First Trial

[stagemanagers]

[As the investigation ends, you'll hear Hester's voice inviting you to the auditorium. As this happens, the twin doors on either side of the concession stand, across from the gym, will click open. You can enter on either side; both go to the same place.

When you enter the auditorium, it's dark. There's only the small lights along the walkway behind all the seats, just enough to illuminate where you're going. There's a central path between the seats, down towards where you know the stage must be. That's where you must be going, right? As you pass each row of seats, the lights at their ends flick on, marking your procession and slowly making more and more of the room visible. Shortly, you can see your destination: a circle of podiums stationed in the orchestra pit, below the lip of the darkened, curtained stage. They're all identical, labeled with a cast member's name, save for Mumble's, which is draped in black crepe and has a framed monochrome photo of him - Elijah Wood him - on top.

When you reach the podiums, the lights above the stage finally come on. It's time to meet the Wizard.

The mechanical head, with glowing green eyes, is installed above the stage and the still-closed curtain. Even if you were standing on the stage, it'd be well out of reach. It peers down at all of you, its motions fluid, and speaks with a booming, artificial-sounding voice:]

Welcome to your first trial, everyone. I am the Wizard. It's time to determine who was responsible for the murder of Mumble. Feel free to talk amongst yourselves and work together - you'll have to show teamwork if you want to leave this room alive.

Comments

[stagemanagers]

That's not how it works. This part of the first trial is practically tradition!

[mcfife]

Tradition? Have you tortured others before us?! How many have you killed, foul Wizard?

[alchemistake]

[Yeah, uh SORRY WHAT]

What are you...

[What is he implying?]

What are you talking about!? Are we not the only ones you've kidnapped?

[stagemanagers]

Do you really think I started this?

[violentenvies]

Wh-Who, then, is the mastermind behind this farce? [that was a bit of a stutter of fear but it's out there]

[stagemanagers]

They're a little above all of our paygrades. You should focus on what you can control.

[Which is, admittedly, rather a lot more for him.]

[violentenvies]

[EYENARROW]

So far above that you cannot even name them?

[stagemanagers]

[He tilts his head for a moment, the green lights of his eyes darting to somewhere above.]

...it's too early for that. You write shows - you know about pacing.

[mayavericks]

How many others have there been?!

[stagemanagers]

Let's just say, a lot more than we have to worry about here.

[mayavericks]

[Her eyes narrow, just a little.]

Have any of us been through this before? Aside from the Balladeer's own pending game, I mean.

[stagemanagers]

Worry about that next week.

[alchemistake]

I- wh-

[Varian hesitates, immediately flustered when the onus is turned back on him to answer.]

Who else? Unless you're trying to imply you're working with someone we don't know about.

[Which, at this point? Would not surprise him, seeing how little they've been kept in the loop thus far.]

[stagemanagers]

Hasn't the Balladeer told you all yet?

[Unclear how a robot head managed to sneer, but he sure did!]

[mcfife]

He works in a show where people don't kill each other! How does this have to do with your evildoing?

[tellthestory]

I'm pretty sure he's talking about...his writer? A writer? Honestly, he's right that we can't do anything about that, and I think it's a little tacky that he just brought it up like that.

[Like okay we get it, weird flex dude

also that definitely earns him a glare from the Wizard, but whatever]

[violentenvies]

[feudalladyshandmaid]

You-?!

[Cassandra is incredulous. Somehow, this makes her even madder.]

Do you think that makes what you're doing better?

[employeeoftheyear]

Even if you didn't start this, it's really mean do help out with this without question!