Tol-in-Gaurhoth LXIII: The Cottage of Lost Play

[Nessa Telrunya]

Well, so far, here is what I gather on everyone.

Nogrod voted for Fea on Day 1. Of course, that wasn't really much because that was just about the only thing he could do, since McCaber had revealed himself as the seer and exposed Fea. On Day 2 he voted for Shasta. I don't recall him giving a reason at that exact time, but earlier, he expressed disapproval with Shasta's lack of producing information. I don't find him particularly suspicious, but he's not without moments.

autume98 has been very quiet. She gives her opinions, yes, but somehow manages to do so without really being conspicuous. Day 1, she voted for Eonwe, and if I recall she did not vote yesterDay. She had voiced a suspicion of Eonwe once again, though.

Lalaith did not vote on Day 1, if I'm correct. Unless there was no way for her to be able to voice her thoughts, that's rather going against her, especially after McCaber had claimed Fea to be a wolf. Day 2, she voted for Pitchwife, but didn't seem particularly unreasonable when she justified it.

Nerwen seems to pop up when she feels like it. She didn't vote on Day 1, whih sort of put her on the line. But yesterDay she effectively helped to get rid of a wolf, so I find it hard to speak against her.

Rikae has a wolfish feel to her. She was a non-voter on Day 1, and I've already stated how that looks to me. She didn't vote on Day 2 either, so I'm a little dubious about that. All she's really done so far is give opinions.

Eonwe doesn't look too good right now. On day one, he tied up the vote for Fea by voting McCaber. If he were a wolf, that would be a reasonable move, saving one of his fellows. YesterDay his vote came after the deadline, but he was going to vote for Inzil. If he were innocent, easy enough to interpret, but if he weren't, could voting right at the deadline be a ruse? I can't remember if his post were particularly long or not.

[Lalaith]

Lalaith did not vote on Day 1, if I'm correct.

I did, I voted quite early (before McCaber's reveal) and I voted for poor Shasta.

[Eönwë]

A few comments...

Originally Posted by Nessa Telrunya

Eonwe doesn't look too good right now. On day one, he tied up the vote for Fea by voting McCaber.

You put that crazily out of context and I don't like it. First of all, he hadn't yet revealed. Secondly, at that time, as well as Fea, Nessa and Inziladun also had one vote, so I don't really get how I'd be helping Fea there. I don't like your twisting of the facts at all.

Originally Posted by Rikae

Such utter silliness on both their parts I was tempted to ignore it, but they both seem to take it quite seriously. Not that Inzil's taking Eonwe's silly accusation seriously makes them co-conspirators automatically, but the easier (and more reasonable looking) thing for wolf-Inzil to do with an innocent Eonwe's weird comment would be to turn it against Eonwe, not agree with it.

What? First we're both taking it seriously, then Inzil's taking it seriously? That's a little bit of a contradiction. And yes, in that instance, Inziladun was taking my joking suspicion and turned it into a real suspicion. I think he probably used me as a starting point here because he knew that when Shasta turned out to be innocent, it could be traced back to me rather than him (Inzil).

[Rikae]

Originally Posted by Eonwe

What? First we're both taking it seriously, then Inzil's taking it seriously? That's a little bit of a contradiction.

No, it isn't, and your grasping at straws to paint me as suspicious doesn't make you look any better.

So, it was a joke now? You certainly waited long enough to say so. And yes, you both appeared to take it seriously, and Inzil is one of the "both" - he could have gone after you for casting weakly reasoned suspicions around, but instead he chose to act as though they were strong arguments.

[Rikae]

In other words, I'm not saying "Inzil took seriously what you meant as a joke" but "Inzil took seriously what is absurd whether you meant it as a joke or not".

[Rikae]

I'm torn between Eönwë and Autume, but I think I'd better vote early, lest i miss the deadline again. Never done this before, but there is so little discussion ... heads, Eönwë, tails, Autume.
*digs a coin out of her purse - it happens to be an English penny. Flips it...*

Heads.

++Eönwë

[Eönwë]

Originally Posted by Rikae

No, it isn't, and your grasping at straws to paint me as suspicious doesn't make you look any better.

I was not saying you're suspicious, just that it seemed like a contradiction and I was wondering which one you were going to go with. The contradiction makes you look more innocent, because I think a wolf would be much more careful with what they wrote.

Originally Posted by Nogrod

Eönwë: Why did you voted for Inzil yesterDay and why did you decide to rather let a triple-lynch to take place?"

Haven't I explained this? I thought that the votes had already been counted, as it was already one minute after the deadline for voting, so then I just removed my vote (as is the procedure for votes after the deadline). I did not realise that it could have counted until it was too late.

