Chief has just sent me out. We got a call from Brooks Manor, where Mr. Brooks Senior was found dead in his Study. After a long Ride through the English Countryside, I finally arrived at the Manor.
The Book of Random Tables: 1980 – 1990:
Name of Buttler: Steven Price
The Door opened before I could knock on it. “Welcome, Sir. My Name is Steven, I am Mr. Brooks Personal Buttler, well I was.” He let me in, and I arrived at an impressive Entrance Hall, I was pretty sure, that this Entrance was bigger than my House.
“The Family is waiting for you in the Living Room.”
“Could you tell me, more about the People? Who they are?”
“Of course, Sir. Well, there is Mr. Brooks’s First Wife, Danielle, their son, Terry Brooks, and his Wife Gina. And Mrs Brooks’s Senior Second Wife, Amy Brooks.”
I wrote that into my Notebook
Is there anything you could tell me? Anything at all?
Mythic Mystery Elements Table – Clues d10+0 – New Clue
Roll on Mystery Element Descriptors Table 2x d100
23 – Dangerous and 31 – Exotic
“Well, there is something special. Yesterday was Mr. Brooks’s Birthday, his 83rd. That is why his whole family is present. And also yesterday a rather special present arrived for him.”
“Tell me more”
“It had a little Statue of a Snake. In printed Letters, it had the Words Dangerous and Exotic, written all over the Package.”
“May I see this Snake?”
“Well, here is the Problem, Sir, as I was closing down the Study for the Police, the Statue and the Package was gone.”
Interesting. I was sure to write this down.
“Is there anything else, you can tell me, Steven?”
So, when playing Mythic Mystery what I like to do is, use a Percentige System. When talking to a Witness, we will get 3 Chances to ask this Question. First Time, 1-75 it is a YES and we will get to roll on the Elements Table. Second Time we get 1-50 Chance and if it is a Yes, we roll on the Mystic Table, if it is a No, we are finished with the Witness. If Yes, we will get a 3rd Chance but only on a Roll of 1-25 if we succeed.
50/50 Chance let’s see, if Steven the Buttler saw something: 31 – Uh, Ok, let’s roll on the Clue Side – 4+1 = 5 – New Clue
17 – Colorful and 86 – Small
“I don’t know if it is important, and, I don’t want to get anyone into trouble, I am quite fond of this family.”
“Do not worry, Steven.”
“So, in his Study, there was a small Diamond on his desk. The Dimond was not real, it was more of a Paperweight. Mr. Brooks got this as a Present years ago from his First Wife, but the Dimond was gone as well.”
“Do you think, whoever killed Mr. Brooks, thought this was a real Dimond?”
“Possible. But it is hard to say.”
“Anything else? Anything at all?”
1-25 Chance: 48 – NO
“I’m sorry, Sir, not at the moment. If there is anything, I will tell you. Please let me know when you want to see the Study. I have the only Key.”
“Thank you.” Mister Brooks Junior, was sitting in an Armchair, a Cup of presumably Tea in his hand. A young woman was sitting by his side on the Arms of the Chair.
Two Women sitting next to each other on the sofa. Drinking tea as well. “Inspector Nick Morgan. My Chief and I are sorry for your loss.” The older Woman of the two stood up. “Inspector, my Name is Danielle Brooks, please take a seat. Would you like a Cup of Tea? Margret – A Tea for the Inspector.” A young woman in a black Uniform arrived with a Cup and served it to me. “Thank you.” “Inspector,” Misses Brooks addressed me, “Do the Police have any Idea what has happened?””Please, Misses Brooks, allow me to apologize, but, I just started with my Investigations. I would like to see the Study first and then I would like to talk to all of you separately, if possible. “”Of course, I had an appointment today, but I canceled it. So, we are all free to help you in this horrible Case.” “Thank you. I heard, that Steven has the Key.” Out of nowhere, the Buttler was standing next to me. I don’t get scared that easily, but not going to lie, almost spilled the Tea. “Please, follow me, Sir.” Outside the Living Room, he walked back to the Main entrance and on the other side, opened a Door. “The Ambulance already took Mr. Brooks with them, as they left. But nothing else was changed. I made sure of that.” “Thank you.” The study looked exactly as you would imagine a study in an old British Mansion would look like. Dark Wood, a massive Desc in the Middle of the Room, Fireplace, A sofa in the Corner.
