GM Silbeg's "Murder on the Throaty Mermaid" (Inactive)

Game Master Silbeg

"You know, my good friends Miro and Finarin couldn't be more right in this case. I can't believe you would be so stubborn as to eschew the opportunity to prove your innocence. All we really need to know is your whereabouts at the time of the murder and attack, and if anyone can verify your alibi."

If we cannot get this stubborn priest to respond, Cyrus will resort to intimidation tactics again, but this will be a last resort. I will lean on my companions to aid in the effort, if it truly is necessary.

So, the intimidation is on! Going with our rules, I am rolling all interaction, based on what I think it should be...

"Fine, fine. You win. You and your swords have convinced me.

"Dunno about anyone else. I know the cook has been poisoning everyone's food, but I don't really care... Besmara protects me from that."

And you saved the best roll for last! Woohoo! I might just take this anger/intimidation thing down a dark little side-path for Cyrus. Could be an interesting little extra bit to his personality that would be fun as I slowly reveal more backstory... Because that kind of repressed anger has to come from somewhere right?

Cyrus rolls his eyes in slight frustration at the circles his companions seem to be going in. As quickly as the group is done getting their answers Ask away if anyone has any more, he didn't answer whether or not anyone can verify his alibi He urges everyone to move on to the last two crew members to interrogate. With the storm rolling in, it seems imperative to get as many answers as possible before it hits, so the group can digest all of the information at hand.

"Stop trying to pin this on Snig. He has an alibi, the dirty little pervert, and a wererat wouldn't use a dagger, I'd think," Lort has no reason to know what a wererat would or wouldn't use, but he can't imagine it would be anything other than tooth and claw, "Anera was actually poisoned, Veane was above decks, Mallick was talking with him, the beastmaster was half asleep witnessing the two culprits destroying the evidence, Azuretta was abed with Thanzeril, Shira was asleep instead of cleaning that abomination she calls a kitchen (and the two suspects were male and human sized in any case)... and all these accounts have corroboration. That just leaves you and Ulamon. Since there were two conspirators, what say we just get this over with?"

Lort raises his greatsword and enters a combat stance. He makes no move to attack unless Killik does.

Miro snorts in disgust. This was a ship filled with wretched people, truly. Having no more desire to be around this one, he anxiously awaits questioning the last of the suspects.

"Thank you for speaking up, Killik," the old man says with a smile. "Except, based on your own words, it appears that you have just admitted to us that you have no alibi. As you said, you were in bed all night. However, In order for your alibi to be a legitimate, someone must be able corroborate what you've said."

Ibid steps a little closer to the cleric and tries to speak without sounding upset or angry, hopefully masking his true frustrations. "Can anyone verify what you have just told us? That you were in fact in bed all night, and more specifically, when the murder occurred?"

"As I said, Anera can tell you I was here, since she was here all night. Don't know if Ulamon was here, he usually is. There was enough snoring that I believe the dwarf was there. Yeah, I am sure they can vouch that I was in here, I usually spend most my time here, anyways.

"Ulamon, though, he probably has the best reason for killing the elf. In case you didn't know, his previous ship, the Polished Barnacle was sunk by Mordant Spire elves, and he has promised that he would get even with them."

Killik looks at you all, and sneers, "Maybe you all should go talk to Ulamon, then. It sounds like either someone is pulling the wool over your eyes, or you've missed something. You say there were at least two people involved, but I wasn't one of them. Where's the profit in that?"

At that he turns around, walks back to his bunk. "So, looks like a couple of you could use some mending spells... Did you have a little run in with a crustacean? "

"Bah!" says Lort, lowering his weapon, I really hoped this toe rag would just attack or spill the beans, "I'll mend it myself, thank you. Keep your spells and your greedy little hands to yourself," Lort turns to his companions, "You check his alibi with Anera if you like, I'm growing sick of these villains."

The impetuous half-orc storms out of the room.

If he hears the sound of storm above (and feels the rocking of the ship) he will first go to their quarters and get into some poorly fitting elven hide armor, leaving his rusted plate mail on the floor. Not about to drown in my metal armor. At least these hides can be adjusted on the fly... not sure how I'd go getting into elven leather armor.

This presumably takes 1d4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 + 1 = 3 minutes.

Lort then makes to go to the deck above to have it out with Ulamon... hopefully with everyone else as well (once they've finished their questions).

