Remove ads

Marked for Death: A Rational Naruto Quest

Reader mode
Oneiros said:
Ikeda
  • Arrange another meeting at her leisure, should she be willing
  • Ask about her experience in Sand
    • Use missing-nin experience as excuse - curiosity about what a normal ninja life is like
    • See what she knows about the civilian experience
  • Trade story for story if necessary, but don't give more than she does
    • DO NOT SAY ANYTHING ABOUT HOT SPRINGS AND MOUNTAIN AND ENTRY TO LEAF
  • Give a brief explanation of uplift philosophy
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

Can we also give her a post-interaction survey?
 
Oneiros said:
How do people feel about trying to track down a copy of Akatsuki's book?
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Well, you know my answer to that.
firestorm440 said:
Can we also give her a post-interaction survey?
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Not sure. We don't want to do anything weird with her lest someone decides to look at what happened this update in a new light. Post-interaction surveys include questions like "how confident are you that Hazou is not secretly plotting against you?"; Yog-Sothoth forbid someone takes them seriously.
Kashiwabara-sensei said:
'Once you have snatched victory from the water dragon's maw, do not make a second trip to obtain defeat as well'
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
 
Last edited:
We'll absolutely have to give Ami a survey with a parting "You can return it next time".

TaliesinSkye said:
I think some of you are a little too worried about Ami. Yes, she's disturbingly competent, but to the best of our knowledge so far what she wants is compatible with what we want. We should get into bed with her as soon as possible.

...err, so to speak. Or literally, whatever.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

It would be absolutely hilarious if Ami's angle of attack is seduction and Keiko's nightmare comes true. Lethal, but hilarious.
 
Roomba said:
We'll absolutely have to give Ami a survey with a parting "You can return it next time".



It would be absolutely hilarious if Ami's angle of attack is seduction and Keiko's nightmare comes true. Lethal, but hilarious.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Clearly it wasn't a nightmare, it was Ami's planning sessions with the Mori voice leaking through to Keiko.

Also, I think we should stop doing the survey thing. It was a good joke but if it goes on too long it starts to make Hazou look like a mental patient.
 
TaliesinSkye said:
Also, I think we should stop doing the survey thing. It was a good joke but if it goes on too long it starts to make Hazou look like a mental patient.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Yeah. We've used the joke, re-used it, left it be for a while, and found a good moment to bring it back. Its momentum is already flagging and unless we change it up in some way the next use of it will be pretty bland unless we're in a perfect context for it.
 
TaliesinSkye said:
Also, I think we should stop doing the survey thing. It was a good joke but if it goes on too long it starts to make Hazou look like a mental patient.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
But we need to give them to a number of people large enough for Keiko to re-derive Fated to Die's rules for social interactions from the gathered data, thereby starting the quest's last metafictional stage! We can't stop now.

(This was Noburi's plan, by the way: )
Velorien said:
"I don't care how serious you are," Noburi said, "I think this is a great idea. We can hand these out to people, and then they can give them to Keiko and she can calculate exactly how much you suck based on ironclad statistics. I'll have twenty."
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
 
Inferno Vulpix said:
Yeah. We've used the joke, re-used it, left it be for a while, and found a good moment to bring it back. Its momentum is already flagging and unless we change it up in some way the next use of it will be pretty bland unless we're in a perfect context for it.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
I disagree.

We have yet to give the survey to ISC.

or Mari.

or Kagome...

or Ren!

This is the gift that keeps on giving!
 
Noumero said:
A highly enjoyable update, @eaglejarl.

People were mentioning that writing plans for Marked for Death is stressful, but I find it exciting. Yes, it's easy to make a mistake, either in the process of planmaking or when conveying your intent in plans, and the stakes are high, but that makes the times when you're successful all the more pleasant. Like this time, for example: if setting up a double-deception reverse-seduction was easy, it wouldn't have been nearly as fun for me (even as I still remain concerned about potential non-obvious oversights).

Also, I note that Hazou played his part perfectly. It seems we could use him for complicated social missions, provided that we plan everything out sufficiently well.


Regarding Ami, I'll only add that she has ontological inertia. Even if Hazou doesn't interact with her now, she will remain out there, pursuing her unknown goals.

