WW LXXXVIII: What Lies in the Dark (Game Thread)

[Loslote]

I'm here, and my brain is 'sploding with words, and only some of them have to do with Fea's awesome/hilarious nickname.

Zil: It's been a while since I've played with him, but something strikes me as off...not sure yet, but he tops my list.

tp: The way he labelled Wilwa and I innocent yesterDay made me think that he could be Shetom, preparing excuses for links between him and future Spiderlings, but I think he'd choose different people if that were the case. Since he's tp, unexplained assertions really wouldn't go questioned, no matter who he chose to unexplainedly assert things about.

Fea and BomTom strike me as innocent. And fun. But for the purposes of this post, primarily innocent.

Everyone else is just sort of hovering in the blackness like some sort of unidentified thing that hovers. UFOs, they are...

EDIT: xed with BomTom

[Lhunardawen]

phantom, dear, you never cease to amaze with your uncanny powers of interpretation.

How you jumped from "Will someone please hold my hand?" to "Lhuna is either Shelob or a Been-Stung" baffles me. Well of course there were a lot of other skippingstones along the way - which you enumerated - but I dare think that if my first post didn't give you that idea, you would have reached a different hypothesis about me. Or reached the same hypothesis, but felt less strongly about it. Or ignored me completely.

[the phantom]

IMPORTANT NOTE: This post is especially for Bom. If you are not Bom, read at your own risk. If you particularly dislike me or are feeling hostile towards me at the moment, definitely don't read this post, as it will result in uncontrollable fist-shaking, temporary gagging, and spasms of eye-rolling.

Originally Posted by Bom

I've only been lurking since . . . sometime late last year? I forget. But I latched on to phantom the first time I saw him . . . reading Tol-in-Gaurhoth I and being amazed by his deduction.

Ah, but WW 1 was only the beginning- when all of us were at our least refined. If you truly wish to see Phantom masterpieces, read these threads-

WW 2- This one was hosted by SPM, and though our styles hadn't entirely settled, I still have to include it as it was a well earned Wolf victory for me.

WW 4- This game, modded by TGWBS, was notable in that it was the first ever innocent win. I did my part to help, but the most notable thing about my involvement was my request for lynching volunteers on the first day of the game. It was hilarious and sort of set the tone for what it meant to be Phantom- amusing and predictably unpredictable.

One Saga to Rule Them All!!- This Wilwa modded game was just delightful for Boro, Lal, and I, the unlynched victorious WWs. If you enjoy slaughter of Ordos, this is a game for you.

Psychotic Penguins- This gem, hosted by Nog and Lommy, definitely ranks as one of my favorites. In a period of four days we villagers managed to lynch the three WWs and the Cobbler, and thanks to a lovely set-up from SeerLal I was able to pretend to be the Hunter though I was but an Ordo. It was a riot!

Dueling Wizards II- This mountain of a game was masterfully hosted by Nog and took a huge huge investment of time on my part (I was a wizard). The extremely memorable thing in this game is (besides my entertaining posts obviously) the incredible accuracy of all of my nightly selections. The Opera Ghost was on fire, my friends.

At the Source of Darkness- This ruins-exploring adventure, dreamed up by Mac & Rikae, required my partner Wolf (Lommy) and I to walk a fine line, and we did it! Want to learn how to be a good WW? Take notes on this one.

The Republic- Fea's amazing Rep-voting style game was arguably as great a performance as I've ever had as a good-guy. Boro and I ran an amazing double-act that is just gripping to read, and we successfully put three WWs into the ground before we were Night-killed. Unfortunately the remaining WW was never caught (Brin managed quite the escape), but it doesn't undo the previous brilliance.

Chess Game For Middle Earth- This extremely creative contest, Shasta's baby, was absolutely thrilling beginning to end! The end was notable in that it in fact didn't happen, but we all still remember it fondly, and I was un-friggin-believable as the Cobbler. But believe it or not, it's possible that it wasn't my best ever Cobbler performance, because....

Halls of Mandos- I was just beautiful in this recent Mac & Rikae hosted party. I mean, seriously, if I'm not mistaken I actually danced a little jig and jumped up and down at the finish- quite the reaction for someone who always expects to be awesome. That ought to tell you that I went beyond the normal bounds of greatness.

