Game 98: Trial 2 - Double Trouble

[Vaellin the Bard]

After a short period of time, not nearly enough to grieve the loss of loved ones, everyone is ushered in once more to the center platform, now extending between all the cars once more with the podiums for each. Maddox, Blue, Hayasaka, and Katherine's podiums are all empty, with an image of each presented but crossed out. An unfortunate loss.

Danni and Laura are also missing.

As each person takes their position at the podium, they take in the look of each other

Ishigami seems fine except for a bit of dirt

Kaguya has something in her pocket

Miyuki has a mop and a bowl in hand

Chika is very dirty and covered in a strange substance

Steve has a brick in his hand as well as a small crate

Osamu smells of pudding, sage, and chemicals

Neku has a bump and blood on one side of his head

Kiryu looks a little bruised and is carrying a door

Majima looks a little bruised and is back in normal clothes

Ken is a little dirty and is carrying a red bag

Red has an obvious bruise forming on his shoulder

Neferpitou is a little dirty, but not much

Rinko looks terrified, as usual

Ramona has a small plastic lantern

Neptune smells like pudding, exudes pudding, also a touch of sage

Once everyone has gathered, phantom appears once more before the group. "Very well, very well, a sacrifice--no two!-- has been paid and my spirits are happy, but some are crying for revenge. Hunt down the killer once more. You know the cost should you fail."

"Also, it appears one of my children once again messed with the order of things. I have asked him to draw a map for the changes. Use them to guide you."

Start:

A1:


A2:


A3:


A4:
No changes

A5:



A6:


"Please. Discuss."

---

You have 48 hours, with a possible 24 hour extension

Feel free to ask me any questions regarding your investigations or pathing.

[Crow]

Looking at everyone present, Ken pauses slightly at the people with bruises on them before sighing.

“Alright, let's start this trial. But before we begin any hearing I want to get one fact straight, did anyone else heard a loud popping noise, much like an explosion. last night at around 2am?”

[peterparker]

Mar 28, 2021 10:28:12 GMT -6 Crow said:

Looking at everyone present, Ken pauses slightly at the people with bruises on them before sighing.

“Alright, let's start this trial. But before we begin any hearing I want to get one fact straight, did anyone else heard a loud popping noise, much like an explosion. last night at around 2am?”

"Yes, and I believe I know what it was based on my investigation of the crime scene. Let me tell you what I found."

"In Room Hall A, there was some kind of stone. I noticed some footprints in wine coming out of Room 2 and heading to the right door. I could tell that someone had been in Room 1 as well. The door to Room 3 has been all but blown up - this explains the cause of that popping sound Ken mentioned. I also found some ash, glass, and blood all over the floor, mostly near Hayasaka's body, which as you all saw, is hanging from a pickaxe and rope in the room entrance. 

"In Room 3, there are pools of blood by both bodies. I found more ash and glass in here, but for some reason it is on the walls this time. There are vials all over the floor that seem to contain salt and a spice. I also found a mortar and pestle, some wax candles, and some rope leading from Hayasaka's body to underneath the door. I also identified the fire's point of origin: it seemed to be from a wall inside of the room. Interestingly, I also found a message in blood next to Maddox: it says 713."

[Maria]

"I want to...talk about...the crime scene."

"There was a pool of...blood...at the entrance and...on the wall where Madox's body was. There were also...some scattered vials on the ground with...salt and a green spice in them. I found a...mortar and pestle, and some wax candles...some of them had been used. There were some...burnt lines on the floor...leading up to a big stain on the wall. I...think that's where the...explosion started. There was some...rope hanging up too, with one end leading to...the pickaxe and Hayasaka...while the other end had been broken off and ran...under the door. Oh, and...there was a message...behind Maddox...'713', I think it was."

"There was also transport. The pickaxe...was missing from there, so that's...probably where it came from, along with...the rope. Some of the sacks...had been opened and looked through. It also...smelt like sage so...Osamu...or Neptune...could probably explain why."

[Sachi]

"Interesting stuff! Let's see if we can explain some of those things with my results too:"

"To begin with: It's pretty obvious that Madoxx died slowly of blood loss. The burn injuries, the glass shards, and the wounds caused by those glass shards? I think before I might've called those 'sus', but they were absolutely done after he died. That being the case, there are several cuts all over his body that were carved into him before he died. Something else I noticed? His back doesn't have any wounds at all. I guess you could say it's a pretty frontloaded case."

