PbP GameDay 2: PFS Module: Murder's Mark (Tier 1-2) (Inactive)

Game Master GM Aarvid

The dead women is a priest of Erastil. Probably this town's priest of Erastil. Morvius says putting a hand to his forehead. Nimblefingers is right, somebody is trying really hard to ruin you and your circus lady Delisen. And so far they are doing an excelent job at it.

Do you have any enemies? Think carefully, someone who would be out for your blood.

I believe we are looking for an alchemist, or at least someone who is fond of potions. Can you think of anyone that fits that description?

"I have no idea who she is or who else would have an issue with us. Other than our parade when we arrived, we have stayed out of town...intentionally, just to avoid such confrontations. We do not know any chemists or apothecaries in town. There are certainly none as part of our circus family.." she looks perplexed on how next to proceed other than to wait for the sheriff. You are welcome to stay or leave or ask more questions or look etc.

"So, I don't suppose we can address the obvious issue? Where is the sphinx now? Obviously not in her cage, but was she here when this woman was murdered? Perhaps she has something to add?"

Morvius looks at Almara Delisen with expectation.

Almara looks at each of you and responds matter of factly...

"Jherizhana is not here and was not involved with this murder. I doubt she has anything to add, but I am sure she will be back soon. I am not sure it would be wise for her to be around when the Sheriff arrives, fearing unjust treatment while the real murderers run loose."

"We wont let anything happen to the Lady Jherizhana, will we August!"

No! Of course not! August blurts out excitedly. Umm, but where is she? Where does she go?

Before you receive an answer to further questions, the sheriff arrives on the scene with a trio of her constables.

"Ok, now what has happened in my town? This is getting out of hand. We already have riots starting. Adding theft and another murder is not helping. I am going to have to quarantine this circus until we put an end to this."

She looks at the body, and you see a brief expression of pain and sorrow before she adds.

"Where is the sphinx now and when this happened? ."

Morvius looks at Almara Delisen again.

Almara regards your group and the sheriff.

"We did not want to say as it ruins the mystery, but the sphinx Jherizhana is actually a bard, who plays at being a circus star in order to travel Avistan and expand her already vast knowledge of history and lore. She enjoys performance art, and loves humanity, at least while she’s performing. Jherizhana does not truly reside in a cage, but rather a large, comfortable, and private wagon of her own. She willingly enters a cage—one that could never truly contain her—so the curious may regard her while feeling safe. She always appears accompanied by guards, not only to protect the public, but also to maintain her boundaries. . "

Almara looks at each of you and pleads...

"Please, we beg you to refrain from spoiling this secret. It would end the show and her life of learning. For her and the audiences that cone to see her. "

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

Holman tries to judge the truth of the woman's words.

Kath gives a small sigh.

Nothing is as it appears it seems.

"Well the one thing that is true is that the Stinks is innocent! Right August! Now we just have to figure out who wants to ruin the circus."

Right An! This we know... don't we? The dwarf looks at the others for reassurance. But, how do we find out who the bad guy is?

The sheriff listens to the explanation then she responds.

"You’ve brought a dangerous creature into this community—a creature you clearly cannot keep track of, let alone control. I can’t say I know for certain there’s wrongdoing here on the part of your people, but after a point it ceases to matter. For the safety of my town, I’m putting this circus under quarantine. I don’t want any of your people leaving these grounds unless it’s to leave town completely. I’m giving you two days to get packed up and go. "

Almara seems shocked by the sheriffs comments, but nods in reluctant agreement.

Morvius waits for the sheriff's departure before asking Almara's his next question. Bard's are known masters of illusion and disguise. Is Jherizhana, or whatever her real name is, an actual sphinx?

"You did leave out something when you were spinning that tale, Almara. Please tell us what you left out? You trust us to help your circus with this whole mess, why not trust us with the truth?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

Almara looks at you and then checks the door and windows to make sure the sheriff and her constables are gone.

"Well, I suppose I owe you the truth since you seem to be trying to help us. But this cannot leave this room. Ika, please come in. "

You see a beautiful young woman, but the reason Almara and the carnival keep her out of sight (or in the guise of Madame Masque) is immediately evident: she and the Sphinx Jherizhana share the same face.

Almara explains
"Our Umbra Carnival works as a community to keep Ika a secret. Ika creates the illusion of the sphinx and that is one of the most guarded secrets of the show. . "

Ika is shy, and not like the confident and sultry sphinx she portrays.

The girl speaks...

