For Love of Evil

Game Master NarcoticSqurl

Meridian eats silently, then excuses himself politely and retreats to his room.

The food is delicious to all, and with your stomachs full, you head off to your rooms to take care of any final business before bed. (anybody feel free to interject if you have something to finish for the day).

The next morning you all awake rested and feeling relaxed after your encounter. The innkeeper bids you a good morning, and wishes you a bountiful day. Breakfast is hot, and served quick. Afterwards, it crosses your mind that there was still more of the ship to investigate, and a nameless corpse at the mortician, whose identity is being discerned. You have a cryptic prophecy, a wizards tome, a bag with unknown contents, and knowledge that there may be a cult of necromancers nearby. There is a growing feeling in your gut that you may have stumbled upon more than you intended.

Before their food is brought out Kiwyn finds the innkeeper and asks for hot bath water to be brought to her room. After enjoying dinner she excuses herself and retreats to her room, locking the door. She grins at the sight of the bath and quickly sheds both her clothing and her disguise. The auburn furred kitsune sinks into the bath with a sigh of sweet relaxation.
She washes her clothes and hangs them to dry before pulling the necklace from her pack. Still wrapped in her normal shirt she sets it on the bed and opens it. Sitting on the bed she relaxes and focuses on the necklace. "He seemed to be concerned about this thing. I suppose I should make sure it is even magical." Kiwyn begins casting Detect Magic.

Simon is up with Zhan just before the sunrise.

"I think the order of business starts with the ship. We might not be the only ones interested in the wreck. Best to get there before anyone else. After, we need to speak with the mortician. I want to make a copy of those markings."

He had his horse saddled by the time it began to get light.

Simon isn't thinking of the party as a group yet, so he's not waiting or consulting anyone but Zhan. Anyone who's up and willing can join his investigation though.

As Simon and Zhan are finishing their breakfast, Meridian comes down. Meridian is dressed and ready for the day, and seems ready to travel.

Gentlemen, if you are going to investigate the ship, as mentioned yesterday, perhaps there is strength in numbers? I would accompany you provided you have no objection.

Meridian asks the innkeeper for a breakfast suitable for travel and takes it outside with him to get his mount and his pack animal saddled.

In the stables, Meridian turns to Simon, Should we wait for the others?

"Glad to have you." Simon says without hint of any kind of prejudice toward the Tiefling.

"Not this time. I told the innkeep where we were headed. If they want to come, they can catch up."

Silent will remain at forge for remainder of the night. In the morning he will inform the forge master of a temporary leave of absence to investigate with group.

Silent will gather his things and meet the group at the inn before dawn. Strolling up on his riding gecko.

"Seeing what ye seen last night. Ye's in a big hurry are ya?" Silent pauses to measure the man he's speaking too."Tis best to wait, but if you want to go. Then we go. It'd be ye, that has to live with the deaths."

"So far I haven't heard a thing out of you that wasn't a complaint or unsolicited advice." Simon says to the dwarf. "Come or stay, but don't think to tell me how to do my job."

"Ye can go hunt whatever. Ye humans are always ready to go head first to ye grave. Ye best take advice when given too ye, so the others don't die in ye care. Also, mind ye manners and don't be a blundering dolt. I ain't walking away from my forge for nothing." Silent shakes his head in almost disappointment. "I be old enough to know better than follow ye blunder-heads. But me gut tells me I should go. So if ye want to go, then we'll go lad. Just remember ye ain't a dwarf and that's a heavy burden ye be taking on ye shoulders."

Simon gave his partner a sidelong look that spoke volumes, but kept his thoughts to himself.

Why is it no matter where we go there's always someone who thinks they just know better. Doesn't matter that we've been trained to do this since we could walk. Oh no. Someone always knows better.

Wonder what he'd say if I started giving him advice on how to fold steel.

In his room before settling down the previous evening, Zhan examines the contents of the bag, the vial, and counts the gold. He casts detect magic before opening the bag so that any auras would be immediately obvious. Uncorking the vial he smells it in order to identify the potion. Spellcraft: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

I don't have much time at the moment, so I'll follow this post up soon with one for the morning.

Robert wakes early and seeks a tub to bathe in, filling the tub with water immersing himself fully in it as he concentrates on the sensation of being submerged, clearing his mind and beginning to meditate.

