Game 103C - Trial 3 A Power Outtage

[Vaellin the Bard]

A last trial. There's a certain finality in this setting as everyone is once more ushered in and handed the tablets with questions and voting.

Whether it be because of escape or because Sue plans to end this game, it is clear that everything ends in less than twenty four hours.

And with it, the image of a dear friend and a former murderer is displayed in the back. Power.

Sue stands in the center as per usual, her smile feeling a bit more forced than normal.




"Well, well, well, I am supposed to applaud all the player's efforts to prove themselves, but I find myself struggling to give words of congratulations. All I can say is do your best to solve this murder. After that, well I guess we'll see who will lead us, who will serve us, and who will simply cease to exist. You must, after all, prove yourself to be considered worthwhile."

She looks at the other hosts, Tia and Rio.



"..."



"Don't think I'll forget what happened last night. Or I guess probably longer than last night. All your efforts were fruitless."

"Regardless, I am rooting for our future leader of Asu Co."

"Good luck."

---

Difficulty: Easy

Questions:

Who killed Power?


When did Power Die?


What was the cause of Power's death?


How was Power targeted? Was anyone else a potential victim?


Where were the necessary items retrieved from?


Did any mannequin play a role in this night? If so, how?


Was the power outage relevant to this murder? If so, how was it caused and why?


Was the hacker relevant to this murder? If so, how?

---

You have 48 hours to solve this murder. After 24 hours are up, the answer thread will open up and people may submit answers.
Following the 48 hours of trial, answer thread will be open 24 more hours to submit and vote.
PLEASE VOTE FOR ANSWERS
(I think maybe half of your voted last trial)

You may ask clarifying questions directly in the private discord channel
You may not search someone directly.

Answers will be chosen by the most voted answers in the answer thread.

[Evie The Bat]

DA Rat will clear his throat

"I suppose I shall start with my investigation results. Your honor(s), I submit my investigation into evidence

I first investigated the body thoroughly. Power was found under the counter of the lounge, her knees bent up as if hiding it would seem. Several puncture wounds were found around her torso and legs. Blood covered her body especially around the wound locations. Her face showed the expressions of pain and rage, and blood was located under her fingernails A USB stick was found in her pocket.

I next investigated the Lounge. Blood was found near the doorway leading to the Morgue. Several footprints and skid marks were located among this blood. Power was again located under the counter of the bar in the lounge."

"As for what this information proves. Personally I can point out a few things. First, Power was hiding under the counter, most likely from her assailant. Second, she definitely fought back, given her expression and the blood under her nails. Third, someone was attacked near the Morgue's entrance early in the night. At least early enough to let footprints and skid marks from a cart of some kind, behind. I do not know who struck first but personally I theorize Power was threatened and, in rage, attacked the killer but lost, as we can see."

[Kuroneko]

"First off, I must apologize to Constance for having made a promise I couldn't keep. A stupid bug decided to get violent and doomed us all. A few points for three lives, what kind of idiot would make such a choice- Oh wait, we have one right here. Even with an invitation to escape, they decided to die for a few brownie points with their tormentors. I hope your happy Fuzz."

[Evie The Bat]

Jul 11, 2023 12:48:18 GMT -6 Kuroneko said:

"First off, I must apologize to Constance for having made a promise I couldn't keep. A stupid bug decided to get violent and doomed us all. A few points for three lives, what kind of idiot would make such a choice- Oh wait, we have one right here. Even with an invitation to escape, they decided to die for a few brownie points with their tormentors. I hope your happy Fuzz."

DA Rat looks confused

"Excuse me but, could you explain what you mean by this?"

[Kuroneko]

"We had been trying to escape, which Sue seems not to mind for some reason... when the stupid bug assaulted us. This was in the electrical room, two to two and half hours from dinner (fourth and fifth actions). They knocked me out and ruined our escape window."

[Vaellin the Bard]

Jul 11, 2023 13:23:22 GMT -6 Kuroneko said:

"We had been trying to escape, which Sue seems not to mind for some reason... when the stupid bug assaulted us. This was in the electrical room, two to two and half hours from dinner (fourth and fifth actions). They knocked me out and ruined our escape window."

