WW XXXIII - Other Minds and Hands

[Rikae]

Zombie Gil-Galad had been suspected from the day he refused to take a canonical role. His erratic behavior and strange voting choices made him the logical choice for the day's lynching.

Anguirel quite simply, for lack of anything better to do, grabbed a sword and unceremoniously lopped off the undead elf's head.

The four Downers waited for the transformation...but instead, heard a voice lamenting softly and at a great distance:

"Gil-galad was an elven king, Of him the harpers sadly sing. Last of realms fair and free, Between the mountains and the sea."

The four turned and looked at each other. Di stared at Kath, wide eyed. Kath gazed fearfully at Ang. Ang looked at Shasta....

Shastanis Althreduin grinned, and his teeth seemed unusually sharp and un-elven...
The high Lady Diamond18 began to chuckle quietly, but the laughter ended in a snarl...

FIN

[Diamond18]

MWAH HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HAAAAAAAAAAAA!

That was my favorite game ever.

Sorry Ang.

[Rikae]

Credits

The Losers

Rikae (Mod) – CG Animator, Rendered and Lighted on Night1
The Sixth Wizard (Ordo) – Protester against Dwarven Comic Relief, Buried in Skulls on Day1
Mithalwen (Ordo) Galadriel– Illuminated...(Electrocuted) on Night2
Boromir88 (Ordo)- Sir Boromir, playing Denethor- Set a record for sprinting while on fire on Day2
Durelin (Ordo)- Special Effects Pyrotechnician-Burst over Bywater on Night3
Thinlómien (Ranger/Assassin)- Non-Winged Balrog-Took a little tumble on Night3
Xyzzy (Ordo)- Young Fanboy-Left breathless on Night4
Rune (Ranger/Spy)-Tolkien geek who is ecstatic about being an Elf extra - got out of character on Night4
Volo (Medium) - Gollum - Pushed, didn't fall on Day4
Legate of Amon Lanc (Ordo)- Sound Master/Saruman - Cut from the theatrical version on Night5
Aganzir (Medium)- Smeagol - Nassssty wolves hurts us on Night6

Gil-Galad (Ordo)- Zombie-Gil-Galad - Slain by Celeborn, of all people, on Day6
Anguirel (Ordo)- Celeborn -Found out where Gandalf is on Day6
Kath (Ordo)- Make-up Artist - fired when her services were no longer required (only haircare was needed) on Day6


The Winners

Shastanis Althreduin - Legolas' stunt double - Survived
Diamond18 - Lady in charge of Wigs and all other False Hairpieces - Survived

Macalaure (Wolf)- The 7th orc in the 3rd row - Proved remarkably difficult to kill on Day4

Brinniel (Wolf)-Wacky Foley Artist – Made a lot of noise on Day3
The Saucepan Man (Cobbler/Seer)- Set Catering Manager-Blacklisted on Day5

[Aganzir]

I guess the riddle was of Diamond? Well, if it was, I realised it on the moment when I had read my death narration. Don't ask why, but I had thought it was about Kath and that she was innocent. I've never been good at riddles.

A wonderful game, thanks for Rikae & fellow players. And congratulations for the Wolves. I was so certain this would end up this way.

[Rikae]

And to think I feared the game was unbalanced in favor of the ordos!
Both sides put up a valient fight; it could have gone either way today. Very exciting to watch as a mod!
I'm happy to answer any questions now.

[Diamond18]

Originally Posted by Rikae

I'm happy to answer any questions now.

Did you make SpM the spirit of Peter Jackson on purpose?

[Rikae]

I had been planning to make a cobbler/seer that was Peter Jackson before SPaM posted his role, actually.

When he did, I thought - hey, why not hide the cobbler in plain sight...

[Volo]

I knew I knew I knew I knew!! Damn.

You were the best wolves I've ever seen! Congrats!

Not to mention that this was my favourite game! Thanks Rikae!

A bit of cheating here and there, for which I myself too have to appologise. Sorry.

[Anguirel]

God I feel thick...well done Diamond and Shasta.

