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DIE HARD [1st Trial]
Once the investigations wrap up, a self-driving shuttle comes out to the X-Class Akudama, requesting them to board in accordance to the fifth ordinance of their paroles and insisting that none of the group stay behind. A few of the large robot aircraft seen in the late Marcille's Uto-Uto PSA distantly occupies the air above the shuttle, surely a coincidence.
Once everyone is on the shuttle, it drives east - this is an area the X-Classes are not usually granted access to, that looks like some kind of entertainment district judging by the number of colorful spotlights they pass on the way to their destination. A Stadium comes into view, surrounded by faintly glowing poles that tower around it. There's apparently an entrance that can fit the shuttle, because it takes them directly inside and lets them all out right in the middle of the stadium. At first, it looks like little more than a metal stage with some podiums, surrounded by empty seats. Several cameras are placed in strategic places, getting as many angles as possible. Each podium has a screen projecting a hologram in front of it, and on the top of the podium the evidence has been helpfully loaded on a touch screen for each Akudama. For now, the screen projects an image of each of the Akudama's faces and their titles, so people know where to go - even the ones that can't read! But you can also display evidence with a press of your touch screen. It will float up beside them just like a certain lawyer game!
Soon though, there's a faint buzz, and hard light scenery forms all around them. Visually, it looks exactly like a dungeon - "stone" walls surround them, covered in flickering torches. Though they are still just transparent enough to see the audience seats, they effectively form a barrier, and the podiums take on the stone-like texture as well. Zealot's drone flies in from above this wall to join them, keeping its distance but carrying a camera with it - Physicist is also present, although she is in a cove of the dungeon behind a thick "glass" barrier. She looks a bit smug as six holo-touch keyboards and monitors surround her, but the scene is still unfolding. The sun in the sky darkens and shines with a solar eclipse, letting the trial room stay in the neon-glow darkness. Finally, the "audience" takes its seat. Not real people. A host of golden Noh masks appear to beam down into seats around the dome, watching the proceedings, stern and silent. Occasionally, they all make a slight movement such as a head tilt, in unison. They're creepy.
Is someone gonna explain what's going on here? Well....
((The trial will last until 7PM EST, which will be similar to the duration in game. Good luck.
The voting post is available right here!))
Once everyone is on the shuttle, it drives east - this is an area the X-Classes are not usually granted access to, that looks like some kind of entertainment district judging by the number of colorful spotlights they pass on the way to their destination. A Stadium comes into view, surrounded by faintly glowing poles that tower around it. There's apparently an entrance that can fit the shuttle, because it takes them directly inside and lets them all out right in the middle of the stadium. At first, it looks like little more than a metal stage with some podiums, surrounded by empty seats. Several cameras are placed in strategic places, getting as many angles as possible. Each podium has a screen projecting a hologram in front of it, and on the top of the podium the evidence has been helpfully loaded on a touch screen for each Akudama. For now, the screen projects an image of each of the Akudama's faces and their titles, so people know where to go - even the ones that can't read! But you can also display evidence with a press of your touch screen. It will float up beside them just like a certain lawyer game!
Soon though, there's a faint buzz, and hard light scenery forms all around them. Visually, it looks exactly like a dungeon - "stone" walls surround them, covered in flickering torches. Though they are still just transparent enough to see the audience seats, they effectively form a barrier, and the podiums take on the stone-like texture as well. Zealot's drone flies in from above this wall to join them, keeping its distance but carrying a camera with it - Physicist is also present, although she is in a cove of the dungeon behind a thick "glass" barrier. She looks a bit smug as six holo-touch keyboards and monitors surround her, but the scene is still unfolding. The sun in the sky darkens and shines with a solar eclipse, letting the trial room stay in the neon-glow darkness. Finally, the "audience" takes its seat. Not real people. A host of golden Noh masks appear to beam down into seats around the dome, watching the proceedings, stern and silent. Occasionally, they all make a slight movement such as a head tilt, in unison. They're creepy.
Is someone gonna explain what's going on here? Well....
((The trial will last until 7PM EST, which will be similar to the duration in game. Good luck.
The voting post is available right here!))
