Difference between revisions of "IsleOfJade/SessionTwo"

Latest revision as of 21:20, 8 June 2010

Scene II - The Sagacious One

(1) Yeled: “Sacrilege!” scolds the monk, flinging the large basket of fruit and bouquet of flowers off the makeshift alter and into the large grotto pool. The offering scatters across the surface with a splash before sinking into the murky depths.

(1) Yeled: The grotto itself isn’t large, but it’s very old and very beautiful. The warm glow of the morning sun shines down onto decorative animal and flower motifs carved into the natural stone walls that cradle the waters like gentle hands. Minute bits and pieces of the carvings have fallen into the pool over the years, for many of them are cracked and weathered the fluctuating conditions of 1,000 years. At the back of the grotto lies a small cave, completely flooded by and part of the pool. On either side of the cave, on small stone pedestals that rise out of the water, are the feet and ankles of two statues, one male and one female. They are all that remains of what must have been beautiful statues indeed, although it is impossible now to know who they might have once depicted.

(1) Yeled: “What you do is forbidden. Do you not know what damage you cause when you worship outside the natural order of things?” continues the monk, his face stern and eyes severe. He does not have the look of a man who should be challenged. His head is shaved, except for a single top-knot on the top of his head, and his hands and forearms stained black, as is the tradition of the Immaculate Monks of the Lotus Monastery. His brown robes only partially obscure his upper body and torso, and reveal enough of him to show that his body is tough and hard and wears the scars of many battles. He has flexible but heavy boots, good for causing damage in a fight, and he holds a long staff like an extension of himself.

(1) Yeled: The two elder farmers, Tam Bo and Tam Zyan, who farm rice and other staple crops a few miles out of Two Rivers, cower before the quiet fury of the unyielding monk, and prostrate themselves on the ground at his feet. They are clearly overwhelmed and didn’t expect to meet such terrible reproach directed at them as a result of their simple offering.

(1) Tam BoIsleOfJade/Tam Zyan: “Please, master,” cries Tam Bo, trying to interject himself between the monk and his poor wife. “We only ask for a little rain for our rice crop. Just a small sprinkle. The land is drier than normal this season, and the water will do it good.”

(1) Yeled: The monk looks down at them, and his face flashes irritation, then disappointment and finally settles on pity. Without warning he raises his leg high above his head, and before the poor farmers can even register fear on their faces he brings it down powerfully with a deep, guttural cry. The stone that serves as the offering table shutters and then splits, and a deep crack spreads along its length.

Tam BoIsleOfJade/Tam Zyan flinches

(1) Yeled: “It is clear that you are poorly educated in spiritual matters,” he says to Tam Bo and Tam Zyan, who are veritably trembling with fear, “and so I will not enact punishment on you. In the order I am called Zu, the Sagacious One. I have come to Two Rivers to instruct the ignorant like yourselves on proper rites and rituals for worship, and to educate any who will listen into the truths espoused by the Immaculate Faith. I advise you to attend my sessions.” This last is most certainly a command.

Ayame slips out of the water of the grotto with nothing more than a ripple, standing behind the monk, however visible to the poor unfortunate farmers

Sagacious Zu does not notice the diminutive sprite as she slips out of the water behind him.

(1) Tam BoIsleOfJade/Tam Zyan: "Yes, master, yes master" say Tam Bo and Tam Zyan, who bow and retreat, bow and retreat, their eyes trying not to give anything away to the monk.

Ayame reaches over her shoulder and pulls her large shield off her back, then smashes it against the ground, causing a resonating crash to echo throughout the grotto

Sagacious Zu whips around at the sudden bang, his body dropping naturally into a fighting stance and his staff twirling around into a ready position.

(1) Sagacious Zu: ((roll perception + MA, Ayame, when you get a chance))

Ayame flicks her hair back with a grin "You don't write the laws here, and you're a long way from the dojo". With that she drops into the defensive stance of Victorious Concession

Ayame: [8d10] => [4,9,8,2,9,5,2,4] = (43)

(1) Sagacious Zu: He holds his legs wide apart in a stance you recognize easily, although it is certainly a rare style you haven't seen in practice in quite some time: Earth Dragon Stance.

