WWXXXV: Werewolves among the Wolf-men

[Lhunardawen]

"Can't a person here think in peace without being accused of sleeping?" came a woman's voice from the corner. She was hidden by her mass of tangled dark hair, which she soon parted to reveal a dirt-stained - albeit yet quite lovely - face. "It is better to keep silent when no thoughts worth voicing out would come. And you, Gil, would do well to remember that," she added with a glare towards the man.

Lhuna stood up, and walked slowly around the room; all eyes followed her, though she took no notice of it. "You were right, Shasta," she said finally, more to herself than to the person she mentioned, "we don't have a lot of room for mistakes. With only ten - eleven - of us, and two of them vile servants of Morgoth, every drop of blood counts. If it's any consolation to us we ought to be relieved that Morgoth did not think of sending more. But in our small number, should these wolves prove as shrewd as their master, we only have less than a week - four Days, if I counted it right - to spend discovering who they are before we all are killed. We should spend that time wisely, scrutinising everyone, down to the tiniest things they say.

"But as of yet, there is nothing to scrutinise - unless we make a big deal out of Gil's glibness. You'll all have things to say before the sun goes down, and for that I will wait."

Lhuna went back to her corner and sat again motionless, as though asleep.

[Nogrod]

Nogrod woke up from his thoughts when he heard that a discussion had started inside. It's about time..., he mumbled to himself and walked in to hear the conversation.

As he stepped in it was quiet again.

"I heard you Shasta! The brave and young soldier edging away from sleeping fellows in open daylight... and at the same time questioning my strength and skills. If you were my son I would teach you a lesson on respect for older people... and on how incoherence is not a personal trait worth having in this kind of situation."

He glanced at the young man somewhat disapprovingly but then just shrugged his shoulders and walked to his place. Youngsters... gah... After a while of searching he finally lifted a small ballshaped thing from his backpack. It was wrapped in paper of a kind. Nogrod opened the package carefully and took the small bread out from it. He cut a small piece of it with his knife and then turned towards Brinn who was sitting quietly some yards away from him.

"Catch Brinn!" With that he threw the small bread to Brinniel.

"Okay guys, we're all hungry. Take your share from my bread so that we don't need to waste our time on talking about food. We've got more important things to discuss here toDay...

You're right Lhuna. We should scrutinise everything anyone says, down to the tiniest detail. But the problem is that so few of us have said anything that could be read this way or that. Yes Gil is looking a bit glibbery and Shasta's words contradict with his actions. But this far I'm much more inclined to suspect those who just stay quiet and do not contribute to our cause. It's afternoon already and only five of us have said something... I mean, yes I know some people need more sleep than others but this is just plain ridiculous."

Nogrod fell silent for a moment but lifted his head soon again.

"If... and mark that I say if there is a number of people who do not help us toDay - not counting Mith whom we know to be out there in the wild getting us some food - and if, note if there are no better tracks to follow I might be ready to just pick toDay someone I find the least helpful of those quiet-ones and lynch her or him just out of pure frustration..."

[Rikae]

An older woman in a blue cloak had been sitting in the corner watching these proceedings for some time, though no one had paid her much heed. Now she rose, slowly, and frowned at Nogrod.

"Young man, don't think I speak out of fear of your empty threats...or that you will escape scrutany by assuming leadership of the group, though your forefathers did the same."

She lifted a gnarled wooden staff and pointed to each of the others in turn.
"Brinn has spoken only for the sake of speaking and to urge others to contribute. While I don't approve of empty prattle, his brand of it feels like an honest attempt to break the ice. There seems to be some fear behind it, though, but on the other hand, it is never easy to speak so early.

Gil is talking as much as his grandfather did; and, while discussion is needed, playing and joking in such dire circumstances is not. It is not the play, however, that worries me so much as the lack of playfulness behind it. It seems false, somehow stiff, and I will be watching Gil.

What I say for Gil goes doubly for Shasta. His actions seem staged and his mood slightly...edgy. His fearfulness makes more sense if he is evil, too, since then the majority is against him.

