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

[bolderfell]

Yeah, but against someone trained, like Seteth? With a shield? He'd have the advantage of reach with a lance, too, and they were good enough to press him all the way from the arcade to the pool.

[Lances > Swords, yo! It's the weapons triangle! Someone brute-forced this with skill!]

[emberserker]

Precisely. And up the stairs to that slide, too -- he didn't fall down the stairs on the way up, but they cornered him and got him at the top. This is someone who knows how to use a sword, which I'm sure describes a good number of you.

[bolderfell]

Doubt anyone with a brain's going to confess to skill with a blade now.

[mouflon]

I know it's easy to lie, but... Do you think that's something we should try to establish anyway? That's how we got our confession last week, after all.

[emberserker]

What, just have everyone go around trying to hit something with that sword?

[mouflon]

[ Rin snorts. ]

I mean, I guess we could, but I just meant asking about what weapon experience everyone has. If someone gets evasive about it, we can just have Birkin insult them until they break down and admit whatever it is they're hiding.

[bolderfell]

...Easier to look for injuries they might have taken in return. Bruises don't lie as easily as tongues.

[emberserker]

That's true, though we ran into one easily covered up last week.

[Says the person in the full-body wetsuit.]

[hardnosed]

Not everyone bruises.

[ Normal statement! Not directed at anyone specific! ]

[lovelikeyou]

I've fought with a sword. Jasper could tell you that.

[look therion, SHE KNOWS, but honestly she's also shocked Jasper has not already thrown her beneath this particular bus]

[bolderfell]

[]

[hardnosed]

I was wondering how long it'd take you to own up to it.

[ LISTEN... THE PROFESSOR DOESN'T GET TO KILL ROSE, SHE WANTS TO KILL ROSE ]

[mouflon]

[ Rin nods to that. ]

I was actually going to say I'd go first, but thanks.

So far as bladed weapons go, I know how to defend myself with a knife. Anything longer than that is outside of my area of expertise.

[blackmass]

I have used bladed weapons in the past, but traditional swordplay is not something in which I am skilled.

[philoxenia]

I know how to use a knife, but it's certainly not combat experience.

[archboxer]

Perhaps we should ask who has that skill who received a sword.

[snackooed]

The police department doesn't really teach you how to wield a sword as part of basic training...

[reallyhatesharks]

Can I technically use a sword? Yeah, but it also doesn't take a lot of skill to kill a shark. I killed one with a pool cue.

[pimpplan]

I've used swords before. Short swords, mainly, but swords nonetheless.

[hardnosed]

—Anyway. I'm competent with a sword, but it's not my weapon of choice.

[nothingcanstop]

I'm not about to say I can't use one, if I have to.

[fivestagegod]

The most I've got is the notion that, in theory, the business end goes into the other person. Not really a combatant otherwise.

[bogwife]

I can use a sword but I prefer not to. Staves or grenades are what I usually use when I have to fight.

[drladysounds]

I lean more into the school of 'hit things on the head until they're knocked out'.

[So, no swords or knives]

[archboxer]

Indeed. I would say they would need to be at least as skilled as I, at least, but they would stay quiet now.