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

[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?

[scythegun]

I imagine it would be very hard on her with her illness, ja. That doesn't mean she did it - but I do think it's important for us to know as much as we can about her situation so we can rule her out entirely.

[Or you know, actually look in the right direction if this is actually where we're going here???]

[dokkalfheimr]

She mentioned to me that she was ill before arrival...

[scythegun]

That's good to know. I'm curious if it's been the same since she's been here, or if she's been feeling worse and worse as time passes.

[bonesorter]

[Lorna gives a small nod.]

Yes... I've been ill for a very long time, even before arriving here. Normally I have Auntie Whispers to help me, but... it has not been easy to manage, on my own now.

[scythegun]

[Nodding!]

I'm sorry it's been difficult for you, truly. Does it seem like your illness has gotten worse since you arrived here, without your aunt to help you?

[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?

[magycks]

I mean, she lives in a glorified purgatory with a witch who isn't her aunt, hungry ghosts aren't too crazy an addition. Weird that it hasn't come up today, though, don't you think?

[jibunwo]

...I'm sorry, what?

[magycks]

What about it was unclear?

[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!

[leaveittomother]

Spirits can possess people.

[magycks]

I'm not saying she is. But how do you know some revenant isn't hitching a ride, exactly? How would she know?

[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...

[magycks]

Yes, and you mentioned it sort of vaguely at the meeting. But for a girl who had so much to say about raising the dead before this, you've really been taking your time today, haven't you?

[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]