THE FIRST TRIAL

[strangerpeople]

THE FIRST TRIAL
(CW: Coffins, claustrophobia in general)

[Once the final clues are found, the ticking stops. Almost immediately after, the Elder Steward's voice suddenly echoed through the entire Mansion.]

Well done, well done.

Now, if you will please collect yourself and come to the ossuary.

Do not tarry. We will find you.

[As if by magic, there is a rumble at the large, unknown and seemingly unused patch of land in front of the mansion, and behind the garden. Upon getting there, the Titled will find that there is a door; upon going down a small flight of uneven, possibly stone stairs beyond this door, they will find themselves in-

a dimly lit room. There are fifteen structures in the room, all surrounded by candles; it's a bit of an uneven walk (what the heck did they use to pave this floor? Cobblestone?), but once each person gets to the structures, they will realize, to their horror, that they are coffins in front of small podiums.

Not that you can back out of this place. Iron manacles grab everyone by the hands as they enter, and if you don't come willingly, you will be dragged in, the floor cutting you up on the way. Best to just let the manacles guide you to your proper place.

After everyone has been...well, more or less chained to their places, they will find a stone tableau in the center of the podiums. On them are the blue and red egg things, which look to be the only other things lighting the area outside of the candles.

Looks like you're going to be eating here as well. The manacles at least allow you to go across to grab the food, but not much further. Unless one of the Stewards ostensibly decide to loosen your chain distance-or let you go outright. Not that it seems like it will happen any time soon, given the Younger Steward is nearby, judging by the location of his voice.]

Hey, assholes! Bout time you got here. Pay attention!

You got a list of people who could have killed the little brat. Now go one and figure out who did it with the crap you found. But don't waste our time! And don't let us get bored.

[As if on cue, five images shimmer into view on everyone's scrolls-and another ticking begins to fill everyone's minds and ears. It looks like you have no choice.

One of these individuals is a killer.]

THE CIRCUIT

THE SCORCHING

THE OBTUSE

THE FAST

THE EMBARRASSING

[It's up to the Strangers to decide who might have done it. Good luck-and happy eating while you're at it. Your time to make a decision is limited.

The trial for the murder of Atsuko Kagari, The Ursa, has begun.]

Comments

[relieable]

[after being led to his podium, Osomatsu sighs at the list of suspects. this just gets worse and worse, doesn't it? he pulls out his scroll to look over the evidence, his heart sinking faster.

no, he has to get a grip, for Akko. he's done this before, he'll be okay.

he pulls out the scrap of paper he found, too, his only bit of collected evidence, aside from what he saw in the dining room. he is not sure how to begin, since all the evidence is on their scrolls, already]

Guess we should start with a timeline, huh? I think, what happened first, was Akko-chan met up with someone who gave her a note to meet her in the dining room. [he holds up the paper] This was found in the cabinet.

MODS

[joinhands]

Yes, of course, that... I found a scrap of paper received by Akko, as well.

[Krone holds out her own discovered scrap of paper with the word Ambrosine.

It matches perfectly, right?]

[incendiarize]

[Hi, he's one of those dragged by the manacles, he hates everything about this and is struggling to stay remotely calm, but. Here goes!]

I know exactly what happened from there. Whoever she met attacked her, hit her in the head. She used her power to buy time, but couldn't move fast enough to escape. She was trying to talk the other person out of it, saying stuff about "this won't erase the secret" and "you don't have to do this". I dunno what they said to her, but after that she said "No, it's not".

She didn't really make it out of the dining room before they caught up and hit her again. Whatever it was, it was hard and flat. A little bit sharp, too.

[He's pale, even shaking, by the end of his report - it's more detailed than what he'd written down (and doesn't have to be translated out of sound effects). But he's far from okay, between the manacles and the coffin and the memory and his claustrophobia and aching hunger....]

alibi check?

[hexposition]

[Emma's very quiet, just obediently following the machine and looking down as she listens to the others begin talking.

Akko... she didn't deserve this. And Emma did nothing to help so far, besides...]

...Accused. If you could please provide your alibis, I would be grateful.

[That's all she has to say for now.]

[belovedsuffocator]

Emma, I don't think anyone is going to have an alibi around that time.

[It just seems unlikely, when the murder occurred at 12:45.

also apparently she doesn't have an alibi if she's saying stuff like this]

[silvertongueheir]

[Franciscus has been breathing hard since he saw his face on that scroll. The manacles aren't helping either.]

I spent the entire night in my own room...I didn't even hear anything.