""Maybe you all should go talk to Ulamon, then. It sounds like either someone is pulling the wool over your eyes, or you've missed something. You say there were at least two people involved, but I wasn't one of them. Where's the profit in that?"

"Care to ... enlighten us on what we missed?" Finarin responds in a sneering tone. After the man's answer he quickly turns heal and heads with Lort. Back in this cabin, Finarin turns to Miro. "Miro, you have been a ... moral compass to me. What shall we do with these prisoners once the ... storm hits? If this vessel becomes .... unstable they will surely perish. Although their crimes are ... abhorrent" he glances at the dwarf "I am neither judge nor jury."

Ok, gearing up for the final fight I assume - anyone have some prebuffs?

Miro thinks for a moment, then shrugs. "Can't they breathe underwater? I am less concerned for their safety and more for ours. That storm looks to be a doozy!"

The halfling thinks for a moment. "Let us get this sordid business over with and weigh the evidence while we ride out the storm."

but the dwarf that is naked and manacled and cannot swim

The group regears a little, including Lort getting out of his armor, and into a suit of hide that they aquatic elves wore. It doesn't fit exactly right, but he gets it on.

The group then heads up to Ulamon, who is found at the aft deck, preparing for a storm. It looks like you still have a little time before it hits, and he is able to talk to you.

"What can I do for you? How has the investigation gone?" the Bonuwat shaman asks.

I would like to be of help, if I can. I was going over charts with the Captain until about, oh, a half hour or so before the attack. At that time, I went down to the cabin to turn in. Most of the crew were asleep at that time. I don't think that Anera was feeling so well; I heard some moaning from her bunk.

"I do recall someone getting up a little after I turned in, but I don't know who it was. I was pretty out of it by that time."

I am going to assume certain questions just to get this moving ;)

"Yes, I was the sole survivor of the Polished Barnacle. She was a good ship, but her captain ignored the warnings the elves gave us. If it wasn't for my bond with the winds and the seas, I would have died as well. I floated back to the shores of Varisia by clinging to the wreckage and controlling the weather, as best I could. We should never have gone that close to lost Azlant, but men will be greedy.

"Was Marzack with us as we went over the charts? No! He never does that. As far as I know he turned in after doing his rounds in the lower decks."

The old man leaves the room following Killik's speech, without a word to the terrible excuse for a cleric. Following in Lort's footsteps, Ibid returns to their quarters in order to grab his longbow. The old man slips the weapon diagonally across his body, and picks up a quiver of blunt arrows. After of moment of pondering, and trying to resist the temptation, Ibid also grabs a quiver of regular arrows.

I won't put the lives of my friends in danger, to try and take a murderer alive, Ibid thinks to himself, looking at the knife-edged tip of an arrow.

Back on deck, after hearing Ulamon's tale, Ibid says, "Thank you, Ulamon. You are perhaps the first crew member to be forthcoming to us. Usually, that would make me overjoyed, but this crew has haggard me, and sadly, any offering of help to us now comes across as suspicious."

"By your story, you were going over charts with the Captain until about a half hour before the attack and murder. Then you were asleep during the time of the murder? Could any of the crew verify this?" the old man stop for a moment and ponders how to corroborate what the navigator has said, leaving the implications and hints about Marzack Mallick alone for the moment.

At this, the winds start picking up.

A tolling bell sounds from the Throaty Mermaid’s deck, and the entire ship jolts to life as though awakened from a startling dream. Crew members rush between cabins and up and down the narrow stairs between decks. “All hands to storm stations,” Captain Veane calls into the ship’s bowels. “We got ourselves a mean one comin’!”

There will be a number of rounds of storm, where the PCs will need to do various things. Profession: Sailor can be used in place of any of the given checks, as well as used to Aid Another for the person making the actual checks. At this point, we will enter rounds, as if it were a combat. I'll be pushing the clock pretty fast, so I may be "botting" you if you aren't posting quickly. Don't worry too much, this is a sort of neat thing, but is also the "optional encounter" -- one that often gets dropped!
I'll be updating status, and how that affects the party every round. Note: we'll only be covering the party's actions, though some NPCs may be issuing orders

"Pathfinders!" Captain Veane bellows. "Your investigations are over! Take your posts on the main deck if you want make to the Spire!! Help secure the ship!"

Everyone but Lort is up... you get a full round to act, and move as you see fit. I would suggest you split up and take your places around the decks...

