The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post - Werewolf XLIV: In the House of Tom Bombadil

Rikae · 02-25-2008, 10:55 PM

Hmm, okay. It seems to me people are falling into old patterns more than ever - Nogrod advocating lynching the quiet people, Mac suspecting Nogrod for rather flimsy reasons, Gwath underestimatiing the dramatic abilities of wolves, Menel being aggressive, etc.

In this vein, my first reaction to Nerwen's post was "wolf!" but I think it might be wise to try to look beyond what is apparently a bias on my part. If anyone's interested, it was the structure of her post -- banter, followed by a rather off-the-wall bit of wolf-strategy-theory, followed by a defense. Too people-pleasing, I thought, too cautious.

However, although that was my first reaction, I'm aware I have a tendency to always find Nerwen suspicious (and Durelin, and Aganzir... just laying my cards on the table), so, on second glance...

There is something that I don't like about Gwathette, and also particularly about his relationship to the Sally-Durelin-Boro-Mac fiasco. The former has a sort of cautious jitteryness about him which is often seen among wolf-cubs, and he protests too much. There is something strange about the way he jumps on Boro's comment about Sally and Durelin's words about Mac suspecting Lommy. Whoa, that is complicated. Let me trace it back...for my own benefit, if no one else's.

-Mac posts a *very* weak suspicion of Nogrod. I don't know how he arrived at this conclusion about what Nogrod meant by "assets" -- I myself read it as if it referred to the absent seer or known innocents we would have in a normal game. I could chalk it up either to the misreading of a non-native English speaker, or eagerness to start the ball rolling (which could be innocent or not, of course.) His following lines, as well as the self-deprecating opener, seem a little excessive, though.

-Boro posts suspecting Lommy. While I don't agree with the assessment - it doesn't seem odd to me if Lommy is chipper - and don't necessarily trust Boro, there isn't really anything objectionable. It's the sort of blunt accusation, though, which might make a Lommywolf (if one exists) nervous.

-Lommy crosses with Boro, making a rather odd response to Mac. To me, it looks as though a tentative and not entirely honest "you look odd, but I'm not going to be the first to suspect you" sort of thing.

-Lommy defends herself from Boro. Now, this is the sort of defense that twists one's head up in "is she the sort of woman who would put the poison into her own cup, or her enemy's" knots. A wolfish Lommy would know better than to give such a vociferous and flimsy explanation -- a wolfish Lommy would also know we would think that. Therefore, we (or I, at any rate) can't deduce much from this alone.

-Mac replies to Lommy - I don't read this as a stronger attack than Boro's, by any means. There is a lightheartedness in the last bit, and it is, after all, a self-defense. Still, there is something odd about the way he accuses her of being quick to accuse. He seems over-eager (and in his earlier post, over-apologetic.)

-Sally suggests Mac and Menel are targeting Lommy, but then suspects Lommy herself in the next breath, then says she does the same herself. Ok, confusion, self contradiction -- who am I to criticise that? Analyzing Sally, I fear, would take another post at least this long.
However, it *is* odd that she picks Mac and Menel to mention. She also says if she's a wolf, she won't lie about it... that's nice to know, Sally. Would you be so kind as to say "I am not a wolf" for us please?

- Durelin says Macalaure "jumped on" Lommy. I suppose this can be explained by the fact that it's already been mentioned and, as she says, she didn't see Boro's post. As for what the mention is supposed to accomplish, saying Mac jumped on Lommy and then "absolving" him with in-character banter is kind of slippery. The reader might absorb the meme "Mac jumped on Lommy" while also assuming Durelin doesn't think this is important.

- Boro notices Sally and Durelin's mistake (?) and suggests both are wolves. I suppose that is possible. It's also possible that Durelin is, and trying to help along the beginnings of a bandwagon; it's possible just Sally is, and Durelin is a misguided ordo. It's possible none of them are, though, and what looks oddest of all to me is:

- Gwath jumps in with an abrubt -- and off-base, I would say -- defense of Sally and Durelin. He then explains this in a second post -- it seems like he realises he's made a mistake and is trying to fix it, too late.

This whole mess suggests to me the possibility that Gwath may be a wolf with either Sally or Durelin... however, I am not entirely comfortable with Lommy's or Macalaure's behavior either. I have a feeling I may be able to get a read on the latter after a few more posts, though (not to brag or anything...)

EDIT: X'd with THE Ka, name-bolding.