Now, the following games are special due to the fact that they were moderated by yours truly. *bows* Each was quite revolutionary in its time, and the play was fantastic!

Erbar Telamarth- I set out quite a fun story in this one, and even after the game was over there was fun to be had, as I had hidden various "Easter Eggs" throughout my narratives that players were encouraged to find after the contest. Also, my final day final narration that came in bits and pieces was just edge-of-seat stuff (I kept everyone guessing).

With a Twist- I'd love to tell you all about this game, but it would ruin the twist. Fea helped me with writing the confusing narration which then makes sense at the finish when a huge twist is revealed! It was definitely one of the most evil plots I've ever come up with.

Werewolf- this time it's real! Now this one was very unique in that the game started out like an RPG and then turned into a horrifying game of real life Werewolf! The premise- present day, and Middle Earth is real! You'll just have to read it.

And then also deserving a spot on the list is the brave Legate who dared to enact an evil plot of mine that I discussed with him privately. The plot? Have a false Day 1. *snicker*
Prison of Ice

(PS Bom- if you read too many of these threads at once, you may experience what is known as a Phantogasm. Though it is an amazingly awesome thing, there are negative side-effects which may include temporary blind obedience, loss of reasoning skills, and depression when reading any thread Phantom hasn't posted on. If I were you, I'd take it slow.)

[the phantom]

Originally Posted by Lhuna

phantom, dear, you never cease to amaze with your uncanny powers of interpretation.

Aw, shucks.

Originally Posted by Lhuna

but I dare think that if my first post didn't give you that idea, you would have reached a different hypothesis about me. Or reached the same hypothesis, but felt less strongly about it. Or ignored me completely.

You are correct. My entire approach to you was entirely shaped by that first post. Yes, Shena, that was what did it. And that is why tomorrow I plan to squash you like the spider queen you are. (Again, I'm not doing it today because the Shelob gift would just shift people and then I'd be at square one again.)

But until then we can be friends. So, first question- who would you have cured yesterday/night?

Second question- what is your estimate on how many episodes before Castle and Kate get together?

[Lhunardawen]

Originally Posted by the phantom

You are correct. My entire approach to you was entirely shaped by that first post. Yes, Shena, that was what did it.

May I at least know why? Or, more appropriately, how?

(Again, I'm not doing it today because the Shelob gift would just shift people and then I'd be at square one again.)

I was under the impression that the shifting happens only when Shelob is lynched without a definite spawn. But now she does.

But until then we can be friends. So, first question- who would you have cured yesterday/night?

Could ex-fiancees in the distant past ever be friends? I'm not entirely sure your question would be as helpful as you think it would be (but then I could never hope to think like you, my brain would probably explode), but for the sake of discussion...

Hmm. Not me, because I know what I am. Also because you hinted at Samming me yesterDay, and as much as possible I wouldn't want you to direct my actions.

So. I think I'll pass. Maybe for now, maybe not.

Second question- what is your estimate on how many episodes before Castle and Kate get together?

Now this one's more tricky. I predict the season finale will drive a wedge between them, but not for long. I'd say within the first half of the next season.


x'd with the phantom, Loslote, and Nerwen

[Lhunardawen]

Originally Posted by me

Not me, because I know what I am.

If I may add, I also know what I am not. In case that sentence standing alone gives you ideas.

I am a bit wary of the phantom declaring wilwa and Lottie innocent, I can't put it past you to hide behind that. Also there's not much to suspect concretely at this point because it's been relatively quiet (albeit slightly chatty ) in this darkness.

[Nerwen]

Ah, so now if Bomderling appears too knowledgeable for a noob we'll all understand why, right, phantlob?

EDIT:X'd with phantom.

[the phantom]

He already is too smart for a Noob, Shewen (not accusing you, just using Fea's delightful names). I was just sort of wanting an excuse to sing my praises.

(I finished with my finals today, you see, and I did great on them and I'm feeling super super happy to be done and pleased with myself in general. Then in comes Bom and.... like gasoline on a flame.)

[the phantom]

Side note- Ever since I posted that list of threads I've been waiting for Shasta to run in and say, "That does it!!" and declare me evil on grounds that I'm annoying.

He must be busy tonight.

[the phantom]

Bleh. I need sleep. I'll be around the final five hours or so. *waves*

[Nerwen]

Originally Posted by the phantom

Side note- Ever since I posted that list of threads I've been waiting for Shasta to run in and say, "That does it!!" and declare me evil on grounds that I'm annoying.

