Silver Dollar

#(text-style:"bold","italic")[PRESIDENT FOUND DEAD IN HIS HOME] ''MANBERG PRESS CITIZEN | October 11, 20XX'' President J. Schlatt was found dead last night, October 11th, at 05:47 AM in his White House office by the staff, who immediately alerted authorities. Due to the state of the corpse and the wrecked condition of the room, foul play was suspected and an investigation was launched. President Schlatt’s body has presently been taken in for autopsy, but a funeral will soon be held. “It’s a real tragedy,” says Secretary of State Tubbo Underscore. “None of us expected this, it’s gonna be an adjustment without him. Schlatt will certainly be remembered.” Vice President Quackity HQ succeeds him as the next President of Manberg. He could not be reached for commentary at this time. [[More details to be released.|Chapter 1 Intro]]

Prime, what a mess. They couldn’t even have waited for me to finish my coffee before dragging out here, couldn’t they? (click: "couldn’t they?")[I gotta take a look at the crime scene- and then they're gonna peel the President off the carpet and send him off to the coroner.] (click: "send him off to the coroner.")[[[I guess I ought to get to work.|Chapter 1 Intro pt2]]]

The secretary of state is a quiet kid- sitting stock straight in his chair, almost still save his fingers, tugging and twisting anxiously the cuffs of his sleeves. He tries to offer a small smile. (click: "smile")[(align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[Good morning, detective.]] (click: "detective")[(align:"<==")+(box:"===XXXXXXXXXX============")[Well, I'd say we're a little far from //good// at the moment.]] (click: "good")[A nervous laugh.] (click: "A nervous laugh.")[(align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[Sure! Yeah, definitely not. My bad. I meant I hope at least your morning has been okay.]] (click: "okay.")[(align:"<==")+(box:"===XXXXXXXXXX============")[Appreciate it. But we're not here to talk about me.]] (click: "But we're not here to talk about me.")[(align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[I only know as much as you, detective.]] (click: "I only know as much as you, detective.")[(align:"<==")+(box:"===XXXXXXXXXX============")[Start with what you did yesterday?]] (click: "yesterday?")[(align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[There wasn’t anything out of the ordinary. I got up, clocked in at 9 am. I was working on the archives, so that’s where I was all day. Schlatt stopped by in the afternoon. He seemed.. Fine?]] (click: "He seemed.. Fine?")[(align:"<==")+(box:"===XXXXXXXXXX============")[What's with the hesitance?]] (click: "hesitance?")[(align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[Schlatt was, um, he was in a mood. Yelling at everyone.]] (click: "Yelling at everyone.")[(align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[But that happens a lot, you know?]] (click: "you know?")[(align:"<==")+(box:"===XXXXXXXXXX============")[So you were at the archives the whole day?]] (click: "the whole day?")[(align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[Yep! After that I went straight home.]] (click:"I went straight home.")[(align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[I was still sleeping when I got the call. I didn’t even have time to get properly dressed! Quackity and Fundy got here pretty soon after me. After that, George.]] (click: "After that, George.")[(align:"<==")+(box:"===XXXXXXXXXX============")[And what did you do after you got to the White House?]] (click: "the White House?")[(align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[We had to get Quackity sworn in. And then figure out what to do with the body, and the investigation. (That's when we called you.) And decide how to break it to the public.] [He grimaces.]] (click:"He grimaces.")[(align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[And paperwork.]] (click: "paperwork.")[(align:"<==")+(box:"===XXXXXXXXXX============")[What time did you get the message?]] (click: "the message?")[Tubbo fishes his communicator out of his pocket, clicking a few buttons.] (click: "communicator")[(align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[It says.. 06:02?]] (click: "06:02?")[He shows you the screen, pulled up to a message that reads “URGENT. Get to the White House immediately. The President is dead.” The timestamp indeed says 06:02 AM.] (click: "06:02 AM.")[(align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[I saw that and came straight over. Got here before the half hour.]] (click: "before the half hour.")[(align:"<==")+(box:"===XXXXXXXXXX============")[Got it.] (click: "Got it.")[You’re secretary of state. Would you say any surrounding nations would have had incentive to assassinate the president?]] (click: "assassinate the president?")[(align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[State secrets. Sorry.]] (click: "Sorry.")[He glances down and back up again.] (click: "He glances down and back up again.")[(align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[Look, Manberg’s position is rocky. Besides the obvious of Pogtopia, Eret wasn’t a fan of Schlatt either. I don’t think she would declare war, but I wouldn’t put this past her. Except-]] (click: "Except-")[Tubbo cuts off, lost in thought. He shakes his head.] (click: "He shakes his head.")[(align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[The Badlands aren't hostile, but I can’t guarantee they wouldn’t pull something like this. And for Rutabagville, I don't see why they would. We've had a few disagreements, but nothing that might warrant assassination, surely.]] (click: "nothing that might warrant assassination, surely.")[(align:"<==")+(box:"===XXXXXXXXXX============")[Thank you for your time, Mr. Underscore. I’m sure you’re busy, I’ll let you to your day now.]] (click: "I'll let you to your day now.")[(align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[Not a problem, detective.]] [[Back |Chapter 1 - The White House nav]]