NPCs
Opening Statements
Good morning, everyone. I'm—so sorry about what's happened. Is it any comfort to know that the entire city is on your side? Whoever did this is getting executed. The Kansai Police Department has their own suspected culprit, but don't worry about them abusing their power. It's the people's vote that will determine who dies. ...but if you want to record your final answer for your own reference, it can't hurt. [...interesting. Is that really how it works?] So when you all manage to reveal the true culprit, if it's someone else, the suspected culprit will be pardoned. Subjected to the same probation as X-Class Akudama for their safety and everyone else's, but won't have to worry about killing or being killed for a terrible wish like this.
Anyway, they're watching you, so [she awkwardly raises a fist in encouragement] show them what you've got! You can ask me and Zealot any questions you have about this world or the others, and we'll answer as best we can!
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Q&A
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the crime from the rooftop
We're here because we're the ones who best know what happened, right? So...
[Deep breath.]
For my part... I observed the crime scene on the roof. That's the only place I really got a good look at, so I can't say how any of this matches up with what other people found but...
There was a large pool of blood near the entrance of the roof. When I found it it was still wet. Beside the pool of blood I found this staff as well as an unusual marking in blood.
[To demonstrate, Rachel pulls up the photo she took of the marking.]
I believe that the one who died on the roof was Sorceror. And... based on where I found the blood mark, I believe she may have been the one who made it. At first glace it looks like a "U" but... You can see there's a small gap here. I wonder... if she wasn't trying to write the other victim's title. If you treat them separately it could be "L" and "I". At least... I think that's a possibility.
[...]
It looks like the body was dragged from the pool of blood to the edge of the roof. Based on the location... it looked likely that the body dropped from there to the ground below.
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Lady Marcille. Her name.
[ her contribution for now. ]
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[* As for the strange symbol...]
...That symbol looks like it could be a "B" from a pigpen cipher, but with only one letter, and if the orientation could also be wrong, it's doubtful that it's actually a pigpen.
Um... How long does it take for human blood to dry...?
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[ letters are those things that make words right ]
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[ She stops short of suggesting what other letter it could be. She doesn't want to accuse anyone just yet—that would be rude! ]
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Debbie Body Findings
Um, if none of you mind... I'd... I'd like to begin by summarizing what I found.
Now, I know little old me isn't the best at examining human bodies, but... but I did manage to notice a few details. First, there was a wound on the back of the head on Debbie. Other bruises were scattered across her body and her ribs were broken.
But what strikes me as the two strangest things were the strangulation marks made by hands across her neck and the cut wound on her wrist, especially as it wasn't bleeding.
But lastly... Whoever did this didn't use any obvious escape routes and Debbie's phone wasn't taken.
[* Others may add in things to further clarify, or ask questions.]
Re: Debbie Body Findings
Was there any sign of blood around the wound on the back of her head?
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I examined the injuries on her body more closely. The wound to the back of her head was caused by something large and flat rather than an object like a club or a bat due to the lack of a distinct shape to the injury. The blood had been there long enough that it was starting to dry, meaning that the injury wasn't fresh.
[Next, he'll show the photo comparing his own hand to the marks on her neck.]
Whoever did this had hands that were smaller than mine, so unless two killers were involved, we can rule out the larger people here right off the bat.
[Now, the bruising to her back.]
Here's the interesting part: these blows to her back were strong enough to cause her ribs to fracture in the front. While that's less impressive when you consider her size relative to that of an adult, we're still looking at someone who's no slouch in the physical strength department. And these weren't made with punches or kicks, either.
[Next up, the cut on her wrist.]
This is the wound Vessel mentioned. It was deep enough to hit the veins, but there wasn't any blood around it or any smears to indicate that the blood had been wiped away. What's more, it wasn't done with a standard knife. Given how fine the cut was, it was most likely done by either a razor or a scalpel.
[And now, the weird part! Have a photo of her hair.]
It seems like whoever did this wanted a souvenir. They cut off a piece of her hair right up near the scalp. A clean cut, probably done with a pair of scissors... or with a blade after she was already dead and no longer moving.
[Whew. This is like giving a more morbid version of a Funeral Parlor meeting...]
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Do you still have Debbie's phone? Or did you leave it with her body?
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Tattoo Parlor Evidence
Outside the tattoo parlor, I found a marking, six feet up the wall. It was similar to the other markings that you guys found around the city.
