The Syndicate

Banners are up! You saw 'em here first. I'm also PMing juliets, and adding mine to my signature.

Hi everyone!

I know it has been 2 months since this game ended (which is disgraceful to me). However, I think better late than never to fill you all in on what actually happened behind the scenes of the game. So, here's more wrap-up:

Bullzeye wrote:Hey Russti, what amounts of Wood Elf points were each group on? Were we close to being stuck with any one particular group?

To answer this, the Civs actually ended the game with 42 Wood Elf Points. So they were 8 points away (that is, one Night target from you) from getting special bonuses from your powers. They probably would've made it, if they hadn't kept trying to lynch Boogs. Every vote for him deducted from their score. I know you guys were trying to stay neutral, and I was curious about whether you'd pull it off.

juliets wrote:Russti I hope you will post more behind the scenes stuff like you did for day 1. Just one day at a time would be fine.

I will! There's lots more exciting stuff, IMO. I just moved to Cleveland and started a new job, and things are absolutely frantic (and I just got Internet today). But as soon as I get the chance, I will be posting more!

And I am told Annie is working on banners (thanks Annie!) and will be posting them here.

Snow Dog wrote:was it even possible for Smaug to die.

As a side note if she had killed epi i woud have won too.

Snow Dog wrote:This is why Mafia sucks I quit. So long folks.

I hate to be like this, but I can't resist saying it: if your plan was to win with Smaug, you could've bought protections or votes instead of a dagger, and you could've voted with juliets on the final day to show her you were on her side. You would've been guaranteed victory. You threw your lot in with the civs and it didn't pan out. That's no reason to be bitter. You still played a hell of a game, and the fact that you lost came down to a coin toss. You literally gave yourself a 50% chance to win in a field of 31 players, and that's not half bad.

Dom wrote:And I didn't say it before, but I'll say it now:

Thank you so much, Russ, for a wonderful game. I had so much fun playing even though I had no team after day three. I tried so hard to win the game, and I regret that Hedgowl NK more than anything. You put so much work into the game, and I appreciate it so so much. I don't care that I lost, and had very little chance of winning. A good enough game makes up for that!

Juliets, I cannot believe how masterfully you played. Well done! I, when I died (didn't follow much afterwards), thought Epig was Smaug. A hundred congrats are in order on your part. Brava!

Thanks, Dom! I was super impressed with how hard you fought, given the ridiculous circumstances against you, and you were gracious in defeat as well. More on this later.

That should be it, for now! I have lots to say, particularly to a number of players whom I thought played brilliantly and whom I was sad to see go. I also have tons of riddle answers and game mechanics to explain, so expect a big post from me sometime soon if you're interested in all that!

Bilbo Baggins -- Mongoose
Possessor of the Ring, which gives him special powers. Also the dwarves' burglar, despite being a homebody. Initially doubted by the dwarves, he continually goes up in their estimation.
Gains +1 vote every 3 Day periods. May have the opportunity to burgle from Smaug. (Would have burgled 2000 gold from Smaug if he had reached the cave.)

Gandalf -- thellama73
Wizard and friend to Bilbo and the dwarves. Known for his smoke rings and fireworks. Wields the sword Glamdring, the Foe-Hammer, known to the Goblin Town Goblins as Beater.
May send messages to players via PM nightly. Also knows magic spells. (Secret - once per game, can turn Night into Day or vice versa. If The Great Goblin attempts to kill him, the kill fails and he recognizes the goblin.)

Bard -- birdwithteeth11
Lake Town resident, charismatic leader, and valiant archer. Owner of a Black Arrow, the only weapon ever to pierce Smaug's armored hide.
(Secret - If attacked by Smaug, he survives, and Smaug loses all protections.)

Thorin Oakenshield -- Vompatti
King of the Dwarves, rightful ruler of the Lonely Mountain, experienced fighter, and leader of the expedition to defeat Smaug. Wields Orcrist, the Goblin-Cleaver, known to the orcs of Moria as Biter.
Protects a player nightly with his oaken shield. (Secret - If attacked by Bolg, he finds out who Bolg is.)

Other Dwarves

Kili -- Captain Bunny Killer
Brother of Fili. The two youngest dwarves have the sharpest eyes of the group.
Uses his good sight to see manipulations during votes. Targets a player once per night and learns what their vote counted for the previous day.

