CHAPTER 6 ; INVESTIGATION

[themodsgrimm]

The Story Continues... CHAPTER 6 - WEEK 6??? 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 1-2 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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THE GARDENS

[themodsgrimm]

An arc of wisterias marks the entrance into the garden proper. The table from the trials isn't set up just yet - apparently, that finds its way here on Saturdays, and Saturdays alone - but there is still plenty of ground to cover; even discounting the hedge maze, the gardens are nearly as expansive as the castle itself. Roses can be found nearly everywhere one looks.

Nearest the castle, they are planted in orderly rows with neatly organized gradiations in color; the further into the gardens one goes, the more chaotic (but still beautiful) they become, scattered among various other types of flowers and shrubs. Even in the chaotic parts, they still form vague rows; stretching from north to south are seven rows, meaning eight pathways that the Narrators can walk - six in between the rows, and one on either side of the outermost rows.

Topiary cut into the shape of dragons mark the corners to the south of the gardens, nearest the castle; topiary cut into the shape of tigers mark the corners to the north. Topiary of unicorns, griffins, and other mythical beasts are scattered throughout the rest of the garden.

At the very center - marking the point where order begins to give way to chaos - is an elaborate fountain. A cobblestone path at the northeastern edge of the garden leads to the wishing well; the entrance to the hedge maze lies to the northwest. Both are locations that will need to be investigated by other groups.

[wagashis]

[it's a lovely day to visit the gardens, probably!!

so first things first: he's glancing around that arc of wisterias to make sure he doesn't just... walk right past anything coming into the gardens. everything looking good here, anything amiss around the entrance?]

THE WISHING WELL

[themodsgrimm]

The well-worn cobblestone path from the northeastern edge of the gardens leads here. There are some bushes scattered around the clearing, and the woods loom in the distance behind the main feature of the area - a stone well filled with water. Drinking from it isn't advisable, although there is a bucket attached to a rope that can be raised and lowered using a handle on the side of the well. A wooden sign to the side of the well cautions Narrators to be careful what they wish for.

...also there seems to be something poking out from the other side of the well as the Narrators approach - it looks like a shoe. Maybe it's attached to a foot?

[asswipe]

[...]

I'm too tired for this.

[carefully approaching the uno shoe, anyway. nani the fuck.]

THE FOYER

[themodsgrimm]

A central staircase leads from the second floor dormitories that the Narrators will be approaching from down to the foyer itself - although Narrators may note that the base of the staircase doesn't look entirely clean. The marble floors and high ceilings make the room seem larger than it really is. The walls are lined with several tapestries depicting a tiger, a dragon, a girl, an unidentifiable beast, or some combination thereof; there are six tapestries on either side.

The tapestries to the east of the stairs, from staircase to entryway: a lone dragon, a lone beast, the beast and the dragon together, the dragon facing down a tiger, the tiger and the beast together, and the dragon and the beast staring down the tiger and the girl.

The tapestries to the west of the stairs: a lone tiger, a lone girl, the girl and the tiger together, the beast and the girl together, the dragon and the girl together, and the girl looking between the dragon, the tiger, and the beast.

In between each tapestry stands a suit of armor on a pedestal - there are a total of ten, five on each side. Closest to the stairs, expanding outward, they hold one of the following: a shield, a sword, an axe, a spear, and then a shield again. The suit of armor between the tapestry of the tiger and the girl on the west side is noticeably less shiny than the others and looks a little dinged up at first glance.

[concasse]

[Sanji is lowkey wondering where everyone is, he hasn't seen a lot of people around... HM.

Anyway, here he is in the foyer, a place he barely ever pays attentions to, don't come for him if he misses shit, guys.

But seeing as he came down the stairs, the base of the stairs is where he'll focus his attentions on first. Why exactly is it unclean? He's assuming maybe scuff marks or some shit but MAYBE IT WILL BE BLOOD, god he is so tired.]

THE KITCHEN

[themodsgrimm]

As the Narrators approach the kitchen, they'll smell smoke again. This kitchen just can't catch a break! The door is closed. Maybe they should open it...?

[concasse]

[I'm sorry for whoever Sanji is with because no greeting, this binch is gonna try the handle and KICK IT THE FUCK IN]

You fuckin assholes!! The guy who controlled fire is already dead!! I'll kill you all!!