When he pulls himself out of the tub, he doesn't know how long he's been in there, time being an odd concept after his mindful drifting. His skin is soothed from his time in the water and he waits until he's dry before putting on clothes and heading downstairs with his gear.

The others seem to have gone ahead, Kiwyn. I'm assuming you're still in the inn too, so meet during breakfast and follow after them?

"Glad to have you." Simon says without hint of any kind of prejudice toward the Tiefling.

"Not this time. I told the innkeep where we were headed. If they want to come, they can catch up."

Unless you have some ability to ignore the effects of a disguise self spell, Meridian looks entirely human all the time. I did forget his disguise check for the day, however.

I was waiting on our GM but I think it would be safe to continue on some.

Kiwyn awoke the next morning well-rested and eager. Her morning rituals, including spell preparation and grooming, delayed her arrival downstairs. Dressed and checking one last time in the mirror that her clothes were fine, and that her fur and tails were properly brushed she sighed. "And no one to admire this. Tis a shame." Changing in to her human form Kiwyn gathered her things and ventured down for breakfast.

In the morning, Zhan stows the money and contents of the bag back within it, and secures the vial and tomb in his pack. After a quick breakfast, he leaves to join Simon in the stables, and make ready his mount. Seeing Robert and Kiwyn just descending the stairs as he is making his way out he pauses to address them.

"We're heading out right away to take a look at what we found last even. Simon is the impatient type, so if you would like to come along, I suggest you grab something you can eat in the saddle and head out quickly."

Once his horse is ready he swings into the saddle with a practiced, unconscious motion.

When the rifleman approaches, he nods in greeting, and adds his support to Simon's when he invites him along. When Simon quirks an eyebrow at Zhan over the dwarf's behaviour he mollifies the nobleman with a subtle gesture of the hand Simon has come to know as have patience.

Really good role-play everybody. I'm having a ton of fun watching your characters develop.

(should you all go to the wreck) The ship is still where it was left. There's no signs of further vandalism, thievery, or persons present. In the daylight, there's a rope ladder on the opposite side of the ship. There's not much on the ship that looks functional anymore. It almost looks to have suffered from a terrible storm, but there's been no severe weather as of late.

Knowledge Arcana check: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22
If it is an artifact then, sadly, even my identify spell would not reveal anything else.

Kiwyn smiled at Robert as she came downstairs. "Good morning, good sir." Adding a polite nod to her greeting. When Zhan informs them of the others' intended departure she frowns. Perhaps she had taken too long this morning. "The price of pampering one's self after so long on the road." She supposed with a sigh.
She thanked innkeeper again as she accepted a few pastries and some breakfast meat she could eat as she rode. In the stables she happily greets Noroikawa and thanks the stable hand. "Who's a good horsey? You are, yes you are my sweet Nowa." The horse snorts at her pet name for him but Kiwyn just chuckles.

Kiwyn waits for Robert since they most likely need to find him a horse. Should the others leave without them, or if they have left before she even gets out to the stable, She will accompany Robert as they catch up with the others.

Robert smiles at Kiwyn and says, "Good morning as well."

When Zhan tells him about it, he blinks before nodding, deciding to go along as he feels indebted to them. He takes some breakfast from the innkeeper, thanking him before leaving.

That's a good point. I still need to look for a place to borrow/rent a horse. Might be a bit of a drag to go through the whole thing, so perhaps just say the others went ahead and Kiwyn helped Robert find a horse and they catched up with the others before they arrived at the wreck? Is that fine?

At the wreck, Leon says "Robert, take some time and look around See if anything triggers memories for you. Anything at all might be useful."

Perception 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20

"I understand."

Robert nods and follows Simon's instructions, searching around in the morning light. There's a small hope inside him that perhaps he might spot one of his Ioun Stones that he didn't see in the darkness last night. He searches the shore first, not entering the wreck.

Once at the shore again Kiwyn glances around with fresh eyes. They had been in a hurry to begin with yesterday, trying to race the setting sun. Then they were attacked and had to return to town.
Dismounting she regards the ship. "It looks like it ran afoul with a storm, but I do not recall hearing reports of one so it may have been attacked. If by magic, the residual auras would have faded by now unless caused by the gods themselves, but mayhap we can still find clues."
Kiwyn begins casting detect magic then moves through the wreckage, scanning the detritus and the ship itself for auras.

