NOTW XXIII: The War Party. Game Thread.

not really, aide. mergle has yet to convince me fully that he is telling the truth, and it is for the reason bananalee stated... he claims to have two reasonably powerful abilities.

seems to me that if mergle is not telling the truth, the only other reasonable explanation is that he is an assassin trying to cover up a conversion on night 3. but if he is telling the truth, then he could be instrumental in finding the thief, and that's why i support him. hopefully he will provide a good explanation once he is finished drafting up new sections of the treaty.

Strange conclusions KM...

RRRaskolnikov said:

Strange conclusions KM...

Click to expand...

No conclusions RRR, only questions. A well placed question mark is the mediators friend, always ask questions never make statements?

I think we all have something to ponder, shall we hang an innocent just because he maybe a thief? Nay, let us hang the quieter ones?

"Must be top quality if I vote for'em, eh. Just because you're not the assassin - assuming you're not - doesn't mean you're not scum."

"Support for Myself."

TheForestAuro, your notion of scum seems like a weird one. Scum are the killers, not those who use what means they have at their disposal to oust them...

I've laid my cards on the table; all I can do now is vote support for myself

TheForestAuro, after seeing Diamondeye's logic (though I disagree with killing Ljosalfar until we get the assassin, obviously), I believe you are the scum that wants to kill us all.

Support yourself all you wish Senor Lupo AKA TheForestAuro in a few hours we will see the colour of your fur.

GM comment: I just spent the last hour typing up the votes -- in the reply screen, like an idiot -- only to have Firefox crash on me. Expect a delay in the update while I do that all over again. After lunch and kiddo nap. *sigh*

{ Grr, no time for an IC post. }

TheForestAuro to swim. Maybe he'll even survive it.

"This is hilarious. Absolutely hilarious. It's clear - the sanity has left this group."

The elf spread his arms wide. "Let the bandwagon roll, you fools. I'm sorry I didn't fit into your sorry little circle of fear where I wasn't going to back down when you threatened me, but it seems that fear and cowardice run rampant here."

He shook his head. "I'm not guilty. But I'll die tonight, surely, so I'll speak now to leave some thoughts with you. Thomas was the one with the ability to detect the fakers - isn't it curious that it was revealed to everyone in grand splendor that fakes exist as soon as the fake-detector died? With the certainty gone, Diamondeye can create a clever stroke in revealing that he believes Alakazan is a fake, and must be within the Ljosalfar ranks - by revealing the information, he solidifies himself as a trustable source, but what he failed to mention was Thomas was searching for two fakes."

"That was his goal. There must be more than one fake amongst us, and when chaos and madness is concerned, I suspect certain Perpentachly influences. If Diamondeye was an ally of the wolf - which he may not have started as (interesting how diamondeye has exploded in a volley of accusations, genocide, and lies as soon as the fake detector was dead considering his very quiet demeanor the round after the conversion) bringing up the race-faker and pointing it away from the Svartalfar and even the mediators party, and towards the Ljosalfar would be a perfect diversion."

"Meanwhile, all of you are calling me an assassin for being outraged at individuals for things like telling me to betray my - INNOCENT MIND YOU! - Princess, or calling for a ALL OUT PURGE OF LJOSALFAR!. Or having an extended conversation with me about how he's blackmailing everyone - I'm looking at OYZAR!"

"Why is this madness? How is this suspicious!? Are you so blinded by fear or so wrapped in this liar's tricks that you will send me to my death?"

"Fine. But I'll not be pushed - if the vote comes to send me off the cliff, I would gladly jump away from this hell into the next life so I can laugh as the assassins kill every last one of you for your foolishness."

nevermind, deadline was at 7 pm...

Evening, Day Five

Another long day wound slowly to a close, as the conference delegates marked a major shift in their strategy. Somewhat major, that is. Scape-goating those of questionable morals remained popular, but ultimately Supplymaster mergle was able to defend himself by claiming that he’d only USED to steal things -- now he just window-shopped. But the perennial favorite target, the silent ones, did gain a reprieve – at least for the day – as the garrulous and combative Old Warrior found himself under suspicion and was never able to recover.

Tucked away in the shelter of the temple, a few of the diplomats did manage to make some progress on trade agreements in amongst all the threats and accusations, but the knotty question of what to do with prisoners of war would have to wait for another day. In the meantime, unpleasant duty called. TheForestAuro was marched to the cliff by the remaining members of the Ljosalfar Honor Guard. He glared at them all the way, for while none of them had accused him, none had spoken up in his favor, either.

“Fools and cowards,” he spat. “Where are those who accused me? Too frightened to help push an old man off a cliff? Cowards, all of you!”

