I was not as active for this game as I'd wished I'd been. Still, I had a few scenes that were a lot of fun! Big shoutout to my fictional cousin, to Hoshiko, and to Shiori, all of whom gave me some great content.

Now, let me just say a few things about Ryu first...

Initially I was planning on playing a quite different character; a war hero duelist with a recently lost limb. But when I saw what niches were already occupied by the sizeable Crane population, I fell out of love with that idea. At a suggestion of my woife (Haku's player), I drew on some inspiration and came up with Ryu. He did turn out to be a bit more Jeeves than I expected, thus this thread title.

The invasion into Crane house was interesting. I feel like that showcased Ryu's political savvy and trademastery. Sorta wish more had been done with that, one way or another.

The biggest surprise with Ryu himself was how emotionally supportive he turned out to be. But I ended up loving that about him, and it helped with his existing connection (Sae) and helped lead to his great new connection (Hoshiko).

There are a few people I wish I'd spent more time with. I wanted to bring Shiori in on some investigation, but I kinda ran out of steam to do anything except things to which I was invited. I also suggested this game to Yuna, but only did one scene with her! Maybe next time.

Okay, that's just some stuff. Any other questions, feel free to ask!

Please Fill Out Form Questions Green through Effervescent, and submit them in triplicate...

1. Biggest curveball the game threw you?

2. Biggest curveball Ryu threw you?

3. PC you missed interacting with that you wish Ryu had logged some time with?

4. Biggest missed opportunity?

Shiba Ryusei wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 12, 2025 9:15 pm

Please Fill Out Form Questions Green through Effervescent, and submit them in triplicate...

1. Biggest curveball the game threw you?

2. Biggest curveball Ryu threw you?

3. PC you missed interacting with that you wish Ryu had logged some time with?

4. Biggest missed opportunity?

The missed opportunity was probably just that I wasn't as active as I wanted to be.

For questions 1-3, please see my initial post.

Daidoji Ryu wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 12, 2025 9:17 pm

The missed opportunity was probably just that I wasn't as active as I wanted to be.

Strange as it sounds, neither was I, especially in the early game! It took some time to find my footing.

Had Ryu been more in the thick of things, what do you think would have changed?

Shiba Ryusei wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 12, 2025 9:18 pm

Strange as it sounds, neither was I, especially in the early game! It took some time to find my footing.

Had Ryu been more in the thick of things, what do you think would have changed?

Mmm, mood, as the youth says. Said. I don't know. It often takes a few days.

But for me... I actually really liked playing Ryu. I think he's an interesting character, a bit different than my usual, with a ton of fascinating potential. So... what went wrong? I think, with the exception of a few very good connections, I didn't find a lot to latch onto. I'm not entirely sure why.

So what would have changed? I'm not sure; that depends on what would have latched. What arc Ryu had was a good one, just a little understated. I certainly would have gotten more though, at least. And probably with more people. And that would have been nice.

Thank you so much for inviting me!!!!!!!!!!!!

So sadly, due to the constraints of time and space, we never got to interact. But thanks to the magic of editting, we can!

Director's Cut Question: Think back on the game as a whole. If you could go back, and add just one scene with our characters in it, what would it be? What are they doing/talking about?

Agasha Yuna wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 12, 2025 10:07 pm

Thank you so much for inviting me!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm very glad that you had so much fun!

Daidoji Ryu wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 12, 2025 11:58 pm

Agasha Yuna wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 12, 2025 10:07 pm

Thank you so much for inviting me!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm very glad that you had so much fun!

I'm very glad you invited TPO Yuna

Soshi Eiji wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 12, 2025 10:57 pm

So sadly, due to the constraints of time and space, we never got to interact. But thanks to the magic of editting, we can!

Director's Cut Question: Think back on the game as a whole. If you could go back, and add just one scene with our characters in it, what would it be? What are they doing/talking about?

That's a very thoughtful question! Thank you!

Hmmm, probably we should have done more in the wake of the Crane House intrusion and Kaguya's... solving attempt. Maybe we could have worked together to make sure both houses were secure against the real criminals? I feel like once it was established that they were both working with professionals, instead of the too-honorable or the crazy, they could have had a good rapport.

Daidoji Ryu wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 13, 2025 12:30 am

That's a very thoughtful question! Thank you!

