EPISODE 4: "Judas for your Pocket."

[Reicheru]

Before I go into the main part of this, I've just given away that I spell "Skeptical" with a C. Because I'm British. D'UH!

Also I accidentally copied a timestamp to Anneliese last night too... I don't know if she noticed. If there is ANYBODY out there who doesn't know who I am, they must be very slow indeed.

[Reicheru]

OK, so bear with me a while while I demonstrate once again how supremely f--king clever I am. (If you can, try and imagine an emoticon for extreme self-disgust here.)

SOOO... I have worked out, by some genius deduction, that Judith is a spy. (Yeah, right.) Immediately after "confirming" my suspicion at exile 2, I start talking to Tenchi, laying some groundwork. I subtly encourage his suspicions of Judith while denying any of my own - rather well, I thought.

I then look for an accomplice, a "mouth", for the upcoming exile. I find one in Anneliese. I PM her saying that I know Judith is a spy. When I can finally catch her online, which is two days later, I go into some more detail about this. I tell her my basic plan: I take Judith into my confidence, even start a counter-alliance with her (knowing full well it will fail). In the meantime, Tenchi joins forces with Jack, who is also suspicious of Judith.

I make sure everyone and their dog knows about Tenchi and Jack, while still denying any suspicion of Judith on my own part. I even tell Judith herself, before imprisonment, which is a risk, but I judge that the spies are not likely to imprison someone who is actually, at the time of imprisonment, going after a fellow spy.

At one point Tenchi starts having doubts and discusses switching votes to Jennipher. I stop him - clever me! - by using Anneliese again. I keep directing people towards the Tenchi-Jack alliance. All this time I am questioning Judith to get as much information as possible out of her. Even though she, being a spy, is fairly closed-mouthed, she is willing to give me whatever it takes to keep me on a string.

And finally, when it looks as though it might be close, I give Anneliese the secret of Judith's identity. She passes this to Jack, who passes it to Tenchi. Three more votes against Judith.

And then, at exile, Judith starts telling me lots of stuff when it becomes clear that she's going. There's no way she would do this if she were a spy. It's at that point that I realise what a complete and total idiot I've been... Soon to be confirmed when Sam says what, belatedly, I've already figured out. Judith is 100% bona-fide citizen.

HOW did I get this one so wrong? How did I end up exiling one of ym closest allies, and one of the few people still in the game who must have known I was a certain cit, based on who I was? What the hell happened?


You know, I don't think I've ever been as directly responsible for anyone's exile as much as I have been for Judith's.

Gigi from Spies 1 I said I was responsible for, and to a large degree I was, but basically... Monica was doing the same thing as I was (trying to get Soraya and Gindi to organise and anti-Gigi alliance). And Soraya at least would've done it without our prompting, she was suspicious enough of Gigi anyway. Besides all of that, Gigi was a spy.

Davoni from Spies 2... I encouraged her in some of her actions before she was exiled. I don't know if she'd have gone as far as she did if it wasn't for me. I did this knowing full well how Adriana and others would take it. BUT I never had any idea of them actually EXILING Davoni then - it just sort of happened. It wasn't, let's say, a deliberate attempt to get her exiled on my part, even though I was undoubtedly responsible to some degree.

Even my old spying partner Allison - who to my sadness I was forced to take out simply because she wouldn't have survived anyway and could have killed us - I think was doomed at that point whatever I did. All I effectively did when I organised the vote for her was to bring forward what would inevitably have happened that round anyway.

But with Belle in this case... I seriously have no defence. She trusted me to the end, and I took her out of the game in as cruel a way as you can go. I deceived her to the end, in fact she probably still doesn't know it was me. And I am without a doubt the person most responsible for her exile.

Judith beat Carrie in terms of exile votes by a majority of eight. I was single-handedly responsible for FIVE of those. ANneliese and Tenchi were going to vote Jenn before I persuaded Anneliese, and got her to persuade Tenchi, to target Judith instead. And obviously the three identity accusations were all my doing, since nobody knew or claimed to know who she was until I told them. In addition to this I effectively started the anti-Judith alliance, I kept telling people about it, I did everything I could to encourage it while appearing to distance myself from it. Jack couldn't have done that. And TEnchi, while he organised the alliance himself, was thinking more of targeting Jenn than Judith until I came on the scene. Neither of those two can be held responsible for this debacle except that they acted as I wanted them to act.

