A collection of new mysteries for

Created by Jason Cordova.

Written by Jason Cordova, Chris Bissette, Sharang Biswas, Alicia Furness,

Donna Giltrap, Calvin Johns, and Petra Volkhausen.

Art by Cecilia Ferri and layout by Jesse Ross.

 About the Authors

BRINDLEWOOD
Calvin Johns
Calvin Johns makes and writes about games from a sage-colored apart-
ment in Austin, Texas. His tabletop designs are often influenced by aca-

BAY
demic research in alternate reality games and other large-scale forms of
play. Deep down inside, he wishes JRPGs didn’t give him FOMO. Calvin lights
up a mean freestyle Frisbee.

Petra Volkhausen
Petra Volkhausen is a language teacher, writer, and game designer from
Germany. Her go-to genre is supernatural horror. All of her games are nar-
rative-centered and explore topics such as emotional intimacy and finding
Nephews in Peril
closure through the lens of the dark unknown. Petra’s most recent title is
Stille Nacht, a one-shot role-playing game set in 1720 Germany, in which a
Introduction 4
ghost wants to find out who murdered them and why. Find her games at
petrav.itch.io. Revised Rules 5
Mysteries 7
Dead Man’s Hand 7
Lies and Dolls, or A Very Brief Tenure 12
Deadly Silent Auction 17
Homecoming at Bonfire Cliff 23
Carnival Carnage 29
Fudge, Jury, and Executioner 36
About the Authors 45

46
 Introduction About the Authors

Welcome to Nephews in Peril! About the Authors

Nephews in Peril is a collection of six new mysteries for Brindlewood Bay, Chris Bissette
as well as some revised rules and new play advice for the core game. The Chris Bissette is a musician and ENnie-nominated designer from the UK
title refers to the cozy murder mystery trope of the protagonist having a best known for The Wretched. They make games about powerless people
seemingly-endless series of nephews and nieces who always need to be facing off against overwhelming odds, and are starting to worry what this
bailed out of trouble. might say about them personally.
I’m really excited to be able to present this collection to you. The con-
tributing authors have come up with some deliciously wicked (and down-
right fun) challenges for the Murder Mavens. These mysteries greatly ex- Sharang Biswas
pand the possibility of what a Brindlewood Bay mystery can be in terms Sharang Biswas has won IndieCade and IGDN awards for roleplaying
of theme, setting, structure, and mechanics, and I hope you find them as games, and has showcased interactive works at institutions such as The
inspirational as I have. Institute of Contemporary Art in Philadelphia, Pioneer Works in Brook-
Brindlewood Bay has received a very positive and enthusiastic recep- lyn, and The Museum of the Moving Image in Queens. He has written for
tion ever since it came out in early 2020, and I couldn’t be more thrilled games such as Spire, Jiangshi: Blood in the Banquet Hall, Into the Moth-
to continue building on this cozy, creepy world the Mavens and Midwives erlands, and Dungeons & Dragons Live. He is the co-editor of Honey &
inhabit. Hot Wax: An Anthology of Erotic Art Games (Pelgrane Press), and Strange
Lusts / Strange Loves: An Anthology of Erotic Interactive Fiction (Strange
Enjoy! Horizons).

— Jason Cordova Jason Cordova

Jason Cordova is the author of Brindlewood Bay and founder of The Gauntlet
Gaming Community. He is co-host of the ENnie-winning podcast, Fear of
a Black Dragon, is the Editor in Chief of the Codex gaming magazine, has
numerous developmental editing credits, and is the publisher of several
games, including Trophy.

Alicia Furness
Alicia Furness is a queer working-class game designer from rural Canada.
Apparently the common theme in their games is “who’s the REAL monster?”
She is known for her work on eating the rich, empowering young people,
and making everything really gay. They currently live in Ottawa with their
partner and two cats. Find her shouting on twitter at aliciafurness.

Donna Giltrap
Donna Giltrap is a New Zealand based Maven-in-training. Her cozy activi-
ties include tabletop and live-action rpgs along with being a faithful minion
to her cat.

4 45
 Mysteries: Fudge, Jury, and Executioner Revised Rules

Void Clues Revised Rules

A piece of fudge is riddled with maggots, which spill out when it is by Jason Cordova
bitten into.
A vendor at the market sells drinks of thick black liquid in glass flasks I’ve run approximately fifty sessions of Brindlewood Bay over the past year,
that spew smoke. She is seen once, then her stall vanishes. with dozens of different players. Because of that, I’ve been able to reflect
The clock on the town hall strikes thirteen. on the original rules and revise my thinking about how certain parts of the
A fishmonger is seen to hurriedly tuck a waving tentacle back into his game should work. The core rules will eventually have these revisions put
coat as he packs up his stall. in, but in the meantime, I thought I’d share them with you here. I’ll note
A tray of clotted cream fudge, coloured claret with chunks of an un- that if you’ve been having great success with the original rules as written,
known brown substance that tastes like copper. then you should keep playing the game that way. With that said, I’ve been
Thick tendrils of fog that are in on the breeze, coil around the market, getting great results with these changes and so you may want to consider
then burn away in the sun after a few minutes. them for your next campaign.

Theorize
This is the most consequential adjustment I’ve made to the original rules.
Here is the new text of Theorize:

When the Mavens have an open, freewheeling discussion about the

solution to a mystery based on the clues they have uncovered—and
reach a consensus—roll plus the number of Clues incorporated into the
theory or otherwise explained away, minus the mystery’s complexity.

On a 10+, it’s the correct solution. The Keeper will present an opportunity
to take down the culprit or otherwise save the day.

On a 7–9, it’s the correct solution, but the Keeper will either add an un-
welcome complication to the solution itself, or present a complicated or
dangerous opportunity to take down the culprit or save the day.

On a 6-, the solution is incorrect, and the Keeper reacts.

On a 12+, a person involved in the dark conspiracy of Brindlewood Bay

also reveals themselves to the Mavens.

The key difference is that, for a Clue to count against the complexity, it has
to be accounted for in the theory, either by connecting it directly or actively
explaining it away. This has a profound impact on the Theorize conversa-
tion at the table—the players have to think a little harder and they have to
be a little more engaged. And the result is terrific: the sense that the group
is actually solving a mystery is greatly enhanced.

44 5
 Revised Rules Mysteries: Fudge, Jury, and Executioner

Cozy Move The Express

I have greatly simplified the Cozy Move. It now reads: The old train carriages that make up The Express seem a little sad and
reduced somehow now that they have been converted into a cafe. For Ma-
When you have an intimate moment with another Maven while one of vens who have marked A Shadow In The Garden: What glimpse of the
you is engaged in your cozy activity, you may each clear an appropriate train’s past do you see passing outside a window for a moment? What does
condition. If it’s your cozy activity, you can also stumble on a Clue relevant it tell you about the darker history of Faversham? For everyone else: How
to an active mystery. Tell the Keeper what it is. The Clue cannot conclusive- long do you think it has been since this train rolled freely along tracks, and
ly solve the mystery by itself. what tells you that?