(1) Sagacious Zu: "So you are the spirit who breaks the laws and accepts direct tribute from these peasants? You take advantage of their ignorance. I should teach you a lesson you won't forgot. But I'll give you a chance to recant your wicked ways."

Ayame rolls her eyes as he preaches, while behind her, droplet of water begin to fly towards her body, and encircle her like rain, only these droplets are coming from the pool to her back.

Ayame may be small, but with the growing torrent of rain about her, she becomes ever-more imposing. "I bring life and bounty, and usher in rebirth. You, young dragon, just blindly follow a faith and scare farmers"

(1) Sagacious Zu: "I am not so young, anymore, spirit." The air around him erupts in a display of yellow and white light, and granules of sand and stone lift from the ground to encircle him. He grips his staff tighter and readys himself. "Will you begin? Or should I?"

Ayame: "Hmph" with that she jumps forward towards the monk, attempting an open-palm strike straight to his chest

(1) Sagacious Zu: ((wits + alert)) Ayame: [7d10] => [2,10,2,9,1,9,1] = (34) (1) Sagacious Zu: [7d10.vs(7)] -> [6,5,9,4,8,3,1] = (2)

Ayame: [13d10] => [5,6,10,6,10,7,4,9,10,1,4,4,5] = (81)Ayame: [2d10] => [3,3] = (6)

Sagacious Zu attempts to bring his staff up to defend himself, but the elemental is too fast. Ayame lands the hit but fails to bruise the stout monk

(1) Sagacious Zu: Despite her speed and accurate strike, Ayame's blow glances harmlessly off the tough, stone-like body of the Immaculate Monk. Sagacious Zu brings his staff down hard on the now exposed spirit.

(1) Sagacious Zu: [10d10.vs(7)] -> [8,8,8,6,9,5,2,2,7,2] = (5)

Ayame smacks the strike to the side with her shield. She leans back, almost impossibly far as her foot shoots up, aimed at the Monk's windpipe

Ayame: [12d10] => [7,8,1,5,7,9,4,3,10,7,9,5] = (75) Ayame: [1d10] => [5] = (5) Ayame: Damage: [4d10] => [10,5,3,10] = (28)

(1) Sagacious Zu: Ayame's foot flashes up and strikes Sagacious Zu's windpipe. Amazingly, the monk doesn't stagger back or fall. His eyes, however, tear up in pain.

Ayame: "Don't even think about looking up my robe!" With that she draws her leg and foot back down, grinning as she plants them in her stance

Sagacious Zu is clearly surprised by the Ayame's skill. He too adjusts himself, delaying just a minute before planting his feet and launching himself forward. The monk is surprisingly quick for a man his size, and although it looks like he is attacking with a simple strike, he actually spins around the other direction and strikes from a backhanded position.

(1) Sagacious Zu: [14d10.vs(7)] -> [6,6,3,9,2,4,3,7,5,2,4,5,10,5] = (3)

(1) Sagacious Zu: Ayame easily anticipates the strike, though, and once again the sound of wood striking her shield echos through the grotto.

Ayame actually doesn't use her shield and instead simply dances back, almost casually "I told you not to look, now you're all distracted"

Ayame bounces back forward quickly, and strikes three times at the chest of the monk, first a knife strike to the heart, then two palm strikes on either lung (Adding 1, 2, and 3 dice)

(1) Sagacious Zu: ((+1 stunt on each))

Ayame: [12d10] => [2,8,2,4,3,4,3,2,10,1,1,5] = (45) Ayame: [12d10] => [8,10,1,8,7,2,4,1,7,2,9,4] = (63) Ayame: [12d10] => [8,10,8,10,1,4,1,5,5,3,7,2] = (64)

Ayame: [2d10] => [10,3] = (13) Ayame: [3d10] => [9,4,3] = (16)

(1) Sagacious Zu: Ayame's lightning fast attacks penetrate easily through the monk's defenses, and although he still doesn't stagger backwards the blows are having their effect.

