Consulmaker - Carthage wins!

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

Game: Consulmaker.
Kingmaker meets Roman History and the principle of Collegiality.

Instead of one King, there are two Consuls with absolute vetoing power. The Town also gets to elect Tribunes to protect its interests with a limited veto. Each day will also have a maximum length of 4 weeks.

Current game status:

Game over!

Consuls:

Tribunes:

216 BC, Cannae. Hannibal, with 54,000 men on his side, faces off against a 87,000 large Roman army, the largest army Rome had ever amassed. It proved to be one of the bloodiest battles of all time as Hannibal's superior grasp of tactics decimated the Roman army killing around 60,000 of its men while suffering but 16,000 Carthaginian losses.

212 BC, Rome, Hannibal infiltrates Rome. Can the Roman Republic and the Roman Senate survive or will its grand history be subverted by anarchy and Carthage?

Note: the 212 BC-thing didn't actually happen.

Alive (4):

5. Sarcastro

(replacing ubertimmy)

, Elephant, SK, Endgamed
7. Rand Althor, Marcus Claudius Marcellus, Doctor, Endgamed
8. Battle Mage II

(replacing Twito)

, Hannibal, Carthaginian Commander-in-Chief, Victorious
15. Cephrir II

(replacing Shanba (replacing Panzerjager)), Marcius Porcius Cato, Double-veto Tribune, Endgamed

Dead (15):

2. the silent speaker, Roman Citizen, Killed Night 1.
17. Paper, Roman Citizen, Stomped on Night 1.
12. ~N9V~, Mago Barca, Carthaginian Relief Force Commander, Executed Day 1.
16. Toaster Strudel, Roman Citizen, Killed Night 2.
11. AndrewS, Roman Citizen of the Gens Iulia, Stomped on Night 2.
9. Kison, Roman Citizen, Executed Day 2.
10. Hackerhuck

(replacing mole)

, Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus, Cunctator, the Shield of Rome, Roleblocker, Killed Night 3.
6. Primate, Hasdrubal, Carthaginian General, Stomped on Night 3.
19. Cephrir I, Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus Maior, Vigilante, Executed Day 3.
3. TheEyeOfMordor, Roman Citizen, Killed Night 4.
13. Battle Mage I, Roman Citizen, Executed Day 4.
14. Mastermind of Sin, Roman Citizen, Stomped on Night 5.
20. Occult

(replacing livingod)

, Roman Citizen, Executed Day 5.
4. Yosarian2

(replacing TheJiveMachine (replacing Cheesefan))

, Shady Senator, Consulmaker, Stomped on Night 6.
1. Zindaras, Roman Citizen, Killed Night 6.
18. Raffles, Maharbal, Carthaginian General, Executed Day 6.

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

General Rules:

[1] No quoting mod PMs, no invisitext, no color=black, no editing or deleting posts.
[2] Nights will last 72 hours. If you haven't sent in a choice by then, I will make one for you.
[3] No communication outside the thread, unless your role specifically allows it.
[4] It is an execution only when I say so. Feel free to continue discussion during "twilight".
[5] If you're dead, you may post a single "Braaaiiiiinnnnnsssss!" post in thread. Nothing more.
[6] If you expect to be absent for a longer period of time, please post this in the thread.
[7] I am the Mod. If you think I've made a mistake, pm me, so I won't have to humiliate you in public.
[8] Dark red text belongs to me. Players are not allowed to post in dark red.

Player:

XXXX

Role:

Roman Citizen, Townie

Flavour:

You are a Roman Citizen. This means you are eligible for Consulmakership, but more importantly you have the all-important power of speech and persuasion. Your job is to help protect the Roman Republic through identifying its enemies during the Day.

Note: Role PMs reflect solely the reality as the character sees it. I reserve the right to lie or mislead you in any way I want in the role PM.

Note: If I feel like it, I will edit your posts. To fix mistakes, make crappy puns, whatever.

