Game Thread: Werewolf- this time it's real!

[the phantom]

Place: Oxford, England
Time: April 10th, 9 PM

The Eagle and Child Pub had been cleared out early, with only four or five employees remaining behind to serve the party. An anonymous Downer had somehow managed to rent the place for that night and the following day. Most suspected Phantom, but he denied having anything to do with it.

Phantom stepped in out of the chilly drizzle and into the narrow entry hall. The fires that burned in the two empty rooms off to the left and right looked inviting, but the allure of comfort paled next to the excitement of meeting fellow Downers, and so he continued down the hall and into the larger room which housed the bar along the right wall. But this room was empty as well, except the man behind the counter.

"First one here?" asked Phantom. The man nodded.

Phantom tapped his foot impatiently. Soon, there would be food, drink, and much merriment. What would everyone look like in person? What would they sound like? More importantly, would the lovely young ladies give him their phone numbers?

Phantom shook his head and laughed. "Stop being silly," he said aloud. "Of course they'll give me their phone numbers."

Phantom made his way to a table, set down his backpack and removed his laptop. As it emerged his blue notebook fell out and flopped to the floor. He grinned as he picked it up, and began thumbing through the pages. "Ah, here's the time where Boro and Ang were both werewolves, and I circled both of them on the first day as my highest suspects... The Werepenguin game." He continued flipping through his Werewolf notes, pausing now and again to read something he was particularly proud of. And after so many games, there was much to read. He spent a particularly long time looking over a page towards the end, which contained rules to a new version of Werewolf he had invented, featuring an interesting system of bonus votes.

But even as he reviewed his accomplishments, a nervous feeling he'd been fighting for the past week began growing again. Phantom was exceedingly anxious about playing Werewolf in person, which was sure to happen at this World Barrow-Downs meeting. "It's so different than playing online. What if I suck? I probably will, and then no one will respect me any more." As thoughts such as these chased round and round in Phantom's mind, he resolved to weasel his way out of the games when they started up. "Maybe they'll let me Mod all the games. Yeah- that would work!"

But it was not yet time for games. The rest of the crowd had not arrived, and there was certain to be much socializing, sharing of YouTube videos, swapping of music, and eating that would take place even after everyone was present.

Phantom sat down and breathed deeply, calming his nerves. He then powered up his laptop and began skimming through old threads. "I wonder if anyone remembers this old Books thread, where I claimed to have found the Entwives." A smile spread across his face. "Boy, we've had some good times on the Downs. I can't wait to reminisce with everyone."

Barrow-Downers in attendance-

Aganzir
Alonariel
Boro
Brinniel
Fea
Firefoot
Formendacil
Green
Gwath
Izzy
Kent
Kuruharan
Lalwende
Lari
Lommy
Mira
Nerwen
Nienna
Nilp
Nogrod
Phantom
Sally
Shasta


IT IS NOW DAY -1. YOU MAY POST.

(Use imagination. What sort of things would you do? What conversations would you have? Have fun with this! :))

[Kuruharan]

Kuruharan enters.

The crowd goes wild!!!!! Or at least if there had been a crowd it would have gone wild. As it was there was only a lone figure in a tux.

Kuruharan is a short...well, why don't I just send you a picture (http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s303/Pureo/ScreenShot00004.jpg).

Kuruharan walked briskly over to the natty figure and said, "You must be phantom, the phantom. I'm Kuruharan the son of Khoreth at your service."

*cue elegant dwarf bow*

Seeing phantom's notes Kuru says, "Ahh...werewolf, I should have known. Nothing like that game for making one look like an idiot...or at least making me look like an idiot!"

(note how phantom hasn't been able to get a word in edgewise)

"Oh, let me show you what I was rereading on the flight over here." Kuru said possessing himself of the laptop.

"Its DM of the Rings (http://www.shamusyoung.com/twentysidedtale/?p=612). Closest I've ever come to literally dying laughing."

And before phantom can even say "hello", Kuru has begun reading, starting laughing uncontrollably, turned a bright shade of purple...and passed out on the floor.

[Gwathagor]

The tall stranger strode wordlessly into the pub and took a long, slow, squinting look around. Mighty fancy for a saloon, he thought. Well, as long as they've got whiskey...He stepped up to the bar wordlessly, his spurs ringing as he moved, and tossed his broad-brimmed hat onto the counter, equally wordlessly. Beside it, he thumped down a coin of indeterminate value, and wordlessly ordered whiskey. This involved a great deal of squinting and glaring, but he eventually got his point across and downed a quarter of a bottle of the stuff.

"Thanks for the business, stranger," said the man behind the counter. "What did you say your name was again?"

"I didn't," replied the stranger, and, throwing his poncho back over his left shoulder, he sat himself down in a corner with the rest of the bottle. From that vantage point, he continued to survey the "saloon" and each of the newcomers as the entered, one by one. His shooting iron, which hung low on his right hip, was restless in its holster, and he slid it in and out to make sure that it was loose and ready to draw at moment's notice. The pistol was loaded with silver bullets.

[Nilpaurion Felagund]

It was a very long flight, and Nilpaurion Felagund had not yet recovered from the jet lag. His mind's saying mid-afternoon, but his eyes register late night. His instincts cry out, I'm a werewolf, lynch me, but his mind answers, the roles haven't been handed out yet.

. . . Wait, that last part's normal.

And so he stepped into the Eagle and Child, dropping to the floor from sheer exhaustion. He did entertain everyone by talking to himself while half-asleep on the floor.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

The phantom felt a light touch on his right shoulder, and automatically glanced over his left, finding Fea in the process of leaning nonchalantly against the bar. Dressed casually in jeans that in a previous incarnation - prior to the rips and inkstains - would have cost a normal human in a normal purchasing situation too much (Fea was not normal in this regard), and a clavicle-bearing black t-shirt that would have looked self-conscious on a normal human (neither was Fea normal in this regard), with black leather Chucks, Fea was the epitome of casual cool, her loosely braided hair leaving her bangs (sorry, Mith, I mean fringe) to fall accidentally-on-purpose over her eyes.

"Leather, Fee?" asked the phantom, perhaps a little southernly, though it might have been Englishly.

She looked down, inspecting the dirty white laces and worn rubber toes. She glanced back up. "Nienna pointed out to me that the cow wasn't going to come back to life if I didn't buy them."

Perhaps the phantom would have mentioned something else regarding Fea's footwear, however she cut him off, pointing past the unconscious dwarf and the already slightly drunken wayfarer to Nilp.

"Who gave him a rope?"

[Nerwen]

Nerwen stepped over the sleeping form. "Oh, hello, Nilp" she said, easily recognising the Downs' resident lunatic. Who else would be babbling in his sleep about "lynching" and "werewolves" and someone called "Adam"?

The others presented more of a challenge. She had thought she would know everyone from their pictures on the photo page, but she was not sure what to make of those who had arrived before her. Who, for example, was the dark, sinister-looking individual in the corner? Why was he dressed as a cowboy? What was going on?

A stranger? she wondered. Or can it be that the charming online personas of my fellow Downers are not the whole story...?

EDIT: X'd with Fea.

[Nienna]

Nienna looks nervously around her as she enters the bar. Wondering why she decided to come alone when she knows so many people who are going to be here. Then she decides that if she can stand up in front of 24 kindergarteners without any fear this should be no problem. She is pleasantly clad in cute jeans, a cami, and a fabulous black and gray zip-up hoodie. Her shoes are flat and that puts her as the shortest person in the room.

*sigh*

She finally decides that its time to go introduce her to some people and stop being shy when she sees a familiar face lurking in the back. "ZOMG" she says to herself and meanders her way around to where Fea is lurking.

[Shastanis Althreduin]

Shasta, of course, has been here for some time, slipping through the door in the wake of Phantom (who, he was sure, missed him entirely due to his egomaniacal delusions [:P]). Having seated himself in an out of the way corner, he fiddled with a silver thumb-ring, twisting it round and round his finger as more and more Barrow-Downers showed up.

Girl flirting with Phantom - Fea. Check.

Oh, look, Nerwen forgot to take off her cheerleader outfit. Those pom-poms would be recognizeable anywhere.

Guy with multiple personalities? Gotta be Nilp.

The others were unfamiliar to Shasta, but he was confident he'd learn all their names soon enough. He leaned back in his chair, balancing it against the wall, putting his feet up on the table and clasping his hands behind his head as he waited to be noticed.

[Firefoot]

Firefoot approaches the pub, eager to get out of the chilly and damp weather. It was warmer at home - but that was a silly thing to dwell on. England - she'd never been to England before, and now here was the perfect opportunity.

She steps inside and glances around. Would they even remember her here? It had been so long. Some of them are vaguely familiar; others, she'd swear she'd never heard of before. She used to know everyone here... but no matter. No time like the present to meet some new people.

[Mnemosyne]

The door to the pub opened with a bang and two young women entered with a noise that could be best described as a "squee."

"No, seriously," one of them was saying, "this is awesome. 'Downers aside, the sheer historical awesome of this place--we should totally have brought some badfic and done the whole "take a drink if you laugh" game--"

The other, clearly sick of her babbling, looked about the room. "PHANTOM!" she cried. "Save me from this nutcase of a roommate? I think she's..." she paused and whispered theatrically--"unhinged."

"I've only been giving her a tour of Tolkien's Oxford..." said the unhinged one. "And we were going to stop at Blackwell's after this as a reward for good behavior..."

The room's occupants (those of them who could be bothered to care, at least) stared, almost as if she didn't belong.

"Er... hi? Sally and Duck here... I'm sure that even if I don't recognize you I know you, even if you don't know me because I'm a creepy lurktastic stalker... Yeah, shutting up now. Anyone else up for drinks yet?"

[Aganzir]

A girl enters. She's wearing a black trench coat and loose black trousers tucked inside black leather boots. Her hair is long and golden, like a lion's mane, and her eyes are shadowed with heavy green make-up. Quite an absurd sight, if I may say so myself.

"Darlings you can't imagine how near I came to skipping this meeting, I should study for the uni entrance exams and all. But ah I suppose I should be glad I didn't, there are so many old and new and interesting faces here. Nice to meet you all in person."

Aganzir lets her gaze wander around the room. It's still relatively empty. "I wonder when Green and Nog will arrive. I hate flying so I took a train, otherwise I would've come together with them. Oh and Lommy isn't coming. She's having a private Downer meeting in Prague at the moment." Aganzir grins.

She nods at phantom and Fea and ignores the purple dwarf (for now. She likes dwarves though), and concentrates on the other people in the room.

"Hmm since this does not take place exactly on the Downs, are we allowed to discuss politics? Gwathiee!" Agan takes a conscious risk of trying to provoke him although his appearance is a lot scarier than on the Downs (plus, he has a gun. Eek!).

Slightly amused, she glances at the sleeping Nilp on the floor. "Ah well, I asked him on Facebook in November how he's doing, and it seems I'm still not getting a response.

"Hi Nerwen! Nice to meet you at last. You were a great fellow last time we played werewolf." Agan smiles at her.

"You must be Nienna I guess? I remember you from those photos they posted on the Downs."

It takes Agan a while to recognize the guy sitting in the corner as she's only seen a few photos of him (in most of which he had longer hair), but in the end his elaborate theatrical make-up leaves no room for doubt. "Heya Shasta! Why are you sitting there alone in the dark?

"And hello Sally and Duck! I don't think I've even met you properly on the Downs yet, Mnemo. Well, there are relatively many other people I haven't met, either, so I guess it doesn't matter." She nods at the girl who entered before sally & Mnemo and looks remotely familiar (from her People You May Know Tool on Facebook, as she soon remembers).

Aganzir cannot decide whether to order a shot of Unicum (her new love) or a cup of tea so she takes both and goes to sit next to Shasta. "Hey dear would you like to sing some Lion King songs? Or Cabaret, whichever you prefer."

[Mirandir]

Mira yawned as she entered the pub. Apparently getting three hours of sleep the night before flying somewhere with a five hour time difference was a bad life choice. Furthermore, whyFea, and Nienna hadn't bothered to coordinate flights and whatnot was way beyond her. Mira and Lari were smarter than them, apparently. Sleepily rubbing her eyes and adjusting her trademark hat, Mira surveyed the pub while Lari babbled on about some historic somethingorother. Her gaze fell on Nienna and Fea, the latter of whom was flirting shamelessly with who she could only surmise was phantom.

"Found them!" Mira declared, grabbing Lari by the arm and dragging her over to where their roommates stood.

[Kent2010]

Kent made his way into the bar, and wondered if partying with strangers for a while, was the vacation his advisor really meant. He began looking around to stereotype and judge the strangers based on first impressions. He always felt bad doing it, but what can anyone do about human nature?

"Desperado's got a sweet hat. Wish I had his hat, but don't tell him that. You can't trust anyone with big hats.".

"Girl in black will definitely be the life of this party."

"And of course the person who didn't get enough sleep the night before...Poor girl, my roommate is convinced I'm borderline narcoleptic who can fall asleep on command, and she could definitely use a good nap right now."

Kent took a seat at the counter, specifically three seats down from the man who had a cool had. He wasn't too worried about being the obvious stranger, he had the rare and kind of creepy ability to hear everything, and almost immediately put a voice with a face. As long as he could watch his Cavs, and King James, shut up those Celtic fans this wouldn't be all that bad.

[Formendacil]

Formendacil arrived about five minutes after due punctual, as was his wont for social events that did not involve much of a set agenda, but rather a lot of socialising. Normally, this mean he was the first person there, but in this particular case it seemed the other Barrow-downers were more punctual, as a whole, than the other social circles he moved in.

A bit shy, he hung back a bit, and--thinking of Tolkien--wondered whether or not he could get away in modern England with smoking his pipe in a pub. In Alberta, alas, such was unlikely. Rather than investigate this further, he stumbled towards a shorter man perusing the internet. The Phantom, recognisable by his tuxedo--and by the flirtatious Fea standing near--appeared to have been intended to watch what Kuruharan was showing him, but had become rather... entangled.

Formy might not have gone over then, even so, but he happened to recognise what Kuru was browsing. DM of the Rings? Formy knew that web parody. It was okay, he thought, but if Kuru thought those were good, he absolutely HAD to read Darths & Droids (www.darthsanddroids.net), if he hadn't already, which had been Formy's gateway to DM of the Rings, and which Formy felt was even better--and was also the only rational explanation possible for the Star Wars prequels.

He said as much to Kuru, and it occurred to him as he did that might be endangering himself by referencing Star Wars in the Bird and Baby, but though he had never been a rash man, Formendacil didn't care. He was thousands of miles from home, and spirited arguments are the stuff of which Philosophers dream.

[Mnemosyne]

"Oh, so that's Gwath? And you brought a gun?" Mnemo giggled. "That's so cute! --Though I'm not sure if it's legal... Anyway, thanks, person-I-don't-recognize-but-was-nice-enough-to-say-hi. ...You're one of the Finns, aren't you?--I think I remember you from those crazy House of Nog pics after the Fellowship of Saruman game. And of course I already know phantom, and so that'd probably make the person flirting with him Fea...right?... So who's the short guy? Kuru? KURU!!!"

Suddenly recalling herself and the fact that it was unseemly to fangirl people from the initial days of her lurkdom, she clammed up and turned once more to the lady who had greeted her.

"So, right," she said, batting her eyelashes in an intentionally irritating Suvian fashion. "Which Finn are you?"

[the phantom]

After several minutes of staring, Phantom finally forced his eyes away from Fea to see who else had arrived. "Lots of late people," said Fea.

"Um... yeah..." said Phantom, unable to think of a cooler response to such a comment. But then inspiration struck, and he turned back to Fea and locked eyes. "Why is it you are trying to make a living as an artist again?" he asked with a perfect mix of curiosity and disbelief in his voice. "You realize people would pay you to dress up in different outfits and stand in front of a camera."

Phantom continued, finding that it was easier than usual to make such comments- likely because he actually meant it this time. "Not that your work isn't great. It's just... it doesn't seem fair that you'd only allow folks in New York to appreciate such a sight, particularly when you're losing money for it."

[Firefoot]

Firefoot could not help overhearing Formy's comments to Kuru, and crossed the short distance separating her from them.

"You know, I really don't have time to be here... papers to write, and all that... much less time for webcomics, but after the first couple episodes of that, Formy, I do believe you're right; it looks to be every bit as funny as DM of the Rings."

For the first time, she noticed that Kuru looked to be rather... unwell. "Alright there, Kuru?" she asked.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

"Technically, love," Fea winked at the phantom, "I make a living as a librarian, but I'm sure I could combine both the things you mention by charging people to take pictures while I'm covered in paint..."

[Nogrod]

Nogrod was late and he knew it. But there was nothing he could do about it and he was so tired he felt dizzy. Luckily I have my energy-boosting yellow rubber-boots on, he smiled to himself while greeting the people already in. It was so good to see all these people with whom he shared such fond memories and with whom he had had such nice time.

"Not yet hating Day minus ones? Form, Nilp, anyone?" he flashed a smile on his way to the counter.

After one Spitfire ale he felt his eyelids closing with an irresistible force his muscles or will couldn't fight against. "Not my best day..." he managed to mumble before he fell down to the floor, sleeping. It was not his best day.

[Nienna]

Nienna listened and observed the people around her as she sat sipping her girly drink. She couldn't help but giggle as she listened to Fea and Phantom thinking... "if he only knew"...

Mira and Lari kept shouting out words that begin with 'P' for no apparent reason so Nienna threw in 'Pumpernickel' and went back to her drink.

After some minutes she pulled out her sketchbook and a bright green mechanical pencil and began sketching the group of interesting people around her.

[Shastanis Althreduin]

Shasta welcomed Aganzir (really, Lion King? Who else could she be?) with a grin.

"Your choice; I'm fine with either "Be Prepared" or "Two Ladies"."

[Kuruharan]

Kuruharan awoke with a loud gasp for air.

"Quite alright Firefoot, quite alright. Thank you for asking."

Turning to Formendacil he said, "Indeed I have read some of Darths and Droids. Alas I fear I hold the reverse of your opinion as I believe DM of the Rings to be the superior piece. The author of Darths and Droids himself said it best when he said that the acting in Star Wars is a bit "stoic." I would say wooden. Makes for less interesting images, in my opinion. And also Star Wars is suffering from an acute Gimlilessness (try to say that out loud) and Gimli was definitely the star of the show in DM of the Rings. I will concede that I have never had the chance to read all of Darths and Droids...and it is a rather big giggle to hear Qui-Gon saying in my head 'What? I'm still looking at the equipment list.'"

Still, in spite of his cheerful assurances to Firefoot, Kuru was being afflicted with a growing sense of unease. He wasn't quite sure if it was the oxygen deprivation or one or two odd things that were cropping up.

Who, for example, had hired this dreary, mournful, black-clad band who insisted on playing such gloomy airs in opposition to the spirit of merriment the Downers sought to create? What was even more annoying was their habit of playing hair-raising chords every time anyone mentioned Werewolf, wolves or poodles in general. Thankfully, most Downers seemed able to tune them out, although there was one awful ten-minute spasm of ear-shattering violin solos when somebody mentioned getting a two week old puppy for a present.

Yes, Kuru decided he needed to liven things up a bit so he grabbed Form and Firefoot and anybody else nearby, plopped them down at a table and began to deal the cards. (Have to pay for the trip somehow).

Five humiliating routs later, Kuruharan was decidedly in a state of mourn expectation. There was definitely some ill juju in the air about Oxford this evening. Kuru never lost at cards!

Our Hero swatted impatiently at the giant raven that kept flapping about his ears and looked out the window to see if the banshee was still leering ghoulishly at him.

Yup.

Either somebody had spiked his tea or there were some seriously bad omens about.

One of weaker heart and stomach would probably have been daunted by these portents, but Kuru didn't let them get to him...much.

*CRACK KA-BOOM*
Dun-Dun-Dun-DUUNNNH

went a loud crack of thunder (and the band).

"Nice touch," thought Kuru as he returned his mind to repairing his fortunes at the table.

[Aganzir]

"So, right," she said, batting her eyelashes in an intentionally irritating Suvian fashion. "Which Finn are you?"
"I am the one who is not a part of the family, I befriended Lommy in primary school and have been her right hand ever since. Also, I'm Lobelia, if you remember the photos (http://forum.barrowdowns.com/showthread.php?t=14711&page=6). Gosh I could dress up as her again some day, it was lots of fun.
And you were the Éomer in high heels, weren't you?"

Agan waves casually to Mira and Kent and blows a kiss to Form. Then she notices Nog's boots. "Awesome! I didn't know you're still wearing those! I'm glad they make you feel energetic.

"And great that you recognized me although I'm not dressed up as Scar (which I do at times), Shasta. Could you sing them both? And have you seen the Lion King musical? Also The Madness (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGtdbmDvd4o) of King Scar is pretty awesome. Hmm but yes, Be Prepared and Two Ladies are fine as well, but we need some hyenas for the former... Hey Phantom! Any chance you could lend your voice for Ed?" Agan smirks.
"Me myself, I can't sing at all. But if you give me some clay... Did I tell I recently made another little sculpture that I named after Downers?" She glances around her quickly. "Luckily, neither of them is here. They might not want to hear the details."

[Gwathagor]

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film2/DVDReviews37/fox%20western%20classics/gunfighter%20r24%20PDVD_013.jpg

http://www.searchingforagem.com/1980s/1980s_Pictures/Gunfighter3.jpg

If you feel the need to envision me, do so along these lines.

[Formendacil]

Agan waves casually to Mira and Kent and blows a kiss to Form. Then she notices Nog's boots. "Awesome! I didn't know you're still wearing those! I'm glad they make you feel energetic.

Kuru's impromptu card game faltering as the initiator began to falter, Formendacil caught sight of Aganzir blowing him a kiss, and took the opportunity to mingle a bit more, bowing politely to Firefoot and the others, and making his way to where Agan, wearing a costume from The Lion King was chatting with Shasta, whom he'd not much interacted with.

"Tsk, tsk, Aganzir," he scolded, a contradictory grin on his face. Paternal scolding, he re-emphasised to himself. No flirting with the Downer girls--no letting them flirt with you. At least, don't let's go beyond flirting--that's crossing the line too much as it is.

"You don't approve, serious Master Formy?" said Agan, blowing him another kiss for good measure, causing him to roll his eyes and reply.

"I really can't approve of that stuff--at least in relation to me," he said. "Might get me kicked out of a lifetime vocation, and all that. Besides, there are plenty other people to throw kisses to here. You could always be the first step in turning the phantom/Fea situation into a Love Dodecahedron.