I found that, in practice, the extra options in the original Cozy Move were Clues
rarely chosen. This new version limits the amount of conditions that can
be cleared to one per Maven (rather than the potential two before) and A flyer advertising the Faversham’s Favourite Fudge competition, torn
guarantees a Clue can be found whenever the move is engaged. In addition down from where it was posted and stained with a sweet, sticky sub-
to being a much simpler, more accessible move, it achieves two import- stance.
ant things: 1) it keeps conditions a little more dangerous and 2) it slightly Five O’Clock Stranger, a romance novel by Vivian le Fay, containing a
speeds up the collection of Clues. This leads to an overall more punchy handwritten note.
play experience. A library card holding one bloody fingerprint.
An historical map of Faversham, dated 1877.
Four empty bottles of milk, tied together with twine.
Presenting a New Mystery A box of fudge, discarded and trampled into the ground.
According to the rules, the Keeper is to introduce a new mystery at the top
A whispered conversation, abruptly ended.
of each new session, provided all cliffhangers from the previous session
A dog pulling at its lead, barking into the mouth of an alley near the
have been resolved. You can definitely still run the game this way, but I
stage.
have changed that portion of the Structure of Play (Session 2 and Onward)
Sheets of heavy plastic in a cardboard box, addressed to a local busi-
to read:
ness but torn open and discarded outside.
A rosette, Gold Award - Best Handmade Confection, somewhere it
The Keeper May Present a New Mystery
shouldn’t be.
The Keeper might present a new mystery to the players. If there are no ac-
A letter declining an offer to be a judge in Faversham’s Favourite Fudge.
tive mysteries, the Keeper must present a new mystery. If there are already
A photograph of a group of elderly women, their eyes furiously scribbled
one or two active mysteries, the Keeper can choose whether to introduce a
out with charcoal.
new mystery or not. If there are already three active mysteries, the Keeper
A chintzy tea cosy.
cannot present a new mystery. If the Keeper presents a new mystery, they
A pair of newspaper clippings about strange murders in the local area—
will first inform the players of the mystery’s complexity rating, from 6 to 8.
one solved by the Murder Mavens, the other by the Ladies of Liberty.
The presentation will always include an establishing question that closely
A letter professing love, with an invitation to meet at a specific time and
ties one or more Mavens to the mystery.
place.
A phone book with Nell Quince’s name and number circled in red ink.
This formulation gives the Keeper more discretion in deciding when to
An old brass key with a wooden tag embossed with a bird in flight.
present new mysteries. It’s frequently inconvenient to introduce a new
A typewritten note found on Nell’s body that says, “Stay away.”
mystery because of the particular fictional circumstances of the previous
The recipe for last year’s winning fudge, torn out of a book and hidden
session. Because of that, my new thinking is that the Keeper should be
somewhere.
able to use their judgment when it comes to having more than one active
An envelope containing a pair of train tickets to somewhere far away,
mystery at a time. This approach also feels more natural in practice.
dated tomorrow.
6 43
 Mysteries: Dead Man’s Hand

Dead Man’s Hand

by Donna Giltrap
Complexity: 6
Presenting the Mystery
The Brindlewood County Charity Poker Tournament is a popular annual
event on the Brindlewood Bay calendar. Members of the community are
sponsored to play poker, with the winnings going to the charity of their
choice. The tournament is played over several rounds with the winners
from each table proceeding to the next round.
The Mavens are all competing in the tournament tonight at the town
hall. Ask each Maven which charity she is playing for.

Paint the Scene: The atmosphere in the old town hall is one of bustling
excitement as everyone who’s anyone in Brindlewood Bay gathers for the
tournament. What unusual objects have the organising committee used to
decorate the town hall for the event?

During the preliminary rounds of the tournament, the Mavens should have
the opportunity to meet with the Suspects. As this is a major social event,
suitable characters from earlier mysteries might also be present. Several
people will comment on the fact that Charles “Ace” Rogers, a professional
poker player from Vegas, has been recruited to compete on behalf of The
Society of the Kindly Ones. However, no one has ever heard of this organ-
isation.
Mavens can make the Brindlewood County Charity Poker Tournament
move to see how well they fare. Those whose cozy activity is poker or an-
other game of skill (e.g. bridge, Mahjong) roll with Advantage. The Keeper
may wish to determine who is at each Maven’s table before the roll. It may
be simplest to not have Rogers competing against any of the Mavens in the
initial rounds to ensure that he makes it to the final round (although this
is not essential).

Brindlewood County Charity Poker Tournament

When you compete in the Brindlewood County Charity Poker Tour-
nament, roll with Composure or Reason:
On a hit, choose one:
• You make a significant amount of money for your charity.
• You learn something about one of the competitors at your table.
• You ensure that one of the competitors at your table loses.

7
 Mysteries: Dead Man’s Hand Mysteries: Fudge, Jury, and Executioner
On a 12+, you also make it through to the final round. should have known that something bad would happen. Not blaming you of
course, loves, but trouble does seem to follow where you go.”
The competitors in the final round will be Ace Rogers, any of the Mavens
who got a 12+ on the custom roll, plus enough additional Suspects to bring If she feels it is safe and the Mavens earn her trust, Bella may reveal that
the total number of finalists to at least four. there has also been a series of strange events occurring in Faversham
The finalists are announced and take their place at the front of the which the Ladies of Liberty have been investigating. She is aware of the
hall for the final round. Just as the round is about to start, the lights go out. Midwives of the Fragrant Void, though knows no more about them than the
Amidst the confusion, two shots ring out. Eventually, the lights come back Mavens do. (If the Mavens have not yet learned the name of the Midwives
on to reveal that Ace Rogers has been shot dead. and roll 12+ on the Meddling Move, Bella could serve as your opportunity
to introduce the Midwives to your game).
Establishing Question: What scandal rocked last year’s poker tourna-
ment? How were you involved? Paint the Scene
Suspects The Children’s Library
As you step into the children’s library—a riot of colour, stuffed animals, and
Jeff Simons, the mayor garish mosaics on the walls—what book does Lorraine Billingsley shuffle
Smarmy grin. Expensive suit. Bone-crushing handshake. Promises a lot, hurriedly off the front desk that seems inappropriate for a place meant for
but never delivers. Mayor Simons is the official emcee for the tournament. children?
His primary goal is to ensure that nothing damages his future re-election
chances; he tends to be evasive about any potentially controversial subject. The Quiet Crow
Quote: “Lovely to see you this evening, ladies. I can see that the charities As you find your appointed rooms in the Quiet Crow, what evidence do you
of Brindlewood Bay are in good hands tonight. If you could just smile for see that suggests the previous occupants left in a hurry?
the camera please...”
Risk It For a Biscuit
Amelia Emerson, a newt fancier The walls behind the counter in Risk It For a Biscuit are covered with
Tall and lanky. Intense stare. Well-worn clothes. Amelia is an amateur newt certificates, medals, and press clippings that tell a story of a successful,
enthusiast. She is competing to support the Brindlewood Fen Newt Sanc- award-winning business. What do you see that tells you that all may not
tuary. This is a relatively new charity that was established when the rare be as it seems?
Eastern Speckled Newt was discovered in Brindlewood Fen.
Quote: “Did you know that the Eastern Speckled Newt is one of the few The Hammered Dulcimer
newt species that give birth to live young?” Before this building was a pub it was the original jail in Faversham. What
about the place tells you that terrible violence was once done in the main
Mike Taylor, the caterer room of the pub?
Chef’s whites. Imposing build. Tattooed hands. Mike was a career criminal
until the Fresh Start Foundation helped him to get chef’s training and es- The Honey Pot
tablish his own catering company. The organising committee asked him to The Honey Pot is packed with customers brought to Faversham high street
provide the refreshments for tonight’s event, otherwise he’d be competing by the farmer’s market. While Roland seems happy behind the counter,
in support of the Fresh Start Foundation himself. chatting to people and wrapping up sweets for them, what do you notice
Quote: “I just hope that whichever charity wins is one that will give back about him that says he wishes everybody would go away and leave him
to the Brindlewood Bay community. The gluten-free cupcakes are on the alone?
blue plates.”

