A Game of Linked Letters

To amuse and challenge the snowbound courtiers, a literary sort of game has begun transforming one of the garden tea rooms into a curious hybrid of postal station and scholar’s studio. It starts when a pair of mysterious missives begin circulating throughout the court, passed from courtier to courtier until they eventually come to rest in the garden for all to see. (Examples below.)

Soon, others begin to join in (hopefully). You can too!

Basic Rules:

1. Each letter should contain a riddle, or a poem/verse/bit of creative prose (maybe more than one of the above if you’re really fancy).
   • Nothing says it has to be good…
2. Ideally, your letter should follow on from the letter to which you’re replying, and it must give later letter-writers something with which to connect.
   • E.g. if the last letter was a riddle, offer an answer, and then a new riddle, poem, or other message. If the last letter was a poem or prose message, add a new verse, or pose a riddle or message that relates to it in some way (images, themes, a shared word, an artistic embellishment, a sentence bridging the gap between the two, or whatever).
3. Your letter may be either Signed (with your name or some kind of identifying symbolism), or Anonymous. Please specify Anonymous or Signed when you post!
   • Other characters can figure out the author of an Anonymous letter with a Calligraphy/Perception or Investigation/Perception roll at TN 15.
4. Replying to your own letters is a faux pas, but other than that, you may write as many letters as you like.

As long as you follow these basic rules, your missive is worth one Letter Point. You can choose to stop right here.


Totally Optional Rules, feel free to skip:

Make It Fancy: You may choose up to two of the following options, all rolls at TN 10. A basic success, and every two successful raises on a roll, adds one Letter Point to your missive. Failure adds no points, but you still dispatch your letter.

• Polished Prose - Courtier (Rhetoric)/Awareness (for a riddle or prose), Artisan (Poetry)/Awareness (for a poem), or Games: Letters/Awareness (for either)
• Masterful Hand - Calligraphy/Intelligence or Agility
• Artful Folds - Artisan: Origami/Awareness or Agility
• Fine Paper - Craft: Papermaking/Intelligence (represents paper crafted ahead of time)
• Language of Flowers - Artisan: Gardening/Awareness or Artisan: Ikebana/Awareness
• Sweet Scents - Artisan:Perfume or Incense/Awareness or Craft: Perfume or Incense/Intelligence
• Other Artisan or Craft skills, within reason

Getting Tricksy: You may choose either or both of the following options to use your letter as a vehicle for deeper puzzles or subterfuge. These options add no Letter Points (but have other interesting effects). If you succeed at any of these options, please note it very clearly in your post.

• Camouflage - Make your Anonymous letter extra super anonymous. Roll Calligraphy/Intelligence at TN 15. Success increases the TN for others to deduce your authorship by 5 (from the base 15 to 20).
  • Each successful Raise increases this TN by a further 5.
• Secret message - Hide an extra layer of meaning in your letter, for pure amusement or for any other reasons. Roll Calligraphy(Cipher)/Intelligence at TN 15. If you succeed, you have hidden a secret message in your letter!
  • This message should be short enough to express in a sentence or two. You can either include the secret message in your letter post, or communicate it over PMs with players who successfully hit the TN to decode it. Either way, please be on the honor system (RL honor!) and live up to your fellow players’ trust here.
  • The TN to decode the message using Calligraphy (Cipher)/Intelligence is 20, +5 for each Raise called on your initial cipher roll.
  • You may specify a Skill, Advantage, faction, or other characteristic of your character (within reason) which would make it easier for other characters who also possess that trait to understand your message. If you do, characters who possess the specified trait do not need to roll to decode the message.

Tallying Points:
At the end of the Court season, all letters will be gathered into a grand anthology (provided someone survives to do it). Perhaps this book will become a foundational classic of the Rokugani literary canon! Or perhaps it will go down in ignominy… only time will tell.

