Wherewolf? - Game 15

[friendly spoon]

im still here

[Elbowman-iac]

Well, we've lost quite a few werewolves so far...maybe there's only one or two left? That would make it easier for them to get kills...

[Vercci]

If only we had this system last game D:

[malcolio]

Day 12 has ended

By the time the sun was rising over the tree tops the party had passed through the forest and were nearing settlements outside the city. The farms and small houses had signs of warefare: barricaded doors and windows with simple charms and folk symbols placed on the walls to ward off demons. Otherwise there were no hastily-mad graves, run-down buildings or abandoned crops, so for the refugees the last leg of their journey seemed promising.

The city wall was soon looming before them, a large gated archway manned by armed guards on the road and in battlements above. Small market stalls lined the road, merchants eager to sell their various anti-werewolf wares and less than appetising food. The party ignored all the cries for attention from the shop keepers and rode to the wall entrance, a guard coming out to meet them. He was armed with a halberd, it's wooden shaft topped with the combined shape of spear, hook and axe made from silver.

"What is your business here?" the guard asked simply, using his pole-arm to obstruct the gateway.

There was an uncomfortable silence as the travellers wondered who should speak for them. Eventually Shalashaska, being towards the front of the group and with a head for words, addressed the guard. "We have travelled far to enter the city, as our town..."

"...was close by to a village that was attacked by daemons," interrupted the gamekeeper.

"Yes," continued the clerk, "we would ask permission to enter the city and recuperate, before hiring assistance to help protect our town from the beasts."

"A good plan," replied the guard, "we've had refugees come to the city for a month now, wanting help from werewolf attacks all over the county. Problem is, the council has seen to it that only those with the necessary papers may enter the city. All strangers are barred entry, as werewolves may be hidden within them. No offence meant."

"None taken," said Shalashaska, "I have such papers myself, as I work on the ferry across the hills," he handed the documents to the guard, who idly scanned them, "I vouch for the integrity of my friends, so would they too be allowed to enter?"

The guard handed back the papers. "Your pass seems genuine, though I am surprised I do not recognise the local ferryman. I will need to talk to my superior about the rest of you though. Please wait."

The guard left the gatehouse and entered a side door into the battlements, another guard taking his place and sternly watching the travellers. Shalashaska turned to the others, a small shrug of his shoulders indicating their predicament.

"If only you can enter," said slush puppy, "we will find a place to stay out here and wait for your return."

"Yes, we will entrust some of our gold to you to hire help," the gamekeeper held his purse in hand, ready, "I hope you will contact the ferryman's family as well."

"Of course," the clerk looked surprised, "to not bring news of his passing whilst using his name and papers to enter the city would be disgusting!"

The guard returned, along with his superior, armed with a short sword but otherwise not armed or armoured.

The guard captain addressed the clerk."You and your companions may enter the city. However they must all sign a registry, giving proof of their identity, and be under your watch for the entity of their stay."

"Thank you for the understanding commander," replied Shalashaska, "such measures are undoubtedly needed for these times."

"You don't have me to thank. There hasn't been an attack for two weeks and the lycanthrope slayers have hunted many of the beasts down, so the restrictions on refugees are being lifted tomorrow."

"Why, that's marvellous news," cried the merchant, "I thought these daemons were sign of the world's end!"

"There are still some who hold such a view, so it would be wise to keep quiet on the subject", the captain stepped out of the way of the horses, "but enjoy your stay in the city and I apologise for the delay. If you had come a day later you would have passed through without a challenge."

As they passed through the party thanked the guardsmen, all thinking that a delay at the walls was worth the fast escape from the terrors behind them. They were directed to the nearest stables, and advised to make their way to the guardhouse located close to it, to sign the necessary papers for their stay.

The stables were large and half full already, the travellers splitting up to find stalls for their horses. They came together again to pay the stable master at the entrance, where it was noticed that something was amiss.

"Where is the merchant?" asked slush puppy, noticing the smell of fish was no longer present.

"Has he already left to go to the guardhouse?" asked the gamekeeper.

"I should think not, he has money enough to pay the stable master," swarfegahead looked around, "let us find his horse, in case he has decided to explore the city before us."

It didn't take long to find the stall that kept JackCopsey's steed, nor the body that lay beneath it. slush puppy backed away from the stall in horror, whilst the huntsman and gamekeeper kept their back to the scene to keep an eye on anyone who might wander past. It was left to the clerk and beggar to look over the merchant's corpse.

