TRIAL ONE

[mayorityvote]

TRIAL

Once the various investigations have concluded, and the majority of the evidence has been dropped off with Makima and the ducks -- said ducks will scatter to start shepherding any travelers along to JojaMart, for some reason! Those already at JojaMart have a little less walking to do. Meantime, Makima has loaded the evidence onto the daycare wagon -- carefully packaged, because who wants a spill here -- and driven it off after the ducks.

There is, in fact, a back entrance to the JojaMart -- almost like a loading bay, but once it's opened and the wagon has been driven in, you can see that there's a small podium there along with a number of chairs and small tables. It looks like extra pieces used in either the Community Center or other areas around town may be stored here. The ceiling is tall and it's roomy, there's a scant few windows, but the white LED ceiling lighting and rather bare interior is only livened up by some larger spare whiteboards, extra shelving containing tools and knickknacks and a plant or two.

Once everyone is in -- Adela, Makima, a number of assistant ducks and the current inhabitants of the village -- the loading bay door is tugged closed by some enterprising assistants. There's a small door that probably leads into the front of JojaMart, but that's it. One of the ducks sets about serving tea in the slightly gloomy atmosphere.

You're welcome to examine the evidence in the wagon, discuss amongst yourselves, and figure out whodunnit in these first murders.

(( OOC: Welcome to your first trial! You'll have 7 hours (until 8 PM EST/5 PM PST) to vote one (1) person guilty of murder. As this is scapegoat style, a correct vote is not necessary. Please remember to vote unless otherwise discussed with the mods, as that is our AC for this game. ))

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Comments

[illprotecteveryone]

But--wait, if there are two killers then that'd mean one gets away with it?

[It's not confirmed there are two killers but with the short discussion Erika and she had, Colette leans towards thinking this]

[revelate]

[Adding onto what Colette said—]

If that's the case, you're directly aiding someone who has committed murder.

[theremote]

That is, if—

[She puts up one finger.]

—you conclude that there are two murderers. It’s best not to go in with preconceptions.

And— [another finger] —only if you can prove the culprits to some extent. In the end, it is up to you all to determine justice. I am an enforcer.

[revelate]

You're leaving the choice of who receives punishment in our hands... Why?

[theremote]

I believe I've mentioned it before -- this isn't just about finding the right culprit, but finding them in a way that the majority will accept. Despite my being the Sheriff, I doubt you'd accept a unilateral decision from me to administer the death penalty, would you?

This is my way of keeping the order and containing the damage. [...] It's also said that several heads are better than one. I believe in working in teams, whether for farming or for investigations.

[revelate]

What you're doing is putting the burden of death onto everyone's shoulders. If you feel that's a fair decision, we'll have to agree to disagree.

[theremote]

Do you think there is no burden if they don't participate in the process, Noah-kun?

[revelate]

I think you've backed us into a corner. If we refuse to vote, all we'd be doing is aiding the culprit — or culprits — in their crime. We've been left with no options— no choices to make of our own accord. None of this is fair.

[theremote]

I think you underestimate those here. Everyone has the right to participate in the process, because everyone can come under suspicion -- it would be much worse to exclude someone from the trial only to have everyone conclude they are the murderer, wouldn't you say?

And Noah-kun -- just because there are no choices you can personally accept, does not mean there are no choices.

[revelate]

I would agree with you if we had chosen to be here to begin with.

Regardless, you'll have things your way. I doubt anyone here cares enough for the dead that they'd throw away their own lives by refusing to play by your rules.

[theremote]

Hmm.

There's no need to be dramatic. The punishments I administer fit the offense.

[faildeus]

But you're the sheriff... isn't there anything like a surveillance system?

[theremote]

Did you notice something about the phone network last night? Communications, electronics... Things of that nature tend to fizzle out in this town sometimes for unexplained reasons. I hope you don't think we didn't try to set up a surveillance system, but it wasn't reliable, and we didn't have too many resources.

[faildeus]

Is... that so? I was with my cabin plus Nikaidou so... I didn't really feel the need to use the network...

[ faldeus shrinks back a bit, her point clearly having reached. ]

What a fickle town this is.

[theremote]

Yes. The place may seem simple at first glance, but the longer you're here, the more you'll come to realize how much lives under the surface.

It's as intriguing as it can be dangerous.