Westiny's Wurder Wystery
WANTED: DEAD or ALIVE
Time to round up the usual suspects for a night of murder, mystery, and moonshine!
*read till the end for murder mystery backstory!
The Details
Dress Code
Your character brief will have your specific dress code, but if in doubt come in Western best!
Think cowboy boots, handlebar moustaches, toy pistols. The more props the better!
Time & Date
Head to the Gravestone Saloon (Apres Surf in Burleigh Heads) on July 19th, 2024 at 5:30pm!
RSVP: Please let me know you're coming by submitting this form if you haven't already!
I will need to allocate characters to everyone so please let me know if your attendance changes 🙂
Bar Tab​
To get everyone there on time, I'll be putting on a BAR TAB for the first round of the game!
Get there at 5:30pm on the dot for some drinks and pre-round games!
First in, best dressed.
I've Never Played A Murder Mystery Before
Here’s the hoedown:
I’ll be sending you out a character brief that will have your character on it with dress code and props. That’s all you need to do to prepare!Â
On the night there will be 3 rounds. Each round you will have clues with motives and people to speak to identify who the murderer is.
Throughout the night a victim will be murdered and murderer will be revealed!Â
The Timeline
Prep & Warm Up Games
Arrive at 5:30pm for shenanigans and free drinks! There will be plenty of photo ops to get in prior to the murder mystery roll out.
Time: 5:30pm - 6:00pm
Rounds & Side Quests
Round 1: Start at 6:00 sharp. This is your opportunity to speak to your suspects and set the scene.
Round 2: A murder happens, and you start to identify who the murderer is.
Round 3: The big reveal! WHODUNIT? You'll find out!
Time: 6:00pm - 9:00pm ish
After Party
Starting from 9:30, all murder mystery games will be fully finished. By this time I expect everyone to be properly hyped and ready for a full hoedown on the d floor!
The Back Story
The presiding mayor of Gravestone, Arizona, must live in constant fear, for an unidentified killer has put bullet holes in the previous three sheriffs’ backs. As a result, Gravestone is a lawless town run by a ruthless gang known as The Ranchers.Â
The famous Wylie Arp retired early as the Duck City, Kansas, sheriff. Wylie is one of the most feared lawmen in the United States—a legend in his own right. He left his life as a law enforcer and traveled west toward Gravestone with his brothers and friends, planning to sink his life savings into a business in what he believed to be a quiet and safe town. He intended to live the rest of his days stress-free as a civilian, but little did he know what awaited him in Gravestone.Â
The mayor caught wind of Wylie’s arrival and immediately requested that Bella Starry invite the town for a celebration. The mayor hopes that Wylie and his brothers will consider taking over Gravestone’s law enforcement. Moreover, with Wylie’s untarnished reputation, the mayor hopes it will be easy for him to get The Ranchers under control – or, better yet – run them out of town. Â
Wylie has a few days to settle in and get a feel for the town before everyone gathers for an exciting night at the Gravestone Saloon. Unfortunately, the sheriff’s station is collecting dust, so it will be impossible to prevent The Ranchers or other outlaws from attending the event.
Not everything is doom and gloom, however. An elder in town has divulged that secret codes hidden around the city will lead to buried treasure in the Gravestone Cave on the outskirts of town. Many folks are already hunting for these codes but have yet to be discovered. The hunt has kept the outlaws busy, which has been good for the town.
Nevertheless, Bella Starry has an agenda to keep everyone happy during the gathering: festive beverages, delicious food, and a few Wild West party games. So, hopefully, everyone will keep their guns holstered and be on their best behavior. But the question is—will Wylie help Gravestone or slip away in the night to move on to the next town?Â
You plan to attend the celebration at the Gravestone Saloon.
This is where your story begins.
Get Ready for the Wild Wild West
Saddle up, partner! Dust off those boots and get ready to kick up some clues.Â
Guest List
Waitress at the Gravestone Saloon
A recent widow, Bella Starry grew up on a Pug Valley farm in West Virginia. She was a member of the infamous Hatplain family amid a lethal feud over property lines with their Kentucky neighbors, the McToys. On one side, Bella is an educated lady and an accomplished piano player. On her other side, she’s a notorious outlaw who has served time in federal prison for horse thievery and stagecoach robberies. After getting out of prison, Bella married a Native American man and lived with their tribe in Oklahoma. However, she was widowed soon afterward. She moved to Gravestone six months ago to get a fresh start.Â
Suggested attire: A mock corset western saloon dress with a hair feather piece and Amelia black boots. An alternative option is a western-style dress & cowboy hat/boots. A fake gun is an optional prop.
