[PFS] 2-13 Murder on the Throaty Mermaid (subtier 1-2) (Inactive)

Game Master chadius

she had to leave a square I threaten twice in order to get where she is. That's two AoOs.

-Posted with Wayfinder

Nah, each ACTION can only provoke one AoO from a person. I used a reach fighter once. ;-)

Free action: I don't know what he thinks is so funny. Let's take him down, huh Qillian?

Translation: If you move next to him and ready to attack him, I'll go over and flank him and we'll both get an effective +6. Owned. Although, I don't know how we get up there...

What Rolando said. She provokes once for moving from you. She would have to stop in your threatened range and cast to provoke a second time.

Rolando, the Aquatic Elf is at the top of the ladder. If he's still laughing you can move through his space, I'd say.

As Azuretta tries to cartwheel away, Kelsier hacks away at her, scoring a solid hit! "Ow. Maybe Is that any way to hit a friend?"

Round 2
- Sabha
- Qillian

Round 3
- Febida
- Rolando
- Wilm
- Kelsier
- Azuretta (Aided by Max, Casting a Spell!, 11 Damage)
- Aquatic Elf (Hideous Laughter, 1 round)

Those in bold may act!

Is the elf still holding the trident?

Regardless of Qillian's action...

Rolando, still singing, finally shakes off the effects of the rocking ship and scales the ladder, unchivalrously clubbing the prone, laughing elf.

Free action: Song (this is my last round, so when it is my next turn I'm out of singing rounds).

Move: Up the stairs and over the prone guy.

Standard: Flag bash with flagbearer, enhance weapons, vs prone AC (also add 2 more for flanking if Qillian moves up too): 1d20 + 4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 4 + 1 + 1 = 12

So that hits an effective 16 with the prone penalty, 18 if I'm flanking

Damage: 1d6 + 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 1 + 1 = 6

AoO if he stands up: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

AoO Damage: 1d6 + 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 2 + 1 + 1 = 8

Qillian sees the elf drop his trident as he laughs uncontrollably. He climbs up the ladder and stabs at the elf...missing.

The Elf is prone, taking a -4 AC penalty against melee attacks. He's not helpless though.

As Rolando finishes his song he manages to climb up and bash him with the flag, which he finds hilarious! And painful!

Round 2
- Sabha
- Qillian

Round 3
- Febida
- Rolando
- Wilm
- Kelsier
- Azuretta (Aided by Max, Casting a Spell!, 11 Damage)
- Aquatic Elf (Hideous Laughter, 1 round, 6 Damage)

Those in bold may act!

Kelsier steps closer to Azuretta, swinging his Longsword and throwing a Spiked shoulder into her.

-Posted with Wayfinder

Kelsier moves up and quickly takes her out with a sword slash.

Round 2
- Sabha
- Qillian

Round 3
- Febida
- Rolando
- Wilm
- Kelsier
- Aquatic Elf (Hideous Laughter, 1 round, 6 Damage)

Those in bold may act!

Azuretta seems well handled. (cough) Sahba moves closer a midships, and prepares her sling. 30' move, then draw as a standard

Sahba runs across the deck and prepares her sling.

Round 3
- Febida
- Rolando
- Wilm
- Kelsier
- Aquatic Elf (Hideous Laughter, 1 round, 6 Damage)
- Sabha
- Qillian

Those in bold may act!

As azuretta falls to the floor the strange spirlling in Wilm's mind begins to fade... With a blink he looks around, remembering whats just happened.

Kelsier! sorry, glad you took her out. I've had it with these mind altering magics...

His combat training kicks in as he quickly assesses the situation.

Max, forward to glory!

Wilm tries leaping straight onto Max's back.

ride dc 20: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19 using adaptable luck to get +2 to make the check

With style and panache the plucky halfling leaps onto his wolf's back and spurs him forward as he tears down the length of the ship and into combat with the aquatic elf.

axe: 1d20 + 4 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 4 - 1 + 1 = 23
dam: 1d10 + 3 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 3 + 3 + 1 = 13
basic+p attack+flag

max makes double move to get there. but i can still attack, right? Rolando's flag included but song lost

You get the song bonus. The song runs out at the start of my next turn.

Man, you guys got some nasty melee rolls!

Wilm, now restored to his glory, quickly rides max to the ladder, leaps up and cuts the Aquatic Elf in two. I'm embellishing here, I know.

Combat Over

With the traitors beaten, the storm calms down significantly, as if on cue from the gods. A few minutes, Captain Veane, Anera and Ulamon run onto deck and witness the dead crew members, as well as the elf.

"W-what? What happened here?" The Captain keeps his hand on his hilt of his blade, but he is open to an explanation.

Feel free to explain things, finish off or heal the bodies.

In response to the captain rushing up, Febida collapses onto the deck with an exasperated sigh. "I HAVE NO IDEA!!!"

Things flew by kind of quickly thanks to my hectic schedule. So I missed most of the fight. Ah well.

"Frankly, Captain, it is not clear why he attacked us, especially when outnumbered, but he did. and it is an unlikely coincidence that we were again attacked by aquatic elves while you and the rest of the crew that would normally be topside were absent." Sahba gestures to the fallen aquatic elf.

"The only part that is wholly clear is that Malilk admitted to sabotaging your ship with assistance from another, who we can only assume was Azuretta. It seems we are also meant to believe these two were responsible for the murder of the emissary. We know Azuretta distracted the body guard, and had animus toward the elf. Malilk discovered the murder, but never gave a clear account of why he was in Sephirel's cabin in the first place. He may have simply been interrupted."