Not really knowing what to do, Amaranti hustles to main deck. Standing near the main mast, he waits if he can help with the sails (or grab the mast, if the waves turn real bad). Kaisharga follows along.

Finarin is shocked into stunned silence. Looking around frantically, he heads towards whatever looks 'cleanest' and 'safest' and 'easiest', in that order. If he has time he tries to secure himself like, "One of those ... sailors'

I'm not really sure what to do so...

Cyrus looks around as the flurry of activity starts and the weather picks up. While he has been on the ship for some time now, he is still no sailor. Running over to the mainmast, he puts himself in a position to help Amaranti with the ropes and rigging.

Ibid follows his companions and their confused steps onto the main deck, the old man all the while makes sure his hands are free and ready to haul in the sheets, scale the rigging, or clutch the railing for dear life.

As bid looks into the thundering torrent brewing in the ever darkening skies, he cannot help think of his fateful ship borne exodus at the age of 16, and as this thought occurs his trembling hand touches the aged remanent of a scar just below his shirt-line.

Let's hope this ship fairs better, his thinks to himself, and Mengkare doesn't still hold a grudge.

The old man waits for a command.

Oops, forgot about the dwarf. Don't they breathe water, too? No, wait, that's stone.

The Halfling follows the rest apprehensively. He is quite worried that with his small frame he can be literally picked up and blown off the ship by a strong gust. He thinks to himself that his first action will be to secure himself somehow.

On board with the others, as far as not really knowing anything about sailing. Miro will attempt to rope himself against something, then help out as he can.

but the dwarf that is naked and manacled and cannot swim

The diminutive poisoner is in the middle of the ship - it would have to break apart for her to fall overboard. I'm happy if she gets rattled up with her disgusting pots and pans. ;-)

Finarin, did you want to tie yourself up somewhere? There are three masts (one right next to you) that you could do that with. You and Miro could tie yourselves on, there.

Finarin - lemme know exactly what you wanted.
Miro, moves by mast, gets out rope.

You hear shouts from the crew that you should split up, and be ready to help any of the crew members.

The storm gets stronger, winds are picking up, as are the waves. Rain starts to fall.

Up: Party.

Miro ties himself off as fast as his little arms can manage the motions, allowing himself a bit of play with the rope so he can help out with tasks near the mast.

Realizing that he has little in the way of acrobatic ability, coordination or anything of the kind, Lort bravely ties himself to the nearest sturdy object (the railing?) giving himself about ten feet of play in the rope. He then stands ready to catch Miro, Finarin or even Ulamon should he lose his grip on the wheel.

Absolutely no idea what any of those actions require. Please feel free to roll for me!

Anyone going to the fore-deck?

It will take a few rounds to tie yourselves off... when you all say you are "ready", I'll let time pass.

Amaranti stays near main mast, unless someone tells to go somewhere else. Going to sleep now, feel free to bot A&K

Seeing that the center of the ship is fully occupied, Cyrus races to the foredeck and ties himself to the front mast. As the others, he leaves a little play in order to be ready to help the crew as the storm worsens.

Ibid follows the young rogue to the foredeck, hoping to keep the youth from getting himself drown during this storm, though his own nerves are shot and he is not sure much help he will be to Cyrus.

Ibid likewise ties his 50-foot span of silk rope to the mast and prepares to help pull in the sails or do whatever is directed of him.

Am ready once I am tied off near Finarin.

Ok rules for tying off. What kind of an action is is to untie? How long to untie? Do I need a skill check vs a DC or something? Can I cut it? - don't know how many hp rope has. Just trying to figure out the in-game consequences of tying myself up. Ii know we are under a time crunch. Sorry

rope had 2hp, 0 hardness. Break DC 23. Getting untied is a standard action, much like escaping a grapple. I will rule that you get out of your own knots unless you roll a 1. Seem fair?

Cool beans

Finarin ties himself to the mast along with Miro. He leaves himself enough slack to be as mobile as possible, but not enough to toss him overboard.

"Methinks this is going to be ... one hell of a storm. Say your prayers gentlemen, we are .... going to need it!"

Erm... ready?

Erm... ready?

Who me? Yes ready

Lort wrote:

Erm... ready?

Who me? Yes ready

No. Me. Ready.

Finarin Moonstep wrote:

Lort wrote:

Erm... ready?

Who me? Yes ready

No. Me. Ready.

