WEEK SIX TRIAL

[grigori]

week six: trial life's a squeeze

19 Remain

Good morning, everyone! Hopefully you're well-rested, because there's a long day ahead of you.

The start of the day is yours to do with what you want, but come 11:45 AM, your daemons will feel a compulsion to lead you to a courthouse, north of the library, and will ensure that you're up and moving to head there. You can certainly resist it, but by the time 11:55 AM rolls around... you'll find your feet taking you there, regardless, if you aren't there already. There's no exceptions—it seems that this gathering is mandatory, as you'll find that your fellow travelers are all heading to the same destination as you.

Waiting in one of the courtrooms for your arrival are Shamsiel, Suriel, and Baraqiel. Some evidence tables have been brought in and arranged, left empty for the day ahead - save for one, where plates, bowls, cups, and cutlery have been stacked neatly for later in the day. Some already have hot tea, takeout containers from various places around the city set out and perpetually warm (or cool, as needed), and some first aid kits for the more unfortunate to come in feeling a little under the weather. Come noon, once everyone is within the room, they'll find that the doors close and lock behind them.

Suriel stands to one side, hands clasped as if ready to say a prayer, wings tucked close. They have no smiles to offer today. "This should be the last time. Let's do what we can, so they won't have to wait for long to see you again."

"Right, as tired as all of you have become, there's an end in sight from all of this." Words that Shamsiel offers as a means to improve the mood some. They stand with a hand pressed to their chest while the other clenches at their side.

Baraqiel is quiet for a moment, seated on the judge's bench - not at it, on the edge of it, with wings and cloak spilling back on the other side as they survey the group gathered. The juror's stand is empty, and so is the audience seating. Everyone can fill in where they need to, or want to, for the next nine hours. "A-Qing and Scheherazade were Temporals. Kim Dokja was a Celestial. This is the final stretch - but that doesn't mean you can halfass it. Let's go."

Every hour that passes, they'll be able to hear a grand clock chiming from somewhere within the courthouse. The pressure's on—good luck.

Trial start

Court is now in session. Welcome, everyone, to our seventh trial! For the next nine hours, characters are expected to investigate the setting, compile and examine evidence, locate any unalive and unaccounted for members of their group, and theorize about the going ons of Thursday night/Friday morning that lead up to this point.

Mod breaks will run a little differently than they have in past games. There will be a three hour block starting at 4 PM EST/1 PM PST and ending at 7 PM EST/4 PM PST, where we'll be cycling one mod out at a time to take an hour long break while the other two remain to keep tags going and answer any questions players might have. We encourage players to take a break at any point during this timeframe, but the player-designated break will be at the traditional 5 - 6 PM EST time! Reference our timezones if need be.

Voting is mandatory in Chasma, acting as our activity check for the week. Please ensure that you've submitted your vote before 9 PM EST/6 PM PST, unless you've spoken with the mods previously, as we'll begin tallying votes on the dot.

If there's anything that you need from us, IC or OOC, please let us know how we can help!

full navigation ✨ locations ✨ statuses ✨ profiles ✨ audiences ✨
private conversations ✨ murder proposals ✨ curfew ✨ daemons ✨

Comments

cryo open i mean cold open

[yueshen]

[ as soon as everyone is into the courthouse, xie lian’s qilin roars - the noise short and sharp. he’s back into his breadsleeves robes today, hands tucked together in his sleeves, expression as serious and calm as ever. ]

Good morning, everyone.

[ at his side is kaeya, who is holding a notebook close to his chest, and has a pen tucked into his hair in an updo twist as well as one behind his ear. you never know when you need a spare pen.

once xie lian has called the attention of everyone in the courtroom, kaeya will speak up, polaris at his side in wolf form and standing, unusually, in front of him, all work and no play. ] Today we have been tasked with solving the murders of Kim Dokja, A-Qing and Scheherazade. As there have been three deaths, we must make sure to work quickly and cooperatively in order to find the culprit before our time runs out.

[ he then taps his notebook ] While investigations are running, I’d like us to begin our usual checks--weapons and items, clothing, as well as coins. Anyone who is not forthcoming, will be marked as non-compliant and may be subject to closer scrutiny later for the sake of crossing t’s and dotting i’s. I would think that it’s been long enough that we all understand that cooperation is key. If you awoke today with anything out of sorts on your person, please come forward now so we can put it on record. These sorts of things tend to help us quite a bit.

[ kaeya, very much done with his bit, will proceed to pin the headcount onto the bulletin board behind them, along with a tourism map of the city while xie lian continues. ]

Finally, through studying the lyrics of the song with others, we thought it might be best to head to the park first, today, as at least one of our victims had slept there over the week. [ something crosses xie lian’s face there - a brief touch of sadness, brows knitting together, mouth pulling into a frown, but he shakes his head. ] … We also ought to move in groups of two, to better deal with our numbers or lack thereof. Please do not forget to take a talk box with you if you go.