Note: Don't try to outguess the mod.

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

Consulmaker Rules:

General:

Each Day has a minimum length of 1 week and maximum length of 4 weeks. Once we are down to 10 players, the maximum length will be 3 weeks. Once we are down to 5 players, there will be no minimum length and a maximum length of 2 weeks.

Consuls and Dictator:

Rather than voting, each Day’s lynch will be decided by the Consuls. They both have the power of a Day-ending execution and an absolute power to veto any such execution. The Consuls are chosen each Night by the Consulmaker(every Night a new pair). If one of the Consuls dies that Night, the other Consul will become a Dictator and will have the power to decide that Day’s lynch on his own, but such a Day will be at most 2 weeks longs, rather than 4. If both Consuls die, no lynch will take place. Once it is down to 5 players, only a Dictator will be chosen. In that situation, the Consulmaker will also be able to pick a back-up Dictator each night, in case his first pick dies. Consuls and Dictators possess immunity from execution.

Tribunes:

In addition to the Consuls, we also have Tribunes. Tribunes possess immunity from execution and are allowed to veto one execution a Day. As it is their duty to represent the people, they are elected during the first week of every Day. Votes for Tribunes must be written in the format:

Vote for Tribune: CES

. At the end of the first week, the two players with the most votes are elected Tribune. If there’s a tie for second place, only 1 Tribune will be elected. If there’s a three(or more)-way tie for first place, no Tribune will be elected. Once we are down to 10 players or fewer, only 1 Tribune may be elected. Once we are down to 5 players, Tribunes will no longer be elected.

Executions:

Any Consul or Dictator can at any time after the first week of the Day post

Execute: Target

in thread to bring about the execution of that person. A period of 48 hours will follow in which the Town is allowed to talk and the target can make a final plea. It is during this period that executions may be vetoed. The period will end prematurely if everyone capable of vetoing waives his right of veto(or alternatively, if there is no-one capable of vetoing) and accepts the execution. If the execution is sent in less than 48 hours before the deadline, then it will only go through if the waiting period ends before the deadline as a result of the afore-mentioned.

Consulmaker Death

If the Consulmaker ever dies, his role will pass to a random Roman citizen. If there are no Roman citizens for the role to pass to, then Rome loses.

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

All Roles are out!

Deadline for Night Choices: 1600 GMT Thursday.

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

Rome had been under siege for weeks. There had been several skirmishes, but mostly it had been a war of attrition. The peace unsettled Rome. Few had died, but the threat felt inescapable. Hannibal's camps dotted the plains around the city. As daylight picked them out, still slumbering against the shallow hills, worried citizens rushed towards the Roman Senate to discuss their presence, as they had done most days of the siege. In the alarmed atmosphere of war-time, what was once only the business of Senators had quickly become that of every citizen.

Today, however, they found the large steel door of the Senate already open and streaks of maroon scrawled across the stairs in front of the temple. An arm reached out of the shadows of the building, its fingers curled inwards around the thumb. Three men in long, white robes, almost luminous in the sunlight, dragged the body out into the plaza and held up its face to the crowd.

The features of the silent speaker, Roman Citizen, stared blankly at the sun.

In the stunned silence, one man strode forward and said: “It appears that there are traitors among us. The temple has been defiled and one of our citizens murdered.” He paused theatrically. “But we must trust our consuls. Hannibal will not defeat Rome from the inside. We will weed them out.”

the silent speaker, Roman Citizen, has been Killed.

At the other side of the citadel, a similar scene unfolded in front of a large villa. As the morning progressed, the citizens in the neighbouring houses had slowly made their way to its courtyard. After dawn broke someone had quickly uncovered the night's events, but there had been a good show on the local plaza, dancing couples of tigers and orang-utans, and entertainment was important, even in war-time.

