WW: LXXXV - The Lost Philosophers of Maiar

[Aganzir]

Originally Posted by skip spence

I have no doubt you'll find me guilty, sweetheart

Should I have?

Originally Posted by Rikae

If they consider one of their number doomed anyway, why shouldn't they use him to make themselves look good?

Exactly.

I'm worried about nobody paying attention to Mac & Shasta (other than "they look innocent"), not because I suspect them but because I know how sneaky they can be. I'd like to take a look at them at some point, however I won't have time for it today. I'm also torn about Boro who hasn't been posting enough substance for me to form a solid opinion on him - he worries me but not enough to justify a vote.

Here's a list of people I might vote today. I'd prefer one from the first category but a lynch from the 2nd or 3rd might prove more helpful. I think there's more of a case against Inzil than Nessa so it's probably either him or a quiet player.

Suspicious-ish but not enough substance: ed, wilwa, BG, Mänwe (who'll be modfired if he doesn't vote today)
The enigmatic pair: Inzil, Nessa
Would be more of a gut thing: Pitch, Rikae, skip

I'm going now, will be back to vote some time before the deadline.

[Shastanis Althreduin]

Elaboration on Legate (now that I'm at a computer) - Basically, (duh) Legate is known for 180-ing, and in hindsight that was my main reason to suspect him.

Elaboration on Inzil/Nessa - honestly, at this point, the pattern's just going to repeat itself again. If one of them don't go today, they're going to be all the discussion will be about tomorrow - which does make me wonder if clever wolves aren't leaving them alive for precisely that reason, but still.

[Macalaure]

Boro worries me a lot. If you have limited time to play, you try to come up with something helpful when you're around, trying to figure out what's going on. The points he does make are not up to his standards. Just compare Boro posts to the posts of time-challenged Skip toDay. Boro hasn't done anything of consequence since my analysis yesterDay, and my mind remains unchanged.

I don't have time toDay, since I have to go now, but Cailín worries me a bit. Not sure why. I'll need to have a look at her toMorrow.

Originally Posted by Rikae

If they consider one of their number doomed anyway, why shouldn't they use him to make themselves look good?

The only persons in perpetual trouble are Nessa and Inzil. Nessa has not been incriminated by the wolves except by the Ozban kill. Inzil only got into the situation in the first place by the wolves' actions and his strange behaviour around it. Any other wolf has no special reason to be worried at this point.

Greenie -> Inzil
BG -> Nessa
Wilwa -> Inzil(2)
Skip -> Nessa(2)

Looking at this and people's stated suspicions, I guess your mind is made up. I think neither Nessa nor Inzil are good options, so I might as well stick with my actual top suspect.

++Boromir88

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Nessa Telrunya

Because my desire to see Rikae lynched outweighed my desire to live. You see, I figured that once everyone saw that I was innocent, they would be inclined to take a second look at the person who I'd consistently voted.

Why would people go after someone you'd voted for just because you were found to be innocent? Unless you're the Seer who dreamed of Rikae, but your next words belie that:

Originally Posted by Nessa Telrunya

Although, my suspicion for Rikae is beginning to wane in light of her overall helpfullness, and that nothing else she's said has resulted in stirring the pot-so to speak. It also helps that Legate's giving me the chills.

Originally Posted by Nessa Telrunya

I also continue to believe that Inzil is innocent. After playing with Inzilwolf in the last game, I'm getting a different tone from him, not to mention the style of the wolves feels quite different in this game. And his some of his actions have been way too radical to come from a wolf who had double-kills to risk, should anyone take his words the wrong way.

You're right in that I am indeed innocent. However, your apparent reluctance to hop on the bandwagon against me, like your not changing your vote yesterDay to save yourself, now has me wondering if you aren't the Cobbler, convinced that I'm a wolf.

[Rikae]

I'm inclined to think, at this point, that the seer must know something about either Nessa or Inzil, and, knowing that, has the key to the other's identity as well. Unless, of course, xe decided to avoid dreaming a likely lynch target, which is also possible...
Still, I have a feeling like those two, although unknown now, are sort of taken care of, in that everyone has an opinion on them and therefore there are tons of trails.

I have had a really bad feeling about Legate for some time now and almost am ready to vote him for that reason. It isn't logical. He just seems to manage to stay on the edges of trouble, nudging it onwards somehow... but that is not solid, might be innocent, and psychic Shasta doesn't suspect him. He gets a pass for now, but I'm going to analyze him next chance I get.

