[PFS/DMK] 2-13 Murder on the throaty mermaid (Inactive)

Game Master Kludde

You can take Oparra men
And shake them to the bone
But songs they learned at mother's knee
Will always bring 'em home

The weather is clear, with a strong breeze to propel the ship. Further away on the horizon, things look a bit more glum - it is well known that the weather on the Arcadian can be treacherous.

Faction mission update:
Andoran: Complete
Cheliax: Complete
Grand Lodge: Half done
Sczarni: Half done

And who is responsible? the first mate answers with a smirk I didn't hear you call me captain Mallick, so it must be someone else.

I was never in that cabin until the murder happened. Remember that Sephriel was using it - I was sleeping in the crew's cabin. Bloody stink.

I got up when the first mate shouted for help, found the elf already dead. he shrugs Mallick got frustrated when I couldn't do anything, but dead is dead.

"Why should you be able to do anything?" Eolowyn asks curiously

Back to Andoran faction, weird that it sometimes changes back Shadow Lodge.

That's what I asked myself too. Being the ship's medic, people sometimes expect you to work wonders.

He's a cleric

" I would love to stay and talk with the killer but I am afraid the weather may be in disagreement with me" she says as she looks to the skies I hope this is not a bad omen she thinks giving the elf a worried look "I am sure that the good captain would enjoy hearing about his first mates lack of loyalty ... that is of course you can say something that will clear your name now" she says turning to walk away.

SM: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

Loenor continues to ruminate over this man's confusing words as he makes to follow Liara.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14

-Posted with Wayfinder

was that to aid in the SM?

"so should we meet with the others to determine our next course of action?" she asks questionably letting Loenor lead the way.

I've put an overview of clues you've gathered so far, also for my own reference. They may give a bit of a hint as to the solution, so if you prefer not to read them, feel free to ignore the spoiler.

If it's allowed to aid in Sense, then yes.

Away from the prying ears before heading belowdecks again, Loenor leans towards Liara. "That's probably best. Say, when talking to the cook, did you get any story from him? He wouldn't say two words that weren't threats to me."

"actually no I did not it would proabably be best to get one before we start pointing fingers" she says blushing as the elf leans towards her

So are we any closer to figuring all this out? Darvik says to anyone that will listen as he wanders from section to section of the ship. How many keys are there for the door to the elf's room, anyway?

Darvik keeps wandering around until he runs into Hagrym once more. Well, find the knife? A key? Anything? Have we talked to everyone?

raising an eyebrow as Darvik continues to wonder the ship so now he wants to talk to me she thinks ruefully "Darvik I must say where better to find the murder knife that the place with the most.. the kitchen" she says hoping that the man and dwarf would create enough of a distraction for Loenor to accomplish his mysterious objective.

The kitchen? Hmph, hadn't been there yet. Alright.

did.. did that just work? she thinks to herself as she follows Darvik into the kitchen making sure to put him between herself and the dwarf keeping her eyes open for the cook.

perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

There's really no 'kitchen' as such. The main hold (area 6) has a corner with an alchemical apparatus, dirty pots, and some shelves that hold equipment, some food and a crate of personal items.

Shira is busy preparing some... goop.

"so Shira what are you going to grace our pallets with tonight" Liara says inspecting the crate of personal items and ingredients for rats and the like making sure to distract the dwarf from what ever her elf friend may be doing.

Rat. I said so before. Unless ya can catch sumtin' more interesting the cook responds with that silvery smile she has. Now bugger off from my kitchen!, she adds as an unfriendly remark.

Did you try diplomacy?

diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15
well I am at a loss of words lol

Loenor smirks from across the hold.

A whole sea of fish and he resorts to rat.

Should have asked if anyone could cast invisibility! Ah well.

He casually walks the long way around trying not to draw attention to himself and leans against the bookshelf.

I think shira is a female

looking slightly hurt and intimidated by the dwarf Liara tries her best to make herself useful "but.. I could help you cook"she says as she scrambles to make something quickly.

craft sandwich?: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20

making a lot of noise and maybe spilling things Liara quickly makes a delicious grilled mystery meat sandwich complete with several layers of perfectly sliced tomatoes and a symbol of Asmodeus cut in to the top of it. Presenting it with pride to the cook Liara gives the dwarf a brief smile. " Ta da!"

