[Mafia] Witch Trip

[Florien]

Well yeah you've been in every iteration that we've done, Quin. So kind of.

...You haven't NOTICED, yeah? None of you have right? Because none of you are linked onto the relic, and we physically cannot do that to you because we didn't bring it. The point is, as far as you are aware, this is the first time we've met. I hope.

It's a really hard secret to keep though, we've got everyone back home thinking we never fight, we're perfectly in love, we're tactical, strategical, and logistical geniuses and the best duelists in the world, that we've got metaphorically silver tongues, and that we definitely remember our hatchlings ages and genders and when to celebrate their age. We just restart from our point whenever they find out about what we're doing or that we aren't those things and do it again until it works out. It's totally worth it though.

Don't worry, you're not relevant to back home, so we're not going to reset on you because you know.

Also I wouldn't call you TRAPPED. Eventually we'll get bored of doing this and you'll either die here or escape or whatever. You don't remember any previous iterations, so you'll experience an uninterrupted flow of time.

[Kennifer]

"Okay, that's better. Maybe I can help find evidence now or... at least think about stuff."

[PointMaid]

...Definitely sounds like a book I would read that would be coloring my dreams, yeah. Definitely.

[PopcornPie]

Quinarva turned white, her knees knocking together as her aching head processed this news. "How many times have I...died? In these? If I die here, will I just descend to the river Styx, or awaken to this again?"

[Florien]

Well I don't know. One time we sacrificed you to Vels while we were on the witch's team, so that time you went to her. I mean, presumably. It's not like she has a presence out here, what with lies being popular out here and no one having heard of her until we bring her up. Usually. But we're not keeping track of where your soul goes when you die, or even if you people out here have souls. You might not!

You've died in abouuut half of the iterations. Same for most of you. And if you die, I assume you'll be dead and doing whatever you do while dead until we try again, then that time will be erased. So I don't think it really matters where you in particular end up when you're dead, unless we don't reset after this iteration and finally get around to tolerating our... she is our daughter, right? Tolerating her whateverth age-day. Is she six? Eight? Something like that. Point is, it isn't like you're forgetting anything. Whatever happened in previous iterations has actually did not happen, and we just remember what did.

[Kennifer]

"I think I'm going to focus on what's happening to me this time instead of past times or future times or parallel times or whatnot, which is uh... probably pretty typical? The whole thing's really interesting but I want to know who killed the dog guy last night. Anyway... So who smashed up the bodies while I was knocked out, and where'd the shovel come from? I kinda missed that part."

[PopcornPie]

"Right, right. I apologize for being distracted. I'm going to find out where this shovel came from."

>Venture into the woods to find out where the shovel had been before last night.

[PointMaid]

...I'm going to concentrate on the here and now too, yeah.

Sorry about the body smashing, I guess I kinda started it in an attempt to figure out who could or could not swing the shovel in a way that would have smashed the dog. Which may or may not be helpful.

Taira points out who smashed each of the bodies.

[Mr. Lee Hammer]

>Venture into the woods to find out where the shovel had been before last night. (Quin)

You browse around and you can't really find where the shovel came from.

[Kennifer]

"I do remember seeing footprints near the river before I knocked myself out, if that means anything."

"As for the time thing I'd like to hear more about that sometime. After we figure out the murder though."

[PopcornPie]

"But the shovel had to come from somewhere. The footprints by the river are just the tracks left from the killer disposing of it."

[Florien]

I still think we should execute Susan. She hasn't defended herself very much.

You say that like you didn't say "I think we should execute Delilah, she's too defensive" last time.

[TenOfSwords13]

Jimothy has sorta just been in the background (A.K.A Ten just woke up and has caught up on the thread)

My condolences to the Professor, he seemed like a "nice enough guy". I did wish to learn more about him and his work, for entirely honest, human reasons. However, I feel as if we need to locate the origin of the "shovel".

>search for shovel's origin

note to self- find out what a shovel is used for, other than murder

[Mr. Lee Hammer]

>search for shovel's origin (Jimothy)

Looking through everyone's camping equipment, the source seemingly can't be found. However, the Witch herself finally reveals the truth.

You have put forth the best effort among the others so far. Searching through the equipment only to find nothing. I suppose I can reveal my secrets. I have stated in the heads of the possessed that anything they need to kill all present, I can conjure up easily. If they need rifles, poison, what-have-you, I can conjure up just for them. And them only. So do not expect me to be charitable for the rest of you.

[TenOfSwords13]

... that is very mean of you. But at least we can now understand where any odd pieces of equipment might be found.

[Mr. Lee Hammer]

Mean? Perhaps I should sit in a corner and cry, the voice says in quite the mocking tone before laughing at Jimothy.

[Oggy123]

"Really? Now this case is slightly more confusing."

[Florien]

Called it.

You didn't call shit. You thought one of them actually brought a shovel this time and you could tie it back.

Look, I figure we now have it properly established that no one brought a shovel this time. That we know of. This does mean we don't really have enough information to narrow it down.

Okay, fine, I agree. Yeah. We can execute Susan if you really want to, if that's as narrowed down as you can get it without stupid levels of effort.

As to your question witch, yeah, I was thinking after a few more iterations I can make you sit in a corner and cry, yes? I did it to the Archmage-Senior Emeritus. Not the one who fucked up my eyes, the other one... Who you don't remember me telling you about, but my point stands.

[PointMaid]

Taira is trying to ignore the... whatever they are. And the witch. Although if all this were Brenna's dealing, she wouldn't be involved with murder, she's pretty sure of that at least.

...Why a shovel? Is there anybody whose first thought for something like this would be... shovel?

[Kennifer]

"Ah, so plot convenient magic bullshit, then. Got it."

"And no, wouldn't have thought of a shovel. I mean maybe eventually but there's a whole lot of things I'd think of first."

[PointMaid]

Taira sighs. She's going to continue to concentrate on the freaking dog murder to keep from thinking about, well, everything else.

...Did anyone even have a motive to go after the dog? She didn't say 'talking dog'. Too weird. Or those prints, maybe we can get something from them. Even if some of them have been walked over. I've seen Forensic Files.

> Do the shoe prints look natural, like they were actually used naturally and not planted evidence? Any distinguishing marks on the prints, can you make out a tread pattern that would help? How deep are they compared to some prints being left this morning right now, say, by yourself - would the person have to be lighter or heavier than yourself?

[Oggy123]

Anya silently looks at Taira.

> Help out Taira in her investigation, perhaps?

[Mr. Lee Hammer]

> Do the shoe prints look natural, like they were actually used naturally and not planted evidence? Any distinguishing marks on the prints, can you make out a tread pattern that would help? How deep are they compared to some prints being left this morning right now, say, by yourself - would the person have to be lighter or heavier than yourself? (Taira)

In your quest to find out how deep they really are, you just walk all over the prints themselves up and down, up and down, up and down, making things a whole lot harder to be able to tell what they are. The originals are becoming next to useless.

> Help out Taira in her investigation, perhaps? (Anya and Elster)

You're not able to do much, but at least you don't screw anything up.

[PopcornPie]

"The dog didn't really interact with anyone, did he? Granted, I did make my camp on the other side from his."

>Look around Susan's camp for anything suspicious.

[PointMaid]

After realizing that she just made things worse, Taira's just sitting there. Is she crying? Yeah, that's crying.