''(text-colour:yellow)[(text-colour:#099268)[Welcome.]]'' (text-colour:grey)[You've been invited to an exclusive dinner party. As invitations are so few and far between, you are honored to have a place at Thornebranch Manor.]
(text-colour:#099268)[You don't know the owner of the manor or any of the other dinner guests. You aren't even sure why you've been invited. What could go wrong?]
Who are you? Chose the character you'd like to play as:
[[Nancy Dean]]
[[Victor Lewis]](text-colour:#099268)[I don't blame you of course. New places can be scary.]
You stay outside and wait to see if there are any other people around. The exterior of the manor is as silent as a tomb. You are engulfed in frigid night air and you feel your fingers slowly numbing from the cold. You suddenly hear a distant dog barking.
[[Follow the noise?]]
[[Stay where you are.]]You creep past the imposing garden cast in shadow and moonlight. You see a man standing in the distance with a dog lapping at his heels.
"Good evening!" You call out, walking closer to the two shadows. "Everything alright?"
The man turns, his face illuminated in the light of the nearby sconce fixture.
"Everything's fine," he replies. "Just old Apollo saying hello. The old boy and I have known eachother for a long time. Here for dinner?"
"Yes," you reply, a note of insecurity in your tone.
"I haven't seen you before," the man muses. "But the host does like to shake up his guest list sometimes. I'm Gregory Glass."
[[Introduce yourself.]]An elderly woman with long, silvery hair begins talking to you. She introduces herself as Ramona Bones.
"Do you know the host?" You ask conversationally.
She laughs, "Does anyone really? The man is an enigma."
"Who else is here?" you ask.
[[Meet the dinner guests]]An elderly woman with long, silvery hair begins talking to you. She introduces herself as Ramona Bones.
"Do you know the host?" You ask conversationally.
She laughs, "Does anyone really? The man is an enigma."
"Who else is here?" you ask.
[[Meet the dinner guests]]A large, dark figure bounds toward you, knocking you against the cold grass.
"Apollo!" a voice calls. Another dark figure rushes towards you and the dog.
"Is everything alright?" the mysterious gentleman asks.
"Everything's fine," you croak out.
"Just old Apollo saying hello," the man continues, extending a hand to help you up. "The old boy and I have known eachother for a long time. Here for dinner?"
"Yes," you reply, now standing eye-to-eye with the stranger.
"I haven't seen you before," the man muses. "But the host does like to shake up his guest list sometimes. I'm Gregory Glass."
[[Introduce yourself.]]You follow Ramona Bones from the manor's expansive foyer and through to the dining room, where guests are beginning to sit.
As you sit beside Mrs. Bones, you notice two men you don't recognize.
"Who are those two men?" you whisper to Mrs. Bones.
"Oh, that's Gregory Glass!" she says jovially. "Surely, you remember? The lovely boy I told you about? Now, as for the man next to him, I haven't a clue. Do you run in the same circles?"
You simply shake your head and examine the expansive, wooden dining room table. The table is so crowded with roast turkey, buttered potatoes, rolls, desserts, and wine glasses that you can hardly see the prestine table cloth.
There is no one seated at the head of the table.
"Where is the host?" You ask.
Mrs. Bones lowers her wine glass from her lips, "In London, I'm afriad. Business simply couldn't wait"
A man a few seats down from you, who you recognize as Richard Green, raises his glass.
"To our generous host!" he exclaims.
[[You raise your glass.]]You follow Mr. Glass into the manor's expansive foyer and through to the dining room, where guests are beginning to sit.
Sandwiched between Mr. Glass and the woman named Lucy, you examine the expansive, wooden dining room table. The table is so crowded with roast turkey, buttered potatoes, rolls, desserts, and wine glasses that you can hardly see the prestine table cloth.
There is no one seated at the head of the table.
"Where is the host?" You ask.
Mr. Glass just shrugs, "Away on business I suspect."
A man a few seats down from you, who you recognize as Richard Green, raises his glass.
"To our generous host!" he exclaims.
[[You raise your glass.]]As you take a sip of wine, you hear a sudden clatter and a blood-curdling scream.
Richard Green, who you just saw give the toast, is sprawled out on the floor.
He's lifeless and pale.
[[Try to help.]]
[[Stand back horrified]]"My word!" Ramona Bones exclaims.
