Byako is a bit of a petite eater, but most of what she takes consists of proteins; a bit of some of the fish and most rabbit and other small game, with just a bit of vegetables and a small portion of rice.

She smiles at the joking between Masuyo and Kedo, but seems to be pretty deeply focused on eating. Only Anzu really catches her eye, and she feeds the fox a small taste of some of the rabbit. "It's good, Anzu, yes?" Then she resumes her meal.

Having eaten earlier and holding scorpion attributes in her mind, Sumiko makes a pretense of eating but actually ingests nothing. "So who is anticipated to win tomorrow's challenge?" she asks lightly.

"Please, do not stand on ceremony."

The Fox found it impossible not to beam.  The meal was proceeding well, the guests were happy and enjoying the bounty of the Fox and the Grace of the Crane.  Conversation was moving, and the guests were risking jokes.  Standing aside his Doji betrothed Shoji allowed himself to enjoy the moment.

"Were I a suspicious soul, I should think you sought to render us all incapable of movement on the morrow."
"I am afraid if it is the plan, I have fallen for it."
"So who is anticipated to win tomorrow's challenge?"

Shoji accepted the compliments with a grin, the evening meals more important for the Fox than the competitions themselves.

"Shosuro-san, perhaps that is tomorrow's challenge?  'Who will win?'  A fair enough question for a Divination challenge."  A self-pleased smile.  "If there were a night to indulge, I would think it would be tonight.  Tomorrow are the tests of the Centipede and Dragonfly, correct?  Theology and divination if I recall."  Shoji began to assemble his own plate - a bit of everything.  "Neither being tests of agility, Kedo-san," all but winking at the ronin.

Circling back to Sumiko's question, "I can't speak for how they'll run the tests tomorrow, but unlike with today's test of the Badger I'm not sure if there will be a single winner.  In past tournaments it is more of a test of skill.  Contestants who are able to complete the task, or display adequate knowledge will pass and score points.  It should be less of a confrontational day than today."

"Ahhh... the test of the Dragonfly.  I have been looking forward to that, myself.  I will be a participant, but I would not care to guess on any winner.  The test itself is well worth participation, regardless of winning, losing, or prizes."

She pops a morsel of meat in her mouth deftly with her chopsticks and chews, a thoughtful expression on her face.

"Knowledgeable discussions of Theology have found me without sleep on many a night in a Winter Court."

 "Patently, your tutors were more forgiving than mine, Kitsune-san. I found the agility to duck lethally accurate pieces of chalk a vital skill when theology was discussed." Kedo answers amiably, sparsely painting a picture of spartan rooms and a hard-faced lecturer with deadly aim which is, if not necessarily accurate, nevertheless evocative.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:27, Sun 27 May 2018.

"Then I am exceedingly poor planner, Kedo-san," Doji Naomi twinkled, "since neither of tomorrow's tests involve much in the way of exertion."

Sumiko smiles into her cup, pretending to drink, being Scorpion She knows that there are many poisons that would take hours to effect a person, and would make the competition much more difficult for the imbiber.  Although she believes in the honorable intentions of her current companions, she wonders what would be different if they were all from her clan.

She places her cup down, "It sounds as of your tutors trained you well Kedosan." she says.

 "In all fairness, I did find the lesson to be of some value in Toshi Ranbo." Kedo admits as Naomi makes the same essential joke as the Kitsune before them, although with fairly quintessential humility he doesn't go into further detail about his extended stints as a one-man arrow shield during his time in the city.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:27, Sun 27 May 2018.

"I regret not being there to see it, Kedo-san," Shoji replied, pleased enough to take the occasion to pop a healthy portion of noodles and pickled vegetables into his mouth.

If Shoji noticed Sumiko's caution, he ignored it.  Commenting would only put the guest more on guard and that was far from the point - he had learned a few things about etiquette from Doji Naomi.

"Will you all be competing in both events tomorrow?  I should hope so... it would be a great honor for the Tonbo and Moshi." The Kitsune's question not only directed to the guests, but his eye settled on his betrothed as well.

