For the Frameup :
Have someone steal the character's favorite weapon, if not doable for some reason, have someone commission an exact duplicate (which would be evidence of innocence if they think of asking around about it).
If they managed to steal the weapon, leave it stuck in the corpse. If not, take the duplicate. Either way, make sure there are witnesses, and make sure the killer is under a disguise self spell with lots of bonuses. He should look exactly like the PC.
If he can arrange the PC to be nearby even better. Some fresh blood in a jar with gentle repose cast on it would be perfect. Wait for the PC to leave the room, change appearance, walk back in and coup-de-gras the teacher and race out of the room. Splash blood on the PC as he runs past, and then dive out the window (changing appearance after leaving the room, but before splashing blood). This leaves the PC in the hallway outside the murder room with blood all over him, and everyone just saw him commit the deed. This works even better if the other PCs are witnesses as well. :)
It works even better if the person framing him happens to be a cleric or inquisitor that is usually brought in to do the Zone of Truth spells. He can claim to be sensing some magical residue on the PC that would alter memories, likely an attempt to fool the truth spell, since it only makes him tell what he thinks is the truth, not what is actual truth (backed up by the witnesses, including the other PCs, stating he did do it).
And remember, most magical evidence is dismissible in a court of law. It is too easy to fake.
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A CLONE. It will take considerable set up time. The Clone will need to be murdered by the PC infront of witnesses. The PC will have an uncontrolled desire to kill the Clone...and as long as the clone is deformed in some way so as to not look like the PC, No suspicion will be raised.
So Clone the PC, Deform [the clone] to look like someone else (sew a skinsaw mask on [the clone] and chop off his hands and feet), kill the PC and leave a raise dead fully scroll so the PC is raised from the dead...only to be confronted by a crippled and deformed man. The PC feels he must kill this man.
There is a clone spell in the core rulebook. It is used as an alternate form of bringing characters back from the dead. I am not sure how yellowdingo's idea is supposed to work, though.
I'm thinking of holding a trial that way they can figure out a way to free the PC by finding them innocent and figuring out who the real killer is. My problem is since I'm a new GM I'm not really sure how to do this.
Everyone gave great advice I can't not really add to it. But this paragraph gaved me pause.
You are saying a way to 'free the PC'...does that mean he will be locked up during their investigation? Since you are a new GM I am going to assume the worst and think it means that the PC being framed will be locked up..I went though this with a GM in a game I was in where he had my character framed..and I spent two game sessions sitting around doing nothing...true I coiuld have attempted to escape...but I did not think it was in character to do so.
It is bad move to do this to player unless you get that player's consent before hand.
If that was not your plan than ignore the above...I just saw a train wreck waiting to happen.
One: The clone is a lifeless form, you would need a way to animate it. Animate dead or magic jar would work (the aforementioned would need some way to preserve the corpse, like gentle repose). You could also magically animate it like a construct and imbue it with artificial intelligence.
Two: To figure out there is a clone running around, Have people say things like; "Are you back already? And brought friends this time, too." or the like.
You don't really need a clone spell, but to watch a few episodes of Law & Order.
Probably the easiest way to frame someone for murder (in the world of fiction) is to give the character good motive. Have him and the mentor fight over something, or the mentor publicly snub the character. Then all you need is a PC with a shoddy alibi, and an eyewitness who sees someone with the PC's signature weapon (or insert whatever here, but it's great to hoist them by their own petard) rushing away from the scene of the crime.
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There is a clone spell in the core rulebook. It is used as an alternate form of bringing characters back from the dead. I am not sure how yellowdingo's idea is supposed to work, though.
It would have worked had the clone been created as a duplicate of the PC with its own memories up to the point of material component harvest...
Unfortunatly the new clone spell says it is a soul-less corpse waiting for the Deceased PC to take control...So that ideas is out.
Had it been the old style Clone, the PC and Clone would have felt a compulsion to battle to the death for the right to exist. So A BBEG could have framed the PC for the murder of himself - either way.
Eliminating magical proof is probably one of the first things you should do.
Can you engineer some reason for a PC to seek a Modify Memory spell? If the PC had his memories modified after the murder occurred but before he learned about it, then the court couldn't accept his 'truthful' testimony, and would be brought down to gathering evidence and performing an actual I-Don't-Have-A-Win-Button investigation.
PCs receive a note that tells them:"Mr teacher has an urgent task for you."