(1) Sagacious Zu: Before Ayame can retreat out of his range, however, he lunges forward, keeping his feet on the ground the entire time, and jabs hard at her own torso with the end of his staff.

(1) Sagacious Zu: The air itself grows heavy with his strike.

(1) Sagacious Zu: [13d10.vs(7)] -> [4,1,1,5,10,4,2,6,3,5,9,2,9] = (3)

Ayame knocks the staff aside again, and retaliates, jumping and flipping high into the air, causing her heel to spin around in a full arc and come down atop the monk's head

Ayame: [13d10] => [9,5,6,2,10,5,8,9,8,2,1,9,6] = (80) Ayame: [3d10] => [3,6,9] = (18)

Ayame lands her foot with a loud thud, then bounces off his head, landing back on her feet nimbley

(1) Sagacious Zu: Although the heel itself is not devastating, it breaks the monk's hard skin and a fast flow of blood spills down from the top of his shaved head.

(1) Sagacious Zu: It flows into his eyes and down his face.

Sagacious Zu , who has up until now seemingly kept his cool, cries out in pain and anger, spinning his staff above his head and he cascades blows upon Ayame.

(1) Sagacious Zu: [9d10.vs(7)] -> [5,6,1,10,10,3,1,8,3] = (3) (1) Sagacious Zu: [8d10.vs(7)] -> [3,1,6,8,6,7,8,8] = (4)

Ayame smacks both the attacks off, before shooting out her arm against his chest, as her palm flies towards his sternum it ripples and appears blue, with a white crest at her fingers, as if a wave descending into his chest (Dragon-Claw Elemental Strike)

Ayame: [13d10] => [1,8,1,5,10,1,8,7,6,2,4,8,7] = (68) Ayame: [2d10] => [8,9] = (17)

(1) Sagacious Zu: Ayame feels several of the hard-bodied monk's ribs crack from the force of her blow, and his eyes go wide before he erupts in a fit of coughing. He drops to one knee and begins spitting up water.

Ayame: "Going to pray for forgiveness down there?"

Sagacious Zu coughs in response

Ayame hops into the air and descends with both feet against his chest again, her feet taking on the image of a crashing wave just as before (Same charm)

Ayame: [12d10] => [5,10,2,1,9,1,7,1,6,5,1,7] = (55) Ayame: [2d10] => [10,4] = (14)

(1) Sagacious Zu: The monk is forced down to the ground, and he struggles to get up, his body wracked with pain. It is clear he is no longer a threat, although he pushes himself to rise he is unsteady and stumbles to the ground again.

Ayame looks down, watching the monk for a few moments

(1) Sagacious Zu: "You...will...not get away...*cough, cough* with this. The order...will put...you in...your...place."

Ayame reaches a hand down to caress his cheek "Poor misguided prince" with that she slaps it lightly "You will leave this place and let the people do as they wish"

Sagacious Zu doesn't respond. Instead he defiantly pushes himself into a sitting position and crosses his legs. Although he is clearly in rough shape, he tries his best not to show it to Ayame. It is a feeble attempt at best

Ayame stalks around him "The waters of my grotto are deep."

Sagacious Zu doesn't look at her, choosing instead to stare straight ahead.

Ayame: "Perhaps you would like to test them"

(1) Sagacious Zu begins to meditate.

Ayame swings a hand causing the swirling mist surrounding her to spray across him

Sagacious Zu doesn't flinch as the spray of water hits him.

Ayame: "Do you intend to sit there all day?"

(1) Sagacious Zu: "For now, I do, yes," he says through gritted teeth. The blood is still flowing from the top of his head and a deep bruise is forming across the entirety of his chest.

Ayame: "You forget this is still -my- domain"

(1) Sagacious Zu: "And what would you have me do? I am not in condition to travel any longer."

