Rubicon [Concluded]

[TinCow]

Voting concluded.

[TinCow]

“Even if you have nothing to write, write and say so.”
- Marcus Tullius Cicero

There was little discussion in the Senate. Many men were cowering in their corners, fearful of saying anything that might offend the others. Others ducked out early to go bathing. The day’s ‘debate’ turned into little more than a discussion between whoever happened to remain, and even then many were unwilling to commit to a position.

However, the Senate was also unwilling to let the day drag on longer, and thus towards the end a flurry of voting began. Cronos Impera was the target, and soon the startled Senator found himself isolated and vulnerable. His vehement accusations had provoked the ire of his colleagues, and proscription seemed likely.

At the last minute, an older man in a fine, white toga rose and began lecturing the Senate about their unwillingness to speak up in such a time of crisis. He cited many historical examples of when silence resulted in the downfall of great peoples, and many a head in the Senate was soon bowed in shame. Eventually he turned his attentions towards Andres, whose face grew confused. “But, I was speaking…” he began, before the older man wave his hand dismissively at him. “Yes, yes, but you were speaking erroneously. You are an example of passivity and that will not due in a time of crisis!” The older man then began to lecture Andres on how important it was to root out those who meant to destroy the Republic. He then began to discuss Cultured Drizzt fan and explained how voting for him would be far preferable to abstaining. “But, it won’t even make a difference…” complained Andres. The man waived his hand dismissively again, “That’s not the point!” He opened his mouth to begin yet another lecture, but Andres shrugged, “Fine, fine! I shall do as you say, just stop lecturing me!” Andres promptly changed his vote to Cultured Drizzt fan.

As had been noted though, it did not make a difference in the final tally. As it became clear that Cronos Impera was in the lead by a moderate margin, his face began to whiten. He rose from his seat in the Optimates section and attempted to flee from the Curia, but a few guards outside the gates grabbed him as he tried to run by. The men nodded to Senators inside, a subtle thanks for the prosperity their families were about to receive, and proceeded to slit Cronos Impera’s throat. They dropped his body on the floor and left to go appraise their new properties.

The Senators filed out into the city.

Cronos Imperia: 5 (AggonyDuck, Cultured Drizzt fan, Ignoramus, Capt. Blackadder, Beefy187)

Andres: 2 (Chaotix, YLC)
Sasaki: 2 (w&f, ATPG, johnhughthom)
Ignoramus: 2 (Khazaar)
Beefy187: 2 (Tratorix, Greyblades)
Chaotix: 1 (Sasaki)
YLC: 1 (khaan)
Cultured Drizzt fan: 1 (Andres)

Abstain: 5 (Splitpersonality, Gaius Scribonius Curio, Jolt, Iskander 3.1, Marshal Murat)

Not Voting: 7 (LittleGrizzly, Ichigo, atheotes, TheFlax, Caius, Cronos Imperia, everyone)

Alive (27):
Beefy187
Andres
Greyblades
LittleGrizzly
Sasaki Kojiro
everyone
johnhughthom
AggonyDuck
Shinseikhaan
spL1tp3r50naL1ty
Chaotix
Khazaar
Ichigo
Jolt
Cultured Drizzt fan
Gaius Scribonius Curio
Marshal Murat
Iskander 3.1
Captain Blackadder
atheotes
Tratorix
YLC
woad&fangs
Askthepizzaguy
Ignoramus
TheFlax
Caius

Killed (7):
White_eyes:D
mini
Beskar
Yaropolk
pevergreen
Glenn
GeneralHankerchief

Proscripted (3):
navarro951
Tiberius of the Drake
Cronos Impera

WoG/Suicide (0):

It is now Night V. This phase will end on Saturday, May 23rd at 10:30am EST.

[Greyblades]

Why am I on the not voting list?

[LittleGrizzly]

Big apologies, late night, assumed i would have time to come back and make my vote... i quite possibly would have gone for Cronos seen as im the one who made the case on him before...

Andres vote got changed to Cultured Drizzt ?

Sasaki has a 2 next to him but three people voting for him... or is that just a typo ? Ignoramus as well....

