The Iron Chef- Bayushi Choudai

[Matsu Inori]

Now that the Day 10 thread is, indeed, concluded:

- We've had a LOT of perspective on how Choudai developed and where you think he will go, given that he features in 2 epilogues. That said: Anything we missed that you would like to point out?


- Likewise, how was your entire perspective on the Inori/Choudai pairing and how it evolved?


- With this as the conclusion to the Naishou timeline....any unfinished business, either on Choudai or any of the other characters?

[Bayushi Choudai]

- We've had a LOT of perspective on how Choudai developed and where you think he will go, given that he features in 2 epilogues. That said: Anything we missed that you would like to point out?

Eh... I think anyone actually interested in the character has what they need.

Between Hatsuki and Kumaji's deaths leaving him fully responsible for their children, and the the fact that he seems to keep picking up ranks of Wealth, he's plainly not quite the screwup he used to be- basically, he both grows up and accepts what being a Scorpion responsible for other people will entail.

The horrible shit he said to Mikan is every bit as much a part of who he is as his kinder, friendlier side, and if he manages to strike a sort of measured balance later in life and direct the monstrous side at more deserving targets than some poor lovelorn painter, well, good for him.

Actually, that's something that does shift in the epilogue- all through the game, and prior ones as well, he tends to refer to his siblings when it comes to dealing with problems or things getting his way. "I'll write to Ogoe." "Shino's gonna destroy this idiot." There's none of that "I'll get my brother to rough you up" in the epilogue, because he's become a financial powerhouse. By the end, he's probably helped them more than they ever helped him.

So despite the bad things he absolutely does, and what are no doubt considerable stains on his kharma, I kind of think he grows as a man to the point where he earns his happier reincarnation.

- Likewise, how was your entire perspective on the Inori/Choudai pairing and how it evolved?

Originally, I saw him as sort of trying to get Inori and Ameiko to recognize their similarities (because he saw a lot more than either of them did), and that kind of guided his early interactions.

He also, as I've said elsewhere, tends to look up to women thanks to his upbringing, and in Inori he saw someone who he honestly thinks could be somebody. And if his life insured he'd never get to be a hero, he kind of wanted to do what he could to guide someone who maybe could.

Plus, he found her directness and candor refreshing.

He's not actually that much older than she is, but he's seen and done so much more horrible, mind-melting shit, he got to enjoy hanging out around someone who had a few traumas and supernatural horrors in her backstory, but who wasn't culpable in any of the bad stuff she'd seen- Inori doesn't feel bad for what she's done, but for what she didn't do.

He also saw her as kind of a little sister, yes- and as someone who pointedly wanted at least one daughter, there was a bit of that in play too. The fact that she listened to him without instant distrust on every single point was also refreshing for him.

One more aspect that guided his sticking with her- his own reputation was bad to begin with and got worse during his time in the Teitaku, but he was also trying to watch her back, keeping anyone from sleazing in on a young and inexperienced samurai. Teitaku was hardly a hive of scum and villainy, but he's used to thinking that way, and he figured if she was talking to him (someone whose intentions he knew damn well), she wouldn't be getting messed up with anyone worse.

So many backstories are full of Scorpion seducers who break hearts- Choudai, as a man wholly devoted to Hatsuki, kind of worked the opposite angle.

- With this as the conclusion to the Naishou timeline....any unfinished business, either on Choudai or any of the other characters?

Choudai is SUPER done- signed, sealed, delivered.

Isawa/Hiruma Mei got her happy ending after one game, and more power to her. Bringing her back for more would probably only stand to jeopardize some of the happiness she landed.

Usagi Ginhiko... well, mechanically, she's starting to hit the "oh, come the fuck on" power level, but since she's more of a traditional RPG character than the others in many ways, there's probably some gas left in her tank as a badass friend to the common man, avenger of wrongs, and hyperactive uber-jock. She's the kind of character I'd dust off for just about any situation where a goshi bushi might be handy.

