Hoid Slayer

… except it’s not? I mean what I said Feeling empty inside, Ekkar Loral strolled back into the courtyard as the sun completed its descent. A lone figure sat in the center of the field; Arlun. Slowly, carefully, Ekkar walked over and sat down next to him. Inside, he still felt shattered. But it was Ekkar who had led the opposition against him in the final hours, and it was Ekkar who advocated for his death. It would not be Ekkar who let him die alone.

Ouch It’s not that I don’t like you Just that you being elim is the best hunch I have If you aren’t evil, then the real elims must be laughing their heads off at us right now

What about Araris? @ThatOneWorldhopper@IcedOutPenguin@CoderDrag0n8@BigBadBagsworth

Can we try? If no one comes online, I'm willing to switch to BBB But I'm set on at least taking this as far as I can

You didn't forge me, Amanuen No, all you did was identify the vote that would not be flipped *cue battle music*

I'm sorry I want to trust you, Aman But I am not backing off this ledge

Do you think Araris is elim? Honest question I don't know about BBB and CD But the more I look over what they've done, the more I feel like we don't have any reason to vote them out any more than KSauce, or TOW, or Penguin, or even Doc Also What do you mean by CW, and what makes you assume KSauce is the third link here? Honestly, I don't see this as very possible since I feel like elims should be able to force a village kill relatively easy this cycle if the village remains without unity I don't like the direction this cycle is headed We both know KSauce had little to no chance of death last cycle Though your delay there was definitely one of the things that most defend you in my eyes The only reason I can immediately think of for an e!Araris to do that is to save BBB - and I don't think BBB looks elim to me, partially for his self-vote But hey, maybe you told him to do that to then clear him So should I vote BBB then? Maybe I don't know But I want to do something different @ThatOneWorldhopper as As If @IcedOutPenguin as ___________ @Doc12 as Evi @Amanuensis as Kosm @KaladinsSenseOfHumorSpren as Lharir @CoderDrag0n8 as CD @Hoid Slayer as Ekkar Loral @Araris Valerian as Arlun @BigBadBagsworth as Iggdraz the Confused If the village is in there: You know what I want you to do

Honestly, I'm not quite sure. Let's go over this: He's incompatible with me (duh), probably you - as I'd like to assume for now that you and Araris aren't elim together, CD, and Penguin, I'd say. There also the matter of his animosity towards Doc. The truth is, Araris hasn't been making that many accusations at all. He's been vocal about his dislike of Penguin since the beginning (although he recently dropped that dislike, saying it seemed more "suboptimal village"), and... that's about it. I can imagine him being elim with TOW, KSauce, BBB... But honestly, my hunch on Araris isn't based entirely on facts as many of my others are - although, the more I look at it, the more confident I feel about this - it's based on me seeking a deviation from the standard. Besides this one, I've played in three standard SE games, and I've lost every single one. The most elims I've found is two - and that was because of unique mechanics that gave them away. Clearly, I need to do something different. I kinda already answered this, but like I said, this is just something that feels right Why am I asking these questions right now? Because I think they need to be asked. We've spent most of our attention on a select few, who have made small slip ups. But honestly, I'm starting to think villagers are more likely to slip up than elims - because elims act with more care. Villagers make mistakes; elims correct them.

