cyclists: (Default)
Subdivided Mods ([personal profile] cyclists) wrote in [community profile] subdivided2019-07-13 01:17 am

week five: trial

Week Five: Trial
18 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, Shirasu, Lili, Miki and Minato'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.

"Nine hours. Don't forget."

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 fifth 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!

nonbelligerent: (the night it rained fire. 19-1)

[personal profile] nonbelligerent 2019-07-13 04:01 pm (UTC)(link)
[well, to start things off.

when shess speaks, it's not through his tablet (which he doesn't seem to have on him, for that matter). everyone will hear a voice in their head—volume depending on proximity, like a normal sound—almost echoing. given that shess's mouth doesn't move, it might not be immediately obvious that it's coming from him, but it does sound like a male around his (apparent) age.

congrats, you all can hear sura speech now. enjoy.]


I used a talisman to stay awake during Thursday night. I checked the tents in the gateway world, including the large one—I didn't see anything.

But afterwards, when I headed towards the airship, it was already in the sky. It then exploded, raining burning debris and human remains. So, that's one area to investigate.


[also he brought miki's two pygmy puffs even though he isn't sure what to do with them, but it didn't feel right to just leave them alone for the duration of the trial? so they're, like. there.]
omegathree: (04)

State of Minato's... leg

[personal profile] omegathree 2019-07-13 04:30 pm (UTC)(link)
[He sounds so tired, but he pulls himself together for this.]

Minato's coffin only contains his left leg. It's burnt and partially melted. An explosion was likely involved. There are some superficial and shallow cuts on the leg. Likely from the explosion. He was wearing pajama pants as well as shoes.

Given what Shess encountered on Thursday night along with the vision, Minato was the one who exploded on the airship.

Who would like to investigate?
nonbelligerent: (your seven years. 6-1)

the state of miki

[personal profile] nonbelligerent 2019-07-13 04:44 pm (UTC)(link)
Miki's back is sandy, and her neck has been snapped. By someone's hands, it looks like. ... And then she was given to the shark, I suppose.

[which is. great.]

On the topic of elements—Minato had Color Burst, but apparently had already used it earlier in the week, according to Cinnabar. [whenever cinnabar wants to verify this...] Miki wasn't entirely certain last I knew, but she believed her power to be Ring of Fire.
Edited 2019-07-13 16:45 (UTC)
foodbin: (pic#13146273)

ninja deets

[personal profile] foodbin 2019-07-13 05:28 pm (UTC)(link)
[After examining Shirasu's body and before running off with Kara and Shess, Emma is addressing the rest of the room.]

So... Probably the most notable thing about Shirasu's body is that he had two stab wounds. There was one in his abdomen, a little bit off to the side, and one in his chest. It looks like the one in his chest went into his heart, so that's probably what killed him. Both of the stab wounds seemed kind of messy, like somebody fucked with them afterwards to hide what kind of weapon they used to kill him, but I think it's safe to say it was some kind of sword. Both stab wounds were the same size, so they were probably caused by the same weapon. There were also random cuts everywhere on him, so it looks like there was definitely a struggle.

I found a leaf in his hair... It looks like it came somewhere from the village. Also, there were parts of a broken mask under his clothes. [And she holds them up for everyone to see!] His legs weren't broken, and he had water on him, but it wasn't sea water. I think that's all.
televised: (159)

extra crunchy princess

[personal profile] televised 2019-07-13 05:37 pm (UTC)(link)
Checked Lili's corpse. She has rope burns on her wrists from being bound by this— [She lifts a golden rope up, which is bloodied in certain parts.] And... Shark bites on her head and leg. Her leg, specifically, was nearly torn off from her body.

[Which is pleasant!]

I couldn't find any other injuries on her. Though I think... the blood loss from her injury got to her before she had a chance to drown to death. [Is that better or worse? Unsure.] It didn't look like she made it back to shore before she died, either. I found a pair of koto picks in her clothes, but the pin she usually wears is missing.

[The koto picks and rope will be available if anyone wants to take a closer look to them.]
whitewalls: (december is darkest)

the minato wagon is here

[personal profile] whitewalls 2019-07-13 06:26 pm (UTC)(link)
[ the blimp group returns! naminé is noticeably pulling a wagon behind her that is filled with pieces of minato. she looks tired, probably because she has a wagon filled with minato. ]

The blimp was completely destroyed. There's not enough parts left to have any real idea as to what blew it up... even the sheep's gone. [ rip ] There was also pieces of... him... around. [ GESTURES AT THE WAGON ] but there was a trail leading towards the fire region, so someone needs to go over there to find more.

