Annotated 38-26
Miyamoto departs early because at this point, our plan was for Miyamoto and not Iwatani to carry out schemes against the Peacemakers. He would have been the one to set most of them up for an ambush in a tavern, and he would’ve been the one to hire an assassin to kill Syr’Nj.
In some ways, that tracks a bit better than having Iwatani do those things. Miyamoto sees adventurers as rogue variables to be eliminated, and Iwatani’s more inclined to make them useful tools. However, Iwatani is also smart enough to know when people can’t be exploited. And I think we ultimately felt that Miyamoto had been too loud for too long to start getting devious now, even if he was going to be less subtle in his methods than Iwatani (wouldn’t make much difference when hiring assassins or setting up a drunken E-Merl). Also, making him an actual villain would’ve meant we’d need to give him a more decisive ending than we did.
Still, the idea went through a couple of drafts. Here’s one alternate passage we got as far as scripting…
1. As the session adjourns, Syr’Nj and Kur’Ik walk out with Ardaic, and Caneghem and Bedard go their own ways. We stay with Miyamoto and Iwatani. Miyamoto is in a calmer, more reflective mood, and ever so casually mentions a possible course of action to Iwatani.
MIYAMOTO
You left yourself a bit of a loophole, you know.
MIYAMOTO
“Assuming you can serve with us.”
2. Miyamoto arches his eyebrows. He knows Iwatani better than most, and knows to look past Iwatani’s seeming lack of interest in the power over lumber that was once Pardo’s.
MIYAMOTO
We could “consolidate” further without breaking our resolution, if she couldn’t serve with us. For whatever reason.
MIYAMOTO
Control of lumber could still be yours.
MIYAMOTO
Do you really have no appetite for it?
3. Iwatani’s expression could best be described as “Come on, dude, get off this already.” There’s a bit of a smile to it, but also impatience. A bit of the back of Miyamoto’s head is visible in the corner.
IWATANI
Miyamoto, you’ve made your feelings clear on this matter, and failed to gain support from me or any of us.
MIYAMOTO
Not vocal support.
4. Miyamoto turns and walks out of the hall, leaving Iwatani to watch him go. Again, Miyamoto is more quiet and philosophical than we’ve seen him before.
MIYAMOTO
But each of us keeps his private counsel, doesn’t he?
5. Iwatani is left to ponder just how much Miyamoto knows, and whether that knowledge is going to be a problem for him.
MIYAMOTO (off-panel)
There are things one can’t say aloud, things one can’t even allow to be said.
MIYAMOTO (off-panel)
But our silence makes them no less true.
It just occurs to me that another reason Jarvis may have sent out Ardaic is not just because he might dislike the way he was about to address Syr’Nj (which might hurt his idealism/loyalty) but also so that Ardaic can continue to feel like he is a true ally of Syr’Nj, and Syr’Nj can continue to think of Ardaic as someone who at least tries to do what’s right. Had Ardaic been in the room, that would have been the end of any honest words between them. (maybe except Ardaic trying to make excuses, and Syr’Nj rejecting them).
That, children, is a withering glance–pun intended.