[PFS] Murder on the Throaty Mermaid (Inactive)

Game Master Curaigh

Professional... pride... uhu...

Dylara thanks Azuretta again, and steps out of the room. "Shall we discuss our findngs with the others?" she asks Beads. If Beads agrees Dylara will search the other Pathfinders.

Looking up at Dylara and melon she nods with a smile, "Uhuh, let's do that and get over with this as soon as we can."

"Good to see you, Ulamon," Traceni begins. "I'm sure you've heard the news. At this point, we're looking for any information possible regarding the murder of Sephriel."

Over the course of the conversation, Traceni tries to cover the following information:

Where was Ulamon at the time of the Sea Elf attack?
Had he noticed anything strange regarding Sephriel?
Had he noticed any odd activity around him?
How is the navigation to the Spire going?
Is he sure he still wants to go to Mordant Spire?
What would it hurt if it takes us an extra day or two?

Branson stands behind Traceni and attempts to appear supportive, but not threatening.

"Prowaaa!" Melon suddenly cries in Branson's ear.

Dylara rounds the corner seconds after Melon's cry. "Hi guys! And Traceni!"

While Traceni talks to Ulamon, Dylara turns to Malleck and Branson. "We came to discuss our findings."

Branson whispers, just give us a minute while Traceni talks with Ulamon

"Good to see you, Ulamon," Traceni begins. "I'm sure you've heard the news. At this point, we're looking for any information possible regarding the murder of Sephriel."

Over the course of the conversation, Traceni tries to cover the following information:

Where was Ulamon at the time of the Sea Elf attack?

First, Traceni tilts her head. "What happened to the Polished Barnacle?"

Traceni shakes her head and chuckles slightly. "Yes, I suppose it does all depend on how the captain decides to deal with the masked elves."

The blank look returns to her face as she adds, "And who is the captain, again?"

Malleck eyes the man but it was true. He did leave the captains area long before the attack came. But was it coincidence or was it so that the suspicion was not on him

"The Polished Barnacle, t' first vessel I served on as a young man, was sunk after its captain ignored the elves’ warnings and sailed too close to lost Azlant. T' rest of the crew died, but I was lucky enough to find a big'nough piece of wreckage and controlled t' weather to lead meself back to shore."

The captain has no need for the elves that attacked his ship. If they are to remain on board, they can only be locked up in the cabin the pathfinders currently occupy, leaving the visitors to sleep on deck or wherever one can find space.

When the pathfinders decide to regroup and share information, it may help to reread some of the conversations, or you can play out the conversation if you wish. (The other time I ran this, it was not PBP).

My friends, may I suggest that once Traceni has completed her interview, that we retire to a more private location and compare our notes?

The feline tiefling nods in agreement

Traceni nods as well. "Thank you, Ulamon. I'm sure we have plenty in common... this is not an easy time for anyone."

Turning to the Pathfinders, she adds, "Shall we to private?"

The pathfinders get together to share their gathered information.

Traceni begins, "Both Killik and Ulamon are very frightened by recent events, for extremely different reasons. I doubt Killik cares about the death, but Ulamon is reliving a tragedy."

"I felt like Ulamon was hiding something. It's true everyone on this ship seems to hide something, but it felt different with him. I think what Ulamon's hiding is important for us to know."

"The scent we smelled near the corpse was obviously the same as Azuretta's perfume. Though it doesn't necessarily mean she's involved. She claims she was sharing STDs at the time of the murder."

Dylara scratches the back of her head and stares at the ceiling. "Hmm... was there anything else...?"

"I don't think anyone else said important things, but I'll share what they told." Dylara does as she said, and shares all her findings.

After she'd done, Dylara turns to Beads. "You have anything to add to that, something I forgot?"

I assume this way of sharing information is fine, if everyone's read each other's posts?

"Hiding something? Hiding plenty. Why do you think Sephriel booked passage on this boat? For its safety record?"

"I don't know, but Ulamon's hiding more than the others." Dylara reviews the information, and makes a pained face.

The thinking gives me a headache! Go away headache!

"My main suspects are Ulamon and Azuretta. What about you? Did we cover everyone? Beads and I didn't go see the elf-hating woman. I don't think it's a good plan for me to tag along while she's questioned."

"... Did we cover everyone? ..."

I updated dramatis personae in campaign info to show who has & who has not been covered at least once.I am not saying you need to cover everyone, but this will help keep it clear. :)

Pardon me Pathfinders, but do we know if this boat has a butler? We cannot possibly exclude the butler, as most literary sources insist butlers are notorious killers, and usually to blame in these situations.

Melon shakes her head after Branson's asked his question. It's probably a coincidence though.

"I don't think there is, Branson. But, perhaps the cook would qualify? He also does things with food."

"It's not a good idea for me to visit Anera. So if anyone wants to pay her a visit, I'll pass."

