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* Round C Prizes and Awards, Part 2: *
* *
* THE WARLORDS OSCARS - BEST ACTOR AWARD - ROUND C *
* *
* "Honoring the Greatest individual role-play." *
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Once the Best Picture awards were voted upon, it was time
to vote for Best Actor. Many warlords of great talent and
role-playing skill deserved this award, but only one prize
could be given - for this round, anyway!
While doing the Best Picture awards the Prize Committee
scoured the archives for great individual roleplays
as well as overall game histories. This Round's nominees were:
C02 The Federation
C02 Dionysos
C05 Apache
C05 Rhonda
C06 Gandalf the White
C06 The Wall
C07 Arlis
C07 Little Puppy
C08 Masked Avenger
C09 The Prophet
C09 Dark Lord Pi
C12 Ythorm Carstik
C12 Lord Lucky
C15 Wat Tyler
The histories of each of these games can be found on the Remailer
Past History screen, or downloaded in compressed form from the
Warlords Web Archives at
http://www.pixgen.com/~rfheeter/w2home/archive/tournament/roundc/
To narrow the list down, a few histories were removed from
consideration after further scrutiny, and then the voting
clustered around a half-dozen tales.
Dark Lord Pi in C09 earned his usual "Best Actor Emeritus" award,
as he continued the tale which has earned him fans in each Round so far.
Apache's story in C05 earned great praise from the readers,
but was disqualified due to adult language considered by two
judges to be unsuitable for some of the children involved in
the Tournament.
Lord Lucky, The Masked Avenger, and Ythorm Carstik all
collected a few votes, and are worthy reads, though they
did not collect a consensus "thumbs up" from the Prize Committee.
Three roleplays earned fates worthy of legend. In third place,
Little Puppy's continued to impress the readers with the third
installment of his epic saga. His C07 production is
similar in nature to his Best Picture award-winning Round A
roleplay, and his Emeritus award-winning Round B story.
Rather than spoil this masterpiece with excerpts here,
we simply encourage you all to read it!
Second place went to another renowned roleplayer,
The Federation, who outdid his Best-Picture award-winning
Round B roleplay in C02. The tale is again similar in nature
to his previous work, and his trademark ability to recover
from untimely hero deaths is on display again too!
As with Little Puppy, we simply suggest that you read all
of The Federation!
Our first place winner deserves a bit more explanation,
as this is his debut among the roleplaying elite, though
his name will strike fear into the many who know already of
his strategic and tactical skill... Indeed ...
... when all was said and done ...
... and the votes were counted ...
... the Best Actor honor for Round C was officially awarded to ...
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The Prophet of C09!!!!!!!!!!!
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Much has already been said about The Prophet in the Most Entertaining Game
category, where he and Dark Lord Pi raised their game to greatness. He
told the story of a prophet, called by the forgotten Gods of Aerolandia,
to lead a religious revival and deliver his people from the hands of their
cruel Masters. In the words of his narrator:
> Aerolandia is the land of our story, and in it there will be a great
> tale of conquest, heroism, and survival.
This story won the award due not only to its consistent creativity,
but the dominance of roleplaying in the game for The Prophet, as evidenced
by the historic civil war, and the clever coopting of themes from the
other players. Its only flaw was its sheer volume, though other writers
have also been forgiven this sin. :)
---
As the war commences, The Prophet quickly meets his first apostle,
who immediately takes the name The Messenger.
Though this man would come to rebel against his teacher,
at first there were none more loyal. The gods of Aerolandia have no deep
theology to seduce converts. Their message is simple. When the two
first meet, The Messenger repeatedly asked what the message is, but the
Prophet simply repeats:
> The message is that I am the prophet of the gods of Aerolandia
> and that these gods will be victorious and all will answer to
> them ultimately.
This is enough for The Messenger.
The Gods are no more talkative than they are philosophical. Faced with
his first battle against the Masters in the Carnage Feast, the Prophet
calls upon Datil, the god of war. Datil listens to his plight, and then
assures him:
> I will give you one mighty sword which will help you defeat all
> the masters and their monsters. Fear not.
But when he disappears without another word, The Prophet is left confused
and frightened. After an hour in which the monsters of the Carnage Feast
devour The Prophet's followers at will, all hope seems lost. Datil does
eventually come through, and The Prophet's reputation is set, though one
must wonder why it took so long.