Let's grant that she is so terrifying that even a short casual conversation with her requires ASI-level precautions. If we decide not to talk with her now, we will remain ignorant of that fact, as well as of her goals. Several years later, we'll bump into her at some meeting, and she'll socially eviscerate Hazou into telling her all his secrets, just like she would now — except then we'll have even more secrets to lose. If she does this now, at least we'll know that we must drop a WMD on her ASAP.

More plausibly, she isn't any more dangerous to talk to than the Oyabun, or Pantsaa, or than Jiraiya was back when we were missing-nin. We'll talk to her, learn something about her goals (or at least about what she wants us to think her goals are), get Jiraiya some non-useless intel. We will forbid all worst OPSEC breaches by direct commands, instruct Hazou to remain careful, and if she manages to manipulate him anyway, we'll set him straight the next update like we did with Hana.

Yes, it's still risky, but it's less risky than it will be at any future point.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Personally, times when things go well is more a relief than anything. Like "oh, we didn't fuck things up, phew."
Noumero said:
But we need to give them to a number of people large enough for Keiko to re-derive Fated to Die's rules for social interactions from the gathered data, thereby starting the quest's last metafictional stage! We can't stop now.

(This was Noburi's plan, by the way: )
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
We also have to quantify chakra for that, though.
 
Oneiros said:
[X] Action Plan: Hazou's Busy Day Plus One
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

Seems reasonable enough to me to vote for.

[X] Action Plan: Hazou's Busy Day Plus One

My primary suggestions (feel free to take them or leave them):
  • If the Akatsuki book plan is to get information so we can track down Orochimaru or Naruto, we're probably better off narrowing our search and, rather than asking for a book, asking about specifics "Have you seen any snake cults pop up recently?" or "Do you know what Akatsuki's last mission was?"
    • People who are likely to have this information would include:
      • The Yakuza -- likely know how to hire Akatsuki (could be a reasonable use of our monetary gains)
      • Jounin or Genin of Sand? -- might know of rumors in their area -- would need plan of attack to get them to share
      • Civilian merchants we contact -- likely would be willing to tell of snake cults or other weird things
  • The Oyabun is a busy man -- if we're going to meet with him, it should be something more than just "I'd like a book please" -- he can hand off a book through other people. A reasonable thing to me would be to stop by with a nice bottle of wine and say "This is for the Oyabun" and also ask the representative we hand the wine to if the Civilrous society (or whatever their name is) has a way of hiring high quality ninja for... missions using non Mist-ninja, specifically thinking of Akatsuki (or Orochimaru if we want to get in contact with him), and potentially seeding the idea that they could hire us to do something. Then, later, potentially talk with the Oyabun if he asks to talk with us.
  • For Ami, I think it's a reasonable idea to mention that the "special envoy to Leaf [from Mist]" position has been vacated recently. I doubt she'd be interested in taking it (it would be more short-term beneficial towards her goals than long-term I think), but it'd show that we think Keiko would benefit from spending time with her, and potentially give her more avenues to pursue if she wanted to.
 
Added mentioning that the special envoy to Leaf position is available to the Ami conversation.
 
Don't we need to clear any sort of political development with Jiraiya? Do we need to make Jiraiya's life harder than it's already is? Also, it would prevent Hazō from seeing his mother.
 
Ami very, very deliberately burned Keiko's only emotional link to the clan to protect her until she could come into her own as a power player among the Nara. She is not going to appreciate a meddling Kurosawa trying to "fix" it, especially if they're risking drawing the attention of any of a dozen people to the matter in the process.
 
Oneiros said:
Some modifications to @huhYeahGoodPoint plan
[X] Action Plan: Hazou's Busy Day Plus One
  • General
    • Check with Jiraiya
    • No binding commitments on first meeting
  • Merchants
    • Meet with prior contacts
      • Bring gifts; 'excess' storage seals, perhaps
      • Ask what they need/want
        • imply possibility of assistance
      • Ask for other people who might appreciate a relationship
      • If receptive, offer sponsorship if approved
    • Make other contacts
  • Ami
    • Arrange for a meeting at her leisure
    • MAKE SURE NOT TO MENTION ANYTHING THAT COULD VIOLATE OPSEC
      • If Hazō thinks any manipulation is going on he will politely leave ASAP
    • Ostensible subject is Keiko
      • Discuss reason for distancing from Keiko
        • We're pretty sure she can run rings around Keiko, us, and maybe even Jiraiya, so she probably has her reasons
        • We'd like to do what we can to resolve what's keeping the two of them apart
        • mention that the "special envoy to Leaf" position has been vacated recently
      • Ask for any book recommendations she has
  • Ikeda
    • Arrange another meeting at her leisure, should she be willing
    • Ask about her experience in Sand
      • Use missing-nin experience as excuse - curiosity about what a normal ninja life is like
      • See what she knows about the civilian experience
    • Trade story for story if necessary, but don't give more than she does
      • DO NOT SAY ANYTHING ABOUT HOT SPRINGS AND MOUNTAIN AND ENTRY TO LEAF
    • Give a brief explanation of uplift philosophy
  • ISC
    • Watch Ino and Shikamaru's match
  • Yakuza
    • Arrange a meeting with the Oyabun at his convenience
      • See if he can get us a copy of Akatsuki's book
  • Contingencies
    • Armor
      • Insist on the Kotsuzui explanation at all times.
        • Even if Kotsuzui himself asks.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Comments:

