VAU: The Tale of Ivana Hoompalotte - Game Thread

[Zephyr]

Ysolda turns to Alessandro: "I agree with most of what you say yet I do believe we could leave Erik alone for at least a few moments.
Time is indeed of the essence and we should continue our investigations BUT lets not forget to continue to treat one another as human beings. Though I might not survive this ordeal I will not be blamed by anyone who hears of these events for acting like an animal.
I say we all sit down and eat and drink together like we did in the beginning. Get our strengths up and make up some sort of plan.
I doubt our hostess will let us go even if we find the monsters in our midst."

 

[Johnny-Crass]

Erik walked over and pulled a chair for Ysolda, trying to smile "There you go m'lady." Then sitting down next to her he grabbed some fruit and began pouring himself some ale.

 

[Zephyr]

Ysolda sat down on the offered chair and poured herself some wine. "A toast...to Abel and all others we have lost."
She looked at the others "will you all join in?"

 

[Nikos]

"If you mean to Abel and all the others we have lost that were human, then yes, of course." Wilhelmina said tilting her goblet.

 

[Cromenon]

Carlos rubbed his forehead, and sat down in a nearby chair. He poured himself a glass of juice and took some grapes from a dish.
"So... shall we consider making an action plan? We cannot just sit and wait to our deaths drinking and eating, I think..."

 

[Malochai]

"Aye, I will toast them," Alessandro said, raising his goblet slightly before drinking deeply from it.

Turning to Carlos, he asked, "I am all for an action plan, but I have no ideas ... What do you propose?"

 

[Feast4Crows]

After helping Christof enshroud Abel's remains, Dr. von Ungeheuer mops the sweat from his brow and approaches the table. After filling a goblet with wine he raises it and says, "To the humans we have lost." He drinks deeply and then addresses the group.

"It seems the best course of action is to again look at everyone's behavior these past couple of days. I spoke my piece against Erik yesterday and, as Alessandro said, unless he is playing a very convoluted game, I believe we can look elsewhere today. Has anyone noticed anyone else's behavior that seems...odd?

"I will most likely be seen as a great villain for what I am about to say, but it stands out in my mind because it did directly affect me. Yesterday, Kristof Lars awoke late and upon entering the hall and hearing what is going on, singled me out as one of these creatures. His reasoning was that I was trying to manipulate the group, when I simply encouraged debate about who we thought might be a vampire. I'm sure he'd again say I am trying to manipulate everyone by being the first to state my suspicions.

"Other than that, I must say that some of the other guests who don't contribute much to our debates may warrant closer inspection. What is everyone else's thoughts on this?"

 

[Nikos]

"It is possible that those who are holding their tounges do so to avoid suspicion. However, as the days go on and our numbers dwindle they come closer to victory. I am sure the surviving vampire or vampires, as the case maybe, will feel the need to impose themselves among the group. They have already triumphed in their quest for anonymity where two of their number have failed and this will fuel their arrogance. I am sure that they are toying with us. I think it unlikely they will be silent."

 

[Nelganis]

Sharing in their toast, Isaac raises a goblet of wine.
"To the others who have fallen. 8 Humans for 2 vampires is too steep a price. Lest we pray that their sacrifice aids in the saving of many lives in the future."

 

[Raizi]

Duality comes with the group and shares with them a toast of wine.

Raising the glass:
"To all the human lives we've lost!"
Duality then empties the glass in one gulp and pours himself another glass of the wine before countinuing.

(Turning to face the crowd)
"I am with good Doctor in this, that we whould spend the day debating and trying to find the beasts via verbal means. This morning's events were gruesome, to say the least, but they leave me with one question:"

(Turning to Wilhelmina)

"Could you elaborate how your past experience gave you the insight you had about how Abel died? I saw the bucket too, saw the scorch marks and the rat, but I coudn't have put the pieces together as well as you could and I'm no fool, although I wear a motley. Besides, I couldn't help but sense a bit of pride and satisfaction from your part as you gave your review about the death. Was it all just because you managed to put the pieces together, or were you the one who came up with the idea of how Abel should be killed?"

(Turning towards the crowd again)
"I would also like to hear your honest opinions, that how many else had put the pieces together and figured out how the rat was used with the bucket and all? I ask this only as a personal matter as I've always felt myself as about the sharpest tool in the shed, but now I'm feeling a bit of a fool as I couldn't have figured it out myself."

 

[Nikos]

To Duality
"I certainly do not take any "pride or satisfaction" as you put it, in explaining how it happenend. It was an horiffic, sadistic death. I have no past experience of such things despite your crude implication. I shall explain how I wroked it out."

