Tol-in-Gaurhoth XIV: Nyárë Nauroron Númenoreva

[Alcarillo]

The Forostar was a desolate place. Bleak, purplish, rocky moors covered much of the land. Only a few shepherds wandered here and there, the only population in the central regions of the peninsula. There were no towns away from the coast, except in the southern regions. Often the only manmade structure one could see in all directions was the long road that stretched up to Sorontil. As one followed this road the land became more hilly, and through the hills one could catch a glimpse of Tar-Meneldur's ancient observatory. Eagles made their abode in the tower during the time of Ar-Pharazôn, and they became more commonly seen as one continued northwards. Eventually, the road reached the coast, dropping sheer into the sea with great black cliffs thick with fir and larch. Wherever the sea had pounded a harbor into the cliffs a tiny village grew. They dotted the coast, isolated and small. Their only major usefulness was to provide shelter for fishing fleets during storms on the sea, but those days were rare indeed while the Valar watched over the land. But as Númenor lost favor with the Avalôi, the villages became shelters for more than fishing boats . . .

* * * * *

The sun set in the West, and the entire sky over Númenor turned a wrathful orange. The black silhouettes of seagulls wheeled in the air, watching the villagers convene at the docks to lynch one of their own.

Each villager had a knot in his stomach and a deep feeling of dread. The votes were read aloud by the harbourmaster, and against the flaming northern sky he seemed a perfect match for Mandos himself. The votes were tallied and they declared that dancing spawn of ungoliant was to die. She sobbed into an embroidered handkerchief. "All I ever did was work with my needle, and my thread. *sob* I never in all my *sob* life hurt another soul! I didn't kill *sob* poor Alcarillo!"

She gained a few reassuring pats on the back, but someone shouted "Watch out! She could be a werewolf!" and the comfort ended. She sobbed even louder as she stood from where she sat by the pier and was poked into view by numerous pitchforks and shovels. The villagers gathered into a group behind her. "To the cliffs!" shouted someone. "Huzzah!" responded the villagers, and they poked dancing spawn towards the path at the edge of the village, the one that climbed up the old black cliffs that dropped sheer into the ocean. They moved single file up the steep path, between evergreen trees and ferns, until they reached the top of the cliffs. Through the trees one could see the ocean glittering. The group moved toward the cliff ledge that faced the sparkling sea. And at the very edge of the cliffs, where one more step would send dancing spawn to her death, she turned around, and she began to say something, but a thrust from one of the pitchforks thrust her off the black cliffs, and screaming she fell into the ocean below, dashed against the black rocks. The villagers watched her body transform as the waves washed over it. The dress burst as her dead body grew larger, and hairier, and her delicate hands became fierce claws. The villagers headed back to town to celebrate.

* * * * *

Dead
Alcarillo – mod - impaled upon his own sword – NIGHT 1
dancing spawn of ungoliant – werewolf – pushed off the cliffs and into the sea – DAY 1

Living
Aiwendil – retired tutor
Boromir88 – crab farmer
Fordim Hedgethistle – lithesome and non-unionized pearl diver
Formendacil – disgruntled office clerk
Gurthang – (possibly unemployed) dockhand
Holbytlass – butcher
Jack – blacksmith and farrier
Kath – bum
Lhunardawen – polite little shepherd girl
Mormegil - repairman specializing in ships and docks
Rune Son of Bjarne – Union leader
The Saucepan Man - harbormaster
WaynetheGoblin – doctor
Wilwarin538 – fiddler

It is now NIGHT 2. I need a name from the seer, ranger, and hunter. Villagers, stay silent, and werewolves, you may now PM. Sweet dreams!

[Alcarillo]

The coast of the Forostar was always a hideout for spies as long as there had been Elendili to spy on the King and an oppressive king to spy on the Elendili. Elendil would send his Elf-friends to the tiny hamlets of Númenor, where they waged an intelligence war against the King's men. Many were discovered and taken to Sauron's Temple, Zadan an-Mulkhêr, in Armenelos, and killed as sacrifices to Melkor. Sauron himself performed the sacrifices, under the name Zigûr, the Wizard. After long incantations in the Adûnaic tongue, the victim would be subject to a painful and terrible death.

And when Zigûr was not within easy reach of his victims, he sent out his werewolves to do the job for him. Rarely did they not slaughter a village when told to do so. And rare was it that Ar-Pharazôn refused Sauron wolves to transform into werewolves by his dark arts, like those of Sauron's isle of Tol-in-Gaurhoth, long before the rise of Númenor.

