Mid-Range Game 72: A Breath of Fresh Air

[The Wandering Wizard he/him]

13 minutes ago, Hoid Slayer said:

Okay, in that case, @The Wandering Wizard, @TwinStorm, and @BridgeBoi, save your breaths for future cycles. I know having only two breaths might fail us, but it's the best we can do if we want to have any chances of surviving past this.

 

???

If we only have one person give their breath then we automatically lose.

[Hoid Slayer He/Him]

6 minutes ago, The Wandering Wizard said:

???

If we only have one person give their breath then we automatically lose.

Oh

Sorry

I made a mistake 

You and Ruler are giving your breaths this cycle

And then TwinStorm and Bridgeboi save theirs

Its not ideal, but it’s the best we can do 

[The Wandering Wizard he/him]

2 minutes ago, Hoid Slayer said:

Oh

Sorry

I made a mistake 

You and Ruler are giving your breaths this cycle

And then TwinStorm and Bridgeboi save theirs

Its not ideal, but it’s the best we can do 

That makes so much more sense

Yeah hopefully we can still win

[Ashbringer he/him]

1 hour ago, Hoid Slayer said:

@Ashbringer, if Starkeeper doesn't receive a breath the same cycle as the last elim is exed, what happens then? Who wins?

In this scenario, it would be considered an Elim victory, as the Village wincon needs Starkeeper to stay alive.

[Hoid Slayer He/Him]

1 minute ago, Ashbringer said:

In this scenario, it would be considered an Elim victory, as the Village wincon needs Starkeeper to stay alive.

Okay, what if there is one elim and one villager left? Obviously, they vote for each other, and the elim kills the villager. Does the villager go out in a glorious sacrifice, scoring the victory? (I think they should, for rule of cool ). Or do the elims win?

[Ashbringer he/him]

2 hours ago, Hoid Slayer said:

Okay, what if there is one elim and one villager left? Obviously, they vote for each other, and the elim kills the villager. Does the villager go out in a glorious sacrifice, scoring the victory? (I think they should, for rule of cool ). Or do the elims win?

Technically / Rules As Written, it's a 50-50 chance as to who actually gets executed - either the Elim dies to the exe and it's a Draw, or the Villager dies to the exe and it's an Elim win.

But also, at that point it might also just be considered a Draw anyway - I'd need to double check with some other GMs / IMs how they'd rule it but it's as close to a Draw as you can get. We do Rule of Cool things a decent amount 

[OoklaApologist She/her]

“My breath to yours, my life become yours”

Starkeeper was crying.

The room was still.

Timmy, stormy, wizard, ruler of the mists

They chose this

They only hurt themselves.

Kanirah passed out. Starkeeper stood, lifted him, and laid him down on the couch in the sitting room.

The hanging curtains were torn and lying on the ground. 

The volunteers entered from the kitchen, arguing.

“Elidyr, you Idrian rat, you did this!”

“I gave my breath fair and square. Izmir was a faithful follower of Austre, and he died. This is a false-flag operation!”

“False flag? Colors, what is this madness?! Come on, let the quiet ones join in condemning the pallid dog!”

“Shut up,” Starkeeper muttered under her breath 

“Killing TUF was a mistake”

“I made a mistake. I’m a colors-forsaken translator, I should never have this kind of responsibility.”

“Shut up.” Starkeeper said, louder and harsher this time.

“I can do it. I can give breath.”

“Thank you”

“Don’t thank me, you monster.”

“Shut. Up.” 

“Wiz, Twinstorm, and Timmy, you holster”

“Wait, aren’t I giving my breath? We can’t just have one.”

“Sorry, it’s you and Twinstorm.”

“Shut up, shut up, SHUT UP!” Starkeeper said. She motioned to Kanirah, insensate on the couch. “Timmy, Stormy, move him to his room, then pick up the body. Ruler, Wiz, you come with me. Elidyr and Evinir, stay put.”

The only thing there was to do was wait

[Hoid Slayer He/Him]

The clock was the first to break the silence.

Evinir felt the urge to bury his head in his hands, but this time, he resisted. He had shoved his emotions aside since his previous tirade. Now, he felt… nothing. Only coldness.

The mystery was like a game of Colorchess. The Assembly, the Followers. Starkeeper, the Priest. Evinir had spoken in private to many of the pieces. His move was made. All he could do was wait.

Evinir was not usually one to pray. But in this moment, in that room, alone with Elydir, a man he had bet his entire plot on, he prayed.

The silence grew between the two diplomats. Evinir felt like something should break it. Come in, and snap the tension, revealing all the events of the past week to be a dream. A trick. Anything but what they were. Painfully, irrevocably real.

