Long Game 10: A Game of Shards

[Guest]

Curse you, vine! You shall surely perish!

[vineyarddawg]

As soon as that insolent peasant Martin breathed his last, Vineyerian smiled knowingly at the rest of the crowd around him. He said, almost too softly for anyone else to hear, "My work is complete, my lord.  Your plans for me have been carried out perfectly, and all is in place as you have forseen."

 

Suddenly, red smoke enveloped his hands and feet, then crept along his extremities until it seemed to be emanating from every pore of his body. "YES, PUTRID LITTLE CREMLINGS. I SERVE THE GREATEST LORD AND MASTER IN THE COSMERE; THE MIGHTY  ODIUM. MAKE ALL THE PLANS THAT YOU WILL. TAKE MY PHYSICAL BODY AND KILL IT. YOU CANNOT ESCAPE THE DAMNATION THAT AWAITS YOU!"

 

Those around Vineyerian were momentarily stunned into silence, so he continued:

 

"Hoid! I see you, you dog! You might kill me, but I am just the Baleful Almighty's servant. You cannot escape the wrath of Odium! You might even manage to strike down Rayse, but ODIUM will survive. The Cosmere will be rid of your foul stench soon enough!  The inexorable ascent of my mighty Lord and master has begun, and it cannot be stopped! TREMBLE, PUNY MORTALS, AND PREPARE TO KNEEL BEFORE YOUR GOD!"

Edited February 11, 2015 by vineyarddawg

[Lightsworn Panda he/him]

I was guessing this was going to happen...   

 

You sacrifice won't be forgotten, Antillar. Your death will be traded for an OC. Ruin, help us save a lynch and kill vineyarddawg.

 

Edit: Colour

Edited February 11, 2015 by Lightsworn Panda

[Gamma Fiend he/him]

Have we really gotten to the point where a gloating eliminator gets more upvotes than the write-up? XD

But yeah, it is rather obvious that we were wrong about Vine, well played good sir. And many apologies, Ant! >.<

Snoopy has been dropping some less than subtle hints about things in the thread, and I'm still not exactly sure how he's gotten into such a position to be so free with information like that.

Should we assume Ruin is going to be doing his thing on Vine tonight, or is worrying about Skeletals a thing? Because roleblocking Vine probably won't accomplish much, as I doubt he's invested anymore.

^^Proper example of Out of Game Blue text and regular Black text

Edit: Oh, and @Peng, I changed my avatar just recently, only last couple days.

Edited February 11, 2015 by Gamma Fiend

[Guest]

You should assume that Vineyard will be killed tonight. Bloodsealers will not be an issue.

 

Again, I'm sorry for being so cryptic, but...just, sorry. All will become clear in time.

[Araris Valerian he/him]

Is there any reason for me to keep playing this game? Like, have the shards banded together and made us vanilla folk redundant?

[Feligon he/him]

@ Araris Valerian

well, they still need us to invest in.

 

Joe, if a shard gets shattered for being inactive, would you have told us?

Edited February 11, 2015 by Feligon

[Jo and the Bush all/any]

Yes. An inactive player losing their shard will be made apparent.

[ostrichofevil he/him]

Wait.  So do we know for sure that Vine is an Eliminator?

[Lord Pifferdoo he/him]

Yes. Because of the whole Witness thing.

He also had an evil speech:

 

 

As soon as that insolent peasant Martin breathed his last, Vineyerian smiled knowingly at the rest of the crowd around him. He said, almost too softly for anyone else to hear, "My work is complete, my lord.  Your plans for me have been carried out perfectly, and all is in place as you have forseen."

 

Suddenly, red smoke enveloped his hands and feet, then crept along his extremities until it seemed to be emanating from every pore of his body. "YES, PUTRID LITTLE CREMLINGS. I SERVE THE GREATEST LORD AND MASTER IN THE COSMERE; THE MIGHTY  ODIUM. MAKE ALL THE PLANS THAT YOU WILL. TAKE MY PHYSICAL BODY AND KILL IT. YOU CANNOT ESCAPE THE DAMNATION THAT AWAITS YOU!"

