[PFS] 2-13 Murder on the Throaty Mermaid (subtier 1-2) (Inactive)

Game Master chadius

Is there a way to tell whether these blackouts are mundane (e.g. poison) or magical (arcane/divine)? Affecting the entire crew would be some potent magic indeed, so poison seems likely.

The cook sounds like a good next choice. We also need to visit Azuretta, Marzack Malilk, and everyone else.

You could try a heal check to determine the type of blackouts.

Aid somebody else ...
Heal (untrained, aid another): 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (16) - 1 = 15

Heal, why not?: 1d20 ⇒ 20

Whoa!

Heal, Untrained: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18 A warpriest without heal. I'm pathetic... but good rolling!

Can we use Rolando's roll as the base? Sahba and I can be aids, giving us a 24 total.

"It seams we have been misthinking this. Perhaps our members of the watch are not to blame for leaving their posts." Turning to Anera, Febida asks, "Have you noticed anything off about the crew? Whispered conversations that end when you get within earshot?"

Sense Motive on her answer: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21 Wow I'm rolling good!

Dayum, look at those rolls!

Noting Anera and Thanzeril's symptoms, and accounting for biological differences between races, you conclude some of the crew has suffered from poorly prepared food.

"Azuetta told me she was pretty upset that Sephirel didn't accept her services three days ago. Ha, she gets so upset when she doesn't get what she wants."

Febida thinks Anera is being honest, and slightly amused.

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

"Ok, let's see what the cook has to say."

Concur.

just like my uncle always said if there's something wrong with the food, everything goes up the spout! Looks like we better head to the galley...

Heading the Main Hold (area 6) you notice an abundance of plumbing pipes the crew had picked up from Magnimar, in addition to the usual crates of food.

Shira Acidaxe serves as the ship's cook. This dwarf has seen better days: She wears an eyepatch, her left ear is clipped off, her teeth are reduced to sharpened slivers and she has spent the last two months in a rather bad mood.

"Hmpf. What do ye want? Captain mentioned you had a few questions for meh."

Well, what we want is to find out who's responsible for the death of the passenger we all agreed to protect. Has anyone else been helping you prepare the food, or are you all by yourself? Have you seen anyone tampering with any of the stores? We've found out a few of the crew were poisoned, likely from something they ate.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

"Don't you be insultin' my cooking!" Shira snaps. "I've been cooking on this ship for over twenty years, and does anyone say thanks? No. Does anyone say 'Shira, nice food that you always cook by yourself'? No! Does-" Shira stops mid rant.

"I was cleaning the dishes so I could go to sleep early, alright? Leave me alone." Shira waves Rolando off.

She is obviously lying (she made a Bluff check of 1, lulz.)

Make 2 perception checks

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

I didn't insult your cooking, and I'm sorry the crew doesn't appreciate your...skills. But when you lie it really makes it look like you had something to do with the murder. Those dishes haven't been washed since I was beardless. Concocted Libations to Die For, huh? What was in those vials? Tell us true and we'll sort this out. But lie again, and we're taking you to the captain, kicking and screaming if need be.

The singer grips the flag tightly and nods to Qillian and Kelsier to start closing in lest she make a run for it.

No disrespect to Wilm and Febida, just figured this could be a good moment for the straight up fighters if things turn south.

Wilm is there with his large wolf friend too...

call yourself a cook? Look at this place! Yo cast shame on that sacred profession. You'd best answer rolandos questions.

"Grrr, don't you be lookin' in mah books! No one's going to ruin my fun! 'Specially not newcomers like you!" Shira snarls at the party and starts to reach for her battleaxe.

- Qillian
- Shira
- Rolando, Wilm, Febida, Sahba, Kelsier

Qillian reacts quickly and is able to act before Shira moves.

Qillian it quick to snao his whip and attempts to remove the axe from the cooks hand.

CMB Disarm: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

"Haha! You foreigners will never get me alive!" She laughs maniacally as Qillian snaps the axe from her fingers.

