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?]

[strangerpeople]

[It does indeed.]

[relieable]

[HMMMM]

I dunno why the note'd be torn up, though, or why my paper was in the cabinet, unless whoever was holding that piece dropped it there.

[joinhands]

Well, this part of the note was gripped in Akko's hand. Perhaps during their initial confrontation in the dining room, the murderer managed to tear away most of the note and hid it, but Akko held onto this part.

[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....]

[belovedsuffocator]

Hmph.

[Yes, she just said that out loud, because that's just what this woman is.]

I think there's no need to drag this out. It's clear who the culprit is.

[She's glaring daggers at Ambrosine, apparently already sure she's the culprit.]

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.]

[joinhands]

...is it though? According to Arthur's testimony, we know that the victim became alarmed at some point after meeting the culprit in the dining room. Doesn't that actually dovetail nicely with the poor girl being shocked to see someone else...?

[relieable]

[ah. just hearing the retelling makes Osomatsu shudder, as well. poor Akko struggled. and that whole bit about "this won't erase the secret?" that was something he'd said to her earlier. right after they'd heard about the motive.

he gives a sympathetic look to Arthur]

...Thanks... for finding that out.

[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]

[incendiarize]

[He hasn't really talked about the nature of his power, but he may have to now...but he's not on the suspect list, so no one will think it's him just because he knows her last words, right? His head's already swimming.]

I might be able to tell what they hit her with, if I felt it again...

[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?]

[hexposition]

It's... it's what you do at trials, right?

Just. Just humor me, please. Mrs. Parham.

[belovedsuffocator]

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]

[silvertongueheir]

Could it be the ceramic item Eric found, whatever it may be?

[joinhands]

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

[relieable]

[oh dear]

...How would we do that?

[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.

[belovedsuffocator]

[A part of her wants to roll her eyes at this, but since it's Emma asking, she'll just sigh and spit it out.]

I was just in my room, sleeping like everyone else.

[Nothing special or anything.]

[incendiarize]

Maybe? He found broken pieces, right? ...That might explain how it was flat and sharp at the same time...

[incendiarize]

I dunno... If someone brought anything they think might've done it with them? Or...if we don't figure it out before we get out of here, I can check stuff later.

[hexposition]

Thank you.

[belovedsuffocator]

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.

[incendiarize]

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