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

LOBBY: Lounge Singer Freddie & Photojournalist Lorcan

[ladscience]

If this is the wrong thing to do, Freddie doesn't show it. In fact, he loves and supports everything you're doing here, Mr. Goldstein. He whoops in approval and does a little shimmy to Lorcan's story-song.

"Friends and countrymen, please put your hands together for LOGAN GOLDSTEEEEIN!" Freddie calls out his name like a wrestling announcer. This is his show now and you're all forced to attend. Now clap, bitches. "Any requests for the next song, Mr. Goldstein? Any—" he waggles his eyebrows "—dedications?"

Re: LOBBY: Lounge Singer Freddie & Photojournalist Lorcan

[fursuiter]

Lorcan-- Logan's got a stupid, giddy little smile on his face when Freddie announces his name, and he gives a sheepish wave to the partygoers. Yes! That's him!

"Ah-- um... Let's see..." His eyes wander and he takes a moment to puzzle this very important decision through. Finally: "I'd like to dedicate Garth Squonk's Much Too Young (To Die Under Mysterious Circumstances) to the late Mr. Willoughby Sprout."

LOBBY: Lounge Singer Freddie & Photojournalist Lorcan

[ladscience]

Freddie places a hand on his chest. "Oh, Mr. Willoughby, gone too soon, snuffed out in his prime," he laments, eyes shining with what could be a mournful light, and a moment of silence rings out through the lobby. Maybe it's in honor of the dearly departed building manager. Maybe it's because Freddie forgot to hit play.

"Anyway." Freddie slams that play button and the spell is immediately broken by the strings of a steel guitar. "When the maaaaan on the traaaaain breathes his last breath," he sings along. Do these lyrics seem strangely prescient to anyone else? "It's tiiiime for a dooooog to find who caused his death."