[Splitpersonality]

Curse my timezone difference, I keep leaving and expecting to be back in time to see the final tally. Which is why I don't vote more than abstain. I am sorry senators...

[TinCow]

Why am I on the not voting list?

Apologies, I was in a rush when I wrote that up. I have fixed it.

[Jolt]

Hm...Is Cicero trying to tell us something about Drizzt? Obviously his lonely vote wouldn't make that much of a difference, so maybe he's pointing out something about Drizzt. Cato also didn't vote. Maybe GH was really Cato? Or did Cato not use his aiblity just to enhance Cicero's vote change?

[Cultured Drizzt fan]

I wonder if Cronos was Cicero? it would explain some things.

[Jolt]

Yeah, that might also explain it. Still, it is weird why Cicero voted while Cato didn't.

[Cultured Drizzt fan]

I have a feeling the two aren't coordinating their actions, Navarro may have been a fluke, it would make a lot of things clear, though we still wont know who's side they are on (are they trying to help us or the Mafia?)

[Ignoramus]

7 people not voting. That's not very good guys. TinCow deserves better than that, after all the time he's put into the game.

[LittleGrizzly]

Cultured any reason why vote changer would target you ?

Ill be back early hours of tomorrow morning to vote..

[Cultured Drizzt fan]

I have no Idea.

[Caius]

Im back. I've traveled something like 10 hours today. I arrived home to notice that the telephone line is broken. Damn.

[Cultured Drizzt fan]

I feel kind of depressed that no one wants my help in their night actions..... I have to sit here and twiddle my thumbs and wait... (and by this I mean to say does anyone need any help?)

[TinCow]

Night 5 over, write-up commencing.

[TinCow]

“Some men are more beholden to their bitterest enemies than to friends who appear to be sweetness itself. The former frequently tell the truth, but the latter never.”
- Marcus Porcius Cato Uticensis

Andres was sipping wine and thinking deeply about the events that had transpired. He was greatly concerned for the future. The killings and proscriptions had resulted in numerous deaths, and Rome was in a veritable state of terror. However, there was still hope, and perhaps that was enough.

That notion was quickly dashed, as a cry of alarm came from the front of the villa. Andres raised his head wearily, knowing full well what that sound indicated. He sighed heavily, downed the rest of his wine, and turned his chair to watch the door. As expected, within moments several men armed with gladii ran into the room. When they saw him, sitting calmly and waiting, they stopped. “No guards this time?” one of them asked.

Andres shook his head, “I am here alone. Is that worrisome to you?”

The men grinned wickedly and raised their blades. “Quite the contrary.” They swarmed over Andres, stabbing him brutally. When they finally pulled back, all that could be seen was a slashed and bloodied toga covering the corpse beneath.

…

The two groups of men were crouched outside LittleGrizzly’s villa. Some were watching the stars, others reading graffiti on a nearby wall, still others picking lint out of their navels. A few more hours passed before the boredom overwhelmed them. There was some grumbled discussion about the hour and the location of their conspirators, but eventually the decision was made. They sheathed their sharpened pugii and, taking one last, long look at LittleGrizzly’s villa, disappeared into the back alleys of Rome.

…

The butcher’s wife had woken up in the middle of the night with a parched throat. She got up and began groping in the darkness for a ewer of water when she heard strange sounds coming from the street out in front of the insulae. She crept over to one of the shuttered windows and peeked through. Out in the street, two groups of men were facing off.

Two large groups of pugii-armed men were facing off against one another. In the middle, each side had sent three leaders to speak for them. These six men stood between the two mobs, arguing and gesturing frantically. The name of everyone was frequently mentioned, and both groups gestured in the direction of his villa at regular intervals. Eventually, one of the leaders threw up his hands in apparent frustration, turned on his heels, and stomped back to the main mob, his fellow leaders following shortly behind. There was some quiet discussion with the others, before they all dispersed into the city.

The group of men who had blocked the path of the others remained for some hours, scanning the dark side-streets. Eventually, they too disappeared, but by that time the butcher’s wife had become bored and gone back to bed.

