The Trial of Archimedes

Archimedes is the prime suspect in a gristly murder mystery, players must prove his innocense or guilt!

One of the things I heard that the public liked in the last event, is the need for players to seek out clues to what would happen in the next event. Several of the "roleplaying" crowd members told me it was more satisfying than simply showing up, kill uber boss, die many times, and loot. They felt they made a true impact on turn of events. I want to build on that and get away from the same-old same-old.

I will create a Murder Mystery, with Archimedes painted as the main culprit. I will drop clues around the land in hopes that players will show up for the events - which will be Trials at the Yew Court instead of gatherings at the Castle. "Rares" in this event will be to players that have put time into the event and found clues to prove the innocents of Archimedes. The only monster fights I plan on are those for players to encounter and endure when seeking clues.

GM Setup for duration of the events :

(280 767 0 Trammel) This Jail Cell is for Archimedes. Please remove the walls and door, that we can not TALK through and put in a different one. Basically there will be times that Archimedes gets sent to his jail cell and players need to go talk to him. A blue book labeled "Magic Journal" will be locked down, which will have a blue book at the Office of the Royal Guard for the players to keep updated throughout the event.

(355 895 0 Trammel) This is a neat Courtoom, however it's too spread out. It is possible at all to move the Judge and Witness Desk to the NORTH a few tiles, so that players in the seats can at least see Archimedes/Judge ? If not, we need to set up a comm system probably.

(344 873 0 Trammel) Make this door unopenable for the duration of the events.

(355 890 0 Trammel) Make these doors unopenable. Construct that invisible barrier along the short wall around the courtoom so people can not teleport over the wall.

It's a courtroom, one that never got used before that will be used for 3, maybe 4 events. Maybe make it more pretty?

(4568 921 20 Trammel) This is the scene of the Murder, which will be the place the players start looking for their clues.Since Zilo can not lock down a corpse, lets improvise. First, can we get a house sign? "Residence of xxxxxxx (need a name). As for the Alter room, create and lock down blood Tiles, all over. On the wall if possible, because this is one hell of a gristly murder! I have locked down a torso, legs, arm, and body parts in my Green Acres House, use the ID#'s if you can and give us a complete "Hacked up Body" Create and lock down a red hued Executioners Axe "A bloodstained Axe" Then, we need to create and lock down a 64 spellbook named "Archimede's Spellbook" somewhere in this room. ( can do this) Oh, bloody footprints, those look so creepy!

2649 2195 4 T : make a Word Activated Teleporter here, say "Shadows" (answer to a riddle given in 2nd event) will teleport to 2646 2195 -20. At that area, fix the Ladder to teleport them back up to the office and fix that one black tile if possible.

This is what I need to stick around for the next few events - since it's out of the way areas that players don't normally visit, then I see no reason it has to be removed at the end.

Event 5 : The Incarceration of Archimedes
Starting Location Castle : 1329 1624 50
Courtroom : 355 895 0
Jail Cell : 280 767 0 where the event ends.

EM Setup :

Current Event Setup :
Judge Julious Dryden is created, give him Pageboy hair, default white, to look like those judges in the 'old days'. Fancy clothes and such for a Judge. He needs two Hirelings, renamed by Zilo as "Guards" and dressed as guards. They are to follow the Judge around for most of the event. That's it!

Procedure:
Archimedes the Old summons the Royal Guard to the Castle. He will tell everyone that there since there hasn't been anything important as of late, that he will be heading an expedition to some of the ruins in Ilshenar, and doesn't expect many problems. As Archimedes is talking, Judge Julious Dryden will walk into the room with his two guards, and teleport up onto the throne and transfer in his guards.

Archimedes will welcome the Judge, and will be rudely cut off from talking and demand that Archimedes be silent, as he is under arrest for murder! Then he will demand the guards to take him to Jail. Archimedes will use the lighting bolt effect and disappear.

Judge will then turn to the crowd, and inform them that their Commander of the Royal Guard has been sent to the Yew Prison, and as of this moment the Royal Guard is under his command. He invites everyone to join in the trial of Archimedes, and ask them to do their best to either defend him, or help prosecute him during the course of the Trial which is expected to run over a week.

He will then step into the crowd, and create a moongate to the Yew Prison (and Zilo will perma-nail it down since following events will not start here) to (371 908 0 Trammel)

Players will go into the Courtoom, and the preliminary trial begins.

Clues are going to be given out for players to start the quest on their own but the quetions and answers

Dryden : Archimedes -- where were you last night in the hours involving the afternoon and evening.
Archimedes : I left after lunch to travel to the Ethereal Fortress to make sure that the mess created a few weeks ago was cleaned up. It was, so I traveled back home.

