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Glory of the Emerald Empire (Legend of the 5 Rings Quest)

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[x] *grasp his hand/paw*
[x] ...I am here, Gazat'ken.
[x] If he asks, be honest.
[x] Be there for him.
[x] At some appropriate moment, ask what his name means in Rokugani - possibly wait until he has passed on, and ask the other two.

Also, for Gempukku name - Hiruma Gazatken, in his honor. He laid down his life for the cause, fighting onward even though he was dying, and in so doing saved your clan from a terrible blow. You yourself could not ask for a better fate.

Mind you, I'm sure that naming ourselves after a nezumi (and one we feel bound to defend the honor of), plus the brash disadvantage is going to be *lots* of fun in the more cultured courts, but hey, it feels right.
 
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For our adult name, I suggest something else. I'm not good with japanese names, but there has to be something that alludes to the theme of "Rat" (Hiruma Nezuharu, perhaps).

This still gives us a connection to Gazat'ken and his fellow Nezumi, while maintaining at least a generally socially acceptable name that is still a "Rat" theme, and as such will easily have us run up problems in society, as it should.
 
The point was to honor *this particular* hero of Rokugan, regardless of what others think. Virtue of Loyalty (and perhaps a bit of Courage). Sosuke is... kind of belligerent in defending the things he cares about.

Oh, and sort of speaking of which... when do we pick up Honor/Glory/Experience for all fo the stuff we've been doing? It seems like we'd have a decent amount coming to us.

Glory: Fulfilled the requirements of both the Hiruma Gempukku (admittedly, with the help of some Nezumi) and the Hida (with an Ogre, no less). Also a critical part of the team that brought warning of the Shadowlands attack back to the Crab (there's no way the Nezumi would have been able to take that ogre by themselves).

Honor:
- Compassion: Carrying our little Nezumi buddy across the Shadowlands, keeping him as safe and comfortable as we could.
- Courage: Against the Ogre - not just fighting it, but seeking to hold its attention in order to preserve our allies. Also against that dream guy.
- Duty and Loyalty: quite a lot of it, both to our Clan, and to our allies in the Nezumi
- Sincerity: Carrying through on our promise to take care of little Nezumi buddy.

Experience:
- I honestly have no idea what determines experience in this system, but I'm pretty sure we've earned at least some of it along the way.
 
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It's an interesting sentiment, but I should point out that the ' in Gazat'ken's name represents a squeaking sound that Sosuke can't properly pronounce. He's been making an approximation when speaking their names and the other Nezumi have just been nice enough not to call attention to it.

As for picking up Roleplay rewards, that will be coming soon. You're almost done with this part of the story.
 
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I would prefer we have Souske as the name really, as WK has said hes willing to change things so we had a different one before. It just feels wrong renaming him to me now.
 
We should ask what Gazat'ken's name means and use its Rokugani translation for our own, I think.

Definitely assure him that his name will be remembered, though.

On the subject of remembrance, we might wish to find some way to send word to Mantis lands as to the fate of Yori's ship, and that her soul has moved on. There's probably somebody there who cares, after all.
 
Winged Knight said:
It's an interesting sentiment, but I should point out that the ' in Gazat'ken's name represents a squeaking sound that Sosuke can't properly pronounce. He's been making an approximation when speaking their names and the other Nezumi have just been nice enough not to call attention to it.

As for picking up Roleplay rewards, that will be coming soon. You're almost done with this part of the story.
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Yeah... pretty much figured it was something like that. That's why I left them out of the name.

Yay!

The Sandman said:
We should ask what Gazat'ken's name means and use its Rokugani translation for our own, I think.

Definitely assure him that his name will be remembered, though.

On the subject of remembrance, we might wish to find some way to send word to Mantis lands as to the fate of Yori's ship, and that her soul has moved on. There's probably somebody there who cares, after all.
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It's not quite as... belligerent a remembrance, I suppose, but it works. I agree on the bit about Yori and her ship.
 
I'm still questioning why we would do the naming like that. Like, he did good, its just Im wondering if he really made that much an impression on us that we would name ourself after him for our entire life. Like, maybe doing closest translation as a middle name or similar, but not as our name name.
 
Hm... Yeah, I feel like I'm comfortable keeping with the name we started with.

Or at least, I'm not feeling really compelled to suddenly ditch the name we started with.
 
Sightedjt said:
I'm still questioning why we would do the naming like that. Like, he did good, its just Im wondering if he really made that much an impression on us that we would name ourself after him for our entire life. Like, maybe doing closest translation as a middle name or similar, but not as our name name.
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Well, he did help save the lives of many, many Crab - and did so knowing that he was risking his life to do it. Beyond that? I guess that part of it is that we don't have a feel for Sosuke's history. As far as we're concerned, his life started more or less at his Gempukku, so of course the things that were part of that feel terribly important.

