Long Game 96: KKC in the Modern Age

[|TJ| he/him]

31 minutes ago, Kasimir said:

So, would you like to explain why your votes on Szeth are missing, then?

I have no idea. But I can confirm that there is no weird Physicking or Alchemy from my side. I created a Bloodless in 1 turn but that should only affect filing EPs though, as when it became obvious that I was getting expelled, I swapped filing EPs for creating the item in the same turn. 

[Araris Valerian he/him]

@Kasimir, what does being such a Lovable Bear Dude have to do with my alignment?

Also, I’m not at my computer right now, so maybe someone could line up Kas’s potential teams with the known social status of players, since I doubt the elims are all Ruh or Noble.

[Kasimir he/him]

[TAG: DISCUSSION, 770 words]

22 hours ago, The Known Novel said:

Kasasa?

Also, @Kasimir, should note that it was still very early morning for most of the US when you posted that, and it still isn't a particularly active time of day.

I'll mention that I'm especially put out because I've been asking since seven hours to rollover for T2M3 which I think is a longer period and more active for the NAs.

18 hours ago, The Known Novel said:

Like 4, then 9, then 14, then 19, then 14 again, then expelled. 

Hmm. Unlikely crem does happen at times, but I'm curious about the mystery of Szeth's missing EP. I still think Szeth likely should have filed EP if Szeth has been killing, but if Szeth at all filed in Sympathy, then Szeth should've elevated a long time ago. This and the Szeth T1M1 seem mildly abnormal.

18 hours ago, The Known Novel said:

Edit: @Kasimir, still the same for Bodyguard and Assassin, apothecary appears normal, Nahlrout at 1, Courier at 2, Bloodless at 10, and Gram at 15 (shouldn't it be 25?).

Hah, you're definitely in Imre. Yes, I think they keep making the same c/p mistake.

22 hours ago, The Known Novel said:

Kas, you're kayana. I can't say why in thread, but you are.

So your read hasn't shifted?

Going to note for the benefit of everyone that my revision on TKN is backed by the fact that TKN scanned green, too late for us to do anything about it. Even if you think that this was an Elim ploy, the fact the scanners did not do what would be, in my view, the fairly reasonable move of asking for a delay to scan TKN, suggests to me that either way you slice it, he's Village. I'll note I explicitly asked them to make the judgement call, and said that I would, if they requested it, stop pushing TKN for the cycle and actively advocate for the scan.

I'm curious if anyone thinks the time for secrecy has passed. With mostly-inactive Szeth and Steel, the formal, non-expelled, 'can target each other and vote' player pool has shrunk to me, Sart, Archer, STINK, and Ash. Furthermore, the Elims can only use the general action slot to kill - I asked and they can't just substitute extra action slots in. I generally prefer to keep everyone in the loop. @Archer @Wonko the Sane @Sart @Ashbringer @The Known Novel @STINK - anyone else can chime in, I'm just asking the fellas with skin in the game.

Apothecary may have restocked across the term. TKN, presuming you are still aiming to go with the plan? I'll drop you a PM when I wake up properly as it's maybe 4:44AM right now. Gotta love meds.

I take the fact that Bodyguard and Assassin prices haven't shifted to be potentially indicative no one has gone for them yet as they're supposed to fluctuate with market conditions.

@The Known Novel Sorry for the multiple @s. My problem fundamentally comes back, still, to what sort of team would be having Szeth make the kills. As I've laid out the teaming possibilities earlier, these look directly at hostile/near-lethal voting and works with the presumption that given: A. proportional odds for DP, B. expulsion being a SD losscon, and C. de facto fliplessness until players acquire kills, the tolerance for distancing is much lower.

My issue is that most Szeth partners more or less should be making the kills with their general action slot - the presumption seems to be that you only get Szeth to make the kill if you are using your slot for something else. This is why I initially thought it might be intuitive for there to be a STINK team due to lashing, but also think he seems Village, and that posting an AM that is traceable to him after you were explicitly telling the thread you could be scanned and cleared by posting one takes serious balls for an Elim.

