After returning from his breakfast and returning to the group Thoen easily steps forward and begins stripping. Beyond his muscular physique, the only thing of any note is a rather large and shapeless birthmark covering his lower back.
Tristen frowns for a moment before staring shrewdly at the Duke. "You know what old timer... I think it is you. I did think it was the Professor but... I see from the look of hurt on her face, that it is not. No. It is you. The old and frail act fools me not!"
Tristen turns to the Professor, staring at the ground before him. "Alessandra, forgive me? I am sorry. You are right... I saw the proof for myself. I am sorry I accused you once more. A moment of weakness!"
"Oh I respect your convictions Duke but I tire of them. You have voted for me often. Allow me to return the favor. Should it be you and I till the end, I know then that I have lost!"
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"Then permit me my cowardice in voting not with the majority, I have enough blood upon my conscience yet I see no way out of this, and not voting is not an option."
"Indeed many a vote cast has been followed in kind, the recipeint of one vote in turn about fashion voting for the other. I see no sense in this at this time."
"I retract my vote against thee, and shall let this day take its course."
"I see no cause to accuse another in the matter today."
Bruce frowns at Whitey's response, his thoughts troubled. You do me no favors today, do you old friend? Well it seems like the good professor might be this town's next target so my vote for you will be of little consequence but in good concience I cannot change it.
He sits with a heavy sigh, shaking his head sadly. I hope you and the others are right about her and this matter is finished once and for all tonight. Nothing would please me more than owing you more than what a simple apology could ever cover.
The doctor returns from his seclusion amongst experiments and chimes in rather cheerily "Voo know I'm inclined to agree wit the consensus here and side with whitey even if his tales of those with ESP seems less science fiction than fact. It's worth....v'well a test at least."
Prof A: 5 (Theon, Whitey, Tristen, Simon, Dr. L)
Whitey: 2 (Prof A, Bruce)
Duke: 1 (Tristen)
"You know Professor, there is just one thing Im curious about. From what I understand about Werewolves is that the transformation is quite painful. How does it feel to know that you will not ever need to deal with this burden again. That lives will be saved with you gone. How do you deal with the guilt for the sins you've committed. Please tell me so that once this ordeal is over I will be able to deal with my own guilt for the sins I've committed trying to rid this village of your kind."
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Alessandra takes a deep breath to control the rage that threatens to overwhelm her at Whitey's words. Things seemed hopeless, but reason and logic might yet win out. She throws caution to the winds and makes her final appeal.
"Painful? No, it's more akin to jumping into an icy stream and feeling yourself carried away. Truth be told, I feel no guilt for my actions. No blood would have been spilled at all if you fools weren't so cussedly stubborn about despoiling the Weirwood. The wolves were here first! I'm not sure how to explain it- I'm not sure it can be explained. Since I was bitten, the woods have sung to me, enthralled me with their sights and sounds and scents. This place is sacred and you all want to treat it as nothing more than a common patch of dirt."
The professor looks hopeful as she meets Whitey's accusing gaze, "Listen to me, no more people need to die here. You can do something to free yourself from your guilt- nobody needs to die tonight! Not tonight or any night! Come with me, join the pack! Just a quick nip and there will be nothing to fight over any more."
Doctor, as the baner you have demonstrated subtlety and wisdom. Simon, as a scryer you've shown reason and insight. Tristen you've shown yourself a true friend in dire straights, keeping your word to me no matter how great the temptation to break it. You've all proved yourselves worthy allies and cunning prey and I'd be proud to hunt beside any of you. As you've seen, the bite leaves no permanent mark or lasting injury. Come, stand with me under the moon and accept this gift- join the TRUE settlers of the Weirwood!"
Tristen pauses for a moment before pinching the bridge of his nose in confusion. "Dear God... I can not tell if you are kidding me or not Alessandra. But I do know I would like the killing to stop..."
"This place is sacred and you all want to treat it as nothing more than a common patch of dirt."
"But Alessandra, we are simple folk, if the werewolves had only asked kindly we could have arranged for a sacrifice of sheep at each new moon, a wooly tribute to our long fanged neighbors in the woods, and celebrated this sacred spot with you. Certainly there was a better solution than eating us, for man has always bested any predator greater in size than a virus."
