Werewolf XXXII: The Lost Age

[Kath]

The next half-period arrived, and at first glance it seemed that the night had been less busy than the last. But 5 among the villagers knew this was not the case.

~ ~ ~ ~

The vampires stood again upon the high tower, not speaking to each other for fear of another argument breaking out between them. They simply stood in the silent darkness, their vampire hearing allowing them to listen to the quiet breathing of the sleeping Men below.

Or perhaps not sleeping. Lossenatar was the first to notice the almost silent footsteps creeping around the small home the Men had made for themselves. Quickly he nudged Numundo and Firithhyando, motioning for them to listen too.

Their sharp eyes soon caught sight of a figure robed in black flitting among the various beds, apparently searching for something.

"What is it?" Numundo asked, but received only demands to be quiet in reply.

Suddenly the figure stopped and turned back on itself, heading with purpose toward one bed in particular. As it moved a glint of metal could be seen, a glint that soon turned into a full-blown sword that was raised above its unsuspecting victims chest.

The vampires held their unneeded breath and watched, knowing they couldn't reach the figure in time to stop it from killing whoever was under the blanket. But someone could.
A shadow so cloaked in the darkness that even the vampires hadn't been able to pick them out appeared before the armed figure.

"No." It said. "This one is protected."

The arm wielding the sword paused for a moment, and then pushed its weapon downwards with as much force as it could, only to find it's route blocked. With a snarl the figure turned on it's heel and ran, disappearing through the torchlit chambers. The protector looked down at their still sleeping charge and, with a smile, did the same.

~ ~ ~ ~

"They have protection!" Cried Numundo.

"And why shouldn't they?" Asked Lossenatar. "They are only Men, most without weapons, and entirely unaware of the dangers that could befall them here."

"Enihilion knew and Yulnagar allowed him to be killed. He had no protection. No, these humans will not be let off so lightly"

Before the others could give words of warning Numundo had set off again, his bat-like form swooping down.

This time his flight took him to Roa, the observer of people. She was asleep, her petite form curled tight to keep her body from feeling the cold.

Numundo watched as she shivered in her sleep and a devious thought came into his mind.

"If you want warmth my friend you will have to fetch it."

Roa's eyes opened, and if anybody had been there they would have seen that they were glazed over, for she wasn't truly awake. Just as Brinniel had, she heard a voice in her head, and it was so lovely that even the thought of not doing as it suggested made her feel ill. And so she went outside, picked up the torch that was burning just outside her house, and set it's flame to the wooden structure.

As the orange tongues licked their way up the side of the building she walked back into it and lay down on the bed, hugging the torch to her chest to keep warm.

Numundo watched in satisfaction. There would be no more protection this night.

~ ~ ~ ~

The time of reckoning again approached, and all but one of the Men were gathered by the clock as it struck and the Oracle arrived.

"Let us see if you have chosen any more wisely today.

”The archer great, a knight of old from the land of old. To the heart of fun half the arrows fly.”

"What's that you say, soldier?" Came a loud voice from the back of the crowd. "A war starting in far yonder lands? Well we'd best get over there quick hadn't we!"

And Menel came bursting through the ranks of his fellow villagers, intent upon making it out of the chamber, but the Oracle was in no mood to 'play' today.

"Stop!" It called, and Menel found himself obeying. "We will not have another scene like yesterdays. You have been chosen, you will die."

The watching villagers covered their faces with their hands, not wanting to witness another dreadful sight, but unable to avoid hearing the sickening crunching sounds. Collectively they counted to 10, and then gingerly uncovered their faces to find out Menel's fate.

The Oracle met their gazes as it slowly puffed on the ornate pipe in Enohl's mouth. The villagers looked confused for a moment, unable to work out what had happened, when suddenly Sleepy cried out in disgust.

"Ugh! You're ... you're smoking Menel! That's just horrible!"

A groan of dismay met his words as the others realised that he was right.

