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

[coinflipped]

So what if we say this. What if there was something incriminating on that tarp the culprit tried to clean with lemons. Clearly, it didn't work so they burned it.

What I'm wanting to know is what incriminating evidence was on that tarp that it had to be burned.

[fedorascout]

That's not too difficult. Blood isn't the only thing that can be washed with lemon. You know what else can be washed with lemon?

[Kizakura smiles]

Wine. Or so I have heard.

[coinflipped]

But if wine can be washed, then why burn the tarp?

[professionality]

Isn't it because the tarp itself is evidence of how the body was transported? And they might have wanted us to think it had been carried, for example.

[coinflipped]

I don't think our culprit was that idiotic. It's obvious the tarp was used by the lack of blood and the trail. I'm convinced there was something on that tarp the culprit had to hide no matter what.

[tangas]

Dunno about that, but I think there's two parts to it. Your question and then the question about the other half of the lemon.

What did they use it on? Think about it. If they were planning on burning the tarp, they wouldn't need to clean it with the lemon. And if they weren't using the lemon for anything important, why isn't it in the garbage with the other half?

[coinflipped]

Because they burned it, didn't they? At least, that's where I'm thinking the other half went.

[tangas]

But why would they need to?

[irrationalities]

It's burned, but the question's why burn it as opposed to put it in the trash.

Either way, they were using it on something after they did shit in the kitchen. What we need to think about is what they were cleaning after the murder that couldn't be washed out by a simple soak with water.

[irrationalities]

So you're thinking wine might've been spilled on their clothing or something?

[fuck is he going to have to go smelling for lemons again]

[gyakusatsu]

That's a good way of looking at it.

[And oh look, ai't this game of "guess what isn't there anymore oh so familiar.....]

Something that left a stain on the tarp that neither water nor lemon juice could get rid of....? Or perhaps they wanted to get rid of a certain smell instead....

[coinflipped]

Either or, it was something that I believe pointed to them that it had to be erased. I don't know what it was, but it's my hunch and I'm sticking to it.

[gyakusatsu]

Perhaps.... what was on the tarp was whatever the mortar and pestle had been used to grind up. Did we ever work that one out?

[coinflipped]

No we didn't. I'd completely forgotten about that.

[But it'd make sense, to be honest...]

[fedorascout]

Hanyuu-chan found nothing inside the mortal and pestle. It's true there's a chance the river washed what may or may not have been inside, but...

[Kizakura adjusts his hat]

...I still think it's way too convenient such objects were found at all, you know?

[coinflipped]

So you think it may be a red herring? Either way, it's good to inspect them.

[irrationalities]

Didn't Hanyuu say she had a hard time finding them?

[aumygoddess]

Mmm. They blended in well with the riverbed.

MOD PING

[gyakusatsu]

Well... I guess it's time to look at those things again.

[Alright, so we got the stuff from the greenhouse all accounted for in the salad. Let's check out this mortar and pestle more closely.

It might have been in the river, but maybe there's still some residue or scent still on them?]

[thecastle]

[ It's a good attempt but, no. There's no residue whatsoever, and no scent either. ]

[gyakusatsu]

[Guh, frustrating. She puts them both back down on the evidence table.]

Safest to assume that these were used to grind up mandrake root then.

[irrationalities]

Since there were traces of mandrake in the wine, I figured the mortar and pestle were just used to extract some of the juice from it.

[hoodini]

With the mandrake missing and the roots in the salad, would there be any need to hide grinding it up? It's kind of obvious what happened with it.

If the mortar and pestle were used, it must've been for something else.

[maddogs]

Could've been the other herbs, maybe? Why were they there anyway?

[aumygoddess]

I can't think of anything else besides grinding they could be used for...

[ besides bludgeoning. there is a mortar in my own kitchen and fuck u could definitely die if someone hit u with it. ]

Something in the wine...?