"Which reminds me..." he muttered to himself, "I think I meant to stalk--er, meet. Yes, that's it: meet. Meet Sally at some point."

[Mnemosyne]

And you were the Éomer in high heels, weren't you?"

Mnemi coughs delicately. "Maybe... unfortunately I still can't afford a good pair of high boots that doesn't have me looking like Fea's acting with the guy who got this whole shindig together. But yes, dressing up as fictional characters is much fun; wish I had the means, friends, and occasion to do it more often.

"Speaking of--are those yellow galoshes?

Hey, there, is that a Nog I spy before me?
Must be, for otherwise Sally would abhor me.
She hates poetry when in this way 'tis given.
But if it's all for Noggie's sake, I shall be forgiven!
Hey, now! Derry dol! Psychic armadillo,
All hail the masterful Nogrodadillo!

[Kuruharan]

You could always be the first step in turning the phantom/Fea situation into a Love Dodecahedron.

*would pay to see this*

[Isabellkya]

Izzy enters the Pub and lets the door shut quietly behind her. She meanders towards the bar as she surveys the room, occupied by strangers. She thinks she recognizes Shasta, but can't be sure.

Ordering a drink, she checks her phone to note the hour; eyes widening at the amount of misplaced time. Quickly, her fingers move over the keys to set the alarm.

Drink half gone, she sets it on a vacant table with a bench. Jacket wadded into a ball, she curls up on the bench and closes her eyes.

[Nerwen]

Looks like this trip's going to pay for itself...

Nerwen permitted herself a slight smile as she pocketed her winnings. She was always on her guard when someone initiated a card game out of the blue, but Kuruhuran had turned out to have literally nothing up his sleeve.

She herself, on the other hand... her smiled broadened a trifle as checked that none of her concealed decks of cards were outlined through her clothing.

Almost as satisfying was the fact that she had managed to "lose" her cheerleading pom-poms to Formendacil in an early round.

Wonder what he'll do with them... What did I bring them for, anyway?

Nerwen approached the group of Formendacil, Aganzir, Shasta and another Downer she did not recognise.

"Drinks are on me," she told them. "I'm celebrating. Oh, and would you like to play again, Formy? Perhaps I'll win my pom-poms back from you.":Merisu:

[Brinniel]

Brinn arrived in Oxford late, after suffering from an extremely cruddy day. Sick and bruised (and not to mention jet lagged), she struggled to muster all the energy she could to walk through those pub doors and put aside her sour mood.

The inside of The Eagle and the Child was already crowded with Downers and the lively atmosphere did somewhat lift Brinn's spirits. Happy memories from her last visit here remained vivid in her mind...has it really been almost a year? Yet this second visit was even more extraordinary with so many Downers in attendance. Scanning the room, Brinn noticed she was not the last one to arrive; there were still many expected guests that had not yet shown up.

Before greeting anyone, Brinn rushed to the bar and ordered a pint of dark beer and sipped on it slowly, hoping the alcohol would help distract her from all the frustrations she experienced in the past week. Carrying her drink with her, she meandered through the pub looking for familiar faces. What she needed most right now was to let loose and have a good laugh with friends. And what better place to do that than here? After all, everyone knows that out of anyone, it is Barrow-Downers that are best at acting silly (and possibly insane)...

[Formendacil]

"Drinks are on me," she told them. "I'm celebrating. Oh, and would you like to play again, Formy? Perhaps I'll win my pom-oms back from you.":Merisu:

"Pom poms?" Formendacil paused guiltily, noting Nerwen's fluttering eyelashes. Did all the Downer girls have to be pretty? "Oh. Those pom poms."

He glanced guiltily back at the table the cards had been at, and could just catch a glimpse of one of the poms where he had tried stuffing them under the seat.

"Sorry," he said, "I must've lost them... somewhere. I think I'll sit this game out. I'd rather lose my devalued Canadian dollars on English ales than cards."

And maybe he'd avoid looking for Sally just yet. Brinn had just walked in, and as the only Downer of his previous acquaintance, he wanted to say hi--and then perhaps slip off to a corner to pray Vespers. At least if Nilp or Isabellkya hadn't taken all the good corners, anyway...

[Mnemosyne]

First lass to make Formy regret his current lifestyle choice (or even renege on it!) gets £20 and a dozen gingerbread Daleks. Contributions to the Reward Fund will be accepted.

[Kuruharan]

*starts pool on whether or not that actually happens*

[Formendacil]

*starts pool on whether or not that actually happens*

*pulls glasses down nose donnishly, eyes twinkling and mouth twitching impishly*

Now, now, Kuru, you really don't want to encourage me. I might just be a bit incorrigible, you know.

[Shastanis Althreduin]

Shasta's eyes light up as Izzy and then Brinn enter the pub. Waving an arm, he beckons them both over to take a seat near him and Agan.

Grinning as they come over, he nudges Agan with an elbow.

"With just a few more people, I bet we can get a rousing chorus of 'Wilkommen' going, what do you think?" he askes, arching an eyebrow, a wicked look in his eye. Reaching into his jeans pocket, Shasta pulled out a piece of bubble gum and blew a bubble experimentally.

[Mnemosyne]

*pulls glasses down nose donnishly, eyes twinkling and mouth twitching impishly*

Now, now, Kuru, you really don't want to encourage me. I might just be a bit incorrigible, you know.

Secretly, I think you're enjoying all the attention.

[Formendacil]

Secretly, I think you're enjoying all the attention.

Secretly? My dear, if my intention were to out-flirt the phantom, attention is exactly what I'd be looking for.

[Kuruharan]

Depends on which side of the pool I'm on. ;)

My dear, if my intention were to out-flirt the phantom, attention is exactly what I'd be looking for

ah-HA!

We have figured out your evil plan!!!!

[Mnemosyne]

Secretly? My dear, if my intention were to out-flirt the phantom, attention is exactly what I'd be looking for.

My dear Form, you misunderstand me. I was revealing the inner nature of my own secret thoughts, not suggesting that your intent was at all concealed from the rest of us.

[Kuruharan]

In the interests of science and on a sort of spur of the moment lark, Kuruharan dumps a bucket of water over Nilpaurion to see if anything interesting happens...like an...explosion...or...something.

Remember this is for science! Any result is valid!

[Isabellkya]

Jolted awake from a deep sleep by a ringing in her pocket, Izzy fell to the floor in a crash.

Taking in the scene, she noticed she'd tumbled out of a chair. She remembered curling up on a bench, so how she got in a chair.... would probably result in an interesting answer.

Definitely a sign that one should not sleep amongst these Downers.

Righting the chair, she plopped down in it.

'Hey Shasta?! Everyone!' she greeted to those sitting around this new table.

[Nilpaurion Felagund]

Nilpaurion mumbles something about Facebook being invaded by unwanted beings to a passing Aganzir, and then resumes debating with his full cast of multiple personalities in his narcoleptic state. But then he wakes up with a jolt. He's been soaked by a dastardly dwarf, and him with no luggage. He checks his pockets--perhaps he can buy a change of clothes? But no such luck--not a shilling to his name. To undress or to get colds?

In the interest of science, Nilpaurion undresses. Lynching is valid reaction. :p (I think.)

[Kent2010]

Kent gave an informal salute to the lady in black who calls herself Agan. He wondered if that's the way the proper Downers' welcome went, but being in an unfamiliar situation didn't bother him too much.

He thought laying low was the perfect plan, as Kent could not afford to let any of the strangers know about his past. How he almost conquered the Zomie kids (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMNry4PE93Y), nearly found a brain for the hopeless (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj3iNxZ8Dww&NR=1), and almost slew the Great Puppet Decimator (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOETlkc_nNY). This was his chance to start fresh, make a new name for himself, and escape the man who was almost heroic, nearly completed great tasks, but always ran away.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

After a night with too little sleep, Fea uncurled herself from the spot under the bar where she had been quietly wedged, aiming for some much needed end-of-semester shut eye, and ducked into a restroom to change and do something - anything, really - with her hair.

She returned quietly, glaring at the clock. Many 'Downers, as was their habit, had not yet gone to sleep at all. From the bartender, Fea ordered, "Coffee. Black. If it's weak, add espresso to it. If it's cold, microwave it. But please? Please..." she trailed off weakly. "Just coffee."

With a mug in her shaky hand, she crossed the room, spilling the burning brew on her wrist. She took a deep breath, ignoring the pain, transferring her mug to the other hand, and sucked the coffee off her skin, inspecting the red burn mark. Of course, she thought.

She settled next to Formendacil, who looked at her with brotherly affection. That was, of course, why she chose him for this one thing she desired: "Formy? You should just kind of sit here while I nap on your shoulder, and not let me fall off the chair."

[Kuruharan]

That's definitely an interesting result of my first experiment into hydrology.

Having now discovered my true calling as an evil mad scientist I wonder if the appropriate thing to do is to continue experimentation or immediately begin orchestrating a complex plot to take over the world (or at least see if this can be turned to somehow manipulating the results of the Form pool). :cool:

Pool...water...get it?

Har har.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

"And if Kuru comes near me with water," Fea mumbled, barely coherently, "Pray for his soul or something."

[Boromir88]

"Make that two coffees bar keep" said a familiar voice entering the room. His cloak was worn and stained after battling through a random blizzard in early April, that dumped 6 inches, and melted instantaneously in 8 hours as it heated above 60. "Whatever you got, just make sure it gets loaded with sugar."

"I apologize for my impromptness, Master phantom," he said, "And for this dishevelled appearance. When I got the invite I assumed Miami at Oxford (http://www.oxfordhometownproject.com/Miami-University-Print-C10084917.jpg), not the fake Oxford. I had to rush through plane cancellations, stand bys, and a 10 hour short bus trip crammed with 19 people to Boston. Long story short, it was a trip to get here."

"It's unfortunate the Lady Mith is not present, I would have loved to meet her, and explain how American baseball is much better than that sport called criquet. Oh well, once I have my filling of wings, beer, and sports, you can count on me to be ready, sir. How about those tourney games...wow did they blow?"

[Nienna]

Nienna squints open her eyes while she tries to disentangle herself from various Mira/Lari appendages. She sits up and yawns, then looks around. Fea and Others with coffee... "good call." She wanders to the bar orders herself coffee with cream and sugar as she tells the nice man that she would like it to taste like ice cream.

Coffee in hand, Nienna wanders over to where various people are scattered in different states of sleep. She grabs a granola bar out of her bag and heads back towards Fea.

"Here. Eat."

[Kuruharan]

Lucky thing for me then that Fea isn't a target of this experiment. :)

Kuru pitches some ancient champagne that had been purchased specially for this event out the nearest window as being no use at this current second and takes the ice bucket and begins stealthily creeping around behind the very supportive figure of Form.

[Shastanis Althreduin]

Having fallen asleep in Izzy's lap, Shasta blinks and sits up.

"Coffee?"

He stood up, black eyes dull this particular morning, and picked his way over various sleeping Downers to the bar, shivering slightly. Perhaps wearing sandals in an unseasonably cold April such as this one wasn't the smartest idea... Forgetting a jacket also probably wasn't the most intelligent thing he could have done.

Right now, a shivering Shasta wanted coffee. The turquoise tshirt he'd picked specially to wear to this gathering was wrinkled a bit from sleeping on a bench, the rips in his jeans meant they were doing nothing to keep out the cold, and his black hair stuck up in the back, but all he cared about at this moment in time was the caffeine.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Fea blinked incomprehensibly at Nienna long enough that Nienna took Fea's hand and placed the opened granola bar into it. "Eat," Nienna repeated, "You'll feel better."

Fea sat up, nibbling the end of the bar, feeling like a rabbit, a bit. "Dwarf," she mumbled at Form, though he didn't hear her.

"KelNienna..." Fea began to pout, and then trailed off, concentrating on her breakfast. She rubbed sleep out of her eyes "Mornings," she grumbled, eying the corpse-still sleeping figure of Mira jealously. "She can sleep through anything, I swear..."

[Formendacil]

"And if Kuru comes near me with water," Fea mumbled, barely coherently, "Pray for his soul or something."

"But that could take all night," muttered Formendacil. Still, he thought, I have a few offices to say between now and whenever Fea's likely to get off my shoulder.

Glancing around furtively to make sure that the phantom wasn't lurking jealously in the shadows with a cleaver intended for him (he wasn't... that Form could find anyway), he pulled out his breviary and quietly started Vespers. He needn't have been quiet--there was rather too much noise in the pub to necessitate that.

Fea sat up, nibbling the end of the bar, feeling like a rabbit, a bit. "Dwarf," she mumbled at Form, though he didn't hear her.

Even if Form had heard Fea, he likely wouldn't have understood what she meant anyway. His biographer in posting this, with his intimate knowledge of Form's mind, certainly cannot fathom it.

After a rather substantial nap next to the drowsy Fea--in between prayers for Kuru's soul--Form had come to the conclusion that he should probably attend to his diabetic needs. Standing up and away from Fea--and towards the possibility of murder by the Love Dodecahedron--he bid Fea an at least temporary farewell.

"At least unless you'd rather I drew blood here in public and then jabbed myself with a syringe, but every crowd seems to have at least one person made queasy by that stuff."

He glanced around at the variously assembled Downers, and remembered that they'd put on 50-odd Werewolf games...

"Of course, this crowd might not have a problem with blood..."

[Formendacil]

Lucky thing for me then that Fea isn't a target of this experiment. :)

Kuru pitches some ancient champagne that had been purchased specially for this event out the nearest window as being no use at this current second and takes the ice bucket and begins stealthily creeping around behind the very supportive figure of Form.

Well, well... I could not have posted more cluelessly ignoring this post (cf. my ignorance of what Fea meant by "Dwarf"). How terribly serendipitous for me! Dare I even say... Divinely Providential?:p

Make that a double time march to do my insulin.:D

[Aganzir]

"I really can't approve of that stuff--at least in relation to me," he said. "Might get me kicked out of a lifetime vocation, and all that. Besides, there are plenty other people to throw kisses to here. You could always be the first step in turning the phantom/Fea situation into a Love Dodecahedron.
Aganzir flashes an innocent smile (and fails miserably to look innocent because the smile reveals her fangs and is probably her most mischievous expression anyway). "Me? Ah, I wouldn't even dream of trying to get you kicked out of the priesthood!" She sticks out her tongue. Another mischievous expression. "And phantom and Fea? Nah, phantom is too scary and I'm under the impression that Fea doesn't like girls."

"Maybe... unfortunately I still can't afford a good pair of high boots that doesn't have me looking like Fea's acting with the guy who got this whole shindig together.
"I usually buy my best boots from second hand shops. They are about the only place I can find affordable leather shoes, anyway. I found my one-time favourite pair from Nog's family's summer cottage, but they were probably from the 80s and got broken beyond repair quite quickly."
But yes, dressing up as fictional characters is much fun; wish I had the means, friends, and occasion to do it more often.
"Indeed. I recently dressed up as Scar - we had our final day of school which is, well, a rather festive event. I had some black hairspray which flaked off so in the end my face was pretty grey, though."

"Drinks are on me," she told them. "I'm celebrating. Oh, and would you like to play again, Formy? Perhaps I'll win my pom-poms back from you.":Merisu:
"Have you ever tried the Seven of Clubs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ristiseiska)? Probably not, at least with that name, since it seems to be a Finnish game. We played it all the time with Rune and Legate last summer, it's lots of fun. Also, I happen to be darn good at it." Agan grins.

The room is getting more crowded and it's impossible to keep track on the people who come in. Suddenly Aganzir catches a glimpse of someone she definitely knows, walking through the pub with a pint of ale. "Brinn! Great to see you here! To think of it, it's almost exactly a year since we last met! Will you join us?" Agan stands up to hug her. Then she notices the other girl Shasta had beckoned to join them. "And you're... Isabell, I assume? My first fellow wolf ever. Nice to meet you!"

Agan turns and grins when she hears Mnemo speak.
First lass to make Formy regret his current lifestyle choice (or even renege on it!) gets £20 and a dozen gingerbread Daleks. Contributions to the Reward Fund will be accepted.
"Ah sounds like a plan. Where's sally? I bet she wants to help me." :Merisu:

"With just a few more people, I bet we can get a rousing chorus of 'Wilkommen' going, what do you think?" he askes, arching an eyebrow, a wicked look in his eye.
Agan pokes him back. "Go ahead but I'm not singing. I bet there are enough people to do it even without me. So do you want to be Viktor or Emcee? Oh and by the way, I'm reading The Scar by China Miéville right now and one of the main characters shares his name with you. He has two tentacles attached to his chest."

She looks deeply amused by Kuru pouring water on Nilp and even more so when Nilp undresses. "Drunk already?" she asks with a smile on her face. "Or are you posing as a nude model for all of us interested in drawing?"

When Aganzir notices Kent responds to her greeting, she beckons him to join them. "So, how did you find your way here? I don't think I've encountered you on the forum yet, but then again I've been rather busy for the last few months. I am Aganzir but you can call me Agan, that's what everyone does anyway, and in addition to Tolkien, I'm..." she pauses to blow a kiss to Boro, "a major fan of the Lion King."

[Nerwen]

If only I'd brought my camera, Nerwen thought, watching the stark naked Nilpaurion (openly, since nobody seemed to mind), What a wonderful documentary this would make... only I'd better never let my mother see it...

Aganzir, she thought, was looking rather at a loose end, probably because her plans for Form's future had taken a setback with the latter's disappearance.

"No, I've never heard of The Seven of Clubs. How about you teach me? Anyone else want to play? Izzy? Shasta? Or– Kent, did you say your name was?"

Nerwen frowned, unable to remember anyone with such a name. Then light dawned:

"Oh, you're the new member! The one with the expiry date!":D

[Shastanis Althreduin]

With a cup of steaming coffee in hand (and the steam going to work on the wrinkles in his shirt, too!), Shasta looks infinitely more awake.

Stepping over the clothing-challenged Nilpaurion, Shasta pulls a deck of cards from his sleeve like an amateur magician.

"I love card games. If Agan's willing to teach us, I'm definitely in," he said with a smile, nonchalantly feeling to make sure the extra ace of diamonds he kept under his shirt was still there.

[Mnemosyne]

Mnemo is blinded by the stark-naked Nilpaurion. Discuss.

[Nerwen]

Nerwen narrowed her eyes. Something about this Shasta suggested to her that he would not be quite such easy pickings as Formendacil and Kuruhuran had been. She would have to keep an eye on him.

Still, there was the rest of the group– they looked pretty wet behind the ears.

"Who else is playing? Come on, Mnemo, i'm sure you'll–" Nerwen broke off, seeing that Mnemosyne was staring blankly into space... almost as if she had been struck blind...
:eek::eek::eek:

[Aganzir]

"No, I've never heard of The Seven of Clubs. How about you teach me? Anyone else want to play? Izzy? Shasta? Or– Kent, did you say your name was?"
"With pleasure. Would someone shuffle the cards, please?

"The basic idea of the game is to get rid of your cards by placing them on the table. So practically it's impossible to cheat in this game... Not that you would do it, anyway. The first cards that can be put on the table are the sevens, and once the seven is there, you can add the six of the same colour, then the eight. After that the other cards of the same colour can be placed there, in numerical order..." Agan sips her tea and makes a quick summary of the rules. Usually she likes to explain things but it's a lot more difficult in a language that is not her native one. "It's a pretty simple game but in spite of that, it's not all about luck but also tactics. And no one has ever taught me to play poker."

She watches Shasta deal the cards to the players and, once he is done, takes a look at her cards. Slowly, she lifts her eyes. "Is this just an ordinary game or are we gambling?"

(OOC: Shasta, the aces are definitely the worst cards in that game. ;))

[Aganzir]

Agan follows Nerwen's eyes to Mnemo.

"Erm... Is she quite alright?"

She steps towards her and waves her hand before Mnemo's eyes. Nothing happens. Aganzir tries to find sally but cannot see her anywhere. Then she comes up with an idea. "Hey Kuru, could you help wake her up?"

[Formendacil]

Formendacil wandered back into the chaos having gouged out a bit of his blood, stabbed himself with a couple needles, and then found a nice, quiet, corner of the pub to say Lauds. Then, somehow not yet soaked, he made his way back to the main crowd, and looking about carefully for Kuru, headed over to Brinn, handing her a folded piece of paper.

"I'm going for some fresh air, and a bit of a long walk, maybe see if I can't find tgwbs's college. Anyway, I might not be back for a bit. Give this to the Moderator if I don't come back in time."

"Moderator?" asked Brinn, "but Esty didn't come to this Barrow-convention!"

But Formy was already halfway to the door. One of the reasons he had discerned the vocation he had was a comfort with being alone, and after as much time as he had spent in the Bird and Baby, he was ready to be away from the chatter of the crowd.

Not sure what Formy had meant, Brinn opened up the sheet, and read the simple message printed thereon:

++ the phantom, just 'cause.

Brinn shook her head. There was no way Formy could be back in time for Days 2,3,4 of an in-person Werewolf game. You could go through one of those in a couple hours.

OOC: I'm off to lunch in half an hour, then to my last day of classes, then back home for our Holy Thursday banquet and then evening Mass, then some of us are running around to different parishes this evening for Adoration before Midnight. I'll be abstaining from the Internet (and won't have time with watching The Passion together, going to the Mass of the Pre-Consecrated, a Good Friday orchestral concert, and holding an evening Tenebrae service), so I won't be "back" until Saturday. It'll be a long "walk" for Formy. :)

[Kent2010]

"Lion King's a good film." Kent replied. "You know I heard you talking about Be Prepared, the funny story about that, Jeremy Irons couldn't finish the song because it was too much strain on his voice, chronic smoking and all. Still good song and a great Scar. But I guess you're more interested in finding out how I got here?"

"I just stumbled upon this place, and lurked around for a couple weeks. Not Grima lurking, but I believe thats what you call it here. This happens to be the first forum I joined, it looked like a nice, welcoming place, and I have not been disappointed. Werewolf looks very similar to Mafia, are you familiar with that game?"

Agan shook her head, but Kent wanted to keep her interest, so he went on: "Like I said this Werewolf looks very similar. Only instead of hunting werewolves, you're after deadly mobsters. There's the G-man, he can spot and influence the townspeople to kill mobsters, and a Guardian angel that watches over, protects us from the mobsters' kills. I'm not worried about being a newbie here, mobsters are much worse than werewolves. I imagine werewolves are more gruesome, but the big Dons will have no fear about shooting someone in public, and in broad daylight. Their influence can be tough to break."

