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So it took a little longer to finish off Thistletop than I thought and then there were the holidays so they just started Skinsaw a couple of weeks ago. It's been working out pretty well. I don't think there are spoilers below but still, it's best not to read if you want to avoid spoilers.
I started off with a thank you dinner for the heroes at the Scarnetti Manor (Kaijitsus were still cleaning house, Deverins had too many guests already, and Old Man Valdemar was too sick to host) where they met the whole Scarnetti family (Titus and Portia and kids Julius, Cornelius, and Flavia). His Lordship, Julius was showing an interest in one of the PCs (the female Gnomish druid) which his parents did not approve of. Also in attendance was His Lordship Belven Valdemar (who also showed interest in the female Gnomish druid as she was fond of woodworking), Ameiko Kaijutsu and her friend Shalelu Andosana (who was interested in another of the PCs), Kendra Deverin with her brother, Paul, and sister-in-law Vana, Ven Vidner and his wife Solsta, and Father Zantus. After some intense dinner conversation about Mayor Deverin's reelection campaign, and Titus Scarnetti trying to get Ameiko to sell the glassworks to him, the PCs cut out early since they all had dates that night.
The next day, Sheriff Hemlock asked them to willing come with him as there had been a murder and they were suspects. On the way, he confided with them that he didn't suspect them but there were a few things linking them to the murder. 1) One victim had a symbol carved on his chest that matched the symbol on the amulet one of the PCs had been wearing around town. 2) There was a note with one of the PCs names at the crime scene. 3) the Scarnettis were publicly accusing them and Hemlock had to at least interrogate them and find out if they had alibis. 2 of the PCs were good, but 1 had been hooking up with Shayliss Vidner and her parents still hadn't discovered them. Luckily (it literally came down to a roll) he had been good enough to her that she came and vouched for his whereabouts.
They still weren't allowed around the crime scene so they did some investigating of their own and got most of the information in the book, plus some info on the Scarnettis. They ran into a drunk farmer at the Hagfish raving about monsters in the farms to the south so they investigated that and while they were gone, the murderer struck again. The Scarnettis were really trying to pin it on them but once they told Hemlock what they've discovered, he let them go and told them to find proof. Before they leave, Madame Mvashti contacts them and tells them what she's seen about the Misgivings. She also gives them a Varisian magic item that translates to "Soul Siphon" to help them.
I've had a lot of fun with this as a DM and they seem to be enjoying themselves as well. They're not as stabby as they've been in the past so that's good. Basically I accomplished my goals of wanting to throw them off the scent a bit and make things a little more difficult. They all have love interests in town and really don't like the Scarnettis who they now suspect of trying to take out Ameiko so they can control the Glassworks. There's also another factor of the Titus trying to stop Mayor Deverin from winning reelection. I'm looking forward to seeing what they do about the Scarnettis in future chapters.