[D3 LA] Side event: Beach Oshidama tournament

[Tassu]

Beach Oshidama is a team sport played by two teams of two players on a sand court divided by a net. Similar to indoor oshidama, the objective of the game is to send the ball over the net and to ground it on the opponent's side of the court, with each team working in unison to prevent the opposing team from grounding the ball on their side of the court.

Beach Oshidama grew in popularity in the Emerald Empire during the era of stars, the sport requiring very little in the way of equipment, allowing it to be played even in the most distant colonies. Meanwhile, the quick-paced game provided the samurai serving indoors an easy way to keep themselves in shape. While beach oshidama is rarely played at a professional level, it is relatively popular across the Empire, with the Unicorn and Mantis being known for holding large amateur tournaments.

The lord magistrate of the Oborozuki province, known to be proponent of the sports, is holding a tournament at the 8th Artificial Island, with both locals and visitors welcome to compete.

This event will be closed 24 hours after it goes online to ensure that the Finals can be resolved in a timely manner. Once the thread is closed, teams that passed the Qualifiers roll are set into brackets that will be seeded with NPC teams accordingly. As beach oshidama is played by teams of two, a beach oshidama team is composed of two player characters who must remain a team throughout the tournament. A character may team up with a NPC with Agility 2 Void 2 and no ranks is Games: Oshidama in case they cannot find a PC as their partner. In such case, the player will also roll on the behalf of the NPC.

Magic: Magic is not allowed unless character rolls contested Agility / Stealth (Spellcasting) against the crowds and officials. Emphasis is needed to make the roll and only that spells that last at least an hour can be employed. Needless to say, getting caught has consequences. Soshi Shugenja school technique can be used to bypass this restriction.

Qualifiers
The characters that make up the team must both roll Games: Oshidama (Beach Oshidama) / Agility or Games: Oshidama (Beach Oshidama) / Reflexes. The team score is an average (rounded down) of the two rolls, the team qualifying if score is above 20.

Please post your Qualifier rolls to this thread, with the second member of the team quoting the first member of the team posting.

Finals
Teams that passed the Qualifiers roll are set into brackets that will be seeded with NPCs accordingly. Each of the games are played as the qualifiers, each team member rolling Games: Oshidama (Beach Oshidama) / Agility or Games: Oshidama (Beach Oshidama) / Reflexes with the team with the highest average winning the match.

NPCs are considered to be Status 1 Scorpion samurai for the purposes of Techniques and Advantages. If you are paired against a PC team, please PM them to resolve your match. If you are paired with NPC team, please contact a GM to roll for the NPC team.

Outcome
Characters of the winning team will gain 3 points of Glory each and will earn 24 pack of Black Hemlock* beer and will be invited to dine with the lord-magistrate on a later occasion.

The team that lost the finals will have to manage with a six-pack of Black Hemlock.

*despite its name, the beer has been flavored with the young tips of the coniferous hemlock tree instead of the lethally poisonous hemlock flower.

[Bayushi Senshuken]

Bayushi Senshuken is there to test her luck. Agile as a cat, but with no real skill in the game, she's more interested in finding the coolest name possible for the team, but her final input "We're here for the beers" doesn't receive the reaction she hopes for. Oh, well. She can take a step back and let Sumiko decide.

/games: beach oshidama/agility: 22

[Susumu Sumiko]

Bayushi Senshuken is there to test her luck. Agile as a cat, but with no real skill in the game, she's more interested in finding the coolest name possible for the team, but her final input "We're here for the beers" doesn't receive the reaction she hopes for. Oh, well. She can take a step back and let Sumiko decide.

/games: beach oshidama/agility: 22

Sumiko wasn't sure about the name but she didn't argue it, just smiling and nodding.

"Yep! What Bayushi-sama said!"

She wasn't used to walking around in swimsuits - or really doing sports - but Sumiko gave it her all, and it seemed she was able to be a pretty good partner for the much more agile Senshuken.

(OOC: D3LE event qualification roll -unskilled Games: Oshidama (Beach Oshidama) / Agility+vp | 3k3 ⇒ 19 (TN: ?)

