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

Game Master Thereus, Silver Crusader

William looks at Killik with suspicion. He doesn't think he's lying, he just doesn't understand how what he said could be possible. "Alright. Thank you for this information."

Willow waits for Killik to slink off, sure that the scoundrel must be well pleased with himself.

“He may just be guessing, and settling a score we don’t know about by stirring up trouble at the same time?” Willow speculates. “Suppose he did hear what sounded like a woman’s steps to him. Since he didn’t actually see anyone, he tells us what he thinks we want to hear and that he wants to believe. I’m not entirely convinced that he didn’t just hear someone treading lightly and quickly, or perhaps even trying to sound like someone else.”

“Also, if Snig is ‘in on it too’ with Anera, he wasn’t quick to offer her an alibi. Because he knows we might be suspicious once we talked to other people?”

She shakes her head. “One way to find out, I’m afraid. I’m particularly keen on talking to Ulamon, then perhaps Velagon and Azuretta? Or whatever order suits everyone. Though the captain and that unfriendly first mate might be best left last.”

Moving up to the aft deck, the group finds Ulamon manning the ship's great wheel through a steady and calm sea. As he notices your approach up the stairs he refocuses on the seascape ahead with a measured grimace, clearly aware of the questioning about to occur.

Thanks for the reminder, before moving away from the galley...

As the group prepares to leave, Azora quietly comes across a stack of books, which includes Concocted Libations to Die For and Shira's alchemical formula book.

Azora's secondary prestige conditions are now met

Willow meets Ulamon’s grimace with what she hopes is an apologetic grin.

“Sorry about this,” she offers. “We’re just trying to get a sense of where everyone was when Sephriel was attacked. Two quick questions for now, one more tangentially related. (Here she glances at the other Pathfinders as she touches her left hand to her right ring finger as if pausing to choose her words carefully, but also to drop a hint that it’s a matter like acquiring pipes or books and such like.) First, were you anywhere that you could notice anything strange before we were boarded tonight, or, for that matter, did anything jump out at you about how anyone else acted with Sephriel before tonight?”

"The dastardly deed took place whilst I slept. The night was calm, I did not foresee any rough seas the next day, so after I finished setting course with Captain Veane I retired to my bunk. Azora and Conig were on the deck at the time of the attack and can verify his exit from the captain's cabin as well as his absence on deck. I vaguely remember hearing someone get out of their bunk and leave the crew’s cabin at some point in the night, but I couldn't say who or exactly when."

He takes a moment to attend to his duties and turn the wheel slightly into the languid wind.

"As for the elf himself, I can't say that any of us knew him well, those Mordant Spire elves are more secretive than the Ekujae of my homelands."

Nino does not wanna speak anymore. He just hold his weapon and listens.

are we stuck?

The ifrit nods at the man's recount of being on the deck.

She wonders aloud, "Perhaps we are looking at this the wrong way. We are looking for opportunity. Maybe we should seek out the motive. Who stands to gain by his death?"

GM you never told us what was with that detect magic and spellcraft on Shira's potions.

Can we finish this scenario before gameday VIII?

Can we check and read those books Concocted Libations to Die For and Shira's alchemical formula book? What know. we need for that?

"That Concocted Libations to Die For book is very interesting, guys! It contains recipes how to discreetly poison drinks and foods. Shira's items are also interesting, why cook needs bombs and that belladonna, potion of delay poison. I can understand why she needs wand of purify food and drink but not other things."

"I do not believe her!"

In the movies it is always the cook.

"The dastardly deed took place whilst I slept. The night was calm, I did not foresee any rough seas the next day, so after I finished setting course with Captain Veane I retired to my bunk. Azora and Conig were on the deck at the time of the attack and can verify his exit from the captain's cabin as well as his absence on deck. I vaguely remember hearing someone get out of their bunk and leave the crew’s cabin at some point in the night, but I couldn't say who or exactly when."

He takes a moment to attend to his duties and turn the wheel slightly into the languid wind.

"As for the elf himself, I can't say that any of us knew him well, those Mordant Spire elves are more secretive than the Ekujae of my homelands."

“Thank you. It’s a start, at least,” Willow says. Question 2 is for her faction mission, so I’ll put that off until everyone’s satisfied with this round of questioning for Ulamon about the murder.