There might have been another anti-Judith alliance out there, like Monica's, that I didn't know about, and they might have been responsible for a lot of what happened. But that's an excuse.

Belle effectively sacrificed me in Spies 1, so this might count as ironic payback. But that's just morbid. I didn't go out with the intention of getting revenge or anything like that. I was wrong in my suspicions, plain and simple.

The spies didn't need to do anything in this episode, because I did it all for them. I took one of their strongest opponents out in cold blood. They must have been laughing their heads off.

And now Anneliese looks to have killed us all, and I don't have a bloody clue what to do...

[Reicheru]

Well that settles it. Anneliese has called my bluff. I do not know whether she was genuine about the person who can detect abilities - frankly I think not - but it doesn't matter anyway.

I'm probably going to get exiled this time, and if not, I'm a shoo-in for imprisonment the round afterwards. So unless we can magically get all five spies at once, I'm dead. I have no idea whatsoever who most of them are, I'm at a total loss as to how to play the game from here, and frankly I'm almost giving up. I don't see how it's possible for me to win, and I'm doubtful I can even survive one more exile and imprisonment.

Tenchi, it seems, is a spy. He's done an awesome job because I've never had any real suspicion of him. That leaves Jack and Jessica for spy #2, and I think Jessica is it... I pretty much eliminated her from the get-go as well... in fact, the only thing I'm sure of is that I've been completely incompetent from day one. I deserve to get exiled.

[Reicheru]

Deserve or not, I could kill Anneliese right now. Her post about her ability was insane, emotional, irrational, and whatever happens now I know I'm not going to win. Because if I don't get exiled, I'm safe, and the whole burg knows it.

However, I doubt that'll happen. I'm kind of hoping I DO get exiled now, partly because I think I deserve it, and partly because I don't see the point staying in a game where I cannot win.

[Reicheru]

Anneliese and I are best friends! I love Anneliese!

Jennipher is exiled, but not a spy. I AM SO GLAD I AM NOT CRAZY. Because that would be bad...

[Judge Sam]

I just want to say, that you know as well as I do that things change on a dime... and nothing is set in stone... and it wasn't until the fifth Imprisonment after Adriana was first Imprisoned that she got the axe lol. So things might not be as certain as they seem. I know it's soul-crushing to have citizen after citizen be exiled.


Your confessionals are the most lengthy and most informative of them all, bar none. Thank you for spending the time to update me via confessionals and conversations. I read them all and I really enjoy seeing things from your perspective, especially through the conversations and your comments on those.


If possible, could we limit the direct references to out of game identities? Several times you have mentioned knowing players who played in previous games and how that gives you an "advantage" in knowing how they think. Believe it or not, there are far far fewer people who have played in previous games than I think you believe so that might not be as advantageous. I don't mind people referencing events in past games but saying "I know who this person is and that's how they act" is bad lol. Not to mention so far it hasn't helped too much.


This is going to sound bad but I seriously do not mean it like that. Like when I play Mole games I am absolutely terrible at being a player, I can never find out who the Mole is and I always get eliminated first or second round even though I always promise myself I'll spread the questions between everybody. But the one time I was the Mole, I did fantastic, won 32 bucks, and tricked everybody but one person at the very end. What I'm saying is that... like in Episode 2 or something you said you thought the game might be very short... I'm just glad it isn't short haha. Well actually it might be if all 5 Spies get to the Final Nine. I've never ever had this "problem" in a game before, this is all so new to me! haha.


yeah anyway, that's all, thank you for putting your heart into this game and updating me all the time, I appreciate it.

[Reicheru]

Wow, that's interesting. And yes, I'll try to limit the previous Spies games references. Although some are inevitable... see below...

Where I'm sailing close to the wind is in my conversations. I've mentioned previous Spies games to Jack and Anneliese several times. It's not as dangerous as you might think because 1) Jack is almost certainly a citizen, and I don't see how Anneliese cannot be, and 2) I'm fairly sure Anneliese (or shall we just call her DC / Monica / Adriana?) must know who I am. As regards the "hypothetical scenario" - I'm sorry about that, but I did it to save my ass. You'll notice, though, that I never confirmed that I'd been in either Spies game or said which side I'd been on in my "hypothetical situation".

There are certain elements in the game that I'd like to avoid if possible. Previous player identities is one of them, which is part of the reason I feel so dejected about Judith's exile. Using accusations was completely against the spirit of the game.

