Aunt Gwendolyn is just as sparky as ever. Dressed in a shade of magenta I would never have selected for her given her complexion, she greeted me with a smile that could only be called a grin. I wonder if she knows how many wrinkles that causes. I didn’t mention it to her, as it occurred to me that it probably wouldn’t matter to her, and might start the visit off on the wrong foot. Mother always said to be still when I opened my mouth, and for once I listened.
I learned a new trick from Auntie Gwen. I was enjoying tea with her on the veranda, though I was confessedly a little disappointed by her response to the chocolates I brought her. A natural pause in the conversation presented itself, and so I asked her about the black riders I saw yesterday. She was in the midst of pouring the water over the tea, and had I not been watching her keenly, I would have missed the slight hesitation my question prompted. Without missing a beat, she smiled gently, looked me in the eye, and asked, “What riders would those be, dear?”
No matter what I said, she neatly deflected my questions, never letting it ruffle her. I must say, if one must dodge impertinent questions, she has much to teach in the art.
As I was leaving to go back to my room, I noticed a lovely woman leading a jet black horse. She was headed to the center of town, wearing quite a pretty hat. I noticed (the horse, of course, not just the hat), and before long, it was clear that other citizens of Hatrack River did too. She seemed to be humming to herself, and didn’t appear to see the crowd of angry people she was gathering. I must say that public anger is one of less pleasant qualities I’ve seen during my visit. But it got worse. A boy picked up a rock and threw it at the young lady, spooking the horse. She dropped the reins and the horse took off like a shot, this time not trampling anyone. Suddenly she noticed the faces of the people surrounding her. She pleaded with them most piteously to let her be. But they were having none of that.
In short, dearest diary, they dragged her bodily to the edge of town and hung her from a most appalling looking tree. I can’t imagine why it’s still standing, so ugly a tree was it. I would have cut it down on sight. On the other hand, if one must be lynched, it might as well be from an ugly tree, I suppose.
Her dying gasps, and everyone knows the truth of one’s last words as cruel Death takes one, were, “The horse isn’t mine....it is...it is...” And then she died. One woman in the crowd told me that her name was Narnia. Pretty name, if a bit unusual. Poor citizen.
Well, enough for now. I’m sure I’ll have more adventures to impart later today. Hatrack River has become so exciting since I went away to school!
Sincerely, dearly yours, Miss Jenny Wren
***************
MAFIA: I need your kill ASAP please. From here on out, I need it first thing in the morning.
POLICE: You may ask anytime, but I need your question before 5:30pm Pacific if you want an answer today.
SOPWITH: Your email address bounced. Could you please send me a different address?
**********
JATRAQUEROS:
Advice for Robots asQmh -- Citizen, died of natural causes Avadaru Brettley Damander Dead_Horse eslaine -- Citizen, KILLED BY MAFIA Evie3217 fugu13 hansenj jehovoid msquared -- Citizen, KILLED BY MAFIA Narnia -- Citizen, LYNCHED PSI Teleport rivka Ryan Hart SirReal Sopwith
edit: per msquared's excellent suggestion, I've improved the list above to make things clearer.
[ August 26, 2003, 03:14 PM: Message edited by: jeniwren ]
Posted by eslaine (Member # 5433) on :
See what comes of a rush to judgement. How ugly.
Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
Told you so. Now you've killed off another citizen!
Posted by eslaine (Member # 5433) on :
I think you were right Narnia! That Ryan Hart, he's got dem shifty eyes....
Either that, or he's the sheriff...
[ August 26, 2003, 01:24 PM: Message edited by: eslaine ]
Posted by hansenj (Member # 4034) on :
Wow...now I'm suspicious of all the people that voted with me yesterday.
Right now I'm just confused, so I think I'll post again later, once more is happening.
Posted by SirReal (Member # 5257) on :
hansenj, your post number is currently 666 so maybe we should vote to hang you. Please post again soon so you have a less suspicious number attached to your name.
Posted by eslaine (Member # 5433) on :
Posted by hansenj (Member # 4034) on :
That was very funny, Sir Real!
...that better?
Posted by SirReal (Member # 5257) on :
Whew, Just in time, I ALMOST voted you dead Posted by SirReal (Member # 5257) on :
Is it me or has the Mafia not killed someone today? Maybe they're not as bad as we think they are. NAH they are, let's weed out the VERMIN.