Gregory Glass is suddenly on his feet, rushing to Mr. Green's side. You follow him, standing back as he examines the body.
"His skin," he says shakily. "It's like ice."
"Somebody help him!" Lucy cries. "Somebody call 911!"
"No need, Lucy." Mr. Glass says solumnly. "I think he's already dead."
[[Ask a question?]]
[[Continue to stay back?]]"My word!" Ramona Bones exclaims.
Gregory Glass is suddenly on his feet, rushing to Mr. Green's side.
"His skin," he says shakily. "It's like ice."
"Somebody help him!" Lucy cries. "Somebody call 911!"
"No need, Lucy." Mr. Glass says solumnly. "I think he's already dead."
[[Ask a question?]]
[[Continue to stay back?]]''Congratulations! The case is solved!''
Mr. and Mrs. Bones were arrested on charges of attempted murder. Fortunately, it turned out that poor Richard only passed out cold from his mere sip of wine. The poor man was so translucently pale, the dinner party naturally assumed he was dead from eyesight alone.
Medics were able to help him regain consiousness and he will be at the next dinner party at Thornebranch Manor.
The real question is, will you?You are a 25-year-old female. You are of medium height and medium build with mousy brown hair and gray eyes. Those who know you describe you as quiet, secretive and soft-spoken. You enjoy your life as a florist at the local flower shop.
You can easily blend into a room but there's nothing wrong with that, right?
You aren't usually one for socialization but your curiosity has gotten the better of you and led you to Thornebranch Manor.
[[Go in to dinner?]]You are a 27-year-old male of average build and intimidating height. You have striking green eyes and rusty brown hair. Those who know you describe you as magnetic, outgoing, and talkative. You enjoy your life as the owner of a small, successful grocery store.
But your big personality seems to hide an introverted side. You find yourself nervous outside Thornebranch's door.
[[Stay outside.]]"It's nice to meet you, Victor Lewis. What kind of work do you do?"
You tell Mr. Glass about inheriting your father's grocery store. He feigns interest for your benefit.
"Well it's nice to meet you, shall I introduce you to our fellow guests?"
[[Meet your fellow guests.]](text-colour:#099268)[Ah, you are a brave one.]
There's a fair amount of people here. Care to say hi?
[[Sure, I'm bored anyway]]
[[Definitely not, I dispise socialization]]Ramona Bones leans into you, her breath distinctly smelling of dinner wine. "Over there is my husband, Daniel. Comes from old money, probably the second thing I love most about him."
You laugh. "Lucy Burkhart and Richard Green, recent dinner additions. Both come from excellent families. And Gregory should be around here somewhere, what a charming young fellow. What did you say your name was again, dear? Nancy Vean? Are you of the Wisconsin Vean's?"
Before you can correct her, a short girl with an extremely pale face and pointed features enters the room dressed in uniform.
"Dinner will be served in the dining room shortly," she informs.
"Olivia," Ramona Bones whispers under her breath. "Scary little thing."
[[Go in.]]Mr. Glass leads you to a large, glass window which is slightly frosted from the cold.
"Your friends?" you ask.
Mr. Glass lets out a laugh. "People like us don't have friends. Over there in the corner by the fire? That's Ramona Bones. //Quite// the gossip. And that man in the easy chair? Her husband Daniel, the only man I know richer than my father."
"Who's the woman talking to Ramona Bones?" you ask.
"No idea," Mr. Glass muses. "Must be a newbie. //Like you.//"
He continues, "Over there, that's Lucy Burkhart and Richard Green, pretty new to dinner. Don't know much about them."
"Wait, what about that girl? The server?"
Mr. Glass' eyes follow your pointed finger. "Oh, that's just Olivia, the housekeeper. Could benefit from an appointment with my cousin who works in cosmetic procedures but she's a good worker."
Although you dislike Mr. Glass, you appreciate his intel on the Manor.
"Shall we go in?" He asks.
[[Go in]]"Murder!" Ramona Bones exclaims.
"Now, now Ramona, stay calm," Gregory Glass reasons.
"Calm? When a murderer is clearly in our midst? How could I possibly?"
"We aren't sure it was murder," continues Mr. Glass.
"You fool," screeches Mrs. Bones. "You'll have us all dead before the night is through!"
"But what happened?" You ask, "what causes a man to just drop dead?"
