Jo and the Bush

Willshaper's ability is to make a court/google doc stay open for its members. As of now, all living players are inside a single court. This ability thus does not actually change the game. Truthwatcher was the only god to reveal the alignment of a player. Doc12's alignment was revealed. Araris ordered the gods in such a way that at this point none of them will actually affect the game.

Big Bad Bagsworth has been replaced with @Aeternum There is 13 hours left in this cycle. Current Vote Count: Aeternum (3): That One Worldhopper, Xinoehp512, Willshaper the Resolute That One Worldhopper (2): Doc12 and Iced Out Penguin. EDIT: For those who enjoy them, the missing C4 writeup has been edited in.

Here is the Situation. BBB has not been online since Sunday. In most games, I would not replace a player for missing a single cycle. However, Kaladin's Humor has specifically asked to be replaced due to a flight and other IRL things. So I am replacing him. Because of that, I am also going to replace BBB if I can find a Pinch Hitter. Both of them will be subbed in as soon as they are ready to, rather than waiting for a rollover. This is the advice as given to me by our Impartial Moderator, who was not made aware of anyone's alignment. I am posting this now because @xinoehp512 has graciously agreed to replace Kaladin's Humor, and has been slotted in. Current Vote Count: Big Bad Bagsworth (3): That One Worldhopper, Xinoehp512, Willshaper the Resolute That One Worldhopper (2): Doc12 and Iced Out Penguin. There is about 22 hours left in the cycle.

Truthwatcher reveals laid his hands on Evi's shoulders. There had been much debate amongst his priesthood, but he was satisfied with this choice. "Evi, You have been a learned priest, or so I am told. I never had the privilege of your service, but your peers have spoken highly of you. Do you have any expectations?" The priest shook their head. "No, Lord Truthwatcher. I am loyal to the Gods. I gladly accept this." Truthwatcher nodded. "Very well. My command is thus; tell us of your loyalties. My life to yours, my Breath become yours." Light filled Evi's eyes, and they spoke. "I am Evi, loyal priest of the people of Hallandren, and the gods of T'Telir." ***** CD hurried through the halls, knife hidden in his robes. Things were going bad fast, but could still be salvaged. He just had to get to the storage room where Kosm was working, kill her, and get out without being seen, before the debate could be finished or his absence noted. If the timing worked out, he would have an alibi, Kosm wouldn't be able to testify against him, and things would be peachy. He slowed outside the storage room, tried to modulate his breathing to appear calm, and smoothed his robes. Everything was normal, there was no threat. He smiled congenially and pushed the door open. "Hello? Is anyone in here?" Kosmwas at the far end of the records storage, near an ink repository. Hundreds of vials of different hues of beautiful ink stored for use. She looked up at him, and her gaze hardened. Her eyes flicked to the door, then to the surrounding room. "CD, I'm using this room. Please leave, I have no interest in talking to you right now." He hesitated. She was suspicious of him, and both of them knew that she was trapped in here. If he tried to kill her, would she be able to defend herself when on guard? Should he leave now and just debate her and her allies later and hope to make it out? Willshaper trusted him, but Truthwatcher trusted her. Kosm flipped the cork off a vial of bright yellow ink, then grabbed a quill. She moved away from the shelves, until there was no walls within arm's reach of her. She dipped the quill in the ink, then wrote on her arm. She raised it, revealing what was scratched into her skin. CD MURDERED ME "Try it CD. Alive or dead, I serve as a Witness to the Truth." He stared at her. She glared back. He sighed, stepped inside, and shut the door. "You know I can just erase that right? Like, there's more ink I can use to cover that?" He drew his knife. She smiled and continued staring. He took three slow steps toward her, then feinted a lunge. She stepped backward, and flung the uncorked vial in a wide sweep, spraying the ink across his robes. CD swore, and lunged for real, slashing wildly. She screamed as she failed to dodge, but stabbed the quill into his cheek, mixing blood into the yellow ink. He stabbed her again, and she fell, silent, to the ground. CD hissed, and pressed his hand to his bloody cheek. He was covered in blood and ink, and so was Kosm. He grabbed the quill and headed for the door. If he could somehow hide his robes, and wash his face, he might be able to stall long enough to avoid arrest. They would come for him, certainly, but if-- He opened the door, and was startled by a hand reaching for the knob, Evi stepped back surprised. "CD? What are you, what happened to your face? I was looking for Kosm." Behind Evi stood Willshaper, and another 4 priests, and a dozen guards. CD stared at them. There were gasps as people saw Kosm's body. He sighed. "I plead guilty." MR74 - C5: Timbre Cycle 5 begins! Coder Dragon has been exiled from Hallandren on suspicion of Corruption and Murder! They were a Pahn Kahl Conspirator! Amanuensis has been murdered in the night! Doc12 has been revealed as a Loyal Priest! They are still alive! Willshaper has announced that she will give up her breath this cycle! Due to player count, all remaining players are in Willshaper's court. This means that there will be no Court doc created for Willshaper. Additionally, Willshaper's ability does not actually function in any meaningful sense due to player count, so voting on her breath does not matter. Final Vote Count: Due to Seniority, the tie broke in favor of Amanuensis. Kaladin's Sense of Humor (1): Iced Out Penguin Iced Out Penguin (3): Coder Dragon, That One Worldhopper, Willshaper the Resolute Coder Dragon (3): Doc 12, Amanuensis, Truthwatcher the Learned Players in order of Seniority: (Stoneward's Breath was used.) @ThatOneWorldhopper as As If @Doc12 as Evi @xinoehp512 as Kaladin's Sense of Humor Spren @Aeternum as Big Bad Bagsworth @IcedOutPenguin as ___________ Gods in order of Senority: Willshaper Lightweaver Dustbringer Skybreaker Edgedancer Windrunner

