WEEK SIX: TRIAL

[guestservices]

W̴͍̎E̴̝̊E̸͚͝K̸͕̿ SIX: TRIAL

Rise and shine; you know how Saturdays go. Even if you'd rather sleep in, you'll find yourself waking up and getting out of bed. Once you're out of your room, a door appears down the hallway, compelling you to walk towards it. Upon entering, you'll discover a room that's familiar if you've gone exploring this week or possibly from even before then:

MAIN MEETING HALL (VILLAGE)
Should anyone venture inside, they'll find a number of long benches set up against the walls. At the head of the building are two chairs, a sun and a moon carved into the back of each. The area in the center is wide open, allowing plenty of space to move around and while decor is lacking, hanging from the walls are several blank scrolls. There's also a large (blank) scroll above the two chairs in the back.

There are a few tables in here behind room dividers. One is labeled 'Evidence' while the rest are covered in white sheets. Elsewhere in the room is a table with pencils and slips of paper for voting.

✦✧☪✧✦

Welcome to your seventh trial! Over the course of the next nine hours, characters will have the opportunity to discuss, investigate and theorize about the murders. Characters will have time to examine the body of the victim and explore relevant locations.

There will be a mod-tag break between 4pm EST to 5pm EST. While the trial may continue and players can tag each other, mod-led threads such as questions and investigations will be on hold.

Finally, we have a voting page for characters to vote on the culprit! Please be sure that your vote is in by the time trial finishes 9pm EST. Voting is mandatory in this game.

Good luck!

N̸A̵V̴I̶G̶A̶T̴I̴O̸N̷.̷

█ LOCATIONS █ STATUSES █ PROFILES █ AUDIENCES
█ REPORTING █ PRIVATE CONVOS █ MURDER

Comments

QUESTIONS

[guestservices]

[When you enter the room, you'll find hotel staff already present.

Orion is standing behind Gemini's chair like a sentinel as always, still and silent. However, they catch the snack bars when they're tossed one, and occasionally pass Lepus another canned coffee, or the others a bottle of water.

Gemini is sitting in a chair to watch the proceedings. Their head is held up by their hand, elbow resting on the armrest and showing no signs of movement at the moment, other than using their free hand to catch snack bars being thrown at them.

Lepus is leaning against the backrest of Vulpecula's chair, something in their posture tired even as they sip on canned coffee. Once in a while, they toss a snack bar at the other staff members.

Vulpecula is seated, paying attention to the proceedings. Occasionally, when Lepus throws a snack bar in their direction, they dodge without even glancing their way, then glance at it where it bounces off the table and onto the ground.]

[headmt]

[ yawning, holding his hand out for a snack bar? ]

INVESTIGATION REQUESTS

[guestservices]

[If you would like to investigate a location, please reply to this comment, and a staff member will guide you and your party there.]

[supremity]

[ howdy time to get rolling, brings diluc with him ]

We'd like to return to the opium den.

BODY

[guestservices]

[Please reply to the appropriate comment below if your character would like to examine a body.]

JOONGHYUK

[guestservices]

[On a table is a white sheet, but there doesn't appear to be anything underneath.]

EVIDENCE TURN-IN

[guestservices]

[As you return from investigations, please reply to this comment to list any evidence you found!]

OPIUM DEN

[shinetrue]

a drawer full off:

- a small scrap of charred fabric
- smoldering opium block
- half burnt book
- 3 lumps of metal
- 1 matchstick

EVIDENCE CHECKS

[guestservices]

[Reply here if your character would like to examine any of the evidence found so far.]

OPIUM DEN: BURNT BOOK

[evocationary]

[can she look over this book and see what it is? is the title able to be read, how badly burnt is it, if she shakes it does anything come out, is it bloody]

INVESTIGATIONS

[guestservices]

[Once you have requested a location, an investigation sub top-level will be posted below this comment.]

OPIUM DEN.

[guestservices]

[ when the shadows clear, hua cheng and diluc will find themselves standing at the entrance to the opium den, and

the first thing they notice

is that its on fire! orion makes a vaguely alarmed noise and just says - ]

Oh no.