My worst performance since XIII, surely! Ah, I should have quit while I was ahead. Don't mix werewolf and exams, kiddies...

[Brinniel]

Yay, we won! *high-fives (or is it...high-paws) fellow wolves*

Okay, I'm going to find some good quotes from our PMs because I know whenever I'm an ordinary, I enjoy reading the wolves' discussions...

[Macalaure]

Where is Volo, that young rascal who tricked me! Let justice be done upon him!

This was a great game. The plotting, the sneakiness at Day, the desperate last stand with Saucepan... hilarious! Gúthwinë for the Wolves! Andúril for the cobblers!

What were your dreams, Saucepan? Whom did you figure out to be a wolf and when?

It's a little disappointing that the game turned out to be so silent on the last Day. Too many noisy players lynched or killed, too much RL-interference... bad luck.

I wonder why nobody ever analysed my posts after my death?


Oh, and: Won! Won! Wohoooooown!

[Diamond18]

Originally Posted by Macalaure

I wonder why nobody ever analysed my posts after my death?

I wondered that too, but decided not to look a gift horse in the mouth.

Oh, and: Won! Won! Wohoooooown!

[Brinniel]

Originally Posted by Brinniel

We already know two roles: Volo's and SPM's. Rikae said there would probably be three hidden Gifted roles, but I'm almost certain there are more than that. Do you guys think we have a Seer, Ranger, and Hunter hidden among the Innocents? Five Gifted is a lot, but possible. Also, seeing the uniqueness of the other two roles we know about, I think there's a good chance that there won't be just any traditional Seer, Ranger, or Hunter...

Originally Posted by Mac

I have to admit that I was unable to make out any gifted-ish hints by anybody (except Volo, of course). There could be anything, I'm afraid.

So we decided quickly not to go after Gifteds. Volo, you really fooled us wolves!

Originally Posted by Mac

I agree that there is no point in killing Durelin or Volo.

I think there is little sense in killing Boro, Gil or xyzzy. I'm not in the mood for such an un-bold kill.

This leaves me with: Legate, Mith, Lommy, Ang, Kath, Aganzir, Rune

Legate: was widely suspected today, but given Six's innocence, he will be safer tomorrow. He said he is a little suspicious of Kath, so I'm optimistic he will give her a closer look tomorrow. He's suspicious of Brinn and me, and I fear that he is going to increase his pressure on Brinn in the mid-distant future.
I would let him live, for the moment.

Mithalwen: was somewhat suspicious of me, but not too much. Hard to predict whether she will in- or decrease it tomorrow. Mith managed to survive in all of her last three games, so we can kill her with a very good conscience.
She's a good option for me.

Lommy: suspects me a little and will increase it out of sheer habit. Did I read somewhere that she will be away for Day Two?
I'm not too fond of killing her.

Anguirel: is suspected by some, while his own suspicions are off. He will hopefully mix things up and keep a few people from looking for wolves elsewhere.
I would let him live.

Kath: is suspicious of me and will probably be persistent in it. She was one of very few who saw through me in the only game I was a real baddie once. I'm scared of her, but I fear people might look towards me if we kill her.
I'm not too fond of killing her.

Aganzir: thinks Brinn innocent. She's off the track so far, but this might change.
I don't feel good about killing her right now.

Rune: is suspicious of me, but I think this might decrease once he has other things to look at.
I think it's a bad idea to lynch him.

Originally Posted by Brinn

Right now, I'm going to say Durelin, Volo, xyzzy, Gil, Boromir, Legate, Rune, and Ang should definitely be out of the picture for ToNight.

I agree that Kath and Lommy probably should be left alone as well.

Aganzir could be a good kill, but then again, I'm not sure if I want to kill off someone who is (for now) mistakenly on my side...it could work to our advantage.

I'm all for killing Mithalwen- She appears to be quite innocent to most of the others, and I think by killing her, no obvious tracks will be led back to us. (I'm also secretly hoping she's a Gifted, but I have no idea). Anyways, I do agree she's our best choice, but let us see what Di and Shasta have to say..

