murdermanor | week 1

Entry tags:

trial,
week 1

week 1 - trial

week one trial

[At 9 AM precisely, the old grandfather clock chimes once again, and the doors to the drawing room are opened. They will remain open until everyone has come inside, after which they will shut behind them. It is not possible to leave on your own, although perhaps if you have a specific purpose the hostess will allow you to go. The room is set up comfortably, with several tables by the fireplace set out to assist with the trial. The Hostess will also remain in a seat near the fireplace, next to the scales on the mantle. At lunch, the doors will open to bring in a large meal on an automatically rolling buffet, and at 3 PM, tea and finger sandwiches will be served. You'll be able to enjoy the trial in comfort, of course, but the information cards set out on tables will not allow you to forget your true purpose here.]

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suspects

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Um...

[Yuzu is... bad at this whole investigation stuff and she knows it; there's only one real line of thinking she can think of:]

...What reasons would anyone have to kill her? Like... the motive.

[-oh wait-]

-Or why Lydia?

[ Rapture crosses her arms and shrugs, still sticking to her usual explanation. It seems to make the most sense to her. ]

Think about the information cards. Her role was a banshee that detects supernatural deaths.

Even if her killer doesn't intent to kill again, it doesn't mean there's no point to taking out someone that could pose as a future problem in the first place. Especially because there are plenty others here with "supernatural" powers listed on their cards.

But if she only detected supernatural deaths, that presumes we're looking for a supernatural killer. Or someone who is working with a supernatural killer.

That's why I think they went with something typical — like drowning — to hope that it would throw us off the supernatural route, but the chair in front of the door doesn't match up to the rest of the description. I think we have to look at how the killer escaped, rather than how the victim got in there in the first place.

But I could be wrong and it could just be a sleight of hand... like an illusion.

How positive is everyone that the killer blocked the door with the chair? Is it possible that they rigged it in an attempt to convince us the room was locked from inside?

The chair did break when we forced the door open. While I will not set aside the chances of it being an illusory locked room, the chair was at the least very close to the door.

Did you check to see if there was any wire anywhere on the floor after the chair was broken?

There was no wire on the floor. There was a set of keys--presumably Lydia's--the chair, and water.

Then it's still missing...

Unless the culprit pulled hard enough to rip it away from the chair while it was firmly settled against the door so that it wouldn't be found in the first place to make it seem like it was meant to look like someone phasing themselves through the door.

Which means... that would require someone knowing how to remove piano wires in the first place!

Combining a locked room trick with the murder of someone plainly stated to be able to detect the supernatural may be a feint by the culprit to blame supernatural suspects, of which there are many.

We have several musicians here, but I do not believe any of them are on the suspect list. Unless one of them removed the wires for some reason and then had them stolen?

[ She shakes her head, smirking. ]

It's not someone listed as a professional musician, but I've seen them play first-hand.

Oh? [Bernkastel raises her eyebrows at that.] May I ask who?

[ Rapture lets her smile linger for a bit. This is a game, isn't it? And she's going to do what she does best with games: play it. ]

If my assessments are right and I tell you who I think it is, what'll you give me in return?

Is the gratitude of your fellow contestants and adulation of the audience watching at home not enough?

[There's a hint of a teasing tone in her voice--what do you want is what she really means.]

Oh, of course, but you can't have a murder mystery without some suspense.

[ It takes her a moment to think about it. She's already got an assistant, as well as a favor from Kaoru, but Bernkastel's information card reads far more interesting than the other two ever has that she doesn't want to make a foolish trade... ]

If I so happen to be involved as a suspect in a trial, whichever one that may be, wether I am guilty or not, you have to promise not to vote to execute me. Only for one trial and only for the next trial that comes up that lists me as a suspect. Do we have a deal?

[Bernkastel considers this for a moment.]

Very well. You're certainly interesting to have around, it seems.

I'm glad you agree.

[ She gives a tight-lipped smile before placing her arms on her hips. ]

Like I mentioned before, they're not a professional musician. It's not even listed on their card, but... the other day, I was passing by the music room before I went out to the courtyard and one of our suspects was playing the piano. They claimed they weren't anything special at it, but it didn't mean that they knew nothing about how to play it either...

I'll give you a hint: he's not the least bit supernatural.

Aha. And there are one or two points of interest on that particular card, in regards to our locked room.

[The lockpicking and thieving skills, as well as the improvised weapons.]

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throe - 2013-09-26 20:55 (UTC) - Expand

H-huh?! That's a good point...!

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throe - 2013-09-27 14:18 (UTC) - Expand

So that would mean... someone who could kill 'supernaturally' right?

[how do you even define that... Susan was the obvious but did Bernkastel's probabilities count? Did that matter...?]

Right, which only narrows it down to two of the suspects, but... [ She narrows her eyes and crosses her arms ] While the motive to avoid being caught by someone who can detect supernatural deaths makes sense, neither of their cards lists any information that could make sense of how they managed to get out of the room. It's pretty clear at this point she didn't do it herself either.

Still, there would be no other reason to get rid of her unless they were concerned about her listed skills.

This may not be the only reason she was selected. She is relatively devoid of offensive skills, making her a possible target for those without powers to aid them. It may also have been a crime of opportunity, and Lydia may have simply had unlucky timing.

That makes sense, but we also have to think about that it would be really easy to choose someone because it would make supernaturals the obvious culprit. Lydia also didn't seem to have any skills that would make her tough to take on. I wouldn't rule out regular people just yet, as much as I hate to say it.

(Since it makes her more of a suspect.)

[s-swallowing]

In terms of skills... the most defenceless one would be me...

[as much as she hates to admit it]

But maybe they chose someone else because they knew we'd be suspecting supernatural types.

I just don't want to narrow it down yet.

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