Doc12

Whee another bandwagon. I apologize for being again unable to come up with the huge analysis posts that I promised myself I'd try to do. Problem with these big LGs is that once you lose your footing, it's really hard to recover and regain momentum. I have been scanning the thread, but haven't been doing much analyzing and honestly don't have many strong reads right now. It's 2AM, and really not a good time to try posting, but if I don't post now, I won't post at all today. Bort, if you want your answer to why I didn't retract my vote, here it is: I was fast asleep, as I always am the last five or six hours before turnover. It feels wrong not to put a vote, but I am dead tired, and any vote now will be without analysis, which would not provide any information for you guys the next night. I'd rather try hard to catch up on the night cycle to have an argument ready for the next day. So....goodnight!

Right, so this post won't be very long, but in *preparation* for this post, I did like two hours of reading... Currently, votes are tied between Randuir and Devotary, this might change in the next five or so hours while I sleep, but this thread has been so quiet... I'm throwing a vote on Devotary, mainly for her action in breaking the tie between Elenion and Sart. I agree that Straw also warrants a closer look, but I'm not going to add yet another person to the tie I would agree that Eternum and Cadcom are soft cleared for now, for voting on Len and sticking to it. The Sart lynch came up rather quickly after those two votes on Len had been established (Snipexe voted on Sart too, but before the first vote on Len, which makes it seem less of a calculated swing than Straw's and Devotary's votes) On Randuir, I honestly can't trust him, not because I have any real elim read on him yet, but because I keep *wanting* to trust him for all his analysis heavy posts and that's dangerous . There is also the fact that in the two games I have been in with Rand, he was evil in both of them, so a lot of the aformentioned two hour reading was going through games where he had been good. I was a little leery of all the analysis he did yet really not much willingness to commit to it, such as his hovering on the fringes on the Bugsy/Elenion discussion, and then his exhaustive thoughts on all the players last round, but after looking around, I'm a little more reassured that's his normal playstyle. I'm not clearing him by any means, but I'm more willing to lynch Devotary than Randuir at this point, especially as Randuir isn't around to defend himself. Hope discussion picks up in the next few hours. There really have been too few people voting.

I'm posting to apologize for my lack of activity last cycle and this one - I have only proceeded to get sicker, and while I have tried my best to keep up to date by reading, I haven't really been feeling up to the two hours or so of work to do analysis and make those big posts I do. I'm still here, and will try to be on tomorrow to vote and analyze and try do be active and engaged, but yeah, apologies for being sick and inactive. Maybe El as Max can give me something for the illness?

Firstly, I'm surprised so much happened while I was asleep (I feel that I should clarify that I'm GMT+8, so the last seven or so hours of the cycle happen while I'm asleep) So Araris got three more votes piled up on him, Bugs and Len continued an argument, and the general consensus (Mr Doctor, Fifth, Rand) concluding that Bugs' first post was NAI. Another significant thing would be Sart coming on and jumped on Roadwalker for his Miracle Max claim, in turn being jumped by Kidpen and Snipexe for that vote. Some analysis on some posts last night - What? Why...? Besides the stated reason - which in itself doesn't make much sense, I notice that this ties the vote between Devotary, Araris and Bugsy, turning it into a four-way tie. I again, don't see much advantage for this except for the fact that it gives Walin an advantage in the tie that would occur - Does this make the chances that the other lynchees would die higher, while still guaranteeing Walin's survival? Just to note - I don't think Len was following Araris specifically, more that he jumped on Randuir's questioning, which brings us to this - Well, no, you didn't do the set up for the vote, but you did vote on Bugs based on what could be perceived as a setup by Randuir, who first mused on Bugsy's post as being oportunistic. So... sure, your vote differed from Bugs in that you didn't do the set-up. It could be argued that a setup by one elim followed by a vote by another elim would be even better of a strategy than the same one posting, and then voting in a later post. Not that this means I think you're an elim just yet, it does seem a little too careless, but... Well, you've never been shy about drawing attention to yourself, have you? In any case, hope you understand where I'm coming from. ^Basically, what Bugs said. And I highlighted the part about Araris just because it was something worth keeping in mind. Awww thanks But why wasn't it alignment indicative? What's alignment indicative for me? Also - note to self to not let Cadmium off the hook completely, they still have not answered to this. I'm waiting for Steel to clarify on this, but Roadwalker and Walin were absolutely in no danger of being lynched, not with that huge vote margin on Araris - why would anyone feel the need to use their items on them? An attempt to get them noticed? Lingering thoughts - While I think the lynch on Araris was the best choice personally, some of the reasons for the other voters are less clear - that of Eternum and Fifth, particularly. Headshot and Mr Doctor's votes were of the "this is the more suspicious of the choices" variety, while my reasons I believe I have given. I think Eternum and Fifth's votes might have just been attempts to prove they were active by skimming the thread and plopping down a vote on an acceptable target, something shared by Kidpen and Snipexe when Sart became an acceptable target, but still... hopefully we'll see more reasoning for your votes next time. I'll end on the note that I am very much open to PMs, and anyone who has not created their PMs yet should consider PMing me - I'm a decent fellow, I promise! Restful night, my friends.

