COD 1: Session 18: Murder Mystery 1

Pre-scene Notes

I’d went into this with a preconception that it’s really difficult to run murder mysteries solo, considering the main draw of the genre is to learn of the developing storyline, form your own hypothesis, and then be surprised at the final killer/ending. 

In developing the method I used for this actual play to keep to the above, I had references from the following that I would like to link for others to consider if they are also trying to play their own murder mystery solo:

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/274299/Tales-of-Murder-A-SolitaireFriendly-Game-of-Mystery

https://rnd-diversions.blogspot.com/2012/05/homicide-life-on-blog.html?m=0

I didn’t fully copy/use/understand these sources, but had taken bits from them to form my own opinions on the most succinct and spontaneous way I can run a mystery without spoiling it for myself.  I’d also put in the post-scene notes last post as well the random generators and tools I’d used to help in the process to maximise the randomness of play through to basically keeps things unknown to me. 

If I’d logged each scene as a standard Mythic scene, this one Cave dive would last a year, so actually I tried to be succinct in logging the method I’d used. I would also need to make a separate post if I were going to explain fully my method, but basically it’s this:

1. Each day is split into three sessions, morning/afternoon/evening&night
2. Each session, the party can explore a location+an NPC to get clues. They may also set up ambushes or do something more elaborate if they choose to see if they can get better clues, subject to more skill checks I guess.
3. By using skill checks and/or Mythic checks, clues are known/derived regarding the murderer by the party
4. Each clue will either be an alibi or evidence, pointing towards/against one or more NPC. Per the last session, party already has the starting clues. Each clue will lead to others.
5. At the end of each day, I will roll on Mythic to see if another murder happens, and randomly roll an NPC that’ll be the victim. Likelihood raising as the days go by, starting at Impossible chance, adding one step daily, then resetting to Impossible if someone is murdered.
6. Each evening/night sessions, the party may round up everyone to make a conviction (ie final show down with the suspected murderer)
7. At the conviction, I will roll to see if each clue is either a real clue pointing towards the killer, or a red herring. Likelihood determined by the ratio of alibi/evidence against each person the clue relates to.
8. From the offset, every NPC can be the murderer, and the final outcome/twist is determined by the final number of real clues and each NPC’s alibi and evidence count after the clues real/red herring status is determined.

That’s the bare fundamentals, and I may release something one day on it. Best way is to see how the session worked out for me…

Scene setup/conflict: 

Funeral to meet the suspects, then start of investigation

Interrupted scene: NPC action: Struggle Trial. 

There is going to be a tussle before/at the funeral it seems, which really just gives the party more starting clues. I know this is more an altered than an interrupted scene as the body will be burnt regardless at the funeral, but if I play out each scene fully, I’ll be here forever (eg one scene for the fight, one scene for the funeral, one scene for each investigation session, 3x a day…) following how traditional scenes are set up if using Mythic. Instead, I had basically started a new ‘scene’ when I start a new post here. If I play another mystery again, it may be more streamlined if each scene is set at the start of a day, which can hinder the day’s investigations.

Scene:

As the sun was setting, everyone in the outpost was gathered in front of the pyre in the back western area, north of the armoury tent. Considering the Captain had tricked the party to  put their lives on the line to investigate this case, the party was in attendance, keeping an eye out for anything particular and to see all the suspects in one place. The one-eyed old man orated the very long funeral rites per the manner of Asu, the God of Arcane. Their gnome escort, Kevolo, explained that the old man was Hudri, the outpost’s purser, and handled all resources - though not generously. 

As mentioned last session, I simply rolled using GM Apprentice a random NPC, and the miserly personality came up. This gives both personality, but a step further, it can be a motive. 

“Not generous? He could’ve definitely released more funds for the food and drink. Sorry for cutting into the conversation. I’m Nirya by the way.” Kevolo’s guard friend came up to them to distract himself from the boring ceremony. He was on the pudgy side and apologised as he joined in their conversation. “Who knows? Maybe all this Asa malarkey is what turned one of us into a werewolf. I’d always said we soldiers worshipped Xanthia since the dawn of war and should’ve stayed that way. The Captain was a typical Xanthia follower, but who knows what happened for him to listen to old Hudri.” 

