Friday, November 14, 2014

Murder Mystery

*As a point of interest, this quest is not set at Addison's school. The MC is Gabby, and she does, indeed, aspire to be the perfect little Mary Sue that earns as many extra rings and coins as possible. But this looks to be a fun quest, and I couldn't resist playing it.

CAST

Gabby - The MC, nerd
Nishan
Autumn
Sakura
Mia
Ezra
Wes
Julian
Zack - OC, Wallflower


[ Free preview, Spend 300 rings | None | 15000c ]

You're on your way to lunch when Nishan jostles past you, dressed in a trim black tuxedo and carrying an ornate silver tea kettle.
NISHAN: Pardon me! I daren't be late for the wedding reception!
GABBY: Wedding reception? So why are you going into the school cafeteria? And why do you have that old tea kettle?
Nishan bows and offers you a letter.
NISHAN: Your invitation, miss, to the wedding of Autumn and Julian!
GABBY: Say what now?!
NISHAN: Come along! It'll all make sense when we get there!
Nishan ushers you into the cafeteria. The tables have been arranged and decorated to create a festive reception area. Your classmates mill about, dressed in elaborate period costumes.
GABBY: Everybody looks like extras from Downton Abbey!
Autumn taps her glass with a spoon to get the attention of the well-heeled crowd.
AUTUMN: When Julian Sterling asked for my hand in marriage, I almost swooned!
GABBY: Did she just say 'Julian Sterling'? Since that's not actually Julian's last name and people are in costume, this must all be some kind of... Elaborate cosplay.
NISHAN: Kind of, but even better! This is a Murder Mystery party! Everybody dresses up in costumes and tries to solve a murder!
GABBY: Okay, but if this is a murder mystery party... who was murdered?
Autumn stumbles mid-speech.
AUTUMN: T-tomorrow, Julian and I will be married, and I... I am so--Hakkkk!
Autumn pitches forward, wracked by a fit of coughing. She slams onto the floor and stops moving! Sakura runs over, dressed like a British Constable. She kneels by Autumn.
SAKURA: Oh no! Autumn is dead!
A surprised murmur ripples through the crowd.
SAKURA: Lady Autumn Oldmoney is slain! And on the eve of her wedding night!
Sakura lifts up Autumn's glass so that everyone can see the large green stain on the lip.
SAKURA: Poison is the cause of death. Can YOU catch the killer?

<All of your friends are in character for this Murder Mystery party... and ONE of them is guilty of the crime! Correctly solve the mystery for a prize of Coins and Rings!>

You join a small group surrounding Sakura. She points to where Autumn lies on the ground.
SAKURA: The rules of this Murder Mystery party are very simple. First, Gabby and I will interview guests at the wedding reception. Then after the interviews are done, we'll deduce WHO poisoned Autumn!
GABBY: But Sakura... you assigned all the characters. That means you already know who did it, right?
SAKURA: Psht! That's playing on Easy Mode! I'm in the dark, just like everyone else!
AUTUMN: Good luck, Gabby! I hope you solve my murder!
SAKURA: Autumn, you can't talk! You're supposed to be dead!
AUTUMN: Oops! I mean--Hkkkk!
SAKURA: Fellow detective, the game is afoot!
You gaze around the room at the wedding guests. Most are crying, but one guest seems oddly blank, almost sleepy...
MIA: Yawn!

[ Mia, Ezra | 6h | 200b ]

You and Sakura walk over to where Mia sits on a couch next to Ezra. She smiles up at you bleakly.
MIA: Hello, I'm Mia Oldmoney. Autumn is my sister... or she was. Yawn!
EZRA: You'll have to excuse my patient. She's kinda super-medicated right now.
SAKURA: ...Your patient?
EZRA: Yes, I'm Doctor Ezra Tincture. Mia suffers from migraines, which I treat with herbal tonics. They're made with oils from the finest exotic snakes. Plus I play music. Turns out I'm kind of a rockstar.
SAKURA: Ezra, your character sheet says 'doctor', not 'rockstar'...
EZRA: That didn't stop Dr. Dre from rapping, did it, non-medical person?
SAKURA: Hmph.
Ezra indicates Mia, slumped next to him on the couch.
EZRA: Anyway... my awesome treatment is effective at managing Mia's pain, but it also makes her extremely sleepy.
Mia gives an exaggerated yawn!
MIA: Why do I have to roleplay the narcoleptic? Everybody knows I'm a cheery bundle of fun!
SAKURA: Mia, we already discussed this. It's called playing against type. You said you could handle any role I threw at you!
MIA: Fine. Whatever... yawn!
EZRA: Ahem... you all can ask Mia questions about the unfortunate events, but please try to be brief. Doctor's orders.
You and Sakura continue to interrogate Mia.
GABBY: Now that your sister has passed, are you next in line to inherit the family fortune?
MIA: I hadn't thought about it, but yes... I guess so.
GABBY: Mia, where were you before the wedding reception?
EZRA: Mia was in her bedroom. Resting.
GABBY: Mia can speak for herself.
EZRA: Of course, she can speak for herself. But as her doctor--
Mia leans over and squeezes Ezra's hand tenderly.
MIA: It's okay. Ezra is just being overprotective. He'd do absolutely anything for me. I was in my bedroom. Ezra was with me, watching over me...
Mia closes her eyes and pretends to snore softly.
MIA: Nailed it!
SAKURA: Doctor Ezra, please continue.
EZRA: As you can see, my very sleepy patient is in no condition to poison anyone. But if you need a suspect, I suggest you go to the stables to speak with the farmhand, Wes. I've heard rumors that he and Autumn had... a history together!