So we have to explain, no matter what, what sort of Szeth team would be missing their general action slot. And that seems to come back (for me) to:

-One of the team members was in Imre (therefore no actions, could not kill)
-Other team member was either expelled or had their action slot used up

I'm trying to see if we can place anyone in Imre at that time, but no dice. I feel like any V!TJ world requires E!Wonko which is patently absurd. Or, the other option. (Speaking obliquely here for the moment.) But for the other option to obtain - could you see that being possible? I feel it'd explain why you got removed instead of scanned, but also feel that it's reasonable not to want to lose tempo and to just pursue the roleblock option as being the most likely.

STINK is theorising that E!TJ is just lobbying me to get the same improvement in status that Mat and you did, but Mat actually had some form of voting behind it, and you had the backing of a green scan as well.

17 hours ago, Araris Valerian said:

@Kasimir, what does being such a Lovable Bear Dude have to do with my alignment?

I feel like you know what LBD is, and you just want me to have to explain the term...  

17 hours ago, Araris Valerian said:

Also, I’m not at my computer right now, so maybe someone could line up Kas’s potential teams with the known social status of players, since I doubt the elims are all Ruh or Noble.

Amazingly, none of them are  I feel like you should know this!

Edited August 10, 2023 by Kasimir

[Araris Valerian he/him]

12 minutes ago, Kasimir said:

I feel like you know what LBD is, and you just want me to have to explain the term...

Whatever it is, either I’ve forgotten it or I’m too jet-lagged to recall right now.

[Kasimir he/him]

3 minutes ago, Araris Valerian said:

Whatever it is, either I’ve forgotten it or I’m too jet-lagged to recall right now.

Little Black Dress / bicycle. 

Term I learned in 2009 or so for popular shipping characters because "they go with anything." Please, please don't make me explain why bicycle, I can’t legally

I'm using the term here in the context of the fact that your voting patterns only preclude fewer players than most—so you pretty much go with most teams.

[The Unknown Medallion he/him]

11 minutes ago, Kasimir said:

So your read hasn't shifted?

Not really. 

15 minutes ago, Kasimir said:

Known Novel Sorry for the multiple @s. My problem fundamentally comes back, still, to what sort of team would be having Szeth make the kills. As I've laid out the teaming possibilities earlier, these look directly at hostile/near-lethal voting and works with the presumption that given: A. proportional odds for DP, B. expulsion being a SD losscon, and C. de facto fliplessness until players acquire kills, the tolerance for distancing is much lower.

Let's see, how illogical is a Mat, Szeth, TJ, Sart (+1?) team? I know you trust Sart, and a little bit Mat, but I think you're biased on Mat and it could be distancing or an accident on their part. I know you think elims will be more likely to defend each other in this than normal, but I also think they would be more willing to distance, as the penalty for getting voted out is less. If money's not an issue, then I think they would distance pretty freely. Sart was lashed last turn, and as such was roleblocked.

 

30 minutes ago, Kasimir said:

I'm curious if anyone thinks the time for secrecy has passed. With mostly-inactive Szeth and Steel, the formal, non-expelled, 'can target each other and vote' player pool has shrunk to me, Sart, Archer, STINK, and Ash. Furthermore, the Elims can only use the general action slot to kill - I asked and they can't just substitute extra action slots in. I generally prefer to keep everyone in the loop. @Archer @Wonko the Sane @Sart @Ashbringer @The Known Novel @STINK - anyone else can chime in, I'm just asking the fellas with skin in the game.

Not quite. Once I've finished the plan (so next turn), I think we can reveal most of it.

[Kasimir he/him]

[TAG: DISCUSSION, 416 words]

17 hours ago, The Known Novel said:

Not really. 

Let's see, how illogical is a Mat, Szeth, TJ, Sart (+1?) team? I know you trust Sart, and a little bit Mat, but I think you're biased on Mat and it could be distancing or an accident on their part. I know you think elims will be more likely to defend each other in this than normal, but I also think they would be more willing to distance, as the penalty for getting voted out is less. If money's not an issue, then I think they would distance pretty freely. Sart was lashed last turn, and as such was roleblocked.