This spiralled Weird Elf out of control as the two talked about Xanthia, although Nirya was more of a recreational believer, especially compared to the Zeal Cleric. 

The Captain lit the pyre after Hudri’s sermons, heedless of the little pockets of conversation going on for the others to entertain themselves. Filli spotted there seemed to be a family of three standing together at the west side of the funeral. Kevolo explained they were not soldiers, but labourers that serviced the camp, such as shopping for food and sundries if needed outside, or cleaning up here and there. They were also to help with unloading supplies or tending to the pack animals when the supply train came through.

The older man with dark skin was the father, Ladueth, who sometimes went out fishing to add a variety to the standard rations, considering Hudri’s tight purse-strings. The gaunt looking woman was his wife, Malbe, wearing a long shawl that covered most of her body and even some of her face. Their teenage son coughed through the ceremony, but was muscular being a labourer, and did not give off a sickly vibe despite the serial coughing. Kevolo also said they lived in the tents across from the training grounds. 

As the pyre’s fire and smoke starts to die down, Ladueth and Malbe went up to the pyre, the husband of the duo taking out a shawm and started playing a slow soulful melody. After the  piece’s introductory movement, Malbe started singing a husky but heartfelt requiem with a language from outside the Empire. (Rolled a 13 Wisdom check, so only knew as much)

Another footman stood on the East side of the funeral, being the only female soldier, standing with  the young Soke. She was a fully mature woman with dreadlocks, picking simple accessories that complemented her mandatory uniform, turning men’s head effortlessly. Her brows were furrowed though, almost glaring at the Dwarven scout the party had encountered on their approach to the outpost. 

Kevolo said the female soldier was called Zimala, and the dwarf scout was called Alorin. Alorin had a nose that looked like it had been broken many times before, and opposite to Zimala, was wearing his uniform as loosely as if he had slept in it. His bloodshot eyes and unkept beard did not help. 

Young Soke was staring at fire with a blank expression that Zar thought looked no different as the one she worn at the Cliff’s Edge, listening to an overly chatty patron while wiping a tankard. For the more sensitive type, it would be heartbreaking to see a girl so young be so closed off, but Zar had his own share of experiences as a child. Zimala however just got more agitated as she glanced at Soke’s apathetic face, and then Alorin’s yawn, and snapped right after Malbe’s song finished. 

“You useless piece of boot! How the hell did you not see anything last night?” Zimala shouted at Alorin, poking her finger at his chest. “Your guard tower was right next to the training grounds and you were on duty!”

“I’d said it before! I had a stomach ache and was crapping myself by the bushes, okay? Leave me alone you mad woman!” Alorin swatted her arm away.

This is when Mythic plays a major roll in the investigation. Treating this Interrupt Scene as an ad hoc investigation session, I’m going to ask Mythic some questions to see if it leads to any Clues, or even Evidence/Alibis:

• Q: Does Zimala know about Alorin’s drinking problem (he had one from NPC generator).
• A: (Rolled with Near Sure Thing chance) Yes
• Q: Was Alorin blind drunk last night?
• A: (Very Likely) Yes
• Q: Did Alorin get his booze from Malfie?
• A: (Very Likely) Exceptional Yes

I wanted to avoid asking far too many questions each session (maybe I should impose a skill check to limit to a maximum number, but thought I’d keep it simple for now). The likelihood used for the Mythic rolls is just what I personal think so far, but can be 50/50 by default at the start of an investigation and develop as the PCs know more. Again just going with my gut for now.

Now as I rolled an Exception Yes for that last question, that puts Alorin in more of a hot water. Reverting back to the question that Zimala knows all about the drinking problem, she probably knows Malfie gives Alorin booze as well. And as the last question was Exceptional Yes, I’m going to say Malfie went out to sneak booze to Alorin at the guard tower last night, and very likely got murdered on his way back - or indeed by Alorin. This gives rise to Motive for Alorin, such as Malfie threatens to stop sneaking him booze. Either way, this is just one hypothesis from the current very small set of clues (this stemmed from came from the clue last time that Malfie’s body was found in the training grounds). 