Still, we need a new name - and I'd like it to be something other than Sosuke, because that bit where you give up your childhood name is important. Given that he's casting about for a name to pick, I think it reasonable to at least include some *reference* to honor this fallen warrior who did so much for his Clan.

We should totally ask his fellows what his name means. Vote edited.

Aside from that, I get the impression that Sosuke's pretty much a passionate guy in general, actually.
 
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I just dislike the basic idea behind "doing character generation for names twice, in short succession."

If we'd started off effectively without a name, or been going by a pseudonym or just sorta name-not-mentioned-in-text left-as-blank-spot, and character generation would end when Gempukku ends and then we'd have picked our name for the first time? Yeah, that sounds good.

Otherwise it's like starting a videogame, picking your name, and then having to pick it again 40 minutes into the game lol.


Also, one possible option is retcon; we pick Sosuke for our Gempukku, and our previous name is retcon'd to have been something else.
 
Why WK! Why!

Feels...

Anyway, as much as i like the name "sosuke", you're right, we have to change it, is important in the transition to adulthood.

But for now, we have plenty of time to think about it.

[x] Sirrocco.
 
We actually don't have to change it. The GM overlooked the Gempukku aspect at start; so we can just handwaive in Sosuke as the name we pick all along or something.

Basically -- if you like Sosuke, you can keep it. :)
 
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    • [X] Be there for your friend.


    You reach out and take his hand, grasping it gently. The Nezumi closes his fingers weakly around yours. You get the feeling he's gripping your had as hard as he can, but it is only a feather's touch.

    "I am here, Gazat'ken," you say softly. Your voice is a little hoarse, but you hold back your tears. You are still Samurai. To give in so deeply to your emotions, at least in public, would be shameful. "I'm here, friend."

    "Friend," Gazat'ken says softly. "Yes-yes. Shared food with me… Fought Ogre with me… Friend…"

    Gazat'ken's eyes go wide, and he lurches forward in a wrenching cough. Blood spews from the Nezumi's muzzle, black flecks within the red. Talak'tet takes up a towel and wipes away the fluid, and gently lays a hand on his comrade's shoulder. Gazat'ken reaches up with his other hand, gripping Talak'tet's just as he does yours.

    "Little town is… safe-safe, yes-yes?" Gazat'ken asks. "Made it in time?"

    "Yes," you say softly. You barely notice the Shugenja making his way out of the room and closing the door. All your focus is on the dying Nezumi before you. "You did. Shinsei's Last Hope still stands."

    "That's good-good," Gazat'ken says. "Do you… Think I will be remembered? Will I live… in Yesterday?"

    "Of course," Talak'tet says. "What you have done makes your name worth remembering, Gazat'ken. The Shamans will make sure you are never forgotten."

    "Then it is… good-good," Gazat'ken says slowly. "I stopped… Tomorrow… for a little while… yet…"

    Gazat'ken's grip slackens in your hands, and his arm goes limp. His eyes fog over further, and his mouth hangs open. He is not breathing, is far too still for any living creature. What little life the Nezumi held has flickered out.

    Gazat'ken is dead.

    You're not certain how long you stay there, holding his hand. It could have been minutes, or it might have been hours. You perception of the world is strange as you sit there in silence. You are still so tired, so weak from your march. But you don't care. What you have suffered is nothing. Your pain, your weariness, is but a pebble next to the mountain of Gazat'ken's sacrifice.

    This is not the first death of a friend you have lived through. To be Crab is to know loss. That is why Hantei chose Hida and his followers for this duty. No other Clan could suffer the reality of death day in and day out. No other Clan could bear the weight of this duty.

    But even still, as you sit there with your head bowed, it is so very hard.

    The door to the room slides open, but you do not turn around. You are so weary. All you want to do is rest, to sleep and hopefully not dream. But you know you cannot. You know there are still responsibilities left that you must perform.

    "The Honorable Daimyo of the Kuni Family, Kuni Mayu, desires to speak with you, Hiruma Sosuke," a man's voice says behind you. It is soft, respectful of the moment, but unyielding all the same. "I am here to take you to her."

    [] Write in.
     
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  • Threadmarks
    • [X] Go. Bid Talak'tet farewell.
    -[X] They will tell us what it's about when they wish us to know. We will go quietly.
     
    [X] Go. Bid Talak'tet farewell.
    -[x] If its not too presumptuous, ask what this is about on the way.
     
    [X] Go. Bid Talak'tet farewell.
    -[x] If its not too presumptuous, ask what this is about on the way.
     
    [X] Go. Bid Talak'tet farewell.
    -[x] If its not too presumptuous, ask what this is about on the way.

    Would it be presumptuous to ask? I don't know enough about the culture to know whether it would be.
     
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