#trial start

When your eyes cleared, you found yourself in a damp room, illuminated by the light of several torches. You found yourself standing at the head of a set of stairs, leading downward. Leading to...

A massive circle of black stone, with a white sigil in it. Surrounding it were twenty podiums, spaced about it carefully. At the back of the room was an elevated stage, with three large podiums standing against a wall of torches. Three podiums where they stood.

“You made it.”

“Fiiiinally!”

“Welcome to the temple. If you would please take your places at a podium, I’ll explain how this will take place.”

As you made your way down the stairs, you noticed a set of stands on either side, currently occupied. Was this some kind of spectator arena? Were people going to watch?

“As you no doubt have assumed, this trial is to determine who murdered Chinatsu Sugawara. You’ve all investigated your areas, so now is the time for you to present the evidence you’ve uncovered, and use it to develop theories as to who committed this crime.”

“You can vote at any time, using the screen on the podium in front of you. You can also change your vote at any time once it’s entered. Once a majority vote has been entered, voting will be closed, and your verdict will be entered.”

“Once that’s in, then we’ll tell you if ya got it right or not!”

“If you got it right... The culprit will be punished.”

“If you got it wrong, the true culprit gets to live on... though we’ll still extract our pound of flesh.”

There’s a pause, and you start to hear some muted murmuring from around you. Looking towards the stands, you see shadowy figures taking form. An... an audience? Here?

You hear drums start to pound. A gradual, rhythmic beat. A pair of shadows on either side of the stairs are each playing a set of drums, building anticipation...

“Now if you understand how this works... it’s time to begin the trial.”

The drum beat finishes with a crescendo. The time to decide the future is now.

After combing through the areas for a few hours looking for clues, you all heard an intercom announcement from Manager-san sound over through the area.

“Well, time’s up! Time to get in costume for the show!”

Just like last time, this murder was going to made a spectacle on live television. It felt wrong somehow, as if even in death, Aya Ishiguro was being used as entertainment. Even so, there wasn’t much choice but to find out who killed her, either for the sake of justice, or for the sake of not having your darkest secrets getting revealed.

Once everyone had gotten performance ready, you all arrived at the auditorium to find the stage organized just like the last Murder Mystery Live had been, this time with Aya’s podium grayed out along with Kaito’s. Manager-san still sat in full idol garb at the top of the stage, putting on a large grin once everyone had taken their places and the camera started rolling.

“Welcome, welcome, everyone! I hope everyone watching at home is ready for another exciting Murder Mystery Live! I know I’m ready to watch our remaining contestants battle it for the truth of poor Yaya-chan’s death! Just thinking about it makes me so excited!”

“Will everyone be able to sniff out the dirt on the culprit? Or will these be the time you guys goof up! Either way, the audience is raring for a good show so be sure to give it all you got!”

“Let the truth set you free! And now, let’s get started-- you should all know the drill by now! Let the debating start now~!”

The walk is a long one, filled with mixed emotions. Uncertainty about what the promised end entailed. Fear, brought on by what knowledge of the context of your situation you could find.

Once you are locked into your cages safe and secure once more Aletheia’s voice fills the room, and in place of Control...Sayuri. 

"Restating the purpose of this final trial... You are to find the culprit who murdered Arthur Ascott."

"Only once you vote for the correct culprit will you be deemed worthy."

The words linger for a moment. Then Sayuri returns.

“Prove your worth. Prove your viability as assets to the new world.”

“Ahem! A reminder of what to do! You guy’s votes will determine the outcome of the trial! You’ll have to put a vote of who you think’s the King, and whether or not you’d like to Exile them, or Execute them as punishment.

“Whether or not you pick the right King, whoever you choose will have to go through the chosen punishment. Should you pick the wrong King, the real King will be outed, and the scapegoat will either get to leave the compound or die - whichever you guys chose!”

At first, the figure barely seemed to notice you at all, their back turned to the group at large. Once a few of you filtered into the room, though, they turned around. Their eyes were practically the only things that could be seen through their odd outfit, but they seemed rather.....unsatisfied.

"Right, right. Places, everyone! The fun part of today is about to begin, and I'm so, so so so so tired of waiting! Let's see--Ham, you're over there," they said, indicating Hana and then spot designated to her. "Oreo, there, and Milk, over there," they continued, doing the same for Ororo and Momoko. This continued for some time, each of you being nicknamed after food items, even if the figure had to stop and think of a way to corrupt your name for a moment. They seemed to fidget a bit when some of you paused, and your caretaker quietly ushered you along. No need for anyone to get hurt in this stage, after all.

For several hours now you’ve had time to search and investigate, or to loiter or rest or do whatever you please really. Some of you got right down to business, to be sure, but even so many of you are caught in the midst of your investigating when a devil approaches to usher you to the Brass Embassy. There’s a heightened tension in the air, a sense of raw nerves, as you step into the strange warmth of the Embassy and are summarily herded down the stairs, further and further downwards. Did it take this long last time? Had you simply forgotten how many goddamn stairs there were? And yet when you reach the trial room at last, it still feels too soon. 

It’s just as you remembered it, the lavish decor, the large circular table in the center with the pneumatic tube, the name cards... but three seats will be empty this time. Nono, Noriko, Subaru. Who, you can’t help but wonder, will be the fourth? And will a day come when you descend to this room and see as many as half of the seats empty? More?

The Devil takes her own chair, a little away from the table but affording her a view of the room.

“Y’all’re smart kids, I’m sure you don’t need me to explain things again, do you? Find the Milliner’s killer and vote for them, unless you’d rather risk it bein’ your head on the choppin’ block. Figuratively speakin’, of course, we probably ain’t gonna use a choppin’ block. Dead part’s literal though.” She laughs, and waves a hand, an encouraging gesture to indicate you should commence.