Soyokaze follows Raizo to a less crowded area of the theater.
Soyokaze motions for his attendant to step forward.
"This is Kakita Hameko, my attendant and soon to be graduate of the Kakita Academy. She assisted me greatly on the piece and I know it would not be ready yet were it not for her aid." The attendant is holding a pillow covered with a large square of orange cloth that drapes over the sides. "This piece was a joy to make, I hope it sees you and your friend share much joy in the coming future."
Soyokaze removes the orange silk to reveal his latest work. "As requested I offer for your judgement a hairpin done in silver and steel."
The pin itself is a round steel rod, slightly thicker than most normal hairpins. The top 2/3 of the pin seem almost perfectly round and smooth with the exception of a series of fine grooves that twist down from the head in an interweaving pattern, each inlaid with paint that fades from red to orange and back as it travels down the groove, the effect so subtle that at first it looks like the light of nearby lanterns dancing across the steel surface. The bottom third of the rod expertly flattens and tapers into a blade. Despite being no wider than a child's pinky finger you can tell instantly that it's as sharp as anything you have ever held. Atop the head of the rod sits a single polished black pearl. Attached via a tiny ring just below the pearl dangles a large star made of burnished silver. The star is flawless in its symmetry save for one crucial aspect. The star is covered is dozens of holes. The holes range in size from small to tiny but they form no kanji or other obvious pattern.
"The grooves around the pin are both for decoration and should serve as a grip should that ever become necessary though I hope your friend never has that need. I have made it as strong as I can but it will not survive more than one hit from a real weapon. I know you said that the only colors you wanted were steel and silver so please forgive me for overstepping my bounds but I feel that the pearl helps break up the uniformity and the colors in the grip are hopefully subtle enough as not to upset you, I just thought it would help your friend always remember from who it came from. The blade is very sharp, as sharp as any blade I have forged, and I highly recommend you find a trained woodworker to craft some sort of sheath for this out of a wood you or she likes. I have left a slight lip around the base of the blade where it becomes the rod again, this should allow the woodworker, if they are skilled enough, to fit their work so that it will stay on firmly. The star I think is the important part, without it this is just a strangely made dagger but the star ornament makes it memorable. Within this star you will see a recreation of the very night sky we stand under now. It is the stars as seen from Shika lands during this very Miai. In this way I hope that the moments you two share stay with you always. If this meets with your acceptance I offer this to you now, not as a gift but as an exchange for your friendship and the advice you have already given me.”
With that the attendant hands the pillow to Soyokaze who the offers it to Raizo as both Crane offer a bow.
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Star Ornament
Crafting a second large star for a hairpin out of silver. Assistance from attendant. | TN: 3 | Success:
3 / Opportunity:
2 / Strife:
3
2 Opportunity used on fine detail.
Pin body
Crafting a second hairpin from steel. Assistance granted by attendant. | TN: 3 | Success:
6 / Opportunity:
0 / Strife:
2
Pin blade
Reforging steel hairpin #2 into a bladed weapon. Assistance granted by attendant. | TN: 3 | Success:
3 / Opportunity:
1 / Strife:
1
1 Opportunity used on beauty
[OOC: You will have to ask Saibankan for stats but it was made with the Kakita technique.]
