AC II - The Battle For Balamb Garden

[Uncle Festy]

((@cristo: Only who isn't?))
The gardener sighs, hearing Cristo's words. He grabs a spade, walks over to an empty patch of dirt near the garden, and starts digging...

[DemonicAngel]

DA looked back to see Cristo, his change in expression, almost as if he was in pain.. & then he realized, the lost of his companion.
he quickly turned around and went to Cristo, putting a sure hand on his shoulder. "Now isn't the time, my friend... we will mourn later. after we slaughter the foul beings which did this." DA smiles with an almost wicked smile, and turns back towards the bodies, picking one of the headless corpses in his arms, waiting for Cristo to take the other.

[Cristo Meyers]

(Festy: The only reason for someone that wasn't voted for at all to be chosen to fight the encounter is if they sent a PM claiming to be Seifer. Mustiado must've done this and, since he ended up fighting the grendel, he must've been wrong.)

Cristo turns to Angel. I can't...not today...it's just too much. Like Mustiado, I need to recenter myself. The pain is almost palpable now, what had been replaced by battle and been brought back with crushing force all too quickly. I am...sorry...

He turned to leave, aware of the eyes on his back, the whispers. At least a handful thought he was one of them, and the thought turned his stomach. If proving himself in defense of the Garden wasn't enough, he'd have to do something else.

The sun shone red on the horizon, night was only a few hours away. Underneath the sorrow, both of Faeli and the recent losses, there was a grim satisfaction in that knowledge. Night was when they came out, and it was where he would meet them, fight them, and kill them...or die in the attempt.

[Shadow]

(Festy: The only reason for someone that wasn't voted for at all to be chosen to fight the encounter is if they sent a PM claiming to be Seifer. Mustiado must've done this and, since he ended up fighting the grendel, he must've been wrong.)

That is incorrect.
Seifer's vote could also change who faces the encounter, as well as Angelo protecting Riona.
My spreadsheet is on a flash drive that I forgot at work yesterday, so I don't have access to my record (and I'm too lazy to look it up right now). But feel free to check these things out if you like.

That's what these so-called "Seifer checks" are. If a different target is chosen for the encounter than the person with the most votes, it is possible that the one that pointed at that player is Seifer.
It is also possible that Mustiado is Angelo, protecting either Demonic Angel or Ariko.
It is also possible that you are right, and that Mustiado PM'd the narrators claiming to be Seifer, but was wrong.

[Cristo Meyers]

(I knew I was forgetting something.)

[Lamech]

(Festy: The only reason for someone that wasn't voted for at all to be chosen to fight the encounter is if they sent a PM claiming to be Seifer. Mustiado must've done this and, since he ended up fighting the grendel, he must've been wrong.)

But Festy pointed at Mustiado...

"Well, well, Mustiado. It would appear that you are arguing that we abstain from seeking out the vile fiends in our midst. How do we know that you are not one of them?"
((More of a Seifer check then anything, coupled with a bit of logic. Sorry, Mustiado.))

so it is possible Festy is Seifer.
But banjo didn't have that in the vote when he totaled them.
See here

Demonic Angel - 11
Ariko - 7
Cristo Meyers - 2
Easyname, Malmagor Andrigal, Emperor Demonking, Freshmeat & Helgraf - 1

So, I have no clue...

[Cristo Meyers]

But Festy pointed at Mustiado...


so it is possible Festy is Seifer.
But banjo didn't have that in the vote when he totaled them.
See here

So, I have no clue...

(...and that's what I get for not going back and double-checking...hmm...)

[Shadow]

I just think it's funny that I started the day pointing at Demonic Angel, only to see a HUGE bandwagon form behind me. So I changed to Ariko when I was given half-a valid reason, only to see a HUGE bandwagon follow me.

While I appreciate the compliment of players blindly following my lead, I find it a bit odd as well.
I say we see if either Demonic Angel or Ariko is still willing to fight tomorrow, or if that was just because of the particular encounter that happened today....

[FujinAkari]

((Does it really count as a bandwagon when they volunteer?))

[Uncle Festy]

But Festy pointed at Mustiado...
so it is possible Festy is Seifer.

((*whistles inconspicuously*
Honestly, I have as little of an idea as anyone else. But we'll see... eventually.))