 

Not quite. Once I've finished the plan (so next turn), I think we can reveal most of it.

Two brief comments on mobile:

-Yes, but getting voted out is a losscon for them, remember. Elims who are voted out also cannot target Villagers unless they are reckless enough to advertise their presence in Imre or are expelled. They also forgo significant field advantage to the Village as they cannot elevate or file EP. Even worse,  they can be expelled together. This is why I’m not so convinced that distancing is rewarding here. Because even after being expelled, they can pretend to be Village and sow confusion. I'll also note money is honestly pretty tight for most players not nobles—that's my experience. I can afford some fun Imre shenanigans but it’s hard to get too fancy and I'd bet it's way worse for Ruh.

-Maybe the way I'd put it: I don't believe they'd just allow the Village to obtain Naming dominance. Naming is too OP.

-Szeth IMO doesn't fit on a four man team. Vint is pretty OK 

-You are thinking STINK, not Sart, for the lashing. I think willingness to post an identifying message is a good look there.

-I laid out my reasons for my Mat read but I'd note that if you believe E!Mat, then anything from TJ is tainted anyway because the Elims would be on high alert that there was a redcheck, even if they didn't know who.

Edited to add:

To Whom It May Concern:

Rule clarifications received:

• An expelled player cannot pass items to a non-expelled player unless the non-expelled player is in Imre.
• You need a general action period to pass items. Hint: you also need a general action period to kill!
• You therefore cannot pass items while you are in Imre because you lack general action periods.
• Expelled players can hire Assassins. I guess we're all screwed
• If an expelled player hires an Assassin to target an enrolled student, the Assassin just hangs around until/if you go to Imre. Simple solution don't go to Imre damnit >> (Barring I presume cases like Burnt's Assassin airdrop.)
• Why do I feel like we should have asked this sooner.

Edited to add 2: Ngl I'd note Archer/STINK is a pretty possible team. STINK with the lashing, so Archer puts in the kill, but their only viable partner is Araris and I need to check how that works again... Yeah no Araris has an Archer preclusion. Ash? But then why not get Ash to kill smh. Bah, this is nonsense on stilts flipless games are nonsense on stilts.

Edited August 10, 2023 by Kasimir

[Ashbringer he/him]

Archer did repeatedly note that TJ and Mat decided to kill JNV early in the MR, as an argument for why he didn't read either Elim. But I thought that made a lot more sense with E!Archer E!Mat, because JNV was Mat's call in that game.

Not much I can say for what I've accomplished, because I haven't accomplished much (rather obvious why) and because rules are hard.

[Kasimir he/him]

24 minutes ago, Ashbringer said:

Archer did repeatedly note that TJ and Mat decided to kill JNV early in the MR, as an argument for why he didn't read either Elim. But I thought that made a lot more sense with E!Archer E!Mat, because JNV was Mat's call in that game.

Tbf, E!Mat/E!Araris is somewhat interchangeable at this juncture due to expulsion. Implications a bit more dire with E!Mat but nevertheless. I need to check if they cross-voted.

Don't see any cross-voting on a quick scan but rough D1 landscape:

Quote

Archer (2): Araris Valerian, Drake
Matrim's Dice (2): Steeldancer, Drake
Steeldancer (1): Kasimir
Drake (3): Archer, Archer, TKN
Szeth_Pancakes (2): JNV, Ash

Contra-TKN, don't believe you'd want out from Wizard School this early. Archer and Mat both being in lead trains - sure, granted, Drake's fault - feels a bit inexplicable in light of Mat's refusal to self-pres. (Though there's a question: does V!Mat self-pres there?) You might work in that world as well but there's the fact you made one vote and on Szeth.

