( 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

[splinten]

This feels like a stupidly obvious question, but are everyone's room keys from Room 111 and Room 112 accounted for? Includin' Jason's.

[parodeity]

[ digs in his pocket, ignoring his left pointer finger as usual, and comes up with a room key, holding it up wordlessly. ]

[splinten]

[Dirk makes a "dude! your hand!" gesture by pointing at his own hand because

DUDE. YOUR FUCKING HAND]

[parodeity]

[ well stop asking him to take shit out of his pockets if you do not want this to occur, dirk.

PREDICTABLY, DAVE IGNORES THE GESTURE ENTIRELY. ]

[splinten]

[UGH]

[nowyouseeit]

[holds up his as well! we good]

[splinten]

[Okay, that's two for their room.]

What about Jason's? You'd think no one would try to pick the lock if they had it.

Unless keys only work for their rightful owners.

[nowyouseeit]

[shakes his head]

I didn't think to look for it. Which. . . I guess in hindsight, was kinda dumb.

And since I haven't tried using any other key but my own, I dunno if they only work for their rightful owners or not.

[disinterested]

Perhaps we ought to test that after the trial, if no one else already has.

[nowyouseeit]

Prob'ly a good idea. If someone's already tried, it'd be kinda dumb for them to admit to it now. It'd do nothin' but make 'em look suspicious.

[splinten]

We can try it out ourselves on your doorknob, or ask Craftly. If we can't find it, I guess we can ask Craftly whether keys disappear on death or some similar bullshit.

[nowyouseeit]

[he nods]

Yeah. But that's something we can think about after this trial is over. For now, 'm pretty sure our culprit tried to break into our room with a lock pick. Not a key.

[splinten]

Looks like it was the coat hanger. Mira said keys can be used by anyone, so if Jason had his key on him, the killer probably wouldn't need it. It must be somewhere, but the killer maybe didn't have access to it.

I'm bothered by there being a missin' key to your room, but...

[But that's partly about there being a missing key that can access Dave's room, frankly.]

It's probably a red herrin'. Something to check out later, I guess.

[perceptions]

I just asked Craftly about it. Keys can be used by anyone, whether it belonged to them originally or not.

[disinterested]

I'm sure any thieves would be happy to know that.

[this isn't a jab at kaito or anything]

[perceptions]

All I know is I'm hiding my key in my bra from now on. Like to see any thief dare try.

[lohengrins]

[ he holds up his key, dangling it to ensure it's in sight. ]

1 out of 3 for Room 111.

[splinten]

[Annoyingly question but to be sure:]

And you had it when you went to bed, and didn't get up during the night, period.

[lohengrins]

I did. And I didn't get up, but I did wake up.

[splinten]

Hearin' the person movin' to the closet?

[lohengrins]

I saw a figure drift from the front door to the closet, but I couldn't dinstguish what I heard.

[dva]

[ Definitely has her key present. ]

Good over here.

[splinten]

Checkin' with you, too: you had it when you went to bed, and didn't get up during the night.

[dva]

Not that I remember, I didn't feel tired one moment and then — well, just got reaaaally sleepy. I don't remember anything until that stupid gong ringing in the morning.

[splinten]

Okay. Thanks.