Fallen Blossoms in Print

[Second Chances]

The awesome Fallen Blossoms dark era is now available as a separate book!

Discuss

[2ptTakrill]

I find myself wondering, if Akio is a Ghoul could he in fact be the same Inoue from Fallen Blossoms?
If he is a Ghoul, independent or not, he could still be around and his original group was all about stealing powers from Supernaturals. Perhaps he found a way to steal Ghouldom.
Truth be told the only thing we have that says differently is his write up in Requiem and that could easily be the lie the Vampires believe.

On an unrelated note: both Fallen Blossoms and Hurt Locker refer to the Strix in Tokyo where they are known as Tengu (or one possible variety), yet they are described differently. Are they the same Vampire hating monsters or has that changed?

[ElvesofZion]

I could think of some scenarios where a technically non-independent ghoul could be an Apex.

This doesn't mean anything about this particular character. But I can think of a couple. And they're very scary. Especially for vampires.

Scenario 1: Strix...

[MachineIV]

I rather suspect that being under the thumb of another supernatural 100% disqualifies you from becoming the Apex. Even if Inoue Akio was the slave of a vampire at one point, he has most certainly become the master in that relationship by now. To be the Apex, he needs to be a force of nature in and of himself.

I could think of some scenarios where a technically non-independent ghoul could be an Apex.

This doesn't mean anything about this particular character. But I can think of a couple. And they're very scary. Especially for vampires.

[Second Chances]

Random speculation asides, Inoue Akio is just an independent ghoul.

More to the point, Inoue Akio isn't just a ghoul, he's Tokyo's bloody Apex. That means he is by far and away the scariest thing lurking in Tokyo's shadows. To quote Beast: the Primordial pg 57

The Chambers in a hive, though, all share some similarity, some small aspect granted by who or what ever supernatural figure looms largest area's Primordial Dream. The Children call this being the Apex. This similarity reflects the most powerful areas supernatural being in a region, whether or not that being is aware of its influence on the Primordial Dream or of the Children in general.

I rather suspect that being under the thumb of another supernatural 100% disqualifies you from becoming the Apex. Even if Inoue Akio was the slave of a vampire at one point, he has most certainly become the master in that relationship by now. To be the Apex, he needs to be a force of nature in and of himself.

[wyrdhamster]

Polish Youtuber pointed me into video game Nioh that is almost exactly Fallen Blossoms Hunter game. We have XVI century Japan, samurais hunting monsters and Guardian Spirits, all based on real world events. I will probably start other topic about this one, as I would more than interested in creating Conspiracy with Guardian Spirits on this material. I just soooo much wished I got PS4 and TV to play this game!

Just watch video and pointed Yokai in it.

[ArcaneArts]

It rubs me the wrong way that there's a ghoul in charge of the Hototogisu. I could get behind an independent ghoul, who is playing the vampires in order to get some of that vitae, but having a slave of a vampire in charge of an organization where their whole point is 'we're mortals who have one-upped the vampires in town' just kind of defeats the purpose to me. Weird that any book would just give away the mystery like that.

Random speculation asides, Inoue Akio is just an independent ghoul.

[RomulusGloriosus]

It rubs me the wrong way that there's a ghoul in charge of the Hototogisu. I could get behind an independent ghoul, who is playing the vampires in order to get some of that vitae, but having a slave of a vampire in charge of an organization where their whole point is 'we're mortals who have one-upped the vampires in town' just kind of defeats the purpose to me. Weird that any book would just give away the mystery like that.

[2ptTakrill]

If Akio is just a ghoul then my guess is he is both the ghoul of and a descendent of Inoue the Elder, who is secretly using this group in his bid to overthrow the current power structure and name himself Prince of Tokyo. Perhaps he was the Prince before the Kanto quake of 1923?

[Second Chances]

Akio is a Beast, while I'm surprised. That little nugget alone is almost enough to get me to pay the price of admission.
That does bring up two questions:
1-Could this, in some way, be the same Akio?
2-How many other supernaturals are part of the Friday Club?

Akio isn't a Beast. The Apex is merely the scariest fucker in that particular Hive. There's Werewolves, Mages, and Vampires as Apexes in other areas, so while many Hives have Beasts at the Apex, they don't have to be. Akio is "just" a ghoul, although I am certain there is more to it than that.

With that said, the former Apex (who was a Beast) also had a court of supernaturals circa about 1869. Mages were represented by a sorceress named Nakatomi and the vampires by a Elder named Inoue. The real question is are those the same people? The answer is most likely no, but that follows up with the question of why those two names keep reappearing. It's an excellent story hook for those who are historically minded.

[2ptTakrill]

Akio is a Beast, while I'm surprised. That little nugget alone is almost enough to get me to pay the price of admission.
That does bring up two questions:
1-Could this, in some way, be the same Akio?
2-How many other supernaturals are part of the Friday Club?

[ArcaneArts]

^That.
words

[Second Chances]

Inoue is a ghoul? I don't recall reading that in either Requiem or Awakening.
Requiem describes him as a business man who discovers Vampire incursions into his businesses and those of his associates, then uses his knowledge of the occult to start a compact aimed at limiting or ending Vampire control.
Awakening lists the compact as an example of what the Silver Ladder is doing instead of fighting the Mysterium for control of the Consillium.
Does Hunter say anything about it? Does it still list the group as a Hunter Conspiracy?

Beast says hello. Lots of little nuggets hide in the Hero Bay. Akio is also, to no one's surprise, modern Tokyo's Apex.

[2ptTakrill]

Inoue is a ghoul? I don't recall reading that in either Requiem or Awakening.
Requiem describes him as a business man who discovers Vampire incursions into his businesses and those of his associates, then uses his knowledge of the occult to start a compact aimed at limiting or ending Vampire control.
Awakening lists the compact as an example of what the Silver Ladder is doing instead of fighting the Mysterium for control of the Consillium.
Does Hunter say anything about it? Does it still list the group as a Hunter Conspiracy?

[LostLight]

I will move this subtopic to separate thread in Mage forum as it is general games feature that is good to be talked extensively about - Nakatomi is just good example on this, but it works with most Mysteries.

the only question you need to ask yourself is this- who would benefit the most from making sure Nakatomi will stay a mystery?