###Chapter 1 - The White House #####The Crime Scene [[Schlatt's Office]] (if:(history: where its name contains "Schlatt's Office")'s length >= 1)[ #####First Interviews [[Tubbo Underscore]] [[Quackity HQ]] [[Fundy Salmo]] [[George Lore]] (if:(history: where its name contains "Tubbo Underscore")'s length > 0 and (history: where its name contains "Fundy Salmo")'s length > 0 and (history: where its name contains "George Lore")'s length > 0 and (history: where its name contains "Quackity HQ")'s length > 0)[ #####Further Investigation [[Autopsy Report]] (if:(history: where its name contains "Autopsy Report")'s length > 0)[[[The White House|White House Rooms]] ] ] ] #####Tools [[Communicator|Communicator - 1]] (if:(history: where its name contains "White House Rooms")'s length > 0 and (history: where its tags contains "whroom")'s length > 0)[ [[New message from TUBBO UNDERSCORE]]] (if:$endch1 is true)[ ####Next Passage ###[[Chapter 2: Manberg|Chapter 2 Intro]]]

Though his eyes are hidden behind sunglasses, the Vice-Now-President is no longer smiling. Ah, that’s right. He was also Schlatt’s husband. When he stands up for a handshake, his fingers are bare. (click: "bare")[(align:"<==")+(box:"===XXXXXXXXXX============")[Apologies for your loss, Mr. President.]] (click: "Mr. President")[(align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[Thank you, detective. Could you make this quick? I’ve got a lot on my plate right now.]] (click: "right now.")[(align:"<==")+(box:"===XXXXXXXXXX============")[I’ll do my best. Can I confirm your usual place of residence is the White House?]] (click: "the White House?")[(align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[Yep. Ever since the wedding.]] (click: "the wedding.")[A small smile appears on Quackity’s face. The action stretches a small cut on the left side of his bottom lip.] (click: "a small cut")[(align:"<==")+(box:"===XXXXXXXXXX============")[Is your lip alright? What happened there?]] (click: "What happened there?")[(align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[Oh, this? Nothing. Had a little fall.]] (click: "Had a little fall.")[(align:"<==")+(box:"===XXXXXXXXXX============")[Okay then.. Where were you the night of Schlatt’s death? No one found him till the next day.]] (click: "the next day")[(align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[Over at Karl's. Where I was when I got the news.]] (click: "Karl's.")[(align:"<==")+(box:"===XXXXXXXXXX============")[Karl Jacobs?]] (click: "Karl Jacobs?")[(align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[That's the one.]] (click: "That's the one.")[(align:"<==")+(box:"===XXXXXXXXXX============")[You stayed over?]] (click: "You stayed over?")[(align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[Is that a problem?]] (click: "problem?")[(align:"<==")+(box:"===XXXXXXXXXX============")[No. Why were you at Jacobs' house?]] (click: "Jacobs' house?")[(align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[I.. Schlatt and I had a fight. I walked out. Didn’t feel like spending the night with him.]] (click: "Schlatt and I had a fight.")[(align:"<==")+(box:"===XXXXXXXXXX============")[Could you tell me what the fight was about? If that’s not prying.]] (click: "prying")[(align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[That’s definitely prying.] Still, he waves a hand dismissively.] (click: "dismissively.")[(align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[Whatever couples fight about, y’know? Haven’t you ever had a partner, detective? He says something and I say something and it all goes downhill from there. Schlatt had been drinking, but it’s not like he ever needed alcohol to forget when to shut up.]] (click: "Schlatt had been drinking,")[(align:"<==")+(box:"===XXXXXXXXXX============")[Wait. The President was drunk?]] (click: "drunk?")[(align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[Of course.]] (click: "Of course.")[(align:"<==")+(box:"===XXXXXXXXXX============")[Does that happen often?]] (click: "Does that happen often?")[(align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[Sure.]] (click: "Sure.")[(align:"<==")+(box:"===XXXXXXXXXX============")[What time did your fight happen?]] (click: "What time")[(align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[Well I can’t be sure on the specifics, but I know it was after dinner. Around nine, nine thirty? Nearing ten when I left? It was- it was a rough night, I’ll be honest. I don't know, man.]] (click: "I don't know, man.")[(align:"<==")+(box:"===XXXXXXXXXX============")[I think you’re the last person to see Schlatt alive. That we know of, at least.]] (click: "last person to see Schlatt alive.")[Quackity lets out a long breath.] (click: "a long breath.")[(align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[Oh. Well..]] (click: "Well..")[(align:"<==")+(box:"===XXXXXXXXXX============")[This is your ring, right?]] (click: "your ring,")[(align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[Shit, yeah, it is. Where'd you find this?]] (click: "Where'd you find this?")[(align:"<==")+(box:"===XXXXXXXXXX============")[Schlatt’s office.]] (click: "office.")[He holds the ring gingerly, like it’ll snap under too much pressure.] (click: "too much pressure.")[(align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[I took it off before I left. Not in the office, though. He must've brought it there later.]] (click: "He must've brought it there later.")[(align:"<==")+(box:"===XXXXXXXXXX============")[Huh. How was your relationship with your husband? It doesn’t sound like smooth sailing.]] (click: "smooth sailing.")[(align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[Hey, rude.]] (click: "rude.")[(align:"<==")+(box:"===XXXXXXXXXX============")[Apologies. That was overstepping.]] (click: "overstepping.")[(align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[Damn right it was.]] (click: "Damn right it was.")[(align:"<==")+(box:"===XXXXXXXXXX============")[I won’t waste much more of your time. But before you go, did Schlatt have other enemies? Anyone with a grudge?]] (click: "a grudge?")[Quackity snorts.] (click: "Quackity snorts.")[(align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[Loads, probably. Remember what I said about not shutting up? I think Nihachu in particular gets under his skin. Look, thanks for returning my ring, but I think I’m gonna head out now.]] (click: "I'm gonna head out now.")[(align:"<==")+(box:"===XXXXXXXXXX============")[Wait, do you know how I can reach you? To follow up?]] (click: "To follow up?")[(align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[Seeing as the White House is now an active crime scene, I think I’m gonna crash at Karl’s for a while. Have a good day, detective.]] [[Back |Chapter 1 - The White House nav]]

