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

Hand Check?

[alchemistake]

If there was only a few drops, then that sounds like it might be the case.

Do we want to check to see if anyone has any recent cuts on their hands? It couldn't hurt, at least.

[He's already pulling off his gloves to show that, well. They are cut, but none of the cuts are fresh. There are some scrapes and scratches from working, bruises from accidentally hammering his thumb, maybe an old burn scar or two.]

Re: Hand Check?

[sugarlumps]

Uuuuugh, fine.

[Her hands are clean, she hasn't been touching shit.]

[mayavericks]

[Maya sets her sword down. Her hands are pretty much pristine! They're very well cared for, and certainly no cuts on them! Just maybe a few callouses on her sword hand?]

[violentenvies]

[Salieri will present his palms as well, which are smooth and unmarred, the nails painted impeccably black.

[whatyouwant]

[Elle's hands are immaculate. No cuts, not a nail out of place.]

[voicerights]

[Take a peek, folks. Utterly pristine.]

[themuseabandonsyou]

[ Orpheus will nod and hold out his hands for inspection. There's no sign of any wounds on them, just calluses from playing string instruments on his fingertips. ]

[tellthestory]

[The Balladeer's hands are calloused in the way you'd expect from the guy who plays guitar all the time, but there's no cuts or scratches!]

cw: hunting talk, animal bits

[comeandfindme]

[ Calloused in general! She has a few cuts. ]

...I was cleaning the deer skin.

[mayavericks]

[her eyes narrow, just a little. Considering Peregrine's reaction, she doubts that this would have been her, but...

She steps a little closer, away from her current group.]

May I look a little closer?

[Mostly, she's trying to see if the cuts are smooth like they would be if done with a blade, or more jagged, like from an accidental cut from porcelain?]

[comeandfindme]

[ There's a slight glare when she looks at Maya, but she holds up her hand. They appear to be smooth, like they were done with a blade. ]

Stupid gloves weren't thick enough. This good enough for you?

[mayavericks]

[Maya keeps her gaze even. There's definitely no accusations here, but... She doesn't blame Peregrine for being on edge.]

It is, thank you.

[voicerights]

[Just looking at Maya blandly. It seems to have gotten the hint that its own 'questioning' wasn't appreciated, but. There's something in its gaze.]

[mayavericks]

Do you have something to say, SQUIP?

[voicerights]

Many things. [Look, it knows the meaning of restraint!] However, were they to come from a fellow human, it is possible there would be less...upset.

[wanderlusttitania]

[Sissi quietly shows her hands.

No cuts here!]

[defyingfrigidity]

[Elsa holds her hands up; pale and delicate, it would be easy to notice any marks on them, so it's clear at first glance that they are not cut!

[brokeforgood]

Oh my God Varian, love yourself. [She's right here and can see all that.]

You need a hand mask, stat. [Her hands are as nice as you would expect from someone who just made a comment about hand masks.]

[sugarlumps]

We all need a lumping spa day after this.

[brokeforgood]

I have a feeling Elle knows a place.

[sugarlumps]

Oh glob, please, can we? She's got, like, super good taste, wherever it is probably rocks.

[disharmonizes]

[There's maybe some glitter here, on account of some very sparkly outfits in the costume room, but no wounds here.]

[howtheworldwas]

[ Eurydice’s hands are clean. ]

[samefacesyndrome]

[ Hands are all fine here. ]

Re: Hand Check?

[employeeoftheyear]

Well I don't have blood, but...

[He shows his hands. Sure enough no cuts or blood!]