Oxblood Beagle

Oxblood is a bloody busybody, and that doesn't seem like it will change. Sorry.

Well. Obviously I did not have time to finish my large post, as I ran out of time and was evidently too ambitious in how to analyze. It's not one of my strong suits and even less so for Beagle's, and I'm running out of time both IRL to do large undertakings like that and, evidently, in game. Fortunately, defending myself tends to be one of those strong suits. And my eyelid is twitching uncontrollably for some storming reason. So I'll start from the top. I assume by saying "that didn't happen" you mean you know the Other Scholar didn't try to make a Warform Gem D2? Because here's the thing. I'm not the Other Scholar, and so I have no idea what you're seeing as you try and make Gems. At least, that's the story I'm going with. Maybe I'm lying, but Do you know automatically what Gems have been made, or are you just told that a Gem you tried to make has already been made? If it's the second, isn't the only way to see if the Other Scholar has been making Regal Gems is to try and make them yourself? Why were you picking up speed? Because after the D1 post analysis and that post's backlash, you haven't given any opinions. We're both flying under the radar (or were), although I was a bit more present. It's also a way to encourage myself to be more active, which is slightly hypocritical but it works. I also don't think I've actually influenced any of the exes aside from this one. D1 I didn't vote, D2 I voted on myself, D3 I was the third extra vote on the main exe candidate at the end of the round. In short, I asked you several questions in an attempt to see where you stood, you did not respond, so I voted for you. Fair. Said this earlier, but your Scholarform question was why I didn't claim. I don't want to claim, but since you're assuming I am a Scholarform with most of your questions, I need to provide a counterpoint. But it is a reason, I suppose. Fair. Unfortunately, I woke up late and spent my online time trying to figure out what the storms was happening and then self-preservation voting. I'm going through those posts now, and might have time this evening to work on my post-by-post analysis. Mechanical analysis is likely more helpful at this point though, and you're right that I'm not very mechanically interesting. You probably have a few guesses as to why, but there's not much I can do right now except try and get into Workform this turn. Gemstone reasons? Quick shift, but you did say you were suspicious of Hyena before. Trying to rope Dragonfly into it is also interesting, especially since they did in fact swap. Some points, some fair, others not so much. My train had its reasons, although I have my questions. What changed? You wanted to vote for Tuatara, and it seems that you read something that changed your mind and voted for Hyena... but if it was a tie originally, what changed to change who you voted for? Bounce Bounce Agreed Bounce Bounce Attempted Bounce (Literally within the same minute as the previous one, which is... interesting, although makes sense because the avoid-a-tie-vote was tied by Lion.) That is a possible explanation, and Heron's actions are similarly confusing to me, but as I said before, I wasn't on until just the end of the cycle so I wouldn't know. Also, clearing everyone on me seems... a bit presumptuous. Particularly Dragonfly, who managed to just barely dance around actually voting on me, and Tuatara, who's vote seemed to be solely retaliatory, and yourself, because you're clearing yourself. What am I? Scholarform Elim? Scholarform Village? Warform Elim? Something else entirely? Most of your suspicions seem to be fitting me in specific scenarios, which is essentially confirmation-biasing your way to another execution of me, aside from Heron's actions. Which leads into my next query, I suppose - Beagle or Heron? Which will you go for tomorrow? Now I'm confirmed Elim? You wanted me dead before Heron interfered. Again, reasons change, suspicions stay the same. I just realized this will tag almost literally everyone. Well, so be it. I'll be gone for a few hours but will be back earlier than usual. Tag/quote me if you need anything important.

