Long Game 105: Obliteration

[The Unknown Character he/him]

That's the turn.

[The Unknown Character he/him]

Long Game 105 - Day Seven: They're Gone

You have a relatively normal night. You discuss with the others, and the Team Leader singlehandedly decides to send the Psychologist back to Central. Twice they've done that, that's worrying. 

~

LG105 Day Seven has begun! 

Illwei was sent to Central.

Psychologist: They have been tasked with analyzing the mental stability of the expedition. This player will be able to make another player explore the same location as them. 

Votecount:

Illwei (2): Quivil

Things to Note:

• You can Explore locations today, but voting does not resume until the next turn.
• Actions can be sent in within your GMPM and must specify a location to search.
• Remember that all italics are purely flavor!
• And even the non italicized mechanical text can be misleading without full context. 
• Remember also that it is against the rules to directly quote from your GMPM, only paraphrasing is allowed. 
• Rollover will be in one day at 12:30 on Wednesday the 14th of May.

Players:

Spoiler

1. @|TJ| Linguist
2. @Illwei Psychologist 
3. @The Wandering Wizard Surveyor
4. @Ashbringer Medic
5. @Quivil Biologist Team Leader
6. @Hoid Slayer Anthropologist 
7. @RoyalBeeMage Archeologist

Available Locations for Exploration:

Spoiler

Base Camp

You have arrived, after a now foggy and forgotten journey from the border, to the Base Camp. You found stored supplies to supplement what you traveled with. You set up your tents and equipment, which is outdated due to the proscription of modern technology in Area X. 

Perhaps it wouldn't be polite to go snooping through someone's tents, but what they don't know can't hurt them. 

Besides, can they really blame you for looking for clues as to their humanity?

Linguist's Tent

Psychologist's Tent

Surveyor's Tent

Medic's Tent

Biologist's Tent

Anthropologist's Tent

Archeologist's Tent

Abandoned Village 

The records from previous expeditions speak of an abandoned village in the same direction as the Lighthouse. Not much is known about this village, but the records claim that previous searches proved fruitless.

Perhaps with the Surveyor's newly detailed maps, you can find something more here. The previous expeditions found nothing, hey, maybe you'll be special.

The Tunnel

You have learned some about this mysterious structure, but surely there must be something at the bottom of those stairs or a message in those cryptic words.

Lighthouse

The Lighthouse is perhaps the most prominent feature of Area X. You have been tasked with exploring it and uncovering the information hidden therein. Even if you weren't under orders, you would still feel drawn there. Something inexplicable pulls you. As if its long dormant light were focused on you and only you.

Island Y

Little is known of this island except its existence. It is not considered a priority, but there must be some information hidden in its own smaller lighthouse and village.

Up the Coast 

It has been determined that the secret of Area X does not lie along the coast. It is outside the purview of your mission, though you may explore here if necessary

 

[Ashbringer he/him]

Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay
My, oh my, what a wonderful day
Plenty of sunshine headin' my way
Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay

[The Wandering Wizard he/him]

Huh that's dangerous

[Through the living jeff he/him(straight)]

Spoiler

Ill assume this is SE?

how does one join?

 

[The Unknown Character he/him]

Turn over. Next one in a bit.

[The Unknown Character he/him]

Long Game 105 - Night Eight: Getting Tired 

You return to camp, weary from your travels. These Nights just seem shorter and shorter. It's wearing on you, like you can never get enough sleep.

Still, you need to figure out who to send back to Central. 

~

Welcome to LG105 Night Eight!

No-one has died. 

No public rules have been discovered. 

Things to Note:

• You may vote today, but all actions will take place next turn.
• Votes must be placed in Bolded Red
• Remember that all italics are purely flavor!
• And even the non italicized mechanical text can be misleading without full context. 
• Remember that quoting from your GMPM is against the rules. You may only paraphrase.
• This turn will end at 12:30 in one day, on Thursday the 14th of May.

Players:

Spoiler

1. @|TJ| Linguist
2. @Illwei Psychologist 
3. @The Wandering Wizard Surveyor
4. @Ashbringer Medic
5. @Quivil Biologist Team Leader
6. @Hoid Slayer Anthropologist 
7. @RoyalBeeMage Archeologist

 

[Quivil]

Royal Bee Mage

[The Wandering Wizard he/him]

Quivil are you openwolfing now?

[|TJ| he/him]

Hi hello, sorry I meant to post earlier but life happened. Obviously, there have been some lies in the last post because my wincon was to get myself voted out. Let's correct that now - 

On 5/4/2025 at 6:44 PM, |TJ| said:

Results - 

Wiz was with me. 

