FOURTH TRIAL

[bathymetric]

Alright, that's quite enough time. Move along towards the trial, if you would all be so kind. You know what's coming.

[ It's routine by now - go to the vault door, get let into the elevator by Angel, head down to the trial room... it's hard not to notice the losses on the ride down by now, though. Your numbers are starting to really dwindle, even if you're often spread out enough not to notice as much normally. The trial room and its podiums, too, seem more than ready and willing to remind you of the same. The red glow of the empty spaces is constant, potentially unnerving. ]

Remember that as there are two victims to consider, up to two votes may be counted at the end of proceedings. As always, I am but a direct address away, however rude you choose to make it.

Find the party or parties responsible for the deaths of your comrades. And to those parties: Good luck.

[ The screens rise!

Welcome to your fourth trial. ]

Comments

[emberserker]

Go right ahead.

[Anna carefully brings over the dagger, axe, and drafting tool.]

Not sure what the brass thing's got to do with the rest of it.

mods?

[archboxer]

I have a theory...

[She pokes her thumb with that drafting tool. Very softly. How sharp is it?]

[bathymetric]

[ oh very ]

[archboxer]

[She thought so. She pulls it away with a shake of her hand. See? Blood.]

I believe we might have a murder weapon.

[emberserker]

What, they killed her with that thing? Not the rest?

[archboxer]

I cannot say for certain what happened to Ema but... this belongs to the cartography room, yes? It is quite sharp and not an obvious weapon. That is:

Shelley would not be prepared for an attack with it, correct?

[mouflon]

Not that I don't appreciate the creative thinking, Rhea, but the stab wound was the width of a blade. It was also clean, so I don't think anything was dragged in the way that would have to be to create an opening that size.

[philoxenia]

[ ..... ]

The, ah-- the poisons in the garden... Could they have been used? Not on Shelley, but...

[archboxer]

The poisons? I am afraid I do not follow... what would they have been used on?

[philoxenia]

I don't know anything about how they're used, but... could the tool there have been sort of... coated in them?

[bogwife]

[Oh, oh, she sees where you're going with this, Mira!]

It's a possibility. Poison coated weapons are common where I'm from and they're not difficult to make if you're careful and know what types to use.

[archboxer]

Certainly a possibility but did we have any evidence to suggest anything was taken from the gardens?

[archboxer]

Certain plants have poisonous sap, yes, and others you can grind but we would have noticed plants taken from the garden, I think.

[bogwife]

Not if they only took a little at a time. A few leaves missing here, a broken stalk, those would be easy to miss even if people were paying close attention all week.

[Poison coating weapons is a premeditated act after all.]

[mouflon]

And you think... What? Maybe that the reason a single strike incapacitated her was poison?

[philoxenia]

I'm not sure what I think, aside from hoping we can rule something out.

[archboxer]

[This is what happens when you're tired.]

Ah. True. [Dammit.] Still, the question is: why take it, then?

[mouflon]

...Clarke said that for chumming, you want fish's blood in the water, right? Maybe they were using that to wound them before they put them in the tank.

[reallyhatesharks]

If you aren't skilled enough to prep a fish in hand that would probably be a way easier way to do it.

[mouflon]

They've probably showered by now, but... If they were handling fish, should we try another sniff test...?

[ that's how it's going to be today, she guesses ]

[bolderfell]

It's... not the worst idea.

[reallyhatesharks]

Fresh fish won't really give off the fishy smell you're looking for, especially not tropical ones.

[bolderfell]

I think Della's right. Maybe that's how Ema fought back. And maybe she left her mark on the killer.

[archboxer]

That might be worth looking into.

[emberserker]

Oh, don't tell me.