We also found one of his cat headbands, but it didn't look like the one he wore personally, so it might belong to someone else? It wasn't as badly burnt as everything else. There was also a gun that's kind of melted... and a lot of glitter. Besides that, there's a knife with human blood on it that's also a little burnt.
unfriendliest: (thinking too much)

post-shark abuse

[personal profile] unfriendliest 2019-07-13 07:08 pm (UTC)(link)
[ the beach group has returned, and they each have souvenirs! but we'll get to that in a second, just know they're not as gruesome as namine's wagon of human remains. ]

There were three sets of footprints on the beach, all small. Two were probably Lili and Miki, and there no indication of who was the third, but it should be someone around their size. They went to the ocean, where we found an ice bridge leading out over the water. It broke off, but Shess brought the pieces back to check out. And the shark.

[ that happened, but kara sounds unconcerned about it. anyway he gestures to emma, who's holding a chunk of ice that is sort of knife-shaped. ]

That was one of them. Miki's shovel was out there, too. And the shark had Lili's hairpin.

[ which shess now has. ]

That's about it. The trail didn't lead anywhere else.
omegathree: (34)

Noon Questions

[personal profile] omegathree 2019-07-13 07:44 pm (UTC)(link)
One water and one fire element manipulation was used, as well as one named fire power.

Sol's said there are two definite killers. But if we'd like to stay consistent, the number is three. The state of one is... half-alive and half-dead?

So... one of these people isn't as dead as they appear.

I think?

[He's confused. What's that supposed to mean?]
foodbin: (pic#13146172)

strip! strip! strip!

[personal profile] foodbin 2019-07-13 07:47 pm (UTC)(link)
Okay, we're going to check for injuries. I can't imagine none of the victims fought back, so we should be sure.

[As she drags the privacy screen over from the corpse viewing area:]

Usual rules. If you don't feel comfortable, use the screen, and you can have whoever you want look you over. Let's get this over with.
leaberator: (i like you a lot maybe we could)

GAY BABY JAIL: A THRILLING TALE

[personal profile] leaberator 2019-07-13 08:36 pm (UTC)(link)
Someone broke into Shirasu's jailhouse-- poorly-- late enough into curfew that he had time to pull a Kazuaki after he finished his romance novel. [ he takes out the piece of paper, though he doesn't read it out loud or hand it over quite yet. ] He threw something to break the window and escaped through there. Prolly took 'em by surprise, considering his legs were supposed to be broken. We have footsteps leading towards the shrine if someone wants to check that out. One of them is obviously his, and I've got a picture so we can play at figuring out who this might fit.

[ a beat, and then: ]

His cats and owl were missing, though it sounds like he gave them to Akane a while back according to the note.
tothemaxwell: (and i've met my match)

ITEM CHECK

[personal profile] tothemaxwell 2019-07-13 08:59 pm (UTC)(link)
[Hey! If you just stripped, great! But she's still patting you down, airport-security style.]

Turn out your pockets. Reveal what you have brought with you to trial.

When I apprehended Shirasu, he had several secret items on him. To avoid such happenings, I will be thoroughly patting each of you down. Please do not be offended—I have no interest in your bodies whatsoever.

[Milla has two hands.]
Edited 2019-07-13 21:00 (UTC)
globs: (where everything i liked)

FIRE AREA

[personal profile] globs 2019-07-13 09:00 pm (UTC)(link)
[ oh god, they have to announce again. Cinnabar's misery just barely outweighs their anxiety at the moment, so they're not as petrified-looking as they were before, but... they're still looking extremely uncomfortable. They pull some dirt out of their pocket and set it on the table. What the fuck? Closer inspection will reveal there are flecks of glitter in Cinnabar's pocket dirt. ]

... There were pieces of him in the fire area... along with these shiny flecks. There was a trail of both going up to the volcano... but once it got there, the remains stopped, and the glittering dust headed off towards the farmlands.

[ a beat. ]

... Whatever was left of Minato might have been thrown there. Into the lava. Um... that's all.

[ although they fidget, looking like it might not actually be everything they want to say?! but that's all they've got on the fire area. ]
leaberator: (huHUM)

FEETIES RESULTIES

[personal profile] leaberator 2019-07-13 09:05 pm (UTC)(link)
For the footprints near Shirasu's, they could fit Squall, Ookurikara, Shirasu, Feral, Julius, and Minato. Obviously Shirasu's accounted for as one of the two.

For the ones at the beach, we've got... Cinnabar, Four, Lili, Miki, Xion, Naminé, Emma, or Akane. Again, Lili and Miki's are already two of the footsteps there, so.

[ this is terrible ]
foodbin: (pic#13146273)

shrine time

[personal profile] foodbin 2019-07-13 11:03 pm (UTC)(link)
[Here come three adventurers, back from the shrine. Emma is carrying some scraps of red and black fabric, and Xion has a boxcutter. It's fine.]

So... The shrine. There were broken lanterns all around, and there were a lot of trees broken, too. Something big must have happened to them, because they were pretty smashed. There were scratches in one of them that looked like they were caused by some kind of animal. [...] But Shirasu had a scroll that would allow him to summon a kitsune for fifteen minutes to do whatever he wanted, including attack or defense, so that might explain where the scratches came from.