Posted by eslaine (Member # 5433) on :
Wait, the Mafia is from Italy, right? Italians are largely Catholic. Does this mean that SirReal's knowledge of the number of the beast might indicate....
Oh, nothing. Just return to your lives, citizens. Nothing to report here.
Posted by jeniwren (Member # 2002) on :
Dearest Mother,
I hope you are feeling better. I got your letter this morning, and was most alarmed that you were not feeling well. Flutterings of one’s stomach are dreadful and not to be endured, I am sure. I pray that Father has sent for the doctor to ease your discomfort and return you to the excellent health you enjoyed when I left.
Sadly, a person in this very hotel did not endure similar flutterings to return to good health. Someone by the name of Eslaine, in just the room next door in fact, though I never saw the person myself, went to bed feeling ill last night and woke up dead! The undertaker came to measure the body this afternoon, which was most dreadful. I feel faint just thinking about his dusty dark suit. You would think that someone with such a dreadful occupation could at least wear something cheerful.
In any case, I had an excellent lunch down in the dining room, enjoying every bite until a big bald man sitting two tables over started talking about poor Eslaine’s fate. It was poison! In the tea, no less! How awful! Can you imagine? I think I will go to the bakery for tea this afternoon instead of my usual here at the hotel.
The buzz through town is that Eslaine was a fine citizen. One well beloved by everyone. I hope they have a splendid funeral. I haven’t been to a funeral in ages.
I’m off to the dressmaker, Peggy. I hope this letter finds you in restored health and happiness. Give my love to James and Freddy.
Faithfully your Only Daughter, Miss Jenny Wren
[ August 26, 2003, 02:25 PM: Message edited by: jeniwren ]
Posted by jehovoid (Member # 2014) on :
Well, quite a day. Sorry, Narnia. I can't help but feel that I just sat by and did nothing while we killed you for no good reason. Nah, who'm I kidding, you had it coming.
But now eslaine. Hmm...
Possible suspects: Ryan_Hart, Avadaru
These are people she's targeted.
I'm going to go ahead and vote for Ryan_Hart now. I might not have time later. Gotta go to class.
(edited to make bold)
[ August 26, 2003, 04:03 PM: Message edited by: jehovoid ]
Posted by eslaine (Member # 5433) on :
jeniwren,
Thank you for the kind funeral. I am touched to have been, a man, loved by all!
:moves off into the light:
Posted by jeniwren (Member # 2002) on :
eslaine, I have to confess that part of the reason I wrote it as I did (no male/female pronouns), was that I didn't know if you were male or female and was too embarrassed to ask. You died painlessly if that's any consolation. And you're the only one I've ever known to wake up dead.
asQmh, you're dead of natural causes. Unfortunately, that means you don't get mentioned in a letter or diary entry because dying of natural causes isn't interesting enough. Updating the list up above.
Posted by msquared (Member # 4484) on :
I have a feeling it is going to get crowded over here in the grave yard. At least I have the nicest plot. Right under the tree.
msquared
Posted by jehovoid (Member # 2014) on :
And who is this Aunt Gwendolyn person supposed to be? She's very curious.
Posted by hansenj (Member # 4034) on :
wow...four citizens dead!
I must say, I'm not very good at being an intelligent citizen!
At this point, I think it's very critical that we kill a mafia member in one of these next couple rounds.
Time to do some investigative work...
*dons a Sherlock Holmes-esque hat and saunters off*
Posted by jeniwren (Member # 2002) on :
I would just like to point out that every living player must post once a Day or risk dying of natural causes.
Posted by fugu13 (Member # 2859) on :
I think I must vote for Ryan.
Sorry mate, our unholy alliance does not appear in the cards.
Posted by Sopwith (Member # 4640) on :
I don't know... I'm thinking anyone who ate Fugu and was unlucky enough to go for 13 servings might just wake up dead.
Unholy alliances or not, I'm casting my vote for Fugu13. Something fishy about that guy...
