Old Man Stauf certainly knows how to prey on his guests' desires, but it seems that he'd have a harder time doing it if they all just used their heads for a bit.
- Henry Stauf used to be a drifter robbing small shops to get by during the Great Depression. One day he encounters a woman coming home from choir practice.
You'd Expect: That this woman would have at least some form of self-defence and to be on alert. Again, this is the Great Depression, a time when many Americans like Stauf were down on their luck and would do anything for cash (heck, the mafia thrived during this period for that very reason). Honestly, you can never be too careful.
Instead: She seems to be completely defenseless when Stauf sneaks up on her, allowing him to kill her and take her purse, sinking to his absolute lowest. It's even worse in the novel, where Stauf actually runs at her brandishing a hammer, and her only reaction upon seeing him is, "Oh, you poor man!"
Result: Some eldritch or satanic force is drawn to Stauf as a result of this cruel act and gives him dreams on how to make toys, giving him success while also commanding him to use his new gift to steal the souls of children. - After Stauf builds his mansion, he eventually invites six guests for a party, the idea being that they'll all be playing a game with the winner getting their greatest desire. However, before the game even begins most of them experience strange occurences. Elinor Knox finds a maze in the basement and sees what looks like blood dripping from the walls. Brian Dutton hears a mad choir going off in his guest room. Hamilton Temple encounters a bizarre bit of magic, seemingly by his own hand, in his guest room.
You'd Expect: Something is clearly wrong with this place. Whatever these guests may want, it might not be worth it to handle the bizarre nature of Stauf's mansion and they should try to leave if they can.
Instead: They all stick around, several of them such as Julia Heine dismissive of the events, and continue Stauf's game.
Result: They all wind up killing each other over the prize, which only fuels Stauf further. - While meeting to discuss the goings on in the mansion, Edward Knox is Genre Savvy enough to know that they're meant to be playing as individuals, rather than a team as Temple suggests. Edward also points out that only Stauf knows the rules of his game and they should be cautious as a result.
You'd Expect: That he would stick to this idea under any circumstances, since they have no idea how Stauf will react to any sort of cheating, especially when they don't know the rules of the game yet.
Instead: He lets himself get seduced by Martine Burden into forming a pair with the intention of winning the game together, something it turns out is very much against the rules.
You'd Also Expect: That Burden would take Edward's warning seriously. While her desire is to be in control of a man instead of the other way around, she can worry about doing that after she's won, rather than trying to tempt Edward and getting her wish early.
Result: Stauf decides to view the duo as one participant in the game. Later when Temple kills Edward trying to save Tad, it results in Burden being killed by Stauf's magic power. Rather than winning together, the duo's collective stupidity results in them losing together. - With all the rumors going on about Stauf's mansion, Tad is dared by his friends to enter the place and go through every room, egged on by them claiming he's too scared to try.
You'd Expect: That Tad would attempt to dare one of his friends instead. Or better yet, admit to being scared and claim the same of all of them.
Instead: Tad lets peer pressure get to him, and he sneaks into the mansion through an open window in the kitchen.
Result: It turns out Tad is the titular "7th Guest" that Stauf knew would be entering the mansion, and his game was for the other guests to learn this and bring Tad to him to be used as a sacrifice to appease whatever gave him his powers and continue to make use of them. Tad winds up killed as a result and forced into a "Groundhog Day" Loop as the amnesiac Ego, trying to undo what had happened but failing every time. - Dutton manages to find Stauf after solving a puzzle leading him to a secret shrine hidden behind a locked door in his guest room. Stauf explains what he wants regarding Tad and sends Dutton on his way to collect the boy, offering him a knife for his own use. Shortly after Dutton finds Tad, Edward and Burden find him and demand Dutton hands Tad over, claiming they know what to do with him. Edward manages to wrest Tad away from Dutton and passes him off to Burden, but then Dutton pulls out the knife.
You'd Expect: That he'd rush Burden with the intent to kill. Edward, despite his age, is far bigger and stronger than Dutton and has just proven to be more than capable of overpowering Dutton as well. While Dutton doesn't know that killing Burden will also kill Edward, it doesn't matter as this is still the smarter choice and can give him a headstart in getting Tad to Stauf.
Instead: He tries to attack Edward first.
Result: Edward once again overpowers Dutton and gets the knife away from him, using it to kill him after several repeated stabs. - Meanwhile, Elinor Knox and Temple have figured out Stauf's game and are actually horrified. They decide to team up to find Tad and get him out of the mansion as soon as possible. One problem: Tad has already encountered Temple in a crazed state. Temple had actually figured out Stauf's scheme earlier after solving one of the puzzles and his horrified ramblings have put Tad on edge around him.
You'd Expect: Temple would send Elinor to look for Tad alone while he tries to secure an exit.
You'd Also Expect: That both would be wary of the other guests. Granted Temple manages to take out Edward, and Burden by extension, but he probably doesn't know that Dutton is dead and there's also Heine to worry about. So it's likely Tad is bound to be freaking out thinking all the guests are out to get him.
Instead: Temple suggests he and Elinor split up and look for Tad together.
Result: By the time he finds Tad, the boy doesn't know whether or not he can trust Temple. Even worse, they meet up in Heine's guest room... And she happens to be inside. She strangles Temple to death and manages to capture Tad for herself.
Even Worse: If Roahm Mythril's theory on the plot of the game is to be believed (as explained in this video
) Temple's stupid act also got Elinor killed when Stauf subjects her to a Forced Transformation.
