World of Warcraft®

It was everything a wandering businessman could need. A nice secluded spot - high above the rabble and the commotion of the city streets - a hastily constructed, but satisfying meal of a sandwich, and a long, well concealed rifle - fully equipped and brand new, complete with a picture no larger than a playing card depicting another well known businessman, from a completely different trade, of course.

He adjusted his hat, watching the tavern carefully, filtering out the laughter and the drunken brawling to try to hear as best he could, the telltale clinking of armor that he had grown to listen for. It was mercifully absent as the mark left the tavern, accompanied by two giggling women - neither of them his wife. It would make the job more difficult, but half pay was better than no pay, and it wasn't like the calico-clad illiterate of an employer would see the difference anyway. He squeezed the trigger, sighed in relief as the suppressor did its job, and watched the man suddenly drop amid screams of terror.

It was a shame to leave the rifle behind, but it had to be done. The contract price was more than enough to cover the cost of a new one though. He adjusted the brim of his hat and dropped down when no one was looking. To an unknowing observer, he was a commoner. He could have been anyone, a courier perhaps, or just another commoner trying to get home.

He knew better though. It was time to set up the next job. Five more cards lay in his pocket.


Investigators the following day noted the following:
-The target was one Victor Martin, a prominent self-made trader who handled numerous and complicated shipments for a living.
-Victor ran the fledgeling Redbrook Trading company, which had fallen on hard times, but nevertheless had drawn the ire of larger companies, notably Hugo Gavin and the Old Baradin Shipping Company.
-A rather expensive rifle was found in a tree a few days later. It was protected against magic and scrying. The sort of craftsmanship that created it is rare, and known only amongst the most practiced of goblin engineers. Spats with them as well would give them good reason to want Martin dead.
-Martin had also annoyed a number of business contacts, in a number of industries.

((So the game is this, with the limited information I've given, anyone who wishes to participate has to figure out either: A. Who killed Victor Martin or B. Who hired the killing. They should also do it before the other five targets get whacked!

Each person may ask three questions per week, although I would request that you give me at least a day to respond, not counting Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Each Monday, a new killing will occur, leaving fresh clues. The intent of asking questions is to build upon what you know already, and to get closer to catching the criminal. Some questions of course, will be more effective in doing this than others. The week resets each Monday.

Questions must follow logically from the information given (Please provide a short reference). You may reference questions asked by others, but wild accusations or irrelevant questions will not only count against your three for the week, but will be ignored, as will meta questions. Response posts do not count as questions, so if you're looking for a response, make sure that you make the phrasing clear.

Finally, if you make an accusation, you may not ask further questions, so make that accusation carefully.

With that, good luck everyone! ))

First question: What was the nature of the annoyance Martin caused--successful competition, or failure to meet his obligations?

Second question: Has Martin been confirmed dead to a certainty?

Third question (although I might have to dispute its inclusion, since the location would have been material to the facts of the case): Where did this happen?

First question: What was the nature of the annoyance Martin caused--successful competition, or failure to meet his obligations?

It depends on which party you're talking about, but I'll go over his business acquaintances.

Martin was often criticized for putting unreasonable pressure on people to deliver their goods ahead of schedule. He would seek out certain individuals, back them into a corner, and yell at them until they agreed to fulfill their contracts early.

Second question: Has Martin been confirmed dead to a certainty?

Yes.

Third question (although I might have to dispute its inclusion, since the location would have been material to the facts of the case): Where did this happen?

You can ask a different one. I should have given the location.

Stormwind City. Martin was walking out of the Slaughtered Lamb.

Thanks. I'm going to sit on my third question for a bit, if that's all right; I need to phrase it carefully.

This is fun already!

This is fun already!

Glad to hear it! Hopefully we'll get more questioners to broaden the knowledge base.

Otherwise, this guy could get away!

My first question.

The gun, we know, was goblin-made and highly advanced. Is there any way to tell who made/sold it? (Makers mark, dropped receipt, etc.)

And second question, did Martin have any known business rivals, other than Old Baradin?

1) Was the picture that was included with the rifle found at the scene, and if so, what did it look like? (I know, it's two questions >.<)

2) Did Martin's wife provide any sort of statement or theory as to who might want to kill him?

3) Where is the Redbrook Trading Company headquartered?

The gun, we know, was goblin-made and highly advanced. Is there any way to tell who made/sold it? (Makers mark, dropped receipt, etc.)

The assassin wouldn't leave an invoice at the scene of the crime, but he certainly couldn't just walk off with a clearly-placed rifle either. The only distinguishing mark is the emblem of Greasilworks Arms and Armor - a small, but specialized goblin firm that runs out of booty bay. Their products do not come cheap, but among assassins, they are regarded as some of the best.

And second question, did Martin have any known business rivals, other than Old Baradin?

Old Baradin was his fiercest competitor, but there are numerous other trading companies and cartels ardently wishing for each others' demise. Any number of traders, freight forwarders, and merchants could have gained from this, but even so, this is not an industry characterized by murder.

1) Was the picture that was included with the rifle found at the scene, and if so, what did it look like? (I know, it's two questions >.<)

The picture was not included.

2) Did Martin's wife provide any sort of statement or theory as to who might want to kill him?

Celeste Martin was as dumbfounded by this matter as anyone else. She knew that her husband had fierce competitors, and she conceded that her husband was "maybe a little overbearing" in his work, but she never would have expected someone to resort to murder.

She did however reveal that her husband was behaving erratically over the past few weeks, lashing out in anger at times and taking to drink.

3) Where is the Redbrook Trading Company headquartered?

Redbrook was initially started in Redridge several years ago, but Blackrock attacks forced Martin and his family to relocate to Stormwind. When the harbor was completed, he restarted the company, now nestled amongst a row of buildings overlooking the port.