Co-Owner of the Gravestone Saloon
An ex-lawman from Duck City, Wylie Arp recently moved to Gravestone with his brothers and long-time flame, Josephine Marco. Wylie is a Civil War veteran who desperately needs a change of pace and a more relaxing way of life. He recently gave up his twenty-year career as sheriff of Duck County to become the co-owner of the Gravestone Saloon. Wylie has made it clear that he doesn’t intend to be a lawman again.
Suggested attire:Â A black duster coat with a vest, a holster, and cowboy hats/boots. A (gunslinger) handlebar mustache is an optional accessory, and fake guns are optional props.
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 California Gold Rush Entrepreneur & Girlfriend of Wylie Arp
Josephine Marco made a fortune as an entrepreneur in the California Gold Rush when she was only fifteen. She later traveled in her stagecoach through the Wild West, searching for the next booming town. She eventually met her true love, Wylie Arp. Ever since these two met, they’ve been inseparable. She’s the main reason Wylie left his career as the Duck City Sheriff. They moved to Gravestone to settle down, get married, and raise a family.
Suggested attire:Â Rhinestone western shirt, blue jeans, cowboy hat/boots. Gun holsters with fake guns as optional props.
 Exhibition Sharpshooter
Abby Oakley is a feisty exhibition sharpshooter in Bronco Bill’s Traveling Wild Western Show. Known by her show’s fans as Abby Sure Shot, she is rumored to be able to shoot the ashes off a cigar from across the room! However, Abby has recently become quite intolerable due to her egocentricity.
Suggested attire:Â Lace-up faux buckskin cowgirl dress, cowboy hat, fake rifle /guns, and cowboy boots.
Doctor & Co-Owner of the Gravestone Saloon
Doc Galaday is Wylie Arp’s right-hand man. Doc rides the fence on both sides of the law. His reputation has made him a terror in the hearts of the lawless. Doc is a physician by trade, but his tuberculosis has drastically reduced his patients. He often supplements his income with gambling.
Suggested attire: A black duster coat with a vest, a holster, and cowboy hats/boots. A (gunslinger) handlebar mustache is an optional accessory. Fake guns are optional props.
 Waitress at the Gravestone Saloon
Katie Fishman helped put the wild in the phrase the Wild West! As Doc Galaday’s longtime girlfriend, she’s also struggled to stay on the right side of the law. Doc’s solid friendship with the ex-lawman Wylie Arp has proven to be a positive force with this pair. However, Katie has a rather shady past. She was initially from Gravestone and used to date Wavy Will Bronchus as a teenager. After breaking up with him, she moved in with her aunt and uncle in Duck City. That’s when she met Doc Galaday. She refuses to talk about her former flame with her boyfriend and worries about what Doc will do when he discovers the truth!Â
Suggested attire: A mock corset western saloon dress with a hair feather piece and Amelia black boots. Another option is to wear a western-style dress & cowboy hat/boots. A fake gun is an optional prop.
Leader of The Ranchers
Wavy Will Bronchus is the leader of the loosely organized criminal faction called The Ranchers. A sorted group of cattle rustlers, thieves, and even murderers, this group has invaded the now lawless town of Gravestone. The townsfolk have high hopes that Wylie Arp can reinstate law and order on the streets, but Wavy Will has vowed never to let that happen.
Suggested attire: Stetson hat, leather vest bandanas, spurs, and buckskins with a fake revolver as an optional prop. (Gunslinger) handlebar mustache as an optional accessory.
American Outlaw
The poetic James Jesse has always veered on the wrong side of the law since he could walk! He’s a member of the Jesse-Young gang, comprising a band of brothers. During the Civil War, he engaged in guerilla warfare. Today, there’s a huge reward offered for his capture by the U.S. government for his many crimes of bank robbing, horse thievery, and murder.
Suggested attire:  Stetson hat, leather vest bandanas, spurs, and buckskins with a fake revolver as an optional prop. (Gunslinger) handlebar mustache as an optional accessory.