IS IT DONE YET? IS THE CYCLE DONE? IF NO ONE HAS NINJA'd ME THEN THE CYCLE IS DONE

Current Vote Count: Kaladin's Sense of Humor (1): Iced Out Penguin Iced Out Penguin (3): Coder Dragon, That One Worldhopper, Willshaper the Resolute Coder Dragon (3): Doc 12, Amanuensis, Truthwatcher the Learned

AAAAAAAAAAAAAhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh This cycle ends in 15 minutes.

Currently 3 minutes left in the cycle. The time gets extended from the most recent vote, which was you 12 minutes ago.

Current Vote Count: Kaladin's Sense of Humor (3): Amanuensis, Iced Out Penguin, Truthwatcher the Learned Iced Out Penguin (3): Coder Dragon, That One Worldhopper, Willshaper the Resolute Coder Dragon (1): Doc 12

Well that was nice and Quiet. Unless I've been ninja'd by a vote, Cycle 4 is over. EDIT: LMAO, 15 minutes left in the cycle EDIT2: The current Vote Count is as follows: Kaladins Sense Of Humor Spren (7): Amanuensis, Iced Out Penguin, Doc12, Coder Dragon, That One Worldhopper, Willshaper the Resolute, Truthwatcher the Learned

Rollover is currently in 40 Minutes. Current Vote Count: I am including Willshaper and Truthwatcher because you all do have the necessary knowledge to figure it out Kaladins Sense Of Humor Spren (4): Amanuensis, Iced Out Penguin, Doc12, and Truthwatcher the Learned Iced Out Penguin (3): Coder Dragon, That One Worldhopper, and Willshaper the Resolute

I have 7 players left in my game. It is now guaranteed to end in less than a week. Who is running the next Long Game? The current top 5 is Current List is: @Experience @Steeldancer @xinoehp512 @The Wandering Wizard @Ashbringer @Amanuensis do you want to switch to Tress?