"That's it. I can't take this anymore. You lot can stay here and meet your doom if you like, I'm ending this now!"

He took off at a run and the villagers followed behind, wanting to put as much distance between them and the sick-minded Oracle as possible. They trailed Sleepy to the highest tower where, unbeknownst to most of them, the vampires had spent the night. They watched as he climbed to the top, and gasped as they realised what he was about to do.

"Don't do it!" They cried, but it was too late. Sleepy's form hurtled toward them, moving so fast they could barely hear his scream on the wind, and slammed into the ground before them.

Sickened they turned away, and then saw with dismay the burnt and blackened shell that had been the house of Roa. Slowly they made their way toward it, dreading what they were going to see next. The walls had been completely destroyed, so they crept carefully over the planks lying on the floor and made their way inside. But there was nothing to see, for all that was left of Roa was a pile of ash.

~ ~ ~ ~

Feeling thoroughly defeated the villagers made their way back to the square and despondently inquired of the Oracle whether any of the deaths so far had actually taken a vampire.

"No." It said, and with a final puff of it's pipe the Oracle left them to their talk.

~ ~ ~ ~

The living:


Gil-Galad (Gil)

The Saucepan Man (Esspiem/SPM)

Rikae

Boromir88 (Boro)

Nogrod

Eomer of the Rohirrim (Eomer)

Thinlómien (Lomiella/Lommy)

Legate of Amon Lanc (Legate)

Aganzir

Xyzzy

Macalaure (Mac)

Diamond18 (Di)

Shastanis Althreduin (Shasta)

Kitanna

Durelin

Glirdan (Glirdy)

Rune Son of Bjarne (Rune)

The Sixth Wizard (Morgan/Sixth)


The dead:


Celuien (Cel) – Turned into a chair by the Oracle after being voted out on Day 1. Innocent.

Brinniel – Possessed by the Vampires to write poetry with her own blood on Night 2. Innocent.

Menel - Turned into a pipe by the Oracle after being voted out on Day 2. Innocent.

Roa - Possessed by the Vampires to torch herself on Night 3. Innocent.

Sleepy - Committed suicide by jumping off the highest tower on Night 3. Innocent.



DAY 3

All votes should still be sent to the gmail address, or PMed to me if you've cleared that with Volo.

You may now start talking.

[Rikae]

Oh no.

I'm afraid I don't have good news either.
My dream last night only revealed a second ordo.

I'm not sure whether I should reveal them or not.
I take it from the narration that the vampires thought Roa was the ranger, but she was not...
though she's still a great loss to us.

It also looks like the...shade tried to kill me last night?
So I can't count on his/her protection, that's for sure.
I don't know why the shade would want to kill me, though. Finding the werewolves is everyone's best chance for survival, including his or hers...

I suppose, since I certainly will be killed tonight, I'll have to reveal both innocents; though they can't both be protected. But before I do, I want your input...just in case I'm missing something.

[The Saucepan Man]

Originally Posted by Rikae

I suppose, since I certainly will be killed tonight, I'll have to reveal both innocents; though they can't both be protected. But before I do, I want your input...just in case I'm missing something.

It looks that way. So, I can't see any reason not to reveal them.

Originally Posted by Rikae

I don't know why the shade would want to kill me, though. Finding the werewolves is everyone's best chance for survival, including his or hers...

Possibly, the Shade was worried that you might reveal him or her. Still, at least we know that the Shade cannot try to kill again toNight. Perhaps he or she might be persuaded to protect you, although we cannot rely on it.

