Chapter 3: Trial 0

[Izumiko (Emi)]

The time is at hand. Mari and Ren gather you all right outside the gates leading toward Spirit Sanctum ruins. The air is chilly and demonic creatures linger outside the gates, watching you along with a random NPC shadow of a gate guard, but he largely ignores you. The air is full of distortions and illusions caused by the twisted memories and cursed time flow.


"Mari heard that no one ever found out what actually happened when this Mister died. Maybe this is our second chance to see what happened? Mari and Ren are here for you, so let us solve this together, alright?"


"The culprit was never caught... Though I am not sure if it even matters anymore.. Some answers will give us some peace of mind, right? My Lady?"

...

Silence... But you feel the unmistakable presence and pressure of a god. Someone is definitely watching you.

Case information

Difficulty: Challenging

Completion Rate to win: ?

Locked Objectives involved?: None

Objectives :
(Make sure to describe the how and why in detail for it to be valid. Complete objectives will not be marked until the end of trial.)
- What is the cause of the fire at Sick Bay?
- Was it necessary to set the Crime Scene on fire? Why?
- How did the victim end up where they were found?
- Where did the knife come from and how did it get stuck in the victim's neck?
- What ended up killing the victim in the end?
- Is the golden rose related to the case? How?
- What happened at the Pavilion of the Rose Garden?
- Where did the ceramic tea cup in the Kitchen come from?
- Is the Kitchen important to the case?
- What is a possible motive to this murder? (Give a suggestion)
- Who exactly is the victim?
- Who killed the victim?

---

Welcome to Trial 0!

- This is the test round for the new trial system. Consider this a beta version run where we test out what works and what doesn't work in this system.
- Worry not about winning and losing this trial. Worry about solving the case and trying out this new approach, so that we all may learn from this
- Should this run be a success, it will continue being used for the next upcoming trials. If not, it will be scrapped and trials will continue as normal default.
- Always, aaaaaaalways ask Emi if there is something you do not understand. Now is more important than ever that we are all on the same page <3
- Have fun and enjoy this little challenge made juuuust for you~

[⋆⋅ Sage ⋅⋆]

Nov 23, 2021 12:36:24 GMT -6 Izumiko (Emi) said:

- What ended up killing the victim in the end?

- Is the golden rose related to the case? How?

- What happened at the Pavilion of the Rose Garden?

- Where did the ceramic tea cup in the Kitchen come from?

Clover seems eager to share her results.

"I investigated the Rose Garden and its Pavilion! There were some drops of blood outside the Pavilion, and it looked like they were left by someone either entering or exiting-- I think it was from someone exiting, which should become more clear when I say more...

"Inside the Pavilion was a table with four chairs around it. One of the chairs was pushed back hurriedly as if someone got up from it, leaving scuff marks on the floor. On the table I found an incomplete tea set, which I believe is where the ceramic cup in the Kitchen came from. One cup was missing. The cup that was left had some cold tea in it, some biscuits-- they were yummy, by the way-- a feather writing pen, some ink, and a single golden rose.

"The pushed out chair was the only one that had moved. The other three were in perfect place, almost weirdly identical. The feather had some dried out ink on it, so I think someone used it to write. The single rose had blood on its thorns, and some clear liquid that had dried on the stem of the rose. 

"So here's how I think the victim died! I think someone put a liquid poison on the stem of the rose, and then when the victim touched the thorns and cut their fingers, the poison was able to easily enter their bloodstream!"

[Ktoasty]

Yoshida speaks up to retort.

"Clover, you found some dry liquid but no source of poison from the rose garden or its pavilion. I'd have concluded it's more likely for the liquid on the golden rose to just be from that tea you found, seeing as it and the ink were the only liquids around the area. What makes you really think it was poison?"

[Zero One/Zero Two]

"Good counter questions."

[mao]

"Both Clover and Yoshida raised good points. Though there is no evidence pointing to the existence of a poison yet, we should keep an open mind to all possibilities. We can rule out the ink, on the merit of the liquid on the rose being clear. I have hard time believing that tea could leave a dried stain on the stem of the rose, as opposed to simply drying out... being water and all." Excel shrugs.

