Kagematsu: Karen Twelves
Townswomen: Matthew Klein, Dale Horstman, and Sean Nittner
System: Kagematsu by Danielle Lewon
Part two of our Kagematsu game, we started with a recap of last session. Poor Akemi! We also talked about the potential discomfort of playing this game with strangers who are asking for a touch, a kiss, a declaration of love, or a roll in the hay.
The play is the thing
Yumi seems a compliment. Day 4 finds Kagematsu on the beach clearing out debris from the storm. He doesn’t know how ships are made, but he follows the villagers lead when they declare that some parts can be reused while others are beyond repair. He’s exhausted from a hard morning of work when Yumi arrives with a part of a old boat hatch that had been discarded after the storm. It had mossy brine along the edges and she had gone to the paint maker and collected his leftover paint (ochre and black) to make a painting of the sun over the waves, just like Kagematsu would have. Despite the poor materials, it shows she has some talent, however she decided that she needed to use all the paint, so the sun was a giant black blob that still wasn’t dry. She was very excited and ran up the bluff to find Kagematsu and show him what she had done. “Noble warrior. I really do look up to you and I think the whole village is better off because of your presence. I made this!” She thrust it had him (held flat so the paint didn’t slide off). Kagematsu gave it a discerning look at and asked (politely, mind you). “why did you choose to use black for the sun?” Yumi suddenly realized how armature her work was. “It’s bad, isn’t it?” He didn’t respond to that but did suggest that if she scraped the some of the black paint off, she could still try to make something else with it. Yumi ran off [No affection gained. Fear: 4]
Akemi seeks a compliment. Kagematsu, seeing Akemi’s skill at sowing asked if she could make him a new set of clothes. He offered to pay, which she refused (which was good since he didn’t really have any money). Akemi tailored her fathers kimono to fit him by taking it in and embroidering a flower to mimic the flowers from his painting. This is excellent. Thank you. [A compliment achieved. Fear: 7]
Fujiko seeks a kind word. Kagematsu find Fujiko washing the laundry while her father-in-law is drunk and acting belligerent. He was lamenting the loss of his son, and his life with his daughter in law. Fujiko and Kagematsu were both quiet and looking at the ground as he railed at the clouds. Eventually, he went inside and Kagematsu offered to help hand clothes on her laundry wheel. “I know this work is banal, but it is very helpful to have another set of hands helping out.” Kagematsu smiled and said “There is nothing banal about providing a service to your community.” She smiled back and said it felt good for someone to notice. She looked over her shoulder and the pile of dirty laundry still to be washed and Kagematsu, having hung the last item on the wheel, went to start washing the next load with her. We had a montage of them washing laundry together and laughing [A kind word and a shared moment achieved. Fear 1]
Yumi seeks a secret told. Yumi passed by as Fujiko and Kagematsu were folding laundry. There was a crash from inside the house and Fujiko had to excuse herself to find out what happened. Kagematsu was watching her enter the house with a look of sympathy and understanding. Yumi was surprised that he would look sad and said “Noble warrior. You look at that house like I look at the ocean. What is on your mind?” Kagematsu kept his eyes on the house and responded almost as if he was talking to himself. “When my mother died, my father was very upset. He turned to drink for comfort as well. He said horrible things because he loved my mother more than he loved me. I also loved her more. We were very sad for a long time.” Yumi, misreading his story as usual “Oh. Oh. Those hard words he said made you strong.” Kagematsu had a pained look. That wasn’t it at all, but Kagematsu didn’t have the energy to correct her. [Secret achieved. Fear 3]
Akemi seeks a smile. After spending the day doing laundry, Kagematsu was at another awkward dinner at the mayor’s house. This time however there was levity. As Akemi’s mother asked another intrusive question, Akemi’s grandmother cut her off and told a story of Akemi as a child collecting cheery blossoms because she was sad they fell from the trees. She put them in a bowl that she would place by the fountain. It was a welcome memory and a sweet story. Kagematsu smiled. After dinner they were cleaning up again. But this time Akemi handed Kagematsu a dish to clean, showing she trusted him with it. He took it gracefully but teased “I’m so glad you trust me with…a dish.” They laughed and bantered, and Kagematsu realized Akemi had a sense of humor [Smile and a Lasting Impression achieved. Fear 5]