Anyway, I'll give you a big runthrough of the spy possibilities once I've slept on it and done some figures. I feel like it's getting close to crunch time now, and we have to start getting the spies out otherwise we lose all hope of winning.

[Reicheru]

OK, I've gone back through EVERYTHING. (Which takes forever, BTW.) It's been productive though. It also makes me wish I'd insisted on taking out Carrie last night, but I had no real confidence in my voting. I do now though.

I think the spies are CARRIE, MILES, BEBE, BRUCE and JORDAN, in that order of certainty. (In other words, I think Carrie is the most certain, Miles next most, and so on.) If that's true, though, all five voted for Judith in exile three (unless it's Jordan, who self-voted. Maybe a strategy to vote a neutral and at the same time appear inactive without actually risking Carrie's neck?) Miles' neutral vote in exile 2 is understandable if he knows he's NOT going to save Carrie by voting any particular way. He has to rely on the inactive votes instead.

There is one other possibility that's equally likely - RAPHAEL could be the fifth spy instead of Jordan. That kinda solves the Exile 3 dilemma, when all five voted together - this seems very unlikely to me. CLAIRE is most likely out because Bruce was fairly obviously suspicious of her, also Judith gave her a pass (not that that means too much).

At this point, I think we have no choice but to take out Carrie. If she's a spy, so much about the game is confirmed. If not, we'll see. My big worry is no really proactive spy... Bruce is the only one who's even really suggested a strong suspicion of anybody. Is it too arrogant to assume the spies should've learnt something from Tyson? So far they've been completely successful, so maybe...

[Reicheru]

Or how about:

CARRIE MILES BEBE CLAIRE TAYLOR
CARRIE MILES BEBE BRUCE TAYLOR
CARRIE MILES BEBE CLAIRE RAPHAEL
CARRIE MILES BEBE BRUCE RAPHAEL?

There's four combinations to work with...

[Reicheru]

So it appears there really is NO proactive spy... how interesting. And how unexpected. After they survived four exiles, more than any other group of spies, I thought they would be smarter than this.

If I am right, at least in my general suspicions, the five spies should be exiled in Spies 1 tradition (sorry, Sam) - one after another after another, until all are dead. This is what happens when you try to play a passive game. It is still possible, although extremely unlikely, that Tenchi is an active spy. He is the only "unsafe" person whose conversations I have not been through in detail. However, just based on how he has acted, this seems incredibly unlikely. Again, if he is a spy, he is as good as Tyson but without having made any of Tyson's mistakes. I STILL cannot spot a flaw there.

What do I rule out for definite? - That Anneliese is a spy and all of what she has done has been an act to rule out herself and Jack. If they planned that far ahead, and still manage to avoid detection, they're geniuses. That's all I can say. Jack also is a definite citizen. Despite what i posted in the burg, I cannot see any reason to suspect him of having told someone else to post "for" him, and the very theory makes no sense whatsoever if you look at it in detail. I've explained why in a PM to Trina. I've also given her and Anneliese my suspect list. If Trina is a spy (which is hugely unlikely at this point) it'll maybe convince her to hold off imprisoning me. If she is with three or four of the others on that list, hopefully she'll think that if they DO imprison me, it'll convince everyone that I'm right. Either way I'm safeguarded for the next imprisonment if Trina is a spy.

[Reicheru]

Just talked to Raphael for the first time. I think he is a spy and he is very much like Leo / Julian. When I suggested a serious voting bloc against Carrie, he hadn't a clue how to handle the situation.

Right now I'm KICKING myself. Just kicking myself. I could still be very, very wrong here. But if I'm not, the spies really have shown NOTHING in the way of proactive spymanship. Even WITH Carrie's saving, we should have started getting them out two exiles ago. Instead, in a fit of pure egomania, I become convinced that Belle is doing a Tyson and vote her off. How stupid can you be?

BTW Shane appears more suspicious right now. When he posted that Judith vote to me I almost ruled him out... he COULD be a proactive spy. Frankly right now I'm doubtful that there is one, I think I've over-rated them all. But I can't rule out Shane. His reluctance to vote Carrie IS kinda odd, unless he suspects me or she's somehow convinced him she's not a spy. I hope he doesn't know something that I don't - such as Carrie's status as a citizen with an ability. That would be REALLY REALLY BAD.