[Susumu Yakumo]

Yakumo wasn't someone who rejected a host's invitation to do some activity. Though this environment was a challenge for her... still, she showed up in a fashionable yet modest one-piece (or more like wetsuit). As always, gloves in place and she wore tabi as well - both accessories seemingly made of the same material as the swimwear.

What was probably more fascinating to onlookers was that the tall Spideress was teaming up with the teeny tiny Asahina Hinata. "Let's wreck the competition, Hinata," she said with a grin. She was in full competitive mode now. "... So just... hit the ball? Doesn't seem too hard."

And it was not hard at all, as her height and lithe motions seemed to work surprisingly well to her advantage. Maybe she was meant to be a star for the oshidama-court as well???

After their bout, she quickly excused herself, stepping off to the side to cough into a towel.

---------

D3. LA EVENT: Beach Oshidama. Games: Oshidama/Reflexes. Void for Skill. No TN. | 4k3 ⇒ 51 (TN: ?)

[Hotaru Sakura]

"Arigatou for your help Yoritomo-sama." Sakura bowed towards Seika. "Let's have a good game!"

And it was a good game. The unassuming Firefly seemed to be able to JUMP HIGH!

OOC:
Teaming up with Yorimoto Seika no Watanabe

D3 LA Oshidama tournament, Games: Oshidama/Agi, VP for +1k1, +2 from Wolf's Way | 5k4+2 ⇒ 32 (TN: ?)

[Asahina Hinata]

Yakumo wasn't someone who rejected a host's invitation to do some activity. Though this environment was a challenge for her... still, she showed up in a fashionable yet modest one-piece (or more like wetsuit). As always, gloves in place and she wore tabi as well - both accessories seemingly made of the same material as the swimwear.

What was probably more fascinating to onlookers was that the tall Spideress was teaming up with the teeny tiny Asahina Hinata. "Let's wreck the competition, Hinata," she said with a grin. She was in full competitive mode now. "... So just... hit the ball? Doesn't seem too hard."

And it was not hard at all, as her height and lithe motions seemed to work surprisingly well to her advantage. Maybe she was meant to be a star for the oshidama-court as well???

After their bout, she quickly excused herself, stepping off to the side to cough into a towel.

---------

D3. LA EVENT: Beach Oshidama. Games: Oshidama/Reflexes. Void for Skill. No TN. | 4k3 ⇒ 51 (TN: ?)

Hinata had jumped at the chance to be athletic on the beach while not wearing much. That sounded that it would really be his thing. Of course, being him meant he was not obeying fashion trends whatsoever. Maybe he was starting one? Well anyway he was wearing this, but in Crane blue and thoroughly enjoying himself.

"We got this Yakumo-sammmaaaaaaaaa!!!! LET'S GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"

He threw himself into the game and it took all of five seconds to realise he had no idea how to play or what they were doing as the first thing he did was miss the ball and faceplant directly into the sand. No worries he was back up and flailing around like a very small sand tornado in seconds. Occasionally he managed to hit the ball correctly, but mostly he provided nothing but a distraction as Yakumo calmly won the game almost single handedly.

"That was soooooooooooooooooooooo much fun!!!! Can we play again??????"

--
D3 LA Oshidama Qualifiers. Games:Oshidama/Agility. unskilled. | 4k4 ⇒ 10 (TN: ?)

Team Total = 61: Team Average = 30! Qualified!!!!

[Usagi Rei]

Beach Oshidama. Rei was here to play it. Well, sorta. Mostly he was here to look good. And have a bit of fun with his equally good looking friend. Susumu Yuji.

His shorts and shirt combination would have been full coverage... except that Rei let the shirt casually open as he played. It fit his causal style, and hey, if you looked good, might as well let people know! And Rei certainly did look good.

Unfortunately, he only played okay.

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D3LA Event, Qualifying roll. Oshidama/Reflexes, vp +1k1, unskilled. Teamed with Susumu Yuji | 4k4 ⇒ 15 (TN: ?)

[Susumu Yuji]

Beach Oshidama. Rei was here to play it. Well, sorta. Mostly he was here to look good. And have a bit of fun with his equally good looking friend. Susumu Yuji.