Kent had finished telling his first lie since coming to Oxford. What did it matter that he never played real Mafia, or faced real mobsters, only the card game? No one here had to know that.

"Oh, you're the new member! The one with the expiry date!"

"That would be me" Kent said to the lady. "I have some 260 odd days left, and felt I had to try this before I expire. May I ask for your name, Miss?

[Kuruharan]

Having lost his first prospective target due to excessive cat-like treading, Kuruharan suddenly flings his bucket of ice on Boromir88.

Then he stands by with notepad and pencil to record the results...which one *does* hope will be more exciting than the tourney. ;)

[Mnemosyne]

"Um.... what's going on?"

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

"Your mom's going on," snickered Fea as she waited for food that she should have ordered four hours ago to be ready. She wondered when Nienna, Lari, and Mira would start yelling at her for skipping lunch. Tea, she'd learned the hard way, did not constitute a meal. Not even chai.

She would literally kill, she knew, for some well prepared blackoned salmon, but that was never going to happen. Instead, she sipped her chai and closed her eyes, listening to the voices around her.

Flirting is all well and good at night, she thought, when shadows conceal and comfort, but day time means solitude and getting work done. She tucked her nose back into the history book she was reading, curled up in a booth, pen in hand, eying juicy 1810's tidbits of CNY gossip. The number of people who drowned in this lake, she thought, you'd think they'd stop their kids from going near...

She reached a further section and smirked. "Local man missing," she read. "Suicide or marriage presumed."

Heh... death or marriage. I like it.

[Isabellkya]

Seeing some of the others up and moving about in search of coffee, or perhaps food - brought her rumbling stomach to her attention. She hadn't eaten since she left; not trusting airplane food. Blech.

"May I have a glass of orange juice, a glass of apple juice - cranberry if you don't. A glass of water, and an apple or banana if you have one perhaps?" She asks the man behind the bar.

She eyes the naked man, and the sneaking dwarf responsible who'd just dumped ice on another victim. The victim seemed to be in a frozen state; perhaps going over the possible reactions in his head?

"Uh, bartender; have any spare clothes or perhaps rope back there?"

I'm sure someone could make a skirt for the naked man out of the bar towels. I thought I saw a pom-pom under one of the tables, perhaps they could add a little fringe to it? Or he could be a scantily clad one-pom cheerleader.

Carrying her fare back to the table, she sips as she listens to the rules of the card game.

[Nogrod]

Nogrod woke up from the corner of the pub feeling most confused and embarrased. Well, someone must have dragged me here... "Thanks anyone, for helping me out that is". But it seemed no one noticed.

So he got up and went to the counter to have another ale to refresh himself. Suddenly his eyes caught a visitor's list that was laying on the table. "Aganzir, yeah... Alonariel, Alonariel? leiranola? A lone Ariel? Hmm... interesting to get to meet with new people. Boro, well that's a nice surprise... I sure need to find him the first thing I do... well after this pint of course. Brinniel, Ahh, soo great to meet her again. Let's just hope she's not going to get me killed yet again. Fea, Firefoot, Form... now this is getting even more interesting, how good to meet all those three in person... Greenie, Gwath... Oh this list is long as a year of famine! 23 people! Now this must be a BD-meeting record. Do I even have time to greet everyone?"

Suddenly he heard someone talking about the mafia-game and turned to look at the speaker. The man he decided had to be Kent was just asking whether Agan was familiar with the game and she shook her head. Well, well, well... Agan's already on the game mode I see... That veteran-master-mafioso is shaking her head about even knowing the game... interesting, but so like her. She's really good at that. I really do have to keep an eye on her - like everyone always should if their lives are dear to them...

After scanning the room for a while he finally spotted Boro and decided to start with him.

"Hi there Boro! So good to see you. You still believe in that "if it talks like a wolf and walks like a wolf then it is a wolf" -philosophy? I've tried it in a few games disregarding more complicated scenarios - with varying success." Nogrod smiled and raised his pint as for a toast.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Fea looked up suddenly in shock, a bit ashamed of herself. She'd forgotten to look for Alonariel. She liked the spunky girl who swore like a sailor and ate lemon wedges like dung beetles eat- wait, bad simile... In any case, Fea liked Alonariel and wondered where, precisely, the girl actually was.

She made her way over to Lari, Mira, and Nienna. "Have you guys seen her? Do we know where she is? Have we lost her to the fangirl clutches of TV shows I don't actually watch? Does she by any chance have the sparkletastic skin of a killer?"

[Aganzir]

"You know I heard you talking about Be Prepared, the funny story about that, Jeremy Irons couldn't finish the song because it was too much strain on his voice, chronic smoking and all. Still good song and a great Scar.
"Well, he got it mostly done and that's what matters. And Jim Cummings did well, too. But actually I almost prefer the Finnish version (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHpngYFrptE)." Agan switches on her laptop and finds the video on Youtube, forgetting about the cardgame. "His voice is better when he speaks, though. He sounds more like Scar then."

"I just stumbled upon this place, and lurked around for a couple weeks.
"Heh I lurked for more than a year. It took Thinlómien so long to convince me to join. But welcome, it's always nice to see fresh blood on board.

"And as for Mafia... Well, we have played werewolf in person before, kind of, and it's called Mafia, but our rules are more similar to those of Barrow-Downs werewolf. There's a wolf (or mafioso) or two, and sometimes a seer or a ranger, depending on the number of participants. I've done it in every Downer meeting I've been to, except for one where there were too few of us, and it's lots of fun... Excluding the time I was a wolf and got killed on day 1. That happened when Brinn was in Finland a year ago." Aganzir sighs and puts on a tragic face. "But no, I've never tried that sort of Mafia."

An instinct that dates back to a time when man was still prey makes Aganzir turn around, and she sees Nog eyeing her with a knowledgeable smile that always makes her feel nervous when playing the said live werewolf game with him. "What is it? I haven't done anything yet!" she asks, "and where's my lil' Greenie?" But Nog has already turned to speak to Boro.

Aganzir tries to turn her concentration back to the game but fails. Besides she's starting to feel a bit tired. "Anyway, there's this DVD I bought today and I'd like to watch at least parts of it now, if you guys don't mind. Feel free to join me if there's anyone else who wants to hear something great." She inserts Leonard Cohen Live in London into her laptop's DVD drive, and soon the first notes of Dance Me to the End of Love (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pA5UhNaYw0) echo in the room.

[Boromir88]

Boro reached out his hand and pretended to catch Agan's kiss out of mid-air. He smiled and made his way towards Nilp.

Nilp was slipping in and out of consciousness, but Boro still decided to tell Nilp what he had wanted to for a long time. "I don't know if you remember, but you were the first one to suggest I join werewolf. At times I've questioned whether I should strangle you for getting me hooked, or thank you for introducing me to the game. Either way, I don't think I have ever told you that, and I am not quite sure why I am doing it now, but thank you."

Boro looked around the room to see many familiar faces, and many new ones. He was pleasantly surprised to find a fellow Ohioan in the bar. How small thy world can truly be. "Kent, you said your name was," Boro began, "I also happen to be from Ohio. What part of the great buckeye state do you hail from, friend?"

But just as soon as he asked a shock of freezing cold went piercing down his spine and through his entire body. He jumped around, trying to reach behind his back to get the pieces of bitter cold that had gone down his shirt. He turned to see a grinning Kuru holding a wet bucket.

"Why you...you...dwarf!" that's as good as Boro could come up with at the time. It wasn't the trick Kuru pulled that had Boro flustered, it was seeing his old arch-nemesis. "You will come to regret this, Kuru. I was willing to put the past behind us, but now I will take great delight in beating you yet again. Mark my words -"

Boro stopped as he saw Nogrod approach, and intervene to calm everything down.
"Hi there Boro! So good to see you. You still believe in that "if it talks like a wolf and walks like a wolf then it is a wolf" -philosophy? I've tried it in a few games disregarding more complicated scenarios - with varying success." Nogrod smiled and raised his pint as for a toast.
"I don't even know what my philosophy is at the moment," Boro laughed, now having calmed a bit, "I am afraid I am a bit rusty, although I would definitely like to stick it to that dwarf if I get the chance. But, don't mind that, please tell me of your big adventures and how you have faired. What do you mean by varying success? Has that strategy worked, or is it inconclusive? I am not much of a numbers man and have not been keeping track of my success/fail rate. I find I am a much better pusher, I push people's buttons, try to make the calm, cool, and collected become nervous, chaotic, and afraid. But please, do tell how that if it talks like a wolf and walks like a wolf then it is a wolf has worked for you?"

[Nienna]

Nienna orders some food for her and any various people who have not eaten yet... *tsk tsk*.

"Yeah... Where is that cute girl who has recently reaffirmed my love for popsicles?" she wonders to Fea who is vaguely reading nearby.

After eating Nienna wanders around mingling with the other people she doesn't really know.

To Kent she explains "Funny story... so me and all my roommates *points around* play WW except one... and she plays Mafia. She gets all cute and curious asking about a narrator and detective in regards to our games... while we talk of dreams and lynchings... It's the same principle but I believe ours are more intense."

She continues mingling "Hi! I'm Nienna, roomates with Fea, Lari, and Mira (most of the time)"

To Brinn "So... I'm moving to Boston... what insight can you give?... When can we hang out?... When are we going to get all these Downers to come visit?"

[Aganzir]

There's this song (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRO-M4XyAbM) Form has to listen to when he comes back from his walk. :smokin:

*continues to spend her evening with Leonard Cohen*

[Nogrod]

"But please, do tell how that if it talks like a wolf and walks like a wolf then it is a wolf has worked for you?""Hah. Well it works sometimes and on others it doesn't..." Nogord smiled widely and winked an eye.

"But I have a feeling - totally unsupported by any statistics or that kind of stuff as I'm not used to collect that kind of data either - that you really tend to end up supporting lynches for a lot of insecure newbies by that tactics but it tends to work better with the "big fish" or what should you call it; the "loudmouthed and scheming veterans"? But yes, pushing buttons is a good way to approach the game, or to stir the discussion in any way possible - although that is always risky as many people wish to avoid thinking and hard decisions and go with the flow against those who are controversial. That's kind of sad... but no can do." Nogrod frowned but then smiled again. "But that's the game, as you know?"

Suddenly Nogrod heard Aganzir protesting aloud. But it was not that which stirred him up. It was the following sentence: and where's my lil' Greenie?Uups! I should be asking that question... My parenting may be lousy... I know, but this is bad. I've lost my daughter somewhere. I'm sure she was with me in London as we arrived. Nogrod turned a bit pale and started frantically to look around to the crowd. "Sorry", he managed to mumble and started counting the people inside walking from one group to another asking whether anyone had seen her. There were still a few people who had not come and Nogrod was sure Greenie was one of them.

"Excuse me, I'll check outside. Let's discuss more later..."

A terrible idea flashed into Nogrod's mind as he went out from the door. Now if Form is a werewolf and didn't actually exit for holy-bussiness... then Greenie is in real danger!

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Fea watched Nienna, wishing she was as comfortable mingling at parties. She was quite sure that all present, if they were paying any attention to it at all, had noticed by now that she, Fea, stayed very close to the people she was already comfortable with, shyly avoiding interaction with anybody that might require that which was, in mingling circles, referred to as 'small talk.'

She eyed Kent, wondering how he came to be here, and how his first game would define him to others.

She looked at Nog, not so much intimidated as uncertain. If she could think of something to say, surely she would go say it, but without a set topic in mind, she didn't like to approach someone.

She could imagine it now:

She would walk up to Nog, who was talking to Boro, and they would both pause their completely brilliant and engrossing discussion about mature important things, and they would look at her, and wait for her to reveal why she was interrupting them, and she would try to think of the reason why she had thought it might be a good idea to stand up and cross the room and bother these nice people who were really too good to be talking to someone like her anyway-

-and then she would mumble, "Hello."

And they would very accomodatingly forgive her for being useless and awkward, and they would say, "Hello" back, and then...

Then all would fall to silence, and Fea would feel her throat constrict, and she'd know that any words she could think of - and all of the words would be really vapid anyway - would come out in a choked squeek, and then-

-and then everybody would know once and for all that she's actually quite terrible at group social events.

Thinking all these thoughts in the space of about a second, Fea positioned herself cooly in the booth she had claimed for herself, legs stretched out casually across the seat. Next to her she had a gimlet. She was, she'd learned, the kind of woman that can drink a gimlet unselfconsciously, for all that she had to add a bit of sugar to it to make it go down more gently. She had, however, only had a sip. She was quite afraid, to be honest, that actually consuming the entire drink would lubricate her inability to function just enough that she might actually get up and talk to strangers.

STRANGER DANGER her mom's voice shrieked in her imagination.

Fea kept herself from huddling shyly, and postured her body confidently, but still, deep inside, shivered like a little kid whose mom was inexplicably late to picking her up from school (with bullies closing in as the clock ticked), and watched Nog hurry off in search of his daughter.

[Shastanis Althreduin]

Spying Boro talking to Kuruharan at the bar, Shasta raised an eyebrow.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here. Excuse me just a moment, ladies, I've some... business to attend to."

Excusing himself from the now-defunct card game, Shasta went back to the corner he'd originally placed himself in. Checking under the table, he smiled to himself; his duffel bag was still there. And inside...

A gift from Brinniel a while back. Shasta hefted the folding hand-crossbow and drew an arrow from the bag at his feet, pulling back the slide of the bow and nocking the arrow, snapping the clip into place.

In one swift motion, he raised the weapon, took a split second to aim, and fired. Down went the bow, slack went the string, up folded the wings of the bow. By the time Boro's eyes focused on the arrow embedded and still-quivering in the bar inches from his torso, the crossbow was holstered under Shasta's long vest and he was innocently sitting next to Agan, watching the movie play on the laptop.

[Kuruharan]

“Hmmm…,” said Kuru. “Sputtering incoherence,” he wrote on his pad, “and threats of revenge.” He paused. “Yes, I’d say you handled that much better than Nilp. Course, he set the bar pretty low.”

“By the way, wouldn’t one have actually have to have, oh I don’t know, actually beaten you a time or two in Werewolf…”

Dun-Dun-Dun-DUUUUNNNHHH

“…ahem, in Werewolf to qualify as an arch-nemesis? Just a thought.”

Turning to another Downer, Kuru says,

“Aganzir you are evil. Did I mention that I am running a pool?” ;)

Kuru pulls the arrow out of the bar as if nothing had happened and turns to Shasta.

“Your’s, I believe.”

[Boromir88]

“By the way, wouldn’t one have actually have to have, oh I don’t know, actually beaten you a time or two in Werewolf…”
"A fact that would be wise to keep in mind, master dwarf. But, anyway, Wile E. Coyote never managed to beat the Road Runner, yet they were definitely arch-nemesi."

Boro heard a twang, followed by a loud thud. He looked to see a bolt lodged into the side of the bar, it was a mere centimeter away from his torso.

"It appears I'm not the only one you have to worry about." Kuru said as he scribbled another note on his pad.

"Tis a fool whoever believes one arrow can slay me!" Boro boasted and looked around to see if he could ind the perp.

He looked at Gwath, who had been minding his own business the entire party. Couldn't be, a crossbow doesn't seem to be his weapon of choice, besides he'd only get rid of you once you declared him innocent.

Boro had turned his attention to Fea, who had often advocated his death, but surely she would not want me out this early, only when I prove completely useless for her would she do it. He noticed Fea's sophisticated appearance, yet the trembling hand gave away her surpressed weakness. I never gave her a filibuster...I wonder?

“Your’s, I believe.” Kuru tossed the arrow to Shasta.

"It must have pained you to miss by that much" Boro laughed, recalling the great fake reveal.

[Nerwen]

I'm Nerwen," said Nerwen, in response to Kent. "You've probably seen my name around the forums... you know, I'm getting quite excited by this talk of a real-life WW game. It should be quite something, with all these veterans around– although it's also nice," she grinned, a grin made a trifle wolfish by her angular features, "to get some fresh blood–"

She was cut off by the twang of a bowstring, followed by the thud of a bolt striking wood, and looked around in time to see Shasta hastily stuffing a crossbow down his shirt.

"No idea you took grudges that seriously, Shasta. I hope you don't expect the rest of us to pay for the damage?" Nerwen tried to speak with the unflappability of a true Australian, but she could feel her pale face growing a shade or two paler.

Maybe live Werewolf isn't such a great idea after all...

Too tall to be easily lost in the crowd, Nerwen began looking around for a convenient dark corner to disappear into. Shasta's next target would surely be the phantom, but it was possible that he would remember she had been Boromir88's packmate in that fatal game.

[Kent2010]

"It does sound more intense" Kent agreed with Nienna. "That's the big reason I came, because it looks like you can get more involved, especially with all the fine personalities. Also I've never ran away from a challenge." False he muttered to himself.

He scanned the room, watching all the 'Downers, this will be an adventure. We haven't even begun and there is already bolts and hostile words.

Kent saw that the man who asked if he was from Ohio, he looked relaxed and less testy than after the dwarf had thrown ice all over him, so he decided to go back and introduce himself. "Hi, name's Kent. Boro I hear the people call you?" The man nodded. "Nice to meet you. I'm not from Ohio, I was born and raised in PA, but the last couple years I've lived in an apartment in Ohio. I'm going to school in Kent, its been a lot easier and cheaper to live out here, with tuition being as high as it is."

[Lariren Shadow]

Lari finally pipes up from her coffee. She had died over the past few days do to horribly long papers and tests on monarchs that she be BFFs with but were all running together in her head.

When discussion of where Alonariel was begun she piped up, knowing somewhat were the girl was.

She made her way over to Lari, Mira, and Nienna. "Have you guys seen her? Do we know where she is? Have we lost her to the fangirl clutches of TV shows I don't actually watch? Does she by any chance have the sparkletastic skin of a killer?"

"She is shopping at Sephora online for that extra (http://community.livejournal.com/m15m/19551.html#cutid2) sparkle (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khjX-C_eUd0&feature=related). She should be here soon though." At least that's what Lari hoped. She hadn't been paying attention as well as she should have been and felt left out of the conversation. However, she knew that once she started to pay attention she could hopefully get along with everyone.

*Note links prompted by Mira.

In one swift motion, he raised the weapon, took a split second to aim, and fired. Down went the bow, slack went the string, up folded the wings of the bow. By the time Boro's eyes focused on the arrow embedded and still-quivering in the bar inches from his torso, the crossbow was holstered under Shasta's long vest and he was innocently sitting next to Agan, watching the movie play on the laptop.

Lari stared at the crossbow. She had always wanted to shot one, but never had the chance. Plus she preferred to use actual old fashioned bows instead. She also knew that in Mira's backpack was a bat, just in case the "mean" streets of Oxford got a little rough. Though there was that time she had thought she heard a cannon going off when she had been in Oxford before. But Mira did know an awesome bat trick.

[Formendacil]

TEXT MESSAGE: From: FORMENDACIL

A good friend of mine just died, so I'll be a bit longer than I thought--don't worry, He said He'll be back. If I survive till Day2, I want to vote Boro, cause he's almost as good as Morm that way. And tell Agan that she's not my Esmeralda--though I might be short a Cinderella yet.

OOC: just checking in quickly before bed. Really back on Saturday.

[Nienna]

Nienna hears something and looks around. She sees an arrow sticking out of the bar and is unfazed. Some how after living with Fea nothing surprises her anymore.

To Lari she says "... really?... twilight?... really?"

Nienna decides its time to retreat back into herself and her sketchbook as she can only take so much mingling and socialization. She grabs her bag and goes to sit next to Fea, gives her a box of crayons and a coloring book hoping that that will help her become more comfortable.

[Shastanis Althreduin]

"Trust me, Boro, had I meant to hit you, I would have. This is, of course, assuming that I was actually the one that shot at you, which I am not nor will I be admitting to," Shasta said loftily.

[Nogrod]

Nogrod and Greenie entered the pub. Nogrod seemed relieved but a bit annoyed as well - both to Greenie and to himself.

"Now you could have at least sent me an sms or something, right? I was really worried..." he complained.

"But those musicians were such a cool bunch I totally lost my sense of time..."

"Not only the sense of time but also that of direction..." Nogrod put in sarcastically.

"You could have texted me as easily" Greenie snapped back.

"Okay, okay... sorry about that" Nogrod admitted. "Well here we are anyway, all's well that ends well."

"Aren't we only just beginning Nogs?" Greenie grinned.

"Bah..." Nogrod frowned and then smiled, "Let's go meet some people."

[Lariren Shadow]

To Nienna: "As I stated before, the links were all Mira. And Fea started the references and I was just commenting. Plus now I just texted Alonariel to remind her where we are. She probably will have something to say about all this."

Lari looked around and saw Nog and Greenie walk in. She didn't know how to approach them (really the coffee had yet to kick in) but she waved from her corner. She wondered if anyone was staying in England till the 23rd and would be willing to go to the Henry VIII exhibit with her. She assumed that there was a probability that Fea, Nienna, and Mira would all just tune her out if she started talking about it.

[Nogrod]

Nogrod saw Lari wave at them and turned to Greenie only to realise she had already gone off.

So he went to meet Lari by himself.

"Hi there! You must be Lari, the shadowy-one? Nogrod at your service." Nogrod bowed low and went on. "It's nice to see you in person indeed - and I do hope that reverse psychology stuff was only something dictated by Sally the last time". He gave a broad smile and sat down to the chair next to Lari.

"So how are you westerners finding our decadent Europe?"

[Kuruharan]

"But the arrow says 'To Shasta with love' on it," observed Kuru. "Either somebody has really bad aim or somebody got the arrow as a present."

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

"You gave me an Edward Cullen Fantasy Coloring Book, Nienna?!" cried Fea loudly (making it up as she went). She looked down at what was in reality a bunch of Disney villains and picked a handsome shot of Scar on a cliff, pulling out a few earth tones to get started on the rock. "But how shall I color him properly without glitter!?"

Nienna kicked Fea under the table and Fea smiled her thanks for the distraction. She'd traded her gimlet for tea a while ago: tea cups are more functional in shaky hands than martini glasses.

She'd always suspected that martini glasses were status symbols, not because only sophisticates wander around with them, and not because a decent drink in one costs more than the cheap swill most girls her age would consume, but because it is absolutely impossible to hide nerves or shaky hands when you're holding something that attempts, she was certain, to spill itself.

They didn't reveal social status - which was bunk anyway - but they revealed, quite effectively, the comfort level of a person in any given social situation. Martini glasses were an effective measure of confidence or bravado.

Like I said, Fea had switched to tea. Earl grey. (Hot.)

