Third Trial

[thecastle]

THIRD TRIAL

Saturday, Week 3

UNCOVER THE GUILTY PARTY


No one can resist the tug that urges them forward and into the Great Hall. There's no point in lingering within the safe confines of your bed or loitering in the castle halls. Neither will shield you from these tedious trials nor will they keep you from witnessing the ghastly scenes that follow. Most of you have reluctantly accepted this as your reality. Right now, it probably feels like there's no stopping the course you're on. All you can do is hold on tight and wait for Sunday to come. If you can just get through this trial, surely next week won't end in disappointment and tragedy.

It's only when all twenty-two of you are present that the doors in the Great Hall fly open, allowing everyone to enter into the trial room. The only surprise here it is if anyone's still shocked by the display.

As soon as you enter, it's easy to see that the only difference from last week is there are less of you to fill the seats around the table. Likely because of how spacious the room is, with so many of your number missing it's starting to feel a little lonely. With a quick glance, you can see the profiles still lining the walls. Their presence serves as a grim reminder of those whose lives have been lost, just in case the absence of their voices wasn't enough.

When everyone settles into their respective seats, The Sage's cold voice seeps in through their pendants.

"It is time, my warriors, to meet the challenge head on. Thus far, your quick wit and perseverance have prevented these trials from meeting an unrighteous end. As you come upon your third tribunal, I can only ponder if this trend will continue.

May you be blessed with only the best of fortune. You will need it."

As soon as the Sage finishes speaking, five images flicker into sight as if brought to life by a projector. Seeing how there's no such device present, it may not be a stretch to consider magic is at work here.

Soldier on, Warriors.

22 REMAIN

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locations | profiles | voting

Comments

EVIDENCE TOPLEVEL

[thecastle]

[ This be where you submit your evidence for organizational purposes! ]

[gyakusatsu]

When I examined the river banks, I observed that there were no traces of blood or drag marks like the ones found within the castle. However, there were several impressions were left, though they were indistinct and it was difficult to guess what might have left them. One in particular was fairly large and deep.

[browbeater]

Could it have been someone trying to cover their tracks?

[gyakusatsu]

That's probably most likely it. They knew footprints would be used against them and wanted to cover themselves.

Or perhaps they found a more convenient method of dragging Natali's body.

[originallutece]

Examining the corpse, I noticed there were two stab wounds on her chest, both of them overlapping one another, located where her heart is. They were messy, and looked to be made by something more round than sharp. There was an exit wound on her back, along with a few scrapes. And finally, her pupils were dilated.

She also had her room key in her pocket.

[maddogs]

Did anyone find the thing that was round?

[originallutece]

Not I. But the wounds were small-- around the same size as the point of her sword.

Re: EVIDENCE TOPLEVEL

[browbeater]

[slams down a bowl of half eaten salad. There is a strange root at the top, and it smells overwhelmingly like lemon.

well, one suspect is pissed.]

If someone can identify what that root is-- I'm thinking the lemon was used to disguise its taste.

There was also a table setting with this-- the wine glass had some sort of weird smell, especially compared to the wine.

[buddyoldpal]

Fuck, ain't anybody gettin' tired of murderin' with fuckin' poison yet?

[ Poison is sooooo lame..... ]

Re: EVIDENCE TOPLEVEL

[devilsphysician]

Can I take a look... I know I am a suspect...

[coinflipped]

I can look at it if need be. I'm not a suspect so I imagine I can be trusted.

[Maybe. Do we really want sir siscon looking at the evidence?]

[irrationalities]

What'd the wine glass smell like?

[He's asking more specifically than just 'weird', here.]

MOD PING

[gyakusatsu]

Let me take a look at that salad....

[ALRIGHTY. Back to the super basics. Misora is going to be looking at this damn salad and check it for signs of basil and mint - seeing as Mahiro mentioned that these were also plucked out of the greenhouse.]

MOD PING

[browbeater]

[since the wine glass is turning to be a lot more important, Mako is going to stick his finger into the residue. Is it thick enough to wipe off?]

Re: EVIDENCE TOPLEVEL

[devilsphysician]

Miss Natalia was holding a strange sword I've never seen before, due to being in the water I am unable to tell if the blood was on the sword or it came from the wound

[maddogs]

Hm? What did the sword look like?

[breakingthrough]

I examined part of the kitchen. There was a huge bloodstain on the floor. But there was a clean spot on the floor where she'd been laying. And then drag marks out of the kitchen.

There was also a bowl and a glass in the sink that look like they'd been cleaned. So I guess that makes two sets.

[browbeater]

So, the second person could have been a person she trusted.

Enough to have dinner with.

[aumygoddess]

In the middle of the river, I found a mortar and pestle. They were a bit hard to spot, at first.

[buddyoldpal]

Any sign'a what they used 'em for?

[professionality]

Someone burned something in the furnace. Only ashes were left, but there were a lot of them. Curiously they smelled of plastic and lemon...

[devilsphysician]

What's plastic?

[maddogs]

Well that's fuckin' weird.

GREENHOUSE

[irrationalities]

Tiki and I found some the tarp missing from the greenhouse. There were also some plants that were pulled out, like mandrake, basil and mint.

Here's a sample if you want it.

[And he just drops a couple of mandrake roots and a handful of the other herbs there nbd]

[devilsphysician]

Why would basil and mint be pulled?