Shiba Ryusei is nothing BUT unfinished business XD I always saw him as the kind of guy who ends up as a staff officer- a courtly bushi with genteel and respectable hobbies- but also a guy who's incredibly dangerous to square off with- the kid was packing Sage, Crafty, Benten's Blessing, and highly developed kenjutsu skills (a 6k3 roll as a 40XP character) right out of gempukku. I'm a bit sad he'll never stretch his wings in Naishou (and I miss his earnest efforts to get a Go club going, it was a great hook for random chat-ups with any PC or NPC going), because he was by far the most cerebral of my Naishou characters.

[Bayushi Choudai]

Since he (like the game!) is done and dusted, here's Choudai's sheet.

Gaze upon the WORST IR 3 bushi in Rokugan:

Bayushi Choudai
School/Rank: Bayushi Bushi 3
Insight: 178
XP: 0/8

Status: 2.0 (as of late D9)
Honor: 2.5
Glory: 4.0 (as of late D9)


Rings
Earth 2
-Stamina 2
-Willpower 2

Water 3
-Strength 3
-Perception 3

Fire 3
-Agility 3 (Family bonus)
-Intelligence 3 (School Bonus)

Air 3
-Reflexes 3
- Awareness 3

Void 3



Skills (* are school skills/emphasis)
*Courtier (*Manipulation) 3
*Defense: 1
*Etiquette 2
*Iaijutsu 2
*Kenjutsu 4 (as of D5)
*Sincerity 2
*Craft- Cooking 4 (as of D8)
Investigation 3
Battle 1
Jiujutsu 1
Stealth 1
Games- Go 1
Lore- Clan Cuisine 1
Acting 3
Craft: Kites 1
Commerce 3
Lore-Crab Clan 1
Intimidate 1
Perform- Storytelling 1


Advantages:
Inari's Blessing [Spiritual] (3)
- Can regain Void points even while fasting or otherwise foodless

Inheritance [Material] (5)
- His granny's cookware grants +1k1 to his cooking rolls.

Crab Hands [Physical] (2)
-Phantom Rank in all weapon skills

Wealthy [Material] (1, 2 as of game's end)
-4 additional koku

Kharmic Tie- Shosuro Hatsuki [Spiritual] (4)
- Once per session, may add +4k4 to attack rolls when fighting for or protecting Shosuro Hatsuki

Fame [Social] (3, awarded by play)
+1.0 Glory

Social Position: Sapphire Ambassador [Social] (6, awarded by play)
+1.0 Status

Disadvantages:
Fascination- Culinary Arts [Mental] (1)
- Takes an unseemly interest in cooking

Failure of Bushido- Honor [Mental] (3)
- Cannot add Honor Rank to resist Intimidation or Temptation

Seven Fortunes' Curse- Fukurokujin [Spiritual] (3)
- All Lore roll TNs increase by 5

True Love- Shosuro Hatsuki [Mental] (3)
- Must spend a Void point to choose Duty over Hatsuki


Techniques
Rank 1: The Way of the Scorpion
Scorpion bushi always seem to get the jump on opponents. You gain a bonus +1k1 to your Initiative Rolls. You also gain a bonus of +5 to your Armor TN against any opponent with lower Initiative.

Rank 2: Pincers and Tail
The infamous Scorpion feint has been the demise of many foolhardy samurai. You may make the Feint Maneuver for one Raise instead of two.

Rank 3: Strike at the Tail
Scorpion bushi strive to keep their enemies off guard, stopping their attacks and slowing them down. When you assume a Stance at the start of your Turn, you may choose a target within 30'. If you successfully hit him during your Turn, the target is Fatigued as if he had gone without rest for 24 hours. During the Reaction Stage, an affected opponent may attempt an Earth Ring roll against a TN of 25 to negate the effects of this Technique. If he fails, the effects of this Technique end during the next Reactions Stage (the second Reactions Stage after he was struck).