Someone close to a local noble has been murdered, and the noble isn’t going to the constabulary for help. He has reason to believe they’re involved, which means the people normally responsible for solving a crime like this may be the ones who committed it. He needs investigators he can trust who operate outside the system, and he’s willing to pay well for discretion and results. The party fits the bill.
The investigation itself is straightforward enough at the start. There are witnesses to interview, a crime scene to examine, and a trail of connections to follow through the city’s social and political circles. What makes it complicated is that someone starts pushing back almost immediately. Warnings left in the party’s room at the inn. A contact who agreed to talk and then suddenly doesn’t want to. An attempt on a party member’s life that is made to look like a robbery. Whoever is behind the murder knows the party is asking questions and wants them to stop.
The constabulary’s involvement is the thread the party needs to pull carefully. Accusing the city’s law enforcement of murder without airtight evidence is a fast way to make powerful enemies, and the noble’s own motives are worth scrutinizing as the investigation deepens. He may be exactly what he appears to be, a grieving patron seeking justice, or there may be more to the story than he shared at the outset.
Party Level: Any. The challenge is investigative and social. Scale the opposition’s reach and resources to fit the campaign.
World: Any, but it’s best if you choose a city of adequate size.
Rules-set: Any
Note: Be sure to include a few combat encounters in dark alleys, such as assassination attempts, etc., otherwise this will only honor the social interaction and exploration pillars. – SW
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