I apologize for being absent for so much of the cycle - I have come down hard with sickness, a cocktail of fever, flu, a bad cough and headaches (The irony of the Doc coming down with sickness is not one that has escaped, me, I assure you) (Maybe Mr Doctor could help me out here?) , which had me either in bed rest or in no mood to analyze when I was on. I hope this large post with all my thoughts on the cycle so far will be helpful to the rest of you and sufficient contribution. The general etiquette, as you've deduced, is not to take over another player's character. Most of the time, this happens in the form of ending your RP on a question or an action, waiting for the other player to respond. Of course, if you have a PM with the player and have preplanned the RP, feel free to use the other character. Of course, this also depends on the player you're interacting with. I, for example, am fine with you what you're doing, as long as I don't perceive it being massively out of character, but others may dislike it. Hope this helps! "I don't see what wuv would have to do wif this annoying wisp", Senfalo muttered. "Wuv...Wuv is a fiction, a lie - pewhaps a twuth long dead. speaking of which, why awen't you?" Without waiting for a reply, he continued assembling the human puzzle as best as he could, trying his best to ignore what he was actually doing. Maybe the lisp was a curse? But why would they be cursed? It was at that moment which Eelz chose to run past, screaming something about wives. Senfalo blinked. Ookay. Maybe love did have something to do with it. "Wats. I told the Dwead Piwate that i'd really hate to cwash a mawwiage." On to my actual thoughts! I actually really like Bugsy's idea of balance, keeping up a truce seems to be the best way towards fulfilling his win condition while not explicitly taking a side until its necessary. However, I admit I have a distaste towards dictating the actions of another player - as Mark said, being Miracle Max allows one the unique potential to troll both sides and have fun, and while it would be pragmatic to have him declare himself and follow this plan, it might not be in that player's sense of fun. In any case, I leave it up to Max's sensibilities. I actually think this is a pretty good idea, Rand, especially in the first or final few cycles where we need information really quickly. As long as it doesn't become something predictable, Wesley's kill could significantly increase the rate in which the village gets information. If Wesley is going to do this, its better not to announce it or really, tell anyone that you're doing it. Walin, I'd be careful about assuming which side neutrals would choose It depends heavily on the player, and claiming leaves one very susceptible to manipulation. I'd go as far as to advise any person who gets into contact with the real miracle Max not to trust him entirely - that's why neutrals are so interesting, aren't they? I really hope this is isn't true, just because a big part of the intrigue would have been taken way Still, I suppose this is something worth drawing attention to and remembering. On other matters, the vote count goes thus Araris (1): Eternum (Self-stated random vote) Walin (1): Mark (Another random vote) Devotary (2): Val, Fifth (Nothing against them personally except a grudge from a past game and having a weird name) Bugsy (2): Araris, Elenion (Bugsy's seeming opportunisticness in voting on Araris, and for lack of a better target) There's just been a lot of random voting this cycle, with only the lynch on Bugsy having any semblance of a reason, speaking of which, Uhm, Len, aren't you being just a little opportunistic as well? Bugs explicitly said that he felt Araris' post was NAI (which you agreed with), and he would only vote on Araris if there's nothing better to vote on (Of which you are guilty of saying exactly the same) Right now, I have my eye on Walin, Roadwalker, Araris and Len - Mind, I'm not saying I have an elim read on any of them - there has been little opportunity for that, but just players who I am going to keep an eye on. My reasons are thus, Walin for trying to get Max to claim right now, which while not too alignment indicative, still seems like an attempt to get to Max as quickly as possible. Roadwalker for claiming Max , which is enough to make him the center of attention, and if it is false, is an attempt to create fun at best, an opportunity to sow chaos at worst. Araris for his willingness to vote on Bugsy for no reason other than Bugsy expressing suspicion on him (To be fair, far less reason has been given for most of the votes today, but I'm cautious of how willing he is to lynch Bugs, while the others seemed votes just for fun) And lastly, Len, for being opportunistic I would much rather vote later this cycle, but I doubt I'll be able to be up to posting later this evening. As it is, I'm not willing to lynch Len just yet, as he has brought up some genuinely good points for dicussion. Devotary's accusers have nothing against Devotary, Bugsy is being voted on for extremely slim reasons, and the others are more or less votes for fun. Right now, the only thing I have decided to hang on to is Araris' willingness to lynch Bugs just because, which certainly might just be his playstyle, but an unsustainable way to play as a villager. Voting on Araris would also create a tie between him, Devotary and Bugs, which should at the very least provide an interesting situation and allow potential for analysis. Therefore, Araris. Nothing personal..

