[PFS] Murder on the Throaty Mermaid (Inactive)

Game Master StephNyan

Seijiro moves so Forch can easily move into flank with him, and readies an attack versus the elf. When Forch doesn't step into flank Seijiro attacks the elf anyway, but misses.

Murdoth makes her way to the main deck and attacks the last elf. She stabs him through the abdomen, but somehow the elf continues to stand.

Tsukaris goes upstairs and fires a ray of frost at the elf, barely missing him.

Talathel moves up to Forch and heals him a fair bit.

Kolris moves onto the stairs to see what's happening on the main deck, while also keeping an eye on Sephriel's door.

Trident: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19 Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

The enemy elf steps east, and stabs Seijiro with his trident.

Round 11:
~
Kolris
Tsakuris
Seijiro 19/23

Round 12:
Murdoth (Blessing of protection) 8/10HP
Talathel (Forch 10/13HP)
Yellow -13HP
Kolris
Tsakuris
Seijiro 19/23

Kolris maintains his vigil.

They clearly have this handled up top; it's all against only one. I'd only get in the way at this point.

Tsakuris looks for a free way to use one of his spells. Once he has finished his movement, he concentrates all the force of his magic. He can see flames growing in front of him. As fast as her mind creates this image, some flames emerges from his hands.

I am posting from my mobile and I can't move my token. Can somebody move it two squares up and two to the right? Thank you

I use burning hands and I spend one point from my arcane reservoir to increase in one my caster level. i throw it in an L shape up and to the right

damage: 2d4 + 1 ⇒ (3, 2) + 1 = 6 reflex DC 16 to half damage

I didn't see a casting of burning hands from the position you described that would hit the elf without also hitting Seijiro. I ended your movement 5' south of where you described and positioned the burning hands effect as shown. Does that work?

Murdoth swings again at the elf with her glaive

Attack vs AC: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25
Crit Confirm: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
Dmg: 1d10 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
Dmg Crit: 1d10 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

Tsakuris's fire washes over the elf, taking him out. Murdoth stabs the elf for good measure, killing him.

Combat's over!

The captain throws his cabin's door wide open and storms onto the main deck. "What be happenin' here?!"

The Gameday will end on November 25th. We spent quite a lot of time on the extra faction missions, and this combat dragged out much longer than I expected. I do not expect us to finish this game during the Gameday. I do however hope you'll all stick around, because I do certainly enjoy this game thus far! :)

"I have no idea captain... we were fighting these intruders... so I guess we got boarded or infiltrated or something."

I didn't see a casting of burning hands from the position you described that would hit the elf without also hitting Seijiro. I ended your movement 5' south of where you described and positioned the burning hands effect as shown. Does that work?

that's fine, thank you

Tsakuris casts dancing lights and looks for any ship nearby. He is intrigued in how those elfs has come in.

Talathel goes total defense in front of Forch and lets the animal stand up.

Only total defense and standing up for the animal companion.

Tsakuris takes a look around with his dancing light illuminating the area, but there isn't another ship in sight.

"They be aquatic elves!" the captain comments as he inspects the corpses. "They be able to breath below water..."

One of the elves is still alive, though unconscious due to blood loss.

Do you want to interrogate him?

Talathel takes some rope and binds the elf, making sure he isn't able to escape. He slaps the elf several times, trying to wake him up. He eventually gives up and grabs his wand of CLW and taps the elf a single time.

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Once healed he slaps the elf again.
"You will tell me why you attacked us, that or I will slap you head silly!"
Talathel says as he is standing on top of the bound elf.

Intimidate: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16

Hearing the sounds of interrogation coming from above, Kolris determines that the ship must be safe. He quickly raps on Sephriel's door. "I think the danger has passed. Always be cautious, but I think it's okay to come out. We have a captive, we might learn something." He waits long enough to hear an acknowledgement from inside the room then heads up to the top deck.

He joins Talathel beside the bound elf, observing the gnome's technique, and then adding a bit of his own.

"I'd find it no surprise if the threat of this man slapping you was quite enough to keep you in line and loosen your lips, but just in case it's not, know that there are worse ways you can be harmed. I don't have to hit you; I have the skills to find your family, your clan. I can bring harm to your reputation in ways that will devastate their standing in your society long after you have passed on. Don't test us. Tell us what we want to know. What is your purpose on this vessal this night?"

Intimidate, inspiration: 1d20 + 8 + 1d6 ⇒ (9) + 8 + (6) = 23

"Thank you," sounds Sephriel's voice from inside his cabin, in reply to Kolris speaking.