Ayame: "We'll have a sleep over. Now stand up."

Sagacious Zu looks at you without comprehension. He doesn't move, either.

Ayame: "You're going to stay in my sanctum for now, and we'll discuss your respect for myself and the villagers. You'll be free to leave at any time on your own of course, assuming you can survive the swim."

(1) Sagacious Zu: "Do you intend to drown me then?"

Ayame nudges him with her foot "No. Now move it or lose it melon head"

Sagacious Zu rises slowly, his body resisting the movement more than anything else, but eventually he does get to his feet.

Ayame guides him towards the pool

(1) Sagacious Zu: "What am I supposed to do? I'm in no condition to swim."

Ayame pushes him in then leaps in after, grabbing his bruised body and diving down into the pool with him at incredible speeds, dragging him beyond sight of anyone above the surface

Scene III – The Problem of the Golden Sun Disk

(1) Yeled: The sounds of training fill the early morning air at the Two Rivers School of Enlightenment and Martial Arts. Students go through their daily condition drills after breakfast but before anything else, each and every day. Some work on skills such as Iron Fist Technique. Others engage in Cat Walking across the beams, railings, and any other precarious landing they can find. Overhung Skill, Monk Pillar Technique, Hard Skull, Stone Lifting Skill…every student in the school is now preparing their bodies for the rigorous training ahead.

(1) Yeled: Every student but five. These five instead find themselves summoned to the top of the Hill, near the entrance of the Anathema’s Cave, where the golden sun disk continues brilliantly glowing as it has done all night long. Dawn Star, Tetsuko, and Kaimi are among them. But so too are the advanced students Yukio and Mou-Shendu, who were not any where near the scene last night. All five of them stand waiting in silence, not daring to speak. For their master has not yet spoken. Master Li sits in complete stillness about five feet in front of the sun disk, quietly contemplating it. He was in this same position last night when Twentieth Leopard finally sent everyone to bed after the excitement.

Yukio stands at attention, staring attentively at Master Li.

Mou-Shendu waits quietly as well.

(1) Yeled: In one hand Li holds his long smoking pipe, which is long enough to reach from his short-bearded face all the way to his knee, and every once in a while he puffs on it, blows a smoke ring from his mouth, and then lowers the pipe back to his knee.

(1) Yeled: It has been nearly thirty minutes since Smiling Mountain sent everyone up here, and yet Master Li has said nothing.

Sook is sitting, knees to his chest..though in this position he is nearly as tall as the other students, or so it seems, the man is so large

Yukio glances briefly at Kaimi, a look of disgust manages its way onto his face before he returns to a blank faced expression staring at master Li.

(1) Yeled: Finally Master Li rises. He crosses his arms behind his back, carefully so as not to spill his pipe, and says, "Mmmmmm."

Kaimi looks smug and has her head bowed slightly in an attempt to hide a slight smile. Her eyes are lit with interest.

(1) Yeled: He has not turned to look at you yet.

Mou-Shendu glances briefly form Yukio to Kaimi.

Sook is sort of staring off, not appearing to be very interested in what’s going on, preferring to watch the flowers grow...his usual state

(1) Master Li: "So, what have you decided it is?" he asks without turning.

Sook turns back to the situation at hand when the master speaks, suddenly paying attention

(1) Master Li: "Not one of you knows? You are afraid to guess?"

Sook: "well....the woman, the sorcerer, tried to open the door that wont open....and it didn’t open..." Sook hasn’t caught on, obviously

Mou-Shendu: “Perhaps it is the doorways own defense against a sorcerous attempt to open it.”

Yukio 's eyes dart on and off of the various faces, pausing briefly on each, for any sign of understanding of the situation.

(1) Master Li: "An interesting theory."

Mou-Shendu: "The wards on it were, it seems, far stronger than the intruder magic, last night".

Sook: "uhm....and we scared her away...too...I think"

(1) Master Li: "Did you now?"