[Reicheru]

Almost forgot... there are a few very JUVENILE players about. Is one a spy?

Come to think about it, there's another possibility... Carrie Miles Tenchi Bebe Raphael? Or perhaps Carrie Tenchi Bebe Claire Raphael? It's really odd that the joint youngest player should appear like this with the word "Juvenile" looking like a possible clue... I haven't been through Tenchi's convos yet.

[Reicheru]

I've just realised how much Tenchi defended Carrie. He was utterly against Judith, as opposed to Carrie.

NO FREAKING WAY...

Goddamn it, is it possible that while I thought I was playing him, HE was playing ME?

The vile seducer...

Let's see who he votes for this time.

[Reicheru]

OMFG.

I'm looking back over the voting records.

Here's how Exile 2 plays out: I tell Tenchi directly that Carrie is voted, no matter what, and only Tyler's penalties will save her. Immediately CARRIE, MILES and TENCHI ALL VOTE FOR COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PEOPLE: Judith, Shane and Jack respectively.

How's that for a "spies split votes" theory.

Is it possible?

[Reicheru]

Wow... I think this is the closest I ever got in the entire game...

"Carrie Tenchi Bebe Claire Raphael"

Replace Carrie with Jessica and you have a winner! I just wasn't thinking the right way...

[Tenchi]

I'm still waiting for somebody to nail all five...

Carrie also nailed four in her final words.

[Bebe]

Yes, but how many combinations did you list in this confessional alone?!?!

[Reicheru]

Exactly. It was utter confusion!

And besides, the one I completely wasn't prepared to compromise on, was Carrie...

[Judith]

I really think you are delusional about the Gigi Exiling, Gerta. There was a big chat of Monica, Soraya, Emma, Frank, DJ, and myself. We all decided to vote for Julian, then I posted a conversation I had with Gigi where she defended Julian like crazy, and Soraya said that maybe we should vote for Gigi, and Julian was obvious. We all were panicing CHANGE CHANGE.. I really think Gerta had no influence on the Gigi vote. I'm sorry. I also don't remember where Gindi sold you out...

[Bebe]

You're wrong too, Belle, LOL.

For starters, the chat was Monica, Soraya, Emma, DJ, Gindi, Caroline, and Gerta ...

Blah blah blah blah blah.

[Judith]

Gerta was in it? LOL, nevermind.

[Reicheru]

Yes, Gerta was indeed at that chat, and what did she care whether Julian or Gigi went? They were both spies anyway and she knew it. I think I supported Julian going then, but when Emma insisted on Gigi, I was hardly going to object too strongly. I was even more certain on Gigi (because I knew there was a spy among the Marion votors and she was the only one of the six I hadn't cleared) than Julian, so if Emma wanted to switch to Gigi, well that was just peachy with me! (Oddly, I actually suspected Julian LESS after that. Because my first instincts about people like Marion had been wrong, I had the idea that I might have been wrong about him too. Well, I wasn't.)

But Blake, the day after Sage was taken out, I spent the best part of it nagging you incessantly to get a vote going for Gigi. And you wouldn't hear of it. Then, the night before exile, you came back to me and said you now suspected Gigi too... as I recall, I think she'd been defending Julian, and you didn't buy it. (Classic spy mistake - NEVER defend a fellow spy to someone who suspects them!) I just remember you being as stubborn as a bloody mule before that night, and the doing a complete 180. If you feel like debating the point - not that it matters much anyway - take a look at the old Spies 1 website. The convos are all posted there still AFAIK.

One more Spies 3-related stuff, any thoughts about my well-reasoned character study of you in Episode Three of this game? Is it cruel, kind, accurate, wrong, or simply unworthy of comment?

[Reicheru]

One other thing - how come every exile seems to be put down to a chat or something that only takes place half an hour before the actual exile? Do you really think there's no possibility of one being planned earlier than that?

To give an example other than your own, Judith, look at Jennipher's exile. I think the spies had this one planned out long in advance - in fact, I reckon they had the same idea there as I had with Judith's exile, which was to "use" Anneliese as a voice to shield them. (Poor Anneliese!) But clearly Tenchi and Jessica were laying the general groundwork for that one long before the newcomers even arrived, even if their specific plans didn't come into play until a couple of exiles afterwards. You have to think long-term as a spy.

[Judith]

Now I remeber that chat! Yes! Wow... that was 1 year ago. WOW! Anyways, I remember that.