TDM: ROUND 3

[strangerpeople]

15 STRANGERS ROUND 3 TEST DRIVE There are 15 strangers in this place. Someone knows why. And its clear the odds are stacked against you. 1. ARRIVAL Oh god, you're inside a Base. Why are you here? What happened to your powers? Your memories? Who else has been so unlucky as to be brought in with you? What are you wearing? What are these strange rules? And...why do you feel like the person who wrote them is going to like yelling at you? 2. POWER You have been, er, "blessed" with a power. Its not a power you want or care for, but its yours now. You might want to try an control it, lest you hurt someone else. That is...unless you want to. Or if you want to try and see if you can break out of your new domicile. Or, hey, go ahead and blow things up - there's no rule against property damage aside from the camerabots, after all... 3. HOME So now you live in a Base of some kind. Whee. Maybe living here forever won't be so bad, since there are things to do with your free time. Unless you're looking for a way out, but surely, you wouldn't do that, right? 4. MINIGAME The Commander has decided to do...erm, 'games'. Those who win the games will get prizes, the Commander has promised. This Test Drive Meme's minigame: a laundry folding contest! The most items folded in one hour wins! Work alone, or in teams - either way, you get the feeling there's an ulterior motive to the Commander making you do this while they watch and laugh... 5. MOTIVE The Commander has (somewhat too gleefully) announced the motive for the week. Clearly someone out there really wants to give you a reason to kill someone else. How will you react? Will you stand against such an insult and help others to fight the temptation? Or perhaps, you yourself are tempted...? 6. DEATH One of your own has died - no, been killed. The Inquisition has started. The body lies before you, and now you must discern the truth from the clues before you. But can you when you mourn? Or, perhaps you don't mourn the dead. Perhaps you're only playing along because you know more than you let on. 7. TRIAL Well, it looks like the Commander wasn't kidding when they said there would be a trial if someone was murdered. So now you're here, looking to condemn the responsible killer. If you do, they die. If you don't, well, you'll end up killing an innocent person, as the Commander has announced what would happen if the majority votes incorrectly. Whatever happens, you have to figure out what happened. Can you? 8. SCAPEGOAT Oh dear...the Commander has just announced that the person everyone just voted for...was actually completely innocent! Not only that, but they've revealed who the real culprit was! Maybe you're that innocent person, trying to say your goodbyes or beg for your life. Maybe you're one of the ones who voted for the innocent person, trying to cope with the horrible act you've just committed. Or maybe you're the true culprit, who now has to not only deal with an innocent dying for your actions, but also the fact that you can now be killed without repercussion!... 9. WILDCARD Anything not mentioned above. Go wild!

Comments

[stealsyourduelist]

[...]

I was speaking more figuratively, but it seems I may have been too late even for that.

[It's really not his problem if he comes off like a lunatic, anyway. Rosenkreuz peers critically at C.]

Is such a question relevant, or are you simply trying to waste time?

[losergod]

Just curious what you thought might await you. Because you seem to be afraid of the concept, if you imply I should not want this to happen to me.

[ A chuckle. ]

But that's only human. I can't blame you for having human instincts. Fear is nothing to be ashamed of. Fear means that your vessel still contains something inside it.

[stealsyourduelist]

[Does he not know what "figurative" means... He's slightly ticked off that he mangled his meaning that badly and even implied that meant he's being afraid in this moment in time.

So he pretty much has decided right then and there that C is a blithering idiot, and he refuses to dignify that statement with a response.]

Regardless, it is this sorry individual who is dead now. We must determine their identity.

[losergod]

[ He sideglances at Rosenkruz, but it's clearly a look of, "ha ha I'm right wow" amusement. ]

Determine their identity? I doubt that will be difficult. We need only to do a... head count.

[stealsyourduelist]

[For the record, he believes in metempsychosis.

Rosenkreuz makes a face like he sucked on a lemon. C, would you murder this man as an excuse to make a lot of head puns? At this rate he wouldn't put it past him. He also kind of hates that he's not exactly wrong.]

Are you finished?

[losergod]

It was merely a suggestion.

[ Your scowl is giving him fucking life. His life has extended by one whole year, thank you. ]

If we gather everyone together, it will be relatively easy to tell who isn't here. This place is small. There isn't exactly somewhere to hide.

[stealsyourduelist]

[He's the fountain of youth. Rosenkreuz just sighs.]

Indeed, there are not. Thank you for elaborating on what was already obvious.