…

The Senators filed glumly into the Curia for another day of state-sanctioned executions. Every man was nervous that he would be the choice of the day. Most men were too busy brooding in their own thoughts to notice the empty seat in the Populares section. More attention was paid to the notices nailed to the Curia doors:

Another good day everyone! Andres dead, and the Populares down another man! I would sing a song if I wasn't so busy plotting Caesars death. I am quiet disappointing Cronos had to die, but oh well. On to business! Is anyone willing to help a poor old Tyrant out yet? you must all realize we are reaching a point where you need to decide what you plan on doing, if you want to cling to your idiotic ideals or live. Yes I said it, the next person to even HINT that they want to overthrow BOTH me and Caeser will be killed, faction will be irrelevant. Now, I know that some of you have the ability to send anonymous messages to me and Caesar, well guess what, now the time to point it out! any man who comes forward with this ability and chooses to ferry a message promising fealty to me between himself and others will be promised nighttime protection by my men (of course, lie and prepare to die, and I will know!). Come now! its a chance to have some real fun! you will have the power of life and death over your fellows! (oh yes, Caeser I will not attack any messenger you have brought forth as well, in this matter I propose a truce. Though I shall continue trying to kill you). ah Caesar you are the racer X to my speed racer, I could go on but I wont. So all of you, please see the sense in Killing Caeser, and letting me live. look at the numbers, Optimates are ahead, use it! that about it, though I am somewhat suprised no one has gotten the Chekhov's Gun hanging on the wall.
and please try and find the sense in my lists, I mam sure if you all tried to actually talk to me then I would tell you, I am just so lonely.

SASAKI KOJIRO Unlike crazy Caesar I have evidence backing things up.

Cheers, Have fun


The man who smiles when things go wrong has thought of someone to blame it on

You send your servants off to watch Sasaki Kojiro’s villa. Your men take up position in an alley from which they can watch a side entrance. Foot traffic is low during the night, which makes the arrival of several well-dressed patricians easy to spot. They must be political supporters of AggonyDuck, who is clearly an Optimates.

Your men spy something else that is curious. At one point a servant pokes his head out a rear door and looks around cautiously, as if attempting to spot any observers. After a few moments of seeing nothing, he whistles. A group of twenty armed men, guarding a palanquin carried by four slaves, walks towards the villa. One of your men manages to take a good look at the palanquin and sees Pompeia Magna in it.

Ludi incipiant! (Let the Games begin!)

Senators, as you can see, we have reasons to believe Sasaki Kojiro is Pompey the Great.

Last night, we lost Marcus Antonius. We do no longer have sufficient manpower to break through Pompey's defenses.

We need the Senate to take him out.

Lynch Sasaki Kojiro.

The write-up of my investigation indicates that he is either Pompey the Great or that he was recruited by Pompey the Great. Remember the beautiful woman visiting GeneralHankerchief? That was my daughter trying to recruit him. Unfortunately, he died that very same night.

We also wish to inform you that the Optimates are currently outnumbering the Populares by a disturbing large margin.

Be careful, dear Populares. Do not trust the Optimates.

Gaius Julius Caesar.

Alive (26):
Beefy187
Greyblades
LittleGrizzly
Sasaki Kojiro
everyone
johnhughthom
AggonyDuck
Shinseikhaan
spL1tp3r50naL1ty
Chaotix
Khazaar
Ichigo
Jolt
Cultured Drizzt fan
Gaius Scribonius Curio
Marshal Murat
Iskander 3.1
Captain Blackadder
atheotes
Tratorix
YLC
woad&fangs
Askthepizzaguy
Ignoramus
TheFlax
Caius

Killed (8):
White_eyes:D
mini
Beskar
Yaropolk
pevergreen
Glenn
GeneralHankerchief
Andres

Proscripted (3):
navarro951
Tiberius of the Drake
Cronos Impera

WoG/Suicide (0):

It is now Day V. You may begin voting. This day phase will end on Sunday, May 24th at 11:30am EST.

[Splitpersonality]

The man who smiles when things go wrong has thought of someone to blame it on

Am I hallucinating or is/was that part of someone's sig? @_@

[White_eyes:D]

That's Greyblades sig.....

