Investigation & Clues Tables

🔍 Clue Types (d20)

Different types of clues investigators might discover.

d20	Clue Type
1	Witness testimony (reliable, corroborated by others)
2	Physical trace evidence (hair, fibers, unusual substance)
3	Photograph or video footage (partial, unclear but real)
4	Audio recording (EVP, strange sounds, voices)
5	Historical records (newspaper clippings, old reports)
6	Personal journal or diary entry (victim or witness)
7	Symbol or marking (occult, ritualistic, repeating pattern)
8	Electromagnetic readings (EMF spikes, unexplained signals)
9	Temperature anomalies (cold spots, heat signatures)
10	Footprints or tracks (unusual size, pattern, or origin)
11	Blood or biological sample (doesn't match known species)
12	Timeline inconsistency (events don't match up logically)
13	Expert testimony (mythology, folklore, scientific analysis)
14	Security camera footage (showing impossible events)
15	Pattern in timing (always same time, date, lunar cycle)
16	Victim's possessions (showing evidence of research or fear)
17	Local legend or folklore (matching current events exactly)
18	Dreams or visions (multiple people sharing same imagery)
19	Geographic pattern (events forming shape on map)
20	Ancient text or prophecy (predicting current events)

Physical items and traces left at scenes.

d20	Evidence
1	Strange residue that glows under UV light
2	Claw marks too large for any known animal
3	Burned symbols on floor or walls
4	Ectoplasm-like substance that evaporates
5	Teeth or bone fragments of unknown origin
6	Handwritten notes in multiple handwritings from one person
7	Flowers that bloom out of season, unnaturally
8	Mirror with image burned into surface
9	Watches and clocks all stopped at same time
10	Photographs that develop showing things not seen
11	Clothing with impossible tears or burns
12	Ritual components (candles, chalk, ingredients)
13	Ancient artifact recently unearthed
14	Victim's hair turned white overnight
15	Electronic device with impossible data
16	Animal carcasses arranged in pattern
17	Books with pages torn to specific passages
18	Soil or plant matter from impossible location
19	Metal objects melted despite no heat source
20	Child's toy that operates without batteries

Different types of witness testimonies and their reliability.

d20	Witness Type & Testimony
1	Child witness - detailed but dismissed by adults
2	Multiple witnesses - same story, clearly scared
3	Authority figure - saw something, covering it up
4	Elderly person - similar event decades ago
5	Skeptic - reluctantly admits seeing impossible thing
6	Drunk/impaired - story dismissed but accurate
7	Security guard - footage exists but is being hidden
8	Victim survivor - traumatized, fragmented memory
9	Anonymous tip - detailed knowledge, won't come forward
10	Expert witness - explains away but doubts own explanation
11	Conspiracy theorist - mostly crazy but one detail right
12	Pet owner - animal behavior warning of events
13	Night shift worker - sees things others miss
14	Outsider - new to town, notices what locals ignore
15	Local historian - connects to past events
16	Delivery driver - unusual observations while working
17	Teacher - noticed changes in student behavior
18	Doctor/nurse - unusual injuries or symptoms
19	Maintenance worker - found evidence in unusual place
20	Former victim - it happened to them years ago

False leads and distractions that waste investigation time.

d20	Red Herring
1	Suspicious person with alibi (actually innocent)
2	Unrelated crime happening simultaneously
3	Prankster creating false evidence for attention
4	Mental illness mistaken for possession
5	Natural phenomenon appearing supernatural
6	Local legend that doesn't apply to current case
7	Con artist exploiting supernatural fears
8	Unrelated old evidence from previous event
9	Misidentified mundane object or animal
10	Witness lying for insurance/legal reasons
11	Drug-induced hallucination shared by group
12	Marketing stunt for upcoming movie/game
13	Kid's elaborate prank gone too far
14	Technology malfunction appearing paranormal
15	Sleepwalking explained unusual behavior
16	Weather phenomenon causing odd effects
17	Carbon monoxide causing shared hallucinations
18	False memory from power of suggestion
19	Unrelated person acting suspiciously for different reason
20	Investigator's equipment malfunction creating false reading

Problems that arise during investigation to create tension.

d20	Complication
1	Authority figure orders investigation stopped
2	Time pressure - another incident predicted soon
3	Key witness refuses to talk or disappears
4	Evidence destroyed by fire/water/theft
5	Investigators become targets of entity
6	Town conspiracy to hide the truth
7	Rival investigator group interfering
8	Legal trouble - trespassing, breaking and entering
9	Media attention making investigation public
10	Personal connection to case creates bias
11	Weather making physical investigation impossible
12	Equipment failure at critical moment
13	Betrayal by trusted ally or informant
14	False lead wastes days of investigation
15	Copycat incident confuses the pattern
16	Witness dies before providing key information
17	Location of evidence scheduled for demolition
18	Investigator's credibility attacked publicly
19	Two separate supernatural events occurring simultaneously
20	Entity can manipulate evidence and memories

Moments when investigation suddenly makes progress.

d20	Breakthrough
1	Pattern in timing reveals next incident location
2	Elder shares key piece of local history
3	Hidden journal found with detailed notes
4	All clues suddenly connect, revealing truth
5	Witness comes forward with missing piece
6	Ancient text provides exact solution
7	Expert interprets symbol/clue correctly
8	Location of entity's lair discovered
9	Weakness of creature identified
10	Source of curse/power revealed
11	Key object's location discovered
12	Ally with inside knowledge appears
13	Scientific analysis confirms supernatural
14	Geographic pattern shows connection
15	Historical records reveal precedent
16	Dream/vision provides accurate information
17	Enemy makes mistake, reveals identity
18	Code or cipher cracked
19	Previous victim survived, can help
20	Insider decides to defect and help