Evil Bob Campaigns

It has not been explicitly stated, but I think that the only squad that handles provisioning directly could enjoy some quarter-mastering-oriented personnel in addition to the actual quartermaster. You know, the praetorians of one and true master of cookie jar and the sake cellar aka me. 8)

I am making a build that will try to exploit the provisioning aspect of handling an army with all the fun involved. If you want to be there with me, it'd be all the merrier. I promise to involve you in twisted stories. :P

So if you ponder what kind of build to go with, give a thought to someone who may have some points for commercial negotiations, guarding stuff, detecting certain Yoritomo trying to steal sake and other shady treats and handling the dirty work that others eschew just for the sake of making things running. The legion will have its strong arms, wise heads, fast legs, but neither of them will do the things they are supposed to do without a happy belly. And Happy Belly'R'Us.

I'll help with this!

*applies for transfer*

I hope Soshi-san behaves with all the necessary work ethic. I may help you and send some advice regarding organization, and we may discuss ways of better improving the distribution of supplies on moving armies.

I almost regret making this thread.  ;D Seriously though, will be fun!

If an officer invites for a discussion, I don't refuse. ;) Because I feel confident that a Lion paragon won't jump across military authority ladder in any manner. Genbu chief is my boss.

I would never jump authority. I would only advice and speak of my own experience.

Maybe cuddle... WAIT NO NOT THAT.

They may be your direct boss but everyone higher ranking than you does hold status so can, in serious events, dish or commands or punishments or tell your superior to in such a way that they effectively told it to you directly.

That said, I know a certain Kitsuki *coughs* who would not mind being quite close to a man of your rare talents and intellectual strength. It's so difficult so find certain things like... say that... in an army on the move ^^

You'll have a place helping the 2nd any day. We work hard, we play hard!

I absolutely love this motto. :)

I should be most happy to help Soshi-san with whatever needs to be done.

And I will be most keen to exploit and abuse your willingness to help.  ;D

... ... math is hard.

*returns to failed flower arrangement*

Drat.

I can do the accounting, but I charge a donation for the Legion Welfare Fund.

Well, then, perhaps I have other things to do. I am a most busy man.  :)

And I thought a kinsman would have an acquired taste for dark humour. :)

Now, don't go jumping the gun here, Your not the only one going for that position. Now a fish in every pot might be good but what about a warm coat on every back? It just not food but gear as well and remember Kaiu Built Kaiu Tough.

QUARTERMASTER FIGHT!!!  *Puts on his dueling judge hat*  So gentleman, how do you want to resolve this?  Requisiton Duel?  Math fight?

Howitzer's at dawn has my vote. The real trick is requisitioning one with in Rokugan.

You both better start campaigning.

Whoever can get Masakaze the nicest suit of heavy armour will win one's vote. GO!

Soshi-san, if you need someone to duel in your stead, I am certain we can find someone. I, perhaps, might lend my meager skill.

And to extend the joke ad nauseum ;D

Nicest suit? Well then surely you have heard of the protection of a fine suit of Kaiu Armor. None will protect your hide better!

This man has my vote! *so easily bought*

I may have use for fine Kaiu armor. Intriguing, my friend, intriguing.

I shall cast my vote for the more useful, and the one who displays greater merit.

I intend to run a Company of warriors, not of cousins and siblings.

And I intend to annoy you until you transfer me to another company.

*POUNCETACKLECUDDLES*

You misunderstand. A good quartermaster is not a one who gives out resources like candy. I am certainly not one of those. If Kaiu-san wishes to do so and feel like seing the rage of Seppun Hidemitsu-sama, I\'ll just throw him a demotion party, day one.

But let\'s say I have my ways to curb inflation and get you discounts for those of you who might enjoy leisurely goods and services during long winter.

Ah, as you are so quick to throw parties in both happy and sad terms yet talk about not handing out resources like candy? Isn't that counter productive to rationing supplies. This could become a long winter if your other means means the ire of our hosts in this town.

Your reply is very indicative of the fact that you don\'t know what you\'re talking about.

