Pettifogger

How to Run

During the day, when a player is nominated, the Pettifogger may behave as though they genuinely believe that player is good.

If the Storyteller judges that the Pettifogger was sufficiently mad that the nominated player was good, mark that player as DEFENDED.

If that player is not executed that day, then that night wake the Pettifogger and show them the defended player's alignment: a thumbs up for good, a thumbs down for evil.

Mark the Pettifogger as USED.

This can happen only once per game.

Examples

Alice is nominated. The Pettifogger strongly argues that Alice is good and should not be executed. Alice survives the day. That night, the Pettifogger learns that Alice is good.

Ben is nominated. The Pettifogger gives only a vague statement that Ben “might be good” while otherwise supporting his execution. The Storyteller does not judge this to be sufficient Madness. The ability does not trigger.

Carol is nominated and the Pettifogger convincingly defends her as good. Carol is executed anyway. The Pettifogger receives no information and has not yet successfully triggered their ability.

On a later day, David is nominated. The Pettifogger is mad that David is good, and David is not executed. That night the Pettifogger learns that David is evil, and can no longer use the ability again.

The Pettifogger successfully defends the Greybeard. The Greybeard might register as good, so the Storyteller may show good.

The Pettifogger successfully defends a good Spreader. The Spreader might register as evil, so the Storyteller may show evil.

The Pettifogger successfully defends a player but is poisoned that night. The alignment shown may be false.

Rules & Clarifications

• The player must actually have been nominated.
• The Pettifogger must be mad that the nominated player is good, not merely that they should survive or should not be executed.
• Madness is judged by the Storyteller using the normal principles of Madness.
• The nominated player does not actually need to be good.
• The ability succeeds only if the player is not executed that day.
• If the defended player is executed, the Pettifogger has not gained their information and may still attempt to trigger the ability on a later day.
• Once the Pettifogger receives their information, the ability is spent.
• The Pettifogger learns the player's current alignment that night, as it stands when the information is given. Registration may affect it.
• If the Pettifogger is drunk or poisoned when receiving the information, it may be false.
• If the Pettifogger does not wake that night, for example because of the Henchman, they receive no information and the ability is not spent.