Tol-in-Gaurhoth XXIII: Journey to Hy Brazil

[Anguirel]

Varlets and false cowards! At least wait for Eomer to say his piece before hanging him wi'out a case or evidence! Despicable!

For masself, I view yon ninjas with undiluted disdain. When will they understand that the rapier is far more stylish than the katana?

Yet when will the pirates comprehend that the claymore bows to none?

The whole pack of you seem basely reduced in thought. If you want my view, it seems to me that leaping on Eomer when his back is turned is a wolf's game or a mug's game.

I also view with suspicion those who foment the ancient ninja/pirate grievance, of which the ballads sing:

Ah, ne'er was there a war so blear
And bootless as that bitter fight.
Eternal struggles aid no man
But leave too many slain, bone-white.
The ninja with his effete tricks
Is clearly nursing a complex
The pirate with obnoxious tongue
Should stow the gab and swab the decks.

[mormegil]

It is difficult to admit but Aguirel is correct. Too many want Eomer dead for really no reason other than having slaves. I don't think he's such a bad chap as all that. I mean look at his two slaves they are wretched miscreants and almost deserving of their fate. Speaking of which Eomer are they for sale?

[The Saucepan Man]

What ho, shipmates.

I have been doing some thinking.

*HONK! Don’t hold your breath. HONK!*

The time for the opening skirmishes is, I think, at an end. Now let us get down to the serious business of spotting these Wolves in earnest. So, some idle thoughts on what has occurred so far.

Much has been fluff and nonsense. Mere buffoonery. And I read nothing into that, save that a Wolf might seek to extend the period of banter so as to avoid serious discussion.

*HONK! Serious discussion? On Day 1? Impossible! HONK!*

Hmm. Wonder if I should rename him Formy Gander.

Anyway, the banter notwithstanding, there have been some moments which bear consideration.

I find Formendacil’s opening gambit intriguing:

Originally Posted by The Freeloading Aristo

The temptation to pull a Nilp and vote myself is... tempting. I simultaneously want a quick out of this game (laziness) and to survive to the end... being a good sport, I'll try for the latter... but a Day 1 death would amuse me no end.

Especially since it would likely be because of this post here.

As I've stated game after game.... short of a stupid slip up (an' I ain't stoopid...) there is no way other than dumb luck to catch a wolf on Day 1.

Day 1s...

The wannabe pirate refers to this as bait. I am tempted to take it. It seems a rather good opening tactic for a Wolf to say something controversial and then point out how it is likely to end in his untimely death. Basic counter-psychology. If he suggests that people will be more inclined to vote for him for what he has said, people will (as Diamond’s reference suggests) actually be less inclined to do so.

And I dislike intensely Day 1 apathy, although that is, I suppose, standard for the Formster.

The Dread(ful) Pirate Roberta suggests that at least one of the “nonsense spouters” is likely a Wolf. Well, yes. Nearly half the passengers had posted at that point. Basic probability suggests that at least one Wolf, more likely two, was among them. But how does that help us? Or are you suggesting that Wolves are more likely to post nonsense at the start? Again, that doesn’t really help us, given the preponderance of piffle in the opening stages of the Day. Trying to look helpful without giving much away, are we?

Then some very early votes. Without any explanation as to why they are cast so early, I might add (although Lhuna’s time-zone affliction is duly acknowledged). Normally, I regard early voters as unlikely Wolves, as it is an unnecessarily attention-grabbing thing to do for a Wolf on Day 1. And so, while I note the possibility of a bluff, I regard mormegil’s early vote as an unlikely Wolf vote.

What does concern me, however, is these early votes for our esteemed slavedriver, without him having even said a word. Now, I can understand threatening to vote for him for humorous effect on the basis of past history or as an “in character” comment. But I am wary of anyone who actually votes so early for one who might be of great help to us, if innocent, with absolutely nothing to go on. Lhuna, perhaps (but only perhaps) can be excused because of her aforementioned malady. But not so Rune. Is he perhaps a Wolf picking up on the possibility of an early exit for one who might be dangerous to his pack?

And now Gurthang is muttering against Eomer too.

Originally Posted by Guthang

Although, if we are going to lynch Eomer, we should do so sooner rather than later. If he's a wolf, he always (and I do mean always) manages to wiggle out of getting lynched later in the game. Basically, if he's not lynched early, he won't be lynched at all... which is very bad for us if he is a lycan.

Poor reasoning there, Plankmeister. We should not lynch Eomer sooner rather than later unless there is some basis upon which to justify doing so. The likelihood is he’s innocent. He may even be a Gifted. Are you mad, man?

Finally, Glirdan’s early vote for Kath. Not sure what to make of that, but it may have been that he had to cast his vote then or not at all and so went for an “in character” approach. I don’t like it, though.

Of course, those are really the only passengers who have stuck there head above the parapet, so to speak, so it is quite possible that there is not one Wolf among them. I am most definitely wary of this developing Eomer bandwagon, though.

*HONK! ‘E don’t ‘arf blather on. Don’t ‘e? HONK!*

I should add that I am with those who have suggested that we should lynch the Goose and serve him up as a nice roast dinner.

