GM Erich's Murder on the Throaty Mermaid (Inactive)

Game Master Thereus, Silver Crusader

Conig is just able to catch the elf with his electric arc from the lower deck. Azora makes her way up the stairs to face off with the lot.

The elves stare menacingly as they pull out a black cream and smear it on their trident tips. The elf in the water begins her ascent back onto the ship.

fast climb: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

Round 2/3 - Bold can act
Karlos <asleep>
Tasarë "Willow"
William
Red Elf -3 damage
Azora
Nino
-----------------
Conig
Pink Elf
Orange Elf*
Yellow Elf*

perc: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

Karlos' snoring stops suddenly. He bolts upright and snaps awake.

What in the blazes...to arms!

move action stand up and draw sword as a free due to +1 BAB..AC is 12

"Protect our passenger!"

If any get close enough on the stairs.

AoO {Reach/High Ground: 1d20 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 + 1 = 131d8 + 1d4 ⇒ (5) + (3) = 8

"Come, we must not dally!" William says to his compatriots, as he goes to the door, opens it, and begins to make his way through the ship.

Grabbing her bow next, Willow hurries after William. Breaking left out on the deck, the young archer draws up at the rail and tries to make sense of what she’s seeing. Since it’s her own people – well, cousins, at any rate, so to speak – she calls out in Elven, “Stop! Whatever you think we’ve done, sticking us like fish isn’t the answer!”

That’s … a lot sillier than it sounded in my head. Nonetheless, Willow’s not so much of a hopeless ingénue that she doesn’t draw and nock an arrow… Not enough actions to actually fire this round, though.

Sorry for not posting yesterday, out of town business kept me away from the keyboard.

The rest of the group has awoken and they begin their journey to the battle. The northernmost elf coats her weapon in the vile paste as well, spitting out "Your hollow words will not protect your charge, elf-betrayer!" as she does.

Round 2/3 - Bold can act
Karlos
Tasarë "Willow"
William
Red Creature* - 3 damage
Azora
Nino
-----------------
Conig
Pink Creature
Orange Creature*
Yellow Creature*

Put a pathetic little drawing in the to show the side-view of the ship and the relationship of the decks (with stairs and ladder).

Nino exits the cabin and moves toward enemy. double move

Conig will step over to Nino as he passes and will imbue his greatsword with magical powers.

cast Magic Weapon

Figuring there are enough Pathfinders on deck, the oracle grants them all a small blessing of her patron's power.

Casting Bless. +1 to hit and saves vs Fear. It has enough range to catch all the PC's on the top deck.

"I have betrayed no one! Nor do I skulk on to ships in the night...like a drow. What do you know of our ward, fey? Try not to dishonor true elves with your lies!"

Moving about, the group readies for the showdown. The final elf finally breaches the edge and climbs aboard the ship. Surprised that the battle is not yet joined, she pulls out her paste and coats her trident like her sisters.

Sensing Azora's reticence to close distance up the stairs, two of the elves reach over their shoulders to prepare their javelins with the same icky paste.

fast climb: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

Round 3/4 - Bold can act - Bless is up (excpet Karlos)
Karlos
Tasarë "Willow"
William
Red Creature* - 3 damage
Azora
Nino <Magic Weapon>
-----------------
Conig
Pink Creature*
Orange Creature**
Yellow Creature**

Karlos rushes out of the cabin, ready to face the threat head on.

double move....still AC 12....on phone...can someone move me please....ty!

"Hold on! I'm coming!" he shouts, starting to make his way. On the way, he spots a piece of rubble, and it begins to float in the air, before launching itself at one of the attacking creatures.

Casting Telekinetic Projectile (ranged not-touch): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8, 1d6 ⇒ 1 and moving.

"I have betrayed no one! Nor do I skulk on to ships in the night...like a drow."