He must be busy tonight.

Well, my pearl is generally right about these things... so is this a confession?

Besides, why in Middle-earth isn't Under the Misty Mountains on that list?

On a more serious note: what's all this about?

Originally Posted by phantom

And Nog is here. I don't know if he's still good today, but he was good yesterday (aka not Shelob).

EDIT:X'd with phantom and Lottie.

[Boromir88]

Originally Posted by the phantom

IMPORTANT NOTE: This post is especially for Bom. If you are not Bom, read at your own risk. If you particularly dislike me or are feeling hostile towards me at the moment, definitely don't read this post, as it will result in uncontrollable fist-shaking, temporary gagging, and spasms of eye-rolling.

Well, you'll notice that all of my masterpieces have been when we are on the same side working a tremendous duo of smiting. Whilst all my failures typically happen when we are opposed and I try secret plots to undo all your brilliant scheming.

I feel safe to say, I think I see what you're up to now and I'm on board. I will also point you to my posts, where I'm sure you can deduce what I have been doing....obviously. I live dangerously, you know this...

If I was Sam, and I wanted to use my one cure chance, it would have been Lhuna last night. I may not have spent it so early considering the odds. However, if the ones I trusted more were leaving Lhuna to cure in my hands, I would have done it.

[Nogrod]

Okay. I'm not sure whether this "who would you have protected were you Sam" -thing is a good idea or not. If everyone says they would have protected Lhuna (well, she was the only person based on yesterDay one could have a reason to try and heal, others I think would have been more or less shots in the dark) and Sam goes along saying the same truthfully, then we know that Lhuna is innocent toDay whether stinged on N1 or not. That would be good.

But the downside is that if Sam didn't try to heal Lhuna last Night for whichever reason he had he's now in trouble. Saying he tried to heal Lhuna gives us a possibly misleading confidence that Lhuna is a "known innocent", but giving another name would make him stand out from the others in a way Sam wouldn't probably like to.

Originally Posted by Boro

If I was Sam, and I wanted to use my one cure chance, it would have been Lhuna last night. I may not have spent it so early considering the odds.

I think we read the rules differently here. I think Sam has a right to try to heal someone every D/N -cycle + he acts as a ranger during the Night. Here is the rule:

Originally Posted by the rules for making cupcakes

He can save people from being stung by Shelob in the Night, but if he does not succeed, his obligation to them is not finished. He may still save the person who was bitten, and has one chance to do so within the Day/Night following a victim’s attack. He may use this one chance at any time between the Dawn following an attack and the Dawn at which a victim would turn into one of Shelob’s children. This second chance to save someone will be in addition to regular Nightly save until such time as it would be too easy for him to prevent Shelob’s attacks entirely (which I will be happy to discuss with the village).

So, Sam does two things, plays the ranger and the healer, both of them unlimited times but only once in a D/N cycle. Is this correct, Sally?

On another thought. There was one "prime time" discussion set while I slept and what you guys managed to do was one page of banter and tp beating Zaphord Beeblebrox characterwise.

Sadly I'm not able to hang around right now, but I will be back later and will try to do something better than this.

(There is an ice hockey world championships match between Finland and Slovakia beginning three hours from the DL, but I'm not that enthusiast ice hockey fan I'd need to concentrate on it the whole game, but it will certainly distract me for a while... )

[Nerwen]

Originally Posted by Nogrod

Okay. I'm not sure whether this "who would you have protected were you Sam" -thing is a good idea or not. If everyone says they would have protected Lhuna (well, she was the only person based on yesterDay one could have a reason to try and heal, others I think would have been more or less shots in the dark) and Sam goes along saying the same truthfully, then we know that Lhuna is innocent toDay whether stinged on N1 or not. That would be good.

It's not "who would you have protected?", it's "who would you have healed? ("Who would you have protected?" really would be a Sam-trap!) And it couldn't actually make Lhuna a known innocent, just a known not-stung– disproving phantom's theory that her first post was a cry for help. (Which I don't see much in, anyway.)

[Nerwen]

I am going to have to vote soon, anyway.

[Nogrod]

Originally Posted by Nerwen

It's not "who would you have protected?", it's "who would you have healed?