“You were just blind drunk as always Alorin! Malfie was a good man and I’d told him before to stop sneaking you booze! Did you kill him because he finally listened to me and threatened to stop your supply you damn alcoholic!”

Zimala pulled her arm back and socked Alorin in the face with such impact that it almost knocked him out. Considering the slow reaction time for the other soldiers to stop her or catch Alorin before he fell to the ground, it was clear the dwarf was not that well liked here at the camp. Or just because he was the prime suspect, being most likely the last person to see the victim alive, if not the murderer himself. 

“Please! Please! This is a funeral!" Captain Wychfrost finally roared. “I will not tolerate accusations being thrown about all over my outpost! Asu had sent us these travellers, who will be completely unbiased and investigate this for us. We all know what happens if we don’t solve this murder before the supply convoy comes next week! So starting tomorrow, I want everyone, I mean everyone, to cooperate with the travellers on whatever they need in their investigation. Anyone found to be hindering the investigation will answer directly to me!”

With that, Malfie’s funeral came to an unpleasant end for all involved. The party set up their tents from their backpacks, Zar and Yankovic staying in one and Fido and Filli staying in the other. They set up next to the armoury tent as instructed, with the help of Kevolo and Nirya, before Kevolo left them for the night. 

Sitting by the camp fire, the party discussed their options and decided the best they could do was follow the script. Usually even if the ‘mission’ failed during a Cave dive, there would not be a mandatory death sentence, though it was not unheard of. They could only hope their detective skills were up to scratch, and considering most blatant hypothesis was Alorin being the prime suspect, the party decided they would question him first tomorrow, and retired for the night. 

I rolled the first time with Mythic on whether there’ll be a murder tonight - and I got a random event: PC positive: Propose Love. Mythic and its curveballs… but this gave me an idea for two NPC motives. I guess this means something is going to happen at breakfast to give PCs more Clues!

#

Kevolo escorted the party to the guard house for breakfast the morning after. Most guards  were there apart from Alorin, at his shift at the guard tower, and the labourer family, who had breakfast on their own. Zimala had helped Soke with making the breakfast this morning, telling the girl she did not have to naturally become an army cook if she did not want to. Soke said she had to support herself somehow now that Malfie’s dead. 

At this point, Zimala turned to the party and said for the sake of the investigation, she revealed proactively she had actually proposed to Malfie before he died, much to the apparent surprise of Nirya. Zimala then proceeded to express her wish to adopt Soke as a daughter. 

Soke, in her deadpan face and tone, just asked whether Malfie agreed to the proposal. Zimala said he asked her to wait for his response, saying he would talk to Soke first. Soke said he had not asked her before his murder. Zimala said Soke could take all the time she needed to make a decision whether she wanted to be adopted.

I’d let Yankovic do and Insight check. Got a 21, leading to below.

Leaving the drama at breakfast, Kevolo was shell shocked at what was going on in the background even if they were all at the same camp. He knew most guards had a crush on Zimala, but never knew she and Malfie were at a point of talking about marriage. 

Weird Elf pointed out some guards crushed on Zimala more than others, from the expression on Nirya’s face. On top of which, Zimala said Malfie asked her to wait for a response, but who knew what a woman did if her marriage proposal got rejected? 

Zar said Yankovic was paranoid, and he would say Soke had a motive as well. Weird Elf nodded in agreement and asked in response whether a stubborn child would prefer to do the abandoning instead of her uncle abandoning her for another woman.

Kevolo got pretty quiet after that.

And this was me speeding past a scene that could’ve been a whole session. Lots of info there but I’ll summarise all the clues at the end of a day.

#

Climbing to the top of the guard tower, the place was clearly unkept, and reeked of spilled alcohol like a pub. There was an old blanket, dried lanterns, a worn seat, and some books. Alorin, grumpy as always it seemed, told the party to hurry up so he could end his shift after a long night. He had long shift times, covering through the night, mornings and evenings, so it was not only his attitude that isolated him from the others at the outpost. 

