WWJ VIII ~ Things That Go "Quack" In The Night

[The Saucepan Man]

Originally Posted by The Diamoddess Goddess

“You can’t take two of us!” exclaimed Not-Cailín, and turned to Saucepan Orc for support. To his horror, he saw not Saucepan Orc, but a large, smug looking Goose.

“Honk,” said Saucepan Goose.

Perfect!

They dined on villagers, and slices of quince
Which they ate with a rucible spoon;
And wing in wing, on the edge of the pond
They danced by the light of the moon
The moon
The moon,
They danced by the light of the moon!

Aw, shucks. How sweet. But we shall have be divorced before the next game, as I have promised myself to Celuien.

A great ending, Diamond, to top all the wonderful Day/Night interludes that you wrote. Really, great credit to you. Not only did you mod wonderfully, but your rules made for an exceptionally exciting, paranoia-inducing, roller-coasting, at times very stressful, but ultimately fantastically enjoyable game.

Originally Posted by Kath

Sauce you are an absolute gem!

You are most welcome, my Lady Duck. And you were cool as a cucumber under some pretty heavy pressure there.

Originally Posted by Formy

Excellent job, by the way, Saucy- a much better showing than as a Cobbler in Anguirel's game.

Schtoopid Heroes! At least the Ducks had the good sense not to kill me.

Which brings a point to mind. What would have happened had the Ducks targeted me, or one of the Gifteds, on Night 2, Di?

Originally Posted by Jenny

Saucie, I have got to believe you thought me innocent, since you got me killed. But...I forgive you, because this is the first time being on the evil side has been a winning situation for me.

Yeah, sorry about that. I had to pick some suspects and thought the best cases that I could make were against you and morm. I really was rather surprised and annoyed when you turned out to be a Duck. I didn’t vote for you though, as I was more certain of morm’s innocence.

My tactics were quite straightforward. Try to look innocent and stay alive as long as possible until I might be of some use to the Ducks. Had an opportunity presented itself to declare as a Gifted, I had it in mind. The Goosey strategy morm outlined had already occurred to me as a possibility, in the right circumstances. I was incredibly lucky though, being declared innocent and then it looking like the Goose had been killed. Although towards the end I was rather happy that I wasn’t a complete “known” innocent as it kept alive the opportunity for me to sacrifice myself, should circumstances require. My final day tactic was to lay into Nogrod in an attempt either to make myself look like the Duck and provoke a vote for me (hence my deliberate mistake about the odds) or to get him lynched. I could not be sure he was not the Duck, so voting for him was a risk, but he sounded so genuine throughout. And it was a better bet than voting for myself, because I suspected that Nogrod might be the Nightingale.

Originally Posted by morm

Sauce were you poking serious holes in my cases or were they contrived? I thought I had some decent evidence but you kept shooting everything down that I did and I guess the village decided to listen to you.

Well, they were certainly contrived. But (at times, bitter) experience has taught me that you can generally make a case against anyone if you try hard enough. Perfectly innocent comments or slips can be made to look sinister (sorry, Mith ) and voting records can be painted as just too Duckish to be Duckish, if you get my meaning. With you and Noggy, I thought your votes for spawn and Jenny could be quite credibly be viewed as Duck-on-Duck votes. And I am afraid that your request to Mith not to dream of you was a bit of a gift.

It would have been interesting to see how things would have gone had no one left the game. I suspect that Kath and I might have been hard pushed to stave you all off for what would have been another Day at least. Although the voting would probably have gone completely differently, and there would have been more people to (possibly) make cases against, so who can tell?

[Diamond18]

Ahhhhh... the awards have arrived in their bubble wrap -- custom made, limited edition Goomba Golden Ducks, the most coveted awards in Ducktapia. Special thanks to Mr. Goomba for designing all these lovely Duckies.

And the winners are:


Nilpaurion Fowlagund:

The "Live Fast, Die Young" Award

It was really more bad luck than anything that got Nilp killed the first day, but I have to point out that the perennial self vote did not exactly help matters any. Still, a fun single post which gave me ideas for the death scene. Hopefully I'll get to play with you a bit longer in LMP's game.

Dancing Duck of Ungoliant:

The "I See My Reputation Precedes Me" Award

It's always hard to be a Werecreature when you're the sort of person the Seer wants to dream of as soon as possible.

