WW XXIX Dor-en-Gaur

[Nogrod]

NB. All persons not known or revealed in any of the narrations will be referred to as a "he". So there is no hint whatsoever concerning the sex of any particular person having a role in the narrations.


~***~

A shadowy beast, almost darker than the night surrounding it ran through the woods and fields of Taur-nu-Fuin silencing every creature around on it’s way. It was a Gaur of Sauron and it had a mission.

The Eagles glided downwards from the high altitudes they had been travelling over Ered Gorgoroth. Every one of them was carrying a sword that shone in the light of the full moon above the clouds. They were searching for the Gaur.

The paths of these creatures seemed to be converging on the same spot: a small, almost insignificant village in the vicinity of Tarn Aeluin. Many lights were lit in the village that night by the villagers who couldn’t sleep. The village had been restless for a long time already as so many of the sons and husbands had been taken off to the war up North. But tonight there was a restlesness of a different sort. It moved from house to house as the beasts were approaching.

The Gaur sensed the Eagles and hastened it’s pace. It had to reach the village first.

The Eagles felt the presence of the servant of Sauron and rushed forwards, now sure of their target, shrieking as they glided downwards.

............................

The Gaur had already passed a few farmsteads as it halted in front of a house it felt was the right one. It listened carefully and sensed around to be sure. The Eagles were yet far enough and the villager living in the house was not inside. Quietly it sneaked forwards, now seeing and hearing what it had been waiting for. The villager was coming from around the corner with a small lamp in his hand. He seemed to be nervous and tried to whistle a tune to make himself feel more secure.

Before he had time to realise what happened the sharp teeth penetrated the thin flesh of his throat. The pain was horrible. There had been nothing, nothing even in his wildest nightmares that could have surpassed the agony the bite of the Gaur inflicted. The will and the mind of the villager were dimming and getting fainter. But there was a new voice there. The voice of the Master.

The Gaur slipped away from the yard and continued towards the center of the village. A loud shriek came down from high up the sky. Suddenly there felt to be movement everywhere.

One villager had been visiting another earlier in the evening. As the restlessness of the night had crept in they had decided that the visitor should stay over that night. To their misfortune they had not been able to sleep and now opened the door to get a look at the heavens to see what had caused the noise. The Gaur was on them in a flash. The two villagers sensed the onrushing beast early enough to try and turn around from the door but had no chance of actually making the turn.

But just as the Gaur leaped on them the first Eagle dashed down with a shriek that was now so loud as to freeze everyone miles around. No one dared to open their eyes, neither to look outside from their homes. But everyone was awake in the village now just hearing the noise of the battle been played out in their village.

There was biting, clawing, howling and crawling and shrieking. The Gaur had to concentrate on defending itself so it only managed to hastily snap at the throats of the two villagers who had already been stunned by fear and shock. Eventually it had to retreat as it was alone against three giant Eagles. The Eagles followed it but the Gaur had a good cover running under the trees and between the houses, spaces too tight for the Eagles to attack it.

..............................

The Eagles pulled up and circled a few rounds over the village. Then as from a common consent shared without a word or gesture they all plunged down, every one of them landing beside one villager’s house.

“This is a sword of the order of Thorondor. Even a Gaur will be afraid of it and pull back when seeing one. And a Gaur indeed has infected your village. It will now be your task to defend those of you who are innocent during the nights. Good luck to you villager and pick the ones you defend wisely!” That was the message the Eagles told the frightful villagers who hid inside their homes and waited for the worst. After leaving the swords in front of the doors the Eagles pulled up again, now already looking at the scent of the Gaur.

They felt it’s tracks soon enough. Two of the Eagles took after it but the third one made yet one more plunge to the village.

It landed beside yet another house and knocked the door with its beak. It had sensed that in this house there lived a brave villager and it was right. The villager opened the door carefully, ashtonised to face a giant Eagle. The great Eagle whispered something into his ear and then pulled a golden dagger from it’s feathers and gave it to the confused villager. With a gracious nod it took to it’s wings and went after it’s friends.

