The clock strikes twelve. The gong of the grandfather clock in the foyer tolls out the time in slightly unnecessarily obnoxious loud noises. The ambiance of this old mansion demands respect, care, awe --
Okay, no, wait, why are you even in this stupid dusty house?
No reasons are forthcoming, because everyone knows that people just end up in places like this sometimes. That's just how the narrative device works. The hows and the whys don't matter -- all that matters is that you're all here, so you'd better get cracking and start exploring, because it's not like you can leave yet.
Or ever, maybe.
 Good day, sirs and madams. Might I interest you in a nice glass of blood...y mary?
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PHASE I [ 02 15 ] All you see is white. The crash of thunder hits your ears next, punctuated by the piercing pitch of white noise in the background. After a few blinks, your vision comes back to you. Oh good, glad that you’ve joined us in the land of the living. Unlike the nondescript corpse at your feet – it looks like… a butler? Oh dear. You’ve already killed Murder Suspect Number One in most situations. How terribly ironic.
After all, who could’ve killed him but you? You might not remember, but there is definitely a murder weapon in your hand. It’s probably a knife or a poisoned glass of wine or-
Wait, is that a toaster? A full on toaster? Or maybe it’s a taser. Maybe you bludgeoned this poor guy with an entire encyclopedia. Either way, it looks like your murder weapon is a little unconventional, whether it’s a stranger’s pair of underwear or a hair curler. Are you really supposed to believe you committed a murder with these? (Yes.)
That said in the next second the double doors will be opening up. It’s pretty clear you’re not alone. Think quick!
PHASE II [ 0600 ] Exploring more around the compound, you’ll find plenty of those tall, oil portraits of people hung around the walls. When you start walking, they’re all strangers. However by the time that you feel like you’re wandering around for an hour, two hours, they might start looking a little bit more… familiar? Mom? Is that you?
You don’t have time to think about that, though. You were clearly framed! You don't’ have a motive for killing some random NPC –
“Or do you?” a portrait will ask.
Oh. Holy shit. Well it’d just be rude to leave, right? Whether you stick around for conversation or not, you’ll find that was just the beginning. The portraits are going to start grilling you. Welcome to CERES Central’s Roast of You. What was your motive? Don’t you know you should respect the servants? How would you feel if you were caught like that? Careful turning your back on them though, because if you ignore them for too long, the subjects in the portraits may just reach out and snatch you to join them in their portrait world.
At that point, the only way to get out is to swap places with some other poor, unsuspecting soul wandering around.
PHASE III [ 1045 ] You know what makes me hungry? Murder.
What’s the point of making a mansion this big anyway? Who’s even here? Either way, whether you’re looking for the kitchen to make a fine post-homicide sandwich or just trying to escape, you’ll eventually make it to a stairwell. The most finicky stairwell ever. Is that a trail of bloody footprints leading up the steps? What? No. Stop it, just climb.
Or well – don’t climb too quickly now. The staircases apparently have a mind of their own, swapping from one doorway to another. You definitely haven’t seen this before. It would seem that these stairs might even be interested in keeping you in a circle forever, no concern for whether or not you’re hungry or, god forbid, need to use the restroom.
However the portraits in the stairwell will provide a little tip: “The stairs are gossips, you know. Why don’t you tell us a little something about yourself? Make it good!”
Weirdly enough, sound advice – that is, if you’re interested in shouting out your most embarrassing secrets into the void so a mansion can keep talking shit about you. Oh well. Your alternative is just being a stair golem. There are worse fates.
PHASE IV [ 1430 ] This hall is oddly quiet.
Well, until you hear it – the soft sniffles coming from down the hall, the broken sobs. It sounds like someone’s crying. For one reason or another, your footsteps take you forward – there’s really no point in going back now after all, right? Yet as you continue to walk… walk… walk… the crying becomes louder and louder. More desperate, more despaired. In time, it’s clear that this person is wailing, screaming, “How could this happen?!”
Within the span of a breath, all the lights in the hallway go out, leaving you in pitch black.
It occurs to you then that you hear a second set of steps. When did you stop walking? A cold chill runs down your spine and you find yourself running then, despite the fact that it feels like this pitch black hallway goes on forever. The other footsteps pick up, remind you that you’re not alone. No, certainly not.
Best hope that you find some assistance soon – otherwise it looks like the Butler Association is going to ignite some righteous vigilante justice on your ass.
BONUS [ why o'clock ] You’re in the grand ballroom now, ready to present your case. Armed with a cob pipe (don’t smoke inside, it’s rude), a detective hat, and a single spotlight aimed right at you, you now have to explain how you came to the conclusion about the True Killer that is Obviously Not You. Rather, it’ll just be the character of whoever tags into this prompt – yes, you are suddenly so very sure that they’re the ones who are the ultimate mastermind of this entire game and… you’re just going to have to bullshit the reason why even if you know virtually nothing about them. It’s a dog eat dog world out there, you know?
Sorry about that.
Should you actually provide enough of a compelling case or they take pity on you, having a villainous breakdown for the sake of the plot, you’ll be awarded with a coupon that’ll give you three free scoops at your local ice cream parlor! (Note: you must buy the first two scoops in order to qualify.) Of course, if you’re not able to nail them down as the killer, you are obviously the killer yourself (citation needed).
From there, you’ll be dragged off to face your punishment: for six grueling hours you will be tickled mercilessly.
[ Remember to apply proper warnings on threads with sensitive or inappropriate material and do let a mod know if your thread careens off into maiming or canoodling so we can lock the log. ] |
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Mimori Togo | Yuki Yuna is a Hero
[ Okay, something weird is happening again. Status check: Not dead-- oh hey, it's a dead body.
