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Marked for Death: A Rational Naruto Quest

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Cariyaga said:
How does that work with, uh, not having initiative?
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Because:
  • I do not expect that the proctors will let Keiko set up traps before the match.
  • Explosives don't create a physical barrier, they just create a "roll to dodge".
  • Explosives can be set off prematurely by, say, a thrown kunai. Boulders or logs, which are physical Barriers, cannot.
Also, unless things change, everyone starts in the same Zone.
 
faflec said:
Because:
  • I do not expect that the proctors will let Keiko set up traps before the match.
  • Explosives don't create a physical barrier, they just create a "roll to dodge".
  • Explosives can be set off prematurely by, say, a thrown kunai. Boulders or logs, which are physical Barriers, cannot.
Also, unless things change, everyone starts in the same Zone.
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For anyone else, I would agree that they do not create a physical barrier. For, however, Hinata, someone who can see them all, I would argue that it did.

Also, you didn't answer my question.

It doesn't matter if the proctors allow her to if she has Pangolin do it the night before. (I swear to god if none of her Pangolin have learned to activate seals in the month...)

They cannot be set off ahead of time like that, to my knowledge. They can be disabled, but not set off. And if Hinata spends her action doing that... Good?
 
We should post an A rank mission and have some Jonin fight in our place.

They'd have to beat up one of our loved ones though. Hmm..

Wait, I know just the person for the job!

Hana to the rescue!
 
Implemented @Roomba's suggestions, and one of @Radvic's ideas. Review.

Noumero said:
[x] Action Plan: Hazou's Busy Day To The Power Of Minus One
Wordcount: 298.
  • 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 bribery.
      • Buy some of their wares.
        • Intent: Demonstrate in Leaf later, try to facilitate trade.
      • Ask about foreign chakra beasts, especially 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.
      • For Jiraiya: To 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, and finds herself unable to forgive Mari. You'd like to see whether they could be eventually reconciled.
    • The Oyabun. Topics: gambling and (if Jiraiya apporves) interesting books.
      • Gift: Send a bottle of wine. Check response to previous letter.
      • For Jiraiya: To get fleecing permissions for Mist casinos, plus inquire about sources of useful book: private libraries, black markets, book collectors...
        • Also, can we ask about Akatsuki book?
    • (Timeline: after Keiko's match, at other parties' convenience.)
  • Watch matches. Cheer for ISC.
  • GS OPSEC incident:
    • If asked directly, always insist on "Kotsuzui-meatshield" lie.
    • Ask Jiraiya whether he'll handle it from now on, or should you subtly draw attention to your "OPSEC breach" with Ikeda. Act accordingly.
    • "Breaking OPSEC with cute Sand Genin" is now one of Hazou's fuck-ups. Act accordingly.
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ting said:
I agree with you actually about estranged not being the right word, for the reasons you mentioned, but I actually think my metaphor of an ex is all the more accurate. Ami broke up with Keiko. The relationship is dead, they don't talk anymore, and Keiko is
left with heartbreak. In such a situation you either fight to get the person back, or you try to move on. It appears that Keiko has chosen the second option, but really either way, if the person doesn't want you to intercede it's definitely ignoring their agency to go ahead and do so anyway. Especially when claiming we're just "doing it for her own good"




This sounds like a classic case of Hazou ignoring other people's agency. That being said it'll be interesting and informative, so if the thread wills I', I'll enjoy the ride!
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Honestly, I'm using this to update my attitude towards doing things that are risky. If this goes horribly wrong I'm probably going to just vote for lighthouse type stuff. If it actually goes well, or at least not too badly, I hope to be emboldened enough to vote for more active stuff like this.
 
faflec said:
Are the "for Jiraiya" parts meant to be as justification for Jiraiya? I would feel a bit more comfortable if it were a bit more clear (e.g., replace it with "Goals").
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Yes. I'm not sure why "Goals" would be more clear, as it wouldn't mention Jiraiya at all? In any case, I changed it to "Objectives (for Jiraiya)".
 