Evinir knew he might not last past this day. The old him would have run away long ago, fleeing to a neighboring nation. But he knew that if the plan he had so carefully put into place had any chance of succeeding, he had to stay. Even if that meant greeting death itself with open arms.

The clock ticked again, and Evinir didn’t flinch as the door slammed open. A pair of servants rushed past, then left them alone again. The night grew, nearing its climax. And Evinir waited.

He fingered the knife hidden in the coils of his cloak. Alone in this room with a man he was betting his life on, he knew they would not both make it out alive. Perhaps neither of them would. It would all be over soon.

The clock struck again. By now, the moon was high in the sky. Yes, it would all be over very, very soon.

”Goodbye, Elydir.”

If I die tonight, here is my list of suspects:

1. Ruler. Easy.

2. Bridgeboi

3. TwinStorm

4. Wiz

After this, if the game is still going, only two villagers will be left. I hope to be one of them.

If I am not, then:

Best of luck, my friends. You will need it.

[Ashbringer he/him]

4 hours remain!

[OoklaApologist She/her]

no vote

[Ashbringer he/him]

30 minutes!

[The Wandering Wizard he/him]

5 hours ago, Hoid Slayer said:

The clock was the first to break the silence.

Evinir felt the urge to bury his head in his hands, but this time, he resisted. He had shoved his emotions aside since his previous tirade. Now, he felt… nothing. Only coldness.

The mystery was like a game of Colorchess. The Assembly, the Followers. Starkeeper, the Priest. Evinir had spoken in private to many of the pieces. His move was made. All he could do was wait.

Evinir was not usually one to pray. But in this moment, in that room, alone with Elydir, a man he had bet his entire plot on, he prayed.

The silence grew between the two diplomats. Evinir felt like something should break it. Come in, and snap the tension, revealing all the events of the past week to be a dream. A trick. Anything but what they were. Painfully, irrevocably real.

Evinir knew he might not last past this day. The old him would have run away long ago, fleeing to a neighboring nation. But he knew that if the plan he had so carefully put into place had any chance of succeeding, he had to stay. Even if that meant greeting death itself with open arms.

The clock ticked again, and Evinir didn’t flinch as the door slammed open. A pair of servants rushed past, then left them alone again. The night grew, nearing its climax. And Evinir waited.

He fingered the knife hidden in the coils of his cloak. Alone in this room with a man he was betting his life on, he knew they would not both make it out alive. Perhaps neither of them would. It would all be over soon.

The clock struck again. By now, the moon was high in the sky. Yes, it would all be over very, very soon.

”Goodbye, Elydir.”

If I die tonight, here is my list of suspects:

1. Ruler. Easy.

2. Bridgeboi

3. TwinStorm

4. Wiz

After this, if the game is still going, only two villagers will be left. I hope to be one of them.

If I am not, then:

Best of luck, my friends. You will need it.

[Ashbringer he/him]

Time!

Rollover might take a little longer this time (depends how much I write) but shouldn't be long!

[Ashbringer he/him]

MR72 Cycle 5: Sacrifice

He was wrong.

Oh, he was wrong.

Hallendrens always talked about how being Drab was normal, common for those who needed the money or wished to give a gift to their gods. They never spoke about how it felt, how it drained on a person, how it... how everything felt so... distant.

Kanirah felt that now. He'd been mostly asleep for a day, maybe two at this point. Starkeeper kept checking in on him to see if he was okay. She'd at least recovered fully, aside from her scratched hands. And whatever damage being so close to death had done on her spirit.

The way she looked at him reminded him... not of what the view he had the last night, but a later night... that night...

Why was he thinking of such things?

 

Kanirah recovered fairly quickly, all things considered. But he also found the view that Idris had on Drabs. Genda made excuses about feeling unwell most times he tried to meet, and the remaining volunteers wouldn't even look at him. Just like they wouldn't look at Carmine, he realized.

Funny. They had to know by now that there were Drabs among them as the group, but they seemed to spare that recompense for themselves. Perhaps Genda's illusion of who did and didn't have Breath was working, or perhaps they were simply hypocrites. They'd complained he hadn't given up his Breath, and now he had. But there was still so little done. So little progress. The people outside of Bevalis were not coming, he knew now, but why he still had no idea.

They did the same song and dance they'd done previously. Kanirah gave his speech in front of a worried Genda and a pale-but-strong Starkeeper. Only, something different happened this time. There was no last minute scuffle. Instead, Evinir, Wizard, and Ruler shoved Elidyr forward. Evinir had a knife drawn, but wasn't using it, not yet. Carmine put his hand on the pommel of his shortsword.

