MOCK TRIAL WEEK 1

[consolemods]

So, after the sheriff's little introduction, you've got a better idea of why you're here... and outside of the more bloody-minded players present, it's probably not one you're terribly enthused about. Nevertheless, you're here, you're not leaving, and you've got a few rules to follow... but aside from that, you're basically left to your own devices. You can visit any of the locations in the town, and you do get complementary meals at the inn for breakfast, lunch, and dinner... but the question of whether someone will go ahead and kill hangs over the town like a dense fog.

Well, nobody's dead yet. But how long, exactly, will that last?

25 PLAYERS REMAIN

Comments

TUESDAY

[consolemods]

MMMMMOTIVE

[consolemods]

[Around noon, all players will receive a message through their consoles! It will be delivered through both through text and through the same excited, auto-tuned robo-voice as the rules.]

We have an exciting extra reward for anyone who takes the plunge and attempts to win WARS! If you successfully kill someone without being caught, you will not only win your freedom... you will also win an ice cream party!

This bonus is only available this week, so don't miss out!

[After the message is delivered, the text will disappear... though, uh, there will be a little blinking exclamation point in the top right of your console HUD. Every time you look at it, it will repeat the message. This... certainly won't get annoying. Definitely not.]

[monotonality]

You've gotta be shitting me.

[stavros]

...what.

[octoshy]

Did... did they say an ice cream party?

[MARINA NO]

[beguiledcard]

[ What the hell kind of motive is this. There's a bitterness to his tone, his teeth clenched before he mutters. ]

I don't think this is what they mean when they talk about screaming for ice cream.

[ ALSO SCREW YOUR BLINKING LIGHT???? ]

[flagrants]

Seriously? That's what you're offering? What kind of moron would be tempted by something this stupid? [ Scratch that. Five definitely would go for this. That glutton would probably go, "ohh, ahhh, something I don't have! I simply can't go another day without it!" and call the stupid shit "legendary."

The fucking worst. He's so glad she's dead. ]

And what part of the word "ice" is supposed to be enticing? Think about it! It's fucking cold! Ice cold! [ A beat. Anyone watching him can see a small shudder. ] Ugh, just thinking about it is giving me brain freeze!

[almightylaziness]

[McBurn just bursts out laughing when he hears this. His laugh does kind of give an impression he isn't really very normal and sane, by the way. But seriously, trying to tempt a fire demon with ice cream has to be the dumbest idea ever.]

Did they seriously try to tempt someone like me with something cold?

[kingofkoopas]

I'M GONNA EAT ICE CREAM WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT, LOSER!

[helldestiny]

...Ice cream. Really.

[fuckthemancers]

Salty Splatoon - the kitchen

[Another day, still as real as anything else with a new announcement, and Zulf spends most of the morning locked away in his room. This is just as real waking up with land scattered throughout the air and ash on his fingertips. He... needs the time to compose himself.]

[Around 10 to 11 am, there's the sound of activity in the kitchen even though anyone who's been paying attention will have noticed that the cook stepped out. That would be Zulf, having finally changed out of his clothing if only in the interest of cleanliness. Instead of wearing anything like chaps, he's got a bustle skirt on, although the vest and shirt underneath it are par for the course. He's in the middle of cooking something, and only glances over cautiously at the sound of someone. His hearing is pretty good apparently.]

Have you already eaten? I've made enough for other people.

[The ingredients are a little foreign to him... but not so foreign that he hasn't made do well enough, ad the smell coming from the pot isn't half bad.]

[He can be found doing similar at around 4 p.m., although he makes sure to take a bowl for himself to take up to his own room.]

[....He absolutely makes sure to get some meet out for Missile and Sissel.]

Morning

[provocatives]

[Niles is mostly around to see if he can't filch another knife, and while it's not completely unexpected to see someone deciding to cook their own meals, the offer makes him raise an eyebrow. He eyes the pot and indeed, it looks and smells as if the other man has an idea of what he's doing in the kitchen. And yet.]

Planning your escape already? Aren't you on top of things.

WEDNESDAY

[consolemods]

[stavros]

[Well, Kokoro's not having a good time.

In the morning, you can find her wandering the inn. She still hasn't gotten used to the headset, so she's walking slowly with her arms out, occasionally stumbling over things.]

Whoa! Ugh... Isn't there a way to mark that motive as read?

[Later, she's in the square, just sitting and looking into the well.]

...you'd think they would have some way for us to buy food, at least.

square

[acherontiastyx]

They don't seem to give a crap if you raid the kitchen between meal times, you know. The cook gave me the business when I tried to go in during dinner last night, but outside of that he doesn't seem to care.

[condemnedone]

[ Well that was a bunch of foolishness that Soren believes he could've done without seeing -- even if it was just seeing a lousy incentive. Honestly, he could see someone killing out of desperation, but for just ice cream. He actually began to wonder if people might hold their hand due to how much of an insult of an reward it'd be...it'd not like it'd be entirely unusual.