Not really as suspicious of Skip as those others listed above. He seems cheerful, almost giddy, which could be a bad sign when the wolves are doing well so far, but I don't really feel like I have much to go on where he's concerned.

Those top suspects aside, I think I'll actually have to follow the old ball and chain and vote for someone who should be loud, but isn't, and who is making me uneasy, and who I have other reasons to wonder about, namely:

++Boro

Now, I have a date for Saturday night (not being a loser at all! ) and so won't be back until after deadline. Vote wisely, folks.

[Nessa Telrunya]

++Legate

Because of how weirdly he's been acting. I can't explain it too thoroughly until tomorrow, as I have to go now.

[Inziladun]

All right. Going out now, and won't make it back by DL.

I actually agree with Rikae. I think Nessa is hardly likely to be ignored by the Seer at this point, and I'm seriously considering her as the Cobbler. At any rate, BG and skip, neither of whom I particularly trust, have voted for Nessa. And we now have another viable candidate in Boro, whose vote for me on Day was for a rather questionable reason. He doesn't seem to be his usual, aggressive wolf-hunting self, either.

++Boro

Choose well, folks.

Auf Wiedersehen.

[Mänwe]

Originally Posted by Rikae

I think I'll actually have to follow the old ball and chain and vote for someone who should be loud, but isn't, and who is making me uneasy, and who I have other reasons to wonder about, namely:

++Boro

One for you Rikae when you're back (hope you had a wonderful evening out!) - or indeed anyone who has played in more than two WW games with a person who is currently playing - does the pattern of a players behaviour really not change often from game to game, such that any change makes them suspect?

Either way, I won't vote for Boro yet I don't think he's said anything more suspicious that marks him out more than some other players.

At the moment I am inclined to remain watchful of the extremes, and will vote against the establishment here who seem to have overlooked by and large the players i've mentioned in my past posts. I wish I were the seer in order to confirm a couple of suspicions ive held since the beginning. A wolf hides in the extremes...

++elronds_daughter is someone i've mentioned in my posts, largely popping in to vote only, i'm voting for an extreme.

~~

Pitch- tsk ala Mr. Anton "what's the most you ever lost on a coin toss" Chigurh.

[Aganzir]

Originally Posted by Mänwe

largely popping in to vote only, i'm voting for an extreme.

Says who?

I might vote for ed but lynching her would mean an extra day of having to wonder about the Inzil/Nessa thing and I'm not sure I want that.

[Mänwe]

Originally Posted by Aganzir

Says who?

I've only popped in to vote once...E_D has twice and soon to be thrice

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Originally Posted by Mänwe

++elronds_daughter is someone i've mentioned in my posts, largely popping in to vote only, i'm voting for an extreme.

I would have seconded that, alas, I think it'd be a throwaway vote at this point, now that I see how many people are left to vote. I am not objecting either of Zil or Nessa, like I said, though if I could, I'd have preferred others... but let's just hope that the death of either of them will bring something good.

I will probably go for Nessa, then. Just a last look...

(probably xed since my last)

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Okay, here goes my vote, and I won't probably have time to comment on anything at all in the end, but then, hopefully toMorrow if I am alive...

++Nessa

*hopes for the best*

[Pitchwife]

An hour to DL. Where is everybody?

Shasta's right, that messy Zil/Nessa business needs to be cleared up toDay. I guess I should stick to my guns and vote Nessa after all, but Zil actually looks worse toDay, if not by much.
The one thing that can't be part of a frame attempt by the wolves is Zil's 180 vote yesterDay. As far as that is concerned, Zil's and Nessa's respective suspiciousness equally depends on the other in my mind, so that's not much help deciding...

[Nogrod]

Originally Posted by Pitchwife

An hour to DL.

Half an hour, to be more exact...

[Cailín]

I am not sure what to do (quite unlike me, really).

I agree that Inzil and Nessa will continue to be a distraction and I am unhappy to see they have the focus of so much debate toDay. It might be best, as Boromir88, Shasta and others have said, to get them out of the way. I am not sure what Mac and Rikae are up to but I have nothing on Boromir88 and I find him mysterious but not particularly nasty looking. I also feel uncomfortable about Legate and still am suspicious of skip, but it doesn't look as if he will be an option for the gallows toDay.

I will make up my mind in a few minutes.

[Shastanis Althreduin]

Hum. Inzil going after Nessa at this late stage makes me uneasy, almost as if he's preparing a vote for her in advance.

My mind's made up.

