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

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.

[icanhearscreams]

Such as?

[necroyalty]

Even if we assume Krone is the murderer, there's a chance that, willingly or no, Felicity might have been an accomplice. Or perhaps she merely saw Akko's corpse as an opportunity to be rid of the person who displeased her the most here.

Neither is too far out of the realm of possibility.

[icanhearscreams]

Her hair was found in Akko’s room. Which is suspicious, but we have no idea how it got there.

[relieable]

[trying to calm down...]

It could've gotten on her pillow when she went to get the blanket, if it's Akko-chan's blanket.

[joinhands]

As if Jun wouldn't have noticed the blanket was missing and written that down in his report about the room~~???!!!! Miss Vaughn was guarding the dorms, too; try harder!

[whiterosefoes]

Parham does claim it was planted, but Dupree's room is right next to hers. I'd wonder very much when someone would have been able to get past the guard to grab some, considering we've had shifts since before the motive....

[necroyalty]

Then there's the possibility that either Krone murdered Akko and was trying to frame Felicity, or... Felicity did it and chose to frame me.

Ugh, we need more time for this...

[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.

[joinhands]

[In the commotion, it turns out there's nothing she can say to him. Krone just smiles, the way she always does for him, except her eyes are very scared.]

[yonosoymaria]

[He smiles back, his own eyes suspiciously bright. (Heroes don't weep from frustration and terror, do they?) He strains against the manacles, again - if he could, he'd be at her side.

No matter the truth. No matter what happened. He's made his choice, now.]

[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!]

[icanhearscreams]

Look, I don’t like her, but we’re here to solve a murder. The more you protest the guiltiest you look.

[notadinosnack]

Both of them look guilty. Mrs. Parnham here just happens to be lucky that someone looks far more guilty than her for failing to cooperate.

[icanhearscreams]

Being an ass doesn’t always mean guilt. Just a lot.

[notadinosnack]

It's not her attitude I find to be an issue. It's the fact that her behavior only makes sense if she did it. It makes no sense if she's innocent.

[icanhearscreams]

.... Some people are just stubborn assholes. But we’re running out of time.

[joinhands]

You're not very impressive. You really think nobody would have a good enough reason to not want their body exposed to a stranger?

Before and after the people trying to wa~ter~board~me I've offered sincere interpretations of the evidence. You'd be well served to focus on that. Maybe it's too late now, but another trial.

[belovedsuffocator]

Oh, well, I'm sorry for trying to keep myself alive when an ignorant brat is trying to accuse me of murder! What's next, you're going to say the note lead Atsuko into the latrines instead?!

[She's getting so upset that starting to sound ridiculous.]

[icanhearscreams]

If you don’t pipe down I’m going to throw you in one. Answer the questions and then shut up.

[belovedsuffocator]

Answer what questions?!? That I think Krone lured Atsuko to the garden and killed her?! Cause I sure do!

[wait...is that right?]

[incendiarize]

....wasn't she lured to the dining room?

MODS

[silvertongueheir]

Her handwriting is also on the scroll. [A pause.] Though there's nothing saying that the note is absolutely the faked writing.

[Does Krone's writing on the scroll look awkward or faked in any way? He has Ambrosine's fake sample to give him an idea of what to look for, at least.]

[strangerpeople]

[Her handwriting is extremely neat to be completely legible. If nothing else, it does not look like it was written in a hurry. Whether or not that is unnatural is a matter of interpretation. But it doesn't look like the note.]