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

Game Master Kludde

Perhaps a silly question, but would a heal check seen whether the man was both stabbed and poisoned? Just curious.

Indeed, I do. Darvik answers Leonor absently. I was going somewhere before all this happened, now I can't remember where. Maybe I'll just stick with you guys, it seems you might be better at this investigation stuff anyway. What now?

Depends on how well you rolled the check. You didn't detect poison when you checked. The body is still there - there's still time to check.

I didn't list all the dwarfs gear: there's still a wand and two potions, a dose of poison, a formula book, a portable alchemist's lab and some syrupy stuff.

looking at the collection of poisons Liara sighs a bit looking at her sandwich all that work for nothing she thinks as she moves over to the dwarf making sure she is knocked out before kicking her in the gut "that is for throwing a bomb at me" she says angrily as she inspects the formula book (casting read magic if necessary) hoping to find out what the mystery potions may be.

perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18
would reading the formula book add a bonus to the roll or no?

DM.

perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

One of the potions is a healing potion (CLW). Liara is not familiar with the other one.

if no one minds I will drink the CLW potion kinda need it lol

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Looking at the potion Liara smiles thank Asmodeus she thinks as she puts the foul tasting potion to her lips.

DM

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?"

Azura casts Detect Magic and scans the kitchen, taking a moment to examine the unidentified potion.

"I think we'd better bind the wretch and make sure she doesn't know more."

She'll help tie the dwarf woman and once secured, she'll splash her face to rouse her.
"Captain Veane will not be pleased with you when he learns you have been poisoning his crew, no? In fact, he might find you a handy scapegoat. A murderer is a murderer, after all. Did you kill Sephriel as well? If it was not you, you may yet earn yourself some mercy if you tell us who committed the crime!"
Spellcraft to identify potion: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Sense Motive on Shira: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

Tugging on Azura's robes hoping to get her attention her eyes wide and watery "your not going to torture her are you" Liara says innocently hoping to save the dwarf how ever unpleasant she may be from the bards wrath .

It was a knife that killed Sephriel, wasn't it? All my knives are still clean, and I would have used less obvious means the dwarf responds with an evil glare.

I turned in just before the commotion. The first mate was in the main hold, eyeing me down. He's always eyeing me down, bloody ba*t**d. Slept in the crew's cabin, someone got up, and I heard a bird screech. Must've been that woman and that lookout creature. She looked green alright when she turned, so maybe she just went to hang over the rail, haha!.

Malice, pride, disdain, spite and a complete disconnect with any feelings - this is a murderous psychopath, but one that kills with poison.

Loenor's eyes narrow at a thought. "The first mate said he was in the crew's cabin, not the main hold. So someone isn't telling the truth. Who else was in the crew's cabin?"

That horrible cleric, who does nothing but for money. The navigator came in late. The lookout was there, but as I said, she got up in the middle of the night. Mallick already emerged from the crew's cabin earlier. Thanzeril wasn't there, and the captain and the smuggler never sleep in the crew's cabin.

putting her hand against her head Liara slowly rubs out a migraine

"so this is what we got so far feel free to fill in the blanks

Captain-?
Seems that a few people still need confirmed alibis does anyone know of there disposition towards elves?

"Assume hostile."

Confiding with the group Darvik says quietly,Look, if you ask me, my money is on the first mate or the cleric. If I had to take just one, the first mate. He was coming from that room when I was going down the check on the elf, and he still lied about it! And that cleric, something isn't right with him and now add what the cook said. Yeah, hard to trust the cook considering the poison stuff but everyone else seems more solid.

Darvik then sighs and rubs his forehead again. So, do we confront the first mate? Tell the captain? What do we do?

"Anera didn't seem like she cared much for elves. Didn't know me from anyone, and in the first minute we spoke, she told me how bad elves were. Kinda strange..."

"well I believe telling the captain about our suspension would be best, more likely the snake will show himself before then but before we do so do we have all of our affairs in order?"

That horrible cleric, who does nothing but for money. The navigator came in late. The lookout was there, but as I said, she got up in the middle of the night. Mallick already emerged from the crew's cabin earlier. Thanzeril wasn't there, and the captain and the smuggler never sleep in the crew's cabin.

"You mean Anera, do you not? Does she keep a bird for a pet?"

Azura turned to the others, realization shining in her eyes.
"This lines up with what Killick and Ulamon said as well. Someone left the crew's cabin, and that person is likely involved in this murder. Here are my notes, let's compare and see if we have enough to take to the captain, yes? Unless you think the Smuggler was involved?"