1) All of this "At your leisure" stuff is begging to have this somehow bite us in the ass scheduling wise.

2) Removed some details I thought were a bit spurious. Stuff with the merchants, some fluff that didn't need to be done in a message to arrange a meeting, etc.

3) The plush cat thing is funny.

Edits:




  • General
    • Check with Jiraiya on everything.
  • Merchants
    • Meet with prior contacts
      • Specifically: the salt/spice merchant, glass blower and brewer from before.
      • Bring gifts: 'excess' storage seals, perhaps
    • Make other contacts
      • Start compiling a notebook of potential ones.
  • Ami
    • Arrange for a meeting.
      • Suggested date: two days from now?
      • Acquire a black plush cat from some of the merchants, nickname "Meowsakado" to send with the missive as a token of goodwill.
    • MAKE SURE NOT TO MENTION ANYTHING THAT COULD VIOLATE OPSEC
      • If Hazō thinks any manipulation is going on he will politely leave ASAP
    • Ostensible subject is to get to know Keiko's sister.
  • Ikeda
    • Arrange another meeting at her leisure, should she be willing
    • Ask about her experience in Sand
      • Excuse - curiosity about what a normal ninja life is like in Sand.
      • Ask after the civilian life there.
  • Trade story for story if necessary, but don't give more than she does
    • The OPSEC sanitized ones.
  • Casually mention Till-n-fills as a new mission category Leaf's been trying out.
    • Easy money for the economy, good practice for the greener Genin, and it keeps the civilians happy.
    • Maybe float it by your higher-ups for brownie points, perhaps Sand could adopt something similar, who knows?
  • ISC
    • Watch Ino and Shikamaru's matches.
    • Celebrate as appropriate afterwards should they win.
      • Don't stay out too late though. Tomorrow is showtime.
  • Contingencies
    • Armor
      • Insist on the Kotsuzui explanation at all times.
        • Even if Kotsuzui himself asks.
      • As far as Hazou is concerned "Breaking OPSEC with cute Sand Genin." is now officially on the list of "Hazou's fuck ups."
        • Do not talk about it. It didn't happen.
 
[x] Action Plan: Hazou's Busy Day To The Power Of Minus One
Wordcount: 299.
  • Check everything with Jiraiya.
  • Meet with merchants:
    • Prior contacts:
      • Salt/spice merchant, glass blower, brewer.
      • Bring gifts (e.g., 'excess' storage seals).
        • Nix if Jiraiya thinks they'll see it as (bad kind of) bribery.
      • Buy some of their wares.
        • Aim: Demonstrate in Leaf later, try to facilitate trade.
      • Ask about foreign chakra beasts, especially ones useful for non-militaristic purposes.
    • Make new contacts. Compile a notebook.
  • Meet with Ikeda.
    • Ask about life in Sand:
      • Her own.
      • Ninja's.
      • Civilians'.
    • Trade story-for-story if necessary.
      • Act: Slightly too guarded around operational information, overly detailed on other topics.
      • No actual OPSEC breaches, obviously.
    • Explain till'n'fills.
      • Improve economy, keep civilians happy, are good practice for genin.
      • Suggest she mention them to superiors for brownie points.
      • If she seems interested, explain Uplift.
  • Schedule meetings with:
    • Mori Ami. Topics: social philosophy and family.
      • Objective (for Jiraiya): Test the waters in a casual setting, with someone she wouldn't see as a major threat. Hazou will stay far away from political and OPSEC-sensitive topics.
        • If need further convincing: Keiko is heartbroken over losing Ami, finds herself unable to forgive Mari. You'd like to see whether they could be eventually reconciled.
    • The Oyabun. Topics: gambling and (if Jiraiya approves) interesting books.
      • Gift: Send a bottle of wine.
      • Check response to previous letter.
      • Objectives (for Jiraiya): Get fleecing permissions for Mist casinos, and inquire about sources of useful books: private libraries, black markets, collectors...
        • Can we ask about the Akatsuki book?
    • (Time: after Keiko's match, at other parties' convenience.)
  • Watch matches. Cheer for ISC.
  • Latest OPSEC incident:
    • Always insist on "Kotsuzui-meatshield" lie if asked.
    • Ask Jiraiya whether he'll handle it from now on, or should you subtly draw attention to your "OPSEC breach" with Ikeda. Proceed accordingly.
    • "Breaking OPSEC with cute Sand genin" is now one of Hazou's fuck-ups. Act accordingly.