Lalaith:

The "Ghost of the Nightingale" Award

It’s really too bad she got killed so soon... but her ghost did have some effect on the game!

Roa Aoife:

The "Holy Wereducks, Batwoman!" Award

I was so sorry to see her go early, but glad to have her in the game. I laughed so much over her first post, with the batman references, so really, what better award....

Sleepy-Wan Rangeobi:

The "Lightsaber / Sexiest Hair" Award

I'm really sorry Sleepy had to leave mid-game... however I appreciated the opportunity for bad Star Wars jokes he provided in not one but two narrative posts. Oh, and he wanted the Sexiest Hair award.

JennyDucku:

The "The Quicker Quacker Backer / You Only Live Twice" Award

Being the cursed villager gave her a second, more dastardly, chance at life in the game, and she did her best with it despite some unfortunate RL constraints. Also, the rhyme she included in her PM on Night 4 still cracks me up.

Anguirel:

The "Papageno the Cod-Rhyming Hawk" Award

Every death pick came to me in rhyme, which tickled me to no end. (And the rhymes themselves are posted above.)

Glirdan:

The "Destroyers and Usurpers, Curse Them!" Award

Both Owls had their work cut out for them, and Glirdan had the most trouble being believed, even after Spawn's death. I was in disbelief about that -- but then, maybe I just think things are so obvious because I came up with them. This phrase, along with the image of an angry ent, kept running through my head during Day 3, so it seemed fate that ended up having Ang and Glirdan's death scenes come together that Night.

Lote22:

The "Virgin Eyes" Award

New to the game, she saw something fowl in Nilp's behavior not realizing it was his usual thing -- but turned out to be correct and helped lynch the first Duck.

Mithalwen:

The "Cassandra" Award

In Mith's own words, being an Owl felt like being the doomed Cassandra. It was an extra challenging position for this game, too!

mormegil:

The "It's KATH you FOOLS!" Award

Poor mormy, he knew it was Kath all along and got worked to death for his perceptiveness!

Valier:

The "Buffy the Wereduck Slayer" Award

I do believe she dealt the killing blow to each Wereduck that died. Actually I know she did because I kept featuring her as the final executioner in all my narratives!

Nogrod:

The "No One Analyzes Like the Nog-Man" Award

Noggie looked at the game from every possible angle, seeing even more possibilities than I did as the mod, and I was rather impressed. A bit unfortunate though that he analyzed himself into a hole in the end.

Cailín & Not-Cailín

The "Freaky Friday" Award

Many thanks to Cailín and her brother for working out a way to keep "her" in the game. And since Not-Cailín voted for Wereducks every time, he’s a rather good player in his own right! Perhaps Not-Cailín will sign up and play with us himself in the future?

The Saucepan Man:

The "Goosey Goosey Gander" Award

I can't imagine it hurt any to have two Owls causing confusion and looking goosey, but SpM managed to fool most of the people most of the time for a rather long time, and was instrumental in the final result. Quite an impressive show of cunning, I must say!

Quath:

The "She Who Quacks Last Quacks Loudest" Award

Congratulations to the victor! Truly an example of getting away with murder.

[mormegil]

As far as Glirdan is concerned, if he'd only dreamt the last day I would possibly have been convinced of a double owl game, but when he didn't dream it was far 'too convinient' of the goose.

[Nogrod]

I was thinking about a little story called: A poor boy who almost burned his brains in a game, and just didn't know, where to start. Happily Morm gave me this nice start:

Originally Posted by mormegil

As far as Glirdan is concerned, if he'd only dreamt the last day I would possibly have been convinced of a double owl game, but when he didn't dream it was far 'too convinient' of the goose.

That was the clue in my game. I just couldn't believe this dAY2 stuff: it was too weird anyway. The only rational explanation I could come to, was the "two Owls"-solution - which I voiced out a couple of times, wishing you others to comment on it, to no avail... I mean: that was just too stupid gaming to a goose! If he had something to hide, why didn't he tell us a lie of a dream another time (Spawn-one would have been one already!!!)!!! He was just too real Owl to be the pretender!

I tried the goose-Mith -stuff, to get some reactions from you, to help me make my mind about this stuff, but that seemed to be a dead end too. Even though Glirdy looked so genuine, Mith had given us two innocents ( one of them Spm!!! ), but nothing more: a duck (or a goose) could give them anytime! No-one wished to comment on it. Was it so smoothing to have things clear in the village as not to bother with contrasting points of views? Why didn't I believe in myself in the end? Oh, why?

