Sarachim

This. It's impossible to make meaningful strategic choices when you don't know your own victory conditions. It's as if you had a chess variant where, after the game proper ends, you roll a die and reverse the result on a 6. It's absolutely necessary that everyone know what faction they're in at all times.

Nalyd, I'm curious why you're voting for me. I'd like to be able to defend myself, but "seems most suspicious" isn't much to go on.

So, it's been 24 hours, and we have a lot to go on. If loyal Avernite votes are split, then the Imperial voting bloc might be enough to carry the vote all by itself, so it's absolutely vital we co-ordinate. There has to be a consensus vote or we have no chance. Trouble is, everyone who's been talking has given us reasons to doubt them. Triumph and Sylae could both be an Empire Infiltrator, and I think either one is about equally likely. Excaibur's story about his role is technically plausible but highly improbable, making him most suspicious, but is he so suspicious that he could actually be the Addict? I'm not sure. And we have way more than 2 Refugees, making everyone who claimed that role suspicious as well. We also shouldn't be too quick to excuse Iffy and Tridash. They vouch for each other as Disciples, but that could easily be an Imperial ploy. Ultimately, I provisionally vote for TRIUMPH. He protests too much, like someone who's not used to lying and clearly uncomfortable with it. That's just a gut instinct, but with so many possible Imperials out there gut instincts are necessary.

The fact that Triumph's story requires two other people to be lying makes him almost as suspicious as Excalibur, which is why I have him second.

The only "evidence" for the EC was that Excalibur needed one to exist (and to target the right person) in order for his previous claims to be plausible. The simpler explanation is that Excalibur was just lying. Thus, either there's no EC in the game at all or we have no information about them, which amounts to the same thing.

Hmm. The weakest link in Excalibur's chain is "I switched with Sylae and am now a refugee." Sylae herself claims Apprentice Mage, meaning we need a mystery Empire Cultist to switch Sy's role for Excalibur's claim to work. The more likely scenario is: EXCALIBUR really was the Geas Toucher but switched with an Imperial or Skribbane Addict, and made up the lie about Sy/Refugee as an alibi, knowing that if it turned out not to match Sy's role claim he could always blame the EC. TRIUMPH and SYLAE both seem to have correctly guessed one person's role, suggesting they're the AM and Empire Infiltrator. However, we don't know which is which, because Sylae is smart enough not to reveal that she's an Imperial just because Excalibur says he switched with her. THE EMPIRE CULTIST probably isn't in the game, because the only evidence for its existence (Excalibur's claims) has been discounted, so. . . SARACHIM is still a Refugee. Sorry, haters! If I were to make a suspicion index, from most suspicious to least, it'd go: Excalibur Triumph Sylae BainIhrno Nalyd Everybody else

You're trying to gloss over the huge uncertainties remaining by making orderly lists that present an illusion of certainty. Your attempt to make us think we know more than we really do is classic Imperial behavior. At any rate you've got at least one important mistake, because I'm a Refugee.

Let me rephrase. The combinations that result from taking everyone at their word are impossible (no big surprise). The combinations that result from assuming you (Triumph) are lying are plausible, but just barely. Some major participant in the drama thus far has created an elaborate scenario which we're buying into and dissecting, when the simpler truth is that they're just lying. So that *could* be you, but it's probably Excalibur. Or both of you. Still not ruling that out, though it looks less likely.

I'm with Triumph. That's a pretty convoluted sequence of events that Excalibur presented. It's plausible, yes, but the fact that this series of improbabilities is the most plausible way to explain his origin role claim suggests that the claim was probably a lie, and new information has eroded it. Triumph and/or Excalibur are Imperials, and they're either in cahoots or at least one's a lucky guesser.

Still waiting, Excalibur. You're quick enough to answer this question in private, so I wonder why you're more hesitant when the player you're talking about can see you.

Hmm. So, come to think of it, even if Triumph's telling the truth Excalibur could have swapped roles with an Imperial. I think Excalibur had better tell us who he swapped with and what new role he got, so the other player involved can corroborate this. I still think that Triumph/Excalibur/yet unseen third player are likely Imperials, but I'm willing to listen to alternatives.

I'm a Refugee, since you asked. I don't see how it's "cute" that I didn't reveal that until now, when most players haven't even spoken yet. And I'm not accusing you, Excalibur, and yet-to-be-revealed third party of being Imperials. I just can't help being suspicious of a troika who all claim that the other two members are Avernite.

Hmm. So let me see if I have this right. First, Triumph claims Apprentice Mage, and makes a role reveal about Excalibur as well. This will conveniently enable Excalibur to corroborate Triumph's claim, placing them both above suspicion. Even more conveniently, Excalibur's role enables him to reveal a third player, repeating the process for someone new. Three players with a coordinated, internally consistent set of role claims that defy outside verification. What does that sound like to y'all?

I advise you to reveal it. I'm feeling very much in the dark.

I'll play.

Avernum also decided to interfere because Rentar's plans would have made the surface permanently uninhabitable, and human civilization in the caves was fragile and possibly unsustainable. Given what happened in A6, it seems like the correct decision.

You're beautiful and talented, Lilith. And yeah, James and Kepling got killed trying to destroy Iskania's weird lightning-machine. The two replacement PCs are both Wireldi because that's where the party happened to be at the time.

"Adventuring is easier than I expected. It only looks hard because people fail to approach it intelligently." Rokhsana gains Luck (+1 benny per session).

Goddamn it, histomap, way to erase indigenous Americans from history. This is ruining my appreciation of Nalyd's 4000th post!

Damn it, Nalyd, what's on the right side of that first image? You can't just post half a chart like that!

1. It's mildly creepy that internet people have such thorough knowledge of my interaction with other internet people. Seriously, I am not that interesting. 2. There should be a line from me to Ash. I met him once when he and Marlenny were visiting America.

I am excited for this. Go, Persia!

EDIT: Updated to a more complete character sheet, including inventory and derived stats.

Here's my character sheet, too. EDIT: Swapped Mind Reading for Telekinesis, since Nalyd already has the former.

After a few false starts, I've begun a game as Malmure (or Mael Muire), Earl of Atholl and bastard half-brother to King Malcolm III. At least, that's how the game interprets it; we actually don't know much of anything about the historical Malmure, but an Icelandic saga about the history of the Orkney islands says that Malmure was the son of King Duncan I (yes, that one). As far as I can tell no source names his mother, so I don't know how the Paradox crew concluded that he was a bastard or that Malcolm III was only his half-brother. Then again, no source tells much of anything about him, so for game purposes he's pretty much a blank slate. I like to imagine a jealous brother, cheated out of an inheritance. The Scottish crown should be mine, and before I die I will have it. A totally original idea that has never been done before.