8 41
 Mysteries: Fudge, Jury, and Executioner Mysteries: Dead Man’s Hand
fudges and sweets that he’s made around, but I don’t eat them. They’re a bit Mariah Prescott, old money
shit, and he doesn’t react well to criticism.” Twinset and pearls. Condescending gaze. Copious perfume. Mariah is the
matriarch of one of Brindlewood Bay’s oldest families and she believes
Darlene Tweedy, a dairy farmer this entitles her to have a say in how everything should be run. She is
Broad-shouldered. Grey hair in a tight bun. Carries the aroma of dung. competing in the tournament in support of the Brindlewood Bay Historical
Darlene Tweedy lives on her farm outside Faversham, but travels in every Society.
week for the market to sell milk, cream, cheese, and eggs. She supplies Quote: “I can’t believe the organising committee agreed to allow an outsid-
many of the local businesses, and Tweedy Dairies is one of the sponsors of er to compete in the tournament. No good will come of it, mark my words.”
the competition. It’s rumoured that she has been having a torrid affair with
Janet Mashburn, but it’s rumoured very quietly. Tony Martinez, the reigning champion
Quote: “It’s revoltin’, what’s ‘appened. Can’t imagine why anyone’d want to Tweed jacket. Unkempt hair. Nervous demeanor. Tony is a math teacher at
do Quince like tha’. Never met ‘er myself but I hear she was well liked, even the local high school and the winner of last year’s tournament. Tony is sup-
if she were always poking her nose into everyone’s business along with the porting the Fresh Start Foundation, a group that helps ex-convicts gain job
rest of that book club of hers.” skills. He is under a lot of pressure to perform well this year, which makes
him rather snappish.
Megan Swan, a cafe owner Quote: “I’m not intimidated by Ace and his flashy Vegas style. A calm, ana-
Brusque. Observant. Long red hair held back with a wide ivory barrette. lytical mind is what makes a great poker player. Stop fidgeting!”
Megan Swan runs The Express, a chintzy cafe situated in a set of decom-
missioned train carriages that stand on an orphaned section of railtrack Danielle “Dani” Walsh, a reporter for the Brindlewood Beacon
near the centre of Faversham. The cafe is known for its cosy, intimate at- Sharp eyes. Charming smile. Constantly taking notes. Dani dreams of be-
mosphere and its excellent afternoon tea, which is always in high demand ing a Pulitzer prize winning investigative journalist, which is difficult to
(customers are required to book at least two weeks in advance during the achieve working for a small community newspaper like the Brindlewood
busy season). Nell Quince’s book club met in a private booth in The Ex- Beacon. She bides her time writing feel-good human interest stories for
press once a week. the Beacon, but she’s always on the lookout for a big scandal or scoop atop
Quote: “Look, as long as the rest of them keep coming in I’m not overly which she can build her career. If the Mavens have a reputation for solving
concerned, right? It’s tragic, yes, it’s upsetting, but for the rest of us life murders, Dani will be sure to request an interview to get the inside story.
goes on and I’ve still got a business to run. Now are you sitting down and Quote: “Do you have any idea what the Society of the Kindly Ones actually
ordering or can I be about my work?” does? And how were they able to entice a big-name Vegas player to Brin-
dlewood Bay?”
Bella Brown, a retiree
Curious. Hale. Wears a large paisley overcoat and a blue hair net at all Dan Gardner, a property developer
times, even in the height of summer. Bella Brown is in her late 80s but still Well-dressed. Balding. Always checking his phone. Dan is a property de-
sharp as a tack. She is a member of Nell Quince’s book club, the Ladies of veloper with big dreams of modernising Brindlewood Bay. This frequently
Liberty, who meet once a week in a carriage of The Express to discuss the brings him into conflict with the Brindlewood Bay Historical Society. He
romance novels of Vivian le Fay. Much like the Mavens, the Ladies have is competing in support of the Foundation for the Improvement of Brindle-
been known to involve themselves in local goings-on—though they’re less wood County, a registered charity that is little more than a lobbying group
successful than the Mavens, since romance novels don’t teach quite the for his development plans.
same mystery solving skill-set as the works of Robin Masterson. Quote: “Have you seen all these dilapidated old houses on prime coastal
Quote: “Oh we’ve heard of you, of course. The Murder Mavens, here in real estate? They ought to be declared a safety hazard and razed to flat
Faversham! Nell was made up when you said you’d come! Of course, we earth!’

40 9
 Mysteries: Dead Man’s Hand Mysteries: Fudge, Jury, and Executioner

Paint the Scene Quote: “Thornton? You won’t catch me eating any of that muck. Full of veg-
etable oil and other rubbish—not quality sweets like mine. He’s just good
The kitchen at branding, but the proof is in the pudding—and his pudding is rancid.”
Mike, the caterer and recently reformed criminal, has set up a prep area
for the evening’s refreshments. What do you see that is a hint of his former Charlotte Webber, a local historian and contest judge
life? Wispy. Shrewd. Of indeterminate age. Mrs. Webber retired years ago and
now spends her time split between the library and the pub, where she can
The basement be found spinning stories of old Faversham in exchange for a gin and tonic.
The basement is damp and gloomy. What hazard has developed here She claims to be over a hundred years old, and it’s hard to tell by looking at
through neglect? For Mavens with the Pomegranate Kernel marked: her how much she’s exaggerating. If you want to know anything about the
Why do you find this space so comforting? history of the town, you go to Mrs. Webber.
Quote: “I remember when the only way to get from here to Brindlewood
The Mayor’s Office Bay was to walk the old coast road. Took the best part of a day, and weren’t
The Mayor’s Office was tightly secured, but what makes you believe some- nobody going that way on a cart who you could hitch a ride from. Always
one was here before you? For Mavens with A Shadow in the Garden been weird, them Brindlewood folk. I reckon yous’re from up that way
marked: Something in here gives you an uneasy feeling about Mayor yoursen, aren’t you?”
Simons. What is it?
Roland Thornton, a local chocolatier and contest judge
Rotund. Hairy. Grumpy but has a heart of gold. Roland moved to Faversh-
Clues am about a year ago for reasons he has always been reluctant to discuss.
A deck of marked cards with all the Jacks missing. He has few deep ties to the community, but his hand-made truffles proved
A briefcase full of cash. immediately popular, and his shop, The Honey Pot, is always busy. He is a
A hidden camera. sponsor of the contest, putting up the money for the prizes, and is one of
A secret passage. the other judges in the competition.
A stolen gun. Quote: “Harrumph! People take this bloody competition far too seriously if
A pair of gloves covered in gunshot residue. you ask me. Fudge is for eating, not fighting over. Don’t know why anybody
A gambling addiction. would want to hurt old Nellie. She’s a gem, that woman. This town’ll be
A large bequest to charity. sad to lose her.”
Evidence that Ace Rogers had previously fleeced a Suspect.
Plans to drain the Brindlewood Fen. Jeffrey Cleary, publican
Evidence of financial improprieties that reach all the way to the top. Quiffed hair. Neat beard. Tattoos of anchors, straight razors, and stars.
A false identity. Flannel shirts with suspenders, sleeves rolled up to the elbows. Jeffrey
Connections to organized crime in Boston. runs The Hammered Dulcimer, a pub known for its live folk music and
A dodgy gambling website. excellent cask ales. He has the weary nihilism of a man in his mid-thirties
Evidence that a Suspect has been taking bribes. stuck working behind a bar, able to switch from everyone’s friendly best
A bullet hole in an unexpected location. friend to hauling you out the door with an arm pinned behind your back in
A compromising photo. a split second.
An offshore bank account. Quote: “Frank’s alright, y’know, but I keep an eye on him and his lot when
A bullet with someone’s name on it. they come in. And they come in most days—prop up the bar, always drink
A lawsuit between one or more Suspects. the same piss, think they own the place, expect me to know they want
another round without asking, you know the sort. He’s always passing his

10 39
 Mysteries: Fudge, Jury, and Executioner Mysteries: Dead Man’s Hand
He took up baking as a way to keep the memory of his late wife alive, and Void Clues
discovered he actually quite enjoys it—even when the lads at the pub give
him a hard time about it. A mummified hand covered in runes.
Quote: “I’m just happy people are enjoying what I’m making, honestly. A Tarot deck with the faces of the contestants.
There’s not a day goes by I don’t miss my Ellie, but she loved cooking and An old acquaintance who hasn’t aged a day since high school.
stuff like that and I know she’d be proper happy I’ve taken to it now. I reck- The walls start bleeding.
on she’d be proud, and that’s all I ever wanted.” A face card that screams when touched.
Accelerated decay of Ace’s corpse.
Eva Stamps, a bus driver and contestant
Shaved head. Purple lipstick. Multiple piercings in each ear and one eye-
brow. A solid black bar tattooed on her upper bicep—presumably covering
an older, unwanted tattoo. When Eva isn’t driving the number 53 Faver-
sham Circular, she’s knitting, visiting the old folks at the nursing home,
and cooking up sweet treats in her kitchen. She knows nearly everyone,
because nearly everyone gets on her bus at some point during the day, and
she has nary a bad word to say about anyone.
Quote: “Some people look at me and get a bit intimidated I think, but I’m
just a big friendly bear when you get to know me. Seeing people laugh and
smile is what gets me through the day, and I try to bring a bit of that to
everyone I meet.”