Just total "Headbangers Ball"-stuff all the game! Nothing seemed right - and I was so frustrated when no-one wanted to listen!

So in the end I started to disbelieve it myself, and kind of started to believe you others (I thought, I couldn't be the only one seeing it, so I was seeing ghosts) - what a mistake! That just let Spm off my radar the two important days: I was looking elsewhere, thinking, I would have time to settle things with Spm before the end. That end came then quickly enough... And I admit, that the thought of Spm being the goose almost never reached my mind (I merely thought of him as a good company in the duck-hunt, or the duck himself). So beautifully the general consensus of things derailed me, and I'm pretty ashamed of that...

But really: I should have seen so many things! If they (Mith & Glirdy) were both Owls, there was the goose left. I even wrote this in at least one post. But I didn't care about it enough myself, but went after easier things! Or Spm's gradual case against me! He started it one or two days earlier: first with casual notes, then pressing all the more. Why didn't I attack him back yesterday? Just some convenience: I'll deal with those attacks (and maybe launch a counter-attack) tomorrow, as I can't be sure. And this day was just a catastrophe! I also tried to say on the last morning, that do not vote hastily, as there is the chance of the duck capitulating on the vote - but still I hadn't quite grasped the situation, where the goose and the duck could just make it together, if they trusted each other (or another one of them trusted).

So once again: fantastic game: Sauce, and Kath!

And as I have said before: I really enjoyed this, even though losing this way kind of frustrates...

This was probably the weirdest game I've ever been in. And it was worth it!

Thanks everyone!

PS. And to the speculations: had Roa, Sleepy etc. been in the game? Well, we never know but one thing: it would have been different! That's the thing: you can't play the same game twice - or have a same game with changing people! So much fun then!

[The Saucepan Man]

Originally Posted by Nogrod

Although it was a bit nasty to take advantage of my absence from the active game-play

Sorry Noggy, but all's fair in love and Werewolf ...

A few thoughts on my fellow players (as seems to be a bit of a tradition in the WWJ games) …

Nilpaurion Felagund - Your death wish was bound to get you in trouble one of these days. As I said, it serves you right. Shame to see you go so early, though.

Dancing Spawn of Ungoliant - Somehow, I had a feeling you might be a Duck. Which is why I joined forces with you against Mith. You were, as usual, great while you lasted. Sorry to see you go so early.

Elu Ancalime - Shame about your computer problems. And I still don’t get what you meant by that post about everyone being so analytical.

Lalaith - You were on my list of possible Nightingales, but I fell for Ang’s ruse. I wish I had your ability to pack so many good points into so few words.

Roa Aoife - I hope that all’s well with you now. I was sorry to see you go, but also kind of relieved. You can be scary in these games, and I am glad I did not have to come up against you.

Sleepy Ranger - An entertaining cameo role. I was sorry to see you go too. I think that you might also have proved a handful, had you stayed.

JennyHallu - What can I say? Sorry I contributed to your lynching. It’s a shame that you were not able to be around more, because I was looking forward to playing a game with you. You handled the transition from Ordo to Duck seamlessly, though.

Anguirel - You have nothing to be ashamed of. You could not know that there were two Owls. And preserving Mith’s life for one more day and deceiving us (me) into thinking the Nightingale might still be alive were great moves. And I always enjoy your erudite and entertaining posts - even when you were pointing me out as the Goose.

Glirdan - Sorry I had to paint you as the Goose. I felt pretty guilty at the time. But it is, after all, a game. Great picks as the Owl.

Lote22 - A great record for picking Ducks in your first game. Sorry I chose you as one of my likely innocents to go against, but your stance against Mith provided me with an opportunity (and I thought her a Duck at the time).

Mithalwen - Ah, Mith. You should take it as a compliment that I targeted you early on, believing you innocent. I then thought us allies, and was glad of it, and was most surprised to see you killed overnight. Sorry for any anguish caused but, as you said, I’m not as green as cabbage-looking. Good Owl picks, too.

Mormegil - I would have supported you to the hilt, had I been on your side. You had me rather worried with your case against Kath, so I really had no option but to try to discredit you. As always, a pleasure to play with you.