He stepped up to the edge of the cliff, and looked over.

“Trust me,” he said to his silent escorts. “If the bunch of you don’t smarten up, my future is going to be a lot more pleasant than yours is. Good day!”

True to his own words from moments earlier, he leapt off the cliff on his own.


Frustrated, the depleted Honor Guard made its way back up the hill to the rest of the camp. The wind that had been blowing with varying force for the past few days had stopped, and the fog closed in like a suffocating blanket. The13thRonin and Splime were handed their items in what felt an oppressive silence – the delegates had long since stopped noticing the thunder of the falls.


Accusations
TheForestAuro: 5
mergle: 2
oyzar: 1
reverend oats: 2
Backwards Logic: 1


Ebony Box
The13thRonin: 14
oyzar: 1
Methos: 3


silver disk
Diamondeye: 2
Frozen In Ice: 1
Splime: 12

It is now night, and posting is closed. Morning post in 23 hours 40 minutes or thereabouts. Any objects TheForestAuro might have will be voted on at that time. Sleep well.

Morning, Day Six

The thick fog and still air persisted into the night. Most found it oppressive. Even those who carried lanterns found it difficult to get around without getting lost; those without found themselves navigating by feel. It was the kind of night when only those most dedicated to their cause would bother going out.

Such dedication was almost immediately on display. Most of the delegates had only recently sought their beds when the chanting started up again. In the stillness, the voices were unusually clear, though none could recognize the words. It went on for so long that for the second time it drew a few out of their tents with hopes of investigating. The fog soon defeated such ideas.

Past midnight, the chanting abruptly stopped. For a few minutes, silence reigned. Then,

Shoomp. … Shoomp. … Shoomp.

The sound, a steady, slow thumping with just a hint of sibilance, began just at the edge of hearing and rapidly grew louder. If stee had lived, he might have found the noise reminiscent of wind catching the sails of a great sailing ship. But ships didn’t sail in the sky.

The beating, whooshing sound came closer until it seemed to hover directly above them. Then it, too, retreated into silence.

…

In the morning, other sorts of dedication were on display. ZPV almost tripped over a body on his way to collect water. BananaLee had not been in his tent that night, but that had not stopped the determined killer: BananaLee had been stabbed in the back.


BananaLee's belongings were searched, along with TheForestAuro's, but nothing of interest was found.

It is now day. Posting is open; you have 48 hours until sunset. Accusations and supports as usual, but there are no items available for voting on today.

The Sheaim representative pulls a creeping vine from his nose and bites his lip nervously, in the manner of one who knows that by speaking, he can only damn himself.

i... do not recognise the chanting. but bear in mind that i am not usually around when the heretics start getting all heretical. i am usually off working out those heretics' payroll. (heresy does not pay well. you have to love your work.) so it could be that... i fear i am not the only sheaim here. or if not a sheaim, someone who has begun to follow the ashen veil through other means...

He finishes his Ljosalfar wine with a glug.

that sound we heard last night? dragon. almost sure of it.

now i have heard many stories about abashi... how she can tear apart entire armies, shake the earth beneath her and throw together an excellent stir-fry with noodles. at the same time. and i know the sound that her enemies fear. the sound of a dragon's approach. shoomp... shoomp... shoomp.

but os-gabella's orders... i do not see any reason for abashi to be here! no sheaim would disobey os-gabella, not even the really stupid ones (you know the ones i mean).

perhaps i am wrong, but...

The representative turns wearily to his Kuriotate opposite number.

ozbenno, as a kuriotate you would know about dragons, yes? does this... seem suspicious to you?

I once again accuse Oyzar. A day's thought has given me no further evidence that he truly for peace. The opposite is true, as conversations with my fellows have reinforced my suspicions. He sought my support in persecuting the Princess Royal, and claimed to a chart that listed indication of Lightfang's treason, and the treason of others. I still haven't seen it.

The removal of Lightfang has removed the magic that defended ourselves from such rituals. The chanting is clearly taking advantage of the loss of the Ljosalfar's protection.

I'd also like to know what Splime is doing with the Silver Disk, which may be a focus for such a protective ward. If one of us is able to figure out how to reform it, good can only come.

Shadowbound said:

I'd also like to know what Splime is doing with the Silver Disk, which may be a focus for such a protective ward. If one of us is able to figure out how to reform it, good can only come.

Click to expand...

Sadly, it does not seem to possess the same power that it did under LightFang's possession. However, that makes me believe that only some have the power to use it, and that it could be terrible in the wrong hands. I've given it to someone I trust, so that it is safe from thievery.

I retract my accusation against Oyzar, I've actually seen his chart now.