Or maybe you could separate the first meeting into two. The first would be they are asked to find the killer (and so the players leave to discuss things) and a second meeting to say Cory is the scapegoat.
I’m leaning toward that first option. The town leaders ask them to find the killer, then maybe just see where that goes. But what’s the Obstacle there?
I’d love to have there be an Argument Conflict in the GM’s Turn, just can’t figure out how to pitch it.
The question before the players is do they feed this poor innocent drunk to the weasels for a killing that one of them committed? I’d just throw that out there as a question, without being too fixed on the answer the patrol will come up with. They may argue amongst themselves. They may give themselves up to save the town. They may give up Cory in service to the Guard’s greater mission. They may declare Cory innocent to the townsfolk and try to convince the mayor to resist the weasels by force of arms…Put the question to them and let them figure out their response. You set the obs.
“These weasel’s here say they found one of their own strung up near town and now they’re looking for justice. We’ve had an uneasy peace with them for awhile now and I’d like for that to continue. There are a couple mice in town who aren’t to friendly with the idea of weasel’s could of been any of them. Maybe even that hot headed drunk Cory, used to be a Guardsmouse before the war drove him a little crazy. I want you to find out who did it and bring them to me so we can bring peace to this town before the old wars break out again!”
?
Hmm, touche about the GM’s turn if you’re gonna leave it open ended like that. What sort of Ob’s could you have that lead up to this?
Oh! How about having the patrol talk down a mob of mice on the verge of rioting outside the magistrates? A good Persuade Ob right there. If they fail maybe one of the mob steps up to try and rally them against the “Weasel Loving Guard Mice” or to take other irrational action-queue Final Fantasy battle music- and they get a Conflict.
Good ideas. Think I could do it like this?
They get a message, delivered from the Mayor and the Magistrate, asking them to assist in a murder investigation that has difficult political implications. Of course, they trust the skill and discretion of the Guard to solve the problem quickly and quietly.
At this point I ask them to write their goals. So, they’ve got their mission - assist with a murder investigation (of course they don’t know they details yet, but they will).
So, they go see the leaders of Pebblebrook. At the city hall, they see the aloof but wary weasel delegation, encircled by a squad of town militia, escorting them out of town. The militia however, are not pointing their weapons at the weasels, but have them arrayed outward, as if to defend them.
The Mayor and the Magistrate explain that the weasels are an official delegation. Then they take the Patrol inside to explain everything.
While that’s going on, a small but angry mob forms outside. They want to get at the Mayor and Magistrate as well. The Patrol needs to defuse this situation with an argument Conflict.
I’ll come up with an anti-weasel instigator, but the danger here is Arkady, whose weasel murder lust could drive him to whip the mob into a frenzy himself! If he does and the wheels come totally off, I dunno, this Patrol isn’t really quite thinking things through. If they let Arkday lead them to attack the weasels, it will start a vicious and escalating cycle of tit-for-tat murders that will lead to a larger weasel incursion and eventually a war.
I’m really hoping they’ll start thinking more like Guard Mice but if Arkady can’t get himself under control and remember his duty, and his Patrol mates keep letting his bloodlust guide their actions, well, okay, I’ll drop the hammer on them. Good god, if they go that far, it might even get them expelled fro the Guard (at the least!). Hopefully it won’t come to that, and this bit of brinkmanship will confront them with what might happen if they don’t remember what those cloaks they wear signify.
Anyway, assuming they get through this bit without starting a riot, leading a lynch mob against the town leaders, and setting off a dirty and eventually bloody war, I’ll go right into the Players Turn and let them try to figure out how to spend their checks to complete the mission of “finding” the murderer. Do they go grab Cory the drunk? Do they grab the mob leader? Do they simply leave town? Does Arkady offer himself up? Those are the questions they’ll answer for themselves.
I still have plenty of time to tweak this, and get it into final shape for game night.
