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

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?

[artificialhighness]

[She gives him a little smile and wave. Hang in there, Asuma. At least you didn't get lanced.]

I think we discussed gun proficiency, but it still took the culprit three shots to hit Riku at relatively close range and while he was on the floor.

[So there's something to be said for that.]

[accitio]

We have. I thought at first that the stab wounds were meant to cover the culprit's inability to use guns. Now, I am less certain...

It could be I had it reversed. The stabs to the stomach and chest were first and followed by gunshots.

[artificialhighness]

I see. You were a good match for Lambda.

[She seems pleased by this.]

If the stabbings came first, he would have been easy prey for the bullets. The culprit went to a lot of trouble to use multiple weapons and confuse the order of events.

[curryparty]

That's true, but...

I think it's still important to know who comes from a world where guns are more commonplace.

[They have some, after all, who may not even have known what one was to ask for one.]

[iblistriggered]

Guns are pretty common where I come from... either ones that shoot bullets or harness the powers of these little aliens called "Wisps". But I've never touched one before --- no reason to.

[artificialhighness]

True enough. There are still guns where I come from, of course -- gunpowder technology will always be relevant to some degree. But they are infected by the Ruin, much the same as everything else made of metals.

[So paradoxically and for various reasons, guns aren't all that popular anymore.]

[accitio]

I do not have much personal experience firing guns, even if they are common enough on my world.

[curryparty]

So you know enough about them to ask for one, hypothetically.

[enter_the_darkness]

[ Poking at where thorns are... ]

I'd never even seen one before coming here.

[curryparty]

[He just gives another one of those playful smiles, even if he can't actually move.]

Did you learn much about them here?

[accitio]

Could you tell us when you learned of them? It may help us to know if you found out before or after the crime.

[ladyscarred]

I've never handled one. I mentioned it earlier but most of the guns I've heard of are spell based. They would not need a physical shell.

[helmdivide]

They have 'em in my world. Don't know how to use one though and wouldn't risk using one.

[beastlybruno]

... Yes, and no. They exist, but I hear they're mostly used in... What was it called? On the Virtupets Space Station? I've never been there myself... Other than that, there's a shooting gallery in the Haunted Fairgrounds, but they only use cork guns.

Besides, I don't think I've seen a gun quite like the one used in the murder, and even if I did and knew how to use it I doubt I would be able to without crushing the gun or something.

[The form he's taken now doesn't look like much, but usually... Tiny gun trigger. Big meaty paws. Not gonna work.]

[overlordad]

[Thumbs up from the floor]

Think he might have let the culprit in? Then they wouldn't have had to sneak in.

[iblistriggered]

So maybe the culprit was someone Riku would have let into his room?

[overlordad]

Maybe. Though there's no way they could have left the same way- and the window was locked when I got there too...

[helmdivide]

Wasn't all the blood right by the door though? I don't think he let them in. I think they stabbed him at the door.

[overlordad]

Maybe they stabbed him and pushed their way inside.

[artificialhighness]

There was less blood in the middle of the room than by the door. If I had to guess, he was first wounded farther from the door, and then moved closer, judging by where most of the blood is.

[beastlybruno]

[Bruno was smart enough not to go nuts with the blue truth here, but that mess has led to gathering this much information.]

Hm... We could ask who else knows about this Sora person? I'm tempted to see if the killer also knew who he was, but...

[Glancing at Takashi again. Ouch.]

[helmdivide]

So, either the killer knew about his friend or he thought he was safe enough or had a moment to write a message? Man this is giving me a headache.

[beastlybruno]

Maybe? I'm just throwing a thought out there.