Well, this is unfortunate. Tuatara Hyena

Well, there goes all that time that I thought I had. You all talk a lot. I'll work on it tonight, keeping my vote on Tuatara. Vulture, infer whatever you'd like. Most of the reason I made those posts is so I met the criteria for all the taken rolls, except perhaps the first missing Artform. I did so intentionally. Whether that intent was as a Warform pretending to be a possible Scholarform, a Scholarform pretending to be a possible Warform, or neither pretending to be a both, up to you to decipher. I won't spoil the surprise. I've been trying to keep some options open. However, if a player wanted to sit on the Gem and not use it, they've got no obligation to meet its requirements, and based on the fact so few people met them D2 I would think they'd follow suit. So if you think someone's still sitting on an unused Scholarform Gem, there's a lot more possibilities than just me.

I do have more time. Cream Tuatara, the cycle is young. Like me you haven't done too much. Unlike me you haven't made much effort to do so, especially since your D1 post gathered a bunch of negative attention. So I'll ask again. You have anything to share, vote, anything? I'm working on analyzing previous posts, but I'm rather exhausted from today's activities and nearly missed the fact Amethyst Scorpion had returned. So, that will occur tomorrow. But it will.

I ran out of time. Again. Fun. Tuatara's responses do not seem genuine to me, so that's where I plan to start tomorrow. Other than that, nothing's much stuck out at me, although I've developed an annoying habit of equating activity with Villageness. Of the very actives (Lion, Rhino, Vulture, Heron), I think I trust Lion and Rhino, less so on Vulture, and I would trust Heron if there weren't so much consternation about them. I need to read the thread about that. I do want to see what the new Mouse has to say.

I received a group PM labeled N2-N3 (ie it closed beginning of N3). I'm not sure if that means it was created N2 or D2. @Cream Tuatara, if you could have voted, who would you have voted for? And welcome to the new @Azure Mouse! I'm not sure how much you've been watching, but what do you think about Mouse's previous position on being open to Elim conversion?

Well, here I am again. Sorry - didn't have much time to post anyway today, and the one time I'd planned out to, my internet storming died. And here I am again with no one to vote on. I can join on Penguin, or I could solo-vote Tuatara and see what that comes up with, although Workform is not one of those possibilities. I suppose I'd rather vote Penguin than try anything funny. Not much of a point (as I don't think I've seen the Meditations accuse Penguin of much of anything besides lingering confusion) but it's better than just voting my self or creating a one-man bandwagon that I'd be more suspicious than not if it actually triggered a switch. I am hesitant of Tuatara though, and today is less busy for me so I'll hopefully have something for the night turn. The rock settled under Jalnor's feet. They were used to that feeling, trying to keep steady even while trying to maintain speed. But the rock here felt almost hostile. Rockbuds and grasses responded more quickly to the singer's steps. Caution had been thrown to the wind. Jalnor had always been one of the cautious ones. They'd hesitated even in changing forms, lest one of the darker gods enter into their body instead of the intended. But with the pace that warform, nimbleform, and workform set, they were out of options. That was their whole story, the singers: they were forever, forever, out of options.

Sorry, it's been a busy few days for me. Still is, but I have enough time to actually contribute this half of the turn. Ivory, it was actually more of the opposite. If Albatross wanted to die, then I was fine letting them, and I didn't really want to fall into a trap of saving someone just because they were on for rollover. (I'd been typing that self-voting post for a while, so it was obvious I was watching.) That feeling was compounded by Albatross's last post asking if I could switch to Penguin. So no, I made the conscious decision to let Albatross die instead of there being a tie and watched to see if anything else strange occurred. Opal, if Albatross hadn't tie-broken, my plan was to post my self-voting post as is, then go through the cycle and make a decision to break the tie one way or another. I wanted to get my quotas in before doing anything else, but my skimming of the cycle had gotten limited reasons for Albatross and essentially no reasons for Penguin besides not-Albatross, so I didn't really have a read on either of them. Cream Turatara had more reasons, but was a late set of votes and from what I can remember I could have just tied Turatara with Albatross. I'll read through the past few days and see what I can come up with.