Here's yesterDay's "voting record":

Di: Nogrod (Nogrod 1)
Gil: Shasta (Nogrod 1, Shasta 1)
Shasta: Gil (Nogrod 1, Shasta 1, Gil 1)
Kitanna: Rikae (Nogrod 1, Shasta 1, Gil 1, Rikae 1)
Sixth: Rikae (Nogrod 1, Shasta 1, Gil 1, Rikae 2)
Rikae: Legate (Nogrod 1, Shasta 1, Gil 1, Rikae 2, Legate 1)
Menel: Boro (Nogrod 1, Shasta 1, Gil 1, Rikae 2, Legate 1, Boro 1)
Rune: Menel (Nogrod 1, Shasta 1, Gil 1, Rikae 2, Legate 1, Boro 1, Menel 1)
Boro: Legate (Nogrod 1, Shasta 1, Gil 1, Rikae 2, Legate 2, Boro 1, Menel 1)
Roa: Nogrod (Nogrod 2, Shasta 1, Gil 1, Rikae 2, Legate 2, Boro 1, Menel 1)
Durelin: Boro (Nogrod 2, Shasta 1, Gil 1, Rikae 2, Legate 2, Boro 2, Menel 1)
Lommiella: Menel (Nogrod 2, Shasta 1, Gil 1, Rikae 2, Legate 2, Boro 2, Menel 2)
Aganzir: Menel (Nogrod 2, Shasta 1, Gil 1, Rikae 2, Legate 2, Boro 2, Menel 3)
Mac: Menel (Nogrod 2, Shasta 1, Gil 1, Rikae 2, Legate 2, Boro 2, Menel 4)
Esspiem: Menel (Nogrod 2, Shasta 1, Gil 1, Rikae 2, Legate 2, Boro 2, Menel 5)
Legate: Menel (Nogrod 2, Shasta 1, Gil 1, Rikae 2, Legate 2, Boro 2, Menel 6)
Nogrod: Menel (Nogrod 2, Shasta 1, Gil 1, Rikae 2, Legate 2, Boro 2, Menel 7)

No stated vote: Eomer, Sleepy, Xyzzy, Glirdy

I would like to hear from Eomer and Xyzzy (and Glirdy, if he's still with us) as to whether they submitted a vote to the Oracle yesterDay and, if so, what it was.

I would also like to hear from the Lynch Seer (assuming it was not one who died) as to the number of votes cast for Menel, although perhaps after Eomer and Xyzzy at least have been given a chance to speak.

Some thoughts on the Celuien voting situation coming up.

[Nogrod]

Originally Posted by Rikae

I'm not sure whether I should reveal them or not.

You shouldn't take those names to your grave with you... THey will have at least toDay and toMorrow to be with us.

And yes. It looks like the shade was on you, which I find pretty troubling...

[The Saucepan Man]

Roa was almost cetainly killed because she was dangerous to the Vampires (so much for them being sporting, eh, Noggie ...). It is possible that it was also an attempt to set up Nogrod, although it is also possible that he is a Vampire and the Roa kill was a bluff to make us think he was set up. I’m not pursuing that train of thought until Rikae reveals her dreams, though, as it is quite possible that she dreamed of him last Night.

Now, this Celuien vote. With only Glirdy not having stated a vote for Day 1, four people claimed to have voted for her and yet the Night 2 Lynch Seer, Eomer, told us that she received five votes.

As I see it, there are two possibilities. The first is that Eomer is a Vampire and told us that there were five votes for her in attempt to hide the fact that there were only three (as his would not have counted). However, that would require at least one of the stated Day 1 Legate voters also to be lying, since Celuien would have needed to be tied with him at least to have been chosen for death. I regard this situation as unlikely.

The other possibility is that Eomer was telling the truth and that there were five votes cast for Celuien. In which case, either it was Glirdy who cast the fifth vote for her (unlikely) or one of those who claimed to vote for someone else was lying and actually voted for Celuien. In these circumstances, it is virtually certain that all those who claimed to vote for Celuien actually did vote for her and are therefore innocent. Unfortunately one of those, Roa, is dead. But it speaks greatly in favour of Lomiella, Eomer and Aganzir.

[Diamond18]

Originally Posted by The Saucepan Man

Now, this Celuien vote. With only Glirdy not having stated a vote for Day 1, four people claimed to have voted for her and yet the Night 2 Lynch Seer, Eomer, told us that she received five votes.