.................
PLEASE NOTE: Do not post to this thread yet... Game starting here, soon...

[Nogrod]

Basics:

Roles:
There are three werewolves to kill the villagers.
There are three rangers to defend the villagers.
There are three others with some specialities (which will be hinted at / revealed in the narrations).
There are ten ordinary villagers trying to get rid of the werewolves.

Winning:
The villagers win when all the werewolves are dead.
The werewolves win when their number equals the number of villagers.


Some important rules:

- The deadline is 10 PM GMT by the official World Clock.
- The game will start with a Night phase on Sunday 28th.

- Everyone has a choice of retracting her/his vote once each Day for whatever reason.

- There will be no double-lynchings.
- If there's a tie, the person reaching the highest vote first is lynched.

- Players who don’t post or fail to vote in two days in a row will be removed from the game.
- Exceptions to this rule may be negotiated with the Mod in advance of the absence (in PM), but that will naturally not give anyone an immunity from lynching or a Nightly kill during the absence.


Miscellanious rules and recommendations:

- All discussion about RL hindrances etc. should take place in the admin thread, which I hope all the players will check regularly.
- The roles will be revealed upon death.
- There will be no clues to the sex of different persons in their roles in the Nightly narrations. All unknowns will be referred to as “he”.
- Editing is allowed to correct horrendous spelling/grammar mistakes, to go back and bold a vote or to mark cross-posts: otherwise editing is strongly discouraged.
- Bolding the names of your fellowplayers in your posts is strongly encouraged.
- The votes should be cast as usual: on a separate line, bolded, ++ in the beginning when giving or -- when retracting a vote.
- All players should be in the Invisible Mode.
- The mod will answer any questions you have by PM – within the limits he sees fit.

Nb. These rules are subject to change as long as Day1 begins. If you think a rule is bad or incomprehensible - or if you think an important ruling is missing, please raise the issue in the admin thread.

[Nogrod]

Celuien the Innkeeper was astonished to meet her customer up that early. The weird man who called himself Nogrod came to the breakfast at the usual time and had awaken her, like nothing had happened last night!

“Oh ya mate? How onearth did ya sleep last nite?” she asked him puzzledly, trying to get awake.

“In fact I didn’t, but anyhow I need a decent breakfast before a long ride”, Nogrod answered and sat down to the table that had become his regular one during the week he had stayed in the village, the one beside the windows facing east from where the sun was shining. The dawn was already turning into a full day and all the nature was already up and awake around the village that still felt like being in a dream.

“Hey Mith, get on with it, Noggie here wishes his breakfast!” Celuien shouted to the kitchen and then turned to the man again. “So you’re leavin, aye? Now whassup, stranger?”

Nogrod looked out from the window and only slowly turned his head to meet the questioning eyes of the innkeeper.

“Well, my task is done and I need to follow the tracks. My humble assistance may be needed in the next village”, he fell silent for a while looking like he was insecure about something. The Innkeeper waited for him partly from politeness but also because she had nothing to say to this awkward stranger she barely knew.

“Maybe we should wait for the others to come in? They will come here anyhow, now don’t they?” he said and turned away from the Innkeeper, gazing again out of the window like deep in thought.

“I su’pose...” Celuien answered hesitatingly and went to the kitchen to help her Frivolous Serving-Wench with the bacon, eggs and tomatoes.

..............................

Slowly people started to gather to the Inn. The stranger had his breakfast at his table as the villagers milled around the serving desk. The air was thick with questions. What had happened last night? Was everyone safe and sound? Was someone missing? What was this all about? What were those noises? The shrieks? The howling? What was that bone-freezing fear they had experienced? Who had had the worst experiences? Were there any tidings from the war? Did this relate to it in any way?

