CHAPTER 3 ; INVESTIGATION

[themodsgrimm]

The Story Continues... CHAPTER 3 - WEEK 3??? Narrators Remain ; The clock begins to chime, and on the first note, curfew lifts. Your doors swing open, whether you are ready or not. Leaving your room is a blur. The person you fell asleep beside — are they still there? Have they vanished? Were they ever there at all? You can't seem to recall clearly. What you are most aware of is the pervading sense of wrongness in the air, and how you can't hear anything but the chime of the clock. Even the sounds of your own voice and your own footsteps do not reach your ears. By the time the time the clock strikes nine, you know one thing to be true: blood has been spilt. Search the castle carefully — you wouldn't want to miss a single important detail, would you...? Welcome to this week's investigation post! This time, the mods will be providing top-levels for you to search. Please note the Locations page for your reference. Evidence — or lack thereof — will be noted in these threads. We ask that group threads consist of no more than 2-3 characters. After the discovery of the body (or bodies) and any pertinent evidence, an IC announcement concluding the investigation will go up. You are then free to make your own toplevels on this post for any threads you would like to have between the end of the investigation and the start of the trial. If you have any questions, please ask on our Discord server or ping us on plurk. Please direct pings to Britt (bloodthirstiest) and Danielle (entrappings), as they will be taking point on this investigation! Instructions on this week's investigation can be found in a pin in the General chat! full navigation. locations taken (statuses) stories (profiles) info & faq wishing well private conversations

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TAILOR

[themodsgrimm]

Three tables lie at the center of the tailor's room to allow people to work without crowding each other.

Along the southernmost wall are four racks of clothing - two with women's clothes, two with men's clothes, all vaguely fantasy themed. There are four mannequins on either side, showing off outfits and accessories such as hats, gloves, and slippers. On each side there is a wooden trunk, in which accessories and shoes have been found in the past.

The eastern wall contains four spinning wheels, along with baskets of wool and other fibers to spin into yarn. The western wall contains rolls of premade fabrics, baskets of supplies such as needles, thread, thimbles, and pincusions, and even a selection of patterns for simple pieces of clothing. For those who are unsure where to start, there are three beginners sewing kits containing everything one will need for the basics.

[disclosures]

[Alright, here she is again, looking for what is or isn't missing. But for now, she'll start at the southern wall. Is there anything missing from the racks of clothing?]

ARMORY

[themodsgrimm]

This room looks as though it was once well-organized, but these days it... isn't. The walls are lined with empty racks and hooks that may have held weapons at one time, but those weapons are now strewn about the room, lances mixed with swords mixed with crossbows and so on. Toward the back wall there is a table on which there is a small, freestanding cabinet that looks like it might have been used to house supplies for weapon maintenance at one time. Three suits of armor stand against the eastern wall, but they're not shiny like the ones in the foyer - all three of them are rather rusty.

[asswipe]

[Is today the day we die from tetanus? Maybe so. Either way, Veronica is going to carefully step in to see if anything is off in the armory today. Is anyone doing a corpse armor redux today....]

BATHHOUSE

[themodsgrimm]

The entryway to the bathhouses has freestanding wooden lockers in which Narrators may put their clothes while they're bathing, if they don't want to risk getting them wet by carrying them around with them. Water spigots line the walls, with a little basket of soap, shampoo, and conditioner for Narrators to use to clean up before heading into the pools for a soak. The pools themselves are almost mazelike - from the entrance, one can look right and left and see that the pools turn and branch out on either side. One will need to wade into the water to make it to the little alcoves or follow the path of the pools around. More water spigots are set into the walls here, though they seem to be more to keep the water level even than anything else. Lanterns and torches are set into the walls to keep the area dimly lit and comfortable.

[thesettingsun]

[Is there a dead body in the bathhouse today? And if not, can Dazai take a nice relaxing soak?

He's going to look around first, though, for anything obviously out of place. Don't bathe next to dead bodies.]

LABORATORY

[themodsgrimm]

There are three freestanding counters in this laboratory to give people space to work on their experiments. It's hard to tell what some of this equipment does at first glance, unless you're incredibly familiar with scientifc equipment, but it's possible to hazard an educated guess - the one at the center, for example, seems to be used for mixing things, as it has openings to pour liquids into and a spigot at the bottom where one might set a flask. The big pieces of equipment on the other two counters are a mystery, but all three of them seem to have been partially repaired from how rusted over they were when the room was first uncovered. Each counter has a set of three burners, and there are two drawers in each that can be pulled out and rifled through. There is a wicker basket in the southeast corner of the room which contains fire strikers and a wooden supply cabinet in the northwest corner of the room, which does not have a lock.

[londonstar]

[ waver is going to check the equipment since, as a mage, it's necessary to be knowledgeable in scientific equipment. do any of them look like they were used recently? ]

MUSIC HALL

[themodsgrimm]

The music hall is well-organized by type of instrument - pianos and keyboards in one area, strings in another, horns in another, and so on and so forth. Shelves along the westernmost wall hold sheet music and musical scores to allow people to both practice what they already know and learn what they do not. There are some chairs along the southernmost wall that can be pulled around to allow people to sit while they play.