Murdered has subdued mr teacher and is waiting PCs in his house disguised with Disguise Self spell (or soemthing like that). He gives PCs a locked small box and tells PCs to go an old mills cellar quickly to wait someone (some made up name like Reghsus). He tells them not to open the box and gives the key to it to the most trusted PC in the group. The box contains some valuables of mr teacher (some of witch easily indentifable, like family ring).
Now the murdered murders the teacher. When the murder is noticed, the guards quickly find the PCs (as people can propably point to witch direction did PCs (the last who were seen to leave the building) left... and did PCs cover their tracks? If so the murderer can spread rumors to point the search correctly). So now PCs are found last to have visited mr teacher and they have his valuables with them in their hiding place.
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Then the next step depends on the party...? What are their characters. I would propably try to split the party here (others escaping the prison (roguish types) to collect the evidence & paladins standing in the court / cell). So what are their chars classes?
Definitely set up some animosity between the PC and the teacher to begin with, some argument or conflict. If there's no motive, then claims of magical shenanigans being at fault will be more believable. Maybe have the teacher deliberately holding the PC back while he praises the other PCs. Maybe have the teacher start acting jealously of the PC's competence at a given skill. Maybe have the teacher take away some favoured item or weapon of the PC as punishment for some offense.
It doesn't necessarily have to be the teacher doing this either. Illusions, shapeshifters, disguises can all act to fool low level PCs, and a reasonable facsimile of the teacher or the PC can work to stir up conflict (or the appearance of a conflict if someone creates an illusion of the two arguing violently in a public place).
The teacher could call the PC-to-be-framed in for an impromptu meeting, possibly to discuss their recent arguments. When the PC arrives, he sees his teacher struggling on the floor, attempting to stab himself/not stab himself with a knife. In reality, he's grappling with someone under the effects of Greater Invisibility. The PC tries to help, tries to get his hands on the knife, and the attacker chooses that moment to strike, repeatedly. I'd run it as an event that the PC has no control over, but if you want to keep it on the level, a rogue with feats to improve his grapple would end the teacher quite quickly with a few sneak attacks. The result will be the PC with a bloody knife, blood on his clothes and hands, a dead teacher, and an invisible attacker who will flee the scene.
In all likelihood, the PC will pursue, bloodied as he is, to avenge his mentor or capture his killer. Have the assassin goad the PC with signs of his presence, making him run, bloody and angry, into the street, wielding whatever weapon he has, or (even better) the dagger just used to kill his mentor. Witnesses will see no assassin, only a crazy-eyed student spattered with blood who had been seen arguing with the deceased.
PC: "It wasn't me! It was the invisible man!"
Guards: "Sure, buddy. Get in the cell."
in a game i ran i made a cloak that was given to one of the party members. after an hour of wearing this cloak it made the PC register as Evil when detect evil was used on them, it also made them count as lying if sens motive or decern lies was used on them.
he was framed with killing a noble women and the effects lasted for 24 hours after the cloak was removed.
Ill say , just as a warning , I tryed this wonce with my players when they where around level 11. They refused to go and slew the gaurds trying to arrest them. When more came the pulled the im a PC and your no match for me card and flattened the city. Hopefully it goes better for you. We where using the 3.5 splat books though so the PCs where preaty unreasonably powerful.
While magic may or may not be admitted in a court of law- you have to understand that the authorities *will* be using magic up and until then.
If your PC is innocent they can most certainly allow any number of clerics and wizards (and whatever) to cast whatever they want on their person to allow them to divine the truth. While you may not be able to use magic to accuse someone you can *certainly* have the seekers of truth using it to whittle away possible suspects.
At the levels your characters at, its not reasonable that they would have super magical protections up.. and the people they associate with would know it. It wouldn't be hard for a decent sized city to have a 6-8th level wizard or cleric come in and magically strip the person down (of magical protections) before a Zone of Truth session.
Now granted- if its the authorities who are actually "out for" the PC's then all that wouldn't be necessary.. but neither is a frame job :) This isn't modern society and "innocent until proven guilty" isn't even a phrase likely to have been invented yet.
The easiest way though at level 1-3? Just have someone say "I SAW BOB KILL THE BUTCHER!" and.. presto. if Bob is a relatively well known person and the PC's aren't then his word would prevail until and unless the PC's could prove otherwise. If Bob wields longswords, have someone with a longsword do the job. If a spellcaster- use magic missile or sleep + dagger CDG or what have you.