Stoneward was bored. Watching the priests fight amongst themselves about whether Arlun was a conspirator or not had been fun, kinda, but not really relevant to her. What was relevant to her was the complete lack of fighting amonst themselves about who would get her breath. It didn't seem like anyone wanted it. In the end, she did decide to give it up. She kept her reasons to herself. :-**-: Ekkar sat in the field, watching the empty door that Arlun had been led through. His fellow priest had been bitter and silent even as the guards came. Ekkar ruminated on his choices, worrying about whether he would ever learn the truth. With each priest that they exiled from the court, the murders continued. They had no way of knowing how many accomplices Kabsal had. Even if the murders ended, would they know for sure it was because they had exiled the conspirators? What if they just stopped killing? What if the murders stopped now that Arlun was gone? Would that vindicate Ekkar’s paranoia? Or would it just be coincidence? What would need to happen for Ekkar to not feel guilt about his actions this day? A priest appeared in the doorway. For the briefest of moments, he imagined it to be Arlun, but it was CD. He did not greet Windrunner’s other priest as he made his way over. Just watched. CD had been among those to escort Arlun away. Why was he back? “Brother Ekkar, I apologize for disturbing you, but, I had thought I heard you praying.” “I was.” “Praying to Austre?” Ekkar considered, then nodded. He patted the ground beside himself. CD looked at it, and then crouched down. “Brother CD, have you ever considered how the Iridescent Tones have changed over the centuries? Vo had visions of the future, and taught of how to prevent Sin. Do you think this time was one of those he saw?” “ ‘I saw men who placed themselves above others,’ ” CD quoted one of the proverbs, “ ‘and I saw them cast down.’ Yes, I do think he may have seen this time.” Ekkar frowned. “Not actually the one I was thinking of. ‘I heard those who sang their own glory, and I heard songs of their fall.’” CD cocked his head. “You think you are being selfish?” He shrugged. “Not selfish, but, too sure of myself perhaps. When I think back on Arlun, I wonder if I put too much weight on my intuition. I’ll never know for sure if I was right, but I believed so strongly that I was. The longer I think on it, the less sure I become.” CD nodded slowly, but didn’t respond. “Why do you think Vo saw this as a time in which people were oppressing others?” CD looked at him with a frown. “Do you really not have any guess why I might think that brother Ekkar?” He thought about it. The God King was certainly above others, but he had been elevated by Austre himself. The priests certainly enjoyed certain privileges that the common folk didn’t have the ability to enjoy, but that wasn’t exactly them placing themselves above them. They served them. Was it the Conspirators who were placing themselves above others? “The Conspirators are arrogantly declaring themselves the Judges of the gods?” CD’s eyes widened, and he barked out a laugh. “I suppose so! Not exactly what I had been talking about, but yes, I suppose we are in a manner of speaking.” Ekkar’s blood went cold. We. CD had just admitted to being a Conspirator. Was it intentional? Was it a slip of the tongue? Had he done it on purpose? “But no Ekkar, that’s not exactly what I meant. It’s the second part that I was thinking of. ‘I saw them cast down.’ I’m thinking about the Returned themselves brother. Three of them have given up their breath in less than a week, that’s a record. And yet we’re ignoring them in favor of squabbling amongst ourselves. They’ve been the most important part of T’Telir since the Manywar, and most of us can’t even be bothered to advise them on important matters.” “Stoneward needs advice, but instead you’re out here moping. Both of you have placed yourself above others, and both of you need casting down.” Ekkar tried to spring to his feet, but he had been seated for too long, and CD was crouched. The man sprung, one hand grabbing Ekkar’s throat before he could make a noise, and the other throwing out a scarf. “Hold Things.” The scarf grabbed one of his flailing hands and started wrapping the fingers together. He scrabbled in the grass with his free hand, searching for anything to use as a weapon. His bound hand beat against CD’s head, but the assassin just grunted and squeezed tighter. “Ekkar, Hallandren has placed itself above my people for centuries. It has crushed us. We are here to finally cast it down.” He leaned in closer, his breath hot on Ekkar’s ear. “Arlun was a fool, just like you. So suspicious of his strongest allies. You all made this so much easier than it needed to be.” His vision went black around the edges. He kicked out, trying to get purchase underneath to buck CD off, but the man had obviously trained in wrestling. He casually rode the motion, then jerked a knee into Ekkar’s ribs, sending a pulse of pain into his burning lungs. “And don’t worry Ekkar, if you Return, I’ll make sure to guide you along a more just path.” :-**-: Truthwatcher felt useless. Truth be told, he always had felt useless as a god. People came to him for the truth, and he wasn't believed when he gave it to them. Or he was believed, and the receiver was destroyed for it. The Truth hurt, in a way that no falsehood ever could. But lately, it was starting to seem like a lack of Truth was destroying the Court of the Returned. Truthwatcher wasn't sure what the Truth was, not right now. But he knew, that he could use his breath to make someone reveal their Truth. Reveal if they were hiding something. The only question, was if he would be in time to do so. Time was short. MR74 - C4: Glys Cycle 4 begins! Araris Valerian has been exiled from Hallandren on suspicion of Corruption and Murder! They were not Pahn Kahl. Hoid Slayer has been murdered in the night! Truthwatcher has announced that he will give up his breath this cycle! Final Vote Count: Araris Valerian (4): Araris Valerian, Kaladin's Spren, Hoid Slayer and Windrunner the Protecting Big Bad Bagsworth (2): Coder Dragon, and Big Bad Bagsworth Coder Dragon (3): Doc12, Amanuensis and Willshaper the Resolute Iced Out Penguin (2): That One Worldhopper and Stoneward the Resourceful Kaladin's Spren (1): Iced Out Penguin Players in order of Seniority: @Amanuensis as Kosm @KaladinsSenseOfHumorSpren as Lharir @CoderDrag0n8 as CD @BigBadBagsworth as Iggdraz the Confused @IcedOutPenguin as ___________ @Doc12 as Evi @ThatOneWorldhopper as As If THE GODS SENIORITY HAS BEEN CHANGED Truthwatcher Willshaper Lightweaver Dustbringer Skybreaker Edgedancer Windrunner

Unless I've gotten ninja'd by a vote, this cycle is now over.