PROFILES & LETTERS

[guestservices]

[In the room is a podium, with the guestbook resting on top of it.

Nearby is a table, on which are the guestbook pages for each of the deceased: Joonghyuk, Marie. By each page is more paper with writing as well...]

JOONGHYUK

[guestservices]

[By Joonghyuk's guest page is a letter, with shadowy letters writing themselves out before your eyes whenever you look at it. You get the sense that these are the sentiments the victim would've wanted to leave behind.

—

起死回生
In the darkest abyss, do not lose hope.

The Nightman will pay.

——

Kim Dokja,
I survived this long because of a world you showed me. It wasn't without its hardships and dark past, but it was beautiful. Here, in this hotel, you told me there is a future beyond what I know. We go on hikes and ice skate with our companions, which I still do not believe you to be an impressive skater. I should have demanded the staff to create a temporary ice rink so I could judge you.

The children must have graduated, too. I want to see Mia and the woman she'll grow up to be.

It must be that trip, but I can still feel her arms around me. A warm hug.

...

I'm envious of the Yoo Joonghyuk in this future you'll return to. He must be happy.

Why? Why couldn't it have been me?]

OPENER

[evocationary]

[she is probably sitting on the floor. she's like, ninety-five percent burns and bruises and cuts. also her hair is shorter! it's like... at, or a little bit above her shoulders, now. this is the worst day ever.]

Curfew locations, weird stuff. Um, places... to search, look, it's week six, if you don't know what we're reporting by this point I'm voting for you.

curefew locations

[evocationary]

Ticket Check

[outsidebones]

Get out your tickets, please.

[harrow has her notes out and she's checking them.]

You will show me your tickets. If you do not have exactly one more than you did last week, you will explain why, and what you purchased specifically.

[headmt]

I have three.

[ which is exactly one more than last week. ]

FIRE IN THE 🌮 OPIUM DEN 🔔

[supremity]

[ in the background, diluc is taking a... drawer to where evidence is being left. hua cheng will bring attention forward, speaking plainly, seemingly calm. he smells a little smoky and a little opiumy. ]

The opium den was on fire. We were able to put it out safely and collect evidence from the scene, which Diluc is depositing for anyone to investigate.

Besides the fire, the room was largely fine. No signs of a fight, no moved furniture, no broken glass, no unrelated damages to note. Any of the rest of the paraphernalia was undamaged and showed just typical use rather than abuse. There was nothing of interest in the furniture, including the seat cushions and the various drawers. We brought one back just to carry the evidence without further damaging anything.

A scrap of charred fabric was left on the floor. On one of the tables, there was a book in some smoldering opium blocks, which I did not get a closer look at when retrieving it. I brought both the book and one of the blocks back.

Underneath this stack were some bits of metal, which were still warm to the touch after the fire was out, and a used matchstick that fell apart. We brought back an intact matchstick just as a point of reference. [ so that we don't forget that it was found. ]

[unbested]

...Darn it, I was supposed to give a fire safety lecture this week!!

marie and wicked (micked????) body results

[preowned]

[ he comes back from examining marie. hello. ]

First, her neck is broken. It was angled oddly and there's swelling around the area it was broken, but there were no other markings on her neck besides that. There are no other injuries on her head. One of her braids was undone, and the ribbon was tied to her right hand. This hand, for the record, smelled like gunpowder. I could not smell the left one, because it is missing. The cut done here was a clean one and was at her wrist.

As for the rest of her body, there are a few healing wounds that I suspect are old. What looked fresh are... on her front torso, there are three puncture marks that are smaller than my fingertips. These were a little bloody. On her back, though the same marks are on her left shoulder. Most of the blood on her are from these wounds, so they were deep. They are evenly spaced to each other, and they dragged down in an angle towards her spine, but stop before they reach it. There is no discoloration or anything around them. They looked like they were torn into her skin.

On her front, there are bruises on her knees and thighs. They're all fresh, and of different sizes, and there doesn't seem to be a pattern. Everything else on her appeared fine, including her feet.