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Noumero said:
Yes. I'm not sure why "Goals" would be more clear, as it wouldn't mention Jiraiya at all? In any case, I changed it to "Objectives (for Jiraiya)".
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I mean, those are our actual goals, right? They're not there just for us tell Jiraiya? My thought was that saying "Goals: _____" would give Hazou a basic idea of things he wants to accomplish by doing this thing, and that if Jiraiya ever asked "why do you want to do this" we would just parrot out the goals.

But your way works pretty well. Maybe change it to "Objectives (if Jiraiya asks)", but that's a meh thing. Not a big deal.
 
*delurks*
[x] Action Plan: Hazou's Busy Day To The Power Of Minus One

One suggestion, change "Bribery" to "Unacceptable Bribery". Bribes are a standard part of business in many places and eras. The changing of a military dictatorship coupled with the massive decline in power really seems like one of those times.

*relurks*
 
faflec said:
I mean, those are our actual goals, right? They're not there just for us tell Jiraiya? My thought was that saying "Goals: _____" would give Hazou a basic idea of things he wants to accomplish by doing this thing, and that if Jiraiya ever asked "why do you want to do this" we would just parrot out the goals.
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Well, yes, but these are also the things on which we specifically need Jiraiya's permission/thoughts. That just draws attention to it.
Immortal Lurker said:
One suggestion, change "Bribery" to "Unacceptable Bribery". Bribes are a standard part of business in many places and eras. The changing of a military dictatorship coupled with the massive decline in power really seems like one of those times.
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"Counterproductive bribery"?
 
MMKII said:
I feel my sins shivering down my spine! My actual human spine!


@Noumero is there any room in there for Anti-Keiko preparations?
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I mean, there's apparently only meant to be up to 4 Zones inside the arena (which we would start in) plus another 4 which makes up the walls...we could just spend a Supplemental Action to move instead of using it to equip our gauntlets. We still win rolls by, like, a lot.
 
faflec said:
I mean, there's apparently only meant to be up to 4 Zones inside the arena (which we would start in) plus another 4 which makes up the walls...we could just spend a Supplemental Action to move instead of using it to equip our gauntlets. We still win rolls by, like, a lot.
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Hmm..

So we have

40 + 3 (IN) + 5 (Roki) + 10 (PH) + (DICE) + (Aspects)


We would need to beat

40 + (Dice) + (Substitution/New Jutsu) + (Aspects)

Assuming that no Pangolins are on the field doing shit.

This would need to be a decisive strike, so something on the order of 6 stress. We would have to beat her roll by about 15 then, with no gauntlets.

This is doable, but she can spam FP on rerolls much more than we can. We should probably just invoke 2 Aspects and then reroll anything negative on the main roll.


...


Are we allowed to wear a litter of kittens as armor? Might work to delay the inevitable for a round.
 
Sentient Tree said:
Honestly, I'm using this to update my attitude towards doing things that are risky. If this goes horribly wrong I'm probably going to just vote for lighthouse type stuff. If it actually goes well, or at least not too badly, I hope to be emboldened enough to vote for more active stuff like this.
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I'm actually totally on board from a risk point of view! I think this will go well, at least in terms of our not ending up in a Killbox, keeping somewhat reasonable opsec, and getting to see an interesting and informative conversation! I just also think it's a selfish and disrespectful thing to do with respect to Keiko, but it's tantalising because of the benefits we can/will get from it.

It's bad for Hazou's characterization growing in the direction we want in my opinion since it's either agency-ignoring (if he's doing this to help Keiko in spite of herself) or inconsiderate (if he's doing it because he's curious about Ami and wants to talk to her despite knowing Keiko would hate that he's doing it).
 
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faflec said:
I mean, there's apparently only meant to be up to 4 Zones inside the arena (which we would start in) plus another 4 which makes up the walls...we could just spend a Supplemental Action to move instead of using it to equip our gauntlets. We still win rolls by, like, a lot.
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Do we? Either of us can freely invoke the others' aspects becuase we each know them. And if we don't, then we don't have major advantage.
 
"Jiraiya? I'd like to go talk to Ami about her relationship with Kei-"

eaglejarl said:
"Sensei?" Hazou said. "Can I talk to you for a minute?"