"Well?" Kanirah said.

Elidyr stood for a moment, before finally speaking. "Idris gave everything to you. Our home. Our people. Our Breath. And still you insist on taking. Well, I'll have no part of it. Not anymore. Not ever." And she spit on the ground.

Then in a flash, threw off her coat, revealing a well-toned set of arms each holding throwing knives. "And soon, no one else will."

Both Carmine and Evinir gave a shout and rushed forward, weapons drawn, as Kanirah ran to block Starkeeper - but to no avail, as Starkeeper blitzed past him and the two knives sunk into their target of Ruler instead. Starkeeper collided with him a second later, grabbing Elidyr's wrists with a sickening crunch. "No!"

Carmine's javelin sunk into Elidyr a second later, piercing his neck, covering the floor and Starkeeper's hands once again with blood.

"NO!"

 

Starkeeper and Kanirah sat waiting that night, for a hope they weren't sure would come.

They'd given a lot for each other. Idris had too. Kanirah was... some part of him was trying to see that still, but most of him was feeling nothing.

"I... I'm sorry, Star. I failed."

"You didn't fail me, Kan. You did everything you could. You gave me everything you could."

The minutes passed. Became hours, perhaps. No one was coming.

"I..."

What did he say? It was strange. Before he didn't know what to say because of how choked his throat had felt. Now he didn't know what the point was. It would all be things he'd said before.

"It's okay, Kan. Look."

Kanirah turned, then stood with a start. Starkeeper's blanche had faded. She looked perfectly fine. More like who she'd used to be, with a small grin that looked so familiar.

"One of the volunteers gave me their Breath yesterday morning..."

- - -

KelsierApologist was executed! They were an Assassin!

ruler of the mists was killed! They were an Idrian Diplomat!

Starkeeper was given a Breath!

 

Vote Count:

• KelsierApologist (3): The Wandering Wizard, ruler of the mists, Hoid Slayer

 

Cycle 4 has begun! There will be an execution this cycle.

The cycle will close on April 18th at 10:00 PM PST, in about 47 hours.

 

Player List:

Spoiler

Players:

1. |TJ| - Idrian Diplomat
2. The Unknown Flame - Idrian Diplomat
3. @TwinStorm
4. KelsierApologist - Elidyr - Assassin
5. @BridgeBoi - Timmy
6. Kasimir - Izmir - Idrian Diplomat
7. @The Wandering Wizard
8. ruler of the mists - Idrian Diplomat
9. TheRavenHasLanded - Gandor - Idrian Diplomat
10. Stick. - Idrian Diplomat
11. STINK - Simon - Idrian Diplomat
12. @Hoid Slayer - Evinir

Pinch Hitters:

1. @Aeternum
2. @Illwei
3. @Ookla the Arbiter

Spectators:

1. @Terrisman
2. @Aeoryi

 

[The Wandering Wizard he/him]

So Twinstorm then, yeah?

[Hoid Slayer He/Him]

1 hour ago, The Wandering Wizard said:

So Twinstorm then, yeah?

No, actually.

Not at all.

Evinir greeted the dawn with a sigh of relief. He was alive. Colors, he was alive.

The memory of Elydir and Ruler’s death still haunted his mind. The blood… and the knowledge Evinir himself had been prepared to deal the final blow on the traitor, once his friend. He was glad Carmine had acted first. He wouldn’t  know who he was with that red on his conscience.

His meticulous plan had failed. It had relied on support from TwinStorm and Timmy, neither of whom had given him a response. So Evinir had taken matters into his own hands.

Evinir had given up his breath.

It was a rash decision, yes. Foolish, perhaps. And the drabness pained him. But still, standing there, watching the sun rise over the Assembly hall, he didn’t regret it. Any of it.

The Assembly believed Evinir had given up his breath the first day. They were wrong. Evinir, then a different man, had lied, knowing that a drab was less likely to be targeted by the assassins. That didn’t matter anymore. The end was closing in. It was time to come clean.

He stormed into the oddly empty Assembly lobby and slammed his notes on the table. He had been sure Ruler was a traitor; and that was where his hunch began. The assassins knew Ruler was a prime suspect. Killing him over a more seemingly innocent diplomat, then, made no sense, unless… the only valid reason Evinir could find, if the assassins were behaving rationally, to kill Ruler, was because of his breath. The traitors intended for Starkeeper to receive no breath this week. Of course, they hadn’t predicted for Evinir, he thought with a sly smile.

Back to Ruler. The assassins would only kill him if they knew they could make sure no breath was given that week. That meant dealing with the other volunteer as well; Wiz. If both Wiz and Ruler were innocent, there would be no point in killing Ruler as Wiz would still give up his breath.

