[Path-Shaper]

QUICK MOD NOTE: THERE ARE SPOILERS IN THE FOLLOWING INTRO STORY FOR A VERY PIVOTAL CHAPTER NEAR THE END OF BONEHUNTERS. IF YOU HAVEN'T READ IT YET, AND DO NOT WANT TO BE SPOILED, YOU SHOULD NOT READ THIS INTRO. FURTHERMORE, THERE WILL LIKELY BE SPOILERS UP TO THE END OF BONEHUNTERS IN THIS GAME, SO AGAIN, PLEASE BE WARNED.

====

Pearl watches Tavore's fleet nearby, wondering how they arrived so soon, what the strange huge ships are, and how the Empress had known they'd be there. He glances at the plague flags flying above the ships but doesn't believe for a second that there is actually plague on the ships.

"What is your opinion of Tavore?" the Empress asks him.

"She doesn't inspire me, nor the 14th Army," he replies, his eyes glued to the ships in the harbor.

"She hasn't failed us once. Y'Ghatan went about as well as it could have."

"That's true, Empress, but it's perception that will tell the story here. Tavore never emerges untarnished. She lives in the shadow of the Coltaine." Indeed, this must be why Korbolo Dom and Mallick Rel were seeking to destroy that legacy, he thought. "It won't work, what those two are trying. It merely taints us all."

"You need more faith in civilization's resiliency, Pearl. The foreigners in those huge ships must have seen something in Tavore that we do not. I wonder why she leaves them out in the harbor. Could this be her first move?"

Indeed, thought Pearl. I'm sure you'd love for them to disembark. It would cause a riot to remember. Perhaps that would distract her detractors from what she was doing, what she was allowing Mallick Rel and Korbolo Dom to do.

====

Kalam worries that Tavore's plans are too risky, too extreme. Curdle and Telorast had told him that Apsalar is gone, and that they were afraid of someone in the City. As he is chewing on this, his eyes are scanning the docks. He notices Tene Baralta and his Red Blades going ashore.

"Already we are betrayed..." whispers Tavore, making Kalam jump. He hadn't even noticed her and T'Amber joining him at the ship's rails. Indeed, he thinks, and this is just the beginning, I suspect.

Tavore shakes her head and scowls then turns to Kalam. "I'd like for you and T'Amber to be my escort."

So small an escort? It was not getting to Mock's Hold he was worried about, it was getting back after the adjunct's meeting with the Empress.

"Of course, Adjunct. I'll get you safely to Mock's Hold."

Tavore's face showed disappointment and T'Amber seems angry at him all of a sudden. What more did they expect?

=====

The heavy door at the top of Rampart Way opened with a squeal, revealing a massive, humped form silhouetted on the threshold. As the Adjunct reached the level, the figure stepped back. She strode into the gatehouse followed by T'Amber, then Fist Tene Baralta, who had not betrayed her as she had feared, but wished to be her escort to Mock's Hold. Kalam entered the musty room last. The air was sweet with the cloying fumes of rum.

The assassin paused opposite the keeper. "Lubben."

A heavy, rumbling reply, "Kalam Mekhar."

"Busy night?"

"Not everybody uses the door," Lubben replied.

Kalam nodded and said nothing more. He continued on, emerging out into the keep's courtyard. Somewhere overhead, a weather vane squealed momentarily. He set off after the others.

Two claws flanked the keep entrance - not the usual guard. Kalam wondered where the resident Fist and his guard were tonight. Probably in the storehouse cellars, blind drunk. Hood knows, it's where I'd be in their boots. As Kalam passed between the two assassins, both tilted their hooded heads in his direction. A mocking acknowledgement, he concluded, or something worse.

Another claw had been awaiting them, and this cowled figure now led them to a set of double doors, leaving Fist Baralta's Red Blades in a room along the way. Not the usual room for official meetings, Kalam noted. This one was smaller - if the approach was any indication - and situated in a quarter of the keep rarely frequented. Two more Claws stood guard at the entrance, and both turned to open the doors.

Kalam watched the Adjunct stride in, then halt. As did T'Amber and Tene Baralta. Kalam's breath caught.

