I ran part 2 a few weeks ago and it went swimmingly. Pretty much everything detailed in the mission was uncovered along with more details and red herrings.
I have a list of core clues that form the back bone of the mystery. They don’t tell you the whole story but should give you a good idea of what is going on. The clues with red titles were found during the latest session.
Robyn’s Reading Material…
The day before he was killed Robyn spent almost all day looking through Edwig’s ledgers.Was there something in the monastery ledgers Robyn found?
This clue is very easy to find. The Abbot will talk about this as will many other monks who spoke with Robyn on his last day alive.
Fevered Raving
In the Infirmary the first night
Whilst suffering a deep fever Brother Welpley calls out…“Robyn was not the first, there was another… Orphan”
His eyes focus on Alice…
“Poor poor girl… I warned her of the danger here?”
He collapsed to the bed…
“I must warn Alice…”
Brother Welpley was the mouse the guard saw being kicked by Mortiums. He had been under fed and worked hard for a minor infraction. as a result he is sick and feverish. I inserted the scene when Casey my Patrol’s healer decided to visit the infirmary and lend a hand…
Alice’s Predecessor
Orphan was young girl from Scarnsea, she used to be Brother Matthew’s servant in the Infirmary. It was unfortunate but she had some run ins with a few of the mice here. Both Mortimus and Edwig ‘approached’ her but Abbot Fabian made it clear to them any further incidents would result in them being cast out. She always kept to herself after that eventually running away, taking some silver goblets with her.Who in the Scarnsea knew Orphan?
Talking to any of the head monks will eventually get information about Orphan. Edwig and Mortimus will turn this into a conflict, Abbot Fabian or Gabriel will probably just need a regular test. This should only really be followed up during the players turn.
Welpley Poisoned
When questioned about his words the night before…
Welpley had been poisoned… the only mice to allowed to see him in the infirmary were Mortimus, Edwig, Fabian, Guy and Gabriel.Who poisoned the young mouse?
Obviously Welpley knew something, before the patrol cold talk to him any more he was silenced. Gabriel confirms who had access to him. Any mouse with Poison-wise or Healer can find out he was poisoned.
It wasn’t red…
“On the day he was killed I saw Robyn trying to get into the counting house, he was arguing with Athelstan, he was demanding to see Edwig. Robyn was pointing to a blue book, telling Athelstan that he had proof, shouting, demanding to see the bursar…”Where is the Blue Book?
Assuming the patrol managed to get hold of Edwig’s red ledgers Alice will (at some point convenient to the GM) point out that the ledger she saw Robyn with on the day he died was blue.
The Blue Book
“Inside the blue accounting book are details of land sales that total a great deal of money. None of these sales were listed in the Monastery’s accounts and the sales themselves appear to be undervalued.”Who bought the land?
Will they give their testimony as evidence?
This information incriminated Edwig. Do the mice get evidence or sit on the info? The almost certainly won’t have uncovered the murder by the time they find this info. Contacting the local land owners to confirm the sales will make sure they have evidence and can also be used by the GM as a time scale. He can deliver the evidence to the patrol when he wants them to get it (such is the trouble of gathering letters and such in Winter).
The Murder Weapon
“Wrapped within a monk’s habit is a broadsword. The habit appears to be stained with blood but just visible is a distinctive pattern that you have only seen being worn by one monk, Gabriel.
The blade has a Lockhaven blacksmith’s mark as well as a unique heraldry mark. This blade belonged to a member of the Guard.”Was Gabriel the killer?
Who forged the sword?
Who owned the sword?
This is what happens when the patrol beats the Monastery at the search Conflict.
Body in the Mud
The body is badly decomposed but a small silver chain is hanging around it’s neck. On the chain is a pendant in the shape of an oak tree.Whose body was found in the pond?
As well as the sword they also find another body in the mud.Astute mice will put two and two together and realise this could be the old Infirmary Maid ‘Orphan’. Obviously if they haven’t investigated her yet this could spur them on
Core Clue
The Axe and the Rack
“I was imprisoned at Lockhaven alongside a Guardmouse called Adrien. After being tortured Adrien was eventually removed from Lockhaven and in secret he was executed. During his final night Adrien was visited by two mice. The first was Robyn, who got Adrien to sign a confession, the second mouse arrived very soon after Robyn but I could not identify the voice…”Who was the second Mouse?
Was Adrien executed for being a member of the Axe?
This is another clue that is really up the GM to drop ate the right moment. The patrol should get the feeling Jerome has known what is going on all the time… He will offer up this information at an appropriate moment preferably after the Murder weapon has been found.
Back to Lockhaven
The sword was forged by Lockhaven Master Smith Godwin. The sword was a gift for Patrol Leader Adrien.How did Adrien’s sword end up in Scarnsea if he was executed in Lockhaven?
Traveling back to Lockhaven should be a Journey Conflict, it is after all Winter. Circles rolls or contacts can be used to gather this clue. The decision to travel back to Lockhaven should be a tough one.
Revenge!
Adrien was visited by his sister Elizabeth on the night he was moved from Lockhaven. The description of his sister matches that of Alice.
BINGO!