Letter Points for each Signed letter accrue to the writer.
Anonymous letters and their associated Letter Points may be either claimed by the writer, or dedicated to the glory of someone else present at the court (writer’s discretion, either at the time of posting the letter or at the end of the game).
Letter Points for Anonymous letters not dedicated to anybody else accrue to the glory of Emperor Shiba!

Distinctions:

• Most Letter Points overall- prominent mention in the anthology! Possibly a gift from the compilers.
• Second-most Letter Points overall- almost as prominent mention in the anthology!
• Most Points for a single letter - prominent placement in the anthology, with an approving preface!
• At least one Letter Point - included in the anthology.
• [Any other achievement that inspires the organizers - TBD]

Examples!

Doji Hikaru wrote: A single scroll, wrapped and tied neatly, is found in the garden. It is tied to the branch of a tree with red string. Tiny beads likewise hang, chiming against each other gently as they blow in the wind.

The scroll reads as follows:

Moonlight and snowflakes
To catch beauty, I reach out
close the hand, empty

This Anonymous letter would be worth 1 point.

Bayushi Kogi wrote: A very thin sheet of paper with very fine, dark calligraphy appears nearby:

Treasures are hard to hold on to!

At night they come without being fetched,
By day they are lost without being stolen.

What are these jewels?

Event Example: Calligraphy (Cipher)/Intelligence for hidden message, TN 15: 5d10r1o10k4 28
Secret message: "While we're all stuck here, let's have a bit of ephemeral fun."
Target: Everyone snowbound at court (characters with the target characteristic can decode the message without rolling; otherwise, it's TN 20)

This Anonymous letter would also be worth 1 point!

Either of these letter writers could increase the points value of their letters by rolling a skill check to Make It Fancy.

Posted on D5, the following letters can be seen in one of the garden patios.

OOC:

To Akodo Kawauso:

Stag stands tall
the river rapids, follow her
Sun shines brightly

D5 Game of Letters, EE, Courtier/Awa, 2 CR, tn 20: 6d10o10k3 22
D5 Game of Letters, EE, Calligraphy/Agi, untrained, tn 10: 3d10 11
Anonymous letter
Total: 4 letter points

To Bayushi Kogi:

Scarlet silk flutters
The red stars soars, the cool night prevails
Hidden from the light

D5 Game of Letters, EE, Courtier/Awa, 2 CR, tn 20: 6d10o10k3 18
D5 Game of Letters, EE, Artisan: Poetry/Awa, 1 CR, tn 15: 4d10o10k3 24
Anonymous letter
Total: 2 Letter points

To Yoshinue Chizu:

Mountain stands tall
Fierce fire flows, obstacles swept aside
The North remembers

D5 Game of Letters, EE, Artisan: Poetry/Awa, 1 CR, tn 15: 4d10o10k3 23
D5 Game of Letters, EE, Courtier/Awa, 2 CR, tn 20: 6d10o10k3 30
Anonymous letter
Total: 5 Letter points

[OOC-Rolls]

Posted on D4

A small letter in the form of a flower. The petals open, so it can reveal its contents. The letter is written as a poem

First snows, a warm thought
Single white camellia shines
Renewal has come
Thoughts drifting through the vast seas
Blossom gentle touch, at last.

Anonymous Letter
viewtopic.php?f=18&t=415&p=6836#p6836 - Thread roll are posted.


Artisan: Poetry/Awareness, 1 VP, 2CR - 33|Pass [TN20, 1VP, 2CR]
Artisan: Origami/Awareness, 1VP, 2CR - 37|Pass [TN20, 1 VP, 2CR]
Calligraphy/Intelligence - 20|Pass [TN15]
5 letter points

1

Hantei Genji wrote: A cat was chosen
Spring will come for the kitten
Friendships will grow old

2

Akodo Kawauso wrote: Otters in water
The new summer days are hot
Time will bring you joy

3

Otomo Gusai wrote: Salt water fishing
Entertainment for ages
wind is on your sails

4

Saru Yatsufusa wrote: Monkey in a tree
The sight in the kitten lost
the lioness is prey

5

Hisomu Susumu wrote: Spider hunt their prey
Trickery is a game played
time will tell the tale.