Not too fond of this either:

Quote

Sart (8) - Mat, Kas, Kas, Wonko, Wonko, TJ, TKN, TKN
Araris (3) - Mat, Ash, Stink
Mat (3) - Archer, Archer, Sart
Stink (2) - TJ, Araris
Steel (1) - Ash
Wonko ()) - Araris
TJ (0) - Sart

Still don't believe getting teammates expelled is best for Elims - your targeting restrictions among others become so much more dire. That's cross-voting for you.

But yeah know you're strictly saying NKA.

Really still think E!TJ because his behaviour is just screwy but I'm struggling to work out why E!TJ wants to rush an item, and of all things, a Bloodless prior to expulsion.

[The Unknown Medallion he/him]

5 minutes ago, Kasimir said:

of all things, a Bloodless prior to expulsion.

Does it have to be a Bloodless? Could be one of the other ones (not sure which, don't really remember them).

[Kasimir he/him]

Just now, The Known Novel said:

Does it have to be a Bloodless? Could be one of the other ones (not sure which, don't really remember them).

I think the point is, if you take it at face value, does it make sense to claim that, regardless of alignment?

[Araris Valerian he/him]

4 hours ago, Kasimir said:

Little Black Dress / bicycle. 

Definitely did not know this.

[Kasimir he/him]

2 hours ago, Araris Valerian said:

Definitely did not know this.

This is going on the list of things I've had to explain to people that I've never wanted to, along with my classmate, bless her, loudly asking me what a certain citrus fruit was in Chinese class [Note please do not Google, not Shard friendly.] >>

Tbh my gut feeling is that this is not a hit. It feels too—simple for that. Like when Drake and I ganged on Xino figuring he was Evil or when y'all immediately pushed Az and it was Mat all along.

Serious question for everyone: what do you see as the game plan going forward? And if you could flip exactly one player, who? 

My vote would be TJ due to the teams and the fact I think Sart is much more likely to be Village than him.

Edited to add: Do you realise this game has truly become modern? With the loss of all Namers, flips are a feature you pay for. This is the birth of microtransactions!

Edited August 10, 2023 by Kasimir

[The Unknown Medallion he/him]

42 minutes ago, Kasimir said:

With the loss of all Namers

Hey! I take offense, I'm still here, and if I ever come back from Imre, I'll be a force to be reckoned with.

[Kasimir he/him]

30 minutes ago, The Known Novel said:

Hey! I take offense, I'm still here, and if I ever come back from Imre, I'll be a force to be reckoned with.

Right, could you do me a favour, and flip everyone in this damned University >>

I don't care if I die, you're functionally Village, so you win for us and we call it a day.

I wanna see the write-up bleed with red Skindancer flips, God- Tehlu damnit, God has no place in this Tehluforsaken flipless nightmare we have created by not having a single Namer survive to Araris this place up >>

Every Month we stray further from God's light >>

[The Unknown Medallion he/him]

Just now, Kasimir said:

flip everyone in this damned University >>

I'll kill anyone you expel 

Well, after this cycle. Until then I'm stuck on the wrong side of the river.

[Kasimir he/him]

[TAG: DISCUSSION, 373 words]

10 hours ago, The Known Novel said:

I'll kill anyone you expel 

Wonderful, welcome to Team 'Screwitol I'm Done Let's Just Araris Everyone And Village Win.'

@Everyone: Ash reads? 

K. Ash, I acknowledge my primary theorised team is still TJ/Szeth/Araris, but you're probably in there as a secondary. And I recognise if you are Village this is going to be downright awful and I apologise in advance, but feel this must be tabled as a risk. But I want to get the Ash reads on the table because in a world where Ash is a Master, and I'm a couple of EP off so he's probably closer, unless he's been going quietly for a different field - 

Well. We are going to have a lot of fun

To recap:

-Ash claimed to be at the Windy Tower for last Turn.
-Ash and I both hit El'the during T1M3.

I'm going to bet that Ash started with 8 EP, just as I did.

Crude model here: suppose Ash put everything into Alchemy.