List of Suspects
Shira: Ship’s cook. (Seems truthful, implicated Anera)
Thanzeril: Bodyguard to Sephriel.(w/ Azuretta and Snig vouched for his alibi)
Azuretta: Ship’s harlot.(w/ Thanzeril and Snig vouched for her alibi)
Ulamon: Navigator. (Seems truthful, implicated whoever got up)
Anera: Ship’s lookout.
Velagon: Smuggler.
Snig: Stowaway wererat. (Seems truthful, vouched for T&A lol!)
Mallick: First mate.
Killick: Medic. (Seems truthful, implicated Anera)
Captain Veane: Captain.
Note "seemed truthful" means Azura rolled well enough on her sense motive for her player to trust the info. ^_~

After they discuss their findings, Azura says, "The cleric, Killick seems purely mercenary, but I think the only crime he committed was neglecting to attempt healing Sephriel... Yes, unless the captain himself was involved, I'd say we should focus on Anera, the lookout and Mallick, the first mate."

As Liara suggests they get their affairs in order, Azura sidles up to Hagrym and speaks quietly to him. "Did someone dump a swab bucket over your head? You're soaked through. Could I help you with anything before we close in on the murderer?"

Going over Azura's notes, Loenor shakes his head slightly. "Anera said she was green at the gills, and Shira here seems to take it as a matter of pride to have put that shade on her. If both are telling the truth, I doubt she would be in a state to pick a lock that quickly and stab someone. Honestly I'm surprised anyone could after eating the meal of a dwarf." He glares at the dwarf, still applying pressure to the wound she graced him with.

"Ah, that reminds me. Mallick is the only one with the key to the room. With Anera poisoned, I don't think anyone here has the skill to pick a lock that quickly. We didn't see any tamperings, either, typically left by an unskilled hand. Maybe you want to talk to him?"

"As for the captain, if I were in his place, I wouldn't want a murder aboard my ship. Even if I could pin it on other passengers."

I'd go with the aid another. Using the whip would only cause the pipe to fall into the dink.

DM and Azura

Liara will cast guidance whenever the dwarf attempts to get ahold of the figurehead

Whar are you trying to do? Drown yerself? Ulamon asks.

He then walks off, singing

Oh Desna! We sing so loud!
Oh Desna! We sing so proud!

Laughing at the dwarf as he falls into the water a second time Liara pats him on the head before tying a rope snuggly around her petite waist "sometimes patience is what is required for the task at hand.. and a little faith" lowering herself slowly to the ships idol doing what needs to be done before returning "see what faith in the first god can do" she says tossing the pipe at the dwarf's feet before walking away swaying her hips side to side

Liara grabs the pipe from the throat of the mermaid, and manages to climb back onto the ship just in time to see a large wave rock the boat. The weather surely isn't improving.

Oh Desna! We sing so loud!
Oh Desna! We sing so proud!
Amidst the howling wail!

Oppara! Your sons are lost
their weary bodies tossed
and pitched up to the rail
ARCADIAN GALE!

The breeze picks, the waves gets higher. The quiet Arcadian gradually turns into a seething, foaming mass of salty spray.

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’!”

The crew is fully occupied, each performing their duty, but the captain makes it clear that the adventurers are expected to help out - on deck - as well.

Everyone is on deck. You can perform five actions worth of preparation. Please roll initiative, and indicate the kinds of things you may want to do to prepare for the storm.

Init: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

What's happening? A storm? A worried look crosses the fighter's face. What do we do?

I truly have no idea, LOL. I suppose I could help one of the crew with something that strength is required to assist with.

initiative: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23

what happened to nice and easy she thinks to herself staring at the oncoming storm a look of fear in her eyes as she ties a rope around the mast and her body "what do we do" she says giving the group a panicked look no doubt inspired by the morbid song Ulamon was singing tugging on the rope to make sure it is secure.

act 1-3: tie life line around mast. so move, tie around mast, tie around self.
act 4&5 secure others life lines

other than that that is all I can think of and that is only because of watching too many movies lol so I guess I am the life line tying person may have to be cliché and cut the first mates

Liara ties a lifeline to herself and the mast, as the boat starts rocking heavily. Several cargo crates, poorly securd, move around on the deck.

Initiative recorded so far:

Liara - 23
Darvik - 6

Darvik will take after the wise and thoughtful cleric and tie a lifeline to himself also (however long that will take).

good not there is only a 50% chance of getting crushed by boxes :3

looking at the stalwart fighter as she has her hands wrapped around the mast obviously frightened "shouldn't you be lifting something heavy?" she says tightening her grip on the wooden pole.

is this 5 rounds of action or 5 actual actions?

5 rounds of actions

would it be best to just post the 5 actions at once?

Ugh. Maybe so.

Darvik will see if he can't better secure the loose cargo so that it doesn't get someone killed, then tie himself to a lifeline so that he doesn't get killed.

That's the idea, yes

Liara seeing that Darvick is going to secure cargo she moves to start working on the crates on the other side (after her life line is secure) following that she works on tightening down the sail lines and casting guidance on herself and others as needed.

in short doing boat things?

"Thank you, Laira, and all of you," the dwarf blushes, as he bends down to pick up the pipe.

As the storm worsened, Hagrym followed the actions of the more familiar with the sea. He went looking for a rope, lashing himself to something sturdy. He will use one of his actions, to cast Magic Weapon on his blade, but other than that, he is content to wait.

