This day, for a change, Isawa O-washi had further subdivided his group by having the word passed along with the morning meal. The sun was well on it's way down and it was with no small relief that O-washi waited for the Unicorn...he, strong as he was, was actually starting to get worn out.

He waited by the Mainmast, clad in even less clothing than usual, which was saying something. His vest was gone and his usual hakama had been replaced with simple jinbei which were cut close to his heavily-muscled thighs, the better to avoid catching in the rigging for the lesson he'd planned. Beside him stood one of the heimen, an older man who's broad grin was mostly lacking in teeth. He, unlike the ashigaru from the two prior lessons, was unarmed, encumbered only with a small hourglass and a large wooden whistle. The older man was smoking a pipe, perched on a barrel, and O-washi sat on the rail itself, the large eagle perched at his side fluffing it's feathers in the chill breeze.

Iuchi Rinzuki arrives on time, wearing the sleeveless white kimono that seemed to have become her uniform aboard the ship. It would be easy to notice that she had made a few more alterations to the piece, no doubt in response to Moshi Kaimenko's lessons of the previous day. She was down to a single layer of silk, and the hem had been lifted to a point about even with her knees.

As with previous days, her face, neck, and shoulders were smeared with a thick white sunblock.

Qulan also arrived on time, and instantly regretted looking directly at Rinzuki. A lot. So she just turned her full attention towards the large Isawa (of course with a customary bow). Albeit a slightly red face.

Seeing his fellow priest of the water and healer both, O-washi gave her a smile, no less genuine for how tired it looked. 'Konnichiwa, Iuchi-san." Glancing skyward, he chuckled. "Or maybe it's konnbanwa now, it's sort of hard to tell on a ship. I see you've taken time to adapt your wardrobe...good on you!" Seeing the Shinjo, he gave her a bow as well. "Shinjo-san, a pleasure to see you again. Found your sea legs with no trouble, I see."

"Thank you, Isawa-sama!" Rinzuki returns the bow, and bounces happily as she glances sideways and nods at her fellow pony-girl. "Good afternoon, Shinjo-sama!"

"Ah, hai... I haven't had any problems whatsoever with seasickness, dizziness or anything." Qulan nodded happily in response to O-Washi. "I'm glad you noticed, though."

Then she turned to her clan mate politely and bowed. "Good afternoon to you as well, Iuchi-san."

"Good afternoon, Isawa-gunso." the other Iuchi greeted the man, standing on deck. He was clad in his trusted kobakama, though he had changed his gi to a new, cream coloured one.

"And good afternoon to you as well, Iuchi-san, Shinjo-san." he greeted his kinswomen, spotting again the strange lotion on Rinzuki.

Rinzuki returns her cousin's bow, then readjusts her kimono as she straightens back up. "One layer of silk just doesn't keep anything in place," she mumbles, before getting everything all sorted out.

"Iuchi-san, I see you're breaking in the uniform. Good for you, I hope you enjoy it." Greeting the young man of the group, O-washi's grin grew a little sardonic as the priestess complained. "I recommend more extensive bindings for that...if you don't have sturdier ones, feel free to borrow some of the cotton we keep for bandages."

Then, with a slight wince, he pushed himself up to stand. "Now that we're all here...I know most of you have sailed very little, if at all. Today, we're going to discuss a very important duty...that of the scout. Now, obviously..." Here, he grinned around at them, "...you can't see much but rope and sail from the deck. That's why we're going to be going up there."

He pointed upward at the crow's nest, seemingly tiny from so many feet below.

Qulan looked up and was instantly excited. "I bet you could see for miles up there!" She exclaimed with a child-like enthusiasm.

"Exactly so." O-washi seemed pleased by her interest. "Several leagues, as a matter of fact, if the weather is good. Now..." He looked at the Iuchi. "I know Shinjo-san here's done a bit of climbing, what about you two?"

Rinzuki cranes her neck upwards and goes pale.

"...not quite so much," she mumbles.

"I can manage, sir." Xia Hua replied, wondering if the Isawa would mind his seefar occulum.

Seeing Rinzuki's nervousness, O-washi did his best to look reassuring again. "Alright, then...first thing we're going to do is work on the climbing bit. Being able to go up is one thing...being able to do it at speed is the important part for a true scout."

For now, he wouldn't mention that climbing DOWN at speed was vital too...this was, after all, just to winnow out the likely.

"Who'd like to go first?"

Qulan stepped forward. "I'd be glad to start, Isawa-gunso."

As the Shinjo seamed eager, Xioa Hua was content to stand back, and watch the girl climb.

He nodded. "Right then....at your own pace this first go. Once you're up, move around to the back to make room for the next to go."

{{Mechanics are simple...Athletics/STR. TN is 20 to get up to the top!}}

Qulan was certainly quite the climber! She made it to the top with ease.

Once his turn came, Xiao Hua tried, but got tangled to the rigging near the top and had to climb back down.

"Erm, that didn't go too well... I guess I could use some practise, gunso." he noted to the larger man, somewhat embarrassed.

Rinzuki takes a deep breath as her turn comes around, and does fairly well at first. About fifteen feet off the ground, however, she suddenly realizes that she's climbing above people in a kimono, and grabs at her 'skirt' in order to keep it bunched together.

What follows is a rather amusing demonstration of the follies of aerial acrobatics in a summer dress. By the time she finally reaches the ground, Rinzuki's face is flushed with color, and she is holding her dress down against her body with both hands.

She returns to her position beside the other two Unicorn with her head hung in shame.