Casino Fatale Info Packet

7:00 PM sharp

2909 Harcourt Dr
Decatur, GA 30033

Introduction

Welcome, gamblers! This is a live-action murder mystery party. You and the other guests will each play a character in a story written by Evan and Emma. Following are the rules of the game, background information on the story, and a list of each of the characters involved. The details of your specific character are on a separate page (the Character Sheet) that you should have received a link to.

During the evening, you portray your character. You dress like them, act like them, and work to achieve their goals. At some point during the evening, a character will be murdered. It’s up to you to uncover the murderer in your midst. The murderer will try to deflect suspicion away from themselves.

Please do not share any information about your character with other guests (beyond your character’s name) before the event starts. You might reveal plot lines and spoil everyone’s fun.

Rules

The Director is Always Right

Evan and Emma are the Directors of the game. They will not play characters. Instead, they will work behind the scenes to make sure that the game runs smoothly. They are the only people who know the web of intrigue they’ve spun, so they don’t have to explain their decisions.

Stay in Character

Keep in character, as if you were portraying a character in a movie, with the cameras rolling. It helps you and the other guests immerse yourselves in the story.

Secrets Are Fun

Secrets are more fun when you use them. Use the secrets you know to uncover more of the intrigue in the game and achieve your objectives. If you just hold them close to your chest, you’ll miss out on a lot.

Make Things Up

Your objectives as listed on your Character Sheet aren’t the only things to do. You may come up with new goals as you discover more of the story.

Check Your Messages

Evan and Emma may need to send you a discrete message to move the story along. Keep your phone on you and try not to miss our texts.

The Background

The Coyote Hotel and Casino

The Coyote sits on the South end of the Las Vegas strip flaunting a huge neon sign and a neo-Renaissance façade. City records say it’s been there since 1978. But if you ask anyone who’s spent a night inside, it’s an instution as old as gambling itself. The Sforza family has owned it since the beginning.

As storied as the Coyote is, stories don’t pay the bills. Lately, the Coyote’s been in a bit of a slump as the younger crowds flock to its newer, flashier neighbors on the Strip. Kids these days, they don’t even know how to play craps, or roulette for that matter! Vito Sforza had to make a tough decision last year: shut the Coyote down, or try to bring in some new money to keep it afloat, at the cost of yielding some of the famiglia’s control.

Brownstone Capital

By popular demand, or perhaps by his own sentimentality, Vito opted for the latter. Enter Brownstone Capital, a New York City-based Private Equity firm headed by Melinda Davenport. Executed by operating partner Prentice Hayward, Brownstone’s changes were swift and sweeping. They banned smoking and lifted Vito’s no-ZYN policy. They fired dealers that had worked there 20 years, and hired cheap kids who just got their licenses. They stopped stocking the good Cognac and started mixing fruity drinks Vito hadn’t even heard of. Soon enough, the zoomers started to pour in, and the Coyote was saved. But at what cost?

The Characters

Abel Ellis, played by Rylan

• Abel is a famous singer known for his unique fusion of R&B and Country and four-quadrant appeal.
• Abel recently started a permanent residency at the Coyote following the end of Deborah Day’s decade-long run.
• Abel and Tarantino Davenport are best friends.

Deborah Day, played by Genevieve

• Deborah is a distinguished stand-up comedian known for her sharp wit and history of breaking industry gender barriers.
• Deborah recently finished a decade-long residency at the Coyote.
• Five years ago, she lost her husband in a car crash. She promptly dismissed rumors that she had something to do with it.

Sonny Caruso, played by Luka

• Sonny is the manager of the Coyote. He’s got eyes on everyone.
• Casino managers are not known for treating their workers well, and Sonny is no exception.
• Sonny’s not in the famiglia himself. He does it all for the love of the game, not loyalty.

Vito Sforza, played by Davis

• Vito and his family are the longtime owners of the Coyote Hotel and Casino.
• Vito’s uncle is the boss of the Sforza crime family, but Vito’s allegedly the one running the streets.
• Nicky is Vito’s right-hand man.

Nicky Vane, played by Gabe

• Nicky is Vito’s enforcer. Rumor has it he’s a made man.
• Nicky’s known around town as a dangerous guy.
• Deborah Day’s late husband was a member of Nicky’s crew before he died in a car crash five years ago.

Prentice Hayward, played by Kieran

• Prentice is an operating partner at Brownstone Capital. He’s trying to make the casino more appealing to modern audiences.
• Prentice is demoing a new digital slot machine game tonight.
• Prentice idolizes his boss, Melinda Davenport.

Melinda Davenport, played by Courtney

• Melinda is the matriarch of Brownstone Capital, a very successful PE (Private Equity) firm.
• Melinda’s son is Tarantino Davenport.

Tarantino Davenport, played by Jude

• Tarantino is the wealthy son of Melinda Davenport.
• Tarantino works with his mother at Brownstone Capital.
• Abel is his best friend.

Thalia Reeves, played by Caroline

• Thalia is an account manager blowing off some steam after a long day at the annual Salesforce Summit held across the street.
• Thalia loves a Kir Royale when it’s made well.

Greg Jamison, played by Jack

• Greg is a charismatic pastor who serves a large non-denominational Protestant congregation. Mostly via YouTube Shorts.
• While some find his glamorous lifestyle offensive, Greg has a kind heart deep down.

Paige Posey & Beatrice Basil, played by Adèlé and Nealie

• Ever since they met in the clink, Paige and Beatrice have been best friends, two peas in a pod.
• Paige and Beatrice lost a chunk of change the last time they were at the Coyote.

Tyler Williams, played by Baylen

• Tyler plays point guard for the Phoenix Suns. At tonight’s game earlier against the Lakers, he had to limp off the court with a sprained ankle only 9 minutes in.
• Tyler and Clara met at the Coyote two weeks ago and fell madly in love. Tyler popped the question last night, and she said yes.

Clara Hollow, played by Bella

• Clara works as a psychic fortune teller providing entertainment at the Coyote.
• Mysteriously enough, Clara’s fortunes come true quite often. Some even suspect she’s the real deal.
• Clara and Tyler are engaged.

Tiffany Schwartz, played by Anna

• Tiffany is a reality television icon. She hosts a talk show called “Tiff’s Take” and has millions of fans.
• Tiffany is a regular high-roller at the Coyote.

Diana Woods, played by Lucy

• Diana is the Clark County Commissioner representing District E (the Vegas strip).
• Diana’s daughter slipped off a balcony last weekend and is still in a coma.
• Diana is up for reelection in November. Currently, she is unopposed.
• Some suspect she has mob connections. But in Vegas politics, who doesn’t?

Pike Ferrero, played by Ezi

• Pike works as a dealer at the Coyote.
• It’s Pike’s first week on the job, so he might not get everything right.
• Prentice laid off Hank the janitor (“redundancies”), so Sonny makes Pike clean the toilets now too.

Serena Slaughter, played by Blair

• Serena has tended bar at the Coyote for years. She knows how to make a mean Vesper.
• Serena’s no-nonsense attitude has made her butt heads with Sonny and Nicky before.