Joan Flory, a local hotelier and contestant

Ebullient. Exacting. Expertly put together. Joan is never seen with a hair
out of place. She likes everything spic and span and is fastidiuous when it
comes to the cleanliness and presentation of the Quiet Crow, the bed and
breakfast she runs with her daughters. She is happy to offer a room to the
Mavens once the police order them to stay in Faversham.
Quote: “Quite awful, isn’t it? Quite horrible, and I hope whoever did it is
found immediately. Now, breakfast is served in the lounge at nine—con-
tinental style, you know the thing, just help yourself—and we leave fresh
towels outside your door every day. And please don’t tell anybody you’re
staying here. I wouldn’t want people crying favoritism if I do well in the
contest!”

Janet Mashburn, a pastry chef and contestant

Tall. Gaunt. Penetrating blue eyes. Janet runs the local bakery and patis-
serie, Risk It For A Biscuit, where she specialises in pastries and sweets.
Her creations are decadent, beautiful works of art that are renowned
throughout Faversham. She has won the Faversham’s Favourite Fudge
competition for the past three years, and has appeared on previous sea-
sons of The Jolly Good Baking Show.

38 11
 Mysteries: Lies and Dolls, or A Very Brief Tenure Mysteries: Fudge, Jury, and Executioner

Lies and Dolls, or A Very Brief Tenure As the day begins to draw to a close and the Mavens are gathering to
discuss their judgment of the fudges, one of the Suspects (your choice)
by Sharang Biswas finds Nell Quince dead behind the stage that has been erected at the top
Complexity: 6 end of the high street. She has been tied to one of the stage supports with
bakers twine and asphyxiated with a sheet of heavy plastic, the inside of
Presenting the Mystery which bears traces of sticky sugar. A local police officer informs the Ma-
The Mavens are at the Sunday fish market when they hear some strange vens that they are on the list of official Persons of Interest, and that they
gossip: the owners of the Seaside Bed & Breakfast, who always come to are not to leave Faversham until the investigation is concluded. Rooms
buy shrimp, are missing today because they’re being detained at their place have been found for them at the Quiet Crow Bed & Breakfast, and they
of business! (“What a charming little place it is, to be sure!”) should expect to make themselves available to police for questioning at a
Further probing reveals that a corpse was found this morning at the moment’s notice. She has spoken to Sheriff Wyman Dalrymple (or another
Museum of Brindle-Dolls, a tiny place that houses a collection of historic, police officer from Brindlewood Bay, if you have played Dad Overboard and
locally-made dolls. (“One of my great-grandmother’s handmaid dolls is dis- the Sheriff was implicated in the murder) and knows that the Mavens are
played at that museum, you know!”) useful in these kinds of situations, and while she cannot make an official
Apparently, a Professor James Edwards arrived in town with a handful request for help with an investigation that the Mavens are potentially sus-
of students a few days ago, to study some local history. This morning, the pects in, she makes it clear that she would be grateful for their help—and
museum’s curator, Dr. Shanelle Brown and a visiting scholar, Dr. Manmo- that this is a chance for them to clear their name, since the Mavens are the
han Subramanyam, discovered the poor professor lying lifeless in the main outsiders in town.
gallery! (“How horrid! I hope that handsome Dr. Subramanyam wasn’t too
distressed?”) Establishing Question: What is your connection to Nell Quince outside
The professor and his students were staying at the Seaside Bed & the fudge competition, and why does it mean the police suspect you might
Breakfast, so that’s where the local sheriff’s deputies have begun their in- be involved in her death?
vestigations. (“At least the deputies will have that lovely view to admire!”)
This might be something the Mavens would take an interest in. (“Oh, Suspects
don’t you have that little club?”)
Lorraine Billingsley, a librarian and contestant
If the Mavens investigate: Fluttering. Inattentive. Has an unusually long neck. Capable of pinning you
• The students have been asked not to leave town for the time being. They’re in place with her eyes, if she pays attention long enough to notice you. Ms.
being questioned by the authorities right now, but will be free to wander Billingsley runs the children’s library in Faversham and is a keen home
the town after that. They don’t really know how to feel: obviously some- baker. She has entered the competition every year for the past five years,
one has died, but they weren’t super close with their professor. They just but has never won a prize.
want to get back home. Quote: “That Quince woman? Ran a book club I think—genre fiction, ap-
• Dr. Shanelle Brown is very upset and has holed herself up in the museum. parently. Romances and all that nonsense. Never seen her up the library
• Dr. Subramanyam will be spending today and the next few days avoiding myself, but we don’t keep much of that sort of thing on hand.”
the museum and Dr. Brown, despite his research there.
• Lilian Atherton can pop in at any time, at any location, with choice com- Frank Gartner, a bricklayer and contestant
ments about the museum and the visiting academic group. Burly. Big but harmless. Tanned on the forearms and neck, pasty white
• Fimbly the security guard will pop up creepily at the museum or at the everywhere else. Frank has been a lifelong resident of Faversham. He was
gift-shop, with opinions and superstitions of his own. born here, schooled here, works here, and will probably die here. Has built
or renovated half of the buildings in town, and can tell you all about them.

12 37
 Mysteries: Fudge, Jury, and Executioner Mysteries: Lies and Dolls, or A Very Brief Tenure

Fudge, Jury, and Executioner Establishing Question: What weird rumour, folk tale, or ghost-story have
you heard about the Museum of Brindle-Dolls, or its curator?
by Chris Bissette
Complexity: 8 Suspects
Note: Faversham is a bustling market town in the heart of Brindlewood
County. It is quite a bit larger than Brindlewood Bay, and most traffic be- Lilian Atherton, a local history buff
tween Brindlewood Bay and the outside world passes through Faversham. Loud. Very proper. Old fashioned or “grandmotherly” look, in a floral dress
The Midwives of the Fragrant Void have plenty of links here. Only play this and shawl. Loves the museum and anything to do with local history and
mystery if Layer 2 of the Dark Conspiracy has been unlocked. folklore. Respects Dr. Brown, the curator, but is worried that the two in-
coming scholars (Subramanyam and Edwards) mean to sully the town’s
history. Wants to make sure the students learn a proper history of the town.
Presenting the Mystery Quote: “Of course, I respect men of learning, but their books are quite,
The Mavens have been asked to judge the annual Faversham’s Favourite quite scandalous. We don’t need that kind of thinking in this town, espe-
Fudge competition at the farmer’s market in Faversham, a town a few cially not in this museum!”
miles inland from Brindlewood Bay. If you played the mystery The Great
Brindlewood Bay Bake-Off, the Mavens were asked to be judges as a result Mary Boateng, a chill student
of their success on the Jolly Good Baking Show. If you have not played that Easygoing. Talkative. Casual look, in jeans and hoodie. International stu-
mystery, ask the players to decide why the Mavens were approached to act dent from Ghana, and wants to learn all about American culture and his-
as judges this year. tory. Ambitions of becoming a Professor of American Studies. Thinks An-
gela is far too intense. Has a crush on David. Is weirded out by Lilian, the
Paint the Scene: As the camera follows the Mavens down the high street local history buff.
in Faversham, what do we see that shows how excited this community is Quote: “I’m just here to learn, you know?”
for the annual Favourite Fudge competition? What small hints are there
that all is not right in Faversham? For Mavens who have marked A Shad- David Anthony III, the rich kid
ow in The Garden: What symbol do you keep seeing in the windows of the Bored. Expensive, preppy clothes, and too much cologne. Descended from
shops on the high street that disappears when you try to look at it directly? a university founder. David has been doing badly at school, and came on
this weekend trip as a last-ditch effort to pull up his grades. David dis-
The first scene depicts the Mavens wandering between the stalls at the likes Professor Edwards for not caving and granting him an A-grade based
market. They can visit anyone and try anything—sampling jam, taking tast- on name recognition. Intimidated by Fimbly, the security guard. Wants to
ers of cheese, stopping to look at handmade ornaments and small idols— sleep with Mary, the chill student.
but their main focus is on trying all the different fudges on offer and mak- Quote: “Is it just me, or is this museum ridiculously weird and creepy?
ing their decisions for the competition. Go around the table and ask each Stands to reason Edwards would like this place.”
player to describe their Maven’s favourite fudge. Then, ask the player to
their left to describe that fudge with three adjectives. Once each Maven Angela Kim, wannabe valedictorian
has described their favourite fudge and the others have offered further ad- Anxious. Impatient. Pretty, and favors Goth attire, complete with dark eye-
jectives, the players should begin ranking the fudges they have tried and liner, black nail polish, and deep purple lipstick. Doesn’t really care about
start to determine which fudges will take third, second, and first place in the course but thought the field-trip would lead to an easy A. Despises Da-
the competition. During this process, the entire cast of Suspects should be vid, partly because she’s attracted to him and can’t let herself be distracted
introduced as the Mavens move through the market, as well as the organ- by such an obvious jerk. Admires Dr. Brown, the curator.
iser of the competition, Nell Quince. Quote: “I don’t really have time for any of this. I need to get back to prep-
ping for my case interviews!”