"I'm pointing now! Anyway, it'd be hard not to notice the massive steak knife buried in his chest, with ash and blood on its handle. Don't question my detective skills, but I can tell you that he smells of three things: Blood, cooked meat, and pretty faintly, sage. Our man's fingertips are also stained red with blood."

"In case you're wondering why he was glittering, that was the glass. What is it they say? 'All that glitters is gold'? Well, they got that one right. That body was a goldmine of info, for sure."

[Sachi]

"Now as for Hayasaka, she's a little less interesting. It's pretty much what you'd expect. She had an alarmed, pained expression when she died, and her chest is completely crushed by the pickaxe in her body. Yeah, those friends of hers might wanna tune out for this one."

"Outside of that, and the burns on her body, there aren't any other injuries whatsoever. I can tell you here and now that nothing was inflicted after she died, either. There's a notepad on her body, stained with blood... but give me a little while before I show that to you. I still have things to investigate about it."

"And finally! Just as I was about to leave, there was one other, tiny little thing I noticed! On Hayasaka's body? None other than the keykards for her own room, and also a keycard to Lance's room, room 1!"

[Sachi]

Mar 28, 2021 11:27:34 GMT -6 Maria said:

"There was some...rope hanging up too, with one end leading to...the pickaxe and Hayasaka...while the other end had been broken off and ran...under the door. 

"From that alone, it's pretty likely Hayasaka ended up springing a trap set by the killer. Something sent that pickaxe swinging down into her chest, and it probably wasn't the killer's arms. Still, likely doesn't mean definite. That rope could be a red herring, for all I know. Make sure to keep it in mind, though."

[mao]

Mar 28, 2021 10:28:12 GMT -6 Crow said:

Looking at everyone present, Ken pauses slightly at the people with bruises on them before sighing.

“Alright, let's start this trial. But before we begin any hearing I want to get one fact straight, did anyone else heard a loud popping noise, much like an explosion. last night at around 2am?”

"I heard it too. I was in the Ghost Suite with Neferpitou and the Student Council... no one had seen Hayasaka in a while, so we were going to look for her. The loud sound was at the very end of A5, between 2:26-2:30, and it was described to me more like a glass grenade than a gunshot or a champagne bottle popping open. I knew it came from Room Hall A, so when the cars were switched at 2:30, I led everyone who was with me there..."

Mar 28, 2021 11:24:29 GMT -6 peterparker said:

"Yes, and I believe I know what it was based on my investigation of the crime scene. Let me tell you what I found."

"In Room Hall A, there was some kind of stone. I noticed some footprints in wine coming out of Room 2 and heading to the right door. I could tell that someone had been in Room 1 as well. The door to Room 3 has been all but blown up - this explains the cause of that popping sound Ken mentioned. I also found some ash, glass, and blood all over the floor, mostly near Hayasaka's body, which as you all saw, is hanging from a pickaxe and rope in the room entrance. 

"In Room 3, there are pools of blood by both bodies. I found more ash and glass in here, but for some reason it is on the walls this time. There are vials all over the floor that seem to contain salt and a spice. I also found a mortar and pestle, some wax candles, and some rope leading from Hayasaka's body to underneath door. I also identified the fire's point of origin: it seemed to be from a wall inside of the room. Interestingly, I also found a message in blood next to Maddox: it says 713."

"The wine-stained footprints were around in Room Hall B, as well. They came from the entrance to the right and led to the exit on the left, too. It could be... the culprit leaving the crime scene or something unrelated entirely. Either way, it confirms someone's movement through the two rooms. The doors to Room 4 and 6 had been opened at some point, but the door to Room 5 was untouched through the night - that would be Red's and Neferpitou's cabin."

"As for Maddox... He was covered in wounds, some delivered prior to his demise and many done after. Whoever did it must be sick..." Ishigami is close to throwing up at thinking about the body. "There were no wounds on his back. Most of the wounds were due to the glass shards sticking out of him and making him glitter, and I believe he was moved by the explosion. He was pretty burnt up, but it's fair to say he died from blood loss. There's a steak knife in his chest, which is covered in blood and ash, and his fingers are stained red with blood. There was a faint scent of sage on him, even through the smell of cooked flesh. He was an exorcist, so the sage isn't a surprise. I think that's what was on those glass vials as well."