This one was a yoriki in City of Lies for nearly 20 years.

Oooh, Soshi-san is an old guy.  That'll make sneakin' out extra sake easier.

NO KAROSHI-SAN, THAT WAS A RABBIT.  IT RAN OFF AND YOU CAN'T FIND IT NOW.

Then you should know that one should not always start off showing full colors, granted that strategy would get one killed on the wall.

The concept of getting killed on the wall or not is not the best metaphor of good quartermaster\'s work.

But full colours? Where?

Who is to say I was even making a metaphor are you reading to deeply? Has living in that city made you paranoid of a friendly banter? In the end does it not come down the the final skill as apposed to banter. Wither you win or I win neither one will be able to work without the others aid.

Well, this character has no ambitions of personal distinction any more, but needs a modicum of authority to work. Perhaps take the gunso spot of the company? I have nothing against working under you, just not as hohei.

That would take a slight redistribution of a few points. Granted didn't really think of going that high. You could be gunso as it could possibly be more of a push in position as per circumstance rather then ambition.

You underestimate my resolve Amano-san.

The true problem is moving this character either downward or upward lessens it. If being gunso, I am not supposed to take much direct provisioning action because if I do, I undermine the actual quartermaster. I'm supposed to rely on him, otherwise it makes me a poor leader. And it gives me a thrust of responsibilities I'm not really capable of handling with this point distribution. If I am a hohei under a quartermaster, I cannot speak with authority nor take independent actions - partners don't treat me seriously, as an upstart. In either case, it practically writes off too much of this build to still make it fun for me.

So since you seem as adamant as I am, we'll just have to wait and see what resolution is brought to us by outside forces. ;)

Karoshi, as much as it is cool and hell even normal to have "that guy" who can fix people up with stuff... I am not sure that person would get made into the quartermaster by any sane command staff.

Yeah, you could blackmail some. Yeah, you could call in favours. But this is the legion. The odd incompetent or untested kuge with a silver spoon in their mouth might become a taisa but for everyone chui and below they have to be very competent.

If you could do the normal duties of a quartermaster, not be horribly biased or bribeable, actually handle organisation and not spend all your time with sneaky schemes then it'd make sense to me. If you're just that guy who has somehow swindled their way into the position... well, to be frank, as soon as any of the gunso or chui found out about a couple of your more nefarious actions - or even just heard rumours, and they would hear them - then you'd be watched like a hawk. It'd horribly impact your ability to do anything and you'd likely be demoted if caught.

So unless you're seriously that good... why not consider just being the hohei who actually has a power network and go from there? Take spy network. Have blackmail. Have a couple powerful local allies. Take wealth. Ask Bob if you can take status or at least imperial wife and be a powerful person outside of the legion but less powerful officially within it. Then you can still do what you want to.

If you're only going to be slightly crafty though, then I think you should have a shot at quartermaster. I just don't see some drug peddling, I'll get you whatever you want for the right price, if you don't pay me back i'll bust in your kneecaps kind of guy getting the position and staying there very long unless they somehow have power over all their commanding officers or they are insanely good at keeping everything quiet. And with Kitsuki investigators wandering around and acting as advisors... I doubt it.

Sorry if that all sounds harsh, just my thoughts at the moment.

I am happy for such a caring opinion. :)

If my fooling around across the forum gave you an impression that Karoshi is only about blackmail, opium peddling and extortion, this impression is wrong. He can do all those things with skill, but a) he's far more than that b) he believes that proportion and cost-effect calculation should be a guidance to action. He is used to be doing what needs to be done for things to run smoothly rather than to score a Scorpgasm. He's not about evading hordes of Kitsuki investigators, although he can be discreet enough not to wrinkle their nostrils if they're not directly on him. And if they are, they may think twice before lashing on him out of principle, because if they are as intelligent as they claim, they will realise that what he does is for the benefit of the Legion.