Oh, ouch. :)

Willow is certain she’s never betrayed anyone, let alone all her people, in her life. She doubts any words she could throw in would add to Azora’s rebuttal, so she contributes an arrow instead. She takes a breath to control her anger, adjust for the pitch of the deck, and fires. Starting a controlled rage, boosting her Dex to 19, and targeting, oh, let’s say the mouthy one, if Willow’s got a clear shot. Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15 Damage if hits: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Karlos moves quickly across the deck. William's projectile spins wildly in the air before falling harmlessly next to the invaders. Willow finally pierces the air with the arrow she has had nocked but it sticks solidly in the deck railing just in front of her target.

Looking down at the errant arrow, Willow's target pulls a vial and drinks the contents, wiping her mouth with disdain, then screeches to indicate the time for vengeance.. is now.

potion time: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Round 3/4 - Bold can act - Bless is up (excpet Karlos)
Karlos
Tasarë "Willow"
William
Red Creature*
Azora
Nino <Magic Weapon>
-----------------
Conig
Pink Creature*
Orange Creature**
Yellow Creature**

Nino moves up the stairs and hits the red enemy.

mwk greatsword: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23 Magic Weapon

damage: 2d6 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (2, 6) + 6 + 1 = 15

Conig focuses on a random bucket and flings it at the forward elf.

Telekinetic Projectile, PBS: 1d20 + 6 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (8) + 6 + 1 - 4 = 11

Likely bouncing off, ineffectually.

The oracle steps up in support of Nino and jabs her flame tipped spear at another elf.

Longspear w/ Fire Blessing {Reach/High Ground/Bless} vs ORANGE: 1d20 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 + 1 + 1 = 171d8 + 1d4 ⇒ (8) + (4) = 12

She looks back over her shoulder, "Why are you all here? Who is with Sephriel? What if one of them slips below deck?" A thought dawns on her as she looks around. Noticing for the first time, "Where is the crew? Shouldn't they repelling boarders as well?"

Azora plunges her longspear into the elf at the top of the stairs. As she withdraws the tip, Nino deftly steps in to lay his sword into another and with great effect. Conig's bucket surprises his target but merely clanks against the mast behind her.

The elf in the rear coats her javelin with the poisonous paste and steps forward to engage. Wild eyed and ready to fight, two of the others thrust their tridents at Nino but deflect each others tines awkwardly.

orange trident vs Nino: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
yellow trident vs Nino: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Round 4/5 - Bold can act - Bless is up (except Karlos)
Karlos
Tasarë "Willow"
William
Red Creature* -15 damage
Azora
Nino <Magic Weapon>
-----------------
Conig
Pink Creature**
Orange Creature** -12 damage
Yellow Creature**

Maintaining the concentration that lets her push her body to its limits, Willow whips off another arrow at the member of the boarding party that’s not embroiled in the melee aft. Attack, at pink: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10 Damage, if hits: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6 My grief!

“On it!” she calls back through the night to Azora’s warning. Luckily enough, Willow’s standing next to a square with a hatch. If she can, she’ll use her move action to open it. Otherwise, if the only access to the main hold is by the stairs aft, she’ll start heading that way.

@Willow Although it could be dismantled to move large objects to the holds below, the hatch is primarily there for ventilation, so I moved you toward the door to the stairway to the main hold (white line).

Ah! You're right" William shouts, cane in hand, heading for the door to the hold.

Either double move or move and open the door, whichever I can do.

The door is closed so it will take an action to open it.

Bah! Clear the way so I can get in there! Karlos grumbles, his path blocked.

can't get in there...as famous spirits from Middle Earth once said...The way is shut....lol

Willow's next arrow sails wide and she answers a different call. Aware of the potential danger to their charge, William and Willow hurry toward the main hold door. Whisking it open, William peers into the darkness of the stairway and readies his descent.

Karlos waits for an opening in the fray. I'll delay you in case an enemy falls...

Without a shred of fear, the battered elf thrusts her trident toward Nino, before succumbing to her wounds and passing out.

...enemy falls!

red trident vs Nino: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Round 4/5 - Bold can act - Bless is up (except Karlos)
Tasarë "Willow"
William
Red Creature* -16 damage <unconscious>
Karlos
Azora
Nino <Magic Weapon>
-----------------
Conig
Pink Creature**
Orange Creature** -12 damage
Yellow Creature**

Nino strikes the yellow enemy.