Starkindler! It is a most pleasant surprise to share a game with you once more! It would be a great pleasure to once more weave some stories! I've had my eye on you for quiiite a while, Mr Doctor Before you came, I was the Doctor around here, but as I was absent for a good while, I can hardly blame you for rising up to take the position of practitioner - I dare say it will be a pleasure to work with you this game, no matter how...strange your character! A. D. Senfalo watched in bemusement as the Dead Private Hobbert began to fall apart. Catching up to him, he started fishing in his pockets for some duct tape - for as is common knowledge, beyond all binding enchantments or magical ropes is duct tape. In his own decent opinion, duct tape was magical and should be worshiped. Anyways, he supposed that even though he was a pirate, with all the connotations that came with that term, he was at heart a decent fellow, and should do some decent things. Biting off a length of tape, he started on his task. "Puw yourself together man! This is no time to have a bweakdown! S'long as you dont mind being only swightly mummified, evewything should be alwight!" He blinked. "Saaay, Wobert, why are we all talking stwange?"

Signing up as D. Senfalo, a very nice man who hates to kill (or die, for that matter) (Rejoice, for I have returned! It seems that I have been only mostly on hiatus for the past few months, and have been revived by miracle steel's miracle game, and the fact that I am free of the pits of college!) Since the invention of the Long Game, there have been many games that have been rated the most bloody, the most exhilarating, and of course, the most hilarious. Here's to one that could conceivably leave them all behind!

Death comes, darkness blanketing, the embrace. Rest. Embrace the blanketing darkness. Come, Death!

Inspired by a breakup. Stealing time, our lives entwining, our shattered souls telling lies, hoping... until hopeful, lie telling souls shattered our entwined lives, our time stealing. I'm sorry.

Here's one about the idea of keteks themselves, and how they are inspired by Vorin teachings and are holy. Though I suppose you could apply it to writing in general. Divine touches creating beauty, men inspiring to write to inspire men - beauty creating, touching divinity.

Divine touches creating beauty, men inspiring to write to inspire men - beauty creating, touching divinity.