"I must apologize for not being forthcoming and truthful. I never intended anyone to be hurt, and I feel sorry and even a little guilty for the deaths, even though I had nothing to do with them. Obviously they could have been the sphinx since she fires not exist. "

After he hears the admission, Holman's jaw hangs open until he absorbs what he is surely the truth. Once his brain has processed it all, it snaps shut only briefly before he says, "Well, that's definitely a nifty trick, and convincing, too."

After another moment, his mouth opens once more, channeling his thoughts as quickly as he has them. "I know how much this secret means to you, so let us assume, for the moment, that we will not clear your circus of wrongdoing by admitting this. We can, at least, continue with the investigation, knowing without a doubt that the Sphinx is not responsible for the deaths. Who, then, would want to pin them on the circus?"

He pauses, takes several breaths as his brain races, then continues. "It wouldn't be someone inside the circus, because you all apparently know the secret behind the Sphinx. They would not have tried to start rumors of the Sphinx flying at night, nor tried to pin these deaths on the circus. That would potentially force you to admit the secret to the officials, which would damage their own livelihood. So, then, some person or persons in the town?"

He thinks back to the ruckus the townspeople were just causing. "The townsfolk were complaining that their purses were substantially lighter after having visited the circus. Am I correct in assuming that you did not have your own pickpockets working the crowd? Considering your current problems with the law, I'd imagine that, even if you regularly employ them - and, mind, I'm not saying that you do - you would not have invited further problems by having them run rampant through the crowd."

"It seems, then, that this points even more towards the fact that there must be a local thieves' guild that is attempting to divert attention away from themselves and their activities. That would explain the thieves we found in the vault, as well as the reason that the store owner was the first target." He pauses, then, a confused look crossing his face. "Why, then, would they have killed this woman?"

Morvius takes a few moments to consider Holman's words. I believe her death was either a cover up or an attemp to create a diversion. My guess would be that something is about to happen, or already did, and they are preparing a scape goat to it, the circus.

What lines of investigation do we still have avaible to us?
We can go to town to gather information about a nearby tribe of skunks, a skunk named*****, the local **** traffic and the jeweler and any enemies he had.
Anything else?

Still working on this post.

Damn, something came up and I lost the editing window. This is what my above post should read:

We can go to town to gather information about a nearby tribe of skulks called the Nisku, a couple of skulks named Kymeth and Onamae, the local shiver traffic, Walder the dead merchant and any enemies he had.
Anything else?

An looks stunned at the pronounciation that the sphinx was, in fact, a fake.
"How...how can that be? I saw her and talked to her! Abd now you tell me it was not real?"
He looks over to August for confirmation.

Aww, I was convinced the Sphinx was involved in some way heh. Still this twist is somewhat amusing.

Kath is amused as he ponders this somewhat strange turn of events. Well it looks like those attempting to frame the circus pinned all of this on.... an illusion. Terrible job if I do say so myself. It does give you a way to clear your name. Admit the fact then the local authorities can pour more resources into hunting down those at fault. With the backup of the sheriff when they are not holding your cirus under quarantine we could get justice for the killings swiftly I am sure.

August doesn't even notice An looking at him as he is still trying to get over the fact that the sphinx was merely a ruse. The dwarf seems to open his mouth to speak several times but nothing comes out. The look on his face goes from confusion, to anger, then finally to sadness.

I thought the sinks was a real friend. It was all lies? August finally looks at his dear friend An, hoping that he was wrong. But we did see her! It can't be a lie! You all saw her and talked to her! They just don't want us to talk to her anymore!

Holman begins nodding to Morvius when An and August begin lamenting the loss of their newfound friend, and rolls his eyes slightly as they express their disbelief. He isn't a particularly trusting sort - not being particularly trustworthy himself outside of his Pathfinder responsibilities - so it usually comes as no surprise when others prove to be the same.

"Yes, yes, let's get it all out now. The Sphinx isn't real, never was, oh woe are we. There, feel better? Now, back to the matter at hand."

He turns to Kath. "We should really do what we can to protect the secret of the circus, if we can. Yes, it would prove their innocence, but let's not just go blurting it out without trying other alternatives, shall we?"

He directs his attention once more to Morvius. "Right, I think you're on the right track. I suggest we do some asking around to see if we can figure anything out along those lines."

Almara is opposed to anything that would expose their secret to the people or sheriff on principle, above and beyond just the financial loss of a successful attraction.

“I do not know who these killers are but they must be brought to justice. Exposing our secret doesn’t change people’s opinion of us, or maintain Ilsurian as a venue we’re welcome to visit again. All it proves is these bastards were too stupid to figure out they were framing an illusion. No one here is going to come to our shows anymore. We’ll be forced to leave town and they’ll get away with it. "

She is surprised at how emotional she became and calms herself.