Yeah, sorry Mithalwen...

[Volo]

Originally Posted by Macalaure

Where is Volo, that young rascal who tricked me! Let justice be done upon him!

And we wants to sstrange you! How did you manage that! Just how did you manage that!

Originally Posted by Shasta

Hmm... I'm thinking we should definately go after Aganzir or Legate tonight, preferably the latter as he's louder. I'll wait a while to see if you say anything, xD

That's exactly what I hoped for!

[Shastanis Althreduin]

I would have been on earlier to vote Gil, but my aunt was waiting for a phone call.

We done good, my siblings.

[Diamond18]

Originally Posted by Aganzir

I guess the riddle was of Diamond?

What was the riddle?

[Aganzir]

Originally Posted by Diamond18

What was the riddle?

All that is gold does not glitter

It was the title of my final post. I hoped that someone would have noticed it and realised why it was there, and maybe figured the wolf out of it.

[Mithalwen]

Maybe now people will take lynching quiet players seriously.

Three of the last day players had post counts lower than the moderator! ...and you lynched the only one that wasn't a wolf....

Now Rikae.. can you explain what was going on with the gifted?

[Rikae]

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

Now Rikae.. can you explain what was going on with the gifted?

Sure. I'll just post the PM's I sent them...

Originally Posted by Rune's Role

While being an elf extra is quite fulfilling, it doesn't pay all that well; so you moonlight as a security guard at the studio.

Every night, you can choose to do one of the following:

You may guard the trailer where one of your fellow Downers is sleeping; though you cannot guard the same Downer twice in a row (that would be no fun! :P)

-or-

If you wish, you may spy on one of your fellow Downers instead – in which case, you will learn only whether or not that person has a special role.

You know there is another guard in the studio's employ, whose job description differs slightly from yours, but you have never met him/her. Only if you guard or spy on this person will you learn his or her identity; he or she can learn your identity by guarding you. If you each find out who the other is (officially, from me), you may then PM each other at night.




Good luck!

Originally Posted by Lommy's Role

While playing a non-winged Balrog is quite fulfilling, it doesn't pay all that well; so you moonlight as a security guard at the studio.

Every night, you can choose to do one of the following:

You may guard the trailer where one of your fellow Downers is sleeping; though you cannot guard the same Downer twice in a row (that would be no fun! :P)

-or-

If you wish, you may brutally slaughter the fellow Downer of your choice.

You know there is another guard in the studio's employ, whose job description differs slightly from yours, but you have never met him/her. Only if you guard this person will you learn his or her identity; he or she can learn your identity in the same way. If you each find out who the other is (officially, from me), you may then PM each other at night.




Good luck!

Originally Posted by SPaM's Role

You are possessed by the evil spirit of Peter Jackson.

A sort of cobbler seer, you may learn the role of three players of your choice, on three separate nights. The wolves know who you are, and know you have information for them; but you won't know their identities unless you dream of one. You may not PM them at any time, though. Send me your choices anytime during the night phase.




Good luck!

Originally Posted by Volo's Role

You are the “medium”.

You have somehow managed to find favor with the spirit of Professor Tolkien.

Every night, opening your copy of “The Lord of the Rings” at random, you will find a passage which tells you the role of one of your fellow Downers. The identity of the Downer will be randomly chosen, and both the identity and the person's role will be found in the quotation(s). These may be obvious at times and might not at others, but the information will be in the passage.

Furthermore, the spirit of Tolkien cannot die, though you can.

If you perish (at the hands of wolves or bloodthirsty Downers), the person of your choice will become the new medium (whether that person is good or evil).




Good luck!

When Volo was lynched, he chose Aganzir as his successor.

[Brinniel]

Originally Posted by Rikae

If you perish (at the hands of wolves or bloodthirsty Downers), the person of your choice will become the new medium (whether that person is good or evil).

Ah...so that's why there were two Mediums. Now everything is making sense...

[The Saucepan Man]

Hey, how's a humble Cobbler s'posed to earn a decent living when the Mediums are goin' round stealing his lines? Sinister Seers indeed.

