Ceremony of the Samurai

Companions on the Road

Selected by their clans to represent them in the Topaz Championship, they young samurai set out from their homes across the Empire. After many days of weary travel they all met in a way-station about a day's travel from the town of Tsuma. After introductions and sharing a meal, and discovering they were all bound for the same destination, the young travellers spent some time round the fire discussing the upcoming Championship and telling of tales - Matsui making a particular impression on the assembled company.

The next morning dawned bright and clear - perfect travelling weather - no doubt thanks to the shujenga of the Crane Clan ensuring there were no obstacles to their successful hosting of the Topaz Championship. The river valley was green and lush with spring, the stalks of orange wul filling out for harvest. They chatted amiably as they walked, with the exception of Yamasato who seemed somewhat reserved even with Nakari his fellow clan member. Suddenly they came up behind an old man, dressed in peasant clothes topped by a brilliant blue scarf. He was laden by a large chest resting upon his greatly bent back. Started by the approach of so many young samurai, the old man scrambled to get out of the way. Unfortunately he stumbled and tumbled off the short embankment of the roadway and landed in the shallows of the river reeds – face down in the water.

Immediately Matsui, followed by Milan and Nakari leaped into action, scrambling down the bank to drag the old peasant from the water. The others held back on the roadway - the ever vigilant Kosato nervously scanning the surrounding orchards and fiddling with the hilt of his katana in case this was some kind of trap set by bandits. Yamasato noticed that despite the old peasant’s splash into the water, the cranes feeding nearby were not at all flustered – odd indeed!

Helped by Miran and Nakari, Matsui managed to drag the old man back up to the road where he lay gasping for breath. Once somewhat recovered the old man introduced himself as Megumi and profusely thanked those who had saved them and offers to perform a tea ceremony. Matsui, Milan and Nakari, ever mindful of manners accepted gracefully, and the old man opened the chest he had been carrying. Taking from it a small carpet he laid it on the ground and knelt, asking Matsui to get the box containing the tea from the chest. Matsui got the tea noticing as he did the hilt of a katana wrapped in cloth, and a mahogany box lay within, tangled with the old man’s clothes.

Still watched somewhat distrustfully by Kosato, Saito and Yamasato, the old man laid out the tea things and asked Nakari to mix the powered contents of two bags contained in the box into the teapot along with water from the river. Soon after the tea was mixed the water within the pot began to boil! As they partook of the ceremony a strange peacefulness overtook them. As the tea ceremony completed Megumi offered Matsui a gift in honour of him saving his life. As tradition demanded, Matsui refused the gift twice before reluctantly accepting the katana the man offered. He then offered his own katana as a gift in recompense. The old man thanked him, and offering them the use of his home in Tsuma to stay in while he was away, packed up his chest and retuned to his journey. Examining the katana gifted to him , Matsui was astonished to discover it appeared to be of exceptional quality, but when they turned round to question the old peasant, he had vanished.

Somewhat nonplussed by these events, they continued their way to Tsuma, passing by a merchant with his wares laid out before him at the gates. Heading into the town, the split up, Miran and Nakari accompanied Matsui to pay their respects to the Fortunes, visiting the Temple to the Seven Fortunes for which the town was famous, before following the directions to Megumi’s house. Saito headed straight to the nearest Sake house in order to enquire after lodgings. Kosato and Yamasato preferred to wander the streets of the small town seeing what sights there were (including the Merchant House of the Exotic - an odd looking shop specialising in treasures from far beyond the borders of Rokugan) while looking for an inn to take up lodging in.

The Topaz Championship

Saito, was directed to the somewhat opulent House of the Silver Crane, where he winced inwardly at the price of a room – 5 bu – but maintained a stoic facade throughout. Kosato and Yamasoto meanwhile took up residence in the common room of the somewhat less opulent House of the Reed Basket down by the docks. The others meanwhile settled into Megumi’s surprisingly well-appointed abode – certainly not the peasant hut they had been expecting.
Horsemanship

Next day there was a flurry of excitement as the imperial barge arrived for the contest. As the imperial party descended the gangplank and grizzled Crane veteran standing next to Kosato made a disparaging comment about the Heir as he simpered past. Kosato chose (probably wisely) to let this insult slide by him, pretending not to have heard!

Saito meanwhile, ignoring the hubbub in the town set himself up outside the Tsuma Dojo, determined to be first in line next morning so sign-up for the Topaz Championship.
Which, after a cold uncomfortable night, he was!

The Championship began next day with the Sumai contest where Saito, Miran and Kosato all won their bouts. The second contest that day was a test of Heraldry where Nakari and Kosato particularly shone. The final test of the morning session was of Athletics, where Milan, with her natural athleticism, led the field easily - despite falling off one of the obstacles and having to stop to retrieve her sandal from the mud.

The contestants then had two hours of rest and meditation before the afternoon session, the first event of which was Horsemanship. Kosato was by far the best horseman of the group and easily won this contest. The day ended with the Conduct contest, each of the contenders being interrogated by superiors on points of law, etiquette and bushido. Milan again led the field in this event.

The second day of the Championship began with the Weapons test. All of the party chose to use katanas and all of the party performed acceptably at this test - as one would expect of samurai. However no one stood out significantly as a potential master of arms.

The Final Contest

The Championship resumed with completions in Poetry, Court etiquette, Go and Archery. Saito struggled a bit with the composition of a haiku, while Yamasato’s contribution stood out – drawing great applause from the assembled dignitaries. Nakari excelled in her knowledge of Court etiquette while Matsui won the Archery contest easily. Milan meanwhile did well at Go.

As the late afternoon sun shone down on them, all the contestants were assembled in the courtyard for the final contest. The contestants were instructed to head to the nearby countryside to retrieve three tsu fish eggs. The contestants immediately headed out from the town – not bothering to stop to find out anything about the near mythical tsu. As they departed the dojo, Saito and Matsui speculated that there had been no instructions as to whether they should work Forest ambush

against each other and suggested they should work together.

“Working together” seemed to consist of the Bushi following the Shugenja around in the hope the wise ones would know what they were doing! There hopes were justified when the Phoenix clan members headed to the river and began casting spells. The Shugenja magic led them directly to the tsu – which they were surprised to see were not only out of the water on the bank but actually nesting in the trees!

After much prevarication, Matsui and Nakari managed to sneak past the fish and climb up to one of the nest and steal three eggs. They did managed to disturb one of the sleeping tsu who immediately attacked. Returning to the ground swiftly, Matsui immediately fled with their ill-gotten gains, the others following swiftly!

On their way back to Tsuba, they were attacked by some bandits. Yamasato cast The Fires From Within and turned two of the bandits into pillars of flame, which gave the surviving assailants consideable pause. Which, when the Bushi got among them katanas flashing in the late afternoon sun, was swiftly reinforced and caused the surviving bandits to flee!

On their return they were lauded as victors. Miran was crowned as the Topaz Champion for the next year and many gifts were distributed to the Party. As they were pondering the events of the last few days, the old man they had met some days earlier suddenly appeared before them.

Much to the astonishment of the assembled dignitaries, he proclaimed them to be among the “chosen ones” - before turning into a crane and flying off!