GRIEF STREET

When the police arrive, the discussion is still underway, and many details still remain unclear. Eventually, however, enough people agree to hand over Eva Ushiromiya. She, herself, claimed to have been involved, after all, and through discussion, an uneasy conclusion was made that perhaps she was the only one who could have done the deed.

The police take your statements, but you are not taken into custody. The snow is excavated, the staff are relieved of Romero's body, and the train is able to move once more. The tension does not leave the train as its journey continues.

It is only several days later that you receive the news--the police have found Eva Ushiromiya guilty of the murder of Andrea Romero. Apparently, the Ushiromiya family has been under investigation for their illicit activities, putting additional strain on their already meager finances. They were struggling to keep their foothold on their reign, and their international activities were at risk--including one of their only financial fronts in New York City, Apex Investments.

Romero had somehow found out about this and wanted to "work" with the Ushiromiyas--cooperate with his plans to expand, or be further ruined in the public image. Eva, of course, wouldn't allow it to pass.

Perhaps with time you can put this incident behind you. But a death like this causes ripples, and those closely tied to Romero will definitely feel them.

The question is...what will you do now?

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Thank you again for participating in this murder mystery! We appreciate your patience throughout all this, and for exploring our little experimental game. Feel free to finish up whatever threads you have, or have some end game conversations. We ask that you take a few minutes to leave some feedback and criticism so we can make this experience even better in the future.

A dead body. Romero's dead body. After Ozaki confirmed the means of death, it's become painfully apparent that one of your fellow passengers is a murderer. After a brief initial investigation, Ernest hurriedly shooed everyone out of the sleeper car so the staff could drape the body in white cloth and shove it somewhere in the caboose.

The snow continues to pile up slowly outside the train, and it doesn't look like you're going to be leaving anytime soon. The air is thick with tension as you realize that perhaps the only way you're going to be continuing your trip on time is by figuring out whodunit.

The question is, where to look first?

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OOC: As mentioned yesterday, we are now in the investigation portion of our game! What does this mean? Well, it means you are free to continue mingling as you have been, but you can investigate certain locations to turn up more evidence regarding the murder mystery.

Multiple people are welcome to participate in a single investigation thread, and multiple people can investigate the same area more than once to find different information. Additionally, we encourage people to question other player and non-player characters to try and figure out what they know and see if it's consistent with your clues! Chat with your friends, spin some theories, and see where the trail leads you.

Not sure where else you should investigate? Take a look at the investigation notes and see if there's anything odd that stands out to you or any questions that need answering. Alternatively, try talking to other people to see what they know, or interrogate the staff members. Different staff members, such as the engineers, the luggage clerk, etc. may have seen different things. Conversation sometimes reveals hidden truths!

A final parlor discussion will be posted on Saturday, December 3rd, where you will determine who you think the culprit is.

DAY 4 | DAY 5 | DAY 6

Locations | Cast List | Investigation Notes
Private Conversations | NPC Threads | Pre-Murder Check-In

Once everyone is aboard, the train pulls away from the station, its pistons slowly but surely accelerating as it peels through the countryside. Those who check their cabins will find a complimentary bottle of champagne, as well as toiletries and slippers. Next to the door is a bell on a hook, to be rung if you need to summon a staff member to your cabin. Your journey is underway, and now, all you have to do is sit back and relax, right?

Relaxation might come easier to some than others. There's an underlying current of unease as darkness begins to fall over the train. But perhaps that's just nerves from traveling. After all, what terrible things could happen on a train as decadent as this?

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OOC: Private conversations are now open, as well as private chats with the NPCs! Let us know if your character will be investigating any part of the train in your toplevel! Additionally, if you'd like to talk to an NPC in your toplevel, please note it in your comment title.

If you want, you can note your character's location on the night of the murder by commenting to the pre-murder check-in by Wednesday, 12:00 PM EST. Who knows? Your character might hear or see something unusual....

DAY 1 | DAY 2 | DAY 3

Locations | Cast List | Investigation Notes
Private Conversations | NPC Threads | Pre-Murder Check-In

As discussion begins to wind to a close, you decide to vote on who to give up to the police. After a quick telephone call, the cops pull up to the estate, the red-and-blue lights illuminating the rain-soaked driveway. It's only a matter of time before you'll have to give up the suspect a majority of you have decided to vote out--Uncle Deadly.

Congratulations--you've found the murderer. Ironic how a man framed for murder all these years ago finally became the monster so many people thought he was. It seems like the nightmare is nearly over. As you begin to depart from the lounge room, you think on everything that's transpired here. What will you do, now that Mr. Lionheart is dead? Although you can rest assured that Deadly will be locked behind bars for what he's done tonight, can you truly consider this to be justice?

This is not a question so easily answered.

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Thank you again for participating in this murder mystery! We appreciate your patience throughout all this, and for exploring our little experiment. Feel free to finish up whatever threads you have, or have some end game conversations. Don't forget to leave feedback and criticism so we can make this experience even better.

Additionally, if you'd like to take a peak at the behind the scenes, feel free to peruse this folder of documents and dossiers!

Once the initial discussion begins to die down, it becomes more and more evident that you don't have the full picture. Arguments erupt, conversations become circular, and tensions continue to rise as fingers are pointed every which way. Eventually, you all decide to split up and search the rest of the manor for more evidence. Nobody leaves the estate grounds until you're able to tie the murder to someone here.

Time to investigate.

Rain begins to pelt the roof and windows at around 7:50 PM. The wind shrieks and howls outside, threatening to claw its way into the very house and tear it apart. Appropriately dreadful weather for the dreadful night that would soon ensue.

At around ten past eight, a terrifying, blood-curdling howl is heard from upstairs. Captain Ahab, screaming of murder, bloody murder!

It takes little time for you all to scramble upstairs and into Mr. Lionheart's room, but the scene that greets you is ghastly. It's hard to make out an expression of any kind, but he looks almost...angry. Perhaps a tinge fearful. Whatever the case may be, it's the last expression he'll ever make. For currently, Mr. Lionheart's dead body dangles halfway out of his bed, threatening to fall onto the floor.

A peel of thunder shakes the very foundations of the house as lightning streaks across the sky, illuminating Edgar Lionheart's frozen face. Looks like dinner will have to wait until later.

Dare you investigate?