week 4 - trial; day 1

[vicedirector]

seven vices case 4 trial, day 1 ♫ saturday At 9AM, every television will go off, loud enough to wake anyone sleeping. The calm, apathetic voice will advise everyone to gather in the chapel for the trial. Static will continue to blare in the head of anyone dillydallying. Once all of the guests have gathered in the chapel, the doors will lock. Most of the pews have been moved aside to allow for more space, and a few tables have been set up on the altar. On the first, there is an additional copy of the rulebook, and the information cards of the victim and suspects laid out, with space for the suspects to provide their whereabouts, as well as an autopsy report. There is also a large wheeled chalkboard upon which you may write theories. On the second table is a pitcher of water and some glasses, as well as very simple sandwiches and pastries. The door behind the altar has finally been unlocked. It's a rather plain room with an area set off by a folding screen. Inside, you will find a table on which the victim's body has been laid out. Next to the table, two black and white photographs have been hung on the screen. they are close ups of the victim's body, as it was found when the body discovery announcement chimed. A few sticks of incense burn in the corner to avoid any smells. At 6PM, the trial will adjourn. Everyone will be escorted back to the hotel by Miata, after which everyone is allowed to head to either the kitchen to get dinner, or to their rooms. Attempting to wander off into the other areas of the hotel will trigger the static alarms in everyone's heads/televisions. >Discuss? victim   suspects      cast setting rulebook

Comments

[stupidly]

It's just her, I think. I talked to her about this before the game rules were revealed. She said it's written in an ancient language that all magic is written in, where she comes from. I got a look at it earlier and I couldn't read anything at all.

[hopefragment]

Oh... really?

[HMM. Considering people could read his ID, and that's written in Japanese... this language stuff confuses him.]

So either the fire came from another source, or... somehow it didn't burn hot enough to burn down the entire building, even if we assume her time of death was at 4AM.

[stupidly]

[~MAGIC~...]

I think it's probably more likely that it came from a different source... Unless they found a way to start a delayed fire, or keep it contained, it makes more sense that they went back later right?

[hopefragment]

A delayed fire...

Could that stick that was found have had anything to do with that? I don't know what the point is of delaying the fire if your victim's time of death is already determined to be before the fire could have been set.

[herbgrace]

To cover up evidence but also delay when we'll actually find the body? A fire draws attention fairly quickly.

[hopefragment]

Maybe, but... we didn't find the body until around nine o'clock. I think most of us would have been out searching by that time anyway, what with the monitor missing. If it had been a lot earlier, like... around five or six, when most people are asleep, I could buy it, but...

I don't know, with the last few weeks, I can't imagine anyone would have just assumed everything was fine and wouldn't have bothered looking.

[herbgrace]

Mn... Maybe it's the other way around--they wanted to draw attention to the body at that time?

[hopefragment]

...That could be it. Right now, that's the only thing that makes sense to me.

Is it possible to think that the fire was a distraction from another part of the town?

[herbgrace]

The way things were scattered around town--keys dropped, that crane, the ash smudged on a door--it seemed like they must have been in a hurry. They could have been putting evidence somewhere or putting themselves somewhere that wouldn't be seen as unusual, although I don't know why they wouldn't do that at night.

[hopefragment]

The ash smudged on the door is really concerning, yeah.

[He'd gone pretty pale at that piece of evidence, considering Faize's room was also his room last night.]

I know I definitely didn't hear anyone come by in the morning, but... if someone just leaned on the doorframe, I know I wouldn't have woken up.

[stupidly]

It might have been... To be honest, I don't understand the point of the fire either. It didn't hide the injuries, the time of death wasn't covered... It might have been to dispose of some sort of evidence? But you'd think they would have just taken that to the bonfire, if they were really out between 1 and 4 in the morning.

[hopefragment]

You'd think, yeah. And even if the fire were to dispose of evidence... we'd definitely notice weird ash or something where there shouldn't be any, right?

[stupidly]

Right... The notes said that the fire was small and almost out by the time they got to the station, and that the only thing they found near her was that stick.

[mothercat]

It's the same where I'm from. I wasn't sure if this place treated it differently, but where I'm from the Ancient Language is too complex for most to read without years of study.

In theory she could have taught someone, but it seems like a stretch.

[ So were he and Selena both from Tellius?? Man, he never knew... He should have talked to her more. ]

[stupidly]

[Like two ships passing in the night...]

It seems like it would have been a lot to learn in just a few weeks... And she seemed like a level-headed person, too. I'm not sure she would have intentionally taught someone how to use something that would have been in her possession most of the time.

[mothercat]

[ Tragic. ]

It would be. I never claimed it would be easy, and I agree she probably wouldn't teach anyone. Honestly, I think it's a stretch to say someone else used the tome, but...

I really can't say for sure it isn't possible. It's only improbable.

[minogame]

But isn't everything translated here? I mean, I only speak Japanese but everyone here understands me just fine.

[mothercat]

Yeah... I wouldn't think the translated version would work, but I'm no magic-user. I don't know the specifics of how the tomes work, I only know they rely on the Ancient Language.

I think to settle it, it's best to let Dhaos try and let the results speak for themselves.