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Marked for Death: A Rational Naruto Quest

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Eh, good enough.

By which I mean the outcome on a scale of favourability. The update was awesome. @Velorien is the best, the nicest QM in any rational Naruto quest.
 
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Velorien said:
Also, if you took me seriously about the Akane thing, which I really didn't think you would, I figured that was when you'd tell me not to do it. I overestimated you enormously and I own that. Mori get taught early on that it's useless to blame reality for not matching your projections."
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He pretty much did tell Ami not to do it:

Velorien said:
"Ami," Hazō said dizzily, clinging to the first thought to cross his mind as if it was a rope bridge keeping him from the abyss of reality, "you can't tell her that. It's not—"
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Afterwards he told Ami to leave because she told him that it was going to be a fake story anyway.
 
Velorien said:
"Yeah," she said. "I get that now. My likeliest projection was that you'd cool down a bit and then come talk to me, and explain in detail all the ways I'd hurt you, like I didn't know, and why that was wrong, and then you'd try to set down ground rules to stop the same thing happening again, and that conversation could go in any one of dozens of useful directions. Also, if you took me seriously about the Akane thing, which I really didn't think you would, I figured that was when you'd tell me not to do it. I overestimated you enormously and I own that. Mori get taught early on that it's useless to blame reality for not matching your projections."
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Is this Ami's way of saying the competing plan both would have had the numerous flaws raised about it, but also was somehow judged by Ami to be a "higher" estimate than the plan we chose?
 
So we're researching the Strobelight Seal, right?
Well I got curious about avoiding glare, and so I went back to find previous mentions of glasses and/or goggles. See here, for example.
eaglejarl said:
I wanted to ask you about your glasses. I've been trying to find something like them and it's been harder than expected. Can I ask where you got them?"

"My clan makes them," Aburame said. "Why? They are related to my family's secret arts."

"Oh," Hazō said, disappointed. "I guess there's no chance of buying some then?"

"In principle, you could," Aburame said. "However, they are quite expensive, as making them is a difficult and time-consuming process. Creating glass clear enough to see through without distortion is challenging, and making ones that will improve vision even more so. There are very few people outside our clan who have Aburame glasses or goggles."

"Well, I don't need my vision improved," Hazō said, lengthening his stride slightly to leap over a tuft of spiky grass. The stalks turned and snapped at him as he went by. "I just want something that would help protect against dust or glare."

"I am happy to arrange a conversation with one of our glassmakers, if you wish. I will comment, however, that making smoked glasses such as the ones I am wearing is even more difficult and therefore expensive."

"Well, I'd still like to talk to them." Inwardly, he cursed. Why couldn't things ever be easy?
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The things are expensive!
eaglejarl said:
Between the two of them, Hazō and Kagome-sensei managed to make snow goggles for the entire team, as well as a pair each for Jiraiya, Mari-sensei, and Akane.
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But we can make this stuff:
This also looks like it restrict vision a fair bit - not something we'd want to wear all day, every day. It's also such a violent fashion disaster that it'll incentivize constant use of Strobelight seals to blind everyone within range, so at least we'll get our money's worth out of them!
 
Yeah, we fucked the pooch. But not with this plan.

...Actually, did we fuck the pooch? I mean most active player comments I saw liked Mari's intervention to some extend, but we didn't actually vote for it. Or for how Hazo would react to it. So I guess we could have talked to Ami earlier, but I don't think there was much of anything to save here ever since we did the subtle mistake of telling Mari at all what happened. And if that s considered a mistake, well, then I guess we shouldn't trust Mari with out problems anymore? Doesn't sound like the right lesson to take here.
 
Velorien said:
Yeah," she said. "I get that now. My likeliest projection was that you'd cool down a bit and then come talk to me, and explain in detail all the ways I'd hurt you, like I didn't know, and why that was wrong, and then you'd try to set down ground rules to stop the same thing happening again, and that conversation could go in any one of dozens of useful directions. Also, if you took me seriously about the Akane thing, which I really didn't think you would, I figured that was when you'd tell me not to do it. I overestimated you enormously and I own that. Mori get taught early on that it's useless to blame reality for not matching your projections."
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...[*eyes my plan*]
[*Sets head on desk*]
I'm just going to stay here for a bit.
 
Rafin said:
Yeah, we fucked the pooch. But not with this plan.

...Actually, did we fuck the pooch? I mean most active player comments I saw liked Mari's intervention to some extend, but we didn't actually vote for it. Or for how Hazo would react to it. So I guess we could have talked to Ami earlier, but I don't think there was much of anything to save here ever since we did the subtle mistake of telling Mari at all what happened. And if that s considered a mistake, well, then I guess we shouldn't trust Mari with out problems anymore? Doesn't sound like the right lesson to take here.
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Don't get too caught up in Ami's bullshit. Her telling us all that was basically her way of saving face. She's basically complaining about the whole thing being a dishonourable cheap shot, which is rich coming from her of all people.

Either way, if Mari didn't retaliate, we'd be stuck in the same holding pattern forever. This way, at least we can potentially move forward.
 
[X] Action Plan: Operation Plot Hook Mambo Number Five Rooty Tooty Spaghooti and Meatballs With a Side of Sealing and A Nice Chianti (In Which We Summon Reanu Keeves).