Soren can be found bright and early in the inn, specifically in the bar eyeing the alcohol. He's not grabbing any himself, mind you, but he's keeping track of what's stored in here. If, perhaps, someone wanted to use alcohol in a murder, he's sure someone would manage.

Around the afternoon, Soren can be seen in the square, nearby the well -- if someone comes near he'll turn to face them with a bothered look. ]

Can I help you?

[ Later on, he can be seen standing nearby the courthouse. He'll say one thing, more to himself than anything, with an irritated tone. ]

...This is ridiculous. I don't have time to play an idiotic 'game'.

[ Soren figures he'll find a way out somehow, but boy does he wish the Greil Mercenaries would bust in right about now. He figures Ike is already having a conniption with his disappearance. ]

square

[i_spy]

[ Spy had heard the "incentive" of course, and it was all he could do to sigh loudly. While it's not the most ridiculous thing that's graced his ears (then again, can anything compare to the drivel Scout and Soldier spew daily), but close enough. For now he's content to simply continue to explore this place in between making sure Pyro hasn't set anything ablaze. Sometime during his not so sneaky reconnaissance he hears Soren's question and stops to face the younger man, his lips curled slightly upward. ]

...are you sure you should be asking that question.

THURSDAY

[consolemods]

[Around noon, as with the motive earlier in the week, a message will be delivered through text and an irritating auto-tuned voice on the players' console huds.]

Good afternoon, players! Today is the day of your very first challenge, and it's going to be an Emu Race! Be sure to wrangle your emu of choice before 5:00 p.m. today, or else you won't be able to participate!

Once 5:00 P.M. rolls around, the race will begin! The first, second, and third place winners will receive fabulous prizes!

[...well, there you have it. When the players approach the paddocks today, they'll find that, in addition to horses, there are 25 emus in a veritable rainbow of colors running around.]

EMU WRANGLING

[consolemods]

[oh god. oh god. these are the most bad tempered emus you've ever seen. maybe you'll be able to calm them down enough to ride them, but........]

[stavros]

[You would think that Kokoro would be the logical choice to attempt to lasso an angry bird. You would think.

Instead, she's tangled in her own rope, flopped over on the ground and flailing.]

I hate this.

[thegoddamnmissile]

Excuse me, but would one of you be kind enough to ride with me? We can win together! And be friends!

[ This is one sweet, eager Pomeranian. He is attempting diplomacy. He's not sure how he'll ride one but. ]

[fuckthemancers]

[Well, if he's going to be riding giant birds, he should switch out of his usual clothes, which means Zulf is in a tried-and-true cowboy outfit for once. As for one of the skirts he'd usually wear, brightly colored?]

[Well, he's draped it over the gate to the paddock, agitating it now and then to see who go after it first. By his feet is a bit of feed and water in a bucket.]

[As it turns out, more than a couple of birds are pissed at the flappy intruder and are pecking at it. Zulf is just laughing a little bit.]

You guys really are full of spit and vinegar, aren't you?

THE RACE

[consolemods]

[Well. Maybe you managed to wrangle an emu. Maybe you haven't. Either way, when 4:50 p.m. rolls around, an icon will appear in your console HUD directing you to the paddock, where a makeshift racetrack has been laid out around the edge of the paddock.

When the time rolls around for the race to begin, the Sheriff will walk over to the edge of the track, count down... and then fire the starting gun into the air.

Let the race begin.]

FRIDAY

[consolemods]

Interactive Cutscene: Castle Doctrine

[exclusiverelease]

[A little after sunrise, the Sheriff's voice awakens anyone who isn't an early riser, a call to "Come on out to the square, rise and shine" irritated and pointedly sarcastic. This time, he isn't remote like Monday, or even yesterday afternoon, but tapping his foot as he waits next to the stocks. There's a woman dangling inside them, head covered by a black hood, and the way she's positioned it's hard to see anything else about here except the streaks of dust and blood all across her body.

Once enough players are gathered - and he skims the crowd to make sure everyone is there - he begins, much less of the impenetrable wall he was on Monday.]

Let's start with the little problems. I expected to see all twenty-five of you out in that paddock yesterday. Even the pup. This time, I'll let you off easy, since nobody knew the consequences, but next time... you're gonna find yourselves right here. I'll build a whole street if I have to for everyone that breaks the rules.

Now, some of these rules, they don't get punished by you sitting out in the heat all day. We call what happens in those cases "natural consequences". When somebody takes the window instead of the front door to come visit me, I don't think they're looking for a nice conversation.

[Yeah, there's broken glass in a second-story window of the courthouse, but that isn't what he's trying to draw your attention to. He snatches the top of the hood and pulls it from the woman's head. Makoto Niijima is dead, limply hanging from the frame.]. That was a bold move on her part. Bolder than brass, she could have had a real future in this game.

If anyone's looking to learn some secrets: next time, don't get caught. Are there any questions, or are you people going to keep assuming you know the answer?