He’s twitchy, curled up with his knees pulled close in his seat. Fundy Salmo’s gaze is wide-eyed and scattering all over the room, settling on nothing and everything. (click: "nothing and everything.")[(align:"<==")+(box:"===XXXXXXXXXX============")[Now it says here you’re the Archbishop?]] (click: "the Archbishop?")[Fundy's career is marked with a lot of titles. A lot of positions, promotion after promotion. He worked his way into the cabinet fast.] (click: "fast")[(align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[Uh.. yeah.]] (click: "yeah.")[(align:"<==")+(box:"===XXXXXXXXXX============")[What does that do?]] (click: "What does that do?")[(align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[Church Prime, I guess? I don't know. I just do what Schlatt needs me to do.]] (click: "needs me to do.")[(align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[..Needed me to do. Also treasury. That one's a joint effort.]] (click: "..Needed me to do.")[(align:"<==")+(box:"===XXXXXXXXXX============")[Schlatt liked you a lot, didn't he?]] (click: "didn't he?")[(align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[I guess? I mean I think so?]] (click: "I mean I think so?")[(align:"<==")+(box:"===XXXXXXXXXX============")[And what about you?]] (click: "And what about you?")[(align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[Well, he was a good- a good leader. A good man.]] (click: "A good man.")[Fundy ducks his head down, staring at his lap. His bangs fall over his face.] (click: "His bangs fall over his face.")[(align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[He will be missed.]] (click: "missed.")[(align:"<==")+(box:"===XXXXXXXXXX============")[You were very enthusiastic about his presidency.]] (click: "enthusiastic about his presidency.")[(align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[Yeah, I was! Really, really happy about it. I don’t see what this has to do with-]] (click: "Really, really happy about it.")[(align:"<==")+(box:"===XXXXXXXXXX============")[Even though you once ran against him? With, I believe, Niki Nihachu as your running mate?]] (click: "you once ran against him?")[(align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[Right, I did do that. But that’s in the past and I’d- I would never commit treason. I love Manberg.]] (click: "I love Manberg.")[(align:"<==")+(box:"===XXXXXXXXXX============")[What about your relationship with Nihachu? The two of you were close, right? And she’s as vocal in her opposition to the Schlatt Administration as you are the opposite.]] (click: "The two of you were close, right?")[Fundy winces when the topic of Nihachu is brought up.] (click: "the topic of Nihachu is brought up")[(align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[We, uh, fell out. I think she hates me now. And I don’t- I mean I miss her. I think we’re getting a little off topic?]] (click: "I mean I miss her.")[(align:"<==")+(box:"===XXXXXXXXXX============")[I’m just trying to get a bigger picture. But you’re probably right. Do you recall seeing any suspicious activity lately? Anything that could have something to do with the assassination?]] (click: "suspicious activity")[(align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[Um… I think I saw Technoblade around Manberg lately.]] (click: "Technoblade")[(align:"<==")+(box:"===XXXXXXXXXX============")[Around Manberg?]] (click: "Around Manberg?")[(align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[Yeah. Just. Hanging around, I guess! I don’t know. I didn’t talk to him. But he’s an anarchist, right? Hates the government and everything? That’s the kind of guy who would want to kill a President? And, y’know, he's pretty scary.]] (click: "he's pretty scary.")[(align:"<==")+(box:"===XXXXXXXXXX============")[Uh, sure.]] (click: "Uh, sure.")[(align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[I can’t think of anything other than that right now. If I remember something, how about I will give you a call?]] (click: "how about I will give you a call?")[(align:"<==")+(box:"===XXXXXXXXXX============")[Sounds perfect. Thank you for your cooperation, Mr. Salmo.]] [[Back |Chapter 1 - The White House nav]]

