trusthell | Taking Responsibility.

Taking Responsibility.

Despite the lack of a body, despite the fact that you've initiated the investigation today of your own volition rather than due to some sense of formality and obligation (to the dead, to the rules, to the session), it seems that the Wordsmith is aware of your activities regardless; as such, when you finally leave that hidden area on the seventh floor and move back toward the stairs, you'll find that the elevator is already waiting for you.

Perhaps it's unsettling, in its own way; perhaps it'll only serve to make you more determined.

Either way, the ride up is swift and smooth as always; when the door opens, however, it becomes immediately obvious that the courtroom itself has changed.

The podium circle is still standing in its spot toward the front of the room; three more have joined the ranks of the deceased since you were last here - Mikazuki, Watanuki, and Bruce Wayne's portraits have been set up on their podiums; however, theirs aren't the only ones that have been covered - all thirty podiums have been draped in black, the fabric spilling down over the wood, almost to the point of reaching the floor.

That isn't the only difference, either - Kageshirou is far more visibly present today, in a way that's impossible to ignore. The walls in here appear cracked, much like the one in the foyer, dark silt and shadow spilling down to pool on the floor like contaminated water, like blood. A fair amount of it seems to be emanating from the lectern high above, the one place in this room that doesn't seem to have taken damage like the walls have; regardless, the darkness of the shadow entity spills down heavily from there, constantly pouring down like some sort of waterfall, thick and ugly and thankfully dissipating into the floor before it can touch the circle where you'll be standing.

The circle is one of the few places in this room that's clear of it, actually.

As repulsive as this all may be, however, the lectern remains empty, standing cold and unaffected by any of this; once everyone has found their place in the circle, the Wordsmith's voice can be heard addressing everyone, as always.

"Welcome, Apprentices—I thought it likely you would want to find yourselves here today, and we have now gathered for what I am sure you need not be told may be one final time. Is there perhaps something you wished to discuss?"

There are only eight of you left, and it seems you've reached the end of the line. There isn't much else to do but try to win, in any way you can.

Best of luck to you.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Estelle decides being alone sucks, so she joins the upper left corner because it might be better to have a group effort this time since they're working together to win the day. Still wearing her team skull tanktop and her leggings she seems like she's truly ready for a fight.

Your innocent princess is gone.]

The Wordsmith's study is where I believe we searched. There were a lot of books so I looked through them-- [naturally she did.] --and he seems either educated, cultured, or wishes to appear educated and cultured. Quite frankly, a noble or a snob. [Given her title is Noble, she means them in opposite natures.]

There were mainly tragedies as well as a book on selling one's soul to a demon. There were also a good amount of books on the study of philosophy, specifically on metaphysics and the nature of one's soul. There seemed to be a vast amount about realizing a soul's potential through meeting a series of needs to reach self-actualization-- the best self one can be.

There were also a disturbing amount of things on the soul being connected to the body, but that the soul can be separated-- right now a common and known means being death.

It comes to make me wonder if the Wordsmith was truly interested in studying the nature of souls when they are separated from the human body. Or perhaps he was interested in self-actualization of the human soul as we fought through this 'game'.

Edited 2017-03-25 16:15 (UTC)

[ . . . Um??? ]

So basically you're suggesting he's some sort of Soul Rancher?

That or he's truly interested in the soul in a self-actualized state and wishes to study that separate from the human body. Perhaps that could very well what our friends are right now who have passed on-- simply souls.

Since when can a soul write a note, though? Unless it's possessing something else or...

[ Well no, ghosts can sometimes manipulate the physical world... ]

But okay, so if we're all "self-actualized" now, so what? We're delicious?

It's simply a theory right now based on what I've read. We have no way to be sure. [Or perhaps the Wordsmith wished for them to become.]

I don't know what it means when we become "self-actualized". I believe there are different theories involving that. Guzma and I discussed one part, actually. The need to feel safe and secure. The theory I read said that we needed safety and security to be self-actualized. Guzma argued the opposite.

Perhaps that's what the Wordsmith believes, too.

Traditionally, men grow through conflict. But then, too much conflict and scar a soul. Tragedy can build character, but trauma can scar a man.

[ . . . But that's all sophistry. Right? ]

Tragedy can build a character.

Perhaps that's what the Wordsmith believed. His personal library would almost agree with that statement.

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