++Inzil

[Pitchwife]

Bah. Might as well flip a coin.

++Zil

Á vala Manwë!


EDIT: x-ed from #420

[Shastanis Althreduin]

Also, Inzil now jumping on Boro? Really?

[Aganzir]

Green - Zil
BG - Nessa
wilwa - Zil 2
skip - Nessa 2
Mac - Boro
Rikae - Boro 2
Nessa - Legate
Inzil - Boro 3
Shasta - Inzil 4
Pitch - Inzil 5

Left: Eomer, ed, Boro, Mänwe, Legate, Agan, Caílin

[Cailín]

It's a bandwagon, but I concede. There is something up with Inzil. First that analysis of elronds_daughter looks like he was fishing for another easy lynch of a quiet player. Now this sudden vote for Boromir whom he has not mentioned before. His behaviour yesterDay was strange for sure. Basically it boils down to whether you trust his statements or not. I do not - would not trust anyone really.

++ Inzil

[Eomer of the Rohirrim]

Nessa, Inziladun or Skip? I would agree that Skip looks the most likely guy to be set up (by Valier's slaying). Inzil looks the most like a cobbler to me.

I really want to kill Nessa but, like I said earlier, wouldn't they have killed me (or one of the other Nessa voters) if she was guilty? It's quite possible she is the sacrifical wolf.

Macalaure looks most like the standard 'straight guy'.

Cailin, Agan, Green and Shasta all look pretty innocent to me.

BG and Manwe - possibly a wolf in there but we need to first get a wolf who leaves a trail.

Rikae and Pitch are puzzles to me. Wilwa probably innocent. Legate could go either way.

I know I've forgotten a couple but I'll come back for you.

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Around, but don't have much time to comment on stuff... maybe I will manage to comment on two or three things people have said, but probably most will have to wait till toMorrow if I am still alive.

I would have wanted to vote for El Ron Hubbard now, also after looking at the analysis of her. But she does not seem to get so much votes, so not sure if it has any sense to do it.

Could btw anybody post a voting tally now?

I could vote Nessa, but I'm not entirely comfortable with it simply because I am wondering if she could be sort of framed and all that, I'm worried if it is not all just "bandwaggoning" on some suspicion raised by Wolves. I am not right now 100% fond with voting Boro, even though I have suspected him earlier, lately he has dropped a bit. I am not sure about voting Zil more or less for the same reasons as what I said about Nessa and also because possibly he's just a Cobbler (see what I have said in one of my posts above about this subject).

EDIT: x.ed with people from Pitch onwards and a tally, thanks!

[Nogrod]

Deadline.

Inzil dies in a moment

[Nogrod]

The years passed. Although the Maiar had no way of checking on the time as there were no connection to the world outside their narrow corridor of doom – and the pale yellow light stayed the same all the time – they were quite confident the twenty years had gone a long time ago. But still, there was nothing but more of the same.

And more of the same.

And more of the same.

And more of the same.

“Okay. What do you think happened out there?”, Inzil queried finally.

“Utumno was attacked… and destroyed upon us. That’s my two cents. And they have forgotten us.” Boro said looking resignedly.

“Maybe they just don’t know we’re here?”, Mänwe suggested.

“They will not forget us… now will they?”, Cailín thought aloud.

There was a silence.

“I refuse to believe they would forget us!”, wilwa stood up and yelled.

“They will be searching for us through the ruins!”, Greenie added with a glimmer of hope in her voice.

“They will be here any day now!”, Blind Guardian shouted.

There was yet another depressing silence. Everyone knew that was not the case. Through the years there had been no sounds of any search whatsoever.


~*~

Decades went by.

A century went by.

And another.

And almost a third.


~*~

Suddenly they heard sounds from outside.

“They are coming!” Skip yelled and rushed up.

“They are coming to rescue us, Eru be blessed!” Legate added in joy.

“I never stopped believing in this, I really didn’t…”, Shasta muttered shaking with joy.

“A group-hug! Everyone!” Eomer yelled.

“The joy!” Elronds daughter cried.

There was a loud boom and dust blinded their eyes. First thing they were able to see was a glimmer of fire, and a familiar figure standing in front of them surrounded by the subdued flames.

“Sauron…”, Mac and Rikae noted in unison,shivering.

“Long time, no see”, Sauron nodded to them and smiled widely. “Things are advancing...” He added with a triumphant look. “My Lord is coming back soon, stronger than ever. He will just finish a few blows to those goody-goodies first. But meanwhile he has reminded me about you and the experiment. There is rumour about time coming ripe for the second-born to appear. And lord Melkor is more than keen to be there in time, with the right means.