Kieran Aurette sat by the doorway of an empty warehouse, waiting. Waiting. A figure slinked in, a cloak drawn tightly around its body, hood drawn, its face and body hidden from the world. Slowly, sighing, thinking it was safe, it took off the hood. No wonder. The girl’s face was now all over town, the news of Rhiannon Aurette’s death and the theft of her body still so fresh. Galen and Rhiannon Aurette. Both dead. The news of his uncle’s death had brought him from the county he had been residing in, and he had arrived just in time to hear about the death of his aunt. He waited until the creature had crept to the middle of the warehouse, until he had moved between it and the door, before speaking. “What’s wrong, no body to go out with?” The kandra started, whirling around in shock. “None fresh enough for your taste, perhaps? I would have thought you would’ve found a new face by now.” His aunt’s face stared at him in shock, before she smoothed her features and gave him a wry smile. “Ah Hell, I’d hoped to keep this face for a while, you know? So innocent and trustable.” “That face will no longer serve you, not with your ‘death’ and the posters I’ve placed all around the city.” Kieran stood, throwing the kandra a small sack which rattled. It regarded it wryly, using a foot to kick the bag open. Bones spilled out, small ones. The kandra looked back up at him. “A cat. You can’t be serious.” “You will leave my aunt’s bones, and take the form of the cat. I’m sure you’ll find a way to carry your atium anyway. If you do not, my guards have orders to barricade the door and burn this warehouse to the ground, letting nothing besides me leave in one piece.” Kieran allowed himself a small smile as the Kandra’s face grew uncertain. “It’s not acid, but I think fire will hurt.” It looked appropriately aghast. “Hey, I was only doing what I was paid to do!” “Which is why you have the option of leaving peacefully with your atium, and hoping never to cross paths with an Aurette again.” “In that? Can I at least have a day to find a new body that’s not an animal?” “Still wearing a dead woman’s face? A face that’s in posters on all the walls?” “Look man, you can’t make me do this. My brain’s too large to be stuffed into that tiny skull!” Kieran touched the hilt of his sword. “I’m sorry, shall I help you reduce the size of that brain?” “You’re crazy, aren’t you?” Kieran just smiled. The kandra looked at him resentfully, before it finally shrugged, melting off his aunt’s skeleton, flowing around the cat’s skeleton. A small grey tabby cat trotted out of the warehouse, its nose and tail defiantly held high. =o= I have no idea when I’m going to die, but with all this killing going on… It’s always best to be prepared, isn’t it? This is all wrong. I don’t want to be in charge. Tekiel already notices my facade cracking… Gah. Okay. The hopefully not last will and testament of Galen Aurette. If I pass before Tekiel, may the leadership of the First House pass to him. He’s capable, and even if I do not know if he is skaa, he has the strength to drive our House forward. Oh Lord Ruler let him not be a traitor. Everything that House Aurette possesses will pass to my sister Rhiannon Aurette. Riri… she has to be protected. I would give everything I have to protect her. If she passes… Avenge her. By the Lord Ruler, avenge her, and bury her besides me. If she passes, recall Kieran from the outer counties and give him the stupid leadership of House Aurette. He won’t like it, but he’ll have to find someone else to pass it off on. Faron, Darquez and Manu can have their pick of Aurette’s clothing line, I guess? I don’t know what to give them, but they deserve an honorable mention. Well. that’s it. Let’s hope I don’t die tonight. To whoever’s reading this, protect Riri. May the First stand Tall. Galen Aurette =o= Kieran watched as his Rhiannon’s bones were at last laid to rest beside Galen’s in the small Aurette burial ground. “Your wishes are fulfilled, Galen. Your sister is laid to rest, and the First now stands tall.” He sighed. “Be at peace. I will take care of the House.” He bowed to them, paying his last respects, before returning to the Aurette mansion. His new home. I thoroughly enjoyed this game, Drought, so thank you very much for running it! I haven't been this invested in this game for a while, and it was truly a pleasure to be engrossed in playing a game, fleshing out my character, bantering in doc and messaging different people. I had several very fun interactions with people, and I want to give a shoutout to @ShaneysRus for being a new player I very much enjoyed interacting with. To my Housemates, I was sorry that @Ookla The Red died so quickly, as we had a lot of fun in doc. To Arinian, good call on killing Rae I knew you could do it, and thanks for trusting me. Manukos, you got fooled by Rae, but you did your best @randuir, You did a pretty good job. I was suspicious of you, but I really wanted to trust you . @TheMightyLopen, good job killing Rand, someone I wanted to save til the end @Ookla the Rae, I got seriously protective over your character I never suspected you, which you certainly used to your advantage. You had us all fooled until the very end, and still I don't regret dying saving Riri... I had a lot of fun Rping with you, so thanks @BrightnessRadiant too bad nothing came of our plans (Also, I'm kind of amused at how we completely wiped out the Third House :P) Thank you everyone for a fantastic game, and once again, thank you very much, Droughtbringer.

Bugs had it right Give Drought all the upvotes for running a game I truly enjoyed and was invested in, even though I died. Hey, nobles, make my death mean something, okay?

Song: Deliver us, from Prince of Egypt Sung by: the Bridgemen Bridge up!! Run! Drop!! Push!!! Faster!!! Cross! And lift Run! And Drop! Push! And cross! Lift! (Die) Faster! With the weight of the bridge on my shoulder With my blood and my sweat on my brow Talanelat'Elin Will you bear our agonies? Take us now In this hour... Deliver us! Take us now - Deliver us! Almighty, Remember us, have you abandoned us? Deliver us! There’s a rest that is promised us!!! Deliver us – free us from…this…life!!!