A tribunal awaited them, and seated opposite them were Empress Laseen, Korbolo Dom - attired as a High Fist - and another person Kalam did not recognize. Round-faced and full-featured, corpulent, wearing blue silks. His sleepy eyes regarded the Adjunct with an executioner's avarice. The oily fat man fixed his gaze on the assassin and leaned forward slightly.

"Kalam Mekhar, yes? Great pleasure," he murmured, "in meeting you at last."

"Is it? I'm happy for you... whoever you are."

"Mallick Rel."

"Here in what capacity?" Kalam asked. "Chief snake?"

"That will be enough from you," the Empress said. "Sit if you must, Kalam, but be silent. And understand, I did not request your presence here this night."

Kalam sensed a hidden question in that statement, to which he but shrugged. No, Laseen, I'm not ready to give you anything.

Baralta requests that the Empress countermand Tavore's order making him a fist in the Fourteenth Army and removing the Red Blades from the Fourteenth. Laseen agrees and dismisses him. Laseen then turns her attention to Tavore.

"Why the ruse with the plague flags?" she asks.

Tavore shrugs. "Fist Keneb has seemingly decided it was unsafe to land the troops. It appears the Empire labors under the mistaken belief with regard to the Chain of Dogs. I wonder at the presence of Korbolo Dom and Mallick Rel at these proceedings. They are guilty of rebellion and slaughter. They should be in the gaol, not sitting at your side."

"You believe, rather childishly, that some truths are intransigent and undeniable, but in reality, all truths are malleable. And anyway, the populace no longer seems to care much for the truth. The Malazan Empire is at its most precarious moment, and all is uncertain, hovering on the cusp. We have lost Dujek Onearm to plague - and his army appears to have vanished entirely, likely also victims of that plague. Events have taken a turn for the worse in Korel. The decimation of Seven Cities has struck us a near-mortal blow with respect to our economy and, specifically, the harvests. We may find ourselves facing starvation before the subcontinent can recover. It becomes imperative, Tavore, to force a new shape upon our empire."

"And what, Empress, does this new shape entail?"

Mallick Rel spoke: "Victims, alas. Spilled blood, to slacken the thirst, the need. Unfortunate, but no other path presents. All are saddened here. You must hand over the Wickans. And the Khundryl."

The Adjunct hesitated, then fixed her gaze upon Laseen. "Empress, I must speak to you. Alone. There are matters that belong exclusively to the Empress and her Adjunct."

Mallick Rel hissed, then said, "Matters unleashed by an otataral sword, you mean! It is as I feared, Empress! She serves another, now, and would draw cold iron across the throat of the Malazan Empire!"

And Kalam saw then something he never thought to see. A flicker of fear, in the Empress's eyes.

"Tavore," she said quietly. "it was never the function of the Adjunct to command armies. Necessity forced my hand with the rebellion in Seven Cities, but that is now over. You see before you the restructuring of the Malazan high command. Mallick Rel may well possess talents in many areas of administration, but is lacking in others. I need you to complement his talents. Korbolo Dom is now High Fist, in fact, with Dujek's death, the ranking High Fist, and has taken up the ancient title of First Sword of the Empire. You must now hand over command of your army to him. The time has come, Tavore, to set aside your sword."

Silence. From Tavore, no movement, not a single twitch of emotion. "As you command, Empress."

"I am pleased," said the Empress.

"It will be necessary," Tavore said, "for me to return, briefly, to the docks. Fist Keneb will doubt the veracity of the change of command if informed by anyone but me."

"A most loyal man," murmured Mallick Rel.

"Yes, he is that."

"And these Perish," Korbolo Dom demanded. "Will they submit to my authority?"

The Empress said, "These discussions can wait. The mob in the city below will get out of hand if the proper sacrifices aren't delivered. Are you ready, Tavore?"

Kalam found he was holding his breath. He could not see Tavor's eyes, but something in Laseen's told him that the Adjunct had locked gazes with the Empress, and in that moment something passed between them, an dslowly, in increments, the eyes of Laseen went flat, strangely colourless.

