Long Game 16: The Empty Throne Part 2: The Catacombs

[twelfthrootoftwo]

Okay. Time to vote.

 

I've been deliberately even-handed this cycle, in the hope that whoever is lying would take more risks if they thought they had a chance to convince me. That's why I didn't reveal my protection - it would have said something about my prior bias.

 

First: Both of you were too willing to discount me as a suspect. I seem to be discounted because I wouldn't have bothered to send in a kill order if I thought I was roleblocked, yet nobody is surprised that I put in a protection order? This says less about Elbereth (since she believed I was a villager last cycle) than about Mark.

 

Second: Today's votes. On the whole, if Elbereth were evil, it would have been easier for her to convince Mark to vote for me than vice versa. If Mark were evil, then Elbereth's and my posts forced his hand into turning me against Elbereth. So the way things turned out suggests Mark is evil.

 

 

Third: Araris and Mark's note recipient. Both of you believe Araris was killed because he was the lynchpin of the plan. However, the point of Elbereth's and my suggestion of scanning Araris and sending the note to Elbereth was to ensure there was no lynchpin.

Elbereth= Evil
Then, she laid out the plan such that the lynch pin (is that the correct word?) was Araris. Killing Araris would not incriminate her 100%. And, the fact that she was the one who proposed the plan would take suspicion off of her. (Sorry if I'm adding points post by post. I'm just thinking about this all through the day.)

Araris was only a lynchpin because Mark made him one.

If Elbereth were evil, and planning to kill Araris, she wouldn't have cared which way the note went - in fact, the note going to Araris could be a slight advantage, as she wouldn't have had to lie outright to get Mark lynched. If she'd voted for me at the start of the day, then confirming she'd received Mark's note could have biased him towards trusting her, but I doubt it would have been worth arguing for. Once again, evidence Mark is evil.

 

Finally: Prior suspicion. I protected Elbereth last cycle - the wrong choice (sorry Araris ), but it seems my gut reaction to last cycle liens up with actual analysis this cycle. There's also what I remember from mark at the beginning of the game, like Kynedath defending him from Meta, or this.

 

There were a few points against Elbereth - this post didn't quite sit right when I read it again, for example. But I think Mark is our remaining traitor.

[Elbereth she/her]

First: Both of you were too willing to discount me as a suspect. I seem to be discounted because I wouldn't have bothered to send in a kill order if I thought I was roleblocked, yet nobody is surprised that I put in a protection order? This says less about Elbereth (since she believed I was a villager last cycle) than about Mark.

 

There were a few points against Elbereth - this post didn't quite sit right when I read it again, for example. But I think Mark is our remaining traitor.

I have certainly thought that you might be evil and just laughing to yourself as Mark and I attack each other. But I think you'd have come down on one side or the other a lot more quickly if you were an Eliminator.

That post is awkward, certainly. I was trying to say what I wanted to say while still staying in character, which is particularly difficult this game because my character would not fare well in an SE game in general. Usually I would have been more like 'What just happened?' and leaft it at that.

I sincerely hope I'm right about you. If I'm not, I'm dead.

[Mark IV he/him]

Welp. My second game is lost to the traitors.

Anyways, it was fun playing. GG everyone.

Also, Elbereth. It's no use now really.

Also, Twei, I'm guessing there's no use trying to convert you to my side now?

EDIT: Also, Elbereth, one question- why didn't you just use your Strongarm ability on Twei? Congratulations Elbereth, you win. Along with the traitors.

Edit 2: Also, Twei, do note that even if I had switched my target from Araris to elbereth, that, in you theory wouldn't have obstructed me from killing Elbereth. I wanted to scan Elbereth because she wasn't scanned yet. She hasn't been scanned even now. And, another thing I just thought of is that Elbereth may have killed Araris because she was being scanned. I know this is falling on deaf ears, but still, I'd just like to state it.

INB4 traitor win.

Edit 3: another noteworthy thing (thank you for not mentioning this elbereth) is that the note on Night Six was sent to Burnt. She died due to Araris' activity. So, if you consider me eliminator, then I had nothing to do with Burnt dying.

Edited February 10, 2016 by Mark IV

[Elbereth she/her]

EDIT: Also, Elbereth, one question- why didn't you just use your Strongarm ability on Twei? Congratulations Elbereth, you win. Along with the traitors.

I already used it on you, actually.

That's a point in my favor I hadn't actually thought of. If I were the Eliminator, the game would already be over because my ability ensures I can't lose the lynch, only tie, and then I would kill during the night (or the next however many nights, if necessary) and the game would be over.

You're almost making me trust you. Almost.

[Mark IV he/him]

Wait but using the ability on me would cause you to win regardless. I would target myself with two votes, and then game over. Twei is just one person. She can't match that.

