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]

[....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.

[buddyoldpal]

I'd buy that. Plus there's that weird-ass sword. She wasn't carryin' it around fer no reason.

[maddogs]

Maybe she made the salad herself.

[buddyoldpal]

I mean I guess no matter how shit ya are at cookin', it'd be fuckin' impossible ta mess up salad.

[maddogs]

Coulda been, she wanted ta get poisoned.

[buddyoldpal]

Mighta made gettin' stabbed a little easier, huh?

[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.

[buddyoldpal]

She's got a whole a kingdom back home, and I can tell ya personally, Natalia's the type ta kill if she's gotta.

I mean, shit, she killer 'er dad. Just cause she's a princess don't mean she was a saint.

[gyakusatsu]

[Nishi gets a sigh.]

So who are you suggesting she was trying to kill?

[buddyoldpal]

's lookin' like it mighta been herself.

[ He shrugs. ]

Doubt she had anybody in mind, and bein' a princess an' all, she was probably willin' ta sacrifice 'erself before killin' somebody else.

[gyakusatsu]

So in your version of events, she attempted to poison herself and... someone else opportunistically stabbed her in the chest and dragged her body out to the river?

[buddyoldpal]

Either that, or she'd talked it up with the killer beforehand ta be like "Hey, I'm gonna die so I can save my people an' go be with Asch in the afterlife, so if ya wanna kill me an' maybe get in on those sweet benefits, let's do it." Somethin' like that!

[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.

[pseudoregelia]

It's definitely too early to judge the specifics, but...

Either way, it's entirely possible Natalia-san would have considered it a benefit if someone died this week.

[buddyoldpal]

Yeah, 'xactly. From what she'd told me, I wouldnta been too surprised if she'd killed fer this motive.

Might just be our killer pal wanted ta kill just a little more than she did.

[godinsolitude]

[Fancy dress, a nice dinner, but a dead lover....

Ayumu's brows furrow a little and he goes quiet for a moment, before--]

I don't want to say it, but... it has to be said. What if Natalia agreed to it beforehand?

[buddyoldpal]

[ Nishitani pauses, considering it. Based on what he knows...... ]

Seems morbid as fuck, but it's possible, I guess. But if she'd flat-out committed suicide, she'd hafta be up on the suspect list too, right?

[godinsolitude]

She couldn't have used that sword on herself... technically, it wouldn't be suicide. She'd be accomplice to her own murder.