Running an Eberron game: Opening hook

[sabayn]

I am running a game set in Eberron, using Pathfinder rules. The group is leaders of two groups of refugees. One is a deposed prince (ranger) from Lhazaar Principalities. One is a drow (Magus) from Khyber who lead a group of survivors. (Attacked and forced out by Aberrations) The third is a Half-Orc (Savage). In the town that they started and gathered up supplies, a teenage tiefling, Mercy, has been accused of murdering a farmer family, husband missing.

The wife and child/ren have been brutally, and ritually tortured. Mercy was witnessed by a neighbor boy near the farm from the night before. She was found unconscience in the barn by a guard after a neighbor found the bodies next morning. The captain of the guard is honorable, second is a self-serving LE who is trying to further his career. He is going to try and force a witch hunt against Mercy. The father is the actual murderer. The reason is the plane of Xoriat touched the farmer's mind. Aberrations are planned to be a common theme monster.

Where I am needing help is fleshing out the scene of the murder. I am not so great at it. I don't think in terms of gore and violence but I want to give an element of brutally to the scene along with aspects of madness and insanity. Any help and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[weckar]

Seems like an excellent time for you to open up your local copy of Call of Cthulhu and other Weird Stories. No more vivid portrayals of the aftermath of violence and madness one will ever find in writing. :smallamused:

[Val666]

Uhm..The players already know Mercy?

You say Eberron? Aberrations? Insert Daelkyr here please.

[Gildedragon]

What's the game plan; the overarching plot

[dascarletm]

I want you to find a way to force this murder to be a murder mystery set aboard a lightning train... Do that and I'm in!:smalltongue:

[sabayn]

Yes the players know Mercy, the savage has been teaching her to make weapons and hunt.
I do want to do the terrorist attack on a lightning rail. Thinking Lord of blades faction warforged doing it.
As to the daelkyr I am trying to figure out how to be subtle about it. Which is something I am terrible at his subtlety I can't beat people over the head with my plot devices.

[Gildedragon]

Scene of the murder:
Well let's Agatha Christie this up and think:
Who did it? Why (ritual or were the ritual elements thrown in to throw people off scent)? Does Mercy have any idea why or who? Why do the townsfolk believe she did it (with just some hearsay)?