“Alright, everyone close your eyes.” Xīlōxōch moves her head around to make sure everyone has their eyes closed before continuing. “Werewolf, open your eyes, and point to who you want to eat for tonight.”
The party had completed their evening tasks, and the sun was slowly sinking beneath the horizon. As everyone seemed on the verge of settling in for the night after supper, Xīlōxōch unexpectedly broke what now appeared to be a consistent routine of the past few days by proposing an intriguing game. After her careful explanation, the enthusiasm to engage in this new experience was evident across the board and the game was set to begin. The first round was about to commence.
Xīlōxōch
Xīlōxōch
Xīlōxōch nods as she holds back her laughter. She gives the werewolf a wink and composes herself. “Ok, werewolf close your eyes.” She waits for the werewolf to close their eyes before continuing. “Doctor! Open your eyes, who will you save?”
Xīlōxōch
Xīlōxōch smiles as she receives the answer. “Close your eyes, doctor.” She waits anxiously for the doctor to close their eyes before continuing. “Everyone, open your eyes. Good job doctor, no one died!”
Xīlōxōch
“It’s discussion time! Who do you guys think is the werewolf? If two people accuse the same person to be a werewolf then we’ll do a vote. If the majority thinks the accused is a werewolf then they’re out of the game. If the villagers vote the werewolf out, the villagers win. Otherwise, we continue into the next night.”
Gorranach
Gorranach looks around and grins. “Hm, must’ve been a good doctor. But how would we possibly know who the werewolf is? Wait, would we even know there is one?”
Xīlōxōch
“Trust me, dear, there is a werewolf. They let me know who they wanted to eat last night.”
Gorranach
“If we vote on a suspect, can we quarantine them? See if that stops it?”
“Could we cure them?”
Xīlōxōch
“I’m afraid not, my dear. Death is the only cure.”
Gorranach
“A right shame. Hmm. Then I willnae vote yet.”
Varg Raeed
Varg suddenly points. “Ok guys, Varg thinks Gorranach’s the werewolf.”
“Not only because hairiest… but is such perfectionist that even if Gorranach rip someone up, he sew them back together afterwards. That’s why nobody died!” She proudly bellows with laughter at her self-proclaimed genius.
Gorranach
Gorranach angrily gets up when Varg levels the accusation at him. But as she explains, his expression smooths down to something calm. He thinks, and nods. “Ay, fair enough.” He says, then sits back down. “Wait a moment. I’m not the werewolf though. But I like your reasoning.”
Varg Raeed
Varg’s expression is one of victory and excitement until Gorranach says he’s not the werewolf. “Oh, you’re not? Ok. Varg dunno then.” She folds her arms, back in deep thought.
Gorranach
Almost in unison with Varg, Gorranach folds his arms as well. A deep sigh betrays he thinks of this as a grave matter, requiring the utmost consideration.
Xīlōxōch
“We’ve heard what Varg and Gorranach have to say, what about everyone else?”
Billy
Billy points towards Hinny. “I think… I think he’s the werewolf!”
Xīlōxōch
Xīlōxōch smiles as the first accusation comes out. “Our first suspect! Is there someone else who thinks Hinny is the werewolf?”
Hinny
“Wait what!? Why do you think it’s me!? You’ve got the wrong guy. Do I sense some sort of discrimination against the Canith!? Hmph… If I would take a wild guess, clearly it’s Claire, she’s been too quiet!”
Claire
“What…? Why you… But do you know what, picking you would be too obvious Hinny. I’m going to side with Varg — she’s on to something, Gorranach’s gotta go.”
Sophi
“Yeah… Sorry Gorranach, I think you’re the werewolf. You didn’t try to explain yourself… Or… I don’t think your explanation was convincing, you just backed down like that.”
Leila
“I’m not so sure myself. But I think I’m going to pick Nix as the werewolf.” You hear her giggling.