In her cardigan pockets were three tickets, and she also had her gun. Someone will need to examine it, since it was likely used. In her back right pocket, there were white flower petals.

[ashenvaliant]

[ bends time and space. ]

The loud snap in the phone call.

DOJO RESULTS

[headmt]

Went to the Dojo - where Marie’s body was found. When we walked in, a lot of the practice weapons were on the floor in the front half of the room, pulled off the shelves on the walls. We’ve got a bunch back with us to check over for evidence stuff or whatnot.


There were two stains on the floor - one was pink-ish, smelled like detergent, and the other looked like a blood pool. Got the mat from the floor so we can look at those more closely if we want to. There was also a practice sword on the floor on the way into the armory with a handprint on it.

If it is detergent, maybe we need to check the laundry?

[unsaid]

[just, softly wondering to himself:] Where is her hand....

[AND WHERE IS ALL OF YJH?????

WHAT'S HAPPENING]

hand check

[wisterin]

A handprint was found. Please come submit your hand for comparison.

submit hands

[wisterin]

STRIP CHECK

[headmt]

Time of the day. We all know how to do this. Clothes off, no complaining. Show your hands, feet and head too, while you're at it.

[ you can assume there is a screen! ]

RESULTS

[headmt]

[ results go here ]

MCBUCKS RESULTS 🍟

[ashenvaliant]

[ well. yuri looks... less than happy to be here. for a moment, he looks like he's really thinking over what to say. ]

... McBucks is a mess. There were smears of condiments everywhere, and creamy white stuff all over the floor. It was ice cream, before anyone asks -- someone broke the machine and it was churning out ice cream like no one's business.

And by broke I mean "slashed with a sword". A pretty long slash, at that.

Sebastian found some petals on the floor. They should be in evidence if anyone with more floral knowledge than I have wants to look into it. We grabbed some coloured pieces and brown pieces from the ice cream as well, but if I were to guess it would be those things they mix into the ice cream? Although I do not suggest anyone puts them in their mouth to find out. [ molly ]

[ .... he's quiet again. ]

There was pink mixed into the ice cream. We followed it to the meal boxes, and found a napkin. It looked like there was blood on the napkin, or something red? And it looks something like writing, so again we'll need to look into that in more detail.

...

Yoo Joonghyuk's head was in one of the boxes. We didn't find the rest of his body. It wasn't there.

[ wowee. also please hold for one moment, I want to try something ]

EVIDENCE UPDATES

[ashenvaliant]

[ for checking the mcbucks evidence and updating! ]

A THING

[guestservices]

[At about six pm, the doors to the meeting hall open. A silver dining cart rolls in as little wisps of shadows push it along to stop at the table near the staff. Upon the cart sits a variety of meats, cheeses, breads and produce for a quick and easy meal should you wish to partake. Drinks are also provided.

On a tier above the food, however, there are two covered trays. Shadowed hands pull off the tops revealing two items with signs next to them:

Ten Tickets
✦ A golden hotel bell
Ring for immediate service!

✧ A ViewMaster
Take a peek into a world of imagination.

There is an additional sign as well.

One item per trial, please.

It appears that you may purchase an additional item from the finest collection the gift shop has to offer. Please see a staff member for more details. Purchases must be made by 7:30 ET/4:30 PT.]

Tickets

[outsidebones]

First of all, Cloud, I don't want to hear it from you. We won't be doing the bell.

[no let's absolutely do the bell, though.]

Second of all, I will donate one ticket. [1/10] Who else will donate? If you have many, I would like to hear from you before accepting donations from those with less.

[headmt]

I can give one.

LAUNDRY RESULTS

[evocationary]

[waving tiredly]

We found shoes, clean linens, and dirty clothes in the laundry room. Let's do some checks for these. Oh - and citrus smelling detergent? If we smell that anywhere.

[outsidebones]

It was the same detergent from the dojo, I believe.

