Werewolf XLIV: In the House of Tom Bombadil

[Thinlómien]

Rikae and Mith you just can't quit!

You were both good regardless of doing some mistakes.

I didn't play particularily well but I'm not going to let that dampen my spirits and i think you should do so too.

Actually I feel like gloating even though we lost. I mean, although I was totally confused for most of the game, I managed to get two of the wolves in the end. Not bad. Now I don't need to skip the next games maybe.

Although seriously, some sort of pause would possibly do good for me.

[Thinlómien]

Hope that's not a final decision, Rikae.

*goes off to delete the pask-word*

[Durelin]

I just realized that statement in my last post sounded rather...egotistical. What I meant was that I wanted to come back to a game that was generally fun, and apparently it was not...

[Nogrod]

Originally Posted by Durelin

I wanted to come back to a game that was generally fun, and apparently it was not...

Others may speak for themselves but what I understood from Rikae's comments was that this just takes a bit too much of the time and energy (I do agree with the verdict indeed as I'd need to be reading essays for tomorrow right now and will end up reading them up late night) as it's so addictive you can't let go or play less...

[Rikae]

Originally Posted by Nogrod

Others may speak for themselves but what I understood from Rikae's comments was that this just takes a bit too much of the time and energy (I do agree with the verdict indeed as I'd need to be reading essays for tomorrow right now and will end up reading them up late night) as it's so addictive you can't let go or play less...

Yep, the time and energy it takes (this time when I could least spare it), along with the inadvisability of playing a game involving deceit and accusations against one's fiancé.

By the way, Nogrod, I didn't vote you, although I thought you looked as wolvish as Menel, because I wanted to keep what I thought was the more talkative of the "two wolves" around for a more interesting Day 5.

[Thinlómien]

Durelin, it was good that you returned to ww even though you were all too evil...

[Thinlómien]

I actually liked this game a lot. I enjoyed it except for one phase toDay and it returned my confidence in my wits and gut-feelings at the last minute and quite from around the corner.

Not that it will probably bother you at all since you won, but had you not killed Greenie, I would have been far more confused.

[Mithalwen]

Originally Posted by Thinlómien

Rikae and Mith you just can't quit!

.

I wasn't - I haven't had a good game for yonks. I really can't play whne I have no access at home and am spending 10hrs a day at work and commuting even if I get to leave on time.

I mostly only play if people I feel an obligation to ask me so please if you like me at all please don't ask me to play. I would have given up ages ago if I hadn't wanted to mod again and with Ang absent our joint venture will probably never happen.

I really don't think I participated enough and I feel I let you all down so it is better if I retire at least untill my circumstances are different.

As I said, if you care for me at all you will respect this. I will soon sign up if I am in the right mood and have time.

[Nerwen]

Once again, the village actually did really well– I knew Dury had given up from the way she started attacking me late in the Day...

...but it did give me great pleasure to say this:

Originally Posted by Nerwen

I just think the whole village has been played for fools (village idiots?) all along.

and this:

Originally Posted by Nerwen

All right, then–

++Menel.

And Rikae– if you're wrong about him, I swear I will kill you.

Nothing like using a bit of double-speak to have a secret gloat while the game's still in progress...

[Thinlómien]

Very well understood Mith , now try to get your circumstances better, and quick.

[Mithalwen]

Dury - don't take it personally - I am just seriously overstretched and hate letting people down.

And I can cope with losing but I hate being so useless..especially since people seem to think I should be good. I can't remember the last time I spotted a wolf in time.

[Thinlómien]

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

And I can cope with losing but I hate being so useless..especially since people seem to think I should be good. I can't remember the last time I spotted a wolf in time.

No pressure. I actually know how that feels, that's close to how I felt when Rikae (and Mac...?) complained to me that I'm suspiciously trying to deceive the villagers when I did not place myself in the good experienced loudmouth players -category....

My apologies to Menel who ended up being the scapegoat, as always...

[Durelin]

Originally Posted by Nogrod

Others may speak for themselves but what I understood from Rikae's comments was that this just takes a bit too much of the time and energy (I do agree with the verdict indeed as I'd need to be reading essays for tomorrow right now and will end up reading them up late night) as it's so addictive you can't let go or play less...

Yeah...which I quite agree with because it has kept me from starting on either my paper or presentation, and from working on my programming homework, and from reading for my lit class...

[Nogrod]

Originally Posted by Thinlómien

My apologies to Menel who ended up being the scapegoat, as always...

That was indeed bad! Sorry Menel. Before Rikae and Volo voted for him I had already decided that I should be very reluctant to vote for him toDay (after Rikae had suggested it) so that if I was to go toDay and found out a wolf you would have then toMorrow gathered that my reluctance speaks against him and thence you would have lynched him as an innocent and I would have thus helped my packmates from behind the grave...

[Durelin]

Exactly what I tried a little to do, too, Nog. XD Yes - sorry, Menel!

[Thinlómien]

Originally Posted by Nogrod

That was indeed bad! Sorry Menel. Before Rikae and Volo voted for him I had already decided that I should be very reluctant to vote for him toDay (after Rikae had suggested it) so that if I was to go toDay and found out a wolf you would have then toMorrow gathered that my reluctance speaks against him and thence you would have lynched him as an innocent and I would have thus helped my packmates from behind the grave...

