Long Game 28: The Awakening at the House on the Hill

[Wyrmhero he/him]

The Awakening at the House on the Hill

There is a House on the Hill at the end of the road. It is a large and foreboding mansion, grandiose but quiet. In fact, it is almost eerily so, the only noise coming from it the chirping of insects or the whines of birds and beasts. It is surrounded by an acre of land, and the high walls give it a measure of privacy, a feeling of defensiveness and isolation. The parts of the House that can be seen from the road are grey and dull, a blot of darkness in the colourful outskirts of Hallandren. While it seems to be in perfect condition, if it weren't for the bright candles bathing the rooms in a pale yellow light at seemingly random times, one might think it was abandoned. That no-one lived there.

In this, the public are actually right. There has not been anyone living there for as long as people can remember, even if, people reason, someone must visit now and again to dust and replace the candles and so on. Its owner died many, many years ago, and presumably now the only people who go in are the people who take care of the place in preparation for its eventual reuse.

There are rumours, of course. Everyone has an idea of what happened, even if they are all contradictory. The rich owner killed his wife and then himself when he discovered her tryst; The Returned who claimed it as his court gave away his Breath in a final act of selflessness long since forgotten; It was built for the God-King, but twenty builders died in its construction, their bones holding the foundations in place; Lifeless prowl the hallways, obeying a last command from a mad Awakener, who died (or perhaps lives yet in a state of unlife) when she decided to replace her own blood with ichor. Yes, everyone has an idea of what happened.

Whatever really happened, it seems that none of these rumours hold any truth to them, for the eventuality seems to be now. A 'for sale' sign is up at the rusted and ancient iron gates, and people are arriving to have a look around. Not just prospective purchasers, but the usual sort that turn out at any open house - Nosy neighbours who cannot remember anyone living there in all the time they've lived on the road, gawkers hoping to see the place the previous occupant died, thieves trying to make off the with any Awakened Objects scattered in the House while no-one notices. All sorts stand before the gate, shoulder to shoulder as they try to peer within the grounds.

Whatever reason you have for your actions, you have turned up on the first day that the House has been opened to the public for sale. It might be a pointless endeavour, or it could turn out to be an opportunity of a lifetime. But in either case, you don't feel too bad about being one of the first at the gate, waiting for the tour to begin. After all, what could possibly happen to you at the House on the Hill?

General Rules
For the most part, the game is similar to a normal Sanderson Elimination game, except for the fact that the game is a Hidden Information game. Please be aware of this before you sign up. 

• There are two Turns in a Cycle as normal, Day and Night. The game starts on the Night phase. There will be no deaths on Night 1.
• There are no Eliminators at the start of the game.
• Players can only use PMs during the Night.
• The Traitors win when they outnumber the Explorers.
• The Explorers win when all the Traitors are dead AND the House has been killed. This requires the players to find the Heart of the House, as well as a method of slaying it. Neither of these can be found before the first Traitor is killed. When the House is dead, no more players can be converted to Traitors.
• On death, the names of all items and inherent abilities that the player has will be revealed. Their effects will remain hidden. 
• Players who die can only discuss the game with each other in the doc. Please do not discuss with anyone else.

Each Day Turn, a player may choose to vote for another player that they think is a Traitor. At the end of the Turn, the player with the most votes is lynched. If there is a draw, or the player with the most votes gets less than two votes, then there will be no lynch. Some players may have Actions to use during the Day Turn. If they do, they cannot use an Action during the Night Turn. Each Turn will last 48 hours.

Each Night Turn, if a player did not use an Action during the Day, they may use one now. All players, regardless of Alignment, have the ability to use an Action to Explore during the Night Turn. While exploring, a player may discover one of three things (or they may discover nothing):

• Event - An Event is a single-time immediate effect that will usually grant some kind of Role to your character. Roles require an Action to use.

• Item - An Item is a physical object which may be single-use, or have multiple charges that allow it to be used a few times. They require an Action to use. Items are reclaimed by the House upon player death. Items can be given away using an Action, one at a time.