THE 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.

[wagashis]

[presumably he's just gonna come in from outside and find out we're all still looking, so!!

time to search the tailor-- anything off at a first glance? if not we're checking the trunks first.]

THE 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.

There is something leaning against one of the walls that seems a little out of place at first glance - it looks like wood.

[vigilantics]

[ these places are very different floors. why did i pick this one.

anyway, she's gonna... go look at the wood(???????) thing. ]

THE LIBRARY

[themodsgrimm]

The library is a cavernous room with two levels - though one will need to climb ladders to get to the upper parts. The shelves, at least, form orderly rows. Fairy tales feature prominently here, organized alphabetically by author and then alphabetically by title; the books on other topics, meanwhile, are all grouped together by topic - books about animals in one place, cookbooks in another, and so on. The bottom part has thirty rows of six shelves each; the top part merely has shelves lining the walls, with railings looking down on the bottom part of the library. Every ten rows there is a set of two tables with wooden chairs, three plush chairs, and one two-seater couch; at the head of the library, where the pedestal with the leather-bound book sits, there are two three-seater couches on either side of the pedestal. Up above, there are small, two-person tables with chairs placed in between some of the shelves so people can study up there too.

[sanguinairy]

[i can't believe i sent souji to a room he's going to wind himself just walking around in

ANYWAY regardless of whether Souji's got a partner or is tackling this alone, as soon as he enters the library, he'll just be looking for anything Immediately Off. Bodies in the middle of the room, maybe? A murderer hiding in the rafters?]

THE 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.

[doublecrows]

[HELLO LABORATORY!! how are you this fine morning!!]

[Akechi's making his way open the wooden supply cabinet first]

THE OWLERY

[themodsgrimm]

A winding staircase connects the fourth floor to the western tower. Even before the Narrators get to the top, however, they will be able to tell that something is wrong - there is aggravated screeching, hooting, and flapping noises coming from behind the shut door, as if the owls are rioting.

[axilium]

Uh...

[that sure is concerning, but belph will cautiously open the door...]

THE 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.

[vigilantics]

[ i don't know why i'm making her go to the highest place in the castle with a fake leg but here we are.

anyway is there just. anything that is just obvious at first glance. is she gonna trip on any fuckin bodies. ]

SWAN LAKE

[themodsgrimm]

A wooden, hand-painted sign decorated only with a picture of a swan marks the point where a safe path through the woods begins. The path itself leads deep into the woods, but doesn't look as though it will be difficult to navigate.

Following the path into the woods leads the Narrators to a clear, beautiful lake, surrounded on all sides by trees and foliage. It's quiet and peaceful here, if one disregards the swans out on the lake that have an almost murderous look in their eyes these days... and one swan in particular that seems especially riled up. It's coming their way, actually.

[disclosures]

[Honestly she just wanted some fresh air after being cooped up for an entire night. Plus she hasn't... investigated outside.

But with the swan rapidly approaching she's starting to think this was a bad idea. She's backing up as quickly as the swan is coming at her.]

I didn't do anything.

THE MENAGERIE

[themodsgrimm]

When the Narrators enter at the gates, they are greeted with three paths - one leading straight ahead, to the glass enclosure where the tiny dragons and tiger cubs are kept, one leading to the left, and one leading to the right.

[wearys]

[ the menagerie animals are? probably?? nicer than the swans.

if none of the paths look like they're covered in blood, he'll take the left path first. ]

PUMPKIN RACING TRACK

[themodsgrimm]

The pumpkin patch is as full of pumpkins as ever - in fact, although people may have picked some to use in races earlier in the week, it seems almost as though they have grown back overnight. The dirt racing track nearby, likewise, sits there with a sign detailing instructions for its use as it always does.

The first thing they will notice is that a large pumpkin carriage is racing around the track. It's also charred and burnt to a crisp. Its door is open - get close enough, and maybe you can see inside...?

[concasse]

[Everything is so fuckin extra today.

Uh, yeah, the pumpkin carriage is going to get his attention immediately, and seeing as Belph is with him here--]

I'm afraid of what the hell we're gonna find in there, but...

[He sure is RUNNING FOR IT]

THE INFIRMARY

[themodsgrimm]

The lighting in this room still leaves quite a bit to be desired, but even with the dimness, it's easy to tell that this place is still grimy and gross.

