Tol-in-Gaurhoth revisited (aka Werewolf 2)

[Holbytlass]

Originally Posted by Anguirel

Perhaps they're afraid. Perhaps e'en now they're at boarding up yon doors and windows. Who are ye to cast aspersions on your fellow womenfolk, Mistress? Did ye catch any sound last night?

They should be afraid, as all of us are; but I'm not casting suspicion (if that is what you mean by aspersions). I truly am wondering where they are. The 'innocent' part I used because that is what she calls herself.
I'm glad Encaitare came, we old ladies will do our best to bestow wisdom on this matter. Maybe not smarts (as in my case), but slow-thinking wisdom.
And as for, Ainaserkewen, I hope she does show up. So we know she is allright.
As for noise, I heard none.

[Encaitare]

I didn' hear nothin' neither last night. Me poor ol' ears ain't what they used te be. But now as I'm observin' ye all an' hearin' all yer stories, I'm wonderin' why Mr. Hedgethistle was so quick te accuse... an' te think of eatin' chicken at a time like this! Now, I ain't accusin' ye, lad, I won't have none of that till I think it's a good an' proper time, but still! In my day we had a little more tact that that!

An', Mr. Anguirel, I resent what ye said -- scared an' stayin' at home, my foot! But ye may be right in one respect. 'Twouldn't hurt us to lock the windows an' doors tonight in case the wolves come back -- if wolves it was.

[Son of Númenor]

After careful consideration, I've decided that we shouldn't be considering who's accusing who, but who's defending who. Now Fea has considerable reason to defend The Phantom -- werewolf or no -- as he's her husband and that's what a spouse should do; but Encaitare defending Fea seems strange, for insooth none of us should be defending anyone based solely on character. Evil wears many faces, as they say. That Enca would go out of her way to defend one person -- a person who has not even been directly accused, I believe -- to whom she has no familial relation, seems suspect.

[Holbytlass]

Originally Posted by Son of Númenor

...but Encaitare defending Fea seems strange, for insooth none of us should be defending anyone based solely on character.

I'm going to stick my neck out a little on this one. SoN, I think you do right in reminding us all not to base our defending someone on character alone. But I think Enca's defence of Fea is not suspect (at this time) but just Enca being a product of her time. When women were women and men were MEN. And she might not have known that when a person transforms into a werewolf they become very strong, even women.
I'm sure your own dear mother might have sayings or ideals that do not happen at this time. How is she doing?

[Son of Númenor]

She is not well.

A word of advice, if I may: Don't stick your neck out too far with werewolves about.

I am anxious to here more from The Barrow-Wight, and from Eomer of the Rohirrim. The latter has been awfully silent, a trait I have not known him for before.

[Ainaserkewen]

Aina looked up from her corner where she'd been crying, her eyes red with tears, staining her dress.

"Nim! Oh, Nim you've heard then, about poor Oddwen. There's werewolves! And they've attacked a villager! Oh, I'm so scared. Now everyone is pointing fingers, starting to accuse people who might be werewolves in guises. I don't know what to do!"

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Encai m'love, how are you? That cough that's been ailing you... has it cleared up since I've seen you last? I thank you dearly for speaking in my favor, but I'm afraid for you if you do again. You may cause suspicion that I'd hate for you to have. Not on my part, m'dear, never, but these villagers... That Fordim Hedgethistle... he's been pointing his fingers and I wouldn't doubt it, his toes, for as long as we've been standing here, and for less reason than lies in the head of a newt.

I pray you all, do not be so quick to suspect Encaitare... our long friendship may cloud her thoughts, but she is more honorable than even I... not a tricksy bone in her, while I am quite fond of causing a wee bit of mischief. Not that I've done any recently... Except, of course, for a bit of teasing now and then... And I've heard rumors that she who shares my name in the village not far from here played a mighty game with her peers...

I suspect at the time only those who have gone out of their way to give me reason to. Yes, Mister Hedgethistle, I speak of you. While you may be emulating my namesake (and doing a mighty job of it, I should add), I shouldn't wonder if you have an ulterior motive.

Much as I hate to say it, I do not currently mistrust... no, I'll rephrase, since I mistrust him greatly. I do not, at this very second in time, think that Fordim Hedgethistle is a direct threat to us. He is quite bright enough to realize the dangers of the position that he's placed himself in, and... well... Actually, I'm not sure.

Allow me to think aloud, if you please.

Fordim could be doing one of many things.

Let us proceed under the assumption that he secretly is a furry vicious beast: Fordim kept close tabs on the situation in the other village, and has seen the way that minds work. That he has chosen to emulate the most highly suspected, and ironically, nearly longest-lived villager (a very lovely lady, I might add... I'd met her several times) fascinates me. He knows well that her purpose for naming names so early on was to get a jump start on the action. He knows well that a person's reaction well reveals their thoughts, especially under extreme pressure. He knows, most especially, that the lass was pure and innocent as the wind driven snow. As a wolf, he sees this as the safest persona to adopt. The villagers would see that if she was innocent, than so might be he. There would be no long hours of dissecting motives, as hers have already been [at least partially] revealed. Mister Hedgethistle's extreme boldness and, to be quite honest, prickliness, can be seen as innocence. Why on Middle Earth, after all, would a true werewolf be so darned obvious.