The game will barely reach turn 4 before we start to wonder more at the
good will of the Aerolandian gods. The Messenger comes upon the demon
Yinni, who claims that these gods turned him into such a creature when,
centuries ago, he refused to kill in their name. As punishment, he was
transformed into a beast that cannot survive but by killing. At first The
Messenger refuses to believe this tale, but the words will eat at him for
some time.
Meanwhile, and despite a recent proclamation of peace, the Prophet decides
to war with the Blue forces of Dark Lord Pi. It seems that there is not
room in Aerolandia for two pantheons ... and this is especially true
when one is poorly defended.
As time goes by we meet other gods of Aerolandia. Though Datil's presence
is always felt, Shoki, the god of mischief (who always appears
upside-down), and Nalim, the god of knowledge, present themselves to
various warriors and assist the Red advance.
But then, just when it appears that the Gods of Aerolandia will emerge
entirely victorious, civil war breaks out between the Red forces. Dark
Lord Pi manages to kill the demon Yinni (though both of his heroes and his
demon have already been dispatched), and as Yinni dies his body transforms
into the beautiful Yira. Suddenly the Messenger realizes that Yinni had
been telling the truth about the gods of Aerolandia, and he could no
longer fight for their terrible cause. The Prophet and the Messenger make
war upon each other for a time, with The Messenger emerging victorious in
the end. The greater war would never be the same.
Then, on Turn 18, Datil appears to The Messenger, and reveals to him the
reason why the Gods of Aerolandia had desired an army.
> "What in the name of good hath happened???"
> "This is what I came here for Messenger. This is what we the gods have come
> for... To possess the items that have been placed on this world of many."
> "Surely thou can possess them without much difficulty?"
> "No Messenger. This is not how it is. These legendary items have been
> coveted by all that understood their immense power."
> "So why not now taketh it from me?"
> "That is not all Messenger. These items art only but two of many, it is
> believed that there art more. Only the wisest of magicians, sages, and
> priests knoweth how many *REALLY* exit. Nalim, proclaims with his knowledge
> that there art... FIVE!"
And so, The Messenger joins in the historic quest to unify the five items
of DOOM! The gods need a mortal to gather the pieces, but they chose the
wrong one. As he approaches the place of the final item, he has numerous
encounters with humans and beasts, both known and strange to him. With
Yira, he has this exchange:
> Messenger looked up at Yira, and fell in tears again to the ground,
> and cried loudly. "Aaah.. Yira.. What have I done? Why have I taken this
> path of blood and killing? I have been evil and mad!... aaah!".
> Messenger cried as little children.
>
> "Tis why I am here good friend. Knowledge is the first thing thou
> must know and learn. Truth, is thy shield against evil and deception.
> Without knowledge and truth, thou cannot see thy path, thou will be led
> astray easily.", Yira in her beauty and soothing voice explained to
> Messenger.
>
> Messenger suddenly stopped crying, and got up and looked at his
> friend... "Knowledge? Truth? I want to know dear Yira, I want to know
> the truth! That is why I am here, I want to know the truth.", "Yet thou
> not know it. Thou know not how to seek the truth. And thou shalt, if
> thou art to move forward on thy journey of truth.", Messenger now calm
> replied: "Yes. I see how I was fooled easily by gods and prophets, and
> knowledge is what I lacked and hence easily decieved. Yes!.. I was so
> easily decieved I would refuse to listen to reason!! Good Yira!...",
> Messenger suddenly exclaimed, turned around to face his ghostly friend,
> when, she had disspeared, and all that was remaining was the ever brewing
> storm ahead. Messenger looked around to find Yira, but she had gone.
>
> "I see, I see now what I did not before. Knowledge, and truth,
> art my shield against lies and deception. If I know not, truth, then I
> art blind."
>
> Messenger strangely content, picked up his sword, his sack, and
> moved on toward harsher weather as he neared more and more the center of
> the storm.
And so, the Messenger pushes on to find the final item. What will happen
when all five are unified? Will they become the posessions of the Gods of
Aerolandia? Will The Messenger himself become a god, as had been
foretold? For this, you will have to read the story yourself... :)
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Congratulations again to The Prophet, Best Actor of Round C!!!
You will be contacted shortly so that we can work out which
specific prize you will receive from SSG, and make arrangements
for having it sent to you!
-- The Tournament Round C Prize Committee
(Ivan Baird, Keiran Downie, David Hauri, Bob Heeter,
Dirk Pellett, Alex Vickers, and Matthew Wellens)