• Omen - An Omen is a symbol of fear. When an Omen is discovered, a player has their will subverted by the House, gains a Role and access to the Traitor doc, and their Alignment changes to ‘Traitor’. All Omens grant different Roles depending on what is discovered. Note that the player that is subverted is unconnected to the player who discovers the Omen.

During the Night Turn, if there are no living Traitors, the House will kill a player at random. Otherwise, the Traitors will have the chance to confer among each other and target a player for death instead using an Action.

The game will begin on Friday 18th, at 9 PM GMT. Rollover will also be at 9 PM. Please let me know if you wish to speculate.
Kasimir will be sub-GMing while I am asleep .

Quick Links:

 

Night 0: Lost
Day 1: Found?
Night 1: Paint It Black
Day 2: Spooky Scary Skeletons
Night 2: Dissension
Day 3: Two for Joy
Night 3: Blood and Steel
Day 4: A Grave of Tomes
Night 4: Once Upon A Time
Day 5: The Fall of the House of Heron
Night 5: The Curious Case of the Mistborn in the Nighttime
Day 6: The Portrait of Lord Heron
Night 6: Words Written in Blood
Day 7: Forgotten Words
Night 7: A Graphic Novel
Day 8: Ceiling Falls, Everybody Dies
Night 8: Not Enough Rope
Day 9: Redshirts
Night 9: Liar
Day 10: Awakeners of Hallandren
Night 10: ...But Nobody Came
Day 11: Bump In The Night
Night 11: The Sound of Silence
House Falls, Almost Everyone Dies

Edited March 17, 2017 by Alvron

[Wyrmhero he/him]

Rules Clarifications

• The Eliminator conversion on Omen-discovery is entirely random. It does not favour the person who discovers it.
• Order of actions generally goes: Protection - Kills - Exploration.
• House Kill occurs before Exploration occurs.
• Items are set and cannot change ability.
• Players can have more than one Role/Inherent Ability (as I am calling them for the sake of this game) at a time.
• There is only one Action per Cycle per player.
• The random kill only occurs when there are no Eliminators. Otherwise, the Eliminators need to make the kill.
• The random kill occurs before any new Eliminators are converted.
• Omens are announced when discovered.
• Items which are lost can be rediscovered. Some items can be found in multiples.

 

Deceased Victims Character List

1. Dr Konwa Arelle (Wonko the Sane) - A biochromantic scholar.
2. Frost (Doctor12) - He changed his name to something he thought sounded cool. Coincidentally, he is no longer invited to parties.
3. Nyali (Shara) - A real estate agent that ain't afraid of no ghost, because she doesn't believe in them.
4. Stick (I_Am_A_Stick) - A thin piece of wood that has been cut off or that has fallen off a tree.
5. Aralis (Araries Valerian) - Not all-together there.
6. Yiferien (Daniyah) - A murderous maid with her mind on the property market.
7. Exion (Unodus) - Gambling with his life...
8. Rotiart (Paranoid King) - Not suspicious at all guys.
9. Moro (Magestar) - Searching for treasure.
10. Bugsy (Bugsy6912) - Not related to any potential crook.
11. Doctor Ryan Oglethorpe (phattemer) - Has a strange speaking problem.
12. Quintus (Jondesu) - Entering the mansion.
13. Khaos (little wilson) - A fear junkie.
14. Isaac 'The Hammer' Jones (Elenion) - In search of treasure.
15. Nightspud (Assassin in Burgundy) - A questionably starchy person.
16. Nathan (Nathanvanduij) - Signed up.
17. Dr Artie Neuems (Arraenae) - An old gentleman comparing about today's youth.
18. Billy (Darkness Ascendant) - An rural man enamored by the House's appearance.
19. Arinian (Arinian) - Appearing as himself.
20. Greg Ronald (STINK) - TBA
21. Locke (Orlok Tsubodai) - George Washington in disguise.
22. The Guy in the Red Uniform (Ecthelion III) - Too easy...
23. Aon Deag (Aonar Faileas) - Has no interest in buying, so what is he there for?
24. Sean (polkinghorndb) - Planning on asset-stripping the House.
25. C. L. Anky (Clanky) - Hired for investigative purposes.
26. Prof. Alberd Hae (Haelbarde) - Searching for the research notes of the Five Scholars.
27. ? (The_Lady_Of_Chaos) - TBA
28. Jeffery Wilferson (jefrywlfersn) - TBA
29. Eques Tempore (Straw) - TBA
30. Sheon Idris (Seonid) - A shade of his former self.
31. ? (JUQ) - TBA
32. Huxton (The Young Bard) - He means well but does bad.
33. Kasther (Kasimir) - Intreped young estate agent.
34. Kresla (Elbereth) - Wide-eyed and innocent. This cannot end badly.
35. ? (Mark IV) - Better than Mark III.

