[ 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.

QUICK NAV PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS | STATUSES | PROFILES | LOCATIONS | GRAVEYARD | MAIN NAVIGATION

Comments

[insincerely]

Completely human. [So yes, he just hates people.] And yeah, I could see him initiating a murder.

... Though I could see a lot of people initiating murder, so that means nothing coming from me.

[hydrokinetics]

Does that include you? [But anyway.] There's no saying that the note wasn't written by Manfred as planted evidence, too. We can't tell whose writing it is can we?

[insincerely]

Nope, unless someone's dumb enough not to fake it. So really, it could be his, yes.

[hydrokinetics]

[Ugh.] Higekiri says that he thought Manfred might have been the one to take his sword and that's why he followed him out. The note probably didn't belong to him, but Manfred had it so either there's a third party going on, or Manfred set this all up and it blew up in his face. Which is more likely?

[insincerely]

Well, his wanted poster says that he was a perfect lawyer, which suggests he wasn't careless, but putting aside bouts of bad luck and all, the posters are stupid so let's just forget that.

In other words, your guess is as good as mine.

[hydrokinetics]

we should probably think about the crime scene, too. Noct said that the tailor was a mess. Do we know if the old man could even fight?

[insincerely]

I don't think anyone's positive—or at least they haven't said anything yet—but as the guy who checked his stab wound, he wasn't exactly unfit, so I could see him putting up a fight.

[hydrokinetics]

[...]

Hey, Shinnosuke. When you checked out the wound was there any way for you to confirm it was definitely from a sword? Or was it way too bloody?

[insincerely]

It wasn't clear. Sorry.

[hydrokinetics]

It's fine, that just opens us up to even more possibilities. Like the weapon being something small enough to catch Manfred by surprise instead of a giant sword.

[insincerely]

Should we start compiling a list of who might have knives, now?

[hydrokinetics]

That wouldn't do a lot of good since the Sheriff said he could supply certain weapons if somebody asked. The weapon might be missing for all we know.

[insincerely]

True, although unless Mr. Sheriff took it back, it might at least be hidden somewhere, for future reference.

[hydrokinetics]

Like under another pile of clothes?

[insincerely]

... Well, we all know what to do now the next time the tailor's a mess.

[hydrokinetics]

...we've really gotta get better at examining crime scenes and bodies if this is going to keep happening.

[insincerely]

Probably. At least now we know we're not guaranteed to have the corpse with us here... I'm going to start taking photos of it, if nothing else.

[hydrokinetics]

That's a pretty good idea. Not like he can take away anything we do on our own time and efforts. Thanks, dude.