Jammeez

Although the idea of losing the momentum is scary, I'm for delaying a week or even two. I so want to play the asylum theme! Fun fun fun! Jamz

Kewl theme! Almost I'm tempted to bag the sabatical and join in! I'll think about it... Tell me, would it be creepy asylum, like Edgar Allen Poe or Bram Stoker, or a more modern setting, like Girl Interrupted or Awakenings? I'd like to add the Poe theme to my list of future games if it's not used here. Thanks so much for stepping up, Katz! Jamz

Who is the next person in line to moderate? I'm truly sorry, but things in my life are such that I need to take some time away from the 'puter. I've just got too much on my plate right now. I won't be participating in WW VIII, but probably will in subsequent games. I'll probably be up to modding again in the fall, if there is an opening. Again, my apologies! Love to all, Jamz P.S. Feel free to use my ideas, or save them for me or Itchy to mod later.

Dragonqueen, the Scoundrels idea came to me while watching Dirty Rotten Scoundrels the other day - a movie starring Steve Martin and Michael Caine, if you haven't seen it. (it's at least ten years old) We'd be Con Artists trying to out-con each other in order to win exclusive rights to work the area. No conman worth his salt likes to have competition undermining his efforts. The movie takes place on the French Rivierra (I think), but we could set it in any Rich Tourist Trap. There'd be a seer, like Whoopi Goldberg's character in Ghost, whose viewings are scary and unsought-after. After all, fortune telling is a hoax, right? Two of our number would be a famous con-team nicknamed "the Wolfen", who like to seek out conartists and turn the tables on them. They show up in the newspapers from time to time, having left a signed note in their wake, but no one ever seems to have a verfiable description to report. 'Course, who would rat on "The Wolfen" and risk revealing their own exploits?

Okay folks. It appears I'm up for next Moderator. I'm thinking of a couple of themes. Tell me what you think. Wolfy Rotten Scoundrels: Who's conning who's conning who... Seer Island: Wolf on the High Seas Any other ideas? Jamz

If Rich is sure of Chandler's innocence - at least for now - Bina will also change her vote. OOC: Change vote to Meat/Dean...Happy Birthday, Man!

Bina doesn't really understand why everyone is suspecting her, but that guy, Rich, is always nice to her, and he thinks it's Chandler. She will stick with Rich and vote Chandler, too. OOC: Vote for HappyBuddha/Chandler Achtobowski Jamz

As the teacher walks in, Bina hastily pulls the headphones off her ears and switches off Disc 8 of the English lessons she got for her birthday. She sits to one side of the classroom, and waits patiently for the other kids to quiet down so she can concentrate on the words coming out of the teacher's mouth. She doesn't really notice the guy across the room watching her, as he wonders what she was listening to on the headphones...

Bina watches Jaquie's encounter with Meat, and shakes her head, not understanding how Jaquie does it. Standing up to that guy, day after day... 'Course, Bina has her own battles to fight each day. She sighs and heads to her class, glad that she scouted them all out before hand. Asking directions when you know no one and the language is unfamiliar is no picnic.

Uh, Elwen...yes and yes. At least those were the reasons Tangy stated the round before. It's always suspicious when a player is SO under the radar. 'Course, in this game, EVERYTHING'S suspicious.

Well, I didn't accuse him 'cause I really liked his character, and I wanted to see where it went. Could be the bad-boy thing, tho, 'cause I liked all the male characters with the dark mysterious sides...er...that would be ALL of them. Hense, the Polly character to crush on all the boys. Jamz

Eirish, I smell War Games??? Yeah, yeah! You can call me *Fes, Tangy. Ha ha But my name is very pronouncable...it's Bina Jamhausen...BEE-NAH JAM-HOW-ZEN. And I'll remind you of it every time you call me Fes. *anyone not know this reference? It's from That 70s Show. They call the Foreign Exchange Student FES or Fez because they don't know/can't pronounce his real name.

Yes! I sink this is being fun! Excuse me, please. I am looking for...*looks at paper*...room Ein-zero-zwei...nein...uh...One-zero...TWO.

GREAT game, I'd say! Hypolyta "Polly" McAlister was going to marry one of the boys from the wagon train as soon as they reached the next settlement, but everyone was dead by that time. But, her determination, nigh unto the stubborness of her mother Trudy Young McAlister, kept her family together right up until the end. She was fifteen years old before they reached Oregon. Little Nell never forgot the words of her mother the night before she died. She cried sometimes, missing her ma, but she always knew they'd be reunited in the end. After having stayed with the Blacks for a short while, Polly took them to her new home with a young husband. They stayed in touch with the Blacks, however. It wasn't until years later that the McAlister children learned the true story of the wagon train, and who was really responsible for their mother's death... Isaiah Young McAlister is an outlaw wanted for the murder of Mr. and Mrs. Black. He had to shoot 'em several times, though...he never did become a very good shot.