With a crayon in hand, she felt she had a nice solid purpose for being there. Right now, she was coloring Agan a Scar that would surely be better than the one she once sketched for her in the middle of the night and mailed to her. The cost of postage, she'd learned, really wasn't bad at all.

She scumbled in some shadows under Scar's mighty paws, and gave him a loose, effortless sunsetty sky of a background, and tore out the page, folding it neatly into thirds, and wrote "Agan" on it.

Borrowing a piece of blank paper from Nienna, Fea began to sketch Boromir holding an arrow. She thought it seemed delightfully apropos.

Inspired, she flipped the sheet of paper over and wrote in spiky 3D-ish letters, "I wouldn't have missed, dear."

She taped it to the edge of the table, pointed toward Boro, and, with a quiet smirk, returned to Disney.

Ursula? Jafar? Hades? Hm...

[Aganzir]

The DVD ends with Whither Thou Goest (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZ0vXZSTV0U) as the last of the many encores. Agan sighs deep. "He's coming to Europe again in the summer. I'm interrailing then and I'd really like to see him again. In Lisbon the best seats are cheaper than my seat (which was one of the worst) at his Helsinki gig. I only need to convince my friends first," she says to Shasta, ignorant of the fuss he has caused.

“Aganzir you are evil. Did I mention that I am running a pool?” ;)
"Everybody keeps saying that and I can't for the life in me see why!"

The phantom's mobile beeps and he reads Form's message aloud. Aganzir feels compelled to react even before she hears there's something about her, too.
A good friend of mine just died, so I'll be a bit longer than I thought--don't worry, He said He'll be back.
"Aww I'm sorry to hear that. If you reply, send him virtual hugs."
And tell Agan that she's not my Esmeralda--though I might be short a Cinderella yet.
"Ah we shall see... In the end he will probably at least want to burn me."

Suddenly Aganzir grasps what has happened between Shasta and Boro. She wrinkles her brow. "Give the crossbow to me, Shasta," she says in a commanding voice, with a hint of annoyance to help cover the slightly self-conscious tone. Then she realises what she's doing. These people are Downers, not my little brothers, she tells herself. Stop trying to control everything. If Lommy had been there, she would have laughed at Agan and called her a dictator.
Slowly, she lets the muscles around her eyes relax. "Well, at least you guys help me feel at home here." She eyes Shasta and Kuru.

Her irritation is quickly forgotten when Greenie enters with Nog. She rushes to hug her. "Hello bunny! Where have you been? See, everyone's here! There's Fea, and Brinn and Nerwen are somewhere, too. And there's also your dear phantom!" She grins at Greenie's expression and starts walking her through the tables. If she was social earlier, she's even more so now that someone she actually knows well has arrived. She has a bit of a showman streak in her, and as long as there are people who know others worse than she, she has no problem with big parties.

On their way to find Brinn, Agan happens to glance at the papers on Fea's table. "Already preparing for the werewolf game so we can draw our names from a hat or something?" she asks, realising the moment the words leave her mouth that it doesn't make sense. If they were to distribute the roles randomly, they would draw a role from the hat, not their own names.
"No- it's for you," Fea replies, "it's better than the sketch I sent you." She watches Agan fold it open and smile. "Thanks, it's awesome! And don't worry, I liked the sketch, too. I really appreciate it that people bother to draw something for me, usually it's vice versa." Agan looks thoughtful for a while and continues, "I promised to mail something to you, too, and I was planning to take them with me now but I forgot. Ah well I suppose I still have your address, it's written on a piece of paper that is supposed to be on my desk... Only there's a big pile of stuff on it. And the sketch I talked to you about - you remember, the one that dates back to Nog's werewolf? In quality it isn't even close to those you have given me, it was made in two minutes. I'll try to find something a bit better to accompany it, otherwise I'll get a bad conscience."

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

"Aww," Fea smiled, "You really don't have to draw me things."

She said it to be polite. She meant it, of course, but she was trying to find a way to modulate her voice so that Agan knew that while Fea really truly didn't expect anything, she would, in fact, be delighted if she got something anyway.

"And I'm sure I'll love your sketches no matter how good or bad you think they are. Nienna," Fea added, "did you know that Agan draws?"

[Nerwen]

"An Edward Cullen Fantasy Colouring book!" Nerwen gasped, forgetting that she was trying not to attract the attention of the crossbow-wielding maniac. "Surely such horror cannot be allowed to exist– and it doesn't," she added, seeing that Fea was actually applying her crayons to a series of Disney pictures. "What's wrong with Disney?"

She did not quite catch Fea's mumbled reply. Indeed, Fea
seemed oddly reluctant to take up her end of the conversation– almost as if she were shy, which was hardly something Nerwen had expected of her– any more than she had expected her to order tea, of all things. Was Fea's extroverted online personality merely a front? Or was the strange situation making everyone act out of character?

Hearing Agan's commanding tone to Shasta, Nerwen decided on the second option.

That should be me, taking charge of things. What am I doing skulking around in the shadows, just because Shasta happens to be running amok with a crossbow? What's the matter with me?

There was only one thing to do. Drawing herself up to her full height, Nerwen ordered, "No. Give the crossbow to me, Shasta."

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

"What I said," repeated Fea, "was that there's nothing at all wrong with Disney, unless they decide to animate Twilight. And they all live happily ever after," she groaned.

"But, since the topic has changed," Fea looked around amusedly, "I rather think that if we're voting on who gets to babysit the crossbow, it should probably be Nienna. Unless she's a were-librarian."

Fea stuck her tongue out and grinned, sipping her tea, enjoying the mellow flavor of the bergamont.

I wonder where the phantom is, she thought. It's like he ran off right after I walked away from him.

Fea stood up, stretching, and rubbed her sore shoulder. Too many nights of not enough sleep, and her body was telling her that it's not as durable as it was when she was a child. For all that she was a fetus compared to some of her companions (she smiled internally), she was older than several others, and had put her body through more than it deserved. A bit stiff, she palmed the note she'd just written, tape-side out, and walked over to Mira and Lari's table, eying Mira's Dr. Pepper and Lari's Pepsi.

"How's it going?" she asked Stick, casually transferring the note to her friend's back. "Have you guys found Alonariel yet?"

Upon their sleepy head shakes - Fea knew they were recovering from finals - she moved off to greet Shasta, who she'd seen, but not said hello to yet."

She resisted the urge to make sure the note hadn't fallen off of Stick. She doubted it would... she'd applied it with great skill.

I Love Edward, it said, in bubble letters, with hearts.

She'd be modfired for sure.

She snickered to herself, as she got between people and the community crossbow.

"Try not to shoot me, y'all, or I'll be very, very unhappy."

[Boromir88]

Nogrod came out into the hall where most of the downers were gathered. "I think you all need to come take a look at this."

They all followed Nog into a room, where Boro lay passed out.

"Eww it reeks of booze in here" said Izzy.

"He did have a pretty rough day" said Agan, as she shoots a glare at Shasta.

He lay, face down, half on the bed, and his other half falling off. Nogrod and other 'Downers helped roll him back onto the bed.

"Sleeping pills!" Kuru pointed to the desk, next to the bed.

"Alcohol and sleeping pills don't tend to mix." Shasta remarked, to point out that he had nothing to do with Boro's secret habits. "Let's just go and let him sleep it off."

"I doubt he did that to himself, and I don't think he's going to be waking up." Nogrod said, bowing his head. The rest of the 'Downers let out a big gasp! Lodged in Boro's mouth and, shoved down his throat, lay four chicken wings, still with the meat on the bone.

Lari stooped down to pick up a piece of paper, lying at the end of the bed. She began to read:

We warned you about bringing sports talk into the next game. We told you the consequences, but you did not listen. Now you will die by the hands of the wings, beer, and sports that you admire so dearly.

Yours truly,

In the corner, on mute, a TV was playing the 1998 Rose Bowl, where Michigan defeated WSU 21-16. Boro had brought it on the trip to remember the last glory days of his beloved Wolverines.

Boro was dead.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Oh dear...

[the phantom]

Phantom elbowed several Downers out of the way and knelt beside Boro to check his pulse.

"First off, those aren't sleeping pills Kuru- they're Advil. And he's not dead, either! Why wouldn't you check?" Phantom cleared the blockage out of Boro's mouth so he wouldn't choke and whipped out his phone and called for emergency workers.

Over the general noise in the room, Phantom thought he heard Boro half hiss and half snort, as if he were holding back a laugh. Phantom leaned in close to Boro. "You wrote this note, didn't you?" Boro remained silent, but the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.

"I won't tell," whispered Phantom. "I can understand wanting to exit in grand style."

[Nogrod]

"Shut that darn telly, will you" Nogrod said in anguish staring at Boro's body. Just as he was bowing down to pick the chicken wings from Boro's mouth and to try recover him back to life the phantom came in elbowing him away and checked Boro's pulse telling he was not dead.

"Who wants to give him the mouth-to-mouth? I can do the pressing. We must at least try". Nogrod called over phantom's voice only realising there had been a hiss and a snort.

"Oh you son of a..." Nogrod exclaimed - but with a lightened heart.


(OOC: I had already quite written this with a different plot when I realised tp had already made that good...)

[Kent2010]

"This is so strange," Kent said after finding out Boromir faked his death. "Are things always like this here?"

[Aganzir]

"Aww," Fea smiled, "You really don't have to draw me things."
"I've drawn way too little lately, anyway, I haven't had time. It seems I need a reason if I really want to get something finished. I could try to send them in a week or so." Agan always worked better if she had a deadline. She made a mental note to send a christmas card to Kath at the same time. It was a bit late already.

"And I'm sure I'll love your sketches no matter how good or bad you think they are. Nienna," Fea added, "did you know that Agan draws?"
"Oh now you're making it sound as if it was something big. Well, I am quite fond of drawing and art in general, but I'm still quite an amateur."

"An Edward Cullen Fantasy Colouring book!" Nerwen gasped, forgetting that she was trying not to attract the attention of the crossbow-wielding maniac. "Surely such horror cannot be allowed to exist– and it doesn't," she added, seeing that Fea was actually applying her crayons to a series of Disney pictures. "What's wrong with Disney?"
"I think the Twilight thing is a joke of theirs. I recall vaguely chatting with Fea and some others on MSN and Fea saying something about one of them and Twilight. But it might have been someone else as well." The thought of an Edward Cullen colouring book amuses Agan about as much as Nerwen's reaction. "You should be careful if you don't want anyone to get a heart attack," she says to Fea and Nienna, her grin revealing fangs that are for certain creepier than Edward Cullen's. She had been one of those kids who didn't let their parents convince them to get braces just for aesthetical reasons. Her sense of aesthetics had maybe been more twisted than it was now, but she liked her teeth nonetheless, especially the two pointy fangs.

Aganzir follows Nerwen with her eyes when she tells Shasta to give the crossbow away. On such a moment it is easy to see how Nerwen ended up choosing the screenname she has. The only thing that doesn't remind Agan of Galadriel is Nerwen's dark hair. I wouldn't like to be in Shasta's shoes, she thinks.

Her thoughts are interrupted by Nogrod's grave voice. Worried, she follows him into the next room. It reeks of male - sweat, alcohol, greasy food, slightly overheated TV. Still, she feels the need to defend Boro when Izzy complains about the smell. "He did have a pretty rough day." Besides, Agan realises, she has started to associate the smell of alcohol to Barrow-Downs meetings. It's not that she wouldn't smell it in other situations, too, it's just that it seems to fit there. It makes her feel cosy. And it is the only concrete thing that unites her memories of previous BD meetings.

Lari reads aloud the note at the end of the bed.

The first words Agan hears after that are "Oh you son of a..." cried by Nogrod in a still shocked but somewhat lighter tone. She notices she's leaning on Nienna, who entered the room together with her, and shaking. Her lower lip is bleeding. She pulls herself together and mutters an apology.

"What an earth is happening? Has anyone called an ambulance? Did someone try to kill Boro? Is he alright?" Aganzir's voice is shriller than usual.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Agan always worked better if she had a deadline.

"I shall expect something in my mailbox when I return to school, then. I'll be back on campus a week from Sunday." Fea grinned, knowing she wasn't giving Agan much time at all. Trans-Atlantic mail could be quite slow, if it put its mind to it.

Fea glared down at Boromir. "That's not funny."

For good measure, she kicked him, though not hard enough to hurt him.

She shivered, displeased by the temperature difference between her typical haunts and this place. She'd been cold since arriving, and it was souring her mood.

"You're like a 12 year old playing with a paper-cutter, Boro. If I hear screams, you'd better be missing an appendage. Didn't you ever read The Boy Who Cried Wolf?"

[Kuruharan]

"Are things always like this here?"

Normally its worse.

Incongruously enough, Kuruharan has suddenly become utterly engrossed with a baby ladybug he just found and is watching it crawl all over his hands, oblivious to the world.

[the phantom]

OOC note-

ModGod is sad he hasn't had time to post more, but you all have been doing great. But all things must end, and Day -1 ends in 10 hours. Continue posting cool links, having funny conversations, flirting, drinking, etc. For after this day is over, things won't be quite so... happy. ;)

[Boromir88]

"I'm fine Agan" Boro chuckled. "You couldn't have let it be for a couple more minutes, Master phantom? I had them going, Nog was going to try and recicitate me." :p

Fea gave him a good kick, and a scolding. She's stronger than she thinks, that's going to leave a mark.

"Oh Fea it was just a bit of fun! I thought with all the excitement yesterday, staging my death would be amusing." Boro tried to give his best sad puppy look, but Fea did not look amused. "If I recall that story correctly, the boy eventually did see wolves, keep that in mind. But, I'm happy to see you are concerned for me, that tells me the next time I'm in trouble I can count on you."

[Nienna]

After making sure that Boro was ok and then giving him a good glare or two for scaring them all like that, Nienna goes to find Shasta.

"Don't let me see the crossbow again or it will be mine." She says while looking over her glasses.

Nienna retreats and decides that she is getting quite sketchy and needs very badly to take a shower. She murmurs her farewells and goes out in search of a shower.

OOC:
I'm going away this weekend... I should be able to pop in tomorrow briefly and vote but I won't be around other than that. I will def. be around after that though.

[Firefoot]

Incongruously enough, Kuruharan has suddenly become utterly engrossed with a baby ladybug he just found and is watching it crawl all over his hands, oblivious to the world. "What's the difference between a baby ladybug and an adult one? All the one's I've ever seen are the same size..."

[Mnemosyne]

There were noises. Lots of noises. The thunk of a crossbow bolt, and then wailing and subsequent laughter.

Irked, Mnemosyne stood up on a table. "Okay, so who wants to explain to the recently-struck-blind-and-thus-unable-to-turn-her-disability-into-Suvian-like-powers* girl what just happened? Or, better yet, figure out a way to fix this? And where's Sally? If she's off in some corner snogging someone, I'll do something very unpleasant."

*Totally not jacked from Nerwen. Nossir, not at all

[Aganzir]

"I shall expect something in my mailbox when I return to school, then. I'll be back on campus a week from Sunday." Fea grinned, knowing she wasn't giving Agan much time at all. Trans-Atlantic mail could be quite slow, if it put its mind to it.
"I'll try my best. And if nothing else, you'll get them before you leave school again."

"I'm fine Agan" Boro chuckled.
"That was not the least bit funny, and I would certainly not expect it from someone your age. But yeah, I definitely feel at home now. Who would have thought I can find this quickly three Downers who are just like my brothers?" Agan knew she was taking things too seriously but Boro's little jest had shocked her. "Be careful or I might start calling you by their names."

It was hard to imagine the man standing there, chuckling, was the same Boro she had talked to on the forums; the scary, aggressive werewolf player who had killed her the first time she had been a wolf, had made her a tasty kill on purpose, and what else. She wouldn't have expected something so tasteless from him. She didn't like to get into situations she couldn't control, and hated to be made a fool of. Relax, she told herself and ordered a shot of rum.

[the phantom]

Phantom quietly made his way to a corner of the room and opened the second pocket in his backpack. From within its depths he withdrew something flowy and pink.

"Um, Phantom... Is that what I think it is?" asked Mira, approaching from behind.

Phantom grinned and began putting it on.

"Why are you putting that dress on? It looks like something Cinderella would wear."

Phantom merely grinned and pulled out a shiny tiara and placed it carefully upon his head. Finally, from a side pocket in his bag, he produced a package of twinkies, and he began at once to nibble on them.

"What the heck, Phantom?!"

Phantom laughed. "I'm just putting a certain Downer to the test. We'll see if she was lying when she told me something a few months ago."

"You're insane," returned Mira, rolling her eyes as she walked away. Nice legs though she thought.

[Boromir88]

"Someone my age? What are you suggesting, Agan? Might I remind you, you are the one who thinks I like to go to amusement parks to play with toy trains (http://forum.barrowdowns.com/showpost.php?p=581026&postcount=1506)." :p

[Aganzir]

"Well, didn't Form talk something about wanting a Cinderella?"
Aganzir steps forward, grinning widely. Her earlier irritation is gone and there's blood on her lower lip again. Although she does have a habit of biting it just for fun, this time she has only been trying not to laugh. She eyes the phantom appraisingly.

"I think I prefer you that way. Even though you forgot the corset," she says and puckers her mouth. "You know, generally I think women look better in a tuxedo and men in an evening gown."

She steps closer and reaches to kiss phantom on the corner of his mouth. "I think you deserve this for your effort. I am pleased," she smirks. When she withdraws, a drop of blood stains phantom's chin.

She turns and walks casually to the bar to get more rum. "I hope someone manages to take a photo of him before he changes. It simply must be posted on I met a fellow BDer."

"Someone my age? What are you suggesting, Agan? Might I remind you, you are the one who thinks I like to go to amusement parks to play with toy trains (http://forum.barrowdowns.com/showpost.php?p=581026&postcount=1506)." :p
"Fine, maybe I should have been able to expect it, then, but that certainly doesn't mean you should have done it." Agan's words are more irritated than her voice. She grins and punches Boro in the stomach. That seems to be becoming a habit, too, she thinks. At least he wasn't drinking anything, unlike poor Rune.

[Shastanis Althreduin]

Shasta grinned to himself.

My crossbow is apparently a hot commodity. How will I ever thank Brinn enough? They're mistaken if they think they can bully me out of it, though.

When all the fuss regarding Boro was resolved, Shasta was the only person with a disappointed look.

"Hmph. I'm sure he just wanted attention."

Leaving the media room, Shasta went to see what Fea was up to. She wouldn't try to take his crossbow away, he was sure.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Fea, not seeing Shasta moving toward her, sauntered over toward the phantom. She cocked an eyebrow, tucked her tongue firmly in cheek, looked him, quite exaggeratedly, up and down, and drawled, "Nice legs. Wats ur age, chick?"

[Aganzir]

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y62/Aganzir/sexycinderella.jpg

[Nogrod]

"How did you guys get a glimpse of his legs?" Nogrod asked baffled as he was not quite sure what to say of the sight.

This must be an easter revelation of sorts that just beats me... he thought to himself and ordered one more pint just to get a proof that he was still in some sort of a reality.

[the phantom]

Phantom licked his lips and enjoyed the sight of Aganzir walking away. Oh, that was totally worth it.

"Nice legs. Wats ur age, chick?"

Phantom laughed as he recalled one of his favorite Barrow-Downs moment. "That one will live forever, won't it?"

"Yes," answered Fea. "And I still haven't forgotten that it was your fault," she added, punching him hard on the arm. "And really, you can take that off now. You got what you were looking for I'm thinking."

Phantom raised an eyebrow. "So, does this mean I can tell everyone that Fea suggested that I remove my clothing." Fea pulled her fist back for another punch.

[Firefoot]

That's disturbing on several levels.

[Kuruharan]

"Very easy, Firefoot." Kuru gently dropped the tiny thing into her hands. "When they are that small its hard to miss. I think this one was just born."

Kuruharan decided to take stock.

"Lets see here...nudity, attempted murder, faked murder..."

*SPLASH*

"...oh yes, and cross-dressing," assessed Kuru has he watched the huge bucket of ice-cold water thoroughly saturate the phantom.

He prepared his note pad to record the results.

[Boromir88]

"I like it. Come on, hit me again!" Boro was trying to regain some of his lost manhood after Agan's blow. Nope, that one hurt..."Alright, alright, I get it, that was a bad prank." he wimpered and fell to his knees "Does anyone else feel like getting in their licks?" :( Boro was glad to see Shasta had left the room, or he probably would have taken the offer.

Bent over, he saw a long flowing gown, his eyes followed up, lo' and behold stood the phantom flaunting his dress. At that moment, everything Boro had ate in the last 12 hours immediately came up and out onto the phantoms pink high heels.

[Aganzir]

"I like it. Come on, hit me again!" Boro was trying to regain some of his lost manhood after Agan's blow.
"Really?" Agan's eyes lighten up. Then she realises Boro is merely being ironic. "Oh."

She pats the kneeling Boro on the head. "Come on, don't take it that seriously. No one is angry with-" and she has to step back in order to avoid getting dirty when Boro throws up on phantom's shoes.

"You're being rather intolerant," she points out to Kuru and Boro in a disapproving voice. Talking to little brothers again. "What's wrong with him dressing up like a princess? Would I get a bucket of water on myself if I came here tomorrow dressed up as a cavalry officer?"

She looks around her. "We need someone to clean up this mess."

[Nogrod]

Nogrod decided it would be wise to get a little farther away from the splashes of vomit, at least if there would be more of that kind and settled beside Gwath to the corner.

"Howdy cowboy! What's up? Nice to see you." But Gwath didn't respond. Nogrod lifted the stetson a bit only to realise Gwath was in deep sleep. Bugger...

Nogrod took a deep draught from the ale and frowned. I might then as well start with my papers... if there is nothing too important going on right now I could as well try to ease my burden from the next days.

Nogrod opened the heavy case he had with him and took the mighty pile of papers to the table scrolling through the different folders. Finally he found what he was searching for. Philosophy, preliminary course, 27 papers... Just light enough for the occasion.

He eyed the exam-paper. The first question was: A) In which manner the question concerning the mode of being of the human mind is related to the question of the world being deterministic or indeterministic? B) Take a stance and make an argument on behalf of your position to the question of the nature of the mind and the world from this perspective.

Nogrod smiled and shook his head taking a sip from his pint. Light enough... he grinned to himself. Why do you always have to paint yourself to the corner with these exams? You could just make questions like "Explain Plato's theory of forms" or "What is Hume's guillotine?", or "How do you spell Nietzsche?"... Well, can't blame but myself - and anyhow I need to get through all of these exams, and not only this one, in the coming days so you better just start.

