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Marked for Death: A Rational Naruto Quest

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Hrmm...Now that I think about it, we could just steal the keys for the windows from the servants. Just ask Honami who has them and then go steal them.

But it's not like the lock itself is going to be the main problem, there are so many ways you could block a window or make it so that opening it makes noise/leaves a mark even without ninja shenanigans.

The more I think about it, less likely it seems that we could get in through the window without alerting the residents. Well, I guess it's good thing that we are taking it slow. We'll know more in the morning.

eaglejarl said:
What does this mean?
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I think the idea is to have Keiko research her bloodline for combat purposes...? Maybe?

Personally I think it's a really bad idea. Keiko can be a bit of a handful but I do like her non-lobotomized, thank you very much.
 
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[X] Action Plan: Scaredy-Cats in the Night
[X] Training Akane: Mechanical Aptitude 14
[X] Training Hazou: Stealth 9
[X] Training Keiko: Nope
[X] Noburi Research: Vampiric Dew
 
What is there for Nobby to research? Did he gain vd levels since last time? What exactly is he supposed to do during this one night?

Let the boy rest.

[X] Training Noburi: Nope

[X] Training Keiko: Nope
 
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[X] Action Plan: Scaredy-Cats in the Night

@Twofold: Could you ask them to keep a general eye on Jotaro's movements, as well as those of his comrades? With a particular eye on whether his comrades seem like they're ninja (economy of movement, etc...) and whether any of them make use of the hot springs themselves?

I would also like to ask Kagome and Inoue about possible places to hide this scroll, ways to quickly find such hidden documents, and their general ability to decode or replicate likely storage methods. If I were Jotaro, the actual document would be in a waterproof storage scroll hidden behind bandages on my inner thigh, or under my armpit, set up in a way that makes it impossible to unseal before I write a password on it. I'd also not remove it before the handover, claiming injury. (If I were Hazou doing Jotaro's task, I'd memorize the scroll, burn it, and write it out again when the handoff happens, but we're fucked if he's capable of that.)

Huh, that's an idea. Storage scrolls that allow to write a password in one configurable section, when you store an item in it, the kanji that indicates the scroll is full appears and the password dissapears. In order to open it, you need to write a very similar pattern into the password area. If you try to open it with no password written, nothing happens, if you try to open it with a wrong password, it explodes.

[X] Training Noburi: Nope
[X] Training Keiko: Nope
[X] Training Akane: Nope
[X] Training Hazou: Nope
[X] Training Akane: Mechanical Aptitude 14
[X] Training Hazou: Stealth 9
 
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Jello_Raptor said:
@Twofold: Could you ask them to keep a general eye on Jotaro's movements, as well as those of his comrades? With a particular eye on whether his comrades seem like they're ninja (economy of movement, etc...) and whether any of them make use of the hot springs themselves?
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It's evening now and the prep work will be done during the night. I doubt Joutaro or the servants will move much during that time. I added gathering information about the party as one of the goals but didn't specify a method for it, meaning Hazou will make an effort to find something out if there's a chance.

Twofold said:
[X] Action Plan: Scaredy-Cats in the Night

Perform a preliminary reconnaissance on Joutaro's suite discreetly during the night.

Goals:
  1. Don't get caught
  2. Prepare to break in to Joutaro's suite
  3. Gather information about Joutaro's party
Method:
  1. Mari, Akane, Keiko and Hazou inspect one of the suites similar to Joutaro's
    • Only break in if the suite is unoccupied, or the residents are soundly asleep (if we can't sneak past civilians, we won't sneak past potential ninjas)
    • Inspect the suite
      • Check how fast Akane can pick the lock in the window or anywhere else relevant
      • Check the windows, walls ceilings and the floor, how easy would it be to make a spy hole?
        • If feasible, make few and see how easy they are to spot
      • Check how feasible it's to eavesdrop what's going on in the suite from adjacent rooms, from above and below
      • Check how the sanitation facilities work. Is it abusable as an entry, exit, or surveillance point.
      • Make sure we can navigate the layout in the dark
      • Note the line of sights inside the suite and out of it, from where could we kawarimi to where? Any good spots outside for a kawarimi log?
  2. Mari and Akane sneak outside Joutaro's suite and inspect the servant room windows
    • If Joutaro is away, also check his window
    • If Joutaro is there, wait till it's properly late for him to be asleep (2-4 am)
    • Have Hazou and Keiko wait close by and call them in if there's any sealwork for Hazou to inspect
    • Observe if there is anyone keeping a special eye on the suite
    • Examine the windows, any changes from the previous suite? Traps? Seals?
    • Is there any way to peek into the suite?
  3. Reconvene to plot our next move
Contingencies
  1. Try and stick to pairs as much as possible
    • Have Nobby stay with Kagome
  2. Map out escape routes out of the resort
    • Pay extra attention to routes where kawarimi could be abused
  3. Everyone henge
    • When sneaking, use colors and patterns that blend with the inn setting
    • Wear wind-style headscarfs under the henge that cover our hair and facial feature
  4. If things turn fighty, abort mission and escape the premises
    • No killing or maiming people horribly unless absolutely necessary
    • Keep the collateral damage to minimum
    • Use the mid-combat codeword for Jiraya's agents to see if it has any effect (boudoir)
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Voting is closed.