Originally Posted by Di

Big big thanks to SpM, who is the ultimate Cobbler. Really. You did your job perfectly, Gooseman Jackson.

You are welcome, although I fear that I did not perform as well as I would have liked. I had big plans for making a revelation at some point in order really to spice things up. And I would have done so too, but for two things:

1. My choice of dream victims (Legate, Mac and Anguirel on consecutive Nights) were not the best; and

2. Volo kept putting a spanner in the works with his own ever-changing revelations.

I also put in a rather sub-standard performance on spotting the other Wolves. Although I thought Brinniel likely to be a Wolf and and had dreamed of Mac, I was certain for much of the game that the remaining Wolves were Kath and Aganzir.

Still, it was useful to know that Mac was a Wolf on the Day of his "revelation" (although I would probably have guessed from that anyway), and it was also helpful to know of two innocents that I could concentrate my fire on without risking getting a Wolf lynched. My reason for dreaming of Legate, by the way, was because I thought that he looked Wolfish and so concluded, on the basis of my usual performance, that he might well be the Seer ...

I like to think that I contributed to getting Volo double-lynched with Mac. That said, it came as a massive surprise (and delight) to me when it happened. Contrary to Anguirel's view, I found that Day most exciting and enjoyed myself greatly, even though I knew that I would most likely be dead meat the next Day (better me, of course, than a Wolf).

I thought that someone might possibly go for my alternative interpretation of the dreams on my last Day, but was not overly confident. I actually part-believed my own interpretation of the Aganzir dream, though, still thinking that she might be a Wolf! I also had one worked out for the Legate dream - based on the quote being about Saruman - but he was dead before I got to use it.

As for that last minute "revelation" of Aganzir's , I only just spotted it before I hit submit on my farewell post. I thought that she was probably bluffing, but that if she was not, it was unlikely that she would be naming the person she truly intended to hunt. Had I had more time, I probably wuld have posted as much, but happily Shasta and Di made the right decision anyway.

A wonderful, really enjoyable game - one of the classics in my view - so thanks to all concerned, and particularly to Rikae for coming up with such a great scenario and bringing it off marvellously, and of course to my Hyaenine friends for securing the victory.

Hooorah!

[Rikae]

I would just like to add...

This was the Battle of FIVE SEERS!!!!

Four real ones (sort of), and Mac...

[Volo]

Originally Posted by Rikae

I would just like to add...

This was the Battle of FIVE SEERS!!!!

Four real ones (sort of), and Mac...

And Gil and SPM!

[Brinniel]

Okay, Night 1.

We didn't really have much to talk about. The main discussion was about SPM, who we knew was the Cobbler/Seer from the very start.

Originally Posted by Mac

What do we do with SPM?

I'm not sure whether his role works like a common seer. It says he will be "receiving information". Might it be a passive seer who only receives a dream that Rikae chooses for him? I asked her, but she wouldn't tell me any more.
If he can choose whom to dream of, it might be good to have him dream of one of us as soon as possible. I would like to step on his toes to make him dream of me (hopefully without attracting suspicions from anybody else), so we have a tiny ability to communicate by hints during the days. It would be of great help to us, but also dangerous if anybody else notices (then again, neither Roa or Nogrod are in this game).

In the end, SPM turned out to be a great ally...I don't think our win would've been possible without him.

SPM- Did you dream of a wolf early on? I'm really curious to see who your choices were each night...

[Mithalwen]

Clever stuff Rikae.
Pity Lommie got snuffed out so soon....

Notes from Mandos soon after I was killed .. I wasn't able to keep up so completely afterwards... but I needed ot work out some of the total Paranoia in private blog entries.

Why do I have to die so early in such an interesting game? I have never died so soon (apart from when I was righteously lynched of course.) I have never been wrongly lynched. Other times I have either been so clueless and /or batty that the wolveshave kept me alive. Although I have my moments I wouldn't say I was the deadliest of wolfbanes. I will take some credit for picking out Lalwende, and I tend to know when Sauce is a wrong-un but I can go too persistently up the wrong track.
I knew I was doomed - my only hope was that they would go for a "flitter" or Durelin leaving no tracks (of course it is better to kill someone unlikely to be lynched) or that there would be a ranger save. And though Rikae's narration indicates 2 rangery type bods neither of them thought to protect me....

