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

[buddyoldpal]

But wouldn't there be a trail of blood if that'd bee the damn case? There was a whole damn puddle of it, weren't there?

[browbeater]

The body was dragged outside of the castle. It's possible it was covered up. There were also signs of that at the river, too, since there were no feet impressions.

[tangas]

Not if they switched to the tarp then to make dragging her body into the river easier. There were drag marks all over the castle until the bridge right? Meaning the killer didn't use the tarp until after they left the castle.

[maddogs]

Wait, hold on, I'm confused - so we're sayin' she wasn't carried at all? She was just tarp-dragged?

[tangas]

Yeah, I guess. The drag marks inside the castle were bloody, so if killer had moved her body onto the tarp during that point, why would there still be blood under it? How would the blood even get there?

[maddogs]

I don't know.

[tangas]

I think it's someone who can't lift her easily. Wouldn't be able to get her body into the river without some help - which, I guess, is the tarp in this case. And it's not even a matter of just shoving her body off the bridge and into the river either. They had to find a way to set it so she was properly faced up and holding the sword for whatever reason. Some sick form of respect maybe.

[ who the hell knows ]

[maddogs]

Then it might've been one of the girls and we're back ta square one.

[tangas]

[ fuck he doesn't want to say this but ]

... I think it points out that it can only be one of the girls. Otherwise, why not just carry her?

[maddogs]

You should round up the information for everyone an' start there. I only started talkin' about carryin' because people were talkin' about carryin', I didn't investigate yesterday.

[browbeater]

Tiki just confirmed that a tarp was missing from the greenhouse, and Rhoda said she'd found ashes that could have been plastic.

So, it's looking like the tarp theory is the right track.

[maddogs]

How did we even know about the tarp ta start with?

[browbeater]

That would have the benefit of reducing friction with the ground, once outside.

[bratsitter]

Yeah, could have had the tarp prepared outside the castle waiting for them to use it.

[buddyoldpal]

So they carried her until they got outta the castle? Seems like a lotta fuckin' trouble if ya ask me.

[browbeater]

No, she was definitely dragged out of the castle. It has to be someone who couldn't carry her.

So maybe we should ask everyone to pick up someone similar to Natalia's height and weight.

[buddyoldpal]

Look, I don't care if she was carried or dragged, long as it leads us ta the killer. But somebody had to've picked her up ta put 'er on the tarp.

They mighta just done that ta avoid leadin' a blood trail too, ya know?

[browbeater]

Moving a body onto a tarp isn't the same as carrying it, though. You don't have to completely lift someone up to put them on the tarp.

And if they wanted to avoid a blood trail, why didn't they care inside of the castle? It doesn't make sense. It's more likely, the tarp gave them extra leverage and reduced friction with the ground.

[buddyoldpal]

Might be because they were tryin' ta make it look like they were weaker than they were.

If Hime-chan set this up and the killer worked out with 'er, then they planned ta make it look like they could get away with it. I mean, I dunno about ya, but I wouldn't sign up ta kill somebody if I didn't think I could get away with it!

[browbeater]

You're right, that's possible, the killer could be trying to look weak.

But that assumes that the killer is cold blooded enough to think clearly after a murder, and if the killer was working with Natalia and treating her with respect... do you think they'd naturally be that kind of killer?

I don't know. I really don't.

[buddyoldpal]

I think Hime-chan and the killer planned it pretty well beforehand. Maybe in the heat of the moment, they got all scared, but if it was somethin' they had ready before, then they just hadta make sure it all went accordin' ta plan.

[bratsitter]

If that's what they did, anyway. It seems like they used the tarp to try and hide where they moved the body, maybe? If it kept any blood from dripping as it was carried to the river, people might not have found it as immediately and the water could have a chance to wash away some evidence.

[buddyoldpal]

Right, might've just used the tarp ta hide the blood. Don't mean it was somebody weak, necessarily.

[bratsitter]

Exactly. Could be trying to frame one of the weaker suspects too, which bears repeating.

[buddyoldpal]

Yeah, that's my thinkin' too. Mighta even been Hime-chan's idea fer all we know.