PROLOGUE ; INVESTIGATION

[themodsgrimm]

The Story Continues... PROLOGUE - WEEK 0??? 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 your first investigation post! This time, as it is tutorial week, we will be posting toplevels for searchable locations; moving forward, you will post your own toplevels for locations you wish to searh. Evidence — or lack thereof — will be noted in these threads. We ask that group threads consist of no more than 3-4 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 Danielle (entrappings) and Britt (bloodthirstiest), as we will be taking point on this investigation! full navigation. locations taken (statuses) stories (profiles) info & faq wishing well private conversations

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THE FOYER

[themodsgrimm]

[nivation]

[ Kyouka is on high alert. Anytime anything feels wrong, it always means death.

She stands at the top of the stairs because it's better to get a view from above. ]

[themodsgrimm]

[The first thing Kyouka will notice is that one of the suits of armor is missing. Where it once stood, there is merely an empty stone stand.

The second thing Kyouka will notice is that the sword held by the suit of armor next to it is slightly askew.]

THE DINING HALL

[themodsgrimm]

[alchemenace]

[ it's clearly the time to have breakfast right. No Varian is looking for his raccoon and talking to himself ]

This atmosphere is great. I am loving it. Not creepy at all.

[themodsgrimm]

[Fortunately for Varian, it looks like, at first glance, everything is going to be normal in the dining hall.




...unless you count what looks like body underneath one of the tables off to the side.]

THE KITCHEN

[themodsgrimm]

[concasse]

[Motherfuckers if anyone died in his kitchen, Christmas is cancelled]

Ugh... I need coffee.

[Alright bastards who else is in here?]

THE BALLROOM

[themodsgrimm]

[axilium]

[so is this open now or what.]

THE DORMITORIES

[themodsgrimm]

[wearys]

[ well, this is a weird feeling and magnus already hates this nonsense.

he's not going far in his tiger kigu right now. he's in the fire suite, near his and ann's room. ]

I bet someone tripped in their onesie and broke their skull.

THE TAILOR

[themodsgrimm]

[parodeity]

[ as far as feelings in the back of his mind go, dave prefers a sense the timeline went off course.

kind of.

not really.

he heads to the tailor because he likes the outfits and why the fuck not. ]

THE ARMORY

[themodsgrimm]

[sanguinairy]

[Hey guess what time it is it's RUSTY KNIFE PARTY TIME--

That is, Souji will be heading over to the armory because ???? Obviously you gotta check that with the weapons and all. He'll hold the door open for anyone else who wants to tromp around surrounded by busted swords and spears, looking near the entrance for anything particularly off while he does so.]

(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, all the 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, Magnus Chase and Ann Takamaki came upon an unusual sight on the stairs. Confetti, glitter and sequins adorned the steps, sparkling in the foyer light. Scattered decorations from the festival appeared as well. As the group ventured further, they found Reyna at the bottom of the stairs, unconscious and without a clue how she got there. However, before they could approach her body, Reyna's dog interrupted them. They were able to examine her after Magnus calmed the dog down.

In the armory, Souji Okita, Cardia Beckford, Fon Master Ion, and 2B found nothing too odd, aside from some weapons moved from their previous locations. Further investigation, however, through a neatly stacked pile of swords revealed Nico underneath, unconscious and without a clue how he got there.

It was in the tailor that the true mystery began. As Dave Strider, Lord El-Melloi II, and Veronica Sawyer burst into the room, they came across a scene of chaos. Mannequins were knocked over, giving the group a fright; fabrics were tipped askew and splattered with what appeared to be purple ink; racks of clothing were knocked over; and five dresses, a letter opener, and a few broken pencils were noted to be missing. As the group searched further, they discovered Gi-Gan's pipe and tobacco ashes spilled on the floor underneath a rack of clothing.

As others ran downstairs to investigate the first floor, Varian, Fane, and Rebecca Bunch ventured into the dining hall, where breakfast had not yet been served. The three Classic tapestries hung in the air above them, Gi-gan's dripping black ink to the floor. A closer look revealed that black ink was smeared across the floor beneath the tapestry. The group checked under the tables and benches for any other clues but only came upon Ion, unconscious and without a clue how he got there.

Beyond the dining hall in the kitchen, Sanji, Monika, and Abe no Sousei burst into the room. Also unused for breakfast, the scene before them was peculiar, with all five carving knives missing and only butter knives remaining. They discovered Jae-Ha dumped in the corner, unconscious and without a clue how he got there, and were soon accosted by a breakdancing suit of armor.

Out in the halls, Shirasu Kinjou, Stephanie Brown, Belph, and Goro Akechi approached the ballroom despite knowing the room was locked. It was a wonderful idea to check, however, as the ballroom's sign had gone missing, and Sharpay was found propped against the door, unconscious and without a clue how she got there.

