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As the sun drew even with the horizon, the villagers were still unsure of the wolves’ identities but they had cast their lots in with Nilpaurion’s lynching – never mind that less than half of them actually thought he was a wolf.
But it really is easier to lynch someone in darkness than in the broad daylight, and a chant rose up, “Kill the wolf! Kill the wolf!” Nilpaurion only looked slightly put out by this. “But I’m not a wolf! I just want you to lynch me!”
The mob paid no attention to this and instead began ushering Nilpaurion towards the gallows which the executioner had conveniently ordered to be built some time ago.
Then one voice made itself heard over the others. “Why hang him? Let his wolves kill the wolf!”
“It wouldn’t work!” claimed another. “No sensible animal bites the hand that feeds it.” Besides, Nilp’s wolf farm was much farther away than this unused gallows, and the shouts of “Let the wolves kill the wolf” were drowned out in the sea of voices, as was the lone shout at the back of the mob, “I’m the executioner! Let me do my job!”
Those at the front paid no heed as they began to tie the rope around Nilp’s neck, perhaps with a little too much glee. They stepped back from the gallows and pulled the lever. Nilp seemed to hang there, still grinning at them. The villagers were confused. Why wasn’t Nilp dying?
Who tied this rope anyway? You villagers don’t even know how to tie a slip knot, let alone lynch someone.
“Hush, Adam,” answered Nilp. “I’m being lynched. That’s the important part.”
“This is ridiculous,” grumbled someone. “He might hang there all night.”
Shouts of agreement went up, and a couple people forced their way to the front bearing heavy sticks.
“He can defy the gallows, but no one can withstand a beating for long!” This idea was eagerly taken up and with a flurry of movement the villagers were pressed around the gallows as the sticks were swung at Nilp’s body.
“Hey, that hurts!” said Nilp. What did you expect? snickered Adam.
Eventually, there had been enough wild swings that Nilp’s neck slipped free of the poorly tied noose, and his bruised and bloody body collapsed in a heap. The villagers didn’t stop there, however – like eager children trying to get all the candy out of a piñata, they continued to beat Nilp’s still body, delighting to hear the bones crack and see new rivulets of blood spill down his back. Finally, a crushing blow was delivered to Nilp’s head. No way was he still alive. The villagers stepped back, no longer in admiration of their handiwork. Nothing had happened. The wolves could barely contain their victorious smiles – Nilp had been an ordinary villager.
~*~*~*~
Living:
Dancing Spawn
Durelin
Elf-warrior
Encai
Eomer
Feanor
Kath
Kitanna
Lhuna
LMP
Mormegil
Oddwen
Oromin
Saurreg
TGWBS
TORE
Wilwarin
Dead:
Firefoot – drowned and burned by werewolves on Night 1
Nilpaurion (Ordinary Villager) – beat piñata style and killed by villagers on Day 1
Score:
Werewolves – 3
Villagers – 14
It is now Night 2. Werewolves may PM and should send me your choice of a kill. Seer, PM me with your choice of a dream. Ranger, tell me who you want to protect. Hunter, tell me who you want to kill in case the wolves kill you. Shirriffs, stop PMing.
Night will end in 24 hours.
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