[Shadow]

((Does it really count as a bandwagon when they volunteer?))

That's exactly what I mean.
After the morning comes, and we see what tomorrow's encounter is, neither of them may be so willing.
There are things to be learned here people....

[Cristo Meyers]

((Does it really count as a bandwagon when they volunteer?))

(That was my thought as well. We should start to avoid volunteering. The first two days, maybe, but we're starting to give the Remnants a cover to hide under.)

[Uncle Festy]

That's exactly what I mean.
After the morning comes, and we see what tomorrow's encounter is, neither of them may be so willing.
There are things to be learned here people....

Shadow is trying to teach us something, people.
Everyone listen to his almighty Shadow-ness!

[Cristo Meyers]

Shadow is trying to teach us something, people.
Everyone listen to his almighty Shadow-ness!

(Just don't forget who you're talking too...)

(on another note, I've updated my profile to include my long-inactive AIM account. on the off chance I'm online, you can reach me direct rather than send PM.)

[Yspoch]

I'm a bit confused to be honest. But I think there are some people here who can help me out:

Volunteers:
* Bad, because Remnants can safely hide in the "bandwagon" and don't have to try to save one of their own if they are targeted

* Good, because no SeeD-member has to fight a monster with less than perfect chances - therefore no senseless loses amongst us

Seifer checks:
* They seem to be very egoistic in my eyes - look at Uncle Festy for example. He points at Mustiado as a "Seifer check" and is going "Eeep!" if it turns out he really might be Seifer! - If Mustiado had been killed I don't want to know how many "Sorrys" we would have heard from him! It's a risky game to be playing, thats for sure!

* So, now that you know that you might be Seifer - what now?

Last day encounter:
* It seems there has been a tie (if Squall hasn't voted for either Ariko or DemonicAngel) - but even if there would be a rule that ties cancel each other out Mustiado shouldn't have been the next choice, isn't it?

* I don't think he has been chosen to protect Rinoa as this switch should happen secretly.

*Considering all of that, there are only the two possibilities that Uncle Festy is Seifer or Mustiado send a pm claiming to be Seifer - I think he will tell us (or someone) if he did.

As to my confusion: Volunteering is a good thing or no? Shall we support someone who volunteers or shall we try to get a remnant into the "lynch spot"? Even if we somehow get one of them to fight against a beast, they have weapons of their own and are by no means killed with a 100% chance.

So be careful - everything you say or do can be used against you!

Yspoch

[banjo1985]

A few clarifications:

1. Mustiado not being included in my update was my bad, he did receive a single vote. I'm not going to confirm or deny why he faced the encounter.

2. A tie at the top of the voting would not lead to another character taking on the encounter.

3. I am not including Squalls extra vote in updates, as this would make it rather easy to identify him, as the only power role with this ability. However it is being counted for game purposes.

I have most of the night actions in, just waiting for a few more.

[DarkLightDragon]

DLD hisses, startled at Mustiado's sudden madness, and anxiously taps her claws against her armour, worrying that the madness, or worse, the Remnants, would attack at any moment. After a few minutes she calms down again and launches herself back into the rafters.

[Mordokai]

Sitting outside, Mordokai taps his fingers against the hilt of his blade and whistles a tune to himself. Thinking to himself he goes on and on, in quiet contemplating:

That Seifer loon can be dangerous. What if Remnants decide they want him on their side? He could spell a lot of trouble for us. Wouldn't it be easier to just kill him and make everything easier on us? A fellow cadet? Even if he is deranged as Seifer? We were lucky to find him so soon, but is that really to our benefit? Where is Squall? Where is Irvine? Sorceress Edea? If only we could get in contact with them somehow, this would be much easier. I just hope Remnant don't kill anybody tonight. Perhaps Cid will protect their victim tonight.

Looking up in the night sky, he speaks out loud:

"Rinoa, wherever you are, I hope you are well protected."

Getting up, he knows sleep won't be coming to him tonight. Shaking his head, he starts walking around, hoping he gets an answer to his questions.

[Diva De]

Cadet DivaDe shivers. Two of her fellow SeeD members stood up to the beast, and yet another rushed into battle. As for those who fell...she shudders, hugging herself for warmth. She wonders why she ever signed up for this as she watches the others through narrowed eyes.

