2015 Dragonboat Renga Race: Closed

Setting
You gather today on the shore of Lake Biwa to celebrate the Summer Solstice and Duanwu Festival as has been done for 2500 years.  Today three teams race their dragon boats across these storied waters for glory (and fun).  A Daoist priest carefully performs the "Awakening" ritual, dotting the eyes of each dragon figurehead with red, to end its slumber and invigorate its spirit.  You take your places in your respective boats, awaiting the signal to start.  A loud bell is rung and the priest walks away as you set off.  Did his shadow look like a fox?
 
 
Game Mechanics
For the month of July each team will attempt to write an unbroken chain of haiku, each taking its predecessor as inspiration.  To make this a bit more challenging we are introducing a game structure that allows the teams to interact with each other as they compete.  The game is broken into rounds.  Each round will follow this general format:

• Draw and Review:  I will note your team with the card(s) you draw and notify you of any effects that will take place this round (depending on your response).


• Play and Discard:  Your captain will note me with the card(s) you choose to play, any upkeep you choose to pay, and which cards you choose to discard to end the round at five cards again.


• Write and Submit:  Your team will write and post your poems as deviations.  Your captain will then note me thumbs for each in order.


• Resolution and Movement:  If your team completed the round with your renga intact, and met any additional requirements for the round, your team moves forward one space.  Otherwise you remain where you currently are.  Other effects that change your position are then taken into account.  Track your progress on the event journal.

The cards fall into the following categories:

• Boons add to your movement


• Hazards subtract from your movement


• Challenges place an additional requirement on your poems


• Shrines allow you to cast Boons, Hazards, and Challenges at other teams


• Charms allow you to block a Boon, Hazard, or Challenge cast at your team


• Spirits affect game play in interesting ways


• Inspiration are used for upkeep of Shrines and Charms (if so desired), and for other card effects.  They are also there to lend inspiration in case you get writer's block.

The initial play order has been decided randomly.  After the first round this order will follow the pace each team completes their round of poems.  A round will take no less than one day to complete, so any team could possibly complete thirty rounds before the month is up.  Since we all have lives to lead each team receives a Matsuri card in their sideboard that grants them one free movement without any poems or effort.  Use it where your team sees fit.  Beyond that if you are unable to participate during any particular day you will want to coordinate with your team captain, who will then stand in for you and write an addition poem to complete the round.  If there is a timezone difference between your teammates it would make sense to work out an order that uses it to your advantage.

At the beginning of play each team selects the first Inspiration card, by initial order, as a suggestion to get you started.  You may choose to write your first round following this poem or start from scratch.

I will note each team with their initial hand and first drawn card.  An index of available cards is provided for reference and strategy.


Remember
Like any game it will take a couple of rounds to get the hang of it.  I will provide  game play suggestions to each team during this period to get you moving.  If you have any questions note me.  Remember that the most important goal is to have fun writing with each other.


Teams

• The Black Diamond Dragon competes for the-haiku-club under Captain RedDragonfly
  
          


• The Orchid Dragon competes for Multhaiku under Captain Lady-Yume
  
        


• The Jade Dragon competes for Waka-Alive under Captain Weidenlied
  
          

Race Progress   

• |——————————————————————o|  Orchid Dragon
• |—————————————————————o   |  Black Diamond Dragon
• |———————————————o                     |  Jade Dragon

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Round 1

• Orchid Dragon begins with inspiration from Chiyo-Jo:
     butterflies,
  as the girl walks along,
     before and behind her.


• Black Diamond Dragon begins with inspiration from Raizan:
     green the young herbs
  in the fields of snow,
     green, oh, how green!


• Jade Dragon eschews their prompt

               Orchid                     Black Diamond                       Jade
Dragonboat race Renga 1- spring snowspring snow
lingering pale
in the shadows Gryllidae discordevening chorus
near the banyan tree
one cricket, off key
Dragon Boat Renga Race - 1 - Snowdropwhite snowdrops
born of winter
bearing spring Renga tree - Dragon Boat raceSkies are burning
the sun kisses the tree tops
with fiery lips
Dragonboat race Renga 1- spring snowsnow uncovers
in the springtime
-sky larks Dragon Boat Race Renga Tree I - Treesno wind -
still its mark
upon branches

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Round 2

• Orchid Dragon accepts the Mono No Aware challenge for round 2
• Black Diamond Dragon accepts the 5-7-5 challenge for round 2
• Jade Dragon accepts the Kanjaku challenge for round 2

