The Case of the Talking Bear
Overview:
This time you get something a bit bigger than usual! It’s not just a single scenario, but a whole adventure. One of the reasons we haven’t made many social encounters only is because of the difficulty of making just a single encounter without tying it to a whole adventure. This is pretty much entirely social and skill based and a whole mystery for your players to solve. It also contains not fantasy or sci-fi elements.
Debrief:
Evan DuBois’s body was found in front of the inn. There was some screaming outside when Roscoe Menor, the owner of the inn, ran out to see what was going on. He found Berry Coppola, covered in blood, swinging a knife screaming about a bear. Evan had been stabbed to death.
The DuBois and Coppola family have traditionally had a rivalry. The DuBois family runs the logging operation and the Coppola family owns the silver mine. Neither family is powerful enough to have complete control over the town. Their rivalry had never resulted in bloodshed. However, Berry and Evan were known to be friends.
That night was a large engagement party for the upcoming marriage of Evan DuBois and Beatrix Coppola. The romance of these two helped to solidify the attempt of the two families trying to work together in order to incorporate the territory. This way they could bring in more federal resources for police and other services to make the town much safer.
Berry was not at the engagement party. The last known location of Berry before he was found over Evan’s body was the Saloon.
The investigators have 8 Hours to solve the mystery or the town will lose it and try and lynch Berry and possibly attack the Coppola family. Most people are currently at the engagement party. The two had fallen in love and had agreed to start working together as a single family. The families have agreed that it is best to wait until morning to tell the rest of the towns people in order to prevent a drunk angry mob or rumors spreading before any investigation can happen.
What Really Happened:
Evan had a fling with the owner of the saloon, Marta, before he was engaged to Beatrix. Marta and Evan ended things amicably as neither had expected a serious relationship, but it turned out that Marta is currently pregnant with Evan’s child. Around 8:00 the night he was murdered he left the party to talk with Marta. He told Marta he could either pay her enough to leave then continue to give her money to support the child elsewhere or he could work with his family to run her out of town. Upon hearing this Dr. Vernon Whipple, who harbored an unrequited love for Marta, followed Evan and murdered him with a single stab to the heart. He then managed to drug Berry, who was already extremely intoxicated, with devil’s snare, a hallucinogenic drug.
NPCs:
DuBois Family:
Evan: Deceased - was a good friend to Berry and a bit of a playboy.
Sarah: Sister - Genuinely is bothered by what happened. Doesn’t understand why anyone could kill her brother
Michael: Dad - Stone cold business man. Is worried first and foremost about his families name. Does not want anyone spreading false rumors about his son or their family.
Merry: Mother - Is doing her best to keep her self together and keep the party going.
Law Enforcement:
Sheriff Johnson -Does not want to hang an innocent boy, but also does not want the town to explode. He is the single law enforcement in the town so there is no way he can hold together a riot or a gang out to get someone.
Inn:
Roscoe Menor: Inn Owner - Heard Berry making a fuss the night of the attack. Let Berry carry on a bit (as it wasn’t all that unusual for him to do such a thing) before he ran out with the shotgun to find Berry over the body swinging a bloody knife shouting about a talking bear.
Lily Smith: Patron - Doesn’t have much to contribute. If asked about it she mentions she did see Evan earlier that night, around 7 heading towards the Saloon (He was not seen in the Saloon).
Coppola Family:
Berry: Son - Blacksheep of the family, but okay with his lot in life. Is content to get no part of the family fortune as long as he can continue to drink, party and hang out about the town. Knows how incredibly insane his story sounds but he is still under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
Ray: Son - Responsible son. Will take over the family business. Has a hard time believing his brother did this, but also is not terribly surprised or worried for him.
Beatrix: Sister - Is very upset that her fiancee is dead. Doesn’t believe Berry did it, but doesn’t have any proof otherwise. Began seeing Evan about 4 months ago.
Jerome: Father - Stern businessman. Want investigators to do their job. Not as worried about his son getting hung as he is about . his families reputation.
Angela: Mother - Not happy with the situation. Feels very bad for her daughter and doesn’t know what to do with Berry.
Saloon:
Marte Urwin: Owner and Proprietor - Evan and her were lovers before Eva was courting Beatrix. He broke it off with her about 4 months ago. She was not upset by him leaving her as both were in it for fun, not serious relationships. However, neither knew she was pregnant when he broke it off. She has since realized it and told him. His course of action was to offer her money to leave town.
Jerold Sinnett: Local Drunk - Always at the Saloon.
Clinic:
Vernon Whipple: Doctor - He appears mild mannered enough when initially spoken to. When the investigators ask to look at the body he will tell them about the stab wound on the body. If he is asked what he thinks about it he says Berry seems most likely. If asked about any other possibility, he might mention that some of the workers want to see the deal not happen. They may be worried about getting exploited. Looking through his closest will reveal a bearskin and looking through his medicine drawers will reveal devil’s snare, a hallucinogen. Neither in and of itself is incriminating until put with other evidence.
