( TRIAL - WEEK 4 )

[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, but due to a certain someone who I shall not name [he's still pissed] — today's trial will take place by the pool. 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 Outdoor Dining Area 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. Due the Kitchen and Dining Hall getting wrecked, lunch and dinner will mostly consist of grilled and barbecued menu items. Hamburgers, hotdogs, salads, and items that require little preparation — all the residents have to do is ask in order to receive. Similarly, all beverages will be retrieved from a hundred quart cooler that has been placed by the side of the pool. Not as fancy as usual, but at least the pool is clean now. Some inflatable pool toys lazily swim in the water, along with pool noodles. Every now and then, the waters will vibrate to the sound of buzz saws and assorted power tools. Looks like the Disposal Room, Dining Hall and Kitchen are under reparations. A tent has been placed over the area to shield the residents from the sun, and to make up from the lack of transparencies everyone will receive a small booklet containing each resident's profile. They look a little bit like shitty PowerPoint presentation handouts, but maybe it's part of the charm. The profiles of the deceased are included, as always. A second tent has been set up in the parking lot, complete with an air conditioning on the inside. Its use will become rapidly apparent once the victims corpses have 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 their table; a trash bin is available outside of the tent for this purpose. Evidence found during the investigation, on the other hand, will be displayed in a table by the pool shed. Any items found by the residents on Friday will be displayed here for further examination. Finally — one of the grandfather clocks has been kidnapped from its respective floor to show the current hour. Please do remember you have until 9:00 PM to figure out whodunit and cast your vote. And if anyone tries to leave the area before the trial is over? They'll discover an invisible wall blocking their path. ( 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 Pool/Outdoor Dining Area (the pool shed will also be locked), 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

[ungodly]

This might sound stupid, but bare with me. What if the bomber's being totally framed here? I mean, the setup makes sense. Who could do something like that? The goddamn copycat. We say it every week, but I think now's the time to seriously consider it.

[g101]

Ah, no! I was thinking that, too. And we missed the Ghost the first time, so something like the Copycat makes sense to me.

[ungodly]

The bomber, duh. How else do you think all this could happen? I don't think the real bomber would be so reckless. What, you got any better ideas little man?

[ungodly]

Hey, who you calling a moron? I don't see you solving any murders right now. If you're such a great writer, why can't you write a solution to all this? Or see who the obvious villains are? Or the twists and turns? Sounds pretty phony to me. You must've had a ghost writer.

[ and, from her wheelchaired position, heather picks up a piece of bread and lobs it at him. don't call her a moron!! ]

[ungodly]

Hey, no give-backsies!

[ she says this right as she's getting hit in the face with the bread. in response, she uses her good foot to roll herself right up to andersen and pick him up my his waist, then rolls herself right in front of the pool. ]

I'll drop you in if you say anything else, I swear to God! Don't test me!

[g101]

[ and from the background ]

Boooooo! Andie, you're being real mean to us right now. Boooooooooo!!!

[nowyouseeit]

[oh my god]

It wasn't the Copycat.

[IT'S LIKE LAST WEEK ALL OVER AGAIN]

[nowyouseeit]

[LOOK]

[HE DOESN'T WANT TO GO DOWN THIS ROAD AGAIN]

[BUT YA'LL MAKE IT HARD]

[ungodly]

What if I don't believe you? I need proof. It's like, one of those things where if you can't prove it it's gotta be true.

[ SOMEONE IS INSISTENT ]

[splinten]

If the Copycat copied the Bomber, the Copycat would be dead. Not sayin' they didn't do it, but that wouldn't be the way to do it.

[nowyouseeit]

[he had puffed up in irritation at first, but then Dirk interjects. he nods at Dirk. thank you, buddy]

Right.

Plus, like I said last week, I know what role the Copycat copied. It wasn't the Bomber.

[ungodly]

Mind telling the class?

[nowyouseeit]

No.

[SORRY, HEATHER]

Again, Dave made me promise I wouldn't say anything. [tilts his chin up] I'm keeping that promise.

[ungodly]

Huh. Okay. Sounds serious. But thanks for the info.

[ she looks weirdly satisfied with herself? ]

[wristbands]

Hey, I didn't say it this time.

[nowyouseeit]

[waves his free hand at her with a sigh]

You get brownie points this week, then.

[wristbands]

Are you planning on taking that promise to the grave?

[a little morbid, yes, but what isn't at this point. it's a genuine question on her end; not pressing or accusatory, but curious.]

[nowyouseeit]

[UH]

-- what the heck? Where'd that come from?

[wristbands]

—I didn't mean it in a creepy way, I swear! [SHE SHOULD HAVE PREFACED WITH THAT, ALAS] I meant, more... you're not going to break your promise to Dave at all?

[nowyouseeit]

[LAUGHS. . . CHIE. . .]

Of course not.

Dave was my friend. I trusted him more than anyone here, before he died.