Civilization 7 is a game that has a lot of layers for the player to peel away. Some of these layers are jumbled up in a messy UI, while others act as hidden mechanics that the player can slowly understand as they continue playing the game.

One way that the game keeps each turn interesting is through Narrative Choices, text-based events that usually ask the player to choose between two options. Normally, both of these choices are correct with each option corresponding to different rewards, but sometimes, there is only one correct answer. Similar to the Papyrus problem, players can encounter the Writhing Insides narrative event in the age of antiquity.

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Writhing Insides Solution

Pomegranate or Willow?

writhing insides narrative event in civ 7

When the Writhing Insides narrative event starts, players can initiate it by clicking on its icon on the bottom right side of the screen. A text box will pop up on the screen which will read as follows:

Several soldiers have become infected with a writhing disease, claiming nests of snakes wriggle in knots inside their bodies.

Here, the player has two choices they can pick. "The cure is willow," or "The treatment is pomegranate." There aren't any clues that players can find from the text, nor is there any historical reason to pick one over the other. The correct choice is "The treatment is pomegranate."

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Rewards and Consequences

To Be Happy

If the player chooses the correct option, they will get a prompt congratulation them on the next turn, rewarding the player with +50 Happiness towards the next Celebration. The reward screen reads "Fruit Powers" and tells you the following:

The pomegranate juice has rid the soldiers of their intestinal snakes. After a dark and exhausting night, the soldiers begin to feel their vigor returning and quickly move on, so as not to be possessed by the same snakes again.

If you choose the second option, you'll get -50% happiness for 3 turns. The following turn, you'll get a narrative event titled "Where There's a Willow." The text within it reads:

The willow seems to do little for the snake-ridden soldiers, who coil upon themselves as death seems to draw near. However one of the sick has come cheer at last, claiming the willow has cured his toothache. The others weakly congratulate him.

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Sid Meier's Civilization VII Tag Page Cover Art
Sid Meier's Civilization VII
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9 /10
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Released
February 11, 2025
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WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
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Developer(s)
Firaxis Games
Publisher(s)
2K
Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer
Cross-Platform Play
Yes - all platforms, restrictions apply
Cross Save
Yes, via 2K account
Franchise
Sid Meier's Civilization
Number of Players
1-8 players
Steam Deck Compatibility
Verified
PC Release Date
February 11, 2025
Xbox Series X|S Release Date
February 11, 2025
PS5 Release Date
February 11, 2025
Nintendo Switch Release Date
February 11, 2025
Genre(s)
Grand Strategy, Turn-Based Strategy, 4X
X|S Optimized
Yes
Local Co-Op Support
No
OpenCritic Rating
Strong
Sid Meier's Civilization VII Press Image 1
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