The scene itself was gruesome. The villa's facade was heavily damaged, only the crumbling ends of two pillars had been left standing. Its doors had been torn off their hinges and terracotta roof tiles lay shattered on the cobblestones. The red powder that had burst off them mingled with the remains of Paper, Roman Citizen, whose corpse lay spread out among the debris.

Paper, Roman Citizen, has been Stomped on.

You may now vote for Tribunes. The Tribunes will be elected on Thursday, the 8th of March, 1600 GMT.

The Day ends on Thurday, the 29th of March, 1600 GMT.

Please read the game-specific rules carefully. They are of utmost importance.

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

Zindaras and Primate are Today's Consuls.

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

may i ask what the rules are concerning the election of Consuls.i.e. can the Consulmaker choose to be a Consul himself?

All that I'm willing to share is that there is a Consulmaker, who chooses who the Consuls will be. As to possible restrictions on his choices, that I am not willing to reveal.

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

if the tribune vetos a person, can that person be re-scheduled for execution?

No. The Tribune will protect that person from execution for the rest of the day. A Consul's veto works similarly.

I also added the Night scene.

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

Don't make me modkill people. You're probably confusing people and this is niceness day.

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

Zind, go to All Posts by User, check the latest post's post subject and add 1, if you wish to know someone's post count in the game.

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

Do that repeatedly and plug the results into Excel.

(No.)

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

Confusing me is, de facto, impossible. I merely stepped in to maintain an atmosphere friendly to all.

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

Prods have been sent to Ubertimmy and Twito.

Tribunal Vote Count

Mastermind of Sin - 6(Zindaras, Primate, TheEyeOfMordor, ~N9V~, Toaster Strudel, Kison)
Raffles - 3(Raffles, Cephrir, Battle Mage)
AndrewS - 2(Mastermind of Sin, Panzerjager)
Kison - 1(mole)
Rand Althor - 1(Rand Althor)
mole - 1(AndrewS)
Panzerjager - 1(livingod)

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

I did not promise to give you cookies for posting.

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

I really use my Mod powers way too often.

<_<
>_>

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

I prodded Cheesefan.

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

Mastermind of Sin and AndrewS have been elected Tribunes by the public. Rejoice!

The Consuls may now execute someone.

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

Prods before replacements. Cheesefan hasn't picked up his prod yet though.

Who needs prodding?

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

Just fyi, I will be tallying votes even though they don't count.

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

YARR!

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

I'm looking into replacing Cheesefan and mole.

Zindaras: For brevity's sake, I'm going to have to say no.

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

If you find it sufficiently important, it is fairly easy to look up. I do not.

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

TheJiveMachine replaces Cheesefan.

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

HackerHuck replaces mole.

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

Primate can't be executed, by the bye.

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

Blame Jeep.

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

YARR RLY!

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

Primate can't be executed, by the bye.

I don't see anywhere in the rules that one Consul cannot execute another. Don't we have a 48 hour period where Primate can veto his own execution or the tribunes could do so?

It seems to fit in well with the flavour that there could be some sneaky backstabbing of a Consul who isn't paying much attention.

You obviously need to read the rules again?

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

I've prodded livingod and ~N9V~.

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

A bit more off topic, but does the bolding in the vote count indicate something special like maybe a consul's vote?

Either that or Primate is too awesome not to have a bolded vote.

We've got just over a week until deadline. How about some prods so we can see what gets turned up when the lurkers reappear?

Who do you want prodded?

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

The Consuls and Tribunes have until Wednesday the 21st of March 1:15 PM to use their right to veto.

Also, Zindaras, you only get one vote.

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

If you can vote however often, you are diluting the little meaning it has left. I'm trying it this way.

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

Yes. There are no restrictions on your ability to veto.

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

The plaza was alive with chatter and agitation. The consuls had stepped forward and soothed Rome's uneasy demeanour, but the knowledge of the enemy's presence had kept everyone on edge.

A tall, black-haired man strode forward, a tiger fur draped majestically over his shoulders, and motioned for silence. He stared at the crowd, holding them in silence, his face stoic and harsh. Slowly, he raised one arm and pointed at a figure towards the front of the crowd.