When I went inside the parlor, I was able to discover that a pair of gloves and a razor were missing. I initially thought that razor would have been the weapon that killed Sorcerer, but then Wolver posted his evidence about a scalpel that had gone missing from a set in the hospital.
I assumed it was probably the same person who took the scalpel and the razor, but I can't be too sure of everything. There's still a lot we don't know. No shit, right?
Re: Tattoo Parlor Evidence
It's unlikely anyone would need both since they're so very similar.
Re: Tattoo Parlor Evidence
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Pharmacy evidence findings
At the hospital's pharmacy I found things to be largely normal, except for the presence of a single box on the floor. This stuck me as odd, considering how tidy the little machines tend to keep things.
When I approached the box, I found that it was unopened. While I don't think it matters, when I opened it, I found it filled with elastic wrap.
However, what I did see from eye level down by the box were the scavenged scalpels from the Executioner's Headquarters, with one missing. According to Robin's report of evidence, this missing scalpel was most likely cleaned of blood and planted.
Re: Pharmacy evidence findings
Is the razor still at large?
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Re: Pharmacy evidence findings
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[ Satsuki beings up the last messages found on one drone's keyboard. It looks like a bunch of gibberish. ]
I don't really know how these things work, but... I thought that maybe someone flooded the drones with too much garbage for them to understand it. If that caused an error, then...
I found them as hoverboards. What if Debbie's head injury was caused by her being thrown off when they suddenly stopped or hit something else?
MODS
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Turn your pockets out folks!
Zenos digs through his own pockets and there is... nothing but lint in them!]
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No!
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Re: Turn your pockets out folks!
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Re: Turn your pockets out folks!
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Re: Turn your pockets out folks!
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After everyone willing has emptied out their pockets
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Re: After everyone willing has emptied out their pockets
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body evidence - marcille
Her throat was slit — it was deeper on her right side, presumably where they pushed the blade in, and shallower at the other end as they pulled back. It was a clean wound, and while it didn't appear to target a specific major blood vessel, it appeared that they were probably confident enough in what they were doing and didn't have much hesitation in doing it. There was little blood aside from what was on her clothes, but as we've established, she was presumably actually killed on the roof.
Her limbs and ribs were broken in multiple places, consistent with falling from that roof, and there were abrasions on her face which had some bits of gravel in them. There was also a large, round bruise on her abdomen, which wouldn't have been explained by the fall, but rather by something hitting her with significant force — perhaps one of those drones the other victim had?
[ Are those also cantaloupe sized?? please confirm ]
Her clothes were a little frayed, again mostly consistent with damage that would be sustained in a fall onto pavement, but there was also a rip in her hood that looked to have been made by something else. A small section of her hair was cut, but it didn't line up with the damage to the hood.
The oddest piece of evidence was the cut on her wrist, nearly identical to the one on the other body. Like that one, it was made with a very fine blade and didn't have any traces of blood on the surface. I opened it up further to look inside and check whether any sort of device might have been inserted under the skin, but it didn't appear so. It did appear that it had struck the veins and that they had bled, however, so it seems it was carefully cleaned to avoid drawing attention to it.
RE: Question
Re: body evidence - marcille
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mods!!
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a...ccusation?
The only thing we know about her capabilities is what she's told us, but it's easy to tell a small fib here and there--who's to say she doesn't have more that she's hiding?
Besides, do they have proof it was one of us? We're merely criminals to them, so I'm sure our audience would be pleased to see any of us pinned down and helpless... we're an easy scapegoat for the true culprit.
[Is it transparent what he's trying here? Yeah. Is he going to let that stop him anyway? Nah.]
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An interesting thought.
[ He's spoken little this trial, but here he is. ]
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Re: a...ccusation?
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MODS MAY RESPOND IF THEY FEEL LIKE IT
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1/2
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An innocent question
[* For once, Flowey doesn't have to act dumb.]
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[Given how much blood there was around her body... yeah, it's pretty self-explanatory.]
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sniff check!
[ She's just. Going to smile as pleasantly as she can as she walks around the room, sniffing the air around people. ]
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Re: sniff check!
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Re: sniff check!
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Re: sniff check!
scan check!
Now, I am going to scan all of you. You can try to run or teleport away [Looks at Wizard, who will hopefully comply as his fellow nasty crime man.] but you won't escape me so long as you're alive, and I will knock each and every one of you out if I have to.