Nice update! I really like the tension with Arkday. If it were me, I’d leave it to the group to determine the outcome. If they decide they want blood, I’ll have them fight the weasels! That ought beat them up good, and maybe you can even get a major compromise - have a team member die (Arkday!), that way your players realize that they CAN have their heads handed to them.
Yeah, the way this goes is going to entirely be in their hands. If a fight breaks out with the weasels (at whatever point, for whatever reason) the weasels are going to be looking to kill (which I expect the Guard Mice will reciprocate, or at least Arkady certainly will). Given that death as a possible outcome is agreed upon before you get into such a fight, the players will be going in eyes wide open, and if it really goes south, well, they asked for it. If Arkady gets himself killed, it might even be a relief for everyone that the guy with the all consuming bloodlust/deathwish is gone!
Or they might suddenly go diplomatic on me and resolve everything peacefully and without rancor! What if Arkady even willingly turns himself in, in order to save the honor of his Patrol mates, the Guard, and the greater good of the Territories? I have no idea how this will turn out, but I’ll set off this bomb and see how they jump.
Just had a thought - what if Cory is the anti-weasel instigator? The Patrol might agree with his sentiment, but I could make him the mirror image of Arkady - burning with hatred and rage, about as hardline as anyone can get. And, not a nice mouse to be around - he does drink, he does maybe slap his wife around, he does use people to achieve his goals whatever it costs them, and he doesn’t think before he acts. And like Arkady, he lost everything to the weasels as well. He also got kicked out of the Guard for something heinous enough to warrant expulsion.
So, if the Patrol hears his rabble rousing speech and decides to approach him as a potential ally, ooh, nice, he’s right there with them. But, all he wants is to kill weasels and he doesn’t care who else or what else gets taken down with them, whether it’s the Patrol, the townsmice, or the whole city. His goal in this case is to get the Patrol to go with him to go ambush the weasel delegation, and kill them all! He doesn’t care if it gets the Patrol killed, he doesn’t care if it leads to war. Kill! Kill! Kill!
Thanks for the help! Figuring out the different ways to set this up and at what points to let things go has been an interesting challenge.
Game day is in two weeks and I’ll report back afterward.
You’re one sick GM, do you know that? I’m amazed at how many twists you can come up with!! All I was thinking was “this guy’s got some reckless players, if that were me, I’d let them be as reckless as they want, and then WHAMMO!! I’ll teach them that what they do in-game has consequences in-game.” But no… you had to raise it to a higher level! Oooo… nasty! 
Heh, it’s the players hosing themselves innit? It all started with the classic “What do we do with the prisoner?” question, answered with the all-too-typical player response of “Slit his throat.” Sure it was a weasel, but the Territories and the Weasels are not at war. They have a peace (however uncomfortable).
But hey, it was cold blooded murder of a helpless prisoner. And weasel or no, the setting makes it clear, weasels are sentient, just like the mice. It wasn’t like they had no other options. They could have simply left him tied up, and that would have made him as good as dead - a larger predator would be sure to snatch him up. I suggested this too.
If they’d even made an attempt to hide the body I might have let this slide. I knew where it might lead - I was thinking “Please don’t kill him.” But Arkady slit his throat and then strung him up, in order to present a display, in his words “To warn them about what happens if they trespass in the Territories”. The best part is they’re all guilty. Abram the Patrol Leader actually gave the nod to Arkady to do it, so he’s also responsible. Theo and Eodwyna just shrugged and said nothing. Did they think about the wider implications? Did they think about their higher responsibilities to keep the peace as Guard Mice? Did they consider the local conditions? Nope.
I couldn’t help but think about a potential reaction from the weasels. In war, such execution and mutilation of one’s comrades by the enemy (say, on Iwo Jima) stirred feelings of intense hatred and rage, and led to terrible retaliation in return. The mice of Pebblebrook are lucky the weasels are even giving them a chance to set things right before the horror begins.