So it’s you then Inziladun. Any last thoughts?”

“Well, I was kind of ready to vote for someone else to save my life at one point, but then I was quite ready to take the axe instead of them others focusing on the baddies… I was just resigned, I guess… and then, well she looked suspicious but because she begged for my other suspect I just thought to save her… *sigh* It’s been a rollercoaster-ride. I’m not sure what I think or want.” Inziladun burst and slowly shook his head. “I’m innocent, though. Like I said.”

“I know you are.” Sauron laughed. “And you guys are showing interesting signs of confusion and resignation. It seems mortals don’t know what they want from their life and try to mirror it from others… who don’t know it either… and then it will be just random, like which voice surfaces on top. I will report these interesting things to my Lord alongside the tapes.”

“Oh, and before I forget.” He took his sword and slashed Zil in two.

With that Sauron vanished.

Inzil's body lay there on the floor, in two pieces, and slowly started hissing, turning into stone.


The living:

Eomer of the Rohirrim - An associate of Ossë, speciality: lochs and ponds, great alliance with frogs
elronds_daughter - A spirit of no-nonsense
Macalaure - Carmótar, the Maia of housework
Shastanis Althreduin - A spirit of water
wilwarin538 - Belongs to Vána, cares for all the small garden dwelling, winged creatures
Nessa Telrunya - The patron of town criers across the world
Pitchwife - Tender of Oromë's dogs
Rikae - A spirit in charge of silicon & static electricity
Boromir88 - A Maia of Mandos, the interpretter of dreams
A Little Green - A spirit in charge of aliens, hummingbirds and farming
Blind Guardian -A spirit of evil ways
Skip Spence - A follower of Aule with an avid interest in behavioural sciences
Mänwe - A spirit of short acquintances
Legate of Amon Lanc - A Maia associated with the unfathomed depths of the world's seas but also with the waters surrounding Arda in the outer space...
Aganzir - Aka. Firebeck, a spirit of fire
Caílin - A spirit of secrecy


The dead:

Satansaloser2005 - (Innocent) A spirit of ducks, muffins and cookies; reduced to ashes and dust on D1.
Ozban – (Innocent) Yavanna's underling with inferiority complex. Caretaker of undergrowth and small bushes in general, especially blackberries; ripped to pieces, dried and unintentionally pulverized on N2.
Kath – (Innocent) A spirit of nostalgy; ripped to pieces, dried and unintentionally pulverized on N2.
Loslote - (Innocent) A spirit of sunshine and rainbows; melted down and turned into vapor on D2.
Kitanna - (Hunter) A spirit of all things unimaginative; committed a willful suicide on N3.
Thinlómien - (innocent) A maia who lives in Lórien and paints the dreams of those sleeping there; her destiny was buried with Utumno collapsing over her body on N3.
Valier - (Innocent) A handmaiden of Yavanna, collecting the morning dew from the petals of flowers; her destiny was buried with Utumno collapsing over her body on N3.
Inziladun - (Innocent) A vassal of Námo, serving as a warden in Mandos; cut in half and turned to stone by Sauron on D3.


It's now Night 4.

Sauron will see that you sleep... well, most of you.

[Nogrod]

Eä Herald - Narvinyë 19, 7th age

For today’s human, the fact that the Maiar remained relatively sane during that period of almost three hundred years in the narrow and dark corridor with no knowledge of their future, sounds incredible. Maybe that is why they are Maiar and we are not. But from the next recordings one can actually find traces of what is nowadays called the “Stockholm syndrome”, the odd psychological phenomenon where a hostage starts to feel warmly towards his or her kidnapper. Is that something to do with mortality, the total loss of one’s control to another person, and what does that tell of things like love? That will be for the future psychologists to research on.

Anyway, Melkor was back after the imprisonment – and a few other tasks he had managed to undertake after getting free. But even if he had been away, he wasn’t overlooking the experiment. With the promised advent of the forefathers and –mothers of our humanity, it was clear he wished to get even more out of the experiment.

That is probably the reason why he introduced the new element into it, to the absolute horror of all still present Maiar. It is oftentimes said that Melkor’s twisting of the firstborn was the greatest evil he had done – and the one that made Eru Ilúvatar the most mad. But it is quite clear that turning the uncorrupted Maiar into kinslayers – inspired by the his corrupted elves even if it probably was – stands dark rivalling the worst of Morgoth’s cruelty.

