Arcane Investigation Unit

WRITING Anthony Pryor

COVER ART Rachel Maduro
INTERIOR ART Indi Martin
EDITING Mike Myler
LAYOUT Frank Michienzi

Intriguing Organizations: Arcane Investigation Unit  |  EN World EN5ider

I n fantasy cities, crimes
involving magic or the supernat-

ural can baffle ordinary authorities.

Ranks and Organization
The lowest AIU rank is inspector, but even these
operatives are far more experienced than the
average watch member. Normally working in pairs,
these officers are first on the scene and responsible
for gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and
The dedicated city watch members keeping the area free of those who might disrupt
the investigation.
who investigate these crimes are Inspector sergeants command crime scenes
and any personnel assigned to them. They also
members of an elite squad known as safeguard collected evidence and submit written
reports to their superiors. Experienced operatives
the Arcane Investigation Unit. These attain the rank of chief inspector where they oversee
entire investigations, consult with inspectors and
are their stories… sergeants, and report to the city watch’s commander
or directly to local leaders. Chief inspectors walk
a fine line between duty and politics, and must be
Investigation of urban crime often falls to the diplomats as much as watch officers.
underpaid and overworked city watch (see EN5ider
#313 – Intriguing Organizations: Which Watch).
In some cities however, major crimes are assigned
to a select group of officers. Though these cadres
go by many names they are collectively known as
Arcane Investigations Units or AIU. This article
provides an overview of the personnel, skills,
and magic required by an AIU, and statistics for a
typical investigator. Depending upon the conduct
of adventurers the Arcane Investigation Unit can
be allies, opponents, or simply NPCs encountered
while in an important settlement. Entire campaigns
may involve these specialized officers with PCs
assisting the squad as outside contractors or even
permanently joining their ranks.

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Intriguing Organizations: Arcane Investigation Unit  |  EN World EN5ider

Skills the skill is in a ‘good cop/bad cop’ interrogation,
Arcane Investigation Unit members must all be in which two AIU operatives alternate between
ready for combat, pursuit, or other physical activi- Charisma (Intimidation) and Charisma (Persuasion)
ties, but an inspector’s primary focus is on skills that checks to get information from their subjects.
aid in crime solving. When using the statistics of a Investigation. While some AIU employees aren’t
standard watch NPC (guards, knights, veterans, on the front lines of an inquiry, proficiency with
and gladiators) as a member of the AIU, the GM Investigation is all but required for most.
may grant proficiency with any or even all of the Medicine. Knowledge of the medical arts can
following skills and tool kits (including Expertise mean the difference between success or failure in a
for high-ranking inspectors). successful inquiry. Wisdom (Medicine) checks can
Arcana. Nearly all crimes the AIU investigates reveal causes of death, weapons involved in attacks,
involve magic of some sort and proficiency in whether an assailant was human or monster, and
Arcana helps identify the rituals, objects, and spells other biological clues.
that are involved. Perception. Another virtual requirement for an
Deception. Deception is vital for when AIU oper- AIU operative, having a knack for perceiving the
atives go undercover, interrogate suspects, or root world aids in every aspect of investigation from
out corruption within the watch itself. surveys of crime scenes to locating evidence and
Disguise Kit. Every undercover op must be spotting fleeing suspects.
proficient with disguise, which in combination Persuasion. A good investigator knows that it’s
with Charisma (Deception and Persuasion) preferable to coax (rather than beat) information
checks allow inspectors to engage in espio- out of witnesses and suspects. The best AIU inves-
nage and infiltration missions, especially in tigators combine techniques to get what they need,
places with magical safeguards where arcane persuading suspects to confess or tricking them
disguises might be discovered. into accidentally conveying important information.
Forgery Kit. This tool set can be used to create Stealth. Stealth is appropriate when AIU opera-
false identities in order to mislead suspects tives lie in wait for a suspect, tail a target through
during undercover operations. Its uses are not labyrinthine city streets, or surreptitiously listen in
limited to creating such items however—the on secret conversations.
GM may also allow proficiency with the forgery Thieves’ Tools. Ironically proficiency with
kit to provide bonuses on attempts to detect ‘investigator’s tools’ (as they’re called in the
forged documents, spot fake artwork, suss out AIU) is an important element in the process
cheap copies of valuable writings, and the like. of crime solving. These lockpicks, saws, and
Insight. Oftentimes investigators must go on tension devices allow investigators to enter
hunches, following their nose rather than their secured facilities, disable traps left by wary
head. A successful Wisdom (Insight) check may put suspects, and similar activities.
investigators on the path to solving a crime, detect

