peridot

[dramatispersonae]

You find yourself in a beautiful red room, the edges of each wall adorned with real gold accents. At the center of the room is a long table, several chairs on either side of it, perfect for very serious conferences. In the middle of the table is a plate of strawberry jam tarts atop it, one per teammate present.

In the corner of the room is a hole in the ground, only large enough for a small animal to fit through. Next to it is a flat iron bar, curled at its tip, where a golden bell has been hung from it.

Finally, on one wall is a large poster which reads (or you find read aloud to you, if you cannot read):

Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water.
Jack fell down and broke his crown
And Jill came tumbling after.

Up got Jack, and home did trot
As fast as he could caper.
He went to bed and bound his head
With vinegar and brown paper.

Comments

inquiries

[dramatispersonae]

[ring bell receive rabbit]

Re: inquiries

[boxupallthebutterflies]

[ringing a bell.]

Was Jack aware of where he was bringing Jill, or is this only conjecture? Furthermore, is Jack's head injury enough to seriously addle his brain and render him incapable of rational thought?

Re: inquiries

[dramatispersonae]

[there is a few moments of nothing, then a little red rabbit, regally dressed, scurries out of the hole and holds out a piece of paper to you. in stubby little handwriting, it reads:

Jack knew all the paths on the hill. However, whether he knew, he would not testify.
Typically, when one is set on murdering another, not a rational thought cannot be found in their head! But no, that injury was not enough to hinder such complex thought.

the rabbit looks at you expectantly.]

Re: inquiries

[boxupallthebutterflies]

...Yes, thank you.

Re: inquiries

[dramatispersonae]

[it darts back into the hole '^'d]

Re: inquiries

[boxupallthebutterflies]

[RINGING AGAIN]

In the second case. How does Jill check for poison? Is Jack's job also to test for poison? Where could Jill have obtained poison if she wished to do so?

Re: inquiries

[dramatispersonae]

[the little rabbit darts off and returns, same as before. he returns with another paper:

There are various methods to check for poison; Jill would know how to check and how to brew poison, for she is an apothecary in training. Jack simply taste-tests.

the rabbit looks at you expectantly.]

Re: inquiries

[boxupallthebutterflies]

Who is she training under? And what relationship do they have to the siblings otherwise?

first case

[dramatispersonae]

On the table you find a paper, though it most certainly wasn't there before. It reads, or is read to you:

DEFENDANT: Jack
DETAILS: First and foremost, Jack did not return with the pail of water he and his sister, Jill, were entrusted to get. However, Jack led his sister away from the well to an out-of-the-way cliff, suggesting that their detour was premeditated. And though Jack suffered grievous injuries to his head, he intentionally neglected the state of his sister, who had also been hurt in her fall, leaving her behind and proceeding home to treat himself and him alone.
PROPOSED SENTENCE: Execution

Re: first case

[silentknight]

Execution?!

Re: first case

[boxupallthebutterflies]

[eating a strawberry tart :|a]

...Certainly some punishment is required, but permanent execution may be a little dire.

Re: first case

[silentknight]

It's not the right answer. We have to change it.

Re: first case

[boxupallthebutterflies]

Perhaps someone should lead him on his own "accidental detour". ...With non-fatal results.

Re: first case

[likeawritingdesk]

Is that a joke...

Re: first case

[boxupallthebutterflies]

If it's a joke, we can always give a joke answer.

Re: first case

[likeawritingdesk]

He certainly did neglect his own sister.

verdict

[dramatispersonae]

[a gold-trimmed envelope, letter-writing paper, and a red ink pen on the table has been provided for you. the back of the envelope reads FIRST VERDICT.

you understand the letter must be sealed and left on the table when you finish writing your answer, but you can always open it again later. the resealing would just be noticeable.]

Re: verdict

[boxupallthebutterflies]

[EDITED TO PROPERLY FOLLOW THE RULES this is not rewriting/resealing okok]

We have determined that Jack is responsible for Jill's fall, whether or not he intended for it to happen. He is also responsible for abandoning her. Therefore, he should know abandonment and loss.

We shall put Jack somewhere terribly lonely, with nothing there for him to keep him company. It will only last for a day, but in addition, we will give his best desserts to his sister in repayment.

second case

[dramatispersonae]

On the table you find another paper, though it most certainly wasn't there before. It reads, or is read to you:

DEFENDANT: Jill
DETAILS: Though heavily injured in her tumble, Jill was in no way hurt so badly that she would not have been unable to fetch the pail of water, even without her brother's aid. She, like her brother, also failed her duty. However, Jill is said to be the one who was meant to check the water to see it was not poisoned before it was brought back to the village, and her brother, Jack, was meant to act as a taste-tester. When the water in the well was later inspected, poison was found in it, and there were signs of the water-pail having been drunk.
PROPOSED SENTENCE: Execution

Re: second case

[silentknight]

[NOT LOOKING SLIGHTLY VINDICATED AT ALL]

Re: second case

[boxupallthebutterflies]

Hoh...? An interesting elaboration.

Re: second case

[threadspinner]

So she poisoned the water?

Re: second case

[boxupallthebutterflies]

It's possible, though there's no evidence that's true.

verdict

[dramatispersonae]

[a gold-trimmed envelope, letter-writing paper, and a red ink pen on the table has been provided for you. the back of the envelope reads SECOND VERDICT.

you understand the letter must be sealed and left on the table when you finish writing your answer.]

Re: verdict

[boxupallthebutterflies]

Similar to Jack being responsible for Jill's fall, Jill is responsible for the poison being drunk, whether or not she intended someone to be poisoned, and whether or not Jack was the one who actually drank it. Not to mention she was able to move herself after her fall--so she was capable of attending to Jack just as he was capable of attending to her. Neither did so.

Therefore, she shall have a similar punishment to Jack. She too will stay somewhere alone for a time, under the same circumstances. Some of her best herbs shall also be given to Jack, as punishment for her neglectful care of her poison.