week 1 - day 0

[productions]

murder manor week one



sunday

[As promised, on Sunday morning at 9 AM, the grandfather clock in the foyer begins to chime. The doors to the drawing room are left open, although the doors to the smoking room adjacent are locked. Set out in the drawing room is a fine selection of coffee, tea, fruit, and pastries. There are also enough chairs, lounges, and sofas for everyone to have a seat.

Once everyone has filed in, the doors to the drawing room will close and lock]

This is an NPC post as well as an open mingle. Players may reply to the NPC, or may discuss the game amongst themselves. Players will be locked in the room until 10 AM. Please see the plot and in character rule pages below. Anyone wishing to submit a murder for the week must do so by Monday at 9 PM EST.

Plots
Rules

Comments

The Hostess - 9:15 AM

[productions]

[Shortly after the doors close, the doors to the smoking room will open, briefly. The Hostess steps into the room. Today she's dressed in a different long black gown, sleeveless, with long white opera gloves. She still wears a veiled hat over her face.]

Good morning, everyone. I imagine it was quite an interesting night for all of you!

[She chuckles to herself, and then places a stack of papers down on one of the tables. The papers are clearly designed to be insert into the notebooks with information cards in them.]

Now, don't all get up at once, but please do come take these. We will read them along together.

[The Hostess allows several minutes for everyone who wishes to to come take a copy of the rules. Once everyone has sat down again, she will lift a notebook of her own, and will read the contents of the paper out loud.]

And there you have it, everyone! Now, feel free to help yourself to breakfast. The competition will officially begin at 10 AM. Best of luck to all!

((Feel free to react in this thread or elsewhere in the post. The Hostess will not be replying to all comments.))

The Hostess - 9:30 AM

[productions]

[Once she has finished reading the rules and the initial reaction has died down somewhat, the Hostess will pour herself a cup of coffee and set it to cool.]

I'll leave you all to your breakfast, but first, are there any questions?

((Specific questions and clarifications about the game or rules belong in this thread.))

[motheringnation]

[Ukraine is pale after hearing the rules and ends up speaking out.]

....there are nations here.

What happens to our people if we die?

[The "how is this even possible" is there as well, but it's not the important part.]

[mostlymarried]

[listening quietly]

[productions]

Well, I'm not sure, dear, it's never been tested.

[She smiles.]

Once one of you has died, I'll let you know what happened.

[inthebones]

I don't see how you'll ensure that only one 'plot' occurs in a week. If five separate people decide to carry out five crimes simultaneously, what will you do? Dash the other four over the head as soon as the first crime's succeeded?

[This is more of an observation than a question.]

In any case, I'd like to hear more about a foiled crime. If the intended victim gets the better of the assailant and incapacitates them without ending their lives, surely this success merits some points as well? And is it permissible to keep the assailant incapacitated knowing they're a danger to the rest of us? Can we tie them up and lock them in a closet and spoonfeed them prune juice every other day?

[productions]

Leave worrying about the details to me.

[She stirs a little sugar into her coffee.]

I suppose incapacitating an assailant might be considered performing well, but it doesn't merit a prize. Prizes are only for helping by making mysteries, you know! After all, being a culprit is a much greater risk than being a mere player, so requires much greater rewards!

But yes, it's hardly against the rules to incapacitate someone should you choose, although we will need to release them to allow them to attend the trial.

[throe]

[ Rapture is looking quite 1920's in her not so out of place suit, one leg crossed over the other. That may or may not be a highball glass filled with a screwdriver in her hand. ]

Is it possible to... call upon divine spirits or fortune telling for help with these murders?

[productions]

We've had to modify some of your abilities to be fair, but whatever means are left to you are perfectly acceptable, darling.

[mostlymarried]

You've made multiple references to an audience before. Where are they?

[this is clearly no stage]

[balzams]

[Latvia approaches her fidgeting with the hem of his jumper and appearing as if he wants to speak. It takes him a few moments before he finallt works up the courage]

It says... if you're a successful killer you can retire from the game but...

How do we get home? I-is it a case of last man standing?

[miraculous]

These rules state we will be given an autopsy report. How detailed will this be? Should we be prepared to ascertain the time of death ourselves, or will that be provided to us? It would save us some time if we didn't have to concern ourselves with the culprits' tricks in that area.

[pandacea]

[May grits her teeth, hating to even have to talk to this awful woman, but she does want to know something.]

I have a question. The rules say that someone who successfully gets away with a murder can retire from the game, and killing them will not provide any incentive for the rest of us.

In that case...is the reversal true as well? If we kill them, will it still count as a crime that we must keep hidden, or can we do so with no consequences?

[reunified]

Are there any rules that aren't written here?

