Voting is open for the next 9 hours, 17 minutes
The Real Question:

Are Hazou's stats high enough to pin down Keiko's baby chakra beast, and pet it?

We absolutely must packbond with it!!!
AMI: I've changed my mind. Please adopt me into your clan immediately. This is a level of crazy I will never be able to achieve on my own.

KEIKO: You are now on closer terms with my pet than I am. Clearly, I must murder you.

NOBURI: Stay back, beast, for I have the power of the Water Element, and if you so much as look at the koi pond, I swear to the ancestors I will bathe you to within an inch of your life.

AKANE: Kawaiiiiiiii!

YUNO: I know, right? Those inch-long fangs are adorable.

HARU: Yet another example of clan ninja excess. I must pet it. But reluctantly, so as to prove I have not succumbed to hedonism.

MARI: Look into my eyes, creature. This is my family and if you harm it, or leave claw marks on the furniture, no power on earth will protect you.

KAGOME: Look, Fifi, a new friend to play with!

FIFI: [This will require significant adjustments to the master plan]

YOSAMU: [So. Much. Prey]

ATOMU/REO/MAI: What have we got ourselves into?
 
Ask about nearby packs and where they are, and if their Summoner has something to offer to their communities
Hazō is the Summoner for the entire Dog clan. The Clan contains many packs, each of which lives in different parts of the Dog territory, but he is Summoner for all of them.
@eaglejarl do you have something you'd like to write?
Yes, but y'all haven't researched the friggin' seal.
 
Hazō is the Summoner for the entire Dog clan. The Clan contains many packs, each of which lives in different parts of the Dog territory, but he is Summoner for all of them.

Yeah, I mean "their" as in these other packs. The sleds and sack harnesses helped all of them but I feel like these other packs don't even know Hazou so I used language that reinforced that Hazou is their summoner too.
 
[X] Action Plan: Doggy Style

I am in favor of doggos this update but for the following update I'd like to meet with Shikamaru to thank him for all of his help by offering up our creative problem solving approach to whatever he deems Leaf's most pressing needs. We've been leaning on him a lot lately (as in, all of the events taking place after we jointly dealt with the Hagoromo) without really offering anything in return to our nominal political ally. Call it 'Hazou hours' or whatever; this would be an excellent way to have the QM's drop us hints about what Leaf needs done in the mid term since the thread seems to have lost some of its steam without a direct antagonist to oppose and dispose.
  • Does Shikamaru want us to help out the civilians somehow now that we have closed our crusade against the Hagoromo?
  • Does he want us to focus on making more political allies within Leaf to help push through legislation and prevent such clan feuds from coming to a head again?
  • Should we advocate for the finalization of our summoner trade network and finally get it running?
  • Does he simply want us out of his hair since we cause him so many headaches just by existing in his general vicinity?
    • Would that be reason enough to go on a long term journey in the 7th path or to find more summoning scrolls for Leaf?
We can also ask for Snowflake to be included in the discussions since she wants to start asserting herself in general. She could very well be the deciding factor in figuring out what we should be focusing on.
 
[X] Action Plan: Doggy Style

I am in favor of doggos this update but for the following update I'd like to meet with Shikamaru to thank him for all of his help by offering up our creative problem solving approach to whatever he deems Leaf's most pressing needs. We've been leaning on him a lot lately (as in, all of the events taking place after we jointly dealt with the Hagoromo) without really offering anything in return to our nominal political ally. Call it 'Hazou hours' or whatever; this would be an excellent way to have the QM's drop us hints about what Leaf needs done in the mid term since the thread seems to have lost some of its steam without a direct antagonist to oppose and dispose.
  • Does Shikamaru want us to help out the civilians somehow now that we have closed our crusade against the Hagoromo?
  • Does he want us to focus on making more political allies within Leaf to help push through legislation and prevent such clan feuds from coming to a head again?
  • Should we advocate for the finalization of our summoner trade network and finally get it running?
  • Does he simply want us out of his hair since we cause him so many headaches just by existing in his general vicinity?
    • Would that be reason enough to go on a long term journey in the 7th path or to find more summoning scrolls for Leaf?
We can also ask for Snowflake to be included in the discussions since she wants to start asserting herself in general. She could very well be the deciding factor in figuring out what we should be focusing on.