[ Wes | 8h | 10000c ]

On the far side of the cafeteria, you and Sakura find Wes baling hay beside stables made out of cardboard.
WES: What do you guys want? Can't a farmhand bale some hay in peace?
SAKURA: We want to talk about Autumn. Did you know she was poisoned?
WES: I heard the news, but I wasn't allowed inside. I'm the hired help, not a wedding guest.
GABBY: We've heard rumors about you and Autumn. That you guys had some kind of history together.
WES: Some kind of history? Is that what they said?
Wes stabs his pitchfork into a hay bale, leaving it to stand upright.
WES: It wasn't history. It was true love!
Wes slumps down against the hay bale, forlorn.
WES: I never should've let Autumn marry that dumb jerk, Julian Sterling. Autumn was supposed to be with me...
GABBY: With you? But you're a farmhand!
WES: Autumn didn't see the dirt or the grime or the rippling six-pack abs you get by baling hay all day long.
SAKURA: ...six-pack abs, you say?
WES: Autumn was the only one who saw the real me...
Wes pulls a stack of letters out from under a hay bale and hands them over.
GABBY: These are love letters between you and Autumn! But this is...?
WES: Improper? Forbidden? Against the rules of so-called polite society? Rules were made to be broken!
GABBY: Wes, if you didn't poison Autumn Oldmoney, who did?
WES: If you ask me, it's that jealous fiance of hers, Julian Sterling! He hated that Autumn loved me more than him...
GABBY: So he knew about you two?
WES: More like caught us making out in the stables. Then he broke my best riding crop in half like a twig!
Sakura nods sagely.
SAKURA: Sounds like we all need to have a word with Mr. Julian Sterling!

[ Julian | 10h | 12000c ]

In the far corner of the cafeteria, Julian consults a pocket watch. Right beside him is a painted portrait of himself consulting a pocket watch.
WES: There he is! Look at Julian counting down the seconds until he gets away with murder!
SAKURA: We're onto your chicanery, Julian! You knew all about Autumn and Wes!
GABBY: You got mad about their relationship... and then you poisoned her!
JULIAN: ...Me? A killer?
Julian snaps his pocket watch shut.
JULIAN: Harumph! Don't be ridiculous! It's true that I was furious when I learned of my fiancee's dalliance with the hired help... But she agreed to break things off with Wes before our marriage.
You and Sakura continue to grill Julian about the murder.
GABBY: Hmm, so Autumn promised to stop seeing Wes before the wedding... And you were okay with that?
JULIAN: Yeah, that's what my dumb character card says. If it were really me, I would've busted more than Wes's riding crop! Plus this stupid bow tie itches!
SAKURA: Keep your shirt on, Julian. You're supposed to stay in character!
JULIAN: Okay, fine, I mean... yes, I was okay with Autumn after that. The truth is I, Julian Sterling, never loved Autumn. Our marriage was a business deal. My family name paired with her family's money. But appearances must be maintained, so we both decided to stop seeing other people...
GABBY: You both agreed?! So you were seeing someone else too?!

[ Payton | 12h | 11000c ]

Payton prances over and drapes her arms around Julian.
PAYTON: Squee! Is it my turn to be interviewed?
Payton giggles excitedly as she answers your questions.
PAYTON: My name is Payton Petticoat! And I'm going to be a famous actress on the London stage!
GABBY: Payton, where were you before the reception, when someone put poison in Autumn's cup?
PAYTON: Practicing my lines! Sakura said she'd 'destroy my lineage' if I got any of my backstory wrong...
SAKURA: Payton!
PAYTON: ...which I'm doing right now!
GABBY: Payton, where was your character before the reception?
PAYTON: Oh, my character card says I was, um...
Payton quickly skims the bio.
PAYTON: Oh, hee! It says I was practicing my lines! Except I was practicing them for a London theater production that starts next month! Julian said he'd finance it once he married Autumn.
JULIAN: Yeah, about that...
PAYTON: Oh no! Now that Autumn is dead, does that mean no play?
SAKURA: Payton, can anybody verify your alibi?
PAYTON: Julian can. He helped me with all the lines where I needed to kiss somebody.
SAKURA: How very convenient.
JULIAN: Guess so!
Looking around the cafeteria, you see you've almost made a complete loop.
SAKURA: There's just one person left to interview... The Butler!
NISHAN: Chip chip cheerio!