"I will competing in every competition I am capable of." replies Sumiko, "It is important for a Samurai to know at least something of as much as possible."

The red samurai nods slightly to Shoji, she had already mentioned her interest in the test of the Dragonfly or was it the Centipede.

Deciding it might have been directed to her somewhat, she answers.

"Divination is something I have not studied, but I look forward to discussions of Theology, which should be engaging regardless of outcome."

 "I should hope to do so. I have some modest knowledge of theological matters although I am far from a scholar." Kedo answers with his usual quiet failure to talk himself up as so many Bushi seem to enjoy doing, before moving on to undercut himself further with the gentle observation "As for divination, I have upon occasion managed to divine the possibility of a warm meal in the smoke of a cook-fire... Beyond that, I find myself discovering the future only through the time-hallowed process of arriving in it."

"I will compete in both, though mostly just to magnify the glory of my betters."

The red samurai pauses eating to watch Byako over her chopsticks, poised halfway to her mouth.  She narrows her eyes, then shrugs slightly.

"Personal Glory is a passing thing, even infamy is usually only measured in one's lifetime.  The glory of one's family is far more important.  In a century we will be dust and little will be cared of our accomplishments, unless they glorify clan and family."

She takes the bite she had.. finding only bare hashi, the food having fallen from them while she prattled about glory.

"At least, we can hope a good bit about us is forgotten..."  She fishes the morsel up again and takes the bite finally.  Chews.  "Though, in some ways, popular entertainment can keep one's name alive.. if that is considered good?"

Byako sets her chopsticks down to reply; "The families that produced my betters are likely also my betters. Though, I suppose, at least as I see it, they are probably not the betters of my father. I suppose that means if I do, by some remarkable happenstance, happen to win one of the contests, then I shall dedicate the win to my father who made me everything that I am and sacrificed everything to make sure I would be here today."

She then has the chopsticks back in her hand and a bite into her mouth in one fluid motion. She smiles at Masuyo and chews her bite.

"Though, in some ways, popular entertainment can keep one's name alive.. if that is considered good?"

"Is that something you have an interest in, Agasha-sama?  Entertainment?  The food and the accommodations are lovely, but I'd love volunteers to provide the entertainment."

An emotion comes across unguarded upon the face of the shugenja, sadness likely.  It turns after a few moments into a sort of whistful whimsy.

"If the Kami had not blessed me so, I wonder if I may have become an artisan instead?"

She shrugs slightly, then smiles.

"I can show everyone a side of Dual Arcane, if that pleases you, Kitsune-sama."

"It would, Agasha-sama."

With a quick look and motion to the attendants Shoji signalled for a space to be made for the Agasha to demonstrate her skills.

Watching the attendants struggle with moving his center piece (and also a little worried that they might mar it), Daichi pitched in by gripping the large log and associated foliage and moving it a short distance from the space being made.

Masuyo observes Daichi a moment moving the centerpiece before interceding a little.

"Just make some room, I will tip my hand a little to the art of the duel for Shugenja.
 No harm will come to your art, sama."

She pops a last morsel of meat into her mouth and chews, then rises and moves towards the clear area, pausing a moment to take a handful of dirt from one of the potted ornamental plants.

"As you all know, shugenja have favored or strong elements, and weak ones.  As an Agasha shugenja it is known well among all my opponents that my weak element is water, so they will try to best me with that, at least if they are being simple, especially if that is their strong element."

She kneels and carefully places the soil she has acquired on the floor, clear of a mat, dusting her hands gently.

"And knowing that, especially against an Isawa schooled shugenja who is master of all elements, or a shugenja whose strength is water, I would be seeming overconfident in using fire."

A smile, and she leans in to the soil and seems to speak to it, though to the untrained ear little is heard as she speaks the language of the kami.  Fairly rapidly, the soil takes form as a small rabbit, not perfect but well animated and quite recognizable as such.