He had been brutally cleaved through the back with large claws, bone and muscle being ripped apart as if the claws were making just ripples in water. Blood seeped everywhere, so that Shalashaska quickly made the decision to use straw to mop up the pool and then to cover the body.

"We need to leave here, before the body is discovered," Shalashaska finished his rough camouflage, "we are all likely to hang for this!"

"Leave the stables, or leave the city?" asked Vercci.

"If we can make contact with a werewolf slayer at the guardhouse, the city." The clerk's words were met with nods of the head from the gamekeeper and hunter, so the group walked fast out of the stables, paying the master as they left, before heading straight to the guardhouse. So far their stay in the city had not been as peaceful as they had hoped.

Results:

No votes means no lynching!
The werewolves killed JackCopsey, who was a civilian!
GazzyW needs to post this day to stay in the game.

Day 13 has started, and will end on 19/11/09 at 22:00 GMT.

[GazzyW]

Sorry for no posting. No ideas just yet.

[Shalashaska]

Totally saved all your asses.

[GazzyW]

Shuddup, Ocelot.

[Vercci]

Ok. It's getting too close to the end of the game for us to do nothing about the last wolf.

So, I did some reading up, and mixing and matching with several posts, I believe that GazzyW is the last wolf.

Remember that he in the narration is woodchip50 the gamekeeper. Now I know malcolio's made reference to wolves role's playing a part in the narration

Originally Posted by Malcolio

"Aye, the herbalist was in the barn when the jailer was slain," said the clerk, "and it may well have startled the horse they were sharing with the physician, when they were on the ferry."

"But there was a great splash in the water?" Elbowman-iac was looking doubtful, "I was sure something had leaped into the river to attack the pontoon!"

"It could have just been the soldier creating a distraction," replied Shalashaska, "same as his musket fire against the bandits, and on our first night when the tollman was slain."

I've been reading the narration, and I've noticed that there are constant references to animals being nearby as werewolves land kills. fruitbat is murdered by the wolves in a stable. (Although the narration points to suicide)


Then there's this

Originally Posted by Malcolio

"I'm afraid it seems his death was not one of ill fortune, either," slush puppy was knelt down beside the dead horse, "something has stabbed at the horses's rear, deep powerful cuts."

The others quickly came to the bandit's side and looked at the animal, the gamekeeper and hunter especially peering close at the wound.

"She is right, what's more this was no blade that did the deed," the gamekeeper sighed, "seems we have a being of Satan's amongst us still."

I'm pretty sure malcolio doesn't write quotes like this by PURE accident.

And just now, we lose jackcopsey in another stable.

Right now my lead isn't much, but at this point in the game, we need to do some killing of some type. I believe this is some of the better evidence that I've found compared to you guys.


Also, I'm pretty sure that there's only been 1 wolf left since day 9. The kills have been too random for 2 wolves to be signalling eachother flawlessly without arousing suspicion.

[malcolio]

Day 13 is over

The party entered the guardhouse, the desk sergeant watching them approach his desk with a look of boredom.

"My companions were asked to sign a register," said Shalashaska, "as they have entered the city without papers but under my care."

The guard merely pointed at an open book on his desk, and watched each person fill in their details.

"Do you know the best way of hiring a werewolf slayer, constable?" asked slush puppy.

The guard, still mute, simply shook his head.

"What do you mean, 'no'?" Vercci was becoming agitated.

"All slayers have left the city weeks ago," finally spoke the guard, "there are no beasts here to kill, but plenty far away!"

There was a shocked pause, before the clerk cleared his throat, "thank you for your help, it has saved us time searching. We bid you farewell."

Shalashaska all but pushed his companions out of the guard house. "Well then, seems our stay in the city will be brief, with a body soon to be found but no slayers in sight!"

"It is true, we do nothing but bring death staying here," slush puppy looked about the city skyline, seeing it would be gone soon.

"We shall leave then," said the gamekeeper, "and make our way to the coastal town. Perhaps we will find help there."

The group quickly walked to the stables and returned to their mounts, nobody saying a word at leaving the merchant's corpse still covered in straw where it had been left. They travelled to the city gatehouse, luck being with them as a watch change meant they did not have to respond to any queries about leaving the city so soon after entering it.

Shalashaska halted his horse however, and looked back at the city. "I cannot go on, not after entering this city under a dead man's name and leaving the fallen behind to rot. I should stay and contact the ferryman's family, or at least search for mercenaries."

