WEEK 0 TRIAL

[cartesio]

Week 0: Trial

By the time you get to the courtroom, the large clock on the top shows it’s 10:00 AM. The Sergeant is waiting in front of the open doors, when someone arrives he ushers them inside, into the trial room. He ignores any questions about why a trial will happen, all he does is glare at those who ask.

The trial room seems to have been modified for the purposes of having this sort of trials. There are thirty-three podiums arranged on a circle, none of them have any name or indication of where you must go. Looks like you’re free to stand wherever you want. The only exception is the podium draped in black velvet, with a cheap-looking polaroid of Lovepon placed right on top of it. The sides of the room have what seems to be tribunes, rising high and out of your reach, with enough chairs for a sizable crowd. It feels more like a stadium, and you and the rest of the participants would be the main show, but the seats are empty.

Once everyone is gathered at the trial room, the Sergeant glances up at digital clock on the wall, locks the entrance from the outside, and appears a short time later at the judge’s bench, positioned just as high as the public’s seats.

"I mentioned this already: we’re on a tight schedule right now. A life was claimed, and now your duty is to find who among you was responsible for this bloodshed. Lovepon deserves that much, doesn’t she? I trust you all investigated as much as possible. You should have enough to pinpoint who is the killer, now you must debate and decide who among you will be punished to the full extent of the law."

He raises his hand with authority. The shadows over his face seem to twist for a moment, as if they’re going to extend further over his face.

"No, you don’t have a choice. Submit your vote through the slot on your podium, all you have to do is write the name on paper and slide it there. Majority rules, refusing to vote is not an option. Now that I made myself clear..."

Let the trial begin.

Links

Evidence
Voting

Comments

[monstrology]

[...honestly, while Shepard's story is sad and unfortunate, Will's over here being confused about the wording. She...overloaded? And shut down? What.

There's something else that he wants to address though. He can't be the only one who's had this question in mind. So he looks at Waver.]

You know...you bring up a good point. I've been wondering: Is there a point to finding out who did this? And I don't mean to say that trials are useless and murderers should get away scot-free. The Sergeant asked for a death and received one, though I don't recall him ever mentioning a trial to find the one who gave him what he wanted would be involved. And yet here we are.

[alfin]

...Excuse me?

[ Alfin bristles. ]

Someone has been killed, and you wish for us to just turn the other cheek? You say that is not what you mean to say, but that is exactly what you have said!

[beanstarscream]

I sympathize with your position, but Will does have a point. I really am wondering what the Sergeant is getting out of this trial. It’d be one thing if we collectively made a decision to look for the culprit, but that isn’t what happened... which is curious, given that he gave us this pointless ultimatum of “kill or be killed” in the first place. He’s definitely sending some mixed messages here.

[londonstar]

[ he frowns, mulling over both sides of the coin. they're both valid. ]

Nevertheless, we must remember that he holds the upper hand in this situation. He's not exactly giving us an option in terms of whether or not we should do a trial and I refuse to vote arbitrarily for someone that may possibly be innocent.

[beanstarscream]

Hmph. Yes, that is the issue. I suppose there’s no reason to try and psychoanalyze a madman with too much power.

[londonstar]

Be careful what you say. [ he gestures to the Sergeant's shadowy-ness ] said madman with too much power's right there.

[cartesio]

Yes, instead of making assumptions why don't you try a more scientific approach and ask the source directly?

[monstrology]

[Lord.

At least he was prepared for this.]

Take it how you will, Princess. It's more that I am concerned with the outcome. As Faba said, the Sergeant hasn't exactly been forthcoming about the nature of this trial.

[beanstarscream]

Branch Chief Faba.

[monstrology]

[...oh, Faba's one of those kind of people.]

My apologies. Branch Chief Faba.

[Whatever that title even means.]

[beanstarscream]

Well, you don’t work with me, so you’re excused. A coworker of mine forgets it constantly, when she really should know better.

[monstrology]

[This is a sidebar, but...]

That's fair. I take it you are fond of your rank?

[alfin]

Why would someone innocent be concerned about the outcome of the trial?

[monstrology]

Are you implying something, Princess?

[He knows exactly what she's implying.]

[alfin]

I am. You killed her, didn't you?

[odoruhinokaze]

Woah now, Princess!

Aren't you jumping too quickly to conclusions here?

[snailedit]

Does he even fit the profile?

[Mira blinks, glancing down at his feet.]

[londonstar]

My Lady...do you have any evidence to back up such a heavy claim?

[theserpentsmiles]

Hold on - I think he means that the Sergeant told us one person had to die for the rest of us to go free, so why is the Sergeant also having us search for the killer? Even though it's the right thing to do - what's the Sergeant's goal here?

[monstrology]

I ask you ease up on the suspicion and not throw accusations so easily. I did nothing of the sort.

[He's taking all of this in stride at least.]

[odoruhinokaze]

Maybe because of how untrustworthy the Sergeant is.

But of course, we're going to need to focus on solving this despite all of that.

[monstrology]

[Thanks for giving the helpful answer, Axel.]

Indeed. And what the worst case scenario could be. Say, if we were to vote incorrectly despite or efforts.

[cartesio]

[Look who finally decided to get a word into this discussion]

I would say anyone who is innocent should be very concerned about the outcome of the trial. [The Sergeant flippantly gestures] I wouldn't be want to be on the shoes of the person you pinpoint as the culprit without actually having done the deed.

[snailedit]

Well isn't that nice to know right in the middle. Are you keeping it a surprise?

[cartesio]

Of course. It's simply...withholding information to obtain a more desirable outcome. At the time it wasn't convenient to say anything, that's all.

[It's something only someone with a complete control of the situation can do, as he sees it]