[Fin] Murder in the Mountains (End)

[PointMaid]

Just... why the burying?

> Look for the other dumbell

[Kennifer]

"..."


"Okay, anybody into weightlifting?"

[wingedcatgirl]

> investigate that dumbbell

It was lying on the edge of the area where the floorboards were smashed. Otherwise, it seems fairly normal. No blood or dirt or anything.

> Look for the other dumbell

... After first confirming that it's not in Knuckles's bedroom, checking the gym reveals one dumbbell missing its partner.

[Kennifer]

>Is anything else out of place in the gym?

[KungFuCutbug]

[The Soul tilts their head at the dumbbell, confused.] "...nothing. no blood or dirt or anything. it's just... here. was it... put here on purpose? to make us think it was important?"

[PointMaid]

Well, that makes sense... But I guess it had to be done.

> Check the kitchen to see if the knife came from there, too

Meanwhile, Ada will > Check the rest of the area for anything suspiciosus

[Caret]

"Maybe the dumbbell was used to smash the floorboards under the echidna so the cultists could have gotten the upper hand over Knuckles? And since Mitsuha is gone, I assume that she got executed and turned out to be a cultist? And who did Lotus stalk last night? ...oh! Sorry for going into a little tangent there." Nellie chuckles embarrassingly.

[artsyGeek]

[Kondraki just saw the shit that happened to the echidna. It's . . Kinda sad, really. 'Suppose he shouldn't do nothing but mourn for too long though.]

> Other than the knife, is there anything peculiar about 'im?

[wingedcatgirl]

"Yeah I don't know how you pulled off your little disappearing act yesterday, but from now on you'll be showing up promptly at sunrise."

>Is anything else out of place in the gym?

... Nope. Looks like nothing else was messed with.

> Check the kitchen to see if the knife came from there, too

There are two knifes missing in the kitchen.
... On reflection, Chip recalls a knife clattering to the ground at the execution yesterday, next to Mitsuha's bones.

> Check the rest of the area for anything suspiciosus

... Not much of obvious note. It all looks fairly straightforward.

> Other than the knife, is there anything peculiar about 'im?

... Well, he's covered in dirt from being buried. Nothing else of interest seems to be jumping out.

[PointMaid]

Hmmm... I want to hear what Lotus has to say. Other than that, I'm just trying to figure out anywhere else to look...

[KungFuCutbug]

"Maybe the dumbbell was used to smash the floorboards under the echidna so the cultists could have gotten the upper hand over Knuckles?"

"w-wouldn't the dumbbell look dirty or scratched from the floor, though?"

> check the dumbbell to see if there are any signs of it being used to break the floorboards

[Kennifer]

"Yeah, Mitsuha was... How did you miss that?"

[artsyGeek]

> . .anything odd about his room?

[Magolor]

Upon finding that scene, she makes a tsk sound, you know the one, seemingly discomposed. "Knuckles... I should've Stalked someone else..."

She regains her composure after a bit of contemplation. "...it might be useful for Red to tell us his report, before anyone else who visited Nellie says anything. Knuckles..." She trails off.

[Caret]

Oh boy. Nellie lets out a sigh, before proceeding to explain his sudden disappearance yesterday.

"Yeah, Mitsuha was... How did you miss that?"

"Two nights ago, I decided to use my powers as the Commuter to open up a portal leading out of here. I was expecting for the avatar of Death to catch on to this and pull me back here by the time of daybreak..."

"Yeah I don't know how you pulled off your little disappearing act yesterday, but from now on you'll be showing up promptly at sunrise."

"...but they didn't, so that leaves me to believe that Death simply forgot to pull me back until yesterday ended, so you can say that I cheated Death! So... is the avatar of Death as powerful as they claim to be, or are they just a mortal with really powerful magic? Oh... that's a really interesting question... ahem. Sorry for going off-topic for a bit."

[wingedcatgirl]

> check the dumbbell to see if there are any signs of it being used to break the floorboards

It's a big heavy chunk of metal, and in a collision of metal vs. wood, it seems obvious which one will come out better off.

... But looking reaaaaallly close, you can see some scratches. Those might've been from a floor impact.

> . .anything odd about his room?

... Nothing jumps out.

[PointMaid]

Red? ...Did you find out anything, Lotus?

For that matter, it would be helpful to know who, if anyone, Kondraki switched last night.

[Kennifer]

"Yeah, I'd like to know, well... a lot of stuff actually."

>including if it looks like there's any sort of hand marks or fingerprints on the knife or barbell.

[Zanreo]

>examine scratches on dumbbell closer

[artsyGeek]

For that matter, it would be helpful to know who, if anyone, Kondraki switched last night.

“Oh, yeah. About last night? I swapped Amy and Red. Got yet another vision.”

[wingedcatgirl]

>including if it looks like there's any sort of hand marks or fingerprints on the knife or barbell.

... Not much. You could probably get fingerprints off it, if you could get fingerprints off things. Which you can't.

>examine scratches on dumbbell closer

... They're scratches. And scuffs. All you can conclude is that it is still definitely possible that the dumbbell was used to smash the floor.

[Caret]

Nellie marches up to Amy to question her upon hearing what Kondraki did last night.

"Hey, Amy! Did you visit me out of your own volition or did you visit me because Kondraki swapped you with Red last night? Or... did Red also decide to visit me last night? Wait, that would make my previous question redundant, wouldn't it?"

[TenOfSwords13]

I investigated the Soul and the Soul alone last night to see if they were this CPR person. They speak truths. It's a shame about Knuckles, he did what he could to help.

[PointMaid]

...Red? Sorry to say, but... if you really are the Amnesiac but remembered you were the Wannabe, which we can't rule out, you could well be lying. If anybody else can corroborate, though. That could clear both of you.

[TenOfSwords13]

Unfortunately, Knuckles was the only one who could back me up, as I  have said many times. Perhaps the cult caught on, and didn't want my information gathering to be trusted. I would like you to execute me when there are five of us left alive, just so that you can have confidence that I am leading you all towards the correct goal, and that I have time to gather evidence against or for certain people.