Werewolf Four and Thirty: Bloodbath in the Anduin Vale

[The Saucepan Man]

It was a time of terror in the Anduin vale.

For many weeks now, the villages of the Woodsmen who lived there had suffered terrible and bloody attacks at night. At first, the livestock had been taken. Sheep, cattle and pigs were found at first light, mutilated and half eaten. Then, when the villagers had set guards to protect their animals, the guards themselves had been set upon and none had survived. And it was not long before the unknown and unseen foes began to attack the villagers themselves. Occasionally, a wolf would be found dead amongst the bodies of those who sought to protect the villages. But still the attacks continued. In terror, the inhabitants of each village debated among themselves what should, or could, be done to resist this terrible evil which seemed to have befallen the land. But no single village, it seemed, could stand alone against the nightly attacks.

And so a message had been sent out to each village, proposing that a moot be held to decide what action the villages might take together to protect themselves. Each village was asked to send a delegate to the moot, which was to be held in the village of Woodgard, close to the south-western eaves of Mirkwood. The Woodsmen villagers had gladly agreed to this proposal, since concerted action against the nightly marauders seemed the only way to bring them to a halt. And so, within only a day or so of the message being sent out, delegates from each village began to arrive in Woodgard, only to find it deserted ...

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[The Saucepan Man]

Those who arrived in Woodgard were surprised and fearful to find the village deserted. What had happened in this place? Where were the village’s inhabitants? Who had sent the summons, if not the people of Woodgard? What would await them upon their return to their villages? Rumour and speculation were rife, but none seemed to have any answers. Fearful of being murderously slain in the night, yet too tired from their travels to express more than half-formed thoughts, those present found what accommodation they could among the empty buildings and fell into a restless sleep, disturbed by nightmares of a strangely culinary and cacophonous nature.

By the first light of day, a gruesome discovery awaited those present. The Saucepan Man, an elder of the village of Farraway and noted chef, was discovered dead in one of the outlying huts. His pots and pans were scattered, and he had been torn limb from limb by cruel claws and sliced and diced by wicked fangs. Half of his bloodied corpse lay butchered on the table. The whereabouts of the other half was not immediately apparent, although a spicy ghoulash simmering in his largest pot on the rudimentary stove provided a grisly clue.

As the remaining delegates arrived in the village, it was agreed that the moot should nevertheless proceed as planned. All present filed in to the village’s council chamber. But the mystery surrounding the fate of Woodgard, fuelled by the terror which the most recent attack had inspired in every heart, meant that the proceedings soon descended into chaos. Try as they might, no one could bring order to the meeting, and every question raised provoked a confusion of voices, bewildered, angry and fearful.

But then, suddenly, the chamber fell quiet and all heads turned to the entrance, where a magnificent Golden Eagle, the size of a man, stood regarding the assembly with a quizzical eye. The crowd parted as the great bird hopped into the centre of the throng. Then, as the initial shock of the arrival subsided, hands reached for swords and axes were hefted. The people of the Anduin Vale were no friends of the great Eagles of the Misty Mountains, since the mighty birds preyed occasionally upon their herds, and many quickly concluded that the answer to their recent troubles was standing here before them.

But, before any present could move towards the avian apparition, the bird began to transform, and every hand froze once more. Gradually, the figure of the Eagle resolved itself into that of an old man, bearded and robed in brown.

Cries of recognition rang out.

“Radagast!”

“Yes,” replied the Wizard. “I am Radagast. But there is no time for introductions, for I have not long, and much to tell you. You have, I am sad to say, fallen into to a trap set by the minions of the Dark Lord, one which I only recognised as such myself late last night. It was by the will of Sauron that you were brought here. And those behind it are the very same fiends who are responsible for the attacks on your villages. They are some of his most terrible servants. Werewolves!”

Cries of fear and alarm.

“This village was the first to fall to them, and they are with us here now as we speak,” the Wizard continued. “By day, they walk among you unnoticed, yet by night they prowl unseen as fearsome beasts. The summons was sent to bring all of you, the strongest and wisest of your villages, here, so that they could murder you while you sleep and then plunder what remains of your villages with ease. They have waylaid some of the travellers on their journey here, and assumed their identities.”