Fancy Party:
Izaak Broadhurst: Lumberer
Nazim Young: Miner
Ella Carrillo: Miner
Paris Gray: Miner - The names are to help fill the fancy party. The workers aren’t supposed to know about the murder yet. If asked about the deal they will explain that they may miss being able to play the families off of one another for money, but they will be glad to get the benefits of regular law enforcement and money for infrastructure.
Joseph Fitzgerald: Socialite - hung out with Berry and Evan a lot. Knows Evan used to be quite the party boy.
Coppola House:
Beatrix: Fiancee - Knows Evan used to be quite the party boy. Believes he cleaned up his act. Told her he had to take care of one last problem before their wedding that night.
Lucas Dossett: The Buttler - is there to follow the PCs around if they try to investigate the house.
Clues:
Below is a list of the clues the investigators might run into. Some are included as red herrings. Every effort should be given to supply investigators if they succeed on an appropriate skill check for the area, so feel free to add clues as necessary during play.
Drugs
Berry was drugged by Dr. Whipple. An average medicine check will reveal that it was more than alcohol, a difficult check (or a high success) will reveal that it was a hallucinogenic drug. The reactions make it most likely devil’s snare.
Bear
After drugging Berry Dr. Whipple ran through the saloon with a bear costume telling Berry he was going to get Evan. In his insane state Berry thought it was a talking bear.
The Deal
The Deal is a red herring. The two families working together means incorporating the territory, which means more money for infrastructure and law enforcement. Everyone does want this. However, some white collar folks think the workers may be worried about wages lowering. The doctor will throw suspicion on the workers about not wanting the deal if asked about possible alternatives to Berry.
Someone Else was There:
Looking at the footprints of the crime scene reveal an extra set of footprints. That it was not just Berry and Evan at the scene of the crime.
Love for Marte
The doctor has had an unrequited love for Marte. He occasionally goes to the Saloon to tell her how he feels. He has proposed to her in the past. Asking the patrons of the saloon will reveal this. Finding his letters in the clinic will reveal this as well.
Party Boy
Talking to anyone who knew Evan in the past he was a bit of a player. He had his fair share of romantic encounters. Searching his letters will show that his most recent affair before getting serious with Beatrix was with Marte the Saloon owner.
Evan’s Conversation
Talking to Beatrix about where Evan went reveals he was doing something important to take care of his past. Talking to Lily at the Inn reveals he was heading towards the saloon. Finding love letters in Evan’s room reveals the relationship with Marte. Asking Berry about previous relationships Evan had will bring up Marte as well, but he also says the ended things on good terms. No one was upset about the situation. Confronting Marte with evidence that they were together previously (or that she may be pregnant with his child) gets her to explain her story. She is pregnant with his child and Evan had said earlier in the day that he wants her to leave town. The only people she told she was pregnant are Evan and the Dr.
Locations:
The locations sections details different places the PCs can go and who is there. They may suggest other places which please feel free to create as necessary and populate with the correct people (and clues).
Jail
Who: Sheriff Johnson, Jerome, Michael, Berry
Clues:
Medicine Check: Berry has had halogenic Drugs
Talking to Berry: All he talks about is the talking Bear
Asking Jerome, Michale, and Sheriff about alternatives: The Deal
Inn
Who: Roscoe, Lily
Clues:
Asking who else may have done it: People not wanting the town to unify
Asking Lily if she has seen Evan: Evan’s Conversation
Checking the Crime Scene: Someone Else was there
Fancy Party
Who: Party Guests
Clues:
Asking About Evan’s Past: Party Boy
Searching His Room: Love letters with Marte
Talking to the Workers: Reveals Town not wanting to unify to be a red herring.
Saloon
Who: Marte, Simon, Sarah
Clues:
Medicine Check: Marte is Pregnant (PCs should look for it)
Hard Perception Check: Drugs on the Counter
Confrontation with Proof: Evan’s Conversation
Asking Jerold About Who Comes: Doctor Professes Love for Marte
Asking Jerold About Marte: Grumpier than usual today, stopped drinking about four months ago.
Clinic
Who: Vernon
Clues:
Looking in Medicine Cabinet w botany/medicine: Devil’s Snare
Looking in Personal Things: Love letters for Marte
Asking Him about who else may have done it: The Deal
Coppola House
Who: Beatrix, Lucas
Clues:
Asking Beatrix about Evan’s Past: Party Boy
Asking Beatrix about where he went: Evan’s Conversation
Special Mechanics:
Before we Run Outta Time - The players have (6 for hard, 8 for medium, 10 for easy) hours to solve the mystery. At the beginning of each hour players can choose to go to one location or split up. Deciding and getting to the location, conducting the interview or search, and sharing what they learned with each other takes an hour. At six hours the gig is up and Berry get’s hung. It’s a failure.
Extras:
How We Used it - Ran it using the Gensys system for a friend’s parents. He told us they were into detective stories, so we wrote a crime drama. We found it surprisingly difficult to write a totally mundane (meaning non-magical or fantastic) mystery.
Inspirations, Shoutouts, and Thanks - Thanks to Travis McElroy of the Adventure Zone for his great dust arc. We used the exact same timer mechanic from it. Brilliant idea to help add tension to a narrative. We also used the two feuding families as a starting point for . our adventure as well.
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