[discardia]

[ Sure, the music hall seems like a nice, chill place where no one would ever kill. But Cardia will step in quietly and aim to check out the shelves to see if anything's up with them. ]

PUPPET HALL

[themodsgrimm]

As one begins to approach the puppet hall, they might first notice that there's a smell of... smoke?

[psychedelica]

[ this place is Obviously the sketchiest place in the entire castle, so Hikage will look here first. Also, he doesn't want to go deal with Sanji in the kitchen again. He'd much rather have his good ol' pal Belph with him. ]

... Do you smell that?

OBSERVATORY

[themodsgrimm]

A winding staircase connects the fourth floor to the eastern tower. The room it connects to is circular and domed, but when you enter and the door closes behind you, you're engulfed in darkness. There's a very faint, pulsing light coming from a crystal sphere at the center of the room, and if you feel your way along the wall, you'll find your way to a door on the eastern side of the room. If you've been up here before, you may know already that it leads out to a balcony.

[sanguinairy]

[SOUJI'S STILL DEAD INSIDE but he's a little more like, generally helpful than yesterday, at least... As in he's not just sitting out the investigation and staring wistfully out a window which he very nearly did.

Instead he just gets to stumble around uselessly in the dark trying to find the balcony exit to get a little more light in here!!]

Maybe we should go fetch a better light.

KITCHEN

[themodsgrimm]

As one begins to approach the kitchen, they might first notice that there's a smell of... smoke?

[concasse]

[Okay so WHO HAD THE BALLS.

Sanji is going to rush the hell in swearing like a curse chimney, really hope no one with a Disney brand is nearby]

What the hell?!

[He is going to. Dash for the oven? God someone stop him from dying]

(frozen comment) CONCLUSION ;

[themodsgrimm]

Gather 'round, dear Narrators, for this little rhyme
so to hear the next chapter of who has run out of time
With each new part of the Great Beasts' tale
Take caution and tread lightly lest you should fail
You've entered the castle to play along
but listen closely, Narrators, for one of yours is gone…


Once upon a time, there were 38 Narrators. Together, they began to mingle and get to know one another, forming bonds and alliances. However, one day, the Tiger and the Dragon appeared and told them the tale of their great war.

"Every week, at least one murder will occur. An investigation will follow the killing on Fridays and a trial thereafter.

This is a game to determine the winner between the forces of good and evil, a battle royal that requires blood. This is our story, and this is the way that things are."

On Thursday night, 31 Narrators were confined to their bedrooms until the clock struck nine in the morning on Friday. It was then the story began:

As several Narrators fled their dormitories, they had two directions to travel. While the dorms themselves were left alone, Narrators made the choice to head upstairs or downstairs.

On the second floor, Goro Akechi and Rebecca bunch accounted for missing knitting needles and yarn in the tailor, and made off with a fancy necklace and pocketwatch. In the armory, things seemed in their usual casual disarray, but Veronica Sawyer and Natsuo found a katana in the room, newer and in better condition than most of the other blades ... at least, until they wiped it down with dust and oil.

Upstairs on the third floor, upon checking the laboratory Lord El-Melloi II realized there were some ingredients missing along, and that the fourth fire striker had been taken once more. The bathhouse was empty as well. On the other hand, close to the stairs near the bathhouse, Osamu Dazai and Varian noticed a trail of sliced American bills in high value. Following the trail, they soon discovered more sliced bills and a detached middle finger, ring finger, and pinky. The trail continued up the stairs.

But before we continue this tale, it's important to know how we got here. Let's return to another part of the castle, shall we?

While a group traveled upstairs, several Narrators chose the low road and went down to the first floor.

Downstairs, Sanji and Stephanie Brown immediately smelled a burning scent in the air and ran into the kitchen which was lit on fire. As the kitchen had several wood fixtures, the flames were large and dangerous to put out - though they found a fork missing among the flames.

There was nothing of note to find in the foyer, the ballroom, or the hallways, and any attempts to travel outside were met with locked castle doors - as if the castle itself knew that there was nothing relevant outdoors.

But as we reach the climax of our story, dear Narrators, we return to the fourth floor.

Souji Okita and Evan Hansen found themselves heading east toward the observatory, climbing the winding staircase quickly. It was there they discovered Monika, propped up against the balcony. Her signature white ribbon was missing, and though there was a stab wound through the heart there was no blood or ink to be found.

…you didn't think that was the end, did you?

Down on the fourth floor, Hikage and Belph were also alerted to a burning scent as they discovered the puppet theater was on fire. Several of the puppets were unharmed, though the puppet of Jae-Ha was thoroughly torn apart and scorched.

But most importantly of all, Cardia Beckford, Shirasu, and Nico di Angelo made their way to the music hall. At first, it seemed as though nothing was amiss aside from a missing tuning fork. However, it seems as though our culprits were clever as the trio had to concentrate and bring forth the soundproof room.