A frown suddenly creases Lucy Burkhart's face. "I think it was the wine."
[[Ask another question?]]"Murder!" Ramona Bones exclaims.
"Now, now Ramona, stay calm," Gregory Glass reasons.
"Calm? When a murderer is clearly in our midst? How could I possibly?"
"We aren't sure it was murder," continues Mr. Glass.
"You fool," screeches Mrs. Bones. "You'll have us all dead before the night is through!"
A frown suddenly creases Lucy Burkhart's face. "What if... what if something was in his wine?"
[[Keep listening.]]Ramona's eyes turn on Olivia, standing shell-shocked in the corner of the room.
"You!" she yells. "You worthless, scheming girl. I'll have your job for this, I will! Thought you could get away with it, didn't you?"
Ramona bounds across the room, slamming Olivia against the wall with surprising force.
"Ramona, stop," Mr. Bones yells, attempting to pull his wife from the housekeeper.
"Please," Olivia croaks, the wind knocked out of her. "I'm innocent."
"Murderer!" Mrs. Bones screams, Mr. Bones still attempting to detach his wife's hands from the housekeeper's shoulders. "Murderer! Murderer!"
"Enough Ramona!" Gregory bellows. "Let's hear her out."
[[Hear Olivia's alibi.]]"But who could have done it?" You ask.
Ramona's eyes turn on Olivia, standing shell-shocked in the corner of the room.
"You!" she yells. "You worthless, scheming girl. I'll have your job for this, I will! Thought you could get away with it, didn't you?"
Ramona bounds across the room, slamming Olivia against the wall with surprising force.
"Ramona, stop," Mr. Bones yells, attempting to pull his wife from the housekeeper.
"Please," Olivia croaks, the wind knocked out of her. "I'm innocent."
"Murderer!" Mrs. Bones screams, Mr. Bones still attempting to detach his wife's hands from the housekeeper's shoulders. "Murderer! Murderer!"
"Enough Ramona!" Gregory bellows. "Let's hear her out."
[[Hear Olivia's alibi.]]As the housekeeper, Olivia would have had the opportunity to slip poison in the wine glass, you reason.
Olivia catches her breath, her eyes nervously darting around the room.
"The glasses were already set before I even announced dinner. I had nothing to do with this. Anyone on the wait staff can attest to where I was."
Ramona scoffs, "Likely story."
"You have to believe me!" Olivia exclaims. "This job is my life."
"Who else would have had the opportunity?" You muse aloud.
Ramona suddenly turns to Gregory, "You!" she exclaims, growing more hysterical. "You were nowhere to be found before dinner!"
She inches further away from Mr. Glass, clearly terrified. "I've known you since you were a boy! How- how could you?"
[[Hear Gregory Glass' defense.]]"How dare you blame me?" Gregory exclaims. "The host is an old friend! I always feed Apollo while I'm here as a favor. Besides, I was outside with one of our newest guests, Vicent here. He can vouch for me."
[[Defend Mr. Glass]]
[[Question the other new guest.]]"It's true," you say nervously. "Mr. Glass and I met outside. He wouldn't have had the time to poison anyone."
Ramona Bones isn't convinced.
"Perhaps not. But what about you?" she exclaims, pointing directly at the other new guest, Nancy. "What about both of you?"
"You two are in cahoots, surely! How did I not see it before?"
She only grows increasingly hysterical. "Poor Richard, never could handle the stronger stuff. But why would you do it? What do you want? Money Perhaps you knew of the inheritance Richard was to recieve. Oh, the horror of it all!"
[[Defend yourself.]]"Seems a little convient," you muse. "Is this true?"
"It's true," Victor say nervously. "Mr. Glass and I met outside. He wouldn't have had the time to poison anyone."
Ramona Bones isn't convinced.
"Perhaps not. But what about you?" she exclaims, pointing directly at you. "What about both of you?"
"You two are in cahoots, surely! How did I not see it before?"
She only grows increasingly hysterical. "Poor Richard, never could handle the stronger stuff. But why would you do it? What do you want? Money? Property? Perhaps, you knew of the inheritance Richard was to recieve. Oh, the horror of it all!"