We’re finally into the actual procedural now. For each investigative session, I’ll try and follow the format of setting the scene. First I’ll list the Mythic questions and results, then describe the clues and outcomes. This may be repeated 1) for the location 2) for questioning the suspect 3) passing skill check(s) may allow further questions to the suspect for more in-depth topics.

So for this round, the party I say forego the location search as it was a small tower and there was yet to be a reason to do a carpet search. 

• Q: Confirm did Malfie sneak him booze last night
• A: (Near sure thing) Yes
• Q: Confirm he was blind drunk when the murder happened
• A: (Very Likely) Exceptional No
• Q: Was he sticking with his stomach ache alibi?
• A: (50/50) Yes
• Q: Did Malfie threaten to stop sneaking him booze
• A: (Likely) Yes
• Q: Is it through blackmail/he has something on Malfie that forced Malfie to sneak him booze
• A: (50/50) Exceptional Yes

Zar just shook his head in amazement how bad things looked for Alorin. He had a very clear conflict with Malfie, an easy opportunity, and no alibi. Alorin’s story was that Malfie came to sneak him booze as always last night, saying it was his last time. Alorin reminded him he had something on Malfie, and Malfie left unhappy but unable to stop bringing him more drink. Alorin then had a sore stomach for most of the night in the bushes. Then after he came back to the guard tower, it was too dark to see the body hidden amongst the grass until dawn broke. He alerted the Captain right away after that.

• Filli rolled Investigation 11
• Zar rolled Intimidation 7
• Yankovic rolled Perception Nat1…

Alorin squared up to Zar, who was a foot or two in height over him, and dared them to lock him up. He shouted he was no werewolf and he’ll prove it, with or without the party’s help. Considering the party had no other ideas, Filli made a last ditch attempt thinking back on the clues he had so far. It was clear Alorin would not share what he had over Malfie at this stage (cause low rolls).

• Q: Did the button they’ve found in the hands of Malfie’s body belong to Alorin
• A: (50/50) No
• Q: Is Alorin covering for somebody? (This is almost a bonus with just an 11 rolled, but let’s say Filli’s lawful good nature helps)
• A: (50/50) Exceptional Yes (I’m glad I asked that last question, as that makes a lotta sense now!)
• Q: Was this button part of footman’s uniform
• A: (50/50) Yes (this makes it difficult)

Filli showed Alorin the button they had found previously, not saying where it came from, and asked if it was his. Alorin scoffed and said it looked like it’s the standard one from a footman’s uniform, but he did not lose any recently, showing the party what he was wearing. Filli revealed the button was found in Malfie’s cold dead hand, and asked sympathetically if Alorin was covering for someone. Alorin blew up and said he’ll find the werewolf on his own instead of relying on the useless party. He shouted it was the end of his shift, pushed past the party, leaving the tower to go to sleep in the guard house.

I allow and expect there to be multiple interrogation of one suspect, considering most suspects can even lie the first time round. If contradictory evidence (ie previous clues) forces a suspect to answer for their own inconsistencies before, that’ll lead to a successive interrogation. This matches my mechanic for end game where the number of evidence/alibi hypothesis feeds into the likelihood of it being real or a red herring (eg if the clue leading to the hypothesis had been a lie). Naturally just like a case, the more evidence you have on a suspect, the most likely he did it.

Filli asked Kevolo about sleeping arrangements and said Alorin shared one of the three bedrooms with old Hudri the purser. Kevolo and Nirya took the second bedroom, and Zimala  and Soke took the third. Malfie has his own tent with the labourer family, which was the party’s next destination. 

Even though Alorin seemed most guilty, how much his testimony was true was dubious. If the murder did happen in the training ground, or at Malfie’s own tent, the party figured the labourer must have heard a commotion of some sort last night.

#

Arriving at the labourer’s tents, only Malbe Skorno was there at the moment, humming quietly to herself as she hung out some washing. Unlike your typical village wife, she was not humming a simple cheerful tune. It was as soulful as the song she sang at the funeral last night, as if she was homesick. (These traits are just from the NPC generator)

On approach, she said her husband Laudeth and son Brant were helping to tidy up the funeral from yesterday. Asking Malbe about their tents arrangements, she explained there were more tents up than required, as some were used like a storage warehouse for mundane items like uniforms or rope, like the big one (see map from last session). He said Malfie’s tent was the one behind the big tent, which was a way from the tents the Skorno family slept in. The party decided to search Malfie’s tent first before questioning Malbe.