* * * * *

The moon rose as the sun set, and the clouds of that day faded to reveal a thousand stars glittering over the entire island. The fog from the morning had long since dissipated. Jack stayed awake late into the night, listening to the sounds of the wind in the fir trees on the cliffs and staring at the stars through his bedroom window. His eyelids drooped and for a moment he could have been sleeping, and once more conversing with the old King of the Sea, the one who was hated most of all by Zigûr, so far away in the city. But Zigûr's reach was not as short as Jack expected. An ominous creak sounded behind him, and Jack snapped awake, alert and listening. Then there was no more noise besides the rush of the wind, and Jack leaned back in his old chair and drew an old blanket about him to fight off the cold. But a shadow moved in the corner, and Jack now stood. Was it his own shadow? Was the darkness playing tricks on his tired eyes? He grabbed a fire poker from the ashy fireplace, and with a weapon in hand, he once again, for the second time, tried to sleep. But now he couldn't. What if the werewolves had discovered him?

Jack could not sleep now. He had to light a candle and see for himself if the house was empty. He stood and moved towards the door to the hall, but found it locked. He tugged and pulled on the doorknob, but to no avail. Where were his keys? By the fireplace. Jack groped about until his hand rested upon the cold, stone, fireplace, searching for the peg upon which he hung his keys. But his hand wandered to far into the darkness and touched something furry, and warm.

* * * * *

When the villagers awoke they were dismayed to find that Jack was missing, and took his valuable skills in weaponry with him. And so as the sun rose the villagers made their daily pilgrimage to the home of the latest victim of the wolves. They found the front door unlocked, and they entered and searched the few rooms of Jack's home. The only sign of a grisly murder was the head of Jack's horse, discovered among the sheets of his bed. But they did not find Jack's body in the house. Instead, they found Jack's remains in the forge. Wedged into the furnace was an ashy mound. The villagers realized with horror that this was Jack. They could even make out the ashy remains of an arm or a foot, covered with black soot and barely recognizable. On the top of the pile sat Jack's eyeballs, perfectly intact despite the roasting the rest of Jack's body received.

"So they killed the seer." said Wilwa glumly.

* * * * *

Dead
Alcarillo – mod - impaled upon his own sword – NIGHT 1
dancing spawn of ungoliant – werewolf – pushed off the cliffs and into the sea – DAY 1
Jack – seer – toasted and roasted in forge – NIGHT 2

Living
Aiwendil – retired tutor
Boromir88 – crab farmer
Fordim Hedgethistle – lithesome and non-unionized pearl diver
Formendacil – disgruntled office clerk
Gurthang – (possibly unemployed) dockhand
Holbytlass – butcher
Kath – bum
Lhunardawen – polite little shepherd girl
Mormegil - repairman specializing in ships and docks
Rune Son of Bjarne – Union leader
The Saucepan Man - harbormaster
WaynetheGoblin – doctor
Wilwarin538 – fiddler

DAY 2 has now begun! Wolves, stop PMing, villagers can start talking now, and the Hunter needs to PM me by the DAY's end. Happy hunting!

[mormegil]

So the wolves strike back with ferosity I see. In reviewing Jack's post I can see how a wolf who would spend time examining every post would come to the conclusion that Jack was the seer. Now one helpful assumption would be that SpM is innocent. I'll explain why as I go.

Originally Posted by Jack

Rune, don't vote for someone just because of personal dislikes. Saucepan Man is an important person here. He thinks more clearly than a few of us. Since we have to vote somebody off today, and since there are really no good reasons to vote anyone off, I highly recommend we not vote one of the smart people off. Saucepan Man, mormegil, and Fordim all fall into this category. True, some of us might suspect them, but at this point in the game, it would be folly indeed to kill any one of these.

If SpM is innocent, which I believe, Jack indicates here one of his stronger affirmations (I know Folwren is female) of innocence. Then wisely includes others who are unknown, Fordim and me. Now this may tip the hat a little to the wolves but not enough to know he was the seer.

Originally Posted by Jack

And all I had to say to deflect that argument, I thought, was say that I didn't kill animals by day (therefore it would follow that I didn't kill humans by night). Guess I was wrong on that bit of logic. No. I don't kill anything at night. One would think that after spending all day at the anvil or shoeing horses (that sometime have the audacity to lean entirely on me while trying to fit the shoe), it'd be pretty obvious that all I did was sleep at night.

Here is another clue, subtle and innocent in itself but when coupled with the next it's devastating.

To Holbytlass's vote, I've one thing to say with a merry twinkle in my eye:

"Ha!"

I believe that all of this was too much for the wolves to miss. Most of the contention showed by Jack yesterday was directed at Holby, though I'm not sure of her guilt she's somebody to watch though she could be being set up by the wolves.

Now Jack voted for Formendacil, does that mean anything? He claimed to be a wolf but Jack's logic was simply that--He claimed to be a wolf. I'm not sure he was certain of his guilt. My assumption is that he dreampt of SpM as would most seers.

