castle_whims | FIRST TRIAL

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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

....Her enemies didn't seem to frighten her. That's what bothers Anya.

Anya has another...guess...but Anya doesn't want to be mean.

Well? Spit it out.

[ guess who doesn't care about being mean ]

[...]

What is it, Anya-chan?

....

[Anya shifts on her feet.]

Well. Anya listened to Yasu. Yasu is right. The heart of mysteries is important. Luz was a witch. A real witch. That's not something we all argue.

Let's think back to what was gonna happen. Our worst enemies were gonna be unleashed on the school. There's one person who presented a scary enemy, and had reason to be scared of Luz, too.

[Anya looks up at Thomasin for a moment before looking down.]

She wanted to make sure the devil didn't come here, and she didn't trust in conjuring. Not many people were too scared of their worst enemies, but Thomasin was. Anya knows. Anya may not have the full big picture, but...if we look at the thinky thoughts and feelings, and because she's not used to all this modern stuff, she may be out of place...

....Anya is sorry, Thomasin.

... _{[He could only nod.]}

...

...........

...........................This wakes way more sense.

[He sure wasn't scared of his enemy. But...]

Edited 2022-08-27 21:48 (UTC)

WAIT HOLD THE FUCK UP

A- Anya's right. I was trying to, um, get at it delicately, find m- more evidence, but...

So far, Thomasin is the only one with sufficient motive, and physical and mental capability to accomplish this.

But. But. [Yasu holds up a single finger.] I don't think you're guilty, Thomasin.

Just because you're the most suspicious doesn't mean that you're our culprit by default. We s- simply have to investigate you more thoroughly.

[ There are tears swimming in her eyes, and the expression in them is worlds away. Thomasin would love to Check Out Of This, but if she does, she fears they will take her silence as confession, and she will check back in at the gallows. ]

I did no murder. [ I don't think you're guilty does an awful lot of work to continue grounding her! She wants, desperately, to think it true, but she feels a sad lack of faith within herself. ] I made no bargain. Please.

I really don't. I...

[Yasu looks down. She remembers the look in Thomasin's eyes. The pleading fear in her voice that Yasu never got to say out loud.]

I know what it's like to be blamed for everything, even things you didn't do.

So I'll believe in you.

...

Thomasin. Did you kill Luz? I might hafta arrest you.

No!

[ It's not the first time she's been accused of witchcraft by a child! But this is not the same as Mercy and Jonas, though the stakes are the same. This has come to fruition without Thomasin lying about witchcraft in jest, without the many years of accumulated resentment and petty sibling rivalries.

It might hurt more, for all that. ]

Even thee, Anya?

It's worth looking into every possibility. We're all suspects, and if you didn't do it, then we just need to prove that.

How? How would you have me prove that I am clear of it?! I never hurt her, I left not my room all the night, but you accuse me of this evil and I know not what to do—