Day 03

[shimmershimmer]

[Last night, the Night Watch heard sounds of movement around Kimblee and McDougal's cottage just before daybreak. If they checked inside, they would find McDougal appropriately asleep, but Kimblee missing.]

[As for everyone else, dawn brings the morning announcements from the Shimmering Lady:]

Takano Miyo and Mitsuko, two Sinners, are lost to dreams.
Shuu Tsukiyama, an ordinary villager, is lost to dreams.
Isaac McDougal, an Incubus, is lost to dreams. Please bring me his body that it may be purified, and we shall begin the mourning process for the man he once...

...Wait. Kimblee is McDougal's Soulmate. Why is he awake?

He shouldn't be awake. He lost fair and square. He's breaking the rules. He is a blasphemer and a demon and ugly. Bring him here. Bring him.

Bring him to me.

((Status & Role Distribution
Current Night Watch rotation

So. Wow. Okay. Here's a thing I did not in the least expect to occur this early in the game, because clearly I am a fool.. So we'll be playing this by ear, and day 3 might end up taking more than the scheduled 24 hours (I'll watch it closely and keep everyone updated), but no matter what crazy-ass thing Kimblee decides to do with this, it shouldn't be a gamebreaker. Shimmer won't let anybody die who hasn't already been officially taken out of the game. Unless they explicitly ask me for that to happen, I guess!

Whatever happens, bear in mind the brainwashing rule-of-thumb: You can doubt the words of the Lady/Gentleman, but unless explicitly told otherwise, you can't break out of the world view provided for you, especially if spoken to directly.

If you'd like to consult with the Lady, she's here.
If you'd like to confront Kimblee, that's here.
And if you just wanna run around being useless and angry, come join Cassius over here.))

Comments

[genuine_human]

[The Major backs away just as he's told to. Kimblee holds all the cards here as much as he hates to admit it.]

Heh, a negotiation by the sword. You really are a soldier through and through, demon.

[He waits just outside the door and watches on.]

Carry on, then. Whether you live up to your word or not, this is checkmate in the end.

[fauxlosophical]

I haven't denied the Lady's victory. I've no doubt that I'll be put to death eventually.

At the same time, you're operating under several mistaken assumptions about us that may change your willingness to destroy us, if you can be said to have any shred of decency whatsoever.

[genuine_human]

"If I do not kill, I will be killed". Since time immemorial, that law has been held strong. Feel free to argue against it, but I doubt what you have to say will change our situation.

[fauxlosophical]

I'm not asking that I be kept among the waking world. I'm just asking that my body not be destroyed - leave me to my nightmares. I would like to argue for such treatment on Isaac's behalf as well.

[genuine_human]

So you wish to be put to sleep instead of being thrown into the bonfire. Heh. Why? At this point, it hardly matters.

[fauxlosophical]

...I would like to request an audience with the current acting chief of the village while I explain my case. Can you do that for me?

[I MEAN WHILE HE'S STANDING HERE HOLDING THE DEATH CYLINDERS AND ALL.]

[genuine_human]

... No doubt he's already looking for you right now. Very well. Remember, the moment you harm either Oswin or Bulat, you've thrown away your bargaining chips.

[The Major backs away slowly, and walks towards the cottage's exit to find Connor.]

[lifescratched]

[Connor is coming from the direction of the Temple, having just spoken with the Lady, when he comes across the Major.]

Major! Is there any sign of Kimblee yet?

[genuine_human]

Ah, Village Chief! He's holding Oswin and Bulat hostage at their cottage.

[He turns around and returns towards the direction he came from. Connor is sure to catch up easily enough, given how slowly the fat militia commander runs.]

He has explicitly stated that he intends to give up, but not before discussing terms with you first! You're the only one who can defuse this situation.

[lifescratched]

I will do my best. It is my fault they are in danger -- I had entrusted Kimblee with them to prove his faith, and now it is my duty to see they are saved.