Believe it or not, Karoshi is pretty selfless. His personal agenda grew very thin over the years of his difficult life, which was filled with tedious, loyal service for the Scorpion. Now the Legion is all he has, and he knows no life beyond relentless pursuit of duty. He served in law enforcement positions for almost 2 decades, and some more as a quartermaster for the Thunder Guard, private army of Ryoko Owari governor. He will retire to the monastery in a year or two as his health problems and conditons likely won't let him continue beyond 40, and he has some serious transcendental questions to be asking.

I am writing this things because I don't really care about him carrying an aura of dastardly mystery. If he practices appearances, they are for the sake of convenience or social convention. He is Machiavellian, but not your flashy malevolence incarnated. He'll leave that to the Spider.

Because with this character, I want to draw a clear line between the Scorpion and the Spider.

I'll write an intro fic for him when I have more time. Perhaps that will give you a better hint of what character I made, if these explanations don't.

No Karoshi, that helps. Thanks. I had misinterpreted him as more a petty courtier/ thug leader type. If he just does that on the side and there is more to him then yeah, I think most would turn a blind eye to the more nefarious stuff if he generally does the job competently and without bias.

I think it'll need a vote or Bob's decision to settle this. Perhaps when more player arrive in case others want to be quartermaster too ^^;

Rule #3: Never judge a character by OOC-shenanigans. ;)

Oh, totaly Yasuko. It was more the hints at the character personality. The hints were insightful, they just didn't reveal the whole.

I hope you don't think Masakaze is some Samurai Champloo rapper :P

Edit: *coughs* Cause Masakaze can rap waaaay better than that... *coughs*

Well, Magistrates do get a bonus to intimidate   ;)

And if I wanted to abuse it, you'd have at least a Scorpion gunso here.

Not as adamant as you really think. I will send a pm later to see if I can do a slight revision and go for Gunso. Honestly I went for quartermaster in first place thinking no one else would go for it or it would be a least sought after and gunso everyone is going after. Granted this squad looks like the least populated one.

Thank you. I appreciate it and will be glad to follow your orders. It\'s good to have a boss not abstracted from necessities of life.

Well, this works.

Also, Yosai, let me remind you that one of the special advantages is gunso. If you want to be gunso, you may be able to persuade the GMs to let you have it. It is restricted. You need to meet certain skill requirements to have been considered for promotion if you don't buy it as an advantage (as I understand it) but it would mean you could be it and you might then have some points spare to distribute. Raise your battle to at least 3 too! ^_-

I do have battle at 3 as well as all the other skills at three with air of 3. Only skill I was missing before was iaijutsu but I will swap 1 of my other random 3 to it. What might hurt me but then again make it interesting is I did take Disturbing Countenance. Granted it is all about the delegation as a leader in this position in my opinion. I did have the standard training before but looking at possibilities of the game I am thinking rank 2 kaiu siege engineer might be useless.

It might be useless for the plot we are doing as it seems unlikely to involve a major battle BUT there are rules for commanding your squad so perhaps we will have a few large skirmishes.

Also, it is fitting for a siege expert to be a gunso. A legion would benefit from someone who knew about fortifications and how to take them apart. Just my 2 cents

Rank 2 is extra hit points on a structure and re-roll damage when commanding a siege engine. Even if we have a large skirmish I am not sure if siege engine would be used but I still do have rank 3 with an emphasis in siege anyways.

Well, you could just be Hida trained then? It's entirely up to you. Still weeks left to edit characters I believe  ;)

So, getting back to the original purpose of the thread, who wants to assist the quartermaster? Thanks to the discussion, you actually know more what to expect.

I bought the advantage, but I do have sufficient skills to support being Gunso (as well as Advantages)

Masakaze what you say is truth? If you don't buy the advantage you can be Gunso if you meet certain skill requirements?

My skills revolve around Battle which is at a fairly high level and Engineering related to fortification and siege. :3

So, both you and the Kaiu are trying to be quartermaster in the Genbu-company, right?

What's in it for me to vote for either of you? ;)  A girl has got to be practical, after all.

A girl may also need to be timely - Kaiu sheds this tedious and ungrateful position and advances to be our glorious gunso. ;)

I will listen to what needs you have though, and give them serious consideration.

