Wolves of The Weirwood (Inactive)
Game Master Ryuko

"The vote must be done for we can not kill the beasts beneath the moon!"

The professor looks up quizzically from her work of gathering stones, to see the moon floating high in the afternoon sky above some wispy clouds but thinks better of commenting on the matter. Her tongue had gotten her into enough trouble over the past few days. Alessandra focused on the simple work of finding properly-shaped stones and bringing them to where the memorial was taking shape. The feel of the sun on her face, the gentle breeze, the everyday smells of soil and grass... the prospect of being executed made her appreciate these sensations more than ever, transformed them from unworthy of notice to sublime.

The progress of their little monument really was amazing. She wasn't sure why the town had so many masons or what it was they did here, but it was apparent that their reputation as craftsmen was well earned. As she labored, she watched the smith at his work. Covered with a light sheen of sweat, Thoen's muscles rippled as he set to work on the monument. The man was a little unsteady on his feet, but that was perfectly understandable after the prodigious amount of alcohol she'd seen him consume. Indeed, to still be conscious after all that liquor and to work so tirelessly hour after hour- the man's endurance was almost... inhuman?

Her eyes narrowed. Alessandra would be keeping a close eye on the smith... and not just because of his impressive musculature.

Dan looks to the Duke with a nod; "Good work there, aye these Luna-tic's are powerful during the cycles of the moon. Only during the cleansing rays of the sun can we stop them. It would be good if the Doctors work could provide a cure, or if we could restrain them like Sir Keinly did. However has too much blood been shed?"

"You too Theon, glad to see such a strong fellow help us. Unlike Vorian running off selfishly." He shakes his head.

Vorian stops for a moment, hesitating, before speaking out to Dan.

"What Whitey here doesn't know is that I have total and unequivocal proof that I am indeed human, proof I have no intention of showing him until I am certain he has not gone off the deep end. But as I said already, if I do not die by noose, then it will most certainly be by claws. But it seems that the barkeep has no interest in revealing who this scryer is - for all we know, it could be a werewolf manipulating the poor sod."

He then looks to the monument.

"Selfish? Perhaps, and hopefully more so when this is all over. But I am used to seeing memorials built after everything is said and done. What meaning do the bricks and mortar have if they were laid down by a werewolf?"

Quizzically Dan asks; "So Whitey how is the Baner to know who to protect, if you won't reveal your sources?"

I suppose that is for the banner to decide. I would encourage them to contact me in secret though. I have much information that would be useful to them. Not only to beg protection for myself, but pass along valuable information of who is innocent and who is guilty.

If you have such proof Vorian reveal it now. As we all know the ways of the scryer are not completely accurate. Prove yourself innocent right now and I will change my vote. Putting another innocent man to death will weigh too heavy on my conscience. I want to be certain I am not being manipulated myself into killing you.

I only wish I could reveal the Scry to everybody. That would certainly spell the same outcome as poor Edlon met. I know you all will understand my reasoning.

"Aye some in this town have secrets, my secret is I know that my only hope is in voting in the day. Had I some other power I would not be so useless."

Bruce had spent most of the day in the mill, his clothes covered in sawdust and laquer by the end. Carvings and engraving weren't something he had done in a while since he began running the business for his father and it had felt good to feel the grain of the wood under his fingers again. He only wished it had been for something better.

Returning to the town center he joined the others working on the memorial, a large plaque gripped in his hands. He set it down near the memorial and stepped back. Yes, it will fit seemlessly when it's done. Carved and polished into a beautiful piece of ash were images of an idealized view of the town, with the buildings seeming grander than they were in real life. A dream of what the village could have been. It had been accented with carved laurel leaves and ivy climbing up the sides to meet above the top. Below the images, in a delicate script almost too fine to be possible in wood was the simple phrase:

May the sons and daughters of Laniel know peace.

Bruce looked at the rest of the group around him before shrugging. I'm not much good with stone and masonry work. But I wanted to make sure I got this done. After poor Eldon's fate, who knows how long any of us have and I wanted to make sure I paid my respects in case the wolf comes for me tonight.

