[CONTINUE + 2] week 1 || act: indict

[foundationmods]

[Saturday dawns, bright and early again - and Undyne comes to the inn, flanked by the Royal Guard...all of the Dogs in the area, in their armor or uniforms.

You all only have enough time to get ready - wash yourselves, put on your masks and clothing - before you're ushered out, guarded so heavily that it's clear they expect trouble. Monsters on the way watch you warily, whispering and looking shocked.

It's clear they no longer have such kind thoughts of you, after what happened.

You're all lead out past Snowdin and Waterfall, into an area that's hot, and the glow of subterranian lava lights the area. Then, past a large hotel...into an area that looks metallic, where some kind of whitish, rainbow-gleaming liquid can be seen below.

You know where this is.

In this area, you are led to a wider platform that is still open to the liquid before, with the handrails in place - where there are some seats around, and a familiar face waiting to speak with you.

This...for all of you, it is a familiar sight.

It is a trial location.

You are here to find the killer...and convict one of your own, in a murder that makes no sense.

But you have no choice.

You can only forge ahead....and try to find out the truth.]

VICTIM: WEI WUXIAN
ACT: VOTE

Comments

[foundationmods]

[In front of you all, before a very clear throne...is the Monster you all first saw. But, instead of the kind, motherly monster you originally met...there is nothing but a queen, staring down impassively at all you, a crown on her head and her robes very clearly made from higher quality materials.

When she speaks, it's with all the bearing and aloofness of a ruler - at those she would call her subjects.

...But you know the words by heart, now.]

You have been gathered here today for the murder of a Monster who came here with all of you.

...We are a kind and peaceful folk. Accidents have occurred, but for over 1000 years, we have not had a murder of our own kind among us....until now. Not until your arrival.

Monsters from the surface. I choose to believe that not all of you are such cruel, callous killers - and so, I am giving you the chance to find the killer among you, and bring them to justice. You will vote on who you believe it is, and then we will imprison them for their crimes.

If a murder occurs after this, we will not be so lenient. We are giving you a chance to atone - an act of MERCY. You will have six hours to discuss among you and find the killer, and if one is not found, then we will imprison all of you.

....

[foundationmods]

[And when she speaks again, after....it's in the tones of a mother.]

I am very disappointed in all of you.

[Yet, even her disappointment begins to get old.

She goes to sit on the throne and watch the proceedings, as always.]

[ugly_split_ends]

Prove it!!

[finalring]

Prove it?

[ugly_split_ends]

Prove that not one murder has happened in one-thousand years!

Betcha can't!

[finalring]

That's...

[ mm, actually, he'll keep his mouth shut for this one. ]

[ugly_split_ends]

That's completely right, and you know it!!

[foundationmods]

[Undyne thunks the end of her spear on the ground a few times, using the sound to draw Fukawa's attention towards her.]

A monster has not murdered another monster in over a thousand years. Queen Toriel is a boss monster and has lived long enough to experience those years herself. So when she says that is the truth, we believe her.

[ugly_split_ends]

[That thunk gets Fukawa off guard, at least.]

C-Character evidence isn't proof. A-And even if it has b-been t-that long... how do you know it was us??

Who was that last murder, t-then!? What happened to t-the killer t-then?

[foundationmods]

I can prove it.

[Her voice is cold.]

Unlike those on the surface, there are only so many Monsters that are living here. Our numbers have steadily declined since we were placed here, and from natural causes at the end of their lifespans.

We do not murder each other because we have other options. Accidents have occured, but the FIGHT system and bullet control patterns make it easy for us to draw or to forfeit when needed.

I have overseen everything in these caves. Do you think me so negligent to not notice someone's Level of Violence increasing?

[accessorytomurder]

...you never even considered for a moment, it could be one of yours, did you? Not by checking alibis, or anything. It never even crossed your mind. Not for a single second.

[Her tone isn't condemning, really, or even outright angry or cruel, because... well, unless the being changed their MO this time, it was one of them. But something in her has been chipping away and chipping away for Toriel, each trial, and she's been so careful to keep her ugly pain away from any of the other Foundation members that, ironically, the 'othered' target is that much more appealing.

It's something that was down here, after all, and it did/would control her monsters, too. So really... isn't it a member of Her Majesty's domain?]

...well. It's not as though you specifically care that the m-...monster I love is dead. A queen can't spare more than pie and hospitality for outsiders, and still protect her own people.

[cw_suicide]

[... honey. is now the time to be j'accusing the Queen?





big mood, actually.]

[accessorytomurder]

[Let her vent, babe. The only thing the Underground lost in this was the cost of clean-up.

Toriel can't begin to comprehend their 'disappointment' in this hellish cycle.]

[cw_suicide]

[reasons he doesn't say anything. she's venting for two, honestly.]

1/2

[foundationmods]

[Well, she explains with this...]

[foundationmods]

[Then, closes her eyes.]

I am...very sorry for the loss of your partner. I had hoped....coming down here, you would be free of the strife and pain that must have plagued you on the surface...

[....]

But, I understand. If lashing out makes it so that the pain you are feeling is lessened, then I will accept it. It is a Queen's duty to do so.

[accessorytomurder]

We didn't come down here with anyone who would hurt another person out of anything other than self-defense, under their own free will.

[She lifts her chin.]

We... the three of us, we had to deal with our fourth being murdered on a previous excursion, to a terrible place under the control of a terrible thing. Something worse than any single human or monster could've ever been. I really... I had really hoped, on the way down, that this place wasn't so terrible. I really did.

[ugly_split_ends]

... [groans, then whispers, but isn't being paricularly stealthy about it.]

It's like she leads through sheer passive-aggressive guilt trips.

[accessorytomurder]

[Slowly... cooling down...]

...my mother is... was a leader, too, sort of. And she was strict, sometimes, and hard, sometimes. But, um, I-I think... I think that sincerity and being straight-forward is best.

[ugly_split_ends]

Oh, yeah!? Well my mothers loved to put on a facade of "This is for your own good," as they t-tortured me. Guess we can both take lessons from that, can't we??

[sageking]

[ It's like an old record playing again and again. But alas, here they were. ]

Queen Toriel.

[ He'll address her straight up and properly, at that. ]

We should be allowed to head back to the Inn and to make our way into Rooms 2 and 5. It seems that the culprit managed to keep both of those doors locked, so we'll need to do a bit of brute force in order to uncover some additional evidence.

It's important to catching the killer, so to speak.

[foundationmods]

No. I've seen the evidence, and I believe there is enough here to convict based on it.

[That's said with all the firm immovability of a ruler, so.]

[sageking]

[ It was, though he'll give it one more try at the very least.

Even a ruler wasn't always immovable, though their answers could seem so. They could change their minds, just like anyone else. ]

...However, so far we've nothing that would assist in painting a profile for the killer. Wouldn't it make sense for us to be able to gather more evidence that could assist in that?

[foundationmods]

....

[She says nothing, but you get the impression this is a lost cause.]

[sageking]

[ He'll grumble under his breath.

This was exactly why he didn't feel in the mood to defend her IN THE SLIGHTEST. But, he'll deal with it for now.

He knew how stubborn rulers could be and just witnessed Yachi's argument. ]