[PFS] Murder on the Throaty Mermaid (Inactive)

Game Master Curaigh

All i'm saying is, they need to give us more information, if they don't, what good are they? They use up space, they use up food, and they are a danger to the crew even without weapons. So if they don't talk, they are of no use to us

Dylara slams the bolt she holds into the elf's leg. "Oops, my hand slipped..."

"Thanzeril?" Dylara asks while she turns to see if the bodyguard did follow her, as she suggested he would. "They're laughing 'cause he's dead. You want to finish this off?"

I will do it if he isn't up for it. They nearly killed me, i'd like to repay with interest he puts his paw on the sword at his side, starting to draw it

Throwing them overboard seems a bit laughable, they're sea elves, right? Seems oddly like a briar patch to me. Of course, I can't abide torture of them, perhaps the authorities? What's the usual penalty for piracy?

Traceni looks around, bewildered. "Has anyone seen Anera? For all the elf-hating she proclaims, she does quite so very little of it."

"I could kill them. Captain said it was your mess & your lot decided to keep them alive," Anera says. She draws her blade with all the casual effort of lending an inkpot to that one kid in the middle of history class.

As I said, we cannot simply kill them, as we have no authority to do so. Pathfinders are not mere murderhobos, to go around slaughtering those we dislike and taking their loot. We leave that sort of behavior to the Aspis Consortium.

Lizzy stands nodding at Branson's version of her words.
"Wait...what or who is the Aspis Consortium?" O.O

Despite being a fletchling bard, some things haven't reached her ears yet.

Thanzerel also refuses to kill the helpless prisoners.
where too?

I will kill them if no one wants to. he pulls his sword, no one wants to kill them, but no one wants them alive too

Should Malleck/anybody make an attempt to cut down one of the elves...provided they are helpless, Lizzy will cast Daze (will DC15).
....and fake innocence.
*Achoo....excuse me*..
No harm meant, but the little one is G aligned after all.

no fowl. fun being N. he is a tiefling. Oposite of his sister. who is played by a friend of mine

Dylara stands up, leaving the bolt in the elf's leg. "Doesn't seem like we'll get get anything useful out of these scumbags. What's our next move?"

Dylara's read of the elves is correct. Where to?

*bump*

*Offers bandage for the bruised forehead*

Traceni leads the party back to their quarters to discuss. "So, what do we think is going on? What are we looking to accomplish?"

We root out this murderer, then we hand him over to either the crew or the authoroties

Dylara follows with Melon. She nods her head when Malleck speaks. "Yes, we should find out who comitted the murder and clear our names. The captain will likely blame us otherwise..."

"Like I said before, Ulamon's hiding something related to this. Azuretta could also be involved; Beads and I both smelled her perfume at the scene of the murder."

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.

1d20 ⇒ 4, 1d20 ⇒ 9, 1d20 ⇒ 12, 1d20 ⇒ 16, 1d20 ⇒ 19, 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12,

She offers no deception.

My friends, I am simply bewildered and confused, and I am unsure who was the conspirator.

"What about threatening a random person, accusing him or her to have committed the murder? If we do that with everyone, perhaps the real killer will snap when we accuse him. Then we know it's him."

Staring off and apparently studying some feature in one of the boards of the hull of the ship, Traceni adds, "Are we looking for a murderer? Or are we looking for a safe way off this ship? We were hired to protect the ambassador. Well, he's safe now. So now we are worried that we will be accused of the murder by one man who hopes that his destination won't abscond with his ship anyway. You know, for a captain of a disreputable vessel, he certainly seems dedicated to following through with his word. Even now when it could ruin him."

Looking at everyone in the room, she continues, "Why did Sephirel choose this ship anyway? Did he want to die?"

Looking away again, she adds, "Do we even know that was Sephirel?"

Those are very odd questions Traceni, are you implying that Sephriel is not dead?

"Does anyone here know what he looks like? Or do we just know what his mask looks like? Poor man, living without a face..."

Lizzy adds to the confusion, remembering a play she was in back in theater school.

"Good point, for all we know the bodyguard and Sephriel had switched places before boarding, having us believe one to be the other.

Just like a play, where the handmaiden posed as her mistress and vice versa whenever they traveled. Sadly the handmaiden died in an attack, but the real mistress survived."

I am more than intrigued by this line of thought. Is there evidence to suggest it? Mind you, we might still be held accountable for the death of whomever would be the corpse in the other cabin, but how do you come to the thought that there was a switch? And how does this help us to find the killer?

