Entry · Wer schweigt, lebt länger

The Circle of Silence

Today I found an old wooden disc in the cellar – carved with five strange symbols. In the centre it says our family motto: „Wer schweigt, lebt länger.“ Dad says it’s just an “old saying”. But the back smells of cold smoke and damp earth, as if someone had buried the thing up on the cross hill.

Each of the five symbols stands for someone in the family. They say whoever speaks puts the others in danger – whoever stays silent protects the circle. When I touch the signs, I feel like they react to each other: some fall quiet, others start to “glow” again.

I don’t think this is a game. It’s some kind of test. Only when all five signs are silent at the same time is the circle safe. Then – that’s what it says in my grandfather’s notes – one final sentence is supposed to reveal itself.

Ritual circle of the five signs Tap the runes until all fall silent. Moves: 0
Hint not used yet.
In that moment I understand why they always whispered the sentence: „Wer schweigt, lebt länger.“ Not because silence makes you innocent – but because every sound at the wrong moment throws light on the wrong people. In our family, silence isn’t a virtue – it’s survival.