I still need to re-read the thread, but this cycle was confusing to me. Albatross was a choice that had slowly ramped up, meanwhile almost literally nobody gave a clear reason for voting Penguin. Maybe it was there, maybe it wasn't (or more likely it was D1), but Penguin looked like a simple "Not Albatross" choice. But it was a tie, and one I couldn't determine which way to break. And then Albatross broke it themselves throwing self-preservation out the window, only to (jokingly or seriously, it's hard to tell with all these emoticons) revert upon seeing me vote. I found that strange. Also I've got a complicated relationship with voting near the end of cycles. But that's just me. I would also hope two or three opportunistic baddies jumping on someone who's made... I think 4 posts total would raise some eyebrows. I'll try to work on that some. Guess we all do.

I guess I never made a post. Not much I can do about that, due to business, but I have been watching, to some degree. Not a big fan of publicly speculating who's who, and am very not a fan of voting someone out based on who they're emulating. The point of an anonymous game is for people to be anonymous, whether as an older player wanting to not get info-killed or just a player trying to test out a new playstyle. Publicly speculating (or claiming) individuals' identities defeats that purpose and voting people because of them throws it into a highstorm. I don't quite understand the Penguin vs Albatross train, but in an attempt to keep some options open... a tie leads to no execution, correct? I'd be good to have a tie otherwise, but no exe is not great. I doubt we have time to read through the entire thread again. In an attempt to keep some options open... Oxblood. I'll see if I can make a snap judgement about that tie, but self-voting has keeping the form populations somewhat more ambiguous than they currently are. And the tie is suddenly no longer an issue. I wonder.

Okay, that makes more sense. However, Artform's still not perfect. It depends on someone being Artform for a long period of time, which I don't think is a guarantee. Elims can fairly easily explain their past posts in the doc to authenticate posts. And lastly, a high degree of confirmation isn't great. Not when mechanically confirmed is as easy as self-voting as a Workform. I think creating full-on codes and secret messages was outlawed with the rules change in the AG. Anonymous postings is a gray area, but @Steeldancer's input on that front would be appreciated.

What would this be? Using a PM with the Tineye/Artform to request a specific detail be put into the anonymous post, and waiting to see if it appears? That wouldn't prove that player is an Artform. Any Elim Artform could put in the message for the Mavset-Im. If there's another Tineye-proving method then I don't know what that is.

Proving forms probably deserves a summary. Workform will prove itself based on use. Meditationform can prove itself, but would need a solo-vote to really prove that one player specifically is the Meditationform. Warform is provable but requires actually being attacked. Nimbleform can be proven through creating 2 PMs to a certain group. Mateform only proves to one other individual. Artform and Scholarform can't be proven 100%. However, if we get too close to narrowing down the Fused's identity, they'll probably just bodyhop to a cleared individual. They can't PM after that, which gives another method of tracking them down, but this strategy needs multiple steps. And on "Elimmy" roles - Workform's the only one that stands out to me as inheritly Elim-like. Elims like jumping on wagons more than starting them, although that depends on many things, and passively removing a vote is solely a survival tactic. One that's led to Elim reads before. But the point of having roles that can be chosen is so that we can choose what we want to do. Announcing any role we pick seems to defeat the point of it. Particularly the Warform, which having outed becomes quite an IKYK.

@Steeldancer, One question I don't think's been asked yet - for Mateform, the PM lasts after the Mateform is lost. Does the downside of not being able to vote on that PM partner continue as well, or is that lost from Mateform? Also, what happens when other form downsides are violated? Ie a Warform doesn't vote, or a Mateform votes on their partner? And does the Workform downside count at the end of the day, or when the solo vote is cast? Trying to post at least 100 words of RP each turn / 150 words of RP or Analysis each turn to cover for Artform and Scholarform is probably a good idea. Plus it helps the game continue a bit. There's no (village) scanning roles to communicate with, which limits the Artform's use a bit, but anonymous posts are something that can have a lot of uses. Scholarform being a universal one-Gem-type-per-game limits their use a bit, so I'd be cautious on how you distribute them. Trying to grab the Scholarform gems early is still a very good idea, though. Nimbleform is strange in that it's limitation severely limits what can be done with the action. But it lets someone open a 3rd PM each turn, or continue to create PMs while changing forms or passing around gemstones. Unfortunately, the main use I can see of it is to allow Elim kills to be submitted while still using an action to, say, create a PM. Is there any reason to take Workform over Meditationform? There's no Soothing-type vote manip, so it'll be obvious what form they have... I suppose Meditationform can't really be turned off or hidden either. But Meditationform seems to be much more useful.