Edited November 18, 2016 by Wyrmhero

[Amanuensis he/him]

I'll sign up as Timekeeper. Whether he's called that because he's a Returned or because of his obsession with keeping time, I'll leave you to decide. The petite, top-hatted, trench coat wearing man possesses a diverse collection of watches and clocks from all over the Cosmere. Recently, said collection has grown so large he can't even fit into his tiny Hallandren apartment. Searching for larger quarters to live in, he has stumbled upon an advertisement for the House on the Hill, and is eager to attend the open house.

Edited November 10, 2016 by Amanuensis

[Wonko the Sane he/him]

I'll sign up. Character to come, but it's safe to say they'll be a doctor.

[Doc12 he/him]

Wonko , Wonko , look st my username .  You may be a doctor , but I'm the Doctor

That said , I'm not using the Healer for this game, heh. Just going to choose s name that sounds. . . Cool.  

Signing up for this game as Frost . 

[Nyali she/her]

Please sign me up as Shara, a skeptical real estate agent.

She is looking to buy the house, which she doesn't believe is awakened or haunted, for renovation and resale. She's interested in doing a full walkthrough of the house to find any flaws she can use in haggling with the current owners.

[Stick. she/her]

Signing up as stick :]

[Nyali she/her]

Just a clarification - does the game start on Friday the 18th or Saturday the 19th?

[Wyrmhero he/him]

1 minute ago, Nyali said:

Just a clarification - does the game start on Friday the 18th or Saturday the 19th?

Friday 18th, whoops. Edited that. Also put up a character list.

[Araris Valerian he/him]

I'd like to sign up as Aralis, but I will be on a train the 19th and unable to use internet, so I will be inactive for about 32 hours or so in there.

[Dani she/her]

I'd like to join as Yiferien.  

Edit- Yiferien, a house maid who got away with murdering her masters and stealing their wealth and properties, and is now looking for a house to buy.  

Edited November 11, 2016 by Daniyah

[Unodus he/him]

I'd like to sign up too, if that's alright. The names Exion, a gambler.

How longs a turn? A week, a day?

Edited November 10, 2016 by Unodus

[Wonko the Sane he/him]

25 minutes ago, Doctor12 said:

Wonko , Wonko , look st my username .  You may be a doctor , but I'm the Doctor

That said , I'm not using the Healer for this game, heh. Just going to choose s name that sounds. . . Cool.  

Signing up for this game as Frost . 

I was here first.

Edited November 10, 2016 by Wonko the Sane

[Paranoid King he/him]

I'm signing up as Rotiart, who's not suspicious at all.

What's the stance on PMs?

[Magestar he/him]

I'd like to join as Moro.  Moro is tall (6 ft 5), has a shaved head, coal black skin, and maroon tatoos spiraling around his body.  He's narcissistic, somewhat haughty, but very loyal.

[Bugsy he/him]

Ooh, looks fun! I'll be Bugsy, please

[Wyrmhero he/him]

18 minutes ago, Unodus said:

I'd like to sign up too, if that's alright. The names Exion, a gambler.

How longs a turn? A week, a day?

Each Turn is two days long, so both Day and Night are 48 hours. A full Cycle is 4 days, or 96 hours.