Sook: "uhm...I think...."

Yukio: mumbles quietly under his breath..."A true exalt would have caught her."

Kaimi: "Actually she seemed to having a hard time finishing her task anyway.

Sook shrugs

Kaimi: "Hmm. Maybe next time you will roll out of bed to try?"

Sook: "i did not feel the need to chase her....you know...she didn’t take anything...but i had to follow kaimi..."

Mou-Shendu scans the scene again, as he did when he first arrived, searching for anything out of place. Anything besides the glowing disk, that is.

Yukio: "At least I was in bed, rather than ignoring curfew."

(1) Master Li: ((There is nothing out of place that you can see...at least not with a cursory scan))

Mou-Shendu: "If I may, do you have an idea, Master?"

Kaimi just smirks at Yukio’s comment.

(1) Master Li: "An idea? I have many ideas. Which one are you most interested in, Mou-Shendu?"

Yukio glares at Kaimi, before returning his attention to Master Li.

Mou-Shendu: "Perhaps I should have asked, will you share with us your ideas about the state of the doorway, the intruder's intentions, and perhaps her identity?"

Master Li ignores the question and immediately commands, "Tell me again, those of you who encountered her, what exactly was she doing."

Sook furrows his brow in deep thought....and, as any who have the patience to wait for him to wax philosophical, his mind does have deep troughs that are filled with some surprising stuff

Kaimi: "She was just pacing when we arrived"

Sook: "she, uhm, tried to open it....the door....the gold one"

Sook: "and it hurt her"

Kaimi: " she was obviously frusturated."

(1) Master Li: "But she failed. Why?"

Sook: "she said...uhm...she didn’t, you know, care about the grove...and i didn’t like that much"

Mou-Shendu frowns to himself at the vague answers provided.

Sook thinks hard again

Yukio notices Mou-Shendu and feels empathy for his situation...

(1) Master Li: "If you can't guess why, then tell me why you think it hurt her."

Kaimi: "Wait. I don't think she necessarily wanted in."

Sook: "yeah....she said somethin..."

Sook: "no...she said...."it is this door...and what lies beyond"....that’s what she, you know...wanted"

Kaimi: " She tried to pry that disk from the door. She became desperate after we arrived. Unless the disk is the seal..... Anyway that was when it hurt her"

Sook: "and, she called me a lummox"

(1) Master Li: "A biting quip to be sure, Tetsuko."

Ayame: [7d10] => [7,5,8,2,1,4,1] = (28)

Ayame is sitting near by, partially obscured by some foliage, but not too hard to pick out

Sook: [6d10] => [6,3,6,3,1,7] = (26) ((argh...id expect him to pay better attention to the surroundings,what a lummox))Mou-Shendu: [7d10.vs(7)] => [1,9,6,4,9,2,9] = (3)(1) Dawn Star: [7d10.vs(7)] -> [10,5,8,5,6,7,5] = (3)

(1) Master Li: "So you think she wanted the disk?"

Kaimi: "I don't really know so I shouldn't say for certain but she was doing something with it."

Dawn Star glances over toward Ayame but doesn't say anything for fear of interrupting.

(1) Master Li: "Have any of you seen this disk before?" Its shaped very much like the sun: a central circle with triangular rays radiating in every direction from the circle.

Sook doesn’t notice...Sook isn’t dumb, but nor is he quick, and if he is paying all his attention to one thing, he, well, doesn’t have the mental RAM to pay attention anywhere else

Mou-Shendu: "I have not seen it."

Kaimi: "I haven't. I would have definitely noticed that!"

Sook: "no....maybe she brought it with her....you know....like a key?"

Master Li smiles at Sook's suggestion. "A key? Do you think so?"

Sook furrows his brow

Mou-Shendu cautiously approaches the door, carefully surveying it and the surroundings for any information (or even the slightest thing left behind).

(1) Master Li: It seems to fit perfectly into the door in a space at the Sun Tyrant's heart. The rays are large enough that they radiate out from his chest, but the disk fits entirely on his chest.