Right. Well, I was hoping Ostrich would remain quiet, but my threats were fairly obvious. Here's the thing. I fully suspect Autonomy will align with Odium given no village intervention. My reasoning is simple. For their win condition, Autonomy must travel to all nine Shard-worlds. This includes the planets in the Rosharan system. We also know that Odium receives a list of all players entering the Rosharan system, and can target them for Destruction. I am assuming that most players have cleared out of that region, and are staying far way for the remaining cycles. Venturing onto one of the planets might reveal Autonomy to Odium. Venturing onto all three definitely will. At that point, Odium has all the leverage he needs. I can easily imagine one of his associates making a simple demand. Align with him, or get blasted out of the sky. If Ostrich is evil, Team Odium has narrowed the list significantly. The longer Autonomy delays going to Roshar, the more breadcrumbs they leave behind. in addition, Autonomy is one of the most powerful players in the game. The last thing I want is them on Odium's side. I was hoping they would contact me so I could work out a plan to ally them with the village. I did not want that with any bystanders present, and I assumed that they had ventured to Shadesmar. I'm assuming that that place is crowded, and to disguise themselves Autonomy is probably sticking with the crowd. After much thought, the best plan of action to avoid Autonomy aligning with Odium is simple. Autonomy needs to get in contact with Valor. That way, Autonomy could venture into the Rosharan system, without risking Odium's wrath. I doubt Odium would attack in that situation, as Valor would kill them if they tried it. Without that layer of protection, I find it likely that Autonomy will side with Odium. Unfortunately, now that this is all out in the air, I fear I've greatly damaged our chances of an amicable relationship. In addition, I'm now up for the lynch. Honestly, I kind of deserve that. However, that is a mistake. It was revealed that Taupe Gecko fled to First of the Sun, so I am actually leading in the count. I'm still suspicious of Coral Swan but preservation comes first. I hope it will not come to this, but I can prove my role if necessary. It's not alignment indicative, but I think you'll find it's a bit too powerful for Odium's team to start out with. Sincerely, Lady Orchid

My apologies for my absence dear readers. Other matters (OOC: The Holiday season) occupied my time, and it appears in my absence that several important developments have occurred. Firstly, a Forger in the service of Odium was discovered and executed. That was a hard fought battle, and Arleoxtai (Sage Kangaroo) nearly paid the price. While there is a possibility that the reptile was thrown under the bus, I view that as unlikely. For now, I trust the people who kept their votes on to the very end. In turn, this means I must distrust the people who defended Siena. There's only three of them, which probably means that other Followers remain among the non-voters. Unfortunately, Odium has struck back, and has eliminated Prudence. I must confess, I was hoping to use here services for myself, but that avenue is closed to us. While there is a chance that Prudence can be reforged, doing so puts Cultivation at too high of risk. Our private conversations are a luxury, not a necessity, and we will be forced to do without. This brings us to our next important matter. There is going to be an execution today. Let us examine the vote count. Vote Count: Violet Axolotl (1): Azure Mouse Taupe Gecko (2): Sapphire Elephant, Violet Axolotl Turquoise Gorilla (1): Taupe Gecko Chartreuse Penguin (1): Opal Lion Charcoal Hyena (1): Saffron Iguana I write this column to give out advice, but I am forced to reprimand the thread for having only a fifth of the players vote. We know Gecko has fled to First of the Sun, so the vote is at a dead tie. I will not help in this matter. I vote for Enoras (Coral Swan). They posted extremely late into the cycle, lambasting having only two candidates. Now that we know one of the candidates was evil, this increases my suspicion. They promised to add a vote, but never did. @Coral Swan you have a chance to cast one now. I pose this question to all my readers. Who do you suspect? Odium will not wait for you to make up your mind. We must vote early, and we must vote often. Abstaining is tantamount to siding with Odium. Sincerely, Lady Orchid