"we appreciate your help. We know you do not have to do anything, but we know we are innocent but are now helpless to prove our case. If you can prove it, we would be indebted to you. What else can we do? We do not know the townsfolk. However, maybe one of our performers or visitors saw something that can help. . "

Gather info?

Morvius approuches Ika and with a fanciful bow picks up her hand in his and kisses it.
Milady I am delighted to meet you. What a marvelous performance! Worthy of the biggests theaters of my beloved Taldor! I hope, when this unpleasantness is over, you will allow me to take you out for a dinner sometime.

Taking Almara's suggestion, Holman begins wandering around the tents, asking about anything anyone might have seen or heard regarding either of the murders, the rash of pickpocketing, or the incident with the vault.

Diplomacy (Gather Information): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

After his talk to the bardess Morvius returns to the conversation. We will see what we can discover Lady Almara.

Joining in their try to gather more information he mumbles. I was never very good at asking, alas demanding just comes so much more easily for those of noble birth... But I guess I could try...
Aid Another Diplom: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (6) - 1 = 5

One thing that stands out to me the most in this whole mess is the shiver. Its not easy to come by and this is a small town. I doubt they have more than one supplier and it should not be hard to track him.

Ika blushes at Morvius's comments.

Almara responds.

" If you need anything from us, just ask. My people have been instructed to cooperate. "

Holman takes her at her word and interviews a few of the guards and performers.

So, she is the sinks? August asks quietly. Maybe we should ask her stuff then.

Holman wanders back to the rest of the group. "Well, it seems that something was definitely amiss, earlier. There were three people dressed as circus clowns near the Sphinx's tent around the time of the mob. This was notable because when the Sphinx is not there, people are encouraged to move along. The only time that there should be people - guards, mostly - there is when the Sphinx is performing."

Lets ask the circus clowns if it was them? If not maybe they noticed something strange?

Didn't we already speak with the clowns?

No, no, no. I not gunna go no where near de clowns.

Holman just got done speaking to the performers and guards, which I would assume would include the clowns

"Clowns? No we did not have any clowns today. We had jugglers and mimes. Even if we did, they are not supposed to be in the Midway. Why do you ask?. "

Searching around the tent, near the back near the cage, there are a few hard to see tracks.

The tracks lead out the back of the tent, where they pass by a small pile of tear-away clown costumes before becoming muddled in a maze of wagons, tents, and other foot traffic.

Morvius overhears a but of other information from a few of the crowd before the sheriff's constables forced all townsfolk out for the quarantine.

Many people in Ilsurian knew Sister Esrelda planned to speak to the sphinx directly this afternoon. She was very public about this after the news of Walder’s murder.

Morvius share with the others what he overheard and searches the clown costumes for any clues.
Take 20 for 20 on perception.

The costumes appear to have been discarded in haste but the tracks are faint and provide little in the way of clues.

While traveling back and forth between the Umbra Carnival and Ilsurian proper. after all of the other townsfolk departed due to the quarantine imposed by the sheriff, you see a group of townsfolk ahead.

Just off the commonly traveled route between the town and circus. A visible crowd of six men has gathered around the base of a large tree.

At the center is a Varisian stranger from the circus. The mob gave the boy a beating. They covered his face with a burlap sack so he couldn’t identify them, and planned to leave him tied to the tree to be discovered later when you approach.

"Keep walking, none of your business. Nuthin to see here. "

Bloody peasants!
Quite the contrary sir. IT is our business! Morvius starts to draw his mace. When I finish counting to 10 I better not be seeing any of you scum in front of me anymore.
9...8...7...6...
Intimidate: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (14) + 11 = 25

An readies his nodachi and imposes himself between the townsfolk and the carnival boy.
"You heard the man. Move On!

Aid other: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

August will move as swiftly as he can so that he can be side-by-side with his brother-in-arms. Move on!

Aid Intimidate: 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (19) - 3 = 16

The peasants drop their clubs and shake in fear, cowed by the prowess of your group and ashamed of their actions.

The circus boy is unconscious and bleeding out. They did not realize he was hurt so badly.

Move back! Move back!! The dwarf yells, obviously angered by the actions of the mob. He looks bad off! Someone help him! August will help to unmask the boy and hold him so that he can be healed.

heal check
1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

The mentality of a mob Kath says, clearly disgusted.

How could they do this to a kid

Bo'alo is able to stop the bleeding and once the crowd backs off, able to unbound and unmask the boy.