I'll be the slightly offbeat German exchange student, Bina Jamhausen. She's cute enough, in a hitch-hike-across-Europe sort of way. Picture the girl from Matt Damon's Bourne Identity.

... ...

Well, I'm still hoping some people do change their vote. How do you like them apples?

OOC: *snort*

I keep losing sight of some of those rules Tangy mentions. It just gets lost in the RP. Like MTYFoolish's correction of the mistaking events around his death. I was bothered by the mistakes, and glad when he set it the record straight...but Tangy's right! What if someone wants to cloud the issue? Every player has that perogative. And the dead aren't supposed to interfere in any way that can influence voting...or slaughters, for that matter. But playing online is much different than sitting around a table. We've developed our own rules and traditions...like the "dead man's party" and haunting, and like lynching the newbie just because. Another thought: Each moderator has the perogative to set the rules leniency level where they feel it should be. Tangy feels PMing between players should be reserved for the wolves, and then only to agree on a slaughter, but not to discuss. But Itchy usually allows that stuff in his games, so although Tangy might not participate in the PMs, he can't really say others shouldn't. I'm glad some of this stuff has come up, because I'm moderating a new WW game at K&C starting Monday. I needed to be reminded of some of the nuance. It's gotten so complicated over the past year! And, on a lighter - or more serious? - note, I am going to apologize here for any offense I may have given any of you. I get overzealous and forget how I may be coming across. The game is supposed to be fun. I wish everyone lots of fun! Jamz

OOC: Oh, pooh-head! If Tangy's convinced then I guess I'd better try to salvage his life... IC: At Mr. Cartwright's refusal to back her up, Trudy is a bit confused. She kneels and wraps her arms around little Nell, whose chubby arms encircle her neck. "Isaiah, Polly, time for bed. Off with ya!" With a last glance around the fire at the gathered faces, Mrs. McAlister gathers up the child and walks back to her wagon. "Momma, why is ev'ybuddy mad at Mr. Ben?" "I don't know, Baby. They're worried about Cat." "Cat's gone." "I know, Baby." "Where'd she go, Momma?" Trudy hesitates, unsure how to break the news to her baby girl. "Well, Cat has gone back to her family..." "Are they in heaven, Momma?" Gertrude stumbles slightly in surprise. "Nell! *sigh* Yes, I suppose they are, Honey. How did you know?" She sets little Nell on the ledge of the wagon, and looks into her face. "Cat told me her momma and poppa were in the sky - isn't that where heaven is, Momma?" Trudy nods. "She said she'd go an' see 'em one day. She said she didn't 'member 'em much, but she missed 'em. She said the people she lived with taught her about the sky, and they said we all go there someday...Momma?" *sniff* "Yes, baby?" "Is Poppa in heaven?" Trudy nods. "Will I go to heaven?" Trudy nods. "Will Polly and Isa?" Trudy nods. The child thinks seriously for a minute. "Momma, Mr. Nate will go to heaven, too." Trudy replies slowly, "well, Honey, we want everyone to go to heaven one day." "Not Rosalie." Nell pouts. Trudy's breath catches in her throat. "Why, whatever do you mean, Child? Has she hurt you?" Trudy's heart pounds with trepidation. "No, Momma...She isn't nice...She was mean to Mr. Markus. He came over when I was playing...when Polly was sad..." "Go on, Baby, what happened?" "Mr. Markus wanted to see 'Manda, but Rosalie was mean to 'im. She told 'im to go away and never come back. She said bad things, Momma...Momma, I like Mr. Markus." Mrs. McAlister pulls Nell into her arms again. "I know, Baby. I do too. But sometimes people say things we can't understand. Maybe Rosalie had her reasons. Maybe she knows something we don't know. She loves Amanda and Mr. Nate, right?" Nell nods. "And she's nice to you?" Nell nods again. "Don't you worry, Honey. Your poppa is watchin' over you. He's watchin' over all of us. No matter what happens, we'll be together, ya hear? If we ever have to say goodbye, you remember we'll see each other in heaven, okay?" Nell nods again. "Okay, Baby, time for bed." With a kiss, she hands the girl through the canvas flap into Polly's arms. Then she returns thoughtfully to the campfire. I wish I knew what Nell really saw that day! What business has Mr. Black at the Bluett wagon, especially to talk to Amanda? On the other hand, why should Rosalie take such offense at his visit? It doesn't make any sense...unless... OOC: I'll change my vote to Rosalie...let's see what happens.

No, no problem here either. We get a little uppitty about our precious game, some of us. Forgive us, please, and continue...