Heh. One of the main points of my post was to remind everyone of the double role Sam has as both a ranger and a healer, and then I myself use the term "protecting" when I mean "trying to heal someone"... And all that arose from the fact that reading the thread seemed like people were confusing the two roles - and then I do it myself.

But I hope we're all on the same page now with Sam. He's our double-ability precious whom the enemy wants... to lynch! Like wilwa said, Sam can not be turned into a spiderling and thus Shelob needs to get her lynched. So let's not lynch him, or at least be ready to read closely who got him lynhced if that is done. *curses the "no-reveal"-rules*

Anyway. Unless something quite remarkable emerges, I take the preliminary results of phantom's gallup as an indicator that whoever Sam is, he has most probably tried to heal Lhuna aka. we most probably should not lynch her.

So what is our next step then? With three hours to go, maybe we should start trying to find candidates for lynching? I see why some people have been making more or less direct claims against tp but I tend to disagree at this point. Even if he is an arrogant egoist (to put it mildly! ), he seems to be doing good work in this anemic village where more or less everyone seems to hunker down. With one stinging failed by Shelob I think we should see whether his ideas prove benefical in the future as we have at least one more Day to play before Shelob gets her troops together in a mass needed to win.

To think then... (and to watch some ice hockey )

[Lhunardawen]

Originally Posted by Nogrod

If everyone says they would have protected Lhuna (well, she was the only person based on yesterDay one could have a reason to try and heal, others I think would have been more or less shots in the dark)

This caught my eye and made me think.

In the first place, whose idea was it yesterDay that Lhuna might need Sam's help?

And who's attempting to tap into Sam's mind toDay by trying to get everyone to think like a Sam?

No, phantom, I'm not saying you're manipulative. I'm really not sure how to describe you at this point.

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Nerwen

I am here. Alas, my velcro shoes came off and I floated off into space for a bit, but all is well now.

Ah, good to hear. Just watch out for the koalas. I hear they have five-inch teeth and acid for blood.

Originally Posted by Bom Tombadillo

Anyway, yeah, given that phantom had impressed me so much previously, I went straight to following him around. I just hope I don't turn out to be blindly following a phantlob.

That's why you've got to watch the tricksy phantom. He's always got some plot going, and the ends of those plots are not always clear.

Originally Posted by Loslote

Zil: It's been a while since I've played with him, but something strikes me as off...not sure yet, but he tops my list.

I'm quite 'off', but no more than usual.

Originally Posted by Loslote

tp: The way he labelled Wilwa and I innocent yesterDay made me think that he could be Shetom, preparing excuses for links between him and future Spiderlings, but I think he'd choose different people if that were the case. Since he's tp, unexplained assertions really wouldn't go questioned, no matter who he chose to unexplainedly assert things about.

And that's how he does it; things others would be suspected for are written off as just phantom being phantom.

Originally Posted by Loslote

Fea and BomTom strike me as innocent. And fun. But for the purposes of this post, primarily innocent.

I don't see what makes either of them particularly innocent. I haven't seen much of Fea. And I can't go along with what Nog said about her subbing for the mysterious Laura being a sign of her likely innocence. That shouldn't be a factor.

Lottie is coming across as rather quiet and careful. And no songs, still! Worrisome.

Originally Posted by the phantom

Side note- Ever since I posted that list of threads I've been waiting for Shasta to run in and say, "That does it!!" and declare me evil on grounds that I'm annoying.

Where is Shasta? Busy innocent or sinister spider?

Originally Posted by Nogrod

Okay. I'm not sure whether this "who would you have protected were you Sam" -thing is a good idea or not. If everyone says they would have protected Lhuna (well, she was the only person based on yesterDay one could have a reason to try and heal, others I think would have been more or less shots in the dark) and Sam goes along saying the same truthfully, then we know that Lhuna is innocent toDay whether stinged on N1 or not. That would be good.

I still question the value, because there's no way of knowing if people are being truthful.

x/d with two Nerwens and a Lhuna

[wilwarin538]

Originally Posted by Nogrod

Okay. I'm not sure whether this "who would you have protected were you Sam" -thing is a good idea or not. If everyone says they would have protected Lhuna (well, she was the only person based on yesterDay one could have a reason to try and heal, others I think would have been more or less shots in the dark) and Sam goes along saying the same truthfully, then we know that Lhuna is innocent toDay whether stinged on N1 or not. That would be good.