The VP to a VP. Like his running mate, his eyes are hidden behind dark goggles. Not much is heard from him. He slouches in the chair, arms crossed over his chest. Notably unbothered by these recent events- a red flag on anyone other than George Lore. (click: "anyone other than George Lore.")[(align:"<==")+(box:"===XXXXXXXXXX============")[You initially campaigned with Quackity, correct?]] (click: "correct?")[(align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[Yeah, I got a job in the Cabinet after the coalition.]] (click: "after the coalition.")[(align:"<==")+(box:"===XXXXXXXXXX============")[What do you know of Schlatt? Or.. think of him?]] (click: "think of him?")[(align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[Honestly? He's pretty loud and Quackity's husband. I don't talk to him very much.]] (click: "I don't talk to him very much.")[(align:"<==")+(box:"===XXXXXXXXXX============")[Hm, okay. What about the rest of the Cabinet?]] (click: "rest of the Cabinet?")[(align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[They’re all weird. Big Q's my friend, but he’s still weird.]] (click: "Big Q's my friend,")[(align:"<==")+(box:"===XXXXXXXXXX============")[Ah, okay?] (click: "okay?")[Moving on. You didn’t show up to work yesterday.]] (click: "yesterday.")[(align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[Uh, I was busy?]] (click: "I was busy?")[He sounds annoyed. Or disinterested? It's hard to tell.] (click: "It's hard to tell.")[(align:"<==")+(box:"===XXXXXXXXXX============")[What kept you so occupied?]] (click: "so occupied?")[(align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[Dream and Sapnap. We were hanging out.]] (click: "Dream and Sapnap.")[(align:"<==")+(box:"===XXXXXXXXXX============")[Huh. And where were you three?]] (click: "And where were you three?")[His eyebrows scrunch up and George tilts his head, slightly.] (click: "George tilts his head, slightly.")[(align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[How is that relevant?]] (click: "relevant?")[(align:"<==")+(box:"===XXXXXXXXXX============")[Just trying to be thorough.]] (click: "thorough.")[(align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[I mean, I don’t know. We were outside. I guess it was on SMP lands?]] (click: "I guess it was on SMP lands?")[(align:"<==")+(box:"===XXXXXXXXXX============")[Got it. ] (click: "Got it.")[You… don’t spend a lot of time clocked in, do you?]] (click: "do you?")[(align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[If Schlatt wanted me to show up more, he'd pay me more.]] (click: "he'd pay me more.")[(align:"<==")+(box:"===XXXXXXXXXX============")[So what do you do with all that free time?]] (click: "all that free time?")[(align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[Sleep.]] (click: "Sleep.")[(align:"<==")+(box:"===XXXXXXXXXX============")[Anything else?]] (click: "Anything else?")[George turns his head to stare head on, speaking in a dry tone.] (click: "dry tone.")[(align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[Nope. Just sleep. Nothing else.]] (click: "Nothing else.")[(align:"<==")+(box:"===XXXXXXXXXX============")[I was hoping you might have a broader perspective on this murder, since you're out so much. You're close with Dream, right? How's the political climate in the Greater SMP?]] (click: "How's the political climate in the Greater SMP?")[(align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[It's fine, I guess? I don't know, we talk about other stuff.]] (click: "other stuff.")[(align:"<==")+(box:"===XXXXXXXXXX============")[Alright. Thank you for your time, Mr. Lore.]] (click: "Alright.")[(align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[Sure.]] [[Back |Chapter 1 - The White House nav]]