OOC: *claps* Well put, my dearest "Jake". And, although I was one who withdrew my vote last round, I understand Itchy's frustration. As a player, it is extremely difficult to develop a theory without voting history to look at. Players can make up anything they want, but it is their mode of activity and their voting history that forms the real clues. The grace and nuance of the game is in placing your votes in such a way as to influence others, either to believe in your innocence or to lay blame on your mates. It is strategy. Abstaining on occasion is strategy. Abstaining time after time isn't. Edit for IC: Trudy stands in the flickering light of the community campfire, her eyes flashing in echo of the flames at the outrageous scene before her. Little Nell hides behind her skirts, and Isaiah and Polly watch from the edges of the gathering with eyes as wide as saucers. "I can excuse Mr. Gunther's hasty words; he obviously had deep feeling for the girl...But you, Amanda! Standing by your husband is one thing, and very admirable, but to accuse a man simply because he points a finger in your family's direction? *tsk* Mr. Cartwright has been thoughtful and wise. He has avoided voicing wild accusations. He has acted with calm and propriety at all times, neither proud nor vain. And yet you accuse him. My children love you, Amanda, but I cannot condone your accusation. I must add my suspicions to those of Mr. Cartwright. The would-be judge is too judgmental for comfort! OOC: Vote for Merelas/Nathaniel Bluett.

YAY! I'm so excited! Thanks a bunch, big guy! *turns to Tanny* I think we could make salt-water taffy now. The cake is kinda soggy. *under her breath I swear I'm gonna kill those guys when I get back home. Sure they were helping me, but their help always seems to come with some sort of humiliating attachments...I hate being the baby sis...

OOC: Thank you, Katz! And did everyone miss that JAKE WAS THE SEER?? And someone even missed that JAKE IS DEAD! Honestly, folks! *sigh* We're all gonna die, ya know. OTOH, I liked Tangy's story about the sickness sweeping the train and laying us up for a week. Damn! It was hard enough Itchy and I doing a 3-day trek with handcarts with our church youth group a couple of years ago. After the first day, I was literally in tears, I was so tired. I can't imagine having to endure the real thing!

Mrs. McAlister watches her daughter walk to the buttes with the other young women, followed closely by Isaiah and Eric and Little Joe Cartwright, riding some of the horses. Adam keeps a keen but discreet watch on both Cat and Polly. Trudy wishes she dared keep her boy here at the wagon. She dislikes allowing him that far off her apron-strings. Her children are trying to grow up way too early as it is. But how can she deprive the boy of the few joys of the trail. This trip would be difficult enough. And she can hardly deny Polly her intent of carving Jake's name into the rock of this landmark. Although she has mostly overcome her paralyzing grief, the girl is much grimer now...more serious-minded, mature...Trudy fears the rigors of the trail will take the remaining childhood right out of her. Her mind wanders a bit, thinking of Polly and Jake...how close had they truly become? Was her daughter's open grief the sign of a burgeoning relationship, or the drama of a schoolgirl crush? Had Jake returned Polly's affections? He had danced with Polly back at the fort that night...but so had all the young men...she thinks of the silly antagonism between Adam Cartwright and that young soldier. Good thing I broke up that bit of nonsense... "Howdy, Ma'am." Trudy jumps at the unexpected voice near her wagonseat. "OH! Mr. Cartwright! How do y'do?" "Didn't mean to startle you, Ma'am. I just wanted to check on the girl. How's she holdin' up?" "Oh, fine, fine...she'll pull through, though I cain't say none the worse for wear..." Abraham chuckles mirthlessly. "We all have those...moments...that change us forever, Ma'am." Gertrude looks sharply at Mr. Cartwright, then looks quickly away at the pang of loss she feels, remembering her dead Isaiah. After some silence..."How...how long since your wife passed on...if you don't mind my asking?" He takes a deep breath. "No, no. I don't mind. Little Joe's ma died [Tangy can fill in the number] years ago. He hardly remembers her. An' Eric didn't have a chance to know his ma. She was a mite delicate, an' that boy was born full sized! Adam's ma..." He cuts off in mid sentence and looks out across the landscape... "Mr. Cartwright, why do you insist on Nate's guilt? With most of the camp devided against either you or the girl, Charlotte, why do you not defend yourself? Your voice needs to be heard! The men look up to you. You could tip the scales in your favor. But you insist on this silent stubborness..." Trudy stops herself, realizing she's crossing the lines of propriety, letting her emotions get the better of her. Lord knows she carries them too near the surface. "I...I'm sorry...T'ain't my place..." OOC: Tangy? Your move... Oh and, uh...withdraw my vote to keep the balance, pending an answer from Sol/Gunther or a reply from Tangy. Sorry, Itchy!