Initiative 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12

Loenor, not fearing falling overboard, lends a hand where he is able to secure rigging and the like.

Init: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

If you need rolls, let me know. No ranks in Profession (sailor), but +4 is better than nothing. (+2 Int, +2 feat, can use untrained). As for getting thrown overboard, I can take always 10 while swimming for a total of 20 (spirit of the waters racial trait)

Laughing at the dwarf as he falls into the water a second time Liara pats him on the head before tying a rope snuggly around her petite waist "sometimes patience is what is required for the task at hand.. and a little faith" lowering herself slowly to the ships idol doing what needs to be done before returning "see what faith in the first god can do" she says tossing the pipe at the dwarf's feet before walking away swaying her hips side to side

Azura crosses her arms, pursing her lips in irritation at the Chelaxian's arrogance, but raises her eyebrows in begrudging admiration. She says low to Hagrym, but still loud enough to carry to those nearby.

As the storm blew in, she looked to Ulamon, "Quick, what needs done?"
Initiative: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Profession Sailor: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
Profession Sailor: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20
Profession Sailor: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17

She quickly moves to carry out the tasks she can to ensure their safety before the storm hits. Hopefully that's the right skill to use.

Giving the bard a hurt look before continuing on with her work maybe not all of us are fighters she thinks to herself before seeing Loenor in action not all of us are brave the tears that flow down the cleric's eyes are quickly hidden by the raging storm.

As he goes about on deck, Loenor stops just long enough to say "You're probably safer up here. You might get crushed down below. Keep everyone safe here."

He starts to move away and offers some consolation. "If you fall in, I'll jump in and get you."

With that, he goes back to work with the rigging, all the while thinking Why did I say that? Now she'll dive in on purpose!

May as well roll the rolls, eh?
Profession (Sailor): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Profession (Sailor): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20
Profession (Sailor): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18

The bell keeps tolling, and each of the crew members seem to know what their duty is. Among the adventurers, the two professional sailors make what adjustments to the rigging they can

A large wave hits the ship. Ulamon, who is belowdecks, has affixed the steering wheel with a rope. The rocking and throwing of the ship has undone it, and now the steering wheel spins out of control! The ship of bolting more wildly now that the rudder is loose.

Everyone make a DC 15 Acrobatics checks or fall prone. All squares are difficult terrain, the steering wheel, spinning wildly, is on the aft deck.

Liara, Darvik and Hagrym are tied with ropes. How long were those ropes you affixed yourselves with?

---
Gale - Loose rudder!
---
Loenor - 25
Liara - 23
Eolowyn - 21
Hagrym - 12
Darvik - 6
Azura - 5
---

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

Accustomed to the harsh nature of the sea, Loenor keeps his footing and looks for any crew member going for the wheel. If no one is, he makes his way slowly to the aft deck to try to stabilize it.
Double move, can't do anything now. His plan is to actually brace his trident on the deck and use the top to catch one of the handles of the wheel so he doesn't have to stick his arm in there.

"Dammit, I am not a sailor, have never been a sailor, and after this will never be a sailor!"

Just realized Profession is Wisdom, not Intelligence. Those rolls up there are just +3, not +4. Whoopsie. Can roll them untrained, can't roll them with Int. Sorry.

Eolowyn tried to help wherever she could in the preparation phase, mainly stowing boxes and other untied gear.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Unfortunately she was not prepared at all for the big wave that came next and falls flat on her face! Her face wet with spray, her eyes an angry green because of the unflattering position she, a lithe elven ranger (!) finds herself in, she tries to get back on her feet.

acrobatics: 1d20 + 2 - 3 ⇒ (10) + 2 - 3 = 9
feeling a wave hit Liara is sent crashing to the ground trying to regain her footing "some one recover the wheel" cursing the limitations of the rope that is around her waist.

how ever long I could find so probably not that long :P

Acrobatics 1d20 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 1 - 4 = 14

However long you think a coil of rope might be on a ship...how about 20' or so, DM?

Hagrym almost keeps his feet, but falls flat.

Acrobatics: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (15) - 2 = 13

More choice words empty from the fighter's mouth as he crashes to the deck. His rope has about 15' of slack I'm guessing.

What do I need to be doing? Darvik will yell to any of the crew that can hear him. I'm not a damn sailor! Darvik will stand up if he can and wait for some instruction before acting.

I suppose length of the rope is not as much a problem. I'd say slack up to 50' should be possible, depending on the kind of rope you found. Sensibility would dictate, however, that you would not have so much slack as to be able to be wash off-board, so about 15' slack after tying the rope sounds about fine.

Loenor manages to move from the main deck onto the poop deck, bracing himself against the rail, keeping his balance in the wild movements and weathering the gale, as most of his comrades behind him smack onto the deck.

---
Gale - Loose rudder!
---
Loenor - Move towards wheel
Liara - Fall, get up
Eolowyn - Fall, get up
Hagrym - Fall (get up?)
Darvik - Fall, get up.
Azura
---