CHAPTER 5 ; INVESTIGATION

[themodsgrimm]

The Story Continues... CHAPTER 5 - WEEK 5??? 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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HEDGE MAZE

[themodsgrimm]

Rain still pours from the skies as Narrators leave the castle. Still, it's easy to see that the earth around the entrance to the hedge maze has been disturbed - it's too muddy to simply be because of the rain. You'll have to head a little further in to see what's happened.

[wagashis]

[well, that's probably not great? but shirasu doesn't mind some rain, so here he is to look around outside, pausing at the sight of the disturbed earth.]

This again...?

SWAN LAKE

[themodsgrimm]

As with the hedge maze, the earth around the path leading to the lake has been disturbed. Flecks of mud have splattered onto the wooden sign marking the path further into the woods. It seems someone came down this way...

[wearys]

[ surely no one has bothered the swans with Murder. magnus just doesn't want to go to any of the creepy rooms that the castle is full off, so sure. ]

Oh, come on.

[ why has the path been DISTURBED why is the sign MUDDED ]

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.

[vigilantics]

[ GUESS WHO HAS A LEGGY

well a wooden leg. thanks varian. she'll be poking her head in here... ]

Ugh...

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.

[londonstar]

[ waver will be going to the music room!!! he has nothing to do with music but fitz was found here so...he might as well be somewhat cautious. ]

PUPPET THEATER

[themodsgrimm]

This dark, musty room is home to a stage set along the easternmost wall, seats enough to fit 40 (four rows, ten seats each), and an array of props and setpieces to portray almost any scene you would like. Backstage has two levels - one for the stage itself, and one with a walkway from which there are many ropes, pulleys, and levers. There is a ladder that can be climbed to get up there. Eerily lifelike mannequins that look near-identical to the living and dead Narrators are attached to these ropes.

[alchemenace]

[ why is varian looking at creepy puppets so early on death day. Maybe he wants to go see what puppet Rapunzel is up to? Don't judge him.

I'm also calling climbing up the ladder later on thanks I love to die. Anyway. Time to see what stage has been set! Ha ha. good jokes. He lingers near the doorway at first under hopes and dreams of not making such bad choices so early on death day. ]

These are not getting any less creepy with time, huh.

OWLERY

[themodsgrimm]

A winding staircase connects the fourth floor to the western tower. This room is circular in shape, with the entry door at the south end and a window at the north end. There is a table with parchment, quills, and ink sitting just below the window, and the owls' perches line the rest of the room. The owls swivel their heads toward you and watch your movements carefully as you look around within their domain.

[sanguinairy]

[How long is it going to take these two sickass fools to get up these stairs--

ANYWAY!! Having learned from Last Time, he'll keep an eye out on the staircase itself while they're ascending, looking for any signs of struggle, ink, dropped things, what have you. He's also careful whenever they enter the room, first sticking to the periphery to see if anything is Immediately And Obviously Amiss.]

I do hope people would leave the animals out of these things...

THE MORGUE

[themodsgrimm]

There are forty of glass cases in this room in five rows of eight, but not all of them are filled. These cases are labeled with the names of those they are meant to hold - the Narrators, the Tiger, and the Dragon. The bodies of the dead can be found here, perfectly preserved in the condition they were in when they were first placed into them.

[asswipe]

[HELLO, CREEPY CORPSE ROOM.

Veronica is heading here with Evan in tow, already squinting just in case there's anything obviously out of place. Can there please be no extra corpses in this room...]

THE KITCHEN

[themodsgrimm]

An oven with a stovetop lies across the room from the entrance - counterspace lines either side of the oven to give any would-be chefs plenty of space to prepare. A sink is set into the counters to the right of the oven, and a refrigerator is to the left. Drawers - for cutlery, measuring instruments, and the like - are set into the counters, and cabinets are mounted on the walls above them. There is a spice rack on the countertop as well as a knifeblock (though it's... empty...), an alcohol cabinet (thankfully unlocked) along the northernmost wall, and a door leading into a pantry along the southernmost wall.

[concasse]

[Sanji is here.

Not as... energetic as usual! Wednesday kinda sucked for him and his entire body is covered in bandages, great.

Also what the fuck his left arm kinda hurts? What?? He keeps rubbing it, looking miffed by this.]

If there's a fuckin body in here...

[Just let him have his coffee.]

(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, 26 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, Stephanie Brown and Rebecca Bunch found themselves in the tailor, checking the wares and items inside. It was here they discovered two pairs of gloves, identical and stained with crimson ink stuffed away inside a trunk for safe keeping. The armory and the infirmary were empty of any disturbances.

Upstairs on the third floor, all locations remained as they were with little need for the Narrators to explore.

It's the fourth floor of the castle where things appear disturbed.

But before we get to that part, let's check in with 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 Eichi Tenshouin ventured to the kitchen where they found that the sink was left on just barely, a slow and steady drip, drip, drip echoing in the empty room. They also found bread crumbs on the counter as though someone didn't clean up after their midnight snacks, and once they concluded their investigation, settled in for a few cups of tea of their own.

