Tol-in-Gaurhoth III (The Saga Continues...)

[the guy who be short]

Oh villagers of Storyland, our hamlet takes a blow
Eomer has fallen, unimaginable woe
What can man do against such violent hate?
How can we possibly retaliate?
A blind shot into the dark we must now take
For it is our lives at stake...

[The Saucepan Man]

Darn! He was one of my best customers too!

It seems to me that a pint of Saucepan's Old Potbolier is in order. One of my finest ales, it is. Really puts hairs on yer chest ...

Oops! Bad choice of words.

There now. That'll calm the nerves and help us get our thinking caps on.

Now, who could have done such a terrible thing? Any ideas?

*Stares intently at the phantom and Kuruharan*

[mormegil]

Well sung guy who be short. The best corse of action is to analyse each villager and the werewolf will present him/herself inadvertently based on their responses. Everyone is a suspect currently and we need to hear some defense from indivduals. I would like to hear from two in particular, namely Saucepan Man and Kuruharan. They both live a lifestyle that has made me highly suspect of their character, what with brewing and drinking naught but ale. Now I know that this doesn't imply guilt of murder but we would be wise at looking closely them. And also Kuruharan is new to our village and that casts more doubt on him.

[The Saucepan Man]

Originally Posted by mormegil

... what with brewing and drinking naught but ale.

Since when did this become a valid basis for an accusation of murder? Indeed, my tendency to the bottle inevitably aids me in enjoying a most peaceful night's sleep. Most nights I am incapable of even snuffing out the candle, let alone carrying out a grisly murder.

But what about yourself, friend cleric? Since you are so keen to cast aspersions with not a shred of evidence, perhaps you could explain why we shouldn't be looking to you in this grim matter?

[mormegil]

Originally Posted by The Saucepan Man

Since when did this become a valid basis for an accusation of murder? Indeed, my tendency to the bottle inevitably aids me in enjoying a most peaceful night's sleep. Most nights I am incapable of even snuffing out the candle, let alone carrying out a grisly murder.

Sauepan Man, I am suprised that you didn't read more carefully I said:

They both live a lifestyle that has made me highly suspect of their character, what with brewing and drinking naught but ale. Now I know that this doesn't imply guilt of murder but we would be wise at looking closely them

I was questioning your character not accusing you my friend. Now if you find a nasty character there you will likely find nasty deeds.

But what about yourself, friend cleric? Since you are so keen to cast aspersions with not a shred of evidence, perhaps you could explain why we shouldn't be looking to you in this grim matter

By all means you should be looking at me, as I said we should be looking at all people. As is well known my nightly routine consists of study, prayer and meditation. After which I retire rather early to bed and sleep rather soundly till just before dawn, unless I am woken by your lot making enough noise to raise the dead.

[Kuruharan]

what with brewing and drinking naught but ale.

I do not drink naught but ale. I will also branch out into whiskey and scotch.

Besides, I would think this makes it painfully obvious that I cannot possibly stand up, much less go about killing people much after 10:00 at night.

[The Saucepan Man]

Originally Posted by mormegil

I was questioning your character not accusing you my friend.

Given our current situation, I would say that mentioning anyone's name is tantamount to an accusation (although staring intently is of course, nothing of the sort ). You asked me to explain myself and I did. I would have thought, though, that my friendly nature was well known throughout the village.

Now, preacherman, it seems to me that those early nights provide plenty of scope for grisly night-time activities without leaving you tired. And perhaps its no coincidence that the victim was a free thinker, one whose philosophising might challenge the strict teachings of the church. I see that his books were left in a state such that his thoughts may no longer be shared ...

[The Only Real Estel]

And perhaps its no coincidence that the victim was a free thinker, one whose philosophising might challenge the strict teachings of the church. I see that his books were left in a state such that his thoughts may no longer be shared ...

