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Marked for Death: A Rational Naruto Quest

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Shrooms said:
Uh, what? Nothing about "What to do now?" says "please give me more than I want to write right now"
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If open ended questions aren't working for the QMs, they can present A or B options, 4 actions out of 10 options, 4 actions out of 10 with maximum 2 write-ins, multiply final exp by [arctan(300/word count)]*[3/(scenes required)], X actions per Y [units of time], declaring that votes are valid only when accompanied by a Z*10^3 word essay on War and Peace and so on.

Of course, one could easily dismiss such perspective as ungrateful if the current freedom of action is interpreted as a privilege, with the voters carrying the burden of employing it responsibly. However, consider the deeper philosophical aspects of this conundrum, such as the balance of simulationism versus storytelling. If the current freedom of action is a result of intellectual integrity, specifically the desire to see things through to the bitter end regardless of how convoluted they appear, then that same principle demands of them to invest the commensurate effort to expand those convoluted patterns to their logical conclusion. On the other hand, the largest factor opposed to this perspective is that the QMs are the ultimate arbiters of the continuity of the plot and could, in the pursuit of that value, shed the pretense of democracy and write whatever they please at any given time.

One might even go to the extreme of arguing that the presumed freedom is a ruse, given that the rules of the platform prohibit seriously advocating for methods of intrigue disturbingly common, if not outright essential, to the modern political arena without prior moral context that would, among other things, surely end up reflected as a constraint on available options.

Unfortunately, the artistic abstraction involved in my original post allows the juvenile mind of the average shitposter to choose a fringe interpretation where the substance of the argument is based on something as crass as the saying that one who asks stupid questions should expect to get stupid answers, unaware that the assumed stupidity stems from a situation that is largely of their own making, as well at that of the QMs who could have hypothetically provided a less tumultuous path but are instead implicitly implied to have chosen playful laziness, vindicative glee or outright petulance.

Fortunately, this is almost certainly not the case, as it would undoubtedly require a mastery of the sublime art of baiting that was long lost by the time shallow modern breeding grounds of aspiring counterfit shitlords such as League of Legends rolled around.

I apologize if my previous post came off as a bit curt and hope that this clarification proves illuminating.

XOXOXO,
Lampshade a.k.a. Lamptree a.k.a. Lamptower a.k.a. Applefarm a.k.a. Avatar_Of_D34th.

Tldr: Nothing personnel, just messing around.
 
SC Training: Akane doesn't want to risk SC backlash before being deployed. Kei can support 16 training blocks, but 4 of them (12 hours) are reserved for Snowflake, so she is getting 1.2x. With a Resolve upgrade, Hazou is getting 0.8x. 3 base XP.

Kei: +3.6 XP
Hazou: +2.4 XP
 
Man we really need to be more proactive. It's been 7 IRL months since the war started. We've only got one win in that entire time. We really need to step our game and start making moves
 
eaglejarl said:
You stole the Arachnid Scroll and murdered two enemy jōnin.
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Didn't the first one flee?
eaglejarl said:
"You nearly chopped her arm off, and the unyouthful coward fled!"

"It was barely a scratch, Akane. I put everything I had into that attack and it was not even disabling. It was her own technique that injured her to the point that she fled—I could see the lightning burning her hands and forearms."

"Bah!" Akane said, waving her un-immobilized hand dramatically. "No matter what, our Youth would have conquered all! Indeed, it did conquer all, for did she not flee before our might, fail to escape, and then fall to Satsuko's edge?! What is this if not the power of Youth?!"
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eaglejarl said:
Three!
You stole the Arachnid Scroll and murdered two enemy jōnin.
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Don't forget a total of two populated areas depopulated, counting Haru's mission. Also, Kei's probably indirectly responsible for the deaths of dozens of enemy ninja by now.

Edit: In fact, every Zoo Rush is, to an extent, the players' victory.
 
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Velorien said:
Don't forget a total of two populated areas depopulated, counting Haru's mission. Also, Kei's probably indirectly responsible for the deaths of dozens of enemy ninja by now.

Edit: In fact, every Zoo Rush is, to an extent, the players' victory.
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Not to mention that one of those two populated areas was a vacation destination and a major source of medical reagents. Rock's ninja will take a hit to their overall morale, which will reduce their effectiveness. Furthermore, Rock losing easy access to these medical reagents will reduce the speed to which they can redeploy injured ninja (and/or reduce the amount of ninja they can heal, at all --thus raising their mortality rates).
 
