Ashbringer

Check the rules - there’s only one current wincon listed. There may not even be Elims, although there likely will be something. Could be someone gets unfit / Brightness and becomes the other faction. Who knows really

So, not sure how many people here have actually read Annihilation, but I'm wondering if reading between the lines that we don't necessarily want to execute someone today. There's only one public win condition: figure out what's happening in Area X. Nothing about needing to stop those unable to continue with the expedition or even those actively hostile to it. Perhaps getting an early role flip would help, but it may also prove nothing. That, and the only person I think would make sense to exe immediately is KelsierApologist, because flipping Polly is fun the psychologist is perhaps the most immediately dangerous. But I also doubt things would be that obvious. (And, as someone who's thought about making a public-role-name 16 Shards Game, trying to figure out the proper way not to have all the players just always exe Odium D1 is... uh, complicated )

Bold of you to assume we were ever sane...

Possibly - a more in depth Awakening game wouldn't be too hard to make, but in a game like that, the Returned dying probably can't be a hard loss condition. One possible solution would be if a Villager is exed, they can give their Breath to the Returned - that adds another level of mindgames and some insurance against what happened here. Although, to be honest and if BB was active, the Elims could have also won by parity instead of exeing Polly. So maybe it's less a problem than I'm making it out to be and more a question of what to do if the village runs out of Breath.

So a couple of GM thoughts: I like this ruleset. It's fun to wrap your mind around, not too complicated, and interesting for writeups as well as discussion. That being said, it is a very Elim-favoring ruleset, because only the Elims benefit from the Breath (outside of minor plays to find out if people lie about giving Breath... which only a Villager did this game). I had originally planned on giving the Elims a weaker team to compensate, player-count wise... but 12 is an awkward number to do that with. 2 Elims would mean that the Village has 4.5 chances to exe one Elim and cut the team in half, while 3 is more standard... for a balanced ruleset. Ultimately I went with 3, seeing as even a large Elim team in the LG led to multiple elims dying quickly. Here it did... not So, yeah. And that does run into the issue of how this game works, with Breath management - you only have so many chances to get the exe right before Breath's a problem too. How many, math fails me, but how this game turned out, technically the Elims were set to win as soon as a Breath wasn't sent in on C3. There were only three Breaths remaining, and three Elims to execute - technically enough as long as the Elims didn't submit any kills on people with Breath, but they were already doing that. C4 ended with Hoid Slayer submitting in a Breath to save the day, but then there was a single Breath (TwinStorm's) and two Elims. After asking around, I decided to run C4 anyway - it is good to make sure the Elims manage to make it work, as they'd submitted Breath before and also seemed to think they were ending the game after killing ruler, which... well yes but technically no. So, yeah. Apologies to @Hoid Slayer, as I couldn't really say why I wasn't going to sub BridgeBoi/TwinStorm out - but it was one Villager one Elim, so getting both replaced wouldn't change the vote outcome, and at that point the Elims were going to win regardless. I probably should've looked at subbing them out earlier / had a better Pinch Hitter mechanic since I had 3 in the wings, but that's more a me as a GM thing. I had fun GMing though! And I'm glad you all had fun playing. I definitely enjoyed writing far too long of an aftermath

