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Ellie nods briefly to the captain - perhaps they could question him afterwards? - before stepping up to Azuretta.
"Hello there. We've got a few questions for you. I'm sure you've heard about the unfortunate death by now, right?" The gunslinger clears her throat, ticking off the questions she'd made up earlier in her mind.
"Ma'am, we've heard that the reason Thanzeril was not at his post was because you... er, invited him to your quarters," Ellie begins, looking a little flustered at the implications here. "Is this true? Why did you do that, knowing that his duty was to guard Sephriel?"
"Where were you around the time of death? Were you with Thanzeril? Was anyone else there with you, or knew you were together?"
"Did you hear or see anything strange around the time of death?"
"Have you heard any suspicious things from anyone else on the ship that would make you suspect them?"
She turns to Targost and Dietrich, looking for any further input from them, while listening carefully to Azuretta's responses.
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"Miss, I'd really appreciate it if you'd answer our questions honestly. I don't care for being woken in the middle of the night to get attacked, only to find it was some kind of diversion. Do you know why the sea elves would care about Sephriel?"
Dietrich straightens up and puts on a very sour expression. It was the kind that could clear a table a local tavern if he needed a place to sit.
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Anera's clothing is crumpled and wrinkled, as though she has slept in it, and it is, in fact, the same outfit she wore yesterday. You see no bloodstains on her person or her clothing or knife, however.
Norine, you do notice a tattoo of a dead tree on her right forearm.
"I took to my bed early last night, feeling a bit ill from dinner. I was asleep until Killik bumped my hammock on his way back into the crew cabin."
"I don't know who can tell you that I was in bed. I retired early."
"It's no secret that I don't like elves. Those bloody bastards! They were responsible for the death of my beloved Masilk, and they should all die in a fire! But, I did not kill that pointy-eared filth. I wouldn't waste a good blade on him."
"I trust Captain Veane with my life. Marzack, not so much. I think that he would mutiny, if he had the upper hand."
As best Mez can tell, she is being truthful (or she is very good at hiding it).
Dietrich, you notice that Azuretta wears a distinctive perfume, an infusion of cinnamon, jasmine, and umberberries. It occurs to you that this scent was also present in Sephriel's cabin.
"I was with Thanzeril early this morning, though in the forward hold, not my quarters. I desired some exotic company. Snig was there, the little pervert. He tried to make it look like he was ignoring us, but he likes to watch."
"I was... otherwise engaged during the time of the murder, as was Thanzeril. I can tell you that both of us are innocent. I must admit that I don't know if Snig stayed throughout or not; I really didn't care. As for other people on board, well, you know that Anera doesn't like elves, right?"
So far as all of you can determine, she is telling the truth. The captain says nothing and seems to be ignoring you, but Targost notices that every once in a while, he looks up and listens to a question or answer.
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Ellie continues to be flushed at Azuretta's rather... frank explanation, but she clears her throat pointedly before responding.
"Yes, we've heard. Thank you."
She turns back to Targost and Dietrich. "Well, that was... less than illuminating, and yet more information than I ever really wanted to know. Shall we ask Snig a few questions, too? Or do you have anything more to ask her?"
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"So, now let's get back together and compare our notes, and then choose the next each to talk to."
[b]"By my list we have:
Thanzeril, the bodyguard
Anera, general duties
Azuretta, the harlot
Captain Veane
Ulamon, the ship's navigator
Shira Acidaxe, the cook?
Snig Lacorse, the stowaway
Mallick/Marzack (?), first mate
Killik, ship's surgeon"
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Comparing notes, Norine says the, "We will need to see if Snig will collaborate the story of Azuretta and Thanzeril, and thus his own alibi, too. Let's go see him next."
"The captain has nothing to gain and everything to lose, but it would do to get him alone for questioning, too.
"The first mate would moved up to captain if something bad happened to the captain, it seems - without having to actually mutiny (something Anera suggested he might do "if he had the upper hand").
"Anera doesn't seem to have done it, based on her knife and clothing - of course, she could have used a different knife and an overcoat... Hmmm.
We'll see if Killik remembers hitting her hammock.
"Azuretta doesn't seem to have either, and her alibi may be Snig's, too."
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Norine takes off her hat and holds it in her hand, hoping for her best disarming charm. "Sorry for disturbing you, Sir! We mean you no harm. We are talking to everyone on board about the tragic death of Sephriel. May this sailor and her friends have a few moments of your time? ... I brought snacks!"
"We need to ask you about where you were at the time of Sephriel's death, and whether you saw or heard anything that may help us understand why and how this happened."
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At the mention of snacks, the man becomes a bit more cooperative. "Snig sees a lot of things," he says, "Even if not everybody sees Snig."
"Snig was here when elf-man died. Snig was in his nest. Captain's whore and elf-guard come in and Snig watches. Snig like to watch whore work." He giggles, his body quivering at the thought.
Whore and elf-guard enjoy each other's company until alarm is sounded, then they dress and leave. That all Snig know."