But let’s now go and follow the final moments of the encounter between Melkor and his captives.


~*~


“So, you wanted to know about the outside world? Well, they destroyed this place – which is just good from the point of view of the experiment, as now no one knows you’re here as everyone thinks Utumno was totally demolished. I did serve some time in captivity but I used my time well. After I was released I managed to corrupt the most powerful Quendi who then rebelled against the Valar, and a great darkness has fallen upon Valinor with the destroying of those annoying trees, Telperion and Laurelin. Let’s say it’s like tit-for-tat. Although I think I’m leading in what comes to swaying the newcomers…”

Melkor laughed so that the walls shook.

“The most powerful Quendi have already taken part in a kinslaying – and my balrogs have killed the most powerful of them. Oh, the world out there abounds in lament, hate, sorrow, ire, death, revenge, mutilation, cruelty… What a wonderful world!”

After some ranting like that Melkor became finally a bit more serious.

“But now, I have a new plan for you, or it’s just a slight alteration if you wish to see it that way. From now on, you will need to kill those you pick by yourselves! For that my servant Sauron has brought you some utensils you can use in whichever way you wish…”

Melkor waved his hand and Sauron took a step forwards throwing a heap of weapons to the floor in front of the astonished Maiar. There were swords, halberds, spears, axes, knives, flails, maces, tongs, scissors, pikes…

“That should be enough for even a more demanding taste…” Melkor laughed.

“And to just encourage you to use them as well… have you seen what my loyal servants have done to two of you we sleeping? You haven’t have time? Well follow me then”

Melkor lead them deeper into the corridor where they finally found a hole on the floor of stone. It was filled with some dark liquid – and there was something in the liquid as well.

“That’s what my dear servants do to you during the Nights. So do not be too restrained to get rid of them. Else, that will be the destiny of each and every one of you.”

Melkor and Sauron turned to leave, but Sauron glanced back to the Maiar. “Well done lads, well done!”



The Maiar came closer to the hole and realized there were the remains of their two friends – soaked in their own blood. They recognized the pale skin of the Blind guardian and the garments of the gallant Eomer. Their bodies had been mutilated.

It was outrageous.



The living:


elronds_daughter - A spirit of no-nonsense
Macalaure - Carmótar, the Maia of housework
Shastanis Althreduin - A spirit of water
wilwarin538 - Belongs to Vána, cares for all the small garden dwelling, winged creatures
Nessa Telrunya - The patron of town criers across the world
Pitchwife - Tender of Oromë's dogs
Rikae - A spirit in charge of silicon & static electricity
Boromir88 - A Maia of Mandos, the interpretter of dreams
A Little Green - A spirit in charge of aliens, hummingbirds and farming
Skip Spence - A follower of Aule with an avid interest in behavioural sciences
Mänwe - A spirit of short acquintances
Legate of Amon Lanc - A Maia associated with the unfathomed depths of the world's seas but also with the waters surrounding Arda in the outer space...
Aganzir - Aka. Firebeck, a spirit of fire
Caílin - A spirit of secrecy



The dead:

Satansaloser2005 - (Innocent) A spirit of ducks, muffins and cookies; reduced to ashes and dust on D1.
Ozban – (Innocent) Yavanna's underling with inferiority complex. Caretaker of undergrowth and small bushes in general, especially blackberries; ripped to pieces, dried and unintentionally pulverized on N2.
Kath – (Innocent) A spirit of nostalgy; ripped to pieces, dried and unintentionally pulverized on N2.
Loslote - (Innocent) A spirit of sunshine and rainbows; melted down and turned into vapor on D2.
Kitanna - (Hunter) A spirit of all things unimaginative; committed a willful suicide on N3.
Thinlómien - (innocent) A maia who lives in Lórien and paints the dreams of those sleeping there; her destiny was buried with Utumno collapsing over her body on N3.
Valier - (Innocent) A handmaiden of Yavanna, collecting the morning dew from the petals of flowers; her destiny was buried with Utumno collapsing over her body on N3.
Inziladun - (Innocent) A vassal of Námo, serving as a warden in Mandos; cut in half and turned to stone by Sauron on D3.
Eomer of the Rohirrim – (Innocent) An associate of Ossë, speciality: lochs and ponds, great alliance with frogs; skinned, gutted and sank into his own blood on N4.
Blind Guardian –(Innocent) A spirit of evil ways; skinned, gutted and sank into her own blood on N4.



Day 4 has started.