Nix
Nix studies this false argument amongst the group and for the first time in a while feels a great deal of companionship around this humble campfire. Most of them were strangers a day and a half ago but they’d gone through more than most experience in a lifetime. And they’d done it together.
“Hmm…game…is…many…hards! But…I…like…Many like!”
However, Leila’s accusation hits him like a wagon and shifts his focus. “Nix?! Leila…If…I…Werewolf…Everybody dea—” Nix hastened to swallow the word as quickly as he half-said it and hoped that nobody heard him. The mood was finally lifting and the last thing he wanted to do was ruin that. “Um…Everybody…Uhh…Um…Lose?”
Varg Raeed
“Wait—— Nix? Too small. Gorranach?? Said he wasn’t. Hinny? Too soft, err… Errr…” Varg in her stress randomly points to Claire, seemingly mindboggled by the intricacies of this game.
< Votes Claire >
Xīlōxōch
Xīlōxōch bites her lips as she lets out a sigh. “Well, it looks like there’s going to be a trial for Gorranach. Remember, if over half of you vote for him being a werewolf, then he’s out of the game. Now, put up your hand if you think Gorranach is the werewolf.”
Varg Raeed
< Doesn’t put her hand up. >
Billy, Sophi, Claire, and Hinny put their hand up. Leila does not.
Gorranach
Gorranach looks at them. Not angry, just disappointed.
Xīlōxōch
Xīlōxōch looks at Nix with excitement. “Four votes for Gorranach and three against — it’s all down to you, Nix. What is Gorranach’s fate?”
Nix
“Is…draw…meaning…nobody…stop…playing?”
Xīlōxōch
“Yes, for tonight.”
Nix
“Then…Nix…vote…Gorranach!!” Nix lets out a laugh and hopes that this may lift Gorranach’s spirits. He catches his disappointed stare and tries to plead with him in their shared tongue, Draconic:
𐾶𐾶 𐾳𐾼 𐾶 𐾳𐾷 𐾶 𐾶𐾶 𐾼 𐾶 𐾼 𐾸𐾼
“I’m sorry friend, a game’s a game and I’m aware that you may enjoy your carving a bit more!”
Xīlōxōch
Xīlōxōch laughs out loud as she claps. “Brilliant. I’m sorry, Gorranach, but your time is up. Reveal your leaf!”
Gorranach
“Every day I am surprised anew by how little survival instinct some people have.” Gorranach turns over his leaf. As one might expect, it is the Doctor.
“But, at least I managed to save the first from being eaten.”
Sophi
“What!? I can’t believe this!”
Leila
“Wait what? Is the game over then? Is the werewolf still alive and among us!?”
Varg Raeed
Varg howls with a mixture of genuine fear that the doctor is dead, and laughter that Gorranach actually just got lynched on the very first night.
Leila
“Guys, next time we must pick Nix!”
Claire
“Oops…”
Gorranach
Gorranach stares at Varg’s reaction. You can see him struggle holding his disappointed expression but fail. A smile forms on his face and he chuckles.
Billy
“Drats… Guys! Next time pick Hinny. I have a feeling he’s the actual werewolf!”
Hinny
“Billy! You’ve got the wrong guy! I promise I’m not the werewolf!” Hinny sounds exasperated.
Xīlōxōch
Xīlōxōch sighs, covering the disappointment on her face as she slouches. She returns to her usual form after a few seconds. “Ok, this is rare, but remember — villagers still outnumber the werewolf seven to one, it’s far from over. Everyone, close your eyes, it’s the werewolf’s time to feast.”
Nix
“Leila…how…are…you…many…sure? Hmm…Nix…think…Leila…is…wolf!”
Xīlōxōch
Xīlōxōch receives the werewolf’s answer and nods. “Close your eyes, werewolf. Everyone, open your eyes.” She looks at Sophi with pity in her eyes. “I’m sorry, dear, but you’re gone.”
And the party continued playing into the evening.