Togo looks over the butler, but it doesn't take long to figure out what happened to him - there's a medieval longbow embedded in his back. That's when she realizes that she woke up holding an arrow.
Really? A bow and arrow? Also, isn't this backwards somehow?
When the door opens, she immediately realizes that she's being set up, in the most absurd way imaginable. ]
...Ah.
Before I defend myself, I'll go ahead and ask: Do you really think there's any way I could be the culprit here?
PHASE IV
[ Oh good. Just what she needed, more impending death. I mean, that's what's happening, right? In a scenario like this, they're obviously not just going to give her a stern talking-to.
So, time to run. Or at least, time to roll. Unfortunately, that's one of the downsides of being in a wheelchair - having to propel herself, her top speed is significantly lower than a crazed butler seeking vengeance. As she pushes herself down the dark hall, her imagination helpfully lights up with various horrible fates that could be about to befall her.
Sweat gathering on her brow, Togo calls out. She can't see anyone, but... ]
Hello? Is anyone there? I'm-- [ Glance back - whoever's chasing her, they're definitely getting closer. ] I need help! Now!
WILD CARD
[ Make something up! I'm up for basically whatever. ]
phase i
[She may cry?? This is the worst thing to ever happen.]
Why are you even asking me that?! Of course you didn't do it! Even if you do have the other piece of the murder weapon, I'm sure there's a good explanation for this! I'll find the real culprit and make them confess!
[YUNA YUKI IS AN ATTORNEY]
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Sorry, I asked it before realizing it was you. This makes things easier.
I heard some white noise, then suddenly woke up right here, holding the arrow. The butler was already dead at the time... sorry, but I think I just opened up your first detective case with the worst murder alibi of all time.
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[There are a lot of uncertain things in this world, but Yuna's absolute faith in Togo is not one of them.]
So what we need to do is figure out what happened while you were asleep...someone obviously planted the arrow in your hand, but who, where, and how...are you sure you didn't see or hear anybody? It was only the white noise?
[Maybe she just has to have her memory jogged. That works in anime, right.]
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Yuna wipes off the arrow as best she can, and carefully drops it next to the body without letting her fingertips touch it.]
...Yuna. I think we should get out of here.
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[She takes her usual place behind Togo and takes hold of the wheelchair's handles. If Togo wants to leave, then they're leaving.]
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[Togo, stop thinking like a murderer while trying to get out of being accused of murder.]
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[It's a little scary now that she's thinking about it.]
We can't just let them get away with what they did! If we're too late to save the poor butler, then we can at least let him rest in peace by finding the culprit!
[Yuna Yuki, the attorney, still moonlights as a hero.]
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Then let's review what we know. 1: The culprit possesses the strength to stab someone with a bow. 2: The culprit somehow got me in front of the body while unconscious, and planted the arrow in my hand. 3: The culprit clearly doesn't understand how a bow and arrow is supposed to work.
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[Yuna has a theory.]
So if we're on a different floor, then you must have been drugged! Like in the movies! Did you eat or drink anything after you got here?
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...This is the first floor, right? There's no elevator access to the higher floors in this mansion, so I couldn't have left the first floor of my own power. In other words, if I was drugged, then I suppose I could have just been rolled into position.
[Mentally adds another inconvenience to Wheelchair Life to the list.]
I remember drinking a cup of tea before this happened, so that seems to be the most likely poisoning method.
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[Yuna is so upset for her friend she's shaking. How could someone drug Togo...? How could someone try to set her up like this?]
I'm gonna make them apologize to you! Ten times!
[A terrifying threat.]
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[Protect Yuna from the real world 2016.]
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phase iv
Nevertheless, she turns on her heel and nearly stops because of what she sees, trying to utilize the light of her cell phone (yes, she realizes that it slightly clashes with the setting) but who cares? It's not important. ]
Need a lift?
[ There's a slightly hollow laugh as she realizes that's a bad joke, but she's willing to do it because she can hear the footsteps coming, realizing that they don't have much time. Although Inaba realizes it means abandoning the wheelchair if they go that route, it's going to be difficult to deal with stairs if they really want to get away from the mysterious presence; whether they're the actual murderer or otherwise. ]
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Regardless, a human voice and a cell phone's light. Even a total stranger is a welcome sight right now. Let's cut right to the chase. ]
Do you think you can outrun them while taking me with you?
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[ "Should", of course, being the key word here. She's had enough hours at the gym plus personal experience to be able to carry at least one person. ]
I don't especially like dying, even in a video game.
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[ Dignity heals a lot faster than stab wounds, after all. ]
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[ She shakes her head before turning around, crouching to make it easier on her. It's probably going to be for the best instead of carrying her princess style. ]
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Thanks. We'd better hurry.
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[ There's a slight grunt as she's carries her, walking fast before they hit two pathways. One is towards a set of stairs, which she opts to go down. ]
If we get out of here, we might be able to escape the level.
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The footsteps are getting farther away. I think we're losing it.
Hopefully I can get a new wheelchair later.
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[ Because it honestly would be rude if she exited without it. ]
If not, I can definitely get you a new one.
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Eventually, the sound of their pursuer is gone. Togo listens a while longer for any sign of them before speaking up. ]
I'm Togo, by the way.
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[ She keeps her ears open in case they come back before coming back. ]
Did people explain this place to you yet?
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Only the absolute basics. Something about my world being destroyed, and this being some kind of simulation...
[ Togo sounds... pretty detached about the whole prospect of global annihilation. ]
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