"I investigated the Courtyard, and had a brief chat with a certain little girl and her kitty. According to her, they came there to find some peace and quiet from the group of clearly inebriated adults. She saw some people pass by through the windows, but no one actually came into the Courtyard, or entered the shed leading into the Boiler Room for that matter."

"One thing had caught her attention and made her somewhat distressed: a man she saw running towards the direction of the Sick Bay in quite the hurry. She did not recognize the man, only said they were wearing a black coat outlined with blue and had grey hair, although they didn't seem particularly old, which leads me to believe this was not her father, who was - purely based on my own speculation - engaged in whatever festivities were going on at the house."

[Misaki]

"I Satorae shall first state the facts from my Kitchen investigation in red!"

Kitchen Red Truths Investigation Facts
1. "A knife was missing from the kitchen"

2. "A ceramic teacup was found in the sink and was recently washed so no traces of poison or anything dangerous found on it."

3. "The ceramic teacup was the only teacup found in the room."

4. "According to Scrouge McShadow's (The shadow chef) testimony. He claimed that the knife had been missing the whole day and was stolen while he was away. He also had no idea who was around the manor at the time."



"Now having stated the facts from my investigation. I shall now attempt to answer some of the questions in blue!"

1. Where did the knife come from and how did it get stuck in the victim's neck? 
"The Knife most probably came from the Kitchen since a knife was missing from there."

2. Where did the ceramic tea cup in the Kitchen come from?
"The ceramic teacup was most likely part of the incomplete tea set found at the Rose Garden."

3. Is the Kitchen important to the case?
"The Kitchen is most likely relevant to the case since that's probably where the killer took the knife used to stab the victim and ceramic tea cup might have also been involved in the murder."

[Zero One/Zero Two]

"Interesting."

[Kuroneko]

    Kuruguru takes out her notebook and tears out a page, tacking it on the middle of her cork board. It appears to be diagram of the sick bay; showing the door they had broken through to the south, a pole that had been blocking it, the body laying with the head facing a shelf to the north and feet toward the door, remnants of a dismantled curtain stand rest in a corner near the feet, and a bed to the east side of the shelf. A line labeled "Burnt remains of a rope" connects the pole by the door, foot of the bed, pole of the shelf, and lamp above the victim. An arrow shows that the door swings outward into the hallway and has the note, "Ren's words make it seem as if the door was not sealed through magical means."

    A side note connected to the victim says, "The floor under the body is relatively clean. It is likely that the body was not moved after being set ablaze. Soot stains on the ground and the smell indicate that disinfectant had been poured over the body and splashed on the ground around. The fire spread rapidly."

    A separate diagram shows a metal shelf with four levels, somewhat taller than the average person. On the third level, there are two badly drawn splotches labeled "Melted containers with isopropyl alcohol," leftover candle wax, burnt rope, and burnt bandages. A side note says, "Everything smells of disinfectant." Scribbles on the pole of the shelf mark burnt spots and speculations of "Bandages and rope had probably been wrapped here. The bandages did not burn as strongly as the rope, so perhaps the bandages were only there to hold the disinfectant soaked rope in place." Another diagram shows tiny scratch marks on the floor, the type that occurs if the shelf had gotten shoved lightly. There are also splatters of candle wax that had dripped to the floor.

    The other shelves in the room are labeled with bandages, scissors, plasters, and other medical equipment. One shelf has a second note, "20 litre container of isopropyl alcohol is missing. Why did they need that much?"

    Expanding on the curtains, there is a diagram of a hospital cubicle with wheels. A string tacked on connects the pole of the cubicle to the pole by the door. There are smudges at the top of the pole indicating where it had been connected to the rope and been charred. It is at a similar spot to where the pole on the shelf had been burnt. The drawings seem to indicate that there is nothing inside the pole. A quickly jot note asks, "Where in the world is car- the stand?"

    The diagram of the bed comes with a scrap of burnt rope in an evidence bag, connected to the outer legs of the bed. The rope smells of disinfectant.

    Another connection ties to the lamp above the victim, with a diagram of a rope going through the casing and leaving soot. There is a bewildered note that reads, "How did they get up there? They didn't climb the shelf or bed as far as I can tell."

[Magnus]

“There were no clues nor suspects to be found in the Dining Hall. The partygoers there mistook me for one of their own, and a drunk at that! I happened to learn a few interesting tidbits of fact, however.”

