WWJ XI: When World's Collide

[Thinlómien]

"I am quite confident that Volo's innocent. He acts innocently and Boromir believed him innocent."

Thinlómien sucked her hair. "When I reacalled all the village events, I found out it is really possible that Nogrod is the last wolf. In that case, master weed-dealer, you're absolutely hilarious. Anyway, take a closer look on Boro's list", Thinlómien urged and threw a copy of the start of Boromir's speech on the table. "I underlined some passages. (Bolded one, too.) Have a good look at them."

'As far as today goes, here's who I feel good and safe about:

Macalaure
Nogrod
Volo

'I've wondered what's been the suspicion brewing around Mac has been about. I catch no evil wolf intent. He did strongly stir suspicions against Menel, he started the voting of Menel, he's been just as helpful as anyone. I really don't understand Sleepy's reasoning, or anyone else's as far as why Mac is a wolf. To me there are several more noticeable wolf probabilities.'

'If Nogrod's a wolf, he would be the greatest back-stabbing, yet brilliant wolf to have ever been cursed. That's the end of that.'

'Volo, started voting with Valesse yesterday (and I believe he was really the first one that started suspecting her), I said he seemed innocent to me, now he's got a wolf lynch under his belt. Much like Mac, I catch no evil intent.'

"Now, look at the bolded sentence. Look at the sentence about Mac earlier. Now, wouldn't this greatly suggest that he knew of their innocence? 'I catch no evil intent' being synonymous to 'I dreamed of him, he's not a wolf'? Against this background, isn't the 'that's the end of that' screaming that 'I did not dream of him, I trust him based on other things'?" Thinlómien fell to her chair. "This does not suggest that Nogrod is a wolf, but that we shouldn't discount him. My lorebooks tell me he is cunning, and bold." The elf sucked her hair again. "Besides, doesn't the death of Macalaure fit into Nogrod's wolvishness? Having bluffed so much and being trusted by nearly the whole village, wolf-Nogrod only needed that more sheep-like and guidable innocents would be around, and no one (except Naria who hadn't good reasoning behind her suspicion) would even question his innocence that was claimed by Boromir's list? No offense to you, Volo and Kath, or to Sleepy either, but a wolf-Noggie would certainly have seen Macalaure posing the biggest threat for him."

"The third point that I have against Nogrod is that he - especially at the beginning of the game - speaks mostly of general ideas 'x did this and y did that, that could make y a wolf' than of opinions 'x did this and that makes him a wolf in my opinion'. Now, I don't say that it's a bad thing. It's good to be objective and analytical. But surely to a wolf trying to think like an innocent it is easier to speculate who could be wolf based on their actions than give an actual opinion? I migth be blabbering nonsense here, though, saying what just comes to my mind without thinking about it too much." The stablehand maiden sighed.

"Besides, Noogles, your defense doesn't convince me. You said:

I intentionally tried to make it more uncertain and more frustrated by making my Ranger-comment back then. Then I could see it as quite a logical choice, that it went after Maca as the ranger had protected Boro the last time there was a real choice and I might be protected this time: it might be seen as a bit safer kill for it. But the ranger was wittier than it was. Let the ranger be praised for that!

Either I do not get your point or you're being really wolvish here. Wouldn't a wolf want to sway the ranger to waste his/her defense on himself? Wouldn't you, as a wolf, want to sway the ranger to protect yourself and leave Maca unguarded?"

"The more I think of this, the more I'm worried about Nogrod."

Thinlómien glanced at Kath. "I recalled all your words, but it didn't make me any wiser about you. However, in your defense, why would our ModGod use a masculine pronoun about a known female. It does not make sense."

"My vote - which comes soon- will probably go to Noggie."

[Nogrod]

"Besides, Noogles, your defense doesn't convince me. You said: Either I do not get your point or you're being really wolvish here. Wouldn't a wolf want to sway the ranger to waste his/her defense on himself? Wouldn't you, as a wolf, want to sway the ranger to protect yourself and leave Maca unguarded?"