Sook: "well,it wasnt there before...."he waits a moment in thought"....and it is here...you know...now.....so i would think that,you know...she brought it...so what else could it be but a key?"

(1) Master Li: "Don't look so down, Tetsuko. I believe you to be absolutely right. I think it is a key." Kaimi: "Wait a key? If she brought a key it wasn't a very good one!"

(1) Master Li: "No, it wasn't a very good one, was it? It didn't open the door for her, did it?"

Sook frowns and shakes his head

Kaimi sucks in her lips, perplexed

Mou-Shendu: "Perhaps it needs to be turned", Mou-Shendu offers with a sarcastic smirk.

(1) Master Li: "Would you like to turn it, Mou-Shendu?"

Kaimi: " Don't!"

Kaimi: " When she touched it, it burned her."

Master Li strokes his short, white beard with his free hand and takes a puff on his pipe.

Yukio: "Convenient that you managed to remember that detail Kaimi"

Mou-Shendu: "What was she doing before she pulled on the disk?"

Kaimi: " Why thank you Yukio!"

Kaimi sounds clipped

Sook: "uhm...standing in front of it"

Sook delivers this without a hint of sarcasm

Kaimi: " She touched it twice. It burned her."

Mou-Shendu: "Was she speaking? Performing any sorts of rituals?"

Sook shakes his head, "not when we got here"

Mou-Shendu: "So when she pulled the disk, she wasn't trying to pry open the door, necessarily. She may have just been trying to get her key back before reinforcements got here."

(1) Master Li: "That is possible."

(1) Master Li: "You think she couldn't get it back."

Mou-Shendu: "She had plenty of time. Why would she leave it, if it is a key?"

Kaimi: "Maybe there is a piece missing."

Kaimi: "Did Sook tell you he thinks she turned into a fox?"

(1) Master Li: "Yes, he did tell me that. An interesting phenomenon, isn't it?"

Kaimi: "mmm"

Mou-Shendu glances at Kaimi. Then shakes his head. You're not sure if it was an answer to the question, or disapproval at the lack of details.

Mou-Shendu carefully examines the disk, being careful not to touch it.

Kaimi: "Yes but she still couldn't open it. So something must be wrong."

Mou-Shendu: [7d10.vs(7)] => [7,4,1,2,3,1,10] = (2)

(1) Master Li: ((the disk has no details as far as you can tell, but its glowing so brightly it would be impossible to make them out if it did))

Kaimi: " Why couldn't a sorceress who can turn herself into a fox open a door?"

(1) Master Li: "This door has stood here for over 1,000 years."

Mou-Shendu: "And much magic went into the creation of this doorway"

Kaimi: " Anybody wanta try gloves?" she jokes.

(1) Master Li: "Are you eager to get the key, or open the door, Kaimi?"

Sook: "i, uhm, could try, with gloves..."

Kaimi: " ah..."

Mou-Shendu: "I think it would be wise to assume that someone will be back to try again. We shouldn't leave it in there, if we can avoid it."

Mou-Shendu: "And perhaps a guard should be posted here, in the meantime."

1) Master Li: "Yes, that is a good idea. I will have Smiling Mountain put a student on guard duty each night; perhaps several to keep them fresh."

Mou-Shendu begins surveying the area more closely.

(1) Master Li: "But that is not where I will end things. I would like to know more about this intruder before she returns."

Sook: "she turned into a fox"

Sook: "i think that is, you know....a big deal"

Kaimi: "Hmm... We couldn't see much of her. She was covered head to toe in black. She even wore a veil"

Sook: "i have read...in children’s stories...scary ones...of the tainted ones....turning into beasts and whatnot...those 'touched by chaos'....who live as half beasts...and worse....slaves of the chaotic ones"

Kaimi: "She was fast and agile. Scaled the wall- no trouble at all."

Kaimi shakes her head in annoyance and also in appreciation.