As I see it, there are two possibilities. The first is that Eomer is a Vampire and told us that there were five votes for her in attempt to hide the fact that there were only three (as his would not have counted). However, that would require at least one of the stated Day 1 Legate voters also to be lying, since Celuien would have needed to be tied with him at least to have been chosen for death. I regard this situation as unlikely.

I agree that this is unlikely... if Eomer were a vampire trying to "look good" I don't see this as a good plan, because the discrepancy is easily noted. Unless I'm missing something, the best tactic for a Vampiric Lynch Seer would be to just keep completely quiet about the subject.

The other possibility is that Eomer was telling the truth and that there were five votes cast for Celuien. In which case, either it was Glirdy who cast the fifth vote for her (unlikely) or one of those who claimed to vote for someone else was lying and actually voted for Celuien. In these circumstances, it is virtually certain that all those who claimed to vote for Celuien actually did vote for her and are therefore innocent. Unfortunately one of those, Roa, is dead. But it speaks greatly in favour of Lomiella, Eomer and Aganzir.

I'm confused as to why someone who voted for Celuien would have lied about it. Only Innocents can vote, right? So why would you vote for one person (as is your right as an innocent) but say you voted for someone else? So... why is it unlikely that Glirdy voted for Celuien and that's why there is an unaccounted-for vote? That seems to make the most sense, because it doesn't involve an innocent lying for no apparent reason.

[Thinlómien]

It indeed that the shade has taken the vampires' side, at least for now. That is not especially good news. Maybe he or she finds the baddies more intriguing - I mean, if I was the shade, I wouldn't necessarily be playing for the village, even though it'd be easier. I just hope he or she sees what is best to his or her own interest and changes sides... Or then he or she is just crazily switching sides from day to day just to amuse him/herself... Actually I wouldn't wonder if he or she was doing so...

edit: xed with SPM

[Thinlómien]

Sauce, I think Roa was killed because the vampires maybe thought that Rikae would dream of Roa (or that she already had).

[The Saucepan Man]

Originally Posted by Lomiella

Sauce, I think Roa was killed because the vampires maybe thought that Rikae would dream of Roa (or that she already had).

Yes, fair point. And she was under less suspicion than Noggie and me, the other two from Rikae's original dream possibilities. In fact, I am not sure that anyone really suspected Roa that much. Nogrod made a weak case against her, but that was seemingly mainly in response to her suspicion of him.

I have had a brief review, and Roa's other suspects appear to have been Gil and Durelin and, possbly, me. But her main suspect was definately Noggin.

Given his weak case against her and her strong case against him, I am not sure at all that a Vampiric Nogrod would have chosen Roa as his kill.

[The Saucepan Man]

Reviewing yesterDay‘s “voting record“, it is quite possible that one (or possibly even two) of the Vampires was at risk of being lynched before the votes for Menel poured in and so a Vampire took the opportunity to state a vote for Menel in order to turn the votes against him. After all, we were all waiting to see who the best “save Rikae” candidate would be. And, with the “save Rikae” candidate likely to receive a lot of votes, it would have been less risky for a Vampire to be caught among them.

Something worth considering, possibly, as and when we have more information on the Menel voting situation.

[Nogrod]

Originally Posted by The Saucepan Man

Given his weak case against her and her strong case against him, I am not sure at all that a Vampiric Nogrod would have chosen Roa as his kill.

Roa's strong case?

Saying something loudly and confidently doesn't make up a good case.

I would also wait for Rikae now (where are you?) as it's no use to put our energies to things we may know in a minute or two.

I'm going to be more active in an hour or two (after Lommy & her sis have left).

I'm still trying to think this a bit meanwhile.

And I agree with Spm here. It would have been very reasonable for a vampire to jump on the Menel bandwagon yesterDay if the vampire hadn't yet declared a vote. Someone who wouldn't have voted Menel at that time would have been looked at pretty closely toDay so the vampire was pretty much forced to vote Menel.