Fujiko seeks a kiss. Evening of day four. Kagematsu returned late after his dinner with Akemi. Fujiko, because of getting her work done early, was enjoying time by the fire. Her father in law asleep, she was listening to the koto music of Yato as she sipped by the fire. Kagematsu entered and silently sat by her side drinking tea as well. She set her cup down for him to refill it and when the back of their hands brushed she leaned forward. When he didn’t act she threw herself at him and pressed her lips agaists his. They kissed vigorously and she reached under his kimono to dig her fingers into his chest, then pushed him back to the bedroll she had been sleeping on these last few nights as he slept in her bed. He did not immediately respond so she first undressed in the moonlight and then told him to show her what kind of man he was. He picked her up and carried her into the bedroom. [A kiss and a roll in the hay achieved. Fear 0]
Yumi seeks a stolen glance. The next day Kagematsu got up late and walked with a bit more swagger. As he painted on the bluff, Yumi came running up the hill with an easel and paint. She set hers up behind him and tried to emulate his work with her mostly black (and a bit of ochre yellow) paint. After a time he paused to make a stolen glace at her work with approval. [Stolen glance achieved. Fear 2]
Akemi seeks a secret told. Mid day, Kagematsu took a break and walked back into the village of Hasu, where he found Akemi by the fountain with a bowl of cherry blossoms. She tried to hide them and he smiled. He was wearing the kimono she made for him, though it perhaps smelled of Fujiko. Kagematsu asked if she would take him to the paint maker. As they walked Akemi said “Someone could set down roots here if they wanted. What are your plans?” It was forward but Kagematsu felt she was due the truth. “I was a strategic advisor for the general and though I wasn’t often in a position to raise my sword or risk my life, it was expected I would be ready to do so. Having been around so much death, that came from my own planning and tactics, I realized I wanted to see more that lived and more of the world. My plan is to keep traveling.” She saw some of his guilt and reached out to touch him so she could console him. As he recoiled, in desperation she tried to bribe him “this is a nice place, a peaceful one.” and then she threw herself at him and her kimono slipped over her shoulder revealing herself to him. Kagematsu’s eyes went wide as he quickly close her robes. Both of them were mortified. “Oh, there’s the paint seller!” He said as the whole village was already speaking of what happened! [A secret shared but the touch was denied. Fear 5]
Fujiko seeks a gift. That morning Fujiko woke to find Kagematsu had already left. She looked beside her bed to see if he had left something for her, but he had not. [A gift denied. Fear 0]
Yumi seeks a lasting impression. Kagematsu came up the bluff still feeling embarrassed from his encounter with Akemi. He looked frazzled and only grunted as he focused on his work. Yumi thought “He’s such an artist! He came to paint with me because we’re artists.” She put her easel up next to his. “Tell me the the secret of painting your waives and I’ll get us sandwiches. His stomach grumbled but he was not moved from his work. “I think you’re working too hard Kagematsu. You told me that the paint brush breathes through the painter. You need to calm down.” He had bestowed no such lesson but he was nevertheless moved to pause and smile. You’re a strange little girl, but you owe me for the pain you used so I’ll take the sandwich.” She ran down the hill “Thank you noble warrior and art master!” [Lasting impression achieved. Fear 1]
Akemi seeks and introduction. Word had gotten around the town and neither Akemi or Kagematsu wanted to be seen by anyone. Yato was spinning stories of Akemi throwing herself at him and asking him to marry him. When it was dark he finally came down the hill, unsure if he should sup with Akemi or not. He was sitting by the fountain he saw the bowl of blossoms she had left there earlier in the day and just as he picked it up, Akemi came out of the dark to collect it… They both looked awkwardly at each other. Akemi gave a formal bow and said that her family would be honored if he would join them for dinner again this evening. He sees that she is trying to start again, thankfully as though the incident today never happened. He accepted her invitation, but did not give her his name [Introduction denied. Fear 5].