I don't know what to do But I know I don't like the way things are going I want to preface this by saying this isn't a good, in depth summary: now that we're back in the school week, I won't be able to pull another of those for the rest of the game - although it doesn't look like it'll last much longer anyways I went over BBB's behavior; C1, he voted me for accusing Polly without evidence. He then dropped the vote on me, switching to TwinStorm. He called sus on Araris and Twin, and left his vote on TwinStorm the entire day. C2, he attacks Twin and says he's suspicious of me. This cycle, all he's done is say he doesn't know what to do, and vote himself. Now, a lot of what he has done is odd. But not having any ideas? Not doing anything, to the point of voting himself? That doesn't read elim to me. Because I suspect one of either Aman or Araris, maybe even Doc, is elim - and I don't see any of them directing BBB here. So I won't vote him. Now, for CD, the other rival: First, I don't think the elims would have let the CD train pile so quickly if they are against his death. There has been little defense for CD. As for his actions: C1, CD poke-voted me. Then, CD retracted the vote on me before I even responded - which, I will admit, is kinda weird - and didn't do much until voting BBB. At the time, BBB wasn't likely to get the exe. Later, CD retracted his vote and voted TwinStorm for cycle end. All of this does seem somewhat elim indicative. C2, CD was decently active in the discussion on Saturday. He voted BBB "to make a tie" with less than an hour left in the cycle, but then switched to TwinStorm last minute. Why? Why would an elim make such a move, drawing attention to them? This cycle, CD has been vocally against BBB. He has been attacked for his defensive stance; yet, as I stated in QF 76, and I state again, I've seen CD act defensive even outside SE. I actually went back and reread part of QF 76: a game in which CD was notably innocent. Tone sound a little familiar? Or try vs (couldn't quote that one cause it's closed, but you get what I'm saying) I may not fully support CDs actions, but more than anything, they are consistent So instead, I want to try something else I'm going to follow my gut Let's be honest, my vote on TOW isn't doing anything So let it rest on Araris Valerian Put quite simply: Why am I still alive? Why is Aman still alive? Why the heck is Araris still alive? A veteran, who's been quite active Say whatever you will, I see no reason for an elim team to not have already NKed Araris The ONLY elim I really see keeping Araris alive is me - to hide - and I know that world isn't true. Araris has made plenty of factual analysis, but none that I truly agree with. And from someone with his experience, frankly, I'd expect a little more. It feels somewhat like trying to drag our attention away from what matters. Maybe this is just me getting flashbacks to LG 106. But this is a read that, for now, I am willing to throw my weight behind. I hope others follow. I've already spent way too much time I should be doing homework on this post, but I'm going to try and fit in a little RP: Ekkar ran to Evinir and grabbed him. He pulled their bodies together, squeezing, and buried his face in the taller man's shoulders. And then he began to sob. He let it all out; all the pressure of the recent events. Of his past. Everything. The pain he had kept in, all the shock of being an outsider, of not knowing who he was. Of seeing his friends die. It came over him, and he let the tears wash it all away. Then, suddenly, Ekkar felt a force pushing him away. Hands, holding him at arms length. He looked up, and saw Evinir Cragborn staring at him with a gaze of aversion. Of disgust. Choking through the tears, body wracked with heaves and a dry laughter, Ekkar choked his name out. "Evinir." "Ekkar..." Evinir looked him up and down, then let go of him and clearly stopped himself before wiping his hands on his coat. "Ekkar... what happened to you?" Ekkar looked down at his ragged self, then glanced back up, crooked smile on his face. "It doesn't matter, you're here now, you can fix everything..." Ekkar reached out to grab Evinir, but the man pulled back. And Ekkar finally began to realize. "Ekkar, I'm sorry. I don't know what's happening." "The priests... they're dying... someone's killing them! Evinir, you have to stop them!" A glaze went over Evinir's eyes, and Ekkar sensed a depth - a frailty - he had never seen before. A weariness. No. He must have imagined it. But then Evinir turned away. "I'm sorry, Ekkar. I can't help you." And slowly, impossibly, Evinir began to walk away. His footsteps faded, and Ekkar didn't go after him. Like a fool, he stood there, drenched in sweat and tears, smile gone, in the dark chamber. Completely alone.

Welcome back! I don't have a lot of time right now, but I'm leaning village on you right now I think there's probably an elim in Aman / Araris; otherwise, elims sacrifice all game control, and I'm leaning towards Araris based on the fact both me and him are still alive Will have to analyse possible elim teams later, but I'm taking anything Araris says with a grain of salt ALSO, important to mention I will not be nearly as online tomorrow as I have been these past two days, as, like BBB, I cannot access the Shard from school I'm gonna leave my vote on BBB though for now; I don't like his self-vote nearly as much as Doc does Also, @Doc12, and anyone else interested, KSauce compiled a list of Courts and seniority that I've been using: @ThatOneWorldhopper, you’re on the recently browsing

What makes you read TOW as Town? I have a pretty neutral read on him right now If that's the elim team, village is screwed Seriously though, that team makes 0 sense If we were on the same page, why would we be talking so much? Logically, we would just lay back and let the thread fall into inactivity - maybe argue a little for fun, but not to this extent. Honestly, both of your teams feel very surface level to me You basically said "the people who are talking the most, and everyone else" *gasps* I definitely need to RP a reaction to this But seriously, I don't think this clears you

Oh, that's fine I was talking about the pressure on you, not you per se ALTHOUGH I would also like to hear your opinion on events

Alright I get that But why KSauce?