As a multitude of questions rose up from the crowd, Radagast suddenly faltered and began to fade.

“My time is short!” he sternly declared above the chaotic voices. “A terrible enchantment has been wrought about this village. Its source is the Dark Tower of Dol Guldur, but more than that I cannot perceive. My appearance here is but a projection, and I cannot maintain it much longer, so you must all listen while I still have time. The enchantment is such that you will be unable to leave this place unless you kill those here who serve the Dark Lord of Mordor. It is they who provide the channel for his power.”

At this, a flurry of questions once more rang out.

“But how do we know who to kill?”

“How can we recognise the Wolves among us?”

“They dare not attack you by day, for your combined strength is too great for them while they walk in human form. But you cannot risk mass murder, for then you will fall prey to their wiles and your villages will be lost. So, you must choose each day one of your number to face death and continue doing so until you have found all of the murderous fiends. Some among you who are innocent will die at the hands of their companions, while others will be murdered by Wolfish claws by night, as The Saucepan Man was. But there is no other way. I cannot …”

Radagast’s image had all but disappeared and only a faint trace of him remained.

“I have done want I can to help you. My foresight allowed me to ensure that there are those among you who will be able to aid you in your endeavour. I am sorry I could not do more …”

And with that Radagast vanished completely.

*********************

The dead:

The Saucepan Man - Slaughtered and boiled up in a spicy ghoulash on Night zero.

The living:

Mormegil
Rikae - the naughty delegate from the village with the unlikely name of Castle Anthrax
Durelin - the Follywood delegate
Aganzir - the Dwarf delegate of a Woodsmen village
Gil-Galad
Shastanis Althreduin - the extremely detail-oriented centaur delegate from the Plains
Volo - the very hairy delegate from as far as it gets
Nogrod - the moody delegate from the Witch-burners' village who is ready and willing to form a theory to suit his feelings whatever the facts ...
Boromir88 - the filibuster delegate from Laketown, whose geography is not that good
Meneltarmacil - ye Olde Knighte delegate
The Sixth Wizard
Thinlómien - the Delegate of INSTRAW
Legate of Amon Lanc - the De-Legate of Amon Lanc
Kath
Isabellkya - the delegate from the village Kyaq
the guy who be short - the delegate from nearby Necropolis
xyzzy - the Kanudan representative
Mithalwen - the delegate of an anarco-sydicalist commune, taking her turn as a sort of executive officer for the week
Feanor of the Peredhil - the slightly offbeat delegate who offers controversial suggestions to the moot regardless of lycanthropic tendencies
Rune Son of Bjarne

Day 1 has now begun. Let the mooting (and the bloodbath) commence ...

[Kath]

Where is everyone? A death and a bunch of werewolves on our hands and no one wants to talk about it? How on earth are we going to find anything out that way!

And this really is a horrible situation. Is it just me or do we not know how many wolves are even out there?

Hope someone else turns up soon.

[xyzzy]

[Since I failed to say so in the thread, I'm the Kanudan representative...]

Hmm, this is certainly interesting. Werewolves, eh? Well, that's interesting. I suppose we should start casting suspicion on each other now. I think one of these Werewolves is this Kath fellow. First one to speak up is probably trying to sound like he really dislikes Werewolf survival.

[Kath]

First one to speak up is probably trying to sound like he really dislikes Werewolf survival.

I be a she xyzzy. And indeed, I do dislike Werewolf survival. Or at least I was under the impression that that was the point of the game ... lynching them.

Ah but it is time for this delegate to get to bed, if one can sleep with all that's happened.

[Shastanis Althreduin]

Make way, make way, I'm kinda big and it's awfully crowded in here. Hm. Werewolves, eh? We've seen their like, down on the Plains. Nasty creatures, strangely susceptible to silver.

Well. I'm going to see if I can't clean up that gruesome mess in the kitchen, it's driving me batty!

[Meneltarmacil]

Oh, deare. After all those wars to the southe where I served ye Stewarde as a Knighte, I retire up here only to finde a bunche of bloodthirsty Beastes!

Nowe, a Wolfe is a crafty creature. But some are more capable of hiding than others are. I say we force them oute into ye open ande get themme talking. A Wolfe can hide in a crowd and say little, but if forced to be loude, that same Wolfe may slippe.

