PFS #02-13: Murder on the Throaty Mermaid (Inactive)

Game Master WhtKnt

"Well I do have some money, but what would you consider 'better'. And how much are we talking?"

"How much have you?" the man asks shrewdly. "Few things are better than money." He says smugly. "Magic, among them."

"I could part with 50gp or so, but it really depends on what you have to say. I am not going to pay for useless information. As for magic...I have magic!"

A bribe! Why is it I never think of a bribe? Of course, if you saved your money better, Nora... We'll have to help old Targost out with it afterwards, though.

"You want to hear what I have to say, but I don't give anything away for free. I'll tell you what I know, honest truth, for 10 gold."

"Done and done! Here you go, now then tell me what you know."

"Right then. I was asleep in my bunk last night. Heard some people comin' and goin', but didn't pay any mind to it. You get used to that on board a ship. I heard someone get up several times near the middle of the night, but I couldn't tell you who it was."

"I do find it strange, though, that Anera would keep challenging That elf bodyguard to a game of knivesies, even after he told he her he'd no interest in playing. Almost as though she wanted an excuse to kill him without retribution."

"And there's Snig, that little rat. Stowaway... Spy is more the like! He has the run of the ship and goes where he pleases. There isn't a person on board on who he hasn't got dirt."

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

I should be able to read a ship's surgeon and a sailor, but, alas, people like him remain a mystery to me.

"So what sort of dirt has Snig got on you? I'm not inclined to trust someone who sells information. So tell us about yourself."

Intimidate: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

Well, At least I'm more forboding than Norine is perceptive!

"Yes Cutter-man. Tell us about it. What Dirt does Snig have? Hmmm!" Ebon swells himself up as he talks flexing and straining to make himself seem tough.
intimidate: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18

"Nothing that I'd be inclined to impart to the likes of you lot," he replies, with a casual attitude. He seems impressed by Ebon's display of musculature, but quickly recovers. "I charge for services I provide. The Captain sees nothing wrong with it and neither do I. Information is a service."

"Is that all of the information you can provide?", asks Norine, looking very unimpressed.

"Were you aware that Anera 'ates elves with a passion, and that the tattoo she wears is that of an assassin's guild? Frankly, if you ask me, there's your killer. She 'as a motive, she certainly 'as the skills, and she 'as a passion for knives."

"What? Not gotten your gold's worth yet? Fine. Let's talk about Acidaxe, that devil of a cook. She 'ates everyone. Dunno why she might try to off your dignitary, but I wouldn't put it past 'er. 'Course, she's more like to poison 'im than to knife 'im."

"And then there's Marzack Mallik. E's a real charmer, isn't 'e? 'As 'is eye on the captaincy, dont'cha know? Oh, yes. 'E'd love to see old Veane take the fall for this. 'E could take command of the ship."

With that, he relaxes back into his hammock. "That's all I gots to say."

Yes, he dropped h's earlier in his speech; you just didn't notice. :)

I wasn't very perceptive, anyway.

"Thank you, Killik," Norine says as they take their leave.

"Now, off to question Shira Acidaxe, the cook?"
With the same set of questions.

"Before I go in, I will cast a spell looking for poison. Would someone like to look for magic? Ellie, would you handle the questions, then, this time?"

Targost will detect magic before we leave.

Dietrich gives Killik a hard glare, then turns to leave with Norine.

"Yes, let's talk to this dwarf. I'm growing to dislike most of this ship's company, perhaps she'll be different. But I'd better not raise my hopes based on this description."

"Sorry, for interrupting you before, Miss Acidaxe, but it seems one of my mates found some important information that should lead us to the killer or killers."

Norine then asks Shira Acidaxe the questions asked of everyone so far, and attempts to see if there is anything suspicious about her person or the surroundings, once again using Detect Poison and having Targost Detect Magic.

I'll assume Mez is also Sensing Motives.
Norine's Sense Motive: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17

Mez uses the fact that the group is back together to let the others take the lead in this questioning. I did my part for Andor, lets let the others participate as well. The Pathfinders is all about teamwork after all.

Sense: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

Targost will whisper to Norine what he discovered in the good doctor's room. see spoiler above

"Whad'dya want now?" the one-eyed dwarf practically shouts as you enter the area of the hold that serves as a makeshift kitchen. "Fair warning; I got no patience fer yer questions, and I be a busy woman."

"Where wuz I last night? I wuz here, getting a head start on the morning dishes." (This is quite obviously a lie, given that the pile of dishes in the washbasin looks as though they haven't been touched since you left Absalom.)