To Azora’s thinking out loud, she adds, “That’s the thing, isn’t it? I would guess it almost certainly has to be something hidden and personal, since trying to embarrass the Society on a ship full of Pathfinders would take a lot of nerve. On the other hand, the only person we know had a distinct grievance with Sephriel is Thanzeril, and he admitted to it. It could be false show of candour, of course, but then…”

Her brow furrows briefly in frustration. Then we chase rabbits into holes of, ‘But he knows that we know that he knows that it would look good if he admitted his political differences with his charge,’ and heigh-ho!

@Willow Feel free to finish up with Ulamon.

Thanks. I'm not the best at puzzles and mysteries, so I just didn't want to force the conversation to side-quests too soon.

Seeing no new insights immediately forthcoming, Willow cuts herself short before she rambles too much further, taking a moment to choose her next words carefully.

“Just one other thing for now,” she adds, turning back to Ulamon. “The circumstances are not what I would have wished, but neither are they entirely irrelevant. I couldn’t help but notice your ring…”

She continues, “And it strikes me that, even without putting in at the Mordant Spire with a dead envoy, the Spiresworn are likely to look askance – at best – at veterans of the Polished Barnacle. That said, my people, and many among the organization to which the present company (Her gesture takes in the assembled Pathfinders.) belong, are more than sympathetic to efforts to quell the influence of the devils of Thrune around the Inner Sea. Such a signet would help us reach out to and build alliances with other interested powers, since the Chelish are, I hate to admit, a damn strong navy.” Diplomacy: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15

“That said, I’m sure not all the memories attached to that ring are painful, but proud too, at the very least, and I certainly don’t intend any chicanery. Beyond my word to see it returned to you as soon as possible, would you be amenable to accepting a surety as a pledge of good faith?”

I'm sure Ollysta can find someone to copy the ring, if it comes to that, so we can return the original all the sooner, Willow thinks, nonetheless hoping the reference to sureties isn't too bald and mercenary.

In last 8 day 3 players didn't make single post. Are you guys OK? Is there some problem?

Ulamon is somewhat startled by the abrupt change of conversation from Willow. When her screed is finished, he smiles broadly and wrestles the ring off his thin bony finger and presents it to you. "My dear, your will is much stronger than mine for such noble endeavors. This totem will do much more upon your hands than mine to further such idealistic actions." Willow's secondary success complete.

“I’m sorry, I do get carried away, I know. Too many priests and paladins in my life, some might say. But thanks so much for this!” Willow says, sheepish for only a moment before her excitement bubbles over again, though she’ll leave the navigator in peace for now.

“Velagon next?” she asks the others. Faute de mieux, since Azuretta moves around, and before we beard the officers in their den.

"OK let's see what Velagon has to say!"

When they reach Velagon, Nirion asks.
"Mr. Velagon can you tell us where you where at the moment of the attack?"

I thought i posted...must have fell victim to the interweb goblins...

Karlos listens in on Willow's questioning of Ulamon, gauging the response and looking for tells of lying or deceit.

sense motive: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

Conig is happy to follow along to Velagon.

Sorry folks, lost my phone this week on a work trip and it's been hard to get to the forums.

Moving to the lowest hold, you find Velagon sitting on his small wooden stool, body lurched forward and leaning against the slats of the rust monsters’ wooden crates. He coos at his creatures as he delicately drops a few copper pieces for a mid-day snack for the beasts. Realizing it is more than one of you come to visit he straightens up.

"Well, I was down here, of course, half-asleep - on my bedroll, next to me pets, mind you. Wasn't easy to sleep with all the goings on back and forth into the rat-man's nest up there. You'd think that wench would have a better lay about than having rat boy watch it all for nary a coin. Not even sure who she was tangling with to be honest, darkness being as it is. Oh well, to each'er own."

His jaw slackens, revealing his protruding tongue for an uncomfortable amount of time.

"I'll tell you what I do remember... right around when you all started screaming and shooting, the Captain and his first mate did the strangest thing. They comes down here to check out me monsters before they headed up to see what was going on top-deck. Maybe they thought my little guys had gotten loose or something. I don't know, they just sorta kneeled down and whispered to each other for just a second. I just pretended to be asleep through it all, but yeah, that was odd if you ask me."

William stares at Velagon for a moment. That was quick. Why would he volunteer that much information so easily? "Interesting..." he says slowly, pondering over his next words. "Did you know of what the deceased was here for, by any chance?"

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

He looks past Velagon for a second, he notices something odd about the rust monsters. "You sure you got them held in there well enough?"

perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

"Velagon! Can you do something about those slats! Monsters will be free if you don't repair that."

It is odd behavior, unless of course the Captain knew the boarding party's purpose from the beginning.

