Fourth Investigation

[bathymetric]

It's hard to tell that - of if - the motive has passed. The radios are the same, there are no missing powers, the day begins like any other. But there's something heavy hanging over you, the knowledge that, well... it's Friday. And unpleasant things happen in New Rapture on Fridays.

While we would love to say it's remotely quiet and peaceful, we can't. Helios Suites and the grounds around them are body-free, at least, but... there's a series of booming noises coming from somewhere else in New Rapture, echoing through the empty halls.

Looks like the game is afoot, citizens.

Comments

[bathymetric]

[ She can pull them off, and they aren't hiding anything! Nothing else really off about the pillows except how they were actively restricting air flow. ]

WHEN DID WE GET BACK ON THE BOAT

[daimakaicho]

[ Sounds good! She'll move on from there and see whatever of these 18 clues she can pick up. ]

[lost conspiracy voice] WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ON THE BOAT

[bathymetric]

[ Would you like to start with whatever else is around the entrance, or is it time to talk about the fan? ]

this really is the most bermuda triangle

[daimakaicho]

[ Uh! Unless there's something like Very Clearly Off about the fan that would warrant going there first, let's stick with the entrance. ]

[bathymetric]

[ Well, Misfire has the /checks notes Fire Extinguisher hanging from the ceiling, so let's try things a little closer to ground level.

There's two nails in the wall on either side of the entrance, about a foot above the floor. The right one has a string tied to it, which when followed leads to the fire extinguisher. ]

[daimakaicho]

[ Weird. Is there anything attached to the left one? ]

[bathymetric]

[ A bit of string that looks like it snapped, but not much else. ]

[daimakaicho]

[ Okay. Is the line to the extinguisher tight, or is it hanging there? Also which way does the door open in towards? ]

[bathymetric]

[ Just hanging there! It's a loose line, not tight.

The door opens inward. ]

[daimakaicho]

Hmm.

[ Interesting. Anything else going on with this Rube Goldberg setup? ]

[bathymetric]

[ Not with the fire extinguisher! ]

[daimakaicho]

[ What about the rope? You said there was a bit of string that snapped, does it look like the other part is attached to something else in the room? ]

[bathymetric]

[ There's some snapped string also attached to the right nail. Overall, before it snapped? It's safe to assume it might've looked something like this. ]

[daimakaicho]

[ Okay, that makes a lot of sense. Is there anything else going on here, or is that the gist of the trap here? ]

[bathymetric]

[ That's the gist of the trap!

This trap, at least, because it looks like there's some frayed wires in the middle of all the tables! ]

[daimakaicho]

[ CLOSES MY EYES

With a big sigh, she double checks to see if she missed anything before moving over to the tables. W...what's going on here........ ]

[bathymetric]

[ Just several wires, looking to be deliberately frayed, and...

Huh? They aren't plugged into anything? That's weird! ]

[daimakaicho]

[ Ooookaaaaaay, is it just a pile of wires in the middle of the table? Is it... positioned in a way where it's near something else, above or below or whatever? ]

[bathymetric]

[ The wires look to be less haphazard and more placed under the table, with plenty of space to walk between them. This close Hild will notice another nail, this one in the nearby countertop, with a little bit of snapped string tied to it. ]

[daimakaicho]

[ ....... oh my goddess.

About how high up is the nail/string? Is it like the other ones by the door, kind of?

And just to make sure I'm getting this right spatially re: the wires, they're stretched out running under the tables, right? Or am is my brain just on fire and I'm getting that wrong. ]

[bathymetric]

[ This one is also close to the ground, about a foot up. It has an unsnapped string tied to it, much like the other trap, going around the counter and to that fan you were interested in earlier.

Misfire's examining that, for the record!

The wires are stretched out under the tables, yes! Once all evidence is found there will be a diagram to help you out so no worries there!! ]

[daimakaicho]

[ I FORGOT ABOUT THE FAN, MY BELOVED

Okay cool. Is there anything that the snapped string could theoretically lead to?

And then with the wires, they're not plugged into anything, but is there anything nearby the frayed ends? ]

[bathymetric]

[ Nothing nearby the frayed ends, nope!

It's hard to tell what string could lead to, but using the knowledge from your first trap investigation, if you try looking along the opposite walls, you'll find another nail with snapped string in the upper left corner, making what would've been a tripwire across the parlor.

Before you move on to that, however! There's something else of note sitting by the tables. ]

[daimakaicho]

[ Oho... what do we have? ]

[bathymetric]

[ A lighter! It's the kind you have to flick open, and open it is. It's also covered in soot and badly damaged to the point where it's partly melted. ]