making a mystery [Archive] - Wizards Community

making a mystery [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
jaysen00
11-26-05, 01:32 AM I'm a pretty new DnD player, but I can't find a game to play in so I'm going to try to design an adventure to run for a friend. I'm going to make him be an inquisitive of some sorts (I'm thinking EL 2-3 to keep it simple). I have the frames of an adventure but I would like some help fleshing it out. Here is what I have so far:

-PC will be hired by an authority in House Orien to track down a missing courier. He was transporting a valuable item, and it is suspected that he has decided to steal instead of deliver it. The client will say where the courier recieved the package and where he was supposed to deliver it. A Knowledge (local) check will reveal several routes he could have taken.
-First major lead will come from another courier, a friend of the missing one, who will say that the missing courier was having money problems. He will also say that he liked the courier because he showed him some shortcuts within the city. If pressed, he will reveal one which would have saved a lot of time between the two points given by House Orien, and then insist that he has to leave.
-PC will find the body of the courier in a dark alley in the shortcut provided by the friend. Courier was stabbed to death, but there are other clues:
-a broken crossbow bolt is found a ways behind the body, apparently having shattered against the stone wall of the tunnel. a spot check will reveal a small alcove above the tunnel which would have made an excellent spot to wait in ambush.
-nothing but the Orien courier bag is missing from the body

These clues reveal that the killer waited to ambush the courier, but missed his shot (obviously an amateur). he then chased down the courier to kill him and steal the bag.

What really happened was that the friend who revealed the shortcut was the one who killed and robbed the courier. The courier wasn't really having money problems, and told his friend about the valuable package he was carrying.

After the PC discovers the body and analyzes the scene, I'm not sure what should happen next. It seems like there should be one or two more steps in the process of solving the crime, but I'm not sure what it would be. Other things I'm trying to figure out include:
What item is the courier carrying?
Who was he going to deliver it to?
What did the killer leave behind at the crime scene as a result of the struggle? Maybe something fell out of a pocket? Whatever it is should lead not directly to the killer but to another encounter.
I'd also like to fit in 2 combat/chase scenes. One will be the confrontation with the killer, and another could be when a group tries to intimidate/stop the PC from investigating.

I hope you all find this adventure interesting, and any help would be greatly appreciated.
Ibbins
11-26-05, 10:38 AM This looks great so far. :clap:

You'll likely want to cram in as many leads as possible, and answering those questionsWhat item is the courier carrying?
Who was he going to deliver it to?
Are natural connections to bringing in more NPCs and more details. Perhaps the recipient and the assassin's master are warring factions. Unless this adventure is a one-shot, you could have the investigation lead to an Intrigue adventure.

As for extra clues at the scene of the crime, maybe the courier's cause of death was unusual, such as being choked with a chain, or slashed with claws, etc.

For extra leads, maybe the courier has friends or family, whose stories may conflict with the untruthful courier's story.

As for an antagonistic group, more hirelings of the assassin's master would make the most sense. Or perhaps(if the killer isn't working for anyone) its just a few thuggish friends of his. Either way, a well-timed attack such as this would pick up the pace if the PC is running out of leads.

Hope that helps and good luck with the game.
Radkres
11-26-05, 09:35 PM Things that might help know your killer.
Does he or she smoke?
Are they a drinker?
How tall are they?
Are they left or right handed?
Do they wear nice clothing or trash?

The crossbow bolt might have been heavily poisoned for a quick kill also might suggest the person was an amateur the poison bottle might have been left at the small alcove.
If the killer smokes they had to wait for the victim and they smoked heavily to calm their nerves or drank for courage spilled ash and alcohol at the small alcove.

If the killer was taller the enter wounds would be mostly from the top down if smaller from lower chest up into the ribcage.

The signs of defensive wounds on the hands and arms of the victims’ body might show if they knew the attacker.

A piece of fools scrap might be found on the body showing this route in the killers’ hand.

This territory is controlled by a local gang that come across the body the same time the players do.