[Nogrod]

"As you seem to be awake Eönwë, what is your take on Autume and Nessa?"

[Nogrod]

"And..." Nogrod continued, "what would you say to those who say you were having something going on with Inzil back there?"

[Nogrod]

"I don't know if this is for good or bad to Autume, but I do think her last speech was a bit awkward indeed - well it doesn't help me to decide anyway.

I mean she decided to pick from McCaber's posting the thing considering Nessa as the "revealement" of a seer while I'd say Nerwen or I would be much more logical outcomes - and neither of us being actually released by his comments in any believable fashion either (there was this "which group do you think you belong Nerwen" -stuff and that "I'd say he's clean" for me. But as I said that's not something we could count for as a seer dream revealed).

Then her jumping on Lalaith seems like a desperate attempt as I have argued already that Lalaith's vote on Day1 most clearly shows she's not in a team with Fea. I may be wrong and she might be that cunning - but the place for that kind of arguments is toMorrow or the Day after that. Not now.

Also the odd way she tried in the end to bring also Eönwë into the suspicious-list looks quite far-fetched.

But if she's just trying to get herself into this then it might be undertandable. Bah, I don't know..."


Votes thus far...

Lalaith -> Autume
Rikae -> Eönwë
Nerwen -> Autume 2

I would like to hear your thoughts on Nessa especially, but of everyone you who have not yet voted - and to hear from Nessa as well - before voting.

[Nessa Telrunya]

Well, my vote against Fea wasn't necessarily a retaliation. Like many others had already said, Fea had a wolfish feel to her, so I was going on that. Hope that clears things up.

And, due to earlier conclusions, I'm not too trusting of Eonwe. soo...


++Eonwe

[autume98]

What do you make of McCaber thinking Nessa was innocent?

[Nerwen]

Nerwen, who had gone back to her eerily familiar room to complete the transcription of the Inziladun Files, returned looking even more pleased with herself.

"Ready for the next installment?" she asked.

"Inziladun began Day Two by feigning dismay at Boro's death.

Replying to Nessa's naive (or perhaps pseudo-naive) statement that the people who voted for Fea couldn't be wolves, he said:

Originally Posted by Inziladun

Well, I can conceive of scenarios when they might vote for a fellow who is caught with no hope of escape, just to deflect some suspicion from themselves. But I don't think that's a concern in this case.

Then he tried to butter up McCaber.

Then Pitchwife asked him why he thought the innocent Boro had voted him, and he said:

Originally Posted by Inziladun

I can't say what his thoughts were, of course. But he asked things of me which I complied with, then he immediately voted and left the room before hearing my response. Why? I don't know.

Which of course, sounds like an explanation, but isn't when you look at it closely. A lot of what he said was like that. I'll tell you what," Nerwen added, with real admiration, "he may have been evil, but he was good at it!

Well then, after that he's clever enough to defend McCaber against Eönwë's semi-suspicion.

Originally Posted by Inziladun

I can see no logical reason a Wolfcaber would have given up his fellow on the first Day. If this is a ruse devised by the wolves, it's insanely risky for them.

He explains (at Nogrod's request) why he voted McCaber after suspecting Fea, and denies that he has shown the "trust" in Nogrod that the latter says makes him uneasy.

Originally Posted by Inziladun

I did say I found her a bit unnerving, but I didn't think it enough to induce me to vote for her. I certainly never said she was innocent.

'Overwhelming trust for you'? I'm afraid not, good sir. You've been making sense, and I don't see in you anything in particular at the moment that gives me chills, but you are certainly not beyond suspicion.

Now Nogrod flip-flopped on Inzi, saying that he was "considerate and reasonable" and "made good points", but also that his vote the day before looked bad, and that he made him uneasy.

This could be a wolf deliberately throwing out a weak suspicion of a comrade.. or an innocent disarmed by Zil's move in defending McCaber.

Inzi also denied Pitchwife's accusation that he was twisting Shasta's words. Then he went to bed, saying he "eagerly awaited" Shasta's case against him.

That's all he'd said about Shasta by that point– by this time Nogrod was after Shasta pretty strongly; I suppose Inzi thought he could sit back and relax.

On his return he finally made a definite accusation, against Nessa:

Originally Posted by Inziladun

I don't know Nessa well, as she hasn't been a part of our Downs community terribly long. However, such an adamant statement, that the Fea voters could not be wolves, and Fea saying no one should vote for Nessa makes me uneasy. Again, my suspicion of her (and McCaber in turn) the previous Day was based upon the fact that she voted for Fea immediately after Fea voted for her, and, after it was posited that Nessa's was a revenge vote, she denied it. Her 'explanation' of the vote never rang true to me. Couple that with her urging McCaber to reveal his dream after he's already said he wished to keep it to himself for the moment, and Nessa is highly suspect to me.

