week one: trial

[cyclists]

Week One: Trial
27 in Competition

It may be difficult to sleep with the light shining so brightly throughout the night, but the participants can rest easy knowing they will not be plagued by unwanted, disturbing dreams. Early the next day, a bell chimes and all will feel compelled to enter the main meeting hall.

The hall looks mostly the same as it always has, the two thrones for Lune and Sol at the head of the room and scrolls hanging from the walls. The metal box sits on a table near the front, along with a glass box perfectly centered before the benches in the room. Now that the trial is in session, Tokidoki, Nana, and Junna's coffins are open, and their bodies will be available for examination.

Lune and Sol are seated in their thrones, patiently waiting for the last participant to settle. Sol remains quiet, looking over to Lune to allow them to speak first.

"Even if it is a rather daunting task ahead of you, I hope that each of you will not lose hope. One step at a time, one step at a time. It is not hopeless."

When they finish, Sol sits up a little taller in their seat to address everyone.

"I'm only going to say this once. I know it's not an ideal situation, but...the votes count, and the universe only gives one warning. Can we try not to repeat last week?" There's a pause. "You have nine hours. Let's start."

✩★✩

Hello, everyone, and welcome to the second trial!

We'll go over a few notes briefly as we will be playing this trial a bit differently than other games.

As noted, there was no investigation period on Friday. However, today participants will have the chance to investigate areas in the game setting as they see fit! This can be done by providing the name of the location you want to visit to the host header comment. To help with the ease of the trial and for IC mechanics, only one location may be visited at a time. In addition, these locations can be manipulated and adjusted upon request to test theories and solve puzzles, so please feel free to ask if you're searching for clues! Your host will also be accompanying you on these visits.

Most importantly, before the trial is over, please place your character's vote over on the voting page. Voting will close at 9pm EST/6pm PST, and will serve as our activity check for the week, so please be sure you get your vote in before it ends unless you have contacted us previously.

If you have any questions at any time, please let do us know by pinging us on Discord! Dana and Ty will be in the chat and available for all questions. Thank you, and have fun!

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Comments

THE STATE OF JUNNA

[nonbelligerent]

Junna has a bruise from where her head appeared to slam into something, as well as light bruises like she bumped into things. It seems she may have died earlier than the other two, as rigor mortis has set in deeper—her body is slumped over. Also of note is that she seems to have ingested the alcoholic jello from last week's party.

Her cause of death isn't clear yet.

[...]

This is merely conjecture at this point, and we cannot say anything for certain until Lune is able to tell which of the corrupted is dead. However, if it turns out to be Nana, I suspect Nana may have tried to poison her early that night, and the bruise may be from when she collapsed after attempting to flee.

[but he's not licking to check if the jello shot has poison, thanks.]

Junna doesn't have any dirt or dust on her clothing either, so she likely died inside. In particular, perhaps the kitchen, as she and Nana were spending a great deal of time there.

[globs]

[ they don't have anything to add, but their head droops a little at the suggestion that Nana was the corrupted one... ]

[nonbelligerent]

[...

he reaches out to place a hand on cinnabar's shoulder.]

[globs]

[ they jump at the contact - like, almost a full-body jump, a complete overreaction. Perhaps not so much an overreaction for someone who hasn't been touched by anyone outside of the gems' doctor in hundreds of years. ]

D-don't...!

[ they look embarrassed, shrinking into themself more. At least they seem to have forgotten to be sad for a second?! ]

[foodbin]

So... Someone should probably check the kitchen, then.

[nonbelligerent]

I could be wrong, of course. But unless anyone has other guesses, then it's worth asking.

[foodbin]

Do you want to come with me?

[coastal]

[SHE HAS TO PROTEST.]

Nana thought the world of Junna - even if she was corrupted, she has no reason to target her. They were friends and students together.

We need to investigate more before considering that.

[nonbelligerent]

That may be exactly why.

Nana wanted to protect others. Perhaps, if her mind was corrupted, she thought killing Junna would be an act of mercy.

[globs]

[ Cinnabar nods. ]

... We don't know how the corruption works, anyway. Normally... I don't think she would ever hurt anyone at all.

[coastal]

[A DEEPER FROWN.]

... she wasn't stupid, and she wasn't the type to give up either. Even with her mind warped...

[lili doesn't think that's the type of person that nana was]

She's not a coward, and I don't think she would've acted those fears out on Junna.

But we can look further before we decide anything. Even if it was Nana... I think Junna would've fought back.

[leaberator]

Mary liked Tsurumaru, too.

[ Y'ALL REALLY GONNA MAKE HIM PARADE AROUND HIS DEAD PARTNER, ]

We don't know that Shess is right, but we can't eliminate any theories offhand right now, either.

[coastal]

[SHE'S ABOUT TO PROTEST - but it's... Axel....

and she didn't know Mary as well. Lili holds onto a lingering theory that a girl who wanted to play would've just chosen the most surprising and playful member of their party to be her partner.

but that's.

not something she can say to.... axel in particular....]

.... I'm not saying Shess is wrong - but I find it hard to believe after seeing them both.

That's all.

[quailvering]

N-No way! Nana was- I- I just don't think she could have been corrupted!

[whitewalls]

... no one suspected Mary either.

[quailvering]

B- But, like, doesn't it need, like, some weakness inside? After s- seeing Nana talk to that darkness last week-

She was really brave talking to it! S- So it just feels... like it couldn't be...

[specialdog]

That's not how it works, Kazuaki-kun.

[quailvering]

But- that- !!

[uuuuuuuu]

... if we succeeded last week... why did it get worse...

[televised]

Mary was a kid, and she still got corrupted. It's useless to something should or shouldn't be in this bullshit.

[quailvering]

I- I mean, wouldn't it be easier with someone young? L- Like peer pressure...

[but with murder instead of drugs or poor behavior]

[coastal]

[am i late to the party, yes, but listen i’ve got to do mod stuff.

anyway lili will just crouch by kazuaki and pet the top of his head]

Neither do I - but we can’t deny whatever facts we find either. Let’s move forward just working with what we have, alright?

[quailvering]

... y- yeah. But we need facts! I- I don't want to just go ahead assuming anything bad about Nana!

[hashtaghelping]

Waaaait, wait. If she died earlier than the other two... does that mean she died before it was dark out? Or that the others died right before we all woke up?

[papawolf]

[ when the horse has an interesting question. ]

[hashtaghelping]