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

Questions

[grigori]

[ a fennec fox is curled up in suriel's lap where they've pulled up a seat. ] Let's make today count.

[ shamsiel will be having a hard time keeping still, they fidget in their seat; their daemon, taking the form of a falconet, sitting on their shoulder equally restless as it grooms its feathers. nevertheless they will offer a small smile to those who stop by. ] No matter what happens, I know you will have done your best.

[ baraqiel has no platitudes or encouragement to offer, and remains seated atop the judge's bench, one heel hooked on the edge and knee raised for them to prop their arm on. their daemon is eagle-formed next to them, watching everyone. ]


(( please be kind to your mods and let us know which one you're addressing ))

Location Requests

[grigori]

[ comment here if you're looking to leave the trial area to investigate another location. ]

Body

[grigori]

Investigations

[grigori]

[ once a request has been made, one of the watchers will take you (and whoever else is coming with you) to the location in question. ]

Evidence Report

[grigori]

[ once you're back from the investigation, please report all evidence acquired here. if you're turning it in willingly, that is, and not keeping it. ]

Examine Evidence

[grigori]

[ to examine any evidence brought back from investigations or given during trial, please comment here and not to the report. ]

Walkie Talkies

[grigori]

[ you have two permanent pairs to utilize for reporting back on investigation, contributed again to the group at large. a temporary third set can be acquired if needed.

reply here to update one another via walkie talkie when a group (or two or three) is out on investigation.

as a reminder, the two permanent sets are now on the same frequency! you may tune the temporary third set, as well, but this will allow investigation teams to communicate with one another as well as with the trial base. ]

A-Qing

[grigori]

[ once her body has been retrieved, a-qing is laid carefully on one of the tables that has been brought out for trial. for privacy's sake, it's moved behind the to the furthest parts of the courtroom, and she's been covered with a sheet.

comment here if your character wants to exam the body for evidence. ]

Kim Dokja

[grigori]

[ once his body has been retrieved, kim dokja is laid carefully on one of the tables that has been brought out for trial. for privacy's sake, it's moved behind the to the furthest parts of the courtroom, and he's been covered with a sheet.

comment here if your character wants to exam the body for evidence. ]

Scheherazade

[grigori]

[ once her body has been retrieved, scheherazade is laid carefully on one of the tables that has been brought out for trial. for privacy's sake, it's moved behind the to the furthest parts of the courtroom, and she's been covered with a sheet.

comment here if your character wants to exam the body for evidence. ]

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.

[voltadomar]

Good morning.

[Kim's here, wearing a black bomber jacket. The left sleeve hangs limp past the elbow. He greets the Celestials with a nod, then looks to Suriel.]

This is the last time...?

[grigori]

[ they nod. ]

We think so. There's a small chance it isn't, but we want to move on our own before that happens.

[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.

[perfectdistance]

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

Trial Items

[perfectdistance]

Once again, for the sake of time, list whatever trial tools you've got for this.

I renewed my glasses. So we can check if one piece of evidence is planted or not.

[rerouter]

[Monika brings four teacups over. One for each of the Celestial Watchers, and one for herself. Her voice sounds a teeny bit better than it did yesterday, but... whew. Still rough.

She will address Shamsiel.]

Thank you for your encouragement. But, will you be okay? You seem a little... well, anxious.

[callalilies]

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

[senjinrouha]

[ he's coming up to shamsiel ]

Did what you need get found? Just... nod or shake your head if you can't actually say for any reason.

[voltadomar]

[Kim presents his ticker tape scan thingy.]

I'd like to give this another try.

[perfectdistance]

Can me and Kotetsu head to the park?

[yueshen]

[ all three get an individual, polite bow of greeting! san lang pads up to the judge's bench and stretches out to put his deer hooves on top of it near baraqiel - he sticks his face up and out towards the eagle.

... very silly but it makes xie lian smile a little, so. ]

Good morning, all three of you. It is quite relieving to hear we're approaching the end of this farce. Any words of advice to share before we begin?

[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.]

[sponsoredby]

[ he goes to approach suriel, nodding in agreement. ]

We must. We'll all work hard.

[grigori]

You're welcome and thank you for the tea.

[ they'll graciously accept it. ]

Oh. Yes, I'll be fine. [ a sip of tea. ] It's just... I really do hope this is the last time.