Fili -- DFaraday
Brother of Kili. The two youngest dwarves have the sharpest eyes of the group.
Uses his good sight to see what happens at night. Targets a player and sees who else targeted them during the same Night.

Dwalin -- insertnamehere
Brother of Balin and one of the two eldest dwarves.
Because he is so old and wise, he is an experienced riddler. May receive hints to riddles during the game.

Balin -- juliets
Brother of Dwalin and one of the two eldest dwarves.
Deferred to by the other dwarves. He does not carry a pack and thus walks ahead, receiving information on night polls.

Bifur -- Ninja Blooper
Cousin of Bofur and Bombur.
Is often overlooked, and thus will not be affected by non-kill night powers.

Bofur -- kneel4justice
Brother of Bombur. Often winds up in the rearguard for this reason.
Prevents a player from voting in night polls or answering riddles every night.

Bombur -- Hedgeowl
Brother of Bofur. Fattest, slowest dwarf, tends to sleep through important events.
Forces a player to carry him every night, rendering them incapable of carrying out other night actions.

Dori -- reywaS
Brother of Nori and Ori.
BTSC with Nori and Ori. As long as all 3 brothers survive, they may add 1 to any player's vote total per day. If 2 brothers survive, they may add .5 instead.

Nori -- Spacedaisy
Brother of Dori and Ori.
BTSC with Dori and Ori. As long as all 3 brothers survive, they may add 1 to any player's vote total per day. If 2 brothers survive, they may add .5 instead.

Ori -- Leamiteo
Brother of Dori and Nori.
BTSC with Dori and Nori. As long as all 3 brothers survive, they may add 1 to any player's vote total per day. If 2 brothers survive, they may add .5 instead.

Oin -- Epignosis
Brother of Gloin. Noted for his skill at firemaking.
Lights a fire each night that interrupts BTSC. Targeted player/player's group loses any BTSC for the next day period.

Gloin -- T.H
Brother of Oin. Noted for his skill at firemaking.
Stokes a fire each night, which illuminates clandestine conversation and makes public a random snippet of BTSC.

Indies
Win Conditions: survive to the end.
No BTSC.

Gollum -- Kylemii
A pitiful, miserable creature and the owner of a Ring of Power (these facts are connected). Lives alone in a cave, eating raw fish and practicing riddles.
Secret - Searches every night for Bilbo, either alive or dead. If he finds him, he takes the Precious, gaining a lynch and NK protection. He also has a 50% chance of killing the Hobbit if he is alive.

Mayor of Lake Town -- Snow Dog
Men's hearts are greedy and lust after gold. Their loyalty is for sale. The influential Mayor is no exception.
The Mayor accepts bids for his vote, which is worth 3, nightly. He can use the gold he earns to buy armor and gain protections.

Wood Elves
Win Conditions: Wood Elves begin as an indy team, able to win with any team. Their alignment may change based on Wood Elf Points, which quantify their relationship with other factions.
Have BTSC with each other.

Wood Elf King -- Bullzeye
Ruler of the Wood-Elves, he engages in trade, but is distrustful and slow to form friendships.
Sends Gold to a player of his choice nightly. (Gives Wood Elf points as well.)

Wood Elf Gaoler -- Boogs
Protects the Wood Elves from men and other thieves who would have their treasure.
Jails a player nightly, rendering them unable to post or vote the next Day. Subtracts Wood Elf Points if successful. (Secret - has a 1/6 chance of becoming drunk, making his power useless that Night and rendering himself unable to post or vote.).

Wood Elf Vintner -- >SpaghettiEverywhere
Makes the Wood-Elves' (in)famous wine, the effects of which are notorious.
Invites a player to drink with him nightly. The vintage is unknown to the recipient. Is insulted if a player refuses his offering. (Secret - Actually did not have a secret. I meant to delete this but apparently forgot. Oops.)

Goblin Town Goblins
Win Conditions: Outnumber or kill the Dwarves and their allies, kill the rival Moria Goblins, and defeat Smaug.
Have BTSC.