Specialists
deception, or realize that they’re following the
wrong track. However, a failed check can mislead
the investigation or worse cause the AIU to pursue Some Arcane Investigation Unit members don’t fit
innocent suspects. the usual profile but provide specialized skills to
Intimidation. Intimidating suspects and witnesses investigations. Adventuring bands with suitable
has drawbacks as it can be overused by corrupt, talents may be temporarily employed for such roles
inept, or brutal investigators. A common use of where they develop permanent relationships with
the AIU.

Intriguing Organizations: Arcane Investigation Unit  |  EN World EN5ider

 Forensic Spellcaster. Appropriate spells for this Crimes and Masterminds
role include calm emotions, charm person, clairvoy- These seeds outline typical AIU-involved crimes
ance, command, divination, locate creature, locate object, and provide basic information about the perpetra-
modify memory, scrying, see invisible, speak with dead, tors, but GMs should feel free to change and adapt
true seeing, zone of truth, and others. GMs should the scenarios as they see fit.
take care, as spells such as speak with dead may Constructs Amok. A series of daring burglaries
solve crimes on the spot often simply by asking plagues the city. There’s no sign of magic or evidence
questions such as “Who killed you?” Instead such that any living creatures are involved. Few clues are
spells should provide information and clues, but found— scratches on windows, the deactivation of
not solve entire cases. For example, a murder victim magical wards, signs of skilled lockpicking, and
could provide identifying details of their killer yet evidence that buildings were entered from roofs or
not the murderer’s specific identity. upper floors, but little else. A witness claims to have
Informant. Neighborhood denizens, petty seen a flying mechanical creature near a crime scene.
crooks, and insiders within organizations like the The AIU discovers that the burglaries are the work
thieves’ guild can provide intelligence but are also of a cunning artificer who has created the perfect
justifiably leery of their role becoming known. burglary machine: a clockwork device that can
Most times, an informant gets a “pass” on minor fly, climb walls, and mechanically disable magical
lawbreaking or small payments in exchange for protections. Arresting the artificer will be difficult
information provided. as their lair is strewn with traps and dangerous
Interrogator. A skilled interrogator knows how to automatons.
mix diplomacy with authority, manipulating unco- The Alchemist. A new narcotic has hit the streets
operative witnesses and suspects to reveal secrets, (with names such as bluedream, soulshaker, fey
drop unintended clues, or confess outright. Inter- eye dust, or wizard’s popbang), inducing a torpid
rogators always have good Charisma (Persuasion) languor and hallucinations but also causing irra-
bonuses and usually appropriate spells as well. tional behavior — and in spellcasters the drug
The Muscle. Fighter-types are often needed to triggers wild magic surges or random spell effects.
protect investigators, or —in less admirable circum- The perpetrator is a mad alchemist who has gath-
stances —intimidate witnesses and suspects. Muscle ered a gang of criminals to help distribute the drug.
rarely aids in solving crimes and is often recruited When the AIU locates the gang’s secret lab, opera-
from among the ranks of the city watch. Fighters, tives must infiltrate or aid in an all-out assault on the
barbarians, and even thugs can be employed in this facility, imperiled by traps and bombs using the mad
role, especially by unethical AIU investigators. alchemist’s latest concoctions.
Undercover Op. These accomplished inspec- The Phantom. A serial killer stalks the moonlit
tors can change their appearance through magic streets, slaying seemingly at random. The killer —
or mundane disguise, deceive suspects, infiltrate dubbed the Phantom—leaves no evidence behind
organizations, or operate surreptitiously without and victims bear no signs of violence save expres-
drawing attention. Undercover ops have access to sions of horror. Hard-pressed to solve the crimes, the
disguise, spells such as disguise self or alter self, and AIU eventually discovers they are the work of an
proficiency in Deception and Persuasion. Under- insubstantial entity that literally frightens its victims
cover operatives have a high turnover rate so often to death, gaining sustenance from terror. Magical
possess a devil-may-care, undisciplined attitude weapons and spells will be required to find and
(especially when off-duty). defeat this evil being.