Galen nearly died three times in trying to reach the door alone. Lord Ruler take these RUSTING soldiers and feed them to the mistwraiths!! They didn't seem like Hazekillers. There were at least ten men stationed around the perimeter of the building, perhaps with more inside. The armor was different, all black, and they wielded an assortment of weapons from clubs to canes to bows and arrows. Most of them carried shields, and one or two even had shields of iron. Presumably they didn't get sent to fight mistings a lot. Not that that would help him. What had saved him was the fact that they had clearly not been expecting a noble fop to charge straight at them, doing his best imitation of what he thought a mistwraith would sound like. Something like "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIEIEEIEEEEEEEEEAAAAARGH". No time to feel embarrassed, though he fervently hoped Riri hadn't heard that. If they survived, she'd never let him live it down. The soldier he attacked had just enough time to raise his wooden shield before he swung his sword as hard as he could, the blade embedding itself deeply in to the wood and getting stuck. Galen swore. Fortunately, the soldier was still too stunned by the ferocity of his attack to take advantage of the pause, so Galen kicked him as hard as he could between the legs, causing the man to collapse, howling in pain and causing the other soldiers to flinch. Even Galen couldn't stop himself from wincing in sympathy. Thank you Riri, for bringing up this trick literally every time we talk about your suitors. The man down, he frantically tried to extricate his sword from the shield, just as the soldiers began to come to their senses and the nearest one started to charge him. He wielded a very nasty-looking club with nails in it. Ohhh to be a lurcher or a coinshot... It seemed no use, he couldn't pull out his rusting sword. I definitely should have paid more attention to my physical strength... The man was almost upon him, and taking a gamble, Galen swung his sword as hard as he could, and the shield swung along with it. Club collided with shield and the wooden shield shattered, freeing his sword, yet causing it have a very noticible bent. That was my only sword... He yelped as the club swished over his head, throwing himself to the ground. The soldier towered over Galen, raising his club high. Galen's sword cut deeply into the man's knee. The man gasped and fell. Briefly, he considered picking up the club, but decided that he probably wouldn't be able to lift it. He'd be sticking with the bent sword then. Oh Lord Ruler. Now two of them were charging him, carrying swords. He was so dead. They charged, and were between him and the door. Then he heard a very familiar scream. Glancing up, his heart stopped yet again. Riri. Riri, by the window, arms around her. She fell. Galen screamed. He didn't know what happened. He ran. He swung his sword. He ducked beneath a blade. He felt blood spray on his face. A line of fire was cut across his left arm. His sword cut through something and bounced off bone. He didn't know what happened, but he was beneath the window, his arms were spread, he was praying. Riri fell into his arms, making his left arm scream in agony, but he held on. He fell backwards, absorbing the force of her fall. His back seemed to come alight in pain as it hit the ground and skidded over it. He felt his consciousness slipping. But Riri was here. She was in his arms. Her chest was rising and falling. She was alive. And even as he saw the other soldiers beginning to approach from the edge of his vision, his vision blurred and faded to black. @Ookla the Rae @Anyone who wants to come to my defense @First House!!

Galen ran through the crowd, pushing people aside in his haste to get to the burning House. The Third House was burning. Burning. Lord Ruler, the skaa was mad. "Riri?" he called, frantically pushing aside the hands that sought to grab him. "Let go of me. My sister - My sister could be in there!!" At the top of the burning building, he saw Selina watching the crowd in contempt. The fool. Was she actually burning down her House to escape the lynch? Was... was that even possible? Someone please tell him the focus of the Third House. What was she hoping to achieve? What was she doing? What could she do? Questions could wait. He had to find Rhiannon. She couldn't still be in the House, could she? Frantically, he scanned the gathered crowd, desperately hoping to catch a glimpse of his sister. He turned back to the building, seeing the guards posted around the building, ready to kill. Lord Ruler, if only he had a misting ability besides being a rusting gnat. He glanced back up at the madwoman staring down at them. Just what did she hope to accomplish? Would she not just die amongst the flames? Rust rust rust. The books had never told him how to handle these situations. The fire was climbing further up the building. Casting one last desperate glance at the crowd and failing to spot his sister, Galen wrapped his cloak tightly around himself, drew his sword, and charged into the building. @Ookla the Rae

