[PFS] Murder on the Throaty Mermaid (Inactive)

Game Master Curaigh

neiher have i. But from what i'm hearing it's a blast.

ARRR!

Aye.

Utopia has not posted to Paizo since February, new job must be time consuming.

I was really looking forward to that campaign :/

All these dead campaign threads clutter my campaigns page.

Anyone have a higher tier (8-10 levels currently) they want to run in PbP Gameday 2 Waking Rune? We start this weekend & are at 4 people. PM me. :)

What's a PBP Gameday? How does that differ from standard PBP?

'tis like a con, with enough 'tables' it gets prize support.

I have a lvl9 but already in a game. Thanks for offer though

Ahhh, so it's just a normal PBP, but someone will report them all together as a bundle to qualify as a mini-con of some sort. I get it.

I had been thinking it was a commitment by a group of folks to sit around their computers and aggressively PBP all day long to hammer out a 4 hour module in 8 hours of PBP, or something along those lines.

Oh wow, no it's not xD

But you can see how one might have assumed that, right?

I can see how Game Day makes you assume such a thing, yes.

aye, it could seem that way. :)

DY: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
BD: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10
M: 1d20 ⇒ 8
TS: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
LT: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (7) - 1 = 6

Wow...that's some low quality roll. :)

What were they for?

Whatever for, it's Wis based. I'm guessing investigation/sense motives....

*wink*

I know what it did! :P And now you do too ;)

Wait! We havent talked to the body guard yet?

*Speculation......*

dun dun dunnn! keep going... :)

It seems like we are starting to lose people. We are almost done though hang-in there. If you want I can speed up the responses to any others you would like to question. It will be less interactive & more narrative, so if everyone wants to go that route just say so. There has been some entertaining character development so far, & I dinnae want to cut it short. :)

i dont mind. :) i will pitch in where i see fit

Yes, thank you! I'm beginning to understand just how to play Traceni's personality--although now I'll have to somehow fit Intimidate into her build, clearly.

yes allow RP to reign, or yes deliver exposition? :)

Also after the party got back together anything behind a spoiler can conceivably be shared. It mostly pertains to faction missions however, so dinnae have to feel like you missed much :)

Oh, I'm still 100% here, but letting the talk talky types do their thing!

They ignored my diplomacy...i wonder if they'll even listen to your intimidate... :)

It might help I'm an actual (half-)elf who's talking to them, not sure though. also, with Melon aiding me my Intimidate equals 20. Maybe that's just enough?

If not... well I didn't roll Bluff, did I?

Hey folks, I am off bright and early for a much awaited cruise up the coast of Alaska. I'll be back online next Sunday, so try not getting killed while I'm gone!

Feel free to ghost my character while I'm gone.

Have fun, Branson! :)

Enjoy!

Enjoy, don't catch a cold now.

Yes, i wonder if we'll narrow it down in time. :)

Dylara noticed Ulamon was hiding something, more so than the others. Uzaretta's perfume lingered at the scene.

These 2 are my prime suspects. What do you think?

Though she was with the bodyguard.

If i'd, as my brother'd say, mindfck around the following;

-Would somebody other than Azuretta have easy access to her room and deliberately spread her perfume in the room, hmm?

+1 rank gained in mystery messing

What if the two worked together?

It's indeed possible the bodyguard worked together with Azuretta, which would increase my list of main suspects to include him.

Thanzeril was off with Azuretta, Shira was away from the door, leaving someone opportunity to kill whoever was in the room.

Was off..rather hit it off.....it seems

The pieces I truly don't understand, though, are why did Sephriel want to set sail on this less-than-reputable vessel, and why is the captain still dedicated to finishing the trip to the Mordant Spire? And how did the aquatic elves know a representative of the Mordant Spire was aboard this ship?

Or Thanzeril and Azuretta simply cover each other's alibi. Traceni raises some good questions though, and a talk with the captain may clarify some of those.

Personally I'd like to go after Ulamon first, and try to figure out what he was hiding by putting some pressure on him.

Hello Pathfinders! We survived Alaska, and are safely back to Seattle. Tomorrow will be airplane back across the US and home again.

Anyone need Branson to do anything amazing?

The last time I checked the list of NPCs I noted that we should talk tot he bodyguard, since he had no asterisk next to his name, but was promptly informed we had met with him.

I see 4 NPCs with no asterisks, but I'm pretty sure we talked to all of them, right?

We did :)

First of all, let me post the summary (which will be long) of our various conversations. In going through everything, I noticed a couple things we didn't follow up on, I'll mention them in my next post.

Before the murder took place:

Thanzeril: Personally I think the only threat comes from this unruly crew

Marzick: I'm first mate on this fine vessel & plan to some day be captain.

Azuretta’s perfume smells of cinnamon, jasmine, and umberberries

Anera strongly dislikes elves!

Elf Fight

Marzeck comes on deck and announces the death of Sephriel

Captain appears with a bloody saber

Group plus Captain go down and find dead Sephriel, face down, with a carved wooden mask on his face.

