BYZANTIUM

[teamposts]

[You find yourself standing on a wooden platform suspended from the ceiling of a stone dungeon lit by many torches. The platform is held up by 11 woolen threads in your color, and it sways precariously with every movement you make. It doesn’t seem very sturdy at all. . . though in addition to those 11 strings, there are 11 more attached to the side of the platform, one in each other team color. They’re within easy reach.

If you peer over the edge of your platform, you’ll be able to see the floor of the dungeon, though it might not necessarily give you comfort. Dozens of iron, pointy spikes are embedded into the ground, the sharp ends facing up. If you fall, it won’t be a pleasant trip down.

You can also see the other teams suspended on similar platforms around you. They’re far enough away that they probably can’t hear you talking on your own platform, but if you yell, you might be able to communicate. . .]

Comments

Round 1

[teamposts]

[Current String Count: 11.

Team strings you have already cut: none]

Discussion

[teamposts]

[chastitybeltisland]

Who must we not attack?

[hyanaimne]

[peering over the . . . side . . . jfc]

Ah - Fawn and Teal.

[overclocking]

... [Pointedly not peering over the side.]

Or Iris.

[chastitybeltisland]

[teal was a given though]

The only way to defend ourselves is to set the others up for death.

[hyanaimne]

. . . we can cut only one string, yes?

[brokenstrings]

[shit shit shit SHIT. glancing between Canary, Copper Rose, and Saffron]

Right.

[overclocking]

If we want to minimize damage... yes.

But we won't be doing anything to protect ourselves.

[chastitybeltisland]

The best way to protect ourselves is to attack the others as much as possible ...

Suffice to say that doing nothing is out of the question.

[hyanaimne]

. . . then we should do what we can to protect ourselves, yes?

[overclocking]

[Wait, wait, I'm gonna listen to the kids yelling at the portrai--

...

Haha welp.]

[chastitybeltisland]

[sob those portraits]

I'm afraid that attempting to keep things equal among us will only result in everyone dying.

[hyanaimne]

I can't but agree.

[overclocking]

... So it's cut two, or cut three.

[brokenstrings]

[has been quietly brooding and his mouth has been drawn into a very thin line]

How do we wanna play today, Byz? We can be ruthless and try to win or we can try to protect whoever we can. We've lost in past games because we were willing to put others before us and I will never regret those decisions but I.

[glancing at King on Canary]

My loyalty is first and foremost to this team. I want to keep you safe. You will always be the first thing I want to protect. I'm voting for three.

[overclocking]

[.........]



I'm done watching people I care about die.

Cut three.

[hyanaimne]

. . . I vote three as well.

[chastitybeltisland]

Three will do.

[brokenstrings]

[all business now. if he can be a robot about this then he won't have messy feelings]

If we are going to do this, then we are going to fucking do it. I suggest random draws every time to minimize the amount of deliberation we put into this. Luck is amoral. I'm not saying that we are good people by doing this but at least we won't be specifically targeting anyone.

[chastitybeltisland]

[quiet a moment]

There is no other fair way to decide.

[overclocking]

Only if we remove Teal from that drawing to begin with.

[hyanaimne]

Yes. Teal is not an option.

Decision

[teamposts]

Re: Decision

[hyanaimne]

Three strings! Cardinal, Shell, and Celeste.