SIXTH TRIAL

[bathymetric]

[ It's the same as the other weeks. Two bodies, some time to look, and then Davy Jones comes around to take those of you who are left into the theatre and into the elevator. His expression is dark, difficult to read.

The trip down feels slower than ever. The elevator has gotten so empty, don't you think?

As it reaches its usual destination, the crew of the Dutchman is performing once again. The clouds above have started to darken the once clear tropical waters.

The podiums await you. ]

At yer places! Find who is responsible for all of this!

[ Your numbers can't support many more weeks of this, can they?

Welcome to your sixth trial. ]

Comments

[magycks]

[ OH, FLAYN... ]

... You know what, someone else say it, I can't disabuse her of the notion.

[cethflayn]

Do you think I am lying? I could handle an actual body if needed, you know! I did not fight in two wars to be squeemish!

[magycks]

Nnnnno, not that specifically. I've got no reason to assume his stupid world's logic didn't manifest here.

[cethflayn]

Then what exactly do I need to be dissuaded about?

[magycks]

If I must... It's oil. The dark, malevolent substance on his shirt is just oil.

[cethflayn]

...

[Looks at it. Looks at Magica.]

That is not cooking oil.

[sivard]

Definitely not.

[magycks]

Motor oil. You know, for cars, or I suppose rollercoasters... mechanical things! Engineering!

... Will someone else please take this one.

[cethflayn]

There is oil in the machines? I was not aware.

[Sounds...sus, but okay, you know what, Magica's frustrated enough that Flayn can believe it is a normal thing she ought to know.]

[silentscout]

It's more like sword cleaning oil. You use it in machines to keep them from rusting.

[cethflayn]

Ooooooooh.

[That makes more sense!!]

[ahelpingpaw]

It's like...something that keeps vehicles functioning. Some of them, I mean. J-Just think of it as part of the maintenance of that thing.

[He hopes he's right about that, at least. What can he say, he doesn't know for sure how rollercoasters work, hah]

[cethflayn]

I wish I had learned this because of different means, but, thank you.

[scouserer]

Wait a second, why was there oil on his shirt? The only way that would've gotten on there if he was working with something mechanical, like the railroad cars themselves. But he wouldn't be that stupid, would he?

[A pause.]

Nevermind, just heard myself out loud.

[leaveittomother]

Scott did this?

[ahelpingpaw]

...but when I talked to him during the spa party he specifically said Jack hadn't bothered him at all with any of the motives. I don't think... he was lying about that?

[Was Scott lying?]

I'm not saying he didn't do it, but if he did then maybe the--the motive wasn't why he did it?

[leaveittomother]

Maybe someone caught him and chased him to the arcade... I'm not sure about his intentions, though. You're right. He probably didn't do it for the motive.

[cethflayn]

I do not know if it was his shirt in particular. It was discarded nearby.

[scouserer]

Oh, so it wasn't his shirt, necessarily.

[HM....]

But--uh, who would just take off their shirt and leave it on the ground for people to find?

[sivard]

Maybe it was used to clean up a mess and wasn't actually worn?

Mods?

[cethflayn]

Well...maybe it could have been used to wipe the oil off of oneself?

[I had asked in the investigation log, but just to double check, does the shirt seem congruent with the idea that someone might have used it like a towel to clean themselves up?]

[guffawsungraciously]

I can believe it, given how monsters and those involved with dark magic die back home. They generally dissolve into smoke and leave behind some gold and some effects they had on their persons.

...I suppose it is a bit strange to see it happen with a human who has had no contact with dark magic, but I can accept things work somewhat differently elsewhere.

[cethflayn]

[Jasper that's not normal]

Usually, when a person is killed, a body is left behind. If it is a demonic beast, then it is likely to dissolve. They do not just turn into gold.

[guffawsungraciously]

No, that is the case for most humans in my world as well. It is simply not unprecedented that a human would only leave behind things that were on their persons at the time of death.

[cethflayn]

[I mean the game just has the enemy dissolve but presumably a body is left if it's not a nonlethal battle]

I...do not understand how that works, but, I will believe you.