And the horror will begin, if they don’t fix this somehow…somehow…they will indeed realize the terrible consequences of their actions that go well beyond one reckless mouse’s personal vendetta.
Maybe your players are used to D&D or some other RPG were they are not always so accountable.
No, I think they just haven’t really got in the groove yet. They know me and I know them. The guy playing Arkady just came off another game where he was playing a very thoughtful and measured character and he wanted to play a guy who was off the hook. Once they see where things could possibly go, I think the others will reign him in if he doesn’t do so himself.
I hope not. There giving you great stuff to work with.
Oh, so he wants to go off the hook, eh? Hehehe… Man, I wish I was in your game group. I’m gaming with my wife and son, so it’s “parental guidance” all the way. Not that I’m complaining, but sometimes I do miss the blood and gore.
OK, here’s the full Mission write-up. Quick question: can I simply advance the Weather one tick this mission (and declare a change) or do I need to actually have it be a Twist? I’d like for it to be raining (it was clear and sunny last mission). OK here we go:
Spring 1153
Mission: Find the Murderer
While staying at Sylvia’s a messenger from the Mayor and the Magistrate arrives, asking them to assist in a murder investigation that has difficult political implications. Of course, they trust the skill and discretion of the Guard to solve the problem quickly and quietly.
Obstacles: Mice
Twists: Weasels
GM’s Turn
Upon arrival at the city hall, they see an aloof but wary delegation of weasels (notably unarmed), encircled by a squadron of town militia, escorting them out of town. The militia however, are not pointing their weapons at the weasels, but have them arrayed outward, as if to defend them.
Onlookers clutch each other in fear, but a few glare angrily. At the door to the city hall, the Mayor, Clove, quickly greets them and invites them inside to her chambers where the Magistrate Vidar and Simon, the Captain of the militia await. Clove addresses them:
"Those weasels are a delegation from the Darkheather. Their leader, Captain Kamyar, says they found one of their own murdered and strung up near town and now they’re looking for justice. They believe a mouse committed the murder and if we do not produce the culprit within two days there will be consequences.
“We’ve had an uneasy peace with them since the end of the war three years ago and I’d like for that to continue. Perhaps you might feel a Treaty such as ours is a betrayal, a deal with the Enemy. Maybe so, but consider this; Pebblebrook is farthest from the nearest Mouse settlement in Barkstone, over a week away, and less than two days from the Darkheather. Our militia is well-equipped but small, and should the Weasels ever show up on our doorstep in force, we would be overwhelmed. This is the reality here in Pebblebrook.
“So, the Treaty serves to at least improve the living conditions here. We are a prosperous town, and that keeps most everyone happy. Most everyone that is.
“There are a few mice in town that aren’t too happy with the idea of the Treaty. I certainly wouldn’t put it past some of them to waylay a lone weasel and string him up like that. In particular that hot-headed drunk Cory. He’s certainly worth looking into. At any rate, I want you to find out who did it and bring them to me so we can maintain the peace in this town before the old wars break out again!"
Obstacle: Mouse mob
Outside the city hall, a mob of mice has gathered, led by Cory. The mob is not very large but is very loud and quite agitated. Some of the town militia are outside the doors of the city hall but they’re outnumbered and some may even be turning an ear to Cory. Cory shouts “These are your leaders, in open collusion with the enemy, an enemy that would invade and enslave us if we were not strong! We need not keep them back with treaties and agreements,” he shouts with naked contempt. “It is through strong hearts and strong arms that we bring our righteous retribution to the foe!” The mob is at the tipping point and that is when the Patrol goes outside.
Dealing with this is probably an Argument Conflict. Cory’s goal is to incite the crowd against the city leaders and get them to storm the city hall and forcibly depose the Mayor and the Magistrate. The “crowd” in this case also includes the town militia.
