Tol-in-Gaurhoth XLIX - At the Source of Darkness

[Nogrod]

Originally Posted by Durelin

This doesn't seem self-righteous at all...

Well, all I know is that you two are threathening my life in a very concrete manner and being an innocent villager I can't but see a sinister purpose behind your actions... And losing a single innocent villager is bad now (remember the number of cobblers around).

So your intentions are bad for the village.

So you are either misled ordos or baddies.

And as we have to lynch someone I'd say we try you in hope of the second one being the correct answer.

[Thinlómien]

Why is everybody so silent? Where are all the votes? Are we again going to vote in a disastrous last-minute frenzy?

[Durelin]

Then we are in exactly the same position, Nog. And if you are innocent, which you very well may be because I have trouble trusting my judgment (as I said, I don't even know how this 'wolf-spotting' is actually supposed to work), then I will feel so horribly stupid that it will be sufficient revenge, I promise.

[Brinniel]

I could either vote for Durelin or Nogrod. Both are making me uncomfortable right now.

[Nogrod]

Originally Posted by Thinlómien

xed with Durelin who makes a fair point about Nog

What? A fair point?

Now that is the most cobblerish / wolvish thing to say... I mean really Lommy?

Originally Posted by Dury

That was fast, Nog...just yesterDay you were so confused...what happened? Have enough people convinced that it's safe to proceed full-on?

I have suspected you from your malicious vote from Day1 on. I have hesitated though as we innocents need to be careful not to let our personal feelings of retaliation etc. to come and distract our sense. The Mith-stuff quite confused me for a while but after I realised toDay that was not a case on your behalf there was no more need to be afraid of saying aloud what I think - or to think that way in the first place.

I mean an ordo needs to halt if he thinks there is a major point against your suspicions because thwen you might vote / suggest bad.

[the phantom]

last-minute frenzy

Yeah, that's been the norm in this village.

I have to wonder- how many of you usually wait till the last minute? Myself- I've always been a very late voter if at all possible in most every village I've been in. Are you all the same? Or are we seeing some unusual behavior?

[Thinlómien]

Originally Posted by Brinn

I could either vote for Durelin or Nogrod. Both are making me uncomfortable right now.

That's too funny, you know. I feel the same. Yet, they're kind of either or choice, if you know what I mean.

(Wow, that was pretty intelligent. )

Anyway, what I'm going to do toMorrow (provided that I'm alive) is urge Nerwen and Eönwë to talk more and pay more attention to Brinn and the phantom.

edit: xed with Nog and tp

[Nogrod]

Originally Posted by Brinniel

I could either vote for Durelin or Nogrod. Both are making me uncomfortable right now.

Like a vulture on the carcass...

EDIT: you too Lommy...

[Brinniel]

Hmm....not much time left:

++Durelin

Because she just can't be up to any good. She's gotta be either a wolf or a cobbler.

[Eönwë]

Nogrod sounded so wolfish in that last post that I think I'll vote him. I still have 4 minutes to decide, though.

[Nerwen]

Hi all–

Just been skimming the thread.

I'm inclining towards Nogrod right now, though Durelin and Shasta are also possibilities.

[Thinlómien]

Ok Nogrod's getting really jumpy....

tp - it isn't a time for that chat right now!! - speaking of which yes, I'm a late-voter...

And aieee I should decide...

edit: xed with Shasta and Nerwen

[Eönwë]

Ok, that's it:

++Nogrod

[Nogrod]

++ Durelin

[Thinlómien]

++ Nogrod

No time to think, he was jumpy and Dury's ordo-talk seems credible enough for now...

[Macalaure]

Deadline.

[Brinniel]

Yeesh..vote people! It's deadline!

EDIT: Wow...they just all came at once...

[Nogrod]

Run you fools...

[the phantom]

Well, seeing as Shasta isn't a possibility.

+ + Durelin

For looking less innocent than Nog.

[the phantom]

What?! How was my post at 3:02?

I swear that when I hit reply the Downs clock at the bottom of the screen said 2:59, and it didn't take me that long to type that!

[Nerwen]

Sorry... but this is weird because I had two minutes to go by Downs time when I started my post, and it only took a few seconds to type.

[Nogrod]

There is something really weird with the 'Downs clock... them being in different times it seems - or something.

But I died anyhow.

[Nerwen]

I don't think the clock updates until you refresh the page... but there still should have been time for my post. It might be my slow connection.

[Nogrod]

I have a pretty fast connection but it made the same trick to me...

EDIT: Sorry... let's continue this if we wish in the admin thread?

[Macalaure]

Unfortunately, there are again things that will keep both of us from delivering the narration right away. Please be lenient with us.

To satisfy your curiosity: Nogrod was an ordo.


And about the votes past the deadline, apart from Nerwen, you all didn't really have to vote that late, did you? So don't complain.

