FOURTH TRIAL

[bathymetric]

[ Well! That's sure something, isn't it? There may or may not be a lot of you excited to get down to business, but Jones does eventually move to collect you all and bring you to the theatre. It's a familiar routine by now, perhaps even comfortingly so given the irregularities of this particular killing.

Two of you gone this week. The elevator is started to feel downright spacious, don't you think?

A shanty, as usual, echoes from the crew of the Dutchman as you enter. The room is the same as it has ever been before you as the elevator settles into position. ]

To yer positions, passengers. Chins up.

[ Three more podiums claimed by the rust and wear.

You have your evidence, and you're going to need it before long. The music outside dies down.

Welcome to your fourth trial. ]

Comments

[dokkalfheimr]

[Risotto...]

You...think there's a chance Lorna did this?

[It's something that turns into a genuine question halfway through; of all people...?]

[sivard]

I have to agree with Freyja, here.

[jibunwo]

If it's another situation like Allenby's, we can't disregard anyone as a possibility.

[scouserer]

As much as it pains me, I have to agree with Zero, here.

[He stares directly down at his podium.]

[paucipan]

I know we have to consider all avenues, but...

[Plumeria is a little skeptical? Lorna doing this just seems like an impossibility, look at her, Plumeria could probably outlift her.]

[deathmagnetic]

Truthfully speaking, I don't believe that's for certain.

At this time, I've leveled no accusations towards her. I thought it'd be fair to do some questioning as not only was there a shift from the familiar [ In what she was wearing ], but that she was one of the few who hadn't been present for Thursday night's activities.

[thisaroma]

You don't think the seance somehow did something weird to her, right? Since she was the only one unconscious during it...?

[deathmagnetic]

That wasn't something I considered. Though anything is possible, and I believe it's something valid to think about.

We'd just need to look for the signs.

[dokkalfheimr]

No, that's true, and I don't intend to argue. I just know you don't tend to do things for no reason and I was curious as to what that reasoning might be.

[she is having an easier time of it this week now that she's not on a shitton of ambien and no one is accusing plumeria of anything.]

[deathmagnetic]

[ Oh, well that made sense to him. ]

I see. Your line of questioning is fair, then, as you're right that I don't.

[magycks]

Oh, good, so it's not just me.

[dokkalfheimr]

Based upon what...? If I may.

[queceracera]

[Oh, Scott's actually connected some dots.]

Hey, um. This is gonna sound really insensitive and terrible? But, uh. Have we considered why Lorna has [vague hand gesture] generic wasting sickness?

[scythegun]

[Actually, he's following this exact train of logic pretty well, but before we go speculating wildly while she's right here...]

Lorna, were you this ill before you arrived on the ship? Has it gotten worse since being here?

[ahelpingpaw]

She was having a bad time on Thursday. I was there with her and we ate butter and she did mention not having food wasn't doing her sickness any favors. The infirmary stuff doesn't do much in the long term.

[It was worrying enough for Filbo to immediately go and get the Decus coconut and offer it all to her]

I-I'm not saying she did any of this...but she really was having a hard time with, uh, the lack of food?

[magycks]

Oh, not too much. Just the fact that she wasn't around last night and only Flayn, who admits she fell asleep, can testify to her presence, the clothing change, and a little something she mentioned this time last week about the spirits that haunt her woods. Some of them... oh, what was it? Right, hunt down and devour the flesh and souls of whoever they come across.

[scouserer]

She said what about spirits?

[jibunwo]

...I'm sorry, what?

[leaveittomother]

Ah. She did mention she knew about evil spirits when I was describing Jack to her.

[cethflayn]

[?????????]

Just because there may be a spirit near one's home does not mean they are a spirit!

[sivard]

Spirits that do what?

[deathmagnetic]

[ ... OH REALLY ]

That's interesting.

[bonesorter]

[OH HEY that sure does get a hard flinch in reaction from Lorna over here upon being reminded of that conversation...]

It's true, I did tell you that... that's why I was uncomfortable with the idea of that seance you were talking about possibly performing after the last trial...

[paucipan]

[...What the actual godsforsaken fuck.]

[ahelpingpaw]

[Why have the last 24 hours been the spooky episode of this long trip. First the seance and now this]

She did mention the woods were kinda...rough. When I returned her book.

[But obviously she never mentioned anything about spirits devouring anyone, wow]