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The Red Corner: Moscow 1956

Murder Mystery Game Rules

Players: 12 Duration: 4-6 hours Setting: Underground Speakeasy "The Red Corner" in Moscow, Winter 1956 Genre: Film Noir • Russian Mafia • Murder Mystery

🎭 OVERVIEW

You are members of the Vory V Zakone (Thieves-in-Law), the elite Russian criminal brotherhood operating in post-Stalin Moscow. Tonight, at your secret speakeasy "The Red Corner," one of your own has been murdered.

Alice Volkov, Senior Enforcer, has been found dead—killed by a sub-dermal injection of potassium cyanide. The murderer is among you.

Your goals:

  1. Discover who killed Alice (and why)
  2. Complete your secret objectives (steal props, deliver items, protect secrets)
  3. Keep your own secrets hidden (or use them to blackmail others)

📋 SETUP (Before Game Starts)

Game Master Preparation:

  1. Print Materials:
  1. Prepare Physical Props:
  1. Set Up Venue:
  1. Crime Scene:

Player Preparation:

  1. Read your Character Dossier (private—don't share!)
  2. Memorize your:

⏰ GAME FLOW

Phase 1: Introduction (15 minutes)

Game Master announces:
"Tonight is February 8th, 1956. You are gathered at The Red Corner, your secret speakeasy in Moscow. The Vory V Zakone has called an emergency meeting. But something is wrong..."
"At 3:15 AM, Alice Volkov, Senior Enforcer, was found dead in the main room. She was murdered approximately 90 minutes ago—around 1:37 AM. The doors are locked. The killer is among us."
Rules for this phase:

Phase 2: Investigation (90-120 minutes)

This is the main game phase. Players can:

A. Search for Clues

How to find clues: Clue Tiers: Note: Some clues are RED HERRINGS (misleading)!

B. Complete Objectives

Each character has 3 secret objectives:

Example Objective:
"Steal the photograph of Viktor from Bob's locked desk drawer and deliver it to Sergei"
How to complete:
  1. Go to the location (roleplay this!)
  2. Find the prop (GM confirms if you find it)
  3. Take it without being caught
  4. Deliver to target (if required)
If Someone Catches You: Success Conditions:

C. Interrogate Other Characters

How to interrogate: Lying Rules:

D. Use Relationships for Blackmail

Your dossier shows your relationships with other characters:

How to use relationships:

E. Form Alliances and Accusations

Phase 3: The Accusation (30-45 minutes)

After 2 hours of investigation, GM calls everyone together:

Round-Robin Accusations:
  1. Each player states who they think the murderer is (and why)
  2. Present evidence (clues found)
  3. Explain motive and method
  4. Others can challenge or support
Voting: The Reveal:

Phase 4: Scoring (Optional - 15 minutes)

Points for Players:
  1. Solving the Murder:
  1. Objectives Completed:
  1. Secrets Kept:
  1. Clues Found:
Winner: Player with most points!

🎭 ROLEPLAYING GUIDELINES

Stay in Character:

Drama and Conflict:

Spotlight Moments:

Physical Acting (Optional):

🔐 SECRET MANAGEMENT

Your Secrets:

Each character has 3 secrets with tiers:

When to Reveal Secrets:

You MUST reveal a secret if: You SHOULD reveal a secret if: Never reveal voluntarily unless strategic!

Blackmail:

How to blackmail someone:
  1. Discover their secret (through investigation or dossier)
  2. Confront them privately
  3. Demand: Help with objective, information, alibi, or silence
  4. They comply... or call your bluff!
Counter-Blackmail:

📍 VENUE LOCATIONS

Main Areas:

  1. Crime Scene (Center of speakeasy)
  1. Back Office
  1. Storage Room
  1. Coat Room
  1. Bar Area
  1. Private Corners (for secret conversations)

Hidden Spots (for clues):

🎯 WINNING STRATEGIES

For Investigators:

  1. Search systematically (all locations)
  2. Compare notes with others (but verify—they might lie!)
  3. Look for connections between clues and characters
  4. Pay attention to who has KGB connections (Fiona!)
  5. Follow the cyanide: Who had access?

For Objectives:

  1. Create distractions (accuse someone loudly)
  2. Team up—have someone watch while you steal
  3. Use relationships—blackmail for help
  4. Plan your route and timing
  5. Have your excuse ready!

For the Murderer (Fiona):

  1. Act shocked and grieving
  2. Point suspicion at others
  3. "Find" red herrings and highlight them
  4. Destroy or hide real clues if possible
  5. Use your secrets to deflect attention
  6. Your brother being KGB informant is your downfall—hide this!

🎪 GAME MASTER TIPS

Pacing:

Revealing Clues:

Handling Conflicts:

Creating Drama:

If Players Are Stuck:

📜 QUICK REFERENCE

Murder Details:

Key Evidence (Real Clues):

  1. KGB Cipher Paper in Fiona's cigar box
  2. Cyanide residue on ventilation ducts
  3. Silver needle with Fiona's fingerprints
  4. Ledger entry tracing to Fiona's business
  5. Photo of Fiona with KGB officer
  6. Alice's notebook with design Fiona wanted
  7. Tattoo code showing Fiona marked Alice as betrayer

Red Herrings (False Leads):

🎬 ENDING THE GAME

After the Reveal:

  1. Applause for the Murderer!
  1. Debrief:
  1. Calculate Scores (if using points)
  1. Photos!
  1. After-Party Discussion:

🍷 OPTIONAL ENHANCEMENTS

Costumes:

Props:

Atmosphere:

Food/Drink:

Language:

⚠️ SAFETY AND BOUNDARIES

Lines and Veils:

Common Sensitive Topics:

X-Card System:

Check-Ins:

📞 QUESTIONS DURING PLAY?

Rules Question: Character Question: Clue Question:

🏆 ALTERNATIVE WIN CONDITIONS

Instead of (or in addition to) points, consider:

  1. Murderer Wins: If Fiona evades accusation (not majority vote)
  2. Objective Champion: Most objectives completed
  3. Secret Keeper: All secrets still hidden
  4. Drama King/Queen: Most dramatic performance (voted by players)
  5. Best Detective: Correctly identified murderer + evidence

🎭 MEMORABLE QUOTES TO USE

Set the mood with these Vory-themed phrases:
Enjoy your murder mystery! May the best detective—or manipulator—win! 🎭🔍 Generated by Artefactum Mystery Game Pipeline Groq GPT-OSS-120B • 2026-01-10