( TRIAL - WEEK 5 )

[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, children. As the Dining Hall is still under reparations — 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. A single towel that still has sludge on it floats among the accessories in the pool. Looks like no one bothered to really clean it up from Friday. 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 still. 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

CRAFTLY

[abhoth]

[Before the trial properly begins, Craftly has a small announcement to make.]

For today's trial, my employers have granted me permission to disclose the number of killers from the onset. [A beat, as he deadeyes at the horizon and takes a shot of something decidedly alcoholic.] ... Not that it matters at this stage, seeing as how their identities have spread like wildfire, but I am still bound by my duties as Innkeeper. There are five murderers. Two of them are among the deceased. Three are not.

That is all.

[And there he goes to his own table, where he'll be overseeing the "trial."]

[ninjay]

[ yeah, he doesn't have a question this time but he does have to say something to him. ]

Sorry.

[abhoth]

[murder son, you bring great shame to this family.



which is to say, Jay just gets a dead eyed stare and a butterscotch candy slid his way.]

[thawedheart]

...I'm sorry, Craftly-san.

[...]

Also... could we ask for the roles of the deceased, please...?

[abhoth]

... Yes. I suppose that's necessary information.

[Clears his throat.]

Knoll was The Technician, Percival the Doctor, Miss Emily was the Medium, Quer was the Magician, Akira the Janitor, Velvet was the Cop... Nagasone, as he revealed last trial, was the Sailor. Saya was The Romantic, and as you know — the barbarian who destroyed my motel was The Soldier.

[nowyouseeit]

[AND AFTER HIS REALLY DUMB SPEECH. . . he also approaches, shoulders slumped]

. . . we sorta messed up. But. . . we're still doing our best.

[abhoth]

[Shakes his head.]

It hardly matters now. As you were, Kaito.

[pinesfortruth]

Were you the first? To take that deal.

[since they don't replace the innkeeper so much as become an extended branch, which is. worrying in its own right, but whatever.]

[abhoth]

No. There have been Innkeepers — game masters, facilitators, before me. There have been others who have accepted the deal after me, as well. I am simply one of billions, facilitating rituals for the gods.

[wristbands]

So what exactly happens, on the chance that we beat fate and go home?

[abhoth]

Beat fate? You misunderstand the rules of this ritual, Chie.

If the current survivors were to end the game now, they will be free to choose the world they wish to leave to and retain all memories of this ordeal. The same offer will be extended to the deceased, should you opt to cull your numbers and take the deal. That's all.

[pinesforyou]

... Why did you take that deal, Craftly?

Will you be free if one of us takes it?

[abhoth]

... Like the Hunters, I saw leaving the dead in this realm as an impossibly cruel choice. It's as simple as that, Mabel.

[A WAVE OF HIS HAND.]

I will not be freed if one of you take it. My contract is independent of what the Unclean will offer the last three.

[18x0]

Hey, Craftly. If someone accepts the deal, do they receive incentives like they would otherwise?

[abhoth]

No, they would not. A Game Master's only incentive is rescuing the souls of the departed from a fate worse than death.

[splinten]

Yo, do you actually want us to vote for you at this point? I wasn't sure if it might bring you the sweet release of death or somethin'.

[The sweet release of death: a desire he can relate to]

[ninjay]

[ your second favorite child is back. ]

I'm getting tired of listening to Jake make useless plans, so, Craftly. Is there any way to stop the ritual other than the ones we've already presented to everyone?

[godly]

[Hi again. Light is Bored while everyone discusses a problem that has an obvious solution. Plus he's heard you wanna die, so.]

I obviously know your face, Craftly-san. But...

Did you have a name before you were "Craftly"? I assume you did.

[g101]

Hi hi!

[ hajime gestures for him to raise a tentafingie. she rips off a strip from the hem of her skirt. ]

Are you and the people in this room the only viable votes we have?

[willremember]

Are there loopholes? I know you probably can't answer that, but... If we pooled our information, all of it, is there anything besides "everyone dies, then one person suffers forever so we can go home," or just "everyone dies?"

[disinterested]

... Would it be possible for you to pass on a message to the Unclean, in case I don't get the opportunity to speak with her tomorrow?

[ungodly]

The mother. What's her real name? And what's she the God of? She's gotta govern over something, right?

[splinten]

Anyone who kills anyone, including themselves, at the trial or tomorrow—not including the executioner—will be granted an incentive?