WWXXXV: Werewolves among the Wolf-men

[Nogrod]

"Yes, I do appreciate your choice guy. If and when we need to flip a coin on one Day or another I say we flip it toDay and/or toMorrow rather than later for then it will be much harder and were susceptible to make foolish decisions then.

What I've heard of this Macalaure speaks good for him and I would like to leave him out of our discussion at least for toDay while I also hope he will eventually wake up yet toDay and speak for himself. That would leave me firstly Xyzzy and Isabell to choose from right now. Naturally that is in case they don't wake up before the Night comes. And I do hope they do wake up as that is the only way to even try to quess on them with something else but pure luck...

Of those spoken toDay I'm inclined to keep my eye on these young men Shasta and Gil - not forgetting the very softly and carefully spoken Brinn and Lhuna either. This doesn't mean I'm in anyway confident with your innocence Rikae and guy but this far I can see you making at least a partial effort and that's enough for me for the time being."

With that Nogrod fell silent but in his head he started remembering everything that had been said that Day. And he started thinking about it...

(EDIT: X'd with Mac so forgive me the incoherence with the Mac not posting yet -stuff...)

[Nogrod]

Suddenly Nogrod stood up. He had been thinking and trying to remember what had been said and done earlier the Day when the thought came to him. It was a tough question.

"Listen now. I just remember a curse that has befallen on many villages that have been infected by werewolves... Yes, I'm old enough to have heard a host of these stories."

With that he glanced at Rikae and smiled.

"There seems to be a curse in most of the villages that those who do not take part in discussions or make their votes will be dead after two Days have passed. Now what shall we do with this knowledge?

If those that have been silent this far will remain silent and sleep all the Days, they will die toMorrow evening anyway. If they're innocents their deaths will be a big blow to our numbers as we keep lynching people all the time as well and the wolves will not kill one of their own either. So wouldn't it be reasonable for us to indeed lynch the quiets for this reason as well? If and when we risk lynching an innocent anyhow why shouldn't we start with those who may be dead without our or the wolves aid in the first place? That way we maximise our numbers to the Days to come..."

Nogrod looked around him. No one seemed to be in haste to answer his question.

"Please consider this. I myself have no "case" against anyone in particular right now but have a thought or two on all of you and will be voicing them soon. And Lhuna, please tell me why do you think guy should have voted for someone who has contributed something toDay? Do you try to say that everyone who feels like not posting anything should be given a free ride? I must say I disagree with your logic here."

[Rikae]

Rikae looked down her nose at Guy.
"Certainly, we should not be decieved by appearances. Anyone, no matter how old, young, or short, could be more than they seem. But I don't think it's productive to dwell on this; nor to speculate about voting for those who have not spoken, when they still may wake. Such things distract us from analysing those who have; a wolf may be among the silent, but it is unlikely, I think, that Xyzzy and Izzy are both wolves.
Macalaure may call my evidence "evasive", but it is no more so than his. Still, his delightful diction and enthralling eloquence incline me to be fond of his innocence, at least for now.
I am truly uneasy about Shasta, and would like to hear more from him before the day is over. Some have mentioned carefully analysing WHAT is said, but it seems to me that it is far more useful to try and discern the intent behind the words. Shasta, Gil and Brinn seemed, to varying degrees, to post with the intent of avoiding suspicion, while the others seem to intend, at least somewhat, to actually analyse the situation. Guy, though he hasn't really added much sense to the discussion, seems to be interested in stirring things up, which might speak in his favor.
If I were forced to vote now, it would probably be for Shasta; but if the sleepers sleep on until sunset, I may join Guy in his vote for Xyzzy."

EDIT: Crossed with Lhuna & Nogrod

[Macalaure]

Macalaure opened one eye, once more worried about the course that events had taken. He decided it was time for him to speak up.

"I'm uncomfortable with the amount of debate which is dedicated to whether or not we should lynch people who did not speak yet. If we do not find anybody worth lynching by the end of the day, then maybe it is a course to choose. But instead of spending our time debating it, we should rather debate, with the little evidence we have, who among us could be a wolf. This may render the previous problem redundant.

Like Lhuna, I don't particularly appreciate Guy's vote. I also hold Nogrod's latest contributions slightly suspicious, because it encourages a debate which I think won't do us any good.

I find it interesting that Rikae calls my evidence against her evasive instead of explaining why her own isn't. I didn't say, for example, that Lhuna speaks sense, but needs to be watched closely. Then again, the rest of Rikae's recent speech looks a lot better than this particular part."