Hmmm, probably we should have done more in the wake of the Crane House intrusion and Kaguya's... solving attempt. Maybe we could have worked together to make sure both houses were secure against the real criminals? I feel like once it was established that they were both working with professionals, instead of the too-honorable or the crazy, they could have had a good rapport.

Ah yeah, I was really hoping to get interviewed over the Crane house breakin. I WAS grateful that y'all didn't decide to run with 'guya' actually pointing the finger at Kaguya, but I understand y'all keeping your distance afer Kaguya fixed things.

Ack! I didn't get one scene with you this game! I blame the stupid flu sapping a lot of my energy.

Is there a romantic future for Hoshiko and Ryu? Maybe a marriage down the line? I did enjoy reading those scenes.

Daidoji Ryu wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 12, 2025 8:59 pm

(Haku's player)

Credit is nice but breakfast is even better, human butler #3.

Doji Shinnosuke wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 13, 2025 3:54 am

Daidoji Ryu wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 12, 2025 8:59 pm

(Haku's player)

Credit is nice but breakfast is even better, human butler #3.

Who's human butler #2???

Daidoji Ryu wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 13, 2025 4:09 am

Doji Shinnosuke wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 13, 2025 3:54 am

Daidoji Ryu wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 12, 2025 8:59 pm

(Haku's player)

Credit is nice but breakfast is even better, human butler #3.

Who's human butler #2???

Shinnosuke’s servant NPC!

If you want a promotion, you’re going to have to work for it.

Kitsu Sayomi wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 13, 2025 3:37 am

Ack! I didn't get one scene with you this game! I blame the stupid flu sapping a lot of my energy.

Is there a romantic future for Hoshiko and Ryu? Maybe a marriage down the line? I did enjoy reading those scenes.

I know, right? And by the time you were better, I was dropping off.

We're not entirely certain, but the future is looking pretty bright between those two. Well, bright and a little bit gothy sometimes. The IC plan is that they will spend the rest of winter getting to know each other better, meet up again at Sae's wedding, and see how they feel then. OOC, we'll see where things go, but marriage down the line is a possibility!

Doji Shinnosuke wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 13, 2025 4:12 am

Shinnosuke’s servant NPC!

If you want a promotion, you’re going to have to work for it.

In that case, I'm just honored I made #3.

Thank you for the scenes and the content. Well, perhaps we'll find a way to be more active next game, in whatever form it might be? I do suspect that Ryu most certainly wouldn't get along as well concept!Shiori. I feel his attention to things and vigilance would have made his tolerance for nonsense quite low!

Thanks for being interested in "we were talking about doing a thread, want to drop in on the weird spirit encounter one?" Bonus that if their relationship progresses, you'll be visiting with Sae for her wedding, so meeting the family is already on the calendar.

I noticed a few moments of 'warrior who'd be happy to be done with war,' that made me think there were some harrowing bits in Ryu's backstory. Anything particularly sharable?

Asahina Hoshiko wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 14, 2025 7:52 am

Thanks for being interested in "we were talking about doing a thread, want to drop in on the weird spirit encounter one?" Bonus that if their relationship progresses, you'll be visiting with Sae for her wedding, so meeting the family is already on the calendar.

I noticed a few moments of 'warrior who'd be happy to be done with war,' that made me think there were some harrowing bits in Ryu's backstory. Anything particularly sharable?

Indeed! As sometimes happened, what started out as a cute little thread blossomed rather impressively. And yes, it seems like things will continue in that trajectory on to Sae's wedding and beyond.

I'd envisioned Ryu's military life as not being any particularly harrowing things, but rather a large number of minorly harrowing things. Obviously war sucks, but in a militaristic society like Rokugan's it has some upsides (sort of). Ryu's experience with war had none of the upsides (not much glory gained, no promotions), and was exposed to a bit more of the brutal nastiness of it than the average line soldier is. His experience might be likened to that of an old-timey non-noble professional soldier, mustering out after a war with no special prospects and no great saving, just a few years older than when he got in, and a bit more worn down for it besides.

My original concept was going to be one that played with the Rokugani relationship with war a bit more. He was going to be a celebrated war hero who'd earned a promotion up to gunso, but had been maimed, losing his left arm just above the elbow. Perhaps I'll play that character some day, but I think Ryu still had an interesting examination of some of those same things.