//D4 Game of Letters Courtier awa 1CR to all letters TN 15: 1. 22 2. 22 3. 42 4. 15 5. 24 5 points

D4 Game of Letters Handwriting Calligraphy int TN 10: 1. 20 2. 21 3. 21 4. 48 5. 34 5 Points

D4 Game of Letters Artful folds origami (awa) of a cat TN 10: 1. 25 2. 15 3. 32 4. 25 5.29 no points but all have their little poems in cat form.

Hantei Genji wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 17, 2021 9:48 am

Posted on D5, the following letters can be seen in one of the garden patios.

To Yoshinue Chizu:

Mountain stands tall
Fierce fire flows, obstacles swept aside
The North remembers

D5 Game of Letters, EE, Artisan: Poetry/Awa, 1 CR, tn 15: 4d10o10k3 23
D5 Game of Letters, EE, Courtier/Awa, 2 CR, tn 20: 6d10o10k3 30
Anonymous letter
Total: 5 Letter points

Yoshitsune Chizu pondered the mysterious letter with a small smile. The tall Crab was unsure who had sent this to her, but thought it might be fun to answer.

After scribbling her thoughts down, Chizu was certain her mother wouldn’t approve of this poem; but the safety of anonymity made her feel playful. She crushed a few pine needles and brushed them across the paper to give it a fragrance reinforcing the “mountain” motif that her mystery admirer had started with.

Day 5 Letter from Anonymous to Anonymous wrote:From tall mountains
Come rivers of cool water
Who will drink from them?

—
Day 5: who is writing to Chizu? PER/unskilled TN15: 2d10 5 no idea
Day 5: Game of Letters, Polished Prose - Compose a poem AWA/Artisan: Poetry TN10: 4d10 23 passes for 1 Letter point
Day 5: Game of Letters, Sweet scents AWA/Artisan: Perfume TN10: 4d10 18 passes for 1 Letter point
1 base Letter point

Total: 3 Letter points

The previous letter is picked up by Yatsufusa.

Bayushi Sasori wrote: Monkey in a tree
The sight in the kitten lost
the lioness is prey

Then a reply arrived. The letter is arranged in the form of a peony flower, its petals opening in order to reveal a short poem in reply...

the monkey reach for the branch
Will the lioness follow?

********************************

[OOC- Rolls]

Artisan: Poetry/Awareness, 2CR - 28|Pass [TN20, 2CR]
Artisan: Origami/Awareness, 2CR - 29|Pass [TN20, 2CR]
*public letter in reply.
5 letter points

Day 5:
Browsing the creations of the courtiers who've taken up the Game of Letters over the past few days, Kogi feels a warm sort of surprise that one of them is addressed to her!

Hantei Genji wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 17, 2021 9:48 am

[snip]

She thinks she can guess whose hand it came from, and paces for a bit before settling on a reply. She must be a little nervous about the venture, since her handwriting comes out less neat than usual. But it is legible, and soon appears alongside the original note

Anonymous Letter wrote:Bright winter moonlight
Seems to bring a springtime warmth
To the chilly stars.

D5 letters--Inv/Per, guess who wrote the letter (Genji!), TN 15: 5d10o10k3 25
D5 letters--Fancy, poetry (unskilled) TN 10: 4d10 22
D5 letters--Fancy, Calligraphy, 2 CR TN 20: 5d10o10k4 14
(2 Letter Points)


---

Another letter, one folded into the shape of a flower and without a specific addressee, catches her attention later. After spending a little time folding and unfolding the artifact, intrigued by its clever construction, she notices her hands are becoming a bit stiff in the chilly garden air and decides a reply is in order for this one, too.

Anonymous Letter wrote:

Saru Yatsufusa wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 17, 2021 5:29 pm

[snip]

Beside the white flower,
New snow clinging to green leaves
Seems like blossoms too.

