Lt. Trout leads you to the tunnel she’s dug. It leads out the back of the late Clothide Renou’s dressing room dugout, forward and down under no-man’s land.

“Everyone pick a buddy,” says Lt. Trout, lighting kerosene lanterns and candles. She passes these out. “We can’t afford to lose anyone else down here.”

The tunnel is rough, but surprisingly roomy. After only a few dozen paces, you’ve lost the sunlight filtering in from behind. Only darkness lies ahead. Overhead, you can hear the rumble of war. Occasional artillery strikes shake stones and clods of dirt loose from the roof of the tunnel.

“This won’t collapse, will it?” asks Zapp Brannigan. “I’m allergic to cave-ins.”

“Nonsense,” says Lt. Trout. She’s at the front of the pack, holding up a torch. “This is my second tunnel, and so far I’ve had 100 percent success.”

At the back of the pack, one member – Pvt. Thoughts T. Thoughts – didn’t get a buddy, because there are an odd number of you.

“Hey,” she says, to the buddy team directly in front of her. “Can I walk with you guys?”

“Sure,” one of them says, motioning for her to walk between them.

“Oh thanks,” she says, relieved. “I’d hate for- did you just stab me?”

“Shh,” says the one with the knife.

“Rats,” says Thoughts with feeling as she collapses.

ThoughtsThoughtsThoughts has DiedDiedDied. She was INFANTRY (TownTownTown).

The rest of you carry on, darkness before you and the war over your heads. It takes you some time to realize Pvt. Thoughts is gone.

---

Trench Times

“O Brave New World, That Has Such People in It”

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War News

• American scientists report the development of even pointier barbed wire.
• Mrs. Claus believed dead in the Second Battle of the North Pole.
• Hot singles in YOUR trench.

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Today’s Trading Cards

Popular in the colonies!

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“Fragments from France”

By Bruce Bairnsfather

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[spoiler title=”LIVING PLAYERS”]

1. A Winged Potato – Lord Flashheart
2. Annanomally – Reposted InnDEEEEED Comments
3. April LKD – King Elroy Bertrand Poopypants of East Hampshire
4. Grumproro – D.H. Lawrence
5. Jon Hamm’s John Ham – Jonathan Hamsworth
6. Mayelbridwen – Bertha “Rilla” Marilla Blythe
7. Mr. I’m My Own Grandfather – Rear Brigadier Zapp Brannigan
8. Owen1120 – Augustus Sebald
   • Pulprobot – John Harrison – Replaced on Day 2 by AWP
9. Ralph Waldo Wiggum – Victor Delamarre

[/spoiler]

[spoiler title=”DEAD PLAYERS”]

1. BannerThief – Corporal BannerThief Vakarian – GERMAN SPY. Died Day 5 in a duel against Jake.
2. Boris – GERMAN SPY. Killed Night 4 by NCO #1.
3. BrittaBot – Svvëdish Chef – Infantry. Died Day 2 in a duel against Josephus.
4. Clodia – Clothilde Renou – GERMAN SPY. Stabbed to death by the rest of you at the end of Day 6.
5. D. Goat – Gort v3.0 – Infantry. Killed Night 7 by the German spies.
6. Donalbain – HUNGARIAN SPY. Killed Night 3 by NCO #2.
7. Dr. Nick – The Internet – MEDIC. Killed Night 1 by the Hungarian Spy.
   
8. DW – Merchant from Resident Evil 4 – Infantry. Killed Night 2 by the Hungarian Spy.
9. E-Dog – GERMAN OFFICER (Wolf roleblocker). Sent over the top at the end of Day 5.
10. Flubba Gunto – Officer Krazy Kat – Infantry. Killed Night 3 by stray shrapnel.
11. Hegel Exercises – GERMAN SPY. Killed in the tunnel by the rest of you at the end of Day 9.
12. Hohopossum – Australian wombat-ready possum – Infantry. Killed Night 4 by stray shrapnel.
13. Jake – The Luggage – Infantry. Killed Night 6 by the German spies.
14. Josephus Brown – Portugal. The Man – Infantry. Sent over the top at the end of Day 4.
15. Lamb Dance – John Laurens – Infantry. Died Day 6 in a duel against AWP.
16. Lindsay – Lena von Meow – Infantry. Died Day 1 in a duel against Mike.
    
17. Louie Blue – Cheikh Khoulé – Infantry. Forced to sacrifice himself at the end of Day 5 to aid the jailbreak from Stalag 69.
18. Lord Stoneheart – Bidoof – Infantry. Died Day 1 in a duel against Jake.
19. Mac Crocodile – Lance Corporal Alistair Edmond Angela MacCrocodile III – NCO #1 (“OGNCO”) (VIGILANTE). Killed Night 4 by the German spies.
20. Miss Rim – Dame Augusta Mimsy-Porpington of the Great Snoring Mimsy-Porpingtons – MEDIC. Killed Night 3 by the Hungarian Spy.
21. Mr. Glitch – Infantry. Sent over the top at the end of Day 2.
22. Otakunomike – Infantry. Sent over the top at the end of Day 1.
23. Pearl Sheltie – Buster Keaton/Lt. Count Dracula/Shane McGowan – GERMAN SPY. Died Day 4 in a duel against Louie.
    • Shipwreck – Midshipman Hector “Shipwreck” Delgado –  Replaced on Day 3 by Thoughts
24. Sic Humor – Steve Smith – Infantry. Died Day 2 in a duel against Spooky.
25. Sister Jude the Obscure – Mary Pickford – NCO #2 (VIGILANTE). Killed Night 4 by the German spies.
26. Sister Mary Francis – Special Private Dolores “Babyface” Guppy – Infantry. Sent over the top at the end of Day 8.
27. Smapti – Smaptibus µ, of the Mermarians of Mu – Infantry. Died Day 7 in a duel against Ralph.
28. Snugglewumps – Billy D. Orfan – GERMAN SPY. Killed Night 1 by the Austrian spy; also targeted by NCO #1.
    