"Coward," said the beggar, "either a human or devilish being. How are we to know you are not the werewolf we are seeking, that we let loose into the city?"

"His words are harsh but true," said Vercci, "although your plan is a good one we cannot let any of us stay here."

"I will prove to you that I am now a daemon, but I will need your help." Shalashaska looked pointedly at the bandit, who with a frown revealed his silver dagger and passed it to the clerk. Everyone watched the man closely, as he rolled up the sleeve of his jacket and scored a deep cut down his arm with the blade. He winced as he did so but kept his tongue still, being as they were next to the busy street.

The wound, though bloody, did not resemble those that had been inflicted against the werewolves the refugees had slain. Satisfied, slush puppy used some spare cloth to wrap up the arm, whilst the clerk handed back the knife to Vercci.

"I do not know if such an act is test enough," said the gamekeeper, "but I trust your character regardless. Have some of my coin, to find help for our town."

He threw a purse to the clerk who accepted it with a nod of his head, it being matched with other donations from the other travellers. With that they parted ways, the party passing under the gate to the market outside, Shalashaska turning to return to the stable, perhaps to bribe the stable master of their movements.

Outside the city the party dismounted and travelled amongst the stalls, wanting to resupply themselves before their journey. They bought over-valued food and water, many spending most of their savings on simple silver rings, although many sellers were offering only tarnished tin as fake equivalents. All bought some silver ring or necklace to ward away werewolves, other than the gamekeeper.

"We know that not all folk tales are true," said woodchip50, "I for one do not see the reason to waste all my money on silver that would do nothing to help!"

"The prices here are dear for such small trinkets," replied slush puppy, "but to refuse such simple protection seems foolish."

"Even I have bought a token ring," said friendlyspoon, "with my own coin, no less."

The gamekeeper was not swayed, "I will save my purse for the coastal town. Perhaps you will wish you would have done the same."

After they had all bought what they wanted the party mounted their horses and started on the road to the town, though Vercci was troubled.

"If money concerns you so much gamekeeper, perhaps you would like to borrow my necklace to wear?" the bandit slipped off the silver chain as he spoke, offering it out to woodchip50 riding next to him.

"Thank you, but I will do without. I trust my musket to protect me." Saying that, woodchip50 patted the blunderbuss slung over his shoulder.

Vercci looked away, seemingly satisifed with the response, but suddenly turned and leapt off his horse to fall upon the gamekeeper, pushing both on to the ground. The bandit slashed at the gamekeeper who rolled over to reach to his weapon in vain. The others of the party quickly came off their horses and tried to prise free the two men. Vercci was pulled away by swarfegahead, not before having cut two deep wounds into woodchip50's side.

"What in God's name are you doing?" cried the hunstman, "what reason do you have for this?"

"Is it not plain?" said the bandit, relaxing and just watching the gamekeeper on the ground, "he is a werewolf, afraid of silver! My dagger will have done it's work."

Sure enough woodchip50's wounds were grievous, but slush puppy looked up at her friend. "This is not proof, he is dying as any other man would!"

"There is one more way to convince you all." Vercci withdrew a handful of a plant from his jerkin and jumped forward, to push into the gamekeeper's mouth what all knew would be wolfsbane. The bandit was pulled away again, and slush puppy struggled to help the gamekeeper, but his mouth swelled up and he gave a muffled cry as the cuts into his body bled. He suddenly stopped moving and his head rolled to the side, for slush puppy to pick up the plant and look at Vercci.

"He is dead, for nothing," she passed back the wolfsbane to Vercci, who looked confused, "your knife strokes were deep and fatal, whilst the aconite only weakened his resolve. The roots are toxic to us too, not as deadly as to werewolves but still harmful to a wounded man!"

Vercci collapsed onto his knees at the news, whilst silently the others looked over at the dead gamekeeper and readied him for burial. friendly spoon picked up the man's blunderbuss and shouldered the weapon, whilst swarfegahead began digging a hole by the road. Vercci was numb, finally picking himself off from the ground and helping the huntsman dig the grave.

Results:

One vote, one kill: GazzyW was lynched, and was a civilian!
The werewolves killed Shalashaska, who was also a civilian!
All those that are still playing the game (other than Vercci) need to post this Day. I'd prefer something other than apathy to end this game.

Day 14 has started, and will end on 21/11/09 at 22.00 GMT.

[friendly spoon]

slush puppy

[malcolio]

I'm away from the 'net this evening, so the deadline will be put off until tomorrow morning. Apologies!