Battle Initiative + Water Approach
Initiative is TN 1 Command check by the commander. If you succeed add + bonus successes to their total initiative.
After you have rolled initiative in the Water Stance: None
Details
At the start of the battle, the Commander selects the army's strategic objective for the round.

A battle leader's initiative value is based on their state of preparedness when the conflict began.
  • If the commander was ready for the conflict, each leader's base initiative value is their focus attribute.
  • If the commander was unprepared (such as when surprised), each leader's base initiative value is their vigilance attribute.

For a Mass Battle, each character makes a TN 1 Command check. If they succeed on their Initiative check, they add 1 to their base initiative value, plus an additional amount equal to their bonus successes. 

Then the leader with the highest initiative results if their army makes the first move or waits. If two leaders have the same initiative the result, the one with the lower honor must have their cohort make the first move. One at a time, each leader takes their action, then the round is completed.

Any characters arriving late make a TN2 Command check to enter.
 
Opportunity Uses
*
On an initiative check, assess the qualities of all terrain in the scene.
*
Remove 1 fatigue.
*
Add a kept Ring Dice set to an * result to your next Social check before the end of the scene.
 
Opportunity Uses
*
 If you failed, determine the easiest way to accomplish the task you were attempting (skill and approach).
*+
Remove 1 strife you gained from this check per * spent this way.
**
Provide assistance to the next character to attempt a check to accomplish something similar
*
Remove 2 strife from yourself.
*+
Perform the task efficiently, completing it more quickly or saving supplies. Extra * further reduces the time or materials expended.
**
Spot an interesting physical detail present in your environment not directly related to your check. At the GM’s discretion, you may establish a piece of terrain or a mundane object nearby.
Water Initiative Opportunities
Tactical Assessment (Rank 2 Kata)
Activation: When you make an Initiative (Water) check:
*  Choose a piece of terrain in the scene. Until the start of your first turn, it counts as having the Obscuring quality for Attack action checks targeting you and your allies.
Special Circumstance Opportunities
In Shadowlands
**+ By luck or careful scavenging, you are able to find a useful item not yet corrupted by the Shadowlands. Such items have a maximum rarity of 3, plus 1 for each additional ** spent. The GM should modify this depending on the exact nature of the item as well.
 Against Tainted Threats
* You adapt yourself to better fight the corrupted power before you. Once before the end of current the game session you may either reduce the TN of a check to resist a Tainted power, such as a mahō technique, assailing you by 1 or increase the TN of another character’s check to target or affect you with such a power by 1.
While Tainted
** You briefly become fluid in mind or body, shaking off disorientation or even injury. You remove one of the following conditions: Dazed, Disoriented, Immobilized, Intoxicated, Lightly Wounded, or Prone.