Client. When a routine investigation goes sideways,
sometimes innocents get unwillingly caught in the ac
tion. The common artisan who hired the party to find
her missing partner might find herself and her hired
inquisitives on the run when things take a deadly turn.
Such a Client is often a nonplayer character whose
connection with the party is dissolved at the end of an
adventure, but sometimes a Client develops a taste for
excitement and becomes a fixture in the campaign. A
perfectly ordinary background such as guild artisan or
folk hero often work well with this character, who oth
erwise needs no specific proficiencies or capabilities.
Consultant. Sometimes skilled individuals end up
working alongside inquisitives for a time. Such Con
sultants might work for a newspaper, study an esoteric
field, or write crime fiction for a living. This character
is usually similar to an Investigator, but typically has
an unusual background or expert knowledge. The
relationship between a Consultant and the rest of the
party can be a source of drama-or comedy.
Interrogator. The Interrogator specializes in interaction
with suspects, witnesses, or others who need per
suasion to reveal what they know. A high Charisma
combined with proficiency in both Persuasion and In
timidation prove helpful in this role. Bards, paladins,
and sorcerers have both the requisite talents and the
ability to supplement their interrogations with magic.
Investigator. Investigators piece evidence into a co
herent whole that explains a mystery. This character
combines a high Intelligence score with proficiency
in skills such as Investigation, Perception, and some
times Medicine. The Investigator might also use divi
nation and other forms of magic to supplement those
skills, making wizards a natural fit for this role.
Tough. An inquisitive's work is inherently dangerous, so
it's often important for their group to include someone
who can physically intervene when situations devolve
into combat. The Tough's role might include fighting
criminal thugs, kicking in doors, and even roughing
up suspects, all of which suggests a high Strength
score and combat ability. The Intimidation skill can
also helpfully supplement the Tough's work.TYPES OF INQUISITIVE WORK
Much of the work done by inquisitives is relatively mun
dane: collecting evidence of marital infidelity, investigat
ing insurance fraud, or finding runaways. Sometimes
these relatively innocent investigations can lead into the
shadowy underbelly of society and become more dan
gerous, but most adventurers prefer the more dangerous
kinds of inquisitive work. Your group might specialize
in one particular kind of work, or it might take whatever
cases come its way. Roll or pick from the Investigative
Expertise table to determine your agency's specialty.
INVESTIGATIVE EXPERTISE
d6 Investigation
Find People. You seek people who are lost, in hiding, on
the run, or victims of foul play.
2 Find Items. Whether it's a stolen painting or a family
heirloom, you excel at finding lost items.d6 Investigation
3 Justice for All. The powerful often escape justice due
to their wealth and influence. Their victims sometimes
turn to you, hoping you'll help set things right.
4 Help Law Enforcement. The city watch must obey the
rules to bring criminals to justice. When the rules need
to be bent or broken, they turn to you for help.
5 Uncover Secrets. You put your inquisitive skills to use
inquiring into others' mysterious backgrounds.
6 Private Security. You provide services for a specific
organization. Perhaps you travel o.n airships to provide
security or work in a casino to catch cheaters.SIGNATURE CASE
Inquisitives occupy a significant place in the popular
imagination, both in their real-life exploits (as reported
in the newspapers) and in many fictionalized accounts.
As romanticized heroes of many tales, they shed the
light of truth into the shadows to uncover secret mis
deeds. Equally romanticized as self-serving muckrak
ers, they often use questionable methods to bring to
light secrets that might have better remained hidden,
causing untold harm in the process.