Now looking at votes I think it's fairly safe to assume that Boromir and Aiwendil are innocent, they cross posted at the same time thinking they would give Spawn the 3rd vote and put her in the lead. There is a possibility that they could be the cobbler but I doubt it.

There is somebody that isn't sitting right with me but I will review their posts and write more later.

[The Saucepan Man]

Durn! They don gone killed our Seer! Kind of like takes the edge off of us lynchin’ a Wolf yesterday. Takes t’edge of it, I tell thee.

Having reviewed poor Jack’s words yesterday, it seems to me as there were some things them there Wolves might of picked up on. So mayhaps they knew he was the Seer. Or mayhaps it was a clumsy attempt to frame Formendacil, on account of Jack’s vote.

Well, here be yesterday’s voting record - in chronological order like, with a tally of the state of voting after each vote were cast.

1. Gurthang votes for Formendacil (Formen - 1)
2. Lhuna votes for WaynetheGoblin (Formen - 1; Wayne - 1)
3. Wayne votes for Lhunadarwen (Formen - 1; Wayne - 1; Lhuna - 1)
4. Spawn votes for Aiwendil (Formen - 1; Wayne - 1; Lhuna - 1; Aiwendil - 1)
5. Formendacil votes for Dancing Spawn (Formen - 1; Wayne - 1; Lhuna - 1; Aiwendil - 1; Spawn - 1)
6. Fordim votes for Spawn (Formen - 1; Wayne - 1; Lhuna - 1; Aiwendil - 1; Spawn - 2)
7. Mormegil votes for Gurthang (Formen - 1; Wayne - 1; Lhuna - 1; Aiwendil - 1; Spawn - 2; Gurthang - 1)
8. Kath votes for Fordim Hedgethistle (Formen - 1; Wayne - 1; Lhuna - 1; Aiwendil - 1; Spawn - 2; Gurthang - 1; Fordim - 1)
9. Holbytlass votes for Jack (Formen - 1; Wayne - 1; Lhuna - 1; Aiwendil - 1; Spawn - 2; Gurthang - 1; Fordim - 1; Jack - 1)
10. Jack votes for Formendacil (Formen - 2; Wayne - 1; Lhuna - 1; Aiwendil - 1; Spawn - 2; Gurthang - 1; Fordim - 1; Jack - 1)
11. Rune votes for Wayne (Formen - 2; Wayne - 2; Lhuna - 1; Aiwendil - 1; Spawn - 2; Gurthang - 1; Fordim - 1; Jack - 1)
12. Wilwarin votes for Formendacil (Formen - 3; Wayne - 2; Lhuna - 1; Aiwendil - 1; Spawn - 2; Gurthang - 1; Fordim - 1; Jack - 1)
13. Boromir88 votes for Spawn (Formen - 3; Wayne - 2; Lhuna - 1; Aiwendil - 1; Spawn - 3; Gurthang - 1; Fordim - 1; Jack - 1)
14. Aiwendil votes for Spawn (Formen - 3; Wayne - 2; Lhuna - 1; Aiwendil - 1; Spawn - 4; Gurthang - 1; Fordim - 1; Jack - 1)
15. SpM votes for Fordim Hedgethistle (Formen - 3; Wayne - 2; Lhuna - 1; Aiwendil - 1; Spawn - 4; Gurthang - 1; Fordim - 2; Jack - 1)

I’m off for a smoke an’ a think. Back in a mo’ with more thoughts.

[Rune Son of Bjarne]

I am not sure the wolves knew that Jack was the seer, this could however just be because I did not see it my self. . .

The only thing that struck me as odd, was the post about the: twinkle in my eye

The other posts as Mormegil mentions seems to be rather inoccent and I am having it hard to belive that the wolves figured it out. I belive that they either were lucky or they spottet the twinkle in Jacks eye and took a chance.

About sauce pan beeing inoccent: That could very well be, but I need to give it more thought

- Rune

P.S. Great job getting a wolf the first day, I am impressed.

[mormegil]

Originally Posted by Rune Son of Bjarne

I
The other posts as Mormegil mentions seems to be rather inoccent and I am having it hard to belive that the wolves figured it out. I belive that they either were lucky or they spottet the twinkle in Jacks eye and took a chance.

True the other posts do seem innocent enough but if you look at the whole picture it shows a different story. Though it doesn't help us lynch the next wolf I find it compelling.

[Holbytlass]

Oh no, the seer is gone! I just had a quick look, and it does make sense for SpM to be dreamt of first. What was that with Gurthang claiming to be seer? On the surface, it looks noble that he's drawing the wolves' attention away from the real seer (Jack) but wouldn't that also draw the ranger's protection away (or at least the ranger's best guess)? Please explain, Gurthang.

[Aiwendil]

Would that my advice had been heeded! The loss of our Seer is a grim stroke indeed. And our wolves are exceedingly crafty if they were able to discern Jack's true nature.