With that in mind, I would better serve us investigating this body. Are you going to rally the troops?

[He doesn't even care that he'd be inflicting the annoying on everyone else.]

[losergod]

I can do that!

[ Annnnd off he goes, hands behind his back. What have you DONE, Rosenkreuz. When he returns, he clicks his tongue. ]

I think our dead friend is that man who really liked poisons. What was his name, Cesare? Well, I can tell you he probably hasn't been poisoned!

[ He sure is amused. ]

[stealsyourduelist]

Cesare, hmm...

[Rosenkreuz's eyes narrow. He is clearly still displeased, but he's not surprised.]

He appears to be a man that made enemies wherever he went. Such a pity.

[losergod]

[ He'll glance down at the wound. He won't touch it just yet. ]

Do me a favor and turn him over, will you? I want to see if he has any other injuries.

[stealsyourduelist]

I already checked.

[He did say he would be better off investigating the body.]

There were injuries on his wrists and knees. It seems he was restrained or otherwise incapacitated... perhaps someone found it amusing to play at being the executioner with a guillotine. Though they would have to do without the actual machine.

[we're assuming he got the knowledge of the guillotine from card games]

[losergod]

Finding a guillotine in this space would be difficult. It's likelier they used something else. Which means we're looking for a murder weapon, probably something big enough to cleave cleanly through a human neck, bone and all.

[ He shakes his head. ]

My, what a violent thing to do. In which case--where do you think someone might hide such a thing? We only have one shower, so I doubt it'd go in there.

[stealsyourduelist]

[You damn kids and your running water. At least Rosenkreuz has had a couple weeks to get used to the terminology.]

If the culprit is that fond of dramatics, we may find it simply discarded without a care.

[losergod]

We have an additional point to consider: who would be strong enough to cut his head off. I doubt anyone was making complex levers to do the job, after all.

[ So that probably rules out tiny weakass people (like him) and small girls. ]

[stealsyourduelist]

Hmph. Save your speculation for the trial! Right now it will only distract us.

[He moves away from the body, though.]

I'm finished with this.

[losergod]

... Someone is going to need to preserve this evidence. Should I do a sketch?

[ It's a suggestion. ]

[stealsyourduelist]

[Rosenkreuz crosses his arms at that, but... actually considers this. It's not like there are cameras where he's from, so it sounds legit... if he put his hesitation aside, which is asking too much.]

Cesare's body deserves respect. If you can manage to draw one of our number without imposing your artistic liberties, then by all means.

[losergod]

[ You're talking about the fact he's drawn you as a cute girl, aren't you. You're just butthurt you were adorable tbh. ]

So I suppose putting a tutu on him is right out, then.

[ IT'S A JOKE... ]

[stealsyourduelist]

[What is.......a tutu. He has no clue. But eh, if C thought of it, then]

Absolutely not.

[losergod]

...

[ He's quiet for a moment, looking actually halfway serious. ]

I have to ask. You didn't have anything against our rather unamenable fellow, did you? Considering you both are rather... historically pressed.

[stealsyourduelist]

[And that, actually, makes him chuckle for the first time, though it's dark and incredulous.]

I see you've mistaken me for a common assassin. If I did have any 'historical' reason to kill him, this would hardly be the time or the place... we're in a different age, with naught to gain but a feeble promise. There's no glory in it. He had never even lifted a card.

[losergod]

You mistake my questioning for something so banal. Assuming that the founder of the Rosicrucian Order was a common assassin is simply ridiculous. I'm asking because you're likely strong enough to have killed him, out of several others in the running. Easiest to start with you.

[ A smile. ]

Besides, the sooner we collect this information, the less hassle we have during the trial. And I, for one, would prefer a little less wasted time.

[stealsyourduelist]

[The possibility being raised doesn't seem to trouble him much, although he does think that C has a funny idea of how not to waste time.]

You profess to know so much about Cesare and I from your history. One would think an enmity between such distinguished figures would have been noted, if it had existed.

[And if not... does he honestly expect him to tell him the truth, if it had really been him? It's a fruitless line of questioning, so pardon him if he sounds a bit sarcastic.]

[losergod]

Well, even God has gaps in his knowledge. I can only know what I know about my own time. ... Your version of history is completely askew. So is his. It's not how the timeline should have gone, in the slightest. I'll admit, I can only assume so far. It doesn't hurt to ask. For all I know, you could have had something against him.

[ But he believes him. Rosenkreuz isn't really that subtle about disliking someone. ]