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Werewolf 242: Murder on the Orient Express – Day 1

Train in snow

Dear Hastings,

I hope my letter finds you well. My ruse has been successful, and I am aboard the Orient Express. Unfortunately, Mister Ratchett chose to ignore my advice to stay in the Tokatlian Hotel back in Constantinopel and insisted on coming as well. Why, Hastings, is it always the same with these Americans? They hire Poirot and then do as they please. Arrogant! Rude! Enfin, I must not speak ill of the dead, but you will understand my frustration.

At the time of my writing, we are halted near the border with Italy due to excessive amounts of snow on the tracks. It would seem weird, does it not, that a murderer would choose this exact moment to strike? When they cannot get off the train? You will understand then, how I knew that Mr. Ratchett must have been poisoned even before the medical examination confirmed it.

I must now go and start my investigation, without breaking cover, making the best of these circumstances. More later,

H.P.

Dead (or otherwise removed from play)

Mister Samuel Edward Ratchett  You are an american businessman travelling with your secretary/translator and your english valet. You are a rich man – very rich indeed!

Played by: NPC

Alignment: Town

Alive

Monsieur Bouc You are one of the directors of the Belgian Compagnie des Wagons-Lits that operates the Orient Express line. Right before embarking you met with an old friend, Detective Hercule Poirot, who was going the same way, but alas this train was fully booked!

Played by: MacCrocodile

Count Rudolph Andrenyi You are attached to the Hungarian embassy in Paris, where you are returning after a belated honeymoon. You own a country estate in Hungary and are absolutely devoted to your beautiful wife.

Played by: Cork

Countess Helena Maria Andrenyi – née Goldenberg. You were married little over a year ago and are enjoying life in the highest social circles at your husband’s side. Both of you have diplomatic immunity, so this investigation is little more than a diversion.

Played by: Mrs QueeQueg

Princess Natalia Dragomiroff You are returning to Paris with your German lady’s maid, Fräulein Schmidt, after a visit to Constantinople. Your late husband realised all his money before the Revolution and invested it abroad.

Played by: Mama QueeQorq

Hildegarde Schmidt You have been in loyal service to Her Excellency for fifteen years, and hope to serve her for many more. She wholly depends on your massages to make her rheumatism somewhat bearable, and you often read her to sleep.

Played by: Jake

Hector Willard MacQueen You were employed by Mr. Ratchett little over a year ago in Persia when he impulsively fired his former secretary in the hotel where you were staying. You are fluent in English, French, Italian, Arabic, and Persian. The job paid well and involved a lot of travel.

Played by: Narrowstrife

Edward Henry Masterman You were Mr. Ratchett’s valet and take great pride in your profession. All your previous employers can be counted on to vouch for your character. Unfortunately you are suffering from a toothache.

Played by: Indy

Colonel John Arbuthnot You are on leave from India and have spent three days in Baghdad to visit a friend. The current delay is most inconvenient for you, seeing as you need to make your connection to London.

Played by: Beinggreen

Doctor Stavros Constantine You were last to join the train when it merged with the one from Athens. You have examined the body and were able to assist some of the more nervous ladies with sedatives and sleeping draughts.

Played by: Bob Mustard

Cyrus Bethman Hardman You are a travelling salesman for typewriting ribbons from New York, here on business. The only reason you can afford a first class compartment is because the firm pays your travelling expenses.

Played by: Moolissa

Antonio Foscarelli You are an enthusiastic sales agent for Ford motor cars. Born Italian, you are now a naturalised American subject – it is better for business. You pride yourself on having travelled all over the United States – New York, Cleveland, Chicago, Detroit! You are currently on your way to Milan for an important meeting.

Played by: Josephus

Greta Ohlsson You are a Swedish nurse who has been working as a matron in a missionary school near Stamboul these past years, but you are now on your way to visit a sister in Lausanne. You are much looking forward to seeing your nieces and nephews again.

Played by: Scientician13

Mary Hermione Debenham You are travelling from Baghdad, where you are currently employed as a governess to two children, to London. You would love to find a suitable position closer to home. Or, indeed, a husband.

Played by: PersistingDeviation

Mrs. Caroline Martha Hubbard You are widowed and returning to the US from your first visit to your adult daughter and her family. She and her husband are on the staff of a big American college in Smyrna and you must have shown the picture of your grandchild to everyone on the train with eyes to see.

Played by: MSD

Pierre Michel You live in Calais and have worked as a Wagon Lit conductor for the CIWL for many years. It is your duty to ensure all luggage is brought to the right compartment, to make the guests’ beds and to answer when they ring their bell – usually because they want you to fetch something.

Played by: Side Character

Mechanical Details
  • The criminal night actions (kill and plant evidence) can be multitasked with other, innocent actions, and may have restrictions/options only the criminals will know.
  • Players may have special rules for their night actions related to their secrets. Last time I ran this setup, for example, one player could search other players’ cabins every night instead of having to alternate actions.
  • Players who fail to submit a night action will default to either staying in their cabin or searching that of a random living player, depending on what they did the night before.
  • If two players try to search the same compartment, they will not do so but learn eachother’s identity instead.
  • If three or more players try to search the same compartment, they will instead learn the identity of one of the others.
  • When observing, a player only ever learns one piece of information, even when there are several to be had.
  • When searching someone’s compartment, you will learn a hint at their secret, not the exact text.
  • These hints are unique, so searching someone’s compartment on consecutive days will yield different information.
  • Criminals can plant evidence in eachother’s compartments.
  • Feel free to ask about scenarios, this is not an exhaustive list.
Rules
  • Roleplaying your character is encouraged, but not required! It is totally okay to roleplay “The Count from Sesame Street”, “Hermione Debenham/Granger got lost in the wrong movie and tries to solve the murders with magic”, or “Princess Dragomiroff, the Singing Banana”.
  • Players should not talk (post in the game thread) during the night phases.
  • Players who claim their secret or anything related to it can no longer fulfill the associated personal goal.
  • Do not quote directly from your private channel(s) on discord. If you’re discussing your night action or its result, paraphrasing is fine.
  • Do not communicate with the other players in other ways than intended. This includes PMs, chats outside of the game, ciphers or any other forms of communication that may disrupt the balance of the game.
  • Do not edit posts other than to correct pronouns.
  • This is not a bastard game. Flips are truthful, and I will not lie (though mistakes are possible).
  • Do not belittle other players or their play.

Remember not to divulge your character’s secrets or personal goals!

Good Luck and Have Fun ❤️