[Shadowcaller]

So Mustiado is hearing voices now is he?
If this is some part of a spell or just plain madness from Mustadio im uncertain of...
But if this happends again we really need to find out who the caster of this spell is.
People can die of this, and we all had enough with death already...

[Yspoch]

Ha! I'm not the only one making that mistake! *makes a happy dance*

It's Mustiado, not Mustadio... I always have to be extra-careful to avoid this error. I wonder why.

(Sorry for being so mischievous...)

[Shadowcaller]

Ha! I'm not the only one making that mistake! *makes a happy dance*

It's Mustiado, not Mustadio... I always have to be extra-careful to avoid this error. I wonder why.

(Sorry for being so mischievous...)

((*looks up* Sigh another of my typos...
I really need to check a name before I type it.))

Edit: its fixed now by the way.

[Fin]

You did it twice, you've only fixed it once

[Cristo Meyers]

Cristo slowly made his way back to his room. He needed to prepare. He worked his way around the hole created by a falling section of the floor, one that he and Faeli had crossed just the night before...

Faeli...

He cursed is wandering mind. Dammit! Not now! Get your head back into the present! He'd known death, the pain of loss. His father had fought Esthar in the Galbadian army, he also never returned. But this was different. There was a sense of pride in his father's death, strange as it sounded. He'd given his life, willingly. That was something Cristo understood, even back then. It numbed the pain somewhat.

Faeli, she was murdered. Torn from him. That was the kind of wound that left scars. It wasn't the dull ache of knowing his father wasn't going to return, it was sharp, keen, cut him to the quick. But why? Why so sharp? Before yesterday, they had barely known each other. Cristo had seen her, of course, even been intrigued by her, but never said much to her at all. Why would one night change that?

More questions you can't answer, grat-brain...

His room was partially blocked: partly by the hole in the floor and by some rubble that had caved in his neighbor's door. Luckily his neighbor wasn't there at the time. He needed sleep, a few hours, to center himself for the night. But it wouldn't come, at least, not peacefully. Thoughts of Faeli intruded when he tried to clear his mind: her laugh, the scent of her hair...

...he derailed that train of thought mercilessly.

Focus man! You're no good to anyone like this!

If he couldn't sleep, perhaps meditation. He'd learned a bit of it from another soldier, a friend of his father's. He sat cross-legged on the floor, reciting a rhyme that he had learned when he first junctioned with the Guardian Force, the Brothers. But it failed just as miserably, he couldn't hold on to the emptiness. It was maddening.

He heard a grat screech down the hallway. It wasn't far. If sleep wouldn't come, and meditation wouldn't clear his mind, then there was only one thing that would work, if only for a little while.

He picked up his shinobu and left his room, stalking his new prey and hoping it wouldn't be his only prey tonight.

[Uncle Festy]

The Balamb Gardener finishes filling up the two graves, and slowly walks back to his quarters. I... I don't know what's going on... I'm not even sure who I am... I want to help SeeD... I mean, I think I do... but I'm - I'm so scared! I don't wanna die!

[Shadowcaller]

SC stand in front of the two newly digged graves and begin a speech to the two fallen cadets.

Zombie Pixe and Fayt...
I hardly knew them but somehow it feels like I did know them unconsciously and I will mourn their passing.
They gace their life to protect the garden...something that I know in my heart would be very difficult for me and many others to do.
People that have the morality and courage to do what they did are often called by another name...Heroes.
Im not a religious person but whatever happens to them now I hope that they know that we, all the people of the Balamb Garden are ever gratefull for the sacrifice they did, may they never be forgotten.

SC nods to the Gardener that his speech is done and then remains silence.

(I guess there is some typos here...)

[Griever]

A tall, thin figure emerges in the night hanging over Balamb Garden. The figure, clearly exhausted of traveling, limps towards the entrance following the road from Balamb. His clothes merely consist of a bespotted, weather worn SeeD Cadet Uniform and a makeshift rope belt holding a well-dented sword.

As he arrives into the central corridor of the Garden he cannot help but notice the thick air of death hanging over the grounds that one might expect at a funeral. The stillness is broken by Shadowcaller and The Balamb Gardener who emerge from another hallway, heading to their respective rooms.

Curiousity tweaked coupled with his inability to wait for morning to arise before exploring, the man heads in the direction the two were leaving, finding three freshly dug graves, each bearing a name and dates of birth and death.