[[Defend yourself.]]"Now, just wait a minute," you say. "We don't know any of you, let alone eachother-"
Suddenly the manor's giant dog, Apollo, bounds into the room, driven in by the increasing clatter of voices. His paws skitter against the hardwood floor as he tries to slide to a stop. Instead, he crashes against the table leg.The contents of the table teeter, your glass of wine clattering to the floor.
Gregory Glass bends down, placing a single finger in the spilled liquid. He brings his pointer finger to his nose and smells the red substance.
"How odd," he says. "Cranberry juice."
[[Ask more questions.]]"Why would my glass have cranberry juice in it?" You ask, mystified.
"Enough!" Romana Bones yells. "You poisoned the bottle! Just admit it!"
[[Victor considers the clues.]]
[[Nancy considers the clues.]]A sudden realization seems to hit Nancy.
"No, we didn't." she says, "You were drinking from your glass before the toast. I saw you."
"You're right," you concur. "It couldn't have been the bottle itself. It was the glass..."
"Mr. Green!" Olivia suddenly exclaims. "I remember the servers mentioning a food allergy. What if it was him?"
"Yes!" Mr. Glass chimes in. "If he did have an allergy to the wine- say to grapes or something, the murderer must have known and switched the glasses."
"Ridiculous," Ramona Bones mutters.
[[Continue as Victor.]]A sudden realization hits you.
"No, we didn't." You say, "You were drinking from your glass before the toast. I saw you."
"You're right," Victor concurs. "It couldn't have been the bottle itself. It was the glass..."
"Mr. Green!" Olivia suddenly exclaims. "I remember the servers mentioning a food allergy. What if it was him?"
"Yes!" Mr. Glass chimes in. "If he did have an allergy to the wine- say to grapes or something, the murderer must have known and switched the glasses."
"Ridiculous," Ramona Bones mutters.
[[Continue as Nancy.]]"//Never could handle the hard stuff you said.// You knew! You knew Mr. Green had an allergy!" You exclaim.
"You know everything!" Nancy chimes in. "You seem to know everything about everyone."
"The town gossip," Gregory Glass murmurs aloud.
Ramona lets out a harsh laugh, "Now really, this is just getting ridiculous."
[[Ponder the clues further]]"//Never could handle the hard stuff you said.// You knew! You knew Mr. Green had an allergy!" Victor exclaims.
"You know everything!" You chime in. "You seem to know everything about everyone."
"The town gossip," Gregory Glass murmurs aloud.
Ramona lets out a harsh laugh, "Now really, this is just getting ridiculous."
[[Ponder the clues further]]"What motive could //I// possibly have?"
"The inheritance!" You exclaim. "You excused Olivia of killing Mr. Green for the inheritance. You knew why someone might do this!"
"Oh please, it wasn't that hard of a reach. But why would I need the inheritance? With all my life's comforts? Really now... This mysterious Nancy character seems far more likely to benefit from murder than me."
[[Defend yourself]]
[[Hear Nancy's defence]]"You knew where the host was. You knew exactly where he was," you realize aloud. "It was the perfect time to strike... you just needed a scapegoat. Or should I say... scapegoats."
[[Solve the case.]]"You knew where the host was. You knew exactly where he was," Nancy realizes aloud. "It was the perfect time to strike... you just needed a scapegoat. Or should I say... scapegoats."
[[Solve the case.]]"Ever since the murder, you've pointed your finger at just about everyone you possibly could. You wanted to draw attention from yourself, didn't you? But it all makes sense. //You're the killer.//"
"Ramona-" Mr. Bones interjects.
"I suppose the jig is up, Daniel." Ramona says, her face suddenly relaxing. "These two were far smarter than I expected them to be."
"But why?" Gregory Glass exclaims. "You had everything you could ever need."
[[Hear Ramona's explanation]]"Oh shut up, Greg! I was about to be cheated out of my inheritance from my own Uncle by my dim-whitted third cousin who he always prefered! It's an embarassment. Measures had to be taken." Ramona explains. "With little, old Richard out of the way, Daniel and I would have been the sole inheritents of this mansion and all my uncle's assets. With him away, the opportunity was too perfect. The crime was almost too perfect."
"But if it was you," Lucy ventures, anxiety evident in her voice. "How does that explain these two strangers showing up to dinner?"
"You idiots!" Ramona screetches. "//I// invited them! They were my scapegoats! Two people caught in the wrong place at the wrong time! And I would have gotten away with it too!"
[[Call the police.]]