MR72 Aftermath: The Truth in The Sickness “Why did we have to go this way?” Lyra said, giving a wry grin that shifted back into her show of pouting. Kanirah rolled his eyes, trying to hide his own grin. “Because Stridefar deemed it so, Lyra. We’ve had this conversation before.” “Then why did Stridefar deem it so?” she replied, as ever. “Because he’s not named Stridefar the Distant for nothing,” Kanirah said, as they both shared a smile. And indeed, Stridefar did like to take the less traveled by pathway. He also was one of the Court who was more inclined to put up with the questions of one of his priest’s daughters. “Besides, you’ve been to the Elidian province what, 6 times?” “Once a year since I turned seventeen, dad. Just like everywhere else.” They were there and everywhere frequently, that was true. Usually on brighter terms. Usually, Stridefar traveled simply to inspire the people who lived there, who rarely saw a Returned, let alone a member of the Court of the Gods. But this year there’d been plague. T’Telir hadn’t heard an update from the border cities in a few weeks, and they needed to know how bad things were. From what they’d seen… bad. - - - Whatever arrangement Starkeeper had managed to make, it bought them another week to figure things out. But no treaty work was done, no distant plans were made. Kanirah had more pressing concerns, even past his own sudden depletion of soul and Genda’s sudden weakness of spirit. They had no tricks up their sleeves anymore. Allegedly, one of the Idrians had finally located a merchant from T’Telir that had managed to achieve the First Heightening without being barred from trade in Idris. He was being sent for. It would take time, time they didn’t have – perhaps a month, if they arrived unharried. Which meant the remains of the volunteers and delegation had to solve the problem of the assassins within their halls. Now. Elidyr’s death had given them some leads. Not nearly as many as Carmine had wanted, but enough that they had some things to follow. Genda didn’t bother making an appeal at their next meeting. It had to be early anyway, as Starkeeper had gotten a Breath off of schedule. But then Evinir accused Wizard. Who apparently had more than just that name. - - - The town Stridefar had chosen to walk through today was nearly deserted. Houses had been boarded up. Refuse crowded the streets. Kanirah wasn’t sure where the living had gone, if they’d fled for Pahn Kahl as some greater cities had or if they’d gone further inland. Or, he wondered, if there’d not been any survivors at all. Kanirah was wrong on that front. There were survivors, if one could call them that. There were some true survivors peaking heads out of hastily shut windows, or true Lifeless roaming the streets carrying out whatever orders they had once been given, but the majority of the town’s inhabitants lined alleyways, collapsed on porches, were occasionally in the streets along with corpses. The dying. The yet to be dead. “Water,” some said. “Hurts,” was all some could manage. “HELP US,” was the resounding cry. Lyra shuddered, and Kanirah and the rest of their troop seemed to agree. Stridefar was immune to disease, but the rest of them had to make do with a handful of cloths over the mouth and physical distance. They had some limited medical supplies, but those were largely exhausted by previous towns and what little they could spare for the ones who looked like they could fight through the disease. Plague didn’t have a cure. Except for one, Kanirah remembered, as the dying began to look past the assembled escort and to the Returned accompanying them. “HEAL US,” the yet to be dead began to roar, surging almost like a wave cresting a beachhead as they stirred, roiling and waving but staying on the banks of the street gutters as Stridefar’s expedition passed by. “HEAL US.” Kan looked at the Returned. Stridefar had always been level-headed; he hadn’t found his moment, but he seemed at least partially moved. “Your Worship, you’re not considering…” Stridefar shook his head, a look of some shame on his face. “I could. I wish it would change something. But I am no God-King; I could restore but one. I can do much more by returning to the Court and petitioning the God-King himself to act.” “Heal me!” A corpse suddenly rose to his knees, gnarled hand reaching out. Reaching for Lyra, who blocked the way to Stridefar. Kanirah started forward. “I can’t. We can’t. I’m sor-“ Lyra began. “PLEASE!” the dying man said, grabbing her wrist. Kanirah could see his nails digging into his daughter’s arm. Lyra jumped back, and the man nearly flew with her before one of Stridefar’s guards shoved him back into the ground. Kanirah arrived a moment late. “Are you alright?” Lyra looked shaken, looking at her wrist, then at the dying man. It seemed like that had been the last of his strength. “I… I think so. It’s just a scratch.” A drop of tear welled in her