CHAPTER 2

[faentasy]

CHAPTER 2

monday

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wednesday

thursday

The first chapter was over. The stakes and mechanics of the system you're in have been shown to their full extent, and regardless of how you feel about the Samidare and Zola's deaths, the story must go on.

Clean-up is done with a perfection that'd make you wonder if there ever was a murder on that rooftop in the residential district. Everything is spotless and repaired, making it look like nothing ever happened. If it wasn't for the absence of two people among your number, you'd think it had all been a bad dream. But it wasn't. The brutality of the incident and the execution make that plainly clear.

Now, with the opening of a new week, something else opens. Lands beyond the area you spent seven days in. What will the new week bring? Will it be another murder?

Keep turning the pages and find out.

[[Welcome to Week 2! Feel free to make top levels at your discretion, and remember to note it in your header if you plan on investigating any locations. However, please try to keep investigations to Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday! You can also privately contact Hamelin at your leisure.

In addition, a reminder that any Murder Proposals for this week are due by Tuesday 3:00 PM EST/12:00 PM PST! However, please note that you have the option of submitting murder proposals for a later week as well.]]

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Comments

Investigation

[reallyfishy]

[It's pretty jarring to head just out of town only to find...a desert. It's like being back in the Sands of Kogorh, where he had just came out of before winding up here.

...hm.

For those who have heard Raven complain about how old and tired he is, it turns out he behaves a lot differently in the searing heat of the desert. He's a lot more energetic here, perfectly on display at the sparring area where he can be found swinging a wooden sword around like nobody's business. Looks like his profile was right: he's well-practiced enough to have it as a skill. He could do with some target practice instead, but this'll do.

Visitors will be waved down.]

Think ya can take ol' Raven?

[After blowing off some steam, Raven returns to exploring the new area. He eventually winds up at the cave where the thieves den is located. He moves carefully at first, but eventually winds up where all of the treasure is.]

I can't believe they didn't trap this place! [He muses aloud to anyone around as he digs through the treasure, putting on a gaudy crown for funsies.] Think we'll get cursed if we bring anything outta here?

[Hopefully not!

Anyway, while he's digging through the riches, he's going to investigate for anything peculiar or out of place. Is there anything to find here?]

thieves den

[scythegun]

[Yeager took one look at the desert earlier and went not during the day, because he will absolutely die. He would greatly prefer to not burn to death in the desert, that is just downright embarrassing after surviving the desert (and being left there, thanks Alexei!!!) back home.

But come nightfall he's decided that he can handle freezing temperatures and has made his way out here - and it probably isn't a surprise that the thieves den is exactly what he wants to explore.]

Considering just how much there is here, a curse or two would certainly be worth it~!

[Oh my god no. Anyway, hi Raven, hope you wanted to see Yeager tonight.]

It certainly is lucky that no one's left behind any traps... Though that does seem rather suspicious, doesn't it?

[Like maybe if it was just one chest with a nice item that'd be okay, but this is So Much??? And there aren't even any monsters to ambush us???]

[reallyfishy]

[Meanwhile, Raven's going to immediately regret spending so much time in here because he's going to freeze to death when he leaves. Third death already...

Oh, hi Yeager. Raven's thoughts about the man are still...awkward...but he's not going to just ignore him. He pokes his head up from the treasure pile he's working through, now with a few rings and gaudy necklace to go with the crown.]

That's why I'm thinkin' there's gotta be some fairy curse involved here. No one's gonna stash this much treasure without some kinda defense mechanism.

[And yet here he is wearing a bunch of this stuff that doesn't belong to him.]

It's odd, though... This place wasn't exactly hidden. I'm surprised there's no one keepin' watch or just plain livin' in here.

[scythegun]

I suppose it's certainly possible that there isn't any catch to it... but I'm not so sure that's the case.

[He snaps like he's totally got it.]

This must be some kind of game for Hamelin, ja? He didn't ask us to put on a play for him or anything of the sort this week, so perhaps this is some sort of entertainment he's looking for!

[does he want us to fight to the death over treasure because like, that is legitimately hilarious and yeager would also like to see that!!]

sparring area

[oversaw]

[ Wandering from area to area feels a bit like traversing the different Skydoms, which is why Lucifer is quite happily (subdued as it is) moving from location to location. The destination is the journey, so to speak, but when he comes to the sparring area and hears someone speaking to... him? Him or the air. In any case, he stops when he hears a voice.

??? ]

Take you where?

[reallyfishy]

[Raven stares at Lucifer for a moment, just as confused as he is.]

Where...? [Then he realizes, and can't help but burst into a short laugh.] Oh. No, no, ya misunderstand! I mean in a fight!

[He waves the sword for effect.]

D'you do any fightin', Lucy?

[He asks, forgetting that conflict is Lucifer's listed dislike.]

[oversaw]

[ ??? He was pretty sure he didn't say anything funny?? But then Raven explains and—ah. Ah. ]

Mortals have the most creative turns of phrase. [ That's why they write such wonderful stories. He's so proud of y'all, even if you're not really skydwellers. ]

I do, though I've never done it for leisure. Is it enjoyable? [ It's cool, Raven. Conflict can mean many things! ]

sparring area!

[sempiternel]

Definitely not. [ Yuri is not made for sparring. ] Though I would not call you old, my lord.

[reallyfishy]

Aw, Yuri darlin', I appreciate ya sayin' that.