Suddenly he felt his eyebrows falling down with irresistible force once again. Gah... I'll read them tomorrow.

[Mnemosyne]

Mnemo is still staring blindly around, but by coincidence her sightless eyes happen to fall upon the phantomess. Somehow the sheer incongruity of seeing him in drag, combined with a fair measure of poetic justice, shocks her nervous system back into being able to process images.

"Well," she says, "that was weird."

[Gwathagor]

Nogrod decided it would be wise to get a little farther away from the splashes of vomit, at least if there would be more of that kind and settled beside Gwath to the corner.

"Howdy cowboy! What's up? Nice to see you." But Gwath didn't respond. Nogrod lifted the stetson a bit only to realise Gwath was in deep sleep. Bugger...

The stranger woke up with a start, and had his pistol drawn and the hammer pulled halfway back before he realized it was only Nogrod. He holstered the pistol and leaned back again.

"You best be careful how you wake up a man with a gun," he said. "I kinda thought you was trying to rob me, and I wouldn't have thought twice about shooting if you had been. Wouldn't be the first time."

He offered Nogrod the bottle.

"Whiskey?"

[Kuruharan]

"Would I get a bucket of water on myself if I came here tomorrow dressed up as a cavalry officer?"

*ahem*

"Given that the first result of my experiment was nudity and this is (or was until...this get together) a family friendly site, its unlikely," said Kuru with a wink. "And please remember this is all in the interests of furthering my understanding of hydrology as part of a complex plot to take over the world. This is science!"

*SPLASH*

"Except for that one. That one was not for science, old boy," said Kuru, as another shower of freezing water drenched the phantom. "That one was purely in the interests of helping you get cleaned up!"

[Mnemosyne]

Considering that "cleaning up" seems to involve getting naked in this group, I'm not wholly sure that that was wise.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Fea, a bit hungry, but nauseated by the smell of saurkraut that for some reason wafted by her, coughed a bit and shivered. She was never warm enough until about mid-July. She avoided physical contact with people because shaking hands with them would inevitably invite their comments about how ice cold her fingers were.

She ordered hot cocoa with whipped cream - a throwback to her childhood - to wrap her fingers around, to warm them. "And can I have a veggie omelet please? No peppers..."

Not quite the right time for dinner, no doubt, but she'd eaten a few hours ago and it was definitely time to refuel.

"Phantom, love," she asked, noting her favorite narcissist still in drag, "you know I love you no matter what you're wearing, but I can't help but think your dress is going to get in the way of the festivities. I do love ballgowns, but nobody has ever accused them of being functional."

Chocolate, she said to herself smiling. Definitely want chocolate. Warm, nice, rich, chocolate... It would help prepare her for the morning, when she was slated to do something she couldn't remember ever having done before: spending a day with her dad, doing something they were both interested in.

[Nogrod]

"Sure... That could freshen me up." Nogrod took the bottle and had a fair draught. "Old Kentucky? Four Roses? Ahh... this feels good in the veins. The blood's on the move again"

Nogrod turned towards Gwath and handed the bottle back.

"So how are you mate? We've gotten together in rpg's and ww-games but it's sure nice to sit here beside you sharing a bottle. Sadly I don't have any vodka with me and the Finninsh beers are just lousy, like drinking dishwater..."

[Kuruharan]

Considering that "cleaning up" seems to involve getting naked in this group, I'm not wholly sure that that was wise.

D'OH!!

[the phantom]

Phantom decided that the timing was right for his Bond impression.

"Let's get out of these wet things."

[Kuruharan]

Kuruharan dives out the window.

...after hastily setting up a camera to take pictures for future blackmail.

[Mnemosyne]

Mnemo hastily removes her contacts, hoping that her nearsightedness will create something close to pixellization. She would rather not lose her eyesight once more, but attempting to avert her eyes from a mobile object such as the phantom so as to retain it would be tantamount to disaster.

[Nogrod]

"Hide!"

Nogrod jumped on Gwath and took him along under the table. Gwath was about to protest but Nogrod explained him: "It's to your own good. You don't want to witness what is to follow..."

Eyeing around from the floor level - and hearing Kuru jump out through the window - they realised they were not the only ones making that decision.

[Aganzir]

"Given that the first result of my experiment was nudity and this is (or was until...this get together) a family friendly site, its unlikely," said Kuru with a wink. "And please remember this is all in the interests of furthering my understanding of hydrology as part of a complex plot to take over the world. This is science!"
"Aww Kuru you're so sweet. But well, thus far your results look promising. If everyone reacts in the same way those guys have, I'm sure you'll succeed in taking over the world. ...And that's a big if."

When phantom starts undressing, Agan takes her sketchbook and a pencil. Her eyes search the room but she cannot find what she is looking for. "Hey Nilp darling would you come here, too?" she shouts. "I so enjoy homoerotic art," she explains to those close enough to hear.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Fea watched, entertained, and waited expectantly. :Merisu:

[Kuruharan]

To the surprise of absolutely nobody. :rolleyes:

;)

[Firefoot]

This all is too weird to even be a dream. :rolleyes:

*Joins Nogrod and Gwath under a table* "Somehow I imagined that my first time meeting either of you would occur under... slightly different circumstances - but well met, regardless. Though I don't see why we let him get away with this; someone ought to do something. Like magic a trap door beneath him, or throw a sheet over his head, or knock him out or something."

[Mnemosyne]

"Ah, there's a table to be hid under? Excellent!" Mnemo joined the group of refugees.

"Okay, that's obviously Nog in the yellow boots; Gwath's the westerner, and you're... Footie, right?" She flashed a somewhat nervous grin. "I'm all for stopping the great Uncloaking Threat, but considering that last time something went wrong I lost my eyesight... well... Unfortunately I just don't think I have the capacity to do anything."

[Brinniel]

Brinn was a bit overwhelmed by her surroundings. Distracted by other things, she unintentionally remained the quiet one among them. But it did amuse her to simply observe the events put into motion in front of her. She had long given up on her drink, as it seemed to all just come back out of her nose from laughing so hard. Lucky for her, Brinn had brought her digital camera to document it all. This would lead to some interesting discussions on the "I met a fellow BDer" thread, as she would most certainly be posting these photos, no matter how embarrassing. ;)

[Kuruharan]

*gingerly hoists a sheet through the window*

[Boromir88]

"You're being rather intolerant," she points out to Kuru and Boro in a disapproving voice. Talking to little brothers again. "What's wrong with him dressing up like a princess? Would I get a bucket of water on myself if I came here tomorrow dressed up as a cavalry officer?"

Boro, stared up at Agan, stomach still aching, and imagined Agan coming in the next day magically growing a JEB (http://wolfcreekfarmva.com/bookaroom/images/Jeb_stuart.jpg) Stewart http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/101/l_bcbe30181fb44173b38f89d907c1b297.jpg

What he had for breakfast came up next.

[Kent2010]

"I'll get the mop" Kent said. He didn't mind having to clean up vomit, some people might think its gross, but he was used to it. Working the Friday graveyard shift at a campus diner, and having to clean up after the 'Thirsty Thursday party' crowd came in, was the norm. I bet Boro is the first sober man to puke in a bar, and twice too. Kent laughed and went to find a mop.

[the phantom]

After hastily changing into the extra clothes he brought along (I always have extra clothes in my car/bag- seriously, always do), Phantom came back into the main room and sat down next to Mira.

"So, when are we playing Werewolf?" she asked.

"Oh, have people been asking?"

"A few," she answered. "Things have gotten a bit out of control. I think it might be good to have a structured activity."

"Well, if we're playing, I want to be ModGod," said Phantom.

"Then you'd better go ahead and call it, or someone will beat you to it," advised Mira.

Phantom stood on his chair and called out in a booming voice, "Okay, everyone, let's get ready to play some Werewolf!"

(note: Day -1 ends in 1 hour and 45 minutes)

[Mnemosyne]

"I'm in! Are we starting out with Standard Rules, O Phantom?"

[Mirandir]

"Dibs on making sure phantom doesn't get completely out of control!" Mira yelled excitedly, shooting a hand up in the air for no apparent reason.

[Mnemosyne]

"And how exactly do you plan on doing that, Mira?"

[Mirandir]

"...I have no idea."

[Mnemosyne]

"...Sit on him, maybe?"

[the phantom]

Are we starting out with Standard Rules, O Phantom?
"Actually, I have some special rules here," replied Phantom, opening his blue notebook.

"I'll pass them around so everyone can see. I have a couple copies."

rules (http://forum.barrowdowns.com/showpost.php?p=591936&postcount=1)

[Nerwen]

Nerwen, having failed in her attempt to confiscate Shasta's weapon, had settled down to watch the show, which had proved to be amusing beyond her wildest dreams (and she had some pretty wild dreams).

And to think I promised Mum they were all perfectly nice, normal people... she thought.

In spite of her earlier misgivings, she could not resist the prospect of a real-life WW game.

"Oh, can I play, phantom? Please?":Merisu:

[the phantom]

"Sure you can play Nerwen!" answered Phantom, pleased that he was getting such an immediate response.

Boro, Lommy, and Nogrod each grabbed a copy of the rules and began reading, while yet more Downers came up behind them and attempted to peek over their shoulders.

As Phantom, still standing on his chair, looked out over them, he noticed an elderly gentleman stumble in from the entry hall. The man looked confused- perhaps a bit crazy even.

[Mnemosyne]

Mnemo turned over and looked at the new arrival. She thought everyone who was supposed to be here had arrived--except Alonariel--but maybe someone else on the 'Downs had found out about it and dropped in? But he didn't exactly look like a 'Downer type, not that she could judge. Tentatively she walked over to him.

"Excuse me... This is a private party... Are you part of the Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum, sir?"

[the phantom]

While everyone was busy reading his rules, Phantom approached Mnem and the stranger. He heard Mnem ask if he was a Downer, but the man ignored her and looked around with a curious expression on his face. Was it excitement, desperation, or both with a bit of dementia thrown in?

[Mnemosyne]

"Hey, phantom, don't we have some way to throw this guy out? I don't think he's entirely right..."

[satansaloser2005]

Sally walked in and yawned loudly.

"Hey, people, is it too late for me to join the party?"

She looked about and saw Phantom in a dress, Formie waving at her, Nilp wearing....well, she'd rather not think about that....and Fea being a hoor....ible person.

"What....the....?"


OOC note: Sorry, I've been ill for the last few days and have been a terrible person and not read the thread. Never fear though, I'm now here. :)

[the phantom]

Suddenly the elderly gentleman broke his silence. "This is it. This is the place. We feels it. Father spent much time here. But why here? Because this is where it happened, or did it happen because he figured it out here? Or can it happen anywhere, but it's just easier here, because he did it here so often?"

Phantom and Mnem looked at each other. The man was obviously off his rocker. "Come on, sir," began Phantom. "Why don't you come over here and I'll call-"

"It doesn't matter!" growled the man, still looking around as if he couldn't see Phantom. "All that matters is that we can go from here! It will work! We knows it!"

[Mnemosyne]

"We knows it... Is this someone's idea of a sick joke?"

[the phantom]

"You know, this guy looks kind of familiar," said Phantom to Mnem. "I just can't place him."

"I can sure place some of his choices in wording, though," returned Mnem. "Though I've seen much better Gollum impressions than this."

[Gwathagor]

"Hide!"

Nogrod jumped on Gwath and took him along under the table. Gwath was about to protest but Nogrod explained him: "It's to your own good. You don't want to witness what is to follow..."

Eyeing around from the floor level - and hearing Kuru jump out through the window - they realised they were not the only ones making that decision.

Gwath just about lost his hat on the way down - but held on, and snagged the whiskey bottle at the last moment. It was, unfortunately, empty.

"Pity about the Finnish beer," he said to Nogrod, oblivious to the goings-on and entrances and departures. "I'm an ale and stout man myself. The blacker the better."

He called for a pint. And another bottle of whiskey.

"Hair o' the dog what bit ya," he explained.

[Mnemosyne]

Mnemosyne's mind raced. "Father, father--he said father! Father used to be here, he talks like Gollum, he looks kind of-- Oh, holy Valar, phantom, please tell me I'm going crazy!"

[the phantom]

POSTING TIME IS OVER.

Roles will be PMed soon. The narrative will go up a little bit at a time during Night 1. Remember, Night 1 is 36 hours.

[the phantom]

Mnemosyne's mind raced. "Father, father--he said father! Father used to be here, he talks like Gollum, he looks kind of-- Oh, holy Valar, phantom, please tell me I'm going crazy!"
Phantom looked closely at the man. "Well, he does kind of... but really, I mean... why in the world would Christopher Tolkien be here?"

At this, the man jerked his head so that he was facing Phantom and looked directly into his eyes. "Christopher... yes... that's what he used to call me. But he didn't know everything. He was wrong about it. He said it couldn't do anything here. But no, no, he didn't know. We've kept it longer. It got in our head, and we wants it out!"

The man grabbed Phantom's shirt and pulled him closer. "We've gots to do it! He said never to open it, or to try to find how, but we must! It hurts... in the head... and it won't let us take it off!" He waved his hand in front of Phantom's face, and on his finger was a simple golden ring.

Mnem rolled her eyes. "Aren't you supposed to be invisible?"

"It doesn't work like that here," answered the man, and Mnem jumped in surprise, not expecting to be addressed. "Not in this world. Father didn't think any of it worked at all here. Thought it had no power at all, since it couldn't make him disappear. But no, it still has power. Just slower, and less. But it's too much for us! It told us to take it back, and if we don't...."

At this point such a look of pain and fear crossed his face that Phantom waved off the possibility of a joke. This man was clearly crazed. Just then Mira approached with her laptop.

"I thought he looked familiar," whispered Mira, "And look!"

On her computer was a picture of Christopher Tolkien. "Oh my goodness!" exclaimed Mnem. "He looks just like him!"

"Just like him?" said Mira. "It IS him."

[the phantom]

While the three of them were staring at the computer, Christopher Tolkien pulled from beneath his jacket an old battered piece of parchment, and proceeded to read from it in a low voice.

"What's he doing now?" wondered Mira aloud.

"It sounds like Elvish!" exclaimed Mnem, who knew a little bit herself.

"Can you tell what he's saying?" asked Phantom, but Mnem didn't answer. A strange bluish glow had begun emanating from a point in midair directly in front of Christopher. All three Downers stepped back from it and stared with wide eyes. Indeed, all the Downers in the room plus the pub staff were now giving their full attention to the perplexing scene.

There was a collective gasp as the small glowing point expanded quickly. It was soon several feet in height and breadth, every bit of it giving off the same eerie glow. It rippled, like a sheet of water suspended sideways in the air. Others recalled a flag in the wind, though no flag had ever looked so curious.

Phantom slowly edged around to the other side, and Mira followed. There they saw Christopher staring straight ahead, wringing his hands, his face changing back and forth between awe and disgust. Phantom could think of nothing to say, but it did not matter, for Christopher began conversing with himself.

"We mustn't do this. We mustn't!"

"But we doesn't like it! We must be rid of it!"

"No, we can't. Father said we must always keep it, and never seek to return unless they come for it. It would kill them all!"

"But they're not from here. We'd never have to see them. They don't matter. They're not even real. This is only a dream."

"It's not a dream! Father told me all about it. It's real!"

"No, it isn't. How can this be real? It's all in our head. And if we do this in our head, we'll be rid of the madness forever."

Christopher bent over and covered his head. Phantom slowly approached him. "Sir, are you okay? Christopher, do you-"

But Phantom was interrupted by Mira tugging on his shirt. "Look, look, look!" she hissed in an excited whisper. Phantom turned towards Mira, but stopped dead facing the blue glowing disturbance, or rather, what he expected to be the blue glowing disturbance. For on this side, it was not a glowing watery thing at all, but a window into someplace other than the pub. A rocky hill rose up out of sight, pines thick upon its slope. At the foot, thirty or forty feet straight ahead, a heavy wooden door was set in the stone, no doubt covering some sort of cave. Two sentries stood before it, mail clad with spears and girt with swords and shields slung upon their backs.

Even as Phantom and Mira stared, the sentries seemed to see them. The one upon the left lowered his spear but did not advance. The other turned and vanished through the door, so quick that the onlookers barely saw it open and shut.

[the phantom]

As Phantom and Mira continued to gaze in disbelief, more Downers began to crowd around onto their side of the portal. The room was completely silent, and they could hear the wind blowing through the pines on the other side.

Suddenly Christopher stood up straight and shouted, "Yes, we will go!" And then, as if every step was a pain, he advanced upon the portal. As he drew near, the Downers marked that he appeared to be fading, and just before stepping through, he could barely be seen at all.

And then he vanished.

Many cried out in shock, and at the same time the door in the hill burst open and several armored men came running out towards the portal. The one in front was very quick, his blond hair flying behind him, and as he came he pointed and shouted, clearly giving instructions to the others. The half dozen soldiers behind him fanned out and continued forward while their leader sprinted straight towards the portal. All the pub staff turned and fled, but the Downers stayed where they were, for strangely they felt no fear at all.

When the man halted but a few feet from the portal, the Downers knew in their hearts that he was not a man at all, for he was fair beyond the measure of this world, and his ears were of a different shape.

"Impossible," gasped Boromir. "An elf!"

And then the elf hailed them. "I am Glorfindel of Rivendell. Who are you, and what have you to do with the portal? And where is Tolkien, and why has a stranger entered this land with the great Ring upon his finger?"

[the phantom]

It was Phantom who finally got past his surprise and answered Glorfindel. "That stranger was Tolkien's son. He opened the portal."

"But who are you, and why did he open the portal?" asked Glorfindel.

"I am Pha- I mean Philip. I don't know anything about this. Chris Tolkien came in and was talking crazy and acting weird, and then he opened the portal and went through. That's all I know."

Glorfindel moved closer and and questioned Phantom again. "So, you did not know Tolkien at all? And that was his son? But where is Tolkien?"

"Tolkien is dead," answered Phantom. "He died many years ago. I never knew him. Though I've read most of his books. The son finished the books the father never finished. But..." At that moment, the absurdity and strangeness hit Phantom full for the first time. Here was in front of him, Glorfindel? This is ridiculous he thought. How is this happening?

"But of course, he'd be dead now," said Glorfindel. "His final visit was long ago, and he was not young even then. But- you know nothing of the portal, or of this world?"

"No," said Phantom, "I told you I didn't know anything about the portal, but I do know about that world. I read Tolkien's books about it. But... it's not real. I mean- he made up Middle-Earth."

Glorfindel's eyebrows raised, and he smiled briefly. "So, Tolkien was a god, was he, and gave me and my friends life?"

"What? No. That's not what I meant," said Phantom. "I mean, he wrote stories about you, and he made up the stories... from in his head."

"He may have invented stories about Middle-Earth," said Glorfindel gravely, "But that does not mean he invented Middle-Earth or its people. He knew it was real. He visited several times. Otherwise I would not be able to speak your tongue."

[the phantom]

Boromir stepped forward to stand next to Phantom. "Wait, earlier you said that Chris Tolkien had the Ring upon his finger. The 'great' Ring. How is that possible? The One Ring was destroyed! It was cast into the fires of Mount Doom."

Glorfindel started at the name of the fiery mountain. "How do you know that name, and of the plan to destroy the Ring?"

"Tolkien wrote all about it," said Boromir. "All about Frodo, and how he brought the Ring to Rivendell, and Elrond and Gandalf determined it should be destroyed, and then Frodo and eight others undertook the quest."

Glorfindel's mouth opened in surprise as Boromir continued giving details about the quest. The attempted passage of the Misty Mountains, the journey through Moria, and on to the Anduin.

"It seems that my old friend did indeed write many tales of this world," said Glorfindel. "Frodo did bring the Ring to Rivendell, and he and eight companions did follow the path you outlined. The Ring, however, was left behind in Rivendell, and it was certainly not destroyed."

"But why didn't you try and take it to the fire?" asked Mira, who had at last recovered her voice.

Glorfindel looked at her incredulously. "What? Take the Ring to Mordor? With Sauron's armies dwelling there, thick as ants, and Sauron himself ever watchful and alert? Surely you jest!"

"So you never decided to destroy the Ring?" asked Phantom.

"We did indeed decide to destroy the Ring," answered Glorfindel, "But we had not the strength to force Sauron from his realm and assure the Ring safe passage to the mountain. We needed first to gain the upper hand."

"But how could you gain the upper hand without destroying his Ring? Sauron's might was too much to contend with," said Boromir.

"Ah, now you have come upon the reason for the Ring being in your world," said Glorfindel. "Elrond and Gandalf both studied the portal and its workings extensively, and it was one of them, or both perhaps, who theorized that if the Ring were to be taken out of this world and into yours, and the portal closed, that Sauron would lose a greater part of his power, no longer being able to draw upon the Ring. Some of us even went so far as to hope it would destroy him completely, but alas, it did not."

"So, it didn't work?" asked Mira.

"It did work," answered Glorfindel. "After Tolkien left with the Ring, Sauron's designs went astray, and he was greatly weakened. He continued to hold the upper hand for many years with his vast armies of orcs and trolls and his alliances with the cruel peoples of the South, but every year we made some headway. As it stands now the dwarves have a firm foothold in Moria, the elves of Mirkwood have taken back most of their forest, and Ithilien has been cleared of evil. Everywhere we are drawing tight the noose, and we hope to begin assaulting the Black Gates and Minas Morgul soon."

"So things are going well?" questioned Mira.

"I would say yes, if not for what has happened here today, for it appears that the Ring has returned to this world, and Sauron's strength is sure to grow quickly. And if he recovers his Ring...." Glorfindel's face fell.

As he stood there in silence, one of the elves under his command approached bearing tidings. The Downers looked back and forth between the two as they traded hushed words. "Any idea what they're saying, Mnem?" whispered Phantom.

"No, it's too soft, and too fast," said Mnem.

Soon the other elf retreated back towards the door in the hillside, and Glorfindel turned his attention back to the Downers on the other side of the portal. "He has escaped," he said. "My scouts have found his trail, but he appears to be moving quickly- too quick to be caught until he stops to rest. Let us hope that he does so soon."

[the phantom]

"So, how does this portal work?" called Lalwende from the rear of the group, "And how did Tolkien come to be in your world?"

Glorfindel shook his head. "I do not know all there is to know on those matters. Elrond and Gandalf know the most, and have deemed it wise to remain silent, saying only that which is necessary. The gateway has played an important role in resisting the enemy, and we do not wish for information to find its way to his ears."