[ with that, he bows his head. ] Let’s get to work.

[senjinrouha]

I'd second the park, based on that.

Also, I used an item on Thursday night -- Xie Lian, Kaeya, you know the one -- and there's evidence of fighting in the Star Circle. So I'd recommend that as another location.

[callalilies]

Good work, Yuri. Thanks for that. Perhaps we can send two small groups to the Park and Star Circle first?

[quiz]

[ She raises the hand she isn't carrying Grigory in. ]

I can head to the Star Circle, if someone wants to come with.

[senjinrouha]

It'd get us started, at least. If we find something big there then... even better.

[yueshen]

[ nods... ]

Wonderful. In such a city, we will need all the help in narrowing down locations that we can get. I'll begin a list, and - perhaps our second team can head there.

[perfectdistance]

... I'd be willin' to head to the park.

[sponsoredby]

[ Nods at Nero. ]

I'll go, too.

[rerouter]

[Her expression flickers at the mention of the, ah, park sleeping situation. But she smooths it out quickly enough.]

I would also recommend the first floor of the apartment building, and the hospitals and clinics. If someone wanted to stash their belongings or needed to patch themselves up, they could have made a stop there.

[Her voice still sucks. Please stop talking, child.]

[yueshen]

[ fuckin mood. san lang makes a quiet noise, padding over to find pygmalion to give the daemon a bump of greeting. ]

I thought the hospitals as well - and the first floor of the apartments is an excellent plan, too. Good thinking, Monika.

[ ... ] Make sure you are drinking tea often today, alright...? And if you need to say something loudly, feel free to ask...

[ fusses!!!! his MONIKA ]

[rerouter]

[Pygmalion bumps his head against San Lang, hello. And for some reason, Monika will reach over to take both of Xie Lian's hands. Will he allow it?]

Yes. We need to ask for the clothes everyone wore that night, too. You know, to visually confirm there's nothing out of place.

[Also, shhh. It's fine. She has her own cup of tea nearby, intermittently taking a sip every other sentence.]

... But, thank you.

[yueshen]

[ he will! he gives hers a light squeeze, even, reassuring, while pygmalion gets a mlem of grooming up the side of his head. henlo. ]

Yes - agreed.

[ smart thinking. ] Perhaps the Watchers would allow us to fetch them as they let us fetch any secondary weapons last week.

[rerouter]

[Pure... Monika glances down at their hands, humming — and then she smiles.]

Ahaha, I'm hoping they do. Thank you, Xie Lian.

[She squeezes his hands back, before she lets go of one hand to pull something out of her satchel. Whatever it is, she turns his other hand over and places it in the palm of his hand.]

[sponsoredby]

Getting those checks out of the way early last week was good. I can help with things if needed.

[ But also will be heading out with Nero, so there is that. ]

[callalilies]

As always, thank you Kotetsu. I can get some started while you're away. I will take care of a basic item and weapon check first as those tend to take a while.

[sponsoredby]

[ He nods. ]

Thanks, I appreciate it. We'll figure out what else needs to be done as we go.

[callalilies]

Whatever you come back with will no doubt drive what we check, so yes.

[ he'll reach out and very carefully clap kotetsu on the shoulder, the other finding his hands to hold if allowed. ]

Take care out there, hm?

[sponsoredby]

I'm sure it will.

[ and he allows that, not minding the touch one bit from kaeya. finley watches this exchange, tail flicking idly.

...he also has some additional items on him, but shh. we'll worry about that at item check time. ]

[voltadomar]

[Kim's here. He's wearing a black bomber jacket -- identical to the orange one he always wears. The left sleeve hangs limp at the elbow. He's got a bandage over his cheek and his glasses still have one badly scratched lens.

He holds up his spare walkie talkie.]

One of the investigation teams should take this.

[callalilies]

[ here's kaeya coming your way, but it's not for a talk box. instead, he's holding a pair of glasses for kim gently by the arms. ]

From dear Suriel. They said they won't last after trial, but... at least you can keep your sharp eyes out for us without that big scratch, hm?

[voltadomar]

[The lieutenant's eyes widen. This was completely unexpected.

He folds up the scratched pair and clips them over his pocket, and tries on the new pair. A few moments... and he nods, still looking a little bewildered, but grateful.]

I don't know what to say...

This will help. Thank you.

[callalilies]

[ he shakes his head, glad to see the trade of glasses happen. there's a look of relief on his brows, but only minimally.

our kim kitsuragi. ]

Say nothing of it. If there is anything you need help with, please let me know...?

Do not push yourself, though I'm sure you've heard enough of that.

[greatdeduction]

[He pats Kim's shoulder, reaching for the walkie talkie.]

Thank you, my dear fellow. You take care of yourself, please.

[voltadomar]

I will. But no matter what, we also need to take care of this.

[He hands him the walkie talkie.]

[greatdeduction]

Of course.

[A nod of thanks.]

If you ever need my assistance when I return, you need only ask. We are all here for you.