Branson discerns deep dagger wounds on the dead man’s back

We confirm he was killed during the elf attack on the ship

Door not forced open

We smell cinnamon, jasmine, and umberberries. It’s not clear to me if we smelled it in the room, or on the mask.

Killick: "Yeah, I know. I checked the body but he was already dead. Dead don't pay so I left."

Velagon found asleep: "Several people were walking around up there. They woke me up a lot to going to and from the forward hold." He points to a small space the Pathfinders have not been to and yawns, "But that is normal. I never really saw who it was." He thinks for a moment walking over the crates. "Except for Marzack and the shaman. They whispered something, then bent down by the male. They left right after and I went back to sleep."

Killick: "I was in bed at the time. I heard someone get up several times in the middle of the night! That isn’t unusual! That's all I know."

Marzack: "Now that you mention it, Thanzeril 'n his master fought a lot. The two argued constantly on the way to Magnimar. Something about politics of the Mordant Spire. 
Anera has made no secret of her hatred of the elves. Does that count as disgust? I am sure she'd not be bothered if harm came to any elf.'

Marzack: Killik wasn't bothered. He was first on the scene took a look and went back to his bunk. Why the captain puts up with the lazy lout is beyond me."

Captain: "I'll not have you start accusing my crew without some proof."

Azuretta: "I wasn't in my room when the noise started & didn't leave until the cry about Sephriel's murder went out."

Azuretta: "No. At the time of the attack I was engaged elsewhere and was nowhere near the place."

Azuretta: "I don't. Anera hates elves though I doubt that means she would kill him. The cook hates everybody, but sailors have a hard lot and that is not unusual. That is why I am here."

Azuretta: Sense motive seemed to imply she was sincere

Captain: "You well know I was in here during the attack." He points to the blood of an elf that has barely been cleaned. "No I have not seen any hint of fighting with the emissary, he mostly keeps to his room. Though I have often invited him to the captians table he has not joined me since leaving Caer Magna. But I need proof and a few arguements over the course of weeks is not proof. I cannot risk a mutiny.” [Azuretta and the Captain were found together. She was reading on his bed.]

Azuretta: "I was in the forward hold. Dylara feels no subterfuge from the woman. "I take professional pride never to 'kiss and tell'. So please do not even ask."

Ulamon: "I was in bed. I went to bed right after setting the bloomin course with the captain." [Our Malleck recalls seeing Ulamon leave the Captain’s quarters “quite a while before the attack”]

Ulamon: "Nope. Those nose-up spire pointies stay to themselves. I don't much like being in their waters, Especially now without the emmissary to protect us."

Ulamon: "No. Not again. Not after the Polished Barnacle"

Ulamon: "That's up to the captain. He'll find it a fools errand to work with them spire elves. and he'll get his reward for doin so. I just hope the rest of us don't go down wit h that ship. I've no mind to stay in their waters any longer than necessary.”

Ulamon: "The Polished Barnacle, t' first vessel I served on as a young man, was sunk after its captain ignored the elves’ warnings and sailed too close to lost Azlant. T' rest of the crew died, but I was lucky enough to find a big'nough piece of wreckage and controlled t' weather to lead meself back to shore."

Dylara thinks Ulamon is hiding a lot!

Anera: "I see the results of your battle. I would very much like to help finish the job."

Thanzeril: "Unusual? Unusual! From this bunch of murdering pirates? Two months. Two months I have been stuck with the same stinking crew." The elf's shouting might be as much from regret as anger, by the shaking of his voice. "I am to blame. This is my fault. I haven't even been able to talk with Sephriel in the last two weeks." He smacks his chest then falls sit next to the body on the bed. "Months. All the same crew trapped on the ship. I should not have let my guard down. For years I have been his bodyguard and now, when I do. After months of the same louts on the same I should not have succumbed to her." It eventually comes out that he had finally been seduced by the ship's entertainer and left his post to rendezvous with her. The party also discovers Anara has challenged him often, but that she walks away when he does not rise to her bait. Mazerack often comments on the accommodations he has to endure for the emissary and how much the two 'guests' must be enjoying 'his' hospitality, and he argues constantly with the Captain about accepting this venture.

Surviving elves: We are part of an elven group opposed to the Mordant’s Spire’s recent diplomatic relations with the “low-bloods” of Absalom. Our superiors dispatched us to assassinate they betrayer of his people.

Dylara translating for the surviving elves: "He says they had no accomplices... no reason to work with the, again in his words, "lowbloods" on this ship. He's dead? Hah! Haha! and the half-blood thinks it was us!? Hahahah!"

Azuretta: Azuretta refuses to kiss and tell. But when the party mentions Thanzerel she does admit she did meet with the bodyguard before taking him somewhere private.

Some random discussion about if Sephriel was himself, or if he and the bodyguard were swapped or something?

Traceni: "It would seem that Azuretta was seeing Thanzeril, and then the sea elves attacked, and someone snuck into Sephriel's quarters and did... something."

