The Molag Bal Game XVII

[The SheoDovah]

Do'vah looked Mu in the eyes as he waited for his Sweetroll and mead.

[Taters]

"Hmmph", Tatur grunted, "I don't like the idea of blindly picking someone to die, hoping they'll be an enemy. It's so...desperate"

Tatur looked around the room at the gathered townsfolk.

"If I had to, though, I'd vote for the overly religious Dunmer", he said, nodding toward Duruza, "I've never met a preacher who didn't have some untoward agenda tucked under his robes. And, if you're offering, Nord", he said, looking at Mu, "I'll take a mug of your strongest drink"

[ZeRoc]

Paras sat quietly at his table, thinking of who it could be. He whispered into Barbas's ear, and the dog started walking around the inn. Once he came back he did some quiet growling and pointed his nose at Musahkiin. Hmm, none other than Musahkiin smell of blood, and that's only because he helped bury the bodies. Whoever did this is good... hmm... Paras stood up and said, "I agree with Tatur, the Dunmer does seem a likely suspect. There are quite a few that worship Molag, so it seems as likely a choice as any. As much as I would wish that we didn't resort to bloodshed, I cast my vote on the Dunmer."

[Musicman247]

Do'vah's mead and sweetroll were already in front of him, as Mu had put out each.

[ArgonianDunmer]

"I didn't know that racism was the order of the day," Runs-with-Dunmer growled, "I have no love for the Dunmer, but neither one of you has presented any sort of argument about why we might suspect Duruza's behaviour - only who he is, not what he's done. That seems like either a very foolish, or very suspicious way to go. How do we know you two aren't working together as worshippers of Bal?"

[OblivionDuruza]

Duruza gave Mu a grateful look and popped the cork on the bottle, pouring its contents eagerly into a nearby glass.

"There's no need to rush to my defence, friend," he sighed, turning thankfully to Runs-with, "I knew we would come to this, but I had hoped it would not be so soon. Bal almost always gets his will, mark my word, and our killing each other is nothing but a victory under his grand scheme. Killing me would seem to be a natural knee-jerk reaction, but it would not be a prudent one. The killers, if they are amongst us, will only continue to terrorise this peaceful village unless they are caught. I suppose I should cast my vote for Tatur, but I feel that there is more to this than we now can see. I need time."

Hidden:

To clarify, I'd like to hold off on voting just yet.

Votes:

• Duruza - 2
• Selezen - 1
• Darba - 1

Yet to vote:

• M'hras
• Lara
• Duruza
• Darba
• Musahkiin
• Nanzus Gandrius
• Four threes
• Do'vah
• One-Shadow
• Ba'Lee'Va
• Tatur gro-Jedduh
• Selezen
• Paras Tybalt
• Runs-with-Dunmer

[ZeRoc]

Paras let out a sigh, dignified even under fire... interesting. "Well, if you gentlemen will excuse me, I have a farm to keep. Duruza, I'm sorry for the knee jerk judgement, but I will keep my vote on you unless I think up a better suspect. C'mon Barbas." With that Paras left the inn to go to his fields for a while, Barbas following right behind.

[ArgonianDunmer]

Hidden:

Was Mu's vote for Selezen or Do'vah?

Runs-with-Dunmer cast Duruza a bemuzed look, before announcing, "I must agree with Musakiin, Do'vah has been acting very oddly. I don't trust Tatur and Paras, and I think Do'vah's behaviour has been quite odd, but without further evidence, if were are to put this to a vote, I would have to vote for one of those three. Paras seems quick to be out of here, and away from public ssscrutiny. And all after having tried to sentence one of us to his death. That, seems perplexsssing."

[Emzi 43]

"Must we really decide who lives and dies here? Voting on lives, I'm sorry Do'vah, but you have been acting suspiciously, why did you leave the inn? And every time we tried to discuss the murders you changed the topic. I am sorry, but I must vote for you as the slave of the daedra here" said Four Threes in a serious tone

[Argonanza]

"Maybe I'm just being paranoid", Gandrius said, "but I can't shake off the feeling that Do'vah Selezen and Ba'Lee are in cahoots. Maybe they went outside together to agree on what to do next."

The old man sighed, "Sorry, Selezen, but my vote is for you."

[The SheoDovah]

"Do'vah does not wish to vote to kill anyone but knows that he must. He chooses Selezen as that one looks like she is up to something." Do'vah said as he took his mead and sweetroll to the fireplace and sat in front of it.

[ArgonianDunmer]

"It seemsss decsssided then," Runs-with-Dunmer hissed, "I still do not trusst Tatur and Paras, but I cast my vote for Selezen."

[Dirty Spaceman]

"Voting blindly is not much better than doing nothing," said Darba, "But if that is our course of action, then I'll go along. I have to admit I harbour some suspicion towards Do'vah, but as for my choice today, unfortunately I'd have to say Selezen."

[Taters]

"Selezen seems to be the way we're all voting. Considering that, and Duruza's honorable response to my accusation, I suppose I'll throw my vote Selezen's way instead."

[Aarah]

Lara had been listening to the others votes and did not like the suddeness of having to make such a massive decision.

'Im not sure about Selezen, she keeps to herself, but she doesnt seem capable of such foul acts.'
Lara was also influenced by the fact that Selezen was a female Breton, like herself.