U.S. Army Scout
The tall-tale-telling Calamity Janie is a force to be reckoned with! A Former Great Plains cattle herder turned U.S. scout, this rugged lady used to be a trick shooter in Bronco Bill’s traveling Wild Western Show. You should never double-cross her, as she’s not called Calamity Janie for nothing.
Suggested attire:Â A brown duster coat with a vest, a holster, and cowboy hats or boots. Fake guns are optional props.
 Traveling Entertainer
Bronco Bill always had a knack for the arts. He’s a cool, self-contained individual with a great sense of humor. He’s assembled a nomadic brigade of entertainers called Bronco Bill’s Traveling Wild Western Show.  His troupe travels around the U.S. to perform their eclectic show of bronco riding, roping, trick shooting, and even Civil War reenactments.
Suggested attire:Â A brown duster coat with a vest, a holster, and cowboy hats or boots. An optional accessory is a (gunslinger) handlebar mustache.
Girlfriend of Hutch Cassaday
Posey Bassett is Hutch Cassaday’s girlfriend. She grew up on a large ranch in Utah and attended a prominent boarding school for a few years before dropping out to return to her father’s ranch. Her father does business with the outlaws of the Wild West by supplying them with beef and fresh horses. Posey was destined to end up on the wrong side of the law.
Suggested attire: Gunslinger costume with cowboy boots. Fake guns and a cowboy hat are optional props.
Leader of the ‘Rowdy Bunch’
Hutch Cassaday would rather engage in a gunfight than have a civil conversation. He’s an unstable outlaw of the Wild West and the leader of a newly-formed gang of outlaws called The Rowdy Bunch. Hutch has recently been released from the Wyoming State Prison, where he served time for horse thievery and running a protection racket among the local ranchers in Wyoming.
Suggested attire: An Old West-style vintage 3-piece suit and a derby hat. A handlebar mustache is an optional accessory. Fake guns are optional props.
American Civil Rights Leader
Suzanne B. Anthony is a determined American civil rights leader traveling across the Wild West to give speeches on women’s rights. She has devoted her life to the cause for American women to have equal rights with men and to be allowed to vote. In 1869, she created the National Women’s Suffrage Association, the first organization to gain women’s right to vote. Suzanne has the courage and tenacity to overcome any hurdle.
Suggested attire:Â Vintage Old West day dress with hair slicked back into a bun.
Deputy U.S. Marshal for the Arizona Territory
Virgo Arp, Wylie Arp’s older brother, has spent his entire adult life in American law enforcement. He served in the Union Army during the Civil War before he became a U.S. Marshal for the Arizona Territory. He has been visiting Gravestone with his wife since his brother Wylie moved there. Virgo is not known for his tolerance of outlaws and always gets his man.
Suggested attire:Â *One arm is to be bandaged up &/or in a sling since you were shot yesterday.
Wild West bounty hunter/gunslinger costume with a fake U.S. Marshal badge and fake guns.
 Seamstress & Wife of Virgo Arp
Elvira grew up in Colorado. As a young woman, she met, fell in love with, and married a Union Army officer named Virgo Arp during her family’s travels. She is currently visiting Gravestone with her husband. By trade, she is a seamstress and loves to dress up in her best creations. She often hangs around saloons to show off her garments and enjoy the nightlife. This Western diva is also a known compulsive gambler.
Suggested attire:Â A saloon dress, Lucille walking suit, or anything trendy for the late 1800s. Amelia boots and a fake gun are optional props.
Detective, Pinkertoon Agency
Dom Horn is the top detective at the Pinkertoon Detective Agency. His motto is ‘I Don’t Sleep’ and is often hired by the U.S. Army to retrieve elusive outlaws. The Pinkertoons is a private U.S. Security Guard and Detective Agency that provides security guards, military contract work, bounty hunting, and private investigation services. Currently, there are more agents in the Pinkertoon Agency than in the standing army of the US!
Suggested attire:Â Men Pinkertoon Detectives: Old West style vintage 3-piece suit.
Women Pinkertoon Detectives: Old West Style walking jacket and skirt, Amelia boots.
Fake guns and Pinkertoon badges as optional props.
Farmer and Aspiring Writer
Laura Wilder moved from various rural communities in the Midwest, finally settling down with her family in the peaceful town of Gravestone. Her past is sprinkled with crop failures, fires, and illnesses, but she claims these hardships have only made her stronger. She has recently started writing for a local farming magazine and plans on writing a series of books in the future.