Muninn snapped his fingers and pointed towards the ceiling. His eyes, however, stared stonily in the direction of the Dining Hall.

“The housekeeper - Miss Elodie - had been spotted visiting the kitchen, and we already know the knife had been taken from there. Alternatively, a certain kitchen worker certainly would’ve been at the scene.”

Muninn opened his mouth to say something else, but quickly fell silent before he could do so. Kicking at the floor, he irritably muttered something under his breath.
“Othello… no respect! Huh… grand spell, new era of magic… sounds right up my alley.”

”During the investigation, had anyone seen a scientist with black hair and reading glasses?”

[mao]

Nov 23, 2021 20:55:48 GMT -6 Magnus said:

“There were no clues nor suspects to be found in the Dining Hall. The partygoers there mistook me for one of their own, and a drunk at that! I happened to learn a few interesting tidbits of fact, however.”

Muninn snapped his fingers and pointed towards the ceiling. His eyes, however, stared stonily in the direction of the Dining Hall.

“The housekeeper - Miss Elodie - had been spotted visiting the kitchen, and we already know the knife had been taken from there. Alternatively, a certain kitchen worker certainly would’ve been at the scene.”

Muninn opened his mouth to say something else, but quickly fell silent before he could do so. Kicking at the floor, he irritably muttered something under his breath.
“Othello… no respect! Huh… grand spell, new era of magic… sounds right up my alley.”

”During the investigation, had anyone seen a scientist with black hair and reading glasses?”

"Oh, that one thing slipped my mind. After seeing the grey-haired fellow running hurriedly towards the Sick Bay, the little girl did mention seeing a Miss Elodie heading in the same direction, but quite a while later."

[Ame]

"What do you mean 'in red?' What are you talking about?"
Misaki

"Regardless... even though we're out of the Observers' domain, it would seem that the gods do not intend to give us a moment's break from madness."

"I investigated the victim's body, and came across some... interesting details, but first, I'd like to ask some questions"

"One. What is the cause of fire? Two. Why was there fire? Three. Why is the victim in the Sick Bay? Four. Where did the knife come from, and how did it get put where it is? Five. What is the Cause of Death? Six. What caused the mark on the victim's hand? And most importantly, Seven. Who is the victim"

Hanna takes a moment to breath, calming herself before telling of her investigation



"A severely charred body lie in the Sick Bay with the feet facing downwards, being the closest body part to the door. Their arms were spread out, and facing a shelf."

"Wait- how did I do that? Why am I red now?!"

Hanna shudders

"That's... weird. What kind of magic have you used?! What is happening?!"

"I- No matter, I'll just put up with it. Well, there were third and forth degree burns across the body, however the damage varies, with the head being the worst, followed by the torso, and lastly the legs. Not to say they weren't burnt at all, but less so."

"They smelt... oddly. Like some parts had been burnt, but others had been dried instead. I believe the body had been in this condition for a while before we found it. I could smell something, though it was hard to tell with the overwhelming smell of disinfectant, sterilisation and burnt flesh of the Sick Bay. I could very faintly smell a strong disinfectant on the victim's body, perhaps rubbing alcohol? I could only smell it when I was very close to their body."

"I tried checking if the fire was created by magical means, but I'm confident in saying it was a fuel fire, however strangely, it came from beneath the victim, instead of being all over them or being doused in fuel. The floor's condition strengthens this point, given that the floor felt quite different from where the feet were, compared to the head."

"The body had reached Rigor Mortis; that is to say that their muscles have become quite stiff. They died, at minimum, 4 hours ago."

"In addition, there was a knife lodged into the back of this persons neck. The knife appeared to be a medium-sized kitchen knife, it does appear to have also been in the fire, but remains largely unaffected. It's a reasonably heavy knife, too."

"I can't tell if the knife was hit before, after or during the fire. I could however tell that the skin was not in great condition when it was cut by the knife."

"I'm rather confident in saying that the cut is very deep, and was absolutely caused by the knife."

"The victim, whoever they might be, does not have seemed to have put up and kind of resistance or struggle. However the are also some nail scratches on the floor, possibly created by the victim them self."