Four operating tables stand in the middle of the room, coated with dust and dried blood. Hooks along the back wall have cloaks and plague doctor masks hanging from them - eight of them, to be exact, with the masks laying overtop the cloaks. A counter along the wall to the left when you enter contains a tank of leeches and a scattered array of bloodletting tools; the medicine cabinet is on the wall to the right, its doors shut.

[resumed]

[Me, scrolling through the post "WHERE THE HELL IS IT."

But yeah let's say this is maybe before swans, so. Here we are. How many bodies are in the infirmary?]

(frozen comment) SUMMARY ;

[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, 22 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.

Prior to that, however, on the second floor, Shirasu Kinjou found himself in the tailor, checking the wares and items inside. It was here he discovered two pairs of men's shoes, both of which had dirt on the soles and seemed to have been worn recently; he also found that a swath of fabric along with a needle and thread were missing. Meanwhile, Stephanie Brown checked the armory and discovered that while a wooden chair leg had been propped up against the wall, some oil had been taken. Even the infirmary was disturbed this week as Nico di Angelo checked closely and found a hacksaw among the tools, in much better condition than the rest save for the flecks of gold in on its blade.

Upstairs on the third floor, a few Narrators were drawn to two specific locations. In the laboratory Goro Akechi put his detective skills to good use and realized fire strikers can be used to start fires, and that only fire striker #3 was missing. But it was Souji Okita in the library that discovered something greater: golden droplets and splatters of ink in the back corner of the library, along with a missing book and a handgun silencer that did not belong, before settling down for a much-needed nap.

Your culprits were kind, dear Narrators. The fourth floor of the castle remained untouched this week. ...though the towers...well, that's another story.

In the observatory Stephanie Brown found a staff belonging to one of the other Narrators.

Though for Belph and Veronica Sawyer, choosing to go west led to a disturbing discovery. In the western staircase they found puddles of crimson ink leading up to the owlery, where they found disturbed owls, a packet of letters, and... Ion the nicer, who breathed his last breath in Belph's arms...

...tragic, isn't it? But largely unknown to the rest of the castle just yet.

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

Downstairs, Sanji found himself in the foyer where he attempted to lick crimson ink from a puddle, before being joined by Cardia Beckford, who crushed bone shards on the floor underfoot. Later on, Sanji headed into the kitchen and found that someone had started a fire in the sink, taking alcohol but leaving fire striker #3 behind.

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

And this is where the story truly unfolds as we reach the climax of this tale.

As they ran for the open doors, Magnus Chase was drawn toward the menagerie. He found a severed leg along one of the paths, but also befriended a pegasus, a small dragon, and a tiny tiger, who ate a mouse.

That was relatively tame, in the grand scheme of things.

Another group made up of Rebecca Bunch and Nico di Angelo decided not to trust last week's team and investigated Swan Lake themselves. It was chaotic, to say the least, as they discovered a scuffle marks near the lakeside, a shovel with golden ink on the blade, a severed arm buried in the dirt aside some claw marks, shredded gloves in a swan's mouth, a scrap of fabric, swan feathers, and sopping-wet clothes from the lake. They ran for their lives and escaped with their bounty.

In the gardens, Veronica Sawyer and Souji Okita and Shirasu Kinjou split off to two directions toward the gardens themselves and toward the wishing well. Neither of them were safe, however. At the wishing well, Veronica Sawyer and Souji Okita found a body that looked like Natsuo's, though there was a wound from front to back and the youth's hair was the wrong color. Simultaneously at the gardens, Shirasu Kinjou found a crushed skull which leaked crimson ink, various pieces of a skeleton, a fabric flower, droplets of blood. With his own bare hands, he dug up the body of Lord El-Melloi II, buried beneath a flowerbed which was mixed with golden ink, mouth stitched shut, missing an arm and a leg.

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

Finally, while these groups had split up, Sanji and Belph raced toward the pumpkin racing track. The scent of burning was immediately in the air and they picked up the pace. There they found a pumpkin carriage racing around the track, containing a body charred beyond recognition. In the area around it, they found a burnt letter, a missing pumpkin, used matches, and a mace stained with golden ink.

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.