02-25-2008, 10:55 PM	#49
Rikae Mellifluous Maia Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: A glade open to the stars, deep in Nan Elmoth Posts: 3,489	Hmm, okay. It seems to me people are falling into old patterns more than ever - Nogrod advocating lynching the quiet people, Mac suspecting Nogrod for rather flimsy reasons, Gwath underestimatiing the dramatic abilities of wolves, Menel being aggressive, etc. In this vein, my first reaction to Nerwen's post was "wolf!" but I think it might be wise to try to look beyond what is apparently a bias on my part. If anyone's interested, it was the structure of her post -- banter, followed by a rather off-the-wall bit of wolf-strategy-theory, followed by a defense. Too people-pleasing, I thought, too cautious. However, although that was my first reaction, I'm aware I have a tendency to always find Nerwen suspicious (and Durelin, and Aganzir... just laying my cards on the table), so, on second glance... There is something that I don't like about Gwathette, and also particularly about his relationship to the Sally-Durelin-Boro-Mac fiasco. The former has a sort of cautious jitteryness about him which is often seen among wolf-cubs, and he protests too much. There is something strange about the way he jumps on Boro's comment about Sally and Durelin's words about Mac suspecting Lommy. Whoa, that is complicated. Let me trace it back...for my own benefit, if no one else's. -Mac posts a very weak suspicion of Nogrod. I don't know how he arrived at this conclusion about what Nogrod meant by "assets" -- I myself read it as if it referred to the absent seer or known innocents we would have in a normal game. I could chalk it up either to the misreading of a non-native English speaker, or eagerness to start the ball rolling (which could be innocent or not, of course.) His following lines, as well as the self-deprecating opener, seem a little excessive, though. -Boro posts suspecting Lommy. While I don't agree with the assessment - it doesn't seem odd to me if Lommy is chipper - and don't necessarily trust Boro, there isn't really anything objectionable. It's the sort of blunt accusation, though, which might make a Lommywolf (if one exists) nervous. -Lommy crosses with Boro, making a rather odd response to Mac. To me, it looks as though a tentative and not entirely honest "you look odd, but I'm not going to be the first to suspect you" sort of thing. -Lommy defends herself from Boro. Now, this is the sort of defense that twists one's head up in "is she the sort of woman who would put the poison into her own cup, or her enemy's" knots. A wolfish Lommy would know better than to give such a vociferous and flimsy explanation -- a wolfish Lommy would also know we would think that. Therefore, we (or I, at any rate) can't deduce much from this alone. -Mac replies to Lommy - I don't read this as a stronger attack than Boro's, by any means. There is a lightheartedness in the last bit, and it is, after all, a self-defense. Still, there is something odd about the way he accuses her of being quick to accuse. He seems over-eager (and in his earlier post, over-apologetic.) -Sally suggests Mac and Menel are targeting Lommy, but then suspects Lommy herself in the next breath, then says she does the same herself. Ok, confusion, self contradiction -- who am I to criticise that? Analyzing Sally, I fear, would take another post at least this long. However, it is odd that she picks Mac and Menel to mention. She also says if she's a wolf, she won't lie about it... that's nice to know, Sally. Would you be so kind as to say "I am not a wolf" for us please? - Durelin says Macalaure "jumped on" Lommy. I suppose this can be explained by the fact that it's already been mentioned and, as she says, she didn't see Boro's post. As for what the mention is supposed to accomplish, saying Mac jumped on Lommy and then "absolving" him with in-character banter is kind of slippery. The reader might absorb the meme "Mac jumped on Lommy" while also assuming Durelin doesn't think this is important. - Boro notices Sally and Durelin's mistake (?) and suggests both are wolves. I suppose that is possible. It's also possible that Durelin is, and trying to help along the beginnings of a bandwagon; it's possible just Sally is, and Durelin is a misguided ordo. It's possible none of them are, though, and what looks oddest of all to me is: - Gwath jumps in with an abrubt -- and off-base, I would say -- defense of Sally and Durelin. He then explains this in a second post -- it seems like he realises he's made a mistake and is trying to fix it, too late. This whole mess suggests to me the possibility that Gwath may be a wolf with either Sally or Durelin... however, I am not entirely comfortable with Lommy's or Macalaure's behavior either. I have a feeling I may be able to get a read on the latter after a few more posts, though (not to brag or anything...) EDIT: X'd with THE Ka, name-bolding.