T1M1 = 8 EP (Elevated - E'lir)
T1M2 = 8 - 5 + 5 = 8 EP (Elevated - Re'lar)
T1M3 = 8 - 5 + 4 = 7 EP (Elevated - El'the)
T2M1 = 7 - 5 + 3 = 5 EP
T2M2 = 5 + 3 = 8 EP
T2M3 = 8 + 3 = 11 EP
T3M1 = 11 + 3 = 14 EP
T3M2 = 14 + 3 = 17 EP (Elevated - Master.)

tldr;

I think it's pretty much a consensus that Szeth is going to be exed. And maybe all the more fool me for trying to solve since everyone seems to be in 'chill and see' mode and giving up tempo/not interested in hedging/planning for non E!Szeth worlds. Kind of still very aggravated about that, but I guess that's how it is.

Hopefully, no more Weird Kraem will go down next Turn, and we can dump the results, and I cannot promise I will be patient if Weird Kraem happens again.

We basically have until T3M3 to read Ash, one way or another.

State of my head right now:

Primary: TJ/Szeth/Araris
Secondary: Substitute Ash in.
Tertiary: Archer/STINK/Ash

Do I consider the tertiary that seriously? No, but this is for bragging rights if I'm right ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Edited August 10, 2023 by Kasimir

[The Unknown Medallion he/him]

12 minutes ago, Kasimir said:

Tertiary: Archer/STINK/Ash

Do I consider the tertiary that seriously? No, but this is for bragging rights if I'm right ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Don't I work pretty well on an Archer team? I acknowledge double noble, but Aturan isn't that great (unlike Vint).

[Kasimir he/him]

[TAG: ANALYSIS, 374 words]

10 hours ago, The Known Novel said:

Don't I work pretty well on an Archer team? I acknowledge double noble, but Aturan isn't that great (unlike Vint).

No, because of the green scan, which is why you might have noticed you were the only other player besides myself that I was willing to regard as confirmed Village enough to be greened alongside JNV, Wonko, and Drake in my link chart. Functionally, there's no reason to give you up given you were gunning Master Namer. I don't care what you say about finances - think about it. Ok you can buy grams. Great! Naming can punch through grams, hahaha. You can buy an Assassin! How were you, an expelled student, going to get that Assassin into the University and what if the target never leaves? Great! You can buy a Bodyguard! Because that'll totally save you from the exe, right? When expelling SDs also helps the Village win?

That's half of it - that means if you were Evil, the Archer team would have to include at least one scanner as well. But there's no strategic reason for giving Master Namer up next to that. As you pointed out to me, you were at 14 EP - quite likely to make Re'lar and then go on.

And of course, if the scanners check out, then they're right about you being V, so there's no need to remotely consider you fitting on an Archer team.

I don't deny expulsion isn't the end, but you need abilities IMO to be swingy, and even then, the targeting restrictions feel rough. And again, I go back to the fact that as a Commoner, I agree I don't feel the oppressive weight of tuition fees (...well, maybe my extensive RPing helped), but I really can't do much in Imre, other than going hogwild with nahlrout. So I really don't think it compares, tactically, for an Elim team.

(I mean sure you could argue gambit world, but it's an unnecessary give-up and I don't for a second think E!you would like your team forcing you to give up Master Namer fun just to...what, hoodwink the Village when you could be softcleared by the scanners?)

Side-note: This is where I also disagree with TJ FYI. Easy to pass you off as a redscan, everyone was willing to believe the roleblock was damning enough, so why lie about TJ specifically?

Edited August 10, 2023 by Kasimir

[Ashbringer he/him]

57 minutes ago, Kasimir said:

@Everyone: Ash reads? 

K. Ash, I acknowledge my primary theorised team is still TJ/Szeth/Araris, but you're probably in there as a secondary. And I recognise if you are Village this is going to be downright awful and I apologise in advance, but feel this must be tabled as a risk. But I want to get the Ash reads on the table because in a world where Ash is a Master, and I'm a couple of EP off so he's probably closer, unless he's been going quietly for a different field - 

Well. We are going to have a lot of fun

To recap:

-Ash claimed to be at the Windy Tower for last Turn.
-Ash and I both hit El'the during T1M3.