The Great Goblin -- TH 2.0
Ruler of Goblin Town, deep in the Misty Mountains.
Directs the kill for his team on odd nights. This power will pass to his appointed successor if he dies. (Secret - If he dies, the kills have a 33% fail rate. This does not happen if he has been previously revealed by Gandalf.)

Goblin Torturer -- Kylemii 2.0/A Person
Goblin specializing in making and using instruments of torture.
Insanifies a player each night.

Goblin Thief -- DisgruntledPorcupine
A sticky-fingered goblin.
Robs a player (except Smaug) of their Gold nightly.

Goblin Sapper -- Metalmarsh89
Goblin with an affinity for fire and explosives.
(Secret).

Goblin Inventor -- fingersplints
Goblin who creates mechanical devices with devious purposes.
Creates items such as armor and weapons for his tribe.

Moria Goblins
Win Conditions: outnumber or kill the Dwarves and their allies, kill the rival Goblin Town goblins, and defeat Smaug.
Have BTSC.

Bolg -- Dom
A fearsome albino goblin warrior, who killed Thorin's father outside of Moria.
Directs his team's kill on even nights (the kills continue if he dies, however). (Secret - if he dies, the kill has a 33% fail rate. This does not happen if he was previously revealed by Thorin.)

Bolg's Warg -- Elohcin
Chieftain of the Wargs, the steeds of the goblins. Albino like Bolg, it is a fearsome, wolflike beast.
May injure a player's pony each night. The player will have to walk the next day, and because they lag behind the group their vote will not be heard.

Goblin Sapper -- FZ.
Goblin with an affinity for fire and explosives.
Every night, can plant bombs on other players. These have a 1/3 chance of killing a voter at random if the chosen player is lynched.

The Necromancer -- MovingPictures07
A shadowy, ominous presence that rules the southern reaches of Mirkwood.
Every second Night, may turn his Eye upon a player, learning their role. (Secrets.)

Rogue
Win Conditions: kill everyone to protect your treasure.

Smaug the Dragon -- juliets 2.0/Lizzy
Also known as Smaug the Deceiver, this fat dragon hoards a fortune in gold and precious jewels under the Lonely Mountain. Though only remembered by the dwarves and the oldest residents of Lake Town, this mythical creature is still the terror of the East. He is covered in impenetrable armor and can breathe gouts of flame.
Begins the game with 2500 Gold. (Secrets - NKs nightly beginning on Night 3. Is protected from lynches on odd days and NKs on even nights.)[/center][/quote]

Epi and Snow Dog spent the day climbing stairs, moving quietly from chamber to chamber, to try to gain the high ground above Smaug. Eventually, they reached a balcony that looked out over the entire underground palace that had once belonged to Thrór. When they reached the top, Snow Dog yelled, "Come on, Smaug! Ruler of stone and dirt! You've never left this dank hole because you're scared to find a real warrior out there! Show yourself, you coward!"

Smaug, incensed, obliged. He roared fiercely and beat his wings furiously to lift off and try to reach the two remaining members of the company. Snow Dog, in a fit of battle-lust, leaped off the balcony to meet him, intending to stab the beast dead with his elven dagger. However, as he fell, fear gripped his heart, and he dropped the dagger before he could complete his stroke. Smaug burned him and swallowed him up in one bite.

Then the calamitous beast amused itself for days playing cat-and-mouse alone with Epignosis, and when Epi, the last of the dwarves, was dead, he lay down amid his accumulated wealth, there to bask in the splendor he had accumulated, rest, and bide his time.


Because of previously mentioned rl issues, I probably won't get around to posting endgame stuff tonight. And there is a lot to share. Thanks for your patience, and I really hope you've all enjoyed the game!

juliets wrote:Just fyi, I am traveling tomorrow so if night does end early, and I'm still alive, i won't be around until late (after eight).

That's fine. Since there's so few left, if Night ends early, you are still alive, and the game isn't over, I can extend the day to allow you to vote and do whatever else you need to do.

Damn, the suspense is even killing me!!!

The four remaining members of the group trekked further into the labyrinth of wealth. Snow Dog had an idea. "Hey wait, what if we try to get to high ground? We might be able to see Smaug from further up!"