To earn the vote of my character you have to show me who is the most capable of being efficient and capable of procuring the best for missions.

Quartermaster, I need 3000 sakura petals, 12 pounds of green tea, 1 porcelain bowl, 3 suits of heavy armor, and 4 lemons.

Don't ask questions; procure them.

Writ from your commanding officer, please.

I require a beef.  Make it so.

Anger your superior, he'll give you all the beef you want. Next.

*Stamps the request arbitrarily* That was the order for my new tea set Miki-chan? Thank you! *trusting*

Here is a requisition for I need 3000 sakura petals, 12 pounds of green tea, 1 porcelain bowl, 3 suits of heavy armor, and 4 lemons.
It is from my superior. Do not inspect too closely, please

nani? And here all I wanted was more flesh cutter arrows. Clearly I am a much more frugal Gunso.

*provides, according to the pecking order*

*sends a report of the goods provided to the shireikan and Suzaku\'s chui*

*inspects closely*
*stares at kinsman*
*ignores*

*provides, picks good ones for the frugal gunso*

*wanders up wearing a fake moustache*

I will require three kilos of opium and two gallons of rum.

*opens drawer*
*takes out a big arrow with the name Kagefusa on it*
*points it to the camp*
*resumes other duties*

*Jimmies open the lock on the shed and escapes with ALL OF THE RUM*

Locksmith and Stealth rolls, please.

*pulls out his belt with throwing knives*

An error, of course. Try this one.
*hands you actual requisition for 3000 sakura petals, 12 pounds of green tea, 1 porcelain bowl, 3 suits of heavy armor, and 4 lemons*

Yosai\'s stamp please.

*gives kinsman a farewell lemon*

This seems like an extremely odd request to me and can only be one of several things. I need reasoning before my stamp goes on it.

I have reasons, but we must speak of them privately

I require a Unicorn riding horse for duties related to liasing with our gracious hosts more efficiently.

Who you seducing with your womanly wiles

Seducing? Oh, no one in particular Kaiu-sama.

Right, Ill believe that the day I go dry. No seal

Oh, the trials I face! Curse my mother and her blackened womb for having me! I speak truely, Kaiu-sama. I am seducing no one, in particular.

I am keeping the lemon. It shall be a gift

I also require a horse. And new armour. My armour was damaged while fighting and had to be scrapped. The same for my horse. A shame.

*Eyes the quartermaster expectedly*

Our next quartermaster should be a shugenja.

"Summon horse!"
"But it just brings a horse from somewhere nearby!"
"I said summon horse!"

Wait wait wait.  I asked for a horse first.

But sadly, (s)he outranks you.

*reviews horses he has, discerns their quality*
*gives one to Masakaze first, and another one to Shu second*
*nods at Shu, his fellow nikutai will know the difference*

As long as it can walk I am happy :)

The heavy armor is more important. And can it be pretty? Maybe with a little lotus flower on it? Or a frog devouring a Star? Perhaps a Dragon doing a dance over a skeleton? You know. Something pretty

*Creepy weird Kitsuki continues to amaze*

I am sure you realise that by making excessive demands you're either implying that your lord was incapable of providing you with the equipment needed for your service in the Imperial Legions or behaving questionably, by putting your own fancies before the interest of the Legion? I am sure you also realise what are the ramifications of either. I humbly ask you to be reasonable.

When the game starts...  I'll show you creepy. ;)

*stifles laugh*

Haven't I said elsewhere that a game without a Yogo lacks certain thrill? ;)

Replacing broken armour is hardly an excessive demand. Also, my lord cannot assist due to being miles away while I serve in the Legion. My lord therefore in effect becomes my chui. Who I am on good terms with. He may be quite angered to find out I was impeded from collecting armour I would need in the field. The decorations were just a preference, not a necessity. The armour is a necessity though. Or would you like to argue with me further nikutai?

There's no argument, gunso-sama. There's never been.