Twist: If the worst happens and the mob rules, things in Pebblebrook take a definite turn for the worse. Cory isn’t interested in ruling in the least, and is content to let other voices in the mob squabble over leadership. Instead, he means to lead the mob against other townsmice (such as Godrick) known to have had dealing with the weasels, conducting a bloody pogrom. And beyond that, he wants to lead an “army” against the weasels out in the Darkheather.
Twist: If Cory’s coup fails, Vidar orders him arrested for inciting the mob and charged with both that and violating the Treaty (by murdering the weasel). It’ll be a show trial, conducted swiftly, and Cory will be found guilty and subsequently turned over to Captain Kamyar’s delegation.
Obstacle: Weasels
The weasel delegation is still waiting for the Pebblebrook mice to deliver the murderer of their comrade. If Cory’s coup has succeeded, the weasels simply withdraw and report the goings on to their Tunnel Lord. In the long run, the weasels will wait until Pebblebrook descends into further chaos and then show up with a large army and offer to “pacify” the situation (not good at all).
Otherwise, they wait the required two days (being careful at all times to not violate any treaty terms – they encamp outside Pebblebrook, in view of the gate guards). If the culprit is delivered, they bow and take their leave (and whoever is turned over to them, never to be seen again).
Twist: If no mouse is turned over, Captain Kamyar declares that Pebblebrook was unwise to break the longstanding agreement that has benefited both peoples. Tunnel Lord Azimat will bring his retribution, and the justice of Nature, to bear upon such faithless mice. Then the weasels leave.
Players’ Turn
The Players’ Turn begins as soon as the mob situation is resolved one way or the other. Players can spend checks to involve themselves with Cory, or deal with the fallout of any mob coup. If they approach Cory as an ally, he’s happy to help them out as long as it sounds like their ultimate goal is to go kill weasels (he even suggests finding the delegation and ambushing them). “I don’t know who strung up that weasel out by Stonebrook, but I’d like to congratulate them.”
Or they can ignore him, assuming the mob situation didn’t get out of hand. Cory’s reaction to having the mob turn against him is to go get drunk and slap his wife around. Cory lives with his long-suffering wife Daffodil, and his mother, Heather.
Various merchants in town (including Godrick) that have dealings with the Weasels are nervous, particularly if Cory’s coup succeeds. They’ll come to the Patrol for protection and demand that Cory be deposed and order restored.
Cory – Bitter ex-Guard
Nature (Mouse) 4 Resources 2
Will 4 Circles 3
Health 4
Skills: Fighter 5, Scout 4, Orator 3, Pathfinder 4, Hunter 4, Weasel-wise 3, Rabble-rouser-wise 2
Traits: Bitter (2), Bold (1), Fiery (1)
Cory was once a member of the Guard and one of the core of soldiery that fought in the Winter War. Always a hothead, he sought the thrill of battle before fulfillment of his duty. Because of this, he took his patrol out to hunt weasel scalps when they were supposed to be guarding a quiet but crucial path. The weasels slipped through and massacred a group of refugees. Upon discovering this, Cory and his patrol charged to the attack but were outflanked, outnumbered and overwhelmed. Cory was left for dead, the only survivor, barely escaping with his life. He’s been bitter ever since, and displaces his own self-loathing onto others. His hatred of weasels and eagerness to get at them is nothing less than an unfulfilled deathwish.
Clove – Pebblebrook Mayor
Nature (Mouse) 3 Resources 7
Will 4 Circles 6
Health 3
Skills: Administrator 4, Archivist 3, Hometown-wise 3, Law-wise 4, Orator 3, Potter 2, Weasel-wise 2
Traits: Calm (1), Skeptical (2)
Clove knows Pebblebrook has struck a Devil’s Bargain with the weasels. She also knows there is nothing for it. The town militia could never fight off a determined weasel incursion and any real help is days or even weeks away. So, to keep everyone, including the weasels happy, she supports careful cross-border trade. This has been good for the overall economy, even if it means the shortest trade routes go out of, rather than in-to, the Territories.