His shorts and shirt combination would have been full coverage... except that Rei let the shirt casually open as he played. It fit his causal style, and hey, if you looked good, might as well let people know! And Rei certainly did look good.

Unfortunately, he only played okay.

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D3LA Event, Qualifying roll. Oshidama/Reflexes, vp +1k1, unskilled. Teamed with Susumu Yuji | 4k4 ⇒ 15 (TN: ?)

LA3 - Side Event: Beach Oshidama - Qualifier Roll (Reflexes 2, Games: Beach Oshidama 0, VP +1k1, Average of 20 to Qualify) | 3k3 ⇒ 21 (TN: 20)

Yuji was not a particularly athletic participant. But it was put on by the Lord Magistrate, and as such, the Aide to the Spider Ambassador would attend.

Partnering up with his friend was an added bonus. He adjusted his glasses, feeling the sand between his toes. The pair wore matching swimsuits, open shirt and all. While he did not have the build of a warrior, he was lean, and the definition inbhis core had those tantalizing lines that slipped just beneath the waistband of his trunks.

Yuji gave it his all, though he and Rei fell just short.

They did have a crisp high five on the sands, though.

[Kitsune Kiyoshi]

Honestly, Kiyoshi had never cared for the Beach episodes. But, it did look like everyone was having fun. So, he teamed up with the Kaiu and tried his best. Which wasn't much.

Hopefully, he looked good doing it.




- - -
[D3 LA] Side event: Beach Oshidama tournament, Qualifiers, Oshidama (Beach Oshidama)/Reflexes, VP for Skill | 4k3 ⇒ 8 (TN: ?)

[Kaiu Setsu]

Honestly, Kiyoshi had never cared for the Beach episodes. But, it did look like everyone was having fun. So, he teamed up with the Kaiu and tried his best. Which wasn't much.

Hopefully, he looked good doing it.

-img snip-

- - -
[D3 LA] Side event: Beach Oshidama tournament, Qualifiers, Oshidama (Beach Oshidama)/Reflexes, VP for Skill | 4k3 ⇒ 8 (TN: ?)

Despite hating sand and the way it feels when it gets stuck in the skin, Setsu decides he has to face his fears to become what he wants to be. It doesn't matter how tough or how hard the journey is. He has decided to become a Berserker like all the other Chads in the Crab Clan. If he has to face shame, so be it.

As it went today, he actually tried to follow Kiyoshi in the slackline and both got a red card for that. At least he found a bro to share the pain.


--
D3, LA: Oshidama (Beach Oshidama) / Agility | 2k2 ⇒ 4 (TN: 20)
Average 5
Disqualified

[Akodo Reki]

Reki watched the game with mild interest. It seemed very silly to her. Just a chance to see half naked folks bounce around. She was considering leaving when she saw him.

He was 6'2" with rippling muscles and a face to die for. His body moved like a panther as he hit the ball. He shifted and their eyes met. Reki gasped as a memory overtook her...

"There is one truth." Akodo Fuso said, his hooded eyes staring at the assembled cadets. "The glorious Army of the Lion has had many opponents, won many victories. But it wasn't until we went to space that our true enemy appeared before us." A symbol flashed onto the board. "If you remember no other words I say, carry these to your graves..."

"The Navy must die." Reki's eyes narrowed at the tattoo on the man's chest. A Lion in a field of stars. The Lion Navy.

.......

"What we do now is the most noble endeavor, Kuni-san. Let them taste the ashes of defeat. Send them back to the void covered in humiliation!" Reki screamed as she spiked the ball right into the Lion voidsman's face.

---------

[D3 LA] Side event: Beach Oshidama tournament - Qualifier Roll. Games: Oshidama/AGI. Unskilled. Spend VP for +1k1. | 4k4 ⇒ 24 (TN: 20)

[Kuni Koyuki]

-snip of a beautiful post-

"What we do now is the most noble endeavor, Kuni-san. Let them taste the ashes of defeat. Send them back to the void covered in humiliation!" Reki screamed as she spiked the ball right into the Lion voidsman's face.