“Maybe we’ll ask the stranger?” said Eiliniel’s younger brother Macalaure suddenly as the debate was getting heated. All turned to look at the lonely table by the window and everyone noticed Nogrod’s poorly acted detachedness as he forked the last piece of bacon into his mouth and then wiped his mouth clean with the cotton cloth, still chewing. He had clearly been waiting for that suggestion to come his way. Macalaure had been right again.

“Maybe you should”, he said calmly as he had swallowed. “I don’t have much time as I need to be on my way anyhow. So before I go I need to tell you all that I know of this”. With that he laid the cloth to the table and coughed to clear his throat.

“The war is everywhere. The struggle between the good and the evil... It’s not only in the actual battlefield. Morgoth has many ways.” He glanced at the villagers calmingly after the harsh name he had just uttered. “One of them is his puppet who creates a lots of sorrow, his servant called Sauron. A Gaur of his visited this village last night. That was the evil you sensed.” Nogrod said slowly, eying the villagers.

“I am a humble servant of the order of Thorondor and my task is to abide in villages around the area of threat, before anything happens. The milk has been spilled already here and my presence would be of no further use to you anyhow. I admit I have failed you as I couldn’t do more. I should have.” He looked at the villagers gathered around the desk this time with pity in his eyes. “I’m sorry”.

“But the Eagles made it almost in time and have now armed you. That was part of the hassle last night. Some of you know very well how they helped you. Trust me, you are well armed against the dark forces here. Just lynch the baddies and everything will be allright”. He tried hard to sound confident.

Rune the Moonshiner asked him the thought most of the villagers were going through in their minds. “What’s it we’re supposed to deal with here then, stranger?”

Nogrod rose up from his chair and pushed it forwards. “There are three werewolves among you. Two of them may be a bit weaker than the third... I don’t know. That was all the great Eagle could tell me before they left”. He looked at the villagers with a professional compassion in his eyes. “But three of you have been armed with swords that make those beasts back away. And one of you possesses a golden dagger. As I said, I believe you’re well armed to face this evil by yourselves now.”

With that he wiped his hands clean with the cloth and started to the door. But the villagers were not going to let him slip away that easily, all calling for answers to things they had been thinking.

“There may be things I don’t know of and they may help you or get you into deeper trouble, that seems to be the order of things ”, he said as he tried to get to the doorway “Sorry, my masters command me to get off from here. There are other villages too...” But the villagers were pressing on him, not allowing him to leave that easily. He looked at the villagers once more, now clearly concerned.

Gil-Galad, the Confused Philosopher opened his mouth for all of them. “You claim to know that you don’t know something but still you rush into telling us that it might harm us, or not. Now be square, logical and argumentative, stranger. What d’ya mean? What are we to do?”

Nogrod looked at the philosopher and frowned “Well, I thought I would hear that question. I was coming to it.” he said, pushing towards the door as he spoke.

“I have not been here only to tell you what happened last night. I have been observing you as a village the week I’ve spent with you”, he said, concentrating on his words now.

“So think of it yourselves first. Who is it among you that you’re afraid of now as you know that three of you have been changed into monsters?” That sentence was like unleashing a beast in the small inn. Everyone started looking around concernedly. It was clear that most pairs of fearful eyes were nailed on Anguirel the Merry, the Town Fletcher Roa and the Tall Doctor Mormegil. It looked like a space was opening around the three of them.

Nogrod looked at the anguished villagers from the doorway where he had managed to slip himself in the overall confusion and continued: “Think also, if there are some people you would really wish to be on your side then?” Quite a many still looked half-frighteningly at the trio but most were soon changing their gazes towards the Serious Jester Boromir and Eomer the Beekeeper who were leaning on the other end of the desk together.

Macalaure, Eiliniel’s Younger Brother and Lommy the Ugly Little Shepherdess also realised to be surrounded by people who felt themselves more safe around them. It seemed that people weren’t afraid of them and wished them to be on their side.