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Mez nods as Snig tells his tale watching for any signed of deceit, though why one would lie while admitting to being a pervert is beyond him. ”Thank you for that information and collaboration of their stories. Tell me Snig, have you ever thought about putting your talents for being unseen and collecting information to better use? The Andoran’s are always on the lookout for capable members able to get them needed information. They pay well too…” says Mez, showing off his mastercrafted rapier as proof of his statement. Note to self: do not let Snig near me after this or I’ll be even more naked than I already am.
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"You would still be in close quarters, just on better ships, Snig my friend." Norine is unfazed by Snig's words: having once served a nature god, there is nothing shocking in that regard under the sun or moon or stars.
(I'm giving him the rest of my trail rations, but one already committed to the birds.)
"But at other times besides tonight, anyone have it in for Sephriel, or for the captain? You must see and hear a lot of things, given your obvious talents."
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”Not sure how much longer the Captain will be manning this vessel. After this assassination, and the upward motivations of some of the crew, your captain friend may be moving to a new ship… or worse. If you agree to this, I will put in a word with my superiors to see if they can’t keep you and the captain together if he gets moved about ships, and try to protect him from predation from the rest of his crew.” says Mez, not willing to give up just yet.
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Ah. I remember now.. This Snig , I was supposed to get him to come work for our cause... Glad Mez is around.
Ebon doesn't really get involved with the questioning of the stowaway. He doesn't want him to get nervous and run.
" It seems that the harlot, bodyguard and stowaway all alibi each other...Check the First mate or Surgeon next?"
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"Yes, the surgeon, Killik, might be able to verify Anera's alibi."
"I have an idea: We should knock on the surgeon's door, ask to talk to him, then have one of us call the rest away, making our apologies. We then do the same with the 'cook' (What ship's cook has any alchemical apparatus ... -es ... apparati?). We go off and interview the first mate and the Captain. We come back when the spells and such they cast have expired. We know Killik, at least, is a spellcaster; Shira Acidaxe may be an alchemist."
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"I am not sure I understand either, Ebon, but I think it is a clever ruse anyway," says Norine, oblivious to any internal contradiction in her logic. "Ellie, wait here for a moment, just out of view, and come to get us after we talk to the surgeon for a moment, saying we're needed elsewhere. The rest of us will go, make some noise, and knock on the ship's surgeon's door."
Norine goes up to the door of the surgeon's room, says a prayer for Guidance, knocks on the door and waits for a response. "Excuse me, but I wished to ask you about a little problem I have down there..."
Then, after Ellie's call, "Oh, excuse me again, this isn't the right time. We'll be back in just a few and then not trouble you again."
Norine then moves on to the ship's cook with the same plan. "Excuse me kindly, Miss Acidaxe, but we all wanted to complement you on your excellent cooking: there is just that special something that I just can't quite identify that makes your meals so special."
Again, after Ellie's call, the same excuse making.
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When you knock on the door to the crew cabin (where the ship's surgeon resides), a gruff voice calls back, slightly annoyed. "There's a fee." When the distraction is sprung, he seems apathetic, at best, giving only a snarky, "Whatever..."
Things with Shira don't go much better. The testy little dwarf throws a tantrum when you spring the delay, shouting, "Get outta me kitchen if'n ya don' need sumthin'."
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"Now where to next? How about -" Norine pauses, reading her list, "'Ulamon, the ship's navigator'. I wonder if, since the ship anchors at night and we were attacked at night, whether the ship's navigator could have placed us in the spot we are now on purpose? We could ask both him and the captain who directed us to here."
Norine asks Ulamon the question we had of the other crew members, namely
"One, their location at the time of death."
"Two, the names of any other people who can confirm their location at the time of death."
"Three, if they have seen or heard anything to make them suspicious of anyone on board."
"Four, if they saw or heard anything odd around the time of death."
and, now, "Who's idea was it to anchor the ship at this location tonight?"
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Ellie seems just as confused as the rest with Norine's plan, but decides that the spellcasters would know best what a spellcaster would do and goes along with it as best she can.
Norine seems to be getting into the investigation as well, Ellie notes with a grin. Does that make her Watson? She listens closely to what Ulamon has to say.
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Ulamon remains impassive throughout the line of questioning, then inhales deeply. "Earlier in the evening, I had been discussing our course with Captain Veane. I left his cabin about an hour before the attack to go to the crew cabin and my own bunk."
"Nearly anyone should be able to verify that I was with the captain for most of the evening. I then retired to my bunk. I was sleeping soundly until someone brushed past me. It was dark and I don't know who it was, nor exactly when."
"Captain Veane ultimately determines where the ship is anchored, though it depends largely on our course for the day."
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"Thank, you, Ulamon."
"Now, let's go talk to the ship's surgeon!"
"Sorry, for interrupting you before, Killik, but it seems one of my mates found some important information that should lead us to the killer or killers."
Norine then asks Killik the questions asked of everyone so far, and attempts to see if there is anything suspicious about his person or the surroundings.