The Hostess - 10 AM

[productions]

[The Hostess continues to answer questions, but once the hour draws near, she will pick up her cooled cup of coffee and take a sip.]

That's quite enough of that. If anyone does wish to speak to me privately about their plans, simply go to your room, lock the door, and call my name. I do warn you, though, I will not be giving anyone an unfair advantage. Any additional information imparted will be included in the rules, which you'll find will automatically update over time.

[She places down the drained cup, just as the grandfather clock begins to chime once again.]

And now I'll take my leave. As soon as the doors are unlocked, you may consider the competition begun! Oh, yes, and you'll find this week's prize down in the foyer, as we'll be allowing a bit of a head start this week. Ta ta, now!

[The doors to the smoking room will open, and the hostess slips inside. The doors lock behind her. Once the grandfather clock finishes chiming, the doors to the drawing room will draw open once again.]

Foyer - 10 AM

[productions]

[Once the doors to the drawing room open, it will be possible for players to travel down the stairs to the foyer. Below the magnificent staircase, there is now a display stand in the center of the front hallway.

On that stand is a small placard.]

Each of you has forgotten something important. A person, a place, an important memory. What's missing may soon be lost to you forever. This week's culprit, if successful, will recover their lost memory.

In addition, culprits will receive the opportunity to retire OR one free requested item for use in future crimes. Culprits who choose not to retire will have the opportunity to compete for personalized prizes!

[inthebones]

...Nonsense.

[She announces brusquely after examining the card.]

How would we know we've forgotten something if we've forgotten it? This isn't remotely satisfactory. Even if true, perhaps they've stripped the memory of that time in grade school you received perfect marks on an examination, and it would hardly be of any consequence whatsoever.

[Still, even as she speaks, there is a certain nagging feeling flickering in the back of her mind...]

[godwhisperer]

[Gundam is reading the cards, a strange expression on his face. He hasn't seen fit to discuss it, but he's already been aware his memories were taken. After all, what he lost isn't something he often goes long without thinking about. The strangeness of his memories around what happened, around his life before he became aware of his true nature, couldn't be dismissed.

It should be less painful this way, but it isn't. He clenches his fist, clearly struggling with something below the surface, but does not say anything.]

[terriblesister]

...

so that's why they.....

[miraculous]

A lucrative incentive for the first week. I suppose they'd like to get us all started on the right foot for their show.

[tsarcasm]

[ Anya reacts sharply to the information, practically shouting as she backs away from the display stand. ]

Oh, no, no, no. Not again! I can't — won't deal with this a second time! Who do they think they are?

[respecting]

Forever...?

[Beat doesn't remember anything except the Reaper's Game. He knows he's from Shibuya, that he's died, there's a sister that he loves and must save, and the terrible things that they've gone through and that he's vowed to do to meet an end. But what about the rest of his family, and any school friends he might have had? He'd be forgetting his whole life - the only thing he'd remember is his afterlife. It's a harrowing notion that makes his shoulders tremble.

... But he'd already become a Reaper. There was no going back to that life anyway. As long as he had Rhyme, he didn't need anything else. He clenches a fist in resolve, and yells out.]

BRING IT, yo! I ain't gonna be controlled wit' somethin' I don't even remember!

[speakveryclearly]

[Kanaya lurks by the wall of the foyer far enough that others might have room to read the placard; she's grinding her knuckles against the base of her horn looking for all the world like she has a very bad headache.]

This certainly explains how we all got here without remembering how...

[humanic]

[He skims the placard, lips thinning, before walking away muttering to himself; judging by the frantic gestures he's making to thin air, the one-sided conversation is not going well. Eventually, he turns back to face the crowd.]

Look, this incentive? It's stupid. Even if we did forget something, how do you even know it's a memory you want back? Obviously, all of us can live without whatever memory it is they took, otherwise we wouldn't be standing here right now.

But I'm not going to fool myself into thinking there isn't someone among us who wouldn't kill for it, or that they won't change the incentive to something worse later on. We need to take precautions. [He laughs bitterly to himself.] And trust me when I say that the easiest way to be a target for a serial killer psychopath is if you're alone.

I think we should pair up. No one should be by themselves unless it's absolutely necessary. There should always be someone with you to have your back if you get attacked, and to account for your actions and provide an alibi if there is a murder. Anyone who's tempted to kill for the incentive will have a harder time if they're forced to take out two people without getting caught. And anyone who says 'let's split up!' should instantly be tied up and left in a cupboard where they can't hurt themselves.

[teenspirit]

[ Sonia stares grimly at the message, before turning away from it decisively. ]

It is not tempting. I cannot long for what I have already forgotten, and thus I cannot be hurt by it.