The figure was pushed forwards, the crowd jeering behind him, and pulled up onto the platform. He looked around feverishly and two soldiers moved in around him and forced him to kneel.

A scribe stepped forward and read out the accusations. The tall, imposing figure glanced at the row of elected Tribunes. They nodded gravely.

He pulled his fur tight over his shoulders and, finally, turned to the Consul beside him. The man, wearing a grey fedora, puffed his pipe and said:
“Felinus, I have no objections.”

The two soldiers seized the accused and bound his hands behind his back. One brought a blade to his throat and, with a sharp, shifting sound, ended his life.

~N9V~, Mago Barca, Carthaginian Relief Force Commander, has been Executed!

It is now Night 2. Deadline for Night choices: Saturday the 24th of March 15:20 GMT. Get those choices in!

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

A band of hooded figures ran through one of the city's narrow alleys, along the high walls that kept the villas and plazas of the rich safe from the sight of the poor. At an old mossy wall, crowned by three cracked stones, they paused and waited. They stood unmoving, helmets glinting beneath the black cloth that covered their heads. When the courtyard had stayed silent for two minutes, they slid over the wall, unsheathing their swords.

Their sandalled feet raced over the small plaza. Flooding in through the wooden kitchen door, they extinguished lights and held down surprised servants. Daggers flashed in the dim light. Like dolls, men of straw, they collapsed. Even in the moonlight staring down through the windows, their features were plain and insignificant. Like the wisps of smoke trailing from candle stubs, life ran empty into the night.

A trickle of blood ran out of the cook's old cracked mouth, his head resting on the kitchen floor. It spread over the grey stones as the thuds of light footsteps scattered through the villa. A large flake on the side of his mouth grew into a mound of red. As the sounds receded, the night kissed his eyes and the house into darkness.

Hours later, the pale morning light spread over a corpse arrayed on the plaza stones, marking Toaster Strudel, Roman Citizen, as another one of Rome's dead.

Toaster Strudel, Roman Citizen, has been Killed.

In the dead of night, a man was bathing. There was a stern look on his face and he was lost in thoughts. Like statues, slaves stood against the walls behind him. They said nothing and their faces showed no emotion. One held a towel, another a basin of hot water.

The man closed and rubbed his eyes and when he opened them again, a faint tremor coursed through the villa. Hot water splashed over the sides of the basin and the candle light flickered.
The man turned his head sharply and looked at one of his slaves.
“Afer, did you do that?” He said angrily.
“No, sir.” The slave kept his face blank.
“Go find out what that was.” He waved his hand dismissively.
“Yes, sir.” Mechanically, the slave filed out of the room.

The man looked vaguely annoyed, a scowl pulling down the edges of his mouth. Another tremor, closer and more violent, shook the house. A tall candle toppled, spilling smooth white wax over the tiles. The man swore and stood up, gesturing for the slave with the towel. The villa trembled again, and he lost his footing, falling head first into the water.

Three slaves rushed to pull him up. Spluttering, he chided them and pushed them away. The walls shook again. Stones broke through white plaster, blowing clouds of dust, and the floor tiles fractured, sending splinters flying from their surface. The man and his slaves clung to the bath, sheltering their faces with their hands.

A wall collapsed and a huge shape pounced on them, tipping the gilded bath. Candlesticks were thrown through the room, the copper of the basin clattering against the wall. The enormous frame of bath was lifted high and brought down with a loud crash. The room resonated with its metallic clang and with the muted, harsh thuds of copper on skin. The human cries died down and, gradually, the noise grew less intense.

The room shook once more and heavy footsteps thundered contentedly into the night.

In the morning, among the debris, the broken body of AndrewS, Roman Citizen of the Gens Iulia, was found.

AndrewS, Roman Citizen of the Gens Iulia, has been Stomped on.