Now that does make a bit of sense. Although our talk rarely ventured beyond village news and such, it was easy enough to see that he was a free thinker. He tried to talk to me a bit about his views on preaching and religion and such, but, well, I’m afraid I’d had a few too many ales by that point and he knew I'd never remember it by morning. What have you to say about it, parson Morm?

[mormegil]

Originally Posted by The Saucepan Man

Given our current situation, I would say that mentioning anyone's name is tantamount to an accusation (although staring intently is of course, nothing of the sort ). You asked me to explain myself and I did. I would have thought, though, that my friendly nature was well known throughout the village.

Now, preacherman, it seems to me that those early nights provide plenty of scope for grisly night-time activities without leaving you tired. And perhaps its no coincidence that the victim was a free thinker, one whose philosophising might challenge the strict teachings of the church. I see that his books were left in a state such that his thoughts may no longer be shared ...

So if I understand correctly it is acceptable to accuse one if is implied by what is said just so long as we don't name any names? I merely state my suspicions (taking a big risk I might add) and that is equivalent to accusing but somehow there is a difference when you accuse but don't say my name?

Now as far as it goes with Eomer's free thinking, I readily admit that we didn't see eye to eye on many issues, however He and I had many a lively debate and chat that we each enjoyed to share ideas and express differences. Sadly those will no longer be held due to his demise by those fiendish wolves.

[the phantom]

Eomer was the first to die?! I'm shocked!

(you can add me as the town crier if you wish, Eomer- as long as you are meaning a law official and not the town moper or weeper)

So, another werewolf attack, eh? I heard that the two villages up the road got taken out by those beasts. There wasn't an army of them though- it was never more than a group of three. But that was enough.

It seems that they did quite a bit of their damage during the day, getting the townspeople to lynch innocents. We must not allow that to happen here.

But how can we avoid it this first day? Without guidance from some sort of seer it is, as short guy (can I call you that?) said, a "shot into the dark".

Seeing as there is no use in logic, we must go with our guts on this day.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go take a walk and figure out what my gut is trying to tell me (if anything).

[Firefoot]

Fordim, your strategy would be excellent for flushing out werewolves if it were mathematically sound. There is a ratio of roughly 4 villagers:1 werewolf; a list of three random people is more likely to include three innocent villagers than even two villagers and one werewolf. At odds of 2 villagers:1 werewolf, such a theory would be plausible, but with only about one-fifth of the people being a werewolf, the odds are pretty bad.

I suppose they're bad anyway, but I'd rather be casting a vote off of a full list that is sure to include werewolves than a random short list which is probable not to have a werewolf.

Your point about not reaching a consensus is understood, but I don't think we need a short list to do so. For the moment, I'd rather keep the field open.

[the phantom]

(just noticed Fordy's post above my last one)

Your ideas for making a lynch list out of people who voted the day before makes me a bit antsy (because I see a way for wolves to exploit it to some degree), but as far as the idea for protecting the seer, I think it's a good one. I do see a way that an extremely risky and devious wolf could use it to his advantage, but it would have a fairly good chance of backfiring on him, so I doubt he'd try it.

Count me in as far as the seer protection goes. Every day I will tell about my "dream" and name a person as innocent or guilty.

[Eomer of the Rohirrim]

To clarify: the Seer has not yet dreamed of anybody.

[The Only Real Estel]

I must admit I have no suspicions in particular. I never knew the chap very well, though I can’t say I’ve had much time for chatting lately what with my business as it is and all. He did always greet me when we passed on the street and every once in awhile we’d sit down and have one of Saucey’s brews. That phantom fellow could sometimes make me feel a bit uncomfortable, but I think that might be just because he could make me look like a fool in a battle of wits. So I’m not goin’ and accusing him based on that, just commenting. I can see there’s a problem here that’ll take some attending to, though; so I guess I’ll be having to lay my business aside for awhile or else I’ll be so muddled between the two I’ll need another ale to set me straight.