MOCK WEEK - WEEK 1 TRIAL

[foundationmods]

It was noon on Friday.

No matter where they were, no matter what they were doing...the moment the chimes rang out through the hall, they felt a change.

The world...began to expand, as they felt themselves leaving the world they were on, and towards another, much larger world...🗈

This new world looked like...the inside of an ornate courtroom, like something that wouldn't be too far from some kind of grand fantasy novel.

The Witch, Lambdadelta was there, sitting in the most important place, smiling brightly at everyone. There was no music to be heard, but... perhaps on another plane, in another place, someone else heard music as they gazed upon the proceedings.

As they looked around, they might have also been surprised to see that their forms had changed - perhaps only slightly, or a much more dramatic change. It seemed like this place demanded a different form in some way, even if it was just a change of clothing.

...There was a deep silence in the room, one that no one wanted to break. It was the faint tension in the air, like the moments before a race or a competition begins.

Yesterday had been the start of the game. But now, armed with all they knew...now, they had to truly go up against the Witch, and somehow.....win.

Right?

Comments

FANTASY RETELLING - 1/ ??

[strawberryshortcackle]

[As always, Lambdadelta is there - looking very excited, surprisingly.]

Okay! So, first things first - let me just give you a primer on the game.

[She waves her hand - and everyone there will suddenly get all the information contained on these pages in their head, stuck there as if by magic.]

I know that's a lot to go through, but don't ask any questions right now, okay? First, I have to tell you what actually happened to poor Riku-kun. Watch closely, and you might learn something~

[Suddenly, a portal of space opens up...and something begins to play on it.]

Re: FANTASY RETELLING - 1/ ??

[strawberryshortcackle]

It was a quiet summer night, and the moon’s light fell softly through the window into Riku’s room - though not for long, as he locked his window and shut the curtains automatically, following what had to be a common routine.

Much like any of the others who had been brought into this game, Riku had been quietly winding down for the night. There wasn’t much on his mind, only a faint curiosity at what tomorrow would bring, if anything.

Part of him wondered if the Witch had been lying about the whole thing...but then again, if she was telling the truth, then tomorrow they would wake up to a fake murder scene to go over as part of the game they ‘agreed’ to.

Just as he was through thinking that…a dark corner of his room seemed to gleam, a few sparks appearing out of thin air from the shadows. Noticing this, Riku attempted to shine light onto that corner of the room and banish the darkness , but it was too late - the sparks shivered and grew, until-

“Yahoooo, it’s meeeee, the powerful and adorable Lambdadelta~! How are you doing tonight, Riiiikuuuu? Hope I didn’t disturb anything~”

At her appearance - bright and magical, just like the first time she’d ever appeared before them - Riku looked at her with a faint wariness in his gaze.

“...I'm fine. What're you up to, visiting so late?”

“Huh? Well, nothing much. Just that you’ve been chosen for the victim this week, is all.”

At that, Riku’s eyes widened, his stoic persona shattering for just a moment.

“What?!

...Who’s the one that “chose” me, then?”

Lambdadelta wagged a finger at him, like a mother scolding her naughty child. Only….There was not even a trace of any compassion in her expression, only a deep amusement and excitement. That look….would send a chill down anyone’s spine…

“You don’t need to know, okaaaay? All you have to do….is be killed by me. It’s that simple~”

He grit his teeth, thinking it over.

The Witch had said deaths were temporary, but….with his life at stake, he wasn’t the least bit sure that he still trusted in her words. She’d also said the killing was ‘fake’...and if he had to die, then that had obviously been a lie.

“Don't think I'll just follow along so easily. I don't just let myself get killed, no matter the situation.”

Lambdadelta huffed a little, puffing out her cheeks. It would have looked cute, if this hadn’t been a conversation between a murderer and her victim.

“Aww, come on. This is part of the gaaame! You can’t just say you want to quit just because you got picked, you know? Just lie back and accept it, okay? I’ll even make it quick and painless if you cooperate!”

“....Not like I'd have much choice, do I?”

Those words sounded like he’d accepted his fate - indeed, if anyone had heard them, they would have assumed he had given into the will of the Witch.

But they would be wrong. Despite feeling a rising tide of hopelessness pooling in his chest, Riku never gave up thinking about how to escape from this situation, trying to grasp at even the smallest possibility for escape…!

But Lambdadelta giggled, unaware of his determination, and shook her head.

“ Glad you understand so well, Riku-kun~

Well, I think I’m done talking about this. Time to get down to business. Oh, but I don’t want to get my own hands dirty with this, so….hmm….Should I just summon one of the Goats to take you down?”