Is there anything, that would be caught our eyes? Let’s say 1-75 Yes: 46 – Yes. Mythic Table: Clues d10+2 – 6+2 = 8 – New Linked ClueIf the new Element is a Clue, then generate the Clue and then roll for the Suspect it Links to on the Matrix. Clue: 59 – Messy and 34 – Fancy Linked to d10 Suspects – Staff…
The First thing, that I registered was a spotless, fancy study, but something did not add up. It was the Mess on the Coffetable, by the Sofa. Or the Lack there was. I looked at Steven. “Was the Staff in here?” “Not that I know of. Why do you mean?” “See the mess on the Desc and on the Shelf? Someone was clearly looking for something and then here everything is in order. The Magazine and Newspaper are nicely stacked. the Letters next to them as well.” “I don’t know, maybe one of the Staff members got in here and started cleaning while the ambulance was here. Mr. Brooks had a no-mess policy. Every staff member was advised to clean up as soon as something was standing around.” I let it go, but I definitely put it in my Notebook.
Let’s roll for it – Did we see something else in the Room? 1-50 Yes: 52 – NO.
“Steven, is there a Room in the House, where I can talk to the Family one by one?” “Of course, Sir, how about the Library?” “Perfect, Thank you. Oh, you have a hole in your Uniform up here.” “Ah this, it is nothing, Sir. I just lost my Pin for the Uniform. Every Staff Member owns one. I have People looking for it, as we speak.” He led me there and I took a Seat in one of the Comfortable Armchairs. A Staff member quickly brought me some Tea. I asked Steven to bring me in Mrs. Brooks, the First Wife because she greeted me first.”
“Inspector. You wanted to talk to me?” “Yes, please, take a seat. Mrs. Brooks, I believe you were Mr. Brooks ehm…” “First Wife? Ha, yes, don’t you worry, no hard feelings between Martin and myself there. I still live here. I have the whole West Wing for myself. I have my Horses to tend to and my Clubs. I have my own life. We simply lost ourselves and instead of making our lives miserable, we decided to break up. He started to see other women, and I started to be free of my duties as a Mansion Wife.””You were also invited to Mr. Brooks’s Birthday Party Yesterday?” “Of course. We celebrate it every year.” “Was there something special about the Party last night?”
Was there? 1 Question = 1-75 Yes: 45: Clue d10+2 = 10+2 = 1212 = New Clue 22 – Damaged and 41 Heavy.
“Well, I don’t know if it is important, but, yesterday morning, I went Horseriding as every day, and I took the same route as always. Following the River and then back through the Forrest. All on our own lands. Through the Forrest runs a Fence, and I saw a piece of it was damaged. A heavy branch of one of the Trees has fallen on it. We had some heavy weather lately and I thought maybe the wind must have had something to do with it. But now, I am not so sure anymore. What if someone was using it to get on our lands?”
“Interesting. Did you tell anyone? Is the Fence fixed already?””I told Steven. But I don’t know if he had time to send someone yet. With the Birthday Party and everything he had a lot to do yesterday.” “At the Party? Did you see anything important?
50/50 Yes: 88. NO
“No, I’m sorry, Inspector. Nothing comes to mine.” “Nothing? No strange Presents?”
Referring to the Snake – 1-25 Yes: 08 –
“Ah, you mean the Snake? Well, Yes, that was weird, but not the first time someone sent us weird stuff. I did not think something special about it.
“Thank you, Misses Brooks. Would you be so kind and send in your son?” “Of course, Inspector. Ah, by the way, would it be possible, if I could take my horse out for a moment? I need fresh Air.” “As long as you stay inside the Grounds, and you take good care of yourself, then I suppose, you can go.”
Only a few moments later, Mr. Brooks Junior was standing next to me. He sat down, took out a Pack of Cigars from his Jacket, and held it towards me. Tempted to take one, as they were looking expensive, I decided against it. “Thank you, but no. Mr. Brooks, what can you tell me about Yesterday?”
1-75 Yes: 65 – Yes Clue… d10 + 4 = 5+4 = 9
9 Link Clue to Suspeckt or New Clue
d20 for Clues – d6 for Suspect: 19 + 6 – Broken Fence in Forrest – Linked to Staff
“You can call me Terry, by the way. Everyone does. I heard Mother tell the Staff to go watch out for a broken Fence in the Forest. I thought it was rather strange. I was walking along the Fence in the Morning and I did not see anything.” “Mr. Brooks, may I ask you, how will the Fortune of your Father be divided alongside your Family?” Brooks took a deep breath and put the Cigar down. As far as I know, Father has everything divided equally among us. My wife and I will get 25%, my Mother and Amy 25% each, and the Rest is for the Staff and the House. Repairs and all of that. The House falls now on me, but Mother and Amy have a lifetime Living Arrangement in the Will. Which is OK by me. My Wife and I are living in a nice house down by the River. I don’t even want to live here in the Mansion. It is too big for my Taste. “How about the Party?