[Hidden Message: I only wish blossom season would hurry up and arrive...

D5 letters--Second letter, Fancy, Calligraphy, 2 CR TN 20: 5d10o10k4 25
D5 letters--Second letter, Fancy, Games: GoL/Awa TN 10: 4d10 16
D5 letters--Second letter, Calligraphy (Cipher)/Intelligence for hidden message, TN 15: 5d10o10k4 22
(4 Letter Points)

D5

Just before nightfall a piece of plain parchment is posted the script written in a beautifully flowing hand.

White feathers can hide
Dark hearts and ill intention
Solace in crow's caw

A single crow's feather is attached as a signature.

(Hidden message TN20: 'Ananzihime, your husband is a (figurative) monster. I love you and shall protect you, Kakita.'

Anyone familiar would see Kakita's handwriting though Perception/Investigation vs TN15 would reveal enough flaws to tell it is duplicated
Perception/Investigation vs TN25 to potentially recognize Tsubaki's writing

Polished Prose and Masterful Hand mean 3 letter points to 'Kakita'

Rolls here)

D6

During the court period of the day, a letter on plain and serviceable paper is circulated around the court. Its stated destination is to a young girl by the name of Mayumi, and the message is signed by her mother, the monk Nozomi. The calligraphy is clean and neat, despite the rough hands that make it and the paper is folded cleanly enough to draw the eye of any courtier, perhaps if only for the unexpected oddity of seeing a monk not known for her courtly capacities having done this.

Anyone who reads the text will find a not-so-subtle hint underlying the message. It is a rather open invitation for the person reading to be present at dawn the following morning in the Gardens, and seems to imply that something related to meditation or silence will be occurring there. The invitation is clearly meant for Mayumi, but is so broadly intended that it encompasses anyone who reads it.

Just before the dawn
A Garden's Silent Morning
Inspiration Comes

=========
1) "Masterfully Written" - 1 Point
2) Smoothly Folded by Some Miracle - 1 Point
3) "Secret Message" - successfully instilled (-1 Void Point)

Total Letter Points: - 2 (YAY! She made a letter and didn't screw it up!)

The Secret Message is designed to be easily understood by a child, and thus as long as nobody minds, requires no actual roll:
"Come to the Gardens during the Early Morning tomorrow to Experience the Benefits of Silence"

OOC: This Game of Letters serves as a public invitation to Nozomi's Player Event in the Early Morning Slot of d7 (OOC Info), and will circulate enough in the court that the invitation is publicly known to anyone who wishes to know it. An "event" post and a "general mingle" post will be available so that characters can both participate mechanically and still mingle during the time slot.

Hantei Genji wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 17, 2021 9:48 am

[A folded sheet of paper with an enticing, faintly musky scent of incense is delivered to Hantei Genji sometime after the plays have finished on the night of day 6]

Chizu's Letter wrote:To the shining prince, Hantei Genji of the Stag Clan,

I was honored to play a role next to you in The Rescue of Hisomu. It was a brilliant play, and you were marvelous in that role - a true Son of the Stag. Standing at your side during the battle scenes, both of us in costume as we fought off terrible enemies, it felt as though we had been filled with the very souls of those Heroes of old. Surely you must have felt it too!

Sincere regards,
Yoshitsune Chizu

—
Base 1 Letter point
Day 6 letter, Make it Fancy with polished prose, 2 called raises AWA/Courtier TN20: 7d10o10k4 26 passed for +2 Letter points
Day 6 letter, Make it Fancy with sweet scents, AWA/Artisan: Incense TN10: 4d10 26 passed for +1 Letter point
Total: 4 Letter points

D6

Bayushi Kogi wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 20, 2021 7:26 pm

Anonymous Letter wrote:Bright winter moonlight
Seems to bring a springtime warmth
To the chilly stars.

Genji had a good idea for this one, at least. By now he knew her handwriting, and even in his lettering a smile could be felt. His own response was penned without a name, though the writing by now was quite familiar to those following the game.

