Mid-Range Game 72: A Breath of Fresh Air

[Ashbringer he/him]

4 hours until rollover!

[The Unknown Medallion he/him]

Sorry everyone. Just got done with a wrestling tournament and found out my finger's fractured. Reading back up now. 

[OoklaApologist She/her]

C1:

• Stick. (4): |TJ,| The Unknown Flame, KelsierApologist, Hoid Slayer 
• |TJ| (2): Kasimir, Stick.
• KelsierApologist (1): The Wandering Wizard

C2:

• TheRavenHasLanded (5): |TJ|, The Unknown Flame, BridgeBoi, The Wandering Wizard, Hoid Slayer
• The Wandering Wizard (2): KelsierApologist, TheRavenHasLanded
• ruler of the mists (1): STINK
• STINK (1): ruler of the mists

I have one more observation about the votes from my previous post

Two people have consistently voted on V targets (bolded for clarity) 

Hoid Slayer, whom I trust somewhat from his posts, and TUF. 

On 4/13/2025 at 12:03 PM, The Wandering Wizard said:

Personally I believe that the kills likely indicate E!TUF though I have been made aware that I don't remember his kill meta too well.

Yeah, I just was e! with him last game. This is kinda his meta. Cut out the more powerful players first. I predict a kill on either hoid slayer, the main active one, or Stink, as I can see there being an elim fear of pms. 

On 4/13/2025 at 1:32 PM, Hoid Slayer said:

Yes, but then again, how are you supposed to find suspects if you DON’T attribute activity to any particular alignment?

rant:

Through their words and through their actions. My main qualm with activity is the risk of false positives. What if the person is, as ruler is, on vacation? What if they, as TUF did, broke their finger? Additionally, filters exist. Inactivity has consequences. If we’re going to policy-exe someone for filter dodging, call it what it is, and realize it doesn’t have a place one turn before lylo.

/rant

You do you, this is just a pet peeve of mine. Bb used that logic and won, so idk.

Anyway, TUF

Also, @STINK, @TwinStorm, @ruler of the mists, you all can give breath. Please, please do so and confirm.

Thanks!!

Edited April 15, 2025 by KelsierApologist
spag

[The Unknown Medallion he/him]

There's only two more hours left in the cycle, and I doubt I can get enough people to move their votes in time. 

For what it's worth, elims aren't normally on main village trains. It's for this very reason, they don't want the heat of being responsible for two dead villagers. I'd look toward the side train and no voters, Stink probably first of all off my death.

Wiz is however my only chance at self preservation if anyways even online to hear my defense. 

[Ashbringer he/him]

Vote Count:

• The Unknown Flame (4): TwinStorm, KelsierApologist, The Wandering Wizard, Hoid Slayer
• The Wandering Wizard (2): The Unknown Flame, BridgeBoi
• KelsierApologist (1): STINK

[Hoid Slayer He/Him]

Don’t worry too much, TUF. Before I log off for the night, I have decided to move onto the Polly train for a couple reasons.

First of all, I was only on the TUF train to apply pressure, and I find a wrestling tournament an adequate excuse.

Second, what the heck does voting on V targets even tell us when literally all the targets so far have been V? So how does this change anything?

Honestly, there’s a lot about Polly that makes me think their the main suspect right now. I just really hope my gut is right here.

So @The Unknown Flame, if you change your vote to Polly, you shouldn’t be exed.

Also, can we get some breaths confirmed? Pretty please?

[Ashbringer he/him]

Time!

Rollover shortly.

[Ashbringer he/him]

MR72 Cycle 4: Constriction

Another week passed.

There wasn't much progress accomplished on the treaties. Carmine had largely gone to ground, worried about the bodies piling up while no evidence of the assassin's activities seemed to follow. Genda was checking in on her volunteers, trying to assuage or assure the ones who might have made a choice the others would hate. Kanirah was left to his own, for the most part, trying to parse the scouts who returned from nearby villages empty-handed and close-mouthed.

And Starkeeper...

Kanirah found Starkeeper in the building that functioned as Bevalis' city hall. She'd changed the bandage on her unharmed wrist, and was looking slightly wan but strong at this point in the week. She was looking at a variety of portraits hanging on the walls, portraits of the various officials of the city and greater Idris. The king was on there, and most of his line, Locks on clear display. Genda was also there, a series of governers and regents behind. But Starkeeper was looking at some of the smaller paintings, tucked in a labeled alcove.

