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!

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Comments

STAR CIRCLE AND HOSPITAL

[greatdeduction]

[He will carry Kim Dokja's body to the tables for further investigation, laying him down carefully.]

[He'll then turn to the others and say, in a business-like tone:]

Miss Reze and I have just returned from our investigations into the Star Circle and the hospital. We noticed that the Star Circle was in a state of disarray, as if a whirlwind has passed through. Windows were broken, the billboards destroyed, trash everywhere. Among the mess we found spots of blood that came from the direction of the library. We also found black feathers scattered everywhere, and as Miss Reze and Suriel can confirm, the black feathers belong to Mr. Dokja. The feathers seemed to lead to the hospital, so we went there. The blood splatters we found along the way certainly belonged to Mr. Dokja as well, as they formed random words.

Upon entering the hospital, we found something odd. Something purple dripping from around the door's side railing. It was dripping slowly, as if starting to dry, but I could not find any other location of the substance. We followed the blood to a closed room that was marked unoccupied...

[And....a pause.]

When I kicked open the door...some kind of mechanism activated. Miss Reze and I heard a taut rope loosening, a whistling noise of something flying through the air, and the impact of a blade hitting a body. When we entered, we found Mr. Dokja tied to a chair in the middle of the room with his own sword ticking out of his body. The sword was attached to a mechanism made of ropes. I checked, but it seems Mr. Dokja was already dead before the mechanism was activated.

...The blood splatter next to him revealed the following words.

"It's getting harder to breathe, and maybe Kim Dokja in this moment should be afraid, but he isn't. It's just another death, and that he should be used to. However, there's a fear that just barely clings to the idea of dying alone, so he can only feel relief in his last moments."

[He is silent, for a moment.]

There was nothing else we found. I have drawn the mechanism, if you would like to look over it. That is all.

[lefthandpath]

... so you didn't have a chance to examine him before the mechanism sprang, is that right?

[greatdeduction]

[He shakes his head.]

Not at all. It was activated before we even entered the room. It was connected with the door.

[lefthandpath]

Where did the sword hit his body...?

[greatdeduction]

In the chest.

But the man was certainly not alive before it hit. I do wonder if it was meant to obscure the true method of death.

[senjinrouha]

... You think that was to hide something?

[greatdeduction]

It could have been. Or to create the splatter, as we all know the peculiar story-like nature of Mr. Dokja's blood.

[lefthandpath]

I can't really say before the body's examined...

But I wouldn't be surprised if either the killer or Kim Dokja himself were trying to hide or distract from the fatal wound.

[malewife]

How dramatic.

[ AND FOR WHAT ]

[greatdeduction]

It was indeed very shocking. [He frowns.] And it quite upset Miss Reze. All for...what, exactly?

[malewife]

As you said, maybe to hide something.

[arcsplainist]

Hm... Given the destruction, 'tis evident that the one who went after Kim Dokja is a capable combatant, as well. Unfortunately, there are still a fair number among us that could apply to, but it could potentially cross out who isn't related to this case.

[yueshen]

[ oh, the words... ]

...oh, Mr. Dokja. [ mm. he curls his hands a little into fists at his sides, expression creasing for a moment before he pulls it back. ]

...based on his letter, and the evidence, it sounds as if he dragged himself there to die, and... perhaps didn't want to be followed. This situation was his choice.

[ it feels - it's just. it's familiar. ]

Though, if he was afraid of dying alone, and felt relief - did he not die alone...? Why set a trap? Perhaps to ensure his own death...?

[greatdeduction]

Perhaps. Someone was with him at the end, and then had to have set the whole thing up. After all, Mr. Dokja was tied to his chair. It would be difficult to think he could have done anything with the mechanism after that point.

[yueshen]

[ he nods... ]

... All I know is that this was a decision he made. [ he taps the letter from dokja, from earlier. ] So... I wouldn't rule out his own part in it.

[lefthandpath]

... if he's died often enough to try to tell himself it's fine... he's probably used to dying alone.

But he's probably never had a daemon with him before. Is also a possibility.

[greatdeduction]

Do you think that's what the words are referring to? Dying with a daemon?

[quiz]

[ Reze doesn't have anything to add.

She simply looks down at the jacket she had used to carry the sword, now smeared with blood. Holding it close to her chest, she'll just... find a place to sit. ]

[arcsplainist]

[ ... :( ]

Is there aught that may help, Reze? Something to drink, perhaps?

[quiz]

[ You have made a grave mistake approaching her, Alphi.

She reaches up to grab him by his shirt and pull him down with withheld strength. She just needs one good honest kiss, releasing a breath once she's done; her voice is a little hoarse after she had... screamed. ]

Yeah.

[ CASUALLY LIKE SHE DIDN'T DO THAT IN FRONT OF GOD AND EVERYONE. ]

[escardos]

Xie Lian said that Miss Scheherzade had a purple stain on her feet, didn't he?

[greatdeduction]

Hm! That he did. I shall go and compare.

[yueshen]

[ he nods. ]

She did, yes.

[escardos]

What could cause something like that? Is it like a jam or something?

[rerouter]

If she did, she must have been at the hospital at some point before her death. It's possible her killer has a similar stain somewhere, right?