eye. A drop of blood welled in her skin. - - - The remaining individuals in Genda’s courtroom dove for cover as Evinir and the Wizard dueled. Kan had no idea how the Wizard had the power of a thunderstorm in his hands, but he seemed to be adept at using it as the electricity curved into a screaming Evinir, then right over Carmine’s head, then just past a too-quick Starkeeper. The Wizard cackled, then swiftly turned to a gurgle as Evinir’s knife managed to land somewhere in his shoulder blade. “I won’t let you!” the man said as the Wizard twisted, trying to shake the diplomat. Something dark seemed to blot out from under the magician. Colors, was he an Awakener? No, he was Idrian. This was something else. Something darker. “I will have my power! I will not stand for this pretender!” “No!” Genda gave a shout. Out of the corner of his eye, Kanirah saw Timmy unsheathe his own knife and inch towards Twinstorm. The Wizard struck another blow, this time with a spark of night that hit Evinir in the leg, nearly collapsing him. Evinir howled, then lashed out again, slicing the Wizard somewhere across the chest and palm. Kanirah and Carmine both gave a nod to each other, and stood. Carmine drew a javelin and Kan balled his fists, ready to fight, ready to die. “NO!” The room was struck by a hurricane of dark blue and force. Carmine, Kanirah, Evinir, and Twinstorm were picked up, pushed down gently. Timmy was tossed head over heels into a wall. Then Kan saw a single image of Starkeeper, sweet Starkeeper, slamming her fist into the Wizard’s snapping jawbone with an anger he hadn’t seen since… since that day. No, not even before. She stood alone, resolute, bright. A god. “ENOUGH!” - - - Kanirah ran to Stridefar’s medical tent as soon as he heard. They’d been heading back to Hallendren ever since that day a few weeks ago. The day they found the town of the yet to be dead. The day Lyra had gotten hurt. The day Lyra had caught plague. She was… it was bad. And it’d just gotten worse. Kan nearly barreled over the tent’s single guard in his way in, with him stammering something about risks, as he entered the alcove where their available physician and two guards-turned-apprentices stood around his daughter, lying there, whiter than the sheets she was contorted into. “Kanirah…” the physician began, then paused, searching for the right words. “Lyra’s…” “What?!” Kan bellowed. “She’s been… asleep for days at this point. We’re not sure if she can hear us… hear you. But if you have anything you want to say to her before… now would be the time.” Kanirah’s heart jumped into his throat. He knew, of course. Lyra had deteriorated too quickly. There was no medicine left, no way to treat plague. But to hear it said, or left unsaid… “Lyra…” He reached for her. Then ran out of the room. Ran to the largest of the tents. Stridefar took one look at the priest who had just invaded his chambers, sweating, panting, desperate. The two of them shared no words. Stridefar knew of Lyra’s illness. He was the one who encouraged Kanirah to adopt her in the first place. The Returned rose silently, and strode forward, keeping an even pace walking with how far Kanirah’s drained sprint could take him. No words were said, but the God of Wandering taking the most direct route possible was worth more than any statements or scripture. The two arrived to the nurse-apprentices covering Lyra’s face with a sheet. Kanirah’s mouth opened, and no sound came out. Stridefar walked to her bedside, reached and felt her hand. He shook his head. “She’s gone.” “… but your Breath… you can heal…” Kan stammered, still unwilling to hear what had been said and seen. “Not this,” the Returned said. “I’m sorry.” He turned away, to begin to leave. Kanirah collapsed to the dust. Then his daughter’s body erupted with color. - - - Starkeeper still looked pale, ill. But she was still a Returned, more than humans could reach. She stood still for a moment before she flared to life. “STOP fighting! STOP fighting for me! Just… ENOUGH!” The Wizard coughed on the ground, but he was grinning. He wouldn’t stop. They nearly had what they were after, especially if Starkeeper had been right about who was currently a Drab or not. They would never stop. Kan groaned. Starkeeper gave him a quick look of concern, then stared at the four remaining volunteers. “It’s over. No one is coming. You win, and you lose. You did as soon as we chose these rules. So just. Stop. You already got what you wanted. Stop killing the people who just want to help!” The Wizard laughed and wheezed. “We… win. We always did.” Starkeeper looked at him with a glance that communicated… Kanirah wasn’t sure what. Not anger. Pity? “No, you don’t. I’m here to make sure you don’t lose in the worst way,” Starkeeper said. “And it starts with you.” She turned to the only other standing individual in the room. Genda. What? “You’re sick,” she said. “You’ve been trying to hide it for a