I think for searching a location, some rolls are required. I’d asked this before on reddit, and I think I’ll ask for a Perception check first, the result giving limiting or varying options for a second Investigation check. Ultimately what is found is a Mythic question, likelihood dependent on the checks. Party rolled a highest 12 in Perception, then 15 in Investigation, which is not bad. 

• Q: Had there been a struggle in Malfie’s tent
• A: (Likely) Yes, explaining the lower perception score of not being able to immediately see anything out of place
• Q: Are valuables still intact?
• A: (50/50) Yes
• Q: Is there blood somewhere?
• A: (Likely) Yes
• Q: Is there blood at the tent door leading outside (even though the blood outside may have been gone by now)
• A: (Very Likely) Yes. 
• Q: Is there werewolf blood/hair in here
• A: (50/50) Exception No. 
• Q: Is there a hidden compartment somewhere
• A: (50/50) No + Random Event; Fight Lies. (This just blown open another line of thinking, as in this fight and mess might be staged)
• Q: Did someone set up the tent to look like there was a fight here? (I did another Investigation check to see if the party can make that leap. Rolled a 16 so I’d given it to them)
• A: (50/50) Yes

The party entered Malfie’s tent and immediately it was clear it looked like a fight broke out in the tent. From the blood on the tent flap, it seemed like the fight started here and continued outside, or the murderer gave chase, where Malfie was killed in the training ground. 

Zar performed a Divine Sense again, and did not have any ill reactions as a feedback. Either the werewolf was not wounded here, or they had to rethink their werewolf hypothesis.

This made Filli ponder another hypothesis. They did not have spells to reanimate what happened here like a Chronurgy wizard, but Filli instructed Fido to mock a battle scene with him inside the tent. The placement of the blood, and no furnishings actually looked broken, led Filli to deduced that the tent was very likely set up to look like a fight, especially as no valuables seemed to have been taken.

Going back out the tent, the party questioned Malbe, as the training grounds was likely still the first crime scene.

• Q: Did you hear anything last night during the time of the murder?
• A: (50/50) Yes
• Q: Did you hear fighting?
• A: (Likely) Yes
• Q: Was this after Malfie came back from going to the guard tower?
• A (Likely) Exception Yes. This actually further decreases Alorin’s suspicions as this proves Malfie was still alive after talking to Alorin last night.  
• Q: Did you hear someone visit Malfie’s tent between coming back from tower?
• A: (Unlikley) No. I’d put unlikely cause it wont have made much noise and Malfie’s tent was further away from the family's.
• Q: Did you see someone go into Malfie’s tent since his death?
• A: (50/50) Yes. I then rolled the NPC list and got the Purser. I also rolled d3 to see when (eg morning/afternoon/night, and it only could be in Day0). It was Day0 afternoon, so just before the party turned up but after body  was found.
• Q: Can her husband/son corroborate her testimony
• A: (50/50) Yes. Random Event, Introduce a new NPC, Harm Portals. I’m simply not going to introduce a new NPC as it won’t fit the campaign, but can be a reason why the husband/son can corroborate. Portal, I’ll take it as the outpost’s gate.

Malbe said there had been a problem with the outpost’s gate and so they had been fixing it the night Malfie died. They actually walked back with Malfie after hearing some arguments at the tower between Malfie and Alorin, although not the exact words. The family chatted for a bit at the campfire with Malfie before they all retired to sleep for the night. Malbe heard some noises outside during the night whilst they slept, but just thought one of the footman was practising at the training ground if they could not sleep and just ignored it. 

Malbe also said when questioned that Hudri the purser had searched Malfie’s tent after his body was found yesterday afternoon to see if he could find any clues himself. She said originally Hudri, obviously trusted by the Captain, was going to investigate this case before the party arrived as a completely unbiased and innocent party. (This just made logical sense so I filled in the blanks). Party lamented the testimony decreased Alorin’s suspicions, but still did not prove the scout did not find Malfie later in the night to commit a murder - especially if that was when he turned into a werewolf. 