"But we don't even live in Middle-Earth," insisted Lalwende. "And though you don't know everything, you can at least tell us what you do know, or guess."

"I will not share all I know," answered Glorfindel, "But I will tell you part." Everyone gathered closer to the portal, anxious to hear his tale, but not so much that they crossed the threshold. "Tolkien appeared on this spot for the first time many years before the Ring came to Rivendell. He was found by the sons of Elrond, who were on an errand in these parts. The wilderness north of Rivendell is vast, and there are few paths, and so we believe that it was fated to be so, that he would appear when he did, and that they would pass by within moments."

"To open the portal, he spoke words from a piece of parchment, in the language of the high-elves. Do not ask how he came by the parchment in his world. I do not know. But I do know that he could open the portal from any location with the words and force of will, and that if he opened it repeatedly from one location, it became easier. Elrond advised him against this, worrying that opening it enough times from one place might make the boundary so weak that it would not close properly. How he came to this conclusion, I do not know. As I said, he and Gandalf studied this matter in great detail, and have not shared their findings."

"Tolkien was brought to Rivendell, and there he learned to speak with us and we with him. He showed great interest in the history of this world, and he asked always for tales, and took notes. After a brief time, he returned to this spot and opened the portal again, promising to return. And he did."

"So, he had a way to close the portal?" asked Boromir.

"Yes," answered the elf-lord. "The words of shutting were also written on the parchment. I do not know them, but Elrond does. I have already ordered one of my soldiers to hasten to Rivendell immediately with tidings. Doubtless Elrond himself will come soon, and he will be able to close the gateway."

"But- I don't want it to close," said Mnem, and many others nodded in agreement.

"It will have to close," said Glorfindel firmly. "When my scouts bring back Tolkien's son and the Ring, he will be returned to your world and the way will be closed, and it must remain so until the path is cleared to destroy the Ring. At that time, we will open the portal from this side and retrieve the Ring."

"But where will the portal open?" asked Phantom, "And how will you be able to find the Ring here in this world?"

"I do not know where the portal will open, but Elrond and Tolkien knew somehow, and had the details worked out. Doubtless Tolkien passed on the plan to his son, but under the circumstances, I think it probable that Elrond will wish to form a new plan. Likely he will need to meet with one of you, and will place the Ring in your care, as its current guardian has been proven untrustworthy."

[the phantom]

Merignor the Easterling stood in his usual place, high upon the side of a rocky hill across the valley from the place where the elves had delved their cave. The sun was sinking, and soon all of the little valley would be in shadow. Another fruitless watch. He was about to turn and call for someone to fetch the next watchman when movement in the valley below caught his eye.

There was something glowing, shimmering blue and bright in the valley. One of the elf sentries had left his post by the door. Soon the door opened again, and out of it ran a group of elves. He could not be certain, but it looked to be the elf-lord Glorfindel of Rivendell leading them.

Merignor turned and called into the cave to his rear. "Go tell the master something is happening, and that he should come immediately." He turned back to watch the scene below. The elf soldiers were moving off in different directions, leaving the cave, and Glorfindel, unprotected.

Through his bird spies, Sauron had learned long ago that this spot was special to his enemies. Elrond himself and Gandalf even had been spotted here on more than one occasion, and there were always a few elves stationed at the cave, though their purpose had never been discovered. Sauron determined that he should place an outpost here to observe, and if possible, ambush Elrond or Gandalf if they ever came to that place again with few guards.

For the job, he had sent no less than the Witch King himself. He knew the North well, and an attack upon the greatest of foes could not be carried out by any lesser servant.

Merignor was surprised when he was joined by the Witch King in a few short seconds. The message could not have reached him so quickly. "My Lord. There is something going on down below. And that elf, Glorfindel, is there unprotected without his horse."

The Witch King gave his orders swiftly. "Tell the men to prepare for an ambush quickly. My signal will come soon. And have someone bring me my horse immediately."

As Merignor retreated down the passage, the Witch King shivered with anticipation. Finally something had happened. He had waited nearly a year, taking no action. Just watching. Waiting. But the situation had changed, more even than Merignor realized. For even as the portal had opened, his master, Sauron, began to recover his old strength and will. The Witch King had heard his thought clearer than he had in years only moments before, and that is why he was already on his way to the lookout when Merignor's message reached him. Things were moving on a grand scale, and just as his master had long suspected, it appeared that this place was important in some way.

[the phantom]

"But why would you give the Ring to one of us?" Mira asked Glorfindel. "You see what it did to Christopher."

"Perhaps Elrond will ask you to share the burden," said Glorfindel. "I do not know. I will not be the one making the decision. Any other questions you have should be held until he arrives, or at least sends word."

Suddenly a shout was heard, and Glorfindel stepped to his left and looked intently at something beyond the portal that those in the pub could not see. From his side Glorfindel drew a horn and blew a single clear note, and out of the door two more mail clad elves emerged. Glorfindel drew his sword and began shouting orders.

"What's going on?!" yelled Boromir.

But at that moment, the Downers heard the sound of hooves echoing off the rock face in front of them, and the sound of many voices yelling war cries. Soon a great number of horses swept into view from both sides of the portal, closing fast on Glorfindel and his friends. Even as they lost sight of him, a black horse with a tall cloaked rider appeared around the right side of the portal. They could not see his face in the failing light, but he wore a crown, and his eyes burned brightly. Mnem said what everyone was thinking. "Oh crap- it's the Witch King."

[the phantom]

The Downers stood rooted to the spot as the Witch King dismounted and stalked towards the portal, a sword in one hand and a long knife in the other. "He's coming! He's coming here!" shouted Mnem in panic, backing away towards the entry hall.

Everyone took a step back as the Witch King, dark and menacing, stepped through the gateway and onto the wooden floor of the pub. For a second he stood surveying them in complete silence, and then he spotted at his feet a sheet of paper- rules for Phantom's Werewolf game. Everyone watched as he picked up the page and read it, front and back. He sheathed his sword, and from somewhere beneath his robes he drew a glowing orb. A palantir.

"My master will be quite interested to see this," said the Witch King with a cold laugh. "It seems that the Isle of Werewolves he ruled in the First Age has been made into some sort of... game." The Witch King turned his head from side to side, looking at each Downer in turn, and then he spoke slowly, relishing his evil thoughts as he made them known. "I wonder if you would find this game to be entertaining if the deaths were real. I have learned much necromancy from my master, and can call up spirits. Perhaps I should call for a couple of Werewolf spirits, and a vampire." He looked down at the rules again. "Oh, and Grima, of course. His soul has long been in our keeping."

As it dawned on the Downers what the Witch King was suggesting, they dashed for the hall, but the Witch King raised his hand and the outer door slammed shut on the heels of Lalwende and Mnem, who alone of the group made it out in time. The Downers closest to the door began to beat upon it, while others ran to windows and attempted to break them. But no one could do any harm to the windows or door. There seemed to be some invisible layer shielding them, preventing them from exiting. Amidst the panic, the Witch King held aloft the palantir and let out a high piercing shriek. Through the portal four bright red orbs came flying, and each of them entered into a Downer. Due to the surrounding chaos, no one except the Witch King marked which four.

As Phantom ran back into the main room to try the rear door of the building, he spotted on the floor the very parchment that Christopher Tolkien had used to open the portal. He picked it up and grabbed Boromir as he went running past. "We can shut the portal with this!" he said.

"Maybe, but we don't want him in here with us," said Boromir.

"All right then," said Phantom. "You get a couple others to try and push him back through the portal, and I'll start reading. I'll save the finish for when he's on the other side."

"Do you know Quenya?" asked Boromir.

"Not really," answered Phantom, "But I know the pronunciation rules. I ought to be able to read it at least, even if I don't know what I'm saying. Besides, it's the only chance we have I'm thinking."

"Right!" said Boromir. "I'll see if I can get a couple people to help me."

The Witch King was still standing near the portal, and seemed to be deep in communication with Sauron using the palantir. He payed no attention to the Downers running this way and that, trying every potential exit. But suddenly Boromir's voice was heard shouting, "Now! Now!" and he along with Mira, Nerwen, and Lommy all rushed forward, bulling into the Witch King, pushing him back through the portal.

Phantom had finished reading all but the final phrase, and watched intently, waiting for the Witch King to fall back through the portal. But he stopped short of the gateway. The push was not enough. With a yell, Phantom charged forward and flung himself upon the Witch King. His extra push tipped the scales, and the Witch King toppled back through the portal. As they fell, Phantom shouted, "Antan vanda sa caruvantes!" As the Downers looked on, eyes wide, the portal vanished. The Witch King was gone.

Several fell to the floor and wept in relief, but those closest to where the portal disappeared rushed forward to the still forms of Nerwen, Boromir, and Lommy. They could not be revived. The Witch King had stabbed at them as they sought to drive him back, and his knife had dealt them mortal blows.

"But where are Phantom and Mira?" asked one.

"I think they went with him," answered another. "Through the portal."

Two Downers returned from the entry way with grim news. The spell had not worn off. They were still trapped in the pub.

"The question is, are there now evil creatures among us?" asked one Downer.

Then there appeared a great light high in the air, and out of it four glowing blue orbs emerged, and a voice spoke. "There is evil among you, and the spell sealing you in is strong. But there was room left in the enchantment for us to aid you with four spirits, even as it was written in the rules which the Witch King used to work the spell. The enchantment can only be broken by following the rules of the game. We hope that many of you survive."

Then the light went out, and all of the Downers fell to the floor in an enchanted sleep.

[the phantom]

(SAVED- for day beginning post and tally in case no one is around to open the day. Day 1 begins in 10 hours and 48 minutes)

EDIT: Here's the list.


Aganzir
Alonariel
Brinniel
Fea
Firefoot
Formendacil
Green
Gwath
Izzy
Kent
Kuruharan
Lari
Nienna
Nilp
Nogrod
Sally
Shasta


Score: 14-3

[Mirandir]

Sooooo Day 1 has officially started. Unfortunately, I don't have the list of people who are currently alive and dead because our dear modgod failed to send me that particular information. But figured I'd just let you all know that we're officially open for business since nobody's posted yet. :D

[Aganzir]

"Well that was quite a show."

Aganzir's voice is bitter. She is still in shock due to the fact that she has lost three of her (several) favourite Downers. She has no idea how Lommy ended up in the pub. According to her knowledge, she should have been in Prague having fun with Legate. Maybe they decided to pay us a surprise visit, she thinks, but where's Legate then? Did he run away when he noticed something was wrong? That coward! I always knew he was up to no good!

"So," she says, "I suppose we are to play werewolf then."

She looks around to see if anyone is paying attention.

[Formendacil]

I'm going to assume that I wandered back in here sometime before Christopher Tolkien showed up and disappeared. In any case, I'm presumably here now and know what I'm doing.

Don't take it amiss if I'm a bit lacklustre today. The celebrations were rather late last night (morning, really), and between beer without sufficient water intake, too much food, and a room on the sunny side of the building, my messed up sleep-cycle is leaving me very mellow today...

...but I'll be around, probably, on and off all Day for the usual Day 1 antics and/or harmless Internet flirting.:Merisu:

[Aganzir]

for the usual Day 1 antics and/or harmless Internet flirting.:Merisu:
Can I at least be your Internet Esmeralda then? :Merisu:

[Formendacil]

Can I at least be your Internet Esmeralda then? :Merisu:

Esmeralda is an attractive and potentially seductive woman, but I don't think she's the flirting sort--and you, Miss Aganzir most definitely are. :p I think you'll need to look a bit further to find a suitable Disney match for you.

*Note to Self: It's Easter... if a game must have a Day 1 at least it falls on a day I'm otherwise not really in gear.

*Note to Others: Cognitive faculties seem to be sticking a little...

[Aganzir]

but I don't think she's the flirting sort
Oh come on (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2OMsuwggg4). ;)

I think you'll need to look a bit further to find a suitable Disney match for you.
Is there anyone who wants to kill their kin (and has a scar on his left eye, preferably)? Any girls who work for the god of death? Anyone who has been turned into a huge beast by an elf (haha his name is actually Prince Adam, by the way :p)?

Hmm given the situation we're in, I think Frollo sounds the safest.

[Gwathagor]

Ha ha NOT if you're Esmeralda.

[Nogrod]

Nogrod and Greenie were such shaken by the advents that took place that they needed to cool down with a game of chess in the corner.

After they got the game through Nogrod rose from the table - and as there was no one to tend the bar he helped himself with a pint of Spitfire ale - and joined the ring of other baffled 'Downers.

"So it was the Witch-King himself? I mean all of this sounds like a bad prank coming from the phantom's mind - like a bad phantasy novel plot where a Witch King from the other world just decides to let our world be as it is and only gives the heroes (who are just the ordinary people eg. us) a task to be fulfilled & blah-blah... But somehow it feels like real now."

He looked around to the fellow 'Downers some of he hadn't even had time to say "Hi" this far. We'd actually need to kill someone...? For real that is!

Pheww... Nogrod felt he was shaking all over. This can't be true!

"Okay, who's the one to volunteer for being the Jack Ketch, the gallower, the hangman... whatever way you want it? Gwath? Shasta? You think you're brave enough for it?"

He made a pause.

"Or do we believe in this story enough to actually start really killing each other?"

[Aganzir]

Ha ha NOT if you're Esmeralda.
"The safest for me, obviously. Looking for someone like my favourite Disney characters might prove pretty dangerous here."

"Or do we believe in this story enough to actually start really killing each other?"
"Well... how else could Hanni and Nerwen and Boro have... then?"

"Okay, who's the one to volunteer for being the Jack Ketch, the gallower, the hangman... whatever way you want it? Gwath? Shasta? You think you're brave enough for it?"
"I'm not killing anyone." For a moment, anger flashes in Agan's eyes. "Except for Legate if I ever get out of here alive. He brought her here and ran away himself!"

She pauses ang smiles joylessly. "And since this all actually happens, we must think carefully before lynching... Like, killing people just because they're quiet doesn't sound quite fair in real life."

[A Little Green]

"One would think," said Greenie, "you Noggins would believe in the story after that ugly thing killed Lommy, eh?" She made a pause, during which she stared at the pieces on the chessboard. "It's a bit like a game of chess, you know - you kill or get killed. Except - wait - in a game of chess, you know who you need to kill. Drat, the metaphor didn't quite work."

She scanned the room and decided that not much of interest was going on - Agan flirting with Form (though that, Greenie admitted to herself, was interesting in a way) and Gwath sort of around too and Nog trying to provoke discussion.

"Well then," she said, "seems like we're in a bit of trouble." And continued, muttering to herself, "Maybe I should just have stayed in those London underground music cycles after all..."

Greenie sank back into her chair and began toying with the chess pieces.


EDIT: x-ed with Agannnnn

[Formendacil]

Oh come on (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2OMsuwggg4). ;)

I dunno... I'm still inclined to stick my opinion, on the basis that the clip there is a public performance. Flirting, at least to my mind, is a one-on-one action, and while there are elements of it there, they are merely part of the show.

I will grant, however, it's been quite a long time since I've seen the movie in anything resembling its entirety, so I'm certainly fallible in my overall assessment. It's possible, even, that the last time I saw that movie I'd not yet had flirting cross my mental horizon.

That being said, though, if I can't exclude you, Miss Agan from the Esmeralda role on the grounds of flirting, I can exclude myself from Frollo on the grounds of my not sharing his character. I'm hardly an austere, self-righteous, wet blanket--I hope.

[A Little Green]

Greenie yawned, lifting her eyes from the film she and Nog had been watching.

"I'm tired," she complained. "I think I'll just go to sleep." She cast an amused look at Form and Agan. "It's good that as long as we can't do real analysis on one another's character we can analyse Esmeralda's instead..."

[Aganzir]

I dunno... I'm still inclined to stick my opinion, on the basis that the clip there is a public performance. Flirting, at least to my mind, is a one-on-one action, and while there are elements of it there, they are merely part of the show.
Oh but we were comparing her to me. One could say that with me, too, flirting is just a part of the show - if I really want to enchant someone, I'm usually (but not always :Merisu:) much less straightforward.

That being said, though, if I can't exclude you, Miss Agan from the Esmeralda role on the grounds of flirting, I can exclude myself from Frollo on the grounds of my not sharing his character. I'm hardly an austere, self-righteous, wet blanket--I hope.
No but you're to be a Catholic priest too (hmm he was a judge in the film, but it doesn't count) which is enough. And your current Facebook profile pic is scary in a Frollo-ish way. You know, the way you look at the camera. If you were a bit paler and had a different shape nose and smaller pupils, you'd look just like him.
Also, Frollo was really devoted to his work and a kind and loving foster father. Plus, he got the best song.

And yes Greenie I think this is a good way of playing. Like, we have already concluded that Form is Frollo which means he's thoroughly rotten and should be lynched as soon as possible.

By the way Fea, guess what I finished just a while ago.

I'll go to sleep.

[Kent2010]

She pauses ang smiles joylessly. "And since this all actually happens, we must think carefully before lynching... Like, killing people just because they're quiet doesn't sound quite fair in real life."

That's good to hear, it would be like awarding an 'A' just to the people who write the most, assuming their stuff is better quality...that system is easy to cheat.

[Nogrod]

"Now let's get serious about this..." Nogrod suggested and emptied his pint.

"Looking at the graveness of the situation I find it less than tolerable that you guys use your time with empty banter about Disney-characters..." He looked around and gathered his courage, drawing breath.

"Hey there!" he shouted from the bottom of his lungs. "Listen!!!"

The crowd went a bit more silent with that.

"If what we saw and heard is true, it means we have to kill someone toDay. Have you thought about it? This is no game, we have to kill someone, for real! Think about it! Who are you ready to vote this time? It's not just the common WW-vote in the 'Downs but your vote is for someone for real... Just think about it... and speak accordingly".

Nogrod looked at Aganzir and Form and their light banter with suspicious eyes.

"I've already lost one daughter and I mean not to lose another... unless my remaining daughter is possessed by evil in which case it will be a tragedy over all proportions and I will be ready to die after that as well as I will have no reason to live then. So keep this as fun as you like but remember that our decisdions have consequences far more terrible compared to those we make in a WW-game in the 'Downs. It's true this time. And really: someone has to kill someone for real."

Nogrod looked around and drew breath one more time.

"So just remember that this time what you say actually means something. If you say: "Gah: let's vote for X as I don't have a clue and don't bother to think it more", it means someone dies for real because of that lazyness of yours (or cowardish self-preservation)! So talk people and be real. The deaths will be real here..."

EDIT: *bans himself for using the word "real" in the next five posts...*

[Formendacil]

So talk people and be real. The deaths will be real here...

Now, now... calm down Nogrod. Put things into perspective. If this really is a really real real calamity, then we really need to cope with it, really, in a real manner like real people would really do.:p

So if Agan and I continue to banter about Disney characters, it's clearly because we're absolutely distraught and we're seeking outlet somewhere safe and comfy--and what's more that than old Disney movies? Really!

In any case, people, you have to remember that this is STILL Day 1. Lives are on the line--yes; but that does not mean that we have anything more to go by than if this were just WW 5X on the 'Downs. And surely you don't mean to analyse Day-1's behaviour?

Anyway, my dear Agan, there's difficulty in assigning me to Frollo and you Esmeralda insofar as the real me doesn't have as much of a crush on Esmeralda as some of the other Disney ladies. Out of the Disney canon, I'm probably fondest of Belle--and that's a very different character from Esmeralda. So what you need to find, going off this evidence, for my perfect woman would be along the lines of: sweet, quiet, bookworm (I'd even go so far and say Belle is a brunette, but that might be getting unconscionably Freudian, as I inherit my brown hair from my mother...).

It's hardly possible that we've got any sweet girls of quieter disposition and a propensity to books at this Downer gathering, right? Clearly, Form shall remain the celibate man he is, with little difficulty. :smokin:

[Nienna]

Nienna puts on a brave face even though she is now terrified. People have died in her midst... this was something she hoped would never happen. She decides that she needs some time to think. She finds herself a quiet corner and thinks about all the events that have transpired. This is all very surreal, she thinks to herself. She thought that she was just getting together for a fun outing with a bunch of 'Downer friends and she finds herself in the midst of a real life WW game... and not that just playing WW in real life but actually having to decide who is evil and who is innocent.

Nienna looks around suspiciously. Even the people that she knows are her friends can no longer be trusted.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Dear computer: epic fail.

I just had a really long post which more or less didn't say anything, but was quite well written.

It was kind of like "Fea does things" and "Fea says things" and there was a veiled metaphorical "I'm going to bed" tucked neatly onto the end.

The main theme was "Let's put the corpses in the freezer so they don't rot while we try to sort this Witch King thing out," and "Oh dear, I have to go from being a staunch pacifist in Real Life to being a murderer of my peers! Gasp! I don't know if my personal code of ethics can stand a lynching!"

Yeah.

Anyway, the computer ate my post.

But I'm here, I'm going to bed, I'll see all y'all tomorrow.

[Isabellkya]

Mr. Nogrod. How do you know everything we experience now is real and serious business?
Last thing I remember is the lights going out and slumping to the floor. When did the lights come back on, and we all rose?

[Kuruharan]

Frollo was really devoted to his work and a kind and loving foster father. Plus, he got the best song.

we have already concluded that Form is Frollo which means he's thoroughly rotten and should be lynched as soon as possible.

Isn't there a tad bit of inconsistency here? ;)

[Kent2010]

So talk people and be real. The deaths will be real here..."
Ok. What do you think about bonus votes?

EDIT: *bans himself for using the word "real" in the next five posts...*
Does that apply for other forms of the word, such as, but are not limited to, 'reality' or 'really?'

[Brinniel]

Brinn realised now things were getting serious. No more silly games; it was time for everyone to get down to business and weed out these baddies. There were a lot of people here and all needed to be watched closely.

Brinn sat in her corner and contemplated what her strategy would be in order to find the baddies. Better to find them all sooner than later since she didn't want to get eaten in the Night. Should she go after the ones who act obviously suspicious, or those who slip under the radar? What would be the smartest way to use these bonus votes? Should she use them all at once or spread them out? Brinn was always a careful player, so maybe she should save them for a time when they might be needed most.

Though perhaps Brinn's biggest question of all was, why was she still talking to herself in third person? :Merisu:

[Nilpaurion Felagund]

*is bored in his shiny cloak he was wearing all the time underneath his clothes*

++satansaloser2005 (+0)

The closest thing to an autovote. ('cos Mistress Rikae's not here. :Merisu: )

[Kent2010]

Intermission status-report (eventhough we are past the half way point).

Form and Agan stand out the most, as they flaunt themselves around. Innocent.