"Rats are not known for boring through people, some circumstance must have made it do it. And that would be the hot bucket. I find it odd that people such as yourself seem uncapable of coming to the logical conclusion. Or are they merely feigning ignorance in an effort to appear innocent?"

 

[Raizi]

(To Wilhelmina)

Duality nods a little after hearing Wilhelmina out.
"I accept your explanation as it is. I would like to point out, that even though feigning ignorance from time to time is somewhat a necessity in my trade, it was not the case here. Perhaps it's more like I took a stab at my pride when I couldn't figure it out myself.

You seem very eager to accuse me of something though, why is that? Or I wouldn't go as far as to say you'd accuse me of anything, but you are doing your best to place suspicion on my person. I can understand that on the basis that I placed my first vote on your head on the very first day here, but I haven't done so after that.

Ezmerelda voiced out just yesterday the reasons why she thinks we should vote each day and I am in total agreement with her. I will vote every day while I am alive and do that to my best ability. I sincerely hope that everyone else will use their vote too. Hopefully we'll vote as well come the evening as we did yesterday."

 

[Nelganis]

Turning to Wilhelmina.
"That's a good explanation, Wilhelmina. And easily understood and concieved by most os us who have logic. Minus the skaven, most rats known are not predators looking for a fight. Unless they are backed into a corner, rats will usually just run away from anything they can't fight."
He stops, and faces the whole group.
"What we SHOULD be figuring out is why place Erik's pipe there...A trial from the demons to see if we condemn him on a whim? Perhaps he's their greatest enemy now that Abel has fallen. I sincerely doubt that Erik would commit this murder, especially to a very close friend of his."

 

[Feast4Crows]

"I would hazard to guess it has been planted to steer our suspicions in a certain direction. But what direction do these fiends wish to lead us to?

"The simplest rationale is that they planted it to make us think Erik was the killer. Pretty straight forward and not what I would expect to see from a creature who can exist far beyond mortal years and capable of wickedness beyond our ken. Then again, it could be, as Alessandro mentioned, a double blind. It would be far too obvious to expect Erik so we dismiss the possibility when, in fact, he did kill Abel. Possible, but after the amount of debate we had yesterday, I think it would be a risky gamble. Even though I had my suspicions about Erik, I am willing to lay them aside for now, as they seem unlikely.

"The killer could have planted it in hopes that it would draw the group's attention to those of us who voted against Erik. It may have reasoned that the other guests would suspect that one of us who voted against Erik would try and stir up more suspicions against him and try to swing popular consensus against Erik again. Personally, I think this is the case. That the fiend wishes to target one of us who voted against Erik.

"I still question Kristof's vote against me yesterday. He arose late yesterday and as of yet, I haven't seen him today either. Could it be that he is more inclined to slumber during the day or that perhaps he is tired from his nightly excursions? However, after seeing that others' insights were better than my own yesterday, I will stop short of actually accusing him of being a vampire. This is just my observation.

"One final possibility, mentioned earlier, is that the pipe could represent who they plan to kill next. Unlikely, but it is hard to tell what may be amusing to these monsters."

 

[Zephyr]

Ysolda toasts, quickly gulps down her wine and listens to von Ungeheuer's story.

"I agree with you on most things doctor but not where it concerns Kristof. Remember that he was very involved with everybody up until he cast his vote for Threeflower? I remember him being grief-stricken after he condemned the poor halfling to death. His behavior has been odd ever since that happened but I belief it is his conscience weighing down on him. Who wouldn't behave different after that?

As for the pipe, it could mean anything. I personally think this is to taunt Erik as Abel and he were close.
As for the rat and bucket..ulgh..I believe Wilhelmina's explanation and rather not speak of it again.

She looks at Duality "And no I wouldn't have figured it out either."

 

[Cromenon]

"There is some people that is keeping silent. As I stated yesterday, we should as a group vote, but we should not do it blindly. We need (well at least I need) to know what are your thoughts."

 

[Feast4Crows]

(To Ysolda) "Here is what I remember of Kristof: he hung back in the hall on the first day. Then he stepped forward and asked Sigmar to smite the fiends amongst us and deliver us from evil. When his prayer went unanswered he retreated to his room.

"Upon returning to the hall, he was disgusted to see us drinking and smoking and made no attempt to hide his contempt for us. He was then all for the idea of fighting our hostess directly instead of 'bickering amongst ourselves.'

"Then, when he voted against Gurter, he proclaimed he had prayed to Sigmar for guidance and he was told to destroy Gurter as an abomination. Perhaps he thought the werewolf was one of the few amongst us who could do a vampire harm.

"After Brand's death, Kristof stated that investigation into the murder should be of 'utmost importance.' Did he seek to waste our time and make certain we did not discuss our suspicions?