Bowing his head, the SeeD Cadet kneels in front of the freshest of the graves, inhabited by a young lad freshly joined to SeeD, and whispers, voice filled with sadness,

I never had the pleasure of meeting any of you, and now I never will... Without doubt you were all great people and, in the end, that is all that matters, I suppose. Rest in peace, my brothers of common cause and devotion, if not blood. I will find these murderous cowards of whom have stolen your lives... I promise.

Standing slowly, his right knee weak as always, the man suddenly realizes he has no room in which to sleep. Thinking for a moment, the man unsheaths his long blade and stands guard near the graves of those much worthier than he.

[Helgraf]

The Cadet stood in the hallway, leaning against the wall, listening to the sounds of the loosed monsters.

He heard the sound of footsteps approaching, shifted slightly so one eye could peer down the hallway whence the sound came.

Cadet Meyers, he thought silently to himself. He's getting foolhardy, he noted to himself as he regarded the expression on the other's face. Saw as everything else was pushed aside when Meyers heard the Grat's cry and reached for his weapon.

The Cadet stepped into the middle of the hallway, arms at his sides. "Getting yourself killed won't bring her back, Cadet Meyers."

[banjo1985]

This night Balamb Garden is awash with activity, there are graves to be dug, discussions to be had, cadets to mourn. Through it all one cadet stalks, looking for the Remnant scum amongst the students. Frankelbert's chainwhip flickers from side to side as he eyes his fellow students suspiciously. He walks all through the night, passing the tense standoff between Helgraf & Cristo Meyers, ending up in the decimated Training area, at the small spot overlooking Balamb Plains, where lovers amongst the students were apt to meet in happier times. Now the area is a deserted ruin, and the wonderful view is spoilt by fallen masonry.

Frankelbert sits down and considers the plight of the Garden, and the deaths that have already occurred. He didn't think he would be able to sleep tonight, but he is wrong. After half an hour he is dozing in front of the view he once loved so much.

He is awoken by a sharp deep pain in his stomach, he looks down and see's the paper thin blade of a sword protuding out of his ribcage. He knows then that Sephiroth and the Remnants stand behind him, and that he is not long for the world. As he folds forward and his sight begins to fade, Frankelbert can only utter one disbelieving word.

".....why?"

The answer, whispering, patronising, very close behind him.

"Why little boy? Because we can."

* * *

There is another cadet that can't sleep tonight. Lemon&Lime wanders aimlessly through the garden, not really sure what to do, chainwhip dangling by their side. Today had been a very bad day, and sleep had been impossible. Lemon&Lime ends up in the Garden Lobby, looking at the chaos that has been bought upon the place he calls home. He is in quiet contemplation when the bullet flies in through one ear and straight into the brain. Lemon&Lime is dead before they even hit the floor.

From way up high come horrified voices raised in argument.

"Christ, it was Lemon&Lime!"

"What the hell are we doing?!"

"Sorry...oh gods.....I'm so sorry."

In the morning the two bodies are found, and confusion again reigns supreme. Two people are dead, one by gunshot, the other obviously by Sephiroths blade. To make matters worse, there are two Grats on the loose in the Cafeteria. Zell is no-where to be seen, leaving the job to anyone up to the challenge. At this moment, its difficult to tell if anyone is up to anything.

Summary

Frankelbert was killed by the Remnants. He was a SeeD Cadet.

Lemon&Lime was taken out by Irvine the SeeD Sniper. Lemon&Lime was a SeeD Cadet.

Two Grats are on the loose in the Cafeteria. Please start voting, the two people with the most votes will be facing them.

Day 3 begins now and will end on Thursday. Get pointing!

Up for autolynch today:

Atreyu the Masked Llama

[Fin]

Cristo? How is it that you have been carrying an item that could potentially be used against the remnant for two nights now and yet they have considered you to be no threat at all? An item that could have potentially put Mustiado into a fight he didn't want, hiding behind all the seifer checks?

The man with purple cowboy hat stands forward, his cold bull-shooter eyes only on Cristo Meyers.

You volenteered to fight day one, the perfect ruse perhaps? Why would remnant purposefully put himself into the frey? He wouldn't. And thats what your counting on people to believe...