Post by Sachi on Dec 7, 2023 21:14:56 GMT -6
From the varying experiences in the previous round, you're all expecting something different to happen here. Kaerun and Trigger are surprised that they're not stepping into a staircase, Novella and Knight are mentally preparing themselves for something, and Voivoide... Well, he doesn't do much of anything, honestly. You're surprised to find wooden seats on each wall in here, and gladly rest your weary bones on them. There's a little tiny jump before your noses are assaulted with the stench of manure. You all do some mix of covering your nose or closing your eyes, but when you open them, a chilly breeze blows over you. You look around. The elevator's somehow turned into a horse-driven cart, and you're all the passengers.
Four strangers share the cart with you. The biggest of them, a man whose face is covered by a knight's helmet, notices your confusion.
"Hey, you. You're finally awake," he says. "We've just crossed the border into the King's domain. We shall arrive at Castle Listlorn shortly. Please, continue to rest. What's to come may require it."
With nothing else to do, you take his advice to heart. It'd likely be a lot worse for you if you ran away here anyway. You reach the castle, as he said, shortly. It's a towering stony fortress with as many windows as it has guards patrolling outside. The horse carriage passes through a small castle town before entering the castle proper, but no matter where it goes, everyone's cheering for the Four Heroes of Light. Pretty lengthy title, but the number of strangers traveling with you does match that number. In addition to the knight, there's two people in robes, and the last one in more of a green cloak. They look proud to be receiving all the praise.
"Four cheers for the 'eroes! The Lich Queen's dead and they lopped off 'er 'ead!"
...So say the commoners.
The cart arrives at the castle. The King appears to personally greet all of you, and after a long song and dance of royal etiquette that it felt very awkward for all of you to attend, it's dinner time. The table is packed with a huge feast for the four heroes, the King, and a few other guys you don't really recognise. One of these guys has huge injuries - he'd probably be better off in a bed rather than at a table - one has a big curly moustache and a parrot on his shoulder, and the other is wearing furs he probably got from hunting a mighty beast.
And on the feast goes! You're still not entirely sure you should be here, but hey, this food is better than what the hosts were offering, so you dig in. Once it's over, people spread out around the castle to talk. You're still not really sure why you're here, so you stick around the dining room in hopes of not getting in any trouble...
But there comes a scream! Everyone rushes toward the source, and that's when you see it...
The King sits in his throne, something stuffed deep in his mouth. His eyes are rolled back in his head, and a huge, regal blade stabbed through his back and tearing through his chest on the other side. Everyone's screaming, and the man with the moustache from earlier - you come to know him as Chancellor Malbad - turns to the five of you.
"Come now, heroes. You are the prophecised Bracelet Wielders, aren't you? Loathe as I am to say it, the fate of the kingdom rests in your hands. It's your duty to solve the King's murder and bring the truth to light!"
You're speechless, but he hands Novella and Kaerun some parchment paper and a quill each. You've been through this before. You know what you have to do.
So let's get to it, shall we?
QUESTIONS
- Who killed the King?
- Where did the murder weapons come from?
- Why didn't the Crystals of Light work on the Lich Queen?
- Why did Commander Brutus betray the Princess?
- Describe the murderer's method, motive, and if applicable, accomplices.
LOCATIONS
There are various locations around the castle that may contain evidence, including but not limited to:
-The Throne Room
-The Banquet Hall
-The Kitchen
-The Library
-The Royal Vault
-The Royal Quarters
-The Barracks
-The Courtyard
-Outside the Castle
RULES
Four strangers share the cart with you. The biggest of them, a man whose face is covered by a knight's helmet, notices your confusion.
"Hey, you. You're finally awake," he says. "We've just crossed the border into the King's domain. We shall arrive at Castle Listlorn shortly. Please, continue to rest. What's to come may require it."
With nothing else to do, you take his advice to heart. It'd likely be a lot worse for you if you ran away here anyway. You reach the castle, as he said, shortly. It's a towering stony fortress with as many windows as it has guards patrolling outside. The horse carriage passes through a small castle town before entering the castle proper, but no matter where it goes, everyone's cheering for the Four Heroes of Light. Pretty lengthy title, but the number of strangers traveling with you does match that number. In addition to the knight, there's two people in robes, and the last one in more of a green cloak. They look proud to be receiving all the praise.
"Four cheers for the 'eroes! The Lich Queen's dead and they lopped off 'er 'ead!"
...So say the commoners.
The cart arrives at the castle. The King appears to personally greet all of you, and after a long song and dance of royal etiquette that it felt very awkward for all of you to attend, it's dinner time. The table is packed with a huge feast for the four heroes, the King, and a few other guys you don't really recognise. One of these guys has huge injuries - he'd probably be better off in a bed rather than at a table - one has a big curly moustache and a parrot on his shoulder, and the other is wearing furs he probably got from hunting a mighty beast.
And on the feast goes! You're still not entirely sure you should be here, but hey, this food is better than what the hosts were offering, so you dig in. Once it's over, people spread out around the castle to talk. You're still not really sure why you're here, so you stick around the dining room in hopes of not getting in any trouble...
But there comes a scream! Everyone rushes toward the source, and that's when you see it...
The King sits in his throne, something stuffed deep in his mouth. His eyes are rolled back in his head, and a huge, regal blade stabbed through his back and tearing through his chest on the other side. Everyone's screaming, and the man with the moustache from earlier - you come to know him as Chancellor Malbad - turns to the five of you.
"Come now, heroes. You are the prophecised Bracelet Wielders, aren't you? Loathe as I am to say it, the fate of the kingdom rests in your hands. It's your duty to solve the King's murder and bring the truth to light!"
You're speechless, but he hands Novella and Kaerun some parchment paper and a quill each. You've been through this before. You know what you have to do.
So let's get to it, shall we?
QUESTIONS
- Who killed the King?
- Where did the murder weapons come from?
- Why didn't the Crystals of Light work on the Lich Queen?
- Why did Commander Brutus betray the Princess?
- Describe the murderer's method, motive, and if applicable, accomplices.
LOCATIONS
There are various locations around the castle that may contain evidence, including but not limited to:
-The Throne Room
-The Banquet Hall
-The Kitchen
-The Library
-The Royal Vault
-The Royal Quarters
-The Barracks
-The Courtyard
-Outside the Castle
RULES
You may freely investigate and ask questions until the time expires.
Each group will submit ONE answer: That is, Novella, Knight and Trigger will submit one, and Kaerun and Voivode will submit another. Failure to submit an answer will be treated as an automatic failure.
Your response will be graded in relation to total understanding of the case. If your response is below a certain threshold, you will lose two points.
If your response meets or exceeds the threshold, no point change will occur.
If your response satisfies all requirements, or in other words gets a 100% grade, you will be rewarded one additional point.
Evidence will be delivered via the coloured truth system. Red truths are objective facts about the case. Blue truths are more so speculations based on available evidence, and may not always be entirely correct.
you got this