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RandomOTP said:
Not to mention that one of those two populated areas was a vacation destination and a major source of medical reagents. Rock's ninja will take a hit to their overall morale, which will reduce their effectiveness. Furthermore, Rock losing easy access to these medical reagents will reduce the speed of which they can redeploy injured ninja (and/or reduce the amount of ninja they can heal, at all --thus raising their mortality rates).
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Yeah that's all true but we the player base had nothing to do with that. I'm judging us not the npcs
 
RandomOTP said:
Not to mention that one of those two populated areas was a vacation destination and a major source of medical reagents. Rock's ninja will take a hit to their overall morale, which will reduce their effectiveness. Furthermore, Rock losing easy access to these medical reagents will reduce the speed of which they can redeploy injured ninja (and/or reduce the amount of ninja they can heal, at all --thus raising their mortality rates).
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OK. But what about our losses?
 
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Chapter 497: Advice
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    • "Greetings, Summoner."

    "Hello, Cannai."

    The enormous dog cocked his head. "Something is troubling you?" He lay down in the grass. "Come, sit."

    Hazō sat down with a sigh and leaned against the massive dog's warm furry back.

    "You know," Hazō said after a moment, a tired smile in his voice, "'come' and 'sit' are commands that humans give to their pets on the Human Path. Not very polite when directed to other humans."

    "Fortuitously, I am not a human. Now, I believe Kakashi had an appropriate phrase for this situation: what has your panties in such a square?"

    Hazō frowned and craned around so he could look at Cannai, although he couldn't see the dog's face from here. "'Panties in such a square'? That doesn't make any sense. You can twist panties, you can ball them up, you can tie them in a knot, but you can't turn them into a square."

    "I confess I had wondered about that. I never asked; Kakashi had a strange sense of humor and I refused to be baited. It is nice to have the question settled."

    "Glad I could help." Hazō chuckled and leaned back again. "I could use some advice, if you're willing? It's about a mission that the Hokage ordered."

    "Hm. I would assume such a thing would be highly classified. Are you sure you should be telling someone outside of your 'Leaf' pack? The information might leak to your enemies."

    Hazō thumped his head against Cannai's back. "My enemies, all of whom are in a different dimension from you and have no way to get here? Those enemies?"

    "You don't know," Cannai said, hurt. "I could leak the information if I wanted to. For all you know I have many friends on the Human Path that I could talk to."

    "There's only one Scroll."

    "So? Maybe there are portals to your home around every tree. You don't know. I might have lots of friends in that Dirt place. Or the Cloudy City."

    "They're called 'Rock' and 'Cloud', as you would know if you knew anyone from there."

    "Alas, my cunning gambit is revealed. What is the problem?"

    "Remember I've told you about Akane?"

    "Your girlfriend slash pack mate slash subordinate slash apprentice? The one whose heart shines like the sun and lifts you from the bleakest mood, whose welfare you care about without measure, who is amazingly good at taijutsu and incredibly strong and sometimes forgets not to squish you with her hugs, who has the cutest little pattern of freckles on her lower back, whose honesty and integrity humble you and make you want to be a better person? No, you've barely spoken about her."

    "Hrmph. Yes, well, she and Yuno and a Yamanaka got sent on a mission recently. They were sent to the city of Nagayama to kill or capture a Rock jōnin, which they did. They were also ordered to destroy the place in order to deny Rock access to its resources. Which they did. They burned it down and destroyed all the stored food, in the middle of winter. Several thousand people were burned to death and the survivors are going to starve."

    "I imagine Akane is taking it poorly?"

    "That's an understatement. She's talked about leaving the clan, which would be bad enough, but I'm worried that she might kill herself."

    "And you don't know what to do."

    "And I don't know what to do."

    Cannai sighed. "It is hard to see one that you love suffering. Harder still when you are their leader and it is your duty to protect and support them."

    "I know, right? What can I do?"

    "I'm afraid there is no simple solution. There is no magic or potion that will take away her pain. It will require time, and support, and much introspection. What about Mari? She is Akane's teacher, is she not? And skilled with people?"

    "She is. You're saying I should delegate this to her?"