I don't think the clock updates until you refresh the page

It doesn't. I keep on hitting "reload" again and again so that my deadline post is on time.

[Macalaure]

Long and toilsome was this stage of the adventurers journey, and long and toilsome was a sheerly endless debate between Nogrod and Durelin. Almost all the expedition was involved in it, but they were not able to come to a conclusion, and did not know which of them to lynch, or both, or none.

We are at an impasse. Durelin concluded.

I'm afraid so, Nogrod answered, there is now only one way left to settle this - a duel. But how could that be arranged? You are an archaeologist, used only to hard field work, while I am a philosopher confined to the study. I can't compete with you physically, and you're no match for my brains.

You think you're that smart? Durelin remarked doubtfully.

Let me put it this way: have you ever heard of Plato, Aristotle, Socrates?

Yes.

Morons.

Really? In that case, I challenge you to a battle of wits.

To the death? I accept.

Durelin already seemed to have something in mind: Good. Let us pour the some wine then. What I have here is called poison hemlock. An appropriate way for a philosopher to die by, isn't it?

Indeed, Nogrod agreed, but whether it will come that way shall be seen.

Please turn your head for a moment. Durelin asked and Nogrod did so. Durelin then poured the poison into the wine. All right: where is the hemlock? The battle of wits has begun. It ends when you decide and we both drink, and find out who is right - and who is dead.

But it's so simple. Nogrod laughed. All I have to do is divine from what I know of you. Are you the sort of woman who would put the poison into her own goblet, or her enemy's?

Nogrod studied Durelin now.

Now, a clever woman would put the poison into her own goblet, because she would know that only a great fool would reach for what he was given. I'm not a great fool, so I can clearly not choose the wine in front of you. But you must have known I was not a great fool; you would have counted on it, so I can clearly not choose the wine in front of me.

You've made your decision then?

Not remotely. Nogrod declined. Because hemlock comes from the East, as everyone knows. And the East is entirely peopled with criminals. And criminals are used to having people not trust them, as you are not trusted by me. So I can clearly not choose the wine in front of you.

Truly, you have a dizzying intellect. Durelin approved.

...but you must have suspected I would have known the hemlock's origin, so I can clearly not choose the wine in front of me. And I'm sure you're a wolf, so you must have killed Nilpaurion, which means you're exceptionally strong. So, you could have put the poison in your own goblet, trusting on your strength to save you. So I can clearly not choose the wine in front of you. But, you've also bested Mith and Lalaith which means you must have studied. And in studying, you must have learned that man is mortal so you would have put the poison as far from yourself as possible, so I can clearly not choose the wine in front of me.

You're trying to trick me into giving away something - it won't work. Durelin said.

It has worked - you've given everything away - I know where the poison is. Nogrod replied triumphantly.

Then make your choice!

I will. And I choose... suddenly he stopped, and pointed at something behind Durelin ...what in the world can that be?

Durelin turned around. What? Where? I don't see anything. Quickly Nogrod switched the goblets while Durelin had her head turned.

Oh, well, I-I could have sworn I saw something. No matter. Let's drink - me from my glass, and you from yours.

Nogrod picked up his goblet and Durelin picked up the one in front of him. As they both started to drink, Nogrod hesitated a moment. He allowed Durelin to drink first, and then he swallowed his wine.

You guessed wrong. Durelin said. Nogrod roared with laughter. You only think I guessed wrong! I switched glasses when your back was turned. You fool. You fell victim to one of the classic blunders. "Never go in against a philosopher when death is on the line."

Nogrod laughed.. and roared.. and cackled..

..and fell over dead.

The company was speechless. At last, Nerwen spoke up: To think - all that time it was your cup that was poisoned.

Both cups were poisoned, Durelin said, I spent the last few years building up an immunity to poison hemlock.

Ah...

Then Durelin made herself ready for the night, ignoring the raised eyebrows around her. Nogrod, on the other hand, looked no less ordinary as before - just less alive.

*~*

Dead:
Macalaure and Rikae (mods) - killed by wolves and turned into faulty quenya in Night One
Kitanna (ordo) - lynched by a pointless mob on Day One
Lalaith (ordo) - severed from her chalk, and her head, in Night Two
Groin Redbeard (ordo) - died from exhaustion on Day Two
Gwathagor - (seer) turned into a talking corpse on Day Two
Mithalwen - (cobbler) made into a diverse set of items in Night Three
Feanor of the Peredhil - (ordo) visionary whose body was turned into abstract art on Day Three
Formendacil - (cobbler) killed by assassin in Night Four
Nilpaurion Felagund - (ordo) choked on his own tale in Night Four
Nogrod - (ordo) died in a battle of wits on Day Four

Alive:
Shastanis Althreduin - loner roane
Eönwë - seller of pointless fakes
Nerwen - treasure-seeker
Kath - unemployed bum
Durelin - eccentric, misanthropic archaeologist
Brinniel - junk collector
A Little Green - blind astronomer who sells stars at the stock exchange
the phantom - obtainer of rare antiquities
Thinlómien - marine zoologist

Night Five. You know what to do by now.