'Going on my instincts, which is pretty much what we're all doing, I am going to vote for Duruza.' She looked around at the others' expressions, whilst avoiding the Dunmer's gaze.
'He seems like an extremely intelligellent fellow and I feel like he could be capable of a number of things, perhaps even manipulating us with his clever words.'

Lara sat down, wondering if she had taken a risk in not going with the majority so far, but it was life and death, and just going with the most popular vote was by no means a good enough reason in her eyes.

[AKB]

As the villagers cast their condemnations of the widow Selezen, the townsfolk failed to notice one thing: Selezen had already left. As they took to the idea of sacrificing her for the salvation of the town, she decided to find her own salvation from the mob within her home. Leaving only a quickly scribbled note that she would rejoin the rest of the townsfolk tomorrow after they had hopefully calmed down, she made her escape to her home, and barricaded it to the outside.

The remaining villagers, noticing the descent of the sun, decided now would be the time to take their leave of each other, having not sacrificed one of their own to eliminate the Daedric worshipers.

IT IS NOW NIGHT. PLEASE MAKE ANY NECESSARY ACTIONS FOR THIS PHASE WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

[ZeRoc]

Hidden:

So no one is lynched? Okay.

After rushing to get his daily farm work done, he went into his house with Barbas and locked it tight. He set some traps that he uses to protect his crops from foxes and the like, hoping that they would be enough. He lied in his bed with Barbas at the foot of his bed, and a carved wooden sword he made in his hand and went to sleep.

[OblivionDuruza]

"At this point is is clear to me that my vote will change little," Duruza stated, rising from his seated position, "But I still have the opportunity to give it some degree of meaning. I know not whether this action will only cast more suspicion upon my character, but for whatever it may be worth, I will be no part of the killing of Selezen this day. Today, I cast my vote upon myself. I have no way other than this simple act of faith to show you all that it is only a humble and honest life that I wish to continue living."

Turning to Lara, he gave a pained smile and declared, ''There is no need to be sorry. This day we have all been called upon to make a terrible choice, and one from which it is impossible to draw any measure of satisfaction. But it is one that we must make, and there's no shame in that of your own making. It is Molag Bal who bears the responsibility for this dark time." He paused, then, almost as an afterthought, continued, "In times of crises, throughout our history, it is often those of intellect who are first targeted. Perhaps it is Bal's wish that this is so. Perhaps he means only to turn us against ourselves."

He sat back down, emptying what remained of his glass of greef. There was no more that he could do, now he must return home and make ready for whatever morning was to bring. With that he left the inn and made his way back home.

Hidden:

Votes:

• Selezen - 6
• Duruza - 3
• Darba - 1
• Do'vah - 1
  Absolute Majority - 8
  Remaining - 3/14

Yet to vote:

• M'hras
• Lara
• Duruza
• Darba
• Musahkiin
• Nanzus Gandrius
• Four threes
• Do'vah
• One-Shadow
• Ba'Lee'Va
• Tatur gro-Jedduh
• Selezen
• Paras Tybalt
• Runs-with-Dunmer

Edit: Just saw AKB's post. I guess it doesn't change all that much, so I've left my post essentially as is, with some minor changes.

[AKB]

Hidden:

To clarify again, no one died this round. The vote ended inconclusively due to Selezen escaping.

[Believe]

Ba'Lee stood up and looked around the room.

"Well, it appears this one may have been wrong in accusing Darba. Selezen's actions are highly suspicious. Would an innocent simply run and hide in this situation? Or would they stand and protest their innocence? Either way, this one now believes Selezen is guilty. She will not have another chance tomorrow."


With that he left the inn, returned to his home, bolted his door and windows and sat down on his bed, fearful of what may come during the night.

[Aarah]

Lara was not surprised by Selezen's departure. Who wouldnt seek refuge if they were about to be killed?
But she was uneasy in thinking that perhaps Selezen was guilty and felt angry that a possible killer could have gotten away.

She was also confused by Duruza's words. Being a selfish person, she found it hard to understand why he would vote for himself. Perhaps it was a ploy to make himself seem innocent.

Lara ran to her house and quickly bolted the door. She looked in all the rooms for anyone hiding there, then picked up her dagger to accompany her for the night.

[Taters]

Tatur wrinkled his nose at the idea of Selezen's departure. "Running is not only cowardly, it would also be what a worshiper of Bal would do", thought Tatur, as he left the inn and returned to his smithy home. "Tonight", he mused, "I keep my blade close"

[The SheoDovah]

"That one is up to something. Do'vah believes no-one who is not up to something would run away without trying to defend themself. Do'vah will sleep with a bottle of skooma and a mace in his hands tonight." Do'vah said to the others. "But he believes it will be safer to sleep here and wonders if the one known as Mu will let him sleep here." He said to the remaining people in a scared tone.

[The-Shadow-One]

One-Shadow stood up, tail swishing.. before going to his own home, trying to remove the memories, trying to please himself, trying to forget.

[ArgonianDunmer]

"Selezen is proving to be a convenient distracsssion," exclaimed Runs-with-Dunmer, "But I think I know who the true masterminds of this scheme of Moalg Bal amongsst us are. I cannot be sure, but tomorrow I should have enough information to call them out, for certain. Today's events have been telling. But, I should not say more, else the perpetrators sseek to ssssilence me."

With that, she left the tavern and hurried off into the night.