Plots · Duty · Single-Storyline
Holy Dissent
The entire city is in an uproar. Two factions proudly identify themselves to each other by wearing red or white scarves or handkerchiefs on their bodies in plain site, or hanging them from their place of business identifying themselves and their belief. Apparently a very respected high priest of the local religion has recently disappeared and so has the entire church coffers leaving it penniless. A city divided on the possible guilt of the missing.
The entire city is in an uproar. Two factions proudly identify themselves to each other by wearing red or white scarves or handkerchiefs on their bodies in plain site, or hanging them from their place of business identifying themselves and their belief. Apparently a very respected high priest of the local religion has recently disappeared and so has the entire church coffers leaving it penniless. Those that wear red believe the priest has skipped town taking all of the churches offerings with and those that wear white believe he has been kidnapped and the treasury stolen.
Parishioners and other priests and clerics are in an uproar but don't know what to do. The priest had just recently been pressuring the members of the church to donate more money for a new church to be built. Many priests and parishioners were uneasy with his tactics for getting the collections but it was for a good cause and he was getting results. They are unsure about his true innocence and want to believe he is innocent but just don't know. The church is being pressured to make a stand but they can't make a declaration without more proof and this is causing the city to get closer and closer to violence.
The church, and the city need an answer.
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- Being of a Clerical or Holy Nature by Spark Bound
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Perhaps someone else is missing as well. Another parishioner or maybe a beggar that was the frequent recipient of the church's goodwill. Maybe the preist had a moment of weakness and the beggar was actually his son, a dark secret from a man that is only a mortal.
Could be that some thugs have kidnapped another church-goer or the possible son and held them for ransom. The priest, believing that the church fellowship would understand using the donations to save a life, took the money to the thugs. But the thugs didn't hold up their end. Either they still have the hostage to buy themselves safe passage, or they killed the hostage and now the priest is after them to bring the theives to justice, or they killed them both.
Now the players just have to find the truth and prove it before violence tears the city apart.
I like it, it could go either way.
Brilliant hook...It reminds me of a potential episode for the incomparable Hercule Poirot. Leaving the what/who/why/when/where to the reader is refreshing!! Its all I need to let my own imagination take over and figure out the plot. I wish we had more subs like this. A nice hook, a bit of mystery, and THATS IT!! no lengthy essay on the particulars!
fixed goofball characters
Submission number 23. Old-school.
It is amazing how such a short sub can instantly start the wheels turning. There is just enough detail to take this in so many different directions. When I read this I saw a whole larger plot where the priest is a con man who ran off with the money, yet he is being conned by someone from the shadows who's ultimate goal is to sew total chaos. What other matches could be thrown on this already volatile situation?
A nice, short sub for a GM to incorporate into an on-going campaign. Useful and easily adapted to any system. Thanks.
I agree with the comments - a great short starter sub you can run with!