36 13
 Mysteries: Lies and Dolls, or A Very Brief Tenure Mysteries: Carnival Carnage
Dr. Manmohan Subramanyam, visiting scholar of history Void Clues
Imperious. Posh accent. Handsome, in a neat, cream suit. Famous for (and
defensive about) his book, A Rural History of America. Academic rival- A carousel horse opens its gaping maw and releases a swarm of bats.
ry with Professor Edwards (they have very different pictures of Historical A clown mask that contorts from a broad smile to a twisted grin.
America). Few people know that while they were undergraduates at the Whispers emanating from the preserved tentacle of a sea creature in
University of Singapore, Subramanyam and Edwards had a brief but pas- the Tent of Oddities.
sionate love affair. He’s currently doing a research project connected to the Shadows shaped like tentacled beasts creeping between the carnival
museum’s collection. tents.
Quote: “I’m a man of reason and learning. I deal with dead bodies and Melted ice cream, turned to swirling black and purple ooze.
mysteries in a purely theoretical sense. I assure you, all this nonsense has A child dressed all in black, who gestures to you to follow, then disap-
nothing to do with me.” pears before your eyes.

Dr. Shanelle Brown Willoughby, curator of the museum

Thoughtful. Soft Spoken. Navy pantsuit with a colorful, patterned tie and
prominent afro. Lavishly decorated nails. Brown is desperate to get more
people to pay attention to the museum and insists that it’s a “scholarly” in-
stitution. Has an academic crush on Dr. Subramanyam, the visiting schol-
ar. Finds Lilian, the local history buff, to be annoying.
Quote: “The artistic value of our collection here is priceless. Woven into
these dolls are a thousand stories, a rich tapestry of joy and tragedy, of
industry and inventiveness! I just wish more folks would listen!”

Bill Fimbly, security guard

Gruff. Squinty eyes. Old flannel shirt and worn pants, wearing a brass
museum-badge. Superstitious. Loves the museum collection and hates it
when students come to “ruin” the atmosphere for the dolls. Dislikes his
boss, Dr. Brown, because she’s newer to the museum and hasn’t “grown
up” with the dolls. Thinks her campaign to bring in more visitors is terrible.
Quote: “This isn’t just a museum—no, siree. It’s a living thing, with blood
made of old memories and flesh made of dolls. And its bones are my
bones!”

Paint the Scene

The Museum of Brindle-Dolls
“Creepy” is an understatement for the lone gallery in this out-of-the-way
museum: the walls are lined with dolls of all shapes, sizes and materials,
their blank stares judging you silently. Which doll do you remember from
your childhood?

14 35
 Mysteries: Carnival Carnage Mysteries: Lies and Dolls, or A Very Brief Tenure
Admin office The museum gift shop
This office is shared by both Hans and Birk. How can you tell which desk The museum gift-shop, by contrast, is warm and cozy, filled with all sorts of
belongs to whom? tchotchkes and the smell of vanilla. It’s a separate building from the main
gallery. How can you tell this is also Dr. Brown’s office?
Fortune teller’s booth
This dark tent is awash in mystical symbols, and witchy accoutrement; a The Seaside Bed & Breakfast
large altar commands attention. Which goddesses are represented on the A little cottage with a wonderful view and lovely shrimp croissants. Profes-
altar? sor Edwards has rented out all the rooms for his class. What evidence do
you see here to suggest that the students recently had an illicit little party?
Main stage tent
The main stage tent was once home to a tragic accident. What ghost sto- Clues
ries are whispered around the carnival regarding the tent? Do you believe
the stories are true? An erotic, handwritten love-poem, written on old paper.
An opinion piece in the newspaper decrying the modernization of the
Clues Museum of Brindle-Dolls.
A roll of sturdy wire for doll-making in an unusual place.
A hastily written love letter. An antique doll, with its head broken open.
A threatening note with letters cut out of a magazine. An essay covered in red marks and a failing grade.
A file full of documents listing the health and safety violations at the A racy photo or video of one of the students.
carnival over the years. The word “FAKER” spray-painted onto a wall.
A spreadsheet depicting the falling revenue numbers of Carnivale Noctis. A brass museum-badge, its pin broken.
Flyers from a local animal rights group, speckled with blood. A copy of Professor Edwards’ latest book The Modernization of
Safety override lever, removed from an attraction and abandoned. Pastoral America, with its cover ripped off.
A loud lovers’ quarrel. A letter of rejection from an important institution.
A shattered crystal ball found where it doesn’t belong. A bicycle with its tires slashed.
A disciplinary note that contains a final warning before dismissal. Footprints in the mud near a window.
A carnival barker’s handbook, with several pages torn out. A bottle of sleeping pills hidden in a hollowed-out book.
A bottle of expired prescription stimulants tucked into someone’s bag. A ream of colorful ribbon, made of a strong, synthetic material.
Staff photos with someone’s face scratched out. The sound of two people laughing conspiratorially.
A loaded shotgun abandoned behind a tent. Overheard gossip about the museum going out of business.
Money missing from a carnival booth cash box. A locally-published pamphlet about the “true” history of Brindlewood
A torn piece of a spandex costume unknowingly left behind. Bay’s doll collection.
A book entitled Winning the Giant Bear: A Carnie’s Guide to Career Shards of a broken teapot.
Advancement, with several highlighted paragraphs and a note in the A receipt from the gift store for a very expensive item.
margin that reads “confront Samson.” A hip-flask full of whisky disguised as a tube of sunscreen.
A paternity test that reads false.
A large sword, broken in two pieces behind the Funhouse.
A technical document showing a failing grade for safety on one of the
rides.
A video exposing unsafe working conditions for carnival employees in a
separate carnival run by Very Good Carnival Co.

34 15
 Mysteries: Lies and Dolls, or A Very Brief Tenure Mysteries: Carnival Carnage

Void Clues Jake Karns, the head ride operator

Energetic. Vivacious. Always smiling. Jake Karns is the life of the party, and
A painting of woodland critters frolicking in a forest clearing, though it’s always a party where Jake is. Jake takes the safety of the rides seriously,
every time you look at it, another creature in it lies dead. but not much else. He had an unrequited crush on Samson.
A dictionary that includes a single page covered in illegible symbols that Quote: “Samson was the best of us. The very best. Too good for Monqiue.
you can’t always find. She didn’t appreciate him.”
A baked good that slices open with difficulty to reveal several fresh
insect pupae inside. Gareth Snare, the animal handler
A radio show from a date that’s years in the future. Prefers animals to people. Rude with guests and staff. Gareth has been
A bunch of pretty, artificial flowers that smell of rotting meat, but only to caring for the carnival animals for years. He is devastated that the rebrand-
you. ing has put less focus on the animals, and believes that the Andersons
A limited-edition, small-batch tea whose flavor you can only describe as caved to pressure from animal rights activists.
“despair.” Quote: “It’s all those damn animal liberationists! They think I treat my
A ticket in the style of one from the Museum of Brindle-Dolls, but the creatures badly. I wouldn’t be surprised if they were behind this.”
text indicates another museum that doesn’t actually exist.
A snatch of music that you’re sure you’ve only ever heard in a dream. Hannah Howler, the ticket master
A flightless insect repeatedly crawling in a strange pattern that could Brooding. Angry. Loud voice. Hannah is the former carnival barker, holding
almost be letters. the job for fifteen years before she was replaced with Samson when Very
A piece of clear hard candy in a colorful, unlabelled wrapper with a Good Carnival Co. took over. Hannah was one of very few women carnival
human fingernail embedded inside. barkers, and likes to remind people of her struggle as often as she can.
Quote: “I had to claw my way to the top you know! I was the best barker on
the East Coast, not that the men will admit it. And for what? To be replaced
by a young man who couldn’t care less? Not that he deserved to die. Damn
shame that.”

