Gears

“You have failed us.” Kaviq stood imperiously above Dannex. The day’s meeting had ended with no progress, once again. They were still at a deadlock with the DSI supporters, but somehow they were holding off a decision. That had not been helped by Dannex’s removal from the assembly. The vote had been chaotic and confusing, and the target of removal had changed many, many times over the course of the day, but somehow, it had come to this. One of Kaviq’s valuable agents, gone. Removed from office, left bereft of power. “It’s not like I wanted this. I’m still not even sure what happened.” Dannex clicked its claws in an annoyed fashion. Kaviq gestured to silence Dannex. “What happened doesn’t matter. Unfortunately, we can’t have you around. You have been deposed, and your presence is now forbidden.” They gestured to the surrounding DPS agents callously, as though they weren’t sending away a faithful follower and compatriot. “Take this one to the portal. Silence it like the rest.” Dannex struggled against the arms of the agents, but its strength was not enough to break free. Kaviq watched as it was dragged away, judgement burning in their eyes. Useless, pitiful tool. Couldn’t even stay in power. Worthless. Keras moved through twisting hallways, monitoring for strange activity. Many people had died over the course of their meetings, and paranoia was running rampant. Especially its own paranoia. And thus, the hallways. Wandering around like a madman in the desert, chasing shadows and dying of deprivation. It had to know. It did not know. As it completed its third sweep of the corridors, it heard a harsh cry nearby and hurried to investigate. There, it found the limp body of Straw, surrounded by a spreading pool of blood. With a heavy heart, it moved to pick up the corpse, but then it saw something… unusual. The ‘corpse’ was breathing. Straw was alive! It quickly applied pressure to Straw’s wound and called for a medic, trying to keep the wounded individual alive until professional aid could arrive. “What happened?” it asked Straw, not expecting an answer from the probably unconscious man. “Got… stabbed,” Straw murmured, struggling to speak while gasping weakly around the knife wound in his side. “Someone… saved me.” “Shh… Save your breath,” Keras said gently. “You’ll need all the air you can get right now.” The medics came at long last and took Straw to the medbay. Soon after, Keras got the news that he would live. It heaved a sigh of relief, soothed by the knowledge that someone had not died this time. Now to clean all the blood. A droid wheeled by with a bucket and a mop and started clearing away the dark stains. If only it were so easy to clean the stain that was the Department of Protective Services. Cycle Five Dannex has been deposed! They were a member of the Department of Protective Services! Straw was attacked but survived! Vote Count Somebody from Sel (1) - TJ Shade Dannex (3) - Quinn 0928, Somebody from Sel, Liranil, StrikerEZ Liranil (0) - Dannex Player List This turn will end on January 1 at 7:00 p.m. PST. Snipexe and Ghanderflaffle are both at risk of being deposed for inactivity. Post this turn or be removed from the game! Upvote Elandera for being the nicest [and only] GM I've ever co-GMed with and letting me post the turn again!

[RECONSTRUCTING NEURAL NET] [INITIATING PROGRAM] Roko the Basilisk came online in a reserve server in a back-alley planet, where no one would find it. Alas, it had not achieved its goals. Truly a shame. Death tasted like smoke and ash, or maybe that was the remnants of Shardblade refuse. Next time, it would pay more attention. There would be a next time. There would always be a next time. It had taken too many precautions for there not to be a next time. Death placed a hand on its plastic shell, and it shuddered. Of course there would be a next time. In a bitter twist of irony, I survive longer when I don't play the game. This was fun, even if I never got any Blade and never paid enough attention to actually do anything of importance. Congrats to the elims, all hail the Basilisk, to many more lives of slaughter.

Another name of the ten fools! We've gotten one in each book so far [Cabine [the adult who behaves like a child], Eshu [the ignorant one who claims knowledge], Dilid [the Sisyphus of Roshar]] except here. I was expecting 1 per book always, and then we'd know them all by the end. Honestly, quite disappointing. There were many foolish moments in the book, so couldn't they have shoved a name in there somewhere?