Lambdadelta seemed to consider this, before shaking her head.

“...Nah. Even though you don’t have your powers, that would make this way too messy. And it’s not like I can just reconstitute your corpse from being chewed up, you know? I’m not an Endless Witch, and I want to take it easy on people on the ‘human’ side for once.

So….ah! I’ve got the perfect idea...Beato might be a little mad, but I’m only going to borrow one for a moment.”

From her position in the air, the Witch thrust her hands down at the ground, where an ominous glow began to form. Stepping back, Riku watched, feeling a sense of dread as the glow spread into a wide circle, mysterious symbols appearing along with inner lines.

When it was complete, a magical circle thrummed with dark energy on the floor of his room, and he knew just from feeling it that there was no way he could interfere with whatever she was about to do. With a sort of temporary feeling of awe and helplessness, he could only watch as she began to chant:

“Come, arise, forgive the Sin! One of the Seven Stakes of Purgatory...aaah, it doesn’t really matter which one responds to this! Whoever you are, respond to my call! The Witch of Certainty, Lady Lambdadelta, demands you appear!”

The glowing from the magic circle rose, the red light twisting into shapes - first as a pointed stake, and then...slowly becoming a humanlike form. Long hair put up into high pigtails, the outline of some outlandish costume appearing…

When the light faded, a young girl was standing there.

“Asmodeus the Lustful, right here. ...Lady Lambdadelta, it’s been sooo long! I’m so honored you summoned me!”

...To Riku, this felt as if he had entered into a dark, shadowy timeline.

Still, he was no fool. He kept his eyes firmly on her face - he didn’t want to even give something with the title ‘The Lustful’ an excuse to do….whatever - knowing that he was the one at the greatest disadvantage here.

...In fact, he barely had an advantage at all.

Despite that, he still spoke - quietly, yet incredulously, much like anyone would be when faced with this sort of situation.

“...Are you kidding me right now?”

Lambdadelta, ignoring her soon-to-be victim’s reaction to such an impossible thing happening in front of him, simply waved her hand. “Don’t mention it. Listen, so I’ve got a job for you, and he’s standing right over there. Kill him however you want - just make it impressive, okaaaay~? I’ve got to make the first murder look good, even if this is just a trial game.”

Amodeus looked over at Riku and gave a delighted squeal, hovering over to Riku’s side for a moment.

“Oooh, he’s just gorgeous! Thank you for letting me have such beautiful prey, Lady Lambdadelta! *giggle* Are you scared, cute boooooy? *giggle giggle* So cuuute….you’ll get even cuter when I pierce right through you, you know? *giggle* You’ll let me run right through you, right? Riiiight~?”

Not caring for any protests, the woman merely laughed loudly before suddenly changing form to one of the stakes that could be seen in the master bedroom. Instead of obeying gravity, like an inanimate object should, the stake floated in the air...and then shot up, flashes of light following as it spun around the room.

Pang-pang-pang-pang!

The noise it made as it hit the walls was akin to that of a gigantic woodpecker, seeking out the delicious bugs under the trunk of the tree it clung to….only it wasn’t seeking bugs, but human flesh…

Riku was no stranger to battles of life and death, so he managed to see the stake headed straight for him. But with no way to defend himself…!

*Splorch.*

The stake….lanced straight in his gut, the pain white hot and blinding. It was an awful wound, and as the blood dripped down to the floor, Riku grit his teeth, not wanting either of them to hear him crying in pain.

“Oooh, see? Riiiiight through you! Hey hey, come on, let me do some more, please? Let me pierce you some more! It’ll stop hurting soon, I proooooo~mise! Kyahahahahahahaha!”

Asmodeus ripped herself right out of Riku’s gut - and that was when Riku began to make his move. If she were confined to the room, then all he had to do was get out of it!

“Running awaaaaay? Oh, come on, I won’t let you get away from me that easily~ I’m greedy with pretty boys, you know? I have to pierce them aaaaalll up, *giggle giggle* Kyahahahahaha, run, cute boy, see if you can get away from me!!”

The light of the stake of lust lit up the room again...and again, a dull *splorch* resounded as Riku staggered back from the white hot pain lancing through his chest, a red flower of blood blooming on his shirt from the wound the stake made.

But the she wasn’t done playing with her new toy. Laughing cruelly, even as he still hurried for the door, she shot straight through his hand, palm first - the tip of the stake showing through the back of his hand…!

Pulling it out to that same, irritating laughter, he reached for the door -

...Only to find that it was locked.

“Isn’t it obvious?” The Witch’s voice sneered from the corner. “I’m not going to just let you waltz right out of the room. Look, it’s right there on the door, see?”