Mallick: "No. I was in the captain's room discussing crew discipline. He has no clue." "How could being fed to the Mordant Spire be good for any of the crew? I say we all benefit from you strangers taking the blame. Truthfully, I think it was one of you. The elf was safe enough, before you lot arrived. Taking on Pathfinders, another fool task." 
That bodyguard of his too. They was always arguing politics. And Yeah, Azuretta has been with everyone except him, though she kept trying. "Better than being keelhauled or to visit jone's locker. Better than what you'll get from them elves. Better than what you lot deserve." "The navigator? No. After a moment he adds. "He's not fond of elves though."

Dylara noticed this: He is definately acting suspicious (rolled a 1 on bluff :). Perhaps you will remember the captain came out of his cabin after the fight and that it was Mallick who came on deck to announce the murder. He was not in the captains discussing moral as he said.

Mallick: "No. Sephreil is in my...." [this was in reference to his room]

Dylara: "Mallick, the captain came out of his cabin after the fight. It was you who came on deck to announce the murder. You weren't discussing anything in the captain's room, there's no way. You weren't there."

Mallick: "After we finished discussing the captains lousy discipline I was on my way back to my cabin. *grumble* Which is now the crew's cabin thanks to the elves.*/grumble* I heard the commotion on deck. When I came out I noticed Thanzeril wasn't at his post, so I went to check on the emmissary. That's when I discovered his murder!"

Gm Info: Azuretta and Thanzeril admitted to being together. Mallick didn't see either of them at the time of the attack (probably not seen them since dinner).

Mallick: "Killed the emissary and doomed us to death by the elves?! Your crazy! I didn't kill him. Your going to hang for this not me."

Mallick: "Ha! Dagger in the night you say? How would you know that unless you did it. You'll find no dagger except on you adventurers." He makes to leave. "I've got work to do."

Shira: "I was busy washing dishes. I was trying to get a headstart for the morning." "hohoho!" Too clean if you ask me. Not the way I would do it." Shira had clearly not been washing dishes, and Sephriel’s room is right next to the galley. "I was washing dishes. All night! Everynight! I washed them, started early. Dishes can't seem to just stay cleaned! Eventually the claws, swords, and fairies change her story. "I turned in early. It's not like their won't be more dishes to wash tonight! I went to bed. I was tired. So tired. Tired of washing everyone's #@&*!# dishes. Just. Tired. Of. Everyone."

Dylara noticed vials that had been filled with ingestible poisons

Shira: "I added those to the crew's food. Have been for weeks." Tfiumphantly she adds, "and noone has died from it!" I didnt kill the elf nor no one else. Mind what yer saying."

GM’s hint: with the candlestick? the gun? the noose?...

Marzack chuckled about the hunt??

Marzack also comments bout just rewards: Marzeck draws a finger across his next. "You might say it that way. A just reward."

GM’s hint: Marzack's grumbling seems aimed specifically at three things. First the Pathfinders for being in the way of his ship's operations. Seocndly the emmisary for taking over his quarters. And thirdly, the captain for thinking such tasks was worth their efforts. He almost sounds eager for the captain to reach the Mordant Spire.

Info: Captain Veane does not seemed surprised about his first mate's potential. But without proof... well what can one do?

What's in the space Velagon pointed out?

Is it possible the murder weapon was discarded in the pile of dirty dishes right outside the murder scene door?

We need to rush and check both of these places!!

Can someone smarter than me piece together who the heck was, or wasn't together and where during the murder? I do feel like I'm missing something in the above!

Okay, so...

In Velagon's space, regarding "the male", is a reference to his pair of rust monsters. Thus, there is no dagger to find because it was fed to them.

Marzack is Mallick, so it's all about the same person.

But who's the shaman? Ullamon?

Heck, I dunno, you're the one that talks in riddles!!!

Oh, and the blade, and the core of the handle of a dagger may be made of metal, but what about the leather, or wood, or cork, or whatever the actual pommel is made of? Might that still be in with the beasties?

See, I'm glad I posted and asked all of that. It hadn't occurred to me that the dagger might have been fed to the monsters.

Ok, so Marzack and the shaman were destroying the evidence, so we almost certainly have the right guy!

Heck, I dunno, you're the one that talks in riddles!!!

Oh, and the blade, and the core of the handle of a dagger may be made of metal, but what about the leather, or wood, or cork, or whatever the actual pommel is made of? Might that still be in with the beasties?

See, I'm glad I posted and asked all of that. It hadn't occurred to me that the dagger might have been fed to the monsters.*

Ok, so Marzack and the shaman were destroying the evidence, so we almost certainly have the right guy!

Well Done Branson! You just earned my shirt reroll :)

*My hint about the candlestick was to hopefully get someone to question about the murder weapon. *grognard* kids these day, don't play enough Clue[/grognard]
Yes Marzack and Mallick are the same person. I tried to switch to Marzack to avoid confusion with our Malleck though I am sure I messed it up as often as not. Yes Ulaman is the shaman and the navigator.

After Branlumbo's recap the party checks the hold near the rust monster. Sure enough, now that he knows what to look for Branson finds a bit of blood and a few crumbs of rust just out of the rust monster's reach.
Checking a little closer the party can also see a small door toward the front of the hold. This is the space Velagon pointed at earlier.