And so they began to search for a staircase. Epi was the first to find one, off in the corner of the throne room. After a turn at a right angle led into a smaller antechamber, filled with fine furs and a large, cracked mirror. The group thought it somewhat miraculous that the former King's dressing-room had escaped Smaug's destruction so completely, and speculated that because the riches here were not of stone or metal the dragon had ignored them in his pillages.

Kylemii was too scared to even speak, even protected from the dragon. Epi and Snow Dog quietly agreed to vote for juliets, but she raised her voice, shouting them down. "WE'RE KILLING KYLEMII!!" she screamed, and Epi and Snow Dog were so stunned by the sheer volume of her voice that they feared to protest too strongly.

juliets stalked over and made quick work of Kylemii where he cowered, and ripped at his face until a mask fell to the ground. "Told you," she said.


Tonight's riddle:

What looks back at you, unseeing? It disappears in the dark, and doesn't truly exist.

*Note: I am ready and willing to end the Night as soon as all poll answers, riddle answers, and PMs are in. Take your time considering, and you do have the full 24 hours if you want it, but if you want to move things along faster that is fine with me as well.

Epignosis wrote:

Metalmarsh89 wrote:
Do you know why that NK attempt was not listed at the bottom of the night post as "Epi survived a night kill..." while juliets' NK attempt from the goblins was?

I like your question.

No, but it should have been.

Indeed. This was an oversight that is now being corrected. Sorry about that, folks.

Should we go to 24-hour Days?

Poll ended at Tue Jul 01, 2014 11:04 pm

Yes
6
birdwithteeth11 (2), Epignosis (3), Spacedaisy (5), juliets (10), fingersplints (11), Snow Dog (12) 43%

No
1
Kylemii (13) 7%

What time is it, again? (Host/Mod/Dead)
7
Russtifinko (1), MovingPictures07 (4), thellama73 (6), S~V~S (7), Metalmarsh89 (8), nijuukyugou (9), Leamiteo (14) 50%
Total votes : 14

The group searched warily for Smaug, but saw nothing. Even when they lit some old torches they found hanging in sconces on the walls, the glitter of coins was disorienting, and the cavernous throne room was full of staircases and pillars that threw shadows at strange angles. The reek of centuries-old dragon forced many of the group to cover their noses.

BWT was walking toward the back of the group. He stooped to inspect a large jewel, and wondered if it was the Arkenstone he had heard about in legends. He never felt the goblin knife that cut his throat, and never had a chance to cry out.

fingersplints was leading the group over a large pile of riches. She summited the hill and slid down the other side when a golden chair shifted and the coins she was standing on slid downward. Smaug took his chance to strike while she was spearated from the group. He roared "Ah-HA!" and spewed flame over the entire area. The rest of the group cowered behind the hill and covered their heads. When they later dared to peek out again, fingers was only a small black spot in a newly-melted valley of gold.

Smaug taunted them again. "My fire burns hotter than the dwarves' forges of old! Come in, deeper into the halls. You may seek the Arkenstone, but you will only find me around every corner!"

Snow Dog wrote:Unlucky USA. This is the best team I have ever seen you field. You are now a proper football nation

Thanks! Oooh I was so sad we lost.

Night PMs will no longer be accepted! Host post coming.

The discussion that day was very heated. Bullzeye, in particular, was vehement about his innocence. When the discussion came down to whether he or Metalmarsh89 should die, he raised his voice to what some others thought was a dangerously high volume, this close to the dragon.

"I am innocent! He's the evil one!!!" Bullz shouted. Others were convinced by his shouting, and really they just wanted him to be quiet, so they began to stab MM to end the argument.

Spacedaisy was one of the first to put a knife into MM, just under his belly. Others joined in, and Bullz stabbed him under an armpit. Suddenly, there was a huge BANG! and a flash, followed by a cloud of smoke. Everyone's ears were ringing, even those of the group who had stood further away, unwilling to stab Metalmarsh. Eventually the smoke cleared, and the group saw the smoking body of Metalmarsh89. The force of the explosion had torn away what proved to be a very clever mask to reveal a sickly green visage beneath.

When members of the group tore their eyes away, they saw two other bodies lying next to MM's. They were rendered unrecognizable, their bodies torn into by the force of the explosions. juliets shook her head, dazed, where she had been thrown against a rock. Epignosis had them call role to see who was still alive. Bullzeye and Spacedaisy proved to be the missing two.