[He overtakes him and goes on ahead to the cottage. Once he arrives, he enters slowly, careful not to make any sudden movements that might provoke the man.]

[fauxlosophical]

[Fortunately, he doesn't startle easily in the first place; that said, however, he's back to holding liquid death over Oswin and Bulat's heads as soon as he's joined.]

My apologies for the sudden change of plans; it seems there were unforeseen complications.

I appreciate your time, however.

[lifescratched]

...I trusted you enough to give you another chance.

[His eyes go to the liquid, then back to Kimblee.]

And because I showed mercy to you at the trial, I ask that you in turn spare these innocent people. If you agree, I give you my word, I will listen to what you have to say.

[fauxlosophical]

...It seems we're here to request the same thing, then. That's why I asked to talk to you in particular.

Tell me, Faithful - do you believe us to be capable of mercy? The fact that you're asking me to spare these people at all implies that you do, or at least that you believe I would understand the concept. Is that truly the case?

[lifescratched]

I do not know. But the fact you could have killed these two men while you were alone, but chose not to, shows that you at least understand restraint.

[fauxlosophical]

Are you still unwilling to kill the innocent?

[lifescratched]

Yes. Why are you asking me these things?

[fauxlosophical]

Your kind are...unfortunate. The people we selected to possess have been taken at random. Some have been severed from their family, their friends. While normally we don't particularly care, regarding that, we also didn't anticipate their bodies being burned.

Do you understand? If you kill me, you're killing one who's been caught in the crossfire, not a willing participant.

He's aware of everything happening around him, by the way. They all are.

Your Lady hasn't lied to you; there's no way to forcibly remove us from the hosts we've chosen to take. But as we've chosen to possess them, we can choose to leave them at will - in fact, that's our intention, should we win.

This is between your Lady and us. We have no quarrel with your kind.

[lifescratched]

[Connor listens carefully, and there is conflict clear in his expression.]

... You are asking me not to let Kimblee be burned. But what will become of you if he is spared? I cannot let you run free and send more people into sleep. They, too, are innocent.

[fauxlosophical]

I'm asking you to spare my partner. His host is already lost to his nightmares; let him lie.

If you wish to spare my host as well, there's a solution: We can't act if we don't sleep. I'll accompany your night watch, should you find that acceptable.

Admittedly, since I'm supposed to be asleep right now but for some reason am...obviously not, I'm not sure how that will affect things, either; it's possible that I can't send anyone into sleep from here on. It's possible that I can. It's difficult to say without testing it, and it's understandable if you don't want to take the chance.

[lifescratched]

I...

[Connor looks away, needing a moment to think. He'd already trusted the words of this demon enough, and his trust had been broken repeatedly for it. Is it wise to even care about anything he says now?]

Perhaps the Lady will spare your partner, if you let Oswin and Bulat live. As for you... Somehow, you flaunted the rules and survived, and yet you do not even understand the consequences yourself? How is that possible?

[fauxlosophical]

...You won't believe me if I tell you what happened last night. Admittedly with good reason, given the things I've done to you in the past.

[lifescratched]

Tell me, regardless. This could be your last chance to speak, and if you have any information that could be of use to us...

[fauxlosophical]

...I saw Oswin last night.

He shook me awake; I don't know how else to describe it.

[lifescratched]

...

You are suggesting that the sleeping Faithful would have that power over you, a demon?

[fauxlosophical]

...I can't say for certain.

You asked me to tell you what happened; I haven't any idea how, and I don't understand what it means. But I saw Oswin last night, and he shook me awake. I was having a nightmare of some sort...that was how it ended. I couldn't sleep again after that, so I stayed up. When I tried to wake my partner up to ask him about it, perhaps to see if he was having the same nightmare, I couldn't wake him.

We're scientists; I found a few of our supplies and brought them here, because I suspected the Lady would announce our role to the rest of you. I didn't imagine you would have any interest in hearing a demon's word without insurance.