"My lord, please. Perhaps consider how this season's sake pairs well with some of this season's new musical compositions..."
Shizuka displayed a rather incisive grasp of both, belying a familiarity with sake and modern music that - as with many things Shizuka said and did - ran contrary to her image as a Sun Priestess.
While she made her point quickly and subtly, she did have to absorb the rhetorical blows of the higher ranking samurai on the way in, leaving her having to hold her emotions in check for the strain of having done so.
# of Rolls: 1
0 Opportunities to show off.
Took 2 Strife
Status: 30
Glory: 45
Honor: 60
Re: (D9, MM) Arguing From the Heart (Event)
Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2021 7:22 am
by Usogawa Emiko
With a smile, Emiko approached the young samurai who seemed to be stuck like a Deer in headlights at the approach.
"Good morning Shika-san! Did you see the play that Doji Miriko put on a few months ago? It was a fantastic piece."
"N-no Usogawa-sama, what was it like?"
The rest of the discussion was Emiko explaining why the play was the greatest piece ever put on, and the young Shika samurai trying not to look directly into the girls pretty eyes.
Aimi, as perhaps befits a shugenja, opts to debate the monk on the matter of Shinsei and theology.
Honestly, she rather enjoys the conversation. Her own views on Shintao have been shaped by her experience on the road, the spiritual insights gleaned through exposure to the elements without the option of retreat or avoidance, and so tend towards the kind of rough and humble practicality of mendicants throughout history. The monk, while doubtless better read on the theory and knowledgeable of the history of various interpretations of the creed, is willing to engage with her in a thoughtful debate heavy with metaphor and observations of the world.
It's actually slightly disappointing when the Shika call the conversation to a close.
Rolls required to win - 1
Opp used to show off - 1
Strife taken - 3 total
Re: (D9, MM) Arguing From the Heart (Event)
Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2021 3:05 pm
by Susaki Tanabe
Tanabe wasn't all that much into plays but he certainly wasn't about to touch any of the other topics.
The young samurai was spirited and clung to his opinions fiercely and Tanabe didn't have the knowledge to tell him he was wrong so he just shifted around the points staying flexible in what his arguments were to attack weak points in the other samurai's argument.
It wasn't the most effective but eventually the young samurai threw his hands up in frustration.
Senseki never considered himself a particularly able debater, or speaker, at that. Of course, stories were spoken, and like any Sparrow worth their feathers, he knew his stories and was used to spinning them. But... this was different.
Wasn't it?
After considering the options offered to them for a while, he ended up going for one of the monks - and, despite some uncertainty, he did so happily.
“Every person's life is a story.”
the monk said, and asked Senseki what he thought it meant. If every person's life is a story, was there a difference between life and story? And were the people in stories not stories, but people, in the end?
Senseki's first instinct was to tackle this as he did many things - slowly, trying to remember facts (and stories!) and using these to reason what he felt might make sense.
But... this time, would a fact-based, reasoning approach even make sense? Perhaps it might, but it felt wrong...
So, instead of considering the lesson for a long time to look for inconsistencies or meaning, he tried to feel it. Feel what made sense.
It took him a long time, and much uncertainty, and quite a bit of back and forth. He most certainly didn't show himself as a convincing or quick-witted debater - which wasn't really surprising to him, after all.
But in the end, he came to something... somewhat simple. Ok, maybe not that simple. And... well, based on stories, exactly.
Could the people in a given story write a story? Could they 'guide' their story?
If they could, the story was real as life. If they could not, it was real as a story - but not as life... at least not to those who observed it now. It might be life within the story, but not without.
It was a strange thought, and it might not make much sense at first. But as Senseki finally voiced it, the monk - who had waited patiently for quite a long time - smiled, nodded approvingly, and said "Thanks for the debate, Suzume-san. I hope you have also learned something today - as I did."
The Sparrow wasn't 100% sure what he had learned... but he felt he had learned something. A pleased smile and a bow to the monk, and he stepped back.
He was almost certain he wouldn't have impressed Shika Pei-pei or the deer clan champion, but it had been an interesting experience!
Results:
Rounds needed: 3 3 to show off 2 taken
Status: 25
Glory: 31
Honour: 51
Re: (D9, MM) Arguing From the Heart (Event)
Posted: Sat Aug 28, 2021 2:05 am
by Matsu Ishioka
Matsu Ishioka has zero interest in this event and tries to simply end it as quickly as possible so he can move on with his day. There's much to do to prepare for the big evening event, he's thinking about how he'll talk to Narumi at the appropriate time -- and clearly he should have been thinking a little more about debating, as his initial barrage of criticism puts the young Shika on his heels but doesn't finish him.
Kami, is this the same punk kid from the go tournament?
---------------
B) Debate an ambitious young samurai about the best play of this year: 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)
There were several items that Bayushi could wax philosophical about; sake was among those at the top of that list.
Number of rolls: 2
Opportunities to show off: 3
Total strife: 2
Status: 35
Glory: 46
Honor: 30
Re: (D9, MM) Arguing From the Heart (Event)
Posted: Sat Aug 28, 2021 6:30 am
by Saibankan
Many words were said. Some elegant arguments and some....less so. Still both Shika Renji and Shika Pei Pei watched over the discussion with interest. The two would compare notes later on who had impressed the Deer and who had...just tried their hardest.
The following players are in Tier A and receive 3 Courtship Points