The wolves are smarter than they were last time. We never had a coordinated attack like this. And if they're working together, it's not a matter of who did who, but which parts can be attributed to who.
1. The garroting 2. The decapitations (messy, like they're being ripped off - inhuman strength) 3. The cauterizing - the neck stubs are messy but the cauterizing is clean. No spot missed or uneven burn marks. Implies magic rather than a mundane instrument. 4. The paw prints leaving the scene. 5. ??? The pumpkin carving? Maybe there's a wolf less suited to killing. One that isn't obvious.
Last year everyone got chucked in the lake at round two but that was the extent of the coordination.
I don't know of anyone outside of the vampires and Buffy apparently with superhuman strength (Homelander and Set excepted ofc) but I know I could do that. And the odds are on at least one vampire, just like before.
[ does she know someone who can turn into a wolf? she looks at klaus sketching across the room. ]
I can guess at a few. Ren's username is "alphabitch" (good for her) and there's another called "claws couture". I don't think Ren would be physically capable of killing anyone after being poisoned though.
Most, but not all, vampires I know can compel people. If we want to rule out vampires who can't it would narrow it down marginally.
Ren isn't human. She told some people while she was in a fugue state, poisoned. I didn't catch what she said exactly, but I think we have the context clues to figure it out. If the game can force her to kill people, I believe it can puppet her through illness.
The prints themselves glowed red and burned hot with magic, which isn’t indicative of a garden variety werewolf.
It may be a magical summons or shapeshifter, indeed. Those of us with abilities have created another group chat [ which makes him want to set his phone ablaze ] in which all are revealing their skills to aid the investigations.
No known shifters.
For conjurers and summoners, we have: Myself, August, Giles (unlikely for obvious reasons; mentioned only in the interest of transparency).
You know him better than I do, and I know he's been open with what he can do. I don't know the source of this, but it's been passed along to me. I'm passing in on to you, in case it helps.
"August had me under some kinda spell. It felt like I was underwater, listening to someone else's voice to lead me to the surface and tell me what to do."
And
"...there were paw prints, but not just like dogs or wolves. They were glowing, [ ]. Like there was still fire or magic or something in them.
I've seen that before. Only once - in a memory, from the museum. They're called hellhounds, and August knows how to summon them."
I'm sorry. I know you'd hoped it was someone else.
[ guy who already knew everything stephen just told him, but was hoping they had more time — ]
I can’t I’m sorry.
Thank you I’ll I’ll speak with him. He’ll not protest. If he accuses himself, it won’t be taken seriously, but I would prepare him for it. Thank you, Stephen.
[ unaware he already typed that, through the haze of h his terrible pain. ]
If he's not, it doesn't discredit your certainty. You just know him as he is, not as this game would have him be. I hope we can all use that as an anchor when this is over.
[ It's harder now than it was last round. At every turn there are people having to accept the worst of people they consider the best, those they hold dear. When this is over, he hopes people will hold space for that. The knowledge of guilt will be punishment enough for those who wouldn't have done it if they'd had any choice. ]
Edited (kill me i hate html) 2025-10-13 17:25 (UTC)
Not to interrupt the effort to identify each of the above, but some further input that might help us to make sure our net's thrown wide enough
It's worth mentioning I can't yet confirm that all the heads were removed by being torn away. Clark's body was indicative of an attempt to cut off the head by somebody who had to work for it, but I'll report back in once I've had a chance to inspect each of the bodies alongside one another to compare what remains of the wound edges after cauterization.
Magic was definitely present at the scene, runes have been found and the paw prints were laced with it. Skilled practitioners [ bone thrown to Gale, wizards tentatively at peace ] are investigating now.
From what I've seen and heard so far, we only have confirmation of strangulation as cause of death for 3 out of 5 of the bodies in this morning's tableau.
Again, we're looking at no signs of a struggle in at least some instances, so it's likely either magic or some other form of compulsion was used to mollify the victims before they were murdered.
There were seven victims the first night, including Jake. Seven wolves to start if we're to assume they weren't already collaborating. One wolf killed this round, who I think we can safely assume to be Saber, but the Alpha killed two people including a wolf. Six wolves, seven bodies. Five at the table, one in the cage, and Jace the last.
All of the wolves are proven capable killers. We might be looking for someone with artistic inclinations or a flair for the dramatic as far as the pumpkins are concerned, but given the nature of the game and the fact that all were capable of killing in the first round, I don't think it's likely anyone was able to sit at the craft table exclusively.
It would serve us to compare the first round of killings with the list you made above and any other details we're able to identify. Try to find the same people reflected across both crimes. I'll take some time to think about it.
Koby’s was jagged, and no wire marks. So they were done at roughly the same time, but not necessarily by the same person. But each point has more than one body associated with it.
If Saber and Danny are both wolves, and they both got a last hurrah, but were voted out and unable to participate in the coordinated attack, that explains Ash (Danny loves elaborate staging + revenge), Jace (same, and he killed him last year – method matches Paul’s, who he ALSO killed last year), Sarah (she and Saber were investigating together and then she turned on him when he turned out to be a creep) and Adrian (I don’t know this guy – Jinx seems convinced Saber did it, though).
As tragic and disgusting as they are, I think we should table those. At least for now.
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@pellinore
The wolves are smarter than they were last time. We never had a coordinated attack like this. And if they're working together, it's not a matter of who did who, but which parts can be attributed to who.