Who is murdering people?

Poll ended at Mon Jun 30, 2014 11:04 pm

birdwithteeth11
0
No votes

Bullzeye
4
Kylemii (8), Metalmarsh89 (9), Epignosis (13), fingersplints (14) 27%

Epignosis
0
No votes

fingersplints
0
No votes

insertnamehere
0
No votes

juliets 2.0
0
No votes

Kylemii 2.0
0
No votes

Metalmarsh89
3
Spacedaisy (10), juliets (11), Bullzeye (12) 20%

Snow Dog
0
No votes

Spacedaisy
1
Snow Dog (15) 7%

Ratzeputz (Host/Mod/Dead)
7
Russtifinko (1), MovingPictures07 (2), S~V~S (3), Dom (4), Leamiteo (5), thellama73 (6), Hedgeowl (7) 47%
Total votes : 15

thellama73 wrote:

Snow Dog wrote:

insertnamehere wrote:Why am I on the poll?

A mistake

If INH gets to be on the poll, I want to be on there too!

Hehehe. :sheepishgrin:

llama, you can be on the next poll if you want.

What now?

Poll ended at Sat Jun 28, 2014 11:04 pm

Keep waiting, BWT will show up.
3
Spacedaisy (5), Snow Dog (11), Metalmarsh89 (12) 25%

Go to the front and fight that lizard!
5
Bullzeye (3), fingersplints (7), Epignosis (8), kneel4justice (9), juliets (10) 42%

Twiddle thumbs (Host/Mod/Dead)
4
Russtifinko (1), thellama73 (2), S~V~S (4), MovingPictures07 (6) 33%

The group got tired of waiting for BWT, and feared they were sitting ducks out on the ledge. They were tired of waiting in general, and tired of fearing for their doom. They decided that if anyone were going to defeat Smaug, it would have to be them, and so they armored themselves, packed up their weapons, and began to pick their way back down the mountainside.

In the dark, the going was tough, and a few times one or another of them came very close to falling when scree kicked loose under their feet. The group tried to convince themselves that what they were about to do was not suicidal. Kylemii muttered to himself, "He must be old and fat. He must be old and fat." Epignosis recalled rumors he had heard of a weak spot in the dragon's armor.

juliets was walking along the path when she felt a great punch to her back. She took a second to recover her balance, and to keep herself from falling down the mountainside. When she looked back, she saw no one there. About an hour later, when Snow Dog stopped for water, he looked in shock at her back. There was a large, wavy knife protruding from her jerkin! "juliets! Are you ok?" He stooped and pulled it out, but the blade had not pierced juliets' flesh. "This is of goblin make," he said.

When the night had grown very late, and the reddish-purple light of very early morning was curling of the tops of the faraway Misty Mountains, and great trembling as of an earthquake shook the whole mountain. The group all stumbled and crashed into each other. k4j flew out into space and was dashed against the rocks at the bottom.

They marched on, terrified, but with grim determination etched on their faces.

"aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAA!!!!!" they heard behind them, and birdwithteeth11 came flying down the mountainside as if the dragon's fire were licking his heels. He had covered in mere minutes paths that had taken them most of the night! They ran with him as best they could, laden with their packs. By morning, however, they had still seen no sign of Smaug, and they collasped together, panting and gasping for water. They decided that they needed rest, and that entering Smaug's lair under the cover of darkness could prove to their advantage. In the meantime, they questioned BWT about what had happened and talked about whom to lynch.

Who could have killed nijuukyugou?

Poll ended at Fri Jun 27, 2014 11:04 pm

Bullzeye
5
Epignosis (6), thellama73 (8), Metalmarsh89 (10), Kylemii (14), juliets (15) 29%

Epignosis
0
No votes

fingersplints
0
No votes

juliets 2.0
0
No votes

kneel4justice
0
No votes

Kylemii 2.0
0
No votes

Metalmarsh89
0
No votes

Snow Dog
0
No votes

Spacedaisy
2
fingersplints (16), Snow Dog (17) 12%

thellama73
2
kneel4justice (12), Bullzeye (13) 12%

Mario! (Host/Mod/Dead)
8
Russtifinko (1), Dom (2), Leamiteo (3), MovingPictures07 (4), nijuukyugou (5), Lizzy (7), S~V~S (9), Boogs (11) 47%
Total votes : 17

The group waited the whole day for some sign, sight or sound of BWT or the dragon, but got nothing. They were somewhat relieved for BWT's sake, figuring no news was good news, but worried ever more that the dragon had killed him and was lying in wait for them somewhere.