"I understand that you're busy, ma'am," Ellie says with a sigh - this questioning expedition so far had been round-about and largely fruitless, and she was beginning to get tired. "But we've got a murder on our hands, which juuust kinda takes precedence."

The halfling casts her gaze over the mountain of unwashed dishes, her brow arched. "It looks like you haven't got far with the dishes at all, ma'am. And why would you be doing that in the middle of the night, anyway?"

"I... fell asleep, while soaking the pans."

Sorry Mez. :-\

Also, I was remembering the Detect Poison spell wrong, as it works differently than all of the other Detect Spells (grumble). So, I'll just not use that information for now.

Well, Anera wasn't exactly forthcoming about her tattoo, so that is interesting.

"... Riiight." Ellie shoots a side glance at her fellow Pathfinders, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively. She suddenly felt all the more awake.

"But you were still awake at the time of the murder, right? Did you hear anything, maybe? Or, hey - did you notice any empty bunks when you left your quarters to come to the kitchen?"

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29

Mez barks out a laugh over the feeble explanations offered by the cook. ”Look, we can see you’re lying through your teeth. Come clean with us about what’s going on and we can try and push for leniency.”

"Awright, sos I went ta bed early. I didn't sees no ones movin' about an' I don' remember anythin' 'til I wuz awoke by Mallick."

Do we believe that?

"Why did Mallick awaken you? And where were you at that time?"

Yes, that seems to be the truth.

"I wuz in me bunk, an' he waked me ta tell me about the murder. He said that all hands should be up and about."

Again, Targost whispers to Norine about where he has spotted magic, especially that on the cook!

Targost wanders over to the barrel and takes a look inside, making sure not to touch anything with his bare skin.

Ellie frowns. "So why did you lie to us in the first place?"

"'Cuz I didn't haz anyone ta back up ma story. Hey! Stay outta that!" she shouts, seeing Targost moving towards the barrel.

"Sorry, he gets all hungry and starts looking around for grub," Norine says matter-of-factly, trying to cover for Targost.

The barrel is labeled "Pickled Oysters."

Knowing the plan and having a good guess why Targost would suddenly take interest in the barrel, Mez also heads over to the barrel. ”Mmm, Pickled Oysters. I wonder if they have the same effect as regular oysters? I am getting kind of hungry after waking up and having to fight.” With that said, he tries to hoist the lid off the barrel and see what’s really inside there.

Trouble is going to find us, Norrah - get ready.

Targost also gets ready for trouble, making sure he has a clear line of sight to the cook.
"Help yourself my friend, but be careful what you touch...something in there has a touch of magic upon it, as does our cook there!"

"I said no!" the cook shrieks, and draws forth a vial from her apron.

Initiative (Shira): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Init: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

"Ma'am?!" Ellie seems rather taken aback by her sudden resort to violence. "We don't need any more deaths this day! Come on! Calm down!"

Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18

Unsure of what is going to happen, Norine opts for a fully defensive stance.

Total defense action. AC 22/17/16

Initiative: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

"I've had enough of this! You won't get far trying to play rough with us!"

Dietrich draws his heavy woodcutter's axe, and turns the blade backwards before swinging the butt down at the dwarf.

Attack, non-lethal: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (2) + 6 - 4 = 4

Initiative: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

Smiling as the cook turns agressive, Mez retorts "I thought we'd have to do it this way with one of you!" He draws his rapier and moves into cuff the cook in the head with its pommel.

attack: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 5 - 4 = 171d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

initiative: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
With the others leaping to the attack, Ebon just grins and crosses his arms. Blocking the doorway with his body, he leans against the door jam.
" Haw! hit 'er again , she's still movin'"

I'll give Targost a little more time to weigh in.

Initiative: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Ellie winces upon seeing violence flare up. "Don't kill her! Please!"

Mez and Dietrich both go for the attack in almost the same instant. The warrior proves a bit faster, but his swing is ill-timed and misses the cook by several inches. Not so, the inquisitor's pommel-slam, which comes down hard upon her head. Remarkably, the dwarf seemingly ignores the attack.

"Ye'll regret that," she mutters, taking a five-foot step backward towards a battleaxe buried in the deck.

I have no map for this, sorry, but the space is very crowded. She isn't left with much room.

Snarling, she hurls the vial at Mez.

Thrown attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
1d8 ⇒ 3

The attack misses badly, the vial exploding as it hits the deck behind Mez and to his left. Shira growls in response.

Any checks I can make to determine why the blow had no effect?

Seeing his pommel strike had no effect, Mez tries the tip, knowing he can patch the cook up again afterwards.

Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 181d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8