END OF CHAPTER 3 ; EXECUTION

[themodsgrimm]

The Story Continues... END OF CHAPTER 3 - WEEK 329 Narrators Remain ; It's execution day, naughty murder children. Breakfast is served in the dining hall, all the better to fortify you for what is to come. Wherever you might wander in the castle, you will find yourself drawn to the foyer when the clock strikes not twelve, but ten. In the distance, there is the sound of clanking armor. Yamatonokami Yasusada appears, flanked on either side by suits of armor, escorting him to his punishment. His expression is one that may be difficult for anyone who isn't a sword spirit to read, but he seems to have accepted his fate. A moment later, the Tiger appears on the foyer's staircase. Her hand trails down the banister as she sashays down it, and she takes her place at the head of the group, standing in front of what appears to be a wall. "Come along, darlings," she says. "The execution awaits." You blink, and then it's there — a door leading to the outside. The Tiger steps through it. You have no choice but to follow. Welcome to your third execution post! Please see here for the results of yesterday's voting. In addition, make sure you fill out your CR Chart for Chapter 3! If you have any questions, please ask on our Discord server or ping us on plurk. Please direct pings for the NPC to Danielle (Discord DMs preferred, then entrappings), as she will be taking point for today's NPC, and the moderator team will be on deck for all other questions. full navigation. locations taken (statuses) stories (profiles) info & faq wishing well private conversations

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EXECUTION

[themodsgrimm]

yamatonokami yasusada ; t͞o̶ ͡b̕e c҉ơnt̨in̸ųed̵

The group finds themselves just outside the castle, at the top of the steps. They are urged to step aside by the suits of armor that guard Yasusada and usher him forward.

This is the part where, judging by the other two To Be Continued executions the group has witnessed, his appearance ought to change - but it does not. Instead, just as with Ann, Yasusada and his armor escort come to as top on the lawn, and the Tiger moves to join them, her gait graceful but her smile sharp. She looks back to those on the stairs, contemplative.

Then, eyes glittering, she beckons to someone in the crowd.

"We were going to go along with vote," she purrs. "But we heard a very convincing argument to do otherwise. Souji, darling, why don't you join us?"

Souji will find his legs moving of their own accord to spur him on to the lawn, though everyone else remains frozen, powerless to stop him. When he comes to a stop, the Tiger speaks again.

"Don't you feel lucky? You get to fulfill his dying wish." She claps her hands together. "How delightful! Now, don't worry... we'll provide what you need to carry this out. You simply have to make a choice. But choose wisely - whatever you pick must be used to execute him. No takebacks!"

With a wave of her hand, she procures a sheet of parchment with three lines written on it:

The Deer and the Heart
The Fox and the Woodsman
The Goat and the Vine
What will Souji use to send Yasusada off to his happily ever after?

THE PARTNERLESS

[themodsgrimm]

2b & rapunzel ; the ties that bind

That isn't the end.

Souji is made to rejoin the group, but the rest of them find themselves unable to move - except, that is, for 2B and Rapunzel. Much like Souji, they find themselves heading down to join the Tiger on the lawn, their legs moving for their own accord.

When they arrive, they find themselves overcome with a sudden burning sensation. Many phantoms feelings pass them all at the same time: their feet undergo a sensation like they're being ignited with flame, their heart is going to be pulled out of their chests, and there is the faintest feeling as though a blade is cutting across their necks - the roulette wheel spins for how their death is going to be carried out as partnerless until—

ŗ̕͟AP͢ų̷͠n̡Z͝E̵̛͠L̢̢
ţ͡͠O͜͢ ́ţ̛H͘e̕ G̢͢A͏l̨͝l͟҉O̷͟͏w̡S

2b҉
҉f̧̢̕A̛c̶̡E̷͢ ̶t͜H̸̛E̛ ͡s͏̨̕t͏Ơr̵̢̕M̡̛
The words echo in their minds, and in the minds of the onlookers.

There is nothing anyone can do.

They blink, and the gallows appears - a wooden contraption with steps leading up to where a noose awaits. The suits of armor that had escorted Yasusada to the lawn push her forward, urging her to climb. They help her place the noose around her neck. They tighten it just so. A moment passes, then two - Rapunzel will have just enough time to sweep her gaze over the crowd - and then one of the suits takes a wooden lever into its hand, and pulls. The floor falls out from under Rapunzel, and her bare feet dangle over the ground as she hangs.

Dark, tumultuous stormclouds roll in over the area, and 2B's head tilts upward to look at them. There's a sense of something almost electric in the air, making everyone's hair stand up on end - and then, in a flash of lightning, 2B is struck. The roll of thunder reaches their ears with only a second's delay, followed by another and another as lightning strikes not once but twice more. When the dust clears, 2B lies on the ground, her fingertips twitching as if something is misfiring - and then she goes still. Clouds still hang over the group, but no more lightning strikes.

Rapunzel and 2B have followed their partners into death.

LOOSE ENDS

[themodsgrimm]

[Following the execution of Yamatonokami Yasusada, Rapunzel, and 2B, everyone will be led to the grand foyer. The ornate clock opens beneath the face, revealing a compartment in which a large glass container is revealed to the eyes of everyone present. Two spouts lead from the interiors of the clock into the glass container. From one side comes a stream of crimson ink and from another, a larger amount in purple. Finally, gold ink flows down to join in as well, more than the crimson but less than the purple. When all three colors mix into the container, it appears to be black. The Tiger watches the ceremony with her lips pulled tightly together. It's hard to tell exactly how she feels about it.

Souji and Ion will find themselves overcome with a sudden burning sensation. Many phantoms feelings pass them all at the same time: their feet undergo a sensation like they're being ignited with flame, their heart is going to be pulled out of their chests, and there is the faintest feeling as though a blade is cutting across their necks - the roulette wheel spins for how their death is going to be carried out as partnerless until—

It stops.

They feel perfectly fine, like everything is slotting back into place, and a flicker of a red string is seen connecting them together before it's gone - almost like a trick of the light.

The Tiger, having watched them with narrowed eyes, smiles thinly.]

Lucky you! They've come through for you once more. [She turns back to the rest of the Narrators and announces.] These partnerless have been spared.

[But that isn't quite all. Stephanie is beckoned forward. She will find herself compelled to walk toward her, if she doesn't plan on doing so already; when she comes close enough, Tiger looks her up and down.]

Unfortunate. I'd love to take it easy on you, but I don't give multiple warnings for the same broken rule. Voting for yourself will not move this story forward. Maybe this time, the lesson will stick.

[It happens quite quickly. Tiger's claws extend and retract in a slashing motion...and all at once, Stephanie's leg is gone, severed from the knee down. At least she...took the leg that was already broken.]

I'd encourage anyone with bandages to come forward quickly.

[The Tiger will remain for questions.]

AFTERMATH

[themodsgrimm]

[For your reactions and subsequent threading for Sunday.]