The monks have offered their stores freely to all guests of the temple who wish to honour any samurai who are no longer among the living, to both those of the past and those who have yet to find their way to the next cycle, including any temporary guests during the Bon Festival. While a simple toast and paid respects are more than enough to adhere to the custom, the free flow of quality alcohol is more than enough to encourage some of the local Crab samurai to be especially zealous with their remembrance of the dead. There are some who might let the celebrations and alcohol get the better of them. This can sometimes form an impromptu drinking contest, which the monks of the temple don't seem especially bothered by the results. In fact, it's a bit expected. This is an opportunity for samurai to either observe or, if they are feeling especially bold, join with great bravado and aplomb!
Magic: Magic is not allowed unless the character rolls contested Agility / Stealth (Spellcasting) against the crowd. Emphasis is needed to make the roll, and only spells that last at least for an hour can be employed. Needless to say, getting caught has consequences. Soshi Shugenja school technique can be used to bypass this restriction.
Lost Love is triggered on participation in the event. The character may spend 1 Void Point or suffer +5 to all TN in this event. This will still trigger even if it has already triggered earlier in the day.
Drink or Regale
The objective of the event is to finish all 8 offerings of alcohol in the celebration, from beginning to end and in order. This will be a daunting contest that will test all physical attributes of the participants. While this is by no means a formal contest, it will be observed by both the monks of the temple and many local Crab Clan samurai, creating a stage for participants to be judged for their worth and sincerity as an ally to the Crab.
If the participants wish to drink, they will roll the drink's associated required trait and its TN. If they are successful, they may proceed to the next challenge in order as normal. Any time a samurai fails a drink roll in this contest, they are immediately rendered Fatigued, which will put an additional +5 to all TNs to rolls made in this event. If they fail another drinking-related roll, the alcohol gets the better of them, and they are removed from the contest. The list of drinks, the heart of the contest, is found below.
Drinking isn't the only means to pay tribute to the dead or festivities; the participants may take something of a token sip and offer their tribute by choosing to regale instead. This can be represented in giving proper tribute through other means or merely participating in other bravado to overlook their ducking of drinking. However, wasted alcohol is something that raises eyebrows among the Crab. This will be increasingly harder to do, especially as the participants leave more cups of untouched alcohol aside. The list of regale actions is found below.
List of Drinks: Sake and Spirits
- Friendly Traveller Sake
Perhaps the most famous of sake blends in the Empire. Its origins are in the Yasuki ancestral lands, although it has been contested by both the Crane and Crab many times during the Yasuki Wars. It has endured the test of time and continues to be a favourite today. The sake is known for its smooth and dry taste that makes it palatable to many, yet it boasts a potency that will appease veteran drinkers.
To drink: Make a Stamina roll at TN15. - Autumn Dragon Sake
This sake is founded in the Mantis ancestral lands and said to be the preferred sake of sailors for its rather memorable cutting aftertaste. Best served cold and ingested quickly to stomach its effects.
To drink: Make a Willpower roll at TN15. - Black Bay Sake
Black Bay Sake was founded in the coasts of Rokugan but now has licensed breweries around the Empire. It was meant to be a direct competitor to Friendly Traveller sake but its taste replicates none of its intended competitor qualities. It finds its popularity because of its price point and has a specific acquired taste.
To drink: Make a Strength roll at TN15. - Cherry Blossom Breeze Sake
The original Cherry Blossom is something of a myth, it is supposedly the smoothest sake ever created in feudal Rokugan, making it popular in the Yasuki, and it has a certain ephemeral quality to it, much like its namesake. However, the original recipe was lost when it was destroyed by the Daidoji in a Yasuki War. Cherry Blossom Breeze sake attempts to recreate that with anthropological research and guesswork.
To drink: Make a Perception roll at TN15. - Sunda Mizu Mura Ancestral Winery Koshu
This stock of koshu was gifted directly from rich donors living in the Rokugan. The white wine grapes were picked from the Lilac Frog Vineyards close to Sunda Mizu Mura. An experienced palette is required to appreciate this expensive and cultured spirit.
To drink: Make an Agility roll at TN15. - Imo Hana Mura Five Star Shochu
Imo Hana Mura Five Star Shochu was made famous by the feudal-era daimyo of the Yasuki family, Yasuki Jinn-Kuen. He would later invest heavily in the brewery before its eventual acquisition. It sees little circulation today and is quite rare. The strength of this drink is enough to unnerve even most bushi.
To drink: Make an Earth roll at TN15. - Sand Road Kumis
Kumis was an alcoholic gaijin beverage made of fermented mare's milk, which can be found in Unicorn Clan space. Even so, it is only popular among Unicorn Clan samurai living in their frontier worlds. Needless to say, this donated spirit is quite perplexing to the locals.
To drink: Make a Water roll at TN15. - "Twilight Requiem Absolute Zero" Moonshine
Unfortunately, due to an explained mishap, the cask keeping the temple's prized Golden Sun Plain Koshu was cracked open and spoiled. This was donated by an unknown party in great amounts and the temple has decided to make use of it in the competition at the very last minute. It is safe to drink, supposedly, but it is inelegant in every facet. It has a deep earthy taste, followed by an unforgiving burn. It is said to reach the dark heart found in every damaged soul.
To drink: Make a Void roll at TN20.
Each of these skill rolls is done at TN15 + TN5 for each previous time a Regale action was performed. A Regale action can be done in place of a drink, they continue as normal if they are done successfully. On a failed Regale action, they must either drink or bow out. If this is the second time they failed a Regale action, it is clear they aren't a serious competitors and must bow out. They may use any of these skills only once, pass or fail.
If a participant has a Disadvantage related to alcohol, such as Compulsion, every Regale Action will trigger the Compulsion. It must be passed; otherwise, the participant cannot perform a Regale Action and must drink.
- "Hey, back off!" - Intimidation/Willpower
- "Just taking a breather" - Etiquette/Awareness
- "Aha, a fine brew..." - Lore: Sake/Intelligence
- "Did you know?" - Lore: Crab Clan/Intelligence OR Lore: Nature (Crabs)/Intelligence (must have the emphasis)
- Tell a heroic tale - Perform: Storytelling/Awareness
- "Let me tell you..." - Perform: Oratory/Awareness
- Armwrestle! - Jiujitsu/Strength
There are no embarrassments at this event, only brave and impassioned samurai honouring the death. Any failure to hold drinks at this event is cheered and politely ushered out. At the end of the event, those still standing will be commended for both their stamina and commitment!
All participants who make it to the end of the event without being eliminated will be awarded +0.1 Glory. Furthermore, any participant who made it this far and only performed drink actions will be awarded 1 Bid Point and +0.1 Glory.
The top three participants will be further awarded for being drinking champions. This standing is based on the most progressed participant, preferably with the event completed, the participants who did not use the regale action in the last three drinks (#6-8: Imo Hana Mura Five Star Shochu, Sand Road Kumis and "Twilight Requiem Absolute Zero" Moonshine), then determined by the participant who performed the most Drink actions. If further tiebreakers are needed, they will be determined by any participants who are not Fatigued, and then by the participants who rolled the highest sum in all three last drinks.
First-place participant receives 15 Bid Points, the second-place participant receives 12 Bid Points, and the third-place participant receives 9 Bid Points. All placing participants receive an additional +0.3 Glory.
Actor 
