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

Aganzir · 03-03-2008, 12:53 PM

The atmosphere in the house was rather depressed. The beggars knew that this was their last chance to kill a wolf, otherwise they would all die. Volo lost his hope already in the morning, and when evening drew near, several others followed his example.

”If we don't lynch a wolf now, I deserve a public flogging!” said Rikae.

”This has been a disaster. We've been played for fools,” sighed Nerwen.

Lommy and Durelin only looked depressed. Menel was still sorry about his brother's death – or innocence.

Maybe the pressure and frustration was too much. Maybe having spent four days under the same roof was too much. Suddenly Lommy and Nogrod attacked each other. It might have ended badly, but luckily the beggars had some buckets of ice-cold water near-hand, which they could now throw upon the fighters. That had a queer effect on them. They had been boiling over; now they became cold and sensible. Lommy found a sweet bubblegum somewhere and started chewing. Quickly, she was her cheerful old self again.

Finally, the sun was beginning to set. It was time to vote.

”To whatever end,” said Rikae.

”For best or worst,” said Volo.

”If Menel isn't a wolf, I promise I will kill you,” said Nerwen.

”Not that this is going to do any difference,” said Menel.

”May the force be with us,” said Nogrod.

”Let the chance be on our side,” said Lommy.

”Sorry,” said Durelin.

And Mith only voted.

**

Poor little Meneltarmacil stood alone. More than half of the beggars had turned against him.

Rikae turned to speak to him. ”Little Menel, do you like building snowmen?”

”Yes... But isn't it too cold for it? There isn't the right type of snow.”

”It doesn't matter,” said Volo, ”there's the snow and you are the man.”

Menel looked unsure. ”Err, I'm not sure if I want to try that.”

”Let's go now,” said Nerwen and took Menel by hand. Nogrod put on the coat that was hanging on the coatrack and followed them out. The other beggars followed silently.

”Stand still, laddy,” said Nerwen. Menel had no chance but to obey. Rikae, Volo, Nerwen and Nogrod started to heap snow around him.

Menel's legs were now covered by snow.

”Mummy, I'm cold,” he said helplessly. But all Mith could do was to stand where she was, watching the last living member of her family slowly being killed, and curse the thing that is called 'democracy.'

Menel's chest was now covered by snow.

”Mummy, I can't move my hands,” he said helplessly.

Menel's mouth was now covered by snow.

”Mummy, it's hard to breathe!” his scream was muffled by the snow.

”Does anyone have a carrot?” asked Nogrod.

”Here you are.” Durelin stepped forward, smiling, and put it where Menel's nose had been.

The night fell.

The beggars stood shivering.

Death pattered out softly. ”It is time.”

**

It was not called the Old Forest without reason, for it was indeed ancient, a survivor of vast forgotten woods; and in it there lived yet, ageing no quicker than the hills, the fathers of the fathers of the trees, remembering times when they were lords. The countless years had filled them with pride and rooted wisdom, and with malice. But none were more dangerous than the Great Willow: his heart was rotten, but his strength was green; and he was cunning, and a master of winds, and his song ran through the woods on both sides of the river. His grey thirsty spirit drew power out of the earth and spread like fine root-threads in the ground, and invisible twig-fingers in the air, till it had under its dominion nearly all the trees of the Forest from the Hedge to the Downs.

**

Rikae, Mithalwen, Volo and Thinlómien were standing by the gigantic tree. Three white wolves were standing behind them.

Death spoke.

”Awake, Willow-man! I have brought you the pay for a permission to go through your forest! Take these humans as my sacrifice to you!”

And the beggars were swallowed by hungry earth, and the whole wood was silent.

**

A few days later, the Shire was attacked from two directions. The first wolves crossed the frozen Brandywine river, but while the Hobbits were fighting against them, the main force came from behind the Hedge, from the Forest, and swept over the Shire.

Soon they were already plundering the southern lands.

**

Alive:
Nogrod the Agreeable, the leader of the beggars
his wife, Nerwen
Durelin, Rikae's widow

Dead:
Tom Bombadil (ranger) - killed on Night 1
Goldberry (seer) - killed on Night 1
The Barrow-wight (hunter) - killed on Night 1
Gwathagor, the child of Nogrod and Nerwen (ordo) - used as a battering ram on Day 1
Sally the Insufferable, a slightly mad crippled woman (ordo) - skinned, scalped and made to clothes on Night 2
the Right Honourable McCaber, Volo's child (ordo) - drowned in the Withywindle on Day 2
THE Ka, a blind old woman (ordo) - poisoned with carbon monoxide & throat slit open on Night 3
Boromir88 the Silent One, Mith's husband, Mac & Menel's father, an ex-pickpocket (ordo) - accused unjustly and carried away against his will by annoying trees at the beginning of Day 3
Macalaure the Guileless, Mith & Boro's son (ordo) - fell in snowball fight on Day 3
A Little Green, Lommy's little sister (ordo) - deceived by a big bad wolf and eaten on Night 4
Meneltarmacil, Mith & Boro's son (ordo) - died as a snowman on Day 4
Rikae the Kind, Durelin's wife - fed to Old Man Willow on Day 4
Mithalwen the Perpetually Sane and Serene, Boro's widow - fed to Old Man Willow on Day 4
Volo, a young widowed man - fed to Old Man Willow on Day 4
orphaned little Thinlómien - fed to Old Man Willow on Day 4

The game is over. The wolves win. Congratulations!

