Week 1, Saturday

[foundationmods]

This whole post contains a blanket CONTENT WARNING for gallows and hanging imagery.

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[Once again, right at noon, the Contestants are invited to the studio to participate in another exciting game. The set has changed entirely since the last time they were there, with the mountain climber game replaced by a large board of some sort. Several prinnies are near it, carrying large cards with random letters written on them. It seems as though they might be helping out for this game. But there is something else off to the side too...(CW: gallows)

As always, Dazai is there, waiting on stage for everyone to sit down. He's dressed in his usual black suit getup, but his smile seems a bit forced today.]

Comments

Puzzle 3

[guileturncoat]

[After that incident, Dazai isn't quite the same as he was before. There's no smile present on his face, and his eyes look empty. Whatever that phone call had been about, it shook him to his core. And now he's taking things much more seriously.]

There has been a change of rules.

[The next puzzle goes up on the board. The prinnies all look nervous.]

Five consonants, two vowels. No punishments for wrong letters, but you get no help besides those seven letters. Then you have nine tries to get the phrase.

George, you're up.

[The prinnies seem frightened as they lead George up to the gallows this time.]

...the clue is 'when the shinigami are away, these two will stay to play'.

LETTERS

[guileturncoat]

[5 consonants, 2 vowels.]

[darkremnants]

"O", "A", "T", "R", "Y", "S", and "P"

[guileturncoat]

[Unfortunately, only some letters get revealed.]

Nine guesses, everyone.

GUESSES

[guileturncoat]

[Once the letters are picked, do your guesses here.]

[duskhound]

[This letter choice was her responsiblity, so she'll make the first guess.]

Let's try... "Necromancy & Gravekeeping".

WIN

[guileturncoat]

...so you solved it after all, hmm?

[Despite all that's happened, Dazai still sounds somewhat pleased when he says that.]

Very well. By the rules of the game, you all have won. George is free to go, and nobody will be eliminated today.

[The prinnies will help George down, and he can return to the others.]

Good job, everyone. Spend the rest of the weekend resting up and getting ready for next week. It's only going to get harder from here.

[And with that, the lights go down on the stage, and the game of Hangman is over.]

[duskhound]

...I think I might know what it is already, but...

...I'd suggest we choose 'O' for one of the vowels.

[darkremnants]

"A" for the other.

[duskhound]

That's fine. As for the consonants... I'm going to suggest s and r, at the very least.

[darkova]

Shinigami- that's this world's version of the Halja, correct? The servants of death?

[duskhound]

I think a lot of them wound up summoned by 6350 too, actually? One of them was part of the initial Hotel California investigation, so me and Inaba have worked with them before, however briefly...

[darkremnants]

So think souls, ghosts, or even weird scientists.

[dereban]

What were you thinking for the phrase, Ellie?

[ just curious ]

[duskhound]

I'm thinking it might be referring to two B-Rank Agents who would be familiar with Shinigami.

[houndumb]

The shinigami're gone for this gameshow, aren't they?? What, is this one related to the Prinnies or something?? Hmph.

[All the flippant, but his posture is alert enough to show he's listening regardless.]

[georgeous]

[ George doesn't put up any resistance as he's lead up to the stage, but his lips are pressed together in a thin line and his body language is notably tense. ]

Don't mess this up.

[houndumb]

Ha, they're just tryin' to psych us out, but it wouldn't be a last round without some kinda challenge!!

[Nora is apparently just going to smash his way right through this. Sure. #helping]

[georgeous]

[ That's.... reassuring and disturbing in equal measures, a weird cocktail of emotions. ]

Considering how easily the last two were solved, I'll place my faith in you all.

[oceanicbutterfly]

We won't.

[merirut]

[Not really saying anything here, but he'll watch as George is lead up there.]

[failsaw]

[Giriko doesn't say anything, but she's obviously more focused this round than she was for the others.]

[oceanicbutterfly]

...right. Suggestions, anyone?

[odasaku]

It doesn’t look like the names suggested.

[hatesdeerstalkers]

....There's not enough there...to truly...

[Moriarty should PROBABLY be resting, but he's instead wincing and trying to figure it out.]

...I can't think of a single thing.