"Evidence to suggest it? No. Just the ramblings of a madwoman who listens to fairies. But why would an ambassador choose a ship such as this, with a potential killer living aboard? Why hire extra Pathfinders to laze and fumble about? Why travel like this at all? Was there no Elf Gate?"

Marzack grumbles as he goes about a task.
just keeping regular posts :)

how do you come to the thought that there was a switch? And how does this help us to find the killer?

"Well, i could be wrong, but it crossed my mind when Traceni posed the question if this was the real Sephrial. The switch could have been for personal safety, if somebody dies under your disguise, you'll be still alive to do whatever you want and nobody would be the wiser.

As for your second question i can't say."

Lizzy does however get an idea, she winks all the pathfinders to come closer. Which is to say, they have to bend/duck down pretty much for Lizzy's whispering to be properly heard.

"However, should we get the next meal with the crew, we could try luring the killer out by indeed claiming the dead elf not to be Sephrial. Insulting, mocking, humiliating the killer with the flaw so much that maybe, just maybe, they snap and give themself away."

"A slightly less confrontational version of my plan, which involved saying 'You killed him' right in everyone's face. I like it, Beads!"

Any one you would like to talk with before breakfast?

My friends, I cannot help but believe we are missing a vital piece of information. I do not mean to minimize what you have already discovered, as well as what is surmised about who exactly has died, but I think there is even more to this, although I a unable to stick my finger on it.

Traceni stops to listen to something, turns around to see a lighted candle, sighs, grabs it, blows it out, and puts it to her pack. That candle hadn't been there earlier.

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

Too bad there's no dust for fingerprints...

I recommend we interview Thanzeril to get his side of what happened. It might also be an opportunity to determine if Traceni's unorthodox theory holds any water.

"Beads and I spoke to Thanzeril, but if you have answered question they should be asked," Dylara replies to Branson.

"We haven't had Mallick and the cook yet, does anyone want to question them too?"

Traceni tilts her head. "I suppose I'm hungry."

My bad, I was looking at the crew list, and he was marked as not talked to

"Prowaaa!" Melon cries in Branson's ear, again. The roc then walks back to Dylara and pushes her large head against the half-elf.

Dylara nods her head. "Good idea, Traceni. Melon appears to be getting restless." She then moves to the door, heading for the dinner 'hall'.

Branson shrugs and follows the others to dinner.

Please post questions and a diplomacy roll with whomever you want to meet.

I suppose the questioning is prior to the dinner.
Diplomacy Mallick: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15
Diplomacy Cook: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11
Ow...i've had better. Any aid on this? :)

Lizzy will ask the same questions to both.
-"During the attack, have you noticed anybody head in the direction of Sephrial's room?"
-"Do you have any idea who'd benefit from both Sephrial's death and the pathfinders being blamed?"
-"Have you seen Azuretta together with Sephrial's bodyguard?"
-"Would you say a dagger in the sleep is a clean enough way to go?"

If anybody has more suggestions on questions, ask away or whisper in Lizzy's ear to have her ask it.

Dylara follows Beads and casts guidance on the bard and herself before every encounter. So that's +1 to each of Beads' rolls.

She helps Beads with the interview, and tries to determine how truthfull the answers are. "Do you think Ulamon could be involved in the murder? If you do, how would he be involved?"

Mallick grumbles about cleaning up the mess he is working on. His speech is filled with snide remarks, stalling grunts, and offhand comments giving clear indication that he would rather not be talking with Pathfinders. During the attack, have you noticed anybody head in the direction of Sephrial's room?"
"No. I was in the captain's room discussing crew discipline. He has no clue."
-"Do you have any idea who'd benefit from both Sephrial's death and the pathfinders being blamed?"
"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.
-"Have you seen Azuretta together with Sephrial's bodyguard?"
-"Would you say a dagger in the sleep is a clean enough way to go?"
"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."
"Do you think Ulamon could be involved in the murder? If you do, how would he be involved?"
"The navigator? No. After a moment he adds. "He's not fond of elves though."

"What we deserve? How rude! *

*

"Yes, I've been wondering why Sephriel insisted on hiring us. It makes no sense, the trouble we cause. Makes precisely as much sense as Sephriel hiring you. This ship is crawling with anti-elf sentiment."

Traceni turns to some spot in the air in front of Mallick, chides "No,", and flicks at that bit of air.

She then points towards the aft of the boat, down, then up. "Wait, where is the captain's quarters? It's not in Sephriel's room, is it?"

Mallick growls, "No. Sephreil is in my...." He stops short realizing this is the woman looking for land on the ocean.