Lizzy looks up at the rest.
"Yes, me too. She's seen me with Dylara, so i doubt she'll be more open to me."

"I'll go! I'm ready to speak with her."

Traceni's blank stare lifts into brightness and joy as she speaks.

i will gladly go with Traceni and provide both moral and divine support

Traceni heads down into the hold with Branson, looking for Anera. Entering her quarters, she says excitedly, "Anera, you missed it! Sea elves attacked the ship. We were slaying elves left and right!"

Anera is standing on the forcastle looking down at the elves still tied on deck. "I see the results of your battle. I would very much like to help finish the job."

The elves are tied up where you left them.... you did leave them tied-up correct?

Sorry guys, lots of things that goes with LIFE happened, but back again

The tiefling follows quietly, keeping his eyes open, his hand on his sword. Ready for any attack. If the killer was still here, he or she or it, would maybe want to stop them from getting any further with their investigation

Yes, we tied the elves up. And welcome back Malleck!

"In the meantime, shall we go see Thanzeril?" Dylara asks Beads. "He might've seen something. You know, being the bodyguard."

Before they'll arrive where Thanzeril is, Dylara casts guidance on Beads and herself.

Traceni's face brightens. "Actually, I think we can do it together! Here, we found this black spiky animal that they were spreading on their tridents. Do you know anything about these?"

Crouching before the elves, the fey-touched woman adds, "And I think we should ask a couple more questions of these fine fishes before we make ourselves a stew. Who knows? Maybe they don't realize what sort of prawns, er, pawns they are."

"After all," she begins, her eyes sparkling oddly, catching moonlight that doesn't seem to have been in that direction, as she addresses the captives, "We are these horrible creatures that defile the world." She stops, listening to something, cocks her head and defocuses. "Oh? Is that so? Well, my fairy friends tell me that it was you who defiled their world, stuck it behind this one. Behind? Before? Hm, same thing, really."

Something pulls Traceni away, confused. "What? What's an aboleth? Oh, a fish. Yes, like these fish. Good, I understand. Oh, shut up. Where was I? Yes, well, my little fishes, the one thing I want to understand, is if we are the blight upon the land--I still don't know where this land is, by the way--then why were you acting to kill a representative of the Mordant Spire?"

Looking back to Anera, she adds, "Would killing more fish help these fish?"

Branson watches Traceni with his best "what the heck is wrong with this chick" look on his face.

Using Beads earlier questions for Thanzeril.
You find Thanzeril watching over the body of the emissary.

"Have you heard anything unusual aside from the noise on the deck?"
"Have you seen any1 walk below deck in a very cautious way?"
"Has any1 of the crew shown disgust for mr. Sephriel?"
"Do you know of any1 who'd not be bothered if harm came to mr. Sephriel?"

"Unusual? Unusual! From this bunch of murdering pirates? Two months. Two months I have been stuck with the same stinking crew." The elf's shouting might be as much from regret as anger, by the shaking of his voice. "I am to blame. This is my fault. I haven't even been able to talk with Sephriel in the last two weeks." He smacks his chest then falls sit next to the body on the bed. "Months. All the same crew trapped on the ship. I should not have let my guard down. For years I have been his bodyguard and now, when I do. After months of the same louts on the same I should not have succumbed to her."
It eventually comes out that he had finally been seduced by the ship's entertainer and left his post to rendezvous with her. The party also discovers Anara has challenged him often, but that she walks away when he does not rise to her bait. Mazerack often comments on the accommodations he has to endure for the emissary and how much the two 'guests' must be enjoying 'his' hospitality, and he argues constantly with the Captain about accepting this venture.

Anera too is confused by Traceni's conversation. She's met mad folk before though. It happens on long voyages sometimes, and seems none too put off by it. She does agree the elves conceit seems to know no bounds. "Perhaps," she remarks, "these fishes are the reason it has been so long since any of the Mordant Spire have agreed to even talk with the rest of the world."

Traceni casts a knowing glance to Anera. "Thank you, Anera, darling, but I was asking these fine fishy fellows. Because I'm sure they realize now what precisely their role was in their invasion of this vessel. They are here to kill an ambassador of the Mordant Spire. We humans? We're just animals to be distracted. Barely loyal guard dogs, to these beautiful paragons of... urchin. That's what the black spiky animal is. Anyway. You and I, Anera, are mere wildlife against the backdrop of the war between Sea and Spire, apparently."

She turns back to the bound elves. "So, tell me, elves, why might you want to bring the wrath of the Mordant Spire down upon your people? Why do you sacrifice yourselves as distractions to the humans while the murder takes place? Because if Sephriel was the lord of the manor, and we are merely dogs patrolling the ground, what does that make you? Steak. Why did you agree to become steak?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

The sea elves refuse to acknowledge any language other than elvish. Traceni's words do nothing to improve their attitude.