---------

[D3 LA] Side event: Beach Oshidama tournament - Qualifier Roll. Games: Oshidama/AGI. Unskilled. Spend VP for +1k1. | 4k4 ⇒ 24 (TN: 20)

Koyuki was dressed in a fitting swimwear, sunhat, a fine beach jacket over her shoulders for when she wasn't actively playing, and all completed with the typical Kuni facepaint despite the likelihood of it being ruined by the environment. Stepping out onto the field she was happy to take up Reki's side, and play some ball.

Unfortunately, Koyuki had the gusto but the competitive spirit between the lion was no match for her. Going up against the Adonis of the Lion navy wasn't something that frightened her, or shied her away, but the spark lit between their rivalry created a fierce competition. Koyuki found her face hitting sand often when she tried to react quick to the plays of the Lion. Reki, perhaps, able to understand more of her cousins tactics than Koyuki would have at base. Quickly, surely, she found herself outpaced in this grudge match.

By the end, a few streaks of bare skin were peering through the overcast of white worn on her face. Siding up to Reki after the match she could only pant, apologize for weighing them down, and find somewhere to collapse into the sand for a bit.


[Rolls:]

Day 3, LA | Qualifier: Games Oshidama (Agility), Akodo Reki Teamate, Void +1k1 | 4k4 ⇒ 10 (TN: ?)

No luck, failed placements.

[Yūrei]

Yūrei makes her way to the court with a small smile to mask her tiredness. The ronin wears a pair of torn shorts and battered singlet with a laid back ronin asking 'How you doing mon?' Excepting a heavily bandaged left shoulder she was ready to play. Jigoku, she was hungry to vent a little anger.

And vent she does, although it wouldn't normally have been quite good enough to get her through except for one important detail.

Day 3 LA. Oshidama Qualifiers teaming with Hide. Games: Oshidama/Agility | 4k3 ⇒ 19 (TN: ?)

She was teaming with Hide, and the ronin quickly discovers what beastmode Oshidama really is as the Matsu effortlessly carries the match.

[Matsu Hide]

Yūrei makes her way to the court with a small smile to mask her tiredness. The ronin wears a pair of torn shorts and battered singlet with a laid back ronin asking 'How you doing mon?' Excepting a heavily bandaged left shoulder she was ready to play. Jigoku, she was hungry to vent a little anger.

And vent she does, although it wouldn't normally have been quite good enough to get her through except for one important detail.

Day 3 LA. Oshidama Qualifiers teaming with Hide. Games: Oshidama/Agility | 4k3 ⇒ 19 (TN: ?)

She was teaming with Hide, and the ronin quickly discovers what beastmode Oshidama really is as the Matsu effortlessly carries the match.

Hide, ever the athlete, was totally down for some Oshidama. Wearing athletic shorts and a skin-tight tank top, Hide showed the competition just how fit she was. Still, it was a fun tournament and just wanted to get in some extra exercise. Did she need the beer? Nah, but honestly she found competition to be the most fun she could be having right now.

She turned to her ronin partner and gave her a big grin. "I think we could totally win the beer. Or at least some."

And without having to strain herself much, she did outpace the current team they were against by a decent margin.

_______________

[D3 LA] Oshidama Tournament: Games: Oshidama/Agility. Yurei as partner. | 6k3 ⇒ 27 (TN: ?)

Average of 23.

[Bayushi Ryuhei]

Ryuhei was born for this. Not trained for this, but it didn't matter. He was the wingmaster of all performing arts. Furrily bare-chested, he channelled his wild spirit for dominating the Burning Sands like his ancestors of old. That, and he wanted to show off before his gorgeous wife, leaving her the choice of whether she wanted to break any sweat or not. She could do nothing but stand there and look pretty and they'd still qualify.

LA3. Oshidama Qualifier. Partnering with Wife! Agility. Void for Skill. | 5k4 ⇒ 46 (TN: ?)

[Yoritomo Seika]

"Arigatou for your help Yoritomo-sama." Sakura bowed towards Seika. "Let's have a good game!"

And it was a good game. The unassuming Firefly seemed to be able to JUMP HIGH!

