2 minutes ago, KerenRhys said:Nice fiction, but now I'm really curious to know why the Elemental Masters wanted the shrine to partially burn enough to sacrifice a promising fire apprentice.
They didn't. If you notice, the Fire Master is praying to put out the fire. This is clearly an accident, the apprentice did the "honorable" thing and took the blame for it, so that the populace doesn't panic over an evident imbalance in the elements/spiritual energy/kami/shugenja stuff.
1 minute ago, Zesu Shadaban said:They didn't. If you notice, the Fire Master is praying to put out the fire. This is clearly an accident, the apprentice did the "honorable" thing and took the blame for it, so that the populace doesn't panic over an evident imbalance in the elements/spiritual energy/kami/shugenja stuff.
At first it seems as if the Masters, collectively, are doing nothing directly about the fire, and are instead standing in contemplation considering what the miscast spell might mean.
It isn't until later in the fiction where we see Tsuke actually doing something to extinguish the flames.
2 minutes ago, Zesu Shadaban said:They didn't. If you notice, the Fire Master is praying to put out the fire. This is clearly an accident, the apprentice did the "honorable" thing and took the blame for it, so that the populace doesn't panic over an evident imbalance in the elements/spiritual energy/kami/shugenja stuff.
Funny, the way I read it (which in hindsight is probably WAY wrong) was that it was the Master of Fire himself who started the blaze, and the "gift" he offered was the entire shrine.
"The Elemental Masters stood unmoving near the burning shrine. Their illuminated faces watched the spreading flames with calm interest, as if they were reading a scroll or judging a painting. Two seemed to exchange words, but Tsukune could not hear them. A piece of smoldering tile broke against the ground beside the Master of Water. She did not even flinch. And Tadaka watched among them, the lone remaining student in the courtyard, indistinguishable save for his massive silhouette."
What are they doing right here? Just admiring their temple burning?
Bad Elemental Masters are bad.
1 minute ago, Zesu Shadaban said:They didn't. If you notice, the Fire Master is praying to put out the fire. This is clearly an accident, the apprentice did the "honorable" thing and took the blame for it, so that the populace doesn't panic over an evident imbalance in the elements/spiritual energy/kami/shugenja stuff.
Maybe, that's not how I read the discussion between the masters. I'll re-read it later to see if your explanation makes sense to me but there are some points that really made me feel it was intentional.
1 minute ago, Kuni Katsuyoshi said:Note to Self
Borrow Kisada's armor
What about the story of Tsuruchi and the 'amorous bear'
That's "Tsuruchi and the Armored Bear", and it's just about how Tsuruchi spent several days in combat against a bear with hide of steel, narrowly avoiding getting killed until he finally found its weak spot, but finding that one of the bear's attacks had smashed his bow and his arrows, he felled the beast instead with but a single pine-needle launched with great precision from a strand of spider silk.
...not much to tell, really.
Just now, KerenRhys said:Maybe, that's not how I read the discussion between the masters. I'll re-read it later to see if your explanation makes sense to me but there are some points that really made me feel it was intentional.
I'll definitely read again too, there is just SO much going on all of a sudden in the story, I feel like it warrants at least a couple rereads. 
3 minutes ago, JJ48 said:That's "Tsuruchi and the Armored Bear", and it's just about how Tsuruchi spent several days in combat against a bear with hide of steel, narrowly avoiding getting killed until he finally found its weak spot, but finding that one of the bear's attacks had smashed his bow and his arrows, he felled the beast instead with but a single pine-needle launched with great precision from a strand of spider silk.
...not much to tell, really.
I'm getting Davy Crockett flashbacks.
2 minutes ago, Kuni Katsuyoshi said:I'm getting Davy Crockett flashbacks.
pssh...Davy Crockett killed a bear by grinning him to death...Tsuruchi needed a pine-needle AND spider silk. No comparison.
15 minutes ago, Zesu Shadaban said:Then we have 3 (presumably) experienced Champions...Kisada who is unreadable physically, Yokuni who is unreadable spiritually, and (assuming) Shoju who is unreadable emotionally. Interesting.
...and then there's the Unicorn. Weirdos.
I suspect that the "old timer" trinity might be political/military/spiritual as well with Shoju being the political, Kisada being the military and Yokuni being the Spiritual.
Unicorn are likely just outsiders right now and may possibly end up forming an outsider trinity with new factions later.
1 minute ago, Joe From Cincinnati said:What are they doing right here? Just admiring their temple burning?
All 6 (the 5 masters and Tadaka) were trying to understand the Omen that had just occurred.
There is a lot of possible foreshadowing in this story as well as set ups for future plots.