[ August 26, 2003, 06:37 PM: Message edited by: Sopwith ]
Posted by SirReal (Member # 5257) on :
After yesterday's fiasco, I'm opting not to choose. Just know that I'm definitely a citizen and anybody who knows me knows I don't lie. Posted by advice for robots (Member # 2544) on :
I'm suspicious as well of Fugu13. He and Ryan Hart are either thick as thieves, or he is cutting ties with Ryan to avoid the scrutiny Ryan is undergoing. Either way, it's underhanded.
Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
Be sure to post your votes in bold so jeni doesn't miss a thing. I want the Mafia to go DOWN!! Take special notice of who has died...I could tell you about a suspicious email clue (I've already pointed it out to a few of you on msquared's mailing list) but I'm dead, so I'll leave it for someone else to tell.
Posted by Erik Slaine (Member # 5583) on :
Just poked my head in here to say Go Citizens! My predecessor, eslaine, would have wanted it that way.... Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
I vote for Ryan Hart, for the same reason as jehovoid.
Posted by SirReal (Member # 5257) on :
Fugu13 and Ryan Hart,
Can either of you tell me why I shouldn't vote to hang one of you?
Posted by Damander (Member # 4439) on :
Hmmm, I think Auntie Gwen is prime suspect for the mafia. (I know it's hard to accept that family members are mafia jeniwren, but sometimes you just have to face the facts)
In all seriousness though, I'm curious about jehovoid & SirReal. I don't know why, just a gut feeling. And as hansenj can testify when we played this game in real life, I'm pretty good at guessing mafia (although there are times when I'm enirely off the mark). I'm not going to vote just yet, I need to do some more re-reading and some serious thinking.... *dons thinking cap *
[edit to add SirReal to the suspicions)
[ August 26, 2003, 08:13 PM: Message edited by: Damander ]
Posted by Ryan Hart (Member # 5513) on :
I can't convince you not too, except It's gonna suck if you all vote for me and we hang another citizen.
My vote is Rivka I am not Mafia. You will find that out tomorrow morning. I vote Rivka for casting suspicion on me.
Edit: Remember Hatrack Mafia Chat. I say town meeting at 8:30 eastern to discuss lynching.
[ August 26, 2003, 09:36 PM: Message edited by: Ryan Hart ]
Posted by jeniwren (Member # 2002) on :
Would someone record the town meeting and email it to me? I'd love to read it afterward. A lot of the fun of moderating these games is seeing the machinations of the different players, knowing their roles. I have a meeting tonight, or I'd drop in directly.
Posted by hansenj (Member # 4034) on :
*looks around empty chat room*
Hey! It's 8:30 Eastern!
Posted by fugu13 (Member # 2859) on :
well, you shouldn't vote to hang me, because I'm a townie.
Basically, a citizen was hanged, and it seemed reasonable that Ryan Hart was one of teh 3vil.
Besides, we don't have any clues, and friendly rivalry from hatrack is as good a reason as any.
Feel free to lynch me though, I'll be able to work more overtime time and half!
Posted by hansenj (Member # 4034) on :
hmm, interesting town meeting...
Well, I've decided I need to buckle down and vote so I'm not constantly coming back to Hatrack when I should be packing.
Vote: Ryan Hart (Sorry, Ryan! I promise I'll follow your advice tomorrow if it turns out you are innocent! )
Posted by Damander (Member # 4439) on :
Following the town meeting I also vote Ryan Hart
He seemed extra suspicious by accusing everyone else and protesting way too much when he was accused. I just have a general bad feeling about him *crosses fingers that he is mafia*
[edit to add reasons]
[ August 26, 2003, 09:35 PM: Message edited by: Damander ]
Posted by Dead_Horse (Member # 3027) on :
Hmmm...fugu13 says he's a townie, but Ryan says one of them should be mafia, and "maybe" it's fugu.
I'll say Ryan for now, but I might change my mind before the deadline.
I still can't get into chat!
Dead_Horse (who is NOT black, but gray with spots and white hair and tail)
Edit: Well, I don't feel so bad now that I see that people who could get into the town meeting are voting for Ryan. I wonder what he said to make them do that?
[ August 26, 2003, 09:45 PM: Message edited by: Dead_Horse ]
Posted by Ryan Hart (Member # 5513) on :
OOH this is irksome. I gurantee I am not Mafia. If you vote me you have lynched another citizen. DO NOT VOTE FOR ME!
My word as a REPUBLICAN that I am not mafia.