Sook: "and when she turned into a fox....she didn’t stop and perform a ritual....it was, you know...one step person, next step....running....fox"

Mou-Shendu: "Where did she get this key, I wonder?"

Mou-Shendu squints at it again.

Sook looks to mou-shendu, then back to the master

Kaimi shrugs

(1) Master Li: "A good question, but maybe a premature one."

Mou-Shendu nods

Kaimi: mutters "Seemed pretty full of herself to me."

Mou-Shendu: "well, Tetsuko is right. We cannot assume she was a sorceress. That could lead us down the wrong path. Maybe she could not open it simply because this key is not enough, and she did not know how."

Sook looks in awe at mou-shendu...he didnt know he said all THAT

(1) Master Li: "Mou-Shendu and Yukio, I want you to try to find out about her. Tetsuko will lead you as far as he can on her trail. Between the two of you, you should be able to track down just about anyone."

Yukio: "Yes Master"

Mou-Shendu: "Of course".

(1) Master Li: "Meanwhile, the rest of you will continue your training. Kaimi, you especially have important work to do in the coming days. Vital lessons you must learn."

Kaimi bows head in affirmative

(1) Master Li: "You may go," he says after everyone just mills about.

Yukio bows and takes his leave.

Sook lifts his frame creakily up and shambles off

(1) Master Li: "Kaimi, remain behind please."

Mou-Shendu turns to go as well. He pauses and looks over his shoulder at Master Li's words. Then turns and follows after the others.

(1) Master Li: "I will need you as well, Ayame," he says, gesturing for the elemental to come from her hiding place.

Kaimi stops and turns back to face master Li respectfully 

Ayame leaps gracefully over a bush, almost flowing, as she moves over to Master Li

Kaimi starts at Ayame's entrance then composes herself ruefully.

(1) Master Li: "First, Kaimi, please fetch the sun disk for me."

Kaimi: "what?" Kaimi really starts this time

(1) Master Li: "Fetch the sun disk. Then meet Ayame and me over at the wading pool."

Master Li turns and walks away without further explanation.

Kaimi hesitates unsure

Kaimi: "ah.. um.."

Kaimi looks at Ayame

Ayame: "You'll be fine" trots off after Master Li

Kaimi makes a face after her

Kaimi looks at the sun disk and makes her decision. She walks over and after a moments pause grasps the sun disk determinedly

Kaimi attemps to pull it away

(1) Master Li: Kaimi's fingers slip easily around the disk. It’s warm to the touch, but not hot. Kaimi: "huh!"

(1) Master Li: With a 'click' it comes loose. Almost immediately its glow begins to fade. Then the rays around the disk mechanically fold themselves up and place themselves into perfect triangular grooves in the main circle so that Kaimi is left holding a large circular disk of golden Orinchulum about a foot in diameter and a couple inches thick. It is quite heavy.

Kaimi stares in awe, looks momentarily trouble with her achievement, then breaks into a wide grin.

(1) Master Li: Now that the door isn't reflecting the glow and the sun disk is gone, Kaimi can see that it does indeed fit perfectly in a place on the door.

Kaimi quick steps as fasts as she can given the weight after her teacher, eyes alight with triumph and the spirit of adventure

(1) Master Li: Master Li sits on a large rock on the edge of the wading pool, which really isn't that far from the door Kaimi just left.

(1) Master Li: Ayame waits nearby

Kaimi: "Master Li, what is going on? Why could I touch this thing? And how did you know that I could?!" she asked eagerly

(1) Master Li: "Ah, good," he says when he sees you have the disk, and for a moment you think his face is just a bit delighted. But if so it’s simply a flicker and he returns to his stoic expression quickly.

(1) Master Li: "Bring it here, child."

Kaimi brings the disk over

Master Li takes it and places it in his lap. "Please perform the Dragon Fly Form."

Kaimi looks slightly frustrated but begins the form by pulling her arms up into a ready position. Then she begins a series of twists and turns. She leaps forward and dances backwards ..... and as she does her face relaxes and her eyes light up: she loves this.