Traceni looks up at Anera. "Anera, you speak their language, don't you? Perhaps you could lend a hand in getting information out of them? Or at the very least, help make some chum?"

Lizzy walks up to and pops up from behind Traceni.
With a smile as cheerful and neutral as possible.
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

She sits down, holding her arms around her knees. She repeats exactly what Traceni just said, but not before she kindly opens..
"అక్కడ ఎక్కువ. ఇక్కడ లేడీ మన్నించు దయచేసి ... ఆమె మనస్సు ఒక బిట్ వెర్రి మరియు మీకు తెలిసిన అసాధారణ ఉంది. నేను ఆమె స్పష్టత పాడయి లో .... మాట్లాడుతూ అనువదిస్తాము."

"కాబట్టి, దయ్యములు, ఎందుకు మీరు మీ ప్రజలు మీద డౌన్ తీవ్రమైన శిఖర కోపం తీసుకుని ఇష్టమైన వ్యక్తులు, చెప్పు? హత్య జరుగుతుంది అయితే ఎందుకు మీరు మానవులకు శుద్ధ వంటి మీరే త్యాగం చెయ్యాలి? Sephriel భూభాగం యొక్క అధిపతి, మరియు మేము కేవలం భూమి patrolling కుక్కలు ఉంటే, మీరు ఏమి తయారు ఎందుకంటే? స్టీక్. ఎందుకు మీరు స్టీక్ మారింది ఏకీభవించింది?"

Bead's words fail to free the elve's tongues nor slow their seething glares any.

Wow...they must be some realllly stubborn elves...

Azuretta... did you lure away Thanzeril so someone else could murder him? I don't trust Ulamon, maybe he was the one who did the killing.

"Thanzeril, will you help us avenge your master? If so, please follow me. We're searching for the killer, and I think you can help. It's the least you could do for him, as his former bodyguard." Dylara will offer Thanzeril a hand so she can help him back on his feet. "Come, follow me."

"మా దైవ పట్టించుకోవడం లేదు, ఆమె విచిత్రమైన విషయాలు చెప్పారు," Dylara says to the elves as she steps up, having followed Beads after they went to visit Thanzeril. She ignores Anera and the glares the woman will probably give her.

"ఇప్పుడు మీరు ఇచ్చెను, చెప్పు మరియు ఈ ఓడ మీద మీరు సహాయం?" Dylara takes one of her crossbow bolts and presses it against the throat of one of the elves. "ఇప్పుడు, నాకు చెప్పండి, లేదా నేను మీ మాంసం ఈ బలవంతం చేస్తాము."

Intimidate: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (20) - 2 = 18 Muahaha!

Melon glares over Dylara's shoulder and screeches at the elf Dylara threatens. With a loud snap Melon closes her beak. The roc probably doesn't get what's going on, but she does realize her best friend doesn't like this elf.

Intimidate, aid Dylara: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (11) + 0 = 11

Traceni shakes her head. "This is getting us nowhere."

She lazily kicks one of the elves at random. "Anera, use this one to show the others what they did to your love."

Diplomacy (for Anera): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

"మా దైవ పట్టించుకోవడం లేదు, ఆమె విచిత్రమైన విషయాలు చెప్పారు. ఇప్పుడు మీరు ఇచ్చెను, చెప్పు మరియు ఈ ఓడ మీద మీరు సహాయం? ఇప్పుడు, నాకు చెప్పండి, లేదా నేను మీ మాంసం ఈ బలవంతం చేస్తాము."

Dylara translates for those who don't speak elven. "This one says they're part of an elven group opposed to the Mordant’s Spire’s recent diplomatic relations with, in his words, “low-bloods” of Absalom. Their superiors dispatched them to assassinate what he calls the betrayer of his people."

She turns her attention back to the elf. "ఈ ఓడ మీద మీ సహచరులను ఉన్నాయి?"

"ఉన్నాయి? ఈ ఓడ మీద మీ సహచరులను ఉన్నాయి."

"He says they had no accomplices... no reason to work with the, again in his words, "lowbloods" on this ship."

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6 :S

"మీరు ఎవరూ మాకు గత వచ్చింది చేస్తే ఎలా మీరు, అతన్ని చంపడానికి వచ్చింది?"

"మీరు ఎవరూ? మాకు గత వచ్చింది చేస్తే! ఎలా మీరు! అతన్ని చంపడానికి వచ్చింది!" The elves all start laughing at their good fortune even though the pain it causes to a swollen face is obvious.

The tiefling growls
Fine, then let's kill them one by one till maybe one decides to talk

Lizzy jumps up the prospect of killing tied up prisoners.

"Hey..that's mean! We've beaten them already, stabbing them to death just like that, all tied up would be cruelty...duelling is more fair if you want to kill.... Toss them back into the sea tied up, but you'd be a mere thug if you go kill at whim."
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

The little one stands holding her arms crossed with neutral questioning eyes.