WWJ III - Nan Qualinmerë: Death Wish Valley

[tar-ancalime]

Kant, Kant...I knew him years ago. He told me he was a great philosopher.

Lying bastard.

Now to business, dears. It's true we've got to make a decision today, but it seems to me that it's far too early for us to start making assumptions about what a wolf would or would not do. The fact is that only three of us know what a wolf would do, and the rest of us are just shouting. And at this point, the more we reveal about our personal expectations for wolves, the more information we give the wolves about how to hide from us.

*takes a flask out of somewhere in the folds of her dress, wipes off the cat hair and drinks greedily*

Anyone like a tot? It's good for what ails you.

I've heard only two comments today that seem useful to me:

First was Fea's suggestion that we play Twister. I don't know that game, but I do love games and was a great hand at bridge in my day. Are they similar, at all?

Second was this, from Shelob:

A person who acted one way on the first day can't suddenly shift tactics without drawing a ton of attention. Meaning our wolves risk getting themselves trapped in a tactic which could backfire on them.

Now that's something we can pay attention to: we're all establishing patterns of behavior today, introducing ourselves, as it were. Today's comments are going to give us a strong basis for comparison in the future, because today all we've got are our personalities.

Now, to the votes:

It's true that retracting one's vote makes one stand out. That given, I'd say that Thinlomien and Shelob are stuck with Eomer for today. If Fea wanted to prevent the bandwagon on someone who was only a random vote (she calls it "tradition"), I could see the justification for her retracting her vote. Absent that, though, things are looking dire for our village doctor. Thinlomien, did you vote for Eomer because he voted for you? That's a non-universalizable tactic if ever I saw one (Kant would not approve), but it may work for you today.

Still, I'm a little suspicious of what look to me like "revenge" or "punishment" votes. There have been two of those already today:

Garin voted for Anguirel because Anguirel voted. Huh?

Then Thin, of course, and her revenge vote for Eomer.

Because my time here is almost up for the day (I've got to polish the silver; I'm taking it to a man I know who is...interested in family crests), I think it's time for me to vote. And since there is so very little to go on, I'll go for:

++Thinlomien

(I'm letting Shelob off the hook for what looks like a very goofy vote, for two reasons: I'm sure that others will note that she is the third voter in quick succession for Eomer, and also she did make one of the two valuable comments today. That buys her some time in my book. Also I'm well aware of the irony of voting based on the voting record, after decrying "punishment" votes. My defense? Extreme egotism.)

[Valier]

Originally Posted by Roa

Valier- If you agree with my statement, why the random vote?

Well my vote was random,as of yet because I figured Hey why bandwagon so early in the day....But now that I look at it....I guess I'm kind of bandwagoning with not bandwagoning So I will go back through the posts again..So if I change my vote later on it will be because of the appifany I just had,That Roa brought to my attention.

[Roa_Aoife]

Now now Tar, Shelob was second, Thin was third. Her "random vote" just happened to match up with two others. Thin has some semblance of reason, even if it is revenge where as shelob has none.

If she's a wolf, she may be trying to protect another wolf.

.... Of course, Eomer might be a wolf and the other two are trying to draw suspicion away from him by voting for him....

This isn't Clue, this is Congress.

[tar-ancalime]

Now now Tar, Shelob was second, Thin was third. Her "random vote" just happened to match up with two others. Thin has some semblance of reason, even if it is revenge where as shelob has none.

Goodness, is my face red!

You're right, of course. I'll have to be more careful. I stand by my (admittedly flimsy) reasoning, as Thin's vote looks even more like revenge coming third instead of second, but I believe I've got to go home now and wipe the egg off my face.

[AbercrombieOfRohan]

Agreed, though I might Abercrombie to the list, since her first post didn't really say much of anything and her second just lists people who hadn't spoken yet.

On the first day? Come now Shelob, there was nothing.

all the wolves have to do is engage like everyone else in teh witty bander being thrown around, act indifferent, or just say smart sounding things, lay back, have a glass of lemonade...whatever.

Oh you mean like Eomer? And though this is exactly the type of behaviour, I agree, that wolves employ on the first day, I am hesitant to convict Eomer of it. Simply because he's Eomer and from what I know of him, this is how he would behave regardless of his role (i.e. the Kant thing). That doesn't mean I'm writing him off as innocent, it just means that for today, I find other people more suspicious.

Garin voted for Anguirel because Anguirel voted. Huh?

Exactly Tar. I can't for the life of me figure out Garin's vote. It seems he posted early, washed his hands clean of this whole affair, and since he hasn't shown his hide. I may not be online for the rest of this day, I shall vote:

++GARIN

If I get the chance to come online again and there are new developments that make one of our number more suspicious in my eyes, I reserve the right to change my vote for them instead. Good luck fellow villagers!

[Kath]

My word but everyone's been busy while I was gone! And why all these sudden votes for Eomer? Tradition is all very well and good Fea but if we follow that reasoning then you'll be soon after!

Now Eonwe's vote looked a little odd to me. Why the 10th person on the list? Why not the 3rd or the 15th? Perhaps it speaks of a connection to Valier. But of course we won't know that for a while yet.

But hey it's the first day, we don't know anything! Voting is completely random and no one is formulating suspicions based on anything worthwhile. I haven't yet figured out when the deadline is so I'll vote now just in case it's before I manage to get my tortoises up in the morning.

++EONWE

As I said an odd vote (though not the only one) and also for a really pernickety reason. Spelling. The is spelt with an H in the middle not an E. That is spelt HA not AH. I apologise but it drives me up the wall. Since we have no reasoning to go on I'll vote for something personal. At least it will make me feel better!