"Ye all can check out the ship. I'll stay here and keep watch. I arent no darn fish. I'd prefer to keep me legs on the ground." Silent will make a easy paced march around areas of the boat.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14

Meridian moves into the ship, searching for anything out of the ordinary.
Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11.

Zhan enters cautiously through the hole in the hull, through which he entered last night. He approaches the body, and examines it further, to see what clues can be found. Perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (4) + 13 = 17

Kiwyn stops moving as soon as the fox reveals itself. She takes only a moment to see if it is magical before dropping the spell entirely. "Well now." She says with a cheerful smile. "What is a fine little one like you doing in such a place." Moving slowly and carefully she reaches into her pack and retrieves some of the fresh pastries and meat left over from her breakfast. Breaking off little pieces she sets them down and steps back a few paces. She slowly sits with the rest of the leftovers set before her. Slowly she picks up a small bit of meat and begins to eat it in small bites. She makes no move to grab for the creature, only sitting still and glancing at it casually as she nibbles.

I hope it isn't necessary for a check because Handle Animal is not a normal skill for her. I only even put 1 rank in it just because she has a love for animals. She's just no dog whisperer. :p
If it is, gods help me.

Handle Animal check: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19

Robert shakes his head, pressing a hand to his temple as memories flood in his mind. He continues forward and bends down to take his stones, snatching the two dull gray stones and the one cracked dark blue rhomboid. He holds them for a moment, dusting off any grit and sand that may have accumulated on them, and then releases them, the stones falling but stopping in mid-air and starting to float.

He gives a soft smile, feeling calmer as they start buzzing around his head.

He looks around one last time but finds nothing else, but finding three more was better than nothing and for that he was thankful.

The gillman closes his eyes, replaying the memory in his head to make sure he doesn't forget it. He breathes and waits outside for now, just in case Silent needs help.

He casts a Create Water spell above his head to hydrate him, the familiar sound of the small rain striking the stones circling him soothing.

I just have, like, this image of Robert going around with one of those cartoonish rain clouds over his head, dumping water on him.

The fox slowly moves forward to take some of the food. It sniffs some of the edibles before running away with a piece of bread in tow. It's apparent there's not much left on the ship, but there's still no indication of how it got there. After a more thorough search of the ship, it's revealed to have been picked over before you got there. Whatever might have been useful that wasn't lost to the ocean is now gone.

"Are foxes native to this area?" Simon asked Zhan.

MEridian simply stands silently and watches the interesting exchange between Kiwyn and the fox, then goes back to what he was doing. Once he is satisfied that there is nothing interesting to be ween on the ship, he will return to the beach and take up a watch with Silent.

Kiwyn chuckled as the little thief snatched up some bread and ran off. Standing up, she dusts herself off, leaving the food on the floor.

"Are foxes native to this area?" Simon asked Zhan.

Kiwyn pauses to mentally consider the kight's question.

Knowledge, Nature check: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29

"It didn't look wet, so it either came on board last night. Or it may have stowed away at it's last port." She thought.

Looking at Meridians approach, Silent states, "Ye find anything?"

Meridian nods to Silent, Nothing worth noting.

"Foxes are native just about everywhere. It is probably a local creature, scavenging the ship, just like everything else around here."

"The ship appears to have been picked over in the night. Since there is nothing here, perhaps we should head back to town."

Zhan will pull the body of the mage out of the wreck and tie it to his horse. Another gift for the mortician.

"I will be going to the undertakers next, to see what can be learned from the body we brought there last night. This man as well will need to be laid to rest. He has tattoos that mark him as a member of an obscure order, and they too may give us clues as to the ship's origin. If we find nothing to give us a clue to his identity or next of kin, I have a few items I found within the ship last night to which you will all have some claim. Seek me at the inn."

Zhan mounts his horse, a large sleek dun, and digs in his heels. The horse sprays up sand as he moves.

"Picked over in the night. I was afraid of that."

Simon waves his partner off. "I'll catch up to you later. I want to draw out a copy of those tattoos."

Looking to the odd fish-man, the knight raised and eyebrow. "Anything?"

Meridian waves to Zhan as he gallops past, then returns to scanning the area around the wrecked ship for any threats.

"I remember seeing the ship from underwater. A very large squid was dragging it, and I was carried in its wake. After that, my memory fails me, but I'm certain I heard the sounds of battle, shouts and the clash of swords.