1-50 – Yes – 04 – YESd10 + 4 = 5+4 = 9 – Link Clue to Suspect. d20 for Clue – d6 for Suspect: 8 + 6 – Missing Diamond Paperweight – Linked to Staff
“Well, not the Party per se but, when we discovered my Father, leaning over his Desk. I saw, that this Paperweight Diamond was missing. I loved this stupid Thing as a Kid. Whenever a glimpse of the Sun would catch it, a Rainbow appeared. I always wanted it, but Father never gave it to me. Being so special to me, I saw really quickly, that it was missing. Everyone in the Family knew, that it was not a real Diamond, but maybe the Staff thought so differently. Of course, I don’t want to accuse anyone.” I was looking inside my Notebook. Almost every Clue was linked to the Staff. Convenient. To obvious really.”Thank you for your honesty. Is there anything else you can tell me?”
1-25 – Yes: 09 – OK, we get another Yes. d10 + 4 2+4 = 6 – New Linked Clue Clue: 25 – Descriptive and 43 – Home – Linked to d6 – 2 – Amy
I don’t know if it is anything, but Amy had a little Fight with Father, Yesterday. As I heard, she wanted to renovate the Bedroom. She said it was too old and not as fancy as my mother’s Wing. But, my Father was really strict about it. I am Waiting for her to talk to me about that because I will now get the Money for those things.”
“Thank you, Terry. Would you mind sending Amy in?” “Not at all.” Amy was very young, It looked like she was younger than Terry and Gina his Wife.”Miss Brooks, I am sorry for your loss. Is there anything you could tell me about what happened yesterday?
1-75 – Yes: 74 – Close… d10 +6 I would like to roll for Suspects, to see if I get someone else for the Staff. 9+6 = 15 – Link Clue to Suspect d100 for Clues, d10 for Suspects – Clue 15 – No mess on Coffetable – 8 no Suspect – So let’s get a new Suspect: 66 Mundane + 77 Protective How about the Security Guy who let me inside the Fence.
“Steven found my Husband. He told Terry. Terry then told me. Well, after he told his Mother. Which is normal, I guess. Sadly, I was the last one to arrive at the scene. When I entered the room and saw Martin at his desk, I guess I fainted. Vincent was next to me, and caught me.”
“Vincent?”
“Yes, the Head of Security. You must have past him when arriving.”
“Ah, the Gatekeeper?”
“Yes. As I said, he caught me and the next thing I remembered was waking up on the sofa. I was glad, he was around.”
“Did you see, what he was doing?”
“No, but it looked like he was cleaning the mess on the Table. Of course, this could also be a dream. Hard to say at the moment.”
“What about the Birthday party?
50/50 Chance of a Yes. d100 – I actually Rolled a 100… That was not part of the plan.
Amy started crying and getting upset. She started to scream out of nowhere and Steven entered the Room to get her to stop. He was talking to her directly. Knowing exactly what to say.
“I bring you into the Guestroom. You need to rest. Please excuse us, Sir. Misses Brooks does not feel so well.”
With the loud noise, the whole Family was standing in the Hallway. I was looking a bit perplexed, hoping no one would blame me for what just happened.
“Gina Brooks?”
Terry’s Wife looked at me. “Yes, Inspector.”
“May I speak with you now?
“Of course, Inspector.”
“Would you like some Tea?”
“No, Thank you.”
“Miss Brooks. What can you tell me about the Case?”
1-75 – 004 – So Yes. Let’s see if she can find us another clue. d10 + 5 = 5+5 = 10
10 = Link Clue to Suspect. d100 for Clue – d10 for Suspect –
Clue 25 – Fight about the new Bedroom. – 5 – Steven the Buttler
“I heard Amy and Martin fight over a new Bedroom or something. Martin got really mad at Amy because he did not want to discuss it on his Birthday. After the Fight, I went outside to walk home. I forgot his present there and then I saw Amy and Steven talking behind the Gardensheed. They did not see me and I was quick to move along. I don’t like to Gossip, and I try not to interfere with others’ business. The less I know, the better for me.”
OK, quick interruption, I feel like we are close. So, at the moment, this is our Mystery Matrix.
