Marked for Death: A Rational Naruto Quest

faflec · Apr 18, 2022

RandomOTP said:
Yu Kagome realizes he is Goketsu Kagome, and glitches the Paths. The Watchers have to turn MfD off and on again to fix it.

KAGOME: *dies due to remembering being switched off and on*

WATCHERS: *repeatedly tries to fix Kagome, to no avail*

REALITY: -what the fuck-

Lord Marshal · Apr 18, 2022

[X] Training Plan - Hazo: FOOM Step
[X] Training Plan - Kei: Alertness Support
[X] Training Plan - Akane: FOOM Step

Veedrac · Apr 18, 2022

Shrooms said:
>using them has a Sealing TN that increases with complexity of the paired Seal, with veterancy bonus
"You're supposed to Twizzle the Fobuloid not Fizzle the Twobuloid!"

Apologies if this was already stated, I'm on my phone right now.

Sir Stompy · Apr 18, 2022

[X] Training Plan - Hazo: FOOM Step
[X] Training Plan - Kei: Alertness Support
[X] Training Plan - Akane: FOOM Step

Shrooms · Apr 18, 2022

Veedrac said:
Apologies if this was already stated, I'm on my phone right now.

It hasn't been stated, that was my proposed fix for what you mentioned

I will admit it's based on a selfish desire for Hazou to have a trick only he can use

Sir Stompy · Apr 18, 2022

eaglejarl said:
Nope, didn't forget. You finished it, barely, on the last roll.

Gotcha, do we get to know the results of the first two rolls? Also, separately, how does Hazou feel about the Calligraphy and Sealing checks for the ARS research? Completed them easily? Struggled with Calligraphy? Calligraphy was easier than expected?

Emstar · Apr 18, 2022

Shrooms said:
It hasn't been stated, that was my proposed fix for what you mentioned

I will admit it's based on a selfish desire for Hazou to have a trick only he can use

What if it only works with seals that you have personally made?

Veedrac · Apr 18, 2022

MMKII said:
What if it only works with seals that you have personally made?

My original expectation was that it would be set at creation time to some other premade seal you had on hand, and anything above that is just bonus.

Even limiting it to just your own seals, but chosen dynamically, a single seal acts as a remote control for any other seals you own on the battlefield, from any other team member. They can chain arbitrarily to any distance. This is significantly less instawin than being able to remotely detonate any seal whatsoever, but the short supply of sealmasters means a lot of people use our seals, and nobody would know who set them off. So... you know. I don't think we would do that, but Ami would, so it's still worth noting.

Cariyaga · Apr 18, 2022

Veedrac said:
My original expectation was that it would be set at creation time to some other premade seal you had on hand, and anything above that is just bonus.

Even limiting it to just your own seals, but chosen dynamically, a single seal acts as a remote control for any other seals you own on the battlefield, from any other team member. They can chain arbitrarily to any distance. This is significantly less instawin than being able to remotely detonate any seal whatsoever, but the short supply of sealmasters means a lot of people use our seals, and nobody would know who set them off. So... you know. I don't think we would do that, but Ami would, so it's still worth noting.

How would they chain arbitrarily?

Additionally, keying the seals to them has to actually be done. You can't just choose a seal within 25 meters and activate it; EJ has said that you need to push the seals physically together to pair them.

Emstar · Apr 18, 2022

My read of "pair" is that you literally just slap ARS Element 2 onto whatever seal you want activated, and that activating ARS Element 1 will propagate the signal through the whole chain until the seal you ultimately want activated gets activated.

I don't think theres any funky bluetooth pairing going on at infusion we need to worry about where we need the target seals present or anything. The intent was always "Do the thing LBF does, except instead of a tripwire give me a detonator."

Veedrac · Apr 18, 2022

MMKII said:
My read of "pair" is that you literally just slap ARS Element 2 onto whatever seal you want activated, and that activating ARS Element I will propagate the signal through the whole chain until the seal you ultimately want activated gets activated.

This is a two element seal? That is completely not how I read it.

Cariyaga said:
EJ has said that you need to push the seals physically together to pair them.

