BURIED IN THE SNOW

[thedirectors]

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?

---

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

Comments

DAY 4, EVENING

[thedirectors]

[As the staff members are in a state of disarray, most of the menu today is a la carte. However, by dinner time, the chefs have whipped together their regularly scheduled meal. The show must go on, and all that.

Starter – Pan fried turbot filet, crispy kataifi oyster in turmeric flavored juice
Main course – Foie gras and chestnut stuffed quail with Muscat raisin sauce, green beans and bacon, sweet potato and chive sautéed chantrelles
Dessert – Garrigue honey caramelized figs with gingerbread ice cream.]

meeting

[thedirectors]

[An hour or so before dinner, Ernest summons everyone--staff included--into the lounge for a meeting. He stands near the front of the room, shuffling his feet and looking particularly high-strung.

Once everyone has gathered, he clears his throat, trying to get everyone's attention.]

Erm--to start off, we at the Disorient Express profusely apologize for allowing this ghastly incident to occur on board one of our trains. It is true that one of our guests was found dead this morning. And, according to the doctor that examined him, he believed that someone else must have k-k-killed him.

[In his hands, he has a few cards that he occasionally glances down at to read from. His paws are shaking.]

We have sent a message to the next station informing them of our situation. They will be sending a rescue party to help us excavate the snow, as well as the police. Hopefully, they will arrive in a few day's time, but in the meantime, our staff will be working around the clock to ensure the safety of our guests in this...this....

[A pause. Ernest's face seems to crumple. After a few moments, he puts the cards back into his pockets and addresses the entire room.]

If anyone has any information--any information at all that may help us figure out who did this--please step forward and share with us. I know some of you i-investigated the area at the time. We need to see what our next steps should be.

[campire]

[ Nathan seems to be in his usual good cheer in spite of everything, sipping a glass of wine as he watches Ernest's tragic display of stage fright. ]

Well, I'd recommend someone take a look outside before more snow piles up. I think you'll find a trail out there from one of the windows of the sleeper car to somewhere up toward the front of the train.

[ With a look to Ernest in particular, he tilts his head. ]

Out of curiosity, is there anything inside of cabin 16?

[thedirectors]

[Ernest tilts his head to the side in a quizzical manner.]

No, monsieur. Cabin 16 is empty--you can check the guest list, yourself. I have it somewhere in the luggage car, listing out everyone who should have been checked in....

[hefring]

...Take a look around and see what other evidence is laying around. As much as a pain as it is, I can't think of anything else.

[ Because man he is a little hungry now after his little cat nap.

But he will otherwise go silent, or eventually go off to say and do what he wants to at the most convenient time for him. Typical Linhardt-faire. ]

[contentions]

Who was it that examined him?

[ Eiji hadn't gotten close to any of the initial mess, so he didn't see himself. ]

[thedirectors]

It was Monsieur Ozaki--the doctor. He stated that he had...been strangled, I believe. If you wish to examine the body, yourself, you are welcome to do so, though we do ask you keep a distance to prevent potential tampering.

[hematocritic]

[Excuse Ozaki as he stands up and steps forward, arms crossed.]

I examined the body. I’d say he died about six or seven hours before we went in the room. Maybe one AM if I had to say. He died of strangulation, most likely with his tie, after being hit over the head with some kind of glass alcohol bottle.

Everyone got a complimentary wine in their cabin plus there’s other drinks. It would probably be a good point to see if any are missing or otherwise unaccounted for.

[stimpaks]

It would be a good point to start--but may I point out a flaw in your logic?

[Because of course he has to--he's got simmering resentment towards Ozaki!]

Even if someone is missing a bottle, it doesn't necessarily mean they used it for murder. And if they have one...it's possible they took another one from the bar. With or without the staff's permission.

...Still. Not the worst idea in the world.

[feminitwit]

[Fleabag remains on the outskirts of the discussion, nervously gaping at the situation at hand. Unfortunately, due to both her height and absurdly terrible posture, she's hard to miss despite her attempts to distance herself from the conversation. Centering her focus has proved to be a difficult task, even though someone is dead, apparently.

That seems to be happening a lot lately.

In her own life, at the very least.]

Ours? Or, y-

[She stops herself, cursing internally, despising the fact that she can't even make an inane quip. One does not simply ask, "Is that a hamster?" whe they own a Guinea Pig-themed cafe.

That is, indeed... A ferret. And not a rat.]

I just... I think it would be safe to assume that our-

[Don't say it, don't say it, don't make the joke!]

Feet.

[She clears her throat, then swallowing nervously.]

Are all... Different shapes and sizes.

[Fleabag then doubles over and collapses into her own hands.]

Fuck.

I'm still too drunk for this.

investigation - lounge car

[hefring]

[ Linhardt has no interests in doing much concerning talking for the moment following the meeting, but something about the events has made him a bit curious. After all...alcohol certainly comes from the lounge car, does it not?

Now, shall we check out the bar? After his napping, he is far more ready to be active this evening.

He will see if there is anything amiss or notable following that.

Though, if someone wishes to converse with Linhardt later (where he will be hanging around in the lounge, eating leisurely), or join him in his investigation, they are free to do so! ]

[thedirectors]

[The bar looks like it's still a mess from last night. There's quite a lot scattered about, though it seems as though the staff have tried to leave things as they are to avoid ruining the evidence. A ferret is currently tending the bar, nervously wiping down one of the glasses over and over again despite it already being clean. On a table near the seating area is a newspaper, draped carelessly over the edge.