[Macalaure]

Once more a member of the expedition was woken up untimely at night. The two ghastly figures approached the astronomer, A Little Green.

Little Gree-heen, oh Greeenie, Lily-mine. they tried to wake her with sweet voices, and Lily arose.

It cannot be time to get up yet.

But who decides when it is time to?

We get up at the same time every day: at the time our rangers regarded appropriate - when they were still with us, I mean.

And you don't think there is someone else who is entitled to?

A Little Green was staggered. Slowly she turned around to the wolves and faced them. The wolves had waited for this moment. They jumped at her, stopping right in front of her face, putting up fearsome grimaces and baring their blood-stained teeth.

...to no effect. Lily just reached out her arms and felt the werewolves' fur. It is not easy to scare a blind woman who sells stars for stock.

Whe shall put you to death gruesomely! We shall tear out your limbs and eviscerate your gut! We shall sever... why are you still not scared??

A Little Green wasn't scared at all. In fact, she smiled giddily, whispering This is so amazing! to herself.

Amazing?

Lily was overjoyed: You are doing so great! I always wanted to actually meet one of you, and now I'm here with you both, and you're even planning to kill me!

Oh, not again...

Are you going to eat me or are you going to turn me into a gory mess? Lily asked.

We're completely out of luck. Maybe we should just try someone else instead? one werewolf suggested.

They were just about to move away, when they overheard: Actually, I think I can tell who you are by your voices.

What? No, you can't!

I'm quite sure I can...

Keep your mouth shut!

I think you are...

But no further words could she utter, for with a fierce blow one werewolf slashed away her lower jaw. The other followed by biting both her ears off, to forever rid her of her enhanced hearing. Smiling grimly the wolves looked at their victim. Then one took Lily's arms and one her legs, and they pulled and split her in two.

Thus another cobbler found death by those they swore to protect.

*~*

Dead:
Macalaure and Rikae (mods) - killed by wolves and turned into faulty quenya in Night One
Kitanna (ordo) - lynched by a pointless mob on Day One
Lalaith (ordo) - severed from her chalk, and her head, in Night Two
Groin Redbeard (ordo) - died from exhaustion on Day Two
Gwathagor - (seer) turned into a talking corpse on Day Two
Mithalwen - (cobbler) made into a diverse set of items in Night Three
Feanor of the Peredhil - (ordo) visionary whose body was turned into abstract art on Day Three
Formendacil - (cobbler) killed by assassin in Night Four
Nilpaurion Felagund - (ordo) choked on his own tale in Night Four
Nogrod - (ordo) died in a battle of wits on Day Four
A Little Green - (cobbler) ripped in two in Night Five

Alive:
Shastanis Althreduin - loner roane
Eönwë - seller of pointless fakes
Nerwen - treasure-seeker
Kath - unemployed bum
Durelin - eccentric, misanthropic archaeologist
Brinniel - junk collector
the phantom - obtainer of rare antiquities
Thinlómien - marine zoologist

Day Five has started. The village may try its luck again.

[Shastanis Althreduin]

The wolves seem to be doing our job for us...

So what is the count now? One Cobbler, two Wolves, one Cobbler Assassin, five Ordos?

I was thinking Nog was a cobbler earlier, to myself. I was wrong, though.

Hmm.

[Thinlómien]

What the??? Greenie, Greenie was a cobbler? It occured to me she might have been a wolf, but a cobbler?
But hey great, they killed her. Some justice in this world.

But still, we'd better kill a wolf toDay because yesterDay was just one more disappointment. Why did the guy have to get so jumpy? My initial reaction when I heard his role was: "Okay, let's lynch Durelin now because she must be behind all this!" but I decided that isn't a very constructive approach.

Hmmm... anyway, I think toDay will be a sort of reconsidering Day for me. It looks like I've been wrong all the time. (Well, it kinda helps everybody else has been just as dumb. Or just more evil and laughing at us others. *sigh*) So, I'd better think carefully, especially as finding a wolf becomes more and more important Day by Day... (and not only for our sanity). If possible, I'm going to reread the whole village, because really, I have the feeling starting sort of anew could help...

edit: xed with Shasta

[Durelin]

Well, I must admit I have been a great help to the baddies this game, but I haven't meant to be. I feel extremely stupid...