(set: $foundqsring to false) The last of the White House staff clock out at 7:00 PM, leaving just the late President and his fiance inside. If anyone wanted to get in through the door, they'd need keys. The morning and night crew each have a copy, as does every member of the inner Cabinet(click: "Cabinet")[- Quackity HQ, Tubbo Underscore, Fundy Salmo, George Lore], which allows them access to workspaces but not the residential wing. That's only for the Schlatt and Quackity. A potential killer wouldn't need that, though, since Schlatt's office is located in the workplace, at the end of a row of other administrative rooms. It's a veritable mess. Empty and half-empty bottles line the edge of his desk and shelves. Some of them have fallen, leaving chunks of glass and alcohol to soak into the floor. It looks like this man has never heard of a folder, either, with the way stray papers are stacked. Schlatt’s body falls a few feet from his desk, between it and the window. (click: "Empty and half-empty bottles")[BOTTLES: Judging from this impressive collection, the President looks like a whiskey guy. And this stuff isn’t cheap, either. The labels indicate distilleries from the Dream SMP- Glistering Spirits, Em & Evoker Distilling. The opened bottle on the desk reads Golden Apple Brewing.] (click: "desk")[DESK: A stately thing. Schlatt had his predecessor’s old desk thrown out and replaced when he became president. A wedding band(click: "A wedding band")[, sleek sterling silver with a diamond glinting on top,(set: $foundqsring to true)] rests beside a row of inkpots. The drawer below the table is jammed.] (align:"<==")+(box:"===XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX============") [(click: "drawer")[A harsh tug does the trick. Inside is a lighter, two keys on a hoop, and a communicator.] (click: "a lighter,")[There's a Q scratched into it. It's out of fluid.] (click: "two keys on a hoop,")[Unmarked, they look like they fit two different locks.] (click: "a communicator")[Schlatt's old communicator. A crack runs across the screen. It's out of battery.]] (click: "shelves.")[SHELF: There’s books here, legal codes and action novels. On the furthest shelf, tucked in a corner and dusty from unuse: History, politics, philosophy, even some children's books piled on the bottom shelf. As well as.. a small collection of pulp fiction?] (align:"<==")+(box:"===XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX============") [(click: "History, politics, philosophy,")[Well loved accounts of distant nations. The notes scrawled in the margins of each page doesn’t resemble Schlatt’s handwriting in the slightest.] (click: "children's books")[Several pages of Wendy the Wacky Witch have been completely scribbled over with crayon. Poor Wendy. Now nobody will know how she lost her broomstick. This must have been one feral toddler. Even the block books bear extensive bite marks] (click: "pulp fiction?")[//Salmon and Sensuality. She always finds her way back to her-// Uh. Okay. Putting this away now. No need to look into it.]] (click: "Some of them have fallen,")[Two smashed by the corner of the desk, the others on the floor by the shelves. It looks like they’ve been knocked down by someone bumping into them.] (click: "stray papers")[PAPERS: A quick skim through them turns up unfinished drafts of economic reforms, negotiations with the SMP proper, intelligence reports, and, sandwiched between a heavily censored packet and a log of August’s exports, a handwritten letter.] (align:"<==")+(box:"===XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX============")[(click: "economic reforms")[Here’s one about raising taxes. Another lowering them. Prime, this one was proposed months ago. Most likely none of them will ever see the light of day.] (click: "negotiations with the SMP proper,")[King Eret’s got a pretty signature. That the Greater SMP and Manberg have been going back and forth over territory disputes is news to no one, and it’s all laid out here. The most recent missive mentions a visit from the monarch for a festival in the near future.] (click: "intelligence reports,")[A lot of the information is incomplete. Attempts to infiltrate Pogtopia are unsuccessful. A counterintelligence operation started in August, however, seems to have found something.] (click: "a handwritten letter.")[It's been opened. Return address goes to a Connor E. Pants. This feels.. personal. I'm not going to read it.]] (click: "Schlatt’s body")[Rest in peace, Mr. President. Take a good look now, because after this they’ll clear out his body. He’s lying on his back. His suit jacket’s draped over a chair, but he’s still wearing the undershirt. Skin’s lost its color already. He’s cold to the touch. Eugh, corpses. Small flecks of blood dot his lips and the back of his hand. No wounds visible on his body. Poison, maybe? From the way he fell, it looks like he was facing the window.] (align:"<==")+(box:"===XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX============") [(click: "his hand")[There’s a wedding ring slipped around his ring finger, right hand. Silver. Diamonds. (if: $foundqsring is true)[Same cut and style of the one on his desk, though that one is too small to fit on his finger.]]] (click: "window")[Though it looks closed from a distance, the window has been cracked open, just enough that a stream of cool air can be felt up close. It gives a perfect view of Ponk’s tree.] (set: $whrreveal to false) (if:(history: where its name contains "White House Rooms")'s length > 0)[(set: $whrreveal to true)] (if:$whrreveal is false)[[[Back |Chapter 1 - The White House nav]]] (if:$whrreveal is true)[[[Back to Rooms|White House Rooms]]]

''Content Warnings: '' (thus far) Described/discussed: corpses, alcohol, death (murder) Discussed vaguely or implied: abuse ''Instructions'' Nothing too complex. The highlighted words (usually blue) are clickable, for navigation and advancing the story. Certain sections will not be unlocked until previous passages are completed. Sometimes the passages will open further down the screen and you'll need to scroll to it, because I haven't figured out how to make Harlowe do something more intuitive yet. I'll let you know if I figure it out. Is there a save state? God dude I do not know. [[Back|Silver Dollar]]

<img alt="Silver Dollar" src="https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/775940611072851998/1001588887031906374/silverdollarcovercard-removebg-preview.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 75%;"> A Dream SMP fan game/story made in Twine. The President of Manberg has been assassinated, and it's up to you to track down the killer and bring them to justice. [[Content warnings and instructions|Housekeeping]] [[Start Game|MANBERG PRESS CITIZEN - OCT 11]]