Out of habit, as much as anything else, they discussed who should be killed during the day. Eventually, after a long an strident discussion, they settled on llama. They were fairly quick about lopping off his head with a broadsword, but before he died, sparks shot out of all his fingers and toes. They recognized him immediately as he fell, and lamented that they were without a king, a burglar, or a wizard now.

Bullzeye wrote:

birdwithteeth11 wrote:

Bullzeye wrote:

Snow Dog wrote:I asked this before but only got one answer. Anyone been robbed recently?
And well done USA in the football.

I don't believe I've ever been robbed.
Yeah I was hoping the US would get out of their group. I want them to go far just because I think it's hilarious that even they're better than us. A lot of people here think Americans don't even know what football is yet they've got out of their group (and will probably reach QFs at least) and England couldn't even win a match!

I haven't been robbed yet either. I forgot to mention that before.
I figured we had a chance to make it out of our group. But I would be totally shocked if we made it to the QFs. This team isn't good enough to beat Belgium IMO. I'd have more confidence if our back 4 were better honestly. And even if we do sneak by Belgium, we'd probably have face France in the QF, and then I would just give up on life lol

I think everyone knew Germany would win your group, being among the top 5 in the world. I expected Portugal to finish second though until they started playing. You guys almost had them beaten as well until the last minute! You were unlikely to get a win against Germany but held your own and only let one goal in. I don't know if Belgium will provide the challenge that your last three games have. The way I've read the fixtures though, you don't get France (or Germany again) until the Semi's right? It's the winner of Argentina/Switzerland next I thought. Either way you've got a tough path. This probably isn't going to be the USA's year but they've played better than a lot of teams and I hope they go far, I'd rather have a surprise than see one of the usual teams (Brazil, Argentina, etc.) win.

Yay World Cup! I think Belgium is a cool matchup. I reckon they're playing better than Portugal but definitely don't have the quality of Germany, so they'll be a good test for us. They were supposed to play a warmup match against us before the Cup started but ducked out.

It did not take the ever-shrinking company long to puzzle out the answers to the riddle.

llama, of course, was the first to crack the code, having made an extensive study of runes at school. He read to himself, "place a hand on each panel of the door except the lower right, speak friend, and the keyhole will appear.

He called over Metalmarsh89 and Epignosis. "MM, place your hand on this upper-left panel," he instructed, guiding Epi's hand to the correct spot. "And you, Epi, over here on the right..." llama then placed his hand on the bottom-left panel. "Now," he thought aloud, "What do we say to the door to make the keyhole appear. Or are we the door's friends? How would it know who its friends are? It's never met us before. And how will it hear us without ears? And...." he trailed off, mumbling to himself, brow furrowed in concentration.

Snow Dog took charge. "Door, we are your friends!" And to his great shock, the panels on which the three other travelers' hands rested slid in to the cliff face slightly. The one on the bottom-right slid out in response, and when Snowie wiggled it loose, he could see the keyhole outlined faintly in the moonlight. "Quick, gimme the key! The key!"

birdwithteeth11 rushed over, and stuck the key in the keyhole. He turned it, and with a barely audible click, the door swung free. The hands on the door pushed it inward, though they were barely pressing; it was so well-made that it required no effort at all. It swung open silently, and as it did, the oliphaunts on its frame seemed to prance and caper gaily, and then marched off. The silvery lettering shone brighter, as it the moonlight had been filtered by cloud and was now clear, and then it too disappeared.

The group heard a terrible noise from within the tunnel leading down and into the mountain, and a horrible stench filled their nostrils. Everyone backed away from the door, frantically. Epi was furthest into the tunnel, being naturally curious and having had the inward position when the door opened. As he watched with wide eyes, a huge gout of flame raced up the tunnel and consumed him. Everyone shielded their eyes and cried out at the heat, and expected to see a little pile of Epi-cinders when they looked up. Instead, Epi calmly brushed some flakes of what had been his hair and clothes off of himself, looked around, and drawled, "Anybody got a spare?"

