15strangers | THE FIRST TRIAL

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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Are we really going to believe he was able to just see what happened that night to Atsuko? It seems extremely unlikely.

[Past visions??? Sounds SUPER fake]

Well, if we can't see precisely what happened that night, then can we prove that Akko saw the person in there she expected?

Yes, I think we can prove she saw Ambrosine.

[that's not really what she sai-and she putting her evidence on her podium, specifically tapping the ink well and quill against it.]

I believe these were what she used to write the note, considering we don't have many other writing implements.

A handwriting check of some sort would be prudent then, would it not?

[Since four of the suspects wrote on the evidence scroll-any handwriting matches there?]

[If one had to make a guess, the handwriting would be most similar to The Embarrassing.]

[...ah. Hm.]

Mrs. Parham, have you written anything down since you arrived here?

[Her eyes narrow at the note. Not good, but she can probably explain.]

No, I don't believe I have. But just because someone has a similar handwriting to mine, then disguised their own, doesn't mean I've done anything here.

It's not an exact match, that's true. And we don't have a sample of Ambrosine's handwriting yet, either.

Exactly. Thank you.

[At least SOMEONE is smart enough to know she didn't do this!]

I could easily provide one, if that's all you require...

[He nods.] You can just write it on the scroll, then.

[ She's going to write her name and a brief "the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog" for you, then. It's a thin, beautifully practiced sort of cursive, the kind of handwriting of someone who knows that their handwriting is going to be seen A Lot and needs to be smart about this. ]

MODS

silvertongueheir - 2019-05-04 18:35 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

strangerpeople - 2019-05-04 18:59 (UTC) - Expand

silvertongueheir - 2019-05-04 19:01 (UTC) - Expand

belovedsuffocator - 2019-05-04 19:04 (UTC) - Expand

necroyalty - 2019-05-04 19:11 (UTC) - Expand

belovedsuffocator - 2019-05-04 19:14 (UTC) - Expand

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belovedsuffocator - 2019-05-04 19:33 (UTC) - Expand

necroyalty - 2019-05-04 19:35 (UTC) - Expand

belovedsuffocator - 2019-05-04 19:39 (UTC) - Expand

I'm sorry for being slow, but could you please explain how the note being written with quill and ink has anything to do with who wrote the note?

You wanted proof that Atsuko saw who she expected to be there, AKA the one writing the note. Why would the writer of the note hide this evidence in the servants' quarters instead of just putting it back where it came from? Not to mention, why would Atsuko try to keep the scrap with Ambrosine's name on it if she wasn't the killer?

[Is this a condescending contest? Cause she will FIGHT to WIN]

The note even still existing is also interesting. One of the suspects has a power to create flame and could have disposed of it that way.

And they either didn't notice the paper in her hand, or didn't consider hiding it important. They could have damaged it beyond retrieval simply by dropping it into water as well, after all...

Or it could have been left to frame the one whose name is on there.

And in the case such framing were occurring, they would instead underscore other evidence giving the impression of hiding the note, like disposing of the tools!

[And actually the moment Thanatos thought the note existing was strange and that leaving the part could be a frame job, he started suspecting the person who did indeed jump right to blaming Ambrosine.]

And attempt to discredit anything else they couldn't get to. [Like Arthur's vision.]

incendiarize - 2019-05-04 17:41 (UTC) - Expand

notadinosnack - 2019-05-04 17:51 (UTC) - Expand

silvertongueheir - 2019-05-04 17:53 (UTC) - Expand

notadinosnack - 2019-05-04 17:54 (UTC) - Expand

incendiarize - 2019-05-04 17:58 (UTC) - Expand

notadinosnack - 2019-05-04 18:27 (UTC) - Expand

I dunno, do you have the power you got told you have?

Yes, but it's actually in the realm of plausibility, rather than something ridiculous like seeing "visions of the past".

[Science says becoming a living lie detector is easier that seeing other people's dying moments.]

I'm not lying. What would be the point?

I'm not saying your lying.

~~[she's totally saying that]~~

I'm just thinking that you might've...hit your head a little bit at some point.

[...that's probably going to make him angrier, isn't it?]

...Mrs. Parham.

With all due respect, what Arthur is claiming is hardly the strangest power I've seen with my own eyes.

It might not be realistic in your world, but it's what we have to work with here. Being that he's not a suspect, we have no reason to doubt him right now. Please, leave him be.

[...oh, does she want to make a comment right now.

But, Emma is the one (1) person she will admit might know some stuff about magic, considering her power would probably have left her dead on Sunday if it was scientific.

So, she'll just let out another Hmph! and stay quiet about Arthur.]