Italics say that the the previous visitors seemingly lied about the tunnel. The tunnel is moving, not in location, but like a living, breathing thing. Walls are not made of stone, but seemingly out of flesh. We're left wondering if the tunnel had changed since the previous visit, or if the previous visitors lied. 

I find the words mentioned by others. It is made up of mushrooms as described previously. I also do the same mistake as the Biologist. I lean in and can't help but breathe in the spores. 

Not sure if I can c/p it, but paraphrasing of the words - it's something about sinners who are worms in nature. 

All true till here

In non-italics - the text analysis basically says at least one player who visited the tower (it doesn't say if it is initially visited so could include Wiz as well) and discovered the Return Anew wincon is now a doppelganger. It doesn't say if they immediately turned doppelganger or if they turned a cycle later, though I suspect the latter. 

All of the above para is made up. I had to make this up in order to make it seem like voting me out is imperative because it takes out some doppelganger.

In addition, I hid something I found at the Lighthouse last cycle because it was important and I was worried that if I revealed it and the doppelgangers somehow had gotten a kill, they would have targeted me with it, so I wanted to keep it to myself until we knew more. And with the info gained this cycle, I think it's sensible to reveal it now. 

I gained a passive ability called 'Return'. This ability means if I get removed through a vote (essentially leaving Area X), there's a 50% chance that I take down the doppelganger with me (not sure if they are killed or 'removed' with me). It is EXPLICITLY stated that this ability only works if I am removed and NOT if I am killed, which is why I did not want to reveal it last cycle.

I did gain something at the Lighthouse but it was not an ability, it was a wincon called 'Return', basically I win when I get voted out. 

How am I back? Not sure if this is for everyone if I am unique because I got voted out to follow a wincon but when you are removed, you are given an option to either go on to the dead doc or return after 2 cycles with the Destroy the Area X wincon. I need to explore more to find out about the wincon. And that's how I'm back!

[The Wandering Wizard he/him]

Interesting!

I finally learned how to complete the explore area X wincon, supposedly

[RoyalBeeMage he/him]

2 hours ago, Quivil said:

Royal Bee Mage

Is there a reason for that vote?

Quivil

[Ashbringer he/him]

5 hours ago, The Wandering Wizard said:

Quivil are you openwolfing now?

Nah, Quivil’s not.

I am, though!

RoyalBeeMage

[The Wandering Wizard he/him]

Huh, I just did this last game  

[The Unknown Character he/him]

Long Game 105 - Day Eight: Fraying 

We sent the Archeologist away just for the Anthropologist to return. Certainly Central wouldn't be sending so many back. Can we trust those who have returned?

The world frays. The end draws near.

~

LG105 Day Eight has begun! 

The Archeologist (RBM) was sent to Central.

Archeologist: They have been tasked with analyzing the decay rate of the structures within Area X. They will have a higher success rate when exploring the Island.

The Anthropologist (Hoid Slayer) has returned from Central.

Votecount:

RBM (3): Quivil, Ash 

Quivil (2): Wiz, RBM

Things to Note:

You can Explore locations today, but voting does not resume until the next turn.

Actions can be sent in within your GMPM and must specify a location to search.

Remember that all italics are purely flavor!

And even the non italicized mechanical text can be misleading without full context. 

Remember also that it is against the rules to directly quote from your GMPM, only paraphrasing is allowed. 

Rollover will be in one day at 12:30 on Friday the 16th of May.

Players:

Spoiler

1. @|TJ| Linguist
2. @Illwei Psychologist 
3. @The Wandering Wizard Surveyor
4. @Ashbringer Medic
5. @Quivil Biologist Team Leader
6. @Hoid Slayer Anthropologist 
7. @RoyalBeeMage Archeologist

 

[Ashbringer he/him]

Wait wha

[The Unknown Character he/him]

And that's the game. See everyone in a bit.

[The Unknown Character he/him]

Long Game 105 - Aftermath: Just Another Expedition 

This is the story of an expedition. A journey into a strange wilderness, full of bizarre creatures. It's a story of a Medic, trying to keep that expedition safe, at the expense of themselves. It's the story of a Linguist, searching through the words that tell the story of this Forgotten Coast, and finding only lies. It's the story of a Surveyor, searching tirelessly, without pause, and only finding the truth at the last moment.

It's a story of failure, because Area X always wins. Everyone is always replaced. Nobody ever goes back across that border unchanged. The Linguist returned utterly broken. The Surveyor never returned, living in Area X until the end of their days.

The others? Some would say they never returned. What returned merely shared their faces, their memories. Perhaps you think that's enough, perhaps you think it was always Theseus’ Ship. 

But there will be another expedition. There always is. And it always ends the same.

~

The Wandering Wizard has completed his win condition just in the nick of time!