Incredibly, in front of him, letters began to appear, written in a deep, red ink...almost like blood.

‘S O |’

“You’re ‘Shit Out of Luck’, right? *cackle cackle*”

The blood, dripping down from the letters, from his hand and from his body...seemed to take his fight with it. Was he….really not getting out of this situation alive? Even though he wanted to keep fighting, keep going….

...His body….was beginning to give out….

Turning around just before his knees gave out, Riku collapsed to the floor - but still defiantly stared at the Demon who was still clanging around the room. This - this had to be his end, and yet...he refused to go out cowering or unconscious.

A human, perhaps, might have left their victim to bleed, self assured by the death they would face from blood loss. But, in the end, Asmodeus was a demon.

And she had no mercy.

*THOCK*

Riku’s body shuddered...and relaxed. The reason was quite simple, as any living being would have done the same under the same circumstances.

That was….because the stake...had pierced right through his forehead, killing him instantly.

He slumped against the door, his eyes nearly closing all the way, the stake sticking halfway out like some kind of grim oni or unicorn horn. But in a scattering of red, even that disappeared...leaving only a gaping hole behind, and the demon Lambdadelta had summoned.

Asmodeus groaned and stretched, acting like she’d just gotten done with some sort of strenuous, yet pleasurable activity, color rising to her face in a bright red as she floated around in an energized manner.

“Aaaaah, that was so greaaaat! I’m gonna remember that last face he made for sooooo long from now on! It’s so disappointing he didn’t last long enough for me to pierce him a couple more times….Hey, hey, I have to tell everyone - they’re going to be sooo jealous!”

After quietly checking that Riku was, indeed, completely dead...Lambdadelta just smiled, conjuring up a candy and tossing it her way.

“Ah, will they? I guess I get it - Furniture wants to be used, right? And it’s been a while since Beato used you guys, so I thought you might be a little rusty….guess I didn’t have to worry at all.”

“Of course you didn’t! Even if we were out of use, we’re still top notch magical furniture! Anyway, if you ever need one of us sisters again, make sure you call for me specifically, okaaay? Especially if the victim’s a cutie like that one. *giggle.*”

“Yeah, yeah. Bye-bye, Asmo-chan. See you again, someday.”

With those carefree words from the Witch, Asmodeus vanished in a brilliant twisting of light, leaving only Lambdadelta behind...and the body still slumped against the door. Looking over her work, she giggled - and turned her back on the body, not sparing it another glance.

“Thanks, Riku-kun. It was fun, seeing you scurry around like that. It managed to alleviate just a little of my boredom, anyway….Just the tiniest sliver.”

And with that, Lambdadelta herself vanished away.

THE WITCH

[strawberryshortcackle]

[The portal fades away, and Lambdadelta claps her hands, as if trying to redraw their attention back to her.]

So! Now you've all seen what I said happened to Riku-kun. You've got a couple of options you can take here. You can agree that I killed him with Asmo-chan, and then this whoooole trial will end...though I'll be super disappointed, so I hope you won't do that.

Or, you can argue against it - because you're on the human side! You'll have to come up with a theory using the Blue Truth, and dodge my expertly crafted Red Truth~

Anyway, I don't really care if you get it right. So long as you present me with a splendid Blue Truth that denies that I, the cute and great Lambdadelta, did it - then you win! ...Well, for this week, anyway.

Oh, but, it's not like you have endless time. Even I'd get bored if you tried to drag this out, you know? Soooo...I'll give you six hours. ...Yeah, I think that sounds fair.

Six hours from now, if there's no Blue Truth that I accept, then the trial will end in a win for the Witch Side.

I guess I'll also clarify a few other things for you guys. Oh, but, I'm not talking to all of you. I'm talking to the ones watching this.

[and indeed....when she speaks next, to the characters gathered, it sounds like magic-tinged gibberish.

But...you understand perfectly what this means, right?]

If there's two or more theories that have enough characters behind them, a vote page will be put up for everyone to vote on which theory their character is going with.

You can treat the rest of the page like how normal trials work, but always remember that you can ask the Witch to clarify stuff at any time - just keep in mind how the Red works from the page.

If there's any issues or questions, just ask it to the mods on Discord.


Code for Blue Truth:
<font color=#000099><b>TEXT GOES HERE</b></font>

[And as she finishes up that bit, she sighs.]

...Okay, I think all the boring setup stuff is done now. So! You can ask me to repeat any Red I've previously stated, or ask me to repeat a theory that you have in Red.

....Of course, I have the right to refuse to repeat anything if it's not advantageous to me, but since this is a trial run, I'm going to take it easy on all of you.