[Greyblades]

Weird, he even got that I like Yugioh abridged.

[Chaotix]

Notice that both tyrants mention Sasaki Kojiro as someone they want dead. Pompey claims him as an enemy, while Caesar claims him to be Pompey, or one of his henchmen.



Thank you, tyrants! Now we know Sasaki is just a little scapegoat of yours. Just about everything that they say is lies.

For now... Vote: Abstain.

[Askthepizzaguy]

You'd really put it past Sasaki to point the finger at himself.

Strange.

[Greyblades]

Or... maybe thats their intention: to have a mafia "confirmed" innocent and therefore overlooked.

I swear, its like every 5 minutes there a new WiFOM posted on this board.

[Caius]

Pompey is lonely? Does that mean that Pompey the Great is losing power? I don't get it, Pompey.

Anyway, I've noticed that the Senator Iskander comes, vote to not to be Wogged, dissapears, and so forth. I'm going to pressure him, just to know if he has something to do with that.

Forgot the vote. Vote:Iskander

[Askthepizzaguy]

I swear, its like every 5 minutes there a new WiFOM posted on this board.

That is why I am so confused.

Well I can basically prove I am not Caesar or Pompey, and neither are any of the replacement players, as it's patently obvious that Caesar and Pompey are active players. I have NO idea why I wasn't murdered last night, for that reason. I'm proven innocent. I've even said I was an investigator. I've already cleared two people.

Sometimes I wonder what the dictators are smoking.

[Andres]

The detective result on Sasaki seems genuine

But then again, it could be fake. Don't know what to think of it.

Caesar also tries the "divide et impera" approach, trying to create some paranoia between the Optimates and Populares faction.

I suggest all Senators stay focused on hunting scum and don't fall for it.

'khaan is still here and so far he has only made nonsensic "please mafia, kill me"-posts. If there's one mafioso you guys should fear, it's him.

[Andres]

That is why I am so confused.

Well I can basically prove I am not Caesar or Pompey, and neither are any of the replacement players, as it's patently obvious that Caesar and Pompey are active players. I have NO idea why I wasn't murdered last night, for that reason. I'm proven innocent. I've even said I was an investigator. I've already cleared two people.

Sometimes I wonder what the dictators are smoking.

a) why do you think Caesar or Pompey write their messages themselves?
b) How are you "proven innocent"? It's not uncommon for mafia to be able to investigate, certainly in role heavy games. Being "an investigator" is not "proven innocent" in this game.

[Chaotix]

Yep, I suppose it's also possible that they just want to keep Sasaki alive. But both mafia groups? Surely if he's mafia at least one of them must want him dead.

I don't know. I didn't get a mafia vibe from Sasaki when speaking to him (doesn't say much, given his skill), and whenever he's killed, it's been as a vigilante, not a mafioso- he offed pevergreen and tried to kill me in this way.

[Askthepizzaguy]

a) why do you think Caesar or Pompey write their messages themselves?
b) How are you "proven innocent"? It's not uncommon for mafia to be able to investigate, certainly in role heavy games. Being "an investigator" is not "proven innocent" in this game.

Paranoia strikes again.

I hardly think that someone with the role of Caesar or Pompey just sat around until they were replaced. I SUPPOSE it is possible someone is writing their messages for them. In short, you can suspect me all you like and I have no defense. I'm not concerned with wasting time in defending myself.

[Chaotix]

The detective result on Sasaki seems genuine

But then again, it could be fake. Don't know what to think of it.

Caesar also tries the "divide et impera" approach, trying to create some paranoia between the Optimates and Populares faction.

I suggest all Senators stay focused on hunting scum and don't fall for it.

'khaan is still here and so far he has only made nonsensic "please mafia, kill me"-posts. If there's one mafioso you guys should fear, it's him.

I believe the investigation is probably faked- if you look at it, it starts in exactly the same way as another investigation posted in this thread, and then continues in the same fashion, subbing in only a few words.

Still, it could be true for that reason. I know my night actions get a different results pm every time I use them.