               Orchid                     Black Diamond                       Jade
Dragonboat race Renga 2- Meadowlarkmeadowlark warble
far away across the fields
an answering note -pretty thorns-tangled aromas
a sirens song
twice removed
Dragon Boat Renga Race - 2 - gold anniversarybirds cooing softly
remind them of years ago
they're still holding hands Dragon Boat Race Renga Tree II - Haircuttangles smell like
long ago, today
I cut the past
The Drum
Their intertwined hearts
beating Icarus' wings-
fly true forever Dragon Boat Renga - OrangesBitter scales
envelop sweet innocence
in bright colours

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Round 3

• Orchid Dragon accepts the Spring Kigo challenge for round 3
• Black Diamond Dragon plays The Iron Bell shrine and issues the Renso challenge to Jade Dragon for round 3
• Jade Dragon accepts the Renso challenge and plays the Sacred Camphor Tree shrine, issuing a hazard to Black Diamond Dragon for round 4

               Orchid                     Black Diamond                       Jade
Dragonboat race Renga 3- Meltythunderstorm by candlelight-
snuggled on the couch
sharing ice cream -signs and wonders-stars align
as Fates choose
more interesting paths
Dragon Boat Renga Race - Round 3 - Cold treatdog's days of summer
sticky fingers and messy face
childhood memories Moonlit skiesOn the pond's ground
bathing in the darkness of the night
a white pebble
Philosophers Stone
Within my rock pool
hearing the tide draw closer
I examine life Dragon Boat Race Renga Tree III - Nightdrunken wretch
scrounging low this night
jollily sings

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Round 4

• Orchid Dragon accepts the Element of Fire challenge for round 4
• Black Diamond Dragon plays the Lucky Cricket charm and blocks Jade Dragon's hazard, using the extra action afforded by this charm to issue the Hosomi challenge to Jade Dragon for round 4
• Jade Dragon plays the Masamune Sword charm and blocks Black Diamond Dragon's Hosomi challenge, deflecting it back to Black Diamond Dragon for round 6

               Orchid                     Black Diamond                       Jade
Dragonboat race Renga 4- Buzzsound of the ocean
almost covers
mosquitoes buzzing -Talisman-Splintered soul
Bound by echoes
A cold fire burning
Dragon Boat Renga Race - Round 4 - mermaid dreamsocean life
i stand and watch
my voice for a tail Temple statueFrozen time
hidden by ivy's beauty
a guiding spirit
Dragon Boat Renga Race - Round 4 - Red HeavenBlood sunset
swimming siren
-have I died? Dragon Boat Race Renga Tree IV - Sepulcherwalls covered in dust -
atoms of an ancient priest
anoints his temple

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Round 5

• Orchid Dragon accepts the Element of Wood challenge for round 5
• Black Diamond Dragon welcomes the spirit of Izumi Shikibu
• Jade Dragon advances themselves and Orchid Dragon one additional space with the Izumo Taisha shrine

               Orchid                     Black Diamond                       Jade
Dragonboat race Renga 5- blood moonred moon
over the smoky sea
California wildfire Dragon Boat Renga IV - MeditationBeyond the shadows
of my orchard in full bloom
the prayer beads glitter
Dragon Boat Renga Race - R 5 - first world problemNorth Carolina sun
blood-boiling heat in black car
road trip woes -Blessings-outside of time
grounded in truth
shaped by dreaming
Renga Race - R 5 - Next Stop ParadiseHeated argument
on I15 to Vegas
vows that summer night Dragon Boat Race Renga Tree V - Imaginationprecambrian days
waiting for an explosion
of brilliant thought

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Round 6

• Orchid Dragon accepts the Renso challenge for round 6
• Black Diamond Dragon accepts Jade Dragon's Hosomi challenge for round 6
• Jade Dragon advances once more after enjoying some Zongzi Dumplings, and plays their Matsuri card to advance once without writing.