Dryden : You traveled you say? How ?
Archimedes : By foot.

Dryden : You are a sorcerer though, one of the best - why did you spend a large part of the day walking?
Archimedes : Well, often I do enjoy walking, as I can run into something interesting, but even if I wanted to travel with magic, I am afraid I could not that day.

Dryden : You could not? Why is that?
Archimedes : I absentmindedly left my spellbook at my office, and only discovered it as I was leaving the Moonglow bank and going to the moongate. It was no matter to me, it was a beatifull day and a walk is good for my health.

Dryden : So you left your book at your office you say?
Archimedes : Yes, that is correct.

Dryden : And where is your book now?
Archimedes : *blush* Well, I am not too sure to be honest, I came noon the next day, a few hours before noon to be exact and could not find it that day, and I tore my office inside out.

Dryden : A few hours before noon? Why did the trip take so long?
Archimedes : Well, I did stop at an Inn on the way back from the Fortress, however I found it vacant, but it did have beds, so I spent the night.

Dryden : Was anyone with you? Anyone that can callaborate your story?
Archimedes : I am afraid not, I was alone the entire trip.

Dryden : I see. And you say you left for your trip on Moonglow Island?
Archimedes : That is correct.

Dryden : Did you stop to see a XXXXXXXXXXX (name we invent earlier) ?
Archimedes : ... who ?

Dryden : xxxxxxxxxx
Archimedes : I am not familiar with that name.

Dryden : You are not? Why, he's the Mage Guildmaster of Moonglow
Archimedes : Oh! You mean "Snap", I am sorry, I haven't refered to him as xxxxxxxxxx in over a month. No, I did not stop to meet him.

Dryden: * shuffles papers, looks over things, gets up out of his seat, uses context menu to get guards to follow him. * Archimedes, xxxxxxxxxxxxx was found murdered in his home early this morning. You are the prime suspect as your spellbook was found at the scene of the crime, and as you have told me, there are no witnesses to collaborate your story.
Archimedes : What? This is absurd! I would never murder Snap, no matter....
Dryden : Silence! As I was saying, you are the prime suspect. You are hereby banned from using magic whatsoever, and to remain here in Jail until the end of this trial. Thanks to your many years of dedication to the Kingdom, I don't think you will try anything foolish, but if you do yoru verdict will be pronounced guilty without a full investigation. Guards - take him to his cell.

(Archimedes lighting bolt out of view, and he's done for the night)

The Judge finally adresses the crowd.

Royal Guard, I know you served Archimedes as Commander of the Royal Guard, however, as I stated earlier I have taken up this position for the duration of this Trial. Due to the purpose of the Royal Guard, I am going to depend on you for your investigative skills as I lack any Detectives on staff at this time. I invite you all that wish to help prove who is responsible for this gristly murder to investigate the Murder Scene, located on Moonglow Island.

We will reconvene in approximately a week or less, I will depend on you to provide evidence that could prove the Innocence, or guilt, of Archimedes. Thank you for your time, and goodnight.

Event Ends.

Pretty different Eh?

Well, now the players need to go FIND the murder scene. Archimedes will be in his jail cell for 30 minutes to talk to Players.

However, here's the setup done by Archimedes right before the event or right after.

1.) The Spellbook should already be locked down in the Murder House House, item #1111517059
2.) A bedroll will be locked down at 4564 899 15, along with some food, lantern, oil flask, food, drink. Bottles renamed "empty bottle" maybe. Show 'someone' was here. Somewhere off to the side is "An Assassins Dagger" with full charges of Deadly Poison. NOTE : The bedroom CAN be used and picked up! Whoever gets here first gets to pick it up. If it is renamed, it will go back to the name of "Bedroll" after they use it.
3.) 1555 1035 -6 Ilshenar : Something will be locked down here, something that an assassin dropped while following Archimedes. I'm leaning toward a ring renamed "A Serpents' Scale Embroided Ring" Item #1112500046
4.) In the Assassins Guild at 2650 2193 4 an book will be locked down labeled contracts :

1.) Marlbeard the Gypsy: Completed
Payment Delivered
2.) Terrin the Paladin : Completed
Payment Delievered
3.) Carlene the Healer : Completed
Payment Delivered
4.) Percy the Herbalist : Completed
Payment Pending
5.) Lloyd the Paladin : Failed
Payment dismissed
6.) Byron the Merchant : Completed
Payment Delivered
7.) Delphine the Shepherd : Completed
Retribution of Non Payment
8.) Opey the Servent: Complete
Payment Delivered
9.) Mage Guildmaster : Payment Pending