"Starkeeper? What are you... why are you here?"

"Did you know," she began, not turning away from the images currently in view, "that it's tradition for any government worker in Bevalis to create a self-portrait?"

"I... no. Come on, Starkeeper, we need to-"

"Neither did I," the Returned continued. "It's... interesting. I've seen a lot of pictures made by artists with perfect pitch, perfect color, the ability worthy of the Court of the Gods. But these aren't meant for anyone besides the self. And yet, they're... vibrant."

Kanirah suspected that somewhat - the paintings looked dull to him, and he doubted that the Idrian's single Breath provided much more insight into pleasing a god's eyes. But perhaps Starkeeper was simply enjoying the novelty. Or perhaps it'd been too long since she'd gotten a chance to look at art the way a Returned did, as she always enjoyed.

"Starkeeper, why are you here?"

Starkeeper finally turned to look at him for a moment, two.

"I... I don't know, Kan. I need to look some more."

 

The end of that week went in somewhat of a blur. Genda had tried weakly to stop the volunteers from turning on each other, but ultimately failed as someone broke Flame's hand, then stuck a blade in the man with exclamations of guilty. But guilty Flame was not. 

Carmine and Kanirah exchanged a glance. Genda gave a dismissive wave as she excused herself, fatigued. Starkeeper stood as best she could, resolute. 

And that was the end of the Flame. No assassins. The loop was getting tighter.

 

Kanirah awoke in a cold sweat the next morning. He hadn't slept well. He hadn't been sleeping well in a while.

But as he returned to the courthouse, he started to feel much colder. Carmine was out on patrol, Genda was still asleep, but Starkeeper wasn't in any of the main rooms. And none of the volunteers would meet his gaze.

Kanirah bolted up the stairs toward where the Returned had awaited a savior, stumbling over what he belatedly realized was the corpse of Simon, stumbling over what he had already realized he would see.

Starkeeper had crawled out of her room a couple of yards before she'd collapsed into an aquamarine heap. She looked pale.

She looked lifeless.

No one had come.

"Star! Star!" Kan ran as fast as he could to her side, trying to look at her, trying to see if she had a pulse - did Returned even have? - no time - Starkeeper's eyes moved, looked at him. "HELP! SOMEONE!"

"Kan... please..."

No one had come.

No one was coming.

"It'll be okay, Star, okay- HELP!" Colors take him, he wasn't an Awakener, but this he knew, if only he had-

"Kan... I... you don't..." She was crying. She'd maybe been crying for a while. She'd cut her other hand, maybe trying to drag herself on the wooden floor. She'd been here for hours.

No. He would not lose her. Not like this.

Not again.

He whispered the words. "It's okay. It's... my... my Breath to yours. My life become yours."

It always was, he thought, as he felt the power flow from him.

- - -

The Unknown Flame was executed! They were an Idrian Diplomat!

STINK was killed! They were an Idrian Diplomat!

Starkeeper was not given a Breath! The Handler has given up his own Breath. If Starkeeper is not given a Breath again, she will die.

 

Vote Count:

• The Unknown Flame (3): TwinStorm, KelsierApologist, The Wandering Wizard
• The Wandering Wizard (2): The Unknown Flame, BridgeBoi
• KelsierApologist (2): STINK, Hoid Slayer

 

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

The cycle will close on April 16th 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
5. @BridgeBoi - Timmy
6. Kasimir - Izmir - Idrian Diplomat
7. @The Wandering Wizard
8. @ruler of the mists
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

 

[ruler of the mists He/His/the survivor of the pit]

we are down to the last six

I vote to execute KelsierApologist.

[Hoid Slayer He/Him]

Okay

We’re screwed

Polly

I TOLD you guys TUF was innocent

No matter

Who still has breath left? We need to come through now

@ruler of the mists@TwinStorm@BridgeBoi@The Wandering Wizard

You all had breath left to give last round. Why didn’t you?

[OoklaApologist She/her]

Dang, The writeups go hard. 

I’m kind of ashamed

I wonder, if raven hadn’t holstered cycle one, would we have a different combination? 