What does Linhardt want to do first?]

[contentions]

Have you gathered up enough energy? [ Eiji is here too, for a few reasons, and as always he keeps the banter playful even with the circumstances. ]

I was here last night myself. [ Given that, he'll check out where Romero was sitting in the lounge before he left. ]

later

[agoddeal]

Oh, you're awake? Recalling your friend's warning, I find that quite concerning.

[ Kotoko settles herself across from Linhardt without so much as a by-your-leave. He wanted company, right? ]

investigation - cabin 16

[campire]

[ Well, Ernest had agreed to allow a search of the mysterious (?) empty cabin, so whenever he gets a chance to unlock the door, Nathan will be there, ready to take a look inside to sate his curiosity! ]

I do apologize if this turns out to be a waste of time, but better safe than sorry, right? Leave no stone unturned!

[leywright]

[ Laerryn seems to be in the process of doing her own investigation in the hall when she spots Ernest and Nathan headed down. ]

You don't have to look so enthusiastic about it, you know.

[ And yet here she is coming to poke her nose into it too. ]

Did you know him? He seemed like the sort to enjoy opera - or at least pretend he did.

DAY 5

[thedirectors]

[The staff members seem to have found their stride again, though they still seem to be on edge.

Lunch is a la carte.

Dinner is the following:

Starter – Seared prawns and sea scallops, wilted chicory and lobster sauce
Main course – Roast rack of salt marsh lamb with Meaux mustard seed crust, spinach and pear flan, peppermint bulgur
Dessert – Pineapple, pistachio, and coconut dessert.]

investigation - luggage car

[agoddeal]

[ The game is afoot, and all that. Since no culprit has obligingly confessed yet and spared them all some nuisance, what remains but a little more industrious poking around? Kotoko's been in the luggage car mere days ago, and naturally has deemed herself the most logical person to look for anything out of place. Or the good Mr. Romero's luggage, if she can find it.

If someone wants to assist her efforts, the intrepid detective is always receptive to a Watson. Later she can be found in the restaurant with pastries and tea, studiously reviewing her notes. If anyone approaches she'll close the notebook neatly but greet them with a smile: ]

Well! Any theories of your own?

investigation

[thedirectors]

[The luggage compartment looks normal--at first glance. There's a wolverine standing at the luggage check-in desk, fidgeting slightly. On the desk is a ledger of some sort that he keeps flipping through. Kotoko would have seen this wolverine working as a luggage clerk during the trip.

There are three different luggage compartments across the span of this car--one in the back, one in the middle, and one in the front. Each one has a comically sized padlock on them with the numbers 1, 2, and 3, respectively. There is also a set of stairs that leads up to a staff break room, but it seems to have a metal chain drawn across it to indicate it is off limits to guests, normally.

The wolverine looks at Kotoko, adjusting his collar. He has a high-class London accent when he speaks.]

Anything I can help you with, ma'am?

investigation - engine room (open to additional characters!!)

[campire]

[ Nathan really doesn't have anything better to do so long as the train is stuck here, so at some point when he's finished with his reading he decides he might as well look around for additional evidence... which eventually brings him to the engine room.

Is this room locked to non-staff or can he just wander on in? ]

[theobviousculprit]

[Ah, looks like someone had the same thought! There's Eva, approaching. When she sees Nathan, she smiles bitterly, knowing there's nothing joyful about what they're both here for]

Well, well. I suppose I'm glad I wasn't the only one who thought of taking a look around here.

[Playing amateur detective? Eh, she'd pass, but...she knows her own reputation isn't very good, so if there's a killer aiming to murder anyone shady in this train, she's in the crosshairs too, probably. Better do something about that, she had thought, so here she is]

[thedirectors]

[Nathan can totally just wander on in! There's a few dirty shovels on the wall nearby, though most of them seem to be cleaned--likely from using them to dig in the snow. There's also a giant pile of coal in the corner and a coal-burning engine. The engine only seems to be burning a low flame to provide electricity to the train.

A layer of black soot covers almost everything here. Further to the front of the train is the conductor's control room.]

investigation - sleeper cars/outside

[leywright]

[ There are a couple of things on Laerryn's mind and, seeing as she doesn't really sleep so much as reflect, there's been some points she needs to clear before she might be able to turn her mind towards solving the most important problems.

First things first. She's going to take her multi-tool and walk to Sleeper Car #9. She's not interested in going to fetch Ernest because she's not sure what she's about to find, if there is anything at all. But that's alright - if the door is locked, it won't be her first time opening it, will it?

She remembers the rug being upturned when Romero's body was found. She wants to try to check under it. ]

[thedirectors]

[Thankfully, it doesn't seem like the door has been locked. Perhaps in the staff's haste to get Romero's body out of there, they accidentally left it open.

As she enters the room, Romero's body is gone. Perhaps it helps Laerryn focus on investigating the actual room, itself. What's she hoping to find under the rug?]

DAY 6, MORNING

[thedirectors]

[News is heard from the staff--finally, help is arriving later in the day to excavate the snow trapping the train, along with new supplies. However, that means the authorities will be due to arrive, as well. You better finish up your investigation by tonight, or else.]