Hmm, so what does "choice of pair is made at time of use" mean? Do you pair with an arbitrary number of seals, then select one of those pairs when it is triggered? Or does it mean you can do the physical pairing thing whenever, but there is no choice made when it is triggered?

Shrooms · Apr 18, 2022

eaglejarl said:
Kumafuwafuwa, Leader of the Bear Clan, was a monster from legend. Ten feet tall while standing on all fours. Legs thicker than some trees. Claws half the length of Hazō's forearms. When he walked, he left pawprints deep enough to trip on, which smoothed themselves away within seconds so that he left no trace. More importantly, he somehow moved through thick underbrush without disturbing a leaf or making a sound. If you were in his forest and he wanted you dead, you would never hear him coming.

I freaking love boss summons. So cool. I also love bears so this guy gets like a 2x bonus

eaglejarl said:
"Mareo has agreed to see you."

I knew the gifts of chocolate would wear him down eventually

eaglejarl said:
"Cannai told you that your travel between Paths has been blocked?" The words could have been curious, or verifying, or many other things that lacked any trace of a threat

Well that's terrifying... but it makes sense if Kumafuwafuwa wanted to delete Hazou without interference

eaglejarl said:
"Mareo has been my friend for decades. I wish to be very clear about this: if you so much as raise a hand to him, I will kill you before you can blink. Asking Cannai to block your travel wasn't necessary, it was merely to impress upon you the seriousness of this situation."

the bears look after their own... they're almost as cool as the dog clan in that regard

Looking forward to when Cannai does the same thing for someone wanting to talk to Hazou

eaglejarl said:
"Time is a thief for humans," Kumafuwafuwa said. "It steals your strength, steals your memories. Mareo is old, and time has stolen much from him. There are days where he is the brilliant and funny friend that I met over sixty years ago. There are days when he is...not. When he doesn't know me, and seeks to make contract once again. This morning was a good day, but it can turn without warning. When it does, he will be confused and afraid."

Revulsion flushed through Hazō's body, followed instantly by shame and guilt. It was instinctive, an animal's desire to back away from a sick fellow lest the problem be catching, lest Hagino's incapacity infect Hazō himself. Rationally, he knew that wasn't how it worked. 'Wandering wits' they called it, and it happened to many people. It was a natural part of aging, much like the loss of weight, loss of strength, the sagging of skin and the spreading of liver spots. That made it no less disturbing.

That's really sad. Interestingly it's the sort of thing Orochimaru is afraid of based on his interlude, so he might actually know how to help, but uh... not sure I want to ask him for it.

eaglejarl said:
He was the oldest person Hazō had ever seen. He was bald as a newborn and had skin the brown of wet clay. He hands were gnarled roots, joints swollen with the years. His movements were stiff but he still galloped and flapped his arms like a child. After twenty steps he spun around, head tilted to the sky, arms still flapping as he crowed like a rooster. He lurched but caught himself with the cane that had been looped over his shoulder.

ah yes, Kagome dance #5. Keeps away the demon bees trying to make honey from your Sealing ink

eaglejarl said:
"Why so we did! You're that Gookettle brat! You work with the Kitties, right?"

Surprisingly accurate

eaglejarl said:
"I want to talk to the boy alone. Shoo. Shoo!"

...when's the last time he's actually talked to another human? I wonder if only hanging out with bears has been lonely

eaglejarl said:
The Bear Lord cocked his head, amusement and a slight hint of annoyance radiating off of him. "You are banishing me in my own lands, Mareo? I think perhaps you misunderstand our relationship."

Finally, another person we can discuss treason with!

eaglejarl said:
Kumafuwafuwa snorted. "There is no Chicken Clan, Mareo. I've been telling you that for forty years."

[*] ask Kagome about the existence of the Chicken Scroll

eaglejarl said:
At my age the formalities get boring.

Hazou: At MY age the formalities get boring

eaglejarl said:
Hazō considered making a thing of it, then decided to let it go. The old man was clearly messing with him.

Yay! Hazou doesn't suck too much at socials!

eaglejarl said:
"Orgy-induced heart attack," Hazō said, straight-faced. "I've arranged to have several attractive twenty-something female Summoners come by and pleasure you until your heart explodes."