few weeks now, trying and failing. But I saw it in your portrait in the town hall. You’re sick. Very sick.” “Every Returned comes back for some reason. I Returned in the middle of the Elidian Plague, the one that Susebron the Fourth gave his life to keep at bay. For a long time I had no idea why, and then I learned. Plague is not gone. You have it.” Evinir gasped. Kanirah couldn’t move. That… that couldn’t be. Genda looked pale… gaunt… but plague was gone. Forever. “Star, what are you saying?” “The Court of the Gods foresaw this months ago. There would be plague. With it would come war, between Hallendren and Idris and many other nations. Spreading famine. Spreading plague. Death. Nalthis… Nalthis would never be the same.” Genda looked as if she would go even more pale if her sunken skin would allow. “Is that true?” “I’m here to stop this. I had come here as if it my job to stop the war. It was instead my job to stop the plague. It is a good thing that I did come, to help save the life of such a leader of Idris, and to save the lives of many many more. That a Returned such as I would give my life for someone outside of T’Telir, let alone Hallendren. Surely Hallendren will see it the same way, as a gift given to you.” Pieces fell into place in Kanirah’s mind as Genda’s quivering hand reached for her mouth. “Starkeeper, is that true?!” she insisted. Suddenly Starkeeper looked much smaller, duller. Less like a Returned and more like the human she used to be. “Does it matter?” she said quietly. “Perhaps I saw that I could avert a crisis, of plague, or of war. Or perhaps I am a dying Returned seeking to make the most of a situation where my needless death could lead to them all happening anyway. Or perhaps it’s just you. For once, someone I can save. The truth? The truth is what we make it.” She took a step forward. Placed her hand on Genda’s shoulder. “No,” Kanirah croaked. Starkeeper looked at him. Colors, she still looked like Lyra. “I’m dead, Kan,” she said, trying and failing to meet his eyes. “I… I died a long time ago. I know it hurts. But I need to do this. For everyone.” She whispered the words. And the room turned alight. - - - Regent Genda blinked her eyes open, trying to remove the spots from her vision. Had… could Starkeeper have been telling the truth? She’d been sick, for certain, and it hadn’t been getting better… but plague? No. Best to push such thoughts away. Starkeeper had found an opportunity, a way to spin the events that had occurred in this building into a story that just might stop Hallendren from declaring war. She hadn’t needed to, as she was right – Starkeeper was dead either way. She’d died long ago. Several years, from the Idrian’s perspective – but again several weeks ago. She’d just taken extra time to catch up. Genda looked at what remained of her courtroom. The Wizard had vanished entirely; perhaps Starkeeper’s choice and its ramifications had wiped him from existence, or Austere had intervened, or more likely he had some eldritch Awakener exit. It didn’t matter. Evinir, Timmy, and TwinStorm seemed all collectively in a daze, and Carmine didn’t look much better, though the guard had seen fit to confiscate Evinir’s and Timmy’s knives from them. She tried not to look at the corpse of the woman – Austere forgive her, the god – that had saved her life and her kingdom. She tried not to look at the wreck of a man that was sobbing into her hair. Kanirah was a belligerent fool who insisted on his way over centuries of Idrian tradition and religion. But he was no hypocrite. There was a good man, buried in there… someone who had lost everything more than once. But his story would have to be told by someone else. “All of you,” she said to the three remaining volunteers, “are under arrest until we can figure out what this means for Idris and the surrounding nations. I thank you for what you’ve done for your country, whether well or mis-intentioned. But word of this stays here until we can create a proper response and determine the truth. Carmine, I trust I can count upon your aid in this?” Carmine said nothing, but escorted the three remaining away. “Thank you,” Regent Genda whispered. - - - Hoid Slayer was arrested (executed)! They were an Idrian Diplomat! TwinStorm was arrested (killed)! They were an Idrian Diplomat! BridgeBoi was arrested (to inactivity / lore)! They were an Assassin! Starkeeper did not receive a Breath, and has died! The Assassins have won! Congratulations to @KelsierApologist, @BridgeBoi, and @The Wandering Wizard! I'd also like to thank Wizard and @Hoid Slayer for making the endgame much more interesting! I do have some GM thoughts - most of them can be found in the dead doc, but the TL;DR is that this last cycle was already somewhat of an Elim win and just sticking the landing, and how perhaps that shouldn't be, but I already wrote... uh... a bit too much. Elim Doc Spec Doc Master Spreadsheet Player List:

