INVESTIGATION

[consolemods]

So you've had the week to adjust to your weird new situation, with most of the days leaving you to your own devices. There's been the threat of murder hanging over your heads since Tuesday, but... is anyone going to go for such a silly motive? Does anyone want ice cream that badly? Nobody's gonna be dead, right?

Well, everything seems pretty normal when you wake up in your rooms... but you might find something unusual when you go downstairs into the inn.

Care to explore?

Comments

[consolemods]

[There's actually some rope floating on the surface of the water that isn't connected to the bucket! It's kind of obscuring the rest of the water, but... it looks like you can make out something under it.

Looks like you might have to go well diving, Soren. Or Zulf. One of you. Fortunately, it's big enough that a person can go down without getting stuck, and the rope connected to the bucket is sturdy enough that you can climb down on it...]

[condemnedone]

[ Ummm... he's not doing anything with that. Nope. ]

Zulf, I'm going to need for you to go down there -- it seems like there's something else that can only be retrieved by someone doing so.

[fuckthemancers]

[f u c k]

...I really have to, don't I? [It's said with a quiet horror. But still, can Soren even hold the rope...?]

[Someone passing by gets his attention, and Zulf turns his head.]

Ah- Guzma! Can you hold this rope, please?

[acherontiastyx]

Eh?

[yeah, he was... not actually sure where to go to look for clues, whoops]

Yeah, sure. What, did someone throw the body in the well?

[condemnedone]

... Possibly, or something else.

[ There is a sigh in there. ]

[fuckthemancers]

[Good news, here they are. Zulf undoes the skirt around his waist, shimmeying out of it. Yes, he's wearing pants beneath, and yes, he has been dying of heat out here, but that's just the life he's chosen to lead.]

We can't tell. One of us- ugh- [He grimaces.] One of us has to go into the well.

[And that person is apparently Zulf, as he gets a firm hold of the rope and peers down into the well. Also, he'll take that bucket with him, just in case. It'll be handy.]

Tell me when you're ready....

[acherontiastyx]

Yeesh. Well, alright, I'll keep a hold of you.

[he grabs the rope and holds steady...]

Right. Go on ahead.

[fuckthemancers]

[And down Zulf goes!]

[This will not be a regretful choice whatsoever.]

[consolemods]

[Fortunately, while the well isn't really shallow, it's not particularly deep, either. But he's definitely going to watch his step for two reasons.

One, the object at the bottom of the well is a pitchfork. Don't step on those sharp tongs! But there's also something round and kind of hard down there...]

[fuckthemancers]

[So far, better than expected. Still, Zulf will keep his feet on the wall of the well for a little longer, and try to grab the pitchfork first.]

There's a pitchfork! And something else, hold on...

[With the pitchfork in hand, can he prod the mystery object to the water's surface?]

cw: eye gore

[consolemods]

[He can, but he's gonna regret it, because it's an eyeball.

Might also wanna get that rope floating on the water because there's some evidence on that, too.]

[fuckthemancers]

[HEY GUYS WANTED TO HEAR MORE YELLING]

[BECAUSE ZULF IS YELLING]

[ALSO THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN A SWEAR. WHAT LANGUAGE? WHO KNOWS. IT SURE SOUNDS LIKE A SWEAR THO.]

[After a second, he gets a hold of himself again.]

It's an eye-!

[condemnedone]

[ For his credit, his frown deepens only slightly. Then again, he's seen some things in war. ]

What else? Just the eye?

[fuckthemancers]

How can- [He cuts himself off mid-sentence to take in a deep breath. Calm. Just. Calm. Don't look at the eyeball.] There's the pitchfork, the eye, and that rope... I... think that's it...

[Is it? He'll look around again, trying not to linger too long on the eyeball.]

[consolemods]

[Yep! There's a little bit of blood on both ends of the rope, but other than that, you're good!

Good.

"Good."]

[fuckthemancers]

["Good".]

Yes, that's it. Hold on, let me see if I can...

[Using the pitchfork, he'll scoop up the rope to deposit into his bucket. That part is easy. What's much harder is getting the eyeball, and, after a couple of awkward attempts to splash the pitchfork so that it comes closer... Zulf sighs.]

[He's starting to feel sick.]

Soren, can you get me the strainer...? I don't think I'm getting it any other way...

[He could use his hands, but, uh, fuck you]

[condemnedone]

...I'll be right back.

[ At least he's not forcing him to use his hands. He sure wouldn't; it takes a bit and his step's a little hurried but he returns with the strainer. He looks down in the well.

... Might as well hold it out and then toss it lightly down there. ]

[fuckthemancers]

Ah-

[Welp. There it goes, splashing into the water. Zulf's hands are a little full with everything he's trying to juggle down here. Well, whatever. Prop a pitchfork against a wall, grab the strainer, get the eye, get the pitchfork again...]

Pull me up, please... I can't stand being down here any longer.

[He smells blood. And has an eyeball in his possession.]

[condemnedone]

[ ... He'll look to Guzma again and leave it to him because noodly arms and noodle mage. ]

[acherontiastyx]

Yeah, I can't blame you. Hold on tight to... whatever you've got. Yech.

[AND PULL ZULF UP HE WILL!]

[fuckthemancers]

[UP HE GOES]

[At least Zulf tries to help, pushing up with his feet where he can, until he's finally shoving the pitchfork over the side of the well and then pulling himself up.]

Eugh- someone take this, please.

[acherontiastyx]

Yeah, okay.

[he'll take the pitchfork, at the very least. he's also grossed out by the fucking eye but....]