We were actually talking in discord about going on a not-a-date with snowflake next Velorien update, but I also like shikamaru scenes so whatever the people want is good with me

As for the summon network, EJ has said on discord that (as far as he is aware) it's running in the background for the moment and we don't really need to do anything else to get it started. I'm sure there'll be stuff to hammer out later but I think we're good for the moment
 
[X] Action Plan: Doggy Style

I am in favor of doggos this update but for the following update I'd like to meet with Shikamaru to thank him for all of his help by offering up our creative problem solving approach to whatever he deems Leaf's most pressing needs. We've been leaning on him a lot lately (as in, all of the events taking place after we jointly dealt with the Hagoromo) without really offering anything in return to our nominal political ally. Call it 'Hazou hours' or whatever; this would be an excellent way to have the QM's drop us hints about what Leaf needs done in the mid term since the thread seems to have lost some of its steam without a direct antagonist to oppose and dispose.
  • Does Shikamaru want us to help out the civilians somehow now that we have closed our crusade against the Hagoromo?
  • Does he want us to focus on making more political allies within Leaf to help push through legislation and prevent such clan feuds from coming to a head again?
  • Should we advocate for the finalization of our summoner trade network and finally get it running?
  • Does he simply want us out of his hair since we cause him so many headaches just by existing in his general vicinity?
    • Would that be reason enough to go on a long term journey in the 7th path or to find more summoning scrolls for Leaf?
We can also ask for Snowflake to be included in the discussions since she wants to start asserting herself in general. She could very well be the deciding factor in figuring out what we should be focusing on.
Shikamaru loves Hazou like a somewhat-frustrating brother, it's just understated and mellow (as all things with the Nara are). We might frustrate him immensely, but there's a genuine brotherhood there.

Honestly, I'd be down to spend a few hours recreationally (with Shikamaru deciding what to do, to respect his Nara-ness) and just mentioning offhand "it doesn't need to be said/it's obvious enough not to be explained/self-evident that we would help you out in any way, you need just ask" with the accompanying Nara sign language to boost/support the intent.
 
Thread: "We must find a way to invite Ami to Keiko's wedding!"
Lailo: "She's literally standing right behind you."
Thread: "Panic-vote now!"

Thread: "We must pedantically explain basic human relationships to the prodigal social-spec jounin!"
Lailo: "We really don't. This was part of a dance/game and she already knows everything you are about to say."
Thread: "Panic-vote now!"

It's a little disturbing that I seem to be the only one here who has a grasp on The Ami. She is rational, hyper-capable, and just operates on a different goalset. Any plan which involves her and doesn't involve demonstrating a deeper understanding of her, something she couldn't have possibly deduced from available information, or salt and coldshort iron is a waste of everybody's time.
The Ami does not care about face.

Indeed, truly a bastion of dispassionate hyper-rationality, with no feelings involved whatsoever:
Summer disappeared. The air dome turned to ice, jagged and black with hatred. The rain itself froze in place where it touched the surface.

"Who in the Abyss is she to look down on me?" Ami hissed. "A woman who only became clan head by selling out her own sister. A warrior who's not strong enough to protect the village and a diplomat who throws away what could have been her second strongest ally in the world. A figurehead who got the hat handed to her by the clans without ever having to lift a finger. A jōnin in her forties, and what does she have to show for it? What does she have to hold up against what I've accomplished at nineteen? Why does someone who's paid as much as I have for genius have to plead for her life before mediocrity?"

How silly of me to have assumed this person would at all take a hit to her pride after being successfully played by Mari.
 
We were actually talking in discord about going on a not-a-date with snowflake next Velorien update, but I also like shikamaru scenes so whatever the people want is good with me
I would structure it so that we have our meeting with Shikamaru, Keiko, Snowflake, and whomever else Shikamaru deems necessary first followed by a heart to heart with only Snowflake.

As for the summon network, EJ has said on discord that (as far as he is aware) it's running in the background for the moment and we don't really need to do anything else to get it started. I'm sure there'll be stuff to hammer out later but I think we're good for the moment
One less thing to worry about then although I would like some specifics on how it is run if possible just to see if they are ways we (as in the hivemind) can improve it.

Your ideas are intriguing to me and I wish to subscribe to your action plan.
This always means good things are in store for our cast of characters.