Hearing the tale end of the conversation, Bruce feels a sadness weigh on him at the lack of any clearer an idea of who was doing this to them. The only times we've acted, someone innocent has fallen and when we failed to act, someone was taken from us anyways. Is there no way to solve this puzzle while there are enough of us around to make a difference?

Sorry for the posting drop off this cycle, busy week with birthday stuff for me and the wife. Still on the fence for my vote this cycle though.

Thoen stops piling bricks momentarily, taking a second to wipe his brow before bending to pick up another stack.
"Thank you Dan. This last few days have been hard on me and it wasn't until now that I realized I needed to do more than sit back and wait for the end to come.
I've lived in this town for too long to let it be taken by monsters--I will work to root them out until I myself am killed; hopefully I can do enough good to give everyone else a chance."

Tristen sighs lethargically. "What are we to do? Neighbor against neighbor is a terrible thing but for the greater good? I would gladly suffer the pain and torment, we need to endure for this moment in time, so that we may have a bright future. Or... For that matter... Any future!"

"I've made enough false accusations for 10 men," proclaims Simon with a glance towards the professor, "let me continue the work on the monument and try to clear my mind."

Sadly, Simon knows the words of Tristen and Thoen ring true and the time to accuse another is nearing. The small moment of mirth he gained in banter with Dan quickly evaporates.

"Aye the sun sets for each of us."

"Selfish? Perhaps, and hopefully more so when this is all over. But I am used to seeing memorials built after everything is said and done. What meaning do the bricks and mortar have if they were laid down by a werewolf?"

"Good thing you ain't doing anything then! The very least it gives us a focus." Dan says with a sarcastic tone.

Vote for Vorian Ritter

Fed up with the insinuations, Vorian speaks out.

"Then I will relieve you of the burden of killing another innocent man!"

Reaching into his belt pouch, Vorian pulls out a familiar ornate dagger - one not buried with its deceased owner. He holds it out, the gesture appearing threatening at first, until the engraving on it becomes clear. With an errant flick of the wrist, the dagger is sent hurtling towards the others, landing on the ground before their feet.

"I am no mere merchant - Wowbagger and I were sent here to watch over the village. Imagine our surprise when Sir Keinly failed in his sacred duty. When you all saw it fit to accuse him but two nights ago, I had to make a choice - allow a brother to die, or to put the blame on someone else. And that is why Taraz had to die."

"And yet regrettably, Wowbagger died as well - my effort was in vain. He had taken a great risk revealing that he was no ordinary villager, a risk that he paid for with his life. I did not see it fit to make the same sacrifice, not when I did not know whom to trust. And now this so-called Scryer is trying to turn Whitey and the rest of you against me."

"Whitey, it appears Vorian has met your burden of proof."

Prove yourself innocent right now and I will change my vote.

Simon stares at the dagger lying in the dust and the calculated look creeps back into his face.

"So tell us Whitey, who has misled you, who has played your emotions to try and lynch the remaining mason? It is that person who should be lynched tonight."

"This is your proof?! How do I know you didn't just steal this from Wowbaggers corpse? A Wolf disguising himself as a Mason. I expected better."

I regret that I will not be revealing the name of the scryer just yet. Until the Wolves identities are confirmed its too big a risk to leave it in the open. I know it's a leap of faith for all of you but you need to trust me. My source is positivly trustworthy."

"Bah, fool! We all know he took that knife to his grave! Lest you have the nerve to disturb his rest to find out? If I cannot face my supposed accuser, then I can only assume that you are a werewolf and that your puppeteer is the Devil himself!"

Vote for Whitey McWhite

I believe these are the current vote totals:

Alessandra: 1 (Thoen)
Tristen: 1 (Leto)
Vorian: 2 (Whitey, Dan)
Whitey: 1 (Vorian)

...the next few hours should certainly be interesting...

Bruce felt hope rise in his chest at sight of the dagger. Whitey's words however tempered them with caution and fear. Vorian was an outside but he did bear the blade of a Mason. How were any of them to know the truth.

Vote is still Null.