Above is a significantly lessened and wordcount-optimized version of @Oneiros' plan with some of @MMKII's suggestions.

Changes:
  • Put off meeting with Ami until after our match with Keiko. Reasoning: as @Tua pointed out last cycle, it could otherwise be seen as trying to mess with Keiko's emotional state for tactical advantage.
  • Likewise, moved meeting with the Oyabun for later, added "gambling" as a topic (@Lailoken?), and added gifting him a bottle of wine as per Jiraiya's suggestion.
    • Alternatively, we could work out how to approach this interaction, and see if we could get a meeting sooner.
  • Modified section with Ikeda. I think it would be useful if Hazou now acted overly guarded with information around her, after getting "burned" last night. However, he still "wants" to interact with her, and so will overcompensate by talking about other topics. Feedback?
 
Last edited:
Lailoken said:
Ami very, very deliberately burned Keiko's only emotional link to the clan to protect her until she could come into her own as a power player among the Nara. She is not going to appreciate a meddling Kurosawa trying to "fix" it, especially if they're risking drawing the attention of any of a dozen people to the matter in the process.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
I will observe that this is an issue of we push the topic overtly: while there are obviously going to be Mist-nin listening on us since we're ex-missing nin GoketsuKurosawa Hazou, as long as we don't be obvious in saying what we want and keep away from other Mori clan members who would be able to figure out the context matter, this by itself won't cause Ami trouble and/or get us killed.

OTOH, acting as though we want to be the ones to fix things, as opposed to us acting as though we want to help Ami fix things, might. Given her opinion on Keiko Ami might tend to think we're not as intelligent as her and would respond less well to us trying to take charge as opposed to working together. At the same time, though, it might lead to us getting manipulated by her and something something Kagome. Social is hard.

@Oneiros @huhYeahGoodPoint @Noumero (?) IIRC your plans involve an Ami section, and I would ask that you consider my thoughts on that.
 
faflec said:
@Oneiros @huhYeahGoodPoint @Noumero (?) IIRC your plans involve an Ami section, and I would ask that you consider my thoughts on that.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
My plan includes setting up the meeting at a later date, with only vague "social philosophy and family" listed as topics. Details could be worked out later.

That said, I'm inclined to agree with you. The Keiko topic is sensitive, and I would prefer to focus on the more abstract ones, such as Uplift as a philosophy, or broad observations about how the ninja world is working.
 
Noumero said:
Contingencies:
  • If asked about tanking explosives, always insist on the Kotsuzui-meatshield lie.
  • "Breaking OPSEC with cute Sand Genin" is now officially on the list of "Hazou's fuckups".
    • Accordingly: Do not talk about it. It didn't happen.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
@Noumero

Just a little bit of clarification on the above might be good.

[x] Action Plan: Hazou's Busy Day To The Power Of Minus One
 
Noumero said:
My plan includes setting up the meeting at a later date, with only vague "social philosophy and family" listed as topics. Details could be worked out later.

That said, I'm inclined to agree with you. The Keiko topic is sensitive, and I would prefer to focus on the more abstract ones, such as Uplift as a philosophy, or broad observations about how the ninja world is working.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
I know this breaks OPSEC on...well, a lot, but it would be interesting to bring up Keiko's analysis of how the EN is slowly going to darkness when we first learned about scorch squads.

Side note: WHERE THE FUCK IS KAGOME FROM
 
Reader mode
You must login or register to reply here.
Remove ads
Back
Top