[Nogrod]

Nogrod looked at Macalaure and then addressed the people around the pool.

“I hope you Mac are satisfied of what I'm about to say as that last one was just a thought that crossed my mind and I thought it important to voice it - and I still think that is something we should ponder about. But I have been indeed occupied with what you said we need to do ie. trying to figure out our wolves. Here's some of my first thoughts. I'll give you more after a while.

Of those who have spoken toDay I find the most unhelpful Gil, Shasta and Brinninel. You know the young guys, when have they ever been of any help to anyone?”

With this Nogrod smiled but went serious soon enough to continue.

“I don’t wish to fall into the semantics here between terms like “contributing” or “helpful” or “silent”. I hope you understand what I mean. As a famous philosopher from the days to come said: if you’re not with us you’re against us... If they’re not going to put more effort in I’m all for lynching them sooner than later.

With Gil there is the joking that admittedly feels somewhat fabricated. But quite nothing more. Is he indeed participating? I would be ready to consider him as a non-talker up to this moment. I hope he will open his mouth yet again and say something for a change.

With Shasta there is something more I think. Even though he has spent most of the time joking easily with Gil he has said and done something that bothers me. It’s not only that he first tries to give an impression of a hero to guard us all and then later is afraid of sleeping people in the middle of a Day. This might be explained by psychological pressure, the demand to lie and to make oneself survive in hostile envirovement might produce, surely. But there is also this comment he made

Originally Posted by Shasta

We ought to make very sure that we're executing a werewolf, because we don't have very many chances at this ...

Now to me this sounds like saying let’s lynch people who speak a lot and let’s forget the quiet ones like himself – and possibly his mate. Anyhow I think he overstresses our plight. We have a few Days to get it right and every speaker is one we can analyse and catch unlike those who do not contribute and with whom we just have to throw a coin. I don’t like the general way he has acted and spoken toDay.

With Brinn there is the carefulness. I’d say overplayed one. It is interesting that he says he’s not normally the one who talks but likes to stay in silence (a parasite, that is?) but now wishes to speak up... and what does he say? Nothing. The only thing he kind of said was:

Originally Posted by Brinn

We may outnumber the wolves now, but one by one they will pick us off. It is important that we find a strategy on how to capture them, and we must have a plan before the day is over.

This is not something I would agree on. As has been known on so many occasions any general agreements are places to hide for the wolves and anyhow his way of speaking of the urgency of doing things and his own lack of commitment seem to contradict each other. So trying to look helpful while laying low as a safety-measure?

I'll soon come up with some further views."

With that Nogrod closed his eyes and went back to thinking.

[Brinniel]

Brinn took a large bite from the bread Nogrod had given him, and as he chewed, he remained deep in thought over the things the others had to say. It satisfied him that at least they had finally spoken up. He finished and swallowing, wiping his dirty hands on his trousers.

"Now this whole discussion on whether to lynch one of the quiet ones I find rather interesting, not to mention a bit odd. Only two of us now have not spoken, and while I agree it is quite possible one of them is a wolf and we cannot simply ignore them, I do not think it is a good idea to jump on one of them on this first Day. We must give them another chance to speak before attacking them when they cannot defend themselves. Anyways, I feel confident saying that I am sure at least one wolf is indeed among those of us who do speak, and I think for toDay it would be smarter to base our votes on what has been said, not what has not been said."

Brinn leaned back, folding his arms.

"Now tgwbs's quick vote on xyzzy I do not like. He votes for him because he still slumbers, but on the hour of that vote, dusk was still a long ways away and even still xyzzy still has an opportunity to awaken and speak up before Night approaches. Neither do I appreciate his jump on my appearance alone to judge the chances of whether I am a wolf. To me, his behaviour seems most suspicious.

"Gil-Galad's constant use of insults without any useful contribution to the discussion I highly dislike as well, but I suppose this could just possibly be due to immaturity rather than wolfishness."

And then Brinn was once again silent, for he had nothing else to say for the time being. Sitting in the shadows, he bit his nails waiting to hear more comments and responses.

EDIT: X-ed with Nogrod

[Gil-Galad]

Gil looked around after hearing the comments about him

"come on now lads, the last thing we need is for us to accuse everyone! we are getting no where with that. no TGWBS, your first words of the day is going straight for Xxyzy... who has remained quiet the whole time... very strange indeed"

Originally Posted by Brinniel

"Gil-Galad's constant use of insults without any useful contribution to the discussion I highly dislike as well, but I suppose this could just possibly be due to immaturity rather than wolfishness."

