FIRST TRIAL

[whimsicalism]

FIRST TRIAL

THE CONTAINMENT CENTER

After all the evidence is collected, the students themselves are as well. The Little Brother units gather them up in orderly fashion, encouraging the line to proceed two-by-two up the hallway beyond the music room and into the newly opened area. When grouped up together, the class just barely fits into the glass-paneled section of the decontamination chamber. It's hard not to wonder if the entire student body was never meant to make it this far in the first place. A short burst of pressurized air later and the panels lift - and, for the first time, the door to the containment facility opens before you. Behind it, an elevator beckons the class in. A Little Brother unit reaches inside, pushes a button, and the lift's real, see-through door closes before the lift begins to lower.

As the elevator descends, the car passes floor after floor of cellblocks. Start florescent lighting casts stark highlights onto each of them, and in those closest to the elevator car, shape after shape is visible. A wolf the size of an elephant with blood-tinged saliva dripping from it's massive fangs. A clown holding 20 multicolored balloons in one hand, a popped and shredded 21st hanging from the other out to you with a gap-toothed grin. A pit of writhing snakes with no beginning and no end. The feeling is comparable to the hungry, lingering gaze from outside the academy's fence. Looking out at the many cells, it's as if there's no barrier between them and the assembled students at all.

The car's moving too fast to see all of them clearly, but careful attention reveals one final detail: Some of them are completely empty. The other noticeable thing is the noise. Snarls, roars, sly chuckles, hissing, and even someone humming a haunting lullaby... they all mix together into a cacophony as you near the final destination.

When the elevator comes to a complete stop, the group is let out into a black-floored room illuminated by the same stark florescent lighting. Luckily, as soon as you go through the doorway the noise suddenly stops. The steep walls extend some two or three stories above without interruption, throwing stern, exaggerating angles reminiscent of brutalism. 21 stone podiums stand in a densely illuminated circle in the center of the room. Each one bears a name of one of the students in the class.

The Prefect is already waiting for everyone, sitting at a long desk backed by a projector screen bearing the same ram insignia from the post-spelling bee dance. Her hands are folded in front of her, and she barely moves.

"Looks like somebody attempted the alternative capstone. A week ago, I never would have believed it... but I know better now. Those who fall behind... just weaken the herd.

Luz, The Owlette, is dead. What a stupid title... I really hated it." The Prefect's expression staggers for a moment, then settles again. "Her murderer's still here, and the only way to prove that you deserve another chance in this school is to find them. Get the exam started."

There's a flicker on the screen behind her as the Principal speaks. "You heard Miss Kiryuu. We're beginning the exam, don't just stand around staring at each other!"

Investigation | Podium Layout | Locations | IC Profiles | IC Rules | Evidence | NPC Questions

OOC NOTES

While played out OOCly on Saturdays, trials ICLY take place the afternoon after investigations are concluded. This means that characters will have only a brief period of rest to gather their thoughts before being brought down. While the podium layout graphic shows room numbers, the real stone does bear characters' names.

The victim's body will not be available for reexamination during the trial but other pieces of evidence small enough to carry/move with you can be brought down into the trial. If you need mod input or NPC input in the middle of a thread please put 'MODS' in the header so we can see. Trials play out until the killer is caught or until around 8pm Eastern, at which point we'll try to wrap up. Good luck!

Comments

[copycut]

Right. So, everyone: fess up! Who else have you heard talk about magic?

[ This isn't a Please volunteer your personal experiences request. Kuro is saying it's time to straight-up start ratting each other out. ]

[britbrat]

That one's met the Devil.

[ Pointing at Thomasin without hesitation. ]

[romancing]

I've met devils, too!

[ "lives in the Underworld with her sister" ]

[britbrat]

I have no trouble believing that.

[ Just what he'd expect from a turtlestealer. ]

[curdle]

[ She flinches. ]

[keyringwitness]

...T- Thomasin.

How afraid are you of the witch in the woods?

And how bad would it be if Satan arrived here?

Y- You've had dealings with, um, them before, so...

[Sometimes, the whydunnit is the most important part of the case.]

[curdle]

I've had no dealings!

[ She cries this out loud enough, but there is cold fear in her eyes, not anger. ]

[normalnotroyal]

That's the paranormal, not magic.

[if we're gonna be dicks, at least get it right]

[britbrat]

Well, I used to think time travel was science fiction, but it turned out that's magic. What's the difference?

[normalnotroyal]

A being who may be able to do things which could be described as magic is a different category from the practice of magic. We are looking for someone who is familiar with the idea that anyone could potentially do magic and would therefore perceive Luz as a threat, not someone who is aware that a singular being can do magic.

1/2

[hashtagwoof]

Dude, just call me Hunter-

2/2

[hashtagwoof]

[ He stops. He sees where Valmont's pointing... ]

... Oh. Literal devil.

[britbrat]

Why would I -

[ Oh. He's only just now getting that one. ]

[bellabellabella]

How do you know? Would you recognize a devil, or a demon, if you met it? Accusing other people of consorting with such creatures is the real road that leads to Hell.

[britbrat]

I don't know, I'm merely going off what she herself said. Though as she doesn't appear too bright, perhaps that's unwise.

[ sick burn ]

[bellabellabella]

Then, given that what we are discussing is finding a murderer or dying ourselves, perhaps it would be wiser to say that, instead of discussing the matter in such a way.

[curdle]

Thou canst do nothing but wag thy tongue about in foolery.

[panglici]

I think it's more worlds than just yours where that's an act of evil. But you're right.

[bellabellabella]

[He flashes over a brief, arrogant smile.]

I usually am.

[keyringwitness]

U- Um... you, for one...

D- Don't you also know how to use knives... you talked about sword-bows a little while ago, so...

...er, come to think of it...

Wouldn't a projectile hit Luz dead-on like that regardless of who fired it?

[copycut]

That's true, on both accounts. Actually, from what you said, Luz's glyphs work a lot like rune magecraft, so you'd have a pretty credible theory if you claimed I'd wanted to stop her from casting them.

However, there's a big problem with it. It's impossible for me to forget magecraft doesn't function here. If I had been the one to attack her, I wouldn't have taken the bait.

[keyringwitness]

Eidetic memory... oh, that's useful.

You've also been r- really helpful, so I, um, doubt it's you anyways, but... I figured I should ask.

[noblesnow]

It might not necessarily be someone who has talked about it.

[copycut]

Maybe not, but it's better than not narrowing down our suspects at all.

[spychic]

[Anya remains silent, struck with uncertainty. But she shakes her head.

Magic isn't really real where she comes from.....]