[Could he have done something, if he did?]

[joinhands]

I had gone back to my room... at about nine that night. I was one of the few whose door remained repaired, so I was completely unaware of anything in particular happening outside.

I truly wish I could be more helpful.

[yonosoymaria]

I was asleep. Impossible to prove, I know.

[icanhearscreams]

[ He's not doing too well. The coffins aren't making him feel any better, and he keeps seeing things - ]

[ But they have to find Akko's killer. ]

I found some orange hair on her pillow. It doesn't make sense for it to be there, but... which of you two does it match?

[ He looks at Franciscus and Felicity. ]

[silvertongueheir]

[Franciscus steps forward, as close as he can get.]

Feel free to compare it with mine. I don't see why it would match.

[belovedsuffocator]

[...um...that's...

She leans forward a little bit and clears her throat, trying to get everyone's attention before this goes south.]

And I would like to remind everyone that most of our doors are still missing, meaning anyone could have taken that from either of our pillows if they so wanted to.

[She sends a smirk-y smile Franciscus' way. She's feeling confident that he's not guilty here.]

[silvertongueheir]

[Franciscus frowns as he looks over the other evidence.]

Handwriting and hair can be faked. But I did notice that Akko's body appeared to have been dropped instead of dragged to the place I found it. So the culprit is either strong enough to carry a body, or has some ability allowing them to move it.

[joinhands]

...Jun and Arthur are similar enough in size that we could probably perform a test of sorts right here. Though in the interest of full disclosure and saving time, I'll remind everyone I did lift Jun during the unpleasantness on Sunday.

[whiterosefoes]

[Harriet considers this.]

To be honest, Ambrosine doesn't look like she could move a body to me. I've no idea how strong Parham's, er, arms are. [She'll go with arms. They don't SEEM strong, but what if they're all muscle??]

The rest of you definitely seem like you could have carried her. Unless I'm mistaken.

[relieable]

What about the blanket that was found in the laundry bin? It was bloody, and muddy, right? I wonder if she could have been wrapped up in it when she was carried.

[incendiarize]

She definitely didn't get there on her own. She was knocked out near the dining room door, but I dunno if she died there. The head blow didn't kill her, right? The scroll said she was strangled.

More Top-Levels Because Why Not; Better Safe Than Sorry

[joinhands]

...I know this is something that might not point as directly to a specific person as some of the other things we're discussing, but if you have time I'd like to draw some attention to evidence that I submitted towards the end of the investigation.

Namely, the victim's right hand.

There was dirt under exactly three of her fingernails, with two adjacent fingers untouched. Why? This is practically the opposite of what you'd expect if, say, her two adjacent fingers were dangling outside the blanket that got stained with dirt and blood. That's the only natural position I can think of... Does anyone have an idea why she'd grip dirt in that way?

[relieable]

That's such a weird way to grip your hand. [he's doing it, leaving the index and middle fingers pointing forward. he doesn't... really have anything to add to that, other than]

What was her power?

[whiterosefoes]

.... Arthur's vision suggests she was knocked out in the dining room and unconscious for everything. I actually rather doubt it was dirt she was gripping.

[belovedsuffocator]

[So...a lot of that is certainly happening. And Felicity watches on, silent, surprised by this development for a little bit of it. She didn't expect Krone, of all people...

Regardless, she let's her mostly emotionless mask slip back into place as she looks on at this spectacle, before she clears her throat and speaks loudly, trying to get everyone's attention.]

I think it's clear who the culprit is, at this point. We may not know the reasoning, but this is better than blaming an innocent.

[She turns to a steward, specifically the older one.]

Can you tell us how to vote now, so we can hurry this up? This is taking up too much time as it is.

[15unknowns]

[He's...well, somewhere in the shadows.]

Very simple, my dear. Cross out the person of your choice from the list! Ink, or your fingers, it matters not how you do it. The scroll will react either way.

HEY GUYS

[icanhearscreams]

One last thing. If Felicity is innocent, why does her handwriting match the note?

Re: HEY GUYS

[necroyalty]

I can think of a few reasons.

[yonosoymaria]

[Silent approval. He doesn't really trust his voice much at the moment, but... no, that has to be acknowledged out loud.]

A good point, which I hope you all consider.

[belovedsuffocator]

[Groaning because come on, kid! Let it end already!]

Who cares?! Krone just so happened to have a handwriting style that was similar to mine! That Doesn't change that she lured Atsuko into the garden!

[She is about ready to lecture this boy!]