Time! Rollover might be shorter, might be longer, we’ll have to see.

30 minutes!

One pinch-hitter with commitment issues and two copycats, thank you very much Eh, what the heck. Joining as the Anthropologist, who definitely isn't acting more like a mis-anthropologist after they definitely weren't replaced by a certain murder-happy time-traveling doppleganger about 5 minutes into the expedition.

Based on the rules I usually run by, I'd do it at the start of next cycle. I might make an exception, but I don't usually replace people mid-cycle - or honestly, this close to the end of the game. Probably should have made a more firm ruling, as I think technically both @TwinStorm and @BridgeBoi are on an inactivity warning.

I'll sign up as a pinch hitter for now, might move to player later.

MR72 Cycle 5: Sacrifice He was wrong. Oh, he was wrong. Hallendrens always talked about how being Drab was normal, common for those who needed the money or wished to give a gift to their gods. They never spoke about how it felt, how it drained on a person, how it... how everything felt so... distant. Kanirah felt that now. He'd been mostly asleep for a day, maybe two at this point. Starkeeper kept checking in on him to see if he was okay. She'd at least recovered fully, aside from her scratched hands. And whatever damage being so close to death had done on her spirit. The way she looked at him reminded him... not of what the view he had the last night, but a later night... that night... Why was he thinking of such things? Kanirah recovered fairly quickly, all things considered. But he also found the view that Idris had on Drabs. Genda made excuses about feeling unwell most times he tried to meet, and the remaining volunteers wouldn't even look at him. Just like they wouldn't look at Carmine, he realized. Funny. They had to know by now that there were Drabs among them as the group, but they seemed to spare that recompense for themselves. Perhaps Genda's illusion of who did and didn't have Breath was working, or perhaps they were simply hypocrites. They'd complained he hadn't given up his Breath, and now he had. But there was still so little done. So little progress. The people outside of Bevalis were not coming, he knew now, but why he still had no idea. They did the same song and dance they'd done previously. Kanirah gave his speech in front of a worried Genda and a pale-but-strong Starkeeper. Only, something different happened this time. There was no last minute scuffle. Instead, Evinir, Wizard, and Ruler shoved Elidyr forward. Evinir had a knife drawn, but wasn't using it, not yet. Carmine put his hand on the pommel of his shortsword. "Well?" Kanirah said. Elidyr stood for a moment, before finally speaking. "Idris gave everything to you. Our home. Our people. Our Breath. And still you insist on taking. Well, I'll have no part of it. Not anymore. Not ever." And she spit on the ground. Then in a flash, threw off her coat, revealing a well-toned set of arms each holding throwing knives. "And soon, no one else will." Both Carmine and Evinir gave a shout and rushed forward, weapons drawn, as Kanirah ran to block Starkeeper - but to no avail, as Starkeeper blitzed past him and the two knives sunk into their target of Ruler instead. Starkeeper collided with him a second later, grabbing Elidyr's wrists with a sickening crunch. "No!" Carmine's javelin sunk into Elidyr a second later, piercing his neck, covering the floor and Starkeeper's hands once again with blood. "NO!" Starkeeper and Kanirah sat waiting that night, for a hope they weren't sure would come. They'd given a lot for each other. Idris had too. Kanirah was... some part of him was trying to see that still, but most of him was feeling nothing. "I... I'm sorry, Star. I failed." "You didn't fail me, Kan. You did everything you could. You gave me everything you could." The minutes passed. Became hours, perhaps. No one was coming. "I..." What did he say? It was strange. Before he didn't know what to say because of how choked his throat had felt. Now he didn't know what the point was. It would all be things he'd said before. "It's okay, Kan. Look." Kanirah turned, then stood with a start. Starkeeper's blanche had faded. She looked perfectly fine. More like who she'd used to be, with a small grin that looked so familiar. "One of the volunteers gave me their Breath yesterday morning..." - - - KelsierApologist was executed! They were an Assassin! ruler of the mists was killed! They were an Idrian Diplomat! Starkeeper was given a Breath! Vote Count: KelsierApologist (3): The Wandering Wizard, ruler of the mists, Hoid Slayer Cycle 4 has begun! There will be an execution this cycle. The cycle will close on April 18th at 10:00 PM PST, in about 47 hours. Player List:

Time! Rollover might take a little longer this time (depends how much I write) but shouldn't be long!

30 minutes!

4 hours remain!