But as we reach the climax of our story, dear Narrators, we come upon the place where, for one Narrator, it all came to an end.

In the foyer, Kyouka Izumi, Osamu Dazai, Francis Scott Fitzgerald, and Natsuo approached the area and immediately noticed a suit of armor was missing As they examined the area, they soon noticed that one of the weapons belonging to the remaining suit had been knocked askew, and the helmet of this armor was slightly askew. Before they could open the armor fully, they were accosted by a breakdancing suit of armor.

As the group gathered to pry the armor open, Gi-Gan's body spilled out from the opening. Adorned with a puncture wound on her neck and her chest, and covered in purple ink rather than blood, she fell to the feet of this unfortunate group, who confirmed that this Narrator was dead.

The dancing armor continued to wander the halls, challenging the Narrators to dance battles throughout the day.

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.



"Captain Gi-Gan has been slain.
The trial will begin tomorrow at noon in the gardens."

[alttitude]

[By the time that you arrive in the Grand Foyer, there are countless slams.

His fingers are already bruised, shaking from his misguided attempts to claw the glass case open. Despite everything he'd said, dragon claws would be truly useful right now rather than these human fingers. They feel brittle, not strong enough to reach his Captain. So Jae-ha fell back on what he remembered, what he knew, and that was kicking down anything in his path that might keep him from what he treasures most.

So it happens again and again and again - the slamming of his right leg into the glass that acts as guard between him and the pale, cold Gi-Gan. With each kick, his anger grows, and he snarls viciously. The noise is angry, frustrated, and pained.]

Damn this castle, damn this glass, damn this useless leg...!

[He kicks at the glass again - and it doesn't so much as rattle. Pathetic.

The sting starts to seep in but it barely registers amidst the tornado of his emotions, everything whipping around him like a hurricane.]

Captain...!!

[With trembling fingers, he presses against the surface again, shoulders rattling as he can't find where the rage ends and the agony begins. Gi-Gan doesn't open her eyes, doesn't give a chiding remark, doesn't laugh and call him overdramatic.

Instead she remains there, just out of reach. When he'd left Awa, he never thought it'd be forever. She was always meant to be waiting for him, there for him, just as he'd return to her side because—

You said I'd always have a home with you.

His head bows and he poses a question, voice low.]

What happened... to not doing anything stupid?

[For a brief moment, that's where he remains - waiting for orders that won't come.]

[discardia]

... Jae-ha...

[ she hadn't known this woman. But she's seen that kind of grief, from a little girl much smaller than the man who was breaking before her now. This time... it isn't her help, but it does feel just as terrible.

So Cardia finally reaches out, carefully plucking at his sleeve. ]

[function]

[ 2b claims to not have emotions, but clearly she understands the pain jae-ha is going through right now. she's prepared to catch his leg should he lash out again, but if he just continues to stand there, she just says, ]

Jae-ha. Snap out of it.

[axilium]

[...

belph doesn't know how to comfort others. he's the worst person to be around during times of grief, really.

so although he watches from a distance, he says nothing. letting jae-ha be alone would likely be kinder than whatever belph has to offer.]

[sanguinairy]

[He doesn't know what to do with this, really - with grief and anger so intensely private, spilled out in the open. He's not a comforting person by nature, but he's drawn over regardless, like maybe an idea will come to him on how to comfort if he stands there long enough.

It doesn't, of course.]

...Will you come with me?

[The very least he can do is get him away from the obstacle he can't kick down, for now.]

[disilluded]

[Sousei's another who's watching from a distance, expression tight, hands balled into fists. He had been so certain that if he had just tried hard enough, he could have protected her, no matter what the case may have been. No matter what--

(And somehow, he failed.

His best wasn't good enough, and not Gi-gan is dead and Jae-ha is suffering and Sousei's own fate is up in the air, and he can't even bring himself to care about that right now.)

He watches Jae-ha for a long moment--and then he drags in a slow breath, closes his eyes, and turns to walk away. He'll have to apologize for his lapse in capability later.]

[doublecrows]

[empathy is not Akechi's strong point]

[he doesn't know how to comfort other people. he doesn't know how to offer soothing words of wisdom, to temper pure anger and grief. he isn't what Jae-ha needs right now, and truthfully? he never will be]

[he watches the display with a dispassionate, detached expression. and before Jae-ha can turn to face him, whenever he is done mourning against the glass door of Gi-Gan's new coffin. . .]

[he takes a step back, turns on his heel, and walks way]

[hairbrain]

[ rapunzel's only known gi-gan for a few days, and this loss cuts her to the bone. she can only imagine what it feels like for jae-ha --- who's known her for much, much longer. ]

[ so, yeah, orders aren't coming for jae- ha, but, well, something is coming. it's his death, because rapunzel stabs him!!! just kidding. she's actually just going to fucking hug during the brief moment where he's still. ]

[ she doesn't immediately say anything, either. ]