03-03-2008, 12:53 PM	#599
Aganzir Woman of Secret Shadow Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: in hollow halls beneath the fells Posts: 4,511	Day 4 The atmosphere in the house was rather depressed. The beggars knew that this was their last chance to kill a wolf, otherwise they would all die. Volo lost his hope already in the morning, and when evening drew near, several others followed his example. ”If we don't lynch a wolf now, I deserve a public flogging!” said Rikae. ”This has been a disaster. We've been played for fools,” sighed Nerwen. Lommy and Durelin only looked depressed. Menel was still sorry about his brother's death – or innocence. Maybe the pressure and frustration was too much. Maybe having spent four days under the same roof was too much. Suddenly Lommy and Nogrod attacked each other. It might have ended badly, but luckily the beggars had some buckets of ice-cold water near-hand, which they could now throw upon the fighters. That had a queer effect on them. They had been boiling over; now they became cold and sensible. Lommy found a sweet bubblegum somewhere and started chewing. Quickly, she was her cheerful old self again. Finally, the sun was beginning to set. It was time to vote. ”To whatever end,” said Rikae. ”For best or worst,” said Volo. ”If Menel isn't a wolf, I promise I will kill you,” said Nerwen. ”Not that this is going to do any difference,” said Menel. ”May the force be with us,” said Nogrod. ”Let the chance be on our side,” said Lommy. ”Sorry,” said Durelin. And Mith only voted. Poor little Meneltarmacil stood alone. More than half of the beggars had turned against him. Rikae turned to speak to him. ”Little Menel, do you like building snowmen?” ”Yes... But isn't it too cold for it? There isn't the right type of snow.” ”It doesn't matter,” said Volo, ”there's the snow and you are the man.” Menel looked unsure. ”Err, I'm not sure if I want to try that.” ”Let's go now,” said Nerwen and took Menel by hand. Nogrod put on the coat that was hanging on the coatrack and followed them out. The other beggars followed silently. ”Stand still, laddy,” said Nerwen. Menel had no chance but to obey. Rikae, Volo, Nerwen and Nogrod started to heap snow around him. Menel's legs were now covered by snow. ”Mummy, I'm cold,” he said helplessly. But all Mith could do was to stand where she was, watching the last living member of her family slowly being killed, and curse the thing that is called 'democracy.' Menel's chest was now covered by snow. ”Mummy, I can't move my hands,” he said helplessly. Menel's mouth was now covered by snow. ”Mummy, it's hard to breathe!” his scream was muffled by the snow. ”Does anyone have a carrot?” asked Nogrod. ”Here you are.” Durelin stepped forward, smiling, and put it where Menel's nose had been. The night fell. The beggars stood shivering. Death pattered out softly. ”It is time.” It was not called the Old Forest without reason, for it was indeed ancient, a survivor of vast forgotten woods; and in it there lived yet, ageing no quicker than the hills, the fathers of the fathers of the trees, remembering times when they were lords. The countless years had filled them with pride and rooted wisdom, and with malice. But none were more dangerous than the Great Willow: his heart was rotten, but his strength was green; and he was cunning, and a master of winds, and his song ran through the woods on both sides of the river. His grey thirsty spirit drew power out of the earth and spread like fine root-threads in the ground, and invisible twig-fingers in the air, till it had under its dominion nearly all the trees of the Forest from the Hedge to the Downs. Rikae, Mithalwen, Volo and Thinlómien were standing by the gigantic tree. Three white wolves were standing behind them. Death spoke. ”Awake, Willow-man! I have brought you the pay for a permission to go through your forest! Take these humans as my sacrifice to you!” And the beggars were swallowed by hungry earth, and the whole wood was silent. A few days later, the Shire was attacked from two directions. The first wolves crossed the frozen Brandywine river, but while the Hobbits were fighting against them, the main force came from behind the Hedge, from the Forest, and swept over the Shire. Soon they were already plundering the southern lands. Alive: Nogrod the Agreeable, the leader of the beggars his wife, Nerwen Durelin, Rikae's widow Dead: Tom Bombadil (ranger) - killed on Night 1 Goldberry (seer) - killed on Night 1 The Barrow-wight (hunter) - killed on Night 1 Gwathagor, the child of Nogrod and Nerwen (ordo) - used as a battering ram on Day 1 Sally the Insufferable, a slightly mad crippled woman (ordo) - skinned, scalped and made to clothes on Night 2 the Right Honourable McCaber, Volo's child (ordo) - drowned in the Withywindle on Day 2 THE Ka, a blind old woman (ordo) - poisoned with carbon monoxide & throat slit open on Night 3 Boromir88 the Silent One, Mith's husband, Mac & Menel's father, an ex-pickpocket (ordo) - accused unjustly and carried away against his will by annoying trees at the beginning of Day 3 Macalaure the Guileless, Mith & Boro's son (ordo) - fell in snowball fight on Day 3 A Little Green, Lommy's little sister (ordo) - deceived by a big bad wolf and eaten on Night 4 Meneltarmacil, Mith & Boro's son (ordo) - died as a snowman on Day 4 Rikae the Kind, Durelin's wife - fed to Old Man Willow on Day 4 Mithalwen the Perpetually Sane and Serene, Boro's widow - fed to Old Man Willow on Day 4 Volo, a young widowed man - fed to Old Man Willow on Day 4 orphaned little Thinlómien - fed to Old Man Willow on Day 4 The game is over. The wolves win. Congratulations!** __________________ He bit me, and I was not gentle. Last edited by Aganzir; 03-03-2008 at 01:06 PM.