               Orchid                     Black Diamond                       Jade
Dragonboat race Renga 6- desert beautyafter the other blooms
have come and gone
cactus flowers in the night Sun-PotionA handful of sunshine
I spread magic with my fingers
molten luck
Dragon Boat Renga Race - Round 6 - cactusprickly exterior
hides soothing heart
truth well hidden -spectrum-refracted brilliance
split between hues
and personalities
The Last Man Standing
The Giant Cardon;
lone sheriff of this desert
never quick to draw moonlit icea handful of snow
covering the silent world
with frozen beauty

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Round 7

• Orchid Dragon accepts the New Year Kigo challenge
• Black Diamond Dragon accepts the Classical Renga challenge
• Jade Dragon accepts the Karumi challenge in round 8

               Orchid                     Black Diamond                       Jade
Dragonboat race Renga 7a-little giftsafter a long walk
numb my feet in icemelt stream-
magpie feather falls Dragon Boat Race Renga Tree VI - Winterlittle cotyledon
protected from the cold
by a layer of sleet
Dragon Boat Renga Race - Round 7.1 - bathing timewet footsteps in scorching sand -
sparrow and i went swimming They called them weedsColourful dreams
under perfectly cut lawn
killed with poison
Dragon Boat Renga Race - Round 7.1 - PricelessAfternoon ramble
with sunshine and swallow song
my Rolex worthless improprietythreatening upstarts
offending perfect order
pull up leaf and root
                                          Dragonboat race Renga 7b- a very good yearSinatra on my headphones-
cars hiss past through summer rain
                                          Dragon Boat Renga Race - R 7.2 - Beep, beep, beepthunderstorm warnings -
this car no match for nature -
I relearn praying
                                          Dragon Boat Renga Race - R 7.2 - ObsoleteThe invention of the wheel-
the old horse led to pasture

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Round 8

• Orchid Dragon advances themselves and Jade Dragon one additional space with the Izumo Taisha shrine
• Black Diamond Dragon continues on
• Jade Dragon welcomes the spirit fo Qu Yuan and advances two spaces

               Orchid                     Black Diamond                       Jade
  Dragonboat race Renga 8- high horsethe ground so hard
my horse grows twice as tall-
when I am nervous They called them weedsColourful dreams
under perfectly cut lawn
killed with poison
  Dragon Boat Renga Race - Round 8 - companywhen nerves need soothing:
hot tea, long bath, good book -
no use though with spider sighting -dandelions-more than hope
life roots are deep
thriving where many do not
  Dragon Boat Renga Race - Round 8 - AquaphobiaLike Spiderman
my cat clings to the sides
-just want to clean you Dragon Boat Race Renga Tree VII - Illusionto hope:
it is to be
condemned

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Round 9

• Orchid Dragon plays the Lotus Blossom charm and blocks Black Diamond Dragon's hazard
• Black Diamond Dragon plays the Floating Torii shrine, issuing a Broken Oar hazard to Orchid Dragon for round 9.  The Floating Torii shrine then passes to Jade Dragon in round 6.

               Orchid                     Black Diamond                       Jade
  Dragonboat race Renga 9- heed my warninglittle jumping spider
on the windowsill-
beware of cats!
  Dragon Boat Renga Race - Round 9 - master of catssharp clawed cat
keep those nails away from me
I control the cat snacks!
  Dragon Boat Renga Race - Round 9 - LemmingsKids on trampolines
test my catlike reflexes
-no fingernails left

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Round 10

• Orchid Dragon advances after enjoying some Xionghuang wine
• Black Diamond Dragon continues on

               Orchid                     Black Diamond                       Jade
  Dragonboat race Renga 10- it is not raininghuge thunderclap-
squeezed onto the windowsill
cats still won't come inside
Dragonboat Race Renga 10-2: Leaf Shadows   leaf shadows
ripple in the rising tide —
   sailing on moonlight  Dragon Boat Renga Race - R 10 - it's not rainingheat advisory
safe sun time minus five -
if only it would rain
  Renga Race - R 10 - I Feel a Drought ComingFeel a spot or two-
I cannot see any clouds
-crop spraying again

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Round 11

• Orchid Dragon plays the Waterfall Shrine, issuing a Waves hazard to Black Diamond Dragon for round 12.  The Waterfall Shrine then passes to Black Diamond Dragon in round 13.
• Black Diamond Dragon accepts the Kanjaku challenge for round 11

               Orchid                     Black Diamond                       Jade
  Dragonboat race Renga 11a- raindropsilent street
summer afternoon
- a drop of rain
Dragonboat Race Renga 11-2: Across the Sky   laughing
i chase a falling star
   across the sky —  Dragonboat race Renga 11b- Cyndeth's housesilver streaks of rain-
sunset
from the porch swing
  Easy Listening
The stoop it whispers
with a delicate patter
-the evening pink

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Round 12

• Orchid Dragon welcomes the spirit of Du Fu.  Each team draws three cards.
• Black Diamond Dragon plays the Chime Stone charm and uses it to block and capture Orchid Dragon's hazard.