Ooooh I understand now Wait Weren't you attacking TOW earlier? Can you explain your logic?

So why don't you help us find them? I trust that you're a villager, Penguin Sincerely, I do But I need you to hold up your part of the bargain Right now, honestly, I don't see what to do other than wait for more people to show up. Aman, if you had to vote now, who would you go after? Except there's nine of us, not 8. It's why we would stay alive past this cycle if there're three elims instead of dying by equalization Also, lowkey, I look forward to the day I'm elim, cause in every game I play I instantly get mass village-read except for that one time we don't talk about It looks kinda performative to me for end of cycle voting. The initial vote on BBB sounds sincere and not like a poke. Then CD realizes that BBB already has a vote on him, so he backs off and "clarifies". And then after BBB gives justification, CD switches to TwinStorm. I had actually spoken out about this In retrospect, I don't think it's as big of a deal as I made it out to be before, though I would say, however, that in this case an e!CD flip would incriminate BBB, as there is no reason for e!CD to make this switch if not to keep BBB alive Not quite ready to jump on the CD train though... Current VC: BBB (2): CD, Windrunner KSauce (2): Penguin, Stoneward TOW (1): Hoid CD (1): Araris Ekkar Loral stood alone. He had followed the instructions on the note to this chamber. The very place Zyvoxid, and Leucosia before her, had died. This morning, it was empty. Filled with the silence of the dead and Lifeless. Ekkar wasn't sure what he was looking for. Answers, he supposed. Answers where all he wanted. The note wasn't signed, and so Ekkar had taken a leap of faith by trusting it. Perhaps it was stupid to come to the site of two murders, and his body thrummed in that fear. But the chance of a reward was too great. Of course, no one had shown up yet. Ekkar's mind drifted to the events of the morning; Kosm's return had shaken everything up. Now, Ekkar and Arlun didn't stand alone. Of course, besides the pair of them and Kosm, most of the priesthood still remained oddly silent. And Ekkar couldn't shake a feeling that the people behind these murders were in control. ________ behaved weirdly, but for some reason, Ekkar trusted him. The others... he didn't know. He didn't know. Ekkar sighed, and was ready to leave the chamber when a step sounded behind him. His body tensed instantly, and slowly, carefully, Ekkar Loral turned around. Then everything loosened in relief, and he choked out a raspy laugh. Because standing behind him, looking at him with that stern gaze that could solve any problem, was Evinir Cragborn. Glorious.

While I highly suspect both BBB and CD, I do see a world with an elim team of Araris/Aman, KSauce, and TOW Just saying, it's possible, and we shouldn't tunnel too much I like Penguin I do I don't know how to feel about recent events, but regardless of who is village and who is not, the elims are the ones who benefit the most from our fighting I also don't particularly like the moral conflict you and Aman seem to be having over the NKs I'm glad that we all seem to agree on BBB for now, and want to run that as far as we can Normally, I try to make some plot to find elims - but without special abilities or PMs in this game, that's hard

I don't think you're quite worth voting However, I know the elims probably want some thread control, unless there's a thread inactive elim team on our hands and they are just standing back and watching us all at our throats So I tentatively think there is most probably at least one elim between Me, You, Araris and CD Vibes and past experience tell me Araris, but those vibes are contradictory and the truth is I have little idea what I'm doing CD is also somewhat sus, and I don't know what to think about you We'll have to wait for Doc to come back for a read on him, and Penguin reads village to me despite all his oddities Also, anyone else notice how BBB is fading into the background...

Ooooookay Can't support you, then Do you have any reason, literally any at all, why you think TOW is more suspicious than Doc? Honestly, I'm still trying to figure out why I didn't die last night Aman, what makes you see Araris as elim? And how do you feel about BBB, who right now is on the slate to die today?

Ngl, all these questions are striking me as a little weird So long as you reveal all you've got while we've still got time to act on it, though, I'm gonna let you cook Quite the accusation there, buddy Care to elaborate on this? Huh... So @Amanuensis, maybe you are onto something I still wouldn't spend too much time obsessing over that Aman, you've popped in quite suddenly and become obsessed with some quite specific stuff What do you think of BBB? Of Araris? Also, @ThatOneWorldhopper, I know you're online, so... TOW Let's hear it

So Willshapers starting was Gaea, Polly, and Aman Elsecallers starting was me (Hoid), CD, KSauce, and BBB Actually, I like your explanation here quite a bit I look forward to seeing your read, as I'm pretty lost here. We need more people posting @ThatOneWorldhopper@IcedOutPenguin@KaladinsSenseOfHumorSpren anything would be nice. Oh, and Starting Bondsmiths are TwinStorm, TUH, and Araris Which makes starting Stonewards TOW, Penguin, and Doc I don't think we should read into the starting Courts too much, though @A Jo in the Bush, were the starting Courts randomized or did you pick them specifically?