Technically / Rules As Written, it's a 50-50 chance as to who actually gets executed - either the Elim dies to the exe and it's a Draw, or the Villager dies to the exe and it's an Elim win. But also, at that point it might also just be considered a Draw anyway - I'd need to double check with some other GMs / IMs how they'd rule it but it's as close to a Draw as you can get. We do Rule of Cool things a decent amount

In this scenario, it would be considered an Elim victory, as the Village wincon needs Starkeeper to stay alive.

MR72 Cycle 4: Constriction Another week passed. There wasn't much progress accomplished on the treaties. Carmine had largely gone to ground, worried about the bodies piling up while no evidence of the assassin's activities seemed to follow. Genda was checking in on her volunteers, trying to assuage or assure the ones who might have made a choice the others would hate. Kanirah was left to his own, for the most part, trying to parse the scouts who returned from nearby villages empty-handed and close-mouthed. And Starkeeper... Kanirah found Starkeeper in the building that functioned as Bevalis' city hall. She'd changed the bandage on her unharmed wrist, and was looking slightly wan but strong at this point in the week. She was looking at a variety of portraits hanging on the walls, portraits of the various officials of the city and greater Idris. The king was on there, and most of his line, Locks on clear display. Genda was also there, a series of governers and regents behind. But Starkeeper was looking at some of the smaller paintings, tucked in a labeled alcove. "Starkeeper? What are you... why are you here?" "Did you know," she began, not turning away from the images currently in view, "that it's tradition for any government worker in Bevalis to create a self-portrait?" "I... no. Come on, Starkeeper, we need to-" "Neither did I," the Returned continued. "It's... interesting. I've seen a lot of pictures made by artists with perfect pitch, perfect color, the ability worthy of the Court of the Gods. But these aren't meant for anyone besides the self. And yet, they're... vibrant." Kanirah suspected that somewhat - the paintings looked dull to him, and he doubted that the Idrian's single Breath provided much more insight into pleasing a god's eyes. But perhaps Starkeeper was simply enjoying the novelty. Or perhaps it'd been too long since she'd gotten a chance to look at art the way a Returned did, as she always enjoyed. "Starkeeper, why are you here?" Starkeeper finally turned to look at him for a moment, two. "I... I don't know, Kan. I need to look some more." The end of that week went in somewhat of a blur. Genda had tried weakly to stop the volunteers from turning on each other, but ultimately failed as someone broke Flame's hand, then stuck a blade in the man with exclamations of guilty. But guilty Flame was not. Carmine and Kanirah exchanged a glance. Genda gave a dismissive wave as she excused herself, fatigued. Starkeeper stood as best she could, resolute. And that was the end of the Flame. No assassins. The loop was getting tighter. Kanirah awoke in a cold sweat the next morning. He hadn't slept well. He hadn't been sleeping well in a while. But as he returned to the courthouse, he started to feel much colder. Carmine was out on patrol, Genda was still asleep, but Starkeeper wasn't in any of the main rooms. And none of the volunteers would meet his gaze. Kanirah bolted up the stairs toward where the Returned had awaited a savior, stumbling over what he belatedly realized was the corpse of Simon, stumbling over what he had already realized he would see. Starkeeper had crawled out of her room a couple of yards before she'd collapsed into an aquamarine heap. She looked pale. She looked lifeless. No one had come. "Star! Star!" Kan ran as fast as he could to her side, trying to look at her, trying to see if she had a pulse - did Returned even have? - no time - Starkeeper's eyes moved, looked at him. "HELP! SOMEONE!" "Kan... please..." No one had come. No one was coming. "It'll be okay, Star, okay- HELP!" Colors take him, he wasn't an Awakener, but this he knew, if only he had- "Kan... I... you don't..." She was crying. She'd maybe been crying for a while. She'd cut her other hand, maybe trying to drag herself on the wooden floor. She'd been here for hours. No. He would not lose her. Not like this. Not again. He whispered the words. "It's okay. It's... my... my Breath to yours. My life become yours." It always was, he thought, as he felt the power flow from him. - - - The Unknown Flame was executed! They were an Idrian Diplomat! STINK was killed! They were an Idrian Diplomat! Starkeeper was not given a Breath! The Handler has given up his own Breath. If Starkeeper is not given a Breath again, she will die. Vote Count: The Unknown Flame (3): TwinStorm, KelsierApologist, The Wandering Wizard The Wandering Wizard (2): The Unknown Flame, BridgeBoi KelsierApologist (2): STINK, Hoid Slayer Cycle 4 has begun! There will be an execution this cycle. The cycle will close on April 16th at 10:00 PM PST, in about 47 hours. Player List:

Time! Rollover shortly.

