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.]

victim

suspects

Character Statuses
Setting
Manor Rules
Voting

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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.]

Not to mention the 'above-average' strength needed to remove the wires in the first place. I've been playing the guitar for some time, not even I could remove those without the right tools, but with someone who has enough upper-body strength...

[ Though, something nags at her... something about guitars in general, but she doesn't focus on it for too long. ]

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

[ Rapture doesn't seem the least bit surprised to hear someone else's assessment and instead, gives Sonia a smirk. ]

It makes a lot of sense. No one without at least a little bit of knowledge of how pianos work would try to pull the wires out. Wether by using tools or their bare hands.

Yes... I seem to recall seeing a splatter film in which piano wire was used to garrotte a victim... It cut very deeply into the flesh. Someone inexperienced would not be able to handle it...

The wires are still missing too, which means they had to be used for something. There aren't any marks implying that she was choked by the wire before she was placed into the bathtub, which means the sole way to block the door is by using the wire!

I can't speak for anyone else, but I think the evidence of seeing one of the suspects playing the piano already speaks multitudes.

(no subject)

teenspirit - 2013-09-27 00:38 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

agentx13 - 2013-09-27 03:58 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

throe - 2013-09-27 14:36 (UTC) - Expand

[ He does not like the sound of that, so he'll just respond flatly. ]

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say you're referrin' to me, in which case, I'm sorry to disappoint, darlin', but I don't know the first thing about pianos other than playin' some basic tunes. Just 'cause you know how to use something doesn't mean you know how to take it apart.

[ She doesn't seem to be all that embarrassed by him overhearing her accusations. After all, to Rapture, this is just some fun mystery game for her to play. She casually shrugs. ]

It's evidence to go on and I've yet to see anything proving otherwise.

If the wires are old enough and haven't been replaced for some time, it's easy to pull them out and break them without any trouble. By that regard, anyone could have done it, but there isn't any proof that you don't know how the inside of a piano works either.

[ That is totally news to him, so he looks surprised at the information as appropriate, but... She has a point. He can't prove a lack of knowledge without it looking like lying at this point. ]

That stuff is sharp though, ain't it? Well, maybe not sharp, but enough that even if I did know sort of what I was doin', I'd probably have cut my hands or somethin' along those lines without the right tools. Which, whether you believe my ignorance or not, you'd have to find tools for doin' somethin' like that, right?

Wires can be weakened from age and corrosion, that much I know from personal experience. It could either be easily cut or pulled out without a problem. Someone with much greater strength could pull it off than say... someone like Felicia Marlow, without it possibly leading a mark.

Unless, they were cut with something and not pulled by bare hands.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only