Investigative Journalist: Backstory
This story can be used in either a classic fantasy TTRPG campaign like Dungeons and Dragons or can be used in games set in a more modern or urban world such as Monster of the Week. The text below has been written for a fantasy with the alternative for an urban campaign marked in round brackets immediately after the underlined text to be replaced. For example:
Text as written:
As I grew up my love of writing stayed with me and I was so happy when I was selected to become an apprentice (intern) scribe (journalist) at the Histories Guild (local newspaper).
Fantasy use:
As I grew up my love of writing stayed with me and I was so happy when I was selected to become an apprentice scribe at the Histories Guild.
Urban use:
As I grew up my love of writing stayed with me and I was so happy when I was selected to become an intern journalist at the local newspaper.
Little mouse. That is what everyone used to call me when I was a child. Small and ordinary, something that no one would ever be afraid of, in fact, no one ever even seemed to notice me enough to have many thoughts about me.
I did not mind it, it meant that I could go almost anywhere unnoticed. I saw and heard things that no one ever dreamed that iI would. The thrill of finding information has followed me to this day. As a child my favourite thing to do was to find a cosy, hidden spot and listen to what was happening around me, I’d take what I heard and write them into stories, real life being a much bigger muse than my own imagination could ever be.
As I grew up my love of writing stayed with me and I was so happy when I was selected to become an apprentice (intern) scribe (journalist) at the Histories Guild (local newspaper). At first, I was really happy I got to spend my days writing and growing my craft by following the masters, but soon it became clear that I wanted more. I did not want to be shut in a small room writing out copies of manuscripts (writing obituaries), I wanted to be out in the world speaking to the people making history.
It became clear that my lack of experience, their favourite excuse, was not the real reason why only certain scribes (journalists) got the opportunity to sink their teeth into the really good stories. One late night I was making my way down the dark corridor to the library (storeroom) when I heard some voices coming from the Master’s study (editor’s office).
“She is not happy with the whispers that are going around the city,” said a low menacing voice that I did not recognise.
“I can’t change what people think. I made sure the story was kept out of the record,” replied the Master (Editor), his voice clipped. “Children died because of her workhouse (greed), people are going to talk.”
There was a rustle of something being dropped against wood, I cautiously peered through a crack in the door, holding my breath tho make no noise or movement. A huge mountain of a man stood across from the Master’s (editors) desk tipping an open pouch onto the table, gold coins catching the candlelight as they (a small pile of banded cash ) tumbled onto the table.
“The only thing that happened that day, was business as usual. And as you can see from your payment it was a very profitable day.”
The Master (editor) eyed the gold (money), “She messed up this time, it’s too big to hide. I did what I can do, she’ll need to ride out the fallout.”
There was the thud of an angry fist hitting a table, “She pays you to make people think what she wants them to think,” replied the voice, “You have two days to make the orphan story disappear or my next visit won’t be one that you will enjoy.”
I backed away quickly as the angry behemoth turned to the door I was hiding behind.
The next day I did some digging and found out that there was a rumour that more than 20 orphans had died a week ago from being exposed to dangerous conditions at the workhouse (chemicals). There was no proof that I could find, when I went to the orphanage there was no record of any missing children or accidents. Back at the History Guild (newspaper office), I stayed close to the master (editor), keeping to the shadows, until I uncovered that he together with the sheriff was working to keep the unsavoury details of how the wealthy made and kept their money to keep them in power.
It became clear to me that those who hold the truth, hold the power.
Ever since then, I have worked to expose those in power for who they really are, to uncover their secrets and ensure that the world knows the truth.