The hardest part isn't framing the PC's its constructing an interesting mystery in such way that the PC's can figure it out without the first clue telling them who did it, how, and why.
-S
Remember to think like an author, plan possible plot ahead, err... the important thing is, you want the PCs to investigate, that´s what a frame is about in regard to a story. Let the evil guys bribe some people to give false testify, let them bribe the jury, let the authorities be incompetent, leave some evidence behind the authorities aren´t able to find for their incompetence. Hell, let there be a real witness (if you can build it in somehow) who flees and/or is untrustworthy to the court but a clue to the heroes.
Being complex is far more easy than being simple, especially for an omniscient DM
The easiest way to frame someone for murder is a doppelganger. They are perfect for the part.
Even better is if the party is known for shopping around town by themsleves or going to X location to pray. In your case the ranger, if the person starting is a rogue even better. Have them jumped outside the city by the doppleganger and some friends that subdue him. then have one of them take his place back with the party. That night actually kill the person in view of people and make a mad dash for it.
Doppleganers buddies are hiding in an alley near by. With beat up real PC. Doppleganger rounds corner turns into a guard and subdues the bad guy. Drags him off to trial. Heck have a modify memory cast so the PC remember killing the guy.
You can have the doppleganger actually in the party for a day or two for fun.
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In most cases, it'd just be easier to kill a target than to go through an elaborate frame-job. Hence, the motivation would generally be very personal. You might consider a noble who had personal animosity to the teacher and not only wanted him dead but wanted to shame his prized student. Due to length of ideas, putting under a "spoiler" tag.
The noble hires an assassin. The assassin befriends another student, perhaps over drinks or even a physical relationship, who knows of the framed party member's preference in weapons, etc. The assassin studies the party member in secret. The assassin is patient and waits until there is a night where the party member's only alibi can be from other party members AND they are able to commit the crime. The assassin spends a night in a local inn purporting to be the party member (perhaps a somewhat clever disguise, dying hair color, might go so far as to have a Hat of Disguise or minor magical aid). He pretends to get drunk and announces his intentions for violence on the SOB who (insert some personal reason to have a vendetta). There will be several witnesses who will attest to the PC's violent tendancies towards the teacher that night.
The noble sends his loyal steward, who happens to be a master forger, to the city hall with a writ appearing to be on royal seal (or whatever passes for authority where you are). The Writ purports to be for the arrest of the PC for absconding from (insert locality) during an investigation for assault or other violence. The Steward posts the writ which is then claimed by a local bounty hunter.
The Steward also forges a letter for planting at the teacher's residence by the assassin. It suggests his student, the PC, has been making threats and becoming violent for reasons he can't figure. He provides specific examples and believes his life is in danger. He plans on sending the letter to the local captain of the guard (but is killed before he does). He might even mention a threat of blackmail, anything that makes the PC look bad.
The bounty hunter enlists the guard to hunt the PC down. The assassin, dressed as a beggar, bribes a real beggar with coin to report the teacher's murder as the PC is taken in. Now the guard believes it's dealing with a violent criminal and won't easily be talked down.
However, perhaps the magistrate is new and wants a different brand of justice. With armed guards along, he might authorize investigation before the trial. However, this is medieval justice, so the prosecution isn't disclosing its witnesses, such as the tavern folk.
Some leads:
- the Bounty Hunter. He has a Writ. Ability to detect forgeries might help, but it won't answer much. No one at the city hall saw who put the Writ up. Still, it shows something's up.
- the Beggar. If the party asks how the guard knew, beggar might come up. Finding him/her might be a different matter. The beggar will be loathe to cooperate. He might disclose a telling feature if the party is convincing enough or bribes him of the assassin, such as strange smell, like oranges (maybe our assassin likes to peel and eat fresh oranges, making a trip to the market every day). It's not much as dozens of people make those purchases, but it's more.
- the Body. Body might be kept at local temple. Depending on the method, a Heal check or some clues placed by you (if the party looks at the right thing) shows an anomaly by the assailant that the PC wouldn't do (a cut suggesting a right hand blow when the PC is left-handed, or not having the height to make the cut at that angle, etc.).
