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

Game Master WhtKnt

Detect magic on the First Mate

"What's 'coming to him', then? A sound thrashing? A knife in the back? A parlor full of eager ladies?"

No magical emanations from his person, but the cloak he wears is magical.

The mate glares at Norine and Dietrich. "Are you suggesting that there might be a mutiny aboard? As first mate, it would be my duty to report such to the captain, you know. Best you'd not be making such comments within my earshot."

I was hoping to catch his candid feelings, but no such luck. Better try a different tack.

"So, who has a key to Sephriel's cabin?"

"Sephriel had my key, and I'm sure that the captain has one. Beyond that, I don't know. It wouldn't be difficult to get a key for it while we were in Magnimar."

"Ah, that makes sense. Hmm. Still, we are left with a murderer under your and the captain's watch. Who would benefit from the elf's death? And, who would benefit from something bad then befalling the captain? Perhaps the Mordant Spire elves will help us figure it all out."

"Mayhap they will, but if I were to guess, I'd say that you should speak to Anera. It seems to me that she has the grudge against elves. That, and being an assassin, and all. And more than once one this trip, I've heard the bodyguard arguing with his master."

"Of course," he says, his face brightening, "You'd have something to gain, too, wouldn't you, little Pathfinders? With Sephriel out of the way, the biggest opposition to Azlant being opened to the Society would be out of the way. You know, maybe the captain had the right of it in saying that you were the murderers..."

Thoroughly confused and showing such in his expression, Ebon takes offense, but isn't angry or violent....yet.
"What?...Wait... We were told to protect the elf. We didn't kill anybody 'cept a few Sea-elfs...How would we gain by his death? Our reputation as capable bodyguards would be ruined..."
None of them seemed guilty to me... Never figure out this detecting stuff.. I should make him eat his words tho...
"I should cram those words down your throat! I think now maybe YOU did it..."

Oh, he is a smart one, that is for sure. My goading didn't work - backfired, even. Time to push back?

"You seem to have been mistaken about being with the captain at the time of the murder... Would you like to revise that statement?"

"Mistaken? Possibly. I might have left him shortly before the attack. Still doesn't prove my guilt, now does it? Yes, I discovered the elf, but who had access to him, eh? The bodyguard says that he was with Azuretta, but what if they both done it and are covering for each other?"

Question. Did Dietrich ever tell us about the whiff of perfume he smelled? I'm going to assume he did.

Ellie scowls at the first mate. He was a wily bugger, and a frustrating one at that, dancing around all kinds of accusations as deftly as a whirling dervish. Not trusting her tongue to parley with him, she starts mulling over the potential options they had discovered thus far.

I don't think it's Anera. Her story matches with the cook's; and, with the mass of poison Shiva had in her possession, it's likely to have left her bed-ridden.

It could be either Azuretta or Thanzeril easily enough, or both. They could've payed off Snig to lie for them; he seems the type to lie for payment.

But I can't help but think that's not the case... maybe Azuretta was in league with someone else...

She eyes up the first mate warily.

It would suit him AND her well to have the captain implicated in a murder. With Verne out of the way, Mallick would have a shot of taking control, and perhaps Azuretta could get a status upgrade from harlot to first mate herself!

"What's your relationship with Azuretta like?" she asks cautiously, looking for any sign of a strange reaction.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21

"About the same as anyone else on board this ship except Anera, the cook, and Snig. We've had... relations, if that's what you're asking. Can't say as I'd put a lot of trust in her, though."

He seems to be telling the truth.

So am I correct in thinking that everyone we've asked has said they did not kill the Elf, and we've believed everyone?

Mez ponders a moment, his thoughts flashing through the interviews completed, and while finding some character flaws, not seeing anyone that seems guilty of the crime.

Yeah... At one point, during my 'feinting spell', I was trying the classic ruse where you drop hints that you have important information, hoping that it will spur the killer to come to you.

This guy seems like the most likely candidate - besides our generally-murderous cook - but it seems we lack the pesky evidence. It is also hard to nail down the times of his movements precisely enough, unless the captain says that he wasn't with the first mate at all.

We can, though, ask Anera about her assassin's tattoo, and talk to the Captain.

Honestly? My guess is currently Azuretta, or at the very least being implicit in the murder (getting Thanzeril out of the way). Although, again, we have no evidence.

