Session 1. (11/7/01)

This multi-part episode makes a quiet introduction to series 3 of The Stone. Opening with an eye-catching montage of flash-forward scenes, we see Kimori (Anthony Hummerston) being given ownership of the School of the Blade, the premier academy in Matsuyama; Mariko (Paul Burton) being given control of Masaki village; Sugiyama (Dave Weaver) returning to his secret ninja base; and two new characters arriving at the gates of Matsuyama Castle looking for employment. The new characters are Komako (Jim Loder), a novice priest and martial artist, and Emiko (Denzil Brown), a young priestess from the Shrine to Shizari, sent by her Head Priest in thanks to Lord Chozo. They are answering adverts to a hiring fair in which Lord Chozo is looking to increase the size of his troubleshooting team. The format is the same as the one used way back in episode one of the first series, that is they must compete with other applicants for places on the team. They are given seven days of intensive training to prepare before three days of competition. Komako spends three days on jujutsu, three days on kusari-jutsu and the final day on atemi waza. Emiko studies the Gnana yoga for four days, shinten (theology) for one day and bojutsu for two days.

Meanwhile, Kimori assumes his new role as owner of the School of the Blade. He calls a staff meeting to discuss the new regime, and finds himself persuaded by the teachers to learn iaijutsu (quick draw) so that the school can teach it in future (quick flash to Sugiyama hearing the news with gleaming eyes!) Kimori makes a quick start learning the skill from Kozo Tsudaze, Lord Chozo's sergeant-at-arms.

Mariko is taken to Masaki village and the peasants introduced to her. She is filled in on the local situation first by Kono the foreman (the villagers are very honoured to work for Mariko, and excited by the revolution and hoping for more prosperous times), and then by Otani Taka the Estate Accountant (village income about 30GP per week, costs 20GP, tax 5GP, wages 4GP, pay 1GP). Mariko immediately gets down to work, coming up with a number of possible schemes to increase productivity over what was achieved during Lord Chozo's reign. She asks Taka to look into alternative markets for the village's rice and millet produce, possibilities of promoting a pilgrim route to the village's Temple of Zocho, converting the estate house into an inn and building a flour mill. Incredibly, she still seems to have time to practice her tantojutsu skill. And despite all this, the village manages to make 3GP on the week.

In the mountains to the east of Matsuyama, Sugiyama returns to his ninja clan base with the five clan members remaining after the attack on Gogo Island and the 34 spouses and children of the Gogo ninja. He immediately initiates a program of training the Gogo ninja and assimilating them into his clan. While this is going on, Nishina and three others thought to have died in the fight turn up at the base, badly injured. Sugiyama helps Kajitori prepare healing mixtures for them, and improves his yogen skill in the process.

Elsewhere it is quiet in Matsuyama. The only news of interest is that Lord Chozo has named Hoshina Oguromaro as head of his army - overlooking Mariko for some reason - and his brother Jyuso is to be his deputy.

But up at the castle the excitement is mounting as the three day contest for places on the troubleshooting team begins. Emiko is pitted against Hizaru, a young priest from Imabari. On the first day they compete through religious debate. Emiko goes first but completely "dries" and fails to impress the judge. However, Hizaru's opening argument is unconvincing and he fails to capitalise. In the next round Emiko makes amends with a dazzling display of theological knowledge; Hizaru's reply is valid but very weak. Emiko then makes blunders on theological and classical knowledge, and Hizaru points out the flaws in both, narrowing the gap considerably. However, from this point on Hizaru has no new arguments, while Emiko makes point after point, and wins the debate by a wide margin.

Komako begins his campaign with an armed contest against Kuroga, a wandering budoka. Komako uses the manrikigusari (weighted chain) while Kuroga is using a jo stick. They are very evenly matched, but Kuroga gets in three strikes while Komako is still sorting out his chain. However, once Komako gets into the swing of things (literally!) he lands five consecutive hits and leaves Kuroga very groggy. However, he rallies and lands some heavy blows from close range, while Komako has difficulty landing anything. Both men are on the point of collapse when Kuroga winds up for the final blow, loses balance, falls over and stuns himself. Komako is declared the winner!

On the following day, the two gakusho are required to demonstrate mastery of the trance. Emiko and Hizaru sit down and begin to meditate. Emiko's approach is to meditate for a long time to be fairly sure of entering a trance; but Hizaru goes for the win with a short meditation and a rather more risky trance attempt. Emiko meditates for a full minute, but Hizaru goes for a trance after less than half a minute. However it fails. He has another go, meditates for half a minute and this time succeeds. But Emiko enters a trance at the first attempt, and the contest is a draw.

The afternoon's entertainment is a jujutsu contest between Komako and Kuroga, both having recovered from the bruising battle the day before. Komako, the slightly faster mover of the two, makes the first move and trips Kuroga. Komako drops on his prone opponent and immobilises him with a secure hold. After a few seconds the judge calls it a "fall" to Komako. They start again. Komako goes for straight grapple, but misses and Kuroga counters with a throw. Komako takes the throw but bounces straight back to his feet. Komako then goes for a throw of his own, and succeeds, but fails in his attempt to take down Kuroga into a hold in the process. Komako then returns to his most successful strategy and trips Kuroga and gets a good hold. Kuroga tries to escape but succeeds only in knocking himself out. Victory once more to Komako.

For the final contest, Emiko must demonstrate her ability to defend herself with a bo staff. Wearing her priestly robes, she steps into the rings in a scene that, as one critic unkindly put it, "… could have come from 'Enter With Drag On'." However, no such suggestions were made at the contest as, after a brief period watching each other, Emiko lands three quick, hefty blows and leaves Hizaru sitting on the turf. A stunning victory!

Later in the day Komako and Kuroga have a karate contest. It starts very evenly, going blow for blow, then Kuroga takes a slight lead. Komako comes back with a few hits, then they exchange blows and the contest is finely balanced. But then Kuroga sweeps at Komako's knee and, with a Trellis-cringing crunch Komako collapses in agony. 12 points of critical damage! This would take more than a massage to heal.

So Emiko managed two wins and a draw while Komako had two wins and one loss but has a serious injury. How would the judges call it?

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