Sue smiles eerily.

"I admire the attempt. You won't succeed."

[Izumiko (Emi)]

Jul 11, 2023 12:43:20 GMT -6 Evie The Bat said:

"As for what this information proves. Personally I can point out a few things. First, Power was hiding under the counter, most likely from her assailant. Second, she definitely fought back, given her expression and the blood under her nails. Third, someone was attacked near the Morgue's entrance early in the night. At least early enough to let footprints and skid marks from a cart of some kind, behind. I do not know who struck first but personally I theorize Power was threatened and, in rage, attacked the killer but lost, as we can see."

"Uhh... Objection?"

"..."

Aki coughs into his sleeve. He guesses this wasn't as cool as a certain game made it out to be.

"Evidence suggests Power didn't die under the bar counter. 'sides, she isn't the type to hide. She would always fight head on... And that's what she did."

Another heavy pause...

"The fight must have happened close to the doorway between the Monitor Room and the Lounge. Because that's where the big blood splatter is. There is also a... mannequin in the Lounge who recieved an order from one of us. Presumably the killer. The mannequin had bloody hands and soles. The big blood splatter left behind 4 pairs of footprints, one of which belongs to the mannequin in question. Power did not step on that blood."

He goes silent for a second, thinking everything through.

"What I think happened is... Power got attacked by someone close to the doorway. I cannot tell if she fought back or simply held her sustained wounds... Fighting back sounds like something she would do... Definitely. This must be why her expression was angry...

This is a fight she eventually lost and succumbed to her wounds where the big blood pool is. After killing her, the culprit ordered a mannequin in the Lounge and left. This mannequin was ordered to move Power's body and hide her body under the bar counter, so that no one would discover her in the darkness of the blackout. This is why the mannequin had bloody hands and feet. The mannequin stepped in Power's blood and dragged her into the hiding place where we found her. There are swipe marks on the floor that further support this theory...

The 3 other sets of footprints suggest Power has been hidden for a little while. If we can find out the last 3 people who passed through the doorway between Monitor Room and Lounge, we could determine the exact time Power was attacked. I can almost gurantee you the culprit would not dare to step in the bloodpool they created themselves. Unlike everyone else, they knew about this blood after all."

Aki points his finger at Ratticus

"You. Take another look at Power's... corpse. Try to find out if the blood on Power's hands is from fighting or holding her wound. Seek evidence of struggle. And... another thing. Try to find out what sort of tool bloody puncture wounds like these could have come from."

[Evie The Bat]

Jul 11, 2023 13:45:51 GMT -6 Izumiko (Emi) said:

Jul 11, 2023 12:43:20 GMT -6 Evie The Bat said:

"As for what this information proves. Personally I can point out a few things. First, Power was hiding under the counter, most likely from her assailant. Second, she definitely fought back, given her expression and the blood under her nails. Third, someone was attacked near the Morgue's entrance early in the night. At least early enough to let footprints and skid marks from a cart of some kind, behind. I do not know who struck first but personally I theorize Power was threatened and, in rage, attacked the killer but lost, as we can see."

"Uhh... Objection?"

"..."

Aki coughs into his sleeve. He guesses this wasn't as cool as a certain game made it out to be.

"Evidence suggests Power didn't die under the bar counter. 'sides, she isn't the type to hide. She would always fight head on... And that's what she did."

Another heavy pause...

"The fight must have happened close to the doorway between the Monitor Room and the Lounge. Because that's where the big blood splatter is. There is also a... mannequin in the Lounge who recieved an order from one of us. Presumably the killer. The mannequin had bloody hands and soles. The big blood splatter left behind 4 pairs of footprints, one of which belongs to the mannequin in question. Power did not step on that blood."

He goes silent for a second, thinking everything through.

"What I think happened is... Power got attacked by someone close to the doorway. I cannot tell if she fought back or simply held her sustained wounds... Fighting back sounds like something she would do... Definitely. This must be why her expression was angry...