The Adjunct rose. "I am, Empress."

T'amber also stood, and, before anyone could shift their attention to Kalam, the assassin climbed to his feet.

"Adjunct," he said in a weary rumble, "I will see you out."

====

"Kalam Mekhar," said T'amber. "How many Hands await us?"

He looked away. "Four ships moored below. Could be as many as eighty."

"Eighty?"

Kalam nodded. You are dead, Adjunct. So are you, T'amber. "She will not let you get back to the ships," he said, still not meeting their gazes. "To do so invites a civil war--"

"No," Tavore said.

Kalam frowned, glanced at her.

"We are leaving the Malazan Empire. And in all likelihood will never return."

T'amber said, "There is a convergence this night, Kalam, here in Malaz City. The game is in a frenzy of move and countermove, and yes, Mallick Rel is a participant, although the hand that guides him remains remote, unseen. Removing him, as you intend to do, will prove a deadly blow and may well shift the entire balance. It may well save not just the Malazan Empire, but the world itself. How can we object to your desire?"

"And yet..."

"Yes," T'amber said. "We are asking you. Kalam, without you we stand no chance at all-"

"Six hundred assassins, damn you!" He set his head against the wall, unwilling, unable to look upon these two women, to see the need in their eyes. "I'm not enough. You have to see that. We all go down, and Mallick Rel lives."

"As you say," Tavore replied.

"It is clear that something has not occurred to you," T'amber said.

"What hasn't?"

"The Claw. They are infiltrated. Extensively. The Jhistal priest has not been idle. Six hundred assassins, yes, but they will be fighting amongst each other as well."

====

Pearl stepped into the chamber. Mallick Rel was pacing, and Korbolo Dom had uncorked a bottle of wine and was pouring himself a goblet. The Empress remained in her chair.

"The three are nearing the Gate," she said.

"I see. So, Kalam Mekhar has made his choice, then."

"Yes."

"I have unfinished business with him, Empress."

"Do not let that interfere with what must be done. Kalam is the least relevant target, do you understand me? Get him out of the way, of course, but then complete what is commanded of you."

"Of course, Empress."

Kalam Mekhar. Finally, we can end this. For that, Empress, thank you.

This post has been edited by Path-Shaper: 23 February 2015 - 06:56 PM

[Path-Shaper]

GAME MECHANICS

1 - General Structure
Players may begin posting as soon as the mods announce that the game has started on the thread. The game begins during the day. The day ends when when a sufficient number of people have voted to lynch a player (remove that player from the game) or voted to end the day without a lynch. Many games also have time limits on the days, and if no consensus is reached when the time expires, the day ends with no lynch. When the day phase has ended, night begins. The mods will then post a scene reporting the outcome of the day. Players may continue posting in the thread (unless they've been voted out) but no voting is allowed. Night ends when the mods post the morning scene reporting the outcome of the night actions. Day and night phases continue to alternate until the game ends.

2 - Day Phase
During the day, players may post in the thread and vote. Some roles may have special powers which can be used during the day.

2.1 - Voting Mechanics
To vote for a player: bold "vote" and that player's name.
To vote to end the day without a lynch: bold the phrase "vote night".
To remove your vote without casting a new vote: bold the phrase "remove vote".
To change your vote for a player: First bold remove vote then vote for the new player.

The vote should be positioned at the end of a post, and be clearly seperated from the rest of the post. Example:

Quote

your text, many quotes, brilliant arguments and a clever and convincing conclusion. Alternatively, a lame joke.

remove vote

vote Killer

2.2 - Voting Restrictions
You may only vote during the day phase. You can only have one vote outstanding at any time. You may not edit a vote into a post. You may not edit a vote out of a post.

2.3 - Bold Restrictions
The use of bold should be limited to voting. If you want to emphasize a players name or another word, you can underline the word or post using a different color

2.4 - Majority Defined
A majority means either more than half of the active players voting for one player's lynch or half or more of the active players voting to go to night without a lynch.
Typically, if a player is modkilled during the day the majorities will not adjust.
Typically, if a player dies during the day due to a player's ability majorities will adjust.