"How can we trust you Alessandra? You claim that you will merely give us one bite and all will be well. But if such were the case then you could have done as much from the beginning--while instead you have killed our people and forced us into a situation where we must kill each other.
You do not wish for a peaceful situation, and your crimes are too great against you. You must be hung."
Alessandra is backed up as if under a firing squad. She is pushed back and back until she stands against the wall, then suddenly lunges, her bones seeming to liquidize under her skin until she doesn't look human. Her nose lengthening...
And then a sharp crack through the air!
Doctor Lugwaude stands tall with his pistol on the Professor's corpse. "Silver Vullets yhou see? Very vandy." He begins to move when a second wolf leaps from the shadows, throwing it's form onto the doctor, who disappears in a spray of blood. The Villagers scatter in terror back to their homes.
Tristen crouches in the doorway of his house, staring out in to the street. "Should have taken the bite... Should have let her change me... Now I am dead. DEAD AS CAN BE!"
Whitey shouts with joy and excitement through the streets.
"A WOLF IS DEAD! TONIGHT WE CELEBRATE! EVERYBODY TO THE PUB FOR FREE DRINKS!"
With that he charges right on over to the Pub and unlocks the door to get ready for the victory party.
Tristen brushes himself off and darts to the street, crouching for a moment, before moving towards Whitey. He steps in the door and puts the Doctors pistol on the counter, before taking a seat.
"By the Gods..."
"I know.... All this trouble and its only half over"
"What can I get you?"
Bruce allowed himself a weak smile at Whitey's enthusiasm as he followed him into the bar. It was hard to get too excited knowing that there was still another wolf loose amongst them. Last night's events still felt unreal. It seemed like they had finally won and then the Doctor was taken. And he was a Baner!
Bruce took a long swig from the mug of ale set before him and then leaned against the bar. Whitey, I owe you an apology. You were not only innocent but you were right about Alessandra. I hope some day if we make it out of this alive that you'll be able to forgive me for not believing you earlier. Please know that I have your back going forward.
Spinning the gun, so it comes to rest, facing Bruce, Tristen scoops it up off the counter, before cocking and uncocking it once, then twice. "I'll have a whiskey. And keep em coming..." He set the pistol down atop the counter once more, before spinning it once again, watching as it came to rest, hilt towards his chest. "Damn shame..."
Whitey pours Tristen a Whiskey while watching the barrel of the gun spin under his fingers.
I hope the boy has the safety on. I don't even know if that thing is loaded?
"Bruce, all I hope at this point is that I have proved my innocence. I accept your apology regardless of weather or not we survive. There is still 1 remaining wolf among us. For all we know they could be in this very room."
Tristen takes the Whiskey with a smile, downing it in one, before liding the glass back in front of the barkeep. "Shoulda been a lot more wolves remaining... Shoulda taken her offer... Shoulda become a wolf. If you arent the predator you are the pray... Shoulda done it..."As he speaks, the gun spins idly under his hand, stopping every once and awhile, before starting again.
"Woulda been the end of fear..."
"No it wouldn't Boy. It would only be the beginning of fear. Had you taken her offer it would be the entire Village against you, not just one pesky Wolf. That and you'd have to deal with me hunting you."
Tristen shakes his head, hunching his shoulders and laughing softly. "I'd leave... I'd get lost in the woods and I'd never come out. I'd hunt free. I wouldnt stay here. We shoulda all done it. Woulda been for the best Whitey. Woulda... Now there are six of us... One of us is a wolf and we have no Banner!" The gun stops on Bruce once again and Tristen stares at him sideways, before spinning the pistol again.
"Spot of blood on your coat there Bruce..."
Simon shuffles into the bar, the tracks of tears still lining his cheeks, all joy in the occasion lost in the sadness of another two deaths. Even the demise of the wolfish professor breaks his heart, before the affliction of the wolves she had been a good woman, a wealth of interesting stories, and a true member of this village.
He sees Tristen spinning the pistol and hears his despondent words. He takes a seat next to the young barrister and calmly puts a hand on the pistol, stopping its rotations, and slides the firearm over the end of the bar, gently placing it where only Whitey has access to the freshly fired gun.