CounterBot by eaglejarl, version 1.4


Plan name: Scaredy-Cats in the Night
Voters: @1234qwerty, @Cariyaga, @faflec, @fictionfan, @Jello_Raptor, @Killer_Whale, @Muer'ci, @Twofold
Num votes: 8


Plan name: Training Akane: Mechanical Aptitude 14
Voters: @1234qwerty, @faflec, @Jello_Raptor, @Muer'ci, @Twofold
Num votes: 5


Plan name: Training Hazou: Stealth 9
Voters: @1234qwerty, @faflec, @Jello_Raptor, @Muer'ci, @Twofold
Num votes: 5


Plan name: Training Keiko: Nope
Voters: @faflec, @Jello_Raptor, @Muer'ci, @Twofold
Num votes: 4


Plan name: Training Noburi: Nope
Voters: @Jello_Raptor, @Muer'ci, @Twofold
Num votes: 3


Plan name: Keiko Research: Combat Motivation
Voters: @1234qwerty, @HoratioVonBecker
Num votes: 2


Plan name: Noburi Research: Vampiric Dew
Voters: @1234qwerty, @faflec
Num votes: 2


Plan name: Armageddon Initiative
Voters: @Cariyaga
Num votes: 1


Plan name: Research Keiko: Combat Motivation
Voters: @MadScientist
Num votes: 1


Plan name: Training Akane: Nope
Voters: @Jello_Raptor
Num votes: 1


Plan name: Training Hazou: Nope
Voters: @Jello_Raptor
Num votes: 1


Plan name: Trial Run
Voters: @Muer'ci
Num votes: 1



Number of voters: 10
 
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Chapter 62: Fraidy-Cats
  • Apocrypha
    • Chapter 62: Fraidy-Cats in the Night​

    Turns out, this didn't take long at all to write. Enjoy.




    Akane, MechApt (open lock):
    13d100: 747

    Lock, fulfill its only purpose in existence by staying closed:
    ?d100: 141

    The lock snicked open in seconds; Akane tucked her tools away with a quietly proud smile and carefully slid the second-floor window open so she could eel inside. The rest of the team, clinging to the wall alongside her, followed her in.

    Mari, Stealth:
    ?d100: 961

    Keiko, Stealth:
    10d100: 528

    Akane, Stealth:
    11d100: 646

    Hazou, Stealth:
    9d100: 85 DUDE???!!!

    Sleeping Civilian, Awareness:
    ?d100: 87


    Hazou was last through the window; the others had dispersed through the room, each to their own assigned task. Hazou waited a moment for his vision to adjust, then cat-footed to the bedroom door and eased it open a crack before peering inside. Honami had assured them that this suite had the same layout as the room next door that was occupied by Joutarou and his friends.

    The room's occupants—a rich merchant and her husband—were sound asleep, so Hazou slipped inside...

    ...only to trip over a small valise that had been carelessly dropped near the door and faceplant on the hard wooden floor.

    The merchant and her husband sat bolt upright in bed. The woman took one look around, saw Hazou, and screamed.

    "HEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLPPPPPPPPPPPP!!! JOUTAROOUU!!!!"

    Things started to happen very fast.

    The merchant and her husband rolled off the bed away from Hazou.

    Mari, Keiko, and Akane came through the door at a dead run, weapons in hand.

    The wall exploded as two hundred and fifty pounds of angry jonin came through it like a chakra bull in full charge.

    Keiko, Weapons:
    18d100: 883

    Akane, Taijutsu:
    15d100: 647

    Hazou, Taijutsu:
    15d100: 817

    Mari, Genjutsu:
    ?d100 - ?d100 (circumstance: poor lighting): 1254

    Joutarou, Kenjutsu:
    ?d100: 1679 Total domination!


    "Snakebite Black!" Mari called, delicate fingers dancing through genjutsu handseals with trained speed. Hazou and Akane circled left and right, coming in from their opponent's sides while Keiko sent a storm of metal from straight ahead.

    The Iron Nerve took Hazou's body through the pattern of Inoue-sensei's orders without need for his attention, leaving him space to evaluate the situation. The room was just about the worst possible environment for a ninja fight: tight quarters, only one valid kawarimi target (the dresser), and poor lighting. The dim light would make genjutsu more difficult so, from one perspective, Snakebite was an odd choice. If Inoue-sensei managed to snag Joutarou with the genjutsu the fight would be over instantly. If not, she was effectively taking herself out of the fight for a few critical seconds.