"My lord... Lord Tekiel is dead." Galen looked up, startled. Dead? "No..." he whispered. "I'm afraid he is dead, my Lord. The evidence seems to be that he was killed by Hazekillers." Galen frowned. "The Second House. Lopen... He will pay for this insult." "He already has, my Lord. He was murdered last night...by the skaa." "By the skaa? Odd. Ever since the coinshot started killing, the skaa have been quiet." "There is...another thing." "What is it?" "Dorvan Tekiel... was not who we thought he was." Galen stared at his servant for a few moments, before laughing bitterly. "Yes. Of course. Lopen suggested this. I did not want to believe him. It seems as if the First House owes the Second a great debt after all. I presume he was the one who sent the skaa against Lopen?" "He was." Galen stared out the window. Dorvan Tekiel... How he hated to be proved right. He remembered hearing about how Dorvan had pardoned a skaa impregnated by a noble when the laws would have called for her death. He remembered the letters back and forth, and how Dorvan had passionately called for the destruction of the skaa, even when Galen had thought of offering them amnesty in return for their loyalty. The nights spent planning and discussing the skaa problem... May the First stand Tall. Towards the end, Dorvan had begun slipping, unable to maintain the formal prose of a noble. Lopen had begun sharing his suspicions, and he had agreed. He just hated to acknowledge that the person he had wanted to trust the most was a traitor. Hadn't the skaa in the Fourth House posed as a noble too? Was that their stratagem now? Curtly, he gave the command for Tekiel's corpse to be burned and the ashes scattered. Goodbye, old friend. The First shall stand Tall. Without you. "The Skaa have been found and killed in three of the Four Houses." His latest address began. "Tekiel of the First House. Asterion of the Second. Belmark of the Fourth." He sighed. "I tire of the House War. I tire of the politics. Let us kill the skaa in the Third House and be done with this threat." "Selina (Lemonelon)... Rhiannon (Rae)..." His voice caught. "One of you is skaa. And...I choose to vote for Selina (Lemonelon)

My own take at "Law" by Nale There, out in the darkness Spren are returning Returning to men Those fallen from grace The Law be my witness I never shall yield Till we come face to face With my Blade in their chests They learn the way of the oaths Mine is the way of the Law Those who trust in the law of the righteous Shall have their reward And if they cause the Voidbringer’s return, The screams The flames! Laws In their perfection Strengthening my mind Filling the darkness With order and light You are my sentinels For you are truth Keeping me on my path Keeping guilt from my heart We know our place in the sky We hold our course and our aim And for the Radiants Serve their sentence And its always the same For they have fell, as the Radiants fell Now fall by Blaaaaaaaaaaade! And so it must be, for so it is written By the Herald of Heralds That those who might cause mankind’s fall Must pay the price! Oh, let me find them That I may see them Lawfully deaaaaaaaaad I will never rest Till then This I swear This I swear by the Law!!!!!!!!!!!1

I am reaching, but I fall And the stars are black and cold As I stare into the void Of a world that cannot hold I'll escape now from that world From the world of Jean Valjean There is nowhere I can turn There is no way to go oooooooooooon!!!! Javert opened his eyes. He was drenched. His coat was dripping with muddy water, and behind him flowed the Seine. He felt cold. Was this...Paradise? A man stood before him, wearing a crisp black and silver uniform. Dark of skin, a pale scar on his cheek. Authority radiated from him, and Javert straightened instinctively. Javert frowned. “Who are you?” “You know me.” And… he did. Instinctively. He had never met this man before, but…somehow... “I threw myself off a bridge.” “And I restored you. A drowned man only needs the proper ministrations.” “Who are you?” “You, Javert, revere order, do you not? You follow the law of your society to perfection. This attracted me, though I fear that emotion has clouded your ability to discern. Your ability to...judge.” Judgement. “You are...Justice?” “Herald of Justice, though not of your world.” “Why save me? Was my torment not enough?” “These words are foolishness, said Justice, unbecoming of one who would study beneath me.” “...Study?” He squeezed his eyes shut, remembering that terrible, terrible choice that had torn him apart. “I want to be judged.” “I watched you pursue a breaker of the law, tireless, relentless. Your dedication to your personal code is one to be admired. You kept your word to the law with perfection - the only genuine beauty left to the world. I judge you, and have found you worthy of the Skybreakers.” “The...skybreakers?” “Come along. Your training begins immediately.”