Quite the turnaround on Iced there

The more active you get, the more I'm liking you, even if the fact I'm alive is a little weird I also feel like CD has been acting somewhat weird this cycle, particularly in his attempts to clear himself and eagerness to kill BBB Maybe I need to reconsider their potential team... To be honest, I don't fully agree with your theorizing that Polly's death means the elims are all active, but at least one or two of them definitely are Also, I'd like to go over something Araris mentioned in our doc. There is a world in which the elims actually benefitted from keeping TwinStorm alive, as that would automatically keep him in the queue for future exes and allow them to control the cycle of exes In this world, my reasoning for Aman being villa is rendered moot, so it's forcing me to reconsider that read. Going over Aman's other behavior: - Voting Polly after I voted Polly, without acknowledging my vote in C1 - Backing Araris on Penguin train - Switches vote from Penguin to TUH last minute to cinch C1 exe, again saying he didn't see my vote C2: - Says he was indifferent between TUH and TwinStorm, and doesn't vote In a world in which Aman is elim, and the elims are using this strategy: Aman is incompatible with BBB, so that's pretty important. Aaaand that's really all I can think of Personally, I don't think it's very likely that the elims are behaving like this, but thank you Araris for bringing it to my attention Well, I've already done this too, sort of I find this post kinda weird, so my v!read on you is slowly fading I wouldn't be so brash as to say I want anyone dead ASAP, but if I had to list players from most sus to least sus, descending: BBB CD KSauce You Araris Penguin and TOW I have no read on, but I think one of them could definitely be elim Doc

... Then why are you even taking this stance?

Well... We do have to keep in mind that a BBB exe (or ANY exe) doesn't necessarily end in good. In fact, depending on elim count, we could be dying here. What about BBB reads Village to you? What about KSauce reads elim? I gave my reasoning, let's hear yours That's all you've got to say? I want to hear as much of your analysis as I can I would also like to hear any theories you have about the Polly kill, because it utterly confuses me Evinir was here. Ekkar's mind reeled in confusion, blood pounding in his ears as he walked the silent corridors of the Court of Gods. He had received hardly any sleep at night, the entire time spent analyzing. In anticipation. The confident high of yesterday was replaced by shock, itchy stress, and a growing fear. This was real. Four priests were dead. Ekkar could have been one of them. Could still be. And Evinir was here. After passing out past midnight, Ekkar had awoken on the floor of his quarters to see a glimpse of light streaming in. In a daze, not thinking clearly, he had retraced the familiar steps to Elsecaller's quarters before realizing. Now, he stood before the entrance, unsure of what to do. His feet had led him here, but he knew nothing awaited him past those doors. Nothing but memories. Finally, a voice broke the silence. "Ekkar Loral?" Ekkar turned to see a slight girl standing before him. She averted her gaze, looking at the floor, arms crossed holding some papers in front of her chest. In an instant, Ekkar realized how he must look. He hadn't washed in days, and his heaving chest was covered in sweat from stress. Not to mention his clothes. For a while, he just looked at the girl, and she fidgeted nervously. Finally, she pushed forth the papers she was holding. "Your reassignment," she said meekly. Reassignment? Realization set in. He grabbed the papers. "Thank you," he said. She still stood there, fidgeting, occasionally looking up at him. She was young. Really young. It took him a second to open his mouth again. "Uh... you can go now." "Right! Of course." She scurried away, leaving Ekkar alone once more. He watched her go, everything a blur, into finally raising the papers to read them. Court of Protecting. He was to serve Windrunner, along with... Arlun and CD. Right. He had asked to be placed with them. Standing alone in the massive hall, Ekkar swiftly stuffed the reassignment in the pocket of his robes and began to drag his feet towards the new Court. Leaving the past behind. He was so preoccupied with the reassignment, Ekkar didn't notice the note stuffed between the papers, right where the girl would have missed it.