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

[joinhands]

[hmmmMMMMMMMMmmmmmmm]

Though there's no evidence she scratched a huge amount of dirt at either crime scene, or how long it was there... so maybe it's the other way around that she just never washed under her fingernails enough...? [And now she never will learn better. SADS.] Did the culprit use the bucket of water to clean her other two fingers...?

[whiterosefoes]

Doesn't seem like you'd require an entire bucket for that...

[joinhands]

Well, it's... It's not as if we have a sink. Even handkerchiefs the culprit could have used would be in short supply. And they ended up putting the poor victim's entire face into the bucket... Couldn't the well and bucket be the only water source nearby, and using just a little water be a waste......???

[yonosoymaria]

Should we be checking to see if anyone's been scratched, then?

[necroyalty]

It seems as much of a lead as anything else we've had.

[whiterosefoes]

...That... might be hard to do when we're all chained up.

[yonosoymaria]

[He's just going to unlace his bracers at you, madam. And wiggle them out from under the manacles.]

If she was defending herself, it wouldn't be someplace terribly easy to cover, would it?

[whiterosefoes]

That's a decent point, and your earnesty is appreciated.

[Said earnesty probably means he's got nothing to hide there, but she'll try and see if she can see a wound from here. Or if his neighbors can.]

[yonosoymaria]

[And should anyone inspect him, Eric's forearms are...

Clean of injury, though there might be a slight tan line around where those bracers end.

[necroyalty]

Any chance each of us could at least try to check the people to our left and right?

[whiterosefoes]

That should work... which means I've got Parham, Beldine or Matsuno can check you, Matsuno can check Krone, and Millstein can check Erkens. [........Lecarde is in between two suspects but he's being helpful so she'll overlook that for now.]

[necroyalty]

...right.

[ It's probably their only option.

As far as anyone can tell, Ambrosine isn't injured. ]

[relieable]

[he's also in between two suspects! but he's ready to check both, for Akko]

[belovedsuffocator]

Well, that's easy enough.

[After all, as far as Harriet can see, Felicity doesn't seem to be injured.

...well, anymore than the stuff that happened on Sunday, anyway.]

[notadinosnack]

Sure, I don't mind helping out.

[hexposition]

R-right!

[Millstein will indeed check Erkens! Anything?]

[yonosoymaria]

We're counting on each other's honesty there, but... that's the best option we have, I'm afraid.

[He may not be making eye contact, but that's because making sure the laces go back in the bracers before he shoves them behind his belt does take a bit of focus.]

[joinhands]

W-wait, hang on just a minute.

[For a while now Krone has been increasingly still - except insofar as she's posturing almost wary of Osomatsu.]

The two fingers outstretched would obviously be consistent with a scratching position, but if we're using the past fight to assume she didn't go to the effort of scratching when she paralyzed her attacker, and Arthur's vision primarily depicts Akko running away—not to mention the coup de gras was from behind...

[relieable]

[why. why are you scared of a muppet]

I can see what you're gettin' at, but we're just checking all our bases...

[he leans towards her a little]

[joinhands]

[:T]

Check something else.

[She's finally leaning full force into this, crossing her manacled wrists near her neck.]

[relieable]

[what is with that face? Osomatsu reels back for a moment, but then he remembers that he's here for Akko, and he snarls]

Show me your damn arms!

[joinhands]

[just keeps gritting her teeth at first then see here]

[notadinosnack]

Would you rather we assume that you are injured then since you are resisting?

[yonosoymaria]

Krone, please - if you don't do this they'll think it was you!

[Does he sound distraught? Hell yes. He let himself care. He let himself care and now it is happening again and she knows and -]

[icanhearscreams]

[ One of the food balls goes pelting towards her head. Jun's face is twisted in anger. ]

Shut the fuck up and let him check you! I'm sick of you trying to play the 'reasonable adult' card here! Either let us clear you or I'm going to personally make sure you're dead! If you actually give a shit about Akko, let us check you, or we're going to assume you're the murderer!