“You see? You have pretty strong ideas about you others, now don’t you? I guess you all have your history in here to carry with you, but think for a moment before you go on lynching each other on the basis of old feuds or mishaps. You’re dealing with werewolves here, not with your old misgivings.” With that Nogrod let his eyes wander around the Inn until they spotted Farael, the Moose Tamer. “Now what has he done to you my good people to earn only distrust from you others? Or how about Kath, your Weaver then? Or this Confused Philosopher? Do you think these people will automatically turn into werewolves just because you don’t trust them in the first place?”

Oddly enough, when the word distrust was mentioned, a lot of the villagers turned to look at the Beekeeper again. The Tall Doctor had his fair share of the glances too.

“I would also like to remind you my friends,” Nogrod continued “that as I have followed your life and discussed with most of you here at the Inn, I must say that you’re quick to let some of you just slip away from your thoughts. The perfect case being that of Volo, your Cryptic Lense Grinder here, or somewhat also the Augur Durelin, or Rikae the Superstitious Mathematician. You barely mention them in your discussions, not to back them nor to suspect them. Don’t forget anyone. You can’t afford it. Not even not checking this mostly pleasent character of your Innkeeper Celuien or others like her, I mean Eiliniel the Village Idiot, the Homeless Waif, the Page Girl, the Moonshiner... What I mean is, there are more of those you don’t suspect or remember to look at to begin with than those who are on everyone’s minds from the very beginning.”

The people looked baffled and distressed.

“Okay. I’ll make an auguration myself. You’ll lynch the Moose Tamer, the Philosopher and the Weaver first, then you brave yourselves to lynch those you’re really afraid of; Gorlim's Lighthearted Brother, the Fletcher and the Tall Doctor. That is unless the wolves won’t aid you in these, of course. And in the end, if the wolves won’t destroy this unconscious plan of your shared sentiments, there will be the Mathematician, the Ugly Shepherdess, the Cryptic Lense Grinder, Eiliniel’s brother and this Frivolous Serving Wench making the last stand. Whether that will save you I can’t tell. But anyhow, good luck to you and hold the forces of evil back!”

With that he turned around and took out from the door, leaving the villagers into the Inn. Some of them were smiling inwardly, some of them were understanding more than the others, and the rest were being just even more confused.

.......................

The Village:
Durelin - The Village Augur
Rikae - A Superstitious Mathematician
Thinlómien - An Ugly Little Shepherdess
Volo – A Cryptic Lense Grinder
Kath - A Weawer
Macalaure- Eiliniel's Witty Younger Brother Who's Always Right
Rune son of Bjarne - A Moonshiner
Boromir88 - The Serious Jester
Mithalwen - A Frivolous Serving-Wench
Lalwendë - Eiliniel, A Retired Village Idiot
Farael – A Moose Tamer
Anguirel - Gorlim's Lighthearted Brother, Anguirel the Merry
Mormegil – The Tall Doctor
Celuien - The Innkeeper
Firefoot - A Homeless Waif
Eomer of the Rohirrim - A Beekeeper
Gil-Galad - A Confused Philosopher
Roa_Aoife - The Town Fletcher

DAY1 has started.

Wolves, please stop PM'ing. All villagers, get on to it.

[Firefoot]

Well, someone's got to break the ice.

Stunning news, isn't it? Never have I been so envious of the rest of you, living in your nice houses, while I'm out here and exposed at night. Oh dear me. Though it seems that most of you have forgotten about me anyway. That's right. Forget about the poor homeless waif. Perhaps I should be thankful, though; it's better than being distrusted from the start.

So who's suspicious...? Come forth, I say. Let's get ourselves a wolf today. (Hey, that rhymed.) First off, I think that Lommy and Mac ought not to be trusted, just because everyone does.

[Gil-Galad]

wow... okay lets start on with firefoots bandwagon and say Lommy and Mac are suspicous... then cause i jsut said that people are going to think "hye, that gil-agald may be covering himself up" but if i was knowing that by saying this would put suspicion on me wouldn't i not post what i just said? or maybe i can over-step this logic by stating this, then stating this to make myself safe because it is al lvery confusing... don't you hate it when logic contradicts itself hmmmm?