Your summary agrees with my information

"I have seen no proof as of yet, though if a tough decision must be made I am ready for it to be made or to make it!"

Feeling incredibly exposed over publicly admitting what he knows, Whitey retreats to his Brewery and bars all the doors and windows. Though he knows his own innocence he feels targeted.

"I can only hope the rest of the villagers will see to reason."

"I've made far too many bad assumptions already, I'll not lynch another innocent on account of being too timid to dig up a man's grave." proclaims Simon, and with that he grabs a shovel and strides to the graveyard to see if in fact the dagger still resides with Wowbagger's corpse.

"If that dagger is still there then my vote is for Whitey, if the dagger is gone then my vote is for Vorian."

The pale faced Simon is clearly daunted by the task of digging up a fresh grave, but the current events have steeled the man and a new strength is emerging.

"If I can look upon something so fair as the naked professor to gain the truth, then I can look upon something so foul as a mutilated, rotting corpse to gain the same. Wowbagger would want it to be so, he'd not have us lynch an innocent man out of modesty and let a wolf run free."

With those words, Simon sets the shovel to earth and starts digging up the grave of Wowbagger.

Bruce didn't know who to trust anymore. If he voted for anyone other than Vorian, then no one would be chosen and the wolf would be free to hunt. He couldn't see any way out of someone dying tonight but right now, Vorian's blood wouldn't be directly on his hands and that was the only solace that he could take. Please let the others' judgement be right.

Vote still null.

After gagging for several moments over the rank smell, Simon thunks his shovel into the remains of Wowbagger and hops into the grave to complete the investigation. The dagger had been lain across his chest with a single arm folded up and the hand gripping the hilt. The hand is now empty. Continuing to gag, Simon scraps through the dirt in the immediate area searching, hoping, that the dagger was simply knocked aside. He does not find it. Dirty and sweaty he climbs from the grave, his visage grim.

"The dagger is not there! It is clear what we must do."

Retrieving the dagger from where Vorian flung it, Simon return the mason's blade to his lifeless hand and fills in the grave, this time sure the blade has been buried with it's owner.

vote for Vorian

Dan looks to the group hopefully; "This is so disturbing. But those with divine visions all being wrong, would be..."

"Vorian, you are a good man; but when the wolves are at the door." He remarks sadly.

Vorian has no chance after Simon's evidence. The villagers turn, nearly as one, and he knows he must go to the gallows. He goes with dignity, and those near him can hear him mutter "Wowbagger, old friend. I will see you on the other side." Just before he drops. The villagers wait eagerly, certain to see his corpse change. It does not. It would seem his claims were the truth after all.

The men go to their beds with heavy hearts, another death weighed upon their consciences, and in the morn, they find another dead. Dan Haworth, fallen in his baker's shop soon after moonrise, his blood decorating the breads that were his life's work.

Vorian Ritter was Lynched. He was a Mason. Dan Haworth was Killed. He was a Villager.
Cycle 4 Begins now and ends this time Monday.

The professor joins the men at the gallows, her face as eager as the others to see this terrible chapter come to a close. The fading light of dusk shows her to be exceptionally pale as she connects the dots.

But that means- Simon!

Oh God! All those bald-faced lies he told about me, all those accusations to distract us... and to think I let him so close to me! Thank God Tristen was there to dissuade him, or I might have ended up the same as poor Wowbagger!

Nightmares harrow the Professor as she tosses and turns through the night, imagining every rustling tree or wild animal's call heralds the wolf's attack. She comforts herself with the thought that the baner is out there, somewhere, offering protection against the beast's depredation... but that hope is revealed to be hollow when dawn breaks on the baker's shop.

"Mr. McWhite, now would be a good time to reveal the so called 'scryer' who informed you that the remaining mason was a wolf."

Everything I've thought has been wrong, or has it? Could the wolves be able to heal bite marks so that their skin appears fair and unbroken? Is it truly the Professor as Wowbagger and Eldon warned us? If this town has both the pub and library run by wolves then it's doomed already.