I would probably have fallen for that, had last minute doubts and voted him anyway...

I know what people are talking about when they're complaining about this and RL. I actually half-dreaded what will happen later this week if the game is still going on as I have quite a lot of school things to do as well as other stuff and guests coming to see us...

[Mithalwen]

I am as bad as anyone but having modded, I would like ot apologise to Agan for preempting her dramatic moment.... this isn't really fair guys...

[Nerwen]

Originally Posted by Thinlómien

I would probably have fallen for that, had last minute doubts and voted him anyway...

I know what people are talking about when they're complaining about this and RL. I actually half-dreaded what will happen later this week if the game is still going on as I have quite a lot of school things to do as well as other stuff and guests coming to see us...

Likewise... which is why I took the risk of trying to get an ordo lynched toDay rather than sacrificing one of my fellow-wolves.

[Aganzir]

The atmosphere in the house was rather depressed. The beggars knew that this was their last chance to kill a wolf, otherwise they would all die. Volo lost his hope already in the morning, and when evening drew near, several others followed his example.

”If we don't lynch a wolf now, I deserve a public flogging!” said Rikae.

”This has been a disaster. We've been played for fools,” sighed Nerwen.

Lommy and Durelin only looked depressed. Menel was still sorry about his brother's death – or innocence.

Maybe the pressure and frustration was too much. Maybe having spent four days under the same roof was too much. Suddenly Lommy and Nogrod attacked each other. It might have ended badly, but luckily the beggars had some buckets of ice-cold water near-hand, which they could now throw upon the fighters. That had a queer effect on them. They had been boiling over; now they became cold and sensible. Lommy found a sweet bubblegum somewhere and started chewing. Quickly, she was her cheerful old self again.

Finally, the sun was beginning to set. It was time to vote.

”To whatever end,” said Rikae.

”For best or worst,” said Volo.

”If Menel isn't a wolf, I promise I will kill you,” said Nerwen.

”Not that this is going to do any difference,” said Menel.

”May the force be with us,” said Nogrod.

”Let the chance be on our side,” said Lommy.

”Sorry,” said Durelin.

And Mith only voted.

**

Poor little Meneltarmacil stood alone. More than half of the beggars had turned against him.

Rikae turned to speak to him. ”Little Menel, do you like building snowmen?”

”Yes... But isn't it too cold for it? There isn't the right type of snow.”

”It doesn't matter,” said Volo, ”there's the snow and you are the man.”

Menel looked unsure. ”Err, I'm not sure if I want to try that.”

”Let's go now,” said Nerwen and took Menel by hand. Nogrod put on the coat that was hanging on the coatrack and followed them out. The other beggars followed silently.

”Stand still, laddy,” said Nerwen. Menel had no chance but to obey. Rikae, Volo, Nerwen and Nogrod started to heap snow around him.

Menel's legs were now covered by snow.

”Mummy, I'm cold,” he said helplessly. But all Mith could do was to stand where she was, watching the last living member of her family slowly being killed, and curse the thing that is called 'democracy.'

Menel's chest was now covered by snow.

”Mummy, I can't move my hands,” he said helplessly.

Menel's mouth was now covered by snow.

”Mummy, it's hard to breathe!” his scream was muffled by the snow.

”Does anyone have a carrot?” asked Nogrod.

”Here you are.” Durelin stepped forward, smiling, and put it where Menel's nose had been.

The night fell.

The beggars stood shivering.

Death pattered out softly. ”It is time.”

**

It was not called the Old Forest without reason, for it was indeed ancient, a survivor of vast forgotten woods; and in it there lived yet, ageing no quicker than the hills, the fathers of the fathers of the trees, remembering times when they were lords. The countless years had filled them with pride and rooted wisdom, and with malice. But none were more dangerous than the Great Willow: his heart was rotten, but his strength was green; and he was cunning, and a master of winds, and his song ran through the woods on both sides of the river. His grey thirsty spirit drew power out of the earth and spread like fine root-threads in the ground, and invisible twig-fingers in the air, till it had under its dominion nearly all the trees of the Forest from the Hedge to the Downs.

**

Rikae, Mithalwen, Volo and Thinlómien were standing by the gigantic tree. Three white wolves were standing behind them.

Death spoke.

”Awake, Willow-man! I have brought you the pay for a permission to go through your forest! Take these humans as my sacrifice to you!”

And the beggars were swallowed by hungry earth, and the whole wood was silent.

**

A few days later, the Shire was attacked from two directions. The first wolves crossed the frozen Brandywine river, but while the Hobbits were fighting against them, the main force came from behind the Hedge, from the Forest, and swept over the Shire.

Soon they were already plundering the southern lands.