It is now Day 2. HackerHuck and Mastermind of Sin have been chosen to serve as your Consuls.

Tribunes will be elected on the 31th of March, 15:20 GMT. The deadline for this day is 15:20 GMT, the 21st of April.

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

Who needs prodding?

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

When a tribune or consul vetoes the executioner consul's decision, does the executioner still have the opportunity to call for another player's execution?

Yes.

How many vetoes per day does each consul have (and each tribune)?

Consul's ability is unlimited. The Tribunes have one veto each.

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

Tribunal Vote Count

Zindaras - 6(Primate, Cephrir, TheJiveMachine, Raffles, Rand Althor, Raffles)
Primate - 5(Zindaras, livingod, Panzerjager, Kison, TheEyeOfMordor)
Twito - 2(Mastermind of Sin, Battle Mage)
Panzerjager - 1(HackerHuck)

Zindaras and Primate have been elected.

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

Yes. I felt like it.

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

Battle Mage, Gaius Iulius Caesar, Overeager Dayvig Death Miller, has exploded.

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

And Overeager Dayvig is a pretty over-the-top role. Not to mention the lack of daykill Day 1. Also, explosions.

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

You suck.

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

The "For Tribune" part was not bolded and the Tribunal elections are over. I could've ignored it, but it's really his mistake, not mine.

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

Shanba replaces Panzerjager.

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

Prodding livingod and ubertimmy.

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

Maybe you should just read Good Omens.

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

Livingod has requested replacement.

Zindy, you can't have a machine gun because I don't do anachronisms.

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

I blame Zind for not having his gender specified under his avatar, like the rest of us.

(Although his title does give it away.)

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

I'll give you guys a deadline extension. 5 days.

BM, I always put a Vote Count at the top of the page. Asking for one is silly.

"Ceterum censeo Carthaginem delendam esse." Vote Count

livingod - 3(Raffles, Battle Mage, Kison)
Kison - 1(Cephrir)
Battle Mage - 1(Rand Althor)

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

I'm just giving you 5 days to make up for the downtime. I see no reason to extend it further.

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

Occult replaces livingod.

Kison is being executed.

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

The crowd looked eagerly to the old men deliberating in front of them. The execution of a Carthaginian had assuaged their worries and inspired great trust in the consuls.

After what seemed like hours, one of the consuls, a middle-aged man wearing a long, grey and feathered robe, stepped forward. The mass of people greeted him with a deafening cheer.

“Silence please, citizens!” He bellowed. “Rome must carry out its duty.” He waited calmly and the sound died down.

He ran his gaze across the rows of citizens, dwelling on several faces just long enough for the panic to flush their cheeks. He paused. He raised his arm slowly and pointed at a scruffy-looking, brown-haired man. “You!”

Amidst of shouts of jubilation, soldiers rushed to the figure and carried him to the stage. The consul smiled and looked to his companion. The second consul, an old man with a short, white beard, pulled up his captain’s cap and took a swig from a small flask.

“Aye, that’ll do.” He grumbled.

“I express my surprise. Is that truly your answer?” The first replied, his dark eyes, nestled behind his beak-like nose, narrowing on the other man’s features.

“Aye.”

“The path I thought not there has revealed itself.” He smiled thinly and cast a quick glance towards the tribunes. They nodded.

“Rome has much to thank you for.” He motioned to the soldiers and, wordlessly, they dragged the accused to the centre of the stage. His head was pushed down and his arms were restrained behind his back. One of the soldiers unsheathed his sword and, quickly and professionally, slit the man’s throat.

Kison, Roman Citizen, has been Executed!

Deadline for Night choices: 72 hours from now.

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

Yosarian2 replaces TheJiveMachine.

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

Nightscenes coming soon. Have you read the execution scene?

Hackerhuck, Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus, Cunctator, the Shield of Rome, Roleblocker, has been Killed.
Primate, Hasdrubal, Carthaginian General, has been Stomped on.

