THE FIRST TRIAL

[strangerpeople]

THE FIRST TRIAL
(~SK. 3-4)


[When the investigation wraps up, there is a low, rumbling <D O N G, which vibrates throughout the ship. This is followed by the sound of creaking doors opening on the D Deck-the locked doors at the end of the hall.

Zero's voice speaks through the ship once this happens.]

The Investigation has ended. It is time for the Trial. Please proceed into the theater.

I suggest you be quick about it.

[And when you do...you will find a completely empty theater. There is a higher level, but this is currently blocked off by ropes, as is the stage itself. Anyone who attempts to jump the ropes will find themselves knocked on their butts; it seems there's no choice but to go to the podiums, located in the orchestra area of the theater. Notably, the podiums for bunks 6 and 7 are empty, draped with black crinoline and adorned with a photo of the deceased. And in the center of the podiums is...a birthday cake with some confetti surrounding it, along with some drinks. No indication whose birthday it is, but that's pretty much all you'll see in this otherwise very bare, quiet place.



CW: animal death

Unless, of course, you're the Eye. If you're the Eye, you will see every seat filled, if not by a root or vine, then by a...thing with glowing red eyes. One of these...things tries to move towards Anya-and immediately, after suddenly glowing red, thunks over sideways, it's head popping off with an almost comical P O P. The majority of the other...things stare at it before resuming their...whatever they're doing, while one of the things sitting next to it looks over, then towards the stage, then slowly hops off the seat and out the door.

Oh, and he doesn't even get his own podium. Aoi and Makima, good luck to you-Roland's been squeezed in between you, forced to take podium 3. You get to also see what he sees.

Once everyone's in place, A large wide screen....screen schlllorps from the stage, and Zero's face pops in once it turns on.]


Welcome to the Trial. Please, enjoy the refreshments. You will be here until you have either convicted the correct culprit-or, the culprit successfully gets away with it. If you have not familiarized yourself with the guidelines, I suggest you do so now.

All evidence is also available for review on your watches, if need be. Take your time, but...do not delay. Justice must be served.

[Well? No reason to delay. Power is dead. Very dead. And now it is time to figure out who would kill her with explogurt for a cheeseburger-if that's even what happened.


The trial of Power, The Drop, has begun.]

Comments

[lovedthemost]

One would assume that would indicate some kind of injury while moving. Either someone injured (or perhaps, covered in the blood of the injured) and trying to head to the bathrooms to clean up, or injured and trying to get away.

I would assume the former to the latter in this case, but there's room for discussion.

[not_a_lego_maniac]

There...there was blood leading into the bedroom area, too.

[lovedthemost]

The bedroom area? [he frowns] That would be an illogical move, all things considered, if they were trying to hide what they were doing. That would be a place one would go only after they were cleaned up. Going there beforehand seems nonsensical.

[yesorwoof]

The pattern was something like this, Brain-kun.

[She makes a zigzag gesture.]

Was there something covered in blood that they desperately carried all the way to the incinerator...?

[lovedthemost]

That could certainly be it. There wasn't a lot of ash left, so one would assume it was something not too overly large. Not to mention how it stops abruptly.

[he frowns a bit at the pattern she gestures, though]

Would such a pattern indicate some sort of stumbling?

[valkavian]

Maybe they were trying to frame someone else?

[lovedthemost]

Always a possibility. Though that would certainly be a significant amount of effort, to bloody a sword that way, especially when we have no solid indication yet of who here can use a sword and who cannot.

[valkavian]

Also why would you bloody a sword when she EXPLODED?

[valkavian]

Think they didn't get away fast enough before Power went kaboom?

[lovedthemost]

Also a possibility. That sort of injury would be difficult to conceal, theoretically.

[voidseeing]

It might not be a bad idea to check everyone here for any injuries. Given that some of us have non-human physiology, we can't assume that the amount of blood loss that might cripple a human would have the same effect on someone who isn't human. They could be walking around with an injury that would lay a human out.

[not_a_lego_maniac]

That is a good idea. If there was a struggle, maybe the person's injured.

[lovedthemost]

True. A quick check for injuries could easily narrow down the pool.

[hatesdeerstalkers]

Just keep in mind at least three of us are still recovering from the very first minigame, though I suppose we've healed enough so the wounds don't look so immediately fresh.

[voidseeing]

[A nod.]

And those aren't the type of injuries that would bleed like what we found.

[hatesdeerstalkers]

Would it be a fair assumption to think that perhaps our killer was caught by the shrapnel generated in the explosion? If we are to presume an injury.

[lovedthemost]

It's a possibility. So that's what we're looking for if we inspect everyone for injuries.

[voidseeing]

Considering that the ends of the shrapnel I found in the leg were sharp, I'd say it's pretty likely.

[lovedthemost]

So we should be looking for an injury that was either sliced or pierced by something sharp?

[voidseeing]

Or any sort of injury whose origin can't be verified.

[lovedthemost]

[He nods, once] It would certainly at least give us a starting point.

[lovedthemost]

Indeed. A fresh wound would look different from one that is now over a week old.