yuggoth | ( TRIAL

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.

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I think if someone committed murder in plain sight, we'd immediately start suspecting the ghost though.

[a shrug] I don't think it's likely the ghost was involved here either, but let's face it - if they were, then their plan obviously worked since we have absolutely no idea who they are. So saying this couldn't be the ghost because it's too complicated doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

It makes sense to me, but... that's because of what Craftly-san has said already. If you don't think he's trustworthy, I understand if you don't want to give what he says too much weight.

[Yukina looks a little troubled, but... she has to bring this up.]

He placed a lot of emphasis on how he and his staff don't tamper with evidence, and that we have to figure this out ourselves. And... people woke up during times that they might not have otherwise, which gave us clues.

If the Ghost was involved, I think... there'd be some kind of evidence that we could find. Otherwise, what would be the point of having us search, if there's no way we'd find them out?

I'll trust a Thunderjaw before I trust Craftly. At least in the first case, I know how it's gonna try to kill me. [aloy is permanently on the craftly hatemance route alas]

I'm not saying you guys are wrong or anything - everything points to Hana doing this over the ghost, I agree. But it's dangerous thinking that just because we haven't found evidence yet means it doesn't exist.

...I don't disagree. I just think... we all looked so hard yesterday, and there were so many of us searching. If we were stretched thin, maybe we would have overlooked something, but...

In this case, I can't help but think that we found everything there is to find. We just have to figure out what it all means.

...if we really have found everything, then I think we've pretty much figured out what it all means. [She runs a hand through her hair with a sigh.] The only question left is why.

...I wish I had an answer for that.

[But the only one who does is the killer.]

None of this... should be happening. None of it. It's not right.

No, it's not. But as long as people think they can somehow get something by killing others, it'll keep happening.

There has to be a way to convince everyone otherwise. I don't know how, but no matter what incentive they promise, it isn't worth mindlessly obeying their direction.

...I don't know how either, but I think convincing people not to kill is a worthy goal. But-

[Ah, they're getting distracted from the matter at hand.]

...maybe we could talk sometime? Once we're... done here, that is. If you wouldn't mind.

Worthy, sure. Possible? We'll see. [As idealistic as her goals are, Aloy's cynical enough to know what she's saying probably won't be possible.]

Sure, all right. Not much else to do around here except talk to each other anyway, right?

But what I'm getting at is if the Ghost is so untouchable, then this is an awful lot of effort to go to in the first place. Don't you agree with that?

And so, the opposite: if Ghost does leave evidence behind, then after all this conjecture, we still haven't found it.

I don't think they're untouchable, which is exactly why if I were the Ghost, I'd want to set up something as complicated as possible to throw people off the tracks.

But you've got a point that this is all conjecture. We don't have any actual proof the Ghost was involved, while there's a lot pointing to Hana working on her own.

Don't get me wrong. I actually agree with you wholeheartedly.

But what's the harm in brainstorming for now, when we've no other options to explore?

None at all. We've only got so much time in these things - for as something as serious as an innocent life, we should make sure we spend every second getting as close to the truth as possible, even if it's just brainstorming.

[He grins a little, though it's a little strained, given the situation they're in.]

I'm glad you understand, at least.

Just as long as I'm not the one getting lifted up next week. [even in the pursuit of truth she has limits!!]

Heh. Promise you won't kill anyone, and I'll see what I can do.

( TRIAL - WEEK 1 )

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