The elf ignores Talathel, but seems enrages when Kolris addresses him. "ఎందుకు మీరు ఈ మానవుల మురికిగా భాష మాట్లాడటం లేదు, నాకు చెప్పండి? మీరు నాకు మాట్లాడటానికి అనుకుంటే మీ స్థానిక నాలుక మాట్లాడు, లేదా నేను మీరు ఏమి రోత ఉచ్ఛరించాడు పందులు వంటి మీరు విస్మరిస్తాయి!"

Tsakuris askes to Kolris what does he say?

"I speak to you in the language of the captain of this ship."

"Now, I asked you a question. I'll not entertain your delay any further. Answers now, or I let one of these strongmen have their way with you."

Seijiro hears Kolris admonishing Sephariel in sylvan and surmises the other elf's objections, though he says nothing about it aloud. He acts like he's TRYING to get a rise out of us.

Tsakuris is amused by the domain of the languages of Kolris, but he can't understand a single word. There are so many things to learn in this wolrd

Talathel listens to Kolris but understands only common and sylvan. Going by the sylvan he has an idea what the elf said. He steps down from the elf and lets Kolris handle the situation.

"మీరు ఒక కారణం కోల్పోయింది ఉన్నాము. జస్ట్ నన్ను చంపడానికి," the aquatic elf responds loathingly, and says no more.

Kolris makes sure that the elf is securely tied, then kneels down next to the obstinate creature.

How do you make the beautiful script for Elven? I would love to learn that!

I use Google Translate and translate English to Telugu! :)

For a moment it looks like the aquatic elf won't reply, but then he says, "మేము అబ్షాలోము "తక్కువ బ్లడ్" తో తీవ్రమైన యొక్క శిఖరం యొక్క ఇటీవలి దౌత్య సంబంధాలకు వ్యతిరేకంగా ఒక elven ఆధిపత్యం సమూహంలో భాగంగా ఉన్నారు. మా ఉన్నతాధికారుల ఓడ బోర్డు మరియు తన ప్రజల తన ద్రోహం Sephriel హత్య మాకు పంపింది."

He gives Kolris a defiant look. "మీరు చెప్పడానికి ఏమీ లేదు. అది త్వరగా చేయండి."

Kolris nods his head, acknowledging that the news is pretty much what he expected. He also lets out a light sigh of relief; threatening torture is quite a different thing from carrying it out.

"చాల బాగుంది; నేను మీరు మీ భావాలను వచ్చింది ముగ్ధుడనయ్యాను. మనం భావిస్తున్న లేకపోతే చేయడానికి కలిగి మురికి పని కలిగిలేరు. చాలా నేను చట్టం యొక్క ఒక వ్యక్తి ఉన్నాను, నేను నా మాట మీద నిలబడే వ్యక్తిగా ఉన్నాను. మీరు Sovyrian మీ మార్గాన్ని, మరియు శాంతి కనుగొనవచ్చు. మేము దేవుని అన్ని ఒకటి."

He unsheathes his longsword as he stands, and then perfunctorily slides it into the elf's chest.

Damage, coup de grace: 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (3, 4) + 4 = 11
Fortitude DC 21 vs. death

Turning to the others, he shares what he's learned as he cleans the blade. "It's as I suspected. They came to assassinate Sephriel in opposition to the Mordant Spire opening diplomatic relations with 'low-bloods.'"

Talathel strokes his beard.
"I see, I see. It all makes sense now!"
He looks at everyone present.
"I think we need a good nights rest, I don't think more will come this night. I say we all head for bed and think on things."
The small gnome adds, still stroking his beard.

Did he tell you who has send him?

"Well, he didn't give the name of an individual, but he called out the Mordant Spire. It seems they grow aggressive in their reclusiveness."

He looks around at the gathered faces. "I don't know about you, but I would like to finish my sleep, now that the danger has passed." Kolris begins heading belowdecks and to his bunk.

Just when Kolris is about to head belowdecks the first mate, Marzack Mallick, rushes up the stairs and up to the captain. "Captain! The emissary, he's dead!"

"What?!"

"I heard the noise of battle and saw corpses in the main hold, so I made a sweep of the ship! When I came back to the main hold I found his door wide open, and..."

Captain Veane heads downstairs before Mallick can finish talking, straight up to cabin where Sephriel was staying. Marzack briefly looks at you and the aquatic elf Kolris just killed, as if trying to figure out what happened, then follows the captain.