I think this looks like a genuine attack, which makes Nessa look more innocent.

He then casts suspicion on Pitchwife,

Originally Posted by Inziladun

Another one wanting McCaber to divulge information about his dream. And for credibility? He gave us the name of a wolf on the First Day! What more do you need?

Eönwë (sort of– at least he castigates him for apparently continuing to doubt McCaber), and throws some more fuel on Shasta's pyre:

Originally Posted by Inziladun

Shasta I still don't trust. He seems to have pretty well continued his previous pattern of popping in and out without saying anything to help our cause.
I have yet to see his case against four of us, of which one was me.

Then he voted Shasta.

Conclusion? Well, I'm inclined to leave Nessa out. Nogrod's attitude is... odd: he made some telling points against Zil, and yet was full of praise for him. Finally, there continues to be a sort of link between Zil and Eönwë. Whether this because Zil is using him, or because they're in it together, I couldn't say at this point."

EDIT:X'd with three Rikaes.
EDIT2: fixed quotes,

[Nogrod]

"Well done Nerwen. We probably should leave Nessa in peace toDay indeed. Which would then leave me Autume and Eönwë... I try to make a closer look at both of them before the DL - but before that I need a dinner.

Oh and as you asked about my attitudes towards Inzil. Well, plain and simple: I backed the wrong horse there. As you Nerwen said he looked intelligent, productive, taking actively part in the discussions - and he shared some of my worries - so it was easy to think he'd deserve to live and contribute, whether to his own doom or relegation - as you said I had my suspicions of him as well but the scales were not that down yesterDay for me. Sorry Shasta, I was wrong with you, and I do feel bad about helping to kill you, but sure Inzil tried to participate in the discussions so I thought he would be more of help to us, whatever his alignment."

Nogrod went to the fridge and looked at the ingredients available for a while and then smiled wide. "Chantarelles! Wow! How about stuffed bell-peppers filled with rice, chantarelles, onion, herbs, pineseed...? How many portions?"

[Nerwen]

"Are you sure they're real chantarelles?" said Nerwen dubiously. "Knowing our late hostess, I wouldn't be surprised if they're some kind of poisonous toadstool. Just another little surprise for her guests..." She shuddered.

"I sort of made the case on Eönwë while analysing Zil: they sometimes seemed to be working together both days.

Now about autumne: I didn't bother transcribing what she said the first day, because, basically, she didn't say anything. I mean, she talked, but it was just about how dreadful our situation was and how hard it was going to be to spot "the werewolf". (Her use of the singular there is strange, but I don't know about guilty-strange.)

The next day she said she believed "McAbre" "for now". Then she said:

Originally Posted by autume98

I'd like to address me being quiet. I'm just a quiet person by nature. I tend to take things in. However I see that I'm going to have to speak up more and let my thoughts be known. I appreciate what you have to say Nogrod. Your thoughts help me out quite a bit.

I also had some doubts about Inzil for the reasons you listed Nogrod, however I'm not sure where I stand with him now.

I really haven't heard enough from some to know enough about them.

I'm looking forward to read what Shasta has to say about Inzil, Nogrod, Lalaith, and Pitchwife.

I'm not sure where I stand with Nessa. Was the vote a knee-jerk reaction?

And then she came up with a suspicion-list of sorts:

Originally Posted by autume98

As people have been making their cases, I'm taking it all in. I've been quietly sipping my coffee and enjoying my muffin. I put my coffee mug on the table and decide to throw in my two cents worth.
Nessa voted for Fea. Could be a wolf on wolf vote. If that were the case it would be pretty risky. So for now I'm going to go with a knee jerk reaction. The vote also did help us get rid of one werewolf.
Inzil voted for McCaber when Fea needed it. Nessa brought this point up. Does seem a little suspicous. I'm keeping it in mind.
Shasta didn't vote on yesterDay.
Not sure what to think of Pitchwife at the moment. It seems that people are finding Pitchwife suspicious.
Nogrod seems ok so far. Great insight and good commentary. However no one is beyond suspicion. Could be good cover. At this time though I'm good with Nogrod.
Lalaith voted for Shasta. However there's not much to go on with Lalaith at the moment. I did find her findings about Pitchwife and Eonwe interesting.
Nerwen makes a good point that Inzil did vote for McCaber which tied the votes withFea.
I don't know enough about Rikae.
I'm not sure what to make of Eonwe. Eonwe voted for McCaber however at the time McCaber was coming across as suspicious. So could be genuine. At this time I'm ok with Eonwe.
I pick up my coffee once again and observe what is going around me.

In other words, she goes through the motions of analysing and talking about people, but doesn't really say anything.