Party rolled 23 in Perception.

The party did not feel there was anything suspicious about Malbe’s testimony and was about to move on when Yankovic spotted something on Malbe’s forearm. Like yesterday, Malbe was wearing a long shawl that covered most of her skin, but when she had gone back to hanging up her washing, Yankovic saw the glimpse of a tattoo. 

Yankovic rolled a 20 on Religion. Asking Mythic, it was unfortunately an Exceptional No for me to tie it to Marduke, the spider deity from last Cave dive. Note the tattoo is because from the NPC generator, she has a ‘ritual scar’. I also asked if this god was the God of Arcane’s enemy, and Mythic said Yes. I would think the opposite Magic is Technology, which will explain one of her son’s traits, so it works out.

Yankovic recognised it as a sacred tattoo of the God of Technology, Lambert, in the form of three cog wheels. Malbe was hesitant when asked about it, but Zar persuaded (rolled 19 in Persuasion) her that Yanovic was just a religious fanatic and just took an interest to these kind of things, but had nothing to do with the case. 

I’d taken that check to opening Malbe up for more personal questions:

• Q: Are you a high ranked member of the Church of Technology?
• A: (Likely) Yes
• Q: Did you leave because of husband?
• A: (50/50) No. Now this is difficult. From what she’s shown so far, she’s foreign to the Empire, so can say God of Technology isn’t as popular here than God of Arcane. So why is she here?
• Q: Is she a spy?
• A: (50/50) I’ve had that in my mind because her random generator rolled she was a pickpocket and had espionage gear. Just because Mythic confirmed it, I’m not going to let the party know this information just from one skill check, as if asking her point blank. Considering this isn’t integral to the case (yet) I may dive back into this or not in successive interrogations / if the case leads to this being a factor.
• Q: Yankovic knowing Lambert and Asu don’t get on, asked whether she wants to stop the Captain’s conversion of the outpost from Xanthia to Asu.
• A: (Likely) Exceptional Yes. It’s good to know what drives a character.
• Q: Was Malfie supporting the religious conversion to Asu
• A: (50/50) No. This may flip the suspect another way, but the next person to talk to is definitely the purser now.

The party was given snacks and sat around the campfire, having a causal conversation, mostly led by Yankovic about Lambert and Asu. And Xanthia, of course. Yankovic explained to the others the two churches did not get on because their deities had a history when they were still mortals. The Empire had more Asu followers, and Yankovic asked why the high -ranked Malbe came to the Empire even if the Church of Arcane was more popular here. 

Note for this campaign, I haven’t actually created any deities or religions, basically just going to make it up on the go. This Cave dive therefore helped me a bit, but I won’t say all worlds travelled to through Cave dives will have the same deities or religions as the main one, but as Soke is here, I just consider it the same for now. 

Kevolo joked was it because Malbe was a spy for the church, here to destroy Asu and instill Lambert as the Empire’s religion, and Malbe just laughed and said she moved because of her husband. It had been a whirlwind wedding and she got pregnant with Brute very quickly, and now it had been almost two decades since she moved to the Empire. She admitted she did not like the Captain and the purser making motions to change from Xanthia, saying Xanthia was the default religion even for soldiers outside the Empire, but not as vocal as Nirya for example. She also said Malfie did not support the religion change at the camp either. 

After the snacks, the party bid goodbye to Malbe and went to find the purser Hudri. 

Scene close-out:

• Chaos factor remains at 6. I don’t plan to change this through the investigation as I think this is a good level for now, as otherwise everything I ask would be a yes too quickly. I may consider rising it if a lot more victim appears.  

Post-scene Notes

I’d original wanted to end this post with the end of Day1, but the post is just too long at this point. And what if another murder gets rolled at the end of Day1? So instead, the evening investigative session will have to wait to next post. 

But considering I don’t have a new picture for this session, here is the belated photo of Weird Elf Yankovic. He was a character I played before, like Zar, so thought it is good to re-use. I played him as even more of a religious fanatic than what he is now. 

Character portrait taken from Erika-Xero