"Tell me what I would have to do to prove that I am not a Wolf and also not need to reveal the Scryer and still remain innocent. I know this looks bad. The Scryers visions are not always completely accurate. This was a huge mistake.

At this desperate time the Scryer is more valuable than ever to us.

"We did as needs be done. Let us morn them both their innocence."

"Whitey, you told us that your source was 'positively trustworthy' yet you led us to take the life of the town's only remaining mason. It's possible that you are being manipulated by one of the wolves, but it is also possible that you are the wolf and seek to turn us against each other. You need to decide- reveal the name of the one who mislead you, or stand to answer for your unjust accusation of Vorian."

"If you're telling the truth about being mislead by a false scryer then tell us who the culprit is and I'll change my vote."

Privately Alessandra wonders if Simon was Whitey's accomplice, stealing Wowbagger's dagger during his 'investigation' of the grave, or if Whitey himself had taken it from Wowbagger's remains earlier. Or perhaps there was another accomplice...

Vote for Whitey McWhite

"Madam Devries, I have been asked to relay a message."

Dear, Professor Devries

I know you are responsible for the death of Dan Haworth and many others. The accusations made against Vorian were a mistake. One that cannot be undone with a simple apology. To the towns people I can only hope that we overlook this blunder and continue moving forward in our mission to reveal the identities of the Werewolves that plague this town. The evidence is stacked against you this time. You are a Werewolf and we will not let you slip through our fingers again. Dan was a valuable ally to us and we will not let his death go un-noticed.

"Pshaw!" The professor scoffs at Whitey's so-called 'message'

"Whitey, I don't believe you and I'd be surprised if anyone else did. You conveniently claim to speak for someone else, so that you don't have to justify your words, yet the one verifiable statement you've made has resulted in the death of an innocent man. One doesn't need to have studied rhetoric to recognize a false argument from authority. It's also very interesting that you had a prepared statement available a mere moment after I opened my mouth..."

"On the other hand, Professor, Eldon also saw you as a wolf; and thus far your silver tongue has caused us to ignore it.
But now you bring up the subject of authoritative argument. Isn't it interesting that Eldon's words are the best authority we have?--We all saw his mirror, Alessandra. Would you care to remind us again how you explain away that?"

"Oh, sobered up, have you? How on earth could I explain it? I don't know anything about the pagan spirits the scryers commune with. I certainly don't believe they have our best interests at heart though! If you're saying that scryers are foolproof and should always be believed, then that is a nail in Whitey's coffin (and his conspirator's) since they led us to an innocent man based on these visions that you regard so highly. If you admit that they can be in error then all I ask is that you take a good look at Vorian's grave before casting stones in my direction!"

But the scryer's arts are not perfect, and you're never sure that what you've seen is true.

Every Cycle, the Scryer may Scry one villager, determining his role with 75% accuracy.

"I do not claim to know anything about the spirits. I base my assumptions off of what I see and what I can discern from logic; and I have seen you change from the person I once knew into someone--Or something--else.
The fact that Whitey's friend and Eldon both accuse you as well is only further evidence to what I have myself observed."

With that closing statement, Thoen turns and strides purposefully away. Presumably returning to his home to find something to eat.

Vote for Alessandra Devries

"Whitey, please help us to understand this situation, we've lynched Vorian on account of your claims. If the scryer is speaking through you then reveal to us all the scryer's visions and let us decide as a group what may have been accurate or false. Do we understand it that on the first cycle he saw that you were a villager, on the second cycle saw that Vorian was a wolf, then on the third cycle saw the Professor was a wolf as well?"

Simon scans the village and a perplexed look crosses his face.

"Where are the Dr. and Lawyer in these discussions? Do you truly want a man that putters about his greenhouse for a living trying to solve this puzzle, while those with learning and reasoning look on silently?"

The bags under Simon's eyes betray the stress and lack of sleep he's been suffering. His clothes show the stains of the earlier grave digging and a foul smell lingers about him.

"We've eight of us left, only two more cycles without a wolf lynched and the village is truly doomed. We must put our worries aside and make a good decision as a group this cycle."

