Roving Elves: Sepulchre of the Ancients [Concluded]

[TheFlax]

Consequently, Flaxy should be the only sound choice for a vote. :3

Only a coward acknowledges the existence of all being lost in battle.

I don't think there's any harm, Flaxy. :3

[Secura]

Yeah, yeah... :P

[Renata]

On consideration, unvote, vote TheFlax.

[TheFlax]

Mr. THIS, you've been a fine host and the game has been genuinely interesting. On that note, I really think you should do a sequel, which will hopefully go smoother.

Vote: TheFlax for epic failling his scummy vote change.

[ArpeggiateTHIS]

Sadly, I guess I've got to call it a day on this one. Commencing a bitter write-up.

[B]The knives were at Pinman's throat. He was both surrounded and outnumbered, yet he refused to admit his fate. As the first flurry of blades came, the unexpected happened: from the darkness, Pinman brandished a Shimmering Shield and deflected the blows. Whirling around, he shunted The Stranger to the ground with the enchanted shield and took flight into the dark Sepulchre corridors. Before the elves could give chase, everybody's attentions were diverted.

TheFlax, who had previously remained in the shadows, stepped forward in difficulty. He was clawing at his throat with his fingers, screaming obscenities. "RESIST.....NO....eurrghhh...NO MORE..." He shouted. It was clear that he was struggling, grappling with something but was losing the fight. A different voice erupted from TheFlax's throat: "Begone, foul intruders! Feel the wrath of the Guardians!". A stark, purple light began to charge from his palms, crackling and swirling in a mystic aura. It was then that the Stranger struck. Removing his hood, Splitpersonality leapt towards the possessed form of TheFlax and forced him to the ground, slicing his throat in the process. The darkness in the Sepulchre had subsided.

A brief search on the bodies of TheFlax and johnhughthom were remarkably revealing. Both bodies showed signs of scratches and were scarred with cryptic runes that were obviously cut with a knife. There was also something more sinister: two Black Vials of power and were found upon TheFlax. Evidently, the last Guardian was preparing to kill tonight.

With the Sepulchre Guardians banished into the Void, the Roving Elves were free to gather what remaining treasures they could find and leave the Sepulchre with vast riches and a story to tell. However, upon gathering back outside the Sepulchre entrance, The Stranger was not to be found. Evidently he had made a swift exit with whatever treasures he had found.

In the harvests between winter, many of the Roving Elves lead a new life, still not particularly honest and law-abiding but definitely more affluent. In the time to come many foolish band members would squander and lose their fortunes. Is that a problem? The Roving Elves could always raid one of the many other sacred grounds around Malmsteena...

Johnhughthom and TheFlax were the Sepulchre Guardians.
Splitpersonality was the Stranger.

Mega-Ultra-Hyper-OMG-Town Victory! Well Done!

COMMENTS:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

- Well, what a short-lived game! In a way, it's partly my fault due to several unforeseen issues, including the game-ending vote-tie. TheFlax's self vote turned my decision to call it quits, and gave me an awesome idea on what to put in the final write-up!
- I'm most disappointed that many of the game's mechanics and tricks were never used, especially the role of the Stranger. I thought it would be spectacular to have seen him desert his friends near the final rounds. Split, if you're reading, I can tell you that the Kalina-Staff was actually in the Everlasting Shrine. Perhaps you should have taken influence from the room names, eh? After all, I did put it in the most obvious, aptly-named room in the map!
- The actions of the mafia, despite being compromised and doomed from the start, could have been used to better advantage. Not even one kill attempt was made due to jailings, lynchings and hesitance despite the fact that they had kill ability from day one. In the end, they had two black vials (two kills) and a binding rope which could have been used to the same effect that Split experienced.
- I messed up with Split's trap immunity and thus let him have his secret-vote anyway, despite him being in chains. He couldn't vote normally or search though.
- Want to know what items you could have found? Tough luck, I'm keeping them for if I ever make a sequel (which I probably will).
- On the topic of items, I thought that they dispensed quite well, especially Black Vials. By the end of the game, I'd dispensed a Shimmering Shield (1-shot kill immunity) and a Protective Scroll (1-shot doctor). I'd also given out a Rope Trap to Split and allowed the mafia to disarm a Rope Trap to use on a townie.

GAME MECHANICS:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

- So I had a 7 player mini with 2 mafia (to try and avoid an early ending). I had to make it one-kill between two, so I invented Black Vials (stolen from Dragon Age revenants :P) to imbue mafia with enough power to kill. I averaged out the probabilities of finding vials during searches to be 50%, so on average there should have been one kill each night. Of course, you ruined it with your jailing and lynching. Pfft.
- On the topic of items, I gave an overall 25% that a townie (or mafia) would find an item or trap. Items and traps were all one-shot, and they alternated between rooms for variety. If a townie DID find an item, I'd put all available items in that room into a list randomiser and the top item/trap would be received. Thanks, Random.Org!
- There was also the Stranger's Staff. To make his finding possible, I thought I'd let him have it as soon as he searched the possible room.