**

Alive:
Nogrod the Agreeable, the leader of the beggars
his wife, Nerwen
Durelin, Rikae's widow

Dead:
Tom Bombadil (ranger) - killed on Night 1
Goldberry (seer) - killed on Night 1
The Barrow-wight (hunter) - killed on Night 1
Gwathagor, the child of Nogrod and Nerwen (ordo) - used as a battering ram on Day 1
Sally the Insufferable, a slightly mad crippled woman (ordo) - skinned, scalped and made to clothes on Night 2
the Right Honourable McCaber, Volo's child (ordo) - drowned in the Withywindle on Day 2
THE Ka, a blind old woman (ordo) - poisoned with carbon monoxide & throat slit open on Night 3
Boromir88 the Silent One, Mith's husband, Mac & Menel's father, an ex-pickpocket (ordo) - accused unjustly and carried away against his will by annoying trees at the beginning of Day 3
Macalaure the Guileless, Mith & Boro's son (ordo) - fell in snowball fight on Day 3
A Little Green, Lommy's little sister (ordo) - deceived by a big bad wolf and eaten on Night 4
Meneltarmacil, Mith & Boro's son (ordo) - died as a snowman on Day 4
Rikae the Kind, Durelin's wife - fed to Old Man Willow on Day 4
Mithalwen the Perpetually Sane and Serene, Boro's widow - fed to Old Man Willow on Day 4
Volo, a young widowed man - fed to Old Man Willow on Day 4
orphaned little Thinlómien - fed to Old Man Willow on Day 4

The game is over. The wolves win. Congratulations!

[Aganzir]

You wolves were just awesome.

I chose the roles by dice roll - I don't think I would have chosen quite that strong a pack if I had done it by myself. I had a few requirements for the pack, though - I wanted to have at least one wolf I could be sure would do some plotting (and they all were such), and I didn't want to have any non-posting wolves (which was not a problem in this game, anyway). I used my veto right once: the first pack chosen by the dice was Nogrod, Lommy and Greenie, and I didn't quite want them all to be wolves in my game (did someone mention favouring one's friends?)

I think one of the main contributors to the village's loss was sheer bad luck. Every wolf had been suspected, at least a little, but the lynches just always turned out to be in their favour. And lack of time, Boro's withdrawal and everything.

But this was really interesting to watch, and I can't deny I'd like to play in a game without gifteds myself as well (heh, I wonder if anyone else would anymore ).

And I definitely don't mind you starting to talk before the actual deadline, so no need to apologise. I don't have much time now (school starts way too early tomorrow), so it's just the better that I can see you talk a bit now.

**

Some minor things that pop into my mind right now:

I was on my art class with Lommy yesterday and she was speculating who the wolves were. Suddenly she said: "They are Nerwen, Durelin and my father, they are!" I admit I rather stiffened. Then she continued, though, "No, I don't think I could just guess them all right this way."

Also, it was extremely nasty (I laughed at it a lot, though) of Nogrod to remind everyone that he didn't visit computer before the deadline, because he actually rang me up about 1,5 hours before it and told they'd kill Greenie, one of the reasons being that she couldn't participate much today.

[Rikae]

Originally Posted by Aganzir

the first pack chosen by the dice was Nogrod, Lommy and Greenie, and I didn't quite want them all to be wolves in my game (did someone mention favouring one's friends?)

Mac and I talked about the possibility that was the pack on Night 4.

[Nogrod]

Originally Posted by Aganzir

Also, it was extremely nasty (I laughed at it a lot, though) of Nogrod to remind everyone that he didn't visit computer before the deadline, because he actually rang me up about 1,5 hours before it and told they'd kill Greenie, one of the reasons being that she couldn't participate much today.

Oh you spoiler!

Yeah we talked about this with Lommy after the game had resolved. I think it was just fair that if she used RL-reasons I could come up with my own as well...

And no hard feelings on either side...

[Macalaure]

Nerwen!
Everytime I think you're guilty, you're innocent. Everytime I think you're innocent, you're guilty. Every innocent-looking Nerwen will henceforth be lynched by me! Gruesomely!
But honestly: Excellent game, absolutely excellent.

Nogrod... I had a bad feeling about you from the beginning, but then I thought "Oh no, I'm always suspicious of him, let's wait til I have something solid." I hate you.

Durelin, even though you were the most-suspected wolf, very well-played.

I hope not too many are annoyed at the trick I played before my death. You were so firm about lynching me that day, I just had to take a little revenge. And I though that, while apparently playing horribly suspicious that day, I could still be of some use by causing some suspicious reactions.

Again, sorry Lommy for that stupid vote.


Rikae and I have been talking about Werewolf, and we reached the conclusion that it's not a good idea to play it against each other. I have some faint hope that Rikae will return after some time, when there is less work around.

Originally Posted by Rikae

Yep, the time and energy it takes (this time when I could least spare it), along with the inadvisability of playing a game involving deceit and accusations against one's fiancé.

This pretty much sums it up. I think Eomer and Cailín ended up with the same conclusion, I think. I'm probably also going to play less in the future, and only when the deadline is convenient, since I've had less free time for the last couple of months and will for the foreseeable months to come. It's rather annoying to spend most of your free time playing and getting little else done while knowing you're not even playing remotely your best.

By the way, Nogrod, Lommy, Lily: How do you manage not to slip your roles when you're around each other all the time while playing? This has proven to be really difficult for Rikae and me (well, mostly for me).