"Your fear is understandable and it is good to be sad young Tristen, death should never be easy. When we rejoice in killing we become less the victor and more the villain. But wish not for the supposed release of being a wolf, remember that this all started when Sir Keinly blew his brains out rather than suffer the pains of being a predator against his will."
With a sheepish expression, Simon looks to Whitey.
"Aye, my friend, we've survived another day, though the toll be great. Pour some more of that fine whiskey if you would and let us remember those that have fallen and keep an eye on the task ahead. We aren't out of the woods yet, either figuratively or literally."
After trying to calm Tristen, Simon turns his gaze on Bruce, his eyes burning brightly.
"I suppose there is no hiding our true selves now, is there Bruce. With her last words Alessandra has outed me as the scryer. It is true and I'll not deny it, Whitey and I have been working together to end this menace of wolves. And now we know you are the last wolf among us, the vision has shown me the truth of your nature. Do not fight the inevitable, good sir, drink with us this evening and enjoy your final hours among men, rather than wolves.
"Lucky you took the gun Simon... I was just about to ask our friend Bruce here a few questions..." Tristen pushes away from the bar, before moving to stand before the fireplace.
"Bruce does not vote for the Professor in the last round, suggesting he is either working with her, or is blind to how things are. I know... I did not vote for Alessandra either, but that is beside the point. I was tired of the Duke accusing me, so I shifted my vote. Voting for the poor woman all of the time, would have hardly been fair..." Taking a long swallow of whiskey, Tristen turns back to face the man.
"As Bruce was the only one who did not vote for the Professor, this means he is the other Wolf. The wolves, we can assume, have met at this point. This means that Bruce is our killer and I should get that fancy silver fed gun back..."
Thoen walks into the pub where everyone else has gathered, although without ordering a drink, hearing Simon's words he turns to him.
"Simon, I trust that you speak the truth, seeing as no one steps forward to denounce you.
Bruce, do you have anything to say in your own defense?"
Bruce looks to Tristen, not allowing himself to be intimidated by this young man. You would accuse me simply because I made a mistake? Well then why not Whitey, who with the rest of us allowed 2 innocent men to die? Thankfully he's managed to prove himself innocent without a shadow of a doubt in my eyes and I can tell you all that he won't be receiving my vote. Ever.
But look at yourself Mr. Bell. Twirling your gun around, simmering and enjoying your feelings of rage. Talking of how we should have become one with the wolves, run free in the woods. You know who you sound like right now? Alessandra. She seemed to give in to her animal instincts at the end and also spoke of joining the pack. It seems to me that maybe you're simply trying to finish what your "mate" started. Maybe you're not being as overt as she was but then again, aren't lawyers skilled in spinning the truth to get the outcome they want. Maybe the Duke was right about you all along, hiding your curse with the skills of your profession.
Bruce looks down at his coat and the blood stain on it before laughing in Bell's face. And yes there's blood on my clothes, as there has been on most everyone else's, given the number of dead that we've had to deal with. We're surrounded by death and I simply haven't taken the time to do my wash. Seems to me it'd take a cold blooded killer, someone who's accepted their true nature, to be more concerned with their outfit than the death they're bringing.
Bruce nods to Simon. I thank you for your honesty but to be perfectly blunt your visions and Eldon's, God rest his soul, haven't been perfectly accurate since this ordeal started. If they had been, no one would have had to die in the first place. Can you be sure of what you saw? Have you turned your powers on everyone remaining in this room? Or are you simply allowing the true killer to influence you as he has been doing since the beginning?
Bruce nods to Whitey for another refill before settling back on his stool. I have nothing to hide and I'm certainly not the one acting out of character right now. Seems to me that the once timid boy is allowing his inner wolf to show.
Tristen laughs softly, shaking his head. "Me? A Wolf? Nonsense. Am I acting out of character? Why yes, yes I am. I just witnessed a woman I was infactuated with, for quite awhile, turn in to a wolf and get blown away by a mad German. Excuse me if this has taken a toll on me. No you sidewinder you will not get away with this... Whitey, dear friend, you know what I say is true. Join me and cast Bruce down!"
Tristen looks at the Duke and nods. "You would have to be blind not to have been a little... Interested... In Alessandra. Is it so strange then that I am in a state of shock and anger? That I would be keen for action..."
