[Volo]

The first day without audience was more than chaotic, and no wonder, because the Wolves had been united by their master.

The sun had been up for ten minutes when, quite unexpectedly, Nogrod, the famed optimist, who had even written books about the topic, failed to look at the bright side of life. ”I've been in tight situations with Werewolves but this looks pretty nasty indeed”.

To balance Nogrod’s misery, jolly Thinlómien hopped into the scene. ”I've been a-footbaging and watching the stars a little and I've started wondering who might be evil in our gang. I'm fairly sure Nogrod is a wolf”, said the Orc-Elf.

”I don’t see any need to talk with you. I know who you are and you're kind of over-happy and nice, almost cooing on top of being a Wolf”, answered Nogrod after which he was left to the silence. Only the Moose-Hunter’s voice touched the air at one point.

Nogrod sat down on the ground and covered himself with the cloak of ever-dim rhetoric. He tried to doze but thoughts about his true nature entered his head. The Dwarf felt duty call for him inside his head. He felt doomed as he rose up and cleared his voice. ”Do not waste your time on me or Thinlómien today! I'm a Guardian. I have a license to kill one wolf on my own. I will take care of the Orc-Elf next night”. He looked into the sky and a tear trickled down his cheek and was hidden in the Dwarf’s beard.

Menel listened to the Dwarf and was grateful for the news. ”I think it may be time to reveal what's happening. I am the Protector and I think I’ll be protecting you tonight, Nogrod, so you’ll at least get the chance to survive for tomorrow.

The Dwarf felt empty and sick, somebody else would pay with their lives for his survival. Another tear fell into his beard as he walked up to Menel and thanked him. Were he taller, he would have hugged the Hunter. ”You were a good lad, Menel, when we hunted together. Having you here brings me hope and yet I can’t throw aside the disturbing thought that you have changed…”

Brinn, who had preveously been disgusted by Dwarves, agreed, ”I think it's more likely that Nogrod-guy here is telling the truth. Sadly, I must point out that your plan has faults in it”.

”And I thought my plan would be foolproof”, whispered the Dwarf in disbelief. It was odd that he hadn’t noticed that nothing was foolproof anymore. No laws that had applied before seemed to work in this place. A heavy curse lay on all of them and he could nearly hear somebody, or something laughing.

Everybody stood silent and grim, thinking about their loyalties and lives. While Sally the Dwarves’ Advocate decided to trust both the Guardian and the Protector, Taliesin found it hard to ajust into the new situation and Rikae distrust. Soon others arrived to give their opinions, but only when Thinlómien returned, the curse began to tighten around Nogrod’s neck.

”Nogrod, you're evil. I’m a Defender and I know it. What you did was very cunning of you as it freed you from inventing messy dreams”, the Orc-Elf shouted. She took out her old, rusty sword and began rallying people to herself against the evil Wolf. Her campaing was most successful and soon there were others who shouted, ”Vote Nogrod and achieve true liberty!”

Nogrod on the other hand started his anti-campaing and general protest, ”Don’t vote Nogrod or Thinlómien!”, which was mistakingly simplified to ”Don’t vote!” by some.

While all of this was happening and different warriors had different thoughts, the Dwarf and the Orc-Elf had a staring contest, since they knew better than to have a fighting contest. It lasted many hours but in the end Thinlómien won and Nogrod had no choice but turn his sight elsewhere, which turned out to be Rikae. At the same moment the last vote fell into the bin. Nogrod’s life was at an end.

”I will take it upon myself to once again rid the world of the Evil’s minion!” boomed Death, or McCaber. As the fanatic man reached for his throwing knives, another dark shape turned into motion.

Aganzir, who was sitting on – or truth be said, under – her saddle which was attached to the horse in a most peculiar way, raced to stand between McCaber and Nogrod. ”Do not touch him!”

”Move away Aganzir! And McCaber, you heard her, don’t you dare touch Nogrod! This is between him and me!” commanded Thinlómien. The Orc-Elf walked swiftly to meet the Dwarf with her sword lifted. The Dwarf lifted his sledgehammer and tightened his jaw.

Without any warning she attacked. Nogrod was suprisingly quick with a heavy weapon like a sledgehammer and he managed to parry all her blows, but they were coming with such mad zeal that he found himself backing off towards the wall. Not even his positive attitude was there to help him, since the Orc-Elf had stolen even the last spark of it. Nogrod was less than two foot away from the wall of the temple when he found new strength and with a roar sent out a series of blows. Thinlómien was quick to dodge all of them, but one hit brushed her shoulder.

With growing pain and recless rage she slashed with inhuman, inelvish and inorcish strength. The stroke crushed the handle of Nogrod’s hammer and cut off his right wrist. The Dwarf cried out in pain and fell back to the wall.

Thinlómien grinned and put the tip of her blade to the heart of the Dwarf. She wispered to him ”There is no escape. Don’t make me destroy you. You do not realize your importance. Join me and together we can end this destructive conflict and bring order to Arda”.

