Congratulations to Alex once more who played an impressive prelim with 3 Game Wins, wow. In round 2 I lost to his deck already so I knew what he was playing and that my deck will have difficulties with the !Salubri.
In the finals my prey Jan (Malk S/B) and I (Malk vote) had to find a way to not contest any new Malks. So we negotiated that he can bring out Abraham Mellon (which I don't play) and Jason "Son" Newberry (which I had in my uncontrolled region). I went with Juliet Parr (Justicar) and Alexander Silverson (Prince).
My Grandprey Michael got out Moncada (Cardinal) and a Francisco (Archbishop), very fast with the help of Tombs of Rameses, long time no see. Hector got a little Gangrel and then Andre, the Cardmanipulator and Alex Nuriel, my bane from the second round.
I threw away my Combat Ends, as I knew, they would get canceled from Alex with Death Seekers. Shortly after Nuriel entered torpor and Michael gave a hint, that he would be glad, if he gets eaten. As Alex didn't had another ready minion to block a diablerie from my side, he tried to leave torpor. After a quick negotiation with Michael, Juliet blocked that with a Second Trad and diablerized Nuriel (and forgot to take his Sword).
I read the table like this: I needed the Lasombras voting help to achieve anything. I couldn't bleed, as my prey would happily bounce my bleeds to Michael and he most probably to Hector. That would lead to nothing. I had my hand full of hillariously strong political actions (2 CIFs, one Banishment and a KRC), so I listened interested to Michaels request for help for his Banishment of Andre (meanwhile Anarch and Baron of wherever), who was on two blood if I remember correctly. He promised to allow me a CIF on Jan, gaining the pool. So to Hectors dismay we worked together. So Hector lost four pool for reinfluencing Andre. And Jan in my turn lost four pool to the Iron Fist (and Alex 1).
Shortly after this Michael again wanted my help. He wanted to call Reigns of Power to damage his prey for four. Hector was on 6 pool (I really dont remember, why he was so low so fast). My prey was only on 10 IIRC, because he hadn't played any Villein and he would lose 3 for that action. I was unsure, if I should give Michael his VP, but after some negotiation we agreed, that we would take out our preys more or less simultaneously with the help of each other. So Michael played a Anarchist Uprising and after that the Reigns. WRONG ORDER, as it turned out, because Hector just chose no vampire for the Reigns and Alex sacked full six pool, evening out the loss of Nuriel before (more or less). That was a game deciding mistake, Michael and I did not think of that, even though I encountered that move multiple times.
Hector and Alex meant, that I took the wrong choice in allying with the Lasombra, as he would be too strong and have me for dinner. But I thought, I want my VP and after all Michale was fifth seed and I am fourth, so the right player was boosted.
Michael stood to the deal and Jan fell the next turn or the turn after.
I got out Andi Liu, another prince. Michael got out Angelica, a Cardinal. He played a Fear of Mekhet on my Justicar with one blood left and she burned (with me having a Giant's Blood in hand, sigh). So it really looked bad. I got out Jason Newburry and made him Legendary Vampire, so I was back on seven votes against the Lasombra's eight.
Michael couldn't do much against Alex, he removed an Anarch Revolt but couldn't get rid of Alex' Smiling Jack. Michael ended his turn with 4 pool. His vote lock and Angelica's intercept special seemed to be enough to be safe. Alex did not do anything, as he was low on pool and had Jack out.
My hand showed stealth, an Iron Fist and a Telepathic Vote Counting. So I took the chance and called the vote, could outstealth Angelica with three Mastercard-intercept and managed to oust Michael and his Lasombra, canceling Moncada's votes in the polling step, for my second VP.
Now all I had to do was sitting there and outlast the !Salubri, who were on 2 pool after the CIF. We had a very fast game and it was more than an hour to go. You cannot outlast a Smiling Jack-Deck, but I had not enough stealth to go for the bleed or to make another vote, as Nuriel had found a Bowl of Convergence. Still I was optimistic, as Alex had to pay for Jack and should get ousted that way.
So I ended my turn and Alex played Villein for five, game over.
With no actions I could do I couldn't cycle my hand to find more stealth cards. I tried desperatly, could find an Into thin Air with an Elder Impersonation, but it was in vain. Alex had too many Intercept in his hand (Guardian Vigil and Enhanced Senses with both of his vamps equipped with Interceptcards).
So Alex ousted me with his Smiling Jack, got two VPs and won the tournament because of his better seeding.
Well done, mate!