1 minute ago, Paranoid King said:

I'm signing up as Rotiart, who's not suspicious at all.

What's the stance on PMs?

PMs are only allowed during the Night Turn by default.

[Bugsy he/him]

Will anyone be given a role to start?

[Wyrmhero he/him]

Just now, Bugsy6912 said:

Will anyone be given a role to start?

Everyone begins as vanilla characters who can only do two things: Die Vote during the Day, and Explore during the Night.

[Amanuensis he/him]

Will there be a preexisting layout for the House, or will it be randomly generated as we go (like the board game)?

Edited November 10, 2016 by Amanuensis

[Wyrmhero he/him]

9 minutes ago, Amanuensis said:

Will there be a preexisting layout for the House, or will it be randomly generated as we go (like the board game)?

Neither - This is a mafia game inspired by Betrayal, rather than an attempt to turn the board game into a Sanderson-version of itself. There are no 'rooms' to Explore, or anything like that.

Edited November 10, 2016 by Wyrmhero

[Amanuensis he/him]

Ah, somehow missed a good portion of the rules. Sorry about that. Now that I've read 'em all, a few questions.

 

1 hour ago, Wyrmhero said:

Event - An Event is a single-time immediate effect that will usually grant some kind of Role to your character. Roles require an Action to use

 I notice you used the word usually, here. What happens after Events that don't grant a Role?

1 hour ago, Wyrmhero said:

• Item - An Item is a physical object which may be single-use, or have multiple charges that allow it to be used a few times. They require an Action to use. Items are reclaimed by the House upon player death. Items can be given away using an Action, one at a time.

If the House reclaims an Item, does that mean it can be found again but a player in the future, or is it lost for good?

1 hour ago, Wyrmhero said:

• Omen - An Omen is a symbol of fear. When an Omen is discovered, a player has their will subverted by the House, gains a Role and access to the Traitor doc, and their Alignment changes to ‘Traitor’. All Omens grant different Roles depending on what is discovered. Note that the player that is subverted is unconnected to the player who discovers the Omen.

Will it be announced in the write up when an Omen is discovered? Or must we rely on the player who discovers the Omen to announce it?

1 hour ago, Wyrmhero said:

During the Night Turn, if there are no living Traitors, the House will kill a player at random. Otherwise, the Traitors will have the chance to confer among each other and target a player for death instead using an Action

The wording here seems to imply that no Traitors can act if they make a kill, though I'm assuming you meant only a single player is unable to use their unique abilities / Items. Can you confirm which is correct?

Edited November 10, 2016 by Amanuensis

[Wyrmhero he/him]

1 minute ago, Amanuensis said:

I notice you used the word usually, here. What happens after Events that don't grant a Role?

If the House reclaims an Item, does that mean it can be found again but a player in the future, or it's lost for good?

Will it be announced in the write up when an Omen is discovered? Or must we rely on the player who discovers the Omen to announce it?

The wording here seems to imply that no Traitors can act if they make a kill, though I'm assuming you meant only a single player is unable to use their unique abilities / Items. Can you confirm which is correct?

In order:

 

For example, an Event which would not grant an inherent ability would be discovering the Heart of the House. If this is done, then it will be publicly announced.

Items can be found again, yes. There are some items where multiples can be found, as well.

Omens will also be announced, giving a hint as to the flavour of Eliminator that has been created.

This was meant to mean the standard Traitor kill - One player forgoes any other Actions that Cycle in order to use the Traitor kill.

[Magestar he/him]

I feel as though it is important to clarify why Moro is at the house.  Moro killed someone who was intending to search the house, having found a ancient map which told of hidden treasures within the house.  Moro believes that there are Type IV Sentient Awakened Objects somewhere in the house, and thinks that he alone can defeat the house, and find them.

[phattemer]

I love this game, and I have to sign up if the guild of doctors is making a comeback.

I will be Doctor Ryan Oglethorpe, a man who constantly mutters to himself, and appears to be speaking louder and louder as time goes by.