Gunichi should be happy that he is getting his Phoenix Shugenja/Yojimbo star-crossed lovers plot.
1 minute ago, Ultimatecalibur said:I suspect that the "old timer" trinity might be political/military/spiritual as well with Shoju being the political, Kisada being the military and Yokuni being the Spiritual.
Unicorn are likely just outsiders right now and may possibly end up forming an outsider trinity with new factions later.
All 6 (the 5 masters and Tadaka) were trying to understand the Omen that had just occurred.
There is a lot of possible foreshadowing in this story as well as set ups for future plots.
Gunichi should be happy that he is getting his Phoenix Shugenja/Yojimbo star-crossed lovers plot.
Gunichi doesn't DO 'happy'
We might get 'less disgruntled' though
Ujimitsu has died. Press F to pay respects.
F
Edited by Nickciufi1 minute ago, Nickciufi said:Ujimitsu has died. Press F to pay respects.
F
I pressed the F on my screen, but nothing happened...did the kami not accept my offering?
Just now, Zesu Shadaban said:I pressed the F on my screen, but nothing happened...did the kami not accept my offering?
Um...anyone know why FFG's print shop suddenly burst into flames?
Just now, JJ48 said:Um...anyone know why FFG's print shop suddenly burst into flames?
*Walks away casually whistling "Dixie"*
34 minutes ago, Joe From Cincinnati said:"The Elemental Masters stood unmoving near the burning shrine. Their illuminated faces watched the spreading flames with calm interest, as if they were reading a scroll or judging a painting. Two seemed to exchange words, but Tsukune could not hear them. A piece of smoldering tile broke against the ground beside the Master of Water. She did not even flinch. And Tadaka watched among them, the lone remaining student in the courtyard, indistinguishable save for his massive silhouette."
What are they doing right here? Just admiring their temple burning?
Bad Elemental Masters are bad.
If it were an ordinary fire sure - they look like they aren't doing much. But consider there is no fire, just a Kami who is standing next to the building, eyeing them. They try to read his intentions like a if a bear walked by them in the woods... The Fire Kami looks at them, then takes a bite of the building... and they realize they have to do something about it lol.
As I understood it Shugenja magic is freaking out. An apprentice of fire took the fall off a building burning down after trying to light a fancy candle. Then the elemental masters all worried keeping this quiet which means it has been happening for various while.
And they blame the unicorn...
So, I am thinking a Crusade is coming.
8 minutes ago, shosuko said:If it were an ordinary fire sure - they look like they aren't doing much. But consider there is no fire, just a Kami who is standing next to the building, eyeing them. They try to read his intentions like a if a bear walked by them in the woods... The Fire Kami looks at them, then takes a bite of the building... and they realize they have to do something about it lol.
Now I'm imagining a fire-bear trying to eat a building...
Just now, ianediger said:Now I'm imagining a fire-bear trying to eat a building...
This just screams fan art card.
Well it was a Phoenix fiction so it had an up hill battle from the start. I suppose it held my attention well enough. I do feel the tree analogies were a bit over done.
And in regards to all the Tsuruchi discussion, he can't go hunting a Champion killer as he's already been commissioned to track down a Black Scroll.
Edited by shineyorkboy39 minutes ago, Zesu Shadaban said:pssh...Davy Crockett killed a bear by grinning him to death...Tsuruchi needed a pine-needle AND spider silk. No comparison.
Well, that was Plan A, of course. But after this bear arranged air support from hornets who stung Tsuruchi's face so much that the swelling prevented him from grinning or even seeing, he fell back on the less-than-optimal pine-needles and spider silk.
Also, you have to keep in mind that at this point, every bone in his body was still a fine dust from Fu Leng literally dropping a literal mountain on him the week before. Sure, he got a new skeleton made of mithril and starlight shortly after this incident (as a reward for slaying the False Sun), but at the time of the story he was still rather weak, so let's cut him some slack, ok?
Another arc with Tsukune as Phoenix champion. Exciting...
11 minutes ago, shineyorkboy said:And in regards to all the Tsuruchi discussion, he can go hunting a Champion killer as he's already been commissioned to track down a Black Scroll.
SPOILER ALERT: Hotaru is a Black Scroll!
Really loved the fiction. Only possible complaint was the lack of named Asako, but seeing as it was really a Shiba focused story with only major Isawa and probably the mikos that can be forgiven. Although I suppose those shrine priestesses could have been Asako. But ya, over all loved it.
Enjoyable fiction, gets a good grasp of the Phoenix clan, and the characters, but I wish we hadn't had the champion change AGAIN.
Still, well written and the art pieces were great, should be interesting to see the card previews next week.
