Checking the defeated elves, you find that 3 are still alive, though badly injured and not likely to wake up anytime soon without healing aid.
Gathering all their possessions, you end up with:
4 potions of cure light wounds
4 suits of masterwork hide armor
4 tridents
3 javelins (all dosed with some kind of poison)
4 sets of masterwork manacles
4 silk ropes (50' length with grappling hook)
8 sunrods
20 gold
Hunter Urchin Venom
Type poison, injury; Save Fort DC 13
Frequency 1/round for 6 rounds
Effect staggered for 1 round; Cure 1 save
Hypnotized elf stable.
Elf at Door stable.
Elf knocked over head by Barley Stable.
Hule settles on the elf cut down on the deck by Kryssa and administers a potion, but the elf doesn't wake up yet.
The aquatic elf comes to and struggles with the manacles for a moment before glaring around at those standing nearby. He mutters a few words in elven, then turns his stare to the deck, ignoring everyone.
Whatever Klaidingo said doesn't improve the elf's attitude. In fact, if he could glower more darkly, he would be.
The elf mutters something in elven.
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Hule cleans the blood from his sword while he speaks. "I've traded elves before. You'd fetch a few coins at a Chelaxian slave market, but you wouldn't last long in the ore pits. If the smoke didn't choke you, the other slaves surely would, an elf with your frame." he concludes as he grabs the elf's face and examines it.
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Barley first uncorks and drinks one of the potions to manage the wound. (15/19hp)
He then takes account of the room - something about Sephriel's demise seems fishier than the general smell of the boat. First he checks the elf for wounds and method of death, if none, he checks the food and drinks. Signs of struggle? Perhaps the guard? No, not the guard. Thereafter, he would see how the guard was killed and where the body lies in relation - next to bed, door, window?
Finally he poses the question to the group, "Why would marauding elves specifically target a political ambassador? They had but a few moments before Johendar and Chamius spotted them. It took less than a few strokes for Hule to slaughter them. With a frontal attack, even a trained ninja would find this assassination impossible to accomplish."
The elf is shaken by your interrogation and speaks for a few moments before falling silent once more.
Meanwhile, down in the elves' cabin...
As Barley begins to examine the scene, the first mate Mallick, standing outside the door, calls in to the captain.
"The Mordant Spire elves will have your hide for failing to deliver this one safely." As the words sink in, Veane pales and a look of pure terror in his eyes. The fear passes quickly, however, and his expression shifts into one of pure rage.
“You’re the only ones on this ship I don’t know well,” he says, pointing accusingly at the Pathfinders still in the room. “I’m not taking the rap for this, by Besmara, and neither is my crew. It might not be fair, but when we get to the Mordant Spire in three days, it’s you who’ll have to answer for Sephriel’s death!” With that, he storms out of the cabin and up the stairs to the main deck, Mallick close on his heels, leaving you alone in Sephriel’s cabin with his lifeless body.
A moment later, Sephriel's bodyguard Thanzeril arrives, looking a little disheveled, and cries out in alarm. "Sephriel! By the gods, what happened here?"
Barley's first impressions of the scene of the crime are the following:
Sephriel was stabbed to death.
There doesn't seem to be any sign of forced entry on the cabin door.
A search of Sephriel’s belongings reveals merely a collection of fine clothes, several works of elven literature in ornately bound books, and a scrimshaw pipe and empty sac smelling of tobacco.
Upon on the Main Deck...
Captain Veane returns from below decks and notices the interrogation being conducted on the elf. Stomping up, he asks. "You learn anything from him?"
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Chamius leaves the group questioning the sea-elf and returns to the scene of the crime. "Barley, I think they wanted to be in and out quickly. If Johendar and I hadn't been topside, they might have managed that trick, though it would seem that someone got to him--" He indicates the body. "--first. Perhaps in the to-do after I raised the alarm?"
The bard gives the body a quick look. "Looks as though someone used a dagger on him. Can't say more at the moment."
Chamius counts about a dozen stab wounds.
Thanzeril looks at Barley with surprise. After a moment of consideration he answers with a sigh. "I.. I was with Azuretta in the forward cargo hold. I didn't hear the attack at all and only just found out."
Up on the main deck...
Captain Veane scowls at the elf in Hule's custody. "Then cut his throat and throw him back to the sea. He'll only bring more trouble here."
The captain scoffs at Kryssa. "Then find an oiled bedroll because you'll need it on the deck if the weather turns stormy."
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Johender sucks in a deep breath of air. "Aye, tis nothin' I ken to better than a night under dem' stars, breathing in the salt air! You must agree Cap'n, no?! Don't ya be worrin' bout dem prisnas', we'll keep a weather eye out for dem, Cap'n!" Johender waxes as he tries to assure the Captain and ease his reservations.
Chamius, the Captain is up on the main deck talking to the other members of your party.
Thanzeril begins tending to Sephriel's corpse as Barley departs to seek out Azuretta. Climbing to the main deck he finds her at the door to the captain's quarters, watching Captain Veane across the deck as he speaks with the other Pathfinders about the elf captives. Noticing Barley's interest she gives the ninja a crooked smile. "Why hello there, big boy."
Thanzeril looks sharply at Chamius, clearly disliking being told what to do, but he complies. "Whatever my personal feelings were for him, he should be treated with respect and honor. Have your companions examine him as you wish, but do not allow him to remain like this for long."
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"Pardon my lady, you must have hear of the misfortune?", Barley takes in her perfume, "Thanzeril tells me that he was at the bow, relieving himself about the time Sephriel was murdered. He tells me that he saw you and Marzack lurking about the ambassador's cabin door just before the sea elves attacked. If this is true, you and the first mate have a lot to explain."
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With the prisoners locked in her former bunk, Kryssa wanders the ship trying to make sense of the information she's heard. She wanders back down to the cargo hold to watch the rust-eater for a bit.
Seeing Velagon Dorhay down in the hold, she has a sudden thought. "Hey, Velagon, has anyone else come down here lately?"
Johendar and Klaidingo confer on the weather and agree that a storm is coming and will arrive sometime in the next 48 hours.
Hule's interrogation reveals one more thing from the aquatic elf.
The elf glares at Hule, but seems wary of the dagger. "We are only four, and all are here. We never reached the envoy!"
Meanwhile, at the captain's cabin...
Azuretta arches an eyebrow at Barley's words. [b]"Whoever told you that was lying. I was in the forward hold, having polite conversation with Thanzeril. Ask him if you like. Or Snig. I'm sure he was only pretending to sleep.