"I haven't seen anything else but this caught my eye... Are you sure you actually understood what I said? Let's not make a mistake here... I mena every vote counts now, heavily (the wolf may use the vote immediately! Wait a second..."

[Thinlómien]

"Please, Nogrod, explain what you meant, then, if I was wrong."

[Nogrod]

"First: Boro's explanations for the guiltlessness of the three. He couldn't actually write that he knows it now could he? He still had a chance to remain alive if I was the one killed that night. So he had to say something, anything to look even a bit convincing - which "I catch no evil intent" isn't either. But why were all three put in separate lines, and myself in the middle? If there was a reason to point out that I was different from others, wouldn't he have handled myself differently? Sorry. You accuse Boro of outward carelessness and threat our village with a failure. Remember, one vote for an innocent and it's very probabvle downfall of the village as the wolf secures the kill by giving the second vote first!"

[Thinlómien]

"Sorry, Nogrod, rage in peace but you fail to convince me. I can't explain Boro's words for him." Thinlómien took a long breath and shut her eyes.
"May the Valar guide my mind and be merciful... I vote

++Nogrod

I really must go now."

She cast a quick glance at the weed-dealer. "I pray I'm right this time."

Then she turned to Volo and Kath, those who she presumed to be her last remaining fellow innocents, or victims. "All I can say is that now, I'm pretty confident of Nogrod's guilt. Recall my points about him and ponder them. Recall his own words thorughout the history of the village. And remember that his family's nature is both bold and cunning. Volo, please remember Kath's a she and recall her words. Kath, please trust Boromir's 'I catch no evil intent' -comment on Volo."

"Thirdly, please do not let Nogrod or yourselves to sway you to vote me. I am innocent. Recall all I have said if that helps. Trust me. If you kill me today, or any other innocent, the village is lost, unless both the wolf and the ranger (if s/he's till alive) pick the remaining ordo next night. Choose well."

Saying her last words, Thinlómien fled the inn dreading what would happen to them all.

[Nogrod]

Second: Maca's death might suit to a "wolf-Noggie", but either one's death (Maca or myself) would suit the actual wolf and I think there are reasons why the wolf might have thought that Maca was less probably guarded that night.

Third: I might refer to yourself "babbling" here a bit. Sorry, in a hurry to reach the last point. I'll be back if needed...

Fourth:

Wouldn't a wolf want to sway the ranger to waste his/her defense on himself? Wouldn't you, as a wolf, want to sway the ranger to protect yourself and leave Maca unguarded?

I just don't see the point here. After either myself or Boro had been tried to kill, I thought of reminding the Ranger that the next Night's guarding probably is in vain as the wolf will visit the same one another time and kill him. So s/he should think most of who to guard not the next Night (no matter who as the last Night's victim will be dead anyhow) but the next after that. I was not sure whether fex. a ranger-Volo would have realised it because I had no memory of that rule being stated in this game although it's quite common (meaning no double rangering on the same person).

As a human innocent who felt that either I myself or Boro was under attack heavily, I thought it wise to make that note (it might have been myself dead and then the ranger might have protected Boro the next Night). I know that many of the players were familiar with the rule and were perfectly capable of getting the idea themselves, but there were at least one who - being the ranger - mightn't have known it...

X-talked with Lommy

[Nogrod]

"Well, I knew she would have to go and tried to be as fast as I could... but my last was late. No can do." Nogrod leaned heavily to the desk he had come to and emptied his pint.

"This is not looking good, not at all. The wolf may now jump on Lommy's vote and then it starts to be bye-bye for the village. We were so close..."

With that he took another pint.

"But three votes left. I'll try to see if I have time to look at the things."

[Volo]

"Well, this does have sense, yes. I'm rather curious about Nogrod mentioning the seer and ranger a few times... Post #289 is really strange to me. This part the most:

I mean: If the one killed toNight is not the seer, and the wolf is still at loss, that is most important...