I'm going to bet that Ash started with 8 EP, just as I did.

Crude model here: suppose Ash put everything into Alchemy.

T1M1 = 8 EP (Elevated - E'lir)
T1M2 = 8 - 5 + 5 = 8 EP (Elevated - Re'lar)
T1M3 = 8 - 5 + 4 = 7 EP (Elevated - El'the)
T2M1 = 7 - 5 + 3 = 5 EP
T2M2 = 5 + 3 = 8 EP
T2M3 = 8 + 3 = 11 EP
T3M1 = 11 + 3 = 14 EP
T3M2 = 14 + 3 = 17 EP (Elevated - Master.)

... well this isn't going to make any of our lives any easier, but your math is a little off.

First of all, I'm not quite as good as writing essays as you are 

But secondly, and more importantly, there's a little tidbit in the Elevation and Master rules - if all 3 of your elevations are in a single field, you get an automatic +5 EP in that field.

So, I'm at 16 EP right now. Master at the end of the turn unless it's canceled out by DP.

So, uh... I guess reads-givers make a decision quick.

 

Me becoming Master Alchemist that quickly would prove I don't have any elevations in sneaky spaces, but I don't think that matters that much.

 

Also am I dumb or don't we still have a certain Namer?

[Kasimir he/him]

37 minutes ago, Ashbringer said:

But secondly, and more importantly, there's a little tidbit in the Elevation and Master rules - if all 3 of your elevations are in a single field, you get an automatic +5 EP in that field.

Ah. Wonderful. I am really going to scream at certain things that have happened >>

37 minutes ago, Ashbringer said:

Me becoming Master Alchemist that quickly would prove I don't have any elevations in sneaky spaces, but I don't think that matters that much.

I mean I don't care if you have a sneaky elevation if you are Village. My problem is that while I had a good read off your early play, I also feel ??? about your NKA slipping TJ off pretty early, alongside your votes. And Szeth still feels like too easy an answer, though I will definitely be happy if that closes the game for us.

@Archer @Wonko the Sane @Sart @STINK

Repeating this to anyone who votes. I am washing my hands off of this as it's clear from the last couple posts I am the only player who apparently cares to think through this and I am really very done with the level of apathy here. SDs, if you want, just kill me already because I have had it up to here with Village complacency.

Keep in mind:

Quote

Masters cannot be brought On the Horns. All Disciplinary Points on a Master are dissolved.

Good luck, have fun!

Edited to add:

37 minutes ago, Ashbringer said:

Also am I dumb or don't we still have a certain Namer?

Got caught in traffic, you know how it is. Commute between the Crockery and the University can be a right mess.

And I'm done here. This will be my last serious post for the cycle. It is serious disheartening to be repeatedly @ing people and to receive little attempt to discuss and little attempt to plan, coordinate, or to try to actually puzzle through what this means for the Village and how to unfeck the Village from the corner we may be fecking in and oh, opsec so I can't just spill it out to the thread even though I think it is pretty damned stupid because if you ain't gonna even bother trying to solve, you think your precious opsec is gonna do anything?

But whatever.

I'm done. I am not going to put in effort or to try to solve when no one else is bothering. I have been giving 110% for this Turn to the point I have zero RP, and making up most of this thread, and am getting crickets, and quite honestly I have used stronger language to express my disgust in my GM PM. I'm done here.

Either Szeth is a hit, or he isn't. @Ashbringer, if you're Evil, do me a favour and smite me with your new DP when you ascend so I don't have to deal with this goddamned crap on wheels.

Edited to add 2:

Last set of non-RP words from me this cycle.

If Szeth isn't a hit, I'm going to say I told you so as the only player apparently willing to actually try to think this through/puzzle this out.