I wonder a lot about Volo's role. He must have some power but I am a little peeved that his main achievement so far was to highlight my innocence/ possible giftedness. I suppose on a film set the Prof might be Cobblerish .

I am so sorry that I lost my analysis post - It might have saved me.

I suspect (and it is statistically probable) that there is a wolf among the low level posters. Also sad to say among my closer downer friends who may think I know them too well to leave alive - Boro, Lommie, Ang ...Rune ....

Kath is a friend but she knows I can't read her so I am less likely to be a top priority. Sauce I couldn't call a friend but he reads me quite well as shown when he took my daemon test. He usually attacks me when he is a wolf / cobbler - which didn't happened. However in a game rich in newer players I think he would have preferred to keep me around as one of the old guard I provide a better cover for him.

I still suspect Legate - why has noone picked up on him saying I didn't participate much yesterday?

Of course I was completely wrong about Sauce and was wrong to suspect my friends. Next time I shall have to garner suspicion.... but not too much...

[Macalaure]

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

Why do I have to die so early in such an interesting game? I have never died so soon (apart from when I was righteously lynched of course.)

Actually, you usually living long was a reason for us to kill you. I always feel bad about the first kill who only gets one day to play, so among the ones whose death wouldn't have done us any harm, we chose the one whom we could kill with the least bad conscience.

Sorry Mith. And sorry Ang, it wasn't meant to spoil your fun.

Originally Posted by Brinn

This would have been fun, but never came to be because Sauce was simply playing too smooth on Day One.

Originally Posted by Rikae

Weeel, at least he admits to trying to cheat!

I was only aiming at clarification.

Originally Posted by Mith

But the uncertainty over gifteds benefits the wolves since they can lie through their miserable fangs.... *cough* Mac

I'm sure I could've done the same if the gifted roles had been known to everybody.

[Diamond18]

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

Maybe now people will take lynching quiet players seriously.

Three of the last day players had post counts lower than the moderator! ...and you lynched the only one that wasn't a wolf....

In my case, at least, I would have been that quiet whether I was a wolf or an ordo or a gifted. It was rather lucky, really, that I had such a perfectly honest and good excuse for slipping under the radar. But there was a good mix -- Mac, Brinniel, and SpM were all rather loud. Shasta and I were really the only quiet baddies.

On that note, I want to thank Mac and Brinn for pulling most of the weight early on. Before their deaths they were doing 90% of the talking at Night and during the Day. And Mac's seer ploy worked out much better than I would have thought -- even though he got lynched, he took Volo down with him. I recall sending a PM that Night that went something along the lines of *drinks a toast to Volo's blood, possibly consisting of Volo's blood* -- because I was majorly, majorly relieved to see Volo dead. I'd been gnashing my teeth over the idea that he couldn't be killed right away. So kudos to Volo for being such a thorn in our wolvish sides....

I have to admit (boast?) that I nominated Lommy to be killed and felt an enormous amount of glee when she turned out to be gifted.

And I want to thank Shasta for being my sneaky partner in quiet crime, and for agreeing to kill Agnazir even though it looked as if his head was on the line. We spent a bit of time on MSN talking about the how we were between a rock and a hard place -- if she was really a hunter and was hunting him, he'd die, but if we didn't kill her, it would be really hard to avoid a lynching.

Big big thanks to SpM, who is the ultimate Cobbler. Really. You did your job perfectly, Gooseman Jackson.

Most thanks to Rikae, who was a wonderful mod. I loved the premise of the game (I couldn't NOT join) and the narrations were great. Also, this is the first time I've ever gotten to be bad, and to quote Venom: "I like being bad. It makes me happy."

*clutches Downie in furry paws and rambles and gushes in true awards ceremony fashion*