( TRIAL - WEEK 1 )

[abhoth]

At exactly 11:30 am, all residents who are still asleep will be jolted awake by a sharp, burning pain that spreads across their whole body. A simple look will reveal no visible injuries, oddly enough, and the pain will fade away as soon as they're properly awake. Those early birds who are already up and about will feel nothing — except maybe a strange, mysterious sense of relief as they go on about their business. Lucky them. Moments later, an announcement will come through the static-filled PA system: "This is Craftly speaking. My apologies for the rude awakening [not really], but your presence is required in the Dining Hall. Our first trial is about to begin. Please do try to be there before noon. My staff members have simply too many duties to tend to, to be escorting each and every one of you out of your quarters. Good day." And true to his words, anyone who doesn't make their way to the Dining Hall before noon will be dragged kicking and screaming regardless of where they've sequestered themselves. Sucks to be you, huh? Upon arriving there, however, residents will be given the menu, one copy of the rulebook, one pencil, one notepad, and a cheque folder. Lunch and dinner will be served at the appropriate times, and appetizers, desserts and beverages (of the non-alcoholic variety) will be available throughout the trial. All you have to do is ask one of the faceless men, and your food will be delivered to you in ten minutes or less depending on what it is. The Dining Room itself looks about the same as it does any other day — save for the fact that the lights have been dimmed. Why this, you ask? Because the projector is now in use. Transparencies containing each resident's profile will be displayed on the pull-down screen, with one of the staff members rotating through the images every minute. The profiles of the deceased are included, and if current discussion deems it necessary to focus on one particular resident, anyone is free to ask the faceless man to pause on the appropriate profile for a while. A small area has been sectioned off with a transparent, plastic curtain right next to the pull-down screen. Its use will become rapidly apparent once the victim's corpse has been wheeled in. Anyone who wishes to step into this area will be asked to wash their hands in the kitchen, and they will be given a pair of latex-free gloves and a hairnet by a staff member who is stationed nearby. Residents are required to dispose of both items before returning to the dinner table; a trash bin is available outside of the curtains for this purpose. Evidence found during the investigation, on the other hand, will be displayed in the back of the room. Two, long tables have been taken out of storage for this occasion, and any items found by the residents on Friday will be displayed here for further examination. Finally — a clock above the pull-down screen displays the current hour. Please do remember you have until 9:00 PM to figure out whodunit and cast your vote. ( victim ) Welcome to our first trial! Characters will be given nine (9) hours to discuss everything related to the investigation to hopefully solve the mystery behind this week's murder. No one will be allowed to leave the Dining Hall without explicit permission from the Innkeeper (and only then to take a tinkle), and all characters must cast their vote before 9PM EST. You may do so on this week's voting page. If you have any questions or doubts, shoot us a PM or a PP over at yuggoth. ( quick navigation ) voting | profiles | menu | locations | ic rulebook

Comments

[intolerable]

Everyone, the coat hanger doesn't bend in the kind of way that'd let you strangle someone. Sure, it might be out of place, but I just compared it to his neck wounds, and tried bending it around a little. No dice.

So... [ She flips open her menu, and drags her finger down to the roles. ]

Aside from piano wire, is there anything that can make that kind of wound?

[intolerable]

We'd have to know how thick the whip is... and I feel like we're not going to have any volunteers.

[parodeity]

I'd have to look at it. [ he will in a second. ] But piano wire or the whip are the only weapons that look like they'd be a remote possibility?

[intolerable]

Yeah, which means two people are capable of it. It's not like you can strangle someone with strings from your clothes or whatever, anyone would be able to rip out of it easily.

[parodeity]

I can't think of anythin' I've seen around that comes to mind to have caused it other than a weapon.

[rextenebrae]

[ He'll nod; though... ]

... I don't believe there is anything else that could, from what we know so far.

[intolerable]

Yeah, I agree. It's flexible, it's sturdy. I'm starting to think a whip might be too thick.

[nowyouseeit]

[flips his menu open too]

My only other guess would be the whip, but judging from how thin the marks on his neck are, the piano wire seems like the more likely bet.

[intolerable]

I agree. So now we just need to find out who has the piano wire?

[nowyouseeit]

Ha. Easier said than done, especially now.

[crushcard]

I'd say clothes line but Yukina mentioned earlier that the laundry room was clear.

[ he's also frowning, considering the menu. ] The piano wire looks like it's the closest estimate.

[intolerable]

Unless anyone found stray cord, or asked Craftly for some, that's probably what it is, right?

[crushcard]

[ he nods. ] Piano wire would be sharp enough to leave a wound.

I've also confirmed with Craftly that if the piano wire was used, only the original owner of the item can use it. Find the user, and you find the murderer.

[dva]

What about any other items that aren't related to a role?

[ She seems to know there's been MISSING ITEMS going around. y'all sinners. ]

[intolerable]

That guy in the sharp clothes just mentioned there were no clothes lines in the laundry room, which narrows it down. It has to be something thin and flexible like string.

[perceptions]

Maybe a piece of thread from clothing? [She hums unsatisfactorily.] Then again, I don't know if it would be realistically strong enough to cause any bleeding like what we see around Jason's neck.

[dva]

Anything from clinic fit that description? [ SHE IS SMOL AND DOESN'T HANDLE HER OWN BOOBOOS. thanks mercy. ] Could be valuable to think outside of the motel too.

[inventurous]

If it had been another random item anyone could find, why would the coat hanger be left to find?

[intolerable]

Maybe the coat hanger was used for something other than the murder weapon?

[dva]

Could it be someone's role?

[ SHE DOESN'T KNOW, BUT she's still completely floored by the menu. ]

Like, I don't remember seeing that when I changed clothes that night.

[kraakriksdag]

Similar items would all be different types of wire, however piano wire is the one of the sturdiest ones made with it's high tensile strength.

[wristbands]

[with her menu open,]

So... it's gotta be whoever's the spy, right? I don't think there's a piano inside this place.

[thawedheart]

[Also looking at her menu.]

...or the Bootlegger, depending on what they "smuggled in". Though I don't know how we'd have any way of checking...

[wristbands]

It mentions "illegal item," but of course it doesn't say what that means...

[then, as she looks it over again,]

Crap, it could also be the copycat, couldn't it? Would whoever that is waste that opportunity now?