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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Comments

[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.

[buddyoldpal]

Who'd be dumb enough ta go with it, though? We all know what happens ta murderers here.

[pseudoregelia]

Because it benefits them if someone dies as well, doesn't it?

Not only that, but if the poison really did disable her, it's probable they had her eat that before using the sword. An attempt at a... 'kinder death.'

[buddyoldpal]

So somebody else with a motive, ya mean. And a dumbass, probably.

[ He shakes his head. ]

There's ways ta kill with a sword that're instant. If the killer knew what they were doin', they wouldnta hafta done that shit. Then again, ain't like anybody up on our suspect list knows too much shit about killin', so that don't really narrow down the list.

[pseudoregelia]

That seems to be a running trend with the killers so far...

[She's allowed to throw a little shade, alright. Sen. She loves you, but. Sen.]

I think we might need a few more clues to put anything more together.

[buddyoldpal]

Man, if me, Majima or that Joker bastard show up on the suspect list, y'all are gonna have a field day tryin' ta prove we ain't done it.

[ He smirks. This!! Isn't!! Funny!! ]

[browbeater]

This is... messed up. Does anyone know if the sword we found her with was important to her?

And also... why go to the river...?

[pseudoregelia]

How did the body appear when you found it, Mako-san?

[browbeater]

She was facing us in the water, clutching that sword. She looked relatively clean, compared to the amount of blood we found in the kitchen. It's entirely possible they moved her there to help wash that away.

[pseudoregelia]

[She has her suspicions based on that already but...]

Would you say it looked like she was tossed in there, or laid out respectfully?

[browbeater]

Definitely respectfully.

If that sword was important to her, it would explain why the killer went through a lot of trouble to make sure she still had it with her.

[pseudoregelia]

So whoever did it was someone respectful of Natalia-san's death, whether it was an intentional sacrifice or not. If we can find someone who knows the significance of that sword, we can narrow the list down...

[maddogs]

Accomplices get listed with the suspects, though.

[godinsolitude]

Do they get listed if they're dead? It could be they don't.

[maddogs]

Guess ya should ask the Sage. He's the only one who can answer that.

[ but hes not offering to ask himself!! be the hero we need bro ]

[hoodini]

I think Teishu might be the one who makes sure all the rules are followed, asking him might be better.

MOD PING

[godinsolitude]

[He's just going to tap his amulet here--]

Teishu? Would an accomplice be listed as a suspect if they were already dead?

[teishu]

No.

[godinsolitude]

Thank you for clearing that up.

[He glances around.]

Well, it's possible then. She's a princess-- she might have thought sacrificing herself to save her people was the more palatable option than murdering another.

[maddogs]

Then ask the Teishu.