"now my dear brinni, your breaking my heart here. immaturity is quite harsh words, and with the day beginning, what contribution can i provide? you need evidence to have a point in a discussion? with only nogrod speaking what am i to do? to imemdiately accuse him of being a wolf AND our heroes? brinni, first thing you must do is read your own words before you say them then you can be helpful"

Gil grabbed a loaf of bread and some brries and began nibbling on them

"but for now, i think we best be looking at shasta over there, he is trying to hard to relay the seriousness of this situation, if we concentrate to hard on a certain trait, if you will, then these wolfs can slip behind us and take us from behind

We ought to make very sure that we're executing a werewolf, because we don't have very many chances at this ...

"now i am trying to have a light-hearted attitude at this... but i do know this peril is serious and will cost us our lives, but let us make sure and go over every possibility and remember how some words can be more harsh then you intend them to be and it will land you in a dark pit"

"in conclusion, ++Shasta, rest in peace my lad, though for the first couple of days, many innocents will probably be lost..."

EDIT: xed with Lhuna

[Macalaure]

Time to start sorting things out, Macalaure thought to himself and started to talk - to himself, apparently.


"Rikae is switching from red to green and back. My feelings about her are mixed, which is not enough for me to vote her, as everybody will surely understand...

About Shasta more and more good points are raised. He's the one most likely to receive my vote right now.

After his recent speech, I'm about to declare Nogrod innocent.

I, too, find Brinn's first post a little too careful. Except for his suspicion of Gil, and mine of Rikae, his last post is almost about the same topics as mine (lynching the silent, Guy's vote), which I find strangely strange.

Of Lhuna I have no definite idea, but she feels more on the innocent side right now.

I don't know why so many of the people are suspicious of Gil. I'm fine with him.

Guy is somebody I shall look at closely tomorrow.

Of Isabellkya, xyzzy and Mith I cannot say anything."

[Nogrod]

"Lhuna’s way of speaking I tend to trust at the moment. She seems to be independent from others’ point of views – remember the wolves need to be liked and thence tend to be the most agreeable ones. I do disagree with her about the best code of conduct for us right now but I feel she is stating her points innocently, not maliciously. Her point on guy is fair even if I disagree with the basis of it and the one on Macalaure was sharp and to the point. I’m not going to vote her toDay unless some miracles happen.

Rikae is another one I feel pretty good at the moment. Her first speech was reasonable and she did what an innocent one should do ie. telling her mind openly and laying some suspicion around to see what happens and to open the situation in the first place. Her later discussion about the intent and content I found reasonable as well – and genuine sounding. She’s another one I wouldn’t like to vote toDay.

Tgwbs I have mixed feelings about. He seems to act and speak like a decent person – and agrees with me to be sure... – but there is something that doesn’t quite sit right with me. First of all he has been a bit too friendly to me like trying to gain a feel-good –factor with me. Secondly he also contradicts himself as he first said we
“cannot afford to wait: we must decide who the wolves are, and slay them swiftly”
and then he goes on with this lynching the quiets just to be sure... even if he clothes it under the vestige of:
“I shall declare he who I believe to be guilty of wolvery”
and giving ridiculous reasons for it:
"his sleepiness is a result of wolvery. Tiring himself with murder by night, he requires the day to sleep it away”.
If I wouldn’t like to get the non-contributors out of the way he would be one of my top suspects right now. And he is. But I will listen to you others as well before voting as we only can lynch one and throwing one’s vote away too easily is stupid (with retrackies or not).

Macalaure I feel strange right now. His first speech was far less I would have waited from him. Kind of in the middle of the road being nice and trying to sound reasonable without actually saying anything, eg.:
“Let us no longer offer the obvious, or jest our time away, or condemn companions by causes contrived of questionable content”
and sticking to the obvious suspects like Shasta and Rikae who had been a bit bold just a moment before him. In his second speech he kind of suspects people who are not full-time analysing others who have spoken but doesn’t contribute a lot himself either in that cause. I’d hate to lose an innocent Macalaure toDay and as I don’t have more on him I will not vote him either toDay... unless the miracles.

I need to bring myself up to date with everythnig that has passed meanwhile as I see Brinn, Gil, Lhuna and Mac have spoken yet more.”