[Celuien]

Oh dear, Firefoot. There was always shelter in the inn for those as were willin' to do some chores t'earn their keep. Ye'd have been most welcome anytime.

All I can say is that I can't trust anyone. But if there's anyone I really don't trust, it'd have t'be that moonshiner Rune. Tries to steal me business, he does, with that false brew of his.

[Rune Son of Bjarne]

I never trust Mac. . . .I always think him a lynch candidate, nut of course so are you Gil.

But yeah lets get the talking going. . . dunno what to say really, but I will be here for some hours.

[Thinlómien]

I'm so glad to see Roa back in werewolf. I know I should not trust her, though I generally am inclined - believe or not - to do so, but she really seems pretty genuinely innocent this far. And Rune seems quite innocent too... Argh! That poll should never had been made. I mean, I listed Roa as one I tend to trust and Rune as one I tend to sympethise with - and look what I'm thinking right now! This village's truly driving me mad!

Maybe I should take Firefoot's advice then...

Originally Posted by Ff

My point is that everyone is going to come into the game with people they like to trust. As soon as you know who those people are, put them on your distrust list, too, because they're the people who are best going to be able to fool you.

It seems reasonable enough, and Firefoot herself seems pretty innocent too... And she was not on my sympathise or trust list! Admitted she was on my want to be in the same side with -list...

Curse you Nogrod, and your polls, you truly make me feel uneasy...

Originally Posted by Rikae

I'm inclined to think the poll is going to be more a distraction than anything else.

I agree. We did think of such an idea with Noggie when we modded together last summer, but didn't do it after all. Back then, our main point was to cause confusion () and give more topics to discuss on Day1. Knowing Nogrod as well as I happen to know him I daresay that the later one probably is one of his reasons to do the whole poll, after all, he's always disliked Day1's.

Originally Posted by Boro

I detest quiet villages.

Me too. And after that horrendous last game of slip-under-the-radar -wolves I'd be pretty ready to lynch someone for the sake of not contributing and thus helping the village and such that might be a threat, because of no one knowing anything about him/her, later, unless I find some villager suspicious. But this far there has been no wolvish slips or too wolvish comments to go on... Except Kath seems a bit suspicious - her only post this far is just being nice and conversing pleasantly, in a way that makes me wary - but I always suspect her and I'm not right too often... And it's the stupid poll again! I said I tend to suspect her and see what I'm thinking about her...! I'm sure Noggie has made the poll just to drive us mad and make us watch our behaviour...

[Eomer of the Rohirrim]

There's a bit too much "Oh, so-and-so feels innocent!" for my liking. Suspicious. Boromir88, Macalaure and Thinlómien have all used this gambit so far, with nothing to go on.

As a Beekeeper, I am used to keeping to myself. No-one ever likes to visit me - what with the ubiquitous sickly scent of honey and the constant danger of stinging - and that's the way I like it. For this reason I appreciate the good sense of, though would not trust for even one second, Roa and Rune who preach of the traps of overconfidence.

The villager who speaks the most sense so far, however, is the good Mormegil, who urges a swift lynching. I agree totally. But who to choose? There are so many people here who cannot say they didn't have it coming.

(For those of you unfamiliar with beekeepers, they are notoriously cantankerous.)

[Roa_Aoife]

I have to vote now, or I likely won't be able to vote at all. It's a shame there's so little here, but....


This is what I've found, with my personal thoughts on each post thus far.