(1) Master Li: "Very well done," says Master Li when she is finished. "Now, enter the pool."

Kaimi stares at him perplexed

(1) Master Li: "Go as deep as you can without losing the bottom."

Kaimi: "all right"

Kaimi heads into the pool

(1) Master Li: The water is ice cold and it envelops you in its frigidness. Your robes float up around you, as well, becoming heavy and sluggish.

(1) Master Li: "Perform the Dragon Fly Form again, please."

Kaimi grins and tries it again

Ayame grins too, as she watches

(1) Master Li: It’s nearly impossible. The water keeps you from performing the leaps. It slows down your strikes. Your robes drag behind you so you can't twist and turn. You are basically flopping around in the water without much success.

(1) Master Li: "Now, you, Ayame."

Ayame performs the stable, defensive, yet surprisingly peaceful katas of Victorious Concession, moving backwards, and entering the water, seamlessly continuing as the water and her body seem to flow together in harmony

(1) Master Li: "Why do you suppose Ayame can perform her kata in the water, and you cannot, Kaimi?"

Kaimi: "I.... Practice perhaps. She has learned to do so. I have not."

(1) Master Li: "You think so? You think it’s just a matter of practice? Perhaps you should practice the rest of the day, then, until you can do it."

Kaimi: " I would make the attempt, at least Master Li. Whether you ordered it or not."

Ayame leaps from the pool easily, water splashing around her feet as she lands, yet her body seems strangely dry

Kaimi: “She is an elemental Master. I am not. Therefore all I may do is practice.”

Kaimi pulls herself upright and stands proudly defensive

(1) Master Li: "So you think she has some ability you do not have?"

Kaimi: "I will not know until I have tried" Kaimi replied stubbornly.

Kaimi lifts her arms to begin again.

(1) Master Li: "Very well. You will practice the rest of the day to see if you can perform dragonfly form in the water."

Kaimi: "Master Li... the disk?

(1) Master Li: "Ah, yes. I mustn’t leave it behind. Thank you for reminding me." He picks it up to take it with him. "We will discuss the results of your training tonight."

(1) Master Li: "You, Ayame, may train as you see fit."

Kaimi pulls a face

Master Li walks away without another word.

Ayame sits cross-legged by the pool "You'll catch your death training in there"

Kaimi narrows her green eyes at Ayame then begins the kata again. This time she moves slowly, feeling out the movement of the water as she moves through it.

Kaimi: "After this though, I am getting lighter clothing! These are two thick. And I am going to tie back these sleeves."

Ayame: "That would help. The clothes are your biggest problem right now."

Kaimi cocks her head at Ayame and then smiles

Kaimi: " I will get this!"

Ayame: "The longer you try the harder it will be"

Kaimi: "So what is your point?"

Ayame: "To beat an opponent you have to understand it, and use it against itself. Thrashing in the water... the water is using your force against you."

Ayame: "That might not help much, it's hard to put water into language. I -can- help with that impending cold though."

Kaimi: "Oh?"

Ayame nods "Come here, if you want."

Kaimi: "Alright"

Kaimi swims over

Ayame smirks "Maybe we can work on your swimming too"

Kaimi: "Maybe" Kaimi repeated sardonically

Ayame waits for Kaimi to reach her, then puts her hands on the girl's shoulders, squeezing gently. She then moves her right hand, dipping a finger in the water as she draws a quick symbol on Kaimi's forehead

Ayame: "That should help"

Kaimi: "Thank you."

Ayame: The water doesn't feel any less cold, but your body seems to be able to tolerate it much easier, in fact, any tiredness you had is virtually gone (Adds 2 to your resistance ability for a week)

Kaimi swims out and begins again. This time when she tries her leaps she leaps up and forward and lets herself glide back down instead of attempting to dash straight through the water. She will try various techniques until she get it right to her satisfaction.

(1) Yeled: ((ok, let's end there with you trying that))