( TRIAL - WEEK 3 )

[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 second 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, and will be given a pair of latex-free gloves and a hairnet by a staff members 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. ( victims ) 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, 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

[g101]

So Martymart goes upstairs after attacking Miramirakku! Got it. [ hajime mimes going up a flight of stairs. ] And then he just goes into the Dark Room...? But isn't his room right across?

[crushcard]

I have no confirmation, but it's likely that the Ghost ended their possession of Marty right after they entered the Dark Room, and he died inside by whatever or whoever was inside the Room. After all, the Ghost dies if their host dies, and the Ghost is still alive to taunt us here today.

[g101]

So that means by 8am, Martymart is no longer possessed!!! It's an announcement. His possession starts at 7:45am. Miramirakku sees him at 7:50am, five minutes after his possession starts. Then he smacks her with the taser and goes upstairs to sit in the Dark Room.

Is ten minutes enough time for all that?

[crushcard]

No, it would. Likely take at least ten minutes to even get to the Dark Room from the Lounge, since it took me about five minutes to get from the pool area to the Dark Room, and my pace of walking is faster than most.

[ DOES THIS MEAN THERE'S SOMETHING NOT RIGHT ABOUT THE TIMELINE? STAY TUNED. ]

[splinten]

[Dirk has been like, 90% just sitting beside Jake zoning out. But he'll offer this.]

It'd be fine if he was killed before being shoved into the Dark Room. At this point we likely can't find a cause of death. If the Ghost were smart, they'd end their possession and kill a person, look for whatever Omega left behind for us, disfigure the victim to hide it, and then leave Marty there for the Dark Room to take the blame.

That's assumin' a smart Ghost, obviously.

[disinterested]

Seeing as how the Ghost is challenging us this week, however, I don't think they're trying to hide the fact that a possession happened this time.

[splinten]

Yeah, I'd agree without reservations normally. The only thing is the clue might be a tip-away, or it might be a way to confuse us about the presence of someone who really likes intestine spaghetti.

It would be smart of the Ghost to at least stick around to see what Omega made happen to the people they posses. But hell, maybe they made that discovery last week and don't need to find out this time.

[pinesfortruth]

Maybe Omega's deal made it so they were compelled to sign all their murders with stupid blood messages like a pompous jerk.

[splinten]

[for realsies, Dipper]

I wish I could believe that the person who wrote that letter wouldn't do it on their own.

[pinesfortruth]

[he was joking...]

Yeaaah they probably did. I just want one "nemesis" that isn't also stupidly theatrical for no reason. Is that so much to ask?

[splinten]

[DIRK FIGURED]

Yes.

[pinesfortruth]

[just... sighing]

[disinterested]

[He laughs.]

Maybe if we ever do find a cannibal among us, we'll get an idea of who could enjoy intestine spaghetti.

[potentite]

Well, um, if you're uh... looking for a cannibal... There is something suspicious on the profiles.

[But he isn't 100% certain so he just. Leaves it at that.]

[disinterested]

Does it by any chance have to do with preparing meals?

[potentite]

[He nods slightly.] If it weren't for the... disturbing double entendre of it, the wording wouldn't be so strange, but here and with this case... She also did ask me the first week if I thought the rule about the dark room was true, which is hardly damning. I'd rather not make an assumption based on so little, I just... thought it was worth noting.

[disinterested]

[welp]

Well, we can keep it in mind and see if any of the evidence points to her.

[potentite]

Yes. It's perhaps best to leave all options on the table at the moment.

[perceptions]

The only thing they seem to be trying to obscure is the timeframe. We know it must be 15 continuous minutes... but when does it start and where does it end. That's the thing we need to deduce.

I can't say I'm positive Marty was possessed when he attacked, but I don't really know his character well.

[disinterested]

Neither do I. I don't suppose anybody here was friends with him?

[perceptions]

Percival was his roommate I know. [She shrugs weakly.] I never talked to him myself.

[lohengrins]

I believe he was possessed. Marty was the Bootlegger, and he smuggled in a first aid kit for the rest of the residents this week. He's made his intentions known.

He stayed up late due to sheer paranoia, but I don't think he would attack someone of his own accord.

Not like this, that is. And not without a reason.

[perceptions]

Being the bootlegger explains how he got that taser in. [she nods.] Do you think he told anyone else about his paranoia?