Paint the Scene

Funhouse
For the duration of the game, the Funhouse is considered to always be
Night. As you enter the Funhouse, what are the strange symbols you see
written in the darkest corners? Describe them. Where have you seen them
before? What feeling overwhelms you as you draw nearer to them?

Tent of Oddities
Very Good Carnival Co. wants to avoid negative associations with the odd-
ities tents of old. What is the first oddity that draws your eye? What detail
stands out that reassures you all the items in this tent are fake? For Ma-
vens who have marked The Chariot: What item calls to you? When you
touch it, what does the voice that whispers to you sound like?

16 33
 Mysteries: Deadly Silent Auction

Deadly Silent Auction

by Petra Volkhausen
Complexity: 7
Note: This mystery can only be played after the Mavens have learned about
the Deep Reaver crew and their unusual catch.

Presenting the Mystery

The Mavens visit a silent auction at Aubertin’s Antiques, a place of com-
mon rarities and odd finds alike. It is owned and run by the eccentric twins
Pierre and Pauline Aubertin, who share an apartment right above the
store. The auction involves items from the estate of the late Captain Solo-
mon Heimwinkel, a Brindlewood Bay native, who spent his last years as a
recluse. All proceeds from the auction will be donated to the Brindlewood
Bay Whaling Museum and Education Center, as decreed in the captain’s
will. Begin the mystery with the Mavens entering the antique store.

Paint the Scene: Aside from a shared love for extravagant clothing, the
twins are like day and night. How so? And which sibling do you like better?

Continue with Pierre and Pauline welcoming the Mavens and then hand-
ing them a brochure detailing all auction items. Afterward, the Mavens are
offered drinks and hors d ‘oeuvres and may walk around the showroom. In-
troduce a few Suspects while everyone is waiting for the auction to begin.
Add a few short scenes during the silent auction, as one item after an-
other is put on display for the bidders. Introduce the remaining Suspects.
Have one of them inquire which objects the Mavens are going to bid on.

Establishing Question: Which auction item calls to you even though you
have no need for it?

Eventually, Pierre announces that his sister is going to bring out the last
item: the Elderwing. It is a framed moth that looks rather ordinary in the
brochure but is, for some obscure reason, extremely valuable. When Pau-
line does not return to the showroom, people begin looking for her. Leigh,
the assistant, finds Pauline dead in the alleyway behind the antique store,
sprawled out next to a dumpster. Her body shows signs of strangulation as
well as defensive wounds.
A call to the sheriff’s office is placed, and the Mavens will have about
half an hour before they won’t be the only ones investigating.

17
 Mysteries: Carnival Carnage

See Beyond the Void

When you see beyond the Void and try to gain insight using the su-
pernatural, work with the other players to determine what you hope to
learn in your vision. Tell the Keeper what information you seek and roll
with Sensitivity.

On a 10+, you learn the information you seek. You gain 1 Clue and 1
Void Clue. The Keeper reveals these clues through the description of the
vision. You also add 1 to the next Theorize roll.

On a 7–9, you receive a vision, but the Midwives peer into your soul. You
gain 1 Void Clue and must mark The Crown of the Void.

On a miss, the information you learn is a lie. Erase 1 Clue or 1 Void Clue
(Keeper’s choice) and you must also mark The Crown of the Void.

Monique Stout, the strongwoman

Large. Brawny. Could break a man in half. Shy when she isn’t actually per-
forming. Monique Stout had recently started a torrid love affair with Sam-
son, after a very public break up with Gareth Snare.
Quote: “Gareth never treated me well. He loves those animals more than
any human. You can see it in his eyes. He has wild eyes.”

Tobias Phantome, the sword swallower

Gruff but kind. Covered in tentacle tattoos. Tobias is the newest member
of the carnival, joining up just a few weeks after the mysterious disappear-
ance of the previous sword swallower. Tobias only has kind things to say
about every member of the carnival. Perhaps too kind.
Quote: “People here’ve been so welcoming and kind. Hard to believe any-
one here could do anything like that. Must’ve been a local. I hear this town
has a lot o’ murders.”

Ana Fontaine, the contortionist

Unusually long-limbed. Serious-looking. Young. Dresses only in black. Ana
Fontaine is a kind but no-nonsense performer. She takes her career seri-
ously, and has been pushing to be featured as a headlining act. Underneath
her long sleeves, she has the same tentacle tattoos as Tobias.
Quote: “Hans doesn’t take me seriously because of my age, but I’ll show
him. I’ll be a headliner sooner than he knows it.”

31
 Mysteries: Carnival Carnage Mysteries: Deadly Silent Auction
regulars at the summer carnival, he asks them to keep their eyes and ears Suspects
open.
Pierre Aubertin, the brother
Establishing Question: You see that Very Good Carnival Co. has hired Graceful. The kindest eyes. Silken dressing gown. Pierre loves nothing
some local teens to work the ticket gate and a few of the concession more than to listen to the stories attached to each piece his customers
stands. You have a special connection with one of the teenagers. Who is bring to him. He will freely admit, however, that he understands very little
it, and why? of the business side of things. Outside the store, he has never been seen
without Pauline by his side.
Suspects Quote: “How should I go on without her? I can’t. It doesn’t...make sense.”

Hans Anderson, carnival owner Leigh Landsburgh, the assistant

Boisterous. Drunk. Prone to telling tall tales. Hans is the owner of Very Lanky. Nervous laugh. Round glasses. They study art history at the BBCC
Good Carnival Co, and stepfather of Samson. He promoted Samson to car- (Brindlewood Bay Community College) and work part-time at Aubertin’s
nival barker when his company took over and rebranded Carnivale Noctis. Antiques. Rumor has it that Pauline hired Leigh to keep Pierre from pur-
Quote: “I am an expert at this weird shit. My great, great, great, great, great, chasing every damn item that comes with a fascinating story.
great grandfather was Hans Christian Anderson you know. That’s where I Quote: “It’s true, Ms. Aubertin doesn’t appreciate antiques the way her
got my name. Spooky faeries and shit? It’s in my blood.” brother does. But she is a fierce businesswoman, and I admire that about
her.”
Birk Anderson, the owner’s husband
Quiet. Reserved. Good with numbers. Actually responsible for the daily George Miller, the lost fisherman
running of the carnival. Father to Samson, and strangely cold in the face Hesitant. Mumbling. Working clothes. George Miller worked in Brindle-
of his death. Birk was in charge of hiring for Carnivale Noctis, including wood Bay’s fishing industry until symptoms of dementia put an end to that.
decisions on who to keep from previous years, and who to let go in the George still spends most of his time at the pier, mending the same net over
rebranding. and over again.
Quote: “I never should have promoted Samson to carnival barker. People Quote: “You mustn’t sell it. It is cursed! Solomon knew. The Captain knew!”
were so angry. I knew there would be a price to pay.”
Alma Heimwinkel, the Captain’s granddaughter
Angelica Darkmoon, the fortune teller Aimless. Distracted. Blood-red lipstick. Alma Heimwinkel has been taking
Witchy. Mysterious. Soft spoken. Uses an array of tools for divination, but care of her grandfather’s estate since his recent passing. She and Pauline
prefers the tarot cards. Angelica is the real deal, but puts on an act so that were close friends. Alma’s style has changed a lot since the two got to know
people think she’s a fake. She despises the racist fortune teller trope and each other.
subverts it wherever she can. Angelica believes her purpose is to travel Quote: “Huh? Yeah, Pauline organized the auction... What? Yes, she really
with the carnival. is a good fr--could you excuse me for a second?”
Quote: “Dark stars align. Tides rise. Midwives chant. The time arrives.”
Margery Buttons, a collector
If the Murder Mavens seek Angelica’s assistance, and indicate that they Intrusive. Ends most of her sentences with: “I suppose...” Dress that does
believe in her talents, she gifts them with a tarot deck and a piece of her not fit the occasion. At least once a week, Margery carries some random,
divine sight. The Murder Mavens gain access to the following move, once gaudy figurine or a half-broken music box to Aubertin’s Antiques so she
per mystery, so long as they have the tarot deck in their possession: can spend time with Pierre.
Quote: “Pierre deserved so much better than that money whore of a sister.
But that’s no reason to want her dead, I suppose…”