[Nogrod]

Well, this reminds me of a case in our village back there...

We've dealt with witches basically... a bit at least... but who says it's not the same with werewolves? They're an eerie bunch of creatures both of them, aren't they? And dangerous...

So what do we do with witches is that we burn them because they're made of wood. And wood floats on water... as well as very small rocks or lead... or what would you think? Who of us might float? That's a witch I say! And then we just need to take scales and see if they weight as much as werewolves...

Or think about things that might disappear from the surface but then rise back yet again and again. S/he might have been the one who turned me into a newt... well, I got better. But anyhow...

Sorry to be this hasty at the moment but I need some serious sleep. I'll come back though and hope to find a bit more lively discussion then.

But this far I can only say, speak brothers and sisters... and speak wolves! That's the way we get to know you...


Although I would wish to make some very early notes.

Originally Posted by Xyzzy

I think one of these Werewolves is this Kath fellow. First one to speak up is probably trying to sound like he really dislikes Werewolf survival.

And so Xyzzy waited to be the second one and thus being able to say that the first one is suspicious? Nice... but I think calling the first one the suspicious one is quite presumptious - or too safe. Make an appearance, make a visit from which you can say you did something? I can't say I trust the Kanudan right now too much.

And Shasta's appearance with a laadi-daa post as well makes me wonder... basic wolf-stuff appearing without anything to leave for others in substance - and thence no one has a good reason to lynch him. Too easy?

From the very thin sample of players they both have earned my suspicions. But happily there is lots of this Day left for them to prove me otherwise.

I mean one can even try to say something even if it's a "first post" of one's. Like just trying to get a handle of this how small or fickle that contribution might be, just to show one is serious about this - which does not mean one can't be joyful at the same time. But just actually saying something as well... if not about others (when there is no chance - but now there surely is, so no excuses anymore - and I think this fits a couple of the last posters anyways) then about the overall tactics or whatever. Everything one says can be used in close examination afterwards and what we need is an ability to close-examine everyone here.

Like Menel here spoke with the words of wisdom. Let the wolves talk and betray themselves with their own talk! That's what we believe in our village: good arguments! This has been the traditon in my village and I do believe in it still.

I hope Menel will also say more than that as just stating an self-evidency is not too much either...

Speak up people, state your views! That's the only way the wolves will be caught apart from pure luck or astonishing slipperies by them...

[Rikae]

While Nogrod is right in objecting to Xyzzy's words...I'd say pointing out that casting suspicion on the first to speak is in itself, at the best, badly reasoned, and at worst, wolfish...it doesn't jibe with my (admittedly fallible) impression of Kath; and the post itself seemed somehow tense or tight. Careful, maybe.

Mind you, I'm not casting suspicion yet...just thinking aloud. We shall see what the day brings.

[Rikae]

Clarification: By "it", I mean posting first, of course.

[Nogrod]

Originally Posted by Rikae

it doesn't jibe with my (admittedly fallible) impression of Kath; and the post itself seemed somehow tense or tight.

On a second look you maybe right. It's not Kath-like somehow, even though I still think Xyzzy's throw-away suspicion was the more suspicious looking...

Originally Posted by Rikae

I don't know if this is reasonable, Nogrod. I know how you like content-rich posts, but in-character banter in first posts is a bit of a WW tradition, is it not?

You're right. But I have just tried to pick anything to show that things can be done differently than just saying "Hello, I'm here... and won't be anymore". Just take this in the overall context of my agenda and you see why I said this.

Okay. Good night for now. I'll be back later.

[Mithalwen]

Originally Posted by Rikae

While Nogrod is right in objecting to Xyzzy's words...I'd say pointing out that casting suspicion on the first to speak is in itself, at the best, badly reasoned, and at worst, wolfish....

I would just mention that in the ancient history of the werewolf plagues that have afflicted communities, it was found on a few occasions that a wolf had been the first speaker ..eager perhaps to influence opinion away from themselves.

It is a bit routine to have "Lynch Boromir" as the default setting? He so often gives out "vibes" and turns out to be an innocent stirring discussion or a gifted biding his time... certainly it is generally more useful to the village to keep talkers rather than quiet folk if push comes to shove. But for me it is far too early to think about making choices - especially since in the circumstance I will not be able to get my decision ratified by my commune with the two-thirds majority usually required on matters that concern external affairs....