[ Nishan | 16h | 13000c ]

You and Sakura take a seat while Nishan serves you all tea and crackers.
NISHAN: So... I'd hoped to be an action hero butler like Alfred Pennyworth or Kato, but it turns out I'm just a regular butler.
SAKURA: Nishan, stick to the script please! You're not Key and Peele.
NISHAN: Sorry! I mean, er... This regular butler has served the Sterling family for years... And watched in silence while the once-respectable Sterling family name became embroiled in scandal.
JULIAN: I can hear you!
GABBY: Where were you before the wedding reception, Nishan?
NISHAN: Setting out the glasses.
SAKURA: Including the glass that Autumn drank from? The one with poison in it? Aha! The butler did it!
Sakura fist pumps!
SAKURA: I've always wanted to say that!
Sakura does a celebratory dance!
SAKURA: I did it! I solved the mystery! Nishan poisoned Autumn to stop all the Sterling family scandals!
GABBY: ...but isn't murder a scandal too?
SAKURA: That... is a very good point, Gabby.
Nishan coughs and bows politely...
NISHAN: Ahem, if I may be so bold, I should also add that my family hates the Oldmoney family... They made their millions by stealing our land! To feed his children, my grandpa was forced into the noble profession of butlery.
GABBY: Okay, so that's a bombshell... maybe the butler did do it after all!
Sakura steps out front to address the whole cafeteria!
SAKURA: Now that the interviews are over, it's time to answer the big question of the evening! Who poisoned Lady Autumn on the eve of her wedding?

[ Gabby | 14h | 14000c ]

SAKURA: Remember, Lady Autumn could've been poisoned by anyone! Perhaps it was the over-medicated sister who stands to inherit a fortune?
MIA: Yawn!
SAKURA: Or was it the lovestruck stablehand?
WES: Maybe I did it. Maybe not. I'll never tell.
SAKURA: What about her jilted fiance?
JULIAN: Jilted? That better be a synonym for being all buff-like.
SAKURA: Or what about her fiance's mistress, the thespian?
PAYTON: Ooh, pick me! I don't want to be guilty, but I hate getting chosen last!
SAKURA: Or perhaps... the Butler really did do it!
NISHAN: Are we really going to indulge that cliche?
Your group begins to murmur, with everyone whispering accusations at everyone else, until at last you step forward.
GABBY: I know who did it!
The crowd watches you in silence, not taking so much as a breath.
GABBY: The person who poisoned Lady Autumn is... Ezra!
Ezra takes a step backwards and laughs uneasily!
EZRA: Me? Ha... why would I do it?
GABBY: Julian and Payton can vouch for each other... Wes didn't have the right motive... And Mia was with you, sleeping, which means you can vouch for her. But no one can vouch for you!
NISHAN: And Mia did say he'd 'do anything for her'...
JULIAN: Not to mention their skeezy-close relationship. I think Mia and the Doctor are more than companions...
MIA: ...Ezra, is this true?
EZRA: With Autumn out of the way, you would've inherited a fortune! I could've finally afforded to go to an actual med school!
MIA: What?!
Ezra turns and starts to run!
SAKURA: Ezra's getting away! Somebody stop him!

[ Ezra, A  Classmate except Autumn (Zack) | 18h | 15000c, 250b ]

Ezra bolts for the door to the cafeteria! Before he can escape, Zack tackles him to the ground!
EZRA: Ahh!ZACK: And what do we have here?
Zack holds up Ezra's Murder Mystery character card so that everyone can see it. It say's 'GUILTY' in bold letters.
EZRA: Guess you got me!
With the murder solved, everyone gathers back into the cafeteria to enjoy snacks and talk about the game.
JULIAN: That was really good acting, Autumn!
PAYTON: Yeah, I almost thought you'd really been poisoned!
AUTUMN: I'm just glad that Gabby caught my murderer!
SAKURA: That was brilliant detective work...
GABBY: It was kind of a team effort.
EZRA: And sorry I fake-poisoned you, Autumn.
SAKURA: Before everyone goes, I have one last surprise...
PAYTON: A surprise! What is it?
JULIAN: Was there another murder? Because awesome!
SAKURA: Not exactly. I know we didn't really have a wedding... But I thought we could all enjoy some wedding cake anyway!
Sakura reveals a white wedding cake with a red raspberry drizzle on top that looks like blood. She uses a big cleaver to cut everyone slices!
PAYTON: OMG! OMG! Wedding cake!
SAKURA: So... should we do another one of these Murder Mysteries sometime?
JULIAN: I'd be down!
WES: But next time, we should do one starring a handsome drifter!
AUTUMN: Or maybe somebody dying at an art exhibit!
MIA: Or maybe we could have a murder on the cheer squad! I already have a list of potential victims!
SAKURA: Guys, those are all really good suggestions, and I might do one of those... But for now, I think we should let the next theme be... a mystery!

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