30 19
 Mysteries: Deadly Silent Auction Mysteries: Carnival Carnage
Nigel Potter, the caterer
Stoic. Monotone voice. T-shirt with the logo for his catering business. Nigel Carnival Carnage
has a grand idea for a new start-up every few months and very little enthu- by Alicia Furness
siasm to actually see it through. Right now, he is trying to make a living Complexity: 8
with overpriced party food. Note: The carnival is an absurd place, steeped in mystery and the super-
Quote: “Well, that’s a tragedy. I’ll still be paid, though, right?” natural. Only play this mystery if Layer 2 of the Dark Conspiracy has been
unlocked.
Hazeem Mashwani, a fashion designer
Nonchalant. Listens more than he talks. Pristine suit. Mashwani is a de-
cently known fashion designer from Boston. He has been in a secret on- Presenting the Mystery
again, off-again relationship with Pauline. Summer has arrived in Brindlewood Bay, bringing with it the hum of cica-
Quote: “I wanted her to get out of this stuffy town—but not like this… not das, the sticky heat, and the summer carnival. Our Murder Mavens have
like this.” a standing date every year to attend the carnival, visiting their favourite
booths, delighting in deep-fried confections, and relishing in the rides. This
Lilly Jacobs, a bidder year a new company, Very Good Carnival Co., has taken on responsibility
Shy. Speaks so quietly it’s hard to understand her. Homely attire. Lilly is not for the carnival and rebranded it with a retro twist like the dust bowl era
from Brindlewood Bay. In fact, no one here knows her, but Pierre swears carnivals of old, calling it Carnivale Noctis.
she seems familiar. She is anxious to obtain one of the auction items.
Quote: “It’s important to my family, you see?” Paint the Scene: As you enter the carnival, what retro throwback reminds
you of the summer carnivals you attended as a young girl? What stands out
Paint the Scene as anachronistic with the retro theme? For Mavens who have marked A
Shadow in The Garden: What shape do the moving shadows between the
Pauline’s room booths take on the periphery of your vision?
Looking around, how do you know that Pauline’s thoughts have been filled
with darkness? The first scene depicts the Mavens enjoying the day at the carnival. Go
around the table and ask each player to describe what their Maven’s fa-
Pierre’s room vourite carnival booth is. Then, ask the player to their left what the best
What here tells you that this man lives in the past? prize the Maven has won at her favourite booth is. Each player can note
the prize in the Cozy Little Place section of their character sheet. Then, the
The storage room other players and the Keeper each describe one detail about the booth that
Something in here is giving you the creeps. You feel watched. Why? For is different this year. For the Keeper, this is a good time to emphasize the
Mavens with the Pallid Mask marked: You can see whatever is watching mysterious and supernatural elements of the carnival. During this scene,
you. What is it? introduce the Suspects as the Mavens move through the carnival grounds.
While the Mavens are enjoying the day, a flurry of activity draws their
The alleyway attention. Sheriff Wyman Dalrymple (or another official, if you have played
You find something in the dumpster that doesn’t belong there. What is it? Dad Overboard and the Sheriff was implicated in the murder) is making
his way through the crowd, towards the Funhouse. He gestures for the
Murder Mavens to follow him, and asks if they have seen anything sus-
picious. He reveals that Samson Anderson, the carnival barker, has been
found dead in the Funhouse. The Sheriff suspects foul play, but can’t get
the carnival employees to open up. Knowing that the Muder Mavens are

20 29
 Mysteries: Homecoming at Bonfire Cliff Mysteries: Deadly Silent Auction

Clues Clues
Pages of senior portraits torn from a yearbook. The Elderwing moth removed from the wooden frame.
Clothes covered in ashes from a fire, still smelling of smoke. The wooden frame in a suspicious place.
A stash of fireworks that have been tampered with. A photo onto which someone collaged their own face.
A college entrance essay covered in red ink corrections. Someone accepted a job offer elsewhere.
Explicit text messages sent to Mark Harrison. The business card of a rival antique dealer.
Two envelopes of financial records. A wad of cash in a tea tin.
Love notes addressed to several different people. Silent tears.
A water quality testing kit with several colored chemical reagents and a A newspaper article detailing the death of the twins’ parents.
sample vial already filled. An appraisal stating the true value of an auction item.
Half-destroyed Polaroids saved in a sandwich bag. A hypodermic needle.
A set of car keys to an unknown vehicle. A recording of Pauline in which she expresses her worry about “him”
A broken lens from a phone or camera. finding out she lied.
One part of a broken school trophy, the plaque snapped off and missing. Muddy footprints in an unusual place.
Half of a golden locket shaped like the Brindlewood High “Whalers” Two Suspects are having an intimate conversation and then get very
mascot. quiet when they think they’re being watched.
A dirty cigar box containing two Brindlewood High class rings. An unpaid invoice for a very large sum.
Heavy, black robes wrapped in brown paper. A napkin with the message “I can help you,” followed by a telephone
A list of several names and numbers carved into a tree. number.
A small campsite with torn sleeping bags. A bid sheet that was tampered with.
A cooler filled with fresh soil. A piece of silken rope, stained with dried blood.
Handfuls of poison sumac stuffed into a brand new backpack. A lock of hair in a very disturbing place.
A bottle of prescription medication with the label missing. A crumpled piece of paper with hastily scribbled occult symbols.
A brochure of the whaling museum that shows a strategically-placed
Void Clues cigarette burn.

A maple tree growing inside of a small clearing with blood oozing from Void Clues
several holes in its trunk, spaced like the holes along a flute.
Several pockets of white ash with orange embers that won’t stop glow- An auction item the Mavens bid on shows a dark childhood memory
ing no matter how wet they get. when touched. Have the player describe the memory if their Maven
A place in the forest from which every single tree within sight shows a touches it.
carved glyph facing towards this one, singular spot. The pattern on the moth’s wings turn into oily, black eyes.
An idol carved of bone whose face always points towards the quarry The drinks smell and taste of fish, though no one else seems to notice.
reservoir, as a compass always points North. Someone opens their mouth to speak, but all that comes out is the
A scrapbook that moans and whines when it is opened, depending on sound of an unearthly creature’s death throes.
the pictures in view. Slithering tentacles appear just inside your peripheral vision.
An unknown aquatic species living inside a glass, one-gallon jar. Touching the moth’s frame triggers a vision of the Deep Reaver and its
crew. Even if this vision is frightening, the person holding the frame is
overcome by a sense of heroic calm. They will dream of the ship the fol-
lowing night, coming to realize that the frame is made from the whaling

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 Mysteries: Deadly Silent Auction Mysteries: Homecoming at Bonfire Cliff
ship’s planks. If the Mavens manage to obtain the frame at any point Old quarry machinery
during the campaign, one of them can use the following move once Remnants of the abandoned Bay Quarry Co. from the 1950s: a couple der-
during the Void Mystery: elict office trailers, moldy pallets, oxidized barrels, a 50' crane rusted in
place whose hook-arm hangs high over the pond. What out-of-place objects
I Will Go Down With This Ship are present that let you know the quarry has been used as a dump site by
When you channel the ghost of Rudyard Bigham, captain of the other local enterprises over the years?
Deep Reaver, in order to save your friends from mortal or spiritual
danger, give a speech about how you will go down with this ship. Your
friends’ lives are miraculously spared—but you begin to lose your mind
to the Void. Take -2 to all rolls for the remainder of the session, then
retire.