[Elbereth she/her]

Yeah, you're right. I literally just came back to edit in that very thing. So thus I can't be an eliminator.

[Mark IV he/him]

Yeah. Good point. One point justifies you being good? Gotta rush. Bye!

[Elbereth she/her]

Well, I mean, the only way I could be an eliminator with the game still running is if I were lying about being a Strongarm. That's literally the only way.

Otherwise I would take this lynch (probably on Twei, because she can protect herself), and kill you during the night. There isn't any way to avoid that. So the game wouldn't still be running.

See you later!

Right, two hours to decide whether I'm going to trust my earlier intuition or switch to lynching Twei. It's entirely up to me now, which is a bit scary. I decide the fate of this game.

...Storm it. I've got no idea.

[Mark IV he/him]

Sorry for the double post, but also, you hadn't realised until now. You just made a post that testifies to that. So, that doesn't really count as proof to being innocent.

[Elbereth she/her]

What? The game would not still be running if I were evil. There's no way around that unless you think I'm not a Strongarm, and Twei's vote was changed last round when there were only the four of us left.

[Elbereth she/her]

Apologies for an actual double post.

Mark, I don't think you ever told me. Did you ever tell Twei about how she scanned? I'm presuming not, because she didn't know what cycle that was, but it'd be nice to have confirmation if you get back before turnover. That's one large point in her favor, that she claimed the exact thing I got in the note.

[Elbereth she/her]

This is ridiculously worrying.

[Alvron]

Night Eight: Conclusion

Marr (Mark VI) was lynched.  He was a Blind Snitch with Magnet, Battery Pack, Focusing Crystal, Laser Scanner, Filter, Targeting Array

Vote Tally:
Marr (Mark VI) (2) Ereth (Elbereth), Theresa (twelfthrootoftwo)
Ereth (Elbereth) (1) Marr (Mark VI)

Congratulations Loyalists.  You managed to root out all those that were planning on killing you.  Those that survived can choose the name of the gang which shall represent the civilian roles in the final battle for Newcago.

Players:

 

Mailliw73 - Milton Towren aka Altermind Trusted Rookie Snitch
Deathclutch - Hashirama Rookie Snitch and Compulsive Liar
Elbereth - Ereth Compulsive Lair Strongarm
Hellscythe - Avis Strong Strong Willed Beggar
Adavantos - Michael Durbin Blind Snitch
Kynedath - Drake Pierce Body Snatcher and Compulsive Liar
Araris Valerian - Allen Strong Willed Demolitionist 
Kipper - Krippe the Krippling Trusted Beggar
IrulelikeSTINK - Rance Idsmill Bloodthirsty Smoothtalker
Shallan - Citona Vinid Snitch with Secret Bloodties
Burnt Spaghetti - Blaize Ghetti Heavy
Mark VI - Marr Blind Snitch
OrlokTsubodai - Locke Braggart Bodyguard
phattemer - Exisa Serial Killer with Secret Bloodties
Elkanah - Neal Compulsive Liar Rookie Snitch and Shadow Leader
Clanky - Clanky Braggart Assassin
TheMightyLopen - Finn Regular Compulsive Liar
twelfthrootoftwo - Theresa Blind Bodyguard
Metacognition - Metrick Beggar and Living Legend

Links:
Behind the Walls
Shadowed Corner
Observations

Edited June 2, 2017 by Alvron

[Elbereth she/her]

YES! :D :D You know, Mark, I came this close to switching my vote to Twei. I might even have been able to win at that point, if Twei protected right or you killed her rather than me. But probably not.

You did duct tape me, though, which was smart. You did all of the right things exactly right. Congrats on that! And congrats to your whole team! It was close until the very last minute.

Wow. Still happy about that.

And also still laughing about the fact that Meta was right.

I'll probably write a betrayal RP, just because.

[Mailliw73 he/him]

That was close! Way to pull off the last minute win, Elbereth and Twei!

[Araris Valerian he/him]

Thank you a lot for running this game Alv! That is the second time your game has come down to the wire, which is always really enjoyable.

[TheMightyLopen he/him]

Wow, what a ending! You almost had it Mark!

 

Good work Elbereth and Twei for getting the win, and good game to all the other loyalists as well(especially Meta for being so right!    ). And thanks to Alv for GM'ing!

[little wilson she/her]

Thank you a lot for running this game Alv! That is the second time your game has come down to the wire, which is always really enjoyable.

 

I see you've forgotten about the zombie game. How could you? All the effort you took toward stabbing me in the back so many times, only for me to rise from the grave and watch you die in the end wasn't worth remembering? I'm hurt, Araris. Hurt. Kind of like I was hurt when Gamma shot me the face right after I watched you die, but that's irrelevant....