[The Saucepan Man]

Originally Posted by the loathsome Pirate

An old salt like Potboiler wouldn't be above pulling such a bold double bluff ...

And what double bluff, might that be, thou scurvy knave? Pray tell, for you have the advatage of me at present.

Originally Posted by that pirate again

Gurthang's reference to 1 Corinthians 13 is also worrisome, but mildly.

Might somone elucidate a poor agnostic such as myself? I assume it talks of lovers, but would welcome clarification on the point.

Aha! Nilp has voted for himself. All is right with the world.

[Firefoot]

Might somone elucidate a poor agnostic such as myself? I assume it talks of lovers, but would welcome clarification on the point.

Originally posted by I Corinithians 13
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8Love never fails.

I'll be honest, no thought of lovers even crossed my mind here... I assumed he was just referring to the general situation.

And m'dog says lynch the goose. Not such a bad plan, maybe 'e's actually a wereduck in disguise... clever disguise, that. But I've seen stranger things. At least the duck's keeper seems to be talking sense, and that's always worth something on Day 1.

[The Saucepan Man]

Originally Posted by Mistress Lalaith

With the presence of the Lovers, this is going to be less likely - the wolves themselves will be very suspicious of treachery. So, (until the Lovers are unmasked, at least) I think voting records will be easier to read than usual.

Although, if they suspect one of their fellows as the traitor, it gives them more reason to vote for him or her. That said, in the early Days at least, I believe that you are correct.

Originally Posted by Lalaith again

Saucie, Ang. Really. Biblically rusty is neither here nor there. Anyone would have thought you'd never heard of google.

I'm a sailor, not a surfer, m'dear.

Originally Posted by Sir Anguirel the noo

A Lover wouldn't hint at their identity overtly or even risk a bluff, I'd say...trouble enough covering up their actions as it is.

Agreed. But might a Wolf hint at being the Lover in an attempt to catch the traitor in the pack? Risky, as he might be taken as the traitor himself by his fellows, and it attracts unwarranted attention. I still don't like his efforts at greasing the wheels of the Eomer bandwaggon, though.

Much as fear that the olive brach which he proffers might turn out to be a poisoned chalice, I am tempted to reciprocate Sir Anguirel's tentative trust for now.

[Anguirel]

Pirates, Ninjas, do pipe down, you're being dull.

Saucassanach, I feel some of your theories take too many mental leaps. We should also perhaps consider the possibility that Gurthang was choking*. But I do have some misgivings about his anti-Eomer stance. I can only explain it by the example of the anticipatory cowardice that has infected, say, Lhuna. They're sick of being beaten by Wolf Eomer and want to render him a Fenris Wolf...

*I meant joking. Weird and possibly prophetic mistake there...

[Lalaith]

Happy birthday for yesterday, good Sir Horatio.


Now, back to business. Firstly, some passengers have yet to appear above deck. The currently-at-risk slavedriver Eomer, plus I believe Findëasëa and Friedrich Engels. I share the reluctance voiced by Sir H and others to vote for those who have not yet had a chance to have their say, so I will not be casting my vote at the Kilted One today, tempting though it may be after past experience *shudder*.
I've also been having some thoughts about the wolves. Now, it is known that these creatures sometimes like to betray their own during lynch votes, in order to appear benign to the innocents. With the presence of the Lovers, this is going to be less likely - the wolves themselves will be very suspicious of treachery. So, (until the Lovers are unmasked, at least) I think voting records will be easier to read than usual.

[Anguirel]

Jenny accuses lots of us of "nonsense-spouting" and then says she's inclined to believe in Goosy Gander, a talking goose alter-ego. What?

[By the way, I've never liked the tendency of some to denigrate role-playing as "nonsense"-it's valid and part of Werewolf's attraction in its own right.]

Come to think of it, morm's vote for Glirdan is mickle suspicious in that Glirdan is such a solid lynching option...likely to attract support, he thought?

Formendacil...well, wolves have done as he has done and been exposed before. Perhaps we should "take the bait" here. But in a way I'd rather explore more uncharted territory.

I take it the aforementioned Corinthians passage is "And the greatest of these is Love"? Just so it's in the open for those of us who are Biblically rusty...not that it should be cause for concern. A Lover wouldn't hint at their identity overtly or even risk a bluff, I'd say...trouble enough covering up their actions as it is.

So, some suspects. morm, Jenny, Rune. Am leaning towards an uneasy peace with the Sassenach and his bird at the moment.

[Lalaith]

Saucie, Ang. Really. Biblically rusty is neither here nor there. Anyone would have thought you'd never heard of google.

[Nilpaurion Felagund]

Ninjas rule! Pirates deserved to have their souls taken out by Shinigami!

*tries to do the Shikifuujin handseal, then realises he's not going to sacrifice his own soul just to get the pirates's (they probably don't have souls, enedwaith. )*

Jenny, Diamond, the Akatsuki will get you soon. Or maybe we'll be kind and let the Konoha ANBU take care of you.