THIRD TRIAL

[bathymetric]

[ Two bodies this week. As a result, it's a little longer before Mayor Fontaine's voice calls out over the loudspeakers. ]

All right, that'll do, all of you. Get to the bathyspheres. Trial time.

[ There's fewer bathyspheres this week, aren't there? It's starting to get really noticeable. One by one, alone or in pairs, you descend into the depths. The bottom of the seafloor, a place no human life was meant to travel to unassisted. It's dark, until it isn't, the same bio-luminescent slugs as before lighting up the area and revealing the great glass dome in which the trial takes place.

Within, three more podiums have gone dark. They remain empty as you all gather around into the circle.

The projector clicks on, and you see the silhouette of Mayor Fontaine above you. ]

We all know why we're here. Florida Man and Cryptobro got themselves got. Up to you to figure out who did it, or... well, you know by now.

[ Welcome to your third trial. ]

Comments

[onemillion]

I investigated the lobby and found a barricade made up of the furniture found around the lobby. To be more accurate, it was half a barricade, as the other half was ashes. Someone clearly came through the lobby doors wielding those fire powers - because those were entirely burnt down. The hinges were partially melted and there was a large pile of ash to account for both the doors and half of the barricade.

[Here's the mod comment describing the layout if you're struggling with spatial awareness like me!!!]

[pairtner]

Jason might have used his fire. There's no guarantee it was him, but so far we know he wields fire abilities.

[It's possible someone else here in this room does as well, maybe? Checking people's hands to find out could be a good idea, hm...]

[onemillion]

Yes, I thought that was the one he had.

[Though it sounds like he also had a second one... Wild.]

For those of you who took the Plasmids, do you still have your abilities?

[visiblepattern]

I don't, as of this morning.

[capreelcious]

Nnnnope.

[capreelcious]

Geez, so whoever wanted in really wasn't givin' up, huh?

[onemillion]

Apparently not. Given the construction of the barricade, it would have served its purpose and would have kept someone out... if they didn't have the power to burn it down, of course.

[capreelcious]

Yeah, for real.

[honeyedtea]

How long would it have taken to construct a barricade like that, do you think...?

[onemillion]

Quite some time without any sort of power, but given that Hagakure had used the power for telekinesis, certainly not all that long. Unfortunately, I can't give a more concrete estimate than that - and that's simply my best guess.

[honeyedtea]

I see... If he'd taken some time to construct it, that could have given us an indication of the timeline but these odd powers in the mix complicate things...

[ She makes a soft, impatient sound almost like a snort. ]

Well. That's entirely the point, I imagine.

[onemillion]

Yes, precisely. We can't really rule anyone out based on what we know so far, unfortunately, and putting together a timeline of events is also proving difficult...

[bootyhunter]

So, the purple stuff on his hands...

Seemed kinda fresh? Like it'd been used right before he, um.

[stifling feelings feelings feelings]

Got taken out.

[onemillion]

Understood. I think that confirms it, then. Thank you, Dandy.

[He's not going to draw attention to it, but hopefully you're still doing as okay as you can be, buddy...]