Everyone has been replaced by doppelgangers! 

A new rule has been revealed:

Housekeeping:

<snip>

Everyone will win, how they win is the question.

TJ completed the Return win condition on Day Four. He also completed the Return Anew win condition Day Eight, making him the only double winner. Be more like TJ.

The Wandering Wizard completed the Discover the Secret of Area X win condition on Day Eight. He also discovered it on Day Seven, so he was much more efficient than the rest of you.

Everyone else completed the Return Anew win condition on Day Eight! 

Ashbringer, who was the first doppelganger, and saw them through til the end.

Quivil, who should have been the first doppelganger (Ash stole their glory with an unlucky heal), and single handedly executed everyone who stood in their way.

Illwei, who valiantly took up Polly’s mantle, and would have completed the Escape Along the Coast win condition, if they had remembered to put their action in.

RBM, who chugged along, exploring until they discovered Discover the Secret of Area X win condition on Day Three. They also would have completed it if they had remembered to send an action in.

Hoid, who spent half the game hypnotized by Polly and the other half collecting information from descriptions of my writeups. While I admire your effort, they were fully irrelevant.

And Polly, you didn't make it all the way through, but you'll be remembered for dragging Hoid along by his ear then making Illwei deal with the consequences. 

~

I can't speak for the rest of you, but I really enjoyed GMing this game. Congratulations to everyone, and thanks for playing the madness that was this game.

My GM thoughts can be found scattered throughout the Spec doc:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZiiDeGhn2VAsAuxbi4m8fooxcUoyfeVpyEVwfxsCz8o/edit?usp=drivesdk

I might make a post to sum them up, but I wouldn't count on it. I've done enough writing for this game.

You can find every Exploration PM in the Prewriting doc:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/15rTHZkNdwEoKHlj0p1BvaFUC3AmZdnOjKCVDTTVGesg/edit?usp=drivesdk

You can find everyone's actions and some of the Vote counts in the Mastersheet:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1KFtWs7kZTRLDlHqSQipCT2phoIT4JvnXG-b03W-_rdA/edit?usp=drivesdk

You can find the schemes of the doppelgangers, as well as some mad ramblings, in the Elim doc:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YF2JSDDDBk9c5lgTzDHqRXLjXhSdPtVBTT7PdDWRnm8/edit?usp=drivesdk

And you can find the entirety of these rules in the Full Spoilers rules document:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/15rTHZkNdwEoKHlj0p1BvaFUC3AmZdnOjKCVDTTVGesg/edit?usp=drivesdk

Spoiler

(The real link can be found in the spec doc)

Players:

Spoiler

1. @|TJ| Linguist
2. @KelsierApologist  @IllweiPsychologist 
3. @The Wandering Wizard Surveyor
4. @Ashbringer Medic
5. @Quivil Biologist Team Leader
6. @Hoid Slayer  Anthropologist 
7. @RoyalBeeMage Archeologist

 

Edited May 16, 2025 by The Unknown Area

[Hoid Slayer He/Him]

Not-Adam stood in the dark. He should be happy. It was over. The Intruders were gone. The others were celebrating. Not-Adam couldn't share in their joy.

...

Twelve year old Adam wept. He did his best to block out the witch's wrath, covering his ears, curling up in a corner of the room. But it didn't help. Nothing could block the screams she directed at his sister. His sister; his champion. Since their parent's death, she had fought the witch, standing the ground for the both of them. Her flesh was covered in hidden bruises and scars, carried from previous fights. Fights she always survived.

Tonight was different. Tonight the blows against her seemed like they would never stop. Adam felt like he should stand alongside his sister, protect her. But he couldn't. The fire rushed in his veins, but it never burst through. It just shimmered softly, fading into a puddle of pathetic sparks. And their aunt kept releasing her fury.

...

Not-Adam trembled, and he grabbed the lighthouse railing for support. Looking out over the ocean, the seas, the water claimed by his people. They were only beginning to explore their potential. He should be with them. But in his heart simmered a different fire.

He turned his tortured gaze from the waves, and looked up at the remaining wall. There was another balcony, up there. Slowly, not-Adam let go of the railing, and began to make his way up.

...

Adam trembled. Trapped in his head, it took him a moment to realize his aunt was speaking to him. He refused to meet her gaze, tears streaming down his shaking head, buried in his knees. But her fury didn't come. Instead, she just delivered a single, sharp command.

"Go down. Leave us alone."

Adam picked himself up, and in the instant he met his sister's eyes, he finally saw the pain hidden behind her tough exterior. It hit him like a train. She was broken. He wished so much to be able to hold her, to support her. She was strong. So strong. Not like Adam. He was already half out the door, and he couldn't bring himself to meet her gaze as he left her for the final time. Adam turned his back on his sole defender, and stepped into the dark.

