[ WEEK THREE – 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]

[. . . suddenly, everything Higekiri said last week-- about his choices being to kill, be killed, or help cover up a murder-- make sense. her brows furrow]

That adds an entirely new level to this trial. We were assuming the killers were Bandits. But. . .

[brings a hand up to her chin]

What if Riku and Annabeth were the Bandits chosen for this week, and both of them rejected their roles?

[dubiousalignment]

Then what happened to Nui could be the Bandit leader murdering someone besides those two?

[It's a possibility, that's for sure, but unfortunately there's nothing that could prove it]

[thatsthespirit]

It's possible. Or. . .

[Tarvek can practically see the gears in her mind working, clicking, putting puzzle pieces into place]

Nui was the Bandit leader.

[dubiousalignment]

Then who murdered Nui? Someone with a role?

[How many roles are in this freaking town]

[thatsthespirit]

It's possible. If there are roles meant to kill, why would there not be roles whose purpose is to eliminate them?

[lets out a small huff]

But that's merely speculation at this point. Perhaps we can find out more when the Sheriff answers Xion and Percy's questions.

[hydrokinetics]

[...he's not going to say anything but he's definitely sinking further into his chair because goddamn does that make so much sense. PLEASE BE WRONG BUT. Yeah. That's totally possible.]

...the Sheriff told me there's a failsafe in place if the Bandits don't kill. You can imagine what that means.

[thatsthespirit]

[her eyes slip shut, and she nods]

I can.

It makes sense, with what Higekiri said last week.

[she frowns]

The only thing that doesn't quite fit is the fact that the Sheriff didn't announce whether any of our victims this week had roles. Remember what I said earlier?

[hydrokinetics]

[Thinking about it.]

But do you remember what he said last week? He'd answer us if he thought we should know if they had roles. I think it's time for some clarification...we didn't really know about Manfred last week until we asked, right?

We need to make sure.

[thatsthespirit]

[she nods]

I think you're right. Should you ask, or should I?

[hydrokinetics]

...I'll go.

[thatsthespirit]

. . . are you sure?

[he looks a little hesitant]

[hydrokinetics]

[Because he doesn't know if he wants the truth, but.]

I have to. I'll take Xion with me, too. She deserves to know just as much as I do.

[thatsthespirit]

All right.

I'll be standing by.

[she sure is proud of you two]

[hydrokinetics]

[And now that that's done.]

All three of them were just victims. No roles, no special privileges, no Bandit status...nothing.

[thatsthespirit]

[exhales in a bit of frustration]

We're back to where we began.

Give me a moment. I'll summarize what we've found so far. I may have another angle we can look at this murder with.

[insincerely]

... Great. Back to square one, huh?

[hydrokinetics]

Yeah, I guess so. At least we have a couple of hours this time.

[thatsthespirit]

[and then--]

Ah.

You did well, Percy.

[impulsiveness]

... Time to switch tracks, then. I wonder if the Sheriff would be willing to tell Milla how many culprits we're looking for now? It's been a couple of hours.

[ceded]

[ Ah.

Xion pales, her reaction not far off from Percy's own.

Riku ... would never accept a role like that. She knows it. ]

And the leader took them out... Tarvek is right, though. What about Nui? Was she involved ... at all, or ...

[thatsthespirit]

I suspect. . . perhaps she was the Bandit leader, the one sent to kill them when they refused to comply.

[closes her eyes, forehead still creased, 'cause she's still thinking hard]

The only problem with this hypothesis is what I brought up with Percy, though.

[didn't the Sheriff say he'd announce victim's roles, if they were relevant? there weren't any announcements this week]

[ceded]

If she was, though, who killed her?

[ Xion sighs. ]

All we can do is ask the Sheriff.

[thatsthespirit]

Perhaps the Sheriff's answer will help us uncover the truth to that question.

[she nods at Percy, who just offered to bother the Sheriff about this]

[ceded]

[ Xion takes a breath, and nods too. She has her own question for the Sheriff, so she heads off with Percy. ]

[thatsthespirit]

[ya'll are some brave kids]

[Milla approves]