"There are 2 wounds on the victim's body. One created by the aforementioned knife, and the other. a tiny, tiny prick on their hand. In addition, there also seems to be some impact marks on their knees, as if they fell over. It does not appear that they were forced to the ground, though."

"There is very, very minimal blood on the victim, except for around the neck. If there was some elsewhere, I couldn't find it. The body was too badly burned, and any small amount of blood would have burnt up."

"I briefly looked at their face too, it was filled with desperation and... a look of betrayal."

"In spite of all this information, this doesn't definitively answer any of my questions."

"Though I suppose there is still more information to cover. The victim, although I could not fully identify them, strikes me as very similar to the Observer. They were a thin, but muscular male, who wore a magical coat. I could not tell what hair or eye colour they had, but they're very pale. If I didn't know better, I might have assumed they were a ghost at first glance, level of pale. I also felt a magical force emanating from the victim. It was certainly no kind of magic I recognised either."

"Inside of the cloak, I found some ash, from paper. I believe they had a note on them of some sort, which was destroyed in the fire."

"So, from all this, I'll do my best to answer some of the questions."

"One. I believe the cause of the fire to be Rubbing Alcohol."

"I- Okay I guess I'm also blue now. What's next? Purple speech?"

"Two. The reason there was the fire was to destroy evidence. I have a theory on this, but I would like to jog my memory before making any concrete statements. Three. The reason the victim was in the sickbay, was to treat a prick they received. Possibly from a thorn from a cactus, rose or other thistly plant."

"I believe the knife came from the Kitchen, and it is largely a red herring, or a means of confirming death for the victim."

"I believe the cause of death to be fire. I'm... not too familiar with physical fires but, I mentioned why I do not believe it was the knife; and I think the prick was more a means to move the victim to the Sick Bay."

"The victim at the sickbay is currently unknown. Although it may seem like it is the Observer, it is not. It is someone who shares a build and fashion sense with them. According to Ren, this case originally happened a month ago, and is repeating now."

"The only thing we're missing now is a motive. Perhaps that piece of paper might give us some clues."

[Nana]

"Hmm... I investigated the Laundry Room. Nothing's missing from the room..... Uh I found a creepy shadow of a woman hard at work sorting out laundry and other cleanup duties there. She found a misplaced pretty cup in the male bathroom and it still had a little bit of tea left".

Ranranru looks baffled as she tells the others what she found there.

"But yesterday ("Nightly" Event) when I investigated the sick room, it was locked. I grabed it by the handle and try forcing it open. It budges a lot and is blocked from the inside. Does it mean the body was there for a few days?".

[Hansbulla]

Mydi-Enn fiddles with a ring while she nervously collects her thoughts.

"I-if I could interject, um... I-I would like to clarify that the tea set is actually from the storage room. S-some thin coil of rope and a candle was taken too, which we have already discussed... These were taken before the tea set, I-I believe."

[Zero One/Zero Two]

"Too many teacup, too little tea."

[Nahema (Yasuraka)]

Nov 23, 2021 14:09:53 GMT -6 mao said:

"I investigated the Courtyard, and had a brief chat with a certain little girl and her kitty. According to her, they came there to find some peace and quiet from the group of clearly inebriated adults. She saw some people pass by through the windows, but no one actually came into the Courtyard, or entered the shed leading into the Boiler Room for that matter."

"One thing had caught her attention and made her somewhat distressed: a man she saw running towards the direction of the Sick Bay in quite the hurry. She did not recognize the man, only said they were wearing a black coat outlined with blue and had grey hair, although they didn't seem particularly old, which leads me to believe this was not her father, who was - purely based on my own speculation - engaged in whatever festivities were going on at the house."

Nov 23, 2021 21:37:12 GMT -6 mao said:

"Oh, that one thing slipped my mind. After seeing the grey-haired fellow running hurriedly towards the Sick Bay, the little girl did mention seeing a Miss Elodie heading in the same direction, but quite a while later."

"I've also gone to the Courtyard and talked to this little girl. and pet her kitty. And she's told me the same things as she told Excel."

"She also told me she was waiting in the Courtyard for her father to finish his work, he was busy with festivities that were going on in this mansion, sadly she didn't understand what it was about exactly. He was with the others and they were celebrating where all the food is. Mentioning how they were really loud and noting it was a mess to get away from."