2.5 - Ending the Day
The day ends as soon as a majority is reached (or, if the game has a day time limit and the players fail to achieve a majority, once the time limit has elapsed). Anyone lynched is no longer an active player and must not post in the thread. Votes can no longer be withdrawn and new votes cannot be cast until the night phase ends.

2.6 - Evening Scene
The mods will post a scene shortly after the day ends to report the results of the day actions. If the day ended with a player's lynch, the mods might also reveal information about the lynched player, such as the player's alt or alignment. This is the mods' choice, and they'll explain what, if any, information will be revealed in the game rules. Typically, there are no hidden clues in the evening scenes.

3 - Night Phase
During the night, players may post in the thread but may not vote. Some players will have the ability to perform special actions. Once again, the mods decide which roles will be included for their game, so be sure to fully read the game rules and any role descriptions which may be included.

3.1 - Performing a Night Action
If your role includes the ability to perform a special action at night, you need to PM the mods to indicate the action you wish to take. Most, if not all, roles have the ability to "withhold" their powers (i.e. take no action). This will be made clear to the roled players, and, usually, to all other players as well. If you chose to not perform your allowed action, you must PM "no action" to the mods. Most games have a time limit on nights. All players must PM their night actions to the mods within this timeframe. Players are strongly encouraged to send their night actions as soon as possible. You may also send in a PM for your special action during the day phase, this is very strongly encouraged.

3.2 - Contingent PM
If you send in a PM during the day phase, you may choose to list alternative actions contingent on the manner in which the day ended. If none of the contingencies you list actually occur, your PM will be disregarded, and you must send a new PM to the mods (example: if Meanas is lynched I kill Kaschan, otherwise I kill Hood's Path).

3.3 - Provisional PM
You may choose to send a provisional PM if you want to further consider your night action but do not want to extend the night if all other roled players have decided upon their actions. Provisional PMs must be clearly marked as such. A provisional PM will not be acted upon by the mods until it becomes a 'definite PM.' A provisional PM becomes definite as soon as ( a ) you confirm your choice with another PM, ( b ) all other roled players that need to send night actions have done so, or ( c ) the time limit for the night has expired.

As a courtesy to other players we ask that you confirm your provisional PM as soon as you are able.

3.4 - Last Resort PM
In extraordinary circumstances you may be allowed to send in a last resort PM. A last resort PM will not be acted upon by the mods until ( a ) you confirm your choice with another PM or ( b ) the time limit for the night has expired. Should you need to send a last resort PM, you must first seek the mods approval by explaining the circumstances that necessitate such a PM. Last resort PMs are accepted only at the discretion of the mods.

3.5 - Failure to PM
If not all PMs are received within the time limit, everyone who has failed to send in a PM will be considered to have taken no action. In addition, those who failed to send in a PM will be warned by the mods or may risk further penalties.

3.6 - Changing a Night Action
PMs to the mod can be changed at any point before the new day is announced. A PM is considered to be changed only after the mod receives and has read the PM. The player bears the risk that the mod will post the morning scene after the player has sent in a new PM but before the mod has actually read it.

3.7 - Abusing the Time Limit
If the mods have included a night time limit, it begins as soon as the previous day ended, regardless of when the mods posted the evening scene. However, this time limit is a maximum limit, and all players should send in PMs as soon as they feel comfortable doing so. Players (and mods) prefer shorter nights, as people are anxious to see who may have died and to begin voting again. If the mods feel that a player is abusing the time limit by unreasonably stalling, they may force the player to take no night action or take other appropriate action.

3.8 Preventing Night Actions
Except where expressly noted, no night actions prevent any other night actions sent in from taking effect.

3.9 - Morning Scene
The night phase ends when the mods post the morning scene. The mods will post the scene shortly after all night action PMs have been received. The scene will report any player deaths that occurred during the night, and might also reveal information about the lynched player, such as the player's alt or alignment. There are no hidden clues in the morning scenes. As soon as the scene is posted any players who have been killed at night will no longer be active players and can no longer post in the thread. The time limit for the new day will begin with the morning scene.