 

Those around Vineyerian were momentarily stunned into silence, so he continued:

 

"Hoid! I see you, you dog! You might kill me, but I am just the Baleful Almighty's servant. You cannot escape the wrath of Odium! You might even manage to strike down Rayse, but ODIUM will survive. The Cosmere will be rid of your foul stench soon enough!  The inexorable ascent of my mighty Lord and master has begun, and it cannot be stopped! TREMBLE, PUNY MORTALS, AND PREPARE TO KNEEL BEFORE YOUR GOD!"

 

 

Very dramatic.

[Alvron]

I don't think that having Ruin kill Vine tonight is a good idea.  Team Rayse may have a Witness of their own and will be able to see who Ruin is.

 

We should have Ruin kill Vine during the day phase as the witness can't see them then.  I admit that I was hoping the Ruin would've killed Vine during the last day phase as a one-for-one trade is always beneficial for the town.

 

As it is common for Eliminators to vote for each other when they aren't in danger of being lynched I highly suspect that at least one of them voted for Vine during the last cycle.  Mailliw73, Dowanx, JasonPenguin, leiftinspace.  One of them is almost certain to be on Team Rayse.  I ask any Bloodsealers to place at least one of your skeletons on one of them.

[Guest]

In the write-up, it said that Antillar was "the Witness". Doesn't that mean there was only one?

[Alvron]

Not necessarily. During QF4 Joe had a couple of roles that were identified as 'the' but there was more than one. Just because a GM write up mentions something doesn't mean that it is fact.

[Guest]

Thanks for letting me know. Any Witnesses want to come forward in exchange for protection?

Edit: let me know if you want a PM.

Edited February 11, 2015 by Snoopy

[Mailliw73 he/him]

Thanks for letting me know. Any Witnesses want to come forward in exchange for protection?

Edit: let me know if you want a PM.

I'd like a PM, please.

[vineyarddawg]

I was going to let my dramatic reveal be my swan song post, but I felt the need to also let all the non-shard villagers know that the entire game is basically being played around you at this point. All of the shards and Hoid are connected via PM's, and they're not going to invest in you if they haven't already, because they don't know if they can trust you.  If I were a normal villager at this point, I'd just walk away and join the quick fix game that Hero is starting up.

 

And yes, I know "that's exactly what an OC would say."  And yes, I am an OC.  And yes, I expect to die tonight.  But this is actually, really, truly the way I'd feel if I were a regular worldhopper. Even if you have a minor role, it's redundant at this point. The shard group doesn't care if you all die, because after I die tonight, there's guaranteed to be more of them than there are of Team Odium.  They'd happily kill every non-shardic player right now if they could, because Team Villager would then win the game.  In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if that was their strategy.

And Snoopy is Hoid.  He's going around telling everybody other than Jesus in PM's, so you might as well know it, too.

As a parting gift, I'll give you the following information.  One of these players is the villager bloodsealer. One is Odium's witness (who has used his ability every night, by the way). And one is Cultivation. In random order: Feligon. Sarcomere. Qayshar.  If you can figure out which is Cultivation, you can take back control of your own game.

 

Adios, amigos.

 

EDIT:  Ok, one final point:  If you look at the rules, the shards can manipulate up to 7 votes when they work in tandem.  So basically your votes are pointless in a lynch unless someone has an 8-vote lead.  Load up on one candidate or risk being manipulated over and over again.

Edited February 12, 2015 by vineyarddawg

[Tulir he/him]

I was going to let my dramatic reveal be my swan song post, but I felt the need to also let all the non-shard villagers know that the entire game is basically being played around you at this point. All of the shards and Hoid are connected via PM's, and they're not going to invest in you if they haven't already, because they don't know if they can trust you.  If I were a normal villager at this point, I'd just walk away and join the quick fix game that Hero is starting up.

