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

[gyakusatsu]

I come from a time period where people don't rely on poisoning to murder, so my familiarity with herbs is limited to say the least. Even the more basic things like turmeric.. it was you who told me it had homeopathic properties. I don't know how something less common like a mandrake would even need to be prepared for use in a situation like this.

Rest assured though, Natalia and I had no arguments and nothing to quarrel over in the first place. Rhoda and Elliot can both confirm that for you.

[But actually, hold up a second-]

She left us a note saying she would be sleeping with your group, actually.

[buddyoldpal]

Yeah, same here. I only know shit like hangover remedies, see? Poison's fuckin' lame.

[ Huh. Nishitani blinks. ]

Well, that's fuckin' weird. She left us a note sayin' she was gonna be with yer lil' crew.

[fedorascout]

...is the handwriting in both notes the same?

[buddyoldpal]

Looks like.

[ Myth: busted. ]

[gyakusatsu]

[....Fucking great.]

The note she left us definitely appeared to be in her handwriitng.... I assume yours was the same?

[buddyoldpal]

Looked like hers, that's fer sure.

[ A pause............. ]

Maybe Hime-chan had 'er own little plan fer the night that got derailed by somebody feedin' her a murder-salad!

[originallutece]

Something she was intent on no one catching her at, either.

[buddyoldpal]

'xactly. Could be she was carryin' her sword with a mission, then ran inta somebody she like "whoops! guess we were both on the same page, eh?"

Or, well, maybe they sat down ta have a chat and that's when our killer pal slipped 'er a murder salad.

[originallutece]

Mm. We were encouraged to team up if we could. It could also be that this was intended as a team effort towards someone else, and our murderer simply decided it was easier not to risk being ratted out.

[gyakusatsu]

That or her killer forced her to write those notes before she was killed.

[buddyoldpal]

C'mon, really? What'd the killer gain in doin' that? Ain't like her intent got shit ta do with the fact that she's dead.

Plus these notes don't exactly look rushed ta me.

[gyakusatsu]

It'd guarantee that nobody would necessarily go looking for Natalia for starters.

It just depends on the order of events of the night.

[pseudoregelia]

But wait...

Natalia-san... probably would have had a motive, wouldn't she?

After all, she's a princess. Even according to her profile, her people are important to her.

[godinsolitude]

She also just lost her fiance. It's possible she was feeling desperate, maybe.

[breakingthrough]

Wait so you both got a letter saying she was going to be with someone else?

[What.]

[buddyoldpal]

Miiight be Hime-chan had somethin' else planned fer last night.

[ If you know what I mean. ]

That plan sure fuckin' backfired tho, didn't it?

[breakingthrough]

Wine and salad... sounds romantic.

[She gets you Nishitani.]

Too bad the reality wasn't so nice.

[buddyoldpal]

Woulda been. Too bad her hubby was already fuckin' dead, too.

[ Nishitani chuckles. ]

Maybe our killer pal was the one plannin' the date night. Give 'er a cute meal before doin' her in.

[breakingthrough]

Well, I guess at least she might get to see him again now.

[If that's a thing you believe. Or something you consider positive.]

It's possible. Disguising murder with a date night... she probably wouldn't have doubted them.

[buddyoldpal]

Yeah, I mean if ya believe in the afterlife or some shit like that.

[ Having been dead, Nishitani has no plans to go back. ]

Dyin' don't do nothin' but leave people behind.

[tangas]

Might be worth it to point out one thing: the princess was dressed up real nice for this salad dinner. [ does salad even count as dinner?? man nani the heck ] So it's likely she was meeting someone she's talked to a lot, someone she considers a friend.

[ otherwise why go dressing up for a dinner with a stranger after what happened last week right ]

[breakingthrough]

Think she had a crush on one of those two guys up there?

[I mean. Anything's possible in murdercastle, right?]

[tangas]

Who knows? But would it be believable if she tried to pretend she did? That's bouncing back real quick after losing her boyfriend a couple of weeks ago.

[devilsphysician]

I never once spoken to her... not that it would stop a crush, but it seems unlikely given how recent she lost her love.

[originallutece]

Possibly. Possibly not. Nobility is more inclined towards dressing formally no matter the occasion.