I commented yesterday that the votes for Formendacil looked odd to me. They look even worse in view of the fact that Dancing Spawn was a wolf. It seems unlikely that Spawn's two compatriots would sit back and let her get lynched - it may be that they made an effort to get Formendacil killed instead. Overnight I've been thinking that we should look carefully at those who voted for Formendacil. They are:

Gurthang
Jack
Wilwarin

And in a vote as close as the one yesterday, it seems unlikely to me that the either of the other wolves would have voted for Spawn. Those that did vote for Spawn were:

Formendacil
Fordim
Boromir
Aiwendil

Now, obviously, Jack was innocent. But Wilwarin looks rather suspicious to me at the moment. She voted for Formendacil when he and Spawn were tied at 2.

As for Gurthang - his behaviour is quite confusing. First he votes for Formendacil without explanation. Then he claims that this was an attempt to protect the Seer. Then he claims he is the Seer. Either he's a very clumsy villager or he's a very daring wolf or he's the Cobbler. I'm inclined to think the latter.

Well, those are my immediate thoughts.

[The Saucepan Man]

Originally Posted by mormegil

In reviewing Jack's post I can see how a wolf who would spend time examining every post would come to the conclusion that Jack was the seer.

‘Appen I agree with you there mormegil, my lad. You spotted the same things in Jack’s posts as I did.

Originally Posted by mormegil

My assumption is that he dreampt of SpM as would most seers.

‘Appen I agree with you there too. Mores the pity, as it puts me in a most precarious position. The only other villager that Jack might have dreamed of, based on what 'e said like, is Wayne, as young Jack stuck up for ‘im too. An’ I can see why a Seer might dream of young Wayne, given that ’e gives little away in what ‘e says. But I tend to think it was me that Jack dreamed of. Ah well, let ‘em come at me. I’ve survived Werewolves before. I can like as not survive ‘em again.

Now, for a look at yesterday’s votes.

The votes for Spawn (a most fitting name, I might say) came from Formendacil, Master Hedgethistle, Boromir88 and Aiwendil, in that order (though, as mormegil points out, the last two cross-posted). ‘Tis possible that Formendacil thought Spawn might be a safe vote for a fellow Wolf, but I doubt it, being as Spawn was already attracting suspicion for raising ‘er Seer issues with Aiwendil. So I am inclined to trust in Formendacil’s innocence, for now. Same goes for Master Fordim. My suspicion of him yesterday was genuinely held ‘n all, but ’tis greatly lessened now. I doubt that a Wolf would have voted for a fellow Wolf to put ‘er ahead in the voting. If I am right in this, Master Hedgethistle, I did you a disservice yesterday and apologise most ‘umbly.

Originally Posted by mormegil

Now looking at votes I think it's fairly safe to assume that Boromir and Aiwendil are innocent, they cross posted at the same time thinking they would give Spawn the 3rd vote and put her in the lead.

Well, I agrees with you as far as Aiwendil is concerned. Particularly as Spawn ‘erself voted for ‘im. Then again, I never suspected ‘im much yesterday. And I guess that probably goes for our crab farmer too, though I be less sure of ‘im. Reason being that ’e could have been sacrificing a fellow Wolf to gain the appearance of innocence. I certainly wouldn’t put it past ’im. And when I looked over ’is comments from yesterday, I was slightly troubled. ’E was flip-flopping a bit, if you take my meaning. ’E made a number of accusations early on, then backtracked on ’em and started puttin’ forward other suspects. ’E didn’t give any indication that he suspected Spawn until quite late on in the day, but then done went an’ voted for ’er, effectively condemning ’er (as ’e knew Aiwendil was likely to vote for ’er). ’Twould be a risky ruse for a Wolf, but one which could reward ’im richly if it meant we all pegged ’im as an innocent.

As for the other votes, Mistress Wilwarin’s vote stands out, being as it put Formendacil ahead of Spawn in the lyncing stakes. But I can’t helpt thinking that a Wolf wouldn’t be that obvious in tryin’ to save ‘er fellow Wolf. Funny, but ‘er “suspicious” vote makes Wilwa less suspicious in my eyes.

The votes of mormegil, Holbytlass, Kath and Rune all put forward alternative candidates when Spawn was on two votes. As such, they are mildly suspicious and so I reason that there may well be a Wolf among ‘em.

Can’t tell much from the votes of Lhuna and Wayne - which leaves young Gurthang. And ‘e troubles me still, particularly as I’m inclined to think Formendacil innocent, an‘ Gurthang was gunnin‘ for ‘im right up to the end of the day. And what was all that about trying to protect the Seer? Well, my lad, clearly you failed. Could well be a Wolf but, presently, I’ve got ‘im pegged as a possible Cobbler.