"Pshaw!" The professor scoffs at Whitey's so-called 'message'

"Whitey, I don't believe you and I'd be surprised if anyone else did. You conveniently claim to speak for someone else, so that you don't have to justify your words, yet the one verifiable statement you've made has resulted in the death of an innocent man. One doesn't need to have studied rhetoric to recognize a false argument from authority. It's also very interesting that you had a prepared statement available a mere moment after I opened my mouth..."

"Alessandra, everything you say here is true. Frankly, I'd be surprised to see anyone else listen to me at this point. I have directly caused the death of Vorian over a false vision and take full responsibility for that. I have also contributed greatly to the lynching of Taraz. Both of their deaths have shamed me greatly. I'm surprised that I survived last night. You murdered Dan thinking he was the Scrye. You knew we were working together in secret. I will also tell you there are others. Those who have been proven innocent have banded together and we are stronger as a result."

"Further precautions have been taken to ensure this doesn't happen again. You have been Scryed twice Alessandra to prevent further mistakes. Both times you have been seen as a Wolf. The odds are stacked against you."

"Whitey, please help us to understand this situation, we've lynched Vorian on account of your claims. If the scryer is speaking through you then reveal to us all the scryer's visions and let us decide as a group what may have been accurate or false. Do we understand it that on the first cycle he saw that you were a villager, on the second cycle saw that Vorian was a wolf, then on the third cycle saw the Professor was a wolf as well?"

"This is a request I can meet."

Thanks to the Scrye for these
Word for word

75% Accuracy

That night #Name# looks upon the reflection in his half full beer glass to Scry, he sees an image of Whitey in his Brewery. He whistles away as he works. It seems Whitey must be a Villager.

75% Accuracy

#Name# sees a form leap from the roof, hair flying behind it. He is sure that it is Vorian. Vorian must be a Werewolf!

75% Accuracy

The Scrying pool seems most unresponsive, or perhaps #Name# is simply too drunk from the nights events. Finally the brew clears to show Alessandra, covered in blood, picking her way from the Baker's home. It would seem Alessandra Devries is a Werewolf!

This is in addition to Edlons vision

The two more deaths weighed heavily on everyone and it was a wonder Bruce slept at all after the lynching. Bags under his eyes and stubble on his chin, he made his way to the group to hear what was being said.

Bruce eyed the remaining villagers with dread, knowing that a killer still moved amongst them. Upon viewing the scryer's findings, he looks around with apprehension. This is most troubling to see. It does indeed cast a troubling light upon the professor, if it's to be believed.

Bruce turns to Whitey. However it certainly seems convenient Whitey that you won't reveal the identity of the scryer when one of the things he found was of your supposed innocence. How easy for you to tell us that the scryer found you innocent when in fact we only have your word to go on. You could just as easily switched the results for the professor's. Maybe it was you originally seen fleeing the Baker's covered in blood. We certainly wouldn't be able to confirm this as you deny the rest of us access to the one man who could prove you wrong.

Whitey I want to believe you, I do. But your argument of innocence seems to come down to "someone said I was and you people need to take my word for it". In these dangerous times, it is hard to accept that.

Vote for Whitey McWhite.

How easy for you to tell us that the scryer found you innocent when in fact we only have your word to go on. You could just as easily switched the results for the professor's. Maybe it was you originally seen fleeing the Baker's covered in blood. We certainly wouldn't be able to confirm this as you deny the rest of us access to the one man who could prove you wrong.

"I don't blame you for feeling this way Bruce. I know how things look and I would feel the same way in your shoes. If and when I am lynched this night, I will not hold this against you. It seems that only my death can prove my innocence at this point".

In order to defend myself, which I will still try. I will say that were I not given permission to make these notes public I would probably be ratted out by the person who made them. You are a good friend Bruce, Please change you're vote. If not to the professor than concentrate your efforts on finding the other wolf."

Vote: Professor Alessandra Devries

Tristen had been cowering in his house, since the last horrifying rounds of deaths. He joins the group looking pale and sick, worn through. "I... I do not know what to think. Whitey is a good man... I believe him!" Tristen shudders softly, pulling his coat around him tighter.