"Nah, capt'n told me to keep watch my little guys here, so I never leave the hold, exceptin' to eat and put a bit more water in the ocean a few times a day. So I never even see the poor elf before he got shanked up."

When Nino and William mention it, he stares at the buckling crate.

"They are starting to bug out, huh? I guess I should reinforce it." Velagon stands up and sits on the crate to steady it. The monsters tendrils search out to sniff him but are clearly docile toward their master.

WIS: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15

"Maybe we should speak with Captain and his mate again."

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9 Wisdom: 1d20 ⇒ 14

While Velagon’s information is thought-provoking, his disturbing lingual performance is disconcerting, and Willow is confirmed in her opinion that she made the right choice in not spending any more time with him on the voyage so far than necessary. That’s revolting, but he might be enjoying himself too much to be lying? If he’s telling the truth about what he heard, and he heard toings and froings to the sail locker especially, than maybe what Killik actually heard was Azuretta and not Anera?

She’s not looking forward to the thought of having to ask Azuretta where she normally takes people, but it looks like that might be necessary. As Nino calls attention to Velagon’s remark about the captain and mate, though, she gives a slight shrug. “That does sound a bit strange, but we may have sounded like we were holding our own, and we would have headed to the hold next ourselves to see if these fellows might have got loose.”

“I don’t think Mallick likes us very much to begin with, and the captain’s probably not warming either. Still, them next unless we find Azuretta first, and then I can brave my watery cousins, I suppose.” As she gets ready to move on, Willow spares a moment to checking her instincts for how far Velagon can be trusted, his squickiness aside. Sense Motive, untrained: 1d20 ⇒ 1 Nope. Too squicky, I guess, to get a good reading.

"Ok! Let's go first to Azuretta then Mallick and then captain."

Searching for Azuretta, you scour the ship. As you check off each room, it becomes apparent that the only place left for her to be is the Captain's Quarters.

Knocking on his door, you hear a chair squeak and it takes a moment for him to open it.

"Completed your investigation, already?" He notices you staring at Azuretta, who lazes on his bed, reading an illustrated chapbook. "Oh, I see... another witness to question. Very well, I could use a bit of air, I guess." He closes up a logbook on the desk and passes onto the deck, leaving you alone with the half-elf woman.

"So am I the last suspect? I hope you truly don't think I would be capable of such a heinous act?" Azuretta sits up and rests her arm on the high pillows. She parts her lips and raises her eyebrows playfully.

"Azuretta can you tell us where you where at the moment of the attack?" asks Nino.

"Of course, dear boy. I was in the forward hold with Thanzeril - Yes, I'll vouch for him as well. Let's just say we were quite busy with an unforgettable activity. Then I heard the gunshot, what an awful sound. You'll forgive me for saying, Mr. Conig, but it truly is a ghastly weapon of death. So untidy."

She pulls herself up to a full sit to finish her account.

"We rearranged our.. ahem... clothes and I threw open the door to the cargo hold -- almost knocking the captain over -- in the rush to see what the fuss was about. Then I guess we all just gathered as you came down the stairs and found the poor elf."

Willow considers Azuretta’s words in light of all the other stories the Pathfinders have gathered so far. No Mallick with the Captain, by the time she got to the main hold, it seems? Is that important?

“I hate to ask, but since you’re being so generous in your vouching for various movements,” Willow chimes in, “was that the only occasion you had for … padding across the hold during the night? Some of the others we’ve talked to were sure they heard the same set of footsteps crossing the ship back and forth, and it would be very helpful for us to make sure whether or not that could be right.”

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24 Willow’s words don’t quite work out the way she meant them to, and she rather hopes she’s not blushing too badly. As a bookish herbalist still studying to figure out cantrips, she is far too unworldly to meet Azuretta’s arch demeanour on equal terms.

Azora nods at Willow's assessment of the situation.

Karlos listens and weighs the words carefully, using his training for discerning deceit.

sense motive: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

I have seen many people being capable of many things, madam.

"Yes, Willow, I was having a restless night, I was very much up and about. I must also admit to entering Sephriel's room. Not to murder him, of course, only to offer my unique gifts to Thanzeril. Perhaps if I hadn't enticed the poor elf's bodyguard away...well, things might have turned out differently."

perc: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 6 + 1 = 24+1 bonus from studied target..Karlos will designate her as target

Hmm...I remember that fragrance you are wearing...it seems familiar...could it possibly be from your trip to Sephriel's room last night? Don't lie...

