Violence in Venice (11-15 players)

Christmas Eve, 1998, Venice. The wealthy and well-connected Polo family descends into chaos as their villa plunges into sudden darkness and their eldest son, Giovanni Polo, is thrown from the window! Does it have anything to do with the struggles of Polo Export Enterprises, or perhaps the family's Formula 1 Team's second consecutive season at the bottom of the table? Find out, and avenge Gio's death! This Original UTHER Murder Mystery Dinner Party will be sure to leave your clutching your pearls...

• Theme: Aristocracy of Venice in the 90's

• Vibe: Refined, Elegant, Somber, High Society Italy

• Supports 11-15 players

• Game lasts 1.5-2.5 hours

• Host can play

• Benefits from 2 pages of printing (props can be used digitally)

• Suitable for Adult audiences

• Includes host guide (instructions, playlist, pinterest board, and more), cast list, all character sheets, and full explanation doc

• PDF folder straight to your inbox

• Full description below

Empires rise and empires fall. As of late, two of the great commercial empires of Venice have been on a downward trajectory. Rosso Motors, the legendary luxury car manufacturer is facing an existential crisis. Their F1 team, Rosso Industrial Motors, or RIM, led by the heiress of the Rosso fortune, the incisive Marzia Polo, has come in bottom of the table for the fifth season in a row. Once a mighty giant, the hypercar racing team is facing the possibility of dissolution should they achieve such horrible results in the upcoming season.

In parallel, Polo Export Enterprises (PEE), led by the inscrutable Franco Polo, a direct descendant of Marco Polo himself and Marzia’s husband, is going to the dumps, too. Profits are down, competition is up, and the market for fine Italian goods is saturated with cheap, high-quality knock-offs from other countries.

Tonight, the Polo family and other Venetian aristocracy gather to celebrate the Yule Tide, usher in the beginning of the upcoming Formula 1 season, and toast to their collective success. The eldest son, second-in-command and heir to PEE, lead F1 driver at RIM, and all around golden boy, the charismatic Giovanni Polo, dons the priceless Polo Family Jewels to mark the occasion. His ardent lover, the illustrious operatic Tenor Jean-Paul Moreaux swoons at the sight of his beloved so stunningly adorned. Gio’s younger brother, the sullen Paulo Polo, third-in-command at PEE, is there, as is the third and youngest Polo brother, the impulsive Niccolo or Nikki Polo, the reserve driver for RIM.

Of course, the gathering would not be complete without the measured Antoinette DuBois, the family’s longtime personal lawyer and accountant. Also present is the second driver of RIM, Maxime Gazleau III, the feisty Frenchwoman, and Giovanni’s business partner in their “VodQuilla” venture (“Half Vodka, Half Tequilla, All Party”).

The party’s number is bolstered out by none other than Questore of Veneto, the formidable Antonio Rosso, chief of police for the entire province and Marzia’s father, grandfather of Gio, Paulo, and Nikki. In his company is the tactful Commissario Bruno Bon, chief detective for the city of Venice and a longtime close personal friend of Franco Polo. It almost goes without saying that the family Butler, the stately Leonardo Valetti, and the family Chef, the sumptuous Elena Boyardee, were present as always, skulking in one corner or another. While the crowd ambles about, cocktails in hands, the elusive building handyman, Salvatore Biscotti joins their midst after being called upon to fix a flickering wall sconce. In addition, two family friends from La Nuova Venezia mill about: the oft-jabbering Alessandro Scrivono, reporter, and the roguish photographer, Beatrice Grafia.

To celebrate the gathering of the Polo’s nearest and dearest, Giovanni gives a speech from the head of the table, family jewels sparkling. As he waxes optimistic for the upcoming season of racing and the new fiscal year, the room suddenly plunged into complete darkness– the chandeliers had gone out, and no light came through the windows, for it was a cloudy, moonless night.

Their sense of sight smothered, the assembled members simply heard a shout, the crashing of glass, and, through the now-broken window, a loud thud followed immediately by the sound of a boat engine driving into the night. Panicked screams and sobbed questions flooded the room.

A minute later, the lights turned on again, revealing a tragic scene. Half the crowd were gathered where Giovanni had just been standing. The room was exactly as it had been just moments before, except for two horrible differences. Firstly, the huge window overlooking the Grand Canal was completely shattered. Secondly, and more importantly, Giovanni and the priceless family jewels he’d been wearing were nowhere to be seen… Dio mio!