Steve Hatherley
This is a minor plot that I added to a game that I was editing for Freeform Games. (A couple of the characters were a little light, and this gave them a bit more to do.) I've significantly changed the details (although not the overall structure) to avoid giving away any secrets.
This plot covers the loss of Enoch Flint's revolver during the wrecking of a ship he and his wife were travelling on, the Spirit. The details of the why and wherefore of the wrecking itself (who did it, why, what their goals were and so on) are covered in a separate plot.
When the Spirit was wrecked on the Cornish coast, Enoch Flint lost his revolver - an expensive, nickel-plated revolver with his family coat of arms engraved into the handle. Since the wrecking, Flint hasn't got himself another revolver yet, so his holster is empty.
The revolver itself is now in the hands of William Black, one of the wreckers. He knows that it’s valuable – and he wants to sell it as quickly as possible as he needs the money.
John Savage has two spare guns, and knows the Evaluation skill (for guns only).
Several people would be interested in buying the revolver – Enoch Flint (obviously enough – although he might not want to buy it...), John Savage, Hilary Forrest, Sam Metcalfe and Pat Gunn.
Jenny Flint, on the other hand, is happy to see the back of the wretched thing as she never liked it. She doesn't like guns in general.
Costs of things for anyone with the Evaluation skill.
| Date/Time | Character(s) | Event | Plot |
| 10 days ago | Enoch Flint, Jenny Flint |
The Spirit is wrecked on the Cornish coast. Enoch Flint loses his reolver | Enoch Flint's Revolver |
| 8 days ago | William Black | William Black finds the revolver in the wreckage of the Spirit. | Enoch Flint's Revolver |
| Now | All | Game starts | NA |
Background: Unfortunately, you lost your precious revolver when the Spirit crashed on the north Cornwall coast. It was a beautiful revolver - nickel-plated and with your family crest engraved into the handle. It was a one-of-a-kind. Things have moved so fast since the crash that you haven’t had an opportunity to replace it. So you’re currently wearing an empty holster. As things are starting to look a little sticky around here, you ought to find yourself a replacement.
Goal: Find yourself a new revolver - You lost your precious revolver when the Spirit was wrecked. You need to find a replacement as you're currently unarmed and things are looking sticky.
Character Information - Jenny Flint
About the only good thing to come from the wreck is that your husband lost his horrible revolver. He was so proud of it – it was nickel-plated and had the family crest engraved into the handle. While you never directly complimented it, you never said you liked it either. Secretly you hated it (you've never really liked guns of any sort) and you’re glad that he’s lost it.
Character Information - William Black
Background: You were picking through the wreckage of the Spirit and one really nice find was an expensive-looking nickel-plated revolver, with a crest or something inlaid into the handle. It’s probably worth quite a bit – you think you ought to be able to sell it for at least £100 to a collector.
Goal: Sell the revolver – Get as much as you can for the
revolver. It ought to be worth at least £100 to the right
person.
Item: Revolver – A nickel-plated revolver with a family crest engraved into the handle.
Character Information - John Savage
Other People: Enoch Flint: Enoch is wearing an empty holster for a handgun. Perhaps he's looking to buy a pistol or revolver.
Item: Pistol – An automatic pistol.
Item: Revolver – A revolver.
Ability: Evaluation (guns only) – You know the true value of most guns and weapons. See the GM if you want to know how much a particular gun is worth.
Character Information - Meg Squire
Other People: John Savage - You know that John Savage is a shady arms dealer and is the right person to see if you need a gun.
Character Information - Hilary Forrest
Background: You've realised that things are starting to look a bit dangerous and you are feeling very vulnerable as you don't have a weapon. See if you can get one from somewhere.
Goal: A gun – You need to defend yourself. Find a gun from somewhere.
Character Information - Sam Metcalfe
Background: You've realised that things are starting to look a bit dangerous and you are feeling very vulnerable as you don't have a weapon. See if you can get one from somewhere.
Goal: A gun – You need to defend yourself. Find a gun from somewhere.
Character Information - Pat Gunn
Background: You're on the lookout for anything unusual and strange that you can buy cheap and sell later at a profit.
Goal: Curios and collectables - Keep an eye out for curious and collectables that you can buy cheaply and sell later to a real collector (or at auction) for a profit.
Ability: Evaluation – You know the true value of most things. See the GM
if you want to know how much an item is worth.
Article by Steve Hatherley. Steve is an active freeformer in the UK and has written a number of freeforms. For more information about UK freeforms, please visit uk-freeforms.wikidot.com. Steve is also a partner of Freeform Games LLP and has a website dedicated to freeform-style murder mystery games: http://www.great-murder-mystery-games.com