*procures a normal set of heavy armour*

I suddenly had a thought about how awesome that could be.  I imagine it would be something like this:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aWwSDn_bgY&feature=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aWwSDn_bgY&feature=related)

I was thinking more about the merchant a couple miles off whose cart is suddenly rolling downhill with no horse to support it  ;D

To get the thread a bit back on track:

I'd really like to work with:

1. at least one quartermaster's assistant able to handle the bureaucratic minutiae
2. at least one reliable, visually compelling enforcer
3. at least one capable craftsman with engineering/repair skills
4. at least one person who knows how to handle horses

So if ideas of any of you go toward a sleazy Yasuki/Yoritomo merchant, a Badger/Ox/Crab/Mantis hulk, a Kaiu Mr. Fix-It or any other type samurai equipment-loving guy or a Kitsune/Otaku/Iuchi/whatever animal friend, or any other build that connects to those archetypes in any combination, know that you're most welcome to join the Quartermaster's Team.

^^ If you get maintain a good working relation with my squad then we'll back you up if you ever need enforcers ^_^

Alas, I will most likely be bogged down with Officer duties but I am a Kaiu fix it.

I will gladly be your enforcer while not engaging in clandestine duties.

Also, I hope to see some of this happen:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUl9_5kK9ts

Hmmm, might be hard to separate those entirely, but I think we can get on well with one another. Secure your transfer to Genbu and you can enjoy being in all those sake-serving places where I discuss appropriations.

Ah, I was not aware that appointment to the courtier company was a requirement for this position.  I regretfully and respectfully withdraw my application.

I am suddenly curious if instead of being a squad regular Nikutai, if I could be someone's Yojimbo; like the Chui or something...

I understand. Chain of command applies, however, and there can't be duty without accountability.

I don't see why not Miki. You have time to decide too. Ask the Toku and others of decent rank or importance?

There are only two decided to go for chui atm, and arguably these are guys who need less protection than those two, likely shugenja and courtier, which are not yet present. Perhaps you should wait a bit until they appear to make an informed decision.

I would like to point technically speaking rokugan negotiations can easily become a duel of some sort. SO being a duelist would be bad. If I remember correctly, Amano said he was having an actually courtier joining soon if you want to try and sending a message. Otherwise could be an npc, we are an army so there should be alot of em.

I am sorry, Yosai-sama. You were looking for a courtier?

I wasn't Miki was saying about being a yojimbo for someone instead of being the nikutai for the courtier squad

Uh.... I'm the Nikutai for you guys and i am a duelist, and I do have yojimbo skillz.....

Oh your the nikutai, for this one, then I will adjust what I said to what what ever squad she is in. Your fine, I really should go make a ledger for me OOC

I'll probably just unofficially yojimbo for my gunso.

If I like him/her.

I hope you will ^^

Are you official squad 2 gunso?

I keep saying I am but it's up to Bob to confirm I guess?

I must have missed that you wanted to be squad 2 gunso.  I'll log that.

*bump*

All still for the taking.

Do I sense smuggling ring???

I could do number one, I suppose. but it's dreadfully dull.

To say that would be equal to saying that rainbow is monochromatic.

Zhelazo: do you really believe in 'dull' with your clansman as a quartermaster? ;)

But I am an easily-bored dilettante. If I should take interest in duties, the world might surely crack in two!

Very well, when duty permits, I shall assist 

While my duties will be primarily toward Squad 2 of the Byakko Company, I would be willing to assist with the horses as needed, and available.  After all, there is nobody better to care for the Legion's horses than one of the esteemed equestrians of the Unicorn Clan.   ;D

Noted! I'll speak with Shin if I can utilise your expertise.

Lol, heaven forbid he ask me, and I'm in his own squad!!!

That would make things easy.

Well, I appreciate unequivocal commitment.

Yeah, but you're a duelist.

You can't duel on a horse.

Thus, I refute your claim that you've ever ridden.  You're like a male Utaku.

(I am conveniently ignoring the fact that the male Utaku tend to actually -care- for the horses.)

Or can you.  MOUNTED IAIJUTSU DUEL...... COMMEMCE!!!!