Now, friend Nogrod (whom I still can't see as a wolf, why would a wolf kill his both friends? Well, if he's been smoking strong stuff maybe, but...), this definitely looks like you knew who was attacked. What are you trying to say by bolding out the suspicious words like that? You did explain it somehow in post #348 and in #344 you explained why it would be a bad idea to vote Sleepy being a wolf. But I don't see how you are saying about being innocent yourself here...

Kath could just as well be a wolf, while you two are accusing each other, she is quiet. She is a well known late-morning person, but try not to vote yet. She is rather mysterious, but until now all the mysterious people have turned out innocent...

The ghost of Glirdan sure made a mistake there, no denying, the mistake not being what he said, but being that he said. I have a strong feeling that the wolf's name starts with a T. Nagrod, make points on Lommy or Kath for a change...

Now, I think I'll listen what Kath has to say.


(Cross-posted with everything after #351.)

[Nogrod]

"I was meaning to shift there...

But as you ask. The bolding, that was the important part because if the wolf would have gotten a non-seer, that would be of utmost importance to be able to cover the Seer the Night after...

in #344 you explained why it would be a bad idea to vote Sleepy being a wolf. But I don't see how you are saying about being innocent yourself here...

That is basically what we can never do here... or we all can say, but no one will listen anyone only saying it

-----------------------
Just a first point about Lommy. Her fervent attack looks a bit weird. Add to it her systematic denial of actually pretty good arguments. It looks like she would wish to get her mind whatever the situation. Now who needs to do that toDay? She even goes so far as to voice the following:

Volo, please remember Kath's a she and recall her words. Kath, please trust Boromir's 'I catch no evil intent' -comment on Volo."

"Thirdly, please do not let Nogrod or yourselves to sway you to vote me. I am innocent. Recall all I have said if that helps. Trust me.

This I must say I suspect strongly. When there are only four people left, a smart wolf would like to be friends with everyone, looking very well-tuned and lovely indeed (it sounds like a wise and caring mom or a Jesus attending those near her, only hoping for their best - in a game of werewolf in this situation!) and not wish to cast suspicion around to find the actual wolf looking from everywhere. So a good tactical pull off? "We are nice aren't we all, that Noggie goes on opening nasty doors and tries to look around?" That might be called the "Feel good"-factor. When you have been trusted, you tend to trust the one. Now she wants to get away herself nicely? I know she has timetable issues. Well what to do if you are a wolf on her position? Try to make as convincing case you can and cross your fingers for the best outcome...

[Kath]

Kath arrived, tired and confused, and caught Volo's comment.

"I'm sorry." She began. "But Kath has nothing of any help to say. I suspect all three of you because I don't know which one of you is the wolf! If that he in the narration was a slip on Glirdan's part (which has been seen before, one of my ancestors was involved in that particular village) then either Noggie or Volo must be the wolf. Lommy has looked wolvish to me often over the past few Days, but given the history I'm not sure I can ignore this."

She sighed, completely at a loss.

"I said I would analyses and I may yet, though they will be short if there at all as I'm not feeling all that great. The feud between Lommy and Nogrod is confusing things even more, and makes me inclined to vote Volo just to avoid it. But that is no reason to vote for someone. We cannot risk killing our Ranger. If an ordo died we might just be able to scrape back victory but we would be hard pressed to else.

Well, that was helpful wasn't it?" She rolled her eyes and decided to settle down to something more productive.

"I am going to attempt to do some kind of analysis. I'll be back with whatever I come up with."

She wandered over to a corner table and sat down to think things through.

[Nogrod]

Nogrod stood up and wandered to the desk once again.

"Okay, I've looked at Lommy here and would like to point out a few things, some of them are noted here earlier, some I think are not.

Moderately wolvish things:
- She has managed to vote only the innocents and basically also suspected only innocents (Kath, naturally is a questionmark still). She had a fleeting suspicion of Valesse when she was the talk of the town, but that never came to anything like making a case or voting. So careful not to do any damage and more than happy to try cases over innocents? I mean, mostly they are only suggestions or hints to cases and there are lots of them, but as Boro remarked, there very rarely is anything more substantial in them. A wolf might like to try whether one of them would gather momentum with the help of others.
- Voices suspicion on others who suspect others but then does it herself quite frequently. Her reaction to Kath's analysis at the early stages was a telling one. Still she is constantly assuring others about her own innocense and calls others fellow-victims and whatever. A bit too eager to state these. And the toast for Di...