But the downside is that if Sam didn't try to heal Lhuna last Night for whichever reason he had he's now in trouble. Saying he tried to heal Lhuna gives us a possibly misleading confidence that Lhuna is a "known innocent", but giving another name would make him stand out from the others in a way Sam wouldn't probably like to.

There's another possibility. Maybe Sam did choose Lhuna, but Lhuna wasn't the target; Sam was. In that case knowing Same chose Lhuna would really not mean much at all, Lhuna could have still been the one stung the day before, or she could be Shelob. If I was Sam I probably would have chosen Lhuna, because a lot of people seemed to think that was a good idea, and I think a lot of people will say they would have chosen Lhuna if they were Sam (which makes me think Shelob did not sting Lhuna, knowing Sam had probably chosen her; therefore Shelob's target was likely Sam himself). So if Sam was the target, then knowing who his choice was isn't really important. That's why to me the whole exercise doesn't seem overly productive.

We have to consider the distinct possibility that Sam was the target (I feel like this is the likely situation), which means Shelob knows who he is and super wants him dead. (and her spawn also wants him dead) So we just need to keep an eye out for two people who seem to really want a certain person dead, with maybe weak reasons for it, and they could be guilty. Also, if we do end up accidently lynching Sam, then we could just look into who seemed to really want that person dead.

I think it could end up being a positive thing if Shelob is aware of Sam's identity this early. She can't kill him at Night, being lynched is the only threat to him, so in order to get him killed Shelob and her spawn need to really push a case against Sam, and if they succeed then a lot of attention could be brought to them the next Day, so it's super risky for them.

[Nerwen]

Originally Posted by ZIl

Ah, good to hear. Just watch out for the koalas. I hear they have five-inch teeth and acid for blood.

Yes, but they mostly keep to the trees. It's the man-eating kangaroos that are the real hazard.

Originally Posted by Inzil

I don't see what makes either of them particularly innocent. I haven't seen much of Fea. And I can't go along with what Nog said about her subbing for the mysterious Laura being a sign of her likely innocence. That shouldn't be a factor.

Yes– what is with people in this game just declaring other people to be innocent? They can't be preparing for reveals (false or otherwise), and it doesn't really make sense as hinting either, so what is it?

Originally Posted by Wilwa

There's another possibility. Maybe Sam did choose Lhuna, but Lhuna wasn't the target; Sam was. In that case knowing Same chose Lhuna would really not mean much at all, Lhuna could have still been the one stung the day before, or she could be Shelob.

Originally Posted by Wilwa

If I was Sam I probably would have chosen Lhuna, because a lot of people seemed to think that was a good idea, and I think a lot of people will say they would have chosen Lhuna if they were Sam (which makes me think Shelob did not sting Lhuna, knowing Sam had probably chosen her; therefore Shelob's target was likely Sam himself). So if Sam was the target, then knowing who his chose was isn't really important. That's why to me the whole exercise doesn't seem overly productive.

As I understand it, Sam has had a shot at both healing someone and at protecting someone– not necessarily the same person– in fact probably not. (If I'm wrong about this, could our moddess please clarify?) We know the protection was successful, unless as you say the target was Sam himself. I've been assuming the cure was unsuccessful, or Sally would have said something about it. Though now I think about it, she didn't say, "the stung has been turned", either.

Anyway, I wouldn't be so sure Sam followed phantom's orders. For all you know he might have found the way he was pushing for Lhuna alarming.

[Boromir88]

Originally Posted by Nogrod

I think we read the rules differently here. I think Sam has a right to try to heal someone every D/N -cycle + he acts as a ranger during the Night. Here is the rule:
So, Sam does two things, plays the ranger and the healer, both of them unlimited times but only once in a D/N cycle. Is this correct, Sally?

Clarification would be appreciated here, because I read the "one chance" to heal the suspected bitten person, as only a one time change. And then Sam each night, is like a standard ranger with protecting someone.

However, the "second chance" is a bit confusing and definitely changes things, if your interpretation is correct, Nog, then I would say Sam did not cure Lhuna and chose to protect someone. Either that, Sam did choose to cure Lhuna and Shelob tried to sting Sam. *sigh* Nerwen's right, our dear moddess is being dubiously ambiguous.