I think the cook and Anera are innocent at this stage.

Ebon believes em all.. Shrug, he's not so good at this. He just accused the first mate, cause the mate accused him. XD.
Personally I'd go with the 1st mate and the harlot.

I would've shared whatever I discovered, even if I forgot about it! Who the heck knows at this point? Dietrich really doesn't like the 1st mate, but isn't sure if that's enough to think him guilty.

I'll save you a little time and tell you that the Captain has nothing to say. He reminds you that he was in his cabin (from which you saw him emerge after the fight) and that there was no other way out. His alibi is as close to rock-solid as you can get unless he is a shapeshifter or has the ability to turn invisible (which, as GM, I will tell you that he is not and does not).

So as not to have to drag things out, Anera will admit (when confronted) that she was lying about her tattoo and that it is symbolic of an assassin's guild, but still vehemently denies having been involved in the murder and stands by her claim of having gone to bed early, feeling ill.

In any case, the only person on board to whom you haven't spoken is the mysterious traveler who came on board at Magnimar. Most likely, he is not the murderer, but you can question him if you wish. He tends to stay in the hold, guarding his precious cargo (whatever it is).

Norine frowns, scrunching up her face and trying to force out a new thought, but comes up empty, sighing. Off to Anera again to ask her about that tattoo.

"Why didn't you tell us the truth, Anera, about your tattoo? Are you still an assassin? That many stabs could be what happens when an assassin really hates someone, I think."

"Yes, I am a member of the Woodbane Hunters assassin's guild. I joined after the death of my husband at the hands of an elven patrol. However, I did not kill your diplomat. Why didn't I tell you the truth? Would you have believed I was innocent if you knew that I were an assassin with a hatred of elves?"

The cargo hold is the lowest level of the ship, and it is here that crates, boxes, and barrels of various sizes are stored. Amid the clutter are two wooden crates that were taken on at Magnimar and are zealously guarded by a black-haired man who came aboard with them.

I totally missed/forgot about that.

Does the captain verify the first mate's story?

The captain will verify that he and the mate had words about crew discipline, but he does not know how much time passed between the time the mate left and the attack transpired.

Ellie grumbles in frustration, running her fingers through her short-cropped hair and massaging her scalp as if that would somehow make the answers come to light.

"Okay. The only bit of oddness that isn't hearsay that we have to go on so far is the perfume Azuretta wears smelling familiar, at least according to Dietrich. I think we should search her quarters for anything suspicious. Anyone got any better ideas?"

Targost will travel to the hold to speak with this 'mysterious' person, and try to discover what his cargo is. (I completely miss this as well Norine!!)

"Greetings. I do not think we have been introduced. I am Targost. Who are you?"

"V...Velagon Dorhay. Wh...what can I do for you?"

"Dear Sir, there has been a murder of a passenger on board and we were concerned about your safety. Seeing you are safe, we should ask you a few questions..."

"Where have you been the last few hours?"

"Have you seen or heard anything strange or worrisome, especially regarding Sephriel the elven envoy, the murder victim?"

"What brought you aboard this particular vessel?"

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Nope. No clue, thinks Norine as she purses his lips.

"I-I-'ve been here, with my c-c-cargo," he says, his eyes wide. "M-murder? Oh, my! Nasty b-b-business, that! I've s-s-seen nnothing, though there has b-b-been a lot of traffic down here last night. P-people coming and g-g-going at all hours."

"I'm a d-dealer in rare and s-specialized animals." He indicates the wooden crates beside him.

"A short while ago, maybe... maybe a few hours, the c-c-captain and first mate where here to see my p-p-pets."

Suddenly, a tolling bell sounds from the Throaty Mermaid’s deck, and the entire ship jolts to life as though awakened from a startling dream. Crew members rush between cabins and up and down the narrow stairs between decks. “All hands to storm stations,” Captain Veane calls into the ship’s bowels. “We got ourselves a mean one comin’!”

"That includes our passengers!" Veane adds as an afterthought.

Norine will rush up to the deck, using her skills as a sailor. If she has a minute, she will consult her gnome obsession log, Storms... Storm stations... and pray for Guidance from the goddess of travelers.