The following has been redacted in accordance with the deceased’s request for privacy. ####MANBERG MEDICOLEGAL INVESTIGATIONS ######OFFICE OF THE CHIEF MEDICAL EXAMINER ####REPORT OF EXAMINATION DECEDENT: ██████████ J. Schlatt AGE: ██ BIRTH DATE: ██/██/████ ADDRESS: White House, Manberg TIME OF DEATH: 10/10/2020, estimated 12:45 PM LOCATION OF DEATH: White House, Manberg TIME OF EXAMINATION: 10/11/2020, 07:06 AM RIGOR(click: "RIGOR")[ (Rigor mortis describes the stiffening of limbs that begins 1-6 hours after death and lasts 12-36 hours.)]: Complete LIVOR(click: "LIVOR")[ (Livor mortis describes the settling of blood in a body after death, on the side with lowest elevation)]: purple pink, posterior BLOOD CONTENTS: Detected tetrodotoxin(click: "tetrodotoxin")[, a neurotoxin found in several species of fish, including pufferfish,] in the bloodstream SIGNIFICANT OBSERVATIONS BY THE EXAMINER: Nether Wart spores(click: "Nether Wart")[, commonly used in potion brewing, to speed up the onset of potion effects,] found in cheek sample. [[PROBABLE CAUSE OF DEATH: Respiratory failure from tetrodotoxin poisoning|autopsy review]] MEDICAL EXAMINER: Dr. Ponk Opsby [[Back |Chapter 1 - The White House nav]]

###The White House ''Work Area'' [[Schlatt's Office]] [[Quackity's Office]] [[Tubbo's Office]] [[George's Office]] [[Fundy's Office]] [[File Storage]] ''Residential Area'' [[Schlatt and Quackity's Bedroom]] [[Back|Chapter 1 - The White House nav]]

(set: $firstbedroomvisit to true) (if:(history: where its name contains "Schlatt and Quackity's Bedroom")'s length >= 1)[(set: $firstbedroomvisit to false)] (if:$firstbedroomvisit is true)[ There’s a clatter as I approach, muffled by the shut door. Who..? (click: "Who..?")[Quackity steps out of the closet, articles of clothing in his arms, as I open the door. He drops them into a bag that’s been unzipped on the floor beside him and looks up.] (click: "and looks up.")[(align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[Detective?]] (click: "Detective?")[(align:"<==")+(box:"===XXXXXXXXXX============")[I didn’t expect you here.]] (click: "here.")[(align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[Well I was just taking my things, since I won’t be staying here for the time being.]] (click: "my things,")[He gestures lightly at the bag. It looks like there's more items inside, obscured by the clothes.] (click: "It looks like there's more items inside,")[(align:"<==")+(box:"===XXXXXXXXXX============")[Yeah, what's-]] (click: "what's-")[(align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[And that should be all. I’ll leave you to your, fuckin' detective shit now.]] (click: "fuckin' detective shit now.")[He picks up the bag, hurriedly stuffing everything further into the bag and zipping it up as he moves on out, disappearing down the hall before I can entertain the thought of pursuing him.] (click: "pursuing him.")[Sighing, I turn my attention back to the room.] (click: "the room.")[It feels awkward, stepping into the center and taking it all in. Like an intrusion. It doesn’t look like Quackity flipped through the place- or was even here -at all. Tidier than Schlatt’s office, but still bearing the marks of inhabitance in things like a tie thrown over the back of a pushed out chair or the cup left aimlessly on the nightstand. The bed’s been made, probably from two days ago seeing as nobody slept here last night. Closet's still open, showing the array of suits left on the rack, gaping empty spaces Quackity has left behind. The other conjoining door leads to a [[bathroom.|conjoining bedroom bathroom]]]] (if:$firstbedroomvisit is false)[It feels awkward, stepping into the center and taking it all in. Like an intrusion. It doesn’t look like Quackity flipped through the place- or was even here -at all. Tidier than Schlatt’s office, but still bearing the marks of inhabitance in things like a tie thrown over the back of a pushed out chair or the cup left aimlessly on the nightstand. The bed’s been made, probably from two days ago seeing as nobody slept here last night. Closet's still open, showing the array of suits left on the rack, gaping empty spaces Quackity has left behind. The other conjoining door leads to a [[bathroom.|conjoining bedroom bathroom]]] (click: "the nightstand.")[NIGHTSTAND: On the nightstand is a container of protein powder and two dumbbells. The top drawer holds a first aid kit, another bottle of aspirin, half empty, a thermometer, a hot water bottle, and batteries. The bottom drawer has a folder of personal documents. Birth certificates and such. A quick glance through shows they're mostly Schlatt's. Either Quackity never kept his here, or he took them just now. ] (click: "Closet's")[CLOSET: The suits in here are near identical. There's also little else in the closet. Are these the only clothes Schlatt owned?] [[Back to Rooms|White House Rooms]]

Items and observations will be added here as they are uncovered.