"I don't remember him actually voting against Threeflower. That night a vampire did kill one of their own. If he was acting strangely, could it have instead been out of chagrin after accidentally killing one of his own?

"The next time I remember hearing from him was when he accused me of being a manipulator and voted against me.

"All in all, it paints a questionable picture of the priest. And what better disguise than a priest of Sigmar? Who would suspect one of the warrior-priests? What does everyone else think?"

 

[Raizi]

(To Dr. Viktor)

"I think you point out many good things worth noticing, I hope we'll get to hear Kristof's side of this as well. I believe this evening's vote will be one of the most difficult and it's just going to get harder after this."

 

[Nikos]

To Duality
"Voting for me on the first day has not influenced my opinion of you one way or the other. Nor am I overly eager to point the finger at you despite what you may think, my feelings are not that strong. However, I do believe there is a possibilty that it maybe you. You voted for Threeflower and failed to give any explantion. Your switches from lucid arguments to madness could all be enlaborate act to throw off suspicion. If your mind really is as addeled as you behave, would you even know if you are the vampire?

"Still, I do not hold you in any higher suspicion than the Doctor who suddenly wants to stir up trouble or Erik or Ysolda or anyone else for that matter. If I felt sure about who is guilty, I would do all I could to sway opinion and stop them."

 

[Duke Danse Macabre]

*Draining his Tankard and sighing*

The pipe has no doubt been put there to steer us into making accusations and throwing questions around, Erik is no more a Vampire than Abel was. *Casting a sad glance over to where Abels remains were now covered*
No, remember before when they had us looking high and low for Organs, this is just another distraction and alas the knight made himself the target, else I doubt they would not of spent such time doing that to him.

*listening to the doctor*
I have got to admit, you must of picked up on more than I did.
You make good points but these are the kinds of things many of us will miss, In my line of work we are not hired for having a silver tongue.

Now I myself am still not convinced but you have given me food for thought.
It may just be I am hesitant to vote after the last time but the Priest being the Vampire does seem a little like a bad Detlef Sierck play.

 

[Malochai]

"Whilst I agree with you the pipe is meant as a distraction, I cannot see how any of us can be so sure as to the guilt of the rest of us ... No. I reject completely your ability to say that 'Erik is no more a vampire than Abel was'," Alessandro replied steadily, before filling his goblet with an expensive tasting wine and sipping from it slowly.

 

[Raizi]

(To Wilhelmina)
Duality speaks with clenched teeth, visibly upset.
"Don't you dare to bring up the vote of Threeflower. I was busy the whole day searching for the missing organs and didn't have time to think about the vote as thoroughly as I would have liked. When I came back to the room, I heard that some people already had voted against him, so I cast my lot with them, as did many others.

It turned out to be a bad decision and I feel extremely quilty about it, but it was the best one I could come up with at the moment. I will vote each day as I believe that is the only power I have left here to try to make an impact on our fate.

But you have some nerve to make accusations like that, when you have not participated in the vote. It must be easy sitting where you are now, when all you had to do was watch as late Threeflowers accumulated votes. You could abstain and pose as a saint later, but in truth I find that the most suspicious. I think that the vampires benefit the most if we abstain from voting and as such I find it odd that you have actively promoted the habit of abstaining.

I will say this one time again, I will cast votes each day, but I will not make a game of it. I will hold my vote until I have made my mind and after it is given, it is final. I will not start to juggle with my vote and change it, nor will I ever abstain. That only serves the fiends in my opinion.

What comes to my mental health, I have stripped my condition bare before you so there is no longer any need for acting differently. I might switch between my passengers involuntarily, but we all share the same goal. To end the curse that has been cast on us and to do that, we have to survive this mad event."

 

[Nelganis]

Glaring down at Duality, Isaac speaks.
"You were sooo busy that day so you just threw your vote onto the unlucky soul who was already possibly facing his execution. So you don't even give a damn about the lives of us or if we are even innocent in the matter...That speaks volumes of your character, Freak. What if you had paid attention to the arguments. You could've saved his life possibly and maybe even rooted out a better culprit. But your 'busy' self just figured you'd off one of us and not care who it was..."

Lowering his tone of voice to a whisper.
"You're disgusting, the lowest of us here. I almost wish you had died instead of one of the other humans that could actually help us."

 

[Johnny-Crass]

Eriks hand had been bleeding underneath the table as the others had talked and now his vision began to swim. Turning to the doctor Erik said "Doctor mind looking at me hand" Pulling his bleeding hand up onto the table and grimacing at the carnage he had wrought.

 

[Feast4Crows]

"Yes, of course, Erik. Let me take a look for you. What happened here?" he asks as he inspected Erik's hand.