With that said....Let's begin! Was Riku's death a Mystery, or a Fantasy? You'll be the ones deciding that, so don't let me down!

[curryparty]

[...]

Lady Lambdadelta... are we allowed to ask if we will be able to see Riku alive and well again after this?

Because it's "pretend."

[iblistriggered]

[NOW AIMED IN THE RIGHT PLACE! He clears his throat and addresses Lambdadelta directly]

Riku wasn't killed by that pervy stake lady, he was killed by a bullet to the head!

[curryparty]

[Still not sure what the relevance is, but it's worth a try!]

The writing on the door was going to be "SORA", but Riku couldn't finish writing it!

[Have a nice blue tendril of rose thorns headed your way, Lambda.]

[overlordad]

I want to give this a try.

The culprit didn't stab Riku in the head because his stupid hair hid the bullet wound.

[accitio]

[ Well, she supposes she'll try now too. She's gotta test the waters eventually...! ]

The true culprit did not appear in Riku's room, they came through his door.

[overlordad]

Hey, Lambadelta. I have a question: does a corpse count as a person?

[artificialhighness]

The killer was someone Riku let into his room willingly, and Riku was stabbed in the middle of the room.

[What seems to be tendrils of vines or perhaps liquid swirls up into a shape -- it's big-ass scythe, and it swings for Lambda.]

[curryparty]

[...This might end badly for him, but they're running out of time.]

The culprit was one of the two who woke up with a weapon in their rooms.

[overlordad]

[Well that sure was... a lot. And already he sees some huge holes in the story: but first Takashi takes a moment to check out his new appearance. The curled demon horns, the claws- everything a fearsome demon should have. Nice. And his suit is just a little fancier instead of a salaryman's attire. Very spiffy.

He still has stake-chan and the gun on him, as well as the gory bullets. But for now, they are tucked away]

So, who wants to go over everything we found? Unless you wanna just go with what she said so we can break for lunch, kekeke~

[strawberryshortcackle]

[OH YEAH SPEAKING OF STAKE-CHAN...

Hey, is your jacket rustling? Specifically, is the stake wiggling? Actually, you can make out-]

Kyaaaa, I've been kidnapped by a handsome man!

[...It sounds identical to the voice from the girl in the retelling.]

[accitio]

Difficult though it may be, I believe we should go over what was found.

[helmdivide]

[ Here's Jack, looking like some kind of fancy war hero or something like that. There seems to something extra shiny about him beyond the uniform. Like he's a little brighter, almost shiny in his own kind of light.

He doesn't seem to be paying attention to any of that though. Looking around for Big Blue as he puts his hands on his hips. ]

I found a knife under my bed.

[curryparty]

[Asuma doesn't undergo any physical change, but his uniform inverts in color, leaving him blinking in surprise. His expression becomes sad for a moment, but he quickly shakes his head and looks upwards once more, determined.]

That story doesn't explain the bullets at all, either.

[iblistriggered]

[Silver is here, but not in a form anyone will know right off the bat! Instead of a short little hedgehog, he's a fairly short little 14 year old boy with brilliant silver hair and, FOR ONCE IN HIS LIFE, PANTS.]

No! We definitely can't just give up so easily! ... Ah... but I don't really know any details about what happened...

[enter_the_darkness]

[ Someone doesn't look happy after catching a glimpse of himself in the mirror.

He's in that bodysuit he was wearing on day one, so that'll serve as a clue towards who this is, but...

Boy does he not look happy...

Or sound it. ]

Is this some kind of joke?

[ At least he's managed to keep his voice and expression steady, there? Anyway, give him a moment, he'll get in on the conversations after... uh... yeah. ]

[ladyscarred]

[For the last week she'd been hiding out in her cloak. Not taking the shackles off. That's all thrown out the window when they get pulled in.

Instead she ends up wearing what appears to be a cross between an off-shoulder blouse, jeans and a bodysuit. The little flower in hair and the long plait would be cute.

If it was obvious where she'd gotten the name scarred from. There was the one on her face. But without the cloak and the style of her shirt, the scars across her shoulders, collar, neck and hands were clearly visible.

But she's not worried about it right now. She's busy frowning at the recreation.]

Was it really necessary for that girl to be so cheerful? I know you said this was faked but still...

[strawberryshortcackle]

Asmo-chan's just like that.

Should I be all dour and shouty like Satan-nee? That sounds really boring, though...

Sniff Test?

[helmdivide]

Heeeey, so if someone used a gun, wouldn't they still smell all gun powdery?

[ Does that even work here? ]

Maybe we should try smelling our hands just in case?

[strawberryshortcackle]

No evidence gathering can take place during a trial.