We should save the Ophiuchus/Merian routine for the other thread ;)

The storm hits in its full force. Violent squalls hit the ship. Waves splash over the deck, causing the entire deck to be difficult terrain, and requiring Acrobatics checks to move around.

squall events: 1d10 ⇒ 4
Violent motion: The turbulence of the jostling ship causes the entire crew to hold back a violent bout of nausea. Any creature failing a DC 14 Fortitude save gains the sickened condition for 1d4 rounds. Creatures who are already sickened must succeed at a DC 16 Fortitude save or become nauseated for 1d6 rounds.

Amaranti: Fort: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6 duration: 1d4 ⇒ 1
Karshaiga: Fort: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13 duration: 1d4 ⇒ 1
Cyrus: Fort: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (14) + 0 = 14
Finarin: Fort: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9 duration: 1d4 ⇒ 2
Ibid: Fort: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19
Lort: Fort: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20
Miro: Fort: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6 duration: 1d4 ⇒ 2

The ship and the crew, while battered and tossed around, are still doing ok. It is a good thing, though, that the waves are hitting the deck, as they can wash away the mess that several of the Pathfinders (and a strange snake-like creature) make on the deck.

Squall: Round 2
squall events: 1d10 ⇒ 9

Rogue wave: A giant wave crashes over the rail, flooding the deck with cold, salty water. All creatures on the main deck (area 2) must succeed on a DC 15 Strength check or be knocked prone. Creatures that are already prone are pushed 1d4+1 squares toward the ship’s edge, stopping at the rail if the movement would push them into the sea. Any creature knocked prone from the wave or moved across the deck takes 1d4 points of nonlethal damage.

A: STR check: 1d20 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (2) + 4 - 2 = 4
K: STR check: 1d20 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (18) + 1 - 2 = 17

Amaranti is thrown to the deck (takes 1d4 ⇒ 4 nonlethal damage).

Amaranti can attempt an Acrobatics check to stand up, if he wishes

"Stupid sea! Dry land much better!", Amaranti complains, trying to get up. The slippery deck and rocking ship makes it far from easy.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Cyrus shudders and steps and rolls with the ship as it is buffeted by the sea. He does his best to swallow his rising fear along with the queasiness of his stomach. Tied off to the mast along-side his strange companion and friend, Ibid, flashes of his own mortality and the horror of drowning begin to creep at the edges of his mind.

What was that dream all about anyways back in the bar when Lort nearly killed me? That was much more a memory than a dream, but why was Ibid there? I wonder if I will never get another chance to ask...

Screwing up his courage, he shouts over the roar of the storm, "Were you ever in Orisian? I can't shake the feeling you knew me before I knew you..."

Screwing up his courage, he shouts over the roar of the storm, "Were you ever in Orisian? I can't shake the feeling you knew me before I knew you..."

Ever see Almost Famous? - can't stop thinking about the plane turbulence scene "I once hit a man in Dearborn, Michigan"

@ GM So I assume that is 2 rounds of White Squall.

Fort vs DC16: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19

LoL - I haven't seen it, but I think its funny it reminds you of something like that. I don't know how many times I quote movies and songs during normal conversations...

Cyrus the Flea wrote:

Screwing up his courage, he shouts over the roar of the storm, "Were you ever in Orisian? I can't shake the feeling you knew me before I knew you..."

Ever see Almost Famous? - can't stop thinking about the plane turbulence scene "I once hit a man in Dearborn, Michigan"

@ GM So I assume that is 2 rounds of White Squall.

[dice=Fort vs DC16]1d20 + 3

Nope: 2rnds of being sickened. NO save needed.

Kurgess grant me the strength to see this out, Lort prays silently, I will found a roving caravan shrine, holding sporting events in your honor. The glory of competition will be brought to all corners of Golarion. Just never allow your disciple's path to once again cross the seas.

Miro doubles over, sick, as the waves start the ship rolling furiously in the sea. He then finds himself tossed about by the wind and waves, glad that he tied himself off. He tries to find something to grab onto and hugs it tightly.

Face turning a pale shade of green, Finarin thinks this must have been what Lort felt like after the 'bar fight.'

"Miro, hold fast friend. We will ... this ...one" are the only audible words the halfling can hear through the screaming wind. The elf reaches out a hand to the halfling, not sure whether he is assisting or hindering the halfling with his own machinations.

