Mardi Gras!

[changeyourmind]

murder on the henhurst express!

what's up?

Fairy lights and feather garlands adorn the walls of the first floor of Henhurst Hall this evening. Rose Weasley is celebrating Mardi Gras in an unorthodox way: a Murder Mystery Party. In the interest of entertaining as many themes as possible, she's set the entire affair on a fictional train running in 1920's Wizard America, and she strongly encourages everyone to dress up in costume.

visuals!

Cocktails include prohibition-era recipes like the Bee's Knees, Mary Pickford, French 75, and Sidecar. Snack foods are a little more standard party fare, although Rose has set them up with little placards that declare murder-themed names for them (ie, Death by Chocolate Cupcake, as well as the considerably less inspired Mystery Meatballs).

there's been a murder!

An hour into the party, the festivities are interrupted by a GHASTLY SCREAM! It sounded like it came from Willoughby's office, so you better hurry over there! Inside, train conductor Rose has dramatically positioned herself to weep at the feet of the now late Willoughby Sprout, splayed across his desk and murdered by some ne'er-do-well! Just as Rose throws her arms up in despair, wondering how they will ever POSSIBLY solve the terrible crime, her pug dog trots around the desk and plops his butt down, looking very cute in his little Sherlock Holmes get-up.

It's the world-famous dog detective, Detective Inspector Pug, Rose crows. Surely now everyone will be saved!

"What should we do, Detective Inspector?" Rose asks.

"Arf!" Dip says, and immediately begs for the treat he knows he deserves. Rose gives it to him, and then hands you all treats of your own: dossiers about your new train identities. But the murderer is among the group already, and everyone had better be very careful...

cast list!

Professor
Sergeant
Criminal
Artist
Engineer
Occultist
Lounge Singer
Aviator
Antiquarian
Prizefighter
Barrister
Big Game Hunter
Doctor of Medicine
Archaeologist
Governess
Chauffer
Clergyman
Film Star
Union Activist
Photojournalist
Bartender
Gambler
Conductor
Detective

Volunteer A
Volunteer B
Volunteer C
Volunteer D
Volunteer E
Volunteer F
Freddie Weasley
Volunteer H
Marion Bell-Wood
Criswell Trelawney
Lysander Scamander
Valerius Nott
Volunteer M
Volunteer N
Volunteer O
Louis Weasley
Scorpius Malfoy
Volunteer R
Siân Fletcher
Lorcan Scamander
Volunteer U
Corrie Pye
Rose Weasley
Detective Inspector Pug

how this works!

⬥ This is mostly just for silliness, since I couldn't think of a manageable way to run a murder mystery for 30+ characters in the journal format. The goal should just be to write some silly little scenes with your character playing a character.

⬥ Claim your character's role in the story below to be added to the cast list. The Murderer has been randomly selected from the list already! You will be notified if you are the Murderer. Each character role comes with a simple costume piece themed around the profession and a 20-page packet detailing their life and backstory. Nobody could blame you if you don't read this.

⬥ For every ten total tags completed by the characters "in character", I will post a little more of the pre-written murder mystery patter I have prepared as the game continues over the course of the night.

⬥ For added chaos, there's actually nothing stopping you from murdering your scene partner if you feel like they're being suspicious. Rose encourages it, actually! But it does mean you'll also be a murderer afterwards. "Murdering" someone requires you to slap a skull-and-crossbones sticker onto the other person. Rose charmed these to be extra sticky and they're incredibly difficult to remove. Everyone has one!

locations!

⬦ WHAT'S UP?: Let everyone know what your character is up to (and what super cute 1920s costume they're wearing!).

⬦ LOBBY: The building's lobby has been repurposed as a dance floor, and whoever gets the "Lounge Singer" role in the Murder Mystery is given total control over the sound system for the evening (although they don't actually have to sing if they don't want to).

⬦ SPEAKEASY: Briar Longbottom's room has been dressed up to look like a Prohibition Speakeasy, and whoever gets the "Bartender" role in the Murder Mystery is roped into serving cocktails.

⬦ POKER ROOM: Lucy Weasley's room has been dressed up to look like an illicit high-stakes game of poker is being held in it. Whoever gets the "Gambler" role in the Murder Mystery is politely asked to ante up ten galleons to furnish the pot.

⬦ CAFE: The first floor's common area has been decorated with pretty twinkling fairy lights, and food as well as non-alcoholic drinks can be found here. It's also usually the setting for Rose's over-dramatic Murder Mystery scenes.

⬦ THE MURDER MYSTERY: "Scenes" in the Murder Mystery game can take place in any area, but threads should all be placed here!

⬦ OOC - VOLUNTEERS

⬦ OOC - QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERNS!

Comments

SPEAKEASY: Marion & Criswell

[cristrelawney]

Criswell is lingering by the door to the 'speakeasy' when Marion comes calling, looking down into his own (mostly untouched) cocktail and considering what to do from here and thinking about how a prizefighter would stand. He squares his shoulders when he looks in the woman's direction, offering a thin smile, "Right after 'subtle', I'm guessing?"

SPEAKEASY: Marion & Criswell

[ringhollow]

She thrusts out a hand. "Trixie Goode's the name. Good at secrets, better at subtlety."

SPEAKEASY: Marion & Criswell

[cristrelawney]

"Trixie Goode? Are you certain that's not an alias to throw us off the trail?" Criswell inquires, nevertheless taking the offered hand and squeezing far harder than is necessary as he shakes it. The upstart prizefighter doesn't know his own strength, obviously.

Roleplay.

"Michael Honeyman."

Re: SPEAKEASY: Marion & Criswell

[ringhollow]

Marion snort-laughs so hard that she drops her drink.

SPEAKEASY: Marion & Criswell

[cristrelawney]

Criswell yelps in surprise and makes a scrambling attempt to catch the glass before it can fall. Unfortunately, his reflexes and coordination aren't up to the task. Down it goes.

SPEAKEASY: Marion & Criswell

[ringhollow]

There's a stage gasp (is that a thing? like a stage whisper but it's a gasp? it's a thing now.) and, after a beat, Marion cries out in an increasingly-louder voice: "You murderer!"

It doesn't matter that she dropped the glass, he let it happen.

SPEAKEASY: Marion & Criswell

[cristrelawney]

Criswell jumps as the glass strikes the floor and shatters, then gapes at Marion. Murderer? What she is she even on about? Why is she always like this? He shakes his head, immediately digging into his suit jacket for his wand (they're in need of a Reparo, roleplay or no roleplay), and sputtering, "Me? You dropped it!"