[The red...doesn't hang in the air. This time, it turns into a thin wire, which wraps around one of Jack's wrists and squeezes painfully onto his hand.]

[overlordad]

I'm wondering something- why would the culprit use a knife AND a gun. And maybe the stake too. Isn't that kinda overkill?

Are we even sure none of those weapons were Riku's?

[helmdivide]

That's what I was wondering. I think the knife could have been something Riku could have had on him.

QUICK CATHERD

[artificialhighness]

I think it's time to clarify the theories we have, instead of throwing blue truths at the witch and hoping they stick. We need a base from which to move.

[She studiously doesn't look towards where someone (TAKASHI) is probably still eating lances and konpeito. Some people can't be helped.]

First, Riku was killed by a bullet to the head.

However, a knife was used to create the other wounds and those wounds were created while he was alive. Riku was never shot while he was standing, nor was the killer trying to remove the bullets with the knife.

The stake was never used.

The order of events means that Riku was stabbed, then shot.

If you've seen the layout of his room, then you know that there was blood in the middle of the room, moving towards the door; that there was a good deal of blood near the door, including the doorknob; and that "SO|" was written on the door using his blood. Our current theory is that he was trying to write the name of his friend Sora on the door, but of course there are problems with this theory, including his positioning and its meaning.

As for the culprit, we know that they entered through the door. We haven't established how they left or exactly what was written on the door and why. And of course, we don't know the culprit at the moment.

[There's a thoughtful pause.]

You've all done well in getting this information. This should make our blue truths easier going forward, should it not?

[curryparty]

[He's just kinda chilling in these red thorns because he also made some missteps with the blue truth, but hey. He's pretty much used to it by this point, so while he's still tense just to avoid actually pricking himself, he's otherwise Fine.]

Do many people here come from worlds where guns are common?

PUNISHMENT OF THE WITCH: SALMIAKKI

[strawberryshortcackle]

[After everyone is through talking, there's a loud clanking noise as the Goats appear and drag in a large machine.

Smiling at her new toy, Lambdadelta brings him over to it - and he's helpless, even though he attempts to thrash around and yell at her, trying to stop whatever it is she's going to do.]

...Hey, do you know what this is? Ah, well, of course you wouldn't. This....is a candy making machine for a certain kind of candy.

If you'd been anyone different, I might have been able to make some sugary-sweet Konpeitos....or maybe even make some savory rice crackers. Unfortunately, you're not sweet or savory enough to make most things....but you're perfect for this.

[Cackling, she lifts him up, up, towards the upper funnel of the large, metal container.]

Bye bye, Vanitas. See you Monday, okaaaaay~?

[And she drops him in.

Thankfully, there seems to be only a floor in there, as there's a loud thud, followed quickly by banging and yelling from Vanitas inside the large container.

Looking over to the Goats waiting for her command, she nods - and one of them flips the switch, turning it on with an ominous thrum.

The yelling inside suddenly increases, becoming more panicked as something happens - but it's not until the cries of pain start that it becomes obvious what this machine does.

The Witch remains silent, yet smiling cruelly as the cries turn into outright screams, and the dull reverberation of bones cracking can be heard. In a tube connected to the container, an incredibly dark liquid begins to flow out, filtering into another part of the machine, which also clicks to life with a whrrr.

The container Vanitas was put in now starts to contract, and the screams slowly choke away into nothingness. After that, it begins a noise that sounds like a million, thousand threshing machines going away all at once, with the occasional cracks of any bone pieces that were missed before...!

There's a ding from the other end, and Lambdadelta immediately flies over, where the goats have brought over a large collection bin. From the end of the machine...comes little black, salty candies, one of which Lambda immediately puts in her mouth and gives a little hum.]

Mmm...sweet things are delicious, but sometimes you want something so salty and bitter that it hurts your tongue....Ah, Vanitas really was perfect for this, wasn't he?

[More and more candy comes out of the machine, and most of the goats begin to put their hands into the bin and take out massive handfuls, shoving the candy skulls in their mouths with obvious delight.

Even like this, someone like Vanitas....could be enjoyed, slurped up, chewed, and eaten down to the very bone...!

As the world begins to shimmer around everyone, the feast doesn't stop - The Goats continue to eat, and Lambdadelta continues to laugh - but one Goat takes a plate and piles it high with the candies, bringing it forward...And sets it down on the table.

The table....in the dining room of the mansion, where they now all were, back in their normal forms.

Bowing to the guests, the Goat quickly leaves.

But in front of all of them, the candy skull licorice....stares at them with empty eyes.]

[helmdivide]

[ Yeah. Okay. This is fine. ]