  • Research Strobelight Seals, some.
  • Spend some time at the Hagoromo estate teaching the kid.
    • Can't spend all the time at your place, of course.
  • Afterwards, see what Lord Hagoromo may or may not know about the various mythological(?) underpinnings of the world, and everything there is to know about the Sage of the Six Paths.
    • Frame as an opportunity to get more educated about the Will of Fire from an expert.
      • (To be honest, thats probably a good idea as well.)
  • Go to Nara Public Library, have three Shadow Clones quickly catalogue a list of potential books related to the Sage and/or Cannai's poem, in list form. Deliver back to Prime. Check books out.
    • Meanwhile have Prime investigate information/maps/stories about known (or rumored) areas of super dense natural chakra — similar to the Forest of Death, Swamp of Death, the Cave near Todoroki, etc. Compile findings in list form/take notes
  • Poke Ino to see if she has anything you can help with yet.
 
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eaglejarl said:
The network is up and running. Trade is only occasional since the Seventh Path clans are not accustomed to interacting with each other. Enma is currently advocating for a simpler form where the Clans do their own negotiating and goods exchange by face-to-face meetings on the Human Path -- e.g., Noburi summons Gamafred (a Toad) and Hazō summons Canabarney (a Dog) and then Gamafred and Canabarney sit down together and hammer out the details of a trade. The representative and their Summoner then go back to the Seventh Path, the Summoner carries the goods back to the Human Path, and they are exchanged. Under this model the Summoners would be paid a flat fee per summoning instead of a percentage of the trade. The other Clans are discussing it and haven't weighed in yet, but it's probably going to pass, since it means that there doesn't need to be a central embassy and the costs to the Clans are more predictable.
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This seems to be solely talking about trade within the Seventh Path? I thought the point was to use the Seventh Path as an intermediary to quickly deliver stuff en masse on the human dimension, taking percentage fees on that.
 
Thread: "We must find a way to invite Ami to Keiko's wedding!"
Lailo: "She's literally standing right behind you."
Thread: "Panic-vote now!"

Thread: "We must pedantically explain basic human relationships to the prodigal social-spec jounin!"
Lailo: "We really don't. This was part of a dance/game and she already knows everything you are about to say."
Thread: "Panic-vote now!"

It's a little disturbing that I seem to be the only one here who has a grasp on The Ami. She is rational, hyper-capable, and just operates on a different goalset. Any plan which involves her and doesn't involve demonstrating a deeper understanding of her, something she couldn't have possibly deduced from available information, or salt and redshort iron is a waste of everybody's time.


eaglejarl said:
You have no idea how much delight that gives me. :>
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Byzantine said:
You have doomed us all, EJ.
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Truly, the End Times are upon us...


Roomba said:
Don't get too caught up in Ami's bullshit. Her telling us all that was basically her way of saving face. She's basically complaining about the whole thing being a dishonourable cheap shot, which is rich coming from her of all people.

Either way, if Mari didn't retaliate, we'd be stuck in the same holding pattern forever. This way, at least we can potentially move forward.
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The Ami does not care about face.


Sentient Tree said:
Clever monkey. :anger:
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You assume that this is not Asuma's doing. Hokage or not, he may need a reminder of the importance of which paw he bites.


MMKII said:
[X] Actiob Plan: Operation Plot Hook Mambo Number Five Rooty Tooty Spaghooti and Meatballs With a Side of Sealing and A Nice Chianti (In Which We Summon Reanu Keeves).
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Nobody ever seems to get the real meaning of that reference...


MMKII said:
This seems to be solely talking about trade within the Seventh Path? I thought the point was to use the Seventh Path as an intermediary to quickly deliver stuff en masse on the human dimension, taking percentage fees on that.
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ARGLEBARGLE
 
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MMKII said:
Well, yes, we can do that too.

I an fine with making a Citizen's Appointment and electing @Lailoken Chief Ami Director.

(You won't have to worry about cursing us because ideally we just chill out until the kid is more interesting.)
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Or you could just use the plan I've been pushing for years to create massive wealth for everybody on both paths.

Also, pretty much the best medications available at the time of the book were irreversible MAOIs. They render the pseudo-neurotransmitter tyramine potentially lethal, so people on them need to avoid food rich in it. The most notorious foods rich in it include liver, beans, and red wine. Lecter would have known this, which adds subtle layers to his threat about boring him while also providing insight into his assessment of agent Starling based on her ability to catch them.

This is good training to think in layers when dealing with a social-spec infinitely smarter than oneself.

Also, I didn't miss your attempt to label me a CAD.
 
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Velorien said:
"There's no training like the real thing," Ami said, brushing him off. "You know it wouldn't have worked if you thought it was a friendly test.
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I've read many a Naruto fanfic where people tried to induce the awakening of the Sharingan in Uchiha by making them fear for the lives in a safe environment.

And apparently so has Ami.
 
[X] Action Plan: Operation Plot Hook Mambo Number Five Rooty Tooty Spaghooti and Meatballs With a Side of Sealing and A Nice Chianti (In Which We Summon Reanu Keeves).
 
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