"Professor... I am sorry... It just makes too much sense!"

Vote for the Professor

Sorry for the absence guys... Damn Internet was on the blink!

"Whitey, were it but your words alone then the shroud of suspicion would be on you, however two others have accused the Professor as well and both of them were good men that now lie dead."

With a sheepish glance to the Professor, Simon clears his throat and the red splotches of embarrassment rise to his cheeks.

"Professor, my apologies for doing this again. I fear you misled me last time with your fair, unbroken skin. I know nothing of the old ways and only have my craft as herbalist and poultice maker to guide me. I've helped many travelers through the years with poultices to ease a bite they received from an animal and always there are scars left from such an encounter. it was my assumption from Sir Keinly's suicide note to us,"

I awoke with another's blood in my mouth

"that we would find the infected person by bite marks or scars upon their skin. Now I fear these wolf creatures have the ability to heal such a wound. Were only my knowledge greater so that I could know for certain and not make assumptions, but the hour is late on poor Laniel and we must take action with the limited knowledge we have."

With a deep breath and a pause, Simon raises his gaze and meets the Professor's eyes, this time holding the look. With sadness he continues.

"As I said before, were there a cure I would gladly give all my savings to help you from this affliction. Please forgive us all for what we must do."

Simon votes for the Professor

The professor turns to Simon, surprised by his abrupt change of heart. "What? Of all of you, only Whitey's mysterious friend (if he exists!) has made an accusation based on what they really believe! Everyone else's arguments boil down to 'someone else thinks you're guilty so I do too'. You're just a bunch of cowards trying to hide from responsibility for your actions! Ever since Adam blamed Eve for making him eat the apple, men have been looking for ways to shirk responsibility for their actions. Simon, you say yourself that you don't know enough- none of us do! Why would you believe that a vicious attack by a a werewolf wouldn't leave a scar? Everything you said before... you... you... I let you look over every inch of me and was blushing down to my knees for the sake of your curiosity, to put your fears to rest. What has changed your mind? I've done all I can to prove my innocence, there are other villagers who have not been nearly as forthcoming as I have been. Please, at least abstain from your vote until you've subjected the others to the same rigors you put me through."

When Tristen joins those accusing her, she turns to him in dismay. "But... I thought... Is this really all your word is worth? I thought I had earned your confidence! You are a man of learning, are you really going to let your opinion be swayed by the second-hand opinion of these fickle spirits that the scryer traffics with?"

She makes an appeal to everyone around her, begging for her life and for justice for Vorian, "Don't let your thinking be swayed by this cheap rhetoric and lies spread by malicious spirits! How can you possibly forget that Whitey condemned poor Vorian based on no stronger evidence than he brings against me now? Don't do this! Hold him accountable for his actions, or he'll continue to turn us against each other. There are so few of us left... truly, we can't afford to be deceived again tonight!"

"In the worst, least favorable light- giving my accusers every benefit of the doubt, the odds against me are one in sixteen. There were practically that many of us remaining in Laniel when the moon rose a few nights ago! That means that if these feckless spirits were to investigate each and every one of us in the same way, you'd expect one of us to have a result like mine even if they were completely blameless... and someone else would be reported as a normal villager, even if they had something sinister to hide! Surely, you've all heard of the Rule of Three in folklore and fairy tale? These spirits are not to be believed unless they've told the same thing three times- elsewise they're free to trick and deceive." Lecturing on maths had never been her strong point as a teacher, having to do it now in defense of her life was absurd to the point of comedy.

Please, listen. I'll make a deal. Let Whitey pay for his murderous accusation tonight, and have the scryer focus his attentions on me. I'm confident that the spirit will speak true on a third telling. If not... somehow... I'll be the first to cast a vote for myself. I truly don't believe that I could be a werewolf without knowledge of it. You'd think there'd be blood on my clothes, dirt on my feet, claw marks and paw-prints on the floor, any number of things to inform me of my supposed 'condition' even if I had no memory of it. Even so, to protect my neighbors and serve the greater good, I'll willingly go to the gallows tomorrow if the spirits speak against me again- just please, give me a chance and don't let Whitey escape his well-deserved fate!"