It is now Day 3! Your Consuls are Zindaras and Shanba.

Time to elect your tribunes! The Day ends on the 27th of May.

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

Raffles and Yosarian2 have been elected to the office of Tribune.

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

Who do you want prodded, Consul Shanba Morsvacca?

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

Done. I like how you only capitalized the first letter of the one name that doesn't actually start with a capital while all the others do.

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

I must ask you to cease these crimes against humanity, Battle Mage. I will not tolerate this kind of language.

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

The crowd cheered as Felinus Maximus strode forward once again. They still remembered the first execution he ordered and they all believed he could repeat it.

He pulled the tiger fur tight around his shoulder and waited. The plaza drew silent.

“Citizens!” He bellowed. The people of Rome chanted his name.

Behind him, a man stood in thought. He glared at Felinus, with eyes of flame, and burbled something to himself. He had the badge of a Consul on his shoulders. He was Consul Shanba Morsvacca.

“Felinus,” he whispered, “stop playing the crowd. We don't need their support.” He whiffled his nose.

“I really don't trust you.”

Felinus ignored him, smiling at the people in front of him, enjoying their confidence.

Suddenly, he grew serious and motioned a group of soldiers to bring a man in one of the first rows to the stage.

The man was made to kneel in front of him and Felinus immediately shouted at him. “Who are you really, young general? You're a Carthiganian, aren't you?”

The figure looked at him unflinchingly, a stern, powerful gaze behind his features. “I fight only for Rome.”

Felinus snorted. He turned his back to the man and calmly stated his conclusion. “He's a traitor.”

Shanba stared at Felinus, who ignored him. Finally, a tribune stirred. “Consul Morsvacca?”

Shanba seemed not to have heard him, but nodded eventually. The tribune responded eagerly. “We too have no objections. We have complete trust in Felinus.”

Two soldiers seized the general, who bowed his head gravely. A blade went through and through, and the man slumped lifelessly onto the wooden stage.

Cephrir, Vigilante, Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus Maior, has been Executed!

You have 72 hours to get those night choices in.

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

Flavour later. Honest.

TheEyeOfMordor, Roman Citizen, has been Killed!

It is now Day 4 and your Consuls are Occult and Raffles. Time to elect those Tribunes!

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

Zindaras and Shanba are your tribunes.

Ubertimmy is being replaced.

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

Sarcastro replaces ubertimmy.

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

No.

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

Flavour.

Battle Mage, Roman Citizen, has been Executed.

You have 72 hours to send in Night Choices.

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

I'll get a night scene in place once my brother actually has time to write it.

Mastermind, Roman Citizen, has been Stomped on.

And Mastermind of Sin would've made Consul if not for his tragic end. All bow down to the Dictator, Felinus Maximus, Zindaras Maior.

I must note that as we are down to 8 players, only 1 Tribune may be elected Today.

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

Sarcastro has been elected Tribune.

Dictator Zindaras, you have one week to make your execution.

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

You should've read the rules more closely, especially Rule [7], as I am, of course, completely right. Dictators only get one week to make their decision, which should be obvious considering that Rome's Dictators were elected to make quick decisions and served significantly shorter terms than Consuls. You, sir, are a doofus.

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

Cooptatio.

Your ignorance does not limit the language.

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

Sent out prods.

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

VitaminR will be taking over while I go off to France to frolick among French stuff. Just so you know.

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

I'm back.

Carry on.

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

5 days left, Dictator Sarcastro Socors.

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

Rand has been prodded.

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

The old man paced around the platform. He exuded authority, but the citizens in the crowd showed no signs of the enthusiasm they once possessed. They cowered in fear as their Dictator's glance passed among them and were only kept there by the menacing presence of the few soldiers Rome had left.

The grey-haired figure muttered to himself and finally pointed resolutedly at a man towards the back of the plaza. No one moved. The Dictator gestured at the soldiers, but they were fearful. Distrust seemed to flit through their eyes. The old man fidgeted with his hands and finally drew a dagger from inside his robes. As he walked through the plaza, the citizens of Rome drew around him and a few grim-faced men helped hold his victim down.