Dear Wanderlust, The travel bug must have bitten you pretty hard. Not to worry, I have all the tips you need to know for an invigorating trip. Tip #1: Pack an umbrella if you're heading to Roshar. A high-storm can appear out of nowhere, ruining the clothes of those unprepared. I would mention that you can get some Investiture for your troubles, but you probably know that already. Tip #2: Skip on Braize. Look, I'm not sure why people think visiting Braize is a good idea. In all my years of travel, Braize was second only to Threnody in terms of dreariness. Yes, the stillness will make your voice seem louder, but it's not worth the trade off. There's too many ways to direct it, and there are much safer options for that kind of quiet. Tip #3: Ashyn is an acquired taste. Since you're a first time traveler, I'd recommend skipping this place for now. There are some hidden gems there, but that planet is not tourist friendly. You really need the right skill set to take full advantage of your trip there. Tip #4: Scadrial is the place to be. If you want the finest life has to offer, Scadrial is the place for you. Taking in the sunset from a tower in Elendel is something that everyone should do at least once in their lives. Just be warned, the city can get pretty crowded, and occasionally sinister types slip in. Don't let that discourage you though. It's worth the trip. Tip #5: Do your homework before setting off to Sel. I know this planet has a lot to offer, but the Dor makes traveling here tricky this time of year. If you wait until it dies down, you can get a lot of rewards. Tip #6: Nalthis is a bit of a tourist trap. Look, we all agree that gazing over the Bright Sea as you dine on the finest seafood the Cosmere has to offer is simply divine. However, spikes in demand have made the waiting list extraordinarily long. You can still book a reservation, but be aware any rewards might be a ways off. Tip #7: Pack bug spray if you're headed to First of the Sun. This planet is practically untouched, making it an ideal location for anyone looking to get away from it all. Unfortunately, that means the mosquitos run rampant there. You do not want to wake up to a back of welts and bumps. Tip #8: Taldain is a great, affordable option. Many people discount Taldain, thinking of nothing but sandy deserts. They're wrong though. There's plenty of beauty on Dayside to be sure, but Nightside has some of the most impressive resorts in the Cosmere. Tip #9: Finally, don't be too hasty to get out of the Cognitive realm. Shadesmar is a great big mixing pot of all the world's cultures. I find myself making new friends every time I visit, and continue to come back time after time. I hope these tips really helped you plan out your itinerary. The Cosmere is full of beautiful sights, and I hope you get to experience many of them. As a quick reminder, we are under an Odium watch in the Rosharan system, so you'll have to plan accordingly. Don't let that put you off though. Traveling is one of the joys of life. Sincerely, Lady Orchid

Penguin

Sapphire Elephant. Have fun, y'all.

Salmon Meerkat. One of the husks should check out the anthology "Games Creatures Play." That should make things interesting.

Bandwagons are fun! Ivory Dragonfly

Hello everybody! I'll join in on the action, I think. @Azure Mouse Azure Mouse

Tuatara mentioned they have an extra life (which makes sense, considering Dominion), and so the lynch won't do anything. And it seems to me that Tuatara is penitent and is now trying to pursue a more mutual victory situation, so lynching them has fallen from my view. Since there is only one other candidate for the lynch, I will vote Fuchsia Ostrich.

@Ivory Dragonfly the other inhabitants of Roshar during that cycle were Opal Lion, Fuschia Ostrich, and Sage Kangaroo (besides the ones already mentioned). Opal had no reason to reveal that information, and I don’t think Sage even looked at the doc.