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?
|
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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no subject
[Jonathan hesitates. Of all the rebuttals the young man could have thrown out there, this was just about the last one he expected. For someone who he's certain played a major role in all of this, it's...an unusually humble statement, actually? Not to mention the fact that he looks like just a teenage boy.
For a moment, it almost seems like Jonathan's going to believe him entirely and apologize, but then he remembers what happened the last time he hesitated, the last time he let his guard down around someone he knew to be sadistic and cruel, and while he's not nearly so judgmental as to compare Yusuke to that person, he knows in his heart that he cannot make the same mistake again. He may not know anyone in this strange locale, but it's his duty to protect them, no matter what.
His expression hardens and he leans in further. The spotlight somehow seems brighter.]
I have seen and heard enough to know where I stand. If I have to, I'll explain everything from the very beginning.
no subject
But as Jonathan then moves in closer, face stern, Yusuke realizes that hoping for a normal resolution in this place was just plain dumb.
He leans back, trying to put some distance between him and this giant of a man, but as Jonathan makes his... threat? It sure seemed like a threat where he was sitting-- Yusuke's face drops in an expression of disbelief.]
No! Jeez, it's bad enough I'm stuck here, but you don't gotta make it worse by going into exposition mode on me!
I'm telling you, I got nothing to do with this! Track down whatever assholes made this place, they got more to answer for than I do!
no subject
Anyways.]
Whoever made this place?
[He furrows his brow.]
You cannot mean the family who owns this estate.
[Yeah, he also has very little idea of where the hell he is.]
no subject
There's a pregnant pause as Yusuke gapes at the other man, not entirely sure what to make of that new revelation. How could he not know where he was? Was he one of the game's NPCs? No, no, he felt human enough, so that wasn't the case... so was he a new person CERES decided to drag into the fray?
Man, he really wasn't in the mood to explain all of this right now, so he's just going to roll with it.]
Yeah, I do, actually. They own, uh... everywhere around here too. The villages, forests, all that old-timey stuff. They're responsible for dragging us into this stupid mansion in the first place, and I'd bet good money that they probably killed that person you're investigating too.
no subject
You seem to know a great deal more about this place than I do. In that case, tell me this!
[He tugs the brim of his detective hat down so it covers his eyes - mostly because he's averting his gaze, since he's starting to have doubts about who's really responsible for all this.
You are too nice to be a detective.]
Why would such an esteemed family arrange the murder of their own servant...and for that matter, why would they bring so many people here against their will?
no subject
But, it does seem that he's getting through to the other man, which was a relief-- maybe there was some hope after all. Crossing his arms, Yusuke leans back on his chair, looking every bit the petulant child.]
You think I know? I'm still trying to get to the bottom of that myself. Considering this 'family' also got a history of doing some seriously sketchy stuff to their other 'servants', it wouldn't surprise me if they offed the guy for finding out a deep, dark secret of theirs... or going against their will.
i'm sorry for my weird tag schedule.......
[If what Yusuke's saying is true, maybe his hunch was wrong. Still, he seems to be angry about something else, and he clenches a fist by his chest.]
Even if they are as immoral as you say...a noble family should treat their servants with nothing but respect!
shhhhh it's okay mine is all over the place too
Yeah, well... 'noble', they ain't. They pass themselves off as that, but it looks like all they really care about is their own best interests.
[And his nose wrinkles, trying to cobble together something that was the truth but also kept with this running theme.]
From what I've heard, they went and sacrificed a number of people to these ancient 'gods' on their property, for some reason or another, and they also did some weird... tests on their ghosts too. Like I said, I don't know the full story, and I know it sounds crazy, but some of the other folks that got dragged here can vouch for it if you wanna grill them instead.
rip my sleep patterns they've been lost to canon review
Better yet. Is there any chance that this family could still be nearby?
I cannot say for certain that they are responsible without meeting them in person...but if you help me search for them and prove your innocence, then I'll forget any of this ever happened.
[He has no reason to believe they aren't human, so he's not going to go full-out on them, but he seems determined in a way that's almost frightening.]
who needs sleep when you can look at buff men with superpowers eeeyyy
His expression darkens a bit at the question, however, unsure about the answer.]
... yes AND no. They don't usually stick around in person for... these things, but I'm positive they're watching from somewhere. I don't think we can sniff 'em out from here, unfortunately.
[He glances up as Jonathan makes the offer, surprise and a bit of confusion on his face.]
You still don't believe me after all of that, though? I mean, hell, I'd love to meet these guys face to face and give 'em a good piece of my mind, but... [And he falters for a moment, thinking up a good way to explain it.] I don't think they're anywhere in this mansion. Or anywhere around it, to be honest. They like to hide out in a, um... fancier mansion, and they kinda have a bad habit of not letting strangers leave there alive.
damn right! (1/2)
[HOW MANY MANSIONS DO THESE PEOPLE HAVE]
I want to believe you, but I cannot sit here, knowing that such atrocities are taking place, and take no action. If it's dangerous, then you don't have to come...but please understand. I'm fighting for everyone who these people have hurt for their own gain. I cannot let anyone else die!
[It actually seems like the imminent threat of death has strengthened Jonathan's resolve instead of warding him away from the whole thing altogether. A gentleman must charge into fights he knows he's more than likely to lose, after all. He pushes up the brim of his hat and is about to go search endlessly for that fancy as fuck mansion, if he can even get outside, but when he takes that first step away from his suspect...]
2/2
Oh, Jonathan. What would happen if you failed to prove your suspect's guilt?]
W-What?!
[He hasn't been dragged away yet, but tickling is imminent.]