"And you, any luck?"

Silent stops his pace, "I aint seen'n nothing. Ye'll better get a move on, if nothing be here I guess... We'll see if Zhan can gather some info form stuff he found i guess."

While on your journey back to town, you hear a rustling from the nearby brush.

A man walks out from behind a nearby tree. He is dressed in a long brown and green coat, with a hood to hide his face. There is a greatsword strapped to his back, and from underneath his hood, you see a snake hanging around his shoulders."Hello travelers." he speaks. "I feel it necessary to inform you that you're getting in a position far beyond yourselves. You have something of mine." He points towards the mage on Zhan's horse. "I would like it back."

Perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (3) + 13 = 16

"What is your relation to the man? You sound like you think him more property than kin."

He laughed at the remark. "The light of your gods has blinded you. I don't care for the man. He died like a fool. I care for the pendant he took from me. And since he is in your possession, so too must the jewel be."

"And you, any luck?"

"Only a stowaway in search of food." Kiwyn chuckles as she joins Simon and Robert. Noticing Zhan riding off alone she comments. "Is that wise? The ship was attacked and then cleaned out overnight. Either party could still be nearby."

Perception 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21

Robert turns his head in response to the rustling when he notices three men, hidden and watching the group. Another man appearing takes his attention.

He lets Zhan speak as he tries to inform the others in his group of the other men.

Bluff (pass secret message) 1d20 ⇒ 13

I am pretty sure Zhan is alone right now....

Meridian mounts up, With nothing to see here, we should get back to town. PErhaps Zahn will have learned something of note.

I had assumed that we were finished here and the party would likely have been coming with me. I did not mean it to appear that Zhan rode off alone, though now rereading it I can see why it might be interpreted that way. If there was any sign that the others were soon getting ready to leave, he'd have slowed in order to let them catch up. Since he has said as much, I presume that Clicks at least is there. As Meridian is also now getting ready to go, I would assume that I waited for him as well, and the others if they wanted to move together.

Not sure how to notice a secret message... Perception, or perhaps sense motive...1d20 ⇒ 8. That's a 21 if it's a perception check, or 23 if its a sense motive.

At the subtle signal from Robert, Zhan takes a second look at his surroundings. Perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (10) + 13 = 23 He takes note of the additional members of the visitor's company and marks them in his mind.

"I'm afraid the ship was picked over long before we came upon it this morning. At that time the man had nothing more than what he wears on him, and there is not much left of that. I am taking him to the city to be buried. Whatever the manner of his death, a man deserves to be properly laid to rest. If you knew him, perhaps you can tell me his name, or his next of kin, so I might be able to inform them of the loss."

As nothing he has said is a lie, I am presuming a Bluff check is unnecessary. However, in case you feel he should perform one anyway: Bluff: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20

Assuming the GM will allow for it, Meridian will be with you in that case.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20.

Noticing the men surrounding them, Meridian will calmly thumb back the hammers on his musket.

For the sake of not splitting the party perhaps he will allow for Zhan to have ridden slow enough to allow the others to catch up once they determined the ship was a dead end for now.

If so:
Perception check: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
Curse you Wisdom.

Kiwyn was fine with letting Zhan speak to the man who had stepped into their path. Not noticing the others she considered which spell she may need if the encounter turned violent.

Also not sure about the secret message bit. Either way, Perception or Sense Motive, will be the same. 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

The kitsune completely misses Robert's attempts to warn them. But when the man mentions the pendant she tenses. "So that is what he is after." Her eyes narrow and her demeanor becomes serious.

To notice a hidden message it is a sense motive check.

I'll allow the catch-up.

"His name was Connor. He had no kin." The man draws his sword at this point. "But I doubt your words. I sent one of my own to retrieve the pendant, and he never returned. Why is that?" He starts to slowly walk towards you.

Sorry for misreading the posts earlier. I did notice it after I checked again.

When he draws his sword, the snake visible under his hood hisses at you. Its grip has loosened from its perch and it looks ready to strike.

"One of your own?" Simon says with suspicion in his voice, stepping forward and drawing his own blade, but keeping it low. "Don't suppose you'd care to describe him?"

Simon is entering Initiative at this point, but going full defensive. He's not engaging, he's just ready to be attacked. I.E., unless this guy Feints he's not catching me flat footed.

Current AC 27