Anonymous wrote:Spring sun shines
Crimson leaves fly on the wind
Together in harmony

D6 Game of Letters, guessing Kogi's handwriting, tn 15, Inv/Per, Prodigy: 5d10o10k3 21
D6 Game of Letters, Polished Prose, Courtier/Awa, 2 CR, tn 20: 6d10o10k3 33 3 Letter point
D6 Game of Letters, Artisan: Poetry/Awa, tn 10: 4d10o10k3 26 1 Letter point

A letter marked with crimson and gold coloring circulates through court before arriving in the garden, at one of the spots where the consort and his Emperor have been observed to sit on occasion

Hantei Genji wrote:Phoenix rise
Warmth spreads over the land
Chrysanthemums blossom

D6 Game of Letters, Artisan: Poetry/Awa, tn 10: 4d10o10k3 29 1 Letter point
D6 Game of Letters, Courtier/Awa, 2 CR, tn 20: 6d10o10k3 24 3 Letter points

A white letter scroll containing the following poem is also found in the garden, in one of the spots that is more overgrown than usual (on purpose, of course), nature running its course. It is addressed to Hantei Kinsen.

Hantei Genji wrote: Fierce Doe Stalks
Prey shudders under fields of grass
Golden son follows

D6 Game of Letters, Courtier/Awa, 2 CR, tn 20: 6d10o10k3 28 3 Letter points
D6 Game of Letters, Artisan: Poetry/Awa, tn 10: 6d10o10k3 22 1 Letter points

Yoshitsune Chizu wrote:To the shining prince, Hantei Genji of the Stag Clan,

I was honored to play a role next to you in The Rescue of Hisomu. It was a brilliant play, and you were marvelous in that role - a true Son of the Stag. Standing at your side during the battle scenes, both of us in costume as we fought off terrible enemies, it felt as though we had been filled with the very souls of those Heroes of old. Surely you must have felt it too!

Genji penned his own reply.

Shining Prince writes a reply wrote:To the beautiful mountain of the North,

Honored Yoshitsune-san, I am quite honored by your praise for my meagre performance. I did feel a small inkling of the heroics my father has done to help establish our land, and I pray to Grandmother that I can live up to such an august legacy. fighting by your side did warm my heart, and hopefully we will be able to fight once again, this time for real, against the Empire's enemies.

The letter's handwriting was neat and precise, and the wording was as kind and careful as Genji.

D6 Game of Letters, Courtier/Awa, 2 CR, tn 20: 6d10o10k3 28 1 Letter point
D6 Game of Letters, Calligraphy/Int, tn 10, untrained: 3d10 10 1 Letter point

Total 14 Letter points this round
Grand total: 25 Letter points

Day 6

An anonymous letter is adressed to Doji Hikaru. The paper seems of average quality with nothing to it, but its folded in a simple but elegant origami-crane. Attached to it is a dried lotus-flower, and the paper itself seemed to have a faint scent of a perfume; lotus and white tea.

It is still winter,
yet I feel a warmth like spring.
Like an unknown bloom?
Or is it just a warm day
before winter's cold returns?

D6 Game of Letters. Masterful Hand. Calligraphy/Agility. 2 raises. TN 20: 5d10o10k4 18
D6 Game of Letters. Polished Prose. Artisan: Poetry/Awareness. Untrained. TN 10: 3d10 10
D6 Game of Letters. Artful Folds. Artisan: Origami/Agility. Untrained. TN 10: 4d10 12
D6 Game of Letters. Language of Flowers. Artisan: Ikebana/Awareness. Untrained. TN 10: 3d10 18
D6 Game of Letters. Sweet Scents. Artisan: Perfume/Awareness. Untrained. TN 10: 3d10 24
4 Points
Anonymous Letter dedicated to Doji Hikaru

D6

Hantei Genji wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 24, 2021 10:03 am

Fierce Doe Stalks
Prey shudders under fields of grass
Golden son follows

Noticing the letter at the wild spot, Kinsen reads it carefully and instantly recognizes the handwriting. She does check other letters around to see to whom else her Shining Prince was writing for.

