What happened?

[Mapraputa Is]

Just wanted to attract your attention
Ok, here is our problem:
"He said something to her and she died..."
Angela, now it's your turn to guess
No vampires involved

[Jane Griscti]

He said "Drop dead." She (being brainwashed by years of watching Ozzie & Harriet, The Donna Reed Show, Leave it to Beaver and Reefer Madness) being a good and dutiful wife; complied

[Emerson Dunne]

Were they Hippies at a Dead Concert where he had just finished tie-dying his shirt and he said to her, "Moon-beam-bright-star [which was not her given name], now it's your turn!"

[Mapraputa Is]

Ohhh... Guys, you were very close. Very, very close. Except she was not that obedient at all and had no desire to die. She just had no choice. Also their relationships were not so close as you think

[ersin eser]

was it " You look gorgeous ! " ?

[Mapraputa Is]

Words? Could be. With the same effect

[Joel Cochran]

He was Jim Jones...he said "Drink This..."
Either that or he said "Boo!" really loudly!!!
------------------
I'm a soldier in the NetScape Wars...
Joel

[Randall Twede]

Power Word, Kill
Conjuration (Creation) [Death]
Level: Sor/Wiz 9, War 9
Components: V
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target or Area: One living creature or one or more creatures within a 15-ft.-radius sphere
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: Yes
When power word, kill is uttered, the character can either target a single creature or let the spell affect a group.
If power word, kill is targeted at a single creature, that creature dies if it has 100 or fewer hit points.
If power word, kill is cast as an area spell, it kills creatures in a 15-foot-radius sphere. It kills only creatures who have 20 or fewer hit points, and only up to a total of 200 hit points of such creatures. The spell affects creatures with the lowest hit point totals first until the next creature would put the total over the limit of 200. (Creatures with negative hit points count as having 0 hit points.)

[Frank Carver]

We know so little about this. It seems to me that there is no particular cause and effect between the "he said something" and "she died". He could have said anything at all, and she would have died anyway. Likewise, we don't know if he died then or later. In particular we don't know if either or both of them are even human.
Just challenging a few assumptions.

[Mapraputa Is]

It seems to me that there is no particular cause and effect between the "he said something" and "she died".
There is direct "cause and effect" between the "he said something" and "she died". If he did not say anything, she would not die.
He could have said anything at all, and she would have died anyway.
True
Likewise, we don't know if he died then or later.
He survived
In particular we don't know if either or both of them are even human.
They both are perfect 100% humans

[Nathan Pruett]

They both are perfect 100% humans

Dang! That wrecks my vampire theory

Is he a hypnotist?
Or a 9th level wizard, as Randall suggested?

-Nate

[Mapraputa Is]

Is he a hypnotist?
Or a 9th level wizard, as Randall suggested?
No miracle at all! Anybody on his place could do it!

[Joel Cochran]

He said "Fire!" and the squad did.
------------------
I'm a soldier in the NetScape Wars...
Joel

[Mapraputa Is]

He could said "Fire!" but the squad definitely did not.

[Frank Carver]

So she would have remained alive if he said nothing?

[Alex Ayzin]

Maybe he said something about his non-traditional sexuality and she's just a nice catholic(or jewish, no matter) girl who took it a little too personal..?
[This message has been edited by Alex Ayzin (edited May 31, 2001).]

[Mapraputa Is]

So she would have remained alive if he said nothing
Yes
Maybe he said something about his non-traditional sexuality and she's just a nice catholic(or jewish, no matter) girl who took it a little too personal
It is quite possible, but would not have too profound effect on her, since she was doomed to die anyway as soon as he said anything. By the way, Alex, do you have any idea why all serious developers end up in Meaningless Drivel? (just glad to meet you here )

[Jim Yingst]

Quoth Mapraputa:

There is direct "cause and effect" between the "he said something" and "she died". If he did not say anything, she would not die.
> He could have said anything at all, and she would have died
> anyway.
True

So: if he says anything, she dies. If he says nothing, she doesn't.
A possible scenario: he's robbing a bank durning daylight hours and is (initially) trying to keep the operation quiet and unobtrusive. He passes the teller a note saying give me all the money and don't say anything, or he'll kill the woman behind him in line. The teller stupidly says something, and the robber decides that getting unquestioning obedience from the teller is more important than maintining a low profile (or minimizing the seriousness of his offences), so he kills the woman to make his point, and then threatens to kill another if the teller doesn't hurry up.
Obviously there are a lot of possible variations on this - the basic idea though is that some third party says "shaddup or I'll kill her". Close?

[Mapraputa Is]

Close?
Not at all. I observe a common wrong pattern in approaching this problem, however. You are not supposed to guess an answer from one attempt, you are supposed to ask questions, which Map can answer with "yes" or "no". Your goal is to get as much information as possible to make Final Guess.

[Nanjangud Nanjundaiah]

Map, some questions:
1. Is this possible in real life? (that should eliminate draculae, fire-spitting dragon mutants, and the like).
2. Jim's idea: Was there a third party involved?
3. Was this a rare strain of halitosis, with the man releasing nerve gas everytime he opened his mouth?

