All that changed when Goodman Jack was found dead, his throat torn out, his body a bloody mess near the village gates. Everyone remembered his accusation the day before, "There is a werewolf amongst us, and he holds post within the village council!"
That morning itself the whole village met to discuss Goodman Jack's death. No doubt about it, the killings were the work of a -gasp- werewolf. It wasn't just any boogeyman story any more. Given that our little village was isolated from the rest of the world, there was no doubt that the werewolf was lurking among us.
It wasn't a comforting thought. None of us would be able to sleep soundly until the werewolf was exposed and killed. Already, looking at the crowd, everyone carried with them folklore safeguards meant to protect them: cloves of garlic, pieces of silver, crucifixes...Village leaders Father ryhen, Goodman Long, Matron Ain, loreweaver ayheng, trader Wolfx, Chief Alan, old man Vincent and lexicographer aycee headed the council in attempts to expose the werewolf.
Father ryhen spoke first. Everyone else was scandalised as Father ryhen spoke of contacting the Village Seer, the local witch. While everyone acknowledge her prowress (and the necessity of having someone skilled in the arts of midwifery, herbology and other secret magicks), no one openly talked about her. Whatmore Father ryhen openly suggesting working with a heretic!
Goodman Long voiced out against Father ryhen, condemning him and leading a group of villagers to believe that Father ryhen has been possessed by evil spirits and needs to be cleansed...terminally. Father ryhen's quiet manner was drowned out by Goodman Long's speeches, but not before causing the villagers to split into to groups of thought. However, having the majority of people behind him, Goodman Long and his mob burned Father ryhen at the stake as a heretic.
Everyone then went home, secured in their belief that their village is no longer under threat.
Old man Vincent was then found dead next morning. Dread swamped the villagers. Was there another werewolf lurking in our midst? Or, more horrifically, did we kill innocent Father ryhen in error!
Matron Ain was suspected. A girl of easy virtues, she was accused of sneaking out at night and wandering about near old man Vincent's hut. Her remarks that we were 'stupid old men who cannot see beyond our noses' was a scream of defiance that went unnoticed. She died at the stake as well.
Next morning, Village Militia Chief Alan was found dead in his office. The MO was the same - ripped jugular, claw marks. This time there was no doubt amongst the guilt-ridden villagers. They were murderers, manipulated by the werewolf (or werewolves) to kill their own brethren while hiding their own tracks.
Throughout all this, village trader Wolfx had heard mutterings against him, but having no other basis than having the family name of Wolfx no one openly confronted him about being the werewolf. But with the werewolf still at large mutterings against him grew louder, the source of it coming from Goodman Long. Things came to a head among the village elders with trader Wolfx and Goodman Long at each other's throats (figuratively speaking) while village loreweaver ayheng and lexicographer aycee kept quiet. Since no incriminating evidence could be produced, the village elders decide to put the matter off till the following day.
Next morning Wolfx was found dead. That night, loreweaver ayheng was visited by Goodman Long and lexicographer aycee, only to witness a ghastly transformation under the full moon...
It's a werekangaroo!
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