With nothing in hand but the jade coated nail polish, Kinsen shreds a pice of white cloth and starts to paint her poem. It does, however, drips, since she's writing with her fingernails.

Hantei Kinsen wrote wrote: Eyes From Lady Sun
Honorable Protector
Heart of Legacy

--
D6, Letter TN 10: 5d10o10k2 31
D6, Letter Paint TN 10: 3d10o10k2 9

Togashi Satsuki wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 24, 2021 3:01 pm

Day 6

An anonymous letter is adressed to Doji Hikaru. The paper seems of average quality with nothing to it, but its folded in a simple but elegant origami-crane. Attached to it is a dried lotus-flower, and the paper itself seemed to have a faint scent of a perfume; lotus and white tea.

It is still winter,
yet I feel a warmth like spring.
Like an unknown bloom?
Or is it just a warm day
before winter's cold returns?

Anonymous Letter dedicated to Doji Hikaru

Very late on Day 6, a letter is found tied to that one. Though the writing is certainly neat, it was clearly rushed, and a character came out slightly wrong; hopefully the meaning would still be clear. It had a faint scent of rosewood and citrus. Perhaps most significantly, the writer had found a single cherry blossom, just barely budding, perhaps begun before the weather had turned, attaching it to the paper.

Sprang’s warmth melted snow
But a mountain still presses
Weighing flower down
Can it thrive, with that burden?
Seeking Spring, it yearns to grow

Hikaru made no effort to disguise his hand, but it is not addressed, merely attached to the letter to him.

D6EN, Game of Letters, poetry, VP1k1, 2CR: 5d10o10k4 12
D6EN, Game of Letters, masterful hand,: 4d10o10k3 19
D6EN, Game of Letters, flowers: 4d10o10k3 24
D6EN, Game of Letters, folds: 4d10o10k3 23
D6EN, Game of Letters, scents: 4d10o10k3 42
Only counting the first 2, for 1 Letter Point

Jiyo Sora wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 22, 2021 7:44 am

He crept along the passageway, checking heraldry, looking for signs, making sure.

Stealth was paramount. It was like that disscreshun stuff his Dad talked about sometimes.

He felt the weight of the package, and a pang of self-doubt, but quashed it. No turning back.

He approached the rooms set aside for the Ki-Rin and took a deep breath.

And then ran full tilt up to the door, dropped his parcel, turned, and ran off at about the same speed, before he could second-guess leaving his favorite river pebble, a dried flower he really hoped Phi wouldn't notice was missing, and his finest artwork ever- a picture of himself, Chomper, all three otters and their keeper.

Well. In fact, he wasn't really that good at drawing otters. Or puppies. Or humans. But he'd helpfully labeled everything!

[/Exit Soryu at Maximum Speed]

A river pebble is found dangling from one of the evergreens in the garden, tied to a simple, but well-done reed bracelet and a paper carefully and rather skillfully folded in the shape of an otter. On the otter's back, letters in a simple hand indicate the otter-shaped letter is addressed to 'Jiyo Soryu'.

a small pebble skips
three times across the river -
then... look! a boulder

The letter is unsigned.

OOC:
D7 - Fluffy simple Reed Bracelet for Soryu - Craft: Woodworking/ Agility? - TN 10?: 3d10k3 20

D7 - Game of Letters - Letter to Soryu/Sora - Artisan: Poetry/ Awareness, TN 10: 3d10k3 13 - eeeh that'll do! 1 Letter point

D7 - Game of Letters - Letter to Soryu/Sora - Artisan: Origami/ Agility, TN 10: 3d10k3 20 - weee an otter-shaped letter! 1 Letter point

Total: 3 Letter points

(Also - No actual secret message was hidden, but she hopes Soryu or Sora will maybe undertsand the hint? Or more likely she's just too hopeful XD)

Chai Kotsume wrote: ↑

Sat Jun 26, 2021 1:45 pm

A river pebble is found dangling from one of the evergreens in the garden, tied to a simple, but well-done reed bracelet and a paper carefully and rather skillfully folded in the shape of an otter. On the otter's back, letters in a simple hand indicate the otter-shaped letter is addressed to 'Jiyo Soryu'.

a small pebble skips
three times across the river -
then... look! a boulder

The letter is unsigned.