The group was terrified now to enter the cave. The group thought that Smaug must know their location, but BWT urged them on. He insisted that the door had been silent, and made an impassioned speech about recovering their homeland and slaying the foul beast. The response was tepid at best. k4j shouted from the anonymity of the crowd, "You go first!"

And so he did. Alone, but with courage in his heart, BWT set off down the tunnels. He brought only a candle and his weapons, and as he descended the reek grew ever more pungent. Hundreds of years of accumulated dragon stench assaulted his nostrils, and he had to lean against the side of the tunnel for support. "Ah!" he cried when he felt the still-blistering heat on the rocks. He trekked on downward, and was eventually lost to the group's sight.

The rest of the group tried to get some rest, but were too afraid and excited to sleep after all that had happened. After a bit, someone remarked, "Hey, has anybody seen Ninja Blooper? I thought she was here, but she's been gone all night."

juliets went to call for her, and eventually found her - at the bottom of the cliff. She saw a dark spot on the ledge by the cliff. Stooping down, she swiped at it with her fingers and held it to her nose. "Goblin grease," she said. "Someone greased NB's shoes. This was no accident."

Luckily, there were no further incidents that night. The group sat in tension, waiting for BWT to return or for Smaug to come roaring down upon them. Eventually, the sun rose, and they began their daily discussion about the ones responsible for the death dogging their steps.

If the door is opened, who should enter it?

Poll runs till Wed Jun 25, 2014 11:04 pm

birdwithteeth11
5
kneel4justice (8), birdwithteeth11 (9), nijuukyugou (15), Snow Dog (16), Epignosis (17) 29%

Bullzeye
1
Bullzeye (11) 6%

Epignosis
0
No votes

fingersplints
0
No votes

juliets 2.0
1
juliets (13) 6%

kneel4justice
0
No votes

Kylemii 2.0
1
Kylemii (12) 6%

Metalmarsh89
1
Metalmarsh89 (10) 6%

nijuukyugou
0
No votes

Snow Dog
0
No votes

Spacedaisy
0
No votes

thellama73
2
thellama73 (5), fingersplints (14) 12%

Some tasty minces. Smaug can make a mincemeat pie of them. (Host/Mod/Dead)
6
Russtifinko (1), MovingPictures07 (2), Dom (3), Boogs (4), S~V~S (6), Leamiteo (7) 35%
Total votes : 17

nijuukyugou wrote:

nijuukyugou wrote:So it says that if one doesn't decipher the runes, you don't enter the mountain. I'm wondering what that translates to, game-wise? Are they "sent home"? Left to be killed or die? Because that sure doesn't sound good for civvies who don't like or forget to solve riddles... Any thoughts?

Or is it just that the one voted to go in can't if he/she doesn't solve the riddle first?

Yeah, I didn't make that the clearest thing ever. Snow Dog was right: as long as SOMEONE has solved the riddle, the door can be opened and someone (not necessarily the same person) can go in. Sorry for the vagueness!

Epignosis wrote:Dom was a victim of economics- probably a "Hedge fund" of some sort.

I'll get my coat...

This is SO GREAT, given the idea llama and I just had for a game.

The group was feeling restless as the sun finally set. They were waiting eagerly for the Moon to appear, hoping that the light would illuminate a hole for the key they had carried with them from their valiant, departed leader's body.

Eventually, something did appear, but it was no key-hole. Instead, the sheer rock face behind them (a little too sheer and perfect, some of them now noticed) was slowly highlighted. It looked as if quicksilver, shining with its own light, traveled down from the top of the rock face in time with the moon's rising. The effect was subtle, but after a time they could make it out: an arch covered the bottom half of the rock face. It was surmounted by a great four-pointed star, and its walls were traced with moon-silver in the forms of leaves. A pair of silver oliphaunts flanked it. In the middle of the arch were two lines, one vertical and one horizontal, and surrounded by a box. These lines divided the rock face into four distinct panels. Above it was scrawled something in a strange rune they had not seen before.