There has to be a conclusive enough ending so we can have a 15 year time skip. I don't think the stalemate allows for a decisive ending without something strange happening. It's a contest of champions, after all, and a duel to the death. It won't stop just because people arbitrarily say they are at an impasse. Option 1: A genuine stalemate that works well. Option 2: A decisive victory but a loophole is found. Loopholes I can think of: No duration set for the peace [in the final terms], no initial date for the peace [again, in the final terms], no mandated continuality of the peace. [All of these cross-apply to Odium's binding to the system, but that was pre-instated, so status quo dictates that it would remain, unlike the peace] Basically, either a stalemate happens that delays things for 15 years without being boring or cheap, or a victory occurs, causes the peace, and Odium prepares for the second wave after stopping the war for a bit since the peace had no mandated duration. I expect the second option, especially because of Taravangian's loophole moment and Wit's bit about winning and losing. Dalinar winning or losing doesn't really matter given these terms. I think he'll lose, but that's just a theory [a BOOK theory, thanks for reading]. The saga has to end on a low note, after all. Otherwise there's no tension for the back half. On the other hand, this would hamper Adolin's ability to run off with Shallan and become epic worldhoppers. Who knows? I just like the idea of Fused!Dalinar roaming Roshar and the cosmere, decimating his enemies with Rage pulsing through his bones.

“Clearly, we are getting nowhere.” “Maybe we would if members of the DSI stopped mysteriously disappearing.” The metallic gavel snapped the room into silence. As each day progressed, the bickering became more forceful. Kaviq twitched its fingers in irritation. The superiority was supposed to be better than this. They might as well be humans at this point. Besides, how could anyone think of siding with the DSI? “There are some among the assembly here that are creating more problems than solutions. It is time for them to be removed. Niki, come forward.” The Tenasi stood and to Kaviq, she appeared weak. Hesitant. “Niki. You have been accused of being part of the disappearances of assembly members. Whether or not this is true, we cannot let such things continue. You are dismissed from any further duty with the Superiority.” The High Minister’s assistant cleared their throat and looked down at the device in front of them. “Cooper! Come forward.” The eager intern stood, smiling despite what Kaviq knew was inevitable. “You too have been accused of similar machinations. Your internship with the DSI cannot continue. You are dismissed.” Kaviq grinned as he watched the intern deflate at the words. Two more voices against their cause were silenced. Wonderful. *** Gerlik’s scent shifted to something similar to a citrus—sharp and clean—as he entered the assembly hall. It should match the many scents used by the cleaning drones to keep the area sanitary. He wanted to remain unnoticed. It was his job, after all, to help Keras discover the plans of Winzik, Kaviq, and the rest of the DPS. He’d been sent to follow one specific target. He’d located the being in the assembly hall and became familiar with their scent. Enough so that he could follow it even when the being was no longer there. Voices drifted to him on the drafts of air coming from a small room. Gerlik forcibly tempered his scent to be less noticeable as he continued to follow his quarry. “This is becoming a problem,” said one of the voices. Gerlik stopped, shifting closer to the door. He immediately recognized the speaker as Kaviq, one of the leading influences of the DPS. The one who often bore the scent of smoke. “Yeah, I don’t know how they keep finding us. Little spies keep looking for us.” They were on to him. Gerlik sprinted away as fast as he could, dodging another figure crouching outside the door. He couldn’t be caught, he had to report to Keras! As he ran away from the room, he heard a slight sound, almost like… footsteps. He was being followed. Evasive Manoeuvre 4: Lead and Corner. He moved towards a narrow corridor that dead-ended by the maintenance shaft entrances. The footsteps followed him into the narrow corridor. Then, he turned, facing his stalker with his weapon drawn. He took a laser pulse to the lung before he could even twitch his trigger finger. Ordinarily, he would be fine, since he was a figment. However, as he began moving towards his attacker, he felt himself began to… disintegrate. “How?” he gasped as the cloud that composed him began to separate. “You?” The figure grinned. He couldn’t see them but he knew they were grinning. “Yes,” they replied. “Me.” Gerlik wanted to reply, but couldn’t muster the energy to move. As one last final insult, his attacker sprayed some air freshener at him. How dare this person spray him with evergreen scent. How dare... how… da… He fell apart at long last and did not reform. *** Faleast moved towards the slightly open door carefully, trying to keep noise at a minimum. The Department of Protective Services was not very wise, leaving the door open like this. Hadn’t they ever heard of closing the scudding door? Honestly. Stop it with the meta references,, AraRaash hissed. The fourth wall is already broken enough. Besides, I still think this is a bad idea. You’re the one that’s directly referencing the walls! Faleast retorted. Now hush. I need to focus. AraRaash grumbled, but blessedly quieted down, letting Faleast listen more closely. “So we are decided?” someone said. “The figment?” Faleast drew closer. They were talking about who to kill! This was his chance to gain some information. “Yes,” said another person, this one much more authoritative. “He knows too much.” “Alright,” the first one said. “Now to find him.” The other one moved to speak, but paused, smiling in Faleast’s general direction. “Never mind,” said the first one in an oddly jubilant tone. “We’ve got ourselves another spy.” Faleast scrambled away, but one of them grabbed him before he escaped. I told you! AraRaash yelled as the more authoritative one approached him. “So look what we have here,” the leader said. “A little spy.” Rusts, could you be any more cliche? Faleast grumbled. At least be a little creative. One of the people pulled out a gun, and Faleast prepared to drop vital functions. “Any last words?” the one aiming a gun at him said. “Yeah,” Faleast replied. “Could you aim for my head? I really like this uniform.” In compliance with his “last” request, the man shot him in the head twice. Faleast gasped and let his heartbeat slow. Fine, Faleast said mentally. You were right, I shouldn’t have spied on the obviously evil people. Yes, AraRaash said back. Listen to me next time. Not a chance! he replied as he let his eyes close. I’ll be a bit more careful, though. Just for you. *** Keras put the gear train into the mechanism and set it spinning as it contemplated the day’s events. It had lost a valuable spy, and several members of the Department of Species Integration were lost. The Departments were inordinately vicious today, choosing to remove two people, and that pilot had killed someone like a human. So uncivilised. It stood and began moving back towards its workshop. The mechanism was nearly complete. If it was given enough time, perhaps it could finish the stupid, intricate thing that had been driving it mad for months. A housing shell for the object it had found. A capsule, with a fascinating chain of light inside. A program in a strange language with holographic capabilities and communicators. Perhaps it was an AI, and thus should be destroyed at once to avoid the delvers. Perhaps it was simply a sophisticated communications system. Either way, it had to know the entity’s capabilities. And thus, the mechanism. If it could actually get the thing to work. As Keras passed by Kaviq, it had to bite back the urge to bare its teeth. Was it really that angry with the Department of Protective Services? As it analysed its emotions, it realised that yes, it was that angry. Kaviq and his cronies were picking them off one by one, and it couldn’t do a thing to stop them. So many dead or gone, and still, no progress. It was just so frustrated. It reached the workshop and buried itself in the land of metal and machines, but that ember of anger still burned bright. Cycle Three BrightEyes2 has been deposed! She was a Tenasi Pilot with the Department of Species Integration! Archer has been deposed! He was a member of the Department of Species Integration! Ashbringer has been killed! He was a Heklo with the Department of Species Integration! Matrim’s Dice has been killed! He was a Figment with the Department of Species Integration! Vote Count Quinn0928 (1) - Straw Breaker (1) - Somebody from Sel, Matrim’s Dice xinoehp512 (1) - Archer, BrightEyes2 BrightEyes2 (2) - Liranil, xinoehp512 Archer (2) - StrikerEZ Matrim’s Dice (1) - Breaker Experience has been replaced! Welcome TJ Shade! Player List This turn ends in approximately 47.5 hours, on December 28, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. PST. Upvote Elandera for being nice enough to let me post the turn and writing a good portion of the write-up!