Good guy Hazou trying to help his new friend with his wandering wits condition

eaglejarl said:
Tell 'em to bring some decent brandy with 'em, too. If my heart doesn't go, maybe they can get my liver."

"I shall make a note, sir."

"Good, good. Apple brandy, mind you. Or maybe some kind of berry. None of that carrot

Perhaps we should bring drinks next visit? Along with Icha Icha, of course. "My dad wrote these btw"

eaglejarl said:
"But enough of that! Tell me about the Human Path, boy. I haven't been back there in ages. Is Ioannis still trying to swing west?"

"Ioannis, sir?"

"You know—ruler of those stabby people with the spears." He shook his head at the memory. "Swear by the fish, those guys could control the damn weather. Every time they came to scout us there was thick fog across half the country. Every time we went to scout them it would pour down rain, but only where we were. Might as well have been carrying a beacon on our heads."

"I don't know anything about that, sir."

"Good, good. Those crazy bastards over in Key must have fended him off."

👁️

eaglejarl said:
"Filthy, disgusting, cold, rainy place. People always nagging at you—oh, Mareo, please go kill all the people in that tribe over there! Oh, Mareo, please go hunt down this wild animal! Oh, Mareo, please go scout out this filthy cave that we found that leads deep into the earth and has some kind of horrific doom fortress thing in it!"

👁️ 👁️ 👁️ 👁️ 👁️

eaglejarl said:
This was a solid plan. Concise, well thought out, took the social niceties and chain of command into account.

Dopamine 📈📈📈📈

eaglejarl said:
Mareo is a blast.

Noted (and agreed)

faflec · Apr 18, 2022

Shrooms said:
Noted (and agreed)

faflec.evil: We should make him into one.

Kiba · Apr 18, 2022

If we make a vibration seal to pair it with the ARS seal, it will be very useful tool for covert communication.

Mari will love it!

Cariyaga · Apr 18, 2022

So... we were discussing last night that it might be possible to solve the dementia with Ino's help, either directly or by teaching him the YTJ.

It'd take a lot of effort, but it would be a nice thing to do.

RandomOTP · Apr 18, 2022

Cariyaga said:
So... we were discussing last night that it might be possible to solve the dementia with Ino's help, either directly or by teaching him the YTJ.

It'd take a lot of effort, but it would be a nice thing to do.

I'm down. Let's ask Ino?

Black King · Apr 18, 2022

@eaglejarl @Velorien

I have a few questions concerning future sealwork/trying to plan future seal research.

1. How tough does Hazou think MARS will be, now that ARS is complete?
2. How tough would CATEARS (chakra adhesion ARS) be?
3. Does Hazou have access to the lightning seal from the Cloud Jounin? If so, where on the scale does it fall? Easy? Hard? Medium?
4. Where does Hazou put Banshee Fuckers on the scale of Easy to Hard?
5. Same with the Force Wall Seal?

Thanks ahead of time.

coldcutconvict · Apr 18, 2022

eaglejarl said:
Kumafuwafuwa, Leader of the Bear Clan, was a monster from legend. Ten feet tall while standing on all fours. Legs thicker than some trees. Claws half the length of Hazō's forearms. When he walked, he left pawprints deep enough to trip on, which smoothed themselves away within seconds so that he left no trace. More importantly, he somehow moved through thick underbrush without disturbing a leaf or making a sound. If you were in his forest and he wanted you dead, you would never hear him coming.

Bosses are scary. Casual demesne flexing never fails to trample all over normal threat assessment.

eaglejarl said:
"Time is a thief for humans," Kumafuwafuwa said. "It steals your strength, steals your memories. Mareo is old, and time has stolen much from him. There are days where he is the brilliant and funny friend that I met over sixty years ago. There are days when he is...not. When he doesn't know me, and seeks to make contract once again. This morning was a good day, but it can turn without warning. When it does, he will be confused and afraid."

This description is a kick in the gut. Want to help this guy without making it transactional. Without offending the Bears, because it seems they do a lot to care for him already and would not appreciate the implication of deficiency. Start by asking for tips after caring for our elderly, given how rare they are. Maybe ease him into being a surrogate penpal grandpa for kids on the estate without grandparents.

eaglejarl said:
He was the oldest person Hazō had ever seen. He was bald as a newborn and had skin the brown of wet clay. He hands were gnarled roots, joints swollen with the years. His movements were stiff but he still galloped and flapped his arms like a child. After twenty steps he spun around, head tilted to the sky, arms still flapping as he crowed like a rooster. He lurched but caught himself with the cane that had been looped over his shoulder.

