ROUND 3 TDM

[foundationmods]

The ceiling above you is an unfamiliar one - one that looks -

...?

You can't....seem to tell exactly how fancy things are around you.
The shapes and everything exist, but...like a certain cat in a box, they seem to be in a constant state of flux, even if you place your hands on them. 🗈

Such a thing...should be impossible, shouldn't it? And yet, it existed. Like some kind of strange, uncomfortable haze...everything around you exists in a hazy form, like how it is when you attempt to remember the background in a dream.

That hazy, half remembered feeling...instinctively knowing the form and function of things, but unable to make out details.

Thankfully, you're not alone - as you step out of your room to find yourself in a large mansion, stepping out of an unmarked door. The other people around you are just as confused, perhaps even more...then again, some of them look around with sharp eyes, either used to strange events happening around them, or perhaps struggling to make sense of a place that seems familiar, and yet...

Going outside is still as hazy - no, it's even worse. There is a garden in front, but the flowers constantly shift and change, unable to settle on a single form. Even the layout of the area stretches and changes without thought, though thankfully the rooms in the mansion seem solid in comparison.

The effect...is a lot like if you were somehow able to be inside a story while an author furiously wrote and erased what they had down, as if they were rushing against a deadline...or perhaps displeased with their work.

Regardless....it seems you will stay here for a time. Thus, you'll have to find things to do -

On this strange, shifting island.

1. Meet and greet
Shortly after leaving your rooms, the....workstaff? here comes to usher you all into the ballroom. They're large goatmen, though they seem blessedly solid - and as you head into the large room, the tables and food set up buffet-style are also solid, the feast a mixture of japanese and western cooking.

Though there are no signs of who brought you here, a picture frame continually flickers in and out of existence at the very back wall of the ballroom...


2. Letter / Island exploration
As the meeting winds down, a mysterious envelope suddenly appears on one of the tables. The writing inside is unfamiliar to everyone, but the contents cannot be ignored.

'Greetings.

Forgive me for summoning you here while my territory is in this state, but I ask you entertain both yourselves and me for a time as I continue preparing for my first game.

Make no mistake - I am not here to pamper you as my guests. Quite the opposite, in fact.

Over this short period I have you, most of you will die, at the hands of your fellow guests. When it's over, you won't remember a single moment of this. Of course, I will also revive the dead and return you back to your rest.

I need to simply check some things that I can do, and all of you were the most convenient, you see...? I would also like to observe your movements during this, in order to make better moves during my own game.

Therefore, I ask you entertain me. However you move around doesn't matter, only that you show me the purest emotions you can muster.

...I look forward to seeing your faces twisted in fear, hatred, and grief. Please, cry well for me...

-
T̨͜͡h̢͝҉é̡̧͞͝ ̵̢̕͠W̶̵̕į̸͢͞t̕͝c͞͏̀͠h͡'

....

Despite if you believe the letter or not, there is exploring to be done - and the island is just that - an island at sea, complete with the cries of seagulls heavy in the air. There is a forest, but to go into it is foolish - it constantly shifts and shimmers, trapping anyone inside...

....Well, unless they yell loud enough that a Goat Butler overhears and grumpily takes them back to the mansion, seemingly admonishing them for doing something so foolish.

The cliffs and grassy areas around are also treacherous - they shift too, and if one was unlucky enough, they might just crash off the cliff into the jagged rocks below...

....There's no mansion on the other side of the island. There is a chapel, but the words above the door shift and change constantly, so it would be foolish to try and do anything with them. In the foyer of the Mansion you all woke up in, there's a stone slab...that has letters constantly sliding across it, unable to settle in place, and if you put your finger on it, you could feel the marble words form and vanish under your touch.

How mysterious.


3. Beach party
Days and nights pass - though it's hard to tell just how many have gone by, despite you trying to watch the time.

How many times have you slept in the bed in your room? How many meals have you had in the dining hall? It should be easy to come up with, yet much like everything else, it's hazy and indistinct....

Either way, the Goats usher you down to the beach on a sunny, hot day, where there's snacks and all sorts of party food, and you're all...suddenly in swimsuits? When did this become the beach episode?

Ah well. May as well enjoy it, right? Even if there's a lurking feeling of something worse about to happen...


4a. A murder most foul
But finally....it happens. One of your number lies dead - in the library? In their own room? Perhaps in the dining hall, or the ballroom?

No matter where it happens - you realize with a start that what the letter had said was true, and...that the insides of the mansion had changed. Where the body lies....is distinct. Clear enough to make out details and clues about the crime, and perhaps about the killer....

But do you really care about something like that?


4b. Endless Repeat
And then....the murders continue. Regardless of day or night, they continue - each body bringing stability to the area around it.

Do you investigate, to try and find each and every killer? Do you run and hide from all of this, trying to turn your eyes from reality? Or do you just decide that enough is enough, and decide to dole out your own justice in a flurry of violence? After all, the new area that just solidified had some weapons in it that you could use, in order to protect yourself from the mad killers around...?