"But being Agasha trained, I can be just as facile with Earth and Air rings, allowing me more versatility.  Usually to a duel arcane I would bring figures pre made for aesthetic reasons, please forgive the crudity of this vessel for the kami."

The earth rabbit starts hopping about curiously, then ascends the offered hand of the red haired samurai.  She brings it back to the table for the guests to examine for themselves, holding it in the palm of her hand.  It in turn seems to examine each back with it's earth colored eyes.. there being not a lot of difference in color between fur and eyes and teeth.

"For a duel, a proper formalized duel, these little avatars are empowered to fight it out between us.  I once knew a very formidable Asahina duelist, as a matter of fact."  A wink to Byako.  The Asahina shugenja being renowned for passivity, that a duelist exists seems unusual.  "Of course, when dueling with avatars no real harm is done to the duelists."

She says softly, elaborating a little.

"Dueling is rarely a straightforward contest of power, since few lords will allow a shugenja to risk their well being in such a manner.  Avatar dueling is, however, taxing in it's own way and can leave a shugenja taxed for some time, win or lose.  Many find such duels in winter court to be grand entertainment."
This message was last edited by the player at 14:41, Thu 07 June 2018.

A pleased smile crossed Shoji's lips, the Agasha's demonstration proving as entertaining as promised.

"Quite beautiful," the Fox beamed.  "Perhaps, another time I might get the chance to test your skills."  It wasn't a boastful challenge, but certainly a mark that the young fox had a competitive streak to match his curiosity.  "But I think that would bore the rest of the guests."

With a glance toward the Doji attendants, Shoji gestured with his eyes - surely something that the perceptive Doji would notice - it was time to move on with the meal.  Something sweet.

Another furtive glance toward the entrance, as checking for a late arrival.

"You know something of the Dragonfly, don't you Kedo-san?  I extended an invitation to the Tonbo... but it seems they were unable to attend."

The flame haired woman's eyes dance with delight at Shoji's words.  She allows the earthen bunny to hop over towards the Kitsune, apparently sniffing towards him curiously, a small hop at a time.

"Ah, so you are one of those storied Kitsune..."  She looks at him slyly, eyes half lidding.  "We should have a private conversation, Kitsune-san."

Her eyes open fully again and she smiles, her eyes dancing with mirth, after a moment she nods and looks where Shoji did as well.

"I wonder what further surprises our host has for us?  The journey so far has been worthy of greater than myself."

 Having waited to pick over the food provided until after others had eaten their fill, Kedo has something of an eclectic selection of fish, fowl and greens upon his platter but he's working it over with every evidence of enjoyment, contrasting one flavour with another as he listens to his betters converse of affairs... Right up to the point where he is addressed directly, and must ruefully admit "I have had some small dealings with the Dragonfly, it is true - although as traveller rather than guest. They are an... enigmatic family, but so it is for all those who dwell between one world and another, never entirely living in either."

"Few write stories of the Kitsune, Masuyo-san.  Even fewer read them."  There was no longing or sadness embedded in the comment, Kitsune Shoji was content with his place.  The fortunes had relegated the Fox to their niche as guardians of Kitsune Mori and the spirits within and it was a role that Shoji relished.

The Fox acknowledged the Agasha's suggestion of a private meet with an invitation, "Perhaps you'd be willing to help me in the kitchen?  I believe there is a final course."

The invitation, though, would need to wait a moment as Shoji queried Kedo, "My apologies for overhearing earlier, but I believe you know Kitsuki Morimoto-san?  After tomorrow's test of the Dragonfly would you be willing to introduce me?"  His direct invitation to the Tonbo having failed, the Kitsune sought an introduction through channels.

The flame colored shugenja grins implishly at Shoji.  "Do not doubt that the archives of Kyuden Isawa have stories of the Kitsune, Shoji-san.  While I may not be privy to all that is collected, I have read enough to know there is more there."

She nods to the invitation.
"I would be honored to render you assistance, Kitsune-san in any way possible."