OOC:
Teaming up with Yorimoto Seika no Watanabe

D3 LA Oshidama tournament, Games: Oshidama/Agi, VP for +1k1, +2 from Wolf's Way | 5k4+2 ⇒ 32 (TN: ?)

“Yeah! Let’s do this!” Seika pumps her fist in the air.

It’s no surprise that a trueblood Mantis like Seika, descended from untold generations of seafarers, shipbuilders, and island-dwellers, loves the beach and more or less all beach-related activities.

More or less. There’s one serious problem, of course. On the beach, barefoot in the warm sand… everyone can tell you’re a shortstack.

Seika seems to deal with this problem by staying in such constant motion that no one has time to notice if she barely comes up to their shoulders. When she’s not darting around taking pictures, she’s bouncing after the ball in her qualifying match alongside Hotaru Sakura, a team formed more or less at random when Seika stopped to snap a shot of the young Firefly mid-warmup. Despite having just met, the two women coordinate brilliantly in the first round together on the sand.

——
D3 LA Beach Oshidama—qualifying round, partnering with Sakura. Games: Oshidama/Agi | 4k3 ⇒ 37 (TN: ?)

Team Stars and Flowers (or whatever we are) is through the qualifying round with an overkill average score of 35…

[Bayushi Tenma]

Ryuhei was born for this. Not trained for this, but it didn't matter. He was the wingmaster of all performing arts. Furrily bare-chested, he channelled his wild spirit for dominating the Burning Sands like his ancestors of old. That, and he wanted to show off before his gorgeous wife, leaving her the choice of whether she wanted to break any sweat or not. She could do nothing but stand there and look pretty and they'd still qualify.

LA3. Oshidama Qualifier. Partnering with Wife! Agility. Void for Skill. | 5k4 ⇒ 46 (TN: ?)

Tenma didn't do nearly as well as her husband did. She was athletic and had a good sense of balance, it was true... but she just couldn't keep her footing on the sand, and kept slipping this way and that. Luckily, he more than made up for her performance.

Day 3, Late Afternoon, Beach Oshidama, initial roll, games: oshidama/agility, no TN, spending Void Point 1 of 2 for Day 3 on skill | 5k4 ⇒ 23 (TN: ?)

Team Average = 34

[Otomo Koroshi]

Koroshi joins the frey on the sandy battlefield with great vigor if not any skill. His beachware is a blue and green shiny scaled merman outfit, skin-tight leggings with huge green frills on his ankles. Otherwise shirtless, with no real muscles to speak of, and abnormally pale.

He is still very enthusiastic even when he allows fate to bind him to a random ronin, named Kitsuko or something. Hitsuko?

[D3 LA] SIDE EVENT: BEACH OSHIDAMA TOURNAMENT, Games:Oshidama/Agility, Average 20, 5k4 (Void for Skill). | 5k4 ⇒ 28 (TN: ?)

[Mirumoto Shigure]

Not having much to do enter the odd Dragon. The shirtless man with green shorts tried his best but seem it wasn't enough to stay in game.

//D3 LA Oshidama Games Oshidama Agi 1VP PS TN 20? | 5k4 ⇒ 19 (TN: 20)

[Hitoko]

Koroshi joins the frey on the sandy battlefield with great vigor if not any skill. His beachware is a blue and green shiny scaled merman outfit, skin-tight leggings with huge green frills on his ankles. Otherwise shirtless, with no real muscles to speak of, and abnormally pale.

[D3 LA] SIDE EVENT: BEACH OSHIDAMA TOURNAMENT, Games:Oshidama/Agility, Average 20, 5k4 (Void for Skill). | 5k4 ⇒ 28 (TN: ?)

Hitoko, who had long taken her Oshidama play very seriously, wasn't entirely sure about her partner's attire, but he was certainly holding up his end of their partnership well. Not to be outdone, though, the feisty ronin woman in tight black tank top and copper-colored swim bottoms made sure to make a statement with her play.

D3 LA, Oshidama tourney prelims. Games: Oshidama/Agility. TN 20. | 5k4 ⇒ 48 (TN: 20)