I would not blame anyone for lynching me toDay, except for the actual wolves because they know what they're doing... Basically the only way I can try and convince of my innocence that I've thought of is this: if I was actually a wolf, why would I have bothered going after Nogrod so much, especially once it started drawing a great deal of attention to me? But if I was actually a cobbler (I'm going to sound like phantom here), there's a good possibility the cobbler assassin chose me last night or even earlier, if they chose someone that people have been mentioned 'looks like a cobbler'. And I'm not dead. Rather wish the wolves had been nice and taken me out last night, but it's better that they killed another one of their cobblers.

So anyway, that will be my only *defense* toDay. I'll try and do more productive stuff. I've been all wrong, though, so...

Anyway, Brinn and Nerwen have gone through the game practically unnoticed. phantom has avoided both lynching and death through the game.

I've felt Lommy is innocent this entire game...maybe that's my problem?

Yeah, I'm rather surprised that Greenie was a cobbler, too...

Originally Posted by Lommy

Why did the guy have to get so jumpy?

I was trying to get reactions from him near the end there and they did make me feel better about my suspicion of him, but I am still sooooo far off.

If Nog had actaully been a wolf I was going to be going after Brinn and I still find her standing out in my mind a lot even though it's probably a bad idea to focus on someone who I tried to connect to someone I was completely wrong about...

Argh.

[the phantom]

Originally Posted by Dur

I would not blame anyone for lynching me toDay

I don't plan on it. Neither you nor Nog was my highest suspect, and as time wore down yesterday I began to feel that it was one of those typical Ordo-on-Ordo lynch fests.

I'm planning on putting my attention elsewhere today.

And didn't I say from the beginning that the Cobblers would die off whether we were successful or not? Four incorrect lynches and we've still managed to cut the bad guys in half. And with a lynch today, a WW kill tonight, and a likely Assassin hunt tonight we stand an excellent chance of being rid of the final Cobbler.

So as far as your Cobbler suspects- forget them! Just worry about the Wolves.

[Shastanis Althreduin]

Originally Posted by Phantom

So as far as your Cobbler suspects- forget them! Just worry about the Wolves.

Now can we kill him? Please please please?

[the phantom]

You realize that if you want to get me lynched you might want to actually make an argument that holds water at some point. If you are an Ordo then you might want to reconsider your methods a bit. Making sense and being reasonable would be an excellent start.

Of course on the other hand I probably have you to thank for the fact that I am still alive. With your endless pursuit of me and my obvious annoyance the WWs are likely banking that eventually one of us will lynch the other. How does it feel to be used, Shasta?

[Shastanis Althreduin]

Originally Posted by the phantom

You realize that if you want to get me lynched you might want to actually make an argument that holds water at some point. If you are an Ordo then you might want to reconsider your methods a bit. Making sense and being reasonable would be an excellent start.

Of course on the other hand I probably have you to thank for the fact that I am still alive. With your endless pursuit of me and my obvious annoyance the WWs are likely banking that eventually one of us will lynch the other. How does it feel to be used, Shasta?

I'm flying mostly by instinct at the moment, and I tend to think that anyone who tries to tell me what and how to think must be evil.

[the phantom]

I tend to think that anyone who tries to tell me what and how to think must be evil.

Well, then I must've been super darn evil last time when I was the Good Wizard.

[the phantom]

I'd like to point something out to the rest of the village.

Shasta has made 42 posts. More than every one of you.

During those 42 posts he has not given ONE single opinion about ANY of you.

That has got to be the most suspicious thing I've ever seen. How can you have the second most posts of any living player and totally avoid giving opinions?

[Kath]

I don't have much to say right now as I'm falling asleep but I'm beginning to think that I should start voting against my own suspicions as they're clearly so utterly wrong. That said, Greenie had gone unnoticed by me and turned out to be evil, so I'm thinking of looking at who I haven't really paid much attention to and actually doing so. This new way of playing is fun but it's not actuall doing anyone any good so maybe I'll go back to the old way for a Day and try to be of some real help.

[Nerwen]

Originally Posted by the phantom

Four incorrect lynches and we've still managed to cut the bad guys in half.

Excuse me... "We"? Look who's killed most of the cobblers!

Originally Posted by the phantom

So as far as your Cobbler suspects- forget them! Just worry about the Wolves.

Or– as I said on Day One– let's just go for people who look suspicious. We don't seem to be very good at telling wolves from cobblers in this game anyway.

[the phantom]

Excuse me... "We"? Look who's killed most of the cobblers!

Well okay, if you want to get into semantics then yes, the WWs and the Assassin have made the kills. But seeing as the WWs and Assassin are all still with us, and are members of this village, "we" seems to be an appropriate word. Plus there is the fact that kill choices of WWs are always dictated by the behaviors of the villagers, as are the picks of the Assassin, and thus we share in the production of those deaths.

[Nerwen]

I am just saying... our lynching record is nothing to get complacent about, to say the least.