1d10 ⇒ 6
Loose rudder: The steering wheel spins out of control, lurching the ship to one side. Until the ship is brought under control all non-flying creatures must make an Acrobatics check each round to avoid falling prone. Any PC who succeeds at a Strength check while adjacent to the wheel on the aft deck (area 1) ends the effect.

The ship turns violently, as the wheel is ripped from the hands of Ulamon. Karshaiga, Finarin, and Ibid are thrown prone.

Party is up.

Falling heavily to the deck, fighting back the rising bile in his throat, Finarin splays his arms and feet to the sides, resembling a crab. Utilizing all this strength, he tries to rise once more to his feet. "Someone grab that ... wheel if you please."

Cyrus lurches as the out of control ship turns. Suddenly flung bodily towards the front mast, he uses his weight to his advantage instead of fighting against it, and allows the mast to hold him up instead of allowing the deck to knock him over. Ibid, he sees, doesn't fare so well.

"Get up before the next one comes! Let me help you..."

Maybe he didn't hear me, I'll ask again while I am helping him up...

"Why do I remember seeing you back at the jewelry merchant in Orision?

I'll leave the pick pocket thing out, in case he doesn't remember...

The old man stands with the silk rope cinched tightly around his waist. Laying in a snaking, tangled coil at his feet, the rope rests with enough slack to let him move about unfettered. Though he should be paying attention, his mind is off thinking about the long past, about the last time he was in the stretch of ocean. He is thinking about being consumed by fire, and slipping beneath dark, hungry waves.

Screwing up his courage, he shouts over the roar of the storm, "Were you ever in Orisian? I can't shake the feeling you knew me before I knew you..."

He never gives up, Ibid thinks to himself. The damned whelp, why can't he just leave well enough alone. Clearly frustrated, Ibid turns a cold eye toward Cyrus while the bow of the ship slams into a rolling swell throwing a cascade of white froth over the deck. The towering splash joins with the angled sheets of rain and crash upon the two men, each staring at the other.

There is a fire behind Cyrus' eyes and the old man knows he may not give up on his questions this time.

Would you give up if it had been your own father? Would you have given up if it had been Oxley? Ibid thinks as he feels the tears welling in his eyes. Don't make me say it, kid. Once it is said, it cannot be taken back... and you may never forgive me.

Ibid hopes the rain streaming down his face will hide his failing composure.

At this moment, the vessel unexpectedly rolls, lurching to one side as the rudder loosens. The old man is pitched over, unceremoniously slammed into the deck, laying in the gathering pools of seawater.

"Get up before the next one comes! Let me help you..."

"I'm fine!" Ibid snaps, pushing away the youth's arm, and attempts to stand by himself. The old man's trembling legs appear as though they may give at any moment, but Ibid knows it is not the storm that is sapping his strength, it is Cyrus' questions.

"Why do I remember seeing you back at the jewelry merchant in Orision?"

Because I was there... I've always been there, Ibid thinks, feeling his teeth grinding painfully together. But if you knew why I've always been there, then our friendship will cease.

"We're about to die, is this really the best time to go over this?" the one man snaps angrily, internally Ibid is pleading for Cyrus to drop everything.

"I'm fine!"

Yeesh! The storm isn't that bad is it? Maybe his knee is bothering him again...

Cyrus reels from the ornery investigator, sliding back to his position on the other side of the mast. Ibid's curt response puts Cyrus back on his heels, and a sudden sour note in his mood.

"We're about to die, is this really the best time to go over this?"

"Of course it's a terrible time!" Cyrus shouts over the storm. His mind spins and his adrenaline picks up, creating a dizzy, surrealistic sensation as the thoughts swirl in his brain, matching the swirling, angry sea beneath them.

The ship bucks again, and Cyrus bends his knees, rolling with the ship without hardly a thought. The muscles in his legs and hands tense up, not from the rolling ship, but from the gnawing questions he knows now someone might be able to answer.

"That's why I've gotta know! What if we don't make it? My whole life, from that wicked woman back at the orphanage, to the guards, and every person in between, people have told me to stop asking questions. If you were there when I was that old, you might have been there when the tomb collapsed!"

Please don't be like everyone else and tell me to just shut up and go away...

The storm raging inside of Cyrus' mind and heart begins to rival the raging storm that threatens to bring the whole ship to the bottom of the sea.

"I just need to know what happened to my dad!"