Howdy, I'm looking for input on this mystery/murder scenario I've sprang, (with little forethought) on my group for our d20 Future/Dawning Star campaign.
I'm trying to instill a bit of intrigue, rather than shoot and loot, since the group has had plenty of that in the past 2 months.
As it is now, they've arrived in a way station town for a cattle drive. Think Firefly, but the PC's are part of the Alliance, if that helps. They escorted a woman into town, who was robbed and left for dead by an outlaw, who stole "vehicular grease". This woman was actually a courier for the Republic (Alliance) and her cargo was a prototype compound manufactured from alien vegetation. The players don't know this, but are suspicious of her.
The night they arrived they partied while the woman contacted the Republic (Alliance) who immediately dispatched a warship to deliver a team of 6 agents. The group knows this is a rare use of resources so something isn't right. They haven't confronted the agents yet, but have planned an open bar and invited everybody registered at the motels in town. The agents, if questioned, are there as a survey team for a trancontinental railroad.
Enter the wrench in the works. I had intented for a new player to join, being the Lawman, who would link them to a cattle rustling clue and then the outlaw. Unfortunately 2 things happened, the player flaked on me, cancelling just as I pulled onto his street, (this p.o.ed me) and I forget to mention that another group of cattler ranchers in town had lost some cattle just a few days ago.
So, the next day the town gathers around the sheriff's department and a dead deputy. An autopsy is pending, but will confirm foul play, (via the part of his skull missing from a bullet).
Thus, how can I mesh this all together and which should be red herring?
I'm trying to instill a bit of intrigue, rather than shoot and loot, since the group has had plenty of that in the past 2 months.
As it is now, they've arrived in a way station town for a cattle drive. Think Firefly, but the PC's are part of the Alliance, if that helps. They escorted a woman into town, who was robbed and left for dead by an outlaw, who stole "vehicular grease". This woman was actually a courier for the Republic (Alliance) and her cargo was a prototype compound manufactured from alien vegetation. The players don't know this, but are suspicious of her.
The night they arrived they partied while the woman contacted the Republic (Alliance) who immediately dispatched a warship to deliver a team of 6 agents. The group knows this is a rare use of resources so something isn't right. They haven't confronted the agents yet, but have planned an open bar and invited everybody registered at the motels in town. The agents, if questioned, are there as a survey team for a trancontinental railroad.
Enter the wrench in the works. I had intented for a new player to join, being the Lawman, who would link them to a cattle rustling clue and then the outlaw. Unfortunately 2 things happened, the player flaked on me, cancelling just as I pulled onto his street, (this p.o.ed me) and I forget to mention that another group of cattler ranchers in town had lost some cattle just a few days ago.
So, the next day the town gathers around the sheriff's department and a dead deputy. An autopsy is pending, but will confirm foul play, (via the part of his skull missing from a bullet).
Thus, how can I mesh this all together and which should be red herring?