Fujiko seeking a promise made. End of day five, Fujiko and Kagematsu enjoyed evening tea together and looked at each other uncertain if the events of last night would happen again. Kagematsu broke the silence “I think it’s time for me to go soon. I will leave the day after tomorrow in the morning.” Fujiko was hurt, but she tried not to show it. “Word has gone around the village…that you were a tactician for the general and that you oversaw great projects. If you believe the superstitions some do a hundred years ago we changed the path of the river to feed the town and angered a river spirt. To prevent a great flood, we need break the damn that was made, but preparing for that will take much longer than the day after tomorrow.” Kagematsu was surprised she was so serious and replied logically “You’re right, it would take days and weeks to prepare. I could stay, but your but it’s impractical for you to keep sleeping in the common room that long, and your bed is cold alone.” Fujiko challenged his honor “If that’s what you require to stay.” He was surprised at her reaction. “That’s not what I meant. I take offence that you would think that after spending the time with me that you have.” Here gaze did not falter and she showed him disdain “Then what did you mean?” He grunted, uncomfortable talking about his feelings. Flustered he said “Perhaps I’ve misread the affection we have for each other since I arrived. I’m used to being alone, sleeping outside and I never spend this much time sleeping in an unmarried woman’s home.” As the storms raged outside [one 6 on the shadow tracker] Fujiko got close to him and begged for him to stay and help. “No, you haven’t misunderstood anything. Of course I have affection for you, but I want to know that you’re not just staying to lay with me. He retorted “How would you know why I was staying?” Her eyes watered like the rain outside “I would know,” The rain picked up and drowned out the sounds of their argument [Two 6s on the shadow tracker]. He pulled away and again spoke of logistics. “I need resources, lumber felled, rock cut, tools that I do not have.” Fujiko told him of all the workshops from the men who lived in the village and left and that their tools would be at his disposal and that the village woman would follow his direction.” She bribed him telling him how he would be remembered as the hero of Hasu if he saved them from the flood. At long last he promised to stay long enough to help [A promise achieved. Fear 0]
Confrontation
The natural course of the river would run through the village so Kagematsu had to demolish some homes and move families further from the river’s path. With the lumber from the house he built a slide to direct boulders that were felled and built dikes to protect the village from the initial flood that would come when the dam broke. It was now time to collapse it and he instructed everyone that once it was pulled open they must all run!
[Akemi’s escalation] The keystone was levered out of place and because of he rain the dam broke with a huge rush. A tidal wave swept over the village. There was water and mud everywhere. Kagematsu was knocked down and Akemi rushed to pull him out of the water, but then was pulled away and lost. Akemi perished. [No fear dice rolled]
[Yumi’s escalation]. As the waters flood the village and the storm clouds raged above, those who believed in the curse saw the shape of the river spirit form in the clouds. Yumi was standing on the bluff with the other villagers painting what she saw! [5 rolled on the fear die]
[Fujiko’s escalation]. When the waters receded the pulled back one of the walls and Fujiko, who had been trying to reinforce it, was nearly pulled away with it, but she was saved by Kagematsu. [0 fear added]
Kagematsu did not know Akemi had been lost (sad) but when he got down to the village the storm clouds had blotted out the moon and the stars and it was all darkness. It was pitch black all night and everyone stood awaiting another crash of waves. We waited and waited and waited more. When the sun finally rose, it revealed Kagematsu and Fujiko holding hands, both covered in mud.
Epilogue
Akemi was lost, mourned by her family.
Yumi became as renowned artist, potentially surpassing even Kagematsu. She signed her work with just a “Y” in white paint.
Fujiko and Kagematsu, once the village was restored (so much laundry to do!) left together to keep seeing the world.
Thoughts
Poor Dale and poor Akemi. The dice just never worked out for him. I don’t know if he needed to die in the end (Kagematsu would have probably still won if he rolled the five dice of fear) but it also made sense for the story. So sad but so good.
I was very happy we found non-icky ways for Yumi (who was very young) to love and be loved by Kagematsu (as a student and potentially as a little sister or child). That took a bit of work but Karen and Matthew did a great job of it.
Karen and I nearly never play romantic relationships in games, but this time it just worked out and it was lovely. Not sure what happened to Fujiko’s faither-in-law but not all questions need to be asnwered.
Does Kagematsu hold up? Yes, it does. The questions it asks about gender are still very relevant and the soft power that it focuses on drives towards a kind of play you won’t find in other games. It was especially delightful with such a wonderful group of players and friends.