Undaunted, she backs up and quickly mixes some chemicals from her hands. She tosses a bottle at Qillian.

Bomb, Ranged Touch: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9
Damage: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (1, 6) + 2 = 9
Miss Direction: 1d8 ⇒ 6

While it doesn't hit him directly, it does explode as it hits the deck, burning Qillian, Rolando and Wilm.

The bomb deals 4 fire damage. Reflex Save DC 14 to take half damage.

From inside Sephirel's room, you can hear someone move. Thanzeril?

Round 1
- Qillian
- Shira
- Rolando, Wilm, Febida, Sahba, Kelsier

Go clobber her!

Reflex: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16

Rolando rolls away from the worst of the fire, and keeps moving, sweeping around the cook. Take her alive!

He yells, before bursting into a song.

Standard: Enhance Weapons Song

Move: 30 ft

+1 morale to attack and damage for all of you (flag), +1 weapons for everybody, and I just set up a flank for the first person to attack. Drop this punk!

Also, Happy Father's Day to any of you fathers!

Reflex Save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18

Argh! Knew I should have tripped her!

Kelsier nods grimly and steps up, swinging his polearm with deadly force.

Move while drawing Lucern Hammer

Standard attack from reach, flag, flank: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 7 + 1 + 2 = 14

Damage, flag, Enhance weapons: 1d12 + 6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 6 + 1 + 1 = 10

Yeesh, ugly rolling. Sorry Kelsier. At least the flank is still available for someone else.

Febida, caught in the back during the interrogation, realizes things have gone south when the deck rumbles from the explosion.

She positions herself as close as she can, pulling a metal ring from a pouch on her belt. As part of the move, planning to attack with a chakram. I can't move into flanking without double moving since I'm a dwarf.

Chakram Ranged Attack-melee+flag+skald: 1d20 + 1 - 4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 - 4 + 1 + 1 = 19
Crit Confirm: 1d20 + 1 - 4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 - 4 + 1 + 1 = 8 Dang! The dice were being nice to me...

Damage+Flag+Skald: 1d8 + 3 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 3 + 1 + 1 = 12 WOW!

I knew it, only someone upto no good could keep a kitchen like that!

Wilm ducks and weaves through his companions to engage the crazed dwarf.

axe: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 2 = 8 using power attack, moving to in front of Febida. Diagonal from Rolando, don't think I get flanking...
dam: 1d10 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

the sacrilege of the kitchen is very upsetting for him ;-)

ref save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19

Shira is surprisingly agile and she twists out of the way to avoid Rolando's hammer. Febida nails her with a chakram right in the head, near her remaining, intact ear. "Hmpf, may as well poke the other eye out while you're at it!"

Round 1
- Qillian
- Shira (12)
- Rolando, Wilm, Febida, Sahba, Kelsier

Those bolded may act!

Kelsier said he could be botted. I'll wait for Sahba before I do that.

Shira is surprisingly agile and she twists out of the way to avoid Rolando's hammer. Febida nails her with a chakram right in the head, near her remaining, intact ear. "Hmpf, may as well poke the other eye out while you're at it!"

Round 1
- Qillian
- Shira (12)
- Rolando, Wilm, Febida, Sahba, Kelsier

Those bolded may act!

Kelsier said he could be botted. I'll wait for Sahba before I do that.

The hammer strike was me botting Kelsier and missing. My post above that was Rolando's action ;-) Should just be Sahba left.

Oop, thanks for the correction.

Round 1
- Rolando, Wilm, Febida, Sahba, Kelsier

Round 2
- Qillian
- Shira (12)

Those in bold may act

In an effort to help her companions take Shira alive, Sahba casts Ray of Enfeeblement. Move as necessary to move within 30' and get a clear shot.

Ranged touch: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12
Str damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5 Fort save DC 15 for half.

(When the battle is over, Sahba collects the text.)

EDIT: And an additional +1 to hit from the flag. Forgot about the flag. ==13 Ranged Touch.

"She's unarmed", Sahba yells. "Punch her or tackle her!"