Then she finds Eönwë suspicious because of his vote on McCaber (yes, this is an about-face).

And... that's it. A whole lot of nothing. She could be an innocent feeling her way; she could be a wolf trying to keep out of the limelight. She never voted; neither wolf mentioned her.

autume: struggling newbie or cautious wolf? Discuss."

[Nerwen]

Nerwen waited for a while.

"Nothing to say, any of you?

Then– since I have to vote early (I hardly slept last night, you know), I'll make it,

++autume98.

Good luck."

And Nerwen went upstairs. The bedroom's resemblance to her room at home- even down to the pattern of the curtains– was anything but reassuring, but she was so exhausted that it was not long before she fell asleep.

[Nogrod]

"Well, if these chantarelles were poisonous the poison is taking it's time to make an effect... I feel just fine and it was delicious... Try some, I made a few extra portions if some of you changed your minds."

Nogrod went back to the chair he had taken as his habitual one and pulled out the pipe and the tobacco - as usual. "Nothing crowns a meal like a good pipeful..." he sighed and concentrated in filling his pipe carefully and with precision.

"I see what you mean Nerwen - and that's the whole thing that unnerves me about Autume indeed: you can read her both ways. It would be sad to lynch her just because she was struggling to get into grips with the situation, but it would be terrible to let her live as a baddie because of her laying low. Btw. thank's for the recordings, saved my trouble to go back the memory lane all the way.

This I find a bit botherg toDay though:

Originally Posted by Nessa

Rikae has a wolfish feel to her. She was a non-voter on Day 1, and I've already stated how that looks to me. She didn't vote on Day 2 either, so I'm a little dubious about that. All she's really done so far is give opinions.

Eonwe doesn't look too good right now. On day one, he tied up the vote for Fea by voting McCaber. If he were a wolf, that would be a reasonable move, saving one of his fellows. YesterDay his vote came after the deadline, but he was going to vote for Inzil. If he were innocent, easy enough to interpret, but if he weren't, could voting right at the deadline be a ruse? I can't remember if his post were particularly long or not.

Why then? Because it looks like she is trying to get the two most lynchable people under suspicion... We all know how much Eönwë has been suspected thus far - and looking at Rikae's quite rare show-ups & two missed votings she could be an easy target as well.

I mean it could be interpreted in the way that she didn't want to try an open suspicion against Nerwen or Lalaith because she realises your votes at crucial times makes you two look pretty good at this point - or against me because of, well possibly a majority of the people looking at me as mostly useful person around at least for now or then just out of fear of retaliation (or whatever - I don't think I'm especially a retaliatory type though). And maybe she saw that we tend to look sympatethically at Autume - and there would have been very little to make a case against her anyway?

So she had to try something to divert the discussion from herself as a candidate? We should remember that the few comments thinking her more innocent than not were made after her post if I remember it right.

But her point on Rikae I find bad - although I must admit that I have known Rikae a lot longer and my view if her might be biased in a sense that I do trust she can deliver - or get into a mess eventually - just when she has time to concentrate. But yes, she probably doesn't know her that well so that could be overlooked.

But what she said of Eönwë is just downright bad - as Eönwë himself already proclaimed.

Nessa's first suspicion looks like a fabricated one. Voting McCaber while three others had been receiving votes (Fea included) doesn't look like "saving Fea" to me. And the thing yesterDay was just to odd from a wolf: why would he wish to garner such scrutiny and publicity with what he did were he a wolf?

But interestingly though, I must add here looking at the votes on Day1 the situation was indeed an interesting one. Inzil-wolf had a vote, Nessa had one and Fea-wolf had one. If Eönwë is a wolf he was facing some really hard choices indeed - and picking McCaber might have been a good choice indeed - looking back how he was suspected at that time.

Hmm... This is interesting indeed.

Eönwë, Autume, Nessa?

Let me hear answers to two questions if you please.

Nessa: Was your vote on Fea on Day1 a retaliatory one or was it based on something else?

Eönwë: Why did you voted for Inzil yesterDay and why did you decide to rather let a triple-lynch to take place?"

With that Nogrod fell towards his laptop that was showing the movie "Easy Rider" he had seen the last time when something like 18 years old.

"I'll be back but there's this movie you know..."

[Eönwë]

The thing is, I don't like the way that yesterday people were saying that I was linked to Pitchwife, yet as soon as he dies (and is proved innocent, a ranger, in fact), they stopped mentioning it, but with Inziladun (who I was also supposed to be linked with, but this was mentioned much less than Pitchwife), suddenly I am deeply connected.

Inziladun just used my non-serious suspicion of Shasta to lynch him (this was helped a lot by Nogrod).

In fact, for tomorrow, what does everyone think of Noggie's Shasta attack?