Valier - I think it was Cailín who said that you have an instinct for spotting Wolves/Ducks. She was right. Happily, I didn’t have to attack you as it was pretty clear you were doomed to die by Night after Mith named you as innocent.

Nogrod - Another one that I was looking forward to playing with for the first time. And you did not disappoint me. You really gave me a run for my money with your continued suspicion that there may have been two Owls. You came across as so genuine, I am really looking forward to seeing if you can maintain that when you are a Wolf (as one day you surely will be). And finally, someone to beat morm and I in the post count stakes.

Cailín - I am so glad that you were able to keep yourself in the game. And credit to non-Cailín too, for picking things up so quickly. He had me worried on the final day. And the two of you left me with no chance of trying to make a case against you. There was nothing incriminating there, so I just didn’t bother.

Kath - My Lady Duck and fellow (blind) conspirator. You kept your cool so well when, on multiple occasions, you looked a dead cert to be lynched. Well played, and it was a pleasure to play my part in your victory.

Great game, well played by all. It certainly ranks among the best that I have played in.

[The Saucepan Man]

Nogrod, I was incredibly surprised when I logged on on Day 3 and saw so much support for Mith. Delighted too, as I thought her the final Duck. The Night before, when spawn was lynched and Mith looked a dead cert to be the final Duck (not knowing that there were two left at the time), I thought our Goose was well and truly cooked. So, with so much support for her, I seized upon the opportunity to declare her the Owl and Glirdy the Goose.

My belief, on Day 3, that Mith was the final Duck was, by the way Jenny, the main reason that I had no reservations about declaring my suspicions of you. So it cut both ways.

Up until about Day 5, I thought that I had been a fairly useless Goose and that I had lost the Ducks the game. Thinking Mith the Duck until she died, I did not see how she could avoid suspicion until the end if she continued to stay alive.

[Nogrod]

Originally Posted by The Saucepan Man

Nogrod, I was incredibly surprised when I logged on on Day 3 and saw so much support for Mith. Delighted too, as I thought her the final Duck. The Night before, when spawn was lynched and Mith looked a dead cert to be the final Duck (not knowing that there were two left at the time), I thought our Goose was well and truly cooked. So, with so much support for her, I seized upon the opportunity to declare her the Owl and Glirdy the Goose.

My belief, on Day 3, that Mith was the final Duck was, by the way Jenny, the main reason that I had no reservations about declaring my suspicions of you. So it cut both ways.

Up until about Day 5, I thought that I had been a fairly useless Goose and that I had lost the Ducks the game. Thinking Mith the Duck until she died, I did not see how she could avoid suspicion until the end if she continued to stay alive.

This is just the fun in this game! How differently can you see the game -and still come to trust / distrust the others!!! (I think in this thread it's safe to use some more exclamation marks than necessary,and still be avoiding the suspectible four! ). Well, I too suspected Mith after Glirdy's revelation - not to say, after Spawn turned out a wolf. I just can't see, even if I started to trust Mith, how I let that suspicion of there being something totally wrong in the popular account (Mith = Owl, Glirdy = goose) gradually go! So stupid of me!!! I kind of noted it day after day, but actually did nothing to really go for it...

So as my trust to Mith grew all the time, your trust had just to be dropped off by her death - from exactly the opposite reasons!

Btw. I guess, your insecurity in those most important days just somehow came through, and gave me the "free"-signal -calling me not to start thinking about you in earnest... Funny, if it is like that?

[Diamond18]

Originally Posted by The Saucepan Man

Which brings a point to mind. What would have happened had the Ducks targeted me, or one of the Gifteds, on Night 2, Di?

I should have said, first successful Ordo kill. I suppose I could have changed a Gifted, but imagine how crazy that would have been, especially since Lalaith and Ang were PMing each other. I would have turned you, though, since you're not technically gifted and were on the Ducks side to begin with. There was always the chance the Ducks would never pick an ordo or be successful... but that was pretty slim.

Thank you to everyone who has lavished praise upon my modding and writing skills. There were times when I was sure I'd gone with too ambitious a rules scheme and was going to be the worst mod ever; but I'm glad everyone enjoyed (or at least appreciated) the craziness in the end.

[Valier]

Thanks Diamond for the award! Maybe one of these days I will learn to trust my own gut feelings, when I have them. I loved your death scenes! I was quite pleased when I got to kill most of the Ducks with my own hands!