[twelfthrootoftwo]

Oh thank goodness. I've been stewing about this all day Good job with the plan, Elbereth. I doubt we'd have won without it.

 

GG all, and Mark in particular. And thanks to the Lord GM.

[Mark IV he/him]

Elbereth, good idea with the plan. You'd put me in a bind that night. Killing no one soft-cleared Twei. Killing someone put suspicion on me. Well, nevermind now.

GG everyone. Loved my second game.

Special mention: Meta. You're a psychic.

[Metacognition he/him]

And also still laughing about the fact that Meta was right.

 

Good work Elbereth and Twei for getting the win, and good game to all the other loyalists as well(especially Meta for being so right!    ). 

 

Special mention: Meta. You're a psychic.

 

As I said in the Dead Doc, it's magic. I don't know how I do it, especially as often as I do. In all honesty, I attribute it to luck and dying early so often. When you get used to having only a few turns to figure out as much as you can, you figure out how to make the most of that time. I highly recommend everyone give it a try!

 

Great game, everyone! I love nailbiters like this one came down to. You can almost feel the anxiety build up in those still alive. One false move, one incorrect read, and it's all over. No pressure! Good job El and Twei! Come up with an awesome name for the gang for all of us fallen!

Mark, if people trust you after this, I'd be surprised (Only here can such a thing be considered a compliment ). Only two games in and you've been able to fool most people right up till the end! That's impressive. I'm kind of hoping you get a break in your next game and get a chance to play things from the Villager's side, but I also want to see your streak continue just to see what you'll do next. 

 

Thanks for GMing, Alv! Can't wait to see what you've got in store for the finale!

[Hellscythe he/him]

Greatest ending to a game I've been a part of so far. Amazing job Mark, Elbereth, and Twei.

I loved the items and the passive roles. Made for an interesting twist.

"Wait but they could be a blind snitch!"

"But what if they have Compulsive Liar?!"

"He's a Living Legend! Taking my vote off."

"Where did my body go you jerks!"

"What on earth does a Demolitionist do?

"This is ridiculously worrying." - Elbereth

"WHAT IS GOING ONNN!"

Edited February 11, 2016 by Hellscythe

[Mark IV he/him]

@Meta,

So do I hope I finally get to play on the villagers side. It's been far to long since I've played as an innocent. you could just ask the next QF GM to make me evil : P

EDIT: My thoughts are going to come in installments. Sorry about that. Anyways. In that last Cycle, I was really worried Elbereth would realise I had Duct tape.

Edited February 12, 2016 by Mark IV

[Alvron]

Great game, everyone! I love nailbiters like this one came down to. You can almost feel the anxiety build up in those still alive. One false move, one incorrect read, and it's all over. No pressure! Good job El and Twei! Come up with an awesome name for the gang for all of us fallen!

 

Thanks for GMing, Alv! Can't wait to see what you've got in store for the finale!

Seeing a game go down to the wire like this is always great.  It makes me think I got the balance right.  Plus it's insanely fun watching the players descend into madness trying to work out who the last eliminator is.  (Looking at you Burnt.)

 

Sadly you will have to wait for the finale.  We still have Part Three: The Outsiders and Part Four: The Reckoners to go.  Will either side make it to the finale or will it just be The Barrow Barons vs The yet unnamed gang for rule of Newcago?

 

Greatest ending to a game I've been a part of so far. Amazing job Mark, Elbereth, and Twei.

I loved the items and the passive roles. Made for an interesting twist.

"Wait but they could be a blind snitch!"

"But what if they have Compulsive Liar?!"

"He's a Living Legend! Taking my vote off."

"Where did my body go you jerks!"

"What on earth does a Demolitionist do?

"This is ridiculously worrying." - Elbereth

"WHAT IS GOING ONNN!"

Most of the side roles worked out well but the Compulsive Liar was a pain in the chull for me.  I probably won't be using that one again.

The body snatching worked well.  Having Shallan snatched was perfectly timed as it meant no one was aware that a SK had entered the game.  Sadly you lot managed to find and kill them after just one kill again.   I might have to make them Thug like next time 

Araris setting off his charges when he did turned the game on it's head and sent shockwaves through the survivors.  I will have to include that type of role again at some stage.  Make it neutral next time though.

A little disappointed that there wasn't much item trading going on.  Thought people would want to get working items a bit more than they did.  Though Maill did try and get a raygun.  Next time Maill, next time.

Edited February 12, 2016 by Alvron

[Mark IV he/him]

It's a bit funny that both games I've been in, the eliminators themselves were a factor in the lynching of one of their teammates. This game, Kipper was killed because of Lopen and Kyne. Last game, it was Lopen who was killed because of someone soothing a vote. Good thing I don't generally vote. XD