Coulda sworn I saw her referred to in the masculine pronoun. Coulda been mistaken. Besides, she's a dwarf. Male, female, all look the same.

Although Liara tries her best, Shira isn't really swayed by her kind words, nor does her stand-offish attitude change in any way. As Liara steps up to tinker with food, and Loenor sneaks up form behind, Shira starts behaving like a hissing alley cat. She lets out a raah! guttural sound and picks up a battle axe from under the apparatus.

---
Liara
Loenor
---
Shira
---

umm wow that was unexpected also I believe we are already in flanking positions?

pausing in amazement at how quickly things escalated it is not until her elf companion strikes that she is awakened from her shock
stepping back conjuring a black cloud of hellish smoke from her hands "this is not worth losing your life for" she says pleadingly as dark smoke engulfs the stout woman .

delay until after Loenor to give him flanking then 5ft step back and cast cloud of smoke [5/6] uses left giving the dwarf a -2 to attacks and perception until she steps out of the smoke and a turn after also gains concealed against non adjacent attacks

I've updated the map. A single step should get Loenor into a flanking position.

"This is completely uncalled for!" Loenor says as he steps up to flank the dwarf, studies the dwarf if he hadn't already move action, and tries to knock the axe from her hands.

Disarm: 1d20 + 4 + 2 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 + 2 + 1 - 4 = 16 against flatfooded CMD? He asks hopefully?

Called a Slayer for a reason, not used to not slaying!
Also, for the record, no weapons are drawn here!

Loenor bravely tries to grab the battle-axe with his bare hands! The dwarf's vicious swing opens a deep gash in the slayer's leg. In the momentum of the blow, he does manage to grab onto the axe, and wrestle it from the dwarves' hands. With a loud 'thunk', the axe lands onto the floor.

AOO: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 211d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

On cue, Liara steps backward and casts a cloud of smoke, immersing the dwarf in a black fog. The dwarf takes a step north, and his vision still foggy pulls out a bomb, throwing it a Liara.

Ranged touch: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17
Damage: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (1, 2) + 2 = 5 The bomb was incendiary - looks like a fire may break out...

The other PCs may wish to join the fray - just state your intention.

--
Liara - Smoke
Loenor - Disarm
---
Shira - Bomb
---
Liara - Takes 5 damage
Loenor
??
??
??
??
---

could burning hands catche her cache of bombs in fire? >:)

Drat, was hoping she'd be flat-footed so no AoO. Ah well. Here's hoping she doesn't threaten now... Also, as I was unarmed, I would have possession of the axe.

Loenor drops the axe where he stands before moving to follow the dwarf. There, he reaches out to grab hold of her/him/it.

Grapple: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 4 + 1 = 12

"What the hell do you think you're doing?! Are you trying to blow up the ship?!"

Still dazed from being hit by the bomb Liara recovers herself wiping bloo from her brow I think I liked her better with the axe she says sending a wave if negative energy down thru the ship. " she is obviously not going to go down without a fight best give her one" She says backing away from the fight trying to get some distance from her and the mad dwarf

neg channel : 1d6 ⇒ 3

selective channel will 14 for half so 3 allies are good then move 30 ft back if there is some cover she will hide behind it

Darvik sees the commotion and steps up in an attempt to down the dwarf! Have you gone mad?

Attack with Scimitar: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17 for Damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

If the map is updated I'm just 20' away. If Liara hadn't taken the spot to flank, I will for a +2 to my roll.

Seeing Darvik come over, Loenor calls out, "The blasted woman just started swinging her axe and throwing bombs! Help me subdue her!"

Hagrym double moves and follows Darvik. "a What's going on here?!"

looking relived when the the muscle of the group runs by Liara informs them of what has happened "she is jealous of my culinary skills and is trying to burn down the boat in retribution" she says frantically as she withdraws to a safe distance hoping that she will be safe.

Azura comes to the door when she hears the disturbance, "What has happened? Is the cook the murderer? Subdue her if you can and we will get to the bottom of this!"

Open door and begin 2nd round of Inspire Courage, all allies receive a +1 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +1 competence bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls.

Initiative: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13

Loenor looks to Azura. "I don't think so, just crazy! She attacked us!"