Great description. Like a living museum exhibit of a nomad who spent their whole life laboring under the sun.

eaglejarl said:
"What's your name, boy?" While he was asking, Hagino toed off his sandals and plucked a blade of grass between his toes, waving it back and forth like a festival flag. His feet were filthy and he hadn't cut his toenails in...apparently ever. Hazō did his best to ignore it.

Get him some shoes? Soap. What other things could he want? Puzzles to occupy his mind. Play him his favorite songs.

eaglejarl said:
"Good, good. I like you, Huzu. You've got balls. Besides, it wouldn't work. I haven't been back there in years." He shuddered. "Filthy, disgusting, cold, rainy place. People always nagging at you—oh, Mareo, please go kill all the people in that tribe over there! Oh, Mareo, please go hunt down this wild animal! Oh, Mareo, please go scout out this filthy cave that we found that leads deep into the earth and has some kind of horrific doom fortress thing in it!"

Cannot narrow down locations from this. But looking at the map, funny that Neck and Wood are next to each other. Got to be a "who is on first" type joke there.

faflec · Apr 18, 2022

coldcutconvict said:
Cannot narrow down locations from this. But looking at the map, funny that Neck and Wood are next to each other. Got to be a "who is on first" type joke there.

They have some sort of Hiding in Mist jutsu and likely a rain-making response jutsu (hint hint Amegakure).

coldcutconvict · Apr 18, 2022

[X] Training Plan - Hazo: FOOM Step
[X] Training Plan - Kei: Alertness Support
[X] Training Plan - Akane: FOOM Step

faflec said:
They have some sort of Hiding in Mist jutsu and likely a rain-making response jutsu (hint hint Amegakure).

But he mentions Key, Sky and killing people from Demon?

cdeevfrr · Apr 18, 2022

RandomOTP said:
then allow the Dragon's chakra do our work for us.

Ooo, that's a perfect counter for the blob dragon, where we needed some attack that expanded as the blob expanded.

RandomOTP · Apr 18, 2022

coldcutconvict said:
Want to help this guy without making it transactional. Without offending the Bears, because it seems they do a lot to care for him already and would not appreciate the implication of deficiency. Start by asking for tips after caring for our elderly, given how rare they are. Maybe ease him into being a surrogate penpal grandpa for kids on the estate without grandparents.

I precommit votes to this effect. Want my vote? Include furthering this. Won't supercede major things (being mean to Uplift Family, kissing Tsunade, egging Naruto's house, hugging Kei, or other Bad End things), but otherwise it damn near guarantees my vote.

faflec · Apr 19, 2022

coldcutconvict said:
But he mentions Key, Sky and killing people from Demon?

Oh sorry, I was looking at the Ioannis commentary.

eaglejarl · Apr 19, 2022

[

Cariyaga said:
Additionally, keying the seals to them has to actually be done. You can't just choose a seal within 25 meters and activate it; EJ has said that you need to push the seals physically together to pair them.

I expressed a ponwog (Personal Opinion, Not Word of God) on discord and said that @Velorien and I were trying to get spoons together to get the definitions nailed down.

Kiba said:
If we make a vibration seal to pair it with the ARS seal, it will be very useful tool for covert communication.

Mari will love it!

"Covert communication," Mari said. "Yesss. Yes, absolutely. That is definitely what I will use your new remote-controlled vibration seal for. Yup. Now gimme -- oh and you should probably go make a whole bunch more. I need to do very, very thorough testing."

Cariyaga · Apr 19, 2022

eaglejarl said:
I expressed a ponwog (Personal Opinion, Not Word of God) on discord and said that @Velorien and I were trying to get spoons together to get the definitions nailed down.

Yes, sorry for not clarifying that.

Marked for Death: A Rational Naruto Quest

The Shining One

Handsome Gentleperson

The Shining One

Handsome Gentleperson

Handsome Gentleperson