OOC: IVV, you did? And here I thought the concept was more original. Well, it's all been done before, or as they say in South Park, "Simpsons did it!"
IC: As you walk towards Frickard's home, you receive more details about the crime you are to investigate. Two rival factions have been fighting over famed inventor Callery Frickard. The small Craftsmen's Guild (mostly comprised of worshippers of Sapo and Farino) has seen civil strife caused by rising unemployment and loss of funds because of an inability to adapt to the new inventions of Mr. Frickard, and were also insulted by Mr. Frickard's refusal to join a Guild. The more powerful Merchant's Guild (mostly comprised of worshippers of Cortessa) had found ways to greatly profit from Mr. Frickard's inventions, going so far as outsourcing labor from outside the city for cheap reconstructions of his work. Tensions between the factions were growing ever more violent, but came to a head when a hired maid came in to clean the place and found Frickard dead, stabbed in the heart with a small blade. The workshop was also partially destroyed. The local authorities removed the body, but called it a robbery that led to murder and closed the case.
The members of the Craftsmen's Guild have been accosted on the streets, mostly from low ranking members of the Merchant's Guild, as the leaders of the Merchant's Guild spun stories on how the Craftsmen's Guild were likely involved. The Craftsmen have retaliated, with the leaders of the Craftsmen's Guild saying that the murder was probably conducted to give the Merchants an excuse to shut them down, leading to an escalation of violence from both sides. It was soon apparent to both guilds that they created a situation they couldn't handle as old resentments surfaced that had been laid too long dormant. The leaders can no longer control the actions of their members, and the violence is putting a stain on the reputation of both guilds from the general population. That's why they decided to act together to hire a party of adventurers in order to save public face. Local authorities are allowing the heroes one day to investigate sites and question whomever they want. You are supposed to make your report by tomorrow morning, nearly 24 hours from now.
When you arrive at Frickard's House, you can see the man had done fairly well for himself. He had a small two-story home, something not affordable by most who were not a member of the merchant or noble houses. The front door was ajar, however, a fact that surprised both of your escorts. As you step inside the modest foyer you can hear the sound of talking and rummaging on the second floor, up the wooden staircase of Frickard's home. It seems as if someone else got to the house first, and is conducting their own search.