[ WEEK TWO – TRIAL ]

[sheriffexe]

TRIAL

In the morning, the town comes back to life. Birds crow overhead, a snake nearby hisses, a lingering coyote dips behind a shop before disappearing into the wild. It's a frightening contrast to the stillness of yesterday but it doesn't mean it's over yet. After all, today is the trial. The Sheriff stands on the porch of the Town Hall and brings his hand up to his mouth to let out a whistle. He'll thumb back to the Hall behind him and very clearly state -- "Trial time, folks. Get in here and figure out who did it." And then he'll turn to leave before pausing and adding on, "Bring a snack or somethin' too. The Town Hall is set up more like a court house, a Judge's bench at the front but instead of at center, it's off to the side as if more for observation than participation. There's a table at the front of the room already holding a small box and a pad of papers and pen, for voting apparently. A side room containing only a metal gurney is next and today it's obvious why there's a gurney there at all with the corpse, resting right on top of it. Aside from that, there are rows for everyone to take a seat and it's only after everyone is inside and settled, that the doors close and the Sheriff speaks. "Well, have at it. You've got till nine." And then, he points to a clock on the wall that reads 12:00. Good luck. Welcome to the trial post! Characters are free to discuss everything related to the trial here. They won't be let out of the room until 9PM when voting ends. Every character must vote and the voting post can be found here. If there are any questions, please shoot a message to this journal or to robowest.

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Comments

[thatsthespirit]

Higekiri also insisted that his sword was stolen after curfew while he was making tea, but neither him nor the victim were seen leaving the hotel with said sword. The camera didn't catch any third parties leaving the hotel after the front doors were locked.

So the pressing question in my mind is. . . how did Higekiri's scabbard get to the tailor's in the first place?

[tightly]

Did anyone else see it be stolen?

[ Chane can only answer your questions with more questions, Milla... ]

[thatsthespirit]

No one said they did.

[but maybe they just didn't speak up???]

[tightly]

It's possible that Higekiri could have placed the sword inside the tailor's shop ahead of time, created the situation with the note, arrived at the shop after Manfred, killed him in the ensuing severe altercation and then brought himself to the clinic to patch himself up.

The scabbard would have been left there as a red herring. Or, perhaps, he simply could not retrieve it at that time.

[ Maybe von Karma fell on it and was too heavy to lift? ... Chane does not write that particular bit down.

Also, don't expect her to defend her theory, she's tired of writing now. ]

[thatsthespirit]

But his roommate confirmed he had his sword with him when he returned to the hotel that evening.

So I'm not sure that's it.

[tightly]

... [ Okay, one more defense. ]

Or his roommate is being duplicitous on his behalf.

[ TRUST NOBODY MILLA ]

[thatsthespirit]

[HA. . .]

And yet another possible scenario enters the field.

[athenite]

Who lets a weapon they own out of their sight in this situation? Tea or no.

[ SHE DOESN'T BUY THAT... ]

[thatsthespirit]

Do you think he's lying, then?

[Milla's jury is still out on that one]

[athenite]

I'd need a much better explanation as to "whoops someone took it without me noticing" - which is what I gather is the explanation here? - to think he wasn't.

[thatsthespirit]

[she nods]

I understand. Frankly, I have no viable theories on what happened myself.

[athenite]

Besides, he's clearly and obviously lying to us about other things, so...I don't see why he wouldn't lie to us about basic facts like that as well.

[hydrokinetics]

Fair point. Tiara lied last week to protect Ao. Why wouldn't the same thing happen this week?

[thatsthespirit]

And he is being rather evasive in his answers.

[he never did tell anyone who attacked him, after all]

[feminitis]

Way too evasive.

[she's grumpy about it]

[hydrokinetics]

Anybody know why? He had to give an explanation why he's being unhelpful, right?

[a_sin_for_him]

So either someone is lying or confused about their timeline of events, or we have one among us who is apparently able to move about without being seen.

[thatsthespirit]

Or someone is lying.

[throwing that out there]

Or the culprit who stole Higekiri's sword knew about the camera and purposefully avoided it.

[dubiousalignment]

It's unlikely there was anyone who didn't know about the camera. Not only we had a meeting about it, it's also the kind of information anyone would tell those who weren't at the meeting.

[thatsthespirit]

Right. Which doesn't exactly help us narrow down the list of possible scenarios.

[a_sin_for_him]

Yes, that was my thought. Someone who knows enough to avoid being detected, who can move about without drawing attention or being seen. While carrying a noticeable weapon - swords aren't small things, easily tucked into a pocket.

[thatsthespirit]

And who do you think is capable of such movement? Or do you not have anyone specific in mind?

[a_sin_for_him]

In all fairness, I'd wager that a number of us might be capable of such, myself included. It's an easy thing to hide, or lie about. But no, I'm not about to point any specific fingers. It's simply more criteria to perhaps narrow the suspects down, I suppose.

[thatsthespirit]

Fair enough.

But even discussing that possibility doesn't bring anymore suspects into the light. All we have is the evidence against Higekiri, nothing more and nothing less.

[a_sin_for_him]

And Higekiri's story about his stolen sword is...convenient and questionable.

Of course, there's still his mystery assailant.