WEEK 3 - TRIAL

[foundationmods]

TRIAL

The morning seemed so far away yesterday - yet, it also seems too soon when morning comes and you are all yet again ushered to the third floor by The Lady. The Captain is there, in all of his....wait, no, he's asleep.

The doors close, and...nothing happens. There's still the box labeled 'VOTES' in his lap on the couch, but...

On the table is a letter, that reads 'Only one person may be voted for execution this week. Please figure out who that will be during the time limit.'

As you finish reading that, music begins to play in the room...


VICTIM: SHIROU EMIYA, HIMEKO INABA, AND MUNEHISA IWAI

23 GUESTS REMAIN.

Comments

[purrtagonist]

[we have an answer!]

[justfists]

[and also, after the smell thing, she leans close to Akira to confer, well... somewhat privately]

... Isn't it strange that a murder committed by the Jorogumo would have a different scent?

[purrtagonist]

Yeah, actually.

[he holds up three fingers]

It's clear the Jorogumo killed Inaba. It's also clear the Barghest killed Iwai. But Ryoga-san was only able to smell the Barghest and the Jorogumo near those first two. No whiffs of the people those two monsters may be possessing.

Owain is the odd one out. I don't know what that means, but it is strange.

[justfists]

I don't know either. But there's enough difference... [she pauses, like she's trying to find the words but. honestly, it's clear she's trying to defend owain here]

[purrtagonist]

[he can tell, and he reaches out to place a hand on her arm]

Take it easy. We have time to uncover the truth.

[justfists]

I know.

[she looks down at that, and wraps her arms around her midsection.]

I know.

[purrtagonist]

Are you worried about him?

[he doesn't really need to ask, since that much is obvious, but. he's asking anyway]

[justfists]

Of course I am.

None of this adds up, the other murders were lacking in evidence, but this one... it has so much.

[xenoqueen]

[...]

Weren't Iwai and Shirou staying with you last night? What happened?

[justfists]

... The trap we discussed was sprung. When I looked at the trail left behind, the puppy had been all over our room. Myself and Akira were covered in its pawprints.

However, the trail eventually led to Snake's room. There weren't any other trails beyond what the puppy had left.

[xenoqueen]

...It didn't go inside the room, did it?

[Frowning, looking towards Snake with a raised eyebrow.]

Maybe it sees him as its dad.

[justfists]

Inside of Snake's room?

I don't know. The trail ended there.

[tacticalespionageaction]

[he's trying not to be touched about this because the circumstances are not the best but hrnnrhghghhh.]

...I do keep a box for it to sleep in.

[purrtagonist]

I don't know.

[he gives his head a small shake]

Shirou never showed up. He must've gotten caught on his way to my room. And as for Iwai. . .

[he balls his hands into fists]

I fell asleep at midnight, as usual, and didn't hear anything. When I woke up, the door was unlocked and the trap that Makoto and Hunter set up had been activated.

[whirlingmace]

Does- does that mean they can grab people who are sleeping?

[purrtagonist]

[. . . a quiet nod]

Yeah.

It looks like they can.

[xenoqueen]

[Ripley frowns, tilting her head and crossing her arms.]

I was keeping a close watch on the time while I was sitting out in the hallway. I...don't know if this helps, but...before midnight, I saw Makoto leaving the room with Owain and...I think...Shirou.

[She doesn't look...very sure of herself.]

I saw Makoto coming back later. Alone.

[purrtagonist]

[-- wait what]

[what??]

[he looks kind of taken aback by that]

What?

When?

[swordhandled]

--Wait, what?

[maskarang]

I'll say this once more: Owain never left my side. I can't be certain of what happened after midnight, but every hour before is accounted for.

[13thpromise]

...when they were leaving did they stop at all? And did they look like they were talking or just silently leaving?

[theycallhimmrpchan]

Ah! That's what was strange about it!

[purrtagonist]

[nods at him!]

Exactly.

If Owain was the Jorogumo or the Barghest, then why wasn't his scent on any of the other crime scenes?

And even if he isn't, then why is his scent the only identifiable one?

[theycallhimmrpchan]

Maybe they dragged him around to try to frame him?

[He scratches his chin, not sounding too sure about the theory]

[purrtagonist]

Or maybe the scent came from his sword. It's hard to say.

[folds his arms, frowning deeply]

. . . Shirou was killed differently than both Iwai and Inaba. Almost like. . . neither the Barghest nor the Jorogumo were involved.