Tetrodotoxin is a paralytic- it blocks muscle function, including the ones that enable breathing. After a lethal dose, it can take anywhere from 20 minutes to 8 hours to die. How long was Schlatt laying there? (click: "How long was Schlatt laying there?")[If Quackity left around 10:00 at night, it couldn’t have been more than three hours or so, but with nether wart quickening the poison’s effect, it’s most likely he didn’t ingest the poison until later.] (click: "ingest the poison until later.")[There’s also the question of who would have access to these substances. Nether wart is a basic ingredient for all potions, not that hard to obtain. (click: "not that hard to obtain.")[On the other hand, the market for tetrodotoxin is pretty small, (all in all, there’s little practical use for it other than scientific research) but distribution of its purified form remains strictly controlled. The toxin is also found in blowfish, if someone really wanted to get their hands on it.]] (click: "if someone really wanted to get their hands on it.")[Quackity said Schlatt was drinking. That's most likely when he ingested the tetrodotoxin, since Quackity shared dinner with him and Schlatt was alive when he walked out.] (click: "Schlatt was alive when he walked out.")[Unless he's lying.] (click: "Unless he's lying.")[But why would he lie? Only if he knew more about the murder than he let on but was protecting someone or something..] (click: "Only if he knew more about the murder than he let on but was protecting someone or something..")[Or he killed Schlatt himself.] (click: "Or he killed Schlatt himself.")[It's possible. Before the coalition, he'd originally set his sights on presidency. Sure, they were married, but that also means Quackity's the closest to Schlatt.] (click: "That's most likely when he ingested the tetrodotoxin,")[I'll go back, test the bottles for traces of the poison. Particularly the opened one on his desk.] (click: "test the bottles for traces of the poison.")[In the meantime, I should try to find the trail of who had gotten their hands on that alcohol before it found its way to Schlatt's office. [[It might give me clues as to who tampered with them.|bottle tests]]] [[Back|Chapter 1 - The White House nav]]

The sink’s pretty. Otherwise remarkably normal. I don't know, thought the president would have, like, a weird bathroom. (click: "a weird bathroom.")[What makes a bathroom weird?] (click: "weird?")[Anyways there's just two toothbrushes in cups, a razor and shaving cream. Over-the-counter pain meds behind the mirror, next to a bottle of cologne and a compact of concealer.] (click: "Over-the-counter pain meds")[MEDS: The bottle of aspirin is half empty.] (click: "cologne")[COLOGNE: The label says "MANLY DEVIL BLACK ICE DEATH SCENT FOR MEN."] (click: "concealer.")[CONCEALER: Very lightly used.] [[Back to Bedroom|Schlatt and Quackity's Bedroom]]

###you are now chatting with TUBBO UNDERSCORE (if:$showtubbosmessage1 is true)[ (align:"==>")+(box:"===XXXXXXX")[This is going to be released to the public in an hour but I thought I'd also let you know we're holding Schlatt's funeral tomorrow (click: "tomorrow")[people will be there] (click: "people will be there")[If you wanted to come] (click: "come")[talk to them or something.] (click: "or something.")[Consider this an unofficial invitation]]] [[Back to Communicator|Communicator - 1]]

The door is locked. [[[Back to Rooms|White House Rooms]]]

The door to Tubbo's office is locked. (click: "locked.")[It's not the same as the other locks in the building. A near imperceptible difference, would I wouldn't notice if I hadn't stopped to look closer.] (click: "to look closer.")[The sound of Tubbo's voice floats from around the corner. I hastily straighten up.] (align:"<==")+(box:"===============XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[(click: "Tubbo's voice")[T: I don't know, shouldn't that be Quackity's jurisdiction?]] (click: "Quackity's jurisdiction?")[Fundy answers him. (align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[F: But you're the Secretary of State, yeah?]] (click: "yeah?")[(align:"<==")+(box:"===============XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[T: I know, it's just.. They were exiled on executive order, though. I can't do anything about that.]] (click: "I can't do anything about that.")[(align:"<==")+(box:"===============XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[T: Look, I'd love Tommy back, too. Quackity would- he won't get mad, I don't think.]] (click: "he won't get mad,")[(align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[F: He and Wilbur hated each other.]] (click: "hated each other.")[Tommy? Wilbur? Like the revolutionaries?] (click: "revolutionaries?")[(align:"<==")+(box:"===============XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[T: He'll come around.]] (click: "He'll come around.")[The pair turn the corner.] (click: "turn the corner.")[(align:"<==")+(box:"===============XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[T: Oh, hey.. Detective. Need anything?]] (click: "Need anything?")[(align:"<==")+(box:"===XXXXXXXXXX============")[Nope! I'm good.]] (click: "I'm good.")[Beside him, Fundy scrutinizes me, but Tubbo just nods.] (click: "Tubbo just nods.")[(align:"<==")+(box:"===============XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[T: I've just gotta grab something from here in here, excuse me.]] (click: "excuse me.")[Tubbo fishes a key from his pocket and opens the door. He ducks inside, while Fundy waits for him outside.] (click: "Fundy waits for him outside.")[(align:"<==")+(box:"===XXXXXXXXXX============")[Mr. Salmo, you wouldn't happen to know how shipments into the White House are handled, would you?]] (click: "how shipments into the White House are handled")[(align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[F: What do you mean?]] (click: "What do you mean?")[(align:"<==")+(box:"===XXXXXXXXXX============")[I'm trying to see how the alcohol in Schlatt's office got there. I'm correct in assuming they're imported, yeah?]] (click: "I'm correct in assuming they're imported, yeah?")[(align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[Yeah. Not exactly the kind of thing you'll see at the market, ha. Schlatt buys them himself, but sometimes he has me handle all the.. paperwork and stuff. When he's busy, like last time. I don't really know the other details.]] (click: "like last time.")[(align:"<==")+(box:"===XXXXXXXXXX============")[Huh, okay. Do you get any receipts?]] (click: "Do you get any receipts?")[(align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[F: Sure. I think I would check the file room? Wait, are they supposed to be in there?]] (click: "Wait, are they supposed to be in there?")[He looks down, thinking, and shrugs.] (click: "He looks down, thinking, and shrugs.")[(align:"<==")+(box:"========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[F: That's probably where you'll find them though. I mean there's the archives, but the last time we moved a whole bunch of stuff over there was last March, I think. I don't think they'd be there. Here, a spare set of keys.]] (set: $enterfileroom to true) [[[Back to Rooms|White House Rooms]]]

