week three: trial

[cyclists]

Week Three: Trial
22 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 the glass boxes perfectly centered before the benches in the room. Now that the trial is in session, Swift Wind and Hisoka'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. It's only when everyone has gathered that Sol speaks first.

"We've got a lot of ground to cover today. Don't give up."

They stop, glancing at Lune and gesturing for them to say their piece.

"Face the truth directly, and don't turn away from what you may find."

✩★✩

Hello, everyone, and welcome to the fourth 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

[leaberator]

[ he takes out a small piece of paper-- but it's a different one than the one hisoka had, somehow?

mostly because the word LIE is on it, probably. ]

You really should've known better than to lie to me twice, man.

[tothemaxwell]

[Milla's sword is already out.]

Stand down, Shirasu.

[blackcoats]

It worked—!

[omegathree]

[Val is right there, sword in hand and next to Milla.]

[coastal]

That's—

[and she's just going to call ookurikara's attention this way]

[televised]

[LOW WHISTLE, nice.

Val and Milla are already on it, but North's here if anyone needs to get tackled. It's fine.]

[wagashis]

-excuse me?

[there's definitely a subtle, tense shift in his posture there as he glances at the paper, but if there are swords pointed at him and shit he's not going to move? this is Fine.]

And how are we to know you didn't simply put that there beforehand?

[leaberator]

I can confirm it with Lune, if you want the public proof.

[ complete calm confidence on his part, there, mostly because like. 6 people have a sword on shirasu or something. ]

I got this item for being a good boy.

[wagashis]

I see.

[And that's all he says, for now. He can hear the questions-- he just isn't listening to them. All he knows is-

The horse went free after being purified, and still was killed. Even if he isn't voted for, no one is going to let him live for this. He's surrounded, but... how well can you stab something that isn't solid?

Four gets a brief but intense flare of pure murderous intent before Shirasu dissolves into a cloud of vapor that rushes past Axel's shoulder.

When he reforms just behind Axel, the moment he's solid again he drives his dagger into Axel's back; the speed at which he's had to move keeps it from being a fatal blow on its own, but he pulls it out and immediately moves away again.

There's only so much room to move, here, but he's not going to go down without trying to take his accuser with him.]

[leaberator]

[ ah. not again.

it's too late to move out of the way by the time he's realized what happened-- he doesn't have time to splutter a bit, blood already welling up in his mouth. he throws a vague arc of fire behind himself where he knows shirasu is, but--



well someone might wanna do something ]

[tothemaxwell]

No!

[There's a arc of fire moving in front of Milla as she dashes at Axel, and Shirasu in turn, controlled and targeted.

So as Axel drops, the wall of heat comes crashing down on to Shirasu—and Milla in the middle of it, pushing him down, sword bare against his neck, close enough to cut, if Shirasu moves basically at all.]

I said to stand down! Trust me, Shirasu, I will be more than happy to put your soul to rest after this trial is complete!

[Surprise! She's not killing him!

And worse still, her position makes it difficult for anyone else to, without considering the friendly fire.]

[unfriendliest]

[ ookurikara had his sword ready the second lili called him over, holding back only to see what shirasu would do. as soon as he attacks axel, kara's moving - but milla beats him to it. he stands near as she blocks the way, glaring at her. ]

Move.

[ he is going to stab a ninja. ]

[moonprisonpower]

[ saix doesn't even say anything, he's wielding his giant banana in one hand and converging on the two of them. ]

[ his expression says he'll take milla on too if she's gonna stand in his way! ]

[wagashis]

[WELL. Under most circumstances, he would probably do something very different.

These are, evidently, not most circumstances. Milla's sword may be against his neck, but he's actually still trying to scramble back and get away from her. Not to act, though; his grip on his weapon is still tight as he holds it to himself, but his eyes are wide, and Four will very quickly be able to feel how fearful he suddenly is.

Good job, whoever did that one.]

Don't--

[blackcoats]

AXEL!!!

[ SO LIKE. WHATEVER WE CHOOSE TO DO. xion is hysterically sobbing and screeching bloody murder at the top of her lungs, trying desperately to escape naminé's grasp so that she can... enact whatever retribution she feels is fit for someone who just stabbed her best friend in the back. but she doesn't, because she doesn't want to hurt naminé, and deep down, she knows that hurting or killing him won't fix a damn thing—

so after a while, she'll tire herself out struggling and screaming, and just limply fall to her knees.

have a whole whirlwind of out of control replica feelings, minato ]

throwing this here for helping axel not slapping shirasu

[stillstands]

[ miki's already running in there, hang the murderbishounen with his murder issues. she's got a bag at her side, one that definitely seems new and she's diving across to where axel is. ]

Stop moving around, stay still.

[ she's already rooting around in her bag and pulling out what... looks like a number of sewing supplies? and notably a lot of cotton wool. she's already eyeballing axel's back, before speaking again: ]

I need to get your shirt off so I can stop the bleeding. Hold on--[ She's going to make this quick. ]

[nonbelligerent]

[while he's keeping an eye on milla and co. in case kara needs to be talked down, he's otherwise here to hover and help miki as needed.]

[foodbin]

I'll help.

[Even if she looks incredibly panicked.]

[leaberator]

[ okay well i guess this is how you guys find out that this week axel was wearing the hedgehog hoodie again, which is RUINED now :( and also two other shirts as usual

that's gonna be fun to take off. ]

Easy... for you to say...

[ he's trying to put a hand to the bleeding but it's like. a very. impossible angle.

just gonna casually cough up a bit of blood its fine ]

[forefall]

[ i hope shirasu is ready to feel a real stab of BITTERNESS

because Four isn't saying anything, but she sure is glaring at him. ]

[foodbin]

...Why did you do this?

[stillstands]

Why Kazuaki? [ What did a bird have on them that made them both want to kill him? ]

And why would you let someone frame your partner -- or worse: help to frame her yourself?

[specialdog]

[ Oh, so Shirasu is a liar. ]

[moonprisonpower]

[ there's also a giant banana pointed at him ]

You killed a helpless animal.

[moonprisonpower]

[ saix is also here looking menacing with his ]

[ giant banana ]