"You will fall too!"

mwk greatsword -bless: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 7 + 1 + 1 = 25 Magic Weapon

damage: 2d6 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (6, 3) + 6 + 1 = 16

Conig retrieves a bullet from his bandolier and loads his pistol.

Standard to load.

Distracted by the team's effort with the door, the ifrit is unable to score a hit on her target.

Longspear w/ Fire Blessing {Reach/High Ground/Bless} vs ORANGE: 1d20 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 + 1 + 1 = 71d8 + 1d4 ⇒ (2) + (1) = 3

Azora's longspear tilts to the right and misses her target but Nino's greatsword cleaves into his with apparent ease and the elf sinks to the ground with the blow. Conig takes the time to reload.

The remaining two elves step back with practiced precision, draw a javelin from their back, and throw in one single fluid motion but Nino's body splits their throws like an invisible wedge.

pink javelin vs Nino: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
yellow javelin vs Nino: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

The elves apologize for never rolling anything above a 6!

Round 5/6 - Bold can act - Bless is up (except Karlos)
Karlos
Tasarë "Willow"
William
Red Creature* -16 damage <unconscious>
Azora
Nino <Magic Weapon>
-----------------
Conig
Pink Creature*
Orange Creature* -12 damage
Yellow Creature** -16 damage <unconscious>

William steps below deck and looks around. "Hello? Anyone there?"

Willow follows William below decks as quickly as she can, heart racing, her agitated glance skimming over things as they enter and leave her field of vision, as her body protests her misuse of its adrenaline surge. Leaving rage for now, while there are still doors to open and such, rather than use all her rounds for the day and then be unpleasantly surprised. Still, fatigued for 4 rounds, counting this one. AC down to 14.

Slipping past the spiritualist, she adds her voice to his as she tries to get her pulse under control, calling out, "Sephriel! Are you safe?"

Karlos darts up the stairs and slashes at the nearest target.orange....on my phone atm...cant move token....

attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 101d8 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Karlos' sword finds no connection, but he is pleased to at least have joined the fray. William and Willow make careful work of scanning the main hold in the darkness. It is plainly evident that a candle burns in Sephriel's quarters as his door is swung open. With his darkvision, William can see no movement elsewhere in the main hold. Their queries are met with silence.

GM stuff: 3d20 ⇒ (14, 13, 10) = 37

Round 5/6 - Bold can act - Bless is up (except Karlos)
Karlos
Tasarë "Willow"
William
Red Creature* -16 damage <unconscious>
Azora
Nino <Magic Weapon>
-----------------
Conig
Pink Creature*
Orange Creature* -12 damage
Yellow Creature** -16 damage <unconscious>

Nino steps5ft. closer to the enemy and strikes the purple one.

"Am I only one here who knows how to fight?"

mwk greatsword : 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23 Magic Weapon

damage: 2d6 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (5, 5) + 6 + 1 = 17

Conig cocks his head at Nino's comment, That's a comment for someone late to the party! and pulls the trigger.

mwk pistol, pbs, into melee vs orange: 1d20 + 7 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 7 - 4 = 20
damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

"Sorry, but you move around a lot. Unless you'd like me to stab them through you?" replies the exasperated oracle.

Longspear w/ Fire Blessing {Reach/High Ground/Bless} vs ORANGE: 1d20 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 + 1 + 1 = 71d8 + 1d4 ⇒ (3) + (2) = 5

Azora's spear-thrust lacks finality, but Nino and Conig don't miss with their attacks and the last two boarders slump to the deck.

The elves are neutralized but going to leave us in initiative as there are still things afoot.

Round 6/7 - Bold can act - Bless is up (except Karlos)
Karlos
Tasarë "Willow"
William
Red Creature* -16 damage <unconscious>
Azora
Nino <Magic Weapon>
-----------------
Conig
Pink Creature* -17 damage <unconscious>
Orange Creature* -19 damage <unconscious>
Yellow Creature** -16 damage <unconscious>

Conig reloads. Cut the ropes. We don't need more visitors. Someone alert the Captain, we're being targeted.