Surprisingly, unlocked. George's space is neat, in an unused kind of way. A stack of unfinished paperwork sits on the desk. A blanket's tossed in the corner. (click: "unfinished paperwork")[PAPERWORK: Some are half complete, not even started, or only lacking a few signatures. Piled out of any kind of order. The first page in the stack is a document concerning preparations for a "Red Festival". It sounded fun. A shame, doesn't seem like there's gonna be any celebrations anytime soon.] (click: "the desk.")[DESK: What the fuck are- oh, these look like shriveled mushrooms. The kind that pop up after the rain. Does George collect these?] (click: "blanket's")[BLANKET: It's a pretty, baby blue, with little stars woven into the pattern. Handmade? Maybe.] [[[Back to Rooms|White House Rooms]]]

The door is locked. [[[Back to Rooms|White House Rooms]]]

(if: $showtubbosmessage1 is true)[[[TUBBO UNDERSCORE|comm line - Tubbo Underscore]]] [[Back|Chapter 1 - The White House nav]]

(if: $enterfileroom is false)[The door is locked.] (if: $enterfileroom is true)[ A large room that holds only rows and rows of filing cabinets. They've been divided into a few sections, labels stuck to the sides of the cabinets by old masking tape. At a glance, there's no specific section for in-house financial records. I'll have to look through the cabinets myself, if what I'm looking for is even here. Maybe I'll find something else, too. Foreign affairs(click: "Foreign affairs")[: More territory disputes with the Greater SMP, albeit less heated than the big one at the beginning of Schlatt's term. Requests for aid in Manberg's efforts to put down the Pogtopia rebellion, all of them denied. (click: "denied")[Politely.] (click: "Politely.")[Nothing to suggest King Eret leaning to one side or the other, just a carefully maintained neutrality. Not all the missives were sent to Eret, though.] (click: "Not all the missives were sent to Eret, though.")[The messages exchanged with Dream, lacking the seal of the monarch, tell a different story. There are only a few of them and I get the sense they're an incomplete record, but they still show money and men being lent in support of Schlatt's cause. There are no new messages after last May.]] Finance(click: "Finance")[: Between the trade agreements and the funds allocated to tearing down and rebuilding half of Manberg and the tax raises, employee salaries (surprisingly low, jeez) and loans, I find some of the receipts Fundy talked about. The bottles are delivered through Manberg's postal system and trace back to a couple of distilleries, none of which are Golden Apple Brewing. (click: "none of which are Golden Apple Brewing.")[Schlatt didn't buy the alcohol that killed him, then. Someone must've snuck the bottle in.]] Domestic Security(click: "Domestic Security")[: Some of these documents pertain to Manberg's military, a brand new institution started under Schlatt's presidency. Given his plans for the army, I'd hardly agree with these matters categorized under "security", but it seems this file system is a relic of the old administration. Other documents contain information about aforementioned counterinsurgency efforts and a proposal to form a squadron to hunt Dreamons.] Legislation(click: "Legislation")[: The very earliest of the president's decrees, the ones that made the most drastic changes to country, are absent, having been transferred to the archives. That's fine, I wouldn't have a use for them anyways. Taking their place are recently added clauses, bill proposals for anything from legal reform to food control (the rejections for these become more and more frequent as time passes), changes made to extend term limits in May and one last August to eradicate them.]] [[[Back to Rooms|White House Rooms]]]

Chapter 2 in the works! Goodbye. :)

(set: $endch1 to true) (set: $showtubbosmessage1 to true) [[Go to your line with TUBBO UNDERSCORE|comm line - Tubbo Underscore]]

Double-click this passage to edit it.

There are two parts to a murder. (click: "There are two parts to a murder.")[The killer has to have a means to commit the crime- location, ability, weapon. A *how*. I've got my ideas, but the true cause of death will be clearer when the report comes back from forensics.] (click: "when the report comes back from forensics.")[The second part, of course, is the motive. A *why*.] (click: "the motive")[There's always plenty of those. Even more for a President.] (click: "Even more for a President.")[[[I'll be looking for both in the investigation.|Chapter 1 - The White House nav]]] (set: $enterfileroom to false)

All the bottles turn up clean, except for the opened Golden Apple whiskey I found on Schlatt's desk. [[Back|Chapter 1 - The White House nav]]