Good thing you remembered the flag bonus, because it would otherwise miss. This is the only spot you can get to without provoking an AoO, so you're on the frontline.

Shira's Fort Save: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 6 + 2 = 17

Sahba moves up and fires a ray from her hand. It hits Shira. She shudders as her muscles weaken, but regains some of her lost strength immediately. "Reminds me of meh belladonna mix! Makes you weak as a kitten!" She laughs uproariously.

Round 2
- Qillian
- Shira (12, -2 Str)
- Rolando, Wilm, Febida, Sahba, Kelsier

Qillian, you're up!

"Stand down, or ye be hangin' for sure!"

Intimidate: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

If that doesn't work, then try to trip her.
Whip Trip Attempt: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19

Qillian, Intimidate and your attack are both standard actions. You gotta pick one.

Man, that whip is on FIYAH, man!

Well, probably better go with the whip then. Intimidate is really a standard action? I need a swift version... I wasn't sure the whip use would work, but so far I like it.

There's a trait that let's you use it once per day as a swift action. Omen? Also, there's a feat that I love called Enforcer. Whenever you deal nonlethal damage you can make a Demoralize attempt as a free action and, if successful, the target is shaken for a number of rounds equal to the damage dealt, not just one or two rounds. And the icing is if you crit the target is frightened for a round, then shaken afterwords.

Yeah I know, it's nuts that intimidation is a standard action.

Despite her Dwarven stability training, Qillian trips her.

She stands up (provoking an AoO from Rolando) and throws another bomb at Qillian, cackling all the way.

Bomb, Ranged Touch Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9
Damage: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (1, 1) + 2 = 4
Miss Direction: 1d8 ⇒ 6
lol, these rolls

She misses a direct hit, but the explosion hits Qillian and Sahba.

4 Fire Damage, Reflex Save DC 13 for half

Round 2
- Rolando (AoO)
- Rolando, Wilm, Febida, Sahba, Kelsier

Round 3
- Qillian
- Shira (12, -2 Str)

Those in bold may act.

Stay down, you suicidal fool!

AoO: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 5 + 1 = 16

damage: 1d6 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 3 + 1 = 9

Maintain song as free action

Rolando swings the flag at her again and again until she drops.

Attack: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 5 + 1 = 17

damage: 1d6 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 3 + 1 = 8

3/6 round remaining

Almost forgot, since she is unarmed right now those attacks are against her FF AC from Catch Off Guard

Reflex Save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Enforcer - that's what I want! Thanks, Rolando!

Seeing the dwarf change tactics, and knowing additional Enfeeblement would not be terribly effective, Sahba attempts to Daze the dwarf.

DC 13 Will or unable to act.

"Stop stabbing her!" Sahba wails. "We need her alive!"

Maybe y'all can accept the -4 to hit and attempt non-lethal damage?

... and DC 13 Reflex from the bomb ...
Reflex: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22

Success (only 2 dmg) ... Does Sahba need a concentration check? The damage was dealt before casting, but some GMs ...

Concentration: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

As the Dwarf stands up, Kelsier uses the side of his long-handled hammer to give her a firm knock on the side of her head.

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Shira's Will Save: 1d20 + 0 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 0 + 2 = 7

Shira seems to freeze as Sahba's magic overwhelms her, long enough for Kelsier to knock her out.

Combat Over

Thanzeril finally opens the door, his elven blade drawn. "W-what's going on?" He notes the unconscious dwarf and nods. "Let's restrain her, then."

Taking a closer look at the galley, you notice many filth-encrusted dishes, clearly not washed in months. Whatever Shira did earlier, she wasn't washing the dishes early.

Looking through the galley, you notice a crate labelled "Pickled Oysters" containing alchemical ingredients and emptied vials.

Among the cookbooks in the galley, you notice her alchemical formula book as well as one entitled Concocted Libations to Die For. This book describes all sorts of poisons and easy-to-cook dishes that can easily hide the poisonous taste.