"Sure," Inoue said. She was in the middle of a slow, flowing kata that emphasized flexibility and precision over power. As she spoke she bent double as though ducking under a weapon slash, then rolled forward to tumble past the opponent before kicking backwards into an imaginary knee. "Whatcha got?" She walked up and over in a slow handspring that would have also been a kick to the face.

"I was thinking that it would be good for us to talk with the other elders," Hazou said. "Specifically, the Inoue and the Aida are the ones that hate us. If we went to them politely and asked them to teach us the ways of the village, it might generate some good will. It might help us not get attacked after the council meeting in two weeks."

Inoue rolled her eyes even as she slowly pivoted ninety degrees and dropped into Dragon Stretches Its Tail. "You want us to meet with Takahashi to talk about talking to the other elders?" she asked.

"...yes?" Hazou said, immediately regretting his decision. That was the same tone she'd used the last time she'd shot down one of his suggestions.

"You want us to meet with Takahashi, who just told us that we couldn't meet with him anymore?" Inoue asked, shifting through a slow leg sweep.

"Oh," Hazou said.

"And, assuming that we could get a meeting," Inoue said as she came up, stepped on an angle, and slowly jabbed a Crane's Beak into an imagined victim's ear, "the point of that meeting would be to get his approval to talk to the other elders...which is an inherently political action, which Takahashi explicitly told us to avoid. Takahashi, upon whose good will we are dependent in order to get Keiko the summoning training that is our entire purpose in this village?"

"Oh," said Hazou. "Um...yeah."

"Might I also point out," Inoue said, "that virtually the first thing Yoshida ever said to us was that we should not speak to any of the elders? Yoshida, who is probably our second-strongest ally in the village after Takahashi?"

"Yes, sensei," Hazou said, blushing to the roots of his hair. "Uh...I don't suppose you could sneak in and see him?"

"Probably," Inoue said. "I haven't seen anything that would keep me out, anyway. And I could definitely get a message to him by slipping it onto one of his family members when they're out and about in the village. What's the point, though? He doesn't want us talking to the other elders, so he's not going to approve the idea." She leaned back, arms pulling invisible kunai from forearm holsters and swinging her upper body in a throat-slashing circle. "We could send him a message asking what the deal is with this trial, but if he'd wanted us to know that he would have just told us at the previous meeting."

She straightened and turned, hands floating delicately to her sides as her stance relaxed. She bowed, left palm over right fist, and then grabbed a towel to wipe off the sweat.
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ting said:
I'm actually totally on board from a risk point of view! I think this will go well, at least in terms of our not ending up in a Killbox, keeping somewhat reasonable opsec, and getting to see an interesting and informative conversation! I just also think it's a selfish and disrespectful thing to do with respect to Keiko, but it's tantalising because of the benefits we can/will get from it.

It's bad for Hazou's characterization growing in the direction we want in my opinion since it's either agency-ignoring (if he's doing this to help Keiko in spite of herself) or inconsiderate (if he's doing it because he's curious about Ami and wants to talk to her despite knowing Keiko would hate that he's doing it).
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Disrespectful? Yeah, maybe. Selfish? From our end, yeah, but Hazou would literally be putting himself in harm's way for no benefit of his own. Arrogant, perhaps, but not selfish.

Also, Hazou's problems regarding the agency of other people were rooted in him simply not considering it and treating them as means to an end. That's about the reverse of what he's doing here.
 
Noumero said:
I can make it, as long as you're not planning to spend 50+ words on them or something.
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I can't think of anything at the moment.

Well, besides "Hazou goes into battle with a cute little kitten strapped to his head."

(Regardless, we should get Keiko a kitten after our match. The DAWWWWWWWWWWWWW will bring more peace to our trouble relationship. If she doesn't want to take care of it Hazou can, or we can just give it to Mari.)
 
MMKII said:
I can't think of anything at the moment.

Well, besides "Hazou goes into battle with a cute little kitten strapped to his head."

(Regardless, we should get Keiko a kitten after our match. The DAWWWWWWWWWWWWW will bring more peace to our trouble relationship. If she doesn't want to take care of it Hazou can, or we can just give it to Mari.)
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Fifi.
 
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