Upon opening the door, they found the body of Francis Scott Fitzgerald. Stabbed and missing fingers from his right hand, his body, too, remained bloodless and inkless. By his left hand lay a dagger, mysteriously absent of blood. Inside the dead man's pocket, they found a wedding ring too small for any of his fingers.

With all of the evidence discovered and the story unfolded, the Dragon and the Tiger gathered the evidence and locked it all away behind several glass cases. Standing before the group, they gazed upon them and spoke in unison, although they vanished after they spoke. The glass cases remained in their wake for viewing by the Narrators.



"Francis Scott Fitzgerald and Monika have been slain.
The trial will begin tomorrow at noon in the gardens."

[fonlines]

[ Ion, leaning heavily on his staff as he makes his way out of Earth Dormitory and down the stairs to the Grand Foyer... has to stop when he reaches the glass cases. He stares at them, gaze faraway, eyes wide.

For a while it doesn't seem as if he'll react, even if his mouth parts slightly. Is he in shock? Overwhelmed? Uncomprehending?

No. He's the head of a powerful theocratic nation with a formidable military division. He knows what the signs of struggle, and-- possible torture-- look like. ]

Haha.

[ It is a bleak, wan laugh, tiny and small in the huge room. ]

Goodness.

Whoever was responsible this week... couldn't even do him the simplest decency of making it quick, could they?

[ The words "Ion" and "okay" have not belonged in the same sentence since the second week. ]

[discardia]

Ion...

... I'm sorry.

[ even though literally all she did was find his dead partner. ]

[toughchoices]

[Oh, gods.

Reyna looks from Fitz's corpse in the case to Ion, and her gaze lingers on the staff he's leaning on for a moment or two. Hm.]

...let's find you somewhere to sit down, okay?

[alttitude]

[shows up to investigation an hour and a half late and also half-naked

you might think i'm kidding but unfortunately that's the top-level!

because here's jae-ha, having chosen to forego a shirt today given the fact that it'd be very, very uncomfortable considering the stretch of burns that seem to crawl all across his skin. they're first degree burns though, so unfortunately he's mostly fine!

he looks over all the items behind the glass case with an inspecting eye, his expression obviously souring as he finds the bodies of Monika and Fitzgerald behind the glass

and then wanders up to his own burned puppet in the glass case, eyebrow raising]

.... I see.

[axilium]

[...]

Oh, good. You're not dead.

whats up i hate pip

[holybind]

[ He says nothing, but in his hand is a butterknife— stolen from the castle weeks ago, though not by him. He tosses it into the air with one hand, catching it, tossing it, catching it; over and over— eyes glued to the deceased form of the person who'd given it to him in the first place. ]

[toughchoices]

[glances at zelos

glances at monika's corpse

glances at the knife

...

what is there to say, really? "i'm sorry" would just ring hollow, she thinks.]

[concasse]

[It doesn’t seem real.

That’s the only reason Sanji can account for his lack of anger while staring at Monika’s body a long while, silent and unblinking. At a glance, nothing seems to be wrong with her – like she could skip on her feet at a moment’s notice if not for the glass encasement, offer to join him in the kitchen like she always has…

… He waits a few minutes longer, just in case.

Until eventually he’s forced to retreat, head bowed, without looking at anyone. Most likely making his way to his room.

It’s his fault, really, for daring to get used to having someone greet him all these weeks.]

[toughchoices]

[Reyna looks after Sanji as he goes. Maybe... she'll give him a little space, for now, but she doesn't like the idea of leaving him alone. She makes a mental note to try and track him down later.]

1/2

[doublecrows]

[for a while, there is just. . . nothing. around him, people talk, but the words are drowned out by the frantic beating of his heart in his ears. he stares at the glass case with Monika's form, almost pristine in its condition, but without really seeing or registering what it is inside]

[his gloved hand tightens around the pocket watch]

[doublecrows]

[his other hand slams down against the glass of Monika's case, hard enough to be heard but not hard enough to break it]

W-- what happened to writing that future, huh?! How the-- how the fuck are you supposed to do it like--

[he stands, shoulders hunched, leaning against that case, before he forcibly rips himself away and stalks off]

[. . . okay, Akechi. . .]

[function]

[ someone might want to restrain 2b as she arrives in the foyer, because when she sees monika inside one of those dreaded glass cases, she stops dead in her tracks from halfway across the room. her pod flies ahead to confirm the identity of her partner in the case before returning to 2b's side.

she stands there absolutely frozen, heart pounding almost loud enough to hear to the naked ear. a solid minute of silence passes before 2b quietly addresses the other narrators. she presents as emotionless as always, but there's an unmistakable hint of unbridled rage in her voice. ]

I'm not interested in wasting time. Whoever killed her, meet me at the sparring grounds after dinner tonight. I'll tear you apart myself.

[londonstar]

Lady...

[ he understands that 2b is quite emotional for an android, but the last thing that he wants is for her to go berserk and try to kill anyone. ]

That won't solve anything right now.