(Moon 13, Afternoon, Foredeck) Watchful {Scorpion Clan}

[Isawa O-Washi]

Today, dismal and cloudy as it was, wouldn't seem a good day for training. Nonetheless the gunso had dispersed the news with breakfast that those who still needed the lesson on scouting would get it...Suitengu never gives second chances to fools, after all.

Flame-red jinbei, not unlike the crimson his next pupils would wear, did nothing to make O-washi look less threatening as he prowled the deck...instead, darkness had stained them until they looked like the color of fresh blood and the priest himself seemed eager to spill some, were he not handled correctly. It was fortunate, then, that the Scorpion, who schooled in tact even when bushi, were the final students of his day.

[Bayushi Nobuyoshi]

Nobuyoshi heads towards the training of the day, without a song on his lips. There's something about the atmosphere that seems to make it seem more than ill-omened, like it might call something that you do not want answering.

While yesterday he had complied with the advice he'd been given from the Crab about proper times for armor and daisho, today seems like a time to have them on, and not stowed away. Especially considering that the Crab's suggestion that leaving "unexpected" attacks to the Crab to be the wisest course of action, so naturally in such a place the training dictates Clans are separated. So he'd wear his armor and daisho, and hope it helped.

He gives a proper bow to the gunso, and waits for his clanmates to assemble.

[Bayushi Hoshi]

The sound of light rattling was probably what gave away the approaching Scorpion before her arrival. Hoshi arrived in regular deck dress with a black bundle cradled in one arm. She was easily on alert today, not forgetting the fact that they were in the Sea of Shadows. Once the ground has been inspected to her current approval, she gave a quiet bow to both the Isawa and her cousin.

[Bayushi Kichirou]

Kichirou had left his daisho below decks this day. He felt vulnerable without it but honestly it wasn't doing him any favors with the crew and like his armor needed to be cleaned and maintained much more often if he took it out above decks.

So dressed in vest and hakama as he had been the day before the 'chatty' Scorpion made his way to the sides of his cousins and offered the Gunso a bow of greeting.

[Bayushi Hoshi]

Hoshi spared a glance at the third Scorpion and remained standing at the ready. How long a term was going to depend how these two conducted themselves.

[Isawa O-Washi]

All assembled, O-washi wasted little time on ceremony. He bowed to them and then pointed upward. "We're doing scouting today." Realizing he was all but growling, O-washi took a long deep breath and tried to find his customary good humor. " I know your lot tends to be the watched as much as the watchers but I have hopes at least one of you will prove an apt student. Let's see how you do getting up to the Nest."

{{Athletics/STR (climbing) TN 20}}

[Bayushi Hoshi]

Hoshi nodded twice at task at hand and did her best to climb up, it was a shaky but she managed.

[Bayushi Nobuyoshi]

Even without the light armor, Nobuyoshi's exertions over the past days paired with the rolling of the deck prove to be too much for him to follow the samurai-ko. At least the armor allows him to fall back to the deck without further damage.

With a shake of his head, he steps to the side to allow Kichirou a shot at climbing the rigging before continuing his own struggle.

[Isawa O-Washi]

As Noboyushi fell, O-washi grunted. "Hoshi-san! Uncoil that rope around the mast and let it down to the deck."

That Scorpion was going up, one way or another.

[Bayushi Hoshi]

"-Ah, Hai!" Hoshi called back from her position on top and reached for the directed rope, dropping it down in a smooth motion.

[Bayushi Nobuyoshi]

Having no orders than 'Up', Nobuyoshi is confronted with the choice of trying to scale the lowered rope, or tie it around himself and let Hoshi pull him up. Perhaps thinking that climbing a lowered rope will be easier than the rigging, he tries the former.

Sadly, there's a good reason both ends of the rope are secure in the rigging. Had he not been wearing his armor, he might have just been flexible enough to take advantage of the extra maneuverability.

Instead, his feet slip out from under him, and he gives an impromptu demonstration of the gaijin sport Tetherball. With him as the ball.

*Smack!* goes the Scorpion being spun around the mast and hitting it.

*Smack!* goes the Scorpion being spun back around the mast in the opposite direction and hitting it again.

*Thud!* goes the Scorpion executing a 1-point landing back on the deck.

He makes his way back to his feet, shaking his head to clear the cobwebs.

[Isawa O-Washi]

O-washi watched it all with no comment, though one corner of his mouth twitched in what was either a smile or a sneer, it was hard to tell.

"Better to just let her help you, Rooster." Though the words were mild, it was an order.

{{TN drops to 10 with the rope but if you fail, you get stuck and will have to be rescued}}

[Bayushi Nobuyoshi]

Nobuyoshi nods.

"Hai gunso-sama." he says indifferently.

He redoubles his efforts, and that plus the aid from Hoshi is enough to overcome both gravity and light armor and get him to the crow's nest.

[Bayushi Hoshi]

Hoshi only gave her best deadpan stare at the fumbles that Nobuyoshi did following the aid given from the rope, it only lasted as far as the second try before she casually moved her gaze upwards to miss the third attempt. Once there were orders given from below, she braced the rope securely and did her best to pull Nobuyoshi up once he grabbed hold. A fourth fumble would be embarrassing to them both.

"Bayushi-san." She said simply once he was up with her, nothing followed or implied.

[Bayushi Nobuyoshi]

And she's replied to in kind.

"Bayushi-san" his voice flat and uncaring.

He turns his gaze to the deck below to see how Kichirou climbs.

[Bayushi Kichirou]

Having watched the trials and tribulations of his brethren Kichirou was more than a bit apprehensive of the rigging. Casting an eye up and then to the Gunso and out to see for good measure the last of the Scorpion takes a deep breath and sighs it out before starting up.

It certainly wasn't pretty but Kichirou made it up without assistance on his first try. Gazing out of his new found perch he gives a nod to Nobuyoshi and Hoshi before grinning a bit.

[Bayushi Hoshi]

Hoshi spared a moment glance at the grinning Scorpion before nodding, "Bayushi-san."

She then glanced out to the gunso, he managed to herd three Scorpions up here. To what end or amusement, has yet to be determined.

[Bayushi Kichirou]

"Bayushi-san." he replies with a nod of his own and a barely contained laugh at what must be a moderately ridiculous sight.

[Isawa O-Washi]

Upward clambered the gunso after them, moving past them to sit upon the spar so that the Scorpion would have the most possible space on the platform.

"Scouting is as important aship as it is in any other military operation. This is where most of it gets done, since it's really the only way you can see past the sails and the rigging. Take a look at the other ships and tell me just what details you can make out...and don't look at the water too long, this time of day especially it'll try to drag down your attention."

[Bayushi Hoshi]

"Hai Gunso-sama." Hoshi said quick in formality and got down to the task at hand with her survey of the area. It seems, she couldn't even spot the crimson off Bayushi Paneki if her life depended on it. She did however, have good authority to guess that the fourth number was indeed a one.

"-Ah...rather higher up here than I'm used to..." She murmured in commentary.