[malewife]

[ Well, Joonghyuk's head is still on the table, staring at everyone because SOMEONE didn't close his eyes. ]

[afterword]

[ im afraid now ]

SIZE CHECK

[unsaid]

[mikazuki glances in the direction of the talking head

o

ok

clapping his hands twice to get attention back]

... if you could please allow us to compare the clothes from the laundry room to you, as well as the shoes....

ACTUAL CHECK

[unsaid]

[DO YOU COMPLY]

ViewMaster

[outsidebones]

[okay, after looking into it - ]

I believe we can see what took place in the dojo, with Marie's death.

[she will just summarize what she saw: ]

There were several black shadows formed into the shapes of two people, and then several more shadows that formed the shapes of a wide room with mats on the floor. One of the figures ran into the room and ran to a rack of weapons. They grabbed whatever they can get their hands on and started throwing it at a second figure armed with a sword, who stumbled as they walked in. The second figure moved in towards the first figure and sliced at them, and something flew off of the first figure - presumably Marie's hand? The first figure used one hand to pull a gun and shot at the second figure, and hit them.

The first figure - again, Marie - suddenly froze in place. The second figure stumbled up to them, and puts their hands on their neck, then snapped it cleanly. The first figure fell to the ground. And then there was a comedic speech bubble reading "THUD."

That's all. I didn't see why they made us of detergent. But we can glean from this that the person who killed Marie had a sword and used it to cleanly cut her hand off, that they were stumbling when they entered the dojo, that they were shot, and that the Virgo room service power to freeze Marie in place was in fact used.

I suggest we try looking for possible gunshot injuries, and also that we see who has stars on their keychain.

[headmt]

And they have to know how to use a sword pretty damn well to slice a hand clean off like that.

pocket check!! + weapon check

[skyagain]

You know the drill. Show your stuff.

POCKET CHECK

[skyagain]

[ empty your pockets wow ]

SECURITY ROOM DISCUSSION

[headmt]

We should probably check the security footage, yeah? Is there a room in particular we should check?

[evocationary]

Labyrinth? It'd tell us who dragged Yoo Joonghyuk in there.

LABYRINTH RESULTS

[mustbepurged]

Bradley and I have just returned from the Labyrinth.

First, and most importantly... We found Yoo Joonghyuk's body inside a coffin. He was left in a dignified position, with his sword in hand.

Along the way there, we saw some blood... two kinds. There was what looked like Yoo Joonghyuk's blood, with the writing... and ordinary red blood. We also saw what looked like ice cream with cookie and candy bits... There was a whole trail of it leading from McBucks all the way to that coffin. We saw a number of broken rocks along the way, too but there weren't any distinct marks to show how they broke...

In a nearby coffin, we found a starry rock. I remember Yoo Joonghyuk purchased one of those from the gift shop last week. Does anyone know what it does...?

EVIDENCE UPDATES

[mustbepurged]

SECURITY ROOM

[headmt]

Details were hard to get, but … here goes. There were walkways, rivers, and caverns with stalagmites. There were two figures, one shorter than the other and both carrying blades. they fough each other - cutting each other, breaking some of the rocks, and progressing deeper into the labyrinth and leaving a trail of something behind.

The taller figure pulled something small that they can fit into their hand and looked at it; then there's a faint sparkle from the object in their hand, and a faint sparkle at the shorter figure's feet. The fight continues - both seem to be injured, with blood dripping from them both, until there's another pause. Suddenly, the taller figure staggers under the weight of their injuries, and the shorter figure moves more easily, nothing dripping from their form. A moment later, the shorter figure decapitates the taller one.

After that, the shorter one moved over to the taller - now dead - and use their blade to dislodge two somethings from the corpse - one in the figure's shoulder, and one in the figure's leg. They then lay the figure down respectfully in one of the coffins, place the figure's blade in their hand, toss the object the figure had been holding into an open coffin, and put the lid back on the coffin with the body so that it is mostly ajar.

They picked up the dead figure's head and carry it out of the labyrinth, heading back the way they came.

[unbested]

The sparkle... was probably him using the wish rock, right? To do... something to the killer's feet...?