Nogrod picked his pipe and started cleaning it and fell down to his thoughts.

[Nogrod]

Suddenly Nogrod stood up again. His eyes were startled.

"The Day is ending soon and we need to make a decision. Let's consider our choices together. If Xyzzy and Isabell are not going to show up the curse will take them in the end of toMorrow. If they are innocents it will be a mighty blow to our numbers. We might reduce that shock by lynching one of them ourselves if we don't have a strong belief we have an actual more talkative wolf in our hands toDay.

Just consider this. This is a bit too sleepy place anyway and the talkers can be analysed unlike the people in the shadows.

Of the others I'd think Gil to be more on the innocent side but might go with Shasta or Brinn or tgwbs - albeit less eagerly than with the silent ones."

WIth that Nogrod lit his pipe he had been filling while he spoke and sat down, puffing rings from the smoke and looking sternly at the others around the pool.

[Lhunardawen]

Lhuna was torn between two choices and wished to hear more from them, but her eyes were too heavy and could no longer remain open. She scrambled over to the sand, and wrote on it with her forefinger:

++MACALAURE

and shuffled back inside the house to sleep unhindered.

[Rikae]

Rikae had been nodding in the shade of a maple tree. At the sound of her name, she looked up with a twinkle in her eye.

"Macalaure, I hope you're not refraining from voicing your suspicions out of chivalry! I can handle your accusations, dear boy."

The sun touched the horizon, and cast a golden light which illuminated the hill behind them with an unexpectedly beautiful radiance.

"I suppose we are running out of time, then. I can actually see some sense in Lhuna's words about Mac, and in Nogrod's about Brinn; but for me the most suspicious outlaw remains Shasta. There is one doubt in my mind; that is, the fact that he seems a little too popular a lynchee, and obvious votes on Day One so frequently go awry - but for lack of a better choice, I vote:
++Shasta"

EDIT: X'd with both of Nogrod's posts

[Brinniel]

Brinn sighed and rubbed at his eyes.

"Gil, harsh I may be, but it is only because I am honest. There are better ways to start up the day than by insulting the only person who has spoken.

"Mac, I find it a bit funny you think me slightly suspicious because I actually agree with you on one thing. Surely, you didn't think you'd be the only one to think voting for the silent is a bad idea...because that would be quite absurd.

"When it comes to Shasta, he has contributed very little, and what he has said doesn't scream Guilty to me just yet. While he is most certainly not in the clear, I do not see a good enough reason to vote for him.

"Folks, the sun is setting and Night is near. I must vote soon, and I hope everyone else will do the same."

Brinn pulled his hood tighter around his head as he swatted away pesky mosquitos.

EDIT: X-ed with Nogrod and Rikae

[Lhunardawen]

A yawn escaped from Lhuna's lips before she could stifle it.

"I can feel sleep nearly claiming me, so excuse me if I sound hurried. Nogrod, I must admit I feel rather uneasy to shed blood in this occasion, only due to the fact that we don't know friend from foe. Should the circumstance be otherwise I would not hesitate, but now, as I said earlier, each life we claim is more likely to be from our side than the enemy's. That is why I do not think it is right that we think of killing our companions before we hear them speak - who knew if they had excellent reasons to be yet asleep, and we end up losing a worthy comrade in our rashness?

"All your eagerness in lynching those asleep, Nogrod, makes me feel wary of you. If I didn't know respect, I would accuse you of having among those who have spoken very little a companion during the Night. But your old age gives you wisdom, and from that we could benefit for now.

"Now from what I've heard toDay I find these people...questionable:

Brinn - few words of little significance, without even following them up. Granted, Rikae had a point in saying that it is tough to break the ice, but I feel a certain hesitance on his part beyond this explanation.

Gil - again, he's too glib to be in this serious situation we are now in. But a voice in my head says that this is how he normally is, and it would be foolish to kill him for this reason alone. He bears close watching in the next Days, though.

Shasta - volunteering to stay up and sleeping on the job, huh? But I sense in him a mix of being happy-go-lucky and careful at the same time - the perfect combination for wolf behaviour. Careful not to slip, but not too guarded to be found suspicious. Unfortunately, I do suspect him.

Macalaure - as I said a while ago, it was too early for him to defend himself by subtly attacking those who expressed suspicion of him. I find this very disquieting.

I shall be casting my vote in a short while."