Intriguing Organizations: Arcane Investigation Unit  |  EN World EN5ider

 The Rodent Gang. Libraries are being robbed of Spellcasting. Aelith is a 5th-level spellcaster. Her
their rarest books and witnesses report that the spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 13, +5
perpetrators are a gang of intelligent rats! Magic will to hit with spell attacks). Aelith knows the following
be needed to locate and pursue the rodent perpe- sorcerer spells:
trators but ordinary enlarge/reduce spells or potions Cantrips (at will): dancing lights, light, mage hand,
of diminution won’t do the job — only specialized message, minor illusion, prestidigitation
magic that shrinks investigators down to rat-size 1st level (4 slots): charm person, detect magic,
can get the officers of the AIU where they need to disguise self
go to do their jobs. Outside talent such as a druid 2nd level (3 slots): alter self, detect thoughts
might be useful as well, especially since the gang 3rd level (2 slots): clairvoyance
is a group of intelligent rats under the command of Urban Investigator. Aelith knows the streets as well as
a criminally-minded druid who assumes a rodent the ins and outs of investigation in her city. She has
form using Wild Shape. The druid seeks a tome advantage on Wisdom (Insight), Intelligence (Investi-
containing a ritual that will spread a deadly plague gation), and Charisma (Persuasion) checks made to
through the city. investigate crimes, either for the AIU or on her own.
ACTIONS
Sergeant Aelith Silverstreet Multiattack. Aelith attacks three times: once with her
Medium humanoid (half-elf), lawful neutral +1 rapier and twice with her dagger.
Armor Class 16 (+1 leather armor) +1 Rapier. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft.,
Hit Points 44 (8d8+8) one target. Hit: 9 (1d8+5) magical piercing damage.
Speed 30 ft. Dagger. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d4+4) piercing damage.
12 (+1) 18 (+4) 12 (+1) 16 (+3) 18 (+4) 14 (+2) REACTIONS
Saving Throws Dex +7, Int +6 Uncanny Dodge. When an attacker that she can see hits
Skills Deception +8, History +6, Insight +10, Intimida- her with an attack, Aelith can use her reaction to halve
tion +5, Investigation +9, Medicine +7, Perception +10, the attack’s damage against her.
Persuasion +8, Sleight of Hand +7, Stealth +10
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 20 Aelith Silverstreet grew up amid crime, corruption,
Languages Common, Elvish, Sylvan, Undercommon and violence, facing widespread prejudice for her
Challenge 6 (2,300 XP) mixed ancestry. For a time she was a petty crim-
Cunning Action (1/Turn). Aelith can use a bonus action inal herself but eventually joined the city watch
to take the Dash, Disengage, or Hide action. where she discovered her innate magical abilities.
Evasion. When Aelith is subjected to an effect that allows She turned her arcane talents to the task of crime
her to make a Dexterity saving throw to take only half solving until she was noticed by the AIU. Once
damage, she instead takes no damage if she succeeds recruited into the organization Aelith rose quickly
on the saving throw, and only half damage if she fails. to the rank of sergeant.
Fey Ancestry. Aelith has advantage on saving throws Aelith is a tough, no-nonsense investigator,
against being charmed, and magic can’t put her to sleep. equally skilled in undercover operations and crime
Sneak Attack (4d6, 1/Turn). Aelith can deal an extra 14 scene investigation. Favoring the law above all, she
(4d6) damage when she hits a target with a weapon has little sympathy for criminals and has some-
attack and has advantage on the attack roll, or when times been admonished for her lack of compassion.
the target is within 5 feet of an ally of hers that isn’t Nevertheless she is one of the most successful
incapacitated and she doesn’t have disadvantage on sergeants in the AIU and is likely to rise to Chief
the attack roll. Inspector. e

Intriguing Organizations: Arcane Investigation Unit  |  EN World EN5ider