Simon – Town Captain
Nature (Mouse) 3 Resources 6
Will 5 Circles 6
Health 4
Skills: Fighter 4, Orator 3, Haggler 4, Instructor 3, Soldier-wise 3
Traits: Defender (2)
Simon’s main priority is to see to Pebblebrook’s defense. He’s committed to whomever he feels acts in pursuit of this goal.
Kamyar – Weasel Captain
Nature (Weasel) 5 Resources 5
Will 5 Circles 5
Health 6
Skills: Fighter 5, Orator 3, Deceiver 4, Militarist 4, Dirty-fighting-wise 3, War-wise 3
Traits: Suspicious (2), Cunning (2)
Kamyar’s delegation is a small squad comprised of himself and his four best tunnel fighters (since by terms of the Treaty, they can only enter Pebblebrook unarmed). Kamyar is aloof and bemused at the Mouse politics in Pebblebrook, and knows that his presence only makes things worse for the Mice and better for the Weasels in the long run. Since de-stabilizing Pebblebrook is Tunnel Lord Azimat’s long-term strategy anyway, whether or not the Mice turn over whoever killed Firouz is really not important to him, if he can use it to pressure Pebblebrook. Kamyar did hear Cory beginning to rouse the mob, which means things are indeed going their way.
My biggest (and maybe the most interesting) “what-if” is whether or not the Patrol, and Arkady, decide to man-up (mouse-up?) and admit their role in the weasel’s murder. If it ends with them handing over Arkady to the weasels, whoa! If they hush it up and hand over Cory, whoa! If they cut and run and leave Pebblebrook to its fate, whoa! Someone gets hosed here almost any way this all goes down!
Or maybe they admit the killing (in a way and a situation that might be barely acceptable or justifiable, ‘‘we thought he was a spy’’, ‘‘he was going to eat a mouse’’ or something) but blaming the dishonouring of the corpse on someone else? It would take the edge of the delegations accusations? Maybe the patrol suggests that it hasn’t to be a mouse/mice who did the terrible stuff? Maybe the weasel had some enemy elsewhere? The dead weasel won’t tell on them (although David Petersen is working on a story about a mouse ghost so who knows? In SPQM asking the forefathers about what actually happened could be one way).
I think here’s a real nice little situation here. I’d also like to play with you for some sessions 
I think I have to read several of the session descriptions here at the forum again. There’s good inspiration lying around here (both yours and others).
I think if they do manage to find a way to “weasel out” (ahem) of this situation, it still works for me since I’m sure there will be as-yet unforseen strings I can pull to have this come back to haunt them. And whether they admit to the killing or not, they still have to satisfy the weasel demand for “justice” somehow, and failure to do so, even if it doesn’t start anything huge right away, leads to problems down the road. I like this quandry, because the problem that needs to be solved (appeasing the weasels) asks the question, “Do the ends justify the means?”
Quick update…
Ran this last night. Wow!
In a nutshell, they failed to talk Cory down in a Argument Conflict, the mob stormed city hall, Eodwyna helped the Mayor and Magistrate escape, and Theo and Arkady tried to deal with the mob (Abram’s player was absent). Arkady and Cory fought (even though Arkady couldn’t have agreed more with his sentiment - it was his method he had a problem with - yes the hypocrisy and irony are delicious) and Arkady got run through and died - Cory killed him (and got knocked out)! Theo managed to quell the rioters and dragged Cory off to jail. Order was restored (barely).
The weasels are still waiting for their demands to be met, the town is quite likely to toss them Cory for starting an uprising anyway, but Theo wants him tried for killing Arkady.
I kinda think they aren’t going to give the weasels anyone, in the end. So if Pebblebrook gets wiped out later on, it’s totally their fault. They don’t seem to see it that way though (they think the treaty is an abomination and weasels should all be killed on sight). I love it, they brought it all on themselves.
They get to try and clean up this mess next time!