[ArpeggiateTHIS]

TOWN PM:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

You step off the ladder into the Sepulchre, realising that your band of Roving Elves has completely splintered from civilised society; you are now outlaws. You are amazed to find that chests of all shapes and sizes fill the rooms surrounding your band of Elves, and cannot restrain yourself! “There are fortunes to be gained tonight my friends, but take care, for there lies as many traps in this place as there lies treasures” the stranger announced, quietly hoping that his band of Elves would heed his warning.
ROLE: You are a thieving lowlife devoid of morals, and you seek unimaginable riches within the Sepulchre. Unfortunately, the Magicks shared by the rich and bourgeoisie were never granted to you, thus you are relatively powerless. Even beyond magic, your lack of wealth renders combat with traditional weapons obsolete – how can a rusty dagger possibly match a swipe from a Run’in sword?

- During the day, you may vote to lynch or imprison a fellow elf.
- During the day, you may also choose to search one of the Sepulchre’s many rooms. To do this, you must Search: [ROOM NAME]. Within rooms, you may find gold and usable items. Be warned though, as rooms may also contain traps. Search at your peril.

MAFIA PM:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

You separate from the rest of the group in a hurried exploration for some of the fabled relics of the Old Times, but are instantly gripped by an incomprehensible force. A writhing pain tears across your spine and a tortuous power wrenches the very soul from your insides. “N’E...N’E...BEGONE, INTRUDERS!!” Fighting the spirit invading your mind proves useless, and your conscious slowly slips into pitch black...
Your feeble soul has been cast aside, and your body handed to the Spirits of the Ancients as a vessel with which to implement their will. The wanderers you followed into these sacred grounds are desecrating relics, and thus must be eliminated!

ROLE:
- You are now a Guardian of the Sepulchre and have been gifted with Magic of Discordance. Unfortunately, during the possession, your body has been drained of energy and you have become feeble. To regain energy, you must join the rat race of searching and find black vials, which restore your power reserves by one. For every vial you find, you may make a kill by PM-ing me Kill: ____
The spirit within also realises that, to avoid suspicion, the host must also carry out normal town actions. Thus, the following moves are also granted:
- During the day, you may vote to lynch or imprison a fellow elf.
- During the day, you may also choose to search one of the Sepulchre’s many rooms. To do this, you must Search: [ROOM NAME]. Within rooms, you may find gold and useable items. Be warned though, as chests may also contain traps. Search at your peril.
Of course, the Sepulchre belongs to our ancestors, and any traps that lie in your dungeon remain at the forefront of your mind. You are thus immune to traps.

VICTORY CONDITION: Vanquish every last one of the foul creatures that tread amongst the Relics of the Sepulchre.

STRANGER PM:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

You are the elusive Stranger that has led this band of Roving Elves (or perhaps you refer to them as trap-bait) into the Sepulchre. You could not have dared attempt such a stunt alone, but with a foolish group of Elf low-lives in tow, your chances are greatly improved. They will serve as distraction to the Spirits of the Sepulchre, allowing you to feast upon the riches within this once-impenetrable fortress. However, your goal is not merely monetary. The Kalina-Staff, once held by Regent Arpe’gio II, is rumoured to lie within this very Sepulchre. If you become the bearer of such a relic, any powers once held by the Regent and those before him would be instantly bestowed upon you! Instant, unquantifiable power beyond your wildest dreams!

ROLE:
- As stranger, you have read and researched for decades the dangers of enchanted burial grounds such as these. As such, you are immune to any traps held within rooms.
- As leader of the band of Roving Elves, you may make an additional lynch vote, which you must PM me. After all, many of your new followers are wracked with nerves, and have led simple lives as of yet. Your persuasion powers will be able to convince all who follow you.
- As leader of the band of Roving Elves, you are the most knowledgeable and therefore are looked up to. At any point, you may PM me, the host, to stop a lynch from taking place. This may be done once only.
- You are a traitorous, malicious scum. As such, you may desert your band of Roving Elves during any night phase by Vote: Desert. This must be public.
VICTORY CONDITION: Escape the Sepulchre with the Kalina-Staff.

[Secura]

I'm sorry that it had to end this way, Arpeggiate; mistakes happen, unfortunately, but it was a good game while it lasted!

I wouldn't mind seeing the mafia QT/PMs, t'would be a good read... same applies to the roles/search results. :3

[TheFlax]

EDIT: Nothing to see here.

[ArpeggiateTHIS]

I'm sorry that it had to end this way, Arpeggiate; mistakes happen, unfortunately, but it was a good game while it lasted!

I wouldn't mind seeing the mafia QT/PMs, t'would be a good read... same applies to the roles/search results. :3

The posts are all up now, if there's anything else you'd like to know just tell me :P

If there is a next game, I'll make sure it goes smoothly and without blunder.