 

And yes, I know "that's exactly what an OC would say."  And yes, I am an OC.  And yes, I expect to die tonight.  But this is actually, really, truly the way I'd feel if I were a regular worldhopper. Even if you have a minor role, it's redundant at this point. The shard group doesn't care if you all die, because after I die tonight, there's guaranteed to be more of them than there are of Team Odium.  They'd happily kill every non-shardic player right now if they could, because Team Villager would then win the game.  In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if that was their strategy.

And Snoopy is Hoid.  He's going around telling everybody other than Jesus in PM's, so you might as well know it, too.

As a parting gift, I'll give you the following information.  One of these players is the villager bloodsealer. One is Odium's witness (who has used his ability every night, by the way). And one is Cultivation. In random order: Feligon. Sarcomere. Qayshar.  If you can figure out which is Cultivation, you can take back control of your own game.

 

Adios, amigos.

 

EDIT:  Ok, one final point:  If you look at the rules, the shards can manipulate up to 7 votes when they work in tandem.  So basically your votes are pointless in a lynch unless someone has an 8-vote lead.  Load up on one candidate or risk being manipulated over and over again.

Ok, now that was truly clever of you.  Sowing dissent right before death?  Cold, cruel OC.

[Lightsworn Panda he/him]

I don't think that having Ruin kill Vine tonight is a good idea.  Team Rayse may have a Witness of their own and will be able to see who Ruin is.

 

We should have Ruin kill Vine during the day phase as the witness can't see them then.  I admit that I was hoping the Ruin would've killed Vine during the last day phase as a one-for-one trade is always beneficial for the town.

 

As it is common for Eliminators to vote for each other when they aren't in danger of being lynched I highly suspect that at least one of them voted for Vine during the last cycle.  Mailliw73, Dowanx, JasonPenguin, leiftinspace.  One of them is almost certain to be on Team Rayse.  I ask any Bloodsealers to place at least one of your skeletons on one of them.

 

Wouldn't it be a bit broken for the OC to have a Witness? I mean, so long as they ignore the Witnessing of their team-mates, they'd eventually discover Ruin, and he'd die pretty quickly.

[Guest]

I'd like a PM, please.

We already have one, dude.

Edit: @Vineyard If you're an OC, how would you have a clue as to those names you mentioned?

Edited February 12, 2015 by Snoopy

[Ashiok]

Let me handle Vine as a parting gift. By the bye, if he's odium, problems will ensue if we kill him. 

 

EDIT: Nevermind, I'm on another world

Edited February 12, 2015 by Ashiok

[Guest]

I don't think he could be Odium because it wasn't a Shard that died. Odium can only kill Shards and vice versa for the OCs.

[Lord Pifferdoo he/him]

(Hey Vine, you should tell us who the other OCs are, yea that would be cool, kthxbai)

[Aonar he/him]

Part one of a collaborative RP between me, and Snoopy.
 
Have you ever wondered why I left, Nilan? I didn't want to. But war had come, and I was inexorably linked to its outcome. You see, I had something. Something very powerful, that many would, and have, killed for. 
 
A Shard of Deity itself, like Ruin, or Preservation in the old stories. With it, I could turn the tide.
--------------------
 
This cube was one of the last. Out of the Shadows. It was written in a clearer hand than the others, as if the author has finally been sure of what he was writing. 
----------------------
 
"We know what we need to win this war. It is time to act, my friends." The other Shards slowly nodded their agreement. 
 
With a thought, Aonar warped himself away. Luthadel's narrow streets faded into view. He set off at a fast walk, racing the setting sun. Someone would be dead by nightfall, and if he could help it, it wasn't going to be an innocent. 
 
The great doors of Lord Hobbes' keep opened as he approached. Clearly, they'd been expecting him. Good. 
 
Guards inclined their heads as he passed, entering the great hall. Aonar's footfalls echoed in the empty room. 
 
As he approached the far end, voices raised in heated conversation could be heard. He slipped through a door on his left, one hand reaching for his Sterrions. 
 