- the Crime Scene. The Forged Letter might be revealed as one, or there's a detail contained in it (obscure, perhaps based on a background story) that can't be true. The parchment could be of a quality the teacher couldn't afford, or it is rare and sold only by a few merchants (need expertise to know this one). It should be the same type as the Writ. Too many ppl buy this type to really identify who.
- the Crime Scene. Could be a detail that doesn't fit such as ripped out beard hair that just doesn't perfectly match the PC, something where the assassin went overboard and erred.
- the Tavern. If the PC discovers these witnesses, could drag a few up. Some might be too drunk to recall, each should have a little to say. Might be a detail like the voice or accent isn't quite right.
- the Murder weapon. Perhaps left in an obvious place, like in a gutter nearby the PC's usual resting spot to show his guilt in trying to dispose of the dagger. This might be a specific dagger with a wrapped hilt, and under the wrap is the maker's sign. The crafter could indicate he used a specific method on this dagger and it was flawed. He put his sign on it but hid the sign in shame (still selling the daggers as good quality). Might only be a handful, and he doesn't recall selling it to the PC (he's ambiguous, just can't recall as he sees many customers.)
- And so on. The Players might not catch the murderer, but perhaps they have a trial, get to cross-examine witnesses. You can play up the people at the Inn ("I saws him, that's the bloke I saws that says he's gonna kill Mr. V!" with dramatic points to the PC, and maybe if they did a decent investigation, they win. On the other hand, if they botch the matter and are found guilty, might be a good time for an escape and maybe even a gloating (if stupid) ego trip by the bad guy.
It's not going to come up because the plot says it won't, but one zone of truth or other divination blows any frame-up out of the water.
Just give a cleric a day to prep some specialized spells and he will be able to verify an accused pc is telling the truth about being innocent of the crime.
Then he could start playing 20 questions with commune, after he questioned the corpse for possible clues.
Assuming he didn't raise the corpse and asked him directly "Hey who ganked you dude?"
But as has been said before, those can be faked. All it takes is a cleric in someones pocket and the killer is whoever they want it to be.
If you are working at higher levels you could always use the amazing simulacrum spell.
You don't even have to go to the trouble of cloning them.
That's my vote. A simulacrum is "made of ice and snow" so when it's "killed" it reverts to ice and snow. And the evidence melts away. ;-)
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You don't need to get too fancy.
1) Cast disguise self to look like PC to be framed.
2) Murder mentor in a public way.
or if the murderer has at least 1 confederate:
1) Disguise self on self and conferderate
2) Have a public argument so that people think the PC has a motive. You could also just argue with the real old teacher while disguised. That way speak with dead will really reinforce the motive.
3) kill mentor (after renewing disguise self to look like PC). Do it in public if you can
4) Profit.
In order to find a way out, we need to know what you decided on to put the PC into hot water in the first place. How is s/he framed?
But as has been said before, those can be faked. All it takes is a cleric in someones pocket and the killer is whoever they want it to be.
Them hire a reliable, respected Cleric (Clerics of Gods of Law, Justice, or similar should suffice). Remember, with magic, ANYTHING can be faked, including the murderer, the evidence, and the corpse. Everyone with a modicum of Spellcraft or Knowledge Arcana knows this. The only way to be sure of a murder's identity is to catch him in the act, and capture him while he's still plunging the dagger into the chest. Even THEN you could probably fake it (Magic Jar, for example; possess, murder, profit).
So justice is a matter of money more than anything (yeah, we're all shocked at that, right?). If you're innocent and IF you have enough cash to hire the right (i.e. court trusted) diviners with the right spells, you can clear yourself. If you don't have the money (or favors), you're in a bit more trouble.
So if you're going to frame somebody, just make sure they haven't got the money or friends to magically clear their name. Alternatively, have the justice system be part of the frame-up, in which case the only way out is to expose the corruption of the system.
Another thought is to highlight how easy it is to clear someone with magic - frame him, have them go to the appropriate diviner, but they can't pay his exorbitant fee...so now they're in debt to the diviner. Who has a job for them.
Have a street urchin witness the npc switch back. A successful gather info. check uncovers this information and puts them on the right track to solving the mystery. Once they have the who, they need the why and the evidence. A letter ordering the person dead and the pcs framed is classic. burn it so that only a small piece is left and require a make whole to repair it.
you know, for an interesting twis you could combine a miror of opposing alignment and that one that imprisions.
create an evil clone of pc and imprison the real one...