"In any case," Sahba continues, "It is possible their wound are not unrecoverable, should they receive treatment immediately. That is, of course, up to you captain. You may heal them and question them, only to hang them later, or you could let their wounds take their natural course and offer their heads to the Spire elves as recompense."

"In either case, captain, it seems clear there was a significant canker of indolence and abandonment of duties in your crew, and Malilk was at its core. How would you like to proceed?"

He's the captain. What happens to them is his problem. Sahba doesn't care either way.

Are any of the three still breathing? If so, do any of you have heal skill or the stabilize spell?

Captain, Marzack and Azuretta were in league with the elvish boarders. They've been trying to keep their mutinous ways hidden from you and, unfortunately for us, they were aided by Shira's efforts. Though I don't believe she had knowledge of their plot, her poisoning the crew made it more difficult for the loyal members to detect the danger until it was too late. Thanzeril was poisoned, and he was then distracted away from his post by Azuretta. I think Marzack killed the ambassador--if any of you can save him before he bleeds out, he might confirm this.

Wilm a bit breathless and still rushing from the fury of battle joins the conversation.

It's like they said Captain, Marzack and Azuretta were in cahoots with the sea elves, here's a body that can act in evidence. Maybe if we look over their corpses we might find more evidence of their plans? The strongest evidence is Azuertta luring Thanriel away to make way for the murderer, any how's i guess you'll have to explain it all to the Elves when we get to the spire...

Somewhere amongst the aftermath Wilm has a more sheepish moment with his team.

Listen, sorry about my turning against you back there, especially you Kelsier... It's a good thing her command wasn't more aggressive or otherwise i might have really fought you all - i'm sure none of us would have enjoyed that! His moment of darkness done with Wilm quickly picks up again I don't know what the deal with dark magic is, but this is twice in two missions - I hope whatever happens next time is a bit more straight forward sword play and none of the magic-malarky!

Heal isn't untrained only, is it?

Heal: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12
Heal: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
Heal: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10

Not sure any of those did it...

Sahba is willing to aid an untrained heal, but doesn't actively help with that unless the Captain shows intent to have his crew members stabilized and healed.

Heal(untrained), aid: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (11) - 1 = 10

On Wilm's suggestion—Sahba gives herself a mental kick for not thinking of it sooner—she searches the fallen aquatic elf. Using the excuse that she's searching for possible evidence (other than being attacked without warning), she does the same to the two fallen crew members.

They are dying but can be stabilized.

Searching the fallen Aquatic Elf, Sahba finds a pouch of gold coins and a note telling First Mate Marzack to take his new ship and leave the Mordant Spire immediately. It sounds like he was working with them to kill the ambassador and cause political strife among the Spire elves and with outsiders. In exchange, Marzack could pin the blame on the captain and get a new ship without raising suspicion.

When you mention this note to Thanzeril, he nods. "The aquatic elves are very isolationist and xenophobic. They're even worse than Sephirel..."

Captain Veane decides that the conspirators are better alive than dead, so he gives them emergency first aid and locks them up in the forward cargo hold. Snig is glad to watch over them. He says they tried to pin the murder on him, and he and his rats keep the prisoners company.

The next two days go without incident. Anera serves double duty as cook and lookout. Her meals are much simpler than Shira's, but at least they aren't poisoned. She even adds fresh fish caught by her osprey. When she's cooking, Ulamon helps as a lookout and a navigator.

If you guys want to fulfill other actions, do it now. I'll conclude this story in the morning.

As the Throaty Mermaid approaches the Mordant Spire, you see a large ship dispatched from the island, sent to meet you. Several masked elves board the ship and make a beeline towards the first mate's cabin to collect Sephirel's body.

"Ah, you see, the aquatic elves killed him, and my First Mate turned traitor and took my entertainer with her. They bribed him." After a few minutes of no response from the elves, Captain Veane gets nervous. "It-it wasn't my fault! They were hired to protect him. I was just escorting them."

One of the elves in the crowd breaks into laughter and walks to the front. It's Sephirel, who chuckles as the elves cart the body from the cabin. Thanzeril, and the rest of the crew is quite surprised.

"An assassination was expected, so I took precautions." Sephirel starts. "Poor Azuretta. She was always trying to get intimate with me. Trying to contaminate me like that. I guess she took it too personally. I hope you were able to keep yourself clean, Thanzeril." Thanzeril hesitates and takes a step back before regaining his composure.

"This trip and the discussions have been very fruitful. I know who too keep an eye on." He looks on the elf and the First Mate. "And I know who my allies are." He nods towards the Pathfinders and shakes their hand. "I can't let you on the Spire, but I can at least bring you some entertainment for the day as thanks. Let us feast!"

The rest of the day is spent eating the finest cuisine from the Spire, along with a musical concert to close out the evening. Sephirel takes Malilk and Azuretta as prisoners, and assumes the crew won't mind. The Captain sure doesn't. At the end of the day, Thanzeril decides to stay with the ship and continue his travels among outsiders.

The rest of the week goes without incident and you make it to Riddleport without trouble. From there it's one more week of travel back to Absalom.

Captain Veane spends his time looking for more crewmen. Loyal, competent crewmen.

Thanks for playing, folks! Chronicles are posted in the Discussion thread.

Wow! What a party!! Wait til Uncle Marty hears about this... in all his years adventuring he never made it anywhere near the spire. Quite an adventure eh folks, i wonder where the society will take us next and whether any of our paths will cross again? Good luck keeping off boats Febida...