"Your request that a man who sheds innocent blood also be condemned to death is fair, Miss Devries. However, under these extenuating circumstances we simply do not have time to hang another person unless we have reason to believe that they are one of the wolves. Rest assured that each of us will pay for his crimes at the end of this--But for the time being we must focus on rooting out the evil that has come among our people."

"Professor, your statement is untrue."

only Whitey's mysterious friend (if he exists!) has made an accusation based on what they really believe!

"It is the words of both Wowbagger and Eldon that damn you as well. Per your own logic, that is now three among us who have called you the wolf."

"We will do as you say, only in opposite order, if you prove not to be the wolf then Whitey will be the next to be lynched, having misled us twice into killing an innocent. Small comfort I know, but I do not think that will be the case, Wowbagger, Eldon and Whitey can't all be wrong. Please do accept our apologies Alessandra, you are a good woman, yet also a fearsome wolf."

From Wowbagger's penultimate post

Wowbagger changes vote to Taraz.

Well, I will go and vote myself on this then, if nothing better than to watch you all squirm fillin' in my hole. And that's how my vote'll sit until I get some proof otherwise.

"In the end Wowbagger did not believe me guilty, why should you? And Eldon, he voted for himself before he voted for me. I can see the wisdom of his position even if I disagree with his vision- that's why I've made my offer to cast the first vote for myself if further investigation should show me guilty- just give me a chance!"

"Truly, you've seen that I bear no mark of the wolf on my body. How can you send me to my grave in good conscience without inspecting the others in the same way? Is it because the task of examining them isn't as interesting...?" The last bit is said with a rather reproving tone.

Tristen pauses, before nodding. "You are right... Of course. If I am to accuse you, I must look for proof on the others first. So... Gentlemen... Where will be more comfortable for you?" Tristen steels himself for the slew of nudity coming his way.

Heh! Called myself Simon there for a second... Not focusing on writing, while reading something written by a Simon and talking to my brother Simon, not a good idea!

Alessandra turns to Thoen with an impassioned plea, "Thoen, look at the numbers. Things are grim, but not so desperate yet that you must abandon reason and compassion in a rush to send me to my death. If Whitey should turn out to be innocent or if the scryer's final investigation shows me to be false, then my life will be forfeit tomorrow night and there will still be time to hunt down a final wolf if one remains. Just give me a chance! If you're the scryer, talk to your familiar spirits and wring the truth from them. Please, just give me this final night to show my innocence!"

"The naked truth should be revealed, it will help us all trust in our decisions. Remember I was the first to make a public display of myself, as I said then the shame of nudity should be less than that of lynching an innocent person. You've seen the unbitten truth of my skin, and both Tristen and myself can vouch for the Professor having no bite marks upon her. Let the other 6 of you show us your unbitten skin, then we'll know the wolf has no marks upon their body."

Simon looks about the village, expecting as little response as received to his last request for the public display of birthday suits.

"Professor, perhaps your appeal should be to the hidden scryer, if Whitey is truly misleading people then one of us knows that he is telling lies and can prove it. Were the actual scryer to step forward and denounce Whitey then I would gladly change my vote away from you once again."

"Aye, I already appealed to the scryer to reveal himself yesterday but both he and our baner, if such a person does exist, are keeping quiet. What more can I do?"

"I find this most painful and dreadful all at once!"

Vote for Tristen, he is still a lawyer ;)

Alessandra notices suspiciously few people step forward to subject themselves to Simon's scrutiny. "What about the rest of you? Will you all stand silently? This is a matter of life and death! Come, please, tell me to my face why you think I deserve to die tonight and why you believe the word of Dan's mysterious friend's spirits (which were proven wrong just last night!) over that of a woman who has worked beside you these past ten years to make Laniel a place we could all be proud to call home." She looks from face to face, meeting the eyes of every member of the small crowd and hoping to see some sign that her pleas are not in vain.