8 minutes left

So, with half an hour left in Cycle 3, this is the Vote Count as I see it: Araris Valerian (2): Kaladin's Spren and Hoid Slayer Big Bad Bagsworth (2): Coder Dragon, and Big Bad Bagsworth Coder Dragon (3): Doc12, Amanuensis, and Araris Valerian Iced Out Penguin (1): That One Worldhopper Kaladin's Spren (1): Iced Out Penguin If there are any errors in it, please point them out.

Honestly not sure what you're asking. So I'll answer every possible variety. First off, I chose the seniority of the gods, before I even posted signups. Then I determined that only the seniormost gods would have priests. There's never going to be a seniormost god with zero priests. Second, once everyone had signed up, I ordered the priests by 17th Shard join date to determine Seniority. Then I determined non randomly how many priests would be in each court, then non randomly how many elims would be in each court. Effectively I had something like LightSong: (7 loyal priests, 2 Elim priests) Blushweaver: (3 Loyal Priests, 1 Elim Priests) SharkBait: (5 Loyal Priests, 0 Elim Priests) Then I randomized the ordering of those priests and put the Priest Seniority List in that. If this didn't answer your question, then Play and Find out.

Bondsmith met with every god over the next few weeks. With each of them, he discussed the situation, discussed the past, discussed the connections that bound them all together. From each of them, except Stoneward, he extracted a promise. An oath to listen to his chosen champion. Bondsmith had wanted it to be Matrim Cauthon, but the conspirators had struck first and fabricated evidence against the man. Bondsmith had to believe the evidence was fabricated, lest he begin to doubt his own sanity. In the end, he gave his breath to the only priest that asked for it. :-**-: Zyvoxid Linezolid had taken it upon herself to arrange for the funeral rites of Leucosia. There were a number of oddities associated with her supposed death. For one, no body had turned up. The scribes had simply received her death certificate. For two, she had last been seen entering the Lifeless barracks, where she had no place. For three, the priest who had seen her enter it was not a priest she had ever met before. "You said you were a priest of LightWeaver?" The priest nodded as they walked in front of her. "Indeed sister. I swore to follow LightWeaver's teachings and see to her every need some years ago." She nodded. "It's curious to me that LightWeaver was given charge over some of the Lifeless. Any idea why that happened?" They shrugged. "No sister. I was not a priest during her return. Just a young acolyte in training under NightMother, do you remember her?" Zyvoxid nodded. NightMother had been a strange god. The priest pulled a key out of their robes and inserted it into the locked barracks door. They stepped back, opened the door, and gestured inside. "After you elder sister." She stepped into the hall of the barracks and observed the gentle slope of the hall that lead underground to where the armies waited. There were 4 lifeless guarding the way against trespassers. She began to walk and glanced over her shoulder to ask the priest a question. The door slammed shut behind her. The priest wasn't in the room with her. She stared at the door in horror as she heard the key turn in the lock. The lifeless started walking towards her, drawing their weapons as they advanced. The next morning, LightWeaver announced there would be an official audit of her troops, and a full investigation into the disappearances of two priests within her barracks. :-**-: Stoneward laughed when she heard the news. "Bondsmith wants us to keep fighting against conspirators, but then he goes and orders us around and dies? Nuts to that!" Her head priest, Ua'pam, sighed behind her. She smirked up at him. She was the shortest god in the courts, which made her unusually tall priest just a little taller than her. A strange inversion of how most pairs were. He probably would have made a better returned than she would have. "Pammy, listen, I don't want to Bondsmith to have the last word. Gather my priests, I want to see if any of them are good enough to receive my breath. I'm not saying I'm gonna do it, but I want them to fight over it anyway. See if any of them are deserving of it. Ua'pam nodded. "Your will be done, my god." MR74 - C3: Ua'pam Cycle 3 begins! TwinStorm has been exiled from Hallandren on suspicion of Corruption and Murder! They were not Pahn Kahl. KelsierApologist has been murdered in the night! Stoneward has announced that he will give up his breath this cycle! Final Vote Count: Big Bad Bagsworth (3): Twin Storm, Hoid Slayer, and Bondsmith the Pious Kaladins Sense of Humor Spren (3): Doc12, Araris Valerian, and Stoneward the Resourceful Twin Storm (4): Kaladins Spren, Coder Dragon, Bagsworth, and Willshaper the Resolute Players in order of Seniority: @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

Cycle 2 is over, unless there is another vote that goes up seconds before this post appears. If it appears after this post, then too bad, you waited too many seconds.

You beat me by seconds. I really thought with @The Unknown Hammerer dying C1, the Hammer rule wouldn't be used. alright, 15 more minutes.

Yup.

This vote was posted at 1857 by my clock, which means the cycle ends in 11 minutes from now.

We currently have 8 minutes left in the cycle from this exact post. Is everyone satisfied with their choices?

Yes