Followed by Nogrod, who tries to spur us to action. Innocent.

Everyone else is pretty forgettable, and will continue to watch.

[Nogrod]

Ok. What do you think about bonus votes?Those are tricky ones. Basically I think most of us think like Brinn that one should keep them in reserve for the moment when they are needed the most. It sounds like wisdom as getting it right on Day1 is relatively hard. But there is also the problem that when you die all those unused votes are lost as well - and you never know when you're going to be taken out, especially during the Nights. So I'm probably going to use at least some of them quite early on if I just think I have a clue about someone being possessed by the evil spirits.

Also Finrod might do well to pay heed to the fact that the evil ones may take the number of votes a person has as one ground for picking her/him during the Night. I don't think it is a decisive factor but it most probably will be one of the factors they need to consider - especially later when our numbers have grown thinner.

But even more interesting I think is the possibility of retracking your vote once everyDay but leaving a certain number of those added votes to the one from whom you retract! That basically gives us a possibility to vote for two people on the same Day - and with different weight. I don't think I need to say it aloud that that is a double-edged sword which should be used wisely.

And surely you don't mean to analyse Day-1's behaviour? Gah... I think we've had this discussion a few times before at the forum (right Nilp? :p). But yes I will... later on the Day. In case someone actually starts talking, that is.

If we all just continue on Disney we could as well throw a coin to decide our votes - and continue toMorrow with no lead whatsoever. The baddies would just love it!

It is not once or twice that a wolf has been lynched on Day1 in 'Downs werewolf - with sound reasoning - so why think it would be impossible here in a **** situation (sorry, I just follow my ban for a certain word here I imposed to myself - so no bad language involved).

[Aganzir]

This is no game, we have to kill someone, for real! Think about it! Who are you ready to vote this time? It's not just the common WW-vote in the 'Downs but your vote is for someone for real...
Then there's no way I'm voting for you or Green today, and I'd like to avoid voting Brinn, Fea, Form, Nilp, sally and Shasta as well. That leaves only people who are new or who I've had relatively little interaction with, which doesn't sound quite fair, either. Ergo, I should probably vote for the one(s) I suspect the most, whoever they are...

It's hardly possible that we've got any sweet girls of quieter disposition and a propensity to books at this Downer gathering, right? Clearly, Form shall remain the celibate man he is, with little difficulty.
What about Brinn or Green?

Isn't there a tad bit of inconsistency here?
No because Frollo appeared good but was in fact evil and just used Quasimodo to his own ends.

Ok. What do you think about bonus votes?
They'll weigh more in the end when there are fewer people around. People should think about how to use them wisely. Vote counts are almost useless because there's Pippin messing things up. The baddies might want to try to save their bonus votes for later as there's nothing very suspicious in that ("I don't suspect anyone enough to give xem several votes now, I'd rather wait till my bonus votes are actually needed..."), but it's dangerous if they get their votes to overnumber ours. Basically they could just control the game by lynching innocents during the days and killing them at night. Etc.

[Nogrod]

The baddies might want to try to save their bonus votes for later as there's nothing very suspicious in that ("I don't suspect anyone enough to give xem several votes now, I'd rather wait till my bonus votes are actually needed..."), but it's dangerous if they get their votes to overnumber ours. Basically they could just control the game by lynching innocents during the days and killing them at night. Etc.Exactly. And as they face no imminent danger of dying during the Nights they can afford to keep their bonus votes in reserve!

That is a dilemma indeed as I'm not sure I'd propose us mechanically lynching those with the greatest number of votes left just to be on the safe side... :confused:

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Test post (the computer is glitching and keeps eating my posts).

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Still won't let me post properly.

Here's the gist:

probably going to vote this morning
probably going to vote for Brinn because I'll never know her alignment, and I'd rather be safe than sorry.

[Firefoot]

They were all taking this seriously... that must mean it was real... "So you're all sure this isn't just some kind of weird joke phantom's staged for us?" Blank looks. "Right then..."

Bonus votes... that's new. But I definitely think they ought to be saved for a bit later - a sort of trump card. Besides, in these first few days no one's ever sure of anything. But, then again, maybe this is all just common sense.

I don't have time now. So I propose that our three wolves are Aganzir, Nilp, and Shasta. Discuss.

[Aganzir]

Hmm and there's a chance that the person the wolves attack turns into a wolf too, so it's dangerous also for the innocents to save their votes till later. Basically I suppose it'd be safest that everyone got rid of their extra votes as soon as possible, but that would be boring & destroy the whole point of having bonus votes.

At least when the game gets closer to the end, people with lots of votes left should be kept an eye on.

edit: xed & disagree with Firefoot. ;)

[Kuruharan]

Intermission status-report (eventhough we are past the half way point).

Thankfully Day One is a bit longer this go around...no doubt due to all the weirdness surrounding events.

Day 1 will be 36 hours as well in order to get the deadline back to schedule and allow everyone time to post.

-the phantom

Nice to see Nilp is being his usual weird self. In a way there may be some sense in killing people who don't speak at all as a way of keeping us from losing two people at once due to modfire...but I don't think that is a tactic likely to net us many wolves nor are we in danger of losing one to modfire, yet.

[Nienna]

... I have absolutely no idea who is evil. Day One's are always really hard as no one has really had time to act suspicious and we don't have votes to analyze.

The bonus votes are going to prove interesting. Both baddies and innocents have reason to use them or to save them... so that could be tricky. It may be more benificial to just see who is throwing their weight around where and then speculate.

And as a side note... is deadline in 3.5 hours or 15.5?

Edit: x-ed with Kuru kindly answering my question without even knowing it :-D

[Kent2010]

In a way there may be some sense in killing people who don't speak at all as a way of keeping us from losing two people at once due to modfire...but I don't think that is a tactic likely to net us many wolves nor are we in danger of losing one to modfire, yet.

Indeed, if we were taking a conservative, least chance of disaster route today, I would only consider Alonariel, as she has shown no indication of being present or will be present. I believe everyone else on the list has at least made it known they are here and able to participate (now or during Day -1). 99.9% certainty we won't get a wolf, but we would avoid taking the bigger cost in lynching someone in Alonariel's place. Let the wolves make there move and come reconvene tomorrow with some more info.

[Gwathagor]

Sorry I haven't really been around yet. Internet trouble. I'm at work now, so I can't stay, but I'll try to stop by and vote later.

[Aganzir]

Brinn's first post is slightly unnerving. I don't know why. Her first posts always are.

I'm watching Kuru.

Kent who is in your avatar? He looks almost exactly like a guy I went to school with.

Nog looks quite innocentish. Or rather, genuinely helpful. It's impossible to say anything concrete yet, though.
But yes I will... later on the Day. In case someone actually starts talking, that is.
Form talked about Day -1 behaviour. I assume you're not going to analyze that? :p

Firefoot I'm fine with bonus votes being saved for later. But that means everyone, or at least most of us, should do it. I don't want a situation to occur where there are a few people with almost all and some with almost no votes left.

99.9% certainty we won't get a wolf, but we would avoid taking the bigger cost in lynching someone in Alonariel's place.
No - we get a baddie (ie wolf or cobbler) with 23.5% certainty. And actually it's even more likely since their behaviour can give them away. ;)
I can't say I really like your suggestion. The result of today's lynch is a part of the information we will have tomorrow, and it reveals more if we don't take the easy route and kill a non-show. Or well it's also that you suggested it so early and in that way.

Hmm almost 24 hours have passed and four people haven't spoken yet. Do you Elmira people have any idea about Alonariel?

Some things about the rules.

Gríma doesn't have a way to communicate with the baddies in private, but his ability to make gifteds fall ill makes him more dangerous than a normal cobbler. That's why I think it's as important to find him as the wolves. Also, the seer can't find him and should keep in mind that one of her known innocents might in fact be the cobbler.

I wonder why Elrond & others decided to send Pippin here. He doesn't seem to be aiding us.

[Shastanis Althreduin]

I'm here and reading... I mean, processing the events of the day. :D

[Mirandir]

Hmm almost 24 hours have passed and four people haven't spoken yet. Do you Elmira people have any idea about Alonariel?

Lari should be yelling at her as we speak.

[Brinniel]

probably going to vote for Brinn because I'll never know her alignment, and I'd rather be safe than sorry.
But you always vote for me on Day One. Why not try something a little less predictable? :p

[Gwathagor]

I was thinking I would have to vote now, but I see that Day 1 is 36 hours, so NEVER MIND.

I, like Aganzir, disagree with Kent's fatalism regarding our chances of finding a wolf toDay. That kind of attitude effectively ruins any chance that we do have of lynching a wolf toDay - and it does occasionally happen. Kent says let the wolves make the first move, but I say BAD IDEA. They'll make a clean, trace-less kill toNight, and then we'll still be starting from scratch toMorrow. We need to start actively hunting the wolves now, toDay.

Let's see...

In general, we should save the bonus votes for late in the game and for when we are nearly certain about a player's alignment. No gambling unless it's absolutely necessary.

Ok, have to go. More later.

[Mirandir]

UPDATE: Alonariel is having internet difficulties and will hopefully be around later.

[Kent2010]

Agan

Kent who is in your avatar? He looks almost exactly like a guy I went to school with.
Toby Flenderson (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toby_Flenderson), he's the HR manager in The Office (the American version), played by Paul Lieberstein. He gets treated so bad, I feel sorry for him. :(

I would like to clarify I think both you and Gwath have misinterpretted what I meant by this:

I believe everyone else on the list has at least made it known they are here and able to participate (now or during Day -1). 99.9% certainty we won't get a wolf, but we would avoid taking the bigger cost in lynching someone in Alonariel's place.

I did not mean that I am 99.9% certain we will not get a wolf today, I meant that I would consider voting for Alonariel, based on not showing up yet, possibility of a modfire, but she is most likely not a wolf. It would be a conservative move that would prevent us from lynching (or signaling to the baddies) someone we would not want to.

I am not throwing away today, if you want to look at some information look at the responses regarding the bonus votes. I'm still trying to figure out "the Machine of werewolf," but I have noticed a couple things...

When there is a new feature (from what I understand this is the first time bonus votes have been used?), baddies will openly speak about how to use the new facet to the game, or how a wolf might use the bonus votes, when they would use them...etc. Amongst the baddies too there might be a consensus to strategy/using the new feature.

I also posed the question to see if anyone would make a rehearsed, almost robotic response, as if someone has been discussing bonus votes with buddies for the past 36 hours and has "the answer." Frankly, I have no idea how I'm going to use my bonus votes, but I figured it was a topic of discussion amongst the wolves and thy vampire, so if someone had what looked like a rehearsed answer to the question, that would make me wary.

[Kuruharan]

Gríma doesn't have a way to communicate with the baddies in private, but his ability to make gifteds fall ill makes him more dangerous than a normal cobbler. That's why I think it's as important to find him as the wolves. Also, the seer can't find him and should keep in mind that one of her known innocents might in fact be the cobbler.


How do you exactly propose to track them down?

It would be the easiest thing in the world not to leave any sort of traces.

I dislike the implication that we can't trust the Seer and I don't particularly care for much side distraction off the main course of killing wolves/bat.

One has to ask themselves who would be the most interested in getting us skeptical of the Seer and us not focusing on the wolves. Answer, the wolves.

[Kent2010]

I dislike the implication that we can't trust the Seer and I don't particularly care for much side distraction off the main course of killing wolves/bat.

One has to ask themselves who would be the most interested in getting us skeptical of the Seer and us not focusing on the wolves. Answer, the wolves.
That's a bit of an over reaction to Agan's pertinent point that the Seer will find Grima to be an Ordo. I didn't detect any implication of distrust, it's a relevant fact.

[Formendacil]

Gah... I think we've had this discussion a few times before at the forum (right Nilp? :p). But yes I will... later on the Day. In case someone actually starts talking, that is.

Oh yes, we've had this discussion before... Nilp and I are not quite parallel in our Day 1 attitudes, but we're on communicable wavelengths.

The difficulty with analysing Day 1 is that there's a continuum problem about WHEN it's worthy to start analysing. Do you start with the first vote? Chances are the vote is completely random, given the limited number of wolves (who have clear knowledge of whom they should be trying to kill) and the complete lack of votes before that to compare it to. Should it be after the first analytic post? Seems silly--the post will just be analysing silliness.

Basically, my point is that, in general Day 1s are really not going to reveal anything significant until AFTER Day 1 has ended. While still in the process, Day 1 is inevitably going to have so many unknowable variables that it is essentially worthless to make a serious effort to analyse it during its course. It's only, perhaps, in the last hour or so, when the votes coming flying onto bandwaggons that there's much to grasp for analysis.

If we all just continue on Disney we could as well throw a coin to decide our votes - and continue toMorrow with no lead whatsoever. The baddies would just love it!

Of course they would--but Day 2 is significantly different from Day 1. On Day 2 we have a Nighttime kill--or NO Nighttime kill, if the Ranger-figure of the game has done his/her job. This, and the total accumulation of Day 1 actions is where I put the bar for having sufficient action to analyse.

We can, of course, stop the Disney talk and go on to something else... I'm just not convinced that this "something else" has any merit at this time.

It is not once or twice that a wolf has been lynched on Day1 in 'Downs werewolf - with sound reasoning - so why think it would be impossible here in a **** situation (sorry, I just follow my ban for a certain word here I imposed to myself - so no bad language involved).

With sound reasoning? Then the Wolves were slipping up majorly, or else everyone knew each other too... and I'm not seeing evidence of either yet.

[Formendacil]

What about Brinn or Green?

I fear you have taken my previous statement in a more serious light than its intended (if not evident) sarcasm intended. The 'Downs is, indeed, full of quiet, sweet, bookworm ladies. And this game is not lacking either.:p

[A Little Green]

So. I intend to go to sleep very soon. The problem is, like the problem on Day 1s tends to be, that I don't know who to vote. I've been trying to look for patterns in what's going on. Haven't found much.

I'm watching Kuru.
One has to ask themselves who would be the most interested in getting us skeptical of the Seer and us not focusing on the wolves. Answer, the wolves.
What struck me as interesting is that even with this little going on Agan and Kuru manage to sort of cross-suspect each other. Considering the amount of material there is to derive any sorts of opinions on, it seems weird that those two should so neatly have little suspicions of each other.

Also, I am slightly worried by those people who haven't showed up. Alonariel has trouble with her internet, fine, but where are Sally and Lari? Does anyone know about them?

Anyone around?

[Aganzir]

I like Gwath but I'm not sure he's innocent.

I would consider voting for Alonariel --- but she is most likely not a wolf.
How does not showing up make her innocent? Unless you have some special knowledge of course. ;)

Amongst the baddies too there might be a consensus to strategy/using the new feature.
Yeah there might and they've probably discussed it, but quite often the wolf strategy is simple as this: "Let's be as normal towards one another as possible and react to situations like we'd normally do and think about all this stuff later when it's more actual".

How do you exactly propose to track them down?
Everybody should open their mouth so we can see who has a forked tongue.

It would be the easiest thing in the world not to leave any sort of traces.
And risk getting killed by his own team? That has happened before.

One has to ask themselves who would be the most interested in getting us skeptical of the Seer and us not focusing on the wolves. Answer, the wolves.
I've been a wolf in a game where the seer couldn't identify the cobbler, and he was one of her known innocents when we killed her. Unfortunately for the village, we knew his identity by then and naturally left him alive to seal our victory. Pretty, isn't it?

or NO Nighttime kill, if the Ranger-figure of the game has done his/her job.
If the ranger-figure does xyr job, we have two night kills. ;)

What struck me as interesting is that even with this little going on Agan and Kuru manage to sort of cross-suspect each other.
I think it might have something to do with what kind of titles we give to our posts... ;)

[A Little Green]

I'm off to bed now. I have no idea who to vote so I'll go by instinct alone and vote

++Aganzir

I dunno - there is a chance my sort of bad feeling about Agan is just due to the fact that I disagree with her a lot. I hope it isn't. I have little to say about anyone else. Kent, Form and Gwath seem okay this far. No one stands out as suspicious.

Good night.

[Isabellkya]

I think you give Grima too much credit, Agan. According to the information posted on the the side of the wall; Grima can only make a gifted fall ill - once.

I think those infected by the evil orbs, might be smoother this time around. Since they can converse with each other any time they want. Whether or not that will lead to a big difference and change; with harder and possibly easier hunting in some regards...

I don't think we should be overly focusing on the extra votes.
We all have them - check.
Not everyone has the same intentions - check.
No one is infallible or omniscient - check.

There are too many variables at this time to try and lay out a course of certain action in regards to such votes and usage. If we were all machinery and programed with a certain task in mind, with no possibility for deviation - then I suppose then we could predict when the best time would be to use them. Here, not so much.

X'd with Agan and Greenie

[Nogrod]

This is the quietest Day1 ever! Sadly I'm not in a position to make it much more livelier as it's midnight here and I have an early morning call. But I've read the latest and need to give it some thought.

Anyone else around?

EDIT: My question seems to be answered with a couple of posts...

[Nogrod]

Okay. I see what Greenie is after and I think she has a point there.

Also I don't like some of Agan's comments - like the two last ones from her post just there. If the ranger-figure does xyr job, we have two night kills. ;)The comment itself is like the rules are, but the smilie there? I wouldn't think it a fun thing we lose Finrod.
I think it might have something to do with what kind of titles we give to our posts... ;)That same wink again. Maybe we are talking about Grima here sending messages to Kuru whom she thinks is a baddie?

But that's quite wavering as yet and I'm not sure I'd wish to vote for the person who has been most argumentative and active from anyone of us here toDay. Given the slender weight of these suspicions, that is.

So what, like 50 posts in 28+ hours! And half of the Americans are having computer problems? A few haven't even showed their noses around? What is this?


Okay. I'm going to take a risk now. My work starts at the DL but I will try to wake up a bit earlier than usual and read the thread and vote then.

With this information I could as well flip a coin but that's against my principles.

[Aganzir]

*looks tragic*

Ah, kill me, Greenie! Then at least I may follow Thinlómien, whom I loved above anything else in this world!

Anyway I don't like Greenie's vote, and not only because it was for me. She says she disagrees with me a lot, but I haven't spoken a lot yet, plus she has mentioned barely any of those reasons.

I think you give Grima too much credit, Agan. According to the information posted on the the side of the wall; Grima can only make a gifted fall ill - once.
Yes if it was only that I'd probably be giving him too much credit. However I don't want the cobbler to be a known innocent if the seer dreams of him and that's the main reason I brought him up.

[Kent2010]

How does not showing up make her innocent? Unless you have some special knowledge of course. ;)
An assumption, based on the ModGod's selections, and even though there is an understandable reason, there has been no appearance at all - through Day -1 or now. So, why choose someone to be a baddie if there's a reasonable chance to believe that person can't be here and if said person can't be here will be modfired?


Yeah there might and they've probably discussed it, but quite often the wolf strategy is simple as this: "Let's be as normal towards one another as possible and react to situations like we'd normally do and think about all this stuff later when it's more actual".
Aha, see you said there might be, which means there might be good info to find in people's responses to the bonus votes. I might be new to werewolfing, but bonus votes are new to everyone, and no one should have any idea on the way you best use them. But the wolf team has had lots of time to talk about it. So, people's responses about them are there, now go see if there's any good info there.

I would, but I should get back to studying for my Macro exam in 40 minutes and I have no idea how people play; style and personality I would assume is a factor in this place too.

[Firefoot]

Originally Posted by Agan
I think it might have something to do with what kind of titles we give to our posts... ;)

I also think this is a rather odd comment, seeing as very few people actually are giving titles to their posts... Kuru has yellow boots as an icon on all of his, which seems rather innocuous, but there are only about two or three posts that actually have titles. Agan, what are you getting at?

Essentially, I think Kent's theory is sound that the wolves might have a canned response to the bonus vote question... but I definitely think it also ought to be taken with a grain of salt, as I imagine most of the people here have thought about it at least a little bit and had a general idea going into the game of how it might be most useful. Besides, the success rate at spotting "canned vs. candid" isn't always that great...

[Aganzir]

Okay. I see what Greenie is after and I think she has a point there.

Also I don't like some of Agan's comments
Are those two supposed to mean the same thing or is it like "in addition to the things Greenie noticed, there are also these comments"? Because I don't see what she is after. She seemingly started suspecting me before those comments you mentioned.

but the smilie there? I wouldn't think it a fun thing we lose Finrod.
Hey a wink doesn't mean I find something funny! It means nyeh-nyeh Form has got confused with the rules.

That same wink again. Maybe we are talking about Grima here sending messages to Kuru whom she thinks is a baddie?
You didn't bother to check those titles now did you? Let's see, my first title was Eek (which, well, was just a random title). Kuru's first was If you can't beat em, join em... My second was Let's see. Surprisingly, Kuru commented on my random cobbler speculations in an accusing tone. Am I still too obscure?

Okay I'm slow because I'm busy on MSN at the same time.

An assumption, based on the ModGod's selections
Don't count on that if it's not known how the roles are given. They might be randomized or hand-picked and we wouldn't know. Or do you have some first-hand information about the ModGod's selections? Like, not two newbie wolves. :p

So, people's responses about them are there, now go see if there's any good info there.
Oh I didn't mean to question your logic, it was a fair thing to do. To me it just seems unlikely that the wolves would be careless enough to get caught by that, or that they'd be the only ones to think about that in advance.

[Brinniel]

However I don't want the cobbler to be a known innocent if the seer dreams of him and that's the main reason I brought him up.
Of course not. It wouldn't be smart to completely trust someone simply because they turned out innocent in a seer's dream. And while a cobbler can be potentially dangerous, I think it'd be better to not worry ourselves about the dreamt innocents and focus on the unknowns since the cobbler does count toward the innocent tally in the long run. The best we can hope for is that the baddies accidentally kill their cobbler. Now if a known innocent is acting obviously cobblerish, that could be a different story depending on what the village/baddie ratio is at the time.

Btw, Greenie's vote doesn't count since it isn't highlighted, if someone wants to let her know that (though I assume she's fast asleep by now).

[Formendacil]

An assumption, based on the ModGod's selections, and even though there is an understandable reason, there has been no appearance at all - through Day -1 or now. So, why choose someone to be a baddie if there's a reasonable chance to believe that person can't be here and if said person can't be here will be modfire?

Can you explain what you mean a bit deeper here, Kent? More specifically, the bit about "the ModGod's selections." To the best of my knowledge (granting that my knowledge of the Admin thread is not infallible), I don't think the phantom has stated anywhere what sort of manner he would be using to assign the roles. Granted, this doesn't mean that he took dice or some other random method to assign them, but I tend to assume that as the normal way for assigning roles. Of course, it HAS been quite a while since I've been immersed in WW culture.