Vote Count: The Unknown Flame (4): TwinStorm, KelsierApologist, The Wandering Wizard, Hoid Slayer The Wandering Wizard (2): The Unknown Flame, BridgeBoi KelsierApologist (1): STINK

4 hours until rollover!

~22 hours remain!

MR72 Cycle 3: Quandary Another week passed. Genda had found some extra volunteers for aid, ones unwilling to even consider giving up their own Breath, but who were willing to travel to nearby towns in search of those who were. There had to be foreign Hallendrens around her somewhere, and they could be bought if they could only be found. In the meantime, Genda, Kanirah, and Starkeeper looked again toward the trade arrangements, trying to ignore the incoming deadline. But the deadline came all the same. Starkeeper put on a stronger showing, but she was still clearly ill as Kanirah reiterated his speech to the gathered volunteers. But something else was off. The crowd was harder, still listening but clearly with other emotions at hand. Genda stood coughing as the assembly whispered. They were discontent. All the Idrians were. "At least one of them is a Drab, right?" Kanirah asked Carmine that night. "But they're still here?" "Genda and Starkeeper didn't want it to be obvious who did something so anathema," Carmine replied. "What I hear, Starkeeper didn't even get a look at whoever gave her the Breath, just stayed turned around and gave a thank you." "Wait, so we don't even know who it was?" Carmine said. "Heh. Starkeeper knows. Lifesense can be a pain even for us Drabs sometimes, if it's clear your not showing up despite being right there. But she's being quiet about who. She's got more respect for... for what it costs them," Carmine trailed off. There was a bit unspoken there, in those words. More respect than you. Kanirah opened his mouth to object when suddenly a scream sounded from the hall below. Carmine was up in a flash, only to nearly be barreled over by an aquamarine blur as Starkeeper ran to the central court. Kanirah huffed behind to see a slightly-familiar scene - several of the assembled volunteer diplomats surrounding a figure they'd suspected of being an assassin. But while Stick had been dragged away in chains, someone had broken Gandor's neck. "Why?!" Starkeeper exclaimed. "Why would you do that!" Kanirah cursed. Another volunteer priest dead, another potential Breath gone... and Gandor had been allied with Izmir to a certain degree, despite walking opposite paths of life. He certainly didn't look like he'd been an assassin after all. Someone walked up behind Starkeeper that night, put their hand on her shoulder, and said the words they'd been told. Starkeeper felt their life-prescence fade as the Breath flowed, strengthening her. But the figure did not walk away. "I... I think there's someone dead in the hallway." - - - TheRavenHasLanded was executed! They were an Idrian Diplomat! |TJ| was killed! They were an Idrian Diplomat! Starkeeper was given a Breath!* Vote Count: TheRavenHasLanded (5): |TJ|, The Unknown Flame, BridgeBoi, The Wandering Wizard, Hoid Slayer The Wandering Wizard (2): KelsierApologist, TheRavenHasLanded ruler of the mists (1): STINK STINK (1): ruler of the mists Cycle 3 has begun! There will be an execution this cycle. @TwinStorm is being warned for inactivity! Please post this cycle or you will be replaced by a pinch hitter. The cycle will close on April 14th at 10:00 PM PST, in about 47 hours. Player List: *Starkeeper was also given a Breath last cycle, I just decided to mark it explicitly instead of just in the writeup.

Time! Next Cycle shortly.

Vote Count: TheRavenHasLanded (5): |TJ|, The Unknown Flame, BridgeBoi, The Wandering Wizard, Hoid Slayer The Wandering Wizard (2): KelsierApologist, TheRavenHasLanded ruler of the mists (1): STINK STINK (1): ruler of the mists 4.5 hours until rollover!