Rikae Day 1

1st post - Points out that Mac is also useful to the village despite being suspicious, doesn't know what an evil Lommy would look like, thoughts on rangers: can't kill that wolves, but whoever has the golden dagger can, wishes we had a seer, thinks the pole is just a distraction, points out that the most dangerous wolves are also extremely useful to the village

(Definite response to "bandwagon," either Firefoot or Gil-galad did a good job of narrowing the discussion from the start, not sure what kind of point she's making about good wolves also being good villagers, good thoughts about rangers and golden dagger)

2nd post - Agrees with Celuien's guess about 3 hunters and one ranger

(Still no definite suspicions, being very non-controversial, and adding little except to dispel suspicions on others)

3rd post - Thinks Roa makes sense, but also thinks Roa may be trying to slip under the radar by being uncontroversial, wonders why Rune doesn't trust Cel, feels something amiss with Rune

(For accusing me of being noncontroversial and sliding under the radar, this is the first bit of suspicion from her, and it's vague and nondecisive- she's very keen on spreading out suspicion)

4th post - Find's Roa's explanation plausible, more wolf theory

(Her first mention of this theory, and she doesn't have much to say, except to agree again)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Boromir Day 1

1st post - Innocent: Firefoot, Gil; Guilty: Celuien (for politeness?)

(Quite a bold statement from the start, with little if anything to back it up)

2nd post - posits theory about only one wolf knowing the identity of the others

(I really don't see where he's going with this, so far his posts have been short and filled with very little substance)

3rd post - Says his trust in firefoot and Gil and his distrust of Cel is feeling -based

(This is not the Boromir I know, but I could be wrong)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gil-galad Day 1

1st post - Seems to join Firefoots suspicion of Mac and Lommy, points out that would make him seem suspicious, points out that he wouldn't post it knowing he would throw suspicion on himself, but then points out that declaring that would make it more suspicious, etc etc

(Random, seemingly pointless, almost meant to be skimmed over and ignored as a waste of time, suspicious and defensive against suspicion at the same time. Pfft, back off- the septuple bluff is my prowess. Also, never states if he is actually joining the Mac/Lommy bandwagon, but manages to draw negative attention to Firefoot as well with use of the term "bandwagon")

Obviously there have been more posts from these people since I left, but the pretty much show the same thing. Except for Gil-galad's sudden return and attack on Boromir. I may not trust Boromir, but it's not as though he's actively pursuing Celuien. I don't know if Gil's sudden snapping was warrented. So, early in the day:

++Gil-Galad

Though it was almost for Rikae. Hopefully I'll be alive tomorrow with more information.

[Thinlómien]

I have a problem. I'd like to vote some quiet or chatty (means "chatty" in the negative sense, ie nonsense poster) person to eliminate threats from further days and to let those who contribute stay for a while.

But, there is none. Gil maybe a bit, but he's been contributing more than usually and I wouldn't like to "punish" him for it, especially as he is not particularly suspicious.

Durelin's been only chatty too, but I wouldn't like to lose her this early, as she is usually quite helpful when innocent. (Means I wouldn't like to vote a good player I don't even suspect because of her first post as I have a reason to assume there will be more posts from her...)

Then there's a bunch of non-posters (and our possible slip-under-the-radar -wolves may very well hide among them), but I don't want to "condemn" anyone without hearing anything from them.

In any other game I would probably vote Kath (who is slightly suspicious IMO), but this situation being what it is I find it a not-so-pleasant choice. What if her general playing style is just something that makes me think her suspicious? Should I, because of that, overlook her slight suspiciousness and regard it as "normal"?

And I should vote soon...

EDIT: xed with Roa

[Thinlómien]

I'll go with

++DURELIN

She posted only in-character nonsense in a phase that she could have commented something reasonable. That is slightly wolvish. Also, I hope that this vote serves as a discourager of nonsense-posting...

I'm aware that wasn't a very reasonable vote, but I had to vote someone.

I'll be keeping my eyes on Kath anyway, and you others too: I'm totally clueless about the wolves' identities this far.

To my comfort I can say that all the wolves may be among those who haven't said anything yet, and thus it's just understandable that I don't have a clue about their identities.

Tomorrow, when there's been more posts and points in this village, I hope I can be more helpful and intelligent, for the village's sake.