Tristen shrugs, downing the whiskey in his glass, before holding it out towards Whitey to fill. "No it is not. Bruce is the Wolf, Duke. You know it to be true!"
Bruce nods to Leto, not allowing Tristen's animalistic rage to phase him. You've had your suspicions all along about Tristen. Of us all, you've been most steadfast in your belief. I too suspected something was off about him in the beginning but circumstances allowed him to shift the blame to others. He calls me liar but nothing of who I am or what I've done has been any different from the man that has lived here these last years. He is becoming ever more aggressive, allowing his true nature to slowly consume him.
Bruce addresses Leto and the rest. Didn't Tristen in fact change his vote from the Professor at the last minute to Duke Leto? He claimed that he could not believe it of her. Sure he is quick to call her down as monster but he was only too happy to suddenly change his mind when the Duke once again tried to show what he truly was. It only took a few words from Alessandra for Tristen to suddenly decide that no vote was the safest option.
You call my liar yet everything you've said since this started has been falsehoods.
For once these past couple days I am in a position to vote freely. I will need more time to weigh my options. Until then, I encourage each one of you to make their case and I will use that to decide who I think is the wolf."
"I thank you for your honesty but to be perfectly blunt your visions and Eldon's, God rest his soul, haven't been perfectly accurate since this ordeal started...Have you turned your powers on everyone remaining in this room?"
"I agree that our visions have not been perfect, my sorrow was great at the death of Vorian. In these difficult times we have little to guide us and we error in judgement as we grasp at the small bits of knowledge that we have. Of those that remain, other than yourself only Whitey has appeared in my scryer's glass and he has been shown as a villager, but I do trust Tristen as well and I believe his intentions are pure."
The paranoid, sheepish Simon has a firm confidence about him now, the burden of hiding his true role lifted.
"Clearly one of us will die this night Bruce, if not you then me, for certainly the wolf will tear my throat. So, a toast to all on this final evening for one of us, perhaps both if my vision was incorrect, let us remember that we were neighbors before this tragedy started."
With that Simon raises his glass of whiskey with a nod to those in the pub, his neighbors and friends, regardless of their afflictions.
Whitey raises his stein to Simon's glass.
"The fact that I'm toasting with a Werewolf is a bit unsettling."
Bruce raises a mug with the rest, trying to not let the circumstances erase the fact that he has known some of these men for a long time. Agreed. Well Whitey I hope to convince you by the end of the evening, but should you end up voting against me I won't hold it against you. These are times liable to make any man regret a decision, whether good or bad.
Whitey looks at Thoen with one eyebrow raised.
"Thoen, will you be joining us?"
Although hesitant to consume more drink after his last experience, Thoen quickly picks up a mug and raises it.
"Of course Mr. McWhite. A toast to finding the last of these monsters and restoring our town to what it once was and what it may yet become."
Thoen and Whitey undeclared.
Bruce sighs as Theon casts his vote. I've given you nothing but honest answers since this began and yet I am cast out so quickly. When I die tonight, and you are still left with a wolf in your midst, I hope you understand that you did this to yourselves.
Turning to Whitey, he motions for another mug of ale. You could save me this night by tying the vote but I fear that if you do, you will be targeted next, either by these others that claim to be your allies or by the true wolf. For make no mistake, when I die you will still be in terrible danger. Still I would implore you to trust your feelings and to call Tristen out for what he is. By allowing him this victory, he will be free to kill again. And with Simon so bravely outing himself as the lone Scryer left amongst us, I fear he will be the next target.
"I believe another drink is in order first. This is not a decision I want to rush. My previous votes had a bit more certainty backing them and many took innocent lives. No, this time I want to be sure. What will you all be having?"
Whitey sips casually on his Beer.
You know gentlemen, a thought came over me. What will happen to our village once we rid it of the Werewolf threat? Even if we find the Wolf tonight and kill it there will only be 4 of us to carry on. Everyone else has left. Do you think they'd come back? I don't even know where most of them are. I wouldn't know where to begin to send them word. My business couldn't continue with just us.
This will be a ghost town filled with bad memories and yet its my home. Maybe its time we all think about what's to happen once this is all over. I have enough alcohol reserves stored away. Maybe I could give up the pub and take up a higher post. Maybe Mayor?