...

The doppelgangers were adapted to the dark. Not-Adam needed no light to guide him up the musty, broken stairs. Instead, he walked alone, feeling the sweat in his palms of flesh, hearing the ragged breathing of his lungs. Alone with the voices. They fought for control in his head, and he couldn't tell which way was up. The voices that had consumed him yesterday, rendering him incapable of completing the tasks set for him. No matter. The others had done it well. No one needed him now.

No one would miss him.

...

Adam stumbled out of the motel lobby, and immediately began to cry once more. The cold air hit him like a blast, and his ragged breathing made puffs in the air. It was dark, and the cheap lights around him flickered or failed entirely. Adam forced himself to move away from the entrance, and made his way around the corner of the two-story building before collapsing against the wall.

He panted from exhaustion, despite having done little physical activity. His back ached against the grainy plaster of the wall, and he found his mind pulled down by the current. A million thoughts raced through his head. Voices. Screams. He shut his eyes, and tried to force them out of his head. But they stayed, and they wouldn't go. They wouldn't go.

...

Not-Adam finally reached the final steps, and hesitated for a moment at the doorway. Then the voices returned, and he kept walking.

...

A crash sounded from nearby, the shattering of a cheap glass window. That in itself shocked Adam, sending ripples down his back. He hesitated, and then came the thump. It arrived a few seconds after the crash, nearby. It was just around the corner. In the direction of their room. Adam shivered in the cold, and knew he couldn't stay here forever. In the bitter silence, Adam closed his eyes one last time before steeling himself, and began walking.

...

Once more, the ocean appeared before not-Adam as he crossed the balcony. Once more, his hands gripped the railing, cold to his human touch. He turned around one last time, looking back at the mainland. Where the others already prepared for the next human expedition. He would never see them again. Never say goodbye.

...

Adam rounded the corner, and found her. Her eyes, minutes before shining with righteous fury, now gazed empty into the sky. Adam choked out a sob, and collapsed to his knees before her broken body. His clothes, dirty and wet, squelched into the mud, where blood had already begun to seep in from the wound where a sole knife stuck out of her chest. Adam gripped her shirt with his trembling hands, and buried his face among its folds. The pain wracked his body, streaming where the fire had once burned. Or pretended to burn. A mix of flesh and tears, he wailed in the empty space, clutching the body of his sister, and let the sorrow envelop him.

...

Not-Adam turned back to the steel railing, and he took a deep breath. Then the first leg went over.

...

For what felt like an eternity, Adam lost himself in that moment. Finally, he tore his face out of his sister's body, and turned it up to the sky. The raindrops fell in a torrent, mixing with his tears and her blood, a dark concoction. Through the flood, he caught a glimpse of a light reflected through the broken pieces of a window. Shattered. Then the light in the room above went out, and all that was left was darkness. The pain returned, and Adam no longer tried to fight. His body tore with sobs. His mind tore with grief. Broken. Breaking. He couldn't take it anymore.

...

Not-Adam swung the other leg over, tears streaming down his face. He stood now over the abyss, barely hanging on to the railing behind him. Every cell in his body trembled, and he shut his eyes. He couldn't fight the pain. But he couldn't take it anymore.

...

Somewhere in the maze of feeling, Adam was dimly aware of voices coming from afar. His mind struggled to sort out what was happening. They were coming to investigate... investigate the crash... the thump... his sister... his sister. The wave returned, and Adam's body wracked once more. And then... something within him shattered. Adam opened his eyes, still holding his sister's body. But the pain was gone. In its place was a numbness. And a pleasure. A small, crooked grin began to form in his mouth.

Why was he crying?

What was he doing?

The wave had passed. Or maybe it had never left.

Slowly, carefully, Adam stood up. The voices came closer, became clearer. Someone had called the police. Without looking back, Adam turned and began to approach them, leaving his sister behind.

...

This body... it was broken. It was broken so much worse than the mortal had ever imagined.

Not-Adam could barely contain the pain within him now. As soon as he had taken control of the body, it had returned. All of it. It ran free within him now. He would bear it no longer.

Wearing the body of a dead man, not-Adam stepped out into the abyss.

And finally let the dark claim him.

[Ashbringer he/him]

For a second I thought my order of “just turn Wiz into a doppleganger” fully was an option this entire time

[The Unknown Character he/him]

1 minute ago, Ashbringer said:

For a second I thought my order of “just turn Wiz into a doppleganger” fully was an option this entire time

I almost sent you a "You successfully converted Wiz" message.

[Quivil]

Yay! We all win!