PBEM Game: Yarnspinners 2 (Running)

[djo]

Sedna said:
Perhaps it's time to raise the stakes a little beyond worthless brownie points.

I'll send a shiny astral pearl to whoever can correctly guess the identities of the Archbishops.

Well, I finally had time to think about this...my guess is (rot13 so those who wish can work it out themselves):

Znev unf nfgeny zntvp (unq gb or gung be svrel zntvp), Nibpn vf sver (fgnaqf arne gur sver...), Fcver vf nve; gur rneguyl zntvpf: Nzveqba vf rnegu (gnhtug Rfpynir ("fynir"?) rnegu zntvp), Ryxynaq = j (zbirf dhvpxyl), Sberfg vf boivbhfyl angher; gur vasreanyf: Jvp pyrneyl vf n arpebznapre, naq guhf Cbytenir vf oybbq.

I will return the pearl if you will tell me (public or private) what Aftial is.

[Sedna]

Thanks for playing. I feel bad not declaring you the winner. Your logic is quite reasonable, and it's only my twisted reasoning that prevents you from being completely correct. I guess I can say no more without ruining it for anyone else who might take a guess.

I never meant to make Aftial's physical form the object of suspense. After all, there is only one pretender form which the Church could possibly recognize as a servant of God.

Turn 12: "Myself, I was not sure about the Angel"

Turn 18: "I reached out to the angel, to Aftial"

Where by "angel", of course I mean the Virtue.

The deeper question of "what" she really is... well...

[djo]

I can think of another configuration for the Three Above that makes sense. Is that where my errors were?

[anonymousy2]

Pythium Baby-Killing Alleged

Inland (ONN) Rumors continued to surface alleging the wholesale slaughter of infants in territories conquered by the Pythium military. Sources, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals, indicated that Pythium standard practice after conquering an enemy province is to put to death any children who might grow up to avenge their father's deaths. The heads of widows of fallen soldiers are shaved, and the harvested hair is used to stuff the pillows of the conquerors.

Reaction from neighboring governments was swift. "It's a clear continuation of Pythium's rampant militarism. After the tragedy of Solian, is anyone truly surprised?" said a source within the nation of Man.

Following Pythium's explosive territorial expansion, diplomatic channels have become more active with calls of condemnation for the so-called "renegade nation." While no nation will go on record as openly calling for a multilateral intervention in the situation, privately, great concern is being expressed in the back hallways of government of all of Pythium's neighbors.

A representative from the government of Pythium could not be contacted for comment before press time.

[Sedna]

Marignon Defends Culture of Life

The LORD has forbidden men from raising up the dead, and has given us an example in Ermor of what happens when foolish prides causes us to forsake His wisdom.

It is the policy of the Church of Marignon not to side with the tergiversators who are known to practice death magic and thus imperil the souls of men. This means no trade of materials or information, no mutual defense agreements, and no alliances against a third party. The best such heretics can expect is a frosty peace while the Church chooses to focus on greater threats.

If an offending nation is willing to relinquish the use of the death magic: using neither undead soldiers, nor artifacts made with death gems, nor casting dark rituals, then Marignon will resume normal and friendly relations and work to convert that nation peacefully.

Father Muszinger

997 A.P.P.M., or Turn18 in the common tongue.

[Sedna]

Since it looks like no-one else is going to guess...

Your comments on your first guess lead me to believe that you would guess the configuration for the Three Above correctly the second time. However, you were also mislead by Turn 18 when contemplating the Three Below. It was Polgrave who actually made the Skull Talisman for Wic. I didn't think about this contest when writing that yarn or I would have tried to make that more clear.

[djo]

So, what's our status? How many people are we waiting for?

[puffyn]

Yes, what is taking so long? We've been slipping into 5 or more days elapsed between turns lately, and it would be nice if we could pick up the pace a little bit...

[djo]

I note in other threads that Pasha and Panther are/were having computer problems. Anyone else we're waiting for?

I've written my turn 21, but it was an easy one (a collection of letters). It'll be up after I see turn 19 or 20, probably, to allow for last-minute additions. But I have trouble getting too far ahead without some deadline-induced panic. Turn 24 needs that kick!