There was nothing of note to find in the foyer, the ballroom, or the hallways, but Narrators found themselves able to head outside to explore the grounds despite the pouring rain.

As they ran for the gardens, Shirasu and Belph entered the hedge maze. They didn't have to venture too terribly far though before they received a leg up in their investigation. That is to say, they came across a green, scaly leg seemingly ripped at the shin and abandoned in the maze. It was the right leg and still carefully tucked inside of the beautiful boot of its owner, though that hardly mattered with how grisly the rest of the limb looked.

Meanwhile, Magnus Chase and Natsuo ventured the path toward Swan Lake. Following a muddied path, they found themselves at the lake, where six swans were fighting over a tiger kigurumi. They found muddy vial containing water and breadcrumbs as they approached the water, and though they attempted to distract the swans with hotdogs, they were only able to retrieve one fourth of the kigurumi before being chased away.

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

Hikage and Varian ventured toward the puppet theater, bracing themselves for impact. Inside they discovered the body of Abe no Sousei among the other puppets. Stabbed in the upper left arm with a broken right wrist, several bruises, a broken right leg and several open wounds; he was also found with a broken neck.

…but naturally there was more to discover.

In another part of the castle in the morgue, Veronica Sawyer and Evan Hansen found the body of Jae-Ha. Missing his right leg, which had been ripped rather brutally from his shin, bruised and stabbed, his body was found propped up against the glass case of Captain Gi-Gan.

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

Finally, while these groups had split up, Lord El-Melloi II and Osamu Dazai made their way to the music hall. With a first look of the room, they discovered that most things were in order, but learning from previous investigations, they summoned forth the practice room. Inside they found a rather messy scene, crimson ink scattered between one portion of the room and leading toward the door. A dagger was found as well, ink coating the tip to the hilt. With this weapon found, the pair left for a cup of coffee.

With this evidence discovered and the story unfolded, the Dragon and the Tiger, their hair newly died bright pink, 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.



"Abe no Sousei, Jae-Ha, and a Narrator you did not find have been slain.
The trial will begin tomorrow at noon in the gardens."

[discardia]

[ Cardia, still very tired-looking from this whole week, just... stands there. She doesn't hyperventilate. She doesn't look overwhelmed. She just slowly makes her way over to the glass cases, resting a hand on the one that holds Sousei. The same motion is repeated with Jae-ha.

There are no words, but she'll lift an arm to press it over her eyes when she takes a step back. She's trembling slightly. ]

[disclosures]

[It's been a long week, like most weeks tend to be.

But Rebecca makes her way over to her partner, taking her free hand in her own and squeezing.]

... I'm sorry.

[She might not have cared for either of them, but Cardia did.]

[sanguinairy]

[Hm. Well. It's fine!! Dead friends are fine!! Amazing how fast things can go from whacky owl shenanigans to heartbreak in a murder castle.

Souji stares at the cases with the same sort of listlessness he'd sat beside Hijikata's corpse with, since he's never dealt well with loss. But when Cardia takes a step back, he'll take a step forward - just to stand alongside her, quietly, arm to arm.]

[axilium]

[...

belph looks at jae-ha's case, grief flickering across his face before he shoves it down. as he walks away, he passes cardia.

quietly,]

I'm sorry.

[for losing them. that's all he says, though, before leaving. probably to go drink the night away or something, to be honest.]

[fonlines]

[ Given that both Souji and Ion are coming from the same place, he reaches her at about the same time as his partner does.

Unlike his partner, though, Ion can't claim to have known either Jae-ha or Sousei that well. Any sympathy he would have to offer feels hollow. Still... ]

... are you all right, Miss Beckford?

[nivation]

[ The moment Kyouka sees Jae-ha, her eyes go wide, and she falls to her knees. Her mouth opens in a silent and wordless scream.

This can't happen again. It's happening again. It can't happen again. It happened again.

How many times does she have to lose—

Her shoulders quiver, but the longer she stares at the dead in front of her, she eventually stills. She's too still. It's almost eerie. ]

[sanguinairy]

[After this double whammy, Souji is pretty rocked himself - though not enough that he doesn't notice Kyouka having a Really Bad Time. After a few second's pause, he quietly steps over, moving to kneel beside her without reaching out just yet. Quietly:]

Kyouka?

[concasse]

[Sanji doesn't stay for long.

Just a mute glance at Sousei's body, maybe a nod of respect and a promise to bring him justice, and then a longer glance at... Jae-Ha's.

Sanji's body seizes up like he's been hit.

...

Head bowed, he's gone seconds later]

[psychedelica]

[ everyone else is milling around, looking sad. Hikage, however, mostly looks frustrated. He'll do his best to get everyone's attention by shouting in a loud voice. ]

Oi! Listen up! One more of us is still dead - that means one of us is missing a partner. All of you, go find your partners and confirm they're here.

[ it's not the trial yet, but this is Important, and he can't believe they missed a goddamn body.

also, get over here, steph, or he'll get over to you. ]

[thesettingsun]

Evan and I are fine.

[Trust him, Dazai checked first thing.]