w2 trial.

[adjourn]

—THE SECOND TRIAL—

Once again, at 9 AM sharp, a familiar bell tolls to alert the hour. You've become familiar with the flow of things, haven't you? You know what tod o — find your answers before the final ring chimes. Even if you try to avoid it, eventually your legs will bring you towards where you know you'll have to be. The courtroom doors swing open, welcoming.

Come by again, and it looks just like last week. Take your seat on any one you wish, and peruse the table lined with (non-alcoholic) refreshments and snacks. The same sign, promising a lunch break. And of course, your observers, sitting by the jury's seat shuffling about a stack of papers. Ask your questions and they will answer.

The judge's seat shows the same message as it has always done: "GRANT WE THINE JUDGMENT — ABSOLVE THEE THINE GUILT," and the same, strange, incorporeal form stays seated at the high seat, hand resting unto a gavel's handle.

"Today we will be investigating the cases of: Akeha, Valvatorez, and Vicious. Court is now in session."

The same blue, translucent field prevents you from leaving freely once you're in. You know the drill, don't you?

TRIAL RUNDOWN

• Trial for these three cases (Akeha, Valvatorez, Vicious) will last 9 hours. Characters will have time to examine the bodies of the victim and explore relevant locations.
• Mod break will be at ⏰【1:00 PM PST】.
• Characters must vote for whom they believe to be the guilty party by ⏰【6:00 PM PST】. Voting is mandatory. With the last part of trial live, we will be accepting the submitted FINAL ANSWERS as everyone's collective vote!
• The judge is flavor text. Do not try to talk to them.

GAME INFO ✨ STATUSES ✨ RESERVES ✨ APPS

---

LOCATIONS (ROOMING) ✨ PRIVATE CONVOS ✨ GRAVEYARD

---

CYOA ✨ CONFESSIONAL ✨ MURDER PROPOSALS ✨ MOD REPORTING

Comments

[adjourn]

We are simply made with the programming needed to "assist" you, but we are unable to —

[ And then they get frogged. Ribbit. ]

[notbymyside]

...so we are in a simulation of some sort. Understood.

[HE'S SO TIRED]

[adjourn]

[ Ribbit!!! And poof back to normal. ]

[notbymyside]

Welcome back.

[He says that dryly.]

[adjourn]

Thank you! My, that was unpleasant.

[ The new tone of voice is noticeably more chipper, inappropriately so. ]

[notbymyside]

Did you get properly rebooted?

[adjourn]

Oh, it's less so "rebooting" and more just ironing out some wrinkles that just appeared in the system! Though it looks like I might have been reconnected a little wrong, but nothing too big of a deal now!

[ Claps hands. ]

Back to trial time!

[ Even though it's break. ]

[notbymyside]

[Back to trial...]

Well, if you need an expert's hand in ironing out more of the wrinkles, just let me know.

[adjourn]

Always eager to hear your suggestions of course!

[notbymyside]

Let me use my power to help you? I don't know if it will succeed, but you never know.

[adjourn]

Oh? The one you came with? The — [ makes small paper appear in hand, summons it away after a glance ] Discourse on Decadence?

[notbymyside]

That's exactly it. I can't help as I am now, but using that might grant me the knowledge I need to assist you.

[adjourn]

Very well then, we do encourage creative uses after all! Though I don't think it'll help me — really, with any luck, this personality change will even itself out, goodness — if it may still help you!

[notbymyside]

Alright then.

[He holds out his hand to them.]

Shall we?

[adjourn]

[ They take it!

And Ango will get to see some bizarre nonsense — it's less a single "point in time", and more a general concept that kind of gets fed into him, like code translating into thoughts.

LOADING DIRECTIVES . . .
The observers are here as "neutral parties".
The study is being conducted on the basis of "judgment" of "human nature".
There is no "evil" to be fought, and there is no "correct goal". However, elements have been manipulated to create a situation of tension and stress.
The study will be completed and answered, no matter what. ]

[notbymyside]

[HAHAHAHAHA

Ango continues to grow tired.]

Well, you were right. It will be more helpful to us than to you. My apologies.

[adjourn]

Whyever the apology?

[notbymyside]

Because I did want to help you, but in the end you helped me instead.

[adjourn]

How intriguing that you'd still think of us, despite our insistences that we are here for your needs, not the other way around.

Just a little more to go. Though we do hope that the system stops being overloaded soon.

[notbymyside]

That's just human nature. Even with other worries, even if you haven't been that great of a person in the past, you still feel that need to help someone when you think you can help them.

[adjourn]

[ Looks at deda return. We'll see if all that human nature shit holds up in about five minutes. ]

I see. This will be noted. It is a very "kind" gesture.

[notbymyside]

[YEAH WE'LL SEE...]