Hostile Action Trial

[mockmods]

[As you all finish investigating, an electric chime rings out across the PA system.]

I believe that should be sufficient time for you all to prepare. Assistant, please escort everyone to the trial room.

[Penny emerges from the Security office again, head down, and slowly collects everyone; she leads you all to the east side of the common room, to the short hallway between dorms B1 and A2, that’s dead ended through your entire time here. As your group approaches, the wall seamlessly slides up to reveal a hidden doorway. Passing through leads to another short hallway and a small, round room, just big enough to hold all of you. Penny passes her ID over a small pad near the doorway, and it blinks green before the room lurches slightly beneath you; an elevator going down.]

[A short trip down leads you to a larger chamber, with a series of twenty-two podiums set up in a ring; in the center is a column of computer stations with large monitors, behind a set of thick metal beams with occasional faint flashes of energy arcing between them and a constant, low hum.]

Welcome to your first trial, Participants. You will use this time to determine which among your number killed the Legendary Bassist, and send them to justice. Failure to choose the correct culprit will have dire consequences for you all.

[Trial: commence.]

Comments

[eudaimonikos]

[Michael has:

- His electronic ID
- One pocket square
- A pen and small notepad
- Some papers, one of which looks normal and several of which seem burnt?
- A big-ass charred robot of some sort, which was not in his pockets because he just sorta carried it in here at the start of this and set it down next to him

This is what happens when you do your looting immediately before a trial.]

[mockmods]

[As Michael places said charred-ass robot on his podium-]

Architect. Where did you find that?

[eudaimonikos]

Junk room. Neat stuff in there, kinda wish I'd dug around earlier.

[He says casually and with zero hesitation, because demons are fucking liars.]

[mockmods]

Hm. Interesting.

It's rare one gets to witness their own shell from the outside.

[eudaimonikos]

...boy, I was right.

[He knew this thing looked like it'd be annoying if it could turn on!]

Y'know, you talk a big game for a "Learning Pal".

[mockmods]

I did not choose that appellation.

[eudaimonikos]

Yeah, most people don't. Would've thought you'd know that, Pal.