1. The garroting
2. The decapitations (messy, like they're being ripped off - inhuman strength)
3. The cauterizing - the neck stubs are messy but the cauterizing is clean. No spot missed or uneven burn marks. Implies magic rather than a mundane instrument.
4. The paw prints leaving the scene.
5. ??? The pumpkin carving? Maybe there's a wolf less suited to killing. One that isn't obvious.
@percival
no subject
What do you think?
no subject
Last year everyone got chucked in the lake at round two but that was the extent of the coordination.
I don't know of anyone outside of the vampires and Buffy apparently with superhuman strength (Homelander and Set excepted ofc) but I know I could do that. And the odds are on at least one vampire, just like before.
(Do I think it was me? No, but never say never!)
no subject
Last year we had shapeshifters. People who could turn into wolves or bears and things. Anything like that now, to your knowledge?
The odds do suggest one of them would be a vampire. Especially given that the pumpkin victims didn't show any signs of a struggle.
no subject
I can guess at a few. Ren's username is "alphabitch" (good for her) and there's another called "claws couture". I don't think Ren would be physically capable of killing anyone after being poisoned though.
Most, but not all, vampires I know can compel people. If we want to rule out vampires who can't it would narrow it down marginally.
no subject
Any strike off the list is a helpful one.
no subject
@gawain
It may be a magical summons or shapeshifter, indeed. Those of us with abilities have created another group chat [ which makes him want to set his phone ablaze ] in which all are revealing their skills to aid the investigations.
No known shifters.
For conjurers and summoners, we have: Myself, August, Giles (unlikely for obvious reasons; mentioned only in the interest of transparency).
And one unknown: Finch.
🔒
I'm sorry. I know you'd hoped it was someone else.
🔒
An accusation is coming. If you'd rather it came from a friend, or he had the opportunity to raise it himself, I'd speak to him soon.
🔒
I can’t
I’m sorry.
Thank you
I’ll
I’ll speak with him. He’ll not protest. If he accuses himself, it won’t be taken seriously, but I would prepare him for it.
Thank you, Stephen.
[ unaware he already typed that, through the haze of h his terrible pain. ]
🔒
If there's anything either of you need me to ask of them before it happens, I'm happy to.
[ And then, because they do not have to be friends for him to see how much this pains him. ]
Take care, Gale.
🔒
But I understand, and I will not stand in your way unless Roza and I’s investigation reveals worthy evidence that contradicts it.
If he is innocent, and I am not here to tell him that I never doubted him, please do so for me.
🔒
If he's not, it doesn't discredit your certainty. You just know him as he is, not as this game would have him be. I hope we can all use that as an anchor when this is over.
[ It's harder now than it was last round. At every turn there are people having to accept the worst of people they consider the best, those they hold dear. When this is over, he hopes people will hold space for that. The knowledge of guilt will be punishment enough for those who wouldn't have done it if they'd had any choice. ]
@arthur
Not to interrupt the effort to identify each of the above, but some further input that might help us to make sure our net's thrown wide enough
It's worth mentioning I can't yet confirm that all the heads were removed by being torn away. Clark's body was indicative of an attempt to cut off the head by somebody who had to work for it, but I'll report back in once I've had a chance to inspect each of the bodies alongside one another to compare what remains of the wound edges after cauterization.
Magic was definitely present at the scene, runes have been found and the paw prints were laced with it. Skilled practitioners [ bone thrown to Gale, wizards tentatively at peace ] are investigating now.
From what I've seen and heard so far, we only have confirmation of strangulation as cause of death for 3 out of 5 of the bodies in this morning's tableau.
Again, we're looking at no signs of a struggle in at least some instances, so it's likely either magic or some other form of compulsion was used to mollify the victims before they were murdered.
There were seven victims the first night, including Jake. Seven wolves to start if we're to assume they weren't already collaborating. One wolf killed this round, who I think we can safely assume to be Saber, but the Alpha killed two people including a wolf. Six wolves, seven bodies. Five at the table, one in the cage, and Jace the last.
All of the wolves are proven capable killers. We might be looking for someone with artistic inclinations or a flair for the dramatic as far as the pumpkins are concerned, but given the nature of the game and the fact that all were capable of killing in the first round, I don't think it's likely anyone was able to sit at the craft table exclusively.
It would serve us to compare the first round of killings with the list you made above and any other details we're able to identify. Try to find the same people reflected across both crimes. I'll take some time to think about it.
no subject
If Saber and Danny are both wolves, and they both got a last hurrah, but were voted out and unable to participate in the coordinated attack, that explains Ash (Danny loves elaborate staging + revenge), Jace (same, and he killed him last year – method matches Paul’s, who he ALSO killed last year), Sarah (she and Saber were investigating together and then she turned on him when he turned out to be a creep) and Adrian (I don’t know this guy – Jinx seems convinced Saber did it, though).
As tragic and disgusting as they are, I think we should table those. At least for now.
@gawain
I’ll add:
6. The compulsive elements this round and last. I cannot imagine all our wolves have this ability but Will, Paul, and Set did not struggle.
no subject
He can summon hellhounds. It was seen in his memories a few months ago.
Explains the hot pawprints.
no subject
no subject
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🔒
Harry's gearing up to it, if you wanted to talk to him first.
Re: 🔒