CHAPTER 7 ; INVESTIGATION

[themodsgrimm]

The Story Continues... CHAPTER 7 - WEEK 7??? 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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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.

Also, in the shadows of the back of the room, there's a vaguely humanlike shape standing motionless.

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.

SHRINE OF THE TIGER

[themodsgrimm]

There isn't a lot in the way of furnishings here aside from pillows scattered about haphazardly that weary visitors can recline on to take a break. The room is dimly lit by torches on the wall (though one torch seems to be unlit) and candles at the altar (which has a vaguely body-shaped figure on top of it), which is overlooked by a golden statue of a tiger.

As you enter the room, take care not to trip over something heavy by the door...

JOUSTING GROUNDS

[themodsgrimm]

To the southeast of the castle lies the jousting grounds. Stakes and ropes form a jousting ring with pennants flying from every corner, marking out a field about a hundred and forty feet long. Seating encircles the area so that Narrators may watch matches, with a covered tent shielding two gilded chairs from the sun at the head of the ring, placed so that VIPs may have a prime view of the center where two knights would face off.

And speaking of the center of the ring, there's something vaguely body-shpaped in the center of it...

Further southeast lies the stable, but it doesn't look like anyone's gone in there recently.

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.

Of course, before you notice any of that, you'll probably notice the two bodies lying out in the open - one closer to the sink, and one closer to a freestanding counter in the middle of the room.

[axilium]

[hmm.]

[doublecrows]

[hmmmm]

Good morning, Belph-san.

[a pleasant morning greeting]

[vigilantics]

[ ha ha well obviously she's gonna check out those fire strikers!!!



no what's going on with that. humanlike shape. sup. ]

[themodsgrimm]

[A pleasant morning greeting indeed! It's almost like there's not a body in the center of the ring.]

[axilium]

[...

he just stares. HOLD ON, BODY, THERE'S SOMETHING MORE IMPORTANT.]

Oh, did you manage to win? I wasn't expecting that.

[concasse]

[Congrats you fucks, Sanji is shocked and upset and can't even squeak out a bellow as he stares at all of this.

Instead he makes a thin noise of frustration (HIS. KITCHEN!.) before marching over to the closest body... probably the one by the freestanding counter]

I thought we all decided the kitchen was off limits...!

[Let him have this lie. Anyway uh... who is this body? Please be a puppet]

[asswipe]

[Yeah. Veronica is just gonna zoom in on the body-shaped figure on top of the altar and just






trip over whatever's by the door.

Hello, heavy thing. You are totally a corpse, aren't you.]

[sanguinairy]

[WELL HERE SOUJI GOES fucking wheezing his way to the tailor. Why is he still alive yall. Why did you do this to me.

Anyway he'll start like he usually does: from the doorway, scanning the area to make sure nothing is obviously out of place along the walls, on the floor, etc. Also making sure no murderers are ready to jump down from the ceiling to stab.]

[doublecrows]

[smiles at Belph, one of his perfectly innocent detective prince smiles, and begins to stroll forward]

Haha. . . you could say we came to an agreement, actually.

[axilium]

... Well, I can't say I'm too surprised. There was a decided lack of enthusiasm in the idea of killing you, after all.

[but he'll follow after akechi.]

[doublecrows]

[almost wryly]

Much to my surprise.

[themodsgrimm]

[The body lays there, motionless. As they get closer, they can see it's wearing dark clothing and seems to be holding onto a sword.]

[axilium]

At least this means I don't have to carry out your last request. That would've been a pain, you know?

[unless akechi suddenly gets stabbed now because that's actually not out of the question.

... anyway, let's examine the body. who's dead. why isn't it me.]

[themodsgrimm]

[What is up with that humanlike shape. As she gets closer, she might notice that whoever it is isn't moving...that's weird. Even though the shape is in the shadows, the way it's positioned free standing doesn't seem like it could be a puppet or a corpse.]

[doublecrows]

You were the one who asked me for advice on how to proceed.

[he lets Belph pull ahead of him, trailing behind as they approach the body. his expression, formerly pleasant and cheery, grows somber]

[vigilantics]

[ JUST TELL ME WHO IT IS STOP DOING THIS

but steph will... reach over to poke?? whoever it is. ]

Um, hello?

[themodsgrimm]

[I'm trying to build suspense god!!!

Stephanie pokes the mysterious figure. She's poking cold, solid metal.

She'll be able to recognize him, now...how do we even put this.

Fon Master Ion stands before her, a still, golden statue.]

[themodsgrimm]

[The body is clad in purple and grey clothing, and there are definitely too many belts. That can't be comfortable.

Still, despite the discomforting outfit -

The expression on the corpse's face is almost peaceful.]

[axilium]

I said, "Good luck", not "Hey, Akechi, I want to be responsible for looking after anyone who'd flip if you died—"

[.............. UH.

belph pauses, because what the hell.]

[vigilantics]

What the fuck.

[ what the fuck.

is there. is there anything weird about the castle. other than the obvious IT'S A GIANT GOLDEN STATUE ]