[Anguirel]

If Volo did invent his "Spirit of Tolkien" role then I'm seriously impressed.

But a look at the first narration should convince you that it was planned as part of the game from the start. We are "trusting in the spirit of Professor Tolkien to protect us", apparently.

It is of course possible that, taking his lead from that hint, Volo made up a fitting role to save his lupine skin. But that's the kind of trick I've only known myself, the phantom and conceivably Fea to stoop to!

I think it's far more likely that he is a proven innocent and far more helpful to regard him as such - we do need all the information we can get. So Volo's role is essentially the only thing I'm clinging onto solidly at present...