    From another perspective, it was the best of a series of bad options. In their planning sessions, she had made clear that his build, movements, and the sword on his back strongly suggested that Joutarou was a kenjutsu specialist. Fighting him at close range was a sucker's bet, she had said.

    She was right.

    Joutarou's sword swept from its sheath, slapping Keiko's kunai aside with contemptuous ease. It shifted casually to the right in order to slice Akane's throat open, then flicked to the left to cut Hazou's arm off at the shoulder. He balestraed forward and into a lunge that sent his point through Mari's face and out the back of her head. She fell back, the weight of her dead body tearing the sword from his hand and tugging him momentarily off balance.

    The world froze around Hazou. He was in mid-collapse, halfway to his knees with white-hot agony screaming from his arm and shattering his thoughts into a million pieces. The geyser of blood coming almost straight from his heart seemed to take all his air with it, leaving him unable to do anything for a precious moment. He knew exactly what was going to happen. His lungs weren't working, but inside his head he was screaming for Keiko to run, get out, kawarimi away and vanish into the team's numerous escape routes outside. If she could make it to the edge of the compound and into one of Kagome's pre-prepared slips, she would be safe. Even a jonin wasn't going to follow her through what was waiting out there without getting mangled. All she had to do was run. And he knew, knew, that she wouldn't. Not when the dead body of her teacher, her mentor, her idol, her forbidden love, was literally hitting the floor at her feet.

    Keiko, Weapons:
    18d100 + ?d100 (Mori Clan Final Technique: Unfettered Brilliance): 2108

    Joutarou, Taijutsu:
    ?d100: 616


    Keiko screamed and the universe screamed with her. Chakra lightning exploded from the walls, rippling across her skin and connecting her to everything and everyone. She danced up those strands of lightning like the goddess of death, sliding effortlessly around Joutarou's desperate handstrikes and carving him up as she went.

    The first kunai stabbed between the radius and ulna of her victim's left arm, providing a lever that shifted his balance a little more, causing his next strike to come up short. The second kunai went into his bicep at an angle, giving her an anchor to pull him forward as she dropped her entire weight straight down, massive chakra adhesion letting her move faster and pull harder than a girl her size should have been able to.

    He tumbled forward, limbs flailing, his cry of surprise cut off as the point of a pink shuriken went in through his mouth and out through the top of his head, ripping most of his skull off in the process. Almost before the stroke was complete she was thrown backwards by the first of a series of massive seizures, feet and hands and head beating a staccato tattoo on the floor.

    The world went dark around Hazou as bloodloss carried him off into unconsciousness and death. His final thought: Why was the shuriken pink?!


    You have died. There are no saved games. Start over: Y/N?

    Time to create a new protagonist; character creation rules are the same as before. You have an extra week to vote, as the GMs will need the time to figure out where we go from here.

    Voting ends on Wednesday, August 17, 2016, at 12pm London time. Also, this entire update never happened; I was just feeling bored at the idea of writing another scouting update. The actual update will be out later—maybe today, probably tomorrow.
     
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  • Apocrypha
    • eaglejarl said:
    Voting ends on Wednesday, August 17, 2016, at 12pm London time. Also, this entire update never happened; I was just feeling bored at the idea of writing another scouting update.
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    I hate you a little bit right now.


    For the record, if I am not mistaken, the probability of getting under 100 on 9d100 is roughly one in nine factorial, or a little under three in a million.
     
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    eaglejarl said:
    Also, this entire update never happened; I was just feeling bored at the idea of writing another scouting update. The actual update will be out later—maybe today, probably tomorrow.
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    Well, maybe we wouldn't need to scout if Hazou could discover information offscreen. Such as, do they have meals delivered? Which floor is the suit on? Do they shit in chamber pots or???

    (E: at least we found out one of those things. If that part is even legit >_>)

    Gotta say, found the whole thing rather unfunny. Way to get one's hopes up.
     
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    HoratioVonBecker said:
    You know it would have been more convincing if either of our emergency rerolls worked, right?
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    There was a lot of foreshadowing in there, actually -- the title of the chapter was not the correct version of the plan name, no one chakra boosted, the multiple combatant rules weren't used, and Hazou didn't get his emergency reroll. Oh, and as @PrimalShadow pointed out, rolling 85 on 9d100 is insanely unlikely.

    EDIT: Oh, and it was neither threadmarked nor posted in the Story-Only thread.
     
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    Muer'ci said:
    Well, maybe we wouldn't need to scout if Hazou could discover information offscreen. Such as, do they have meals delivered? Which floor is the suit on? Do they shit in chamber pots or???
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    Click to shrink...

    Ordinarily we'd be answering those questions, but @Jackercracks is still mostly lost to Stellaris (I think) and @Velorien and I have been (a) missing each other in chat so we can't discuss things and (b) tied up with real-life stuff.

    If you would compile all outstanding questions into the player knowledge doc for me, we'll get you the answers. I'll also work as many as possible into the update.
     
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