THIRD TRIAL

[bathymetric]

If you have time for a grisly operation like that, I think you've had all the time you need to gather evidence. Please proceed to the door to the trial room elevator as quickly as possible.

[ Once you arrive, it's the same song and dance as the last two weeks. Angel helps you all get through the vault door and into the elevator, and watches as you all make the slow descent to the dome below. Standing in the elevator is more than a comfortable fit now, even for the largest among you. A few more of you lost and there'll be room enough to pace in here.

But maybe you don't want to think about that.

The dome of the trial room is the same as it's been, the only change the dull red glow coming from the two newly-unoccupied podiums. The screens above flick on, and lower down to make an address. ]

You know the score by now. Find Seteth's killer and you can all go free. Fool them all, killer, and you'll have your life and your reward. Other than that, whatever happens here is between all of you. Call for me if you need anything.

[ The screens rise again, leaving you here.

Welcome to your third trial. ]

Comments

[ladygeryon]

[Nira's grabbed a cloth to wrap up the scabbard she found, which she now sets on her podium.]

I found this under one of the arcade machines. There was also blood splattered on the ground near the entrance. I haven't touched it, so it should be fine to dust for fingerprints.

Mods?

[bolderfell]

Can I see that?

[He doesn't need to touch it, just look. Does it look like the sheath that comes with a Letter Opener: Deluxe?]

[bathymetric]

[ It sure does. ]

[bolderfell]

These have been coming out of the machine. With a sword inside, obviously.

[reallyhatesharks]

I don't supposed the sword inside is black so we can all live out our dreams of being a Goth Victorian Princess?

[Just her?]

[bolderfell]

It is. Pretty common to blacken a sword, actually. Keeps the rust off.

[Which is probably not exactly what's happening with the Letter Opener (Deluxe), but, y'know. He takes what familiarity he can get.]

[mouflon]

Speaking of the arcade machines, a bunch of them were banged up when I checked. And I found... this.

[ Rin holds up the SEGA Bass Fishing controller. It's been practically bisected with what looks like a slice. ]

[philoxenia]

Attacked in the arcade, then?

[ rip bass fishing :( ]

[drladysounds]

He did like the fishing game! I saw him playing it. But would he have been that late at the arcade, playing?

[archboxer]

If he were stressed, he likely could have been.

[philoxenia]

It's... it's possible. Wednesday night--I couldn't sleep. It was pretty late, and we played DDR together for a little while.

[bolderfell]

It did seem like the kind of thing you could lose track of time doing.

[mouflon]

If it's something he liked to play, that would explain it. Between that, the blood, and the chairs that were knocked over, it seems pretty clear that someone was ambushed there.

[valentinus]

...Someone discarded a sword underneath the bar.

It seemed to be damp, and had the tip of it broken.

[ So, y'know. Could be related ]

[snackooed]

A broken tip? [ Doesn't that just figure, huh-- ] It sounds like it could be our murder weapon...

[ Damp, though? ]

Would you mind if I compared it against the shards of metal I have?

[valentinus]

It does.

[ He'll hold it out to Ema. ]

Go ahead.

mods!! so sorry!!

[snackooed]

Thank you, Vincent.

[ Let's take that clammy sword and see if the metal from the blade seems to match the black metal shards she found from the wound... ]

[bathymetric]

[ Seems like a strong possibility! ]

[pimpplan]

That's probably what got washed from what Anna was talking about then? By the shoreline of the pool.

[valentinus]

Yes, probably.

[snackooed]

[ Oh, if that's all this is gonna take, this is going to be her best day ever-- ]

Oh, may I? May I? Oh, I haven't gotten to do any proper dusting in ages...

[ At the mention of fingerprints, Ema can't help but grin. Could this, at last, be her time? ]

[ladygeryon]

It was indeed you that I thought of when I picked it up. [Nira isn't so enthusiastic about it, though her enthusiasm is infectious enough to get a faint momentary smile as she walks over to hand it to Ema.]

mods!!

[snackooed]

Let's see if we can lift any good little darlings off of this...

[ Her handy-dandy fingerprint powder is on the scene! And sure enough, in spite of herself, and the situation, Ema looks like she's right at home when she unwraps the cloth and gets to dusting one side, as gingerly as she can.

Would she be able to get any nice prints off of this? ]

[bathymetric]

[ Sorry to ruin your day, Ema, but you aren't gonna find any clear prints on this scabbard. :( ]

[snackooed]

[ o...oh... ]

I...nothing. I'm sorry...