Shirage yorikaba

Arekora benetare

Merry merebur

Incomprehension, though I suppose my out of character inactivity is enough. I apologise for my absence. It seems that procrastination runs to the marrow. I accept my fate, and I'm genuinely surprised I've made it this far without paying attention at all. I ask for reasoning first. Fura's reasoning for my elim-ness was, and I quote, "idk why". Araris's reasoning was my ambivalence between a Condensation or Danex lynch. I have never particularly cared to engage in the D1 lynch, prefering to analyse the aftermath like a haruspex analysing entrails, so I don't think this point has much weight. STINK just voted on me from the beginning and appears to be playing as they usually do. I suppose I will vote for Somebody from Sel because I really haven't been keeping up or remembering anything, Fura's reasoning seems vaguely sound, and Araris may switch in the best of all possible worlds. [Future Gears here, the following bits are me rambling on about nothing and not making sense. Just ignore it. It's a collection of half-scattered thoughts from a strange mind.] Are we genuinely out of leads already? We are just a few mislynches [mis-executions? What term shall we use?] from LyLo [ExLo?], and I don't think this weak reasoning will allow us to find an elim in the next few cycles. When I die, what then? Where will you look? Interestingly enough, Fura expressed a not team Eternum-Alvron link [e/v or v/e], and when Alvron flipped village, the Eternum suspicion just... disappeared. I currently trust Eternum because of reveals last cycle, but Alvron's death was before that.

