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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korra | the legend of korra
[The... fine piece of art Korra had been holding clatters to the floor as she kneels down next to the body]
Hey, are you- [Oh, no, he's not fine. He's not fine at all, now that she gets a better look at him. It's only then that she realizes how sticky her hands are, the smell of blood sending her jolting back. She looks around, her mind racing to find something to do about... something. Her fingers twitch anxiously as if she could rub the blood off of her skin before she recovers the figurine from its spot on the floor, the gaudy purple glitter just barely visible beneath the blood and... other pieces.
She's standing still, staring at the object with an incredulous look on her face before the sound of approaching footsteps snaps her out of her thoughts.]
It wasn't me! [She nearly yelps as she whirls on the spot, sending blood splattering onto the unfortunate person. Ah.]
PHASE II
[There's a young woman having a yelling match with several portraits at once. Impressive enough she seems to be keeping up with them, although she seems to be responding to some criticism with just flat out insults.]
You're Tenzin just as much as I'm the Earth Queen. [She snaps to a portrait of a man with an arrow on his head and an impressive beard, which he twitches in response.]
Can't you do anything right? First your actions lead to the Avatar cycle being destroyed, and now you've become a murderer! [A woman in metal armor all but snarls from her frame.]
You're such a brute-
Resorted to violence to solve your problems, as usual-
Aang was a much better Avatar-
[There's a frustrated yell, and oh- her hands are on fire. But she's not panicking, so that must be normal for her. She also looks like she's about to turn the paintings into a pile of kindling.]
WILDCARD
[Pour some sugar on me.]
one!!
Calm down, calm down! I didn't-- I didn't think you did. [It's difficult, though, to come to any other conclusion.] I mean, wouldn't there be glitter on the corpse if you...
[She trails off with a Look at the dragon statue, as if to say if you did him in with that thing? Really, where did this lady find it??
Maybe she needs one for her room. Strike that, she definitely needs one.][Sulla looks to the corpse. She looks to Korra. She looks to the corpse again, its open eyes, the deep red of congealing blood that seems too real.]
Weeeee should get out of here.
no subject
I don't know, I didn't look that close! [And she's not about to look again. What if there is glitter on it?
The girl looks just as panicked as Korra feels, which helps, diminishing the urge to hurl the statue in self-defense. Ugh, why is she still holding this thing?]
I- [It doesn't feel right, just leaving the poor guy here, but there's so much going on and the next person to show up might not believe her.] Yeah, good idea.
[Korra spares the body one last glance before she makes a break for another door on the opposite wall... still holding the statue.] Let's go!
no subject
[And with the most innocent whistle, she closes the double doors behind her. Out of sight, out of mind, out of ughhh, her hands are still bloody.]
With all the weird memory and possession stuff that's been going on lately around here, I don't know if it's related, but-- But we should be safe. For now. [Comforting!] Creepy, huh?
Phase II
[ These nosey portraits had finally, somehow, ended up with Re-L in Korra's general stair vicinity - mainly in a not-so-happy accident, considering that Re-L utterly refused to give them any 'juicy details' about her life like they kept demanding, and well.. she wasn't having anything to do with conversations with her grandfather through these portraits, either. Iggy and Daedalus included.
Though.. Korra may notice that in the span Re-L had just come from, this stern metal face is staring out of the portrait.
The dark haired teen seems relieved to see an unfamiliar face in that portrait - eyes flicking to the fire in the other girl's hands, before giving an approving nod. ]
I'll help you build the bonfire, if that's what you're thinking.
II
[Tactlessly, gracelessly, Sokka inserts himself into the thing, standing a respectable but still arm's reach distance from this girl who looks like his countrywoman. No big deal.]
Can we not destroy Avatar cycles? We need those, in case someone else tries conquering all the nations they don't, uh, extensively murder first? Thanks.