It was a small meeting room, sparsely furnished compared to the ballroom, and crowded with various woldhoppers. 
 
A few noticed when he entered; Maw, Ash, Leif, and of course, Lord Hobbes himself. The others were still focused on their conversation.  
 
"It doesn't make any sense! They couldn't have known that Martin witnessed Mek's death." How wrong you are...
 
Aonar gestured almost imperceptibly towards the discussion, questioning. Hobbes shrugged. Apparently now was as good a time as any. 
 
"Actually, they could have, quite easily. In fact, we might as well have told them ourselves."
 
Hobbes clapped a hand to his mouth in a clearly exaggerated gesture. "Oh please, Aonar. You always come to my Keep with these ridiculous and outlandish...shenanigans of yours! Go be an ominous crow elsewhere," Hobbes huffed. "Honestly!"

Aonar glared at Hobbes and snapped, "By the Lord Ruler! Drop your pathetic nobleman act, Hoid. Now is not the time for your so-called 'delightful badinage'! Just...shut your caketrap and listen!"

"I'm afraid, Aonar, that it can only be shut with cake," Hobbes mused, "But please, do continue..."
 
Shaking his head and grumbling under his breath, Aonar turned towards the worldhoppers, many of whom had been startled by the sudden interruption. “Thank you, Hoid. You see, my fellow Sharders, a lot has been happening, while we’ve been trying to figure things out. One of the most important of which will be culminating, oh, right about now.”
 
As he spoke, he drew one of his Sterrions, and gestured lazily towards the gathered Sharders. “One of you is a liar, and a very good one. But not quite good enough.”
 
Aonar’s words were met by looks of mixed confusion and anger. Ash spoke up. “What are you rusting talking about, Aonar?”
 
“I’m talking about the little things. Inconsistencies, falsehoods, manipulations. People who have been holding back when they should be leading the charge.”
 
His whole demeanor changed as he turned, focusing on one worldhopper in particular. "I'm talking about you, Maw." Aonar cocked the Sterrion, and leveled it towards the traitor. "Care to explain to those not in the loop, Hoid?"

Edited February 12, 2015 by Aonar Faileas

[Guest]

Part two of a collaborative between Aonar and me.

"Certainly," said Hobbes, his voice turning brusque and cold. "You see, since this rash of killings began, the Shards have been plotting together, with Endowment's help. You might say that I have been their emissary, contacting and confirming the identities of our true friends."

Maw stared at Hoid silently.

"It turns out that Odium, while clever and wily, eventually had to slip up. We came this close to trusting him, but ultimately, he failed."

Red smoke began to curl up into Maw's eyes.

"The process was this," Hoid continued, "I simply requested the suspected Shards to Invest me with a unique code. If they did this, they were confirmed as a friend. Eventually, I had to reveal my identity as Hoid to Odium. You see, once we had confirmed all of our friends but two, all that remained was to ask both of the unknown Shards to Invest me with a secret message. My ability to seek them out in the first place clued them in to my secret identity. Anyway, one of the unknown Shards Invested me, and not the other. We knew that we had found our Odium."

"Anything to say, Maw?" asked Aonar.

Maw raised his hands murderously, preparing to strike down Aonar.

"Oh no you don't!" cried Hobbes. He raised a hand and Maw froze. "I've put him in prison," Hobbes explained to the shocked and terrified assemblage. "He will not be able to kill any of the Shards now. Unfortunately, I can't stop him from giving his power to his Champions, but hopefully we will root them out soon."

Even as Maw froze in place, Aonar reacted, putting a bullet through his skull. After a moment, his flesh reknit. It was unfortunate that as a Shard, Odium as still largely immortal, but shooting him felt good, regardless.

The worldhoppers were still shocked, stuck in place by the suddenness of events. Aonar holstered his Sterrion. “Well, what are you all standing around for? We’ve done our part. There’re still a great number of Champions yet to find.”

[Lord Pifferdoo he/him]

Well, how's that for a reveal.