The Ronin Bushi: Kozo - The death of Otaku Shiko, was more than that. It was the death of the burgeoning love between her and Kozo, the death of a dream for them, and the death of Kozo's adolescence. What a horrible reminder of her death his gempukku ceremony shall be in the years to come. Her death might have been avoided had he spoken up when the Emerald Champion pronounced Sugai free of any involvement in the death of the Badger Clan Daimyo. But he did not. His death had Bayushi Sugai's stink all over it, and Kozo could do nothing about it but hate him from a distance. Kozo also finally lost control of himself during the weapons competition on day two, when Kozo and Sugai exchanged a few hushed words before the start. What was said? Only Kozo and Suagi know. But that was not the last time they met...On the third and final day of the Topaz Championship they locked blades again in the final competition. Though Kozo was the winner of the day drawing first blood, Sugai had last say with a, supposedly, wild blow which all but killed Kozo. They shall meet again if the Fortunes are kind, but which will the Fortunes be favoring?

The Dragon Shugenja: Kenada - His gempukku was almost as tragic as Kozo's, his unspoken love for the Unicorn Battle Maiden, perhaps, makes his story the more tragic. He also managed to earn the emnity of Bayushi Sugai. On the night of the murder in question, Kenada actually laid his hands on Sugai's sword arm, as Sugai tried to bull his way past him. Only the untimely intrusion of the watch kept it from becoming a duel between the two of them right then and there. Kenada kept his wits about him through the whole festival, even restraining Kozo when Sugai's words cut him to the quick and was about to display his uncultured side before the whole of the audience of the Festival. The fact that Sugai was guilty of heinous crimes affected Kenada's good judgement not one bit. Even though the fact that Sugai had cut down a woman he felt strongly for, he did not allow himself to let Kozo make a spectacle of himself (no matter how much he wanted to see Sugai get what he deserved).

The Phoenix Shugenja:Ahiro - He was the point leader through most of the tournament, having put up 4 points in the first day, equaled only by Oaku Shiko. On day two he finished with one of the highest totals of 7 points, only two thers out of 12 contestants accumulated as many points (one of them being Kakita Uji, we'll get to him in a bit.) Ahiro remained silent through most of the trials and tribulations of the in between times...though we find that he doesn't seem to hold his sake well. And he does bear an impressive cut from a wild blow during the weapons competition at the beginning of day two. He was the furthest removed from the chaos surrounding the death of Shiko. He observed and gave well thought advice, deciding that getting involved in Scorpion politics, no matter how briefly, was not a good idea. Though something should be done about Sugai, it was not the time nor the place.

The Crane Bushi: Uji - He was also one of the top scorers overall in the tournament with 7 points, the second of three to reach that total. He spent most of his efforts between events in a similar manner to Kenada - restraining Kozo. Or in a few instances, talking to Bayushi Sugai, trying to keep a brawl from erupting in the middle of The Tournament his Clan was holding. He showed his obvious disgust for the tactics he thought Bayushi Sugai was employing, though like in the badger Daimyo's murder, no real evidence to support the suppositions. He did end the third day of competition in a poison induced coma...poison meant for whom I wonder. And what reason would someone have to poison their tea? Though he seems to have fully recovered in the days following the Festival...

The Ise Zumi: Okasu - Mad. Thats all there is to it. He spent most of his time drinking with the Crab bushi Hida Fujizaka. Enjoying the companionship that drinking good sake in a fine Sake House brings. He seemed sedate during the competition, but now that our group is on the road...he seems to have awakened into his frothing mad old self. While he has already had his gempukku, he enjoyed his friends successes none the less. There will be much more to say about this one now that they are on the road to adventure.