So, with the contest about to be timeskipped to completion, we should start considering what to do in the scenario where we win the Dog Scroll. To my understanding there are two main choices for who to have sign it: Hazou and Akane.
Who should get the scroll? A collection of thoughts on the various implications:
- Whoever signs the Scroll is going to be sent on summoner missions.
- This will lead to dangerous encounters, which may complicate FOOM if we need to divert XP to 'stay alive' stats instead of Resolve.
- Being a Summoner allows for very direct participation in our various 7Path schemes, such as personally going to the 7Path to train/trade/
treason/etc.
- Whoever signs the Dog Scroll is essentially locked out from signing future Scrolls. If we come into possession of the Otter/Kraken/Kangaroo/etc. Scroll in the future we will be forced to give them to whoever has not signed the Dog Scroll.
- The other side is that we do not know for sure that we will ever acquire another Scroll, so who we choose to not sign the Dog Scroll may forever remain not a summoner.
- Thus, if you (for example) believe that Hazou would be better suited to the Otters, you would have to weigh (increase in utility from signing Otters * odds that we find Otters) against (decrease in utility from not signing Otters or Dogs * odds that we don't find Otters).
- Itachi might consider Hazou to have broken his word to use the Porcupine Scroll for trade if he turns it in without even the plausible excuse that he was just swapping it for the Dog Scroll.
- However, it is not implausible that Hazou could argue that having Akane be the summoner is just as good for such a purpose as Hazou being the summoner.
- What we can expect of the given summon clan is also relevant. If one person works much better with the Dogs than another person does, that's an advantage.
- Worth keeping in mind is that apparently the whole 'Pangolins conquering and enslaving the Condors' thing is some bad rep for the Goketsu on the Seventh Path.
- At the end of all of this, we have to not just consider what we want, but what our clanwants. I would not want to make a unilateral decision if it would upset and alienate our teammates.
- Though what I remember of the Toad Scroll assignment is that the de facto assumption was that Hazou, as Clan Head, would take the scroll for himself. That may hold true now and factor into their assessment of who ought to have the Scroll.
Between all of those points, here's how I think I'm feeling:
- In terms of 7Path schemes, Hazou is more of a boon than Akane as Hazou is the one coming up with these schemes so can execute them directly.
- The summoner missions are concerning unless we can find some good way to make sure we stay safe. I feel like with our plans to abuse Shadow Clone and copious Noburi refills we're probably fine there. Maybe.
- My preference ordering between Dogs and Otters for Hazou and Akane is small enough that I don't want to let the acquisition of other Scrolls really enter considerations except as 'the other one might get this eventually'.
- I worry that the Dogs will be very cross with the Goketsu enabling the Condor tragedy, and murderize Hazou for what he's done. Akane is more innocent regarding the trade deal, and I feel like she's more likely to persuade Boss Dog to not murderize if that's the situation.
- I don't want to factor Itachi in too much, as we have plausible-ish excuses either way and I frankly don't want to meet him again if it isn't with overwhelming force on our side. Heckin essies.
- Whatever we have Hazou's leanings be, we should definitely discuss it with the clan before making a final decision.
So overall I feel Hazou signing the Dog Scroll has a moderately stronger payout than Akane signing it, but carries a moderate amount more risk than Akane signing it. If we feel confident that the risks are not severe, I would suggest Hazou, but if we feel that the risks are severe we might want to let Akane sign it to optimize odds of things going well.