”I’ll never join you!” spit the brave Dwarf.

”If you only knew the power of the dark side. Tar-Míriel never told you what happened to your daughter”.

”She told me enough! It was you who killed her”.

”No. I am your daughter”.

Nogrod’s eyes opened wide and he forgot his physical pain, ”No. No. That’s not true! That’s impossible!”

”Nothing is. Does my figure decieve you?” answered Thinlómien with a cold chucle.

”No! No! No!”

”Dwarves truly are foolish. You genuinly thought that I was born like this? Haha. No, you are very wrong. Very, very, very wrong”, she shook her head with emotion and a subtle smile. ”I am not a Dwarf. No. I am not an Orc either. Nor an Elf. Heh, I’m not even a Hobbit!”

Nogrod stared at her with disbelief, horror and fear, and a little curiosity.

She noticed it and asked herself, ”What am I?” Her grin broadened again and she said, ”Immortal, for one”. Thinlómien chucled, sheated her sword and answered herself, ”A Werewolf? No, that’s too obvious”. She shook her head and continued, ”Have you ever heard of the Ancient Beast? Well, that’s what I am”.

The Dwarf closed his eyes and fell to the ground sobbing.

”Ooh… You can’t do that now. You still promised to do something”.

”No… No… No”. Nogrod shivered.

”You have to, you have no right to brake the law”.

Nogrod’s sobbing quietened and he stood up with tears still clung to his cheeks.

”Here, take this”, Thinlómien said with well faked genuine concern and handed him a knife.

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The other warriors had waited for the scene to end without moving closer to the two. Whether it was because of respect, fear or rational motives, wasn’t known. When they saw both Nogrod returning back alive and Thinlómien standing tall, they clapped and shouted with relief. Only Rikae turned her back and pushed her way away from the slowly advancing Dwarf. The Dwarf followed her through the crowd which made space as he draw near.

It was Rikae’s turn to scream as there was no place to hide in the circular dome. She could run though, but Nogrod followed her wherever she went. At last she turned to Thinlómien and asked, ”Do I have to?”

The answer was a ”Yes. It won’t hurt. Here, take this”. Thinlómien offered Rikae a heavy knife.

Unwillingly Rikae took the knife and out of pity turned to Nogrod, who was continuing his walk towards her. She took a few uncertain steps towards him and waited.

Both of them lifted their knives and pushed them deep into each other’s hearts.

----------------~~

When Rikae pulled out the knife out of Nogrod’s heart, he fell lifeless to the ground and tugged the knife he gripped out of Rikae’s heart.

She stood there looking at his body and thinking of tall grasses. Blood flew out of her and dirtied her shirt. She stood and stood and waited. Her white shirt had already turned red but as the blood dripped on her jeans it evaporated. And still she waited. Nearly all the others had gone to bed and there Rikae continued standing.

Thinlómien walked up to her and looked the dead Dwarf. She reached for Rikae’s hand and took it into her own. They looked at each other and then turned together to face the Eastern sky. A glow was coming from the horizon. As if a star raced over the sea towards them.

”Goodbye”, said Thinlómien and let go of Rikae’s hand.

Concern ran through Rikae’s bloodless face, ”You don’t have to leave, do you?”

”I do, I do…” she sighed and turned to follow the others into their bedchambers.

Rikae looked after her and waved her hand gently. Only long after Thinlómien had passed out of her view did she turn back to the glow. She wispered the name of the star and saw it nearing. Two smaller red stars shone inside the big white star. It let out a piercing howl as it flew towards Rikae.

A great white wolf landed softly in the middle of the Temple and all the sand turned white. He walked towards Rikae and bowed before her. Their eyes met. His red eyes and her white eyes. No words were needed as both knew that this would happen. She climbed on his back and looked at the dead Dwarf for the last time. The White Wolf leapt into the air.

-----------~~

Around:
Brinniel
THE Ka
satansaloser2005
Aganzir
McCaber
Thinlómien
Valier
Meneltarmacil
Kath
Naria
Azaelia of Willowbottom
Isabellkya

Gone:
Legate of Amon Lanc - lynched on Day0.1 - teleported away
Roa_Aoife - lynched on Day0.2 - joined the dance
Shastanis Althereduin - lynched on Day0.3 - reincarnated as the first Man
The Might - lynched on Day0.4 - escorted away and sailed away
Gil-Galad - lynched on Day0.5 - disappeared in a gate to a different world
Groin Redbeard - lynched on Day0.6 - returned to where he came from
A Little Green - lynched on Day0.7 - ended up on the moon
Ugh-Friedrich - wasn't allowed to enter the temple after stage1
Nogrod - lynched on Day1 - destroyed by his daughter
Rikae - hunted down by Nogrod on Day1 - carried away by the Great White Wolf

---------~~

Day1 ended, Night2 began.

Don't post on this thread.

Wolves and Specials, do what you can.

Lommy choose if you want to be "immortal" for the duration of Night2 or Day2.