However I need perhaps to read forward from the start rather than backwards from now to get a true picture.

[Rikae]

Originally Posted by Nogrod

And Shasta's appearance with a laadi-daa post as well makes me wonder... basic wolf-stuff appearing without anything to leave for others in substance - and thence no one has a good reason to lynch him. Too easy?

I don't know if this is reasonable, Nogrod. I know how you like content-rich posts, but in-character banter in first posts is a bit of a WW tradition, is it not?

[Shastanis Althreduin]

Phooey, Nogrod, that was just my first post. It's traditional to be in character! Anyhoof, I'm not sure I agree with the suspicion on Xyzzy... in other, less serious cases, it's traditional to jokingly cast suspicion on the first to post.

However, I've seen you about, as well. I'm not suspicious of you, yet. I don't feel that there's enough people talking to be able to cast any aspersions at this time.

Edit: X'ed with Menel, Nogrod, and Menel again.

Edit: I do agree with your point, though, Nogrod. Lynching those who contribute little, or nothing at all, would be the most beneficial to us, unless there's a good reason to lynch someone active. Forcing a wolf to speak up and discuss can lead to a disastrous mistake.

[Meneltarmacil]

Welle, ye only waye I canne see to induce these Wolves to talke is to lynche ye moste unhelpfulle ones. I knowe, it soundeth bloody. However, if someone is silente withoute a goode reasonne, I don'te see what possible advantage this villager woulde provide.

No lynchings woulde actually be carried oute for unhelpfulnesse if ye villagers talke as muche as possible. So please do so!

(Note: I have a prior engagement in aboute an houre, whiche should take a few houres itselfe. I will be unable to speake untille quite late.)

[The Sixth Wizard]

[about later on in the game with quiet people]...you dare not vote for them as you do not have a clear picture of them and would rather kill someone you actually suspect.

In all the games I have played it was not a quiet one that was lynched first, but an innocent and valuable, quiet ones have tended to make it quite a way into the game. Perhaps we should lynch a quiet player for once? The Day 1 lynch is always a shot in the dark anyway...

Hmm, this is certainly interesting. Werewolves, eh? Well, that's interesting. I suppose we should start casting suspicion on each other now. I think one of these Werewolves is this Kath fellow. First one to speak up is probably trying to sound like he really dislikes Werewolf survival.

This doesn't sound as though Xyzzy is completely joking. And if you're not going to post much, why waste one on a joke? Perhaps this is indeed an over-enthusiastic Xyzzy-wolf? Then again, you can never tell much with Xyzzy...

Originally Posted by Durelin

++Kath

Stuh? That was a bit random. And votes are non-retractable! I'm getting the increasing impression that Durelin is rather spontanaeous at WereWolf.

And all I can say to Nogrod and Boro is "Fight, fight, fight, fight...

[Thinlómien]

"Honorable chair, fellow delegates,
INSTRAW is highly concerned about the death of our honorable Secretary General, Sir Saucepan. INSTRAW strongly urges all member states to take action in order to investigate this terrible murder and arrest the killers. Thank you."

(So much for nostalgia...)

~*~

*surprisesurprise* Here's one more supporter of "lynch someone you can't form a picture about because of his/her constant absence if you don't have a (good) reason to lynch a louder person/ a contributor"-tactics. *waves*

~*~

I must say I'm glad Nogrod's back in ww - it really refreshed me after seeing a few chatty one-liner posts to see the form of his familiar, lengthy post...! Eventhough a bit hasty when talking about Shasta, I see him as a reasonable villager and it would grieve me to lynch him toDay (unless, of course, he does anything very wolvish).

Rikae seems very innocent - she has done one thing that made me once confident about someone's innocence... Thogh she might have played in that game herself and remember my reasoning and thus do it.... hmmm... For now I'm inclined to believe she's honest (maybe only because she's contributive, though)...

I have no clear opinion about Menel because my brain always uncosciously turns to the "ignore"-function when I see more than one sentence in his writing style.... (No offense Menel, this just happens.... )

Durelin makes me wonder....but I guess only an ordo would do something like that even though without pasuing I'd love to add that Durelin can do particularly anything so never mind.