Furthermore, insofar as the Co-Mod seems to be personally apprised of Alonariel's situation, it seems that the phantom would have known at the time of assigning that she would probably be involved in the game, and though she's the most obviously absent person, at least she has a confirmed excuse, which the rest of our mostly-missing members do not.

Of course, I suppose you could be basing your assessment of the phantom's assignation of roles to the one you received, but I'm baffled as to how I should interpret what that would mean.

EDIT: X-posted with Brinn and Agan

[Formendacil]

Hey a wink doesn't mean I find something funny! It means nyeh-nyeh Form has got confused with the rules.

Now, Aganzir, that's not very nice! Are you a bit sore, m'love, that you're not my ideal soulmate?:Merisu:

[Aganzir]

Btw, Greenie's vote doesn't count since it isn't highlighted, if someone wants to let her know that (though I assume she's fast asleep by now).
I texted her.

Now, Aganzir, that's not very nice! Are you a bit sore, m'love, that you're not my ideal soulmate?:Merisu:
Possibly. :Merisu:
You know there's this poem by Leonard Cohen: "I'm good at love, I'm good at hate/ It's in between I freeze." :p

[Kuruharan]

but I haven't spoken a lot yet

What?

You've posted a ton toDay (at least by toDay's standards). Not that this is by definition a bad thing but...I don't know, Aganzir is striking me as awfully fishy.

Unfortunately, due to my schedule today I'm going to have to vote now.

++ Aganzir (0)

Out of everyone toDay she seems to be acting the most suspicious to my mind. Its not because she's been talking a lot, its that some of the things she's said haven't made much sense and she's been rather inconsistent.

[Aganzir]

What?

You've posted a ton toDay (at least by toDay's standards). Not that this is by definition a bad thing but...I don't know, Aganzir is striking me as awfully fishy.
Okay I have posted more than most, but I hadn't said almost anything of substance when Greenie started to suspect me. Really. Her suspicions came out of thin air.

its that some of the things she's said haven't made much sense and she's been rather inconsistent.
Elaborate.

I hate justifying a vote by throwing around some random generalized half-accusations.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Caught up on events.

Shall let Nienna catch up while I think about what I've read.

[Aganzir]

I might want to vote and go to sleep in an hour.

I'm thinking of voting for Kuru. With my normal vote. I'm not that enthusiastic about getting him killed or saving myself.

It's mostly the title of his first post. If you can't beat em, join em... It has nothing to do with the content of the post and looks like a cobbler hint. I can see an innocent posing as the cobbler in order to confuse the wolves (I've been thinking about it myself, too), but in the long run it's not of much use as it will confuse other innocents equally.

I always get into arguments about the importance of finding the cobbler, but Kuru's response to my comment about it seems weak. He indicates that the cobbler wouldn't want to leave traces although in truth it's probably quite the contrary. Normally the cobbler would like the wolves to guess his identity in order not to be killed by them.

And when I said it's as important to find the cobbler as the wolves, I didn't mean finding Gríma should become our prior task. ;) I've just been in too many games where everyone has said "we can take care of the cobbler later" and so the cobbler is never taken care of.

Also, his post #229 sounds... forced. Or detached. Like, "Ha if she was a wolf she wouldn't question me like that, therefore she's a safe vote, hmm what reasons could I come up with?"

Of course the bad thing is that so few people have posted enough substance for me to form an opinion.

[satansaloser2005]

So just because I'm not here it means you people can slack off, eh? I think not~!


*whips you all into shape*


Get to work baddie catching, slackers! I need to scamper around and listen to what's been said toDay before I decide who to vote for (or rather, against) but I shall be in your midst until the close of the Day.


:D

[Nienna]

*am now all caught up*

Ok so now that I've read everything so far I still have no real suspicions.

Nog was vaugly making me a bit nervous if only because he was so insistent on us all begining to start theorizing and discussing but this may be just a normal Nog thing to do.... I don't know but it just stood out to me.

Agan seems like she is acting cobblerish because she is discussing the role a lot but it also seems like she could be the focus of a bandwagon which never really ends well...

Kuru's post title thing that Agan brought up was a good point though I don't know if it means anything or if it was just in fun...

I will refrain from voting for newbies or from people having internet trouble for obvious reasons. I should be around till deadline or at least near deadline so I will continue to watch and see who's up to what... I have no real strong inclinations for any voting yet though.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

++Agan

Am I still too obscure?

I don't know how to take this. She defended her smilies/winks, but they seem so awkwardly placed. Like, every time she's talking about bad guys. Or maybe it's just jumping out at me and doesn't mean anything. But asking if she's being too obscure... It's the first day. Who hints at things on the first day and then points to it? Or, who doesn't hint to things, but doesn't clarify when people think she is? Or...

All in all, of everybody, I feel worst about Agan.

[Kent2010]

Formendacil
Can you explain what you mean a bit deeper here, Kent? More specifically, the bit about "the ModGod's selections."
I don't know how each person chooses to operate, but from one of the places I did read where the roles were selected from a mix of random and picked choices. I don't know anything about the phantom, but from the structure of the game, it looks like he wants a thoughtful, strategy based game. There is the new addition of the bonus votes, the evil and good roles have slightly different abilities, or extra powers available than the traditional roles. So, I assume he would want to see some of these new facets used and how they are used. If someone did not show up to the Day -1 portion, I would wonder if they were still in or not.

This might all be moot now, because it was before all the revelations about technical problems. I am not saying anyone is using it as an excuse (there is a nasty computer virus travelling around the US - I remember it was on the West Coast I think 2-3 days ago), just saying I was going by the rules that if someone does not participate/vote they are modfired and was wondering if we should lynch someone who is going to be modfired, because that would theoretically give us extra days.

[Formendacil]

Agan seems like she is acting cobblerish because she is discussing the role a lot but it also seems like she could be the focus of a bandwagon which never really ends well...

I really don't see anything cobbler about Agan, but this is Day 1, so anything's possible. I agree, however, that this bandwaggon is somewhat distressing, as bandwaggons on Day 1 often are. Under other circumstances, it's possible I'd be inclined to go along with it, simply for lack of any better reason to vote, but in this particular case it doesn't sit right with me.

Granted, I suppose I might be a bit biased--Agan has indulged my silly side the last couple Days, but I'm willing to vote elsewhere simply on the basis of rewarding Agan for her entertainment value.

My general principle at this point (ie: the point where I've no good reason to vote for anyone) is to vote for the players that I can never, ever, make my mind up about. The players around here that fit this bill best are probably Nogrod and Shasta.

But I'll readily grant that's a sorry reason to vote for anyone in such REAL circumstances.

[Aganzir]

She defended her smilies/winks, but they seem so awkwardly placed. Like, every time she's talking about bad guys.
Oh really? I can't see how you came up with that "every time she's talking about bad guys". I talked about baddies without using smilies and used smilies without talking about baddies. That's quite a far-fetched argument.

But asking if she's being too obscure... It's the first day. Who hints at things on the first day and then points to it? Or, who doesn't hint to things, but doesn't clarify when people think she is? Or...
Is there still someone who didn't realise I was suggesting Kuru was giving cobbler hints? I would have expected everyone to at least notice that post title. That question was meant in an ironical way. Because it seemed nobody understood what I was talking about.

I have a feeling everyone is misinterpreting me on purpose!

Nog I'm starting to understand why you tried to be quieter on day ones.

Sniff.

edit: xed with Form & love him again.

[Formendacil]

Formendacil

I don't know how each person chooses to operate, but from one of the places I did read where the roles were selected from a mix of random and picked choices. I don't know anything about the phantom, but from the structure of the game, it looks like he wants a thoughtful, strategy based game. There is the new addition of the bonus votes, the evil and good roles have slightly different abilities, or extra powers available than the traditional roles. So, I assume he would want to see some of these new facets used and how they are used. If someone did not show up to the Day -1 portion, I would wonder if they were still in or not.

This might all be moot now, because it was before all the revelations about technical problems. I am not saying anyone is using it as an excuse (there is a nasty computer virus travelling around the US - I remember it was on the West Coast I think 2-3 days ago), just saying I was going by the rules that if someone does not participate/vote they are modfired and was wondering if we should lynch someone who is going to be modfired, because that would theoretically give us extra days.

Fair enough... I am mollified, I guess, insofar as I don't know you, so I can't distinguish between newbie covering (especially since, were that so, you could assisted by PMing with the other Wolves) and honesty--but at for know, I'm mollified. Though, I suppose, if you are a wolf, and you die, we should be looking for people who posted on this thread between those two posts to find someone who potentially might have been a PM partner.

Hmm... that might actually be an interesting gambit: lynching Kent to see if he's a wolf. It's tenuous grounds, to be sure, but that's sort of the prevailing atmosphere.

[Kent2010]

Kuru
Out of everyone toDay she seems to be acting the most suspicious to my mind. Its not because she's been talking a lot, its that some of the things she's said haven't made much sense and she's been rather inconsistent.
Funny thing is, if I were to judge you, Kuru, based on your reasons, you're suspicions aren't making much sense.

You don't provide any examples, I get the feeling a lot of vague blanket accusations are tossed around on Day 1, but I would imagine any person who is innocent and genuinely wants to help has a logical reason for suspecting someone as "feeling strange" or "not making any sense."

But I don't know what about Agan isn't making sense? She's explained the title thing, she made a perfectly relevant statement regarding the seer would find Grima an Ordo. The only inconsistency you pointed to was in your first post, about Froldo or whoever.

I don't agree with everything Agan has said (as evidenced by our interaction today), but we should make a clear distinction between disagreeing with someone, and someone "not making any sense." Then saying that not making any sense = baddie.

[Formendacil]

I don't agree with everything Agan has said (as evidenced by our interaction today), but we should make a clear distinction between disagreeing with someone, and someone "not making any sense." Then saying that not making any sense = baddie.

Speaking of sense, there is some here. I'd say that wolves tend to be more consistent than non-wolves, since they tend to be more careful about what they say, since their façade of innocence is, indeed, a façade. When a wolf gets inconsistent, the inconsistency tends to result more from the wolf attempting to cover up a slip--and even if Agan has been inconsistent (which is not my impression*), she has not given the appearance, to me, of attempting to cover up. More along the lines of exasperation explanation--I'll grant, of course, that an experienced player can make the two look the same.


*Of course, given my thesis that wolves are more consistent than innocents in their views, this, of course, ought to incline me MORE toward thinking that Agan is a wolf.

[Nienna]

Sleep is calling my name. It is still a bit early but I must vote now.

++Nogrod

I don't want to continue the Agan bandwagon and the other player that has struck me as being anything other than squeaky clean is Nog. This is mostly a vote based on bad feelings though and I reserve the right to be completely and utterly wrong.

[Aganzir]

But now I'm really planning to go to sleep.

My main suspects at the moment are Kuru and Fea.

Kuru because just what is the point of a cobblerish post title unless it's intended as a hint? If he was innocent, he'd think twice before doing it. Yes he might want to try to mislead the wolves and make them think they have found the cobbler, but he also misleads us. He should know that kind of behaviour might get him lynched. He should know that kind of behaviour is harmful to our wolf hunting. If he's innocent he should feel very bad because he has just caused me to practically waste my day.
Plus his reasoning is bad. Some things I've said don't make much sense? Then, darling, you're supposed to ask what I mean (and just "What?" doesn't count as that). I've been inconsistent? I can say I started laughing aloud when Kent brought up the Frollo inconsistency.
Plus he looks somehow detached.

I'm toying with the idea of giving all my bonus votes for him at once. Then at least they wouldn't be wasted if you guys decide to kill me. ;) (Oh joy if I'm Pippin!)

If I die you are so going to lynch him, right?

As for Fea, it's simply that she should know better. She seems to be intentionally misinterpretting me (that "Am I still too obscure?" question) and exaggerating things I've said (that smilie thing). Well yes if she's a wolf who thinks she has spotted the cobbler (Kuru), it's just reasonable she votes for the one who is against him and has already two votes.

And I don't like the bandwagon against me. Yeah I'm an easy lynch because I've spoken the most but still. The whole thing looks too easy. Kuru & Fea's votes were too easy.

The people I like at the moment are Form (he's nice to me) and Kent (he's either a good newbie or receives advice via PM. I'm inclined to think the former, given how he reacted to Kuru's accusations of me).

[Aganzir]

I just love all this attention. :smokin:

Hmm I have two votes (or three, if Greenie manages to highlight hers & wants to keep it). Nog has one.

++Kuru (+1)

The extra vote because I believe I have hit on something here.

It's funny that votes look much more serious when they are in red.

Also, I'd like to make a bet that by the time Nog has reached this post, he has considered voting for me because of my use of smilies at least twice.

I'll listen to this song (Leonard Cohen - One Of Us Cannot Be Wrong. Yeah I'm slightly obsessed at the moment) and go to sleep.

[Kent2010]

Speaking of sense, there is some here. I'd say that wolves tend to be more consistent than non-wolves, since they tend to be more careful about what they say, since their façade of innocence is, indeed, a façade. When a wolf gets inconsistent, the inconsistency tends to result more from the wolf attempting to cover up a slip--and even if Agan has been inconsistent (which is not my impression*), she has not given the appearance, to me, of attempting to cover up. More along the lines of exasperation explanation--I'll grant, of course, that an experienced player can make the two look the same.

Since this makes sense to me, should I be suspicious of you? :D

I'm going to have to vote soon. But just want to say...I doubt there are any poor intentions, becase I have received a lot of 'hellos' and I've loved my welcome here, but it does come off as a little degrading saying I'm either an innocent newbie or I am receiving constant PM instruction. I am trying to enjoy a new thing, work out my own style, and try to be helpful. If I were a newbie wolf I would like to think I would be capable of coherent thoughts and a helpful asset to my team without having to be spoon fed instructions. That's a tad insulting, even though I am 99.9% sure no one intends to be. :)

[Nilpaurion Felagund]

The only reason some people can make sense of DAY 1s ( :rolleyes: ) is because of other people not giving a damn about it giving them something to analyse. :Merisu:

Catching up on the thread. Good thing you guys a) wrote only two pages while I was asleep and b) dropped the RPG writing. :D

[Kent2010]

++Kuruharan (+0)

I just particularly don't like his post 211 (http://forum.barrowdowns.com/showpost.php?p=592887&postcount=211).

It looks over the top...I'm imagining someone waving their arms around, jumping up and down, calling a foul on something that's really not that big of a deal. Agan stated a relevant fact to keep in mind, but she is trying to make us distrust our seer, and by talking about Grima we are getting off track? I suppose we could go back to Formendacil's suggestion and continue with the disney character conversation?

[Formendacil]

I'm going to have to vote soon. But just want to say...I doubt there are any poor intentions, because I have received a lot of 'hellos' and I've loved my welcome here, but it does come off as a little degrading saying I'm either an innocent newbie or I am receiving constant PM instruction. I am trying to enjoy a new thing, work out my own style, and try to be helpful. If I were a newbie wolf I would like to think I would be capable of coherent thoughts and a helpful asset to my team without having to be spoon fed instructions. That's a tad insulting, even though I am 99.9% sure no one intends to be. :)

No, of course no one intends it to be insulting... unless, of course, by being insulting we manage to provoke you into revealing that you're a wolf.

And yes, as a newbie wolf, you might well be capable of your own coherency without being spoonfed anything--and on that note, I'm quite willing to consider you a capable lone wolf who covered for his own newbie mistake adroitly. :p It's not that there's anything about being new that makes you necessarily clumsy first time out--it's just that we (well, me anyway...) don't know your style yet. I don't know if this is a handicap to you or a handicap to the old-times (glances at Fea and Kuru), but it does mean that you're an uncertain variable, and as such it's best to average the experience of playing with most new players in the past--and new players are most likely to make mistakes. As with any talent, WWing improves with practice, even among those with native talent.

It may also just be grasping at straws--a newbie making a mistake would be probably the one certain thing to look for in analysing Day 1 prior to the completion of Day 1.

Of course, it's entirely possible you're innocent but just not guilty-looking enough to come across that way. It's a problem we've all had, once or twice, I'm sure.



And, in other news, I'm still no closer to a vote. Well, maybe an inch or two. I'm concerned that Nienna's vote for Nogrod was made with the encouragement that I might vote in that direction. As to the Kuru and Agan bandwaggons, neither looks particularly attractive to me. Kuru actually holds slight suspicion for me, whereas Agan does not, but I just can't see Kuru being that clumsy--even if it's been a while since he's played.

[Brinniel]

A vote count:

Nilp: ++Sally (Sally 1)
Greenie: ++Aganzir* (Sally 1)
Kuruharan: ++Aganzir (Sally 1, Aganzir 1)
Fea: ++Aganzir (Sally 1, Aganzir 2)
Nienna: ++Nogrod (Sally 1, Aganzir 2, Nogrod 1)
Aganzir: ++Kuru + 1 (Sally 1, Aganzir 2, Nogrod 1, Kuru 2)
Kent: ++Kuru (Sally 1, Aganzir 2, Nogrod 1, Kuru 3)

*invalid vote

Have not voted yet: Alonariel, Brinn, Firefoot, Formy, Gwath, Izzy, Lari, Nogrod, Sally, Shasta

A lot of people left to vote still, though it seems probable that not everyone will show. It's rather quiet for Day One considering there's only less than two hours until deadline..

Quite honestly, I have no idea who I will vote for. I don't have any suspects and while some players have been at each other's throats, I feel rather indifferent right now as to which side they may be on. I may have to vote based on instinct toDay. It's better than overanalysing when there's little information to go on, especially considering I tend to be completely wrong whenever I overanalyse.

[satansaloser2005]

Anyway, my dear Agan, there's difficulty in assigning me to Frollo and you Esmeralda insofar as the real me doesn't have as much of a crush on Esmeralda as some of the other Disney ladies. Out of the Disney canon, I'm probably fondest of Belle--and that's a very different character from Esmeralda. So what you need to find, going off this evidence, for my perfect woman would be along the lines of: sweet, quiet, bookworm (I'd even go so far and say Belle is a brunette, but that might be getting unconscionably Freudian, as I inherit my brown hair from my mother...).

It's hardly possible that we've got any sweet girls of quieter disposition and a propensity to books at this Downer gathering, right? Clearly, Form shall remain the celibate man he is, with little difficulty.

I like reading, and I'm a brunette. And celibate....:Merisu:

*is bored in his shiny cloak he was wearing all the time underneath his clothes*

++satansaloser2005 (+0)

The closest thing to an autovote. ('cos Mistress Rikae's not here.)

But....*sniff*....don't you love me anymore?

This must be what going mad feels like.

Brinn's first post is slightly unnerving. I don't know why. Her first posts always are.

I'm watching Kuru.

Kent who is in your avatar? He looks almost exactly like a guy I went to school with.

Nog looks quite innocentish. Or rather, genuinely helpful. It's impossible to say anything concrete yet, though.

Form talked about Day -1 behaviour. I assume you're not going to analyze that?

Firefoot I'm fine with bonus votes being saved for later. But that means everyone, or at least most of us, should do it. I don't want a situation to occur where there are a few people with almost all and some with almost no votes left.


No - we get a baddie (ie wolf or cobbler) with 23.5% certainty. And actually it's even more likely since their behaviour can give them away. ;)
I can't say I really like your suggestion. The result of today's lynch is a part of the information we will have tomorrow, and it reveals more if we don't take the easy route and kill a non-show. Or well it's also that you suggested it so early and in that way.

Hmm almost 24 hours have passed and four people haven't spoken yet. Do you Elmira people have any idea about Alonariel?

Some things about the rules.

Gríma doesn't have a way to communicate with the baddies in private, but his ability to make gifteds fall ill makes him more dangerous than a normal cobbler. That's why I think it's as important to find him as the wolves. Also, the seer can't find him and should keep in mind that one of her known innocents might in fact be the cobbler.

I wonder why Elrond & others decided to send Pippin here. He doesn't seem to be aiding us.

Because they like to screw with our heads dear.

In other news, this is a whole lot of nothing, not unhelpful so much as trying to help and failing because there's not a lot to do. I agree about the extra votes though, that if some of us use them all up and some are more stingy with them we could end up in a lot of trouble. I know it seems a bit weird, but I may (notice, may) keep a close eye on those who deliberately try to save their votes for the end of the game. Also interesting commentary on Grima, but talking about Grima right now is basically as effective as trying to figure out who Pippin is at this point.

Oh really? I can't see how you came up with that "every time she's talking about bad guys". I talked about baddies without using smilies and used smilies without talking about baddies. That's quite a far-fetched argument.

Is there still someone who didn't realise I was suggesting Kuru was giving cobbler hints? I would have expected everyone to at least notice that post title. That question was meant in an ironical way. Because it seemed nobody understood what I was talking about.

I have a feeling everyone is misinterpreting me on purpose!

Nog I'm starting to understand why you tried to be quieter on day ones.

Sniff.

edit: xed with Form & love him again.

Awwww, Agan. *hugs* I understand where you're coming from, but just because you're misunderstood doesn't mean that you're not evil. Just sayin'.

And who doesn't love Formie?


Speaking of sense, there is some here. I'd say that wolves tend to be more consistent than non-wolves, since they tend to be more careful about what they say, since their façade of innocence is, indeed, a façade. When a wolf gets inconsistent, the inconsistency tends to result more from the wolf attempting to cover up a slip--and even if Agan has been inconsistent (which is not my impression*), she has not given the appearance, to me, of attempting to cover up. More along the lines of exasperation explanation--I'll grant, of course, that an experienced player can make the two look the same.


*Of course, given my thesis that wolves are more consistent than innocents in their views, this, of course, ought to incline me MORE toward thinking that Agan is a wolf.

True that wolves make an effort to be more consistent, but they don't necessarily succeed, as you point out, and some wolves (like me, when I am a wolf) act even more off the wall than they do when they're ordos, because they know that if they try to control everything they say it is more likely to slip than if they just go with the flow and try to subtly direct the village.

The only reason some people can make sense of DAY 1s ( :rolleyes: ) is because of other people not giving a damn about it giving them something to analyse.

Catching up on the thread. Good thing you guys a) wrote only two pages while I was asleep and b) dropped the RPG writing.

Watch your language, young man. In other news, I was rather excited by the lack of posts toDay, and yet kind of surprised. Maybe everyone is as busy/exhausted as I am. *shrugs* It only makes sense after all we've been through.


Deadline's at my midnight, right?