Always.

Shikamaru loves Hazou like a somewhat-frustrating brother, it's just understated and mellow (as all things with the Nara are). We might frustrate him immensely, but there's a genuine brotherhood there.
Brothers can still cause immense headaches and acts of reconciliation are never unwelcome after such exhausting events such as executing major political plots.

Honestly, I'd be down to spend a few hours recreationally (with Shikamaru deciding what to do, to respect his Nara-ness) and just mentioning offhand "it doesn't need to be said/it's obvious enough not to be explained/self-evident that we would help you out in any way, you need just ask" with the accompanying Nara sign language to boost/support the intent.
I have a feeling that he would appreciate dropping formalities when they aren't absolutely necessary for appearances' sake. So, in other, less pretentious bro words:
"Bro, thanks for helpin' out with the Hagoromos: I owe you one. How about we chillax with a pair of brewskis and you tell me exactly what it is I can do to make us even. You deserve it. You're brotiful."

Honestly, with the amount of stress these teenagers go through they could really use a chance to just be dumb kids for a few hours to blow off some steam. We'd have to confirm that Shikamaru is comfortable with acting like an idiot so we don't force it on him but I believe this would help immensely with making Hazou and Shikamaru actual friends rather than only close political allies. We could really use some stronger bonds with our neighbors in Leaf in general; might as well start with Shikamaru. Hopefully one day, if this type of activity proves successful, we might be able to organize a bois night out with Naruto, Sasuke, and all of the other male teenagers our age just to forge the bonds of friendship that only getting shitface drunk together and commiserating over the shared hangover the following morning can provide.
 
HAZOU: Thanks for all you've done to help me over these last few months, Shikamaru. If you have any problem you'd like my help solving, just let me know.
SHIKAMARU: Sure, I'll contact you whenever I need the whole continent blown up.
VOICES IN HAZOU'S HEAD: stacked implosion nukes v2 lets go
 
There is a new member of our pack with injured fingers, Atomu
  • As you know, humans need fingers to cast most of their ninjutsu, and we are concerned this affects both his career and his own self-image
    • To the ninjutsu experts present: How can the Dogs cast their ninjutsu without making handsigns?
      • Is this something a Human can learn?
        • If it is, is it something you would be willing to share with Atomu? He may choose not to pursue it, but if it's possible we would like to be able to give him a chance to try
I'll be honest and say that I do *not* think this is a good question to ask, on the grounds that it's equivalent to asking the underlying mechanisms behind Dog ninjutsu, and is probably a BIG DEAL in terms of 'clan secret' level stuff. I highly recommend removing this section entirely.
 
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I'll be honest and say that I do *not* think this is a good question to ask, on the grounds that it's equivalent to asking the underlying mechanisms behind Dog ninjutsu, and is probably a BIG DEAL in terms of 'clan secret' level stuff. I highly recommend removing this section entirely.
Comme on, we would never know if we don't ask, besides the dogs have been reasonable about our questions.
 
I'll be honest and say that I do *not* think this is a good question to ask, on the grounds that it's equivalent to asking the underlying mechanisms behind Dog ninjutsu, and is probably a BIG DEAL in terms of 'clan secret' level stuff. I highly recommend removing this section entirely.

If it's secret they can say "you can't know that yet". Shaming us for asking potentially stupid questions doesnt really sound in character for the dogs imo
 
If it's secret they can say "you can't know that yet". Shaming us for asking potentially stupid questions doesnt really sound in character for the dogs imo
I don't think they will shame us, and if they do that and little else I would consider it an acceptable cost. My concern is more along the lines of "this kid is an utter imbecile for expecting us to spill our Clan Secrets to a guy we've never met, when we barely even know him; we shouldn't trust him at all.", or something similar that results in us taking substantial reputational costs which we have to spend time fixing.
 
I don't think they will shame us, and if they do that and little else I would consider it an acceptable cost. My concern is more along the lines of "this kid is an utter imbecile for expecting us to spill our Clan Secrets to a guy we've never met, when we barely even know him; we shouldn't trust him at all.", or something similar that results in us taking substantial reputational costs which we have to spend time fixing.

How about we just ask if they think a person can learn it? They don't need to tell us the specifics, we just want to know for Atomu's sake, and whether they would be okay with Atomu knowing it.
 
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