Or 'tis even simpler... He's a werewolf and wants us to lynch an innocent. Any innocent will do, but he drew our Innkeeper's name out of a hat, and so that is why he is doing his best to lynch him.

Now we proceed under the idea that Mister Hedgethistle is an innocent, although rather pushy, villager. He could simply not fear for his life, as he knows that he is innocent, and so begins to cry wolf, if you'll pardon the pun, just to see what happens.

Or, even better, he's the seer, and dreamt about the phantom last night. It would certainly explain his um... fervor... in the phantom's guilt. As well as his hastily gathered, and not particularly convincing, bit of evidence.

Frankly, I'm leaning towards him being a werewolf trying to hide in the open, but I'm not positive yet. I certainly don't think he's a seer, because no seer is that stupid.

[Son of Númenor]

he secretly is a furry vicious beast

That is no secret.

*murmurs from the crowd*

Oh, you were talking about him being a werewolf. Apologies.

[The Barrow-Wight]

The mason returned to the inn sometime after midday to announce that a functional gallows had been constructed and was ready to use should a consensus be reached on a victim. While sitting near the window ,enjoying a mug of Phantom Ale, he listened attentively to the arguments of his fellow villagers. As he had expected, no one had confessed to the crime, and people were wagging fingers and tongues. He smiled when he heard that phantom had imagined natural wolves to possess knot tying abilities, but he frowned greatly when he heard of the accusations that had been made. Feanor had the right of it by saying they were working on almost no information, but BW knew he must eventually vote for someone.

He noted the different methods that people were using, and wondered if they were tactics or simply personalities. Silence could indicate secret thoughts, but more likely it revealed indecision. Garrolous assertions could like wise show that a person was extremely defensive or at the end of their nerves. With little to nothing to go on, this day’s vote would be the most difficult. He suddenly wished he had an 11-sided coin.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Fea walked over to the Barro-Ight () and slipped him a single coin.

The triick to it, m'lad, is to pick two names at a time and flip several times. Or there is the time-honored spell, chanted most easily to the beat of a drum, but in this case, I quite think that the rhythm of arguing voices may suffice. It goes much like this:

Eeny meeny miny moe,

Catch a werewolf by its toe.

If he attacks, kill him slow,

Eeny meeny miny moe.

The healer told me

To pick the very best one

And you... are it.

Or of course there is the hat trick. That is where you put all the names into a hat, and if you pick accurately thrice, everyone throws their hats at you.

[Nimrodel_9]

Nimrodel looked up to see Ainaserkewen coming toward her. Wiping away her own tears, she started to rise. Then she remembered. She wanted so badly to go put her arms around her friend. But she could be a werewolf. Or not. Nervously she twisted her fingers and looked away. I can't say anything. I will not! If I open my big mouth and someone hears... they might hear something to make them think Aina did it! Nim had a way of speaking her mind... accidentally. Instead she said, "Yes. I heard." She couldn't bring herself to look Aina in the eyes. Foolish! You suspect your own friend! But of course she didn't do it. Not Aina. Never Aina. But what if she is? It's possible. She looked toward the crowd and heard murmurs of phantom and Fordim's name. She couldn't believe they were werewolves either. Well, someone is! If I have to vote for someone to die, I don't know what I will do!

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

Originally Posted by Feanor of the Peredhil

Now we proceed under the idea that Mister Hedgethistle is an innocent, although rather pushy, villager. He could simply not fear for his life, as he knows that he is innocent, and so begins to cry wolf, if you'll pardon the pun, just to see what happens.

Or he's an innocent villager as has been meaning everything he says all day without a whisper of dishonesty, gamesmanship or prevarication -- his only interest being the well-fare of the village.

As it looks as though this might come down to a vote betwixt meself and that Phantom fellow I'd just ask as you all consider this: which of the two of us would you rather have around come the next day? If it does come down to this, I accept the judgement of the village, and no hard feelings...

I'm tired and I'm off to bed. If you decide to lynch me, try not to wake me up before a-putting the noose about me neck...

[Son of Númenor]

I must be off as well. Good evening.

[Nimrodel_9]

Finally Nimrodel decided to put a word in. It was getting late and she knew she had to vote for someone. But not Aina, she decided. She couldn't bring herself to betray her friend. After all, phantom was right. She had no evidence. It was just her imagination getting the better of her. Slowly she walked toward the crowd. She fought back tears and said, "Why would you accuse me, Phantom? I'm just thinking what most other people are probably thinking about their friends. I'm no werewolf! But I agree with you and Fea that Fordim has been the meanest so far, and that it might be a trick. I'll vote for him. If he turns out to be a villager, think better of me. + + Fordim" I only hope I have chosen wisely! With that she walked away. "Let us see what the night shall bring," she whispered to herself, and shuddered.