Suggested attire: A saloon dress, Lucille Walking Suit, or anything trendy for the late 1800s. Amelia boots and a fake gun are optional props.Â
Singer at the Gravestone Saloon
Victoria McMurtry is a long-time performer at the Gravestone Saloon. Victoria was overcome with enjoyment upon hearing that Bronco Bill’s Traveling Wild Western Show was making its way toward Gravestone! Victoria dreams of joining this infamous traveling show and leaving Gravestone’s turmoil in her dust!
Suggested attire: A saloon dress, Lucille walking suit, or anything trendy for the late 1800s. Amelia boots and a fake gun are optional props.Â
Owner, Red River Fur Traders
 With extensive knowledge of the Northwest terrain and his ability to make relationships with Native Americans, Sir Norman McDermot has grown his fur trading company to be an expansive operation in Northern America! Sir McDermot has a hardnosed team of loyal fur traders who travel with him across the land in search of new trapping grounds and Native American tribes to increase their fur trade markets.Â
Suggested attire: Old West style vintage 3-piece suit. Faux fur pelts/attire are optional props.
Medicine WomanÂ
White Deer is a traditional Native American healer with the ability to summon the help of the spirit world when she needs to render aid to her community. White Deer left her tribe long ago and signed on as the hardworking healer for the traveling variety act Bronco Bill’s Traveling Wild Western Show.
 Suggested attire: Faux leather/suede dress with fringe and bead details. Straight hair in pigtail braids. Â
Traveling Entertainer
Standing Bull is a former tribal chief who gave up his leadership reign to join the nomadic brigade of entertainers called Bronco Bill’s Traveling Wild Western Show. He is a highly loyal and humanitarian man until you double-cross him. That is when you’ll see his wild side rise to the surface.
Suggested attire:Â A beige or brown faux suede shirt or pants with fringe, brown shoes or sandals, and a toy tomahawk, which is an optional accessory.Â
Traveling Entertainer
Lilly Smith is a performer with the nomadic brigade of entertainers called the Bronco Bill’s Traveling Wild Western Show. Thus far, the fans haven’t noticed her, as she can’t seem to evade the huge shadow behind the star of the show – Abby Oakley. Lilly is known to be pretentious and flashy but lacks the skills to back up her personality.
Suggested attire: Lace-up faux buckskin cowgirl dress, cowboy hat, fake rifle, and cowboy boots.
Gunsmith, Ace’s Trade House
Ace Angus owns Ace’s Trade House, a gun shop in Gravestone. Ace knows everything there is to know about guns and has undergone many gunfights with The Ranchers, a band of outlaws who’ve been taking over the town. Ace hasn’t lost a fight yet, but his close friends know his day is coming unless Gravestone can return to law and order.
Suggested attire: A brown duster coat with a vest, a holster, and cowboy hats or boots. A (gunslinger) handlebar mustache is an optional accessory.
Traveling Gambler
Seward Filmore is a true gentleman. He’s a former U.S. Marshal and U.S. Army scout. After an unfair gunfight with another lawman over a lady, he retired from his law career. He ended up with a career-ending injury to his leg but soon found an unknown talent with gambling. Seward travels across the country, winning huge pots from the biggest gaming tables.
 Suggested attire: White shirt, satin vest, arm garter, and bow tie. Optional to wear a cowboy hat.
 Saloon Girl at the Gravestone Saloon
Mabel Bly is a dedicated saloon girl at the Gravestone Saloon. She keeps the peace between the cowboys and outlaws, or at least one of her duties is keeping the patrons civil. Mabel has wanted to escape Gravestone since The Ranchers took over but doesn’t have the means to leave.
Suggested attire:Â A mock corset western saloon dress with a hair feather piece and Amelia Black boots.
Poker Elly is an infamous poker player in Gravestone. Originally hailing from England, she is the daughter of an inflexible and conservative schoolmaster. Her family moved to America when she was young, and she was raised in a proper boarding school. She rebelled against her family’s beliefs about gambling and headed west to earn her fortune. Elly has dreams of opening a gaming saloon one day and wishes to name it The Poker Palace.
 Suggested attire: Wild West cowgirl attire. Cute cowboy hat and glitzy cowboy boots. Playing cards in your pocket(s) as optional props.