We have 5 Clues and, 3 are linked to Staff and 1 to the Butler. Which in my understanding would also be considered Staff.
let’s ask Gina if she knows anything about the Snake. 1-50 93 – No, she does not know anything about it.
“Ah, yes, the Snake Present. I did not know, who sent it. And I don’t know the background of it. Terry and I did not have enough time to discuss everything and as mentioned, I don’t Gossip.
“Well, then Thank you for your Time.”
Gina left, and I stayed to think about the whole thing until Steven came in.
“Sir, everything alright? Would you like something to eat?”
“You have a lot to do around here, don’t you Steven?”
“Well, yes, but I do love my Job.”
“Do Mr. Brooks, and Misses Amy fight a lot?”
1-75 he will tell us something. 28 – Let’s see if we get another clue.
d10 + 5 – 3+5 = 8 – New Linked Clue
60 – Military – 97 – Wealth – Linked to Terry.
“Not as much as he did with his Son. Mr. Brooks wanted Terry to go to Military School, but Terry decided against it. They did not speak for Years. Only when Mr. Terry got Engaged to Mrs. Gina, his mother insisted on getting them back together.”
“What can you tell me about the 2 Wives of Mr. Brooks?”
50/50 Chance. 71 – We will not get another clue, which would make sense.
“There is not much to say about it. They get along quite well. No heart feelings. Please excuse me, Sir. I really have to go.”
I decided to make a little Walk to see if the fence was fixed, but Danielle held me back while walking past the stables.
“Inspector. I see you enjoying the gardens?”
“Ah, yes. Beautiful. If you don’t mind, I wanted to see, if the Fence did get already fixed. Would you mind, showing me the Way?”
“Of course not, I will join you. So we can talk a bit more.”
“Would you be willing to talk to me more?”
“Certainly, Inspector. Fire away with your Questions.”
Getting her to offer me some Answers, I will roll for a Clue to see, what we will get.
d10+6 now. 9+5 – Clincher Clue – We found the Goal of our Investigation.
Generate a clue and link it to the Suspects with the most points.
Let’s find a Clue:
44 – Information – 31 – Exotic and it will Link to the Staff.
Ok, we will now have to form a Clue, which Danielle will give us, that will Link directly to the Staff.
“You know, Inspector. I was thinking while I was riding my Horse. You asked me about that Snake my Ex-Husband got for his Birthday. Now that I had some Time to think about it, I think I know, what was so upsetting about it for Martin. When he was Young, his father forced him into Military School. He and a few of his colleagues had an accident with a Snake. My husband survived, but it was his fault, that one of the others was bitten and did not survive. It was decades ago, but I think it could have been something to do with it. A few months ago, he started to talk about it. Maybe someone from the Staff heard it. And maybe they were trying to get some extra money out of it.”
“That would also work with the missing Diamond Paperweight.”
“Yes. this could be.”
We arrived at the Fence and
50/50 was it fixed 1-50 = Yes / 51-100 = No
I actually rolled a 99 a 99! NO aaannndd…
The Fence was untouched. Still broken and still an easy way in and out of the premises. I looked around the Scene and saw something sparkling next to the Tree. A pin. A pin, the Staff was wearing. Well, all but one. “Let us go back, I think I know who did it.”
When arriving back at the Mansion, we called everyone into the Living Room. All Eyes were fixed on me.
“Please, let me tell you something. This Case was interesting. Everyone in here was trying to blame everything on the staff. But who among the Staff had the most easy access to everything and the knowledge about our Victim. Someone who knows everything. Who is living in the Shadows, who is present at all times.” I was looking at Steven and he did not make a move. “Someone whose pin was missing on his Uniform and someone who fell in love with the Lady of the House.”
Steven took a seat without being asked, next to Amy.
“It was easy for you. You were angry at him because he was yelling at Amy because of the Renovation. You knew, that Amy wasn’t happy anymore. And you thought why not have both, Amy, and her share of the Fortune.”
Amy’s Hands reached for Steven and she looked at him in disbelief. “Steven, is this true?”
How about we say. 1-80 it is true, 81-100 there is a Plot Twist coming. 25 – And so it goes.
He took her hands and kissed them slightly. “Yes, it is true. It was a second decision. He was talking about you and the way he did, it just made me so angry. He did not deserve you! I could have made you happy. I am sorry. To all of you.”
Steven stood up and looked at me. “Let us leave, Inspector.”
THE END
You can find your Copy of the Mythic Mystery in the Mythic Magazine Volume 6. You will get the Tables, Rules, and the Matrix all in this Magazine.