The Shadow Fort, end of day one


Gerard, sitting in a large oaken chair behind a larger table, counted the votes, or rather the voters, who lined up to express their views.

It was late in the evening now. The inner court glowed warm from the fire and candles. The doors were opened and the night sky loomed like a black maw.

Gerard shuddered and glanced back down at the tally he had made. Again he felt a pang of doubt. Was this the best way? To have a mob of scared people decide to kill people?

Perhaps he should take back control, and decide who to execute himself...he put his pen down and gazed at the ceiling.

"You know you can't do that," said Hans, standing behind him.

"You don't know what I mean to do," Gerard shot back. Hans just smiled.

After double checking his tally twice, then twice again, Gerard stood up. The crowd was nervous, and silent. A few faces glanced from Gerard to the space behind him, where armed men stood ready.

"Men - soldiers...and travelers. The tally has been made, and a decision reached. There will be no lynch this night.
"I suppose that," Gerard hesitated, "that this is for the best tonight. We have little information right now. It will be up to you to find the spies and get them lynched.
"One more thing, before you go - I see some people decided not to participate and 'voted' to simply ignore these proceedings," his voice gained a sharp edge, "This will not be tolerated! If you are in this fort, you will help, or you will be thrown out!"

Gerard turned and strode back to his chambers. The crowd murmured and people began talking between themselves.

Tally:
No Lynch; 7 (Seamus, Jolt, Tincow, TheFlax, Scienter, Centurion1, Seon)
Ibn-Khaldun; 3 (Khaan, Kagemusha, Beskar)
Subotan; 3 (ACIN, CDF, AVSM)
Methos; 3 (ATPG, White Eyes, Reenk Roink)
Abstain; 2 (split, Subotan)
Others; (Everyone else but Sigurd)

The Night Phase has begun. Please send in your orders by 11 pm PST March 11th (or 22.5 hours or so from now).

In the next day phase, no abstaining will be allowed. Voting not to lynch will be frowned on (unlike this day phase).

Please refer to the rules to make sure you send in orders correctly. Feel free to ask questions if you need to.

CR