Arguments and yelling will certainly happen, in a situation like this. As the bodies fall and your numbers get fewer and fewer...

...

...

....In the end, the island is solidly defined....as a deep silence reins, vivid red and other liquids bringing life to the surroundings.

In order to give life to something, one must take something in return. To bring her world to bloom, it had to be watered with blood.

The brightly flowering Kalmia flowers in the garden in the front of the mansion seemed to embody that, as they waved gently in the breeze, as if thanking those guests with all they had.

The guests...could not see their beauty, or appreciate their quiet thanks.

after all... None were left alive.

And the only sound left, was that of the Witch's delighted laughter...

((This TDM is less about giving you all a taste of what the game will be like - see our recent mock round if you're interested in that - and more about being free to play around in the setting! Feel free to come up with stuff as well!

All characters still have their powers as of this TDM, though still from canon instead of an AU. All characters from Umineko are free to play, though they'll find they can't easily escape from this place, and that it seems a lot like Rokkenjima, but at the end, it's not anywhere near the same.

Have fun!))

Comments

Sherlock Holmes (Ruler) | Fate/Grand Order

[improbablenotimpossible]

1.

[Well... this proving to be a rather unusual way to wake up, he is no stranger to coming to after suddenly blacking out, but there's a weird, almost dream-like quality to their surroundings. The shifting flowers outside would prove worthy of investigation, but Holmes felt the interior should be the first point of his investigation. He gently patted one of the goat men... no mask, a beast it seems like?

But now, he ignores the buffet completely, fingers on his chin as he examines the portrait before attempting to touch it - seeing it vanish right before his gloved fingertips would brush against it. The man barks out in laughter]

Well then! That is certainly one way to prevent a philistine from smearing a work of art!

3. Beach party

What the devil...?

[He pulls down the panama hat, being pale enough to burn quite easily. Surprisingly, his swim attire was more modern - black triathlon shorts and a white short-sleeve shirt that's unbuttoned]

This seems a little... too pleasant for this place.

[But it seems they have to 'party', no going back, but rather than going swimming, he actually starts digging in the sand, humming as he digs up seashells, brushing them off before holding them to the light - planning to cross-reference them later to see if he could discern where this place is... or based off of]

4b Murder, again?

[The man paces restlessly, like a hound knowing he's suppose to be out hunting but his human is late to get the gun and the horn. His expression is tight, ashen-faced with his lips thinned out as much as possible, and despite being a heroic spirit, it almost look like there's dark circles under his eyes]

So it seems we cannot prevent the murders. Whatever we do, someone will die.

[He lights a cigarette, exhaling as he straightens up]

The Witch will make sure of that, the best you can do is to make yourself an undesirable victim - too much trouble to kill. This does not mean we should leave things as is - there is a reason why this is happening. Even sadism would not explain it.

[And he hates it, there is much he can deduce, and have gone over in his mind - but there is much they still do not know]

4b

[miirai]

That's a bit of a difficult request to ask for, don't you think?

[ Rika responds to his words with a rather airy and childlike tone in spite of the fact that she's anything but; not that anyone necessarily needs to know that, or that most can even tell.

Nevertheless, she beams brightly, seemingly unbothered by the prospect of murder. ]

But I'm not going to let myself get caught by the evil kitty that wants to take out their sharp claws.

[improbablenotimpossible]

It is, unfortunately.

[Ruler sighs. What's worse about this is that there are children pulled into this, even if Rika's behavior was odd enough to take notice - he cannot help but instinctively make sure she's out of harm's way.

'evil kitty', seems to be referring to the Witch in charge, he's been trying to keep track and piece together each person's idiosyncrasies, as much to try to protect as well as filing them away to apprehend the culprit]

So what we need to do is look at this problem as not 'how to stop the killings' but 'why is it happening in the first place'.

[miirai]

...

[ Rika hums a little contemplatively, more to herself than to a anyone else, really as she swings her arms a bit. Her expression seems to drop a little bit into something that's a little more solemn, but there's something curious there, too. ]

You don't think that she's doing this simply for entertainment?

[improbablenotimpossible]

I admit, I hadn't completely ruled that out - but I believe that is only part of the motive.

[He takes a slow drag of the cigarette, eyes half-lidded - there's conjecture, there's gut feelings, none of them good enough to go on. What he needs now is evidence]

3

[goldenmaniac]

[Takumi can't be of much help with the shells: it's not a subject he knows much about. But he does occasionally come and pile all the discarded sand in a bucket and cart it away.

...he may or may not have a huge pile of it a ways away. A pile half formed into Takumi's attempt to make something, though it's hard to say what he's sculpting this early. It'll be pretty big though]

[improbablenotimpossible]

[He gathered what shells he finds in a mesh bag, as he notices someone carting off the discarded sand. Curiosity overcomes diligence, and soon he follows the young man to see what he was doing]

Building a sand castle?

[goldenmaniac]

More like a sand sculpture.