    "I'm saying that you should enlist her aid. Humans are very different from dogs, so perhaps what works for us will not work for you. Were one of my children experiences pain like what you describe it is usually the result of a loved one dying. In such a case, the pack would close ranks to support them. They would receive attention, and companionship, and touch. Dogs are pack animals; we respond well to tactile contact. Unhappy dogs will find themselves ruthlessly cuddled by the puppies, with older dogs ready to chase the puppies off once they become annoying. Adults will be available to talk whenever the grieving dog wants it. Food will be brought to them and left nearby. We do not crowd them or overwhelm them, simply be nearby and offer support. When there is a bard nearby they will sit and talk with the grieving person. Ask them about the person they lost, listen carefully to the stories, and help to keep the memories alive."

    "Kagome-sensei says that a person lives on the Naraka Path so long as anyone remembers them. That they have to watch their bodies and minds fading slowly as the living forget you one memory at a time. Only when all trace of you is lost do you finally find peace."

    Cannai snorted. "Kagome-sensei sounds like he is in urgent need of a puppy pile. And like he would be no fun at all during a ballyhoo."

    "A what now?"

    "A ballyhoo. It's a social event. Dogs come together, sometimes multiple packs, share food and stories, play games. A festival."

    "That sounds like fun."

    "Indeed. Although not if this 'Kagome-sensei' were there."

    "Don't be mean. He's very nice."

    "Hm. In any case, I fear that I have no greater wisdom to offer."

    Hazō sighed. "Yeah, I didn't think there would be an easy answer." He paused. "Do...would you mind if we just stayed here for a bit? It's nice, and it's quiet and peaceful, and once I go back it's going to be the opposite of that."

    "I have nowhere else to be and had thought to have a bit of a nap. You are more than welcome to join me, provided that you don't keep me awake with your snoring."

    "I don't snore."

    "Mm-hm. Kakashi snored like a landslide."

    "I'm not Kakashi."

    "Hidenori snored."

    "I don't know who that is, but I'm not Hidenori either."

    "An earlier Summoner. Very well. You may stay. If you are not here when I awaken, know that my well-wishes go with you. I hope Akane recovers soon."

    "Thank you."

    o-o-o-o​

    "Kagome-sensei?" Hazō slapped softly on the granite doorframe.

    "Hm? What?! Oh, it's you, Hazō. Come in, come in. I was, uh, making some notes. Yes, making notes! Being very productive."

    The claim seemed unlikely, given that Kagome-sensei had been sprawled back against the headboard, a book spilled across his lap, his mouth hanging open and drooling slightly. Hazō forbore to comment on any of that. Instead, he settled into one of the chairs, checking first to make sure that it wasn't mined, and paused to organize his thoughts.

    "What's wrong?" Kagome-sensei asked, pushing himself up and twisting so that he was sitting crosslegged on the bed, facing Hazō.

    "It's Akane. I'm worried about her." He hesitated, chewing his lip for a moment. "Do you remember when we decided to come to Leaf? You said that they would make us do terrible things. Well, you were right. Several thousand civilians are dead or going to die because of what Akane and her team did. It's crushing her."

    "What happened?" Kagome-sensei asked, frowning.

    "She and Yuno and a Yamanaka were sent to Nagayama to capture a Rock jōnin. They succeeded, but their secondary orders were to destroy the town. They burned it down and destroyed all the large-scale food stores. It's killing her."

    Storm clouds glowered across Kagome-sensei's face. "Those giant schnooks over in the Tower. I said they were no good."

    "You did. And...I think it's more complicated then just 'are no good'. I think they have bad priorities and that they are too permissive in which options they will consider and which ones they won't." He clenched a fist in frustration. "They have a fertility jutsu! This whole war is happening because Rock wants more fertile land. All we had to do was teach them the fertility jutsu twenty years ago and they would have turned their own land into a paradise. They wouldn't have needed ours. This war would never have happened."

    Kagome-sensei snorted. "That'll happen. Generations of hate and vengeance, you think all that's just going to get set aside so that people can do smart things that benefit everyone?"

    "Can I at least hope for it?" Hazō said plaintively.

    "Hope in one hand, poop in your pants, see which one overflows."

    "I...don't think that's how that expression goes."

    "Not the point!"

    "I know, sorry." He swallowed, staring at the floor in fascination since the boring granite was vastly preferable to meeting the eyes of another human. Sensei needs some rugs, he found himself thinking.

    "Would you like some rugs?"