29. Spiny Creature – Comrade Samantha Parkington, an American girl – AUSTRIAN SPY (SK #1). Killed Night 1 by the German spies.
30. Spookyfriend – Sean the 𝚏𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚕𝚢 doll – Infantry. Died Day 2 in a duel against AWP.
31. Subsaharan – Space Corporal Subsaharan
32. The Hayes Code – Deryn Sharp – INVESTIGATOR. Killed Night 5 by the German spies.
33. ThoughtsThoughtsThoughts – Infantry. Killed Night 8 by the German spies.
34. Ult Warrior – Infantry. Killed Night 2 by NCO #1
35. Zecko – Thelonious “Zecko” Flashman – Infantry. Killed Night 2 by the German spies.

[/spoiler]

[spoiler title=ROLES]

• Fully Integrated First Irregulars (TOWN)
  • 29 7 Infantry (Vanilla Town)
  • 2 Medics
  • 1 Investigator
  • 1 2 0 NCOs (Vigilantes)
• German Spies (WOLVES)
  • 1 German Officer (Wolf Roleblocker)
  • 8 3 German Spies (Vanilla Wolves)
• Austro-Hungarian Spies (Serial Killers)
  • 1 Austrian Spy (SK #1)
  • 1 Hungarian Spy (SK #2)

[/spoiler]

[spoiler title=RULES]

• Win conditions:
  • The wolves win when they are equal to the number of town-aligned players left (if the SKs are dead), or outnumber the non-wolf players (even if the SKs are still alive).
  • Town wins when all the wolves and the serial killers are defeated.
  • The serial killers win when it comes down to just them and one other person.
  • A three-way standoff between the last town, last wolf and one or both SKs will result in a special ending.
• Night actions:
  • There isn’t a hard order that night actions occur in. This is to allow as many of them to go through as possible. Roleblocks will always take precedent over the actions of the targeted player, however.
  • Your night actions do not happen if you are in Stalag 69.
  • In order to keep the game moving, each night will be a maximum of 12 hours long. Be sure to get your night actions in within 12 hours of twilight, or they won’t be counted.
• Role rules:
  • The medics cannot medic themselves or each other. They cannot medic the same person two days in a row.
  • The German roleblocker cannot roleblock the same person two days in a row.
  • The investigator will be told the alignment of the person they investigate. Results are either ENTENTE (town), GERMAN or AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN.
  • The medics know each other’s identities, but do not share a QT. Same for the Austrian and Hungarian spies.
  • Being medic’d prevents the target from being killed or captured by the enemy, but does not prevent them from being investigated or using their night action (if any)
  • A roleblock prevents the target from using their night action (if any), but does not stop outside night actions affecting them (i.e., being killed, captured  or investigated.)
  • Being simultaneously targeted by both the roleblocker AND a medic effectively means the target is jailed, and can neither use their night action nor be affected by other night actions.
  • For a full list of role details, see the sign-up sheet.
• Prisoner capture and trading
  • Each night, you will capture 3 or 4 enemy NPCs, and they will capture 4 of you. Their captives will go to Stalag 69, a German POW camp, and you can trade for them in a daily vote thread.
  • Trades are always 1:1.
  • You can only vote for one person (or “no trade”) each day. The top vote-getters will be traded for with as many NPC prisoners as you have. If one of the top votes is for “no trade,” you will save one prisoner for the next day.
  • Players left in Stalag 69 too long will die (see “Kill powers,” below).
  • If the number of unimprisoned players drops below one third of the original player count, a prison break in Stalag 69 will be orchestrated. Not all prisoners will be able to escape, and they will have to vote for who stays behind. Those who don’t escape will die, and there will be no more prisoner captures or trades.
• Kill powers:
  • The German Spies (wolves) have a collective night kill, which will be conducted with improvised weapons.
  • The Austrian Spy (1st SK) has a night kill with a Rast & Gasser M1898 revolver. Multiple kills in a single night are possible with this weapon, but only if kills are foregone on previous nights.
  • The Hungarian Spy (2nd SK) has a night kill with Pontostárgy, the Doom Sword.
  • The NCO (town-aligned vigilante) has a night kill with railway artillery, which can hit anyone, anywhere. There is a 25% chance it will accidentally kill someone in the same area as the target victim (either the main trench or Stalag 69).
  • Any two players who are not in Stalag 69 can agree to a daytime duel, in which one of them will die. Results are immediate; odds of winning are 50%. Limit 3 duels per day.
  • Players in Stalag 69 will die of disease if left there for too long. The exact length of time will be between 2 and 5 days, and each player will be told the number going in. These are night deaths, and will be publicly reported the following day.
• Vote Threads:
  • Prisoner swap thread: You can only vote for one person. If necessary, I will break a tie by randomly choosing between the tied players.
  • Sending people over the top (kill thread): A tie at the end of day results in no one going over the top. A majority of living players voting for any one person (or not to kill) ends the day early.
  • If you die during the day, your votes (if any) in the kill thread and swap thread for that day will still be counted. However, you can’t add or change your votes after you’ve died.
• Dueling:
  • You can’t duel yourself.
  • You can’t duel Captain Video.
  • Do not coerce third parties into dueling each other.
• There are no secret powers or win conditions in this game. Any changes I have to make to the mechanics will be announced publicly.
• No editing posts.
• No quoting or screencapping from your QTs.
• If you have any other questions about rules, please ask in QT, and I will answer publicly here.[/spoiler]

Current Victrola music:

Day 9 ends Saturday, at 8 p.m. EST, or when a majority kill vote is reached.