4 - Endgame
The game will continue to alternate between day and night phases until the game ends. The game can end after either a day or night phase.

4.1 - Winning Conditions
The game ends once one faction has reached its winning conditions, which the mods will state in a later post.

Mafia is a team game. Once one faction achieves its winning conditions, all members of that faction have won whether or not they are active players when the winning conditions are achieved.

4.2 - Ending Scene
The mods will post an ending scene and declare the game over shortly after one faction achieves its winning conditions. If for any reason it becomes impossible for either faction to achieve its winning conditions, the mods will declare the game a draw.

The game is only over when a mod posts the ending scene. Even if you know (or believe you know) the result of the game before then, you may not post in the thread unless you are an active player.

4.3 - Calling the Game Early
The mods reserve the right to end the game at any time before a faction achieves its winning conditions provided there are compelling reasons to do so. In general, the mods will end the game early as soon as one faction's victory becomes inevitable.

4.4 - Spoilers
When the game is over, the mods will reveal the alts and roles of everybody who played and also give everyone access to the spoiled spectator threads on the spoiler board.


RULES

All players must:

A1) Have an account on forum.malazanempire.com

A2) Log in and view the thread and the discussion board anonymously at all times, unless they have informed the mods that this is not possible for technical reasons.

A3) Post at least once every 36 hours. Any player who has not posted within the last 36 hours will be automatically modkilled, whether or not the mods announce this on the thread. Warnings will usually be issued after 24 hours and subsequently closer to the deadline.

The mods may grant extensions to this limit in some cases (if so, they will give details in a later post). However, if they have not posted on the thread to announce an extension before the 24 hour limit is reached, no extension will be granted, whatever may have been said elsewhere. Please contact the mods as early as possible if you wish to request an extension.

A4) Send in role prescribed night actions (including the desire to take no action) within the time limit

A5) Treat everybody else playing with courtesy and respect

A6) Make any edits the mods request of them as soon as possible, whether or not they believe that the posts need to be edited.

A7) Contact the game mods as soon as possible if they feel you are at risk of breaking a rule or fear they or another person may have already done so.


Players must not:

B1) Edit their posts unless to change spelling or grammar.

B2) Act in any way intended to reduce the chance of their faction achieving its win conditions. (However, should all surviving members of a faction agree that they wish to resign and end the game early, they may do so by PMing the mods privately, without stating their intentions on-thread until the mods post to announce that the game is over.)

B3) Discuss the game with any other living players outside this game thread except when told they may do so in their role PMs.

B4) Reveal any information about the game at all in any other thread than this one, or in any other forum (including message boards and chat rooms) where it may be seen by a living player.

B5) Give anybody access to any of their accounts (including game alts, if the game is using them), either here or on the mafia discussion board.

B6) Attempt to obtain advice about the game from anybody not currently playing.

B7) Post information on the thread relating to another player's past or current activity on (or absence from) the board that would not otherwise be available to anybody reading the thread.

B8) Quote, in whole or part, PMs from (or other private conversations with) the mods on the thread, or discuss the timing of any PMs sent to the mods, if this behaviour is forbidden in the current game (it usually is).

B9) Post on the thread at any time after they are dead until the mods themselves post on the thread to announce that the game is over. Any posts accidently made after death should be immediately edited blank.

B10) Make any bets about the game.

B11) Offer to break any of these rules or any other rules the mods have set in place for the game, encourage others to do so or help to conceal the fact that rules have been broken.

B12) Reveal any information about their role within the game when such reveals are forbidden (this is only forbidden in certain games). .

AND JUST SO YOU KNOW

C1) Failure to comply with the rules may result in any punishment the mods deem appropriate, including, but not limited to: a request to edit posts; formal warnings on thread; "modkilling", restriction of access to the spoiler thread(s), lashing, spanking, paddling, the rack, thumbscrews, waterboarding, time-out, death and/or ending the game prematurely in favor of one faction or none. Except where clearly stated in the rules, the mods are free to respond to any rules violation in whatever manner they wish. In all cases the mods' decision on these matters is final.