"Fon Master Ion, Natsuo, Fane, Lord El-Melloi II, and Evan Hansen have been slain.
The trial will begin tomorrow at noon in the gardens."

[concasse]

[Sanji only stays long enough to... put the cup of tea he'd planned to bring to Ion on top of the glass case, stand back, drag his eyes sideways to stare at Natsuo's case as well.

He isn't going to linger. Just a couple of quiet words to both, for no one else to hear but them.

But for anyone who happens to catch his expression before he leaves, he's look a tad

murderous]

[asswipe]

[Oh.

Hm.

Veronica willingly gives up the letters she took from the Owlery once the investigation comes to a close. Though she looks pretty disturbed by all of the corpses, it's... not until Evan's name is called out and she realizes which of those corpses belong to him that she kind of wobbles where she stands, paling immediately. It looks like she's about to collapse where she stands, but she manages to gather enough strength to

turn around

and promptly puke by the stairs in the foyer.

Anyway, bye.]

[sanguinairy]

[HM. BAD. Souji's pretty stricken by this list of names too, but definitely not as bad off as Veronica. He's quick to go to her side in any case - they can... clean up the puke in a little bit...

First and foremost is to get her something to drink and a place to sit, preferably away from the displayed corpses.]

Come with me.

[axilium]

[...

belph looks at the cases, eyes dull. they linger on natsuo's for a moment, before—

he turns around and walks away. there are things to take care of.]

[vigilantics]

[ stephanie has been, for the most part, fairly calm during the past body announcements. they've been upsetting, but she's managed to not break down during them. but ever since she found ion's staff, she's been filled with nothing but dread. hearing the announcement confirms it.

she covers her face as soon as ion's name is called, and by the time evan's is, steph is just sobbing. it's fine. ]

[psychedelica]

...

[ as usual, he's stony-faced, taking in the carnage with a cool head - although his fists clench a little at the sight of Ion. Steph's crying, however, seems to move him. Hikage comes to her side, as he has before, and places a hand on her back - this time with the clear intent to comfort rather than his uncertain gestures from before. ]

... It's going to be okay.

[ they're going to figure this out. If this is a lie, then he'll make it the truth. ]

[alchemenace]

[ ... well for a little bit varian can be found in front of fane's case. he's holding onto one arm and shaking, but he's not crying at least!

he's also not looking like he wants to acknowledge the other four (jesus christ) bodies too much, though. one pile of bones is enough. ]

... Sorry. I guess I couldn't keep that promise.

[wagashis]

[usually shirasu bails pretty quickly.

this time, despite definitely being dirty from excavating waver-- he's lingering a little longer than normal, pausing to look over both natsuo and ion's cases in silence before he finally turns to go.

he's going to need a bath and some sleep before tomorrow, probably.]

[disclosures]

[Rebecca looks pale. Her Tuesday was bad, the rest of her week was also bad for a dozen different reasons. She watched Nico unearth an arm, and then she had to deal with protecting it from a bunch of swans. Already bad.

But when the list of deceased is called she just seems to shut down, shuddering in place before collapsing. She's woozy, she can't believe somebody would kill Natsuo or Evan, let alone both of them at the same time.

She just stays on the floor in shock.]

[discardia]

[ ... Oh. That's-- a lot of bodies, and Cardia gazes over all of them, gaze darkening when she sees Natsuo and Ion.

But it's Fane's collection of bones she speaks to softly, pressing her hand over the glass. ]

I wanted to be wrong.

[ And that's all she'll say before she leaves. ]

[doublecrows]

[oh]

[for a moment, Akechi is stunned into silence. his gaze lingering on two cases in particular with something akin to. . . fear? cut into his features. and then it falls on Ion's]

[Ion's]

[. . . he staggers forward, reaching out with one shaky hand to rest his palm flatly against the glass. his head thunks against it next, hand curling into a fist, leather squeaking with the movement]

[and then]

[he pulls his hand back and punches the glass hard, enough to rattle the case, to leave bruises on his knuckles, but not hard enough to shatter the glass thank fuck]

[he's gonna]

[stay like this for a bit. don't mind him. he's Fine? he's fine!]

[wearys]

Oh, fuck. That's...

[ he's speechless.

magnus figured there was one body. just one? but here's. five. yikes.

he and alex the tiger will just. leave. the body cases. bye, you gross things. ]