by Palimpsest » Thu Aug 03, 2023 11:23 am
*pushes detective hat up*
I have taken some more time to gather the clues the cabins have found.
1) Seraphine
Seraphine, the fire tower watcher, is a new recruit this year, and still learning the forest trails. They're very knowledgeable about forests in general, and especially about mushrooms. They're also, supposedly, very reliable, and would be unlikely to abandon their post without coercion - so probably didn't leave on their own volition.
They keep their quarters neat and orderly, and there was no sign of a disturbance or that they left anything unexpectedly. In their quarters, they have maps, a paintbrush, and a can of neon yellow paint. Outside of their quarters, near the watchtower, were found abandoned rope, a rusted spoon, two crystal rhinestones (identified as similar to ones Andrea used to make a bracelet for Cirrus), and a large bird presence. From the top of the tower itself can be seen the entirety of the lake and most of the forest, including a shadow under the lake, a cave with a fire out front, and the brightly lit glampgrounds.
Seraphine's fur was discovered near some neon yellow trail signs, The trail, when followed, leads to a clearing of raspberry bushes, with something red reflecting within them. Seraphine was last spotted (according to Penny) returning from the clearing with raspberries. One of the trail signs, on the returning route, was tampered with to point in the wrong direction.
Analyses - Seraphine is reported to be reliable, which may mean they didn't leave on their own will. They're also known to be inexperienced on the trails, and perhaps likely to get lost - additionally, it seems they vanished sometime after Penny spotted them and before they returned home, since their living space was so neat. They either expected to leave, or never made it home.
The watchtower has a large view of the area, and Seraphine's disbelief in cryptids seems peculiar given that they can see the shadow in the lake. Did they believe this had a natural explanation? They would also have known about the cave, and the camp fire if it were present. They may have attempted to investigate the area, especially an unaccounted for fire.
There is no explanation for the items found around the watchtower. Also, Penny tells us that Mason painted the trail signs, however, the paint was present in Seraphine's home instead. Was Seraphine mapping out a new area, or were they the one altering the trail signs? If the rhinestones came from Cirrus, was she at some point present at the watchtower that night?
2) Cirrus
Cirrus does not appear to be a nature inclined pony. She didn't know how to light a fire when she first arrived, is very particular about her things, and doesn't like bug bites or hiking. However, despite this, she has stayed in the glampgrounds for a long period of time. She is very close with Andrea, coveting a purple-stringed rhinestone friendship bracelet that Andrea made for her, and she supposedly would never have left like this, at least not without telling Andrea.
The glampgrounds are a fancy camping place that some claim camp improperly, leaving fairy lights on well into the night, and leaving food and trash in reach of bears. However, not all glampers appear to be nature-averse - some have high tech camping setups, and most appear to tie bear bags out of reach in the trees. Two glampers went far out into the lake, with lots of gear.
The night she went missing, a glamper recorded, using heat sensors, someone walking towards Cirrus' tent, and two people walking away. The second person seemed to be walking oddly. There wasn't much striking in Cirrus tent, but her sleeping bag was left in disarray. A purple marker was found near her tent, and a bear bag hanging from a very high tree had her name written on it in purple pen, and had been rifled through. Rhinestones similar to hers were found at the watchtower, and her friendship bracelet was found at the far side of the lake and hadn't been there for very long. Birds also dropped fairy lights to some of the campers, while other fairy lights were found confiscated in Mason's sheds.
Analyses - If all accounts are to be believed, then Cirrus was likely led away in the night, not of her own volition, by someone who came to her tent, rifled through her things, and... like, hypnotized her to follow I guess? She then went to the watchtower, then the far side of the lake. She was seen giving fairy lights to campers, so her bag may have been rifled through to take those lights, either by birds (far up in the trees) or by Mason. However, there's lots of ways to interpret the evidence...
What we don't know is, was that bag hers? Why would someone steal her things? Why did Mason have confiscated fairy lights, and how were they acquired? How did the birds acquire the lights? Is the evidence she left (rhinestones, bracelet) a guide to where she has been?
3) Suspects
Other interesting things to note -
- Mason has extra gear, including climbing rope and saws, which hasn't been explained
- Several strange things are happening in the forest & lake, including large shadows, big fish scales, a "Loch Tess" sign, and something grabbing ankles in the lake, and echoes of camp songs, red reflections, strange footprints, and shed antlers of no known animal in the forest. Forest animals are also entering camp much more frequently, and the birds have fairy lights for some reason.
- Beryl was painting something in the stars... is this because of something Beryl saw while investigating?
- There is currently a campfire in front of the cave, suggesting a possible location for missing people.
- Some of the glampers seem to be on a mission, while some are leaving.
- Andrea has an unidentified relationship with Cirrus, which may shed light on her behavior if discussed.
- No other counselors / guides have anything particular that I would note here, which may be suspicious themselves
Maybe this helps folks, maybe I just like mysteries a lot /lighthearted
I'll update this list as the mystery goes on. Let me know if I missed anything!
Last edited by
Palimpsest on Thu Aug 03, 2023 11:31 am, edited 1 time in total.
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