C2) Feel free to PM your thoughts (or questions) to the mods. We love to hear them!

C3) The mods reserve the right to amend the rules during the game if we realize we've forgotten to cover something.

-------------------------

As well as running the game on this thread, the mods are also responsible for administering the spoiler thread on the spoiler board and anybody not actively involved in the game (whether spectators or dead players who no longer wish to play) can request access to this thread by PMing the mods. Please note that while in general the mods will be happy to let anybody have access to this thread, they do reserve the right to refuse access to anybody for any reason. Accordingly, please do not ask anybody other than the mods for access to the spoiler thread or give yourself access to it, even if you have the power to do so. Any posts found to contravene these rules will be deleted and the responsible players will usually be added to a blacklist for any future games run by this mod.

Once given access to the thread, spoiled spectators should also take note of the following rules, and must not:

D1) Share any information from the spoiler thread with living players, or post such in a forum where it may be seen by living players.

D2) Offer any advice, hints or strategy to living players.

D3) Make personal attacks on players in the game or on posters in the spoiler thread itself.

D4) Post on the game thread before the mods announce that the game is over.

D5) PM living or dead players with comments on the game.

This post has been edited by Path-Shaper: 23 February 2015 - 06:58 PM

[Path-Shaper]

GAME SPECIFIC RULES

Days will be 36 hours. Night Phase will take as long as it takes me to resolve. Please be sure to have your Night Action provisionals in during the Day phase.

This is a town vs. scum game. Scum are Kalam Mekhar, Adjunct Tavore and T'amber. Town are the Claw - this should be taken seriously. The Claw are not to be trifled with.

This post has been edited by Path-Shaper: 23 February 2015 - 06:58 PM

[Path-Shaper]

It is Day 1. The Timer is frozen with 36 hours on the clock.

There are 14 players left alive: Alkend, Ampelas, Korbas, Mockra, Omtose, Pallid, Rikkter, Silanah, Tennes, Tholen, Tiamatha, Tulas Shorn, Ultama, Venesara




Players not voted: Alkend, Ampelas, Korbas, Mockra, Omtose, Pallid, Rikkter, Silanah, Tennes, Tholen, Tiamatha, Tulas Shorn, Ultama, Venesara


Feel free to start chit chatting and whatnot. Game will officially start in approximately 13 hours from this post. Until then, no votes cast will count.

This post has been edited by Path-Shaper: 09 February 2015 - 01:17 AM

[Tholen]

First.

I like to whatnot before chit chatting.

[Mockra]

2nd

Let chit chatting ensue.

[Venesara]

3rd

[Rikkter]

4th

[Tulas Shorn]

5th.

This is a counting thread now right?

[Tennes]

19th.

Not anymore

[Alkend]

And none of it counts anyways since the game hasn't started.

[Ultama]

lucky number slevinth

[Korbas]

Ninth!!!!





Learn to count Ultama.

[Path-Shaper]

It is Day 1. 36 hours remaining.

There are 14 players left alive: Alkend, Ampelas, Korbas, Mockra, Omtose, Pallid, Rikkter, Silanah, Tennes, Tholen, Tiamatha, Tulas Shorn, Ultama, Venesara




Players not voted: Alkend, Ampelas, Korbas, Mockra, Omtose, Pallid, Rikkter, Silanah, Tennes, Tholen, Tiamatha, Tulas Shorn, Ultama, Venesara

[Tennes]

Firstish!

[Korbas]

Game On!!!(move goal back into street)

[Ampelas]

Look at that. A shadow just flickered in the corner. Kill IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Shit it was a moth...

[Pallid]

Checking In.

How was everyone weekend?

[Tulas Shorn]

Tennes, on 09 February 2015 - 08:21 AM, said:

19th.

Not anymore

Dumb rock.

[Tennes]

Tulas Shorn, on 09 February 2015 - 05:33 PM, said:

Tennes, on 09 February 2015 - 08:21 AM, said:

19th.

Not anymore

Dumb rock.

Rocks are incapable of stupidity or smarty-ness. You're statement is silly. [sic]

Also first poster over here show some respect you jerk!