This is a fight she eventually lost and succumbed to her wounds where the big blood pool is. After killing her, the culprit ordered a mannequin in the Lounge and left. This mannequin was ordered to move Power's body and hide her body under the bar counter, so that no one would discover her in the darkness of the blackout. This is why the mannequin had bloody hands and feet. The mannequin stepped in Power's blood and dragged her into the hiding place where we found her. There are swipe marks on the floor that further support this theory...

The 3 other sets of footprints suggest Power has been hidden for a little while. If we can find out the last 3 people who passed through the doorway between Monitor Room and Lounge, we could determine the exact time Power was attacked. I can almost gurantee you the culprit would not dare to step in the bloodpool they created themselves. Unlike everyone else, they knew about this blood after all."

Aki points his finger at Ratticus

"You. Take another look at Power's... corpse. Try to find out if the blood on Power's hands is from fighting or holding her wound. Seek evidence of struggle. And... another thing. Try to find out what sort of tool bloody puncture wounds like these could have come from."

DA Rat shouts loudly and firmly

"OBJECTION! See its like that, anyway...

The blood on her hands was found trapped under the fingernails, this is consistent with someone fighting as the blood is much smaller compared to the amount found on her torso and legs.

For the puncture wounds, well I'm no doctor, but if i had to guess, id say they came from a straight sharp object that would be very thin. Like a needle or a screwdriver. Should I try to get clarification?"

[Kuroneko]

"As for my investigations, in the operator's room there is a smashed monitor and another with Aki's face upon it. The testing room has around 50 different courses, which would have been great to know earlier... The controller was where Nedge had been during the third hour (a6). Lex had been in the room at that time as well. Torn and burnt duct tape sits near the entrance. It was left as a water course at the end of the night."

[Evie The Bat]

DA Rat will compose himself

"Right, time for a long testimony. Now then...

A0: I started my night at the Casino, tasked with finding the traitor. I instead followed a second note I received, about escaping. This place has only sullied my career and I wish to be let go. I watched mannequins play cards but...they seemed odd or nervous, moving weird.

A1: I took the long trek to the elevator. I took the path through the Pool Room. The hot tub appeared to be on. After this I went to the Hall of Portraits. There was nothing here so I went to the Lounge. There was a normal Mannequin here. It did...somethign weird...as if someone was controlling it. It directed me to the Elevator room, making a motion of somethign small, then pointing at me. It then resumed its normal activity.

A2: I decided to go to the Entrance Hall. I was looking for a way to the surface, and I found a small vent next to the elevator door. This vent was a good size for me, but much too small for people. I unscrewed it using my rat claws and went inside...and immediately almost died. There was no where to stand so I started to fall. I managed to catch on a platform built for people to stand in the shaft and save myself. I climbed up after saving myself and saw another platform for humans, the only entrance to this was another vent. I climbed through into the elevator room itself I looked around for a sign and saw that I fell 2 floors, to the B3F floor. The elevator was on this floor. I saw a ladder going to the surface, our ticket out of here, inside the shaft i came from.

A3: I climbed back into the shaft and atop the elevator, looking for any methods to open the elevator doors manually and leave them open. The elevator started to ascend, which cause me to fear for my life. the elevator went up to floor B2F, so i was saved. I continued trying to open the doors int he shaft and I managed to unlock teh doors and keep them open, at least figured out how to pull them open. I went to the B2F elevator room when the lights went out. I hurried back into the shaft and slid down to the B3F floor (i believe it got a bit confusing for me), I foudn that no one could attack me in here, at least i hoped not.

