FIFTH TRIAL

[bathymetric]

Quite the spread of evidence, isn't it? You have all you need, make your way to the vault door at once.

[ Once you're all at the door, Angel lets you through and into the elevator as always. And speaking of that elevator... your space to roam inside has grown again as you head down. Four is a heavy number to lose in one week, isn't it, between Nova and the three bodies you've just found? Though the number of things to discuss might be weighing heavier on your mind, if you're one of the investigators. The elevator might seem bigger or smaller than usual, despite the increase in space.

The trial room is as it is most weeks, apart from the newly-red podiums, so at least that's not a surprise by now. The screens are lowered, the familiar spiral displayed as ever. ]

That's three down this week. Up to three parties can be found responsible, when all is said and done - so go forth and find whoever did this, won't you? And to whoever did this... as always, best of luck to you as well.

[ The screens raise.

Welcome to your fifth trial. ]

Comments

[archboxer]

I am unsure... though, I suppose we do have access to a sewing room. Though, I have to wonder...

Could someone have been pretending to be Shelley?

[bolderfell]

...I didn't know him well, so I can't say whether Brian would've been particularly close to Shelley. That is, if she would make good bait. But... we do know he would've wanted to hear from our dead.

[archboxer]

Hm... yes... You are right. I am unsure why they would choose her in particular, though.

[ladygeryon]

Just the first one they could find applicable clothing for?

[nothingcanstop]

[ ...Oh, hey-- ]

Maybe... Maybe we're looking for someone who could pass as Shelley from a distance. It could be more about that, than any actual connection.

[archboxer]

Damien would have been a more obvious choice but... it might have been that.

[blackmass]

...hm.

Anna, what did you mean when you said wolfsbane was 'your flower'?

[emberserker]

It's a theme with the mage candidates' ARMANOX. Flowers, I mean. CREST ANTHURIUM, DROSELA NOCTURNE -- that airhead surely meant Drosera -- VIOLA KATZE.

[If there's some extra venom on that last one, it's probably your imagination.]

Mine was ACONITE GRIS. It's ACONITE RENATA now.

[blackmass]

I see.

...Aren't you roughly the same height Shelley Winters was?

[emberserker]

Are you saying that I -- are you serious? If I were going to poison anybody's tea, I wouldn't have left a calling card! Besides, you're the one who's become possessed with poisoned plants lately.

[blackmass]

I am only following a line of logic, Anna Fugo.

[Smiling, as usual.]

There are not many of us with a hair color a similar shade to hers, less still with that and a similar height. If someone were to pose as Shelley Winters, hypothetically, you would be the most likely to pass at a glance.

As for myself, I merely prefer poisonous flowers to all others.

[emberserker]

Oh, really. To hear Rhea tell it, you've developed a fixation.

[blackmass]

Developed? No. I have always had such a preference.

I do note you deflecting, incidentally. If there is something of which you would accuse me, then I might do the same with you.

[mouflon]

I think the biggest question here would be if Anna had the technical know-how to rig up a trap like that. If not the actual trip line, then at least the parts about the screws keeping things held up until they were pulled

Personally, she doesn't really seem like the kind of person that would, to me, but who knows. Maybe she could surprise me.

[blackmass]

I would dare say we have all been surprised a time or two since this began.

[archboxer]

It was just a contingency plan in case that Brian did not show up. Is that not right?

[emberserker]

I don't know what happened in the rest of the new wing. It was completely clear the last time I saw it. I didn't poison anybody.

[nothingcanstop]

...But what about Brian? Poison aside. We don't have anything connecting Brian and the other scene, after all. But, Anna, your hair, your height...

[fivestagegod]

Not so much a calling card as a case of "we kill with what we know." Last week we were supposed to not suspect the girl who never shuts the hell up about sharks of feeding someone to the sharks.

[emberserker]

You think this is what I know? Explain how I supposedly killed a walking, talking diamond with a sword. You know I don't use those.

[bogwife]

Convenience, maybe? She died so recently, she's still fresh on all our minds.

[emberserker]

And they said "we," didn't they? Explain the toy sword, that had nothing to do with her. At least I don't think so. The woman was confusing at the best of times.

[bolderfell]

The trap, the low lights... Someone wanted him to rush into that room and trip the rope. His friend would've been the better choice, all things being perfect.

[...]

If they could convincingly pull off looking like him.

[archboxer]

That would be the question. He was rather distinct looking.

[bolderfell]

Shelley was her own brand of memorable, too, but she'd be easier for some of us to mimic.