[Anyways.]

The bell was buried in the rubble of the trees, and the water basin inside the shrine was tipped over. There were footprints and paw prints, and there was blood on the ground. The footprints looked about the same size as the ones near Shirasu's house did. There was more blood by the trees than anywhere else, though. We found some black and red fabric near the trees, too, and based on the damage to that area... It definitely seems like there was a big struggle. Also, Xion found a knife in the water.

[that's all folks]
forefall: (turning here and there)

MIDTRIAL SUMMARY

[personal profile] forefall 2019-07-13 11:17 pm (UTC)(link)
There are four dead, so there's a lot of ground to cover. I believe more is still being covered. [ See: shrine and farm investigation going on when I'm writing this but if they're done by the time I finish this I'M SORRY ]

It seems like Minato was killed in the airship as it exploded. Did... someone call it a blimp? [ Is that its proper name? ] Only his... leg has been recovered, and it seems like the rest of him was found underneath the blimp or was taken into the fire region to be.... [ She winces slightly. You know. ] in the lava. It was noted that there was a knife with blood on it, a... gun that was slightly melted, and an excess of... glitter everywhere. [ Gun and glitter are still new things to her. ]

As for Miki, it seems that her neck was broken, and the shark has some part to play. It seems that Lili suffered a similar fate with the shark. [ She frowns. ] That's so tragic... Isn't this the second or third time the shark has been mentioned in our trials? North said it was likely Lili died from blood loss or from drowning. Lili... was wearing some golden binds that people have confirmed were in Miki's possession at one point. Either someone stole them from her, or... [ She makes a vague hand gesture. Who knows? ] They seemed to be both in the Water Area, as there were three sets of footprints. Two of them are thought to be Miki's and Lili's. The third are... about a similar size in footprints.

[ Size matches: Cinnabar, Four, Lili, Miki, Xion, Naminé, Emma, or Akane. ]

Shirasu seemed to be stabbed twice, once in his chest and once in his abdomen but off center. It seems to be that the wounds were tampered with to obscure what type of blade was used, but the prevailing opinion is that it was a sword. His house was messily broken into, and it looks like he and his murderer fled to the shrine, where people are currently investigating. There were two sets of footprints leading from his house. [ Size matches: Squall, Ookurikara, Shirasu, Feral, Julius, and Minato. ] It should be noted that Shirasu's legs were unbroken, as some people seem to have taken it upon themselves to ask for them to be healed.

[ Wow, does she sound a little bitter about that? Hm. ]

As we seem to every week, we checked for injuries and for items. Who you find suspicious from that, if anyone, is up to your discretion. [ But some people were kind of worrying? ]

As for numbers of corrupted, there are two with one alive. The number of killers seem to be complicated, as there are two for certain but a third is... half-alive and half-dead. [ Whatever you think that means. ] The power use was.... one fire element use, one water element use, and one named fire power.

[ PLEASE SEE EMMA'S TOP LEVEL FOR SHRINE INFO. I KNOW NOTHING.]

I... believe that is the best broad overview that I can give at the moment. If I neglected to mention something, please chime in, so we may move forward.

Does anyone have... any idea for a culprit? We have less than two hours to go.
globs: (to make the sun shine)

FARM REPORT

[personal profile] globs 2019-07-13 11:27 pm (UTC)(link)
[ they can't believe they're doing this again... this time, they don't have pocket dirt, but they do have a dirty, bloody sack full of various items. ]

We found this at--

[ before Cinnabar can even finish their sentence, however, a horrible, shrill screaming noise starts emanating from the bag, interrupting them. They grimace, then reach into the bag to pull out the source of the sound: a glass top. They squeeze it between their hands to try and muffle the screeching, but... it's only kind of effective. ]

-- This bag was buried on the farm where the glitter ended! It's full of Minato's things! [ this is probably the loudest Cinnabar has been since that first day when they freaked out. ] We also found torn black and red fabric, and -- an empty bottle! He said the clothes smelled like "sake!"

[ oh my god, this sound is really annoying. That's all the news they have, though. ]
Edited 2019-07-13 23:29 (UTC)
globs: (through the silence of fireflies)

top test

[personal profile] globs 2019-07-14 12:00 am (UTC)(link)
[ would your character willingly do this test with Cinnabar and the horrible scream machine?? let us know in the comments section. ]
tothemaxwell: (and ready to drop)

BRR BRRRR SPIRIT CLOCK

[personal profile] tothemaxwell 2019-07-14 12:31 am (UTC)(link)
[There's a long, terrible noise. It's like a dying cow going BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.

When you look up to it, it is Milla Maxwell.]


We have thirty minutes remaining.

Currently, our very short list consists of Emma, Akane, Four, and Julius.

Now is the time to cast your votes, or follow our final strands of information. Choose as wisely as you are able.