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 Mysteries: Homecoming at Bonfire Cliff Mysteries: Homecoming at Bonfire Cliff
Quote: “This place is a stain, a scar. Do you see how the machines of man
have defiled this natural hill? I’ve been saying it for years. Mr. Harrison Homecoming at Bonfire Cliff
helped me with my senior project, but he sure didn’t see the light even by Calvin Johns
when it was right in front of him. I spelled it all out, but he just couldn’t see Complexity: 7
the connections.”
Presenting the Mystery
Petra Posey, class of 2021 Bonfire Cliff is a hangout site above the defunct Bay Quarry where cliques
Quiet but sharp. Oversized glasses and pink jeans. Best group project lead- of Brindlewood High meet for sneaking cigarettes, sharing booze, and
er. Petra has just started her senior year at Brindlewood High and is an ex- hooking up. But there’s more to the Cliff than just teenage misbehavior;
ceptional student, known throughout the community. She is quirky without it’s a communal place where nature and local industry meet, where no
being flashy and enjoys time alone with books and her camera as much as one group of students claims ownership, an understood neutral territory
socializing. Petra is applying to art schools to pursue her photography and respected by most. At certain times of the year, Bonfire Cliff attracts older
has been taking pictures at the quarry. locals as well, especially around homecoming. They too are expected to
Quote: “Mr. Harrison is—err, was—the best teacher at school. Everyone keep the peace and look the other way.
knows he’s the only teacher who really listens and cares about us. Even The site is dominated by a 60' granite cliff and a reservoir that used
when it’s something that doesn’t have to do with school.” to be the quarry’s source. In summer months, younger teens can be found
swimming in the pond at the base of the cliff, while older teens and nos-
Paint the Scene talgic adults hang out on the top of the cliff, where a large fire pit was con-
structed long before the Mavens’ time. The unofficial swimming hole and
Quarry trails the vast woods above garner renewed attention and vitriol every few years
A system of trails winding up through the woods that lead from the pond when a child is injured or goes missing. Nothing permanent ever seems to
below to Bonfire Cliff. What can be seen from the trails that isn’t visible be done about the broken gate.
from the quarry or the clifftop? If a Maven has the Pallid Mask marked: While different cliques make use of Bonfire Cliff, only friends of the
What unseen signs of death are all around you? Hapsbury family have access to the gravel parking lot at the back of the
family estate. It’s not too long a walk through the woods to the cliff, and
Bonfire Cliff there’s no hiking up the winding trails to reach the clifftop from the quarry.
A large clearing among the firs and maples at the top of the quarry cliff, While the Mavens are making a personal visit to the quarry reservoir
where the body of Mark Harrison was found. What evidence of prior class- in mid-afternoon on homecoming Friday (See Establishing Question, be-
es meeting and partying here can you see on the site itself? How does it low), they hear a terrible scream from atop the cliff.
make you feel nostalgic about your own high school days? Mark Harrison (class of 1995), a biology teacher at Brindlewood High,
is found dead next to a tree at the edge of the clearing, his mouth filled with
County water station poison sumac. It appears he was allergic to the vine—he shows signs of
A small metal shed in the woods, halfway between the road and the clifftop, anaphylaxis—though choking on the mess of leaves likely didn’t help. One
surrounded by a chain-link fence long since toppled. What signs do you see of the Hapsbury Suspects (you choose) found his body just moments ago
that the shed has been used for… unsavory business over the years? If a while collecting kindling for a bonfire planned for later that night.
Maven with A Shadow in the Garden marked enters the shed, they will The trails up from the pond are overgrown, but not too steep or treach-
have a distorted sense of time and place for the remainder of the mystery, erous for a feisty spirit while the sun is still out. The Mavens reach the bon-
and may even stop responding to those around them; give them the condi- fire pit with all the Suspects present. The Hapsbury family came to the site
tion Unstuck. together but split up throughout the day preparing for the night’s festivities.
Everyone else claims to have come to Bonfire Cliff separately.

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 Mysteries: Homecoming at Bonfire Cliff Mysteries: Homecoming at Bonfire Cliff
Establishing Question: An old ritual in Brindlewood Bay entails teenag- Hannah Turley, class of 2003
ers making wishes about their futures and throwing a stone into the quarry The hip teacher. Loose cardigan over tight turtleneck. Best personal-
every year on the anniversary of the wish until it comes true. You made a ity. Madison’s wife. Hannah was an exchange student from Ireland who
wish one homecoming night many years ago. What did she wish for, and spent her senior year in Brindlewood Bay. After ten years of friend-
what chance does it still have of coming true? ship-turned-courtship with Madison as pen pals, she moved back to town.
Hannah is quick with a comeback or zinger—often laden with Irish slang—
Suspects but naturally warm and welcoming. She works at the school as a science
teacher and buddied up with Mark Harrison at the high school.
Thomas Hapsbury, class of 1995 Quote: “I just had lunch with him yesterday. This is... I can’t believe... It’s
Fit and handsome. Button-up shirt and trendy joggers. Most likely to be terrible. The right bastard. How could he?”
your boss. Ashley’s husband and Madison’s brother. Even though Thomas
is a successful businessman in town with a life many envy, he falls easily Carolyn Greenleaf, class of 1971
into boasting of his glory days in high school as though he’s accomplished Pointed nose and bony, angular features. Plain, homespun clothes. Most
nothing since. His focus is always on himself, and he rarely picks up on likely to deface school property. Carolyn found her own personal religion
subtlety. when she turned twelve and hasn’t doubted it once since. She carries at
Quote: “Tonight’s the anniversary of my big game in ‘95, and I’ll spend it all times one of various signs denouncing the latest sin, her hands red
up here on the Cliff like I do every year... How much you wanna bet I could and raw from constant washing. Carolyn lives nearby and often combs the
throw a football over those mountains?” quarry yard and the Cliff, rooting out sinners.
Quote: “These children have always been wicked to the core. I know it’s all
Ashley Hapsbury (née Cobb), class of 1995 online nowadays, but I still catch ‘em up here. Smoking. Sipping. Sinning.
Natural beauty. High ponytail and fair-trade yoga pants. Most likely to still Young Mark Harrison knew it too; I’d see him out here shooing kids away
be carded at 40. Thomas’s wife. Ashley runs a software business out of the every summer.”
home while being mom to three foster children not yet old enough for high
school. She recently became the top bread-winner of the family, though Paul Ludlow, class of 1995
she hides it from Thomas. She dreads the annual homecoming visit to Anxious and self-effacing. Wrinkled button-up, his tie a gift from his moth-
Bonfire Cliff with Thomas. er. Cleanest locker. Paul graduated the same year as Mark and Thomas,
Quote: “This back-up battery better not be dead. If I have to walk back to but neither of them would remember that. He left Brindlewood Bay after
the house to use my charger, I’m not coming back out here. How did you all high school and became an engineer, but moved back to town after his
get up here? You did NOT take the trails?” divorce a few years ago. Paul works for the county utilities office and lives
alone.
Madison Hapsbury, class of 2003 Quote: “I was here throwing my stone in the quarry. You saw me, right?
Flat, sarcastic monotone. Heavy eyeliner and black hair to her waist. Most I kept it up all through college, but once I got married I couldn’t always
likely to haunt you after death. Thomas’s sister and Hannah’s wife. Madi- fly home, you know? I mean... it’s just a superstition, but maybe it’s true.
son has moved on from the goth fashion she sported in high school, but Right? What if....”
she still inhabits the darker side of life and entertains all things occult.
She rarely comes to Bonfire Cliff and tagged along with her brother this Brad Allstrom, class of 2020
year only because it’s the night of the autumnal equinox and she wanted to Arrogant and curt. Square glasses and cropped hair. Healthiest lunch.
spend it outdoors. Brad considers himself a bit of an all-natural eco-terrorist and likes to
Quote: “I myself am the strange and unusual.” quote YouTube videos without citation. His Internet-spun ideology doesn’t
mind pushing the limits of legality. Brad claims he is taking a gap year to
try freelance writing before college, but he hasn’t left yet.

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