"Uh, it seems to me like Maddox was a Slow Kill. I think Hayasaka and Maddox were killed definitely before the explosion happened, using the pickaxe and the steak knife. I can't bear to speculate on her condition, though. I averted my eyes as soon as I saw her... hanging."

[Sachi]

Mar 28, 2021 10:28:12 GMT -6 Crow said:

Looking at everyone present, Ken pauses slightly at the people with bruises on them before sighing.

“Alright, let's start this trial. But before we begin any hearing I want to get one fact straight, did anyone else heard a loud popping noise, much like an explosion. last night at around 2am?”

"For what it's worth, I did hear an explosion, but nothing like a pop or anything. Maybe it got muffled by distance? I did stay in Viewing Room A for the entire night."

[Misaki]

Kaguya is seen with serious cold look on her face as she faces everyone.



"First of all. I would like to confirm what Dazai and Red said about Room Hall A and Hayasaka's body. Second. I did hear a popping sound at the end of A5. Third. I would like to come clean with something. Those wine stained footprints...were mine. That's right. I've been leaving my footprints all night using wine I got from the previous night. I did this so I am able to confirm my whereabouts during the night in case another murder took place. And just so people don't get the wrong idea..."

Kaguya brings out a wine bottle which is almost nearly empty and shows everyone her wine stained shoes as proof. 

"Now then. Another thing I would like to say is that I can tell with near certainty that Hayasaka most likely died somewhere between A5-A6."

[Sachi]

"Now, I think I was a little late in getting to the bodies, since those ghosts were getting rather angry at me for taking my time. Let me ask this so there's no source of confusion: Who discovered the bodies, and when? All I know is that it was during Action 6."

[mao]

Mar 28, 2021 12:03:45 GMT -6 Sachi said:

"For what it's worth, I did hear an explosion, but nothing like a pop or anything. Maybe it got muffled by distance? I did stay in Viewing Room A for the entire night."

"I assume you had your reasons..." Ishigami remembers the first trial and Red's ability. "Do you intend to share them now or wait until someone trips up on their lie? You're sitting on some heavy evidence."

Mar 28, 2021 12:40:42 GMT -6 Sachi said:

"Now, I think I was a little late in getting to the bodies, since those ghosts were getting rather angry at me for taking my time. Let me ask this so there's no source of confusion: Who discovered the bodies, and when? All I know is that it was during Action 6."

"That would be me and Neferpitou. We were the ones to open the door to Room 3 (?), but Kaguya, Miyuki and Chika were also with us. The five of us discovered the bodies together."

[Sachi]

Mar 28, 2021 13:11:00 GMT -6 mao said:

"I assume you had your reasons..." Ishigami remembers the first trial and Red's ability. "Do you intend to share them now or wait until someone trips up on their lie? You're sitting on some heavy evidence."

"Heh, was my plan that obvious? I was sort of hoping to catch one of you in a lie there..."

Mar 28, 2021 13:11:00 GMT -6 mao said:

"That would be me and Neferpitou. We were the ones to open the door to Room 3 (?), but Kaguya, Miyuki and Chika were also with us. The five of us discovered the bodies together."

"Five of you, huh... Add the bodies onto that and you've got seven. Add Dani to that, let's say a little birdy told me she was there, and you've got eight."

"The numbers don't quite add up, unless you found the bodies during the only brief period I wasn't able to look at the map. Blame Kiryu, Majima and Ramona for that one. I'm going to give out my results only for action 6 right now. Please take a look."

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler}{Action 6 Results}

[mao]

Mar 28, 2021 13:32:14 GMT -6 Sachi said:

Ishigami is silent. "This means..."

"The five people who entered Room Hall A around 2:51-2:55 were me, Neferpitou, Kaguya, Miyuki and Chika. Danni was already there as well. The victims were obviously there already, but what you're saying is... there was an extra person there from the start?"

Ishigami looks at Danni with suspicion. "Mind telling us what you saw and where you were at the end of the night?"

[Vaellin the Bard]

Danni and Laura are also missing.

Phantom, floating above the group, chuckles lightly. "Miss Danni and Laura are not currently here. They have asked permission for leave to accomplish something else. I extracted their memories and can tell you neither of them are the culprits. But that's all I'll give."