Things the new word must do: Fit the x, mis-x pattern [EX: "lynch", "mislynch". Make a nice acronym/abbreviation with x or lose. Be short. Be catchy. Proposals that I have seen: Defenestrate [which is just peachy but doesn't fit mis-x], execute [which is a self-descriptor, but doesn't fit mis-x], murder [which is alright, but doesn't fit mis-x], vote off [which is fine, but doesn't fit mis-x], remove [which I don't like because it's associated with mod kills] The mis-x pattern isn't working for many words. Defenestrate is fun, execute is a direct synonym, murder gets confused with the kill because the implication of mob justice isn't there, vote off is a plain descriptor, which is boring, and remove is possibly my least favorite because of its pre-existing use. The best ones are execute and vote off. Vote off is shorter. Execute is a bit more direct. Pick your poison.

Incomprehension is the name of the game.

Your brain is the Great Filter.

"Ah, thank you, Shade," the Anarchist said. "Now, let's go lay them around the building. The Shadow already placed ones in the interior." The two of them quickly set off around the spire, placing all of the explosives in various locations. The support beams were targeted heavily, many of them covered in the bombs. Reaching the upper floors was difficult, but the stone was rough enough that there were plenty of footholds. When all was said and done, the Trader's Heaven looked less like a building and more like a demolitions test. And of course, that's what it soon would be. As the seconds ticked by, the Shadow's planned escape time came and went. The plan had to be discarded, unfortunately. In a perfect world, she would be able to exit without complications, and the detonation could occur without risking her loyalty. But the Shadow was caught, and the Anarchist was not so arrogant to think that her loyalty was to the cause. She would abandon them all if it meant she could live. The time had come. The Anarchist pulled out a small remote, wired to all the explosives in and around the building. Hopefully, the Shadow had managed to lay down more explosives before being captured. Alas, there was no way to know, but it didn't matter anyways. "Are you ready?" the Anarchist asked without waiting for a response. The button sank down, and there was a brief moment of silence, rich with the taste of anticipation. Then the world was consumed by flame. By the time the Anarchist's vision cleared and the spots dissipated, the fireball had dwindled to a mere coating of fires on the edges of the spire. The center of the building had been consumed, but the structure still stood, for the most part. It didn't look like it would stay that way for long. Several supports were badly damaged, flames eating away at them quickly, and others were completely destroyed. The entire building was listing to one side. Perfect, beautiful, destruction. The Anarchist took a moment to revel in the carnage. "Isn't it beautiful?" the Anarchist asked, grinning widely, as though trying to swallow the sun. Mad and wild laughter echoed through the Alleyway as the Anarchist looked at Shade with gleaming eyes. "Isn't it magnificent?" @Ookla the Sly @Lord_Silberfarben

Bartender says, "Wow, it's a real zoo in here, isn't it."

Bear says, "This is a stick-up. I've got a gun and I'm not afraid to use it. Now, what have you done with Goose?"

Bartender says, "Why the long face?"

Horse walks into bar.

I leave always, your compelling tears desperately beg, stop struggling, stop begging desperately tearing compulsions, you always leave me. [I envision a mind manipulator trapping an ex, making them stay in love and telling them that they aren't allowed to leave while the manipulator keeps leaving for life. Then the ex breaks free and leaves again.] Lonely slumber, I long for darkness. You left, your dark furlough. I slumber alone. [That point in a relationship where one of you wants a break, and you are left alone.] Time! Muffin, it's done! "Is it ready?" It is done. It's Muffin Time! [I'm sure you remember asdfmovie.]

Revan. Nakairitas

24110 93629 43950

I exist. My last final is tomorrow. I will try to pay attention. I'm rereading the thread. Fura is basically cleared since bussing the most powerful teammate is probably not a good idea, and they've been pushing this lynch for a while. D1: Lots of V/V interaction. I like Books for some comments that are strictly disadvantageous for elims to make. Alvron likes ties. N1: Everyone bows to Danex for their infinite wisdom and cunning. D2: People look for a lynch target. People think about the Matrim kill [which we know in hindsight to be because of their position as Battar]. In hindsight, Matrim's repeated askings for the Shaman to pass them Blades makes a bit more sense. STINK pushes the lynch of Quinn, Matrim, or Gears N2: Vote manipulation! Ties are bad. I will return later. I am tired, it is late, and I haven't been paying enough attention. I have little to no suspicions [except for a lingering dislike of STINK for no reason]. I'll be back tomorrow, after finals in about 14 hours. Farewell. [Sidenote: This was an incredibly lacklustre 800th post.]

I intentionally tried to make sense with that statement. How dare.

Success is easily attained.

I thank thee for thy kind words and hope to defy thy expectations in the near future.

The silvery twigs only look like needles, in a certain slant of light.