The dwarf grits her silver teeth against the negative energy conjured by Liara, and manages to resist. She fares less well with Darvik's mighty slash, opening another gash on the already ugly face of the dwarf.

Loenor tries to grapple the dwarf, but the short creature is just too fast. Almost worked, though.

Will save: 1d20 ⇒ 20

Liara - Takes 5 damage
Loenor - Grapple
Darvik - Attack
Hagrym
Azura - Courage
Eolowyn
---
Shira (8)

Eolowyn runs towards the fray, just behind Azura while drawing her bow!

"Stand down dwarf!"

She quickly feels through her quiver, retrieves a blunt arrow and shoots it at the dwarf, trying to disable the dwarf rather than wound her.

Attack, PBS, nonlethal damage: 1d20 + 7 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (20) + 7 + 1 - 4 = 24
Crit Confirm, PBS, nonlethal damage: 1d20 + 7 + 1 - 4 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 7 + 1 - 4 + 2 = 22
Nonlethal Damage, PBS: 1d8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 2 + 1 = 8
Crit Nonlethal Damage, PBS: 2d8 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (8, 4) + 4 + 2 = 18

An arrow flies through the room, past slayer and fighter, and hits the dwarf straight between the eyes. She goes out cold.

Combat over!

-Posted with Wayfinder

"Now can someone explain what this was all about?"

Limping over and conjuring streams of water to douse the flames Liara slumps against the wall "I was just offering to help her cook when she went crazy and started throwing bombs at us" She says innocently

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

"Now that is weird, I wonder if she was hiding something that she did not want us to find. With her unconscious now is the perfect time to search her stuff."

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23

Hagrym agrees with the ranger, and tries to her her search.

Aid another Perception 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21

"Did she give any warning? Why would she have acted so crazy?"

was that SM against me?

looking uncomfortable under the barrage of questions Liara tries to change the subject. "Yes now would be a perfect time to look for anything that would be considered suspicious" she says glancing thru the ingredients assembled and her persons.

regarding Hagrym Liara gives him a shrug "No she did not perhaps she was intoxicated or in the more likely case jealous of my culinary skills. either way we should probably find some evidence to present tot he captain so it does not look like we are going around picking fights with the crew"

perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
really kinda looking for any items that would be used to make poisons or a tomb

Yep, but your story made perfect sense ;-)

I've had about enough of this boat. Darvik looks at the scene that the last few seconds had created. Jealous of what, a sandwich? This dwarf is a loon. Darvik will await the results of the search by simply standing guard, as if someone else would come to attack the party.

"but it was a really good sandwich" Liara says defensively with more than a little hint of hurt in her voice, looking to see if her creation survived the battle unscathed.

As everyone looks for something suspicious, Loenor just walks to the collection of books and slides one out. "I don't think this is the murderer though. If she wanted you dead, she'd probably poison you." He shows them the title of the tome, Concocted Libations to Die For. Sure enough, it's all about poisoning unsuspecting people using food and drink.

He then slips the book into his pack as the other discuss the finding.

"What should we do with her? Let her sleep it off? Take her bombs and axe and throw them overboard? What time is it? How long have we been belowdecks?"

Darvik eyes the slayer as he takes the book. Didn't know you liked to read. Anyway, tie this one up. I'll feel better knowing she won't be running loose while we try to make sense of all the nonsense.

The fighter then rubs his eyes. Time? No idea. I still have a headache and all this searching around for clues and weapons and murderers ain't helpin' much. Does anybody know what to do now?

"Orders from on high," he replies simply to Darvik. "You know how it is."

The shelves and racks of the kitchen contain various books, among which the aforementioned 'Concocted Libations to Die For'. That the dwarf is a master poisoner is further established by a barrel labelled 'pickled oysters' - is is very unlikely that the skull on the tiny bottles represents the international dwarven mark for oyster. In that case, sir, may I advise against the lady eating clam chowder? (Or the sandwich, for that matter)

The dwarf - in her paranoid and irritative state of mind - clearly wanted to prevent being found out at all costs.

You tell me what further investigations you still intend to do. You're a good chunk into the half-day, and have plenty of time left. If you're done investigating, however, I can move to the next encounter. Does Hagrym want to attempt his mission?