Lhuna,, you speak sense; though, at this point, what you say is rather obvious. I knew your grandmother, though, and she was a crafty one. You must be watched closely."

she paused, then added "it's a shame for such a lovely girl to go around with her hair unkempt..." she pulled an ornate comb out of her bag and handed it to the young woman.

"Where was I...? Oh, yes, these slugs." She indicated TGWBS, Izzabellkya, xyzzy and Macalaure with her staff, giving the last a slight nudge.

"I would hardly be surprised if a wolf lurks among them. You should especially watch THAT one - "

[the guy who be short]

Guy looked around the room, concerned. He himself had just awoken; more than half the others were still asleep. Some - like Nogrod - seemed to be on the verge of falling asleep again. Only an old woman seemed really animated, poking people with her staff.

"Friends," Guy said, arising, "there is plainly some evil at work here. This sleep is unnatural - it is late in the afternoon and my eyes have only just opened themselves. Some sort of charm lies on this room: I beseech you all, let us awake these others and step outside, into the sunlight by the pool. There, perhaps, our hearts shall be lighter and our tongues looser. For we have little time to decide what is to be done of these wolves."

The others consented. Rikae, the old woman, gave each of the sleepers a tap with her stick, and the whole group left the cave to sit around the clear pool outside. The sun was shining and they felt their wits sharpen as the sleep left them.

"Now, perhaps," Guy began, "we shall be able to decide who the wolves are. We are in a perilous position - we cannot have people keep watch at night, for fear that they are wolves. So we cannot afford to wait: we must decide who the wolves are, and slay them swiftly."

Everybody in the group looked round once again, suspicious of one another. The sunlight faded, and their moods were darkened. None spoke for several minutes.

"If none shall speak, I shall voice my thoughts, though they be half-formed only, to prevent the sleeping-charm taking a hold even here. I find that lady Rikae too willing to use that stick on others. Hers is the perfect disguise: for who would suspect an old woman. I'll warrant she needs not that staff.

"And what of Brinn? His soft features do not befit a man who has struggled to stay alive these past years. Perhaps his life has been easy under the thraldom of Morgoth."

[the guy who be short]

Guy looked around in shock. During his oration, most of the rest of the group had nodded off again.

"Hear me!" Guy shouted, waking a couple of them up. "I shall declare he who I believe to be guilty of wolvery. He is

++XYZZY."

There were many nods and a few gasps. Xyzzy, meanwhile, did not offer a response, being once again fast asleep on the floor.

"I feel," Guy continued, "that his sleepiness is a result of wolvery. Tiring himself with murder by night, he requires the day to sleep it away. This sleeping enchantment that falls ever upon our heads is surely a result of his wolvish magic, seeking through spells to make others appear like him and so reduce suspicion upon him. One of these other sleepers - Izzy and Mac - is likely his companion."

He finished, satisfied with himself, only to realize once again that several villagers had fallen asleep. He sighed and shared a glance with Nogrod: he, at least, could stay awake. I do not think, Guy thought, that he is guilty. Surely he would have slain us when he alone was awake earlier in the day, were he a wolf?

Guy looked up - Nogrod had closed his eyes.

Or perhaps he is merely narcoleptic. Sod it, I can't take any more of this, I'm going to sleep.

[Nogrod]

Nogrod was happy for the short guy's proposition. The air was fresher by the pool and he could sense the sight of the setting sun tranquilling some of the fear from upon all of the outlaws gathered there. For a while he just breathed the cooling evening air but as the discussion seemed to have gotten to a halt yet again he opened his mouth once more.

"Your idea to come out here was a good one Shortie but I'm not sure your half-formed suspicion - as you called it - on the Grandma' here is as good. Indeed she's doing the only reasonable thing here we can do and that is to point to others and possible reasons for why we should take a closer look on someone... Indeed I see you yourself doing the same thing which is good. But hardly a reason to suspect someone else doing the exact same thing, right?"