“I don’t like this,” Willow says, with a glance back up the dark stairs towards where William watches.

She knows their mysterious charge asked not to be disturbed, but that was before the ship was attacked in the night, and the silence belowdecks is unnerving. And, to cap it all, the archer knows she’s not going to get anything done without some more light, so she heads for the candle, hoping to find a lantern about that she could light from it.

Move to get to the door of Sephriel’s cabin, and then Willow’ll see what she can see. Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13 Unless interrupted, she’ll then take another move action to get to the candle while she looks for a better light.

Nino goes to main hold to see what is going on there.

perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16

Using some nearby rope, Azora begins to hogtie the elves. "Any word from the Captain or crew? The fact that they have not responded to this attack is more that a little disconcerting."

If any are in eminent danger, Azora will cast Stablize

I'm heading towards the cabins to check on our protectee.

on phone...can you please double move Karlos to the cabin please...ty

Top-deck, the door to the Captain's Quarters flies open and a hastily armored Captain Veane staggers out to the deck, bleary-eyed, cutlass drawn.

"What in Besmara's knickers is going on?" He snarls at Conig as Azora begins stabilizing the elvish invaders for capture.

---------------

Just below, Willow rounds the corner to check on their charge. His 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. Sephriel.

She is soon joined by Nino, Wiiliam and Karlos at the door. Moments later much of the rest of the crew pierce the darkness of the hold and gather at the door. Azuretta barely contains a scream. Pushing forward to view the scene, the first mate takes a steadying breath.

"Someone get the Captain."

William gasps. "Oh, my gosh! He's been murdered!"

However, he wastes no time, and immediately walks over to the body and starts looking for evidence. He also looks over the body to see what killed him.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Heal (untrained): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19

Willow nods helplessly at William’s pronouncement, joining him to at least take a quick look at the scene to try to get a sense for what could have happened before all hell breaks loose, for which she braces. Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18 For now, mainly trying to identify the killing blow, what sort of weapon might have done it, from what direction: that sort of thing.

For now, an absurd detail bothers her, a marker of her cultural distance, as a native of Kyonin, from the elves of the Mordant Spire. They can’t really sleep with their masks on, can they? So he must have been awake, and then…

Conig rushes down with the others to get a look at the crime scene. He is no healer, so will not press in if it is tight quarters. Damn, amateur of us to lose our charge in this way. We need to find out what happened to make it right.

William can easily surmise that Sephriel was stabbed a dozen times. Willow estimates a small blade was used, such as a dagger.

The Captain follows Conig down the stairs to the scene of the crime. Pushing through the small crowd, he eyes the elf's corpse, shakes his head and looks downtrodden. First Mate Mallick steps to the doorway in his wake. "The Mordant Spire elves will have your hide for failing to deliver Sephriel safely." He says offhandedly.

As the words sink in, Captain Veane pales and turns to your group 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. The rest of the crew steps back as if you have the plague, leaving you alone in Sephriel’s cabin with his lifeless body.

From this point, you have three days in game to uncover the true murderers and prove your own innocence before arriving at the Mordant Spire. It is a bit of a sandbox now, feel free to participate as you wish given your skills and strengths, you may separate or stay together. You have free reign to investigate and interrogate the crew and passengers. Just tell me what you wish to do and I will go from there.

William will wait until everyone other than the Pathfinders have left the room, and kneels over the body. He then begins to cast a spell, and pulls out a notebook and a writing utensil.

Turning over the body, William prepares it for the spell. Within moments, the eerie voice sputters, slightly muffled by the mask. "The voyage is calm. The waters are warm. Where is my pen? Over the mountains lie a tumult." Then the air is still once again.

The oracle pulls the Captain in close as he moves to leave. "Speaking of your crew Captain, where were they when the ship was being boarded? It seems without our efforts your ship would be in the hands of the elves. Perhaps we are the only ones you can really trust. Help us Captain, because I assure you it was not one of The Pathfinders. If you leave us behind at the Mordant Spire, if you set sail with a murderer in your midst."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22