Man, I haven’t been this affected by the death of a fictional charterer in a bit.

31 minutes ago, Hoid Slayer said:

Who still has breath left? We need to come through now

@ruler of the mists@TwinStorm@BridgeBoi@The Wandering Wizard

You all had breath left to give last round. Why didn’t you?

I knew I missed some in my pings last cycle. Thanks, Slayer. I want an answer too, especially from ruler of the mists, who’s been pretty much silent all game

Anyway, re: TUF’s last comment, yeah, I messed up, big time. I had heard elims like to sit on side trains, forgot, then tried to extrapolate back from what I did when I was e. 

That doesn’t excuse the fact that I put us in lylo.

If this was earlier in the game, or we had a better situation, I’d welcome an exe. I should have done that last cycle, or C2. 

Now, I’m going to try to do everything in my power to exe an elim. 

Additionally, I’m going to try to get good

‘Cuz, like, my analysis sucks. 

Feedback is appreciated.

[ruler of the mists He/His/the survivor of the pit]

I am new to the game and i was on Vacation troughout most of cycle 3

[Hoid Slayer He/Him]

20 minutes ago, ruler of the mists said:

I am new to the game and i was on Vacation troughout most of cycle 3

I’m that case, can you confirm you are sending in a breath now? Because we need to do it.

[OoklaApologist She/her]

1 hour ago, ruler of the mists said:

I am new to the game and i was on Vacation troughout most of cycle 3

How was your vacation?

Also, yes, please pm Ashbringer saying you'll give breath

[Hoid Slayer He/Him]

16 minutes ago, KelsierApologist said:

How was your vacation?

Also, yes, please pm Ashbringer saying you'll give breath

And confirm to us

[The Wandering Wizard he/him]

Polly 

Yeah I can also give my breath and I was wrong, many many times

[Hoid Slayer He/Him]

5 minutes ago, The Wandering Wizard said:

Polly 

Yeah I can also give my breath and I was wrong, many many times

Confirmed, then?

[The Wandering Wizard he/him]

Yes

[OoklaApologist She/her]

2 hours ago, Hoid Slayer said:

And confirm to us

@ruler of the mists

1 hour ago, The Wandering Wizard said:

Yes

Thanks!!

[The Wandering Wizard he/him]

Why are you thanking me? You're very likely evil -_^

[OoklaApologist She/her]

1 hour ago, The Wandering Wizard said:

Why are you thanking me? You're very likely evil -_^

I’m still saying you guys are making a mistake.

[The Wandering Wizard he/him]

Ah ha! That's what an evil person would say

[ruler of the mists He/His/the survivor of the pit]

yes i will give my breath

[The Wandering Wizard he/him]

39 minutes ago, ruler of the mists said:

yes i will give my breath

Have you sent in the order in your GM PM?

[Hoid Slayer He/Him]

Evinir took a break from the Assembly, and ducked into a side room. As soon as he was sure the walls were soundproof, he screamed. He screamed his lungs out. WHY!? WHY had they killed TUF? He had TOLD them not to! Why were Izmir, TeeJay, and even Stink all dead? All the elders of the Assembly. People he had respected. The end was coming, and Evinir felt powerless to stop it. He grabbed a chair and threw it, releasing a loud crack as it's leg broke against the wall. Why had it come to this?

Evinir took a deep breath, then calmed down. He could not afford to panic now. The contradiction of that statement almost caused him to laugh in a cold way. Everything around him was collapsing, and he wasn't supposed to panic? In the last three days, his life had been upended. Evinir's tears shifted from a feverish stress to a quiet, seething rage. This was NOT how his story was supposed to go. He was supposed to run for governor next election cycle. He had carefully prepared everything, installing his people in every step of the ladder that was the Idrian political scene. And in just three days, THEY had ruined everything. HOW DARE THEY!?

He vowed to take them down, just for that. Claw them apart piece by piece. They would learn what it meant to cross Evinir Cragborn. And they would burn.

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.

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

@KelsierApologist. You seem to be dying this round. I think you are an elim. But, as we have seen, I am often wrong. So, if you truly are a villager, tell me. Why do you deserve to live? Fight for us. Because if you're not an elim, the game is over. Convince us.