week 0 - day 1

[productions]

murder manor week zero



saturday

[Saturday begins much like Friday, with no further answers provided, and no means of escape. However, at 3 PM on Saturday, the old grandfather clock in the foyer begins to chime. From the foyer, the ballroom doors stand open, and the room is bright with sunshine. Soft, dreamy music plays from a radio inside.

Inside the ballroom, what seems to be a magnificent party is laid out. There is a buffet table laden with finger foods - vegetables and dips, finger sandwiches, pastries, fruit, and cheeses. Next to the table are glasses filled with wine, champagne, or juice. Most of the room is empty, with room to stand and talk, although towards the windows looking out on the courtyard are six tables with five place settings each, set for a larger meal.

And then there's a seventh table, at the back of the room, on which are thirty small notebooks. Inside, the notebooks appear to be some sort of album, with each page containing a picture of and information about your fellow guests.

After everyone has filed in, the doors shut and lock behind the final guest; the doors to the courtyard close as well. You'll have some time to talk amongst yourself, for it will be another hour of dining before anyone else appears]

This is an open mingle log for the welcome feast. Please tag one another. There will be NPC interaction in the post later in the day.

Setting
Information Cards

Comments

The Hostess - 4:30 PM

[productions]

[Once she's made her way about the room and spoken to a few guests, the Hostess will go to the table with the notebooks in the back and wait for silence to fall. When no one is speaking, she will make a little speech.]

Good evening, everyone. It is so nice to see each and every one of your faces at last. And this will be the first time our viewers at home have a chance to get acquainted with all of you, so do be on your best behavior.

[She gives a little wink.]

I'm sure all of you are wondering why you've been gathered here. Well, I'm thrilled to announce you've all been chosen as contestants in a very special murder mystery game! Each week, every one of you will have an opportunity to participate in solving a thrilling new mystery. Of course, our special culprits have the opportunity to win wonderful prizes if they succeed in creating the "perfect murder." But, of course, a culprit only wins if he or she manages to commit the crime and get away with it, so you must use all of your skills to either succeed at a crime or succeed in solving one! Each of you has been chosen for an interesting twist we're certain you're bringing to the table, so each of you, please take a glass of champagne now?

[She picks up a flute of champagne from the table herself.]

Now, no need to worry about poison, loves, [she adds with a wink] as the game won't start until tomorrow morning. I'll expect to see you all in the drawing room at 9 sharp to go over the official rules and this week's prizes. For now, let us merely toast to our participation!

[She raises her glass with a beaming smile, and then takes a small sip of the drink.]

[inthebones]

[Susan does not toast. She merely stares with the expression of one examining a headless cockerel or a square egg.]

...

This is a game, yes? You mean you wish us to stage a perfect murder?

[productions]

[The woman smiles. Susan must already know the answer.]

Of course it's a game, or rather a competition...but the murders themselves must be real. Or else where would the suspense be?

[inthebones]

I don't know what sort of topsy-turvy world you come from, but life and death are not things to be toyed with in a game.

Not a single person would be willing to play along.

[OK well except the 'delights in sadism' woman maybe.]

[productions]

Oh, I'm very certain some of our contestants will be playing, Susan. Not all of them, perhaps, but I'm certain it will not be 'not a one.'

[speakveryclearly]

[Kanaya very slowly wraps her fingers around a champagne glass and shakily raises it.]

A-ah, ma'am? I'm - I'm glad to hear that we've been selected as... actors and actresses...

Right?

[productions]

We prefer contestants, dear. There will be no need to act. You must simply be yourself, and our viewers will love you.

[speakveryclearly]

A-ah-ah, but, if it's a murder mystery game, then... the cast is going to be a little decimated by the end of the game, isn't it?

[productions]

Perhaps not so many as decimated, dear. But yes, there will, sadly, be losses.

[miraculous]

A very classic setting for this sort of game. You've closed your circle well. Is there a reward for solving the crimes as well as committing them?

[productions]

Oh, there will be something of a reward, yes, though the prizes for succeeding as a culprit are, of course, much better, as there's more risk involved. But all the details will be explained tomorrow.

[miraculous]

Very well. Solving a mystery can be its own reward, after all.

[productions]

Yes, I'm sure it can. I wish you the best of luck, of course.

[souredsweet]

[Kaoru's own glass remains untouched, as most food and drink has throughout the night regardless of her reassurance that nothing is poisoned.]

I'm afraid I don't quite understand... A murder mystery game, yes? [with stress on the word game, because with how sketchy everything else has been so far, Kaoru doesn't want to take a risk by being too optimistic. putting forth all of the effort to kidnap them in the first place doesn't really lend itself toward "game" material, after all.]

[productions]

Yes, of course a game. [There's a twinkle in her eye, though.] Involving actual murders, of course.

[souredsweet]

[suspicions confirmed, then. alarm is present in both Kaoru's tone and expression.]

If it involves a loss of life, calling it a game is hardly appropriate!

[obsideo]

(Marlow listens, staring right at the horrible woman as she speaks. And normally Marlow would be happy to try champagne, but not now. This...this is just wrong.)

You...you can't do this to us! No one's going to go along with this!

[productions]

Now, now. I'll explain all the rules tomorrow, but I'm sure we have many contestants ready to play.

[obsideo]

We'll see about that. I'm not going to kill anyone, and I'll make sure it's not worth anyone's while to play.

(After all, that's why she's here, right? Her own special twist can be that she's a detective...but she'll use it to help.)

[detectus]

[Lydia is quiet for a few minutes before she finally speaks up.]

And what are the rules of this little Murder Mystery game?

[productions]

Darling, aren't you listening? Official rules, tomorrow bright and early.

[detectus]

Seems like the rules are a pretty important part of a game. You said the game starts tomorrow, but what if something happened tonight that breaks a rule we didn't know about?

[pandacea]

Murder game? What do you mean by that? Who are we supposed to be killing?

[productions]

Why, each other, of course. I'm sure you'll do well, dear.

[reunified]

[ Altman just laughs, but without any sort of humor. It doesn't stop, not until he's laughed so long it almost sounds a bit... off. He slumps back in his seat and grimaces. ]

You're insane. This is insane. I-- I don't have time to deal with more of this crazy bullshit.

Why?