Nogrod glanced around the pool. He was not sure whether the people were sleeping or just deep in their thoughts. Finally his eyes caught Rikae. So I'm a young man then? Has she got trouble with her eyesight or in her wits? He laughed to himself quietly but then addressed the Grandma'.

"Tell me Rikae, whom did you mean by the "that one" when you mentioned "these slugs" we should look more closely? Had you something particular in mind or was it just vain talk? I mean I do appreaciate your short characterisations of some people here and do indeed agree with them but empty pointing is not something I'm very fond of. It kind of feels the wrong way."

EDIT: Adding this as I saw tgwbs's post

"And what comes to your vote short-guy, I'm inclined to say I do appereciate it at least now before I give it some more thought. I just need to think about it for a second"

[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."

[Macalaure]

After being dragged to the water and being nudged with a staff violently and repeatedly, Macalaure finally escaped the grasp of work... erm... sleep. He rose himself and had somebody tell him what has been said and done, while the Sun had been journeying on her paths, and he was not too pleased with what he heard. Critical eyes could be seen under his dark cloak of weathered leather as he spoke to the outlaws.

"Sleep I suffered myself, so I shall not judge those who suffered the same, or still do, at least not yet. But, I ask you, does that excuse the manner in which our curséd company deals with its pressing peril when awake? I think not.

Let us no longer offer the obvious, or jest our time away, or condemn companions by causes contrived of questionable content. Most of you have made an ill-favoured impression on me so far, most notably Shasta, who, like others have observed as well, does not practice what he preaches, and Rikae, who made aggressive accusations based on evasive evidence, possibly stated to see if someone bites."

Exhausted by his elaborations and annoying alliterations, Macalaure laid back on the leaves and proceeded on his productive napping.

(edit: crossed with Guy and Nogrod)

[Lhunardawen]

Dropping off to sleep in spite of herself, Lhuna was awakened at the mention of her name. She listened well to Nogrod, and shook her head almost imperceptibly when he ended. Rash, she thought, too quick to shed blood that by all means could be innocent. I do not blame him his frustration, but he should not have expressed it so. And she decided to keep an eye on him from then on.

Next came the voice of an old woman, who soon handed her a comb. She received it without thanks, doubtful that it would do her good, and began to work on her hair quietly. As they moved to the pool outside she persevered, sometimes almost breaking the comb in two, but all the while she listened carefully to what was being said.

Soon, when the state of her hair was undoubtedly more dignified than it had been minutes - hours? - before, Lhuna handed over the comb to the old woman Rikae.

"I thank thee," she told her, "for this favor, and for expressing fearlessly your observations. The latter is possibly a sign of your innocence. But I will not be too quick to judge that for certain, for a lot more remains to be seen.

"I feel rather uncomfortable with tgwbs's vote - I would rather he chose one among those who have already spoken. Rather hasty, it seems to me, and safe, for in the event that xyzzy is killed and found innocent, he could hardly be blamed for playing a crucial role in it."

She turned and frowned at the dozing Macalaure, saying, "If you do not like what we speak, then you could have demonstrated for us what you think is right. But your defensive tone this early in our discussion is suspicious, and not worth mimicking. You ought to be observed more carefully."

Lhuna sat, stroking her hair, and pondered on the words spoken throughout the Day. For reason unexplainable, as though a part of her lived in a place where it is already dark, the desire for sleep was to her overwhelming, and she desired to cast her vote before finally succumbing to it.

[Mithalwen]

Mithalwen entered at last bearing such foodstuffs as she had been able to find. Her name signified Grey Tree and it suited her well for she was tall and grey clad but her face now was grey with fatigue and forboding.


"Here take what I have foraged. The day has been long and wearisome, for you as for I. " She sat down and perceiving the direction of their discussion spoke again.

"I will not pass judgement when I have not borne witness to your deliberations. Unless it be my doom not to survive this night, I shall give what assistance I may. But now sleep claims me, alas" .

With that the woman wrapped herself in her cloak and fell at once in to a deep sleep, almost as if she had swooned.