Lordling

How to Run

On the first night, if the Bride is in play, wake the Lordling and point to the Bride.

Each night, including the first, wake the Lordling. They choose a player other than the Bride. Remove the previous MARKED reminder and place it on the chosen player.

The following day, if the marked player is nominated and that vote gathers 3 or more votes, the marked player dies as soon as the votes are counted. The nomination still stands: its votes count towards the day's execution as normal.

If the marked player is not nominated, or receives fewer than 3 votes, nothing happens. The mark expires when the Lordling chooses again.

If only 3 players are alive, the Lordling loses this ability: mark them NO ABILITY and do not wake them again.

Examples

On the first night, the Lordling marks the Doctor. The next day, Alice nominates the Doctor and 4 players vote. The Doctor dies at once.

The Lordling marks the Chancellor, then nominates the Chancellor personally the next day. 3 players vote. The Chancellor dies: the Lordling's own nominations spring the trap like anyone else's.

The Lordling marks the Tailor. The Tailor is nominated, but only 2 players vote. The Tailor survives, and the mark is lost when the Lordling chooses again that night.

The Lordling marks the Housekeeper, who is nominated and receives 5 votes, the most of the day. The Housekeeper dies when the votes are counted, and the nomination remains the day's execution.

The Bride is in play. On the first night the Lordling learns which player is the Bride, and may never choose her.

The Boatman chooses the Bride. They swap characters, and the chosen player - the one the Lordling was shown on the first night - dies as the Boatman. The Lordling is told nothing: as far as he knows, the Bride is dead. The former Boatman player is now secretly the Bride.

Some nights later, the Lordling tries to mark that former Boatman player. The Storyteller tells him the choice is invalid and asks for another. The Lordling has just re-found the Bride: the refusal itself told him who she is.

The Lordling marks any other player. The Storyteller accepts the choice normally: a refusal always means exactly one thing, that the chosen player is the Bride.

Four players are alive. The Lordling's mark is nominated, receives 3 votes, and dies. The next night only 3 players are alive: the Lordling has lost the ability and is not woken.

Rules & Clarifications

• The Lordling marks a player every night, including the first. Learning the Bride is separate and happens only on the first night.
• The Lordling may not choose the Bride.
• The marked player dies when they are nominated the following day and that nomination gathers 3 or more votes. Who nominates does not matter: the Lordling's own nomination counts.
• The marked player does not need to be executed. Three votes are enough even when the nomination is far from the day's execution.
• The death happens as soon as the vote is counted. The nomination is not cancelled and its votes still count towards the day's execution, so the same player may also be executed later that day and counts as executed for any ability that cares.
• A dead player cannot be nominated, so marking a dead player has no effect. Only the most recently chosen player is marked.
• If only 3 players live means exactly 3 living players. The ability is then lost permanently, even if the number of living players later rises.
• Other than the Bride refers to the player who currently holds the Bride character. The Lordling's first-night knowledge is a snapshot and is never updated.
• If the Lordling chooses the player who currently holds the Bride - knowingly or not - the Storyteller must declare the choice invalid and ask for another. The Storyteller must never refuse any other choice, so a refusal always identifies the Bride.
• A player who cannot be nominated, for example because of the Patroness, cannot die to the Lordling that day.
• The death is caused by the Lordling's ability for the Corpse Bearer.