I'm leaving now...

EDIT: xed with Lalwende

[Rikae]

I don't have much time at the moment, but I'll try to catch up and I'll be back before the deadline to check for any new developments.

Roa, is it such a terrible thing that I prefer not to jump in, in the early hours of day one, with baseless accusations? It's always been my feeling that it's a good idea to spread suspicion around a little on day one, just to see how people react. As for good wolves also being good villagers, that should be obvious; a strong player is usually a strong player across the board. I was just saying I don't think we should lynch the ones we started the game fearing until they have given us some posts to analyse.

The Cel-Boro-Gil-Ang dynamic is a bit confusing. I originally interpreted Boro's suspicions of Cel as not really being serious, and thought Gil's vote was an honest misunderstanding or somewhat random. The fact that Ang jumped on board, though, is unsettling. I wouldn't expect him to do this, unless he's looking for lynch-bait.

I don't find Boro or Cel particularly suspicious; at this point I'm most uneasy about Ang, Rune and Roa. However, there are several people who haven't said much (or said nothing at all) yet, so I might be focussing too much on the early posters. I'll vote now in case I can't make it back before the end of the day, but I'll try to check in before voting closes.

++Anguirel

[Lalwendë]

Now there's a thought. Eomer agrees with Morm that a swift lynching is the way to go. But please chaps, take care, for a swift lynching and swift decision making usually results in bandwaggoning and an innocent is then killed. Note, Eomer, what you say about the good sense of Rune and Roa in preaching against overconfidence. Unless of course, there is a sinister intention to being overconfident and wishing for a quick lynch.........

EDIT - Lommy, we've not heard from a lot of people yet, that's true, but they may have been getting their beauty sleep when the game began last night and I'm sure they'll be on soon! That's not something which is swaying my lines of thinking this time* as I fear it's a red herring rather than a wolverine.

*like I'm an expert! It's only my second game!

[Thinlómien]

Originally Posted by Lalwendë

Now there's a thought. Eomer agrees with Morm that a swift lynching is the way to go. But please chaps, take care, for a swift lynching and swift decision making usually results in bandwaggoning and an innocent is then killed. Note, Eomer, what you say about the good sense of Rune and Roa in preaching against overconfidence. Unless of course, there is a sinister intention to being overconfident and wishing for a quick lynch.........

Lal, you have a good point. I'd be tempted to vote Eomer solely based on that - my own suspicions being as feeble as they are - but I refrain from it, because that might be meant in a different way (see below) and I would probably feel very bad about voting Eomer again on Day1, especially if he happens to be innocent.

I think morm's not for a quick lynching, rather he's trying to provoke reactions. Whether Eomer really agrees with him here (which makes Lal's point half-pointless) or he really supports quick lynchings, is up to the reader. I find it always too difficult to distinguish humour and serious opinions in ww...

EDIT: add - now I'm really going

[Firefoot]

Ang, I'm wondering what gets you suspicious about Kath?

I'd like to know this, too. She's always seemed pretty innocent to me.

I'm not really sure I like this golden dagger role. It puts a lot of power into the hands of one person that isn't blessed with any special knowledge.

[Anguirel]

Look at Kath's second and third posts. In the second, she indicates she's somewhat suspicious of Lal.

In the third, she conducts a deeper analysis of her main suspects. Among them is Lal, whom she now exonerates almost entirely, for rather suspicious reasons - i.e. she's nervous, inexperienced, too verbose to be a wolf, etc. I'll look back and quote the parts that raised my, er, hackles.

And I know my role is incredibly irritating to pretty much everyone. Were I not the assassin, I know I would resent the existence of one. If it's any consolation, it should be giving the wolves cause for fear as well. No longer is a low profile or a persuasive tongue a shield from death - in fact, it might prove a magnet for it.

Ha! Scotland have scored! That's a good omen...