Assuming you also follow:

You follow Mallick to his cabin, which Sephriel was borrowing during the journey. This finely decorated cabin contains a brightly colored Qadiran rug, a small bookshelf, several storage trunks and barrels, and a modest bed. Lying face down on the ruffled, blood-soaked sheets rests the body of a tall, golden-haired elf in elegant bedclothes, his face covered in an intricately carved wooden mask.

Veane leaps toward the bed, turning Sephriel over and feeling for signs of life. Finding none, the captain shakes his head and looks downtrodden at the corpse. Mallick, standing outside the door, calls in to the captain, speaking offhandedly: "The Mordant Spire elves will have your hide for failing to deliver Sephriel safely..."

As the words sink in, Veane pales and turns to you with a look of pure terror in his eyes. The fear passes quickly, however, and his expression shifts into one of pure rage.

"You're the only ones on this ship I don't know well," he says, pointing accusingly at you. "I’m not taking the rap for this, by Besmara, and neither is my crew. It might not be fair, but when we get to the Mordant Spire in three days, it's you who'll have to answer for Sephriel's death!"

With that, he storms out of the cabin and up the stairs to the main deck, Mallick close on his heels, leaving you alone in Sephriel's cabin with his lifeless body.

"Well hell, we didn't do it, we were fighting the intruders ourselves. But if we're to prove that, we'd best find evidence to that effect."

Seijiro starts looking for proof of who DID do this.

perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21 if there's anything that's concealed or hidden, there's an additional +4, not included in total... starting by examining the body - see if there's anything unusual or indicative in the wound ... if there's a weapon left behind.. anything of that sort. Once the body has been thoroughly examined, he'll start on the room.

You can see the bodies of the assaltants. We are not related with this dead.

When Tsakuris sees Seijiro looking for any clue, he decides to help him, and searches the room to find something that shows their innocence

Perception, to Help: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

Talathel casts detect magic to aid the others and also makes a round of the room.
"Well... there seems to be a lot of blood. And a corpse."
He concludes after his search, turning to the group he asks.
"What are your thoughts on the matter?"

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

The description of the scene in Sephriel's cabin made no mention of his bodyguard. Is the bodyguard also in the room, dead, or is he missing?

Kolris looks around the room for anything that might assist the investigation.

During his search, Kolris will remove the mask from Sephriel's face. What kind of carving or design is on the mask?

The bodyguard's not in the room.

Those looking at Sephriel's corpse discover over a dozen deep gashes in his back, but nothing that could've caused them.

If you remove Sephriel’s intricate wooden mask, you find only an ordinary looking elf behind it, a look of peaceful sleep on his face. The mask itself doesn't appear to be anything special, safe the fact its carvings are quite intricate.

The cabin door shows no signs of forced entry, and on closer inspection Seijiro confirms that the lock was either unlocked to begin with or was opened with a key, not picked. A search of Sephriel’s belongings reveals merely a collection of fine clothes, several works of elven literature in ornately bound books, a scrimshaw pipe, an empty sac smelling of tobacco, and a couple of coins.

Heal: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (4) - 2 = 2

If you remove Sephriel’s intricate wooden mask, you find only an ordinary looking elf behind it, a look of peaceful sleep on his face.

Just to be sure, is the face Sephriel's face? If not, the following may need to be revised....

"Where's the bodyguard?" Kolris quickly scans the room one more time to confirm that he's not seeing what he's not seeing. Mask still in hand, he leaps to the door and sticks his head out.

"Captain! Mate! Search the vessel for the bodyguard; he's not here! All hands! Where's the bodyguard?!?"

Seeing nothing in Sephriel's wounds that makes any sense to him, Kolris turns his attention to the mask.

Is the pattern or design meaningful?

Heal: 1d20 ⇒ 18

Tsakuris examinates the body and saids. I am not an expert, but this wounds has been done with a dagger. But those elves fights with javelins and tridents. That's strange.

He approaches Kolris and said. Can I take a look on that mask

heal dc 12 or 20: 1d20 ⇒ 15

"Tsakuris has the right of this... these are dagger slashes, and we didn't see those sea elves fighting with daggers at all. I wonder if the bodyguard might have been a mole, I think Kolris already suspects that."

It's up to you how you want to approach the investigation, but I highly recommend keeping track of the clues you're given during the scenario. To give you a place where you can keep track of the clues, I placed a link atop this thread: 'Clues for finding Sephriel's murderer.' It links to a shared document for you guys, and you can organize it any way you like. (Or don't organize it and just copy+paste whatever you think is important in it.)