1d20 + 8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 8 + 2 + 1 = 20 Or, just a 17 based on skills alone.

As she goes, she confides to her companions, "Expect the murderer to strike again!"

"What type of beast do you have in that box?"

"A m-m-most unique s-s-specimen; a m-m-mated pair of rust m-m-monsters." Velagon replies, standing. "We'd best away, b-b-before the c-c-captain comes l-l-looking for us."

" Rust monsters!! You had best keep 'em away from my father's sword."Ebon exclaims as he grabs the greatswords hilt and backs away from the cargo.
Hmm. I wonder if that's the reaction he wanted?...Wouldn't be the first time I've walked into something and done exactly what they wanted to my dismay. I'll have to keep an eye on this one...And why does he stutter so badly...
Not really remembering where or what his storm station is, he follows Velegon to his.

When the storm rolls in, Mez returns to his room, trying not to redecorate the interior while the ship rolls and bucks in the stormy seas.

Rust monsters?! Ellie shudders at the thought, happy to have an immediate excuse to get the hell outta there.

She has absolutely no idea what a storm station is, but the sudden rocking of the ship causes her stomach to lurch again; the halfling appears a little white-faced. She follows after Norine, knowing that the gnome at least had some idea of what she was doing.

You have five rounds to prepare in any way that you wish. On round six, the storm hits the ship and we go to initiative to determine order of actions (which may become important). Let's go ahead and make initiative rolls now, while everyone describes any specific actions they take for the upcoming storm. The crew man their respective stations and are largely ignoring you, except the first mate. He shouts orders above the wind, telling you when to pull a rope, move something, or otherwise take an action that is required.

Those with Profession (sailor) may use their modifier in that skill in place of any other required skill. Additionally, they may make one Profession (sailor) check each round to grant a +2 circumstance bonus to one ally within 30 feet on any check made to avoid or suppress an effect of the storm.

After the storm begins, the entire deck becomes difficult terrain when calculating movement and making Acrobatics checks (if necessary) due to the violent movement of the ship and the increasingly wet surface. All spellcasters must make Concentration checks to cast spells (DC 15 + spell level). Unless otherwise noted, winds are strong, giving a -2 penalty on Fly checks.

Storm initiative: 1d20 ⇒ 11

Should it become necessary to track positions, we will use the map from the first encounter. The link is at the top.

are we all involved in this, even those of us that have no sailing skill?

Yep.

Once on the deck, Norine heads amidships and ties herself off with her rope to the starboard railing, figuring that that will allow her the run of the deck - without sinking to the bottom in her chain shirt.

Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16

Targost stays near amidship as possible, also roping himself off.

Init: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14

Seeing the others begin to tie themselves to the ship, Ellie follows suit, knotting the rope around her waist right up near Norine. (Her rope is a little shorter, though, and she seems to be clinging to the walls of the ship as much as possible.

Init: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23

Mez groans as he remembers that he has something to do during the storm and dashes off to do it. Seeing the others lashing themselves to the boat, he will as well, but he'll tie his off near where is task is.

Dietrich holds fast in his place near the stern, but stays on the main deck. He decides to follow Norine, since she is the sailor among them, by rigging a rope harness around himself and lashing it to the side.

Ebon will tie himself off if Velegon leads him to the deck. If he doesn't go on deck Ebon will follow him around in the ship.
initiative: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17

Like the others, Velegon ties himself off to the ship's railing. Within a few moments, the storm strikes at full fury, tossing the ship like a toy in a tub of water. The motion of the ship upon the waves is nauseating.

Everyone must make a Fortitude save (or Profession (sailor) check) against a DC 14 or become sickened for 1d4 rounds.

Profession (Sailor): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19
Whew! That would have been embarrassing...

"Wheeee!"

Fort save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
Duration: 1d4 ⇒ 1

The rolling of the sea makes Mez's already distressed stomach begin doing backflips, send most of his dinner overboard.

Can Norine make the Profession (Sailor) check to aid us on this?

Fort: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

Despite feeling rather sea-sick at the tumultuous waves tossing the ship about like a child's toy, Ellie somehow manages to keep the contents of her stomach down. Perhaps she'd gotten used to it from the constant seasickness she'd faced on the journey already...

Yes, Norine can make a Profession (sailor) roll to assist.