It was actually Phi who found it, although she immediately brought it to Soryu.

Who got intensely excited and immediately got to work on a reply, which seemed to involve drawing more otters.

For her part, Phi tried to piece it together, but lacking either clues for context or a dice pool, her success or failure was entirely in the hands of others...

(Also - No actual secret message was hidden, but she hopes Soryu or Sora will maybe undertsand the hint? Or more likely she's just too hopeful XD)

[Far, far too hopeful ]

Doji Hikaru wrote: ↑

Fri Jun 25, 2021 4:05 pm

Sprang’s warmth melted snow
But a mountain still presses
Weighing flower down
Can it thrive, with that burden?
Seeking Spring, it yearns to grow

Right before court, a reply is attached. This time the paper folded in the simple shape of a flower. The calligraphy is beautiful, showing the signs of a skilled hand behind the simple characters. It has the same familiar scent as before; of lotus and white tea.

A mountain flower;
Is it still the same when plucked
or will its growth stop?
Can it live by the sea shore
or in the woodlands below?

------------

D7 EA Game of Letters. Artisan: Poetry/Awareness for pretty poem. Untrained. +5TN Fatigue. TN 15: 3d10 16
D7 EA Game of Letters. Calligraphy/Intelligence for pretty writing. +5TN Fatigue. TN 15: 5d10o10k4 41
D7 EA Game of Letters. Artisan: Origami/Agility. Untrained. +5TN Fatigue. TN 15: 4d10 17

3 Letter Points

Hantei Genji wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 24, 2021 10:03 am

Genji had a good idea for this one, at least. By now he knew her handwriting, and even in his lettering a smile could be felt. His own response was penned without a name, though the writing by now was quite familiar to those following the game.

Anonymous wrote:Spring sun shines
Crimson leaves fly on the wind
Together in harmony

A reply early Day 8:

If the sun can stay
Just for a day--we'll glow like
Winter's far away.

No clever hidden messages in this simple but elegant scroll--just the unsigned poem in a graceful calligraphic hand.

D8 letters--ID Genji's letter TN15: 5d10o10k4 42
D8 letters--Poetry untrained TN10: 4d10 17 (1 extra point)
D8 letters--Calligraphy 2CR (= TN 20): 5d10o10k4 57 (2 extra points)
(4 letter points)

Scoring!

The anthology One Hundred Winter Leaves will begin circulating during the coming year, copied out and shared among courtiers and literature-lovers. It contains the poems and letters written in the capital throughout the strange winter of the year 20, including (but not limited to) the ones recorded above.

Several names appear with special prominence throughout the book:

Prominently Featured (most Letter Points overall - 27): Hantei Genji, the Poet Prince

Also Prominently Featured (second-most Letter Points - 15): Bayushi Sasori, the Cat with Golden Paws

Singled Out in Preface (most Points for a single letter - 5): Saru Yatsufusa x2, Hantei Genji

Immortal Phrases (highest Poetry roll): Saru Yatsufusa

Model Calligraphy (highest Calligraphy roll): Bayushi Sasori

Approvingly Anthologized (at least 1 Letter Point): Bayushi Kogi, Bayushi Sasori, Chai Kotsume, Doji Hikaru, Hantei Genji, Hantei Kinsen, Nozomi, Saru Yatsufusa, Togashi Satsuki, Yoshitsune Chizu,

Honorable Mention, Junior Division: Jiyo Soryu

Special Scandal Appendix, Read At Own Risk: Doji Tsubaki (with an allusive description of circumstances surrounding the false "Kakita" poems)