I leave you with this:

 

Edited August 10, 2023 by Kasimir

[Ashbringer he/him]

Yeah I'm... not super proud of that set of NKA. Barely had time to think about Drake, didn't do one for Wonko at all (in thread, was partially waiting for info on claims too). Haven't done a good one in a while. But I think I stand by the first part of it, I don't think TJ made the call on JNV. Who did, idk, but I still like Archer on an E!TJ team. That just doesn't explain the missing kills.

Also what does MR53 have to... oh. Yeah that makes sense.

[STINK he/him]

Right so while I still wanna stick with the Szeth vibes that weren't right to me, it's not wrong to worry about inactivity just being a thing really you know and this is a waste of everyones time as Kas has been workshopping with I think about like 20 other alternatives in the SE multiverse of KKC when even elims can just be like haha yeah that guy who's done nothing has guess what, done nothing. But at this point in the game do we straight up have to commit to singularly focusing our votes on one person because of the EP right?

Szeth

Think I gotta advocate for a slight coin boy position here of look its like 50/50 that Szeth could be a third elim with 2 already out and in that nice world games over next cycle and yippee we get our graduation ceremony which is definitely happening there's no way we don't have one.

All other possibilities get grouped into the other 50% where tbh at that point I'm looking at the group that was (and here I'd say is but doesn't really seem like it does it) scheming all these plans and not mayor grouping or w/e term is an overreach for sure but the group that was grouped together in terms of action planning and oh we can do this into Y from X for Z and blah blah blah blah blah. I think I'm also mostly saying that because surely at this point of non-expelled players that group is probably a majority so yeah maybe it's not anyone from that group.

KKC games really do make me think I need to start spreadsheeting at the start of a game rather than later where it might be convenient cause I ain't backtracking through all that today I got things to do and fun fact, going on holiday tomorrow so let's get this done gamers. 

If Americans don't start getting to it though smh

[Kasimir he/him]

[TAG: RP, 390 words]

4 hours ago, STINK said:

KKC games really do make me think I need to start spreadsheeting at the start of a game rather than later where it might be convenient cause I ain't backtracking through all that today I got things to do and fun fact, going on holiday tomorrow so let's get this done gamers. 

Have a good trip, have fun  

lxxxi. advancement

There were whispers (since when weren’t there?) about Issal. Some thought that he must’ve been possessed by the skindancers, to have advanced so quickly. Rumours that he would be graduating or replacing Master Volatile soon enough. Kevan wondered what that meant for Master Volatile’s tenure as Chancellor, realised that Issal was probably going to be an improvement.

Hell, even if he were possessed by skindancers, he’d be a damn improvement to the damned Chancellor’s Office, and Kevan was firmly of the opinion that any Namer wrecking the Chancellor’s Office and the infernal bureaucracy that the place ran on was going to be doing the students of the University a public service.

Some of the whispers were about him.

Kevan wasn’t really all that surprised. So far, he and Issal had advanced in lock-step. It made sense people would wonder about why the Latrian was moving forward, why he was not.

Part of his woes stemmed back to the University and the bloody-minded bureaucracy of the Chancellor’s Office. He was nearing the midterms, and his studies were still in limbo because dear merciful Tehlu and angels of light and goodness, apparently the 27B/6, the signed letter of approval, and the dual endorsements from Master Bob and Master Volatile weren’t enough and now it was unclear if he’d be allowed to count the class credits from this term towards graduation.

Sometimes, Kevan really wished he’d gone into Naming. He hadn’t the aptitude or the interest, of course, but still. He felt like the Chancellor’s Office could use a little cleansing out. Perhaps they’d discover the supplementary forms he’d filed asking them to reclassify one of the classes he was taking towards foundational El’the requirements instead.

Part of it…

In truth, he was scared. He didn’t feel ready. He had so much left to learn, that he didn’t even want to think about possibly replacing Master Anders, or Master Bob. He didn’t want to be—anybody. He just wanted to be their student, to learn as much as he possibly could.

And then to make the world a better place, he thought. A small piece at a time. Just doing his bit.

(“The philosophers,” said Alfons, in the text Master Anders had recently assigned him, “Have always only sought to interpret the world in various ways. The point, however, is to change it.”)

