, in fact... what he had to do is do his best, and learn later to do better in the future. Challenging himself would only hold him back even further.
So, when he set himself up to shoot, he held the bow confidently - not in his skill, which he knew could use some work, but that he'd put his soul to it.
And that he did. He hit the first target with a quick, clean shot, even if the result itself was nothing special. Pulling back the string again, he let out a deep breath, closed his eyes for a short moment... then opened them, released the arrow... and there it was. Another clean shot, even closer to the centre.
By the third target he knew he'd have difficulties. He took another deep breath as he pulled back the string, closed his eyes again, then opened them and tried to focus. Another deep breath... and a quick release.
This time, though, the arrow hit the border of the target, then fell to the ground.
He smiled again as he gave back the bow - not nervously or tensely, though, as some might have noticed he did at times. He knew this probably wouldn't be one of the best performances seen this day... but it was good enough for him. He knew he'd done his best, and that would probably have made his friend proud.
Total strife: 9/10 - still holding on! (EDITted after rolling during EM)
Hardest target hit: TN 2 (2 targets hit)
Total opportunities spent to show-off on successful shots: 2
Total successes: 6
Total Opportunities spent to show-off: 3
Status: 25
Glory: 31
Honor:
Last edited by Suzume Senseki on Tue Aug 17, 2021 4:15 am, edited 2 times in total.
Sparrow Clan * Woodsman * Herbalist * Wicker hat * Disheveled hair * Clothes never fully clean
Not a penny to his name * A simple life is a good life * Life is sacred * The truth is always simple Status: 25 * Glory: 31 * Honour: Is the ideal * CP: 27 Carries: Common clothes, Wicker hat, Daisho, Knife, Sling, Daisho (as allowed), Medicine Kit, Pillow books. In the field: Ashigaru armour, Wicker hat, Daisho, Sling, Knife, Bo, Hunting Yari, Travelling pack, Rations, Pillow books.
"No no Usogawa-sama, you don't hold the string and pull the wood back, that would be silly."
"Oh!" Emiko turned it round, so the bow was facing the right way.
"Now what about this?" she held up the arrow. The man sighed.
"You put the arrow here then draw the bow..."
"Draw it? But I left my calligraphy kit back in my room."
"Not that kind of...do the Otter not use bows?"
"Why would we need bows on a boat?" Emiko asked, confused. The man just sighed.
20 minutes later, with Emiko finally understanding that drawing a bow doesn't mean on paper. She took her first shot. And she landed it!
"I did it! Ok, I've got the hang of this, the rest will be easy!"
She took the next arrow, set it up the wrong way around, then dropped it as she let go of the string, the arrow rolling towards the instructor who looked like he wanted to be anywhere but here.