[He nods knowingly... though what he thinks he knows is a mystery]

Did you find all the shells you wanted, Mr. Ruler?

[improbablenotimpossible]

I think I have enough to go on.

[They are pretty, but he's gathering them for research purposes]

Deciding to see what the sand tells you it wants to be?

1

[feudenfer]

Well that's a stupid waste of magic.

[while he's amused, Jeanne looks anything but. In fact, she looks rather unimpressed at the silliness of it all. Admittedly, there's very little around here that can pique her curiosity.

Just a bunch of randos that she has to stop herself from attempting to murder immediately, and one servant. No big deal.]

[improbablenotimpossible]

[Now there's a face he knows, and a reaction he would expect from her]

At least it appears to be just a parlor trick so far. It is a little too early to say what purpose it serves.

[feudenfer]

[it's the familiarity that's pushed her towards him, though who knows how long until she picks a wing of the mansion and lights anyone on fire that gets close. It's a fair question. At that, though, she shrugs, and rests a hand on her hips]

I don't really care. Though, maybe you'd know. Why the hell was I summoned here? I need at least one good reason to keep from wrecking this place.

[improbablenotimpossible]

I'm afraid I am just in the dark as you are about why we're brought here.

[And with this particular Jeanne, he knew it's only a matter of time before her - for the lack of a better word - 'nature' as an Avenger would come through, something he will have to try to mitigate, can't have evidence get burned up!]

As for why we shouldn't burn this place into ashes, it'd be difficult to find the one responsible and depending on how this place works, we might need to make them send us back.

1

[respring]

[ Well. Here's a familiar face, if Sherlock remembers a certain goddess walking around Chaldea. Her hair is too short to be BB, but she's a dead fuckin' ringer for Parvati. ]

Somehow, I think protecting the painting is the last thing on their mind right now.

Re: 1

[improbablenotimpossible]

[His expression changes upon seeing the girl, greenish eyes seeming to sharpen as he noted the sense of familiarity, and went through his mental library.

She certainly looks like the goddess, startlingly so.]

Oh most certainly, there has to be a reason why this portrait would not linger - I just simply found the timing of it's vanishing too amusing to not comment on.

[respring]

I don't suppose you have any ideas?

[ This guy seems like the investigatory type ]

[improbablenotimpossible]

Not yet, it is a little too soon to tell, the portrait does seem to be an illusion of some sort, that much I can say.

[While it pains him to admit shortcomings, guessing is a bigger sin]

I may have a better idea of our situation once I do a full search of the manor and the grounds.

1

[very_good_end]

Have you no respect for works of art? [She makes a gentle tsk tsk sound at him.]

Have we been introduced? I am the Great Detective Furudo Erika. It is I who will, without a doubt, investigate the depths of this mystery and uncover the solution to the nature of our confinement.

If you're done attempting to contaminate that would-be portrait with your dirty fingerprints, may I hear your name, monsieur? With aliases.

Re: 1

[improbablenotimpossible]

['Great Detective'. Oh this one will certainly be a... well, something at the very least. He turns around, holding up a clearly gloved hand. Well she certainly has an ego, matching - probably even exceeding his own, now the question is if she can match her certainty with skill.]

It would be difficult to put fingerprints on something if one is wearing gloves, Miss. And I do believe as for the matter, it is actually preferable fr Antiquarians to handle such things with clean and gloveless hands.

[He arches his brow, aliases]

I am 'Ruler'.

[very_good_end]

Oh! But I see, monsieur is wearing gloves. Well, that means he cannot possibly leave nasty fingerprints all over any supposed portrait... nor any potential murder weapon. I note you appear to be right-handed. Would you agree that is accurate?

[smiiiiiiles]

That said, perhaps you should take care not to smudge the paint? It may perhaps be wet, perhaps not, who can say? The state of flux gives one mind that it is... not quite finished, regardless.

"Ruler"? How very quaint. Mais, non! ...I must reject such an obvious pseudonym. You can do better than that.

[byanyother_name]

The way the murder scenes stabilize... It's possible, even likely, that this Witch is drawing power from the deaths in some manner.

[Kurama's expression isn't much less pinched than Holmes'.]

[improbablenotimpossible]

Or the emotions... remember what parts are empathized in the letter?

[He waves a finger as if mentally counting off something]

That might be what is stabilizing this place.

[byanyother_name]

It could be but then why death at all? There are other ways to elicit terror, hatred, and the like.

The more of us die, the fewer emotional wellsprings exist here.

So what could there be about death by murder specifically that makes it necessary to the process...?

[Kurama's fingers rest against his chin, brows drawn together slightly in thought.]

1

[aleph_armed]

[...Yeah, she's just going to idly watch Sherlock try to touch it before speaking up.]

It's just as well that you can't, touching paintings never turns out well.

Re: 1. Meet and Greet

[kiranerysds9]

[Kira Nerys cannot think of eating until she regains her equilibrium.]

Philistine? It certainly is an interesting piece of art. Is it moving between dimensions or something?