"I'm flattered you noticed, Karlos." Her back arches to her words from years of practice. "Yes, I was there but only to chat with Thanzeril. But he didn't even leave with me. He only followed a few minutes later. Maybe he had to convince Sephriel he had business elsewhere, I don't think the old elf was keen to my intentions. Or maybe he was just jealous, but I wouldn't be so presumptuous."

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14 So that's what that was, Willow thinks, grateful for Karlos' sharp senses. She wouldn't have been able to place the scent herself.

“It was unfortunate timing,” she observes, mildly. Is it all a bit too … convenient? Could someone have given this particular assignation a little nudge at just the right time, somehow?

Now she’s being paranoid, she knows, so setting her inner thoughts aside, she continues as easily as she can, under the circumstances, “But if you were ‘much up and about’ earlier in the night, would you happen to have noticed anything else strange before you ran into the captain? That would be a stroke of luck.”

"No, not really. I mean I wasn't just wandering about the ship. I nipped a bit of fruit from the galley, as I wasn't too fond of Shira's dinner service that night. Tasted a bit off, if you ask me."

She thinks for a bit before adding. "Hmm. When I did bump into the Captain, he didn't say he was sorry, just hurried away. That was a bit out of sorts for him. He usually is more polite to me, given our arrangement. Come to think of it, Mallick was right on his heels coming up from the lower deck, and he shied away from me too. It was as if they were startled that I was just on the lower deck with them. Or maybe they were just as shaken by the sudden gunfire as I was." She casts another sly side glance to Conig and his weapon.

Well now, that is curious behavior! muses the oracle to herself.

"I really don't know what to think here!"

The door opens and the Captain stands in it. "Had enough time to interrogate my poor Azuretta? If there was one I would vouch for, it would be her. She's the purest heart on the sea, I really don't see why she stays on board this ..." he searches mightily for a different word but settles on "ship."

Over his shoulder, you see the first mate quietly listening to the conversation, while looping a rope around the main mast.

"Yeah, I think we've got everything." William says, standing up to leave. "You know, Azuretta, I think Paracountess Zarta, the leader of the Dark Archive, would probably appreciate having someone like you on her payroll. Just something to think about."

Diplomacy to recruit: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Willow raises an expressive eyebrow at William’s suggestion. They’re really not her thing, since she’s had her more than her share of disastrous parties before she left Kyonin (not incidentally), but even Willow’s heard of the Paracountess’ entertainments since she’s joined the Pathfinders.

Still, despite the usual skullduggery, she does enjoy the company of her associates, especially when everyone’s as obliging as they’ve been this trip, so she tries to pay it forward.

“That is, the Paracountess is a woman of wide-ranging interests, and I’m sure she’d be delighted to meet someone as well-travelled as yourself. I’m sure William and some of our friends could arrange an introduction? By all accounts, her parties are unique and unforgettable, ” Willow adds faintly, trying, in her ingenuous sort of way, to echo Azuretta’s own banter. Diplomacy: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11 Sorry, Mr. Grimm. She's doing her best, but somebody a bit more worldly than Willow would probably be more helpful to you. :)

“Not that we would dream of suggesting she should … jump ship,” she hastens to reassure the captain. “And you oughtn’t sell yourself short, sir. Your zeal to secure the ship from all possible dangers at the first sign of trouble is commendable. Would you have a moment? I’m sure you would be relieved to hear some of what we’ve learned.”

The young elf does her best to both flatter the captain and drop a tactful hint that the Pathfinders are curious about his visit to the rust monsters just before Sephriel was found murdered.

Anyone else want to help out on the diplomacy check? They could use it. :)

The Captain smiles widely. "The sea is like a sheet of glass today. I have nothing but moments, my dear."

Conig sees William and Willow struggle a bit. He lightly pushes off the wall and involves himself in the conversation. I've heard of these parties, Willow. Quite the soirees. Maybe worth a look, Azzuretta. With your Captain's permission, of course. Conig nods to the captain.

diplomacy: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

diplomacy: 1d20 ⇒ 19

"They will appreciate your skills Azzuretta.

"Yes, I am certain an arrangement can be made."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23

Azuretta is quite pleased with all the attention. Sensing the captain wishes to discuss the investigation with you alone, she stands and place a finger softly on William's chest. "Let me see what I can do." She then squeezes past you and heads out on deck.

The captain takes her place in the cabin and sits on his desk. "So, apart from stifling our cook's violent tendencies, what else have you figured out today?"