[Thinlómien]

Okay, I've reread and thought about things. The remaining wolves must be Rikae and Kath. Not because they're screamingly suspicious, but because everybody else seems innocent.

Firefoot just can't be a wolf. On Day2, Lal voted her pretty late, tying her with me and Durelin. Lal also forgot that Firefoot's vote was yet to come.
Also, I think Firefoot couldn't be a fellow wolf of Kath's: Kath forgot about her - genuinely, I think - and she also tried to get her lynched both Day2 and yesterday, a bit too bold for a wolf... If Kath-wolf had realised her fellows, Lal and Firefoot, were the vote candidates, I think she would simply have voted Lal.)
I don't think she can be a fellow wolf of Rikae's either... I doubt wolves would quarrel that much.
And I dont think Mith or Farael (I'm more assured about his innocence after rereading Lal's posts; her consistent speculation about me and Farael being fellow wolves is something I think a wolf would rather be speculating about two innocents than about an innocent and a fellow wolf) are wolves, so Firefoot must be innocent.

I will most probably vote either Rikae or Kath toDay.

~*~

I also noticed that Lalwendë was a beta-wolf (whatever that means) and we still have some sort of alpha-wolf to handle... I hope that's insignificant if a wolf's alpha or beta, but I have the feeling Noggie might have something nasty for us in his sleeve... But maybe we shouldn't be worried about the alpha-wolf for we have no means to find out how it works (if it works) and alpha, or beta, we should lynch a wolf, though we don't lose the game if we don't manage to do so today... so no such pressure as yesterday.

[Thinlómien]

++RIKAE

I'll guess you other guys feel more like lynching Kath... but Rikae must die too and unlike Kath, she's not probably killed by Mr. Bond, if I read him correctly. So...

~*~

I'm going to my friend's place, and I'll be back later if she allows me to use their computer...

[Firefoot]

The one reason that I'm hesitant about a Lal-Kath-Rikae triumvirate is obvious it would be - all three of them voting for me yesterday? Kath was first, fine, and Lal didn't have much choice - but it would have been easier for Rikae to jump the bandwagon, if at all possible.

It's one thing for the wolves to want to protect each other in this game to keep their two kills, but I would think that it would stop at some point. Maybe, if Rikae is a wolf, she ended up getting stuck at the end, having been too vocal one way there was no way to unsuspiciously switch.

For now:

++Kath

I'll be back just before the deadline.

x-posting with Lommy...

That makes the vote

Lommy - 1
Rikae - 1
Kath - 1

[Mithalwen]

Sorry ..only just been able to get online for the first time since Saturday night .. big relief to find out that Lal was a wolf..... need to read up and will be back later til near the close again ...... our position is so much stronger noe ..lets get it right

[Mithalwen]

If I had to vote now it would be Rikae ....

Lommy I am inclined to trust still becusue she "put me on to Lal" originally but I just want to have another look at that in case it was a strategic mention that got taken too seriously.....

Farael, I thought innocent but of course the staying in applies as much to a wolf as an ordo.....

So I think it is safe to carry on with the assumption that Ang and Boro are what they say they are. I know I am innocent which leaves:

Firefoot
Farael
Kath
Lommy
Rikae.

2 wolves, 2 ordos, 1 ranger.

[Rikae]

I know I'm innocent, and I trust Boro.

Thinlómien - She was the last to vote for Lal yesterday - could be wolf-on-wolf, realizing she had no other choice.
Kath - I see the point about her posts about Lal; she did seem to be both accusing/exonerating her in a wolfish fashion.
Boromir88 - Has my trust.
Mithalwen - Looks innocent, more so because of the way she was going after Lal specifically before she was generally suspected.
Farael - Just because he's busy doesn't mean he's not a wolf. He could be a busy wolf.
Anguirel - I'm not inclined to ask him to prove his giftedness; he might decide to prove it by killing me!
Firefoot - One of the first votes for Lal, before anything was decided - makes her look more innocent.

I'll most likely vote for Lommy or Kath