Edit: although I do look forward to my death scene.
[ August 26, 2003, 09:47 PM: Message edited by: Ryan Hart ]
Posted by PSI Teleport (Member # 5545) on :
I don't really know if there's any convincing evidence that Ryan or Fugu are guilty...but actually, I do think that Brettly was being pretty suspicious and then chilled out when someone pointed it out. Therein lies my vote. (At this point.)
Posted by Avadaru (Member # 3026) on :
Apparently I've missed the town meeting, so I've not much information to go on, but the general consensus seems to be that Ryan is the one to lynch.
quote: OOH this is irksome. I gurantee I am not Mafia. If you vote me you have lynched another citizen. DO NOT VOTE FOR ME!
My word as a REPUBLICAN that I am not mafia.
Edit: although I do look forward to my death scene
Sure sounds guilty to me. Looking back on previous games, though, I've been wrong every time, so I'll just hope that this time will be different.
My vote: Ryan Hart Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
Ryan, it just seems suspicious that Erik and I both DIED as soon as we mentioned that we thought you were a fishy suspect...ahem.
I have two pretty solid hunches. If any citizens or a cop wants to come into chat right now, or email me, I'll let you know what I think. And to quote the great msquared "You can trust me because I'm dead."
[ August 26, 2003, 10:42 PM: Message edited by: Narnia ]
Posted by Evie3217 (Member # 5426) on :
I think that, after the town meeting. I'll have to go with Ryan . I'm sorry Ryan, but it was just a little suspicious
Posted by Erik Slaine (Member # 5583) on :
Hey, aren't you dead yet, Narnia?
I hear horses coming....
[ August 26, 2003, 10:43 PM: Message edited by: Erik Slaine ]
Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
Hey, this is Hamlet and I'm a ghost. Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Yeah, but ghosts in Mafia are supposed to be all fluffy and stuff, not give hints to the living. Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
Yeah...well...I'm not giving OUT hints. You can have them if you ask though. And they're only hunches.
And who says I'm NOT all white and fluffy? Posted by eslaine (Member # 5433) on :
Yeeessss! I am the ghost of esssslaaaaaine! OOOOOOOOOO! Posted by Erik Slaine (Member # 5583) on :
Pay no attention to him, he must be just some bit of undercooked potato....
Posted by Evie3217 (Member # 5426) on :
Can i just say that I really love the title of this thread.... I mean, it's talking about Narnia's death, and then, "oh yeah, and I wrote a letter to my mom!"
Or maybe that's just me Posted by jeniwren (Member # 2002) on :
Thanks Evie.
Love ya, Narnia, but as one of the dead, I'll tell you the same thing I did msquared (in email) dead people tell no secrets. It messes stuff up for the living. So if you would like to post your final words on one of the threads *just once*, go ahead, but after that, you need to keep your suspicions to yourself. It's considered cheating otherwise.
Ryan, I'll write you a nice death scene in the morning. MAFIA, please get your kill to me by 9 Pacific tomorrow morning.
Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
ok. I'll head home to the graveyard and stay.
[ August 27, 2003, 01:10 AM: Message edited by: Narnia ]
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Last Mafia game, we had a Ghosts Lounge. I'll bump it for all our ghosts . . . soon to be one more. Posted by msquared (Member # 4484) on :
Tell me about it. Not that it would have done any good the first round.
msquared
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
The one who most wishes there is a doctor is me! Ryan was already ticked enough at me to edit his post and change his lynch vote to me, and I imagine he's left orders with the other mafioso to lynch me today.
Of course, if I'm wrong and he's NOT mafia, I'll look really dumb, and paranoid to boot.
![[Taunt]](graemlins/taunt.gif)
Now you've killed off another citizen!
![[Angst]](graemlins/angst.gif)
![[Dont Know]](graemlins/dontknow.gif)
![[Confused]](confused.gif)
![[ROFL]](graemlins/rofl.gif)
![[Evil]](graemlins/evil.gif)
![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Embarrassed]](redface.gif)
![[Hat]](graemlins/hat.gif)
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
![[Cool]](cool.gif)
MAFIA, please get your kill to me by 9 Pacific tomorrow morning.
![[Cry]](graemlins/cry.gif)
I'll head home to the graveyard and stay.