               Orchid                     Black Diamond                       Jade
  Dragonboat race Renga 12- fortsunset over the sea-
my moving boxes
stacked like a fortress
  Dragon Boat Renga Race - Round 12 - airplaneflying home bound
belongings packed tightly
as tight as we in here
Dragonboat Race Renga 12-3: Floating   lifted by your voice
above the din of life —
   floating free  Box Marked Home
Captured prisoners
within cardboard box castles
-we plan our escape

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Round 13

• Orchid Dragon accepts the Element: Air challenge
• Black Diamond Dragon plays the Waterfall Shrine, issuing a Waves hazard to Orchid Dragon for round 14.  The Waterfall Shrine then passes to Jade Dragon in round 8.

               Orchid                     Black Diamond                       Jade
  Dragonboat race Renga 13- Highway 405traffic jam clears
everyone accelerates for a mile
into the next traffic jam
Dragonboat Race Renga 13-2: Akomeogi   birds soar in the breeze —
dark dots on a fan
   of wispy clouds  Dragon Boat Renga Race - Round 13 - Five pmqueuing at the traffic light
hurrying home after a long day
the geese waddle homewards
  Road Rage
Rush hour migration-
stuck on the northern bypass
my mood has gone south

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Round 14

• Orchid Dragon plays the Flaming Pearl charm and blocks Black Diamond Dragon's hazard
• Black Diamond Dragon advances after enjoying some Xionghuang wine, and plays their Matsuri card to advance once without writing.

               Orchid                     Black Diamond                       Jade
  Dragonboat race Renga 14-westdriving into the sunset
I don't need to see
to know I'm going home
Dragonboat Race Renga 14-2: Frosty Reception   rain turns to snow
as temperatures plummet —
   flurry of footprints  Dragon Boat Renga Race - Round 14 - AmbiguityHomebound
I wish I was there yet
And still on the road
  Dragon Boat Renga Race - Round 14 - FoibleDaily drudgery-
something to look forward to
coming home to roost

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Round 15

• Orchid Dragon accepts the Yugen challenge
• Black Diamond Dragon plays the Inari Shrine, issuing another Waves hazard to Orchid Dragon for round 16.

               Orchid                     Black Diamond                       Jade
Dragonboat race Renga 15- henpeckedfree range chickens
ranging all over the barn
horses step carefully
Dragonboat Race Renga 15-2: Knocking on the Sky   stretching out
beneath the vaulted sky
   night deepens — Dragon Boat Renga Race - Round 15 - Net mensen!chicks growing fast
mother's wings no longer keep them warm
empty nest syndrome
Dragon Boat Renga Race - Round 15 - SurrogateThe little sparrow
blind to the great tragedy
tends the cuckoos cries

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Round 16

• Orchid Dragon accepts the Sabi challenge
• Black Diamond Dragon continues on

               Orchid                     Black Diamond                       Jade
Dragonboat race Renga 16-impostorhigh heels black dress
makeup and hair dye-
who IS that in the mirror?
Dragon Boat Renga Race - Round 16 - Ecco homomy frail fragile frame
but one of the stars in this universe -
a star nevertheless
Dragonboat Race Renga 16-3: Fading Away   fingertips touching
everything else fades away —
   sitting in silence Serenity
The still lake;
her flowing gown of sequins
revealed at night

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Round 17

• Orchid Dragon accepts the Autumn Kigo challenge
• Black Diamond Dragon continues on

               Orchid                     Black Diamond                       Jade
Dragonboat race Renga 17- sin citylong day's drive-
the sparkling city
fills the valley
Dragonboat Race Renga 17-2: River Crossing   moonlight shimmers
with each dip of the paddle
   river crossing Dragon Boat Renga Race - Round 17 - After the triptower sky-rising -
my home within reach -
bringing memories of the road
Humbling Home
The pilgrims return;
beneath these glass megaliths
is where my hat lay

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Round 18

• Orchid Dragon welcomes the spirit of Kobayashi Issa, advancing themselves two additional spaces, Black Diamond Dragon two additional spaces, and Jade Dragon one additional space.

               Orchid                     Black Diamond                       Jade

Dragonboat Race Renga 18-2: Adrift   floating
between sea and sky —
   this boat and i

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The drums are silent, the oars are stored.  Three dragons sleep beside the shore.

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