[Now then, he'll raise his fingers and press a button to switch out the lenses of his mask. Hope you're all ready to be scanned for traces of blood and soap.]
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Blood-wise, it would just be what was on his hands from handling a body, nothing major.]
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Re: scan check!
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Re: scan check!
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Re: scan check!
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Drone Command Check
Um... Excuse me? If I may...?
Would everyone like to issue a simple command to the drone to see if it obeys you?
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Turn 360 degrees counter-clockwise.
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Re: Drone Command Check
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Re: Drone Command Check
Re: Drone Command Check
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Re: Drone Command Check
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[ Just... going to kind of scroll through the evidence and notes on the app as he ticks these things off. ]
Presumably prior to the murders: One of the recovered scalpels at the pharmacy was taken. There were also some gloves and a razor taken from the tattoo parlor, and there was what resembled scorch marks on the wall outside of it, about two meters up.
Liar's drones were found inside the karaoke bar. The last message transmitted to them appeared to be some sort of jamming code intended to impede their function. They were mildly damaged, and one had some of Marcille's hair and some threads from her clothing in its joints — Marcille also had a round bruise on her abdomen that matches the size and shape of one of the drones, so it's clear that it was involved in her incident in one way or another.
Also inside the karaoke bar, a bench was moved from the lobby up to the fourth floor bathroom, where it was placed over a cracked floor tile. There was a bloody rag in the trash, and it's assumed that the killer cleaned up here at some point. There was no actual damage to the lobby area, but there was a washed scalpel with a broken tip inexplicably left there.
Marcille was killed on the roof by having her throat slit, and then fell to the ground in front of the building, breaking bones in the process. Her staff was still there on the roof, and there was a small mark drawn in blood that looked like an L, with another line added to it afterward that made it look more like an "L-I" or a blocky "U". However, Marcille did not have any blood on her fingertips, so it's unclear whether she actually wrote any part of this message.
Liar was found nearby in front of the same building, with a blunt force wound of indeterminate shape to the back of her head, hand marks around her neck that were larger than Marcille's but smaller than Leader's, and blunt force trauma to her back and spine with enough force to damage the ribs in front.
Both Marcille and Liar had a lock of hair that had been cut, and both had very small, barely noticeable cuts on one of their wrists that had been thoroughly cleaned, likely to attempt to avoid their detection. There was nothing foreign inside the cut on Marcille's wrist, but it was clear that it had bled before it was cleaned. The same is likely true of Liar's, though I didn't look at it.
[ Sets the phone back down... finally. ]
I think one vague theory we have is that someone may have planned to target Liar and tampered with her drones to that end, and by coincidence, she had chosen that same night to kill Marcille herself. The hands around the throat seem more impassioned than the rest of the injuries we looked at, so it may have been that that person happened to locate her as she was in the middle of Marcille's murder.
[ Sighs and rubs his temple. ]
Unfortunately, I'm still not sure how those wrist cuts or the bathroom bench fit into any of the scenarios we've come up with, but... discuss.
Mods?
I have a question, actually. What would happen if a dead person was voted as the culprit instead of one of us still standing here?
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A proposed timeline
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well then
Damn, of all the things to miss... to think that I didn't check to see where it went after she tried to stab me for seeing her kill the elf girl... it seems I was too sure of myself that such an ordinary weapon wouldn't be able to cause any problems for me, especially once it was broken.
[She catches her breath, before she adjusts her glasses, and holds up her tablet as she taps something into it.]
Well, this is annoying. I really did not want to resort to this, but I may not have a choice.
[Remember the drone? It suddenly whirls to life and begins to hover as Loremaster taps some kind of command into her tablet, turning to face towards everyone with its guns out.]
Now then, let's do a test while we still have a little time, shall we? I had been hoping that you would all see the truth sooner than this regarding the Liar who started this whole mess and vote for her so that no one here would have to suffer for her crimes. But most of you are proving to be too stupid to see the bigger picture here, despite the fact that I have said multiple times that I am trying to help return us all home, not continue playing this game of murder.
So then... what are you all going to do now? Are you going to vote for me, or for the Liar?
MODS
Drone, shut down and disobey any commands for the rest of the day, even from me.
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Re: well then
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Re: well then
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