Edited to add: @The Known Novel Oh yeah you asked about GM response times. If you want a faster response, you have to conduct an especially secret and special ritual. First, you buy a large jar of Nutella. It must be Nutella, I have not had luck with speculoos but you can try it if you think it works. Then, you must take the Nutella jar and immerse it, very lightly, in a small pool of blood. Not too much blood, because we're doing PR rehabilitation right now, but preferably the blood of your foes.

After that, you cleanse it in the bright radiance of the sun. If you are feeling very aggressive about it, you can go full blast, but if you're hoping Wilson will be kind rather than troll you mercilessly or burn you alive, you'll need to go for the gentle warmth of the golden hour. Let it soak that in for say, twenty minutes tops? IDK bro it's not really a science tbhhhh.

So when all your preparations are done, you spread out hello panda crackers on a picnic blanket - mind you, they must be chocolate, strawberry and matcha simply will not do - and then you recite her name three times, with proper solemnity and respect. Not just @little wilson, but you have to hail her by her praise names and her battle-epithets.

And then she will arrive and answer the list of questions that you have.

...Don't expect to keep the Nutella, it's the price you pay for your questions answered posthaste  

Edited August 10, 2023 by Kasimir

[Kasimir he/him]

[TAG: RP, 473 words]

Szeth Szeth

[OOC: Going to revote to make sure Wilson and El catch this as I recognise my vote is buried in a long post.]

lxxxii. requirements

“Well,” Master Bob was saying. “I’ve read the draft of the last chapter you submitted to me…it’s disappointing that the broadroot didn’t turn out to be particularly promising, but I suppose that’s how research goes. However, I must ask…” he stared pointedly at Kevan over the rim of his gigantic tea mug. “Have you considered picking up the pace a little?”

Kevan sighed, and tried to bury his aggravation. “Bob, honestly I’m still locked in a quiet, terrifying cold war with the Chancellor’s Office.”

Master Bob blinked and set the mug down. “Whatever did they do now?” he asked.

“What haven’t they done?” Kevan asked, bitterly. “They told me I needed to get a 27B/6 filled out and accompanied by a signed letter of approval and then endorsements from you and the Chancellor. Then, they tell me to wait a week for a reply. Then, they dismiss my 27B/6 request because ‘Advanced Sympathy II is a fundamental prerequisite for any graduating student and can only be replaced with the appropriately listed Alchemy modules—”

Master Bob thumped the table with his fists. “That’s ridiculous!” he snorted. “You don’t need Advanced Sympathy II, what you need is more time and more focus on your research project right now, you can do Advanced Sympathy II in the summer, or in your spare time or whenever,” the negligent wave of his hand showed pretty much what Master Bob thought of Advanced Sympathy II.

“I know, right,” Kevan said, aggravatedly. “And then they tell me to file a AS33420 form to appeal the decision so I do that and that needs to be endorsed by the Chancellor and so I had to have a long conversation with Master Volatile about the merits of tea and coffee.”

“...Ah,” said Master Bob. “She’s like that, yes.”

“And then,” said Kevan, really getting into it now, “I bring them the AS33420 and they tell me the window for a 27B/6 withdrawal has passed so my appeal cannot be considered, and then I have to file another appeal in order to get them to look at my first appeal, which was only past the time window because they sat on it for a fecking week!”

“Language,” said Master Bob, reflexively. “Not in my Medica!”

“Yes sir, I mean, yes Bob, but look, they deserve it.”

“I suppose they damn well do,” Master Bob said, “But even so.” He shook his head. “I’ll talk to Volatile, see what she can do. Maybe write them a sternly-worded letter…it’s unacceptable, really, in a University of this calibre. You shouldn’t be fighting the administration to graduate or even handle your classes.”

“I’d appreciate that, sir.”

“So. Skindancers then?”

“I didn’t look close enough to check,” Kevan said, glumly. “At this point, I’d take skindancers if they just let me drop Advanced Sympathy II.”