More suspicious things:
- She took the he-factor up early enough on Day5, but was happy to still vote for Naria rather than Sleepy. Only on Day6 did she use it as some kind of a basis for a vote. But then earlier toDay she was quite ready to go after Kath

at the moment she seems most probably to be the wolf in the bunch

as many had voiced suspicions of Kath yesterDay. And then, like a lightning from a clear sky she decides to take the he-factor and runs rampant on myself. One might be able to see here that she realised the worth of that argument only toDay. If she is the wolf, that point (thence a mistake by Glirdy) would be worth the whole game to her. It would be much better for her not to be the other one from whom we choose but to actually be safe.
- Also her almost rude attack on Gil the morning the wolf had been left a loner was somewhat non-Lommyisque. A frightened wolf ready to go for anything? There wasn't the intensity of toDay, but still both of these attacks do not look like they were made by an innocent Lommy.

To these I would like to add my earlier points on #359.

I don't know, but if I can't get anything better out, I'll be voting Lommy and hopefully helping the village to get rid of the monster.

I mean good heavens! Why would Boro put us three together (myself in the middle!) into a list, away from all the other text, if our status was not the same? If Lommy manages to twist the most probable facts of the list and manages to succeed, I'll surely bow to her, but not to us."

Then he filled his pint and got back to the armchair.

"I need some rest now. I'll be back."

[Nogrod]

"My findings with Kath are much thinner. Her first actions are somewhat eyebrow-raising, but RL-issues seem to loom behind at least some of them. I mean Days with just a vote or a post to say something and then slipping in to vote another time. Her famous and argued "Summary" (in #182) made me suspect her then, but she has defended it reasonably after that.

Surely it is notable that she has consistently drawn her own line in voting, voting mainly for those who will not be killed or are not widely suspected. Her vote of Boro on Day3 surely is interesting. A wolf might give it a go.

Intrestingly this involves consistently voting for Lommy every other Day. I hope your reason toDay is not that you voted for her yesterDay and now it should be someone else? The only ones to break the cycle were Boro (sic!) and the Naria-Wagon.

I suspected her a lot yesterDay evening. Her misleading references that Maca managed to spot, and her total turnaround on the most suspicious person from Lommy to Sleepy looked very bad indeed. Now as I know what this man-factor is, I can't blame her on that anymore. Well, opportunism, surely that is possible. As I said of Lommy: for a she-wolf that kind of mistake would be a gift, a real gift!

What I'm afraid is that one's happiness of being able to get oneself out of reach of the votes toDay will endanger the whole village - however innocent one is.

So even if I tend to trust the list still, I will take a look at Volo too.

But Lommy I'm most suspicious now. No wolf jumping on her vote on me as soon as possible is kind of a telling tale. If we all three are innocents, there is no need for anyone of us to hurry with the vote. Or is the wolf so scared of the Night to come - and a possible third ranger-save - that s/he wishes to stay quiet and not look too obviously wolvish at this time of the Day to have something to defend from toMorrow?

Nogrod leaned back on his chair, this time without his pipe. He was whistling an old Southron melody he had learned as a kid. He never had learned the words, but he was sure they were something about war and sorrow. It was a beautiful tune, but sad.

[Volo]

"So Nogrod, you really want to put us against "the monster"? She sure seems more wolfish than you, but you are more subtle. I'll take example from an ancient ballad I heared just now somewhere in the deep left side of my head, it was something about death, wishing and a valley... I also noted that Lommy's ancestor was noted in the story, as a really unsuccessful wolf. The killer was as wolf as Lommy's ancestor, this tought me, that Nogrod shouldn't be as trusted as he is."

Volo felt really dizzy.

"I feel I'll lie down. I'll vote for either Lommy or Nogrod in an hour or two, if all's well enough..."