A few minutes later, Shira wakes and spits some blood on the deck. "I would have gotten away with it if it weren't for you meddling kids!" What, Dwarves live long, you're all young compared to her.

Any questions for her? I'm sure you have a couple :)

Kelsier shuffles his feet and looks at the more talkative pathfinders.

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No need to wait a few precious minutes--once she's restrained I'll use my Smelling Salts on her ;-)

We could've cut your throat, or thrown you overboard. We spared your life, so tell us why you decided to poison everyone. Did you have knowledge of the elves' attack?

Seeing Thanzeril enter the room, Rolando approaches him, excusing himself from the other Pathfinders.

Might I have a word alone with you?

If he complies...

Thanzeril, the dwarf was mixing poison into the food. That was why you lost consciousness. You didn't fail in your duties, a treacherous crew member attacked you without your knowledge. You are a loyal bodyguard and my superiors can use someone with your talents. How would you feel about working for the Sovereign Court?

Diplomacy DC 16: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

Febida picks up the bloodied chakram and wipes it clean on the chef's apron, putting it back into her belt pouch.

"As far as we know, you have no motive for poisoning the crew, so you must be a pawn in this plan. How were you contacted?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (14) - 1 = 13

Assuming at least one other generic crew member arrived to see the commotion, Sahba sends him/her off to pick up the MW manacles left by the aquatic elves.

Aid another, Febida's diplomacy.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14

"If you tell us why, there may be some leniency for you."

hey rolando, someone else was saying faction cards only apply for this season...

yeah, spill the beans, who are you working for and why did they want the ambassador toasted?

Wilm joins his companions in trying to get the surly dwarf to talk.

dip aid another dc 10: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

hey rolando, someone else was saying faction cards only apply for this season...

yeah, spill the beans, who are you working for and why did they want the ambassador toasted?

Wilm joins his companions in trying to get the surly dwarf to talk.

[Dice= dip aid another dc 10] 1d20+6

Do you mean in another thread? In this thread we were talking about how the old faction mission (since this is an older scenario) don't count anymore. But as far as I know we can use the faction card in any scenario played after April 13th. If you saw otherwise in another thread, can you link it for me please?

hey rolando, someone else was saying faction cards only apply for this season...

No, you misunderstood. Scenario credits earned before the faction cards don't count towards faction card goals (like "complete secondary objective for X missions in a row").

Realizing she doesn't have much of a choice, the Dwarf talks. "Hmpf. Twenty years, no one's ever paid attention to ol' Shira. Now I'm gettin' credit for something I didn't do?" She shakes her head. "I can't win."

"Now listen, and listen good. I'm throwing poison in my meals to see if anyone notices, and they haven't. So I upped the dosage after we left Magnimar. Now you're saying I killed the ambassador? Naaah, I was preppin more poison when the captain called us over."

She doesn't seem to be lying or witholding information.

Captain Veane approaches you all and shakes his head. "I can't believe Shira would act like this. Thank you all for getting her under control. We'll have to lock her up in your rooms for now. I sent my First Mate to get the manacles from those elves."

Encouraged by the seemingly successful diplomacy of her company, Sabha continuts questioning the stubborn dwarf. "You have said you were here when the elves attacked. Surely, then, you must have seen whether anyone entered or left the envoy's room up until the time the body was discovered by the First Mate?" (Marzark Malilk)

Area 6 has a clear view of area 8 (mate's cabin), where the murder occurred.

Actually, I'm a bit confused ... The post where we discovered the body says it was Marzack (first name), but then the character tells us to go find Malilk (last name of same character). It was the first mate that found the body, right? Maybe the character intended us to find Killik?

Oops. Yes, you were told to find Killik, not Mallick. First Mate Marzark Malilk found the body and told you to find

"I exactly paying attention. People run around here all the time. I don't have good eyes and ears like you. I heard Azuretta's stupid giggle before the Captain called us, but I'm not sure when."

GM Chadius, would you mind marking this thread as inactive? Thanks!

Inactive it is.