Rome's last Dictator ran his blade through the hapless figure. Wordlessly, they searched the body of the fallen man, unearthing a Carthiginian sword.

Raffles, Maharbal, Carthaginian General, was Executed Day 6.

Dictator Sarcastro Socors straightened his robes, relief flooding over his face. As he turned to make his way back to his quarters, however, the hem of his tunic caught on his heels and a tear opened up along his back. The thick grey hide of an elephant revealed itself.

Socors screamed loudly, with a strange animal passion. A man next to him turned wildly and exclaimed. "Sarcastro, you trumpeted!"

Rome's last Dictator rushed across the plaza, leaving behind the frame of a thin old man. The elephant tottered precariously and, three spears protruding from its sides, toppled onto the stones. Two Roman citizens succumbed to the weight of his body.

Sarcastro, Elephant, SK

, has been Killed Night 6.

Rand Althor, Marcus Claudius Marcellus, Doctor

and

Cephrir, Marcius Porcius Cato, Double-veto Tribune

, have been crushed by an elephant in the endgame.

A man in a foreign uniform strode forward, surrounded by soldiers carrying spears. He motioned for silence.

"Rome is now the territory of Carthage. I,

Battle Mage, Hannibal, Carthaginian Commander-in-Chief

, am your new leader."

Carthage is victorious!

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

That said, I really don't understand this set-up. Generally when there are two scumgroups, the one with one person should get some sort of ability beyond a weak safeclaim. Why on earth should the Mafia Godfather beat the SK in endgame? I've never heard of a game where that happens.

Being an SK isn't about winning. It's about killing people. A 2-person mafia versus a 3-person mafia is a very different story. You also need to realize we're talking about Hannibal here. He was Rome's greatest enemy. Giving him powers was one of the first things I did when designing the setup. I considered giving the Elephant powers, but the only one that made any sense was unnightkillability and I already had Hannibal and that one-shot Roman Citizen, so I decided not to. It's too bad you had to lose like this, but c'est la vie. You still got to squash people.

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

One-shot unnightkillability. Wasn't much use though as both the SK and the mafia targetted him that night.

I'm sorry, CES, but that's a bit of a hollow excuse. It's not about winning, it's about squashing people? The fact that I have a win condition that I'm supposed to be striving for kind of indicates otherwise. Was my win condition to kill a certain number of people? No, it was to be the last one standing, so that's what I tried to accomplish. Stacking the deck completely against me is not fair, no matter what the theme is.

The deck was always going to be stacked against you. If you're an SK, you're never going to have a good chance of winning. That's part of the package.

Scipio beat Hannibal in real life. So why wasn't Scipio unnkable? Better yet, why wouldn't Scipio the vig be able to kill Hannibal?

For several reasons: this Scipio is still somewhat unexperienced, having not commanded the Roman army in its conquest of Hispania, this Scipio would not inspire men to flock to his cause and this Scipio did not have Numidian cavalry to support him(and Hannibal still did).

You can't just use flavour or your ideas of what an SK should want to justify making a game in which it's virtually impossible for someone to fulfill their win condition.

Virtually impossible? Silly Sarc. Hannibal would get executed the majority of games. It's only mildly more difficult.

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

Cephrir, yes, you killed TS. I gave you the same killing MO because you killed with your soldiers, just like the mafia did. One might also note that the killing MO was very non-specific. There was no particular reason to think that "Killed" would be specific to the Carthaginians.

AndrewS actually survived the mafia kill attempt as a result of his one-shot immunity, only to be killed by the Elephant just the same.

Looking back, it was a pretty big coincidence that the mafia kill was missing the one night the vig killed, but no mistake was made.

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

~N9V~ had a night action. If he had targetted Hannibal, he would've joined you guys.