[Jim Yingst]

OK then, more general:
You said earlier she didn't want to die; she simply had no choice. Does this mean that she had no opportunity to make any choice at all? Or does it mean that she had a choice, but her other options were worse then dying? (E.g., did she sacrifice herself to save him, or someone else?)
Was there ever a significant risk that he might have died instead?
Did he know (or could he reasonably guess) the effect his words would have?
If police investigated this and became aware of all the facts, would they consider the death murder? An accident? Natural causes?

[Mapraputa Is]

You said earlier she didn't want to die; she simply had no choice. Does this mean that she had no opportunity to make any choice at all?
That�s correct
Or does it mean that she had a choice, but her other options were worse then dying? (E.g., did she sacrifice herself to save him, or someone else?)
No
Was there ever a significant risk that he might have died instead?
Perhaps there was a risk for him also, but not �instead�. In any case, it is not important.
Did he know (or could he reasonably guess) the effect his words would have?
Yes
If police investigated this and became aware of all the facts, would they consider the death murder? An accident? Natural causes?
Ah, that�s a good question! in fact, it could be either murder, or an accident, and there is no enough evidence to support either version. But not natural cause.
(after some thinking: that may not be qualified as a pure accident. The best he can count on is probably "accident caused by carelessness")
Also, the whole situation is slightly unrealistic. Not completely impossible, but not typical either.

[This message has been edited by Mapraputa Is (edited May 31, 2001).]

[Alex Ayzin]

Is that has anything to do with husband opening his mouth? Is it his breath?
P.S: Mapraputa, thanks for welcoming me here. I guess, we're now that serious after all, are we?
Best regards,
--Alex

[Mapraputa Is]

Is this possible in real life? (that should eliminate draculae, fire-spitting dragon mutants, and the like).
No draculae or dragon mutants. I think it is pretty possible in real life, although it looks a bit unnatural for me, but nothing close to dragon mutants
Jim's idea: Was there a third party involved?
No
Was this a rare strain of halitosis, with the man releasing nerve gas everytime he opened his mouth?
No need for nerve gas! You do not need this hypothesis!

[Mapraputa Is]

Is that has anything to do with husband opening his mouth? Is it his breath?
There is no evidence that they were married, although that could explain why he did it...
I guess, we're now that serious after all, are we?
That�s the question which has been tormenting me for a long time... Am I a serious person or not? Crisis of self-identity...

[Stevie Kaligis]

Originally posted by Mapraputa Is:
He could have said anything at all, and she would have died anyway.
True

so Map..., if he just open his mouth without saying any word, will she died anyway ?

[Nanjangud Nanjundaiah]

Map, here's a barrage of questions for you
# Does it matter what language he spoke in? (Hope this is not a Russian joke )
# Did she understand what he said?
# Could he have made just about any sound (like sneezing/coughing), or was this intelligible?
# Were they both standing when he said it?
# Were they in a room or outdoors (like, for instance, on top of Grand Canyon)?
# Did he say just one word, or many words?
# Did she die instantly after he uttered those words, or were there any other reactions prior to that?
# Was there physical contact between the two in any way (could be touching, could be a knife, so on), before, at the time, and after he spoke those words?
# Did he intend to kill her with those words? Or was it unintentional (even though, like you've said, he knew what effect his words would have on her)?
# Was she ailing in any way, that predisposed her to be susceptible?
# Was she the scared/ imaginative/ superstitious type?
# Did she expect this happening prior to their encounter?

[This message has been edited by Nanjangud Nanjundaiah (edited June 01, 2001).]

[Judy Herilla]

You said anyone in his place could have said something and she would have died.
Is she being punished by death?
Is he an executioner of sometype?

[Anonymous]

Yeah.. he was the executioner who said "goodbye. i'm gonna throw the switch to your electric chair now" and then she died.
no choice and she didn't want to die :-)

[Angela Poynton]

Is this anything like the true story of the guy in Korea who was called by his friend on his cell phone, he was so distracted by the call he walked straight into a tree and broke his neck when he fell backwards?? - Can't remember where I heard it nut it's true!
So he said something to her on her cell phone and she walked into / fell off something and dies?

[Mapraputa Is]

if he just open his mouth without saying any word, will she died anyway ?
yes
# Does it matter what language he spoke in? (Hope this is not a Russian joke )
No!
# Did she understand what he said?
Most likely
# Could he have made just about any sound (like sneezing/coughing), or was this intelligible?
It did not have to be intelligible
# Were they both standing when he said it?
he was standing, she was not
# Were they in a room or outdoors (like, for instance, on top of Grand Canyon)?
in a room
# Did he say just one word, or many words?
one was enough
# Did she die instantly after he uttered those words, or were there any other reactions prior to that?
She died instantly
# Was there physical contact between the two in any way (could be touching, could be a knife, so on), before, at the time, and after he spoke those words?
There was physical contact before
# Did he intend to kill her with those words? Or was it unintentional (even though, like you've said, he knew what effect his words would have on her)?
Hard to say, it could be any of the reasons above
# Was she ailing in any way, that predisposed her to be susceptible?
No. But thank you for enriching my vocabulary!
# Was she the scared/ imaginative/ superstitious type?
Most likely the opposite!
# Did she expect this happening prior to their encounter?
Expect... Not really expect, but if I were her, I would be afraid that something like this happens sooner or later!
Is she being punished by death?
No
Is he an executioner of sometype?
No
Hi Chongson Johnson!
Are you Johnson Chongson? Anyway, it�s great that you did not leave us!
So he said something to her on her cell phone and she walked into / fell off something and dies?
No.
[This message has been edited by Mapraputa Is (edited June 01, 2001).]