    "Huh? How does that connect? Are you planning on giving Akane rugs?"

    "No, I just... It's a thing that I could actually do, a problem I could solve. A few words to Gaku and I could make the problem go away."

    "I don't—" Kagome-sensei digested that for a moment. "Yes, thank you. Rugs would be nice."

    "I'll get on that. Any thoughts on what to do for Akane?"

    Kagome-sensei looked vaguely around the room, much like a man in deep water might look for a lifering. "Well...we could leave. If we go back to the woods, then..."

    The words trailed off. He shifted around until he was leaning back on the headboard, his knees drawn up, hands wrapped loosely around his ankles.

    "We can't leave," he said. "Not even for Akane. There's other people who need us too. Honoka and her family. The other clanless kids at her school. The people on the estate."

    "So you're starting to like them, eh?" Hazō struggled valiantly to keep the knowing smirk out of his voice.

    Kagome-sensei glared at him, then sniffed. "They aren't all the worst, I suppose. Some of them aren't completely awful. Granny Mayuka is nice."

    "I'm glad. Back on topic: Any thoughts as to what we could do for her?"

    "Why ask me? I'm terrible with people and I've got no clue how to handle something like this. After my bosses sent me on that horrible mission I went missing and lived in the woods for fifteen years."

    Hazō smiled. "For someone who thinks he's terrible with people, you can be remarkably insightful, and remarkably caring. Harumitsu hangs on your every word, Honoka and her parents think you hung the moon and I..." The smile got wider and softer. "I wouldn't be alive without you, sensei. And I definitely wouldn't be the man I am."

    Kagome-sensei's head jerked up in surprise and his cheeks went bright red. He looked away with a quick harumph! "I don't know what you're talking about. I'm a grumpy old man, that's all. Not some kind of role model."

    Hazō chuckled and stood up. "Keep telling yourself that if it feels more comfortable, but there's a lot of people on this estate, and a bunch more in Leaf proper, who think you're pretty darn awesome." He nodded politely to his teacher and withdrew, ignoring the embarrassed grumbling from behind him.




    Author's Notes: I'm cutting this shorter than intended due to a last-minute invitation to watch Superbowl commercials with friends.

    You spoke to Gaku, and he said:
    • He took down a description of the stone used in the Great Seal and will attempt to find a supply of it.
    • He will talk to anyone he can find who would know anything about geology or geometry. He asked how soon you needed it and Hazō said 'a week, unless something changes'.
    • He doesn't know if Tsunade runs an aid organization but he will look into it. The clerks at the Tower, the Academy, and Leaf General Hospital are mostly civilian members of ninja families or survivors of clans that were wiped out. Some are completely civilian; getting a job serving in one of those places is a dream that people struggle for.
    • Yes, you can send GED graduates to her. He'll take care of it, although he doesn't know how much need there is. He's going to approach the hospital's lower-level administrators to start with, ask what they need, and try to find a good fit.


    Other odds and ends:
    • You were visiting with Cannai etc so there was no time for seal research.
    • You sent a messenger to Kei describing the stone of the Great Seal and asking her to ask around among the Pangolins to find a supply. She returned a reply with the messenger saying that she'll get back to you.
    • What with everything else, you did not have time to talk to Kumokōgō.


    It is now 5pm. Dinner is in an hour and Akane leaves just after dawn.

    XP AWARD: 3

    Brevity XP: 1

    "GM had fun" XP: 1

    Vote time! What to do now?

    Voting ends on Wednesday, February 16, 2022, at 12pm London time.
     
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    • eaglejarl said:
    I'm afraid there is no simple solution. There is no magic or potion that will take away her pain. It will require time, and support, and much introspection. What about Mari? She is Akane's teacher, is she not? And skilled with people?"

    "She is. You're saying I should delegate this to her?"

    "I'm saying that you should enlist her aid.
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    It's nice when Dog dad agrees with you
     
    We really, really need to get an extension on Akane's downtime. Kei's romantic partner went out on a mission while emotionally distraught and died (either deliberately or as a result of improper mission-mindset). Akane going on this mission will result in her death. Talk with Mari, grab Kei, and Shikamaru. We need to have some sort of leverage/goodwill to spend, here!

    Maybe we can have Hazou go out on the mission, instead? Mari should likely remain so that she can organize emotional care for Akane (talking with Akane may help foster Uplift Mari's growth/development/presence too).
     
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