A4: I heard two people enter the b3F elevator room. I climbed up the shaft until...I hit a barrier. There was a wall blocking the elevator from going all the way up. The elevator went up tothe B1F floor, where I was. I saw that there was a way aroudn this barrier if I could open the other elevator door to the other part of the shaft from inside the elevator. So i rode the elevator's top down a bit and entered the elevator room. I found Denji, screaming and Maki, holding a lit molotov.

a5: We all agreed to escape together. We entered teh elevator (there was apparently a fourth person with us at the time but I am unsure who). We found a way to prop open the elevator doors and keep the elevator moving. We went down to floor B4F, letting Maki off to do her plan in the escape. The elevator then ascended to the B3F floor, when 2 people enter. The people looked identical and looked very similar to the first corpse found on the first night. If I remember this was Catherine? Either way, I didnt recognize them exactly, despite that similarity. I felt uncomfortable by this scene. They go up to the Entrance Hall and leave into the floor, toward the Lounge. If it helps, one was carrying the other bridal style. Denji and I get to work making a path up above teh blockage of the elevator shaft, using a secret door to get around. He went on in to see if it was safe, while I wiated in the shaft for any potential recruits or enemies. No oen arrived, but Denji returned successfully.

A6: It was time to go. We waited to eb called to other floors. First, Maki called us to floor B4F. She told us of her successful trip so we let her off tot he surface. The we got Aki, who was alone but had succeeded. We let him out when the copies joined us. They also escaped to the surface, then me and Denji went up. As soon as we reached the surface, open to the night sky for once, an alar sounded. And now, we were brought back here. Frankenstein's monster had joined us at some point, so we brought that to the surface too.

That is how our attempt went."

[Vaellin the Bard]

At the mention of "Catherine", DA Ratticus looks around the room to see a strange individual standing there.

She has a collar on her neck and odd parts that look like doll joints.

Constance is no where to be seen in this room. In fact, she wasn't there during the investigations either.

[Kuroneko]

Roroa pulls out some ice picks, "Do these match the size and shape of the wounds?"

She turns to the one who used to be Constance, "I see you broke the spell. Was that what you wanted to do before leaving?"

[Hoody]

Mr Anonymous holds his injured side and says “Well, I was attacked by a Drone and Maki in the Cafeteria, so I believe Maki may be the killer.”

[Kuroneko]

"We've wasted enough time dawdling around. Let's get alibis out of the way since investigations are taking a while."

"I started in the storage room, and started heading for Sue's room. Tohru passed us in the lab, heading toward the storage room. Constance entered the display room from the elevator. No one else was in the elevator room."
"For the next half an hour, we found that Sue's room was as dark as before. We exchanged a few words before leaving. The elevator and morgue were similarly devoid of life, although that is probably to be expected for the latter."
"Deciding to leave the lifeless land, we head back down... or up... to the basement... The elevator ride was uneventful, although the lights went off while we were heading through the display hall. After a wary conversation, we found Constance in the lab."
"Constance told us that Nedge had gone toward the storage; so we went along through the storage, repair, and electrical rooms hoping to bump into her. We ended up finding the wrong flea."
"Fuzz decided to attack us in the dark and tie us up."
"We wake up in the electrical room and break free. Seeing that it was impossible to get to the elevator in time, we go from repair to storage, and end up at the testing room. We found Nedge, although too late. Oh, I guess Lex was also there."

[Misaki]

Jul 11, 2023 15:43:41 GMT -6 Hoody said:

Mr Anonymous holds his injured side and says “Well, I was attacked by a Drone and Maki in the Cafeteria, so I believe Maki may be the killer.”

"My my. Already pointing fingers aren't we? That is rich coming from you who hides their identity behind a mask! It is true that I did indeed try to attack you and that drone which you destroyed by the way also belonged to me. Though I wasn't intending to kill you and simply wanted to restrain you for...reasons. But then that blackout happened which put me at a disadvantage so I fled the scene."

"Now I won't deny that my actions make me look very suspicious but I believe you also have some explaining to do as well. Namely why weren't you with us in the Trial Room when Sue briefed us on the hacker? I'm sure if Sue wanted everyone in attendance, none of us would be able to oppose her. Not only that but I also saw you talking with another figure that was dressed up like you in the Cafeteria. And when I investigated the Cafeteria, I did find that figure dressed up as Mr Anon who turned out to be a mannequin. I questioned them and they claim that they were a relaxation mannequin and originally came from the Relaxation Room. Now I wonder. What was your business with this mannequin and why were they dressed up like you?"