Some believed them to be dwarfish, but Thorin was gone, and with him all knowledge of the ancient scripts of his forefathers. So the group set about trying to figure out what they meant, and what to do with them to get to the Dragon's treasure.

We had 4 living entries into the Art Contest a few days ago (of which one has since passed away). Good news for some of you, because it means everyone who entered and is still alive won!

In third place, Hedgeowl, with a highly amusing piece of photography:

Hedgeowl wrote:This is my entry, although the photo credit belongs to Llama's sister for the picture of me and the husband. I added that nifty speech bubble for my artistic spin.

In second we have llama, with what I think is just some very very fine work in Paint:

thellama73 wrote: Smaug over Laketown

And finally, our Smaug Art Contest winner....Epi! With "Smaug's First Portrait"!

Epignosis wrote:I cannot draw with a squirrel shit, but to hell with it, says I.

Smaug's very first portrait:



Isn't he cute?

Congratulations to all our winners, and thank you very much for your entries. Gold has been credited to your accounts.

Who could have killed CBK or Hedgie?

Poll ended at Mon Jun 23, 2014 11:04 pm

birdwithteeth11
0
No votes

Bullzeye
0
No votes

Dom
0
No votes

Epignosis
1
Metalmarsh89 (5) 6%

fingersplints
0
No votes

insertnamehere
7
Bullzeye (7), thellama73 (8), fingersplints (9), Dom (10), kneel4justice (13), Snow Dog (14), Spacedaisy (16) 41%

juliets 2.0
0
No votes

kneel4justice
0
No votes

Kylemii 2.0
4
juliets (4), insertnamehere (11), Epignosis (12), nijuukyugou (15) 24%

Metalmarsh89
0
No votes

nijuukyugou
0
No votes

Snow Dog
0
No votes

Spacedaisy
0
No votes

thellama73
0
No votes

Unclear Mapmakers (Host/Mod/Dead)
5
Russtifinko (1), MovingPictures07 (3), Leamiteo (6), Boogs (17), Lizzy (18) 29%
Total votes : 17

So the group sat, impatiently, on the ledge, waiting for night to fall, partly to cover them from any unexpected appearance by Smaug, and partly so that some clue would be revealed. While they waited, they talked, and eventually they decided to rid themselves of INH.

He protested forcefully, and very sarcastically, and at the end he even began to scream. They feared that this would bring doom from the sky down upon them all, and so they beat him with every available weapon until he lay dead. They soon recognized his visage as their friend Dwalin, and many were aghast. They had no choice but to cover his body as best they could, and as far from them as they could go.

What no one had noticed during the day, was that Dom had been getting paler and paler, and clutching his midriff. He helped in the burial of INH, but the exertion proved too much for him. He passed out, wheezing, and lay motionless on his side in the dust. The group tried bringing him water and food, not understanding how this could have happened: he had been careful to sit in the shade all day, and they were still well-provisioned from Lake-Town's larders.

Eventually, k4j saw a red fleck under Dom's shirt. He lifted it up, and saw an ugly, oozing wound there. "He's been stabbed!" gasped k4j, calling the others over.

Dom would not awake, and his breathing got shallower and weaker, and finally petered out. There was nothing the group could do but to make a shallow grave for one into a grave for two.

How should we go up the Lonely Mountain?

Poll ended at Sat Jun 21, 2014 5:04 pm

Take the main road to the main door.
6
Epignosis (3), thellama73 (7), fingersplints (11), nijuukyugou (12), insertnamehere (14), Hedgeowl (15)
35%

Sneak around the backside of the Mountain.
8
Dom (4), kneel4justice (5), Kylemii (6), birdwithteeth11 (9), juliets (10), Bullzeye (13), Snow Dog (16), Captain Bunny Killer (17)
47%

Hitch a ride on an eagle. (Host/Mod/Dead)
3
Russtifinko (1), MovingPictures07 (2), S~V~S (8)

insertnamehere wrote:OK, Russti, how much does my firstborn get me?

Depends. Is it male or female? And how strong is it?

fingersplints wrote:What if I convince someone to play other than myself and have them say you recruited them? is there any gold in that situation?

Great idea! You can also earn 300 gold by recruiting other players and having them say I recruited them. Just make sure they cc me in the PM, or that you get it verified by MP.