[It feels slightly weird to call someone that considering he personally knows a Yuri back home, who is a guy.]

It's just a force of habit. My body ain't what it used ta be, so I get worn out easily sometimes. Sometimes I feel twice as old as I really am!

[So dramatic.]

Sparring

[vogelfrei]

[ McGillis had only been planning to watch for a little, both because he is not disinterested in swordplay and because beholding everyone else's combat skills might prove useful in the end... but ah, he's been spotted. That's fine then. ]

That's a good question. I have a formal fencing education, but no experience in proper swordfights. Hard to imagine just how well it'd measure up.

[reallyfishy]

[Sorry McGillis, Raven is just really good at ruining your stealth attempts apparently.]

Fencin', huh? Well, let's give it a shot! It'd be somethin' different from an opponent fer me, that's fer sure.

[He's usually not up against such tall opponents, too...]

sparring area

[adorabilities]

Do you want a partner?

I was thinking I could get some practice in.

[reallyfishy]

[There are so many women here who fight. Raven loves that about this group.]

It'd be an honor! Whatcha good with in a fight?

Investigation

[faentasy]

[Welcome to the Thieves' Den and enjoy your stay for all the good this money will do you here in the land where everything is free. Anyways, there's certainly a peculiarity that Raven would notice as he's going through the treasure, although it's less about what he'll find and more about how things are organized.

For the most part, everything is sorted pretty neatly! The gold coins are generally bundled up nicely in cloth bags, the silver is kept away from the gold and the gems are stored carefully enough to make sure they don't scratch each other. With that said, there's a few places where it looks like the neatly sorted piles were already dug through, disturbing the orderliness.]

[reallyfishy]

[Was that him doing the disturbing because he definitely added to it otherwise-- /s

Anyway, with all of that organization going on, the messier section sticks out like a sore thumb. He moves in for a closer look. Was it something specific that was dug through? Coins, gems, other treasures...?]

sparring area

[warmthbringer]

[ Riku's got his bow and arrows, and when Raven pipes up, he blinks and looks over. ]

Ah... [ He laughs sheepishly. ] To be honest, I don't think I could... but that's what this place is for, right? To get better?

[reallyfishy]

Wow! Where'd ya get the bow from?

[Wait. Let him curb his excitement for a moment...]

You're right, though. This is a spot for practicin'! Are ya new ta archery?

Thieves den

[kowashi]

[ Koto's tapping her foot, well, thumping it like a rabbit would, seeing if she'll trigger any traps. ]

I'm trying to trigger them... Maybe they forgot to set them.

[ Now she turns to look at Raven with his new crown and... pfft. ]

I don't think royalty like quite right on you... Maybe you need more jewelry! Like rings or a necklace!

[reallyfishy]

[KOTO NO--]

Don't get yer head lopped off or somethin' in case they did..

[Why does he feel like he has so many reckless people to watch out for here?? He's not supposed to be the responsible one!!!

But once it's clear that Koto's not going to be springing any other traps, he drops his concern in favor of the compatibility of his bling.]

Aw, I like ta think I'd make pretty decent royalty! But that's okay. Got any recommendations, Koto darlin'?

thieves' den;

[biyishuangfei]

Trap this place?

[ He's trying not to stare at the ridiculous crown Raven had on, or rather the fact that it made him look kind of ridiculous. ]

Well, it might be because we can't leave?

[reallyfishy]

[Gaze upon it and be awed, Huaisang.]

That's what I'm startin' ta think too. S'not like we can really go anywhere with our spoils.

Theives Den

[goldencave]

[ Norton wandered in from his own investigation if Raven hadn't noticed by the fact the candle on his hat is lit...

And to be fair, Norton hadn't noticed Raven at first. The huge pile of treasure was the first thing that caught his eye. Never in his life had he seen such riches gathered in one place, especially not in a cave. He expected to find gold embedded in the rock, not-

Oh. Raven's voice snaps him out of his thoughts. ] Cursed?

[reallyfishy]

[Hi, Norton! Raven had noticed the candlelight in the distance of the cave, and boy is he glad it's just the resident prospector and not something more nefarious.]

Yeah, cursed. Ya hear about it all the time in tales of hidden treasures. Like...if ya take the treasure, you'll have terrible luck for the rest of yer life. Or you'll drop dead the moment ya exit the cave with it!

Varying levels of unpleasantries, basically.

sparring with birdflips(??)

[heroicact]

Oh, I don't know. I haven't exactly stayed in practice lately, I'm afraid -- I'm not that diligent a student.

[Nevertheless, Jack -- clad in his usual finery, because a practical man of the desert he is not, and he's definitely a bit droopy at this point and who knows how much sand can fit into the ruffles of refinement but it's probably a hellacious lot -- has wandered in and taken up one of the wooden swords out of pure curiosity, seemingly.

All he's really done is test the weight of the thing, but it is a fairly crude approximation of a weapon and overall he looks slightly uncertain about this practice match thing! But it also isn't a no, because Raven's apparently bouncing around here in high spirits. Hmm.]

Shall I ask you to go easy on me while I try to recall my lessons?

yes!!!

[reallyfishy]

Sure, sure, I'll gave ya moment or two ta get back inta the swing of things.

[He's clearly just eager for a fight!! Let's do it!!]

I'm kinda surprised, though. Didn't think ya'd be the type ta even learn a bit of swordplay.