Boro is giving me those infamous bad vibes... Though not very much atm and I don't want to judge him only based on gut-feeling since his posts are okay with me... (Even though I somewhat disagree with him.)

Shasta, Sixth and Kath all seem very normal for themselves but that doesn't prove anything.

Xyzzy is hasty enough to make me suspect him a little. I have nothing to say about Isabellkya this far.

~*~

I should get my net access home working toDay (yay!) but I can't count on it (as there might be some problem) so I might have to vote very early toDay (two or three hours from now). A pity the votes aren't retractable... (Yes, you got it right... I miss retrackies...)

[Aganzir]

Originally Posted by Kath

Is it just me or do we not know how many wolves are even out there?

No, we don't know that - unless Sauce hints about it in the narrations, which I guess (and hope) might happen. But this is such a big game (20 players) that I think we shouldn't rule out the possibility of four wolves, or some other nasty things.

Originally Posted by Shasta

Except that, this being her first game and all, I'm not sure she knows exactly what a Cobbler is.

Unless she is one.
I don't remember if she has said anywhere that this is her first game, but if it is, I don't think a newbie-wolf would, or even could, be brave enough to try to catch the eye of the cobbler, when there's a risk that someone else notices it too.

I don't see anything that suspicious about xyzzy. I mean, I remember the game when he was a wolf (I didn't play in it, but being a friend of Lommy's, I was expected to know what was happening), and as far as I remember he was less eye-catching then. And as he said, I don't think he would seriously suspect anyone just because of being the one to post first.

But of course, this is the first Day, and everybody is searching for even the tiniest hints of werewolvishness on others.

I think lynching a quiet one rather than someone much contributing is a good idea - at least on Day 1 (and we must also keep in mind that there will be no modkills). By toMorrow we have this Day's voting records and the wolf kill, which will hopefully help us to form a clearer picture of who the wolves might be.

[the guy who be short]

Yes, I agree, let's lynch all those quiet ones. Starting with that there Feanor *points*. Why does she say nothing? Why is she painting us?

In other news, I think I'll revert to my strategy of voting for somebody almost at random today, as we have so little to go on. I'll need to look over who I think is innocent and exclude them from the list though; that list of likely-innocents is likely to include people who are loud.

[The Sixth Wizard]

Well, we know Fea has played WereWolf before, so perhaps she is just laying low deliberately... But that was a bit jumpy Shorty. We have to use SOME strategy with quiet peeps, don't we? I don't know what kind of strategy, but something.

[Aganzir]

I guess Fea said she's moving toDay or something, so maybe she isn't laying low deliberately.

[the guy who be short]

Originally Posted by Sixth Wizard

Well, we know Fea has played WereWolf before, so perhaps she is just laying low deliberately... But that was a bit jumpy Shorty. We have to use SOME strategy with quiet peeps, don't we? I don't know what kind of strategy, but something.

How about the "lynch all the quiet people alphabetically starting randomly at F" strategy?

Originally Posted by Aganzir

I guess Fea said she's moving toDay or something, so maybe she isn't laying low deliberately.

Ah. So she did. Never mind... I will try to get her lynched tomorrow instead.


For the record, those seeming innocent to me at the moment include:

Noggy - sensible views about lynching the quiet.
Boro - sticks to his views in, what I feel, is genuine earnestness.
Rune - I think he speaks sensibly about lynching the quiet earlier rather than later.

These three will be exempt from my list when my random vote is generated.

I'm not feeling too happy about Shastanis -

Originally Posted by Shastanis

I do agree with your point, though, Nogrod. Lynching those who contribute little, or nothing at all, would be the most beneficial to us, unless there's a good reason to lynch someone active. Forcing a wolf to speak up and discuss can lead to a disastrous mistake.

Where on earth did that random sentence come from? It doesn't make sense to me, nor did Nogrod say any such thing.

[the guy who be short]

Unless anybody comes up with anything interesting in the next hour, my random number generating machine has come up with the following:

Ran#x16+1 = 3.288

Meaning, of course, that durelin will get my vote.

[mormegil]

Just found this in Sixth's first post and found it rather ironic considering what happened last night.

And all I can say to Nogrod and Boro is "Fight, fight, fight, fight...