[Jim Yingst]

All right, how about cause of death. Was it primarily caused by an impact? Cutting or piercing? Gunshot? Asphyxiation, starvation or dehydration? Poison? Disease? Electrocution? Excessive heat or cold? Drowning?

[Jim Yingst]

If just opening his mouth was enough - would any motion have been sufficient? Sign language? Waving? Blinking? Is it necessary that she perceive the motion?
Or, if it's just the mouth that does it - was there something else in his mouth which was released when he opened it?

[Mapraputa Is]

Cutting or piercing? Gunshot? Asphyxiation, starvation or dehydration? Poison? Disease? Electrocution? Excessive heat or cold? Drowning?
Amazing. None of them. But it looks like my English is immensely improving in the field of a violent deaths

[Mapraputa Is]

If just opening his mouth was enough - would any motion have been sufficient? Sign language? Waving? Blinking? Is it necessary that she perceive the motion?
No
Or, if it's just the mouth that does it - was there something else in his mouth which was released when he opened it?
YES!

[Sahir Shibley]

Its a Himalayan expedition. A woman climber loses her footing and goes hurtling down. Johnson Chong who was further down takes a bite at her as she passes by (both his hands were occupied). He manages to clamp his teeth around a bit of string that trailed from her corset. The other climbers marvel at Chongs ability to hold up 400 pounds with his chops. She looks at him, he looks at her. She says "Hello, Johnson." Being the perfect gentleman Mr.Chong says "Howdy, maam". And then she falls to her death.
[This message has been edited by Sahir Shibley (edited June 01, 2001).]

[Nanjangud Nanjundaiah]

Nice story Sahir. That's the first one I've heard about a 400 pound woman climbing the Himalayas in a corset
Here's my story:
It was a bright and sunny Sunday. Bessie was seated in her comfortable rattan rocking chair in her veranda, browsing the Arts section of the Tribune. She felt happy... John would be there soon, and they had planned to visit the Taste of Chicago food festival that afternoon. The jasmine creeper had started blooming, and the fragrance filled the air.
Soon, she could hear a car coming into their driveway. It's funny she thought, and had mentioned this to her papa, that their driveway always sounded different than their neighbors. But that was good, because she'd always know when someone's coming to their home.
John had arrived. He parked his Bimmer, and bounded up the stairs, eager to meet Bessie. He saw her in the veranda, and without a word, went up to her, and gave her a long deep amorous kiss, of the french variety. They were in love... and couldn't wait to get married.
After reluctantly pulling himself away, for he had always liked those deep kisses, he smiled and asked her, 'Are you ready?'. But Bessie seemed not to reply. Her face had broken out into hives, and she spluttered. And then dropped back into her rocking chair in a spasm. John stood transfixed. Little did he know that Bessie was already dead.
Epilogue:
Why did Bessie die? John had had a peanut butter sandwich for breakfast, and Bessie was allergic to peanuts. The kissing had transferred some trace of peanuts, and she instantly suffered a severe anaphylactic shock, resulting in a circulatory collapse, and heart failure. May her soul rest in peace.

[Jim Yingst]

Ummm... you left off "impact" when you quoted my list of possible causes of death. Which of course, would include the impact of a fall. Was impact the cause of death? (I.e. did she hit something, or did something hit her?)
Also, was the object which was released from his mouth connected to her? (E.g. rope?)

[Mapraputa Is]

Ummm... you left off "impact" when you quoted my list of possible causes of death. Which of course, would include the impact of a fall. Was impact the cause of death?
I misunderstood what you mean by �impact� then. (Or I misunderstood the meaning of the word �impact� in general � also possible) Did not do it on proposal! Honestly. How you formulated it now, �impact� was the cause of death, yes.
I.e. did she hit something, or did something hit her?
Hm, that�s probably depends on point of view But I know I cannot confuse physics graduated with such cheap tricks , so � she hit something. And of course, you already know what she hit.
Also, was the object which was released from his mouth connected to her? (E.g. rope?)
YES!
SS and NN:
You literature abilities astound the Ranch. NN, did you mean John Chong?

[This message has been edited by Mapraputa Is (edited June 01, 2001).]

[Mapraputa Is]

Let's formulate it slightly different:
"...John Chong asked in impatience: "Bessie! Consolation of my eyes! Would you basically agree to marry me?" Bessie whispered "yes..." an turned red."
Well, then kiss and all consequence from your text. Could construct another good puzzle: "She said YES and then died..."
(Just wanted to outspeed �divorce/marriage� thread )