5.) 2532 653 0 T : A Corroded Assassins' Dagger Item #111907653 locked somewhere in this tent.
6.) 2028 2720 25 Trammel: A Viking Sword renamed "Terrin's Blade", item#1113265287
7.) 2214 1114 40 Trammel : a backback locked down, inside some empty bottles, and another Corroded Assassins' Dagger item #1111907655
8.) 5758 3160 14 Lost Lands: Corroded Assassins' Dagger item #1111907561
9.) 904 590 -70 : An Assassins Dagger with 12 Deadly Poison Charges since he failed to kill the paladin) item #1082611850
10.) 1618 1563 50 : A Corroded Assassins' Dagger Item # 1111907565, this time a journal that just talks about the failed mission to kill a Paladin, and something about going to Delucia next to kill the Shepherd who didn't pay his fees for killing the Herbalist. Talks about how his ring isn't fitting on him very well anymore thanks to all these travels and slimming down.
11.) 5310 3948 57 : Backpack, empty bottles, some food, drink.
12.) Yew House 323 1241 0 : Hopefully the hardest clue to find. A Corroded Assassins' Dagger item # 1111907563 and a book talking about the killing of the Shepherd, and that tomorow he has a meeting with an old man in Moonglow for negotiations on killing some guildmaster and money is not an issue. There will also be a single vial of "Peculiar Poison" (lesser poison renamed) item #1113898674. This can be drank by anyone - my plan is to hand over some Royal Guard boots to whoever will tell me they found some Peculiar Poison in Yew. Also, write in the book something about how he had to search the woods in Delucia as he lost his ring.

So now all these folks have a week to find the clues. However, the hardest clue to find is the Peculiar Poison, and even though there is a reference to it as "Opey the Servent" there's no darn way they will be finding it through the clue.

So now for the folks that do the 'extra' credit. Anyone that finds this at the next event gets Royal Order Boots

(6111 3051 15) Trammel (T2A) : A book :

Extracting Snake Venom

An experienced Veterinarian can, with proper precautions, extract the venomous poison of a snake so that it can be applies in making curing agents, or poisons.

There are some health risk involved with the procedure - the slightest wrong cut can lead to bacterial infection of the venom when extracting from the snake, or worse, premature infection upon the Veterinarian. For lesser poisoning creatures this isn't much of a concern, however if one is attempting to devenomize a Giant Serpent, they could soon find themselves in need of a healer.

the Veterinarian's task should never be one to kill the snake while extracting the venom, nor severing the duct from wench the poison is from the glands to the fangs. Impairing the snake from successfully capturing prey would lead to it's death, and ultimately, a lower population of the snakes.

The more environmentally conscious veterinarians will perform the devenomization process on snakes or serpents that are already showing signs of being well-fed, so that they won't go hungry while creating new venom. When a sufficient specimen is found, a good paralyze spell will immobilize the snake, while a serpent mouthpiece is inserted before the creature will regain the ability to move. With the mouth propped open, a small bottle or specially lined pouch is placed under the fangs, and the venom is extracted.

Snakes that are devenomed will possess it's fangs, however fangs are periodically shed and replaced over the course of time. Those that find discarded serpent fangs are advised to handle with care, as often residual venom can be inside the fangs' ducts, and can poison you nonetheless.

Signed Dryden (aka Judge Dryden)

There is also a bracelet renamed "Serpent Oral Brace" item #1108311471 locked down and a box with a feather renamed to "Silver Serpent Fang" #1108310367, and an "Assassin's Dagger" here to take Item #1109300452

Whosoever uses this clue at the Even #6 next week (book will be removed soon as the dagger is gone) will receive from Archimedes a uber item (Cloak of the Royal Guard, or Cloak of the Detective)

5321 757 -20 T A Box with another Serpent Oral Brace item #1108831249, and a jug of wine renamed to "Venom Sack" Item # 1108830743. Since this is a very hard to reach place, there will be an "Assassin's Dagger" here to take! Item #1109306470

This is an obscure place as well, and not easy to reach. Perhaps another book here :

Mage Guildmaster Contract

Clientelle met at Moonglow Docks, late at night. Face could not be seen, as the lighting was poor but the boat he sailed definatly came from Yew. Agreed to pay over 500,000 gold for the death of xxxxxxxxxx in his home within 48 hours, but has requested it look not like an assassination but a savage lynching. Agreed it would be possible, but had to travel to Terra Sanctum to replenish our supply of Poison.

Signed

YYYYYYYYYYYYY (another random name)

Whosoever uses this information for event #6 - that an assassin is to blame but the contracter was from Yew gets another item (Cloak of the Royal Guard, or Cloak of the Detective)