Which made Evinir believe Wiz wasn’t innocent. It was odd, yes, considering Wiz’s past record, but it made sense. If Wiz was a traitor and Ruler was dead, then Starkeeper should have received no breath, and the assassins needn’t have worried about subtlety as their victory should have been assured.

Additionally, the record showing Wiz’s conflict with Elydir came from Elydir themself, who was an assassin and thus not the most trustworthy source. Yes, Evinir believed he had it figured out. Breath was still an issue, but he felt confident about this read.

Right before announcing his findings to the Assembly, he muttered one last phrase under his breath.

”See you in Hell, Elydir.”

The Wandering Wizard.

We’re in the endgame now.

[The Wandering Wizard he/him]

Fascinating  

[Hoid Slayer He/Him]

He ain’t denying it

[The Wandering Wizard he/him]

Oh yeah I'm not I'm a Sith lord

You expect me to sit in the Shadows after my plan nearly succeeds?

[Hoid Slayer He/Him]

Proof!

@TwinStorm@BridgeBoi, if you guys ever choose to rejoin society, vote Wiz and USE YOUR BREATHS

If there’s a third elim, we’re screwed anyways. I had a really intricate plan to deal with the breath issue, but neither of them were online and so it sunk and failed  

Maybe I’ll reveal it later

[The Wandering Wizard he/him]

Darth Wizard knew he'd have to kill Evinir(Hoid Slayer). It was a shame though, he would have made a wonderful apprentice under the right circumstances. 

"Well, well, well, you've caught me," grinned Darth Wizard as slowly he pulled out his unique electropole, a weapon from his time slaughtering a race of fish and impersonating one for many many years.

"Well Evinir, do you dare step in the ring?"

[Hoid Slayer He/Him]

34 minutes ago, The Wandering Wizard said:

Darth Wizard knew he'd have to kill Evinir(Hoid Slayer). It was a shame though, he would have made a wonderful apprentice under the right circumstances. 

"Well, well, well, you've caught me," grinned Darth Wizard as slowly he pulled out his unique electropole, a weapon from his time slaughtering a race of fish and impersonating one for many many years.

"Well Evinir, do you dare step in the ring?"

Uhh… what? I think you’ve got the wrong expansed universe

Evinir reeled back in shock, his heart pounding. What witchery was this? Evinir deftly slipped out the knife hidden in the folds of his robes. It was still stained by drops of Elydir’s blood; he hadn’t taken it off his person since the events of the previous night.

”In the name of Austre and the Idrian kingdom, I order you to stand down, or you will face the fair that awaits you.”

Deep inside, Evinir trembled in fear. He was a diplomat, not a fighter. But he would do his part for his country.

[The Wandering Wizard he/him]

15 minutes ago, Hoid Slayer said:

Uhh… what? I think you’ve got the wrong expansed universe

Evinir reeled back in shock, his heart pounding. What witchery was this? Evinir deftly slipped out the knife hidden in the folds of his robes. It was still stained by drops of Elydir’s blood; he hadn’t taken it off his person since the events of the previous night.

”In the name of Austre and the Idrian kingdom, I order you to stand down, or you will face the fair that awaits you.”

Deep inside, Evinir trembled in fear. He was a diplomat, not a fighter. But he would do his part for his country.

Nah I don't, darth wizard always finds a way  

The sith Lord smirked, "all I want is Starkeeper's breath, if you insist in standing in the way, you won't be standing anymore."

Edited April 17, 2025 by The Wandering Wizard

[Hoid Slayer He/Him]

@Ashbringer, when will you bring in replacements for TwinStorm and Bridgeboi if they don’t come online?

Just wondering, as I feel like they would influence the result of this a lot.

6 hours ago, The Wandering Wizard said:

Nah I don't, darth wizard always finds a way  

The sith Lord smirked, "all I want is Starkeeper's breath, if you insist in standing in the way, you won't be standing anymore."

Evinir raised his head, attempting to put on a mask of braveness.

”With a single scream, I can bring the entire palace down on you. You are not the one in power here.”

[Ashbringer he/him]

4 minutes ago, Hoid Slayer said:

@Ashbringer, when will you bring in replacements for TwinStorm and Bridgeboi if they don’t come online?

 

Based on the rules I usually run by, I'd do it at the start of next cycle. I might make an exception, but I don't usually replace people mid-cycle - or honestly, this close to the end of the game.

Probably should have made a more firm ruling, as I think technically both @TwinStorm and @BridgeBoi are on an inactivity warning.