"Three more nobles died today, sir. Two bore signs of being attacked by a coinshot, both from the Third House. The other man was from the second House, and was murdered by a troop of hazekillers." Galen frowned. "Doesn't the second house specialize in Hazekillers?" "Yes, sir?" "Why would the Second House sic hazekillers on their own House members? It doesn't make sense!" As in response, he heard Lord Lopen calling out an accusation in the square. "Noodlington! Any reason for killing your teammate when we already killed a Skaa in our group?" Galen frowned again. Turning towards Lopen, he whispered in his ear, "That can't be right. I was told that Noodlington attended the ball all night, last night. She couldn't have been the one to send the order. You know the other members of your House. Either your man sent your hired killers after himself, or your team members aren't as inactive as they seem." Speaking of inactivity... Galen found himself speaking again. "There have been no skaa attacks for the past two nights. A cause for celebration, I am sure. However, the threat is not vanished, merely, I suspect, hiding. Perhaps they have lain too inactive to avoid scrutiny, and have not been able to meet to decide who kills." "Yesterday night seemed to go on forever, and through it all, each of our members showed up at some point or other. This means that if there have been skaa in our House, none of them put in the order to kill, even if they could have. There is the argument that the coinshot is one of us, and could have been the one killing. Even if that's the case, I seriously doubt that the skaa would not let the opportunity to have an extra kill each night slip pass. There could have been two more deaths if the skaa had been more active. In this case, I decide to look at the inactives among us to find the remaining skaa." "The inactives, or the people who have not really been speaking up much, or at all, are thus "Jerol (Bard), Jonas (legend), Selina (Lemon), Adela (Brightness), Cassandra (Rebecca) and Alizarin (Sami). Let us take a look at the skaa who have died. Belmark (Drake), from the Fourth House, and Aster, from the Second House. That leaves my House, the First, and the Third House that have not rooted out their skaa." Galen sucked in a breath. "Now, among the nobles who have been inactive, Lady Cassandra (Rebecca) has not been very active. She, besides Lemon, have been the only inactive members of the Third House, and Lemon had managed to post last night. Thus, I believe that Cassandra might be the inactive Skaa that we are searching for. Once she is disposed of, the First House will then turn our attention inwards to the skaa in our ranks."

SLIGHT OATHBRINGER SPOILERS!!! I bring you, "I dreamed a dream" by Dalinar Kholin!

Galen listened as the crowd debated the gruesome deaths last night. He listened, and looked at the bodies. Looking at the body of Joxter, he knew that he had found the murderer of Kyrain. Killed by skaa. Well, the skaa had either done House Aurette a service, or denied his House their vengeance. Judging from the lack of satisfaction he felt, he erred towards the latter. Finally, he stood and walked into the crowd, heading for the noble he had seen last night at the ball, Lord Jax. "I think, friend, you are guilty of not paying enough attention to things that are going on. Atium was used to kill Kyrian, not Variel. Variel was killed by the skaa. The information that you were given suggested that an Atium misting dwelt in the Third House. When you hit Joxter instead, you insisted that there must have been another skaa misting, when in fact it was you who mixed up the skaa's murder and the atium murder. Furthermore, you claimed that your house sent a kill on Joxter, and later retracted it to say your House attacked Luthal." He sighed. "Pay more attention, friend." "However, Lord Jax, this slip up might be indicative of something more, perhaps? I know who gave you the information that Joxter was the atium misting, for it was me, at the ball the night before. I said nothing beyond the fact that our House has found out that Atium was burned by someone in the Third House last night, and you suggested that it might have been Joxter." "Today, you started off by claiming that your house sent a kill on Joxter based on the information I gave you. Fair, but it turned out that your house actually sent a kill against Luthal. My friend, have you started mistaking your skaa comrades to be your House after all? An Atium misting is a powerful threat, and you acted on my information to get a kill sent on Joxter. No one else, beside a select few in my House, whom I trust, and those I told at the ball, knew where the Atium was burned." Before he could finish his accusation, a servant ran up to him, and touched his arm. Galen turned to the servant indignantly "Now is not a good time!" The maid bowed quickly, but held firm. "Lord Galen, you told us to inform you when your sister opened the door..." Galen stopped short, everything else falling away. He took a deep breath, and turned back towards the crowd for his last words: "And so, Darkness, I would very much like to see which house you truly belong to." Then he turned and ran back towards his mansion.