The players find a small locket with a local woman face inside and a small love poem (the local Mob bosses Daughter).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
jaysen00 11-26-05, 01:32 AM	I'm a pretty new DnD player, but I can't find a game to play in so I'm going to try to design an adventure to run for a friend. I'm going to make him be an inquisitive of some sorts (I'm thinking EL 2-3 to keep it simple). I have the frames of an adventure but I would like some help fleshing it out. Here is what I have so far: -PC will be hired by an authority in House Orien to track down a missing courier. He was transporting a valuable item, and it is suspected that he has decided to steal instead of deliver it. The client will say where the courier recieved the package and where he was supposed to deliver it. A Knowledge (local) check will reveal several routes he could have taken. -First major lead will come from another courier, a friend of the missing one, who will say that the missing courier was having money problems. He will also say that he liked the courier because he showed him some shortcuts within the city. If pressed, he will reveal one which would have saved a lot of time between the two points given by House Orien, and then insist that he has to leave. -PC will find the body of the courier in a dark alley in the shortcut provided by the friend. Courier was stabbed to death, but there are other clues: -a broken crossbow bolt is found a ways behind the body, apparently having shattered against the stone wall of the tunnel. a spot check will reveal a small alcove above the tunnel which would have made an excellent spot to wait in ambush. -nothing but the Orien courier bag is missing from the body These clues reveal that the killer waited to ambush the courier, but missed his shot (obviously an amateur). he then chased down the courier to kill him and steal the bag. What really happened was that the friend who revealed the shortcut was the one who killed and robbed the courier. The courier wasn't really having money problems, and told his friend about the valuable package he was carrying. After the PC discovers the body and analyzes the scene, I'm not sure what should happen next. It seems like there should be one or two more steps in the process of solving the crime, but I'm not sure what it would be. Other things I'm trying to figure out include: What item is the courier carrying? Who was he going to deliver it to? What did the killer leave behind at the crime scene as a result of the struggle? Maybe something fell out of a pocket? Whatever it is should lead not directly to the killer but to another encounter. I'd also like to fit in 2 combat/chase scenes. One will be the confrontation with the killer, and another could be when a group tries to intimidate/stop the PC from investigating. I hope you all find this adventure interesting, and any help would be greatly appreciated.
Ibbins 11-26-05, 10:38 AM	This looks great so far. :clap: You'll likely want to cram in as many leads as possible, and answering those questionsWhat item is the courier carrying? Who was he going to deliver it to? Are natural connections to bringing in more NPCs and more details. Perhaps the recipient and the assassin's master are warring factions. Unless this adventure is a one-shot, you could have the investigation lead to an Intrigue adventure. As for extra clues at the scene of the crime, maybe the courier's cause of death was unusual, such as being choked with a chain, or slashed with claws, etc. For extra leads, maybe the courier has friends or family, whose stories may conflict with the untruthful courier's story. As for an antagonistic group, more hirelings of the assassin's master would make the most sense. Or perhaps(if the killer isn't working for anyone) its just a few thuggish friends of his. Either way, a well-timed attack such as this would pick up the pace if the PC is running out of leads. Hope that helps and good luck with the game.
Radkres 11-26-05, 09:35 PM	Things that might help know your killer. Does he or she smoke? Are they a drinker? How tall are they? Are they left or right handed? Do they wear nice clothing or trash? The crossbow bolt might have been heavily poisoned for a quick kill also might suggest the person was an amateur the poison bottle might have been left at the small alcove. If the killer smokes they had to wait for the victim and they smoked heavily to calm their nerves or drank for courage spilled ash and alcohol at the small alcove. If the killer was taller the enter wounds would be mostly from the top down if smaller from lower chest up into the ribcage. The signs of defensive wounds on the hands and arms of the victims’ body might show if they knew the attacker. A piece of fools scrap might be found on the body showing this route in the killers’ hand. This territory is controlled by a local gang that come across the body the same time the players do. The players find a small locket with a local woman face inside and a small love poem (the local Mob bosses Daughter).