@Kolris: Yes, it's Sephriel. No info's given on the mask's pattern or meaning, so I guess it's not important.

In response to Kolris yelling Thanzeril, the bodyguard, comes running up the stairs from the cargo hold. He runs straight up to Kolris. "What happened?!"

Thanzeril pushes past Kolris and anyone else standing in his way up to Sephriel's bed, where he lets out a devastated cry. "No! Shit, what have I done?!"

He grasps his head and shakes it wildly. "Fool! FOOL!!"

Not sure what to make of the situation talathel tries to question Thanzeril.
"Thanzeril, why weren't you here to defend him?"
He asks, trying to get him to talk.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24
Sense motive: 1d20 ⇒ 2
Perception on Thanzeril for anything related to the murder: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19

sense motive on Thanzeril's reactions: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

Seijiro observes Thanzeril's body language, expressions, etc. for any signs of duplicity, but can't seem to read him well.

Tsakuris takes a deep breath and askes My dear Thanzeril, I hope you locked the door when you leave your post. didn't you? In any way, did you know who can enter into this room?

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
Sense motive: 1d20 ⇒ 17 to see Thanzeril's reactions

Hmmm, that doesn't rule him out as a suspect, but it doesn't confirm anything either. In fact, everyone on this ship may now be a suspect. This is going to be a challenging few days, indeed.

Kolris doesn't interrupt the others' questions, simply listening for Thranzeril's response.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

"I... I was..." Thanzeril's face flushes red as he stampers, and with great difficulty he manages to say, "I was with Azuretta... in the forward cargo hold..."

The bodyguard shakes he head again, covering his face with his hands. "I should never have left my station!" he exclaims, "What kind of bodyguard am I?! I don't even remember if I locked the door!"

For as far as any of you is able to tell Thanzeril's telling the truth.

Some info I overlooked earlier on, which some of you would've noticed when rolling (at least 10 on) Perception:
Even before Thanzeril enters you notice the scent of a heady perfume in the air.

is the perfume familiar?

I believe you, Thanzeril. Don't be ofended if we talk with Azuretta and confirm your alibi

It's a familiar perfume for Kolris: it's Azuretta's.

"No... I understand if you do that, Tsakuris..."

Talathel nods and searches the ship for Azuretta, upon finder her he will ask the questions needed to complete both their alibi's.
"So... What have you been up to past half hour or so? Out of curiosity. Thanzeril was in a most curious state just now."
He tries to keep any suspicion out of his voice to get a sincere answer.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24
Perception on perfume: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

You find Azuretta in the captain's cabin, lounging on his bed with her illustrates chapbook. The captain sits at his desk. He looks up as you enter and start questioning Azuretta, but doesn't speak.

"I was in the forward hold with Thanzeril," Azuretta says smilingly, and adds a wink.

Talathel smells the same perfume as before, and the smell's definitely coming from where Azuretta lounges.

I have no diplomacy skills or any social skills for that matter

Kolris follows Talathel up and listens as he questions Azuretta to confirm her alibi. He nods at her and smiles when she winks knowingly.

"Captain, I believe that the murderer is likely still on this boat. The attack by the aquatic elves could have been a planned distraction, or perhaps the murderer just took advantage of the opportunity created by their disturbance."

"It matters not. It remains that we now have three days to uncover the identity of the murderer, and I would ask your assistance. Our group was entrusted with his protection, so we will take charge of the investigation, but your words to the crew will help ensure their compliance with our investigation; do you agree?"

@Murdoth Even without social skills you can help. At a bare minimum, you as player can suggest courses of action that those of us with better numbers can then attempt. And 'aid another' actions only need to hit DC10 to help, and never hurt.

Talathel nods in deep thought.
"We'll have to question more people. Who of the crew were missing during the attack, did we have anyone with us?"

"This rests on yer shoulders, not mine," the captain responds to Kolris. "Find them murderous scum before we dock and ya'll be fine."

"Why not ask that elf hating freeloader where she was?" Azuretta chimes in. "I can imagine her doing it, hmpf..."

Seijiro scowls slightly at the reference, and recalls the reek of perfume in the room... "I think it perhaps important," he says to his companions, "That the room smelled so strongly of perfume... almost too strongly.. perhaps she was there... or perhaps someone was trying to frame her. Still something we should follow up on."