Where would you like to go next? Remember that this happened on the same boat you are still on, so a lack of obvious leads doesn't deprive you of a next step.
Shira:
The dwarf backs up and raises her hands,
"Alright, alright, so I went to bed early and don't have an alibi. I didn't kill your elf, though. None of the poisons I've got here are strong enough for that!"
Shira:
"I been washing dishes all night, getting a head start on
the morning meal. Breakfast'll be sausages and hardtack, same as yesterday."
The dwarf flashes you the most venomous false smile you've ever seen.
DC 14 Perception:
The stack of dirty pots and pans in the washbasin is so caked with filth that the items within must have been there since the ship left Absalom. Possibly before that.
DC 18 Perception:
There are also a number of empty vials, and what looks like an alchemical formula book.
DC 20 Craft (alchemy) following the DC 18 Perception:
The former contents of the vials seem to be a variety of ingestible poisons.
Thinking perhaps some breakfast is in order, you make your way down to the galley.
This large hold acts as temporary storage and the Throaty Mermaid’s galley. At present, it contains a number of strange pipes that were brought on board at Magnimar but seem to belong to a larger system of plumbing, mining ventilation or other technical purpose. A set of wooden stairs leads up to the main deck in the aft starboard corner of the hold, and a wooden door to the first mate’s cabin (most recently used by the late Sephriel) stands in the aft port corner. A door in the fore port corner leads to a stairwell down into the cargo hold. The fore bulkhead contains a thin wooden door to the crew’s quarters. The fore starboard corner of the hold is filled with various crates and barrels of foodstores, a modest washbasin, and a strange alchemical apparatus apparently used for heating food.
Here you find the ship's cook, a surly dwarf you were introduced to as Shira Acidaxe, has apparently had quite a rough an tumble life. She wears a tattered eye patch, sports a mouth of silvered teeth, bears a nasty scar on her cheek, and is missing half of her left ear.
I've 'condensed' the PC tokens to just Djahan, so that I don't have to move all of you around the boat as you go. If/when you get into combat, we'll get everyone back on the map.
Auretta:
"The tone is unnecessary. To answer your question, I'd been trying to crack that nut since he came aboard. The fact that it happened last night is just a coincidence. I'm happy to provide him an alibi, but no details further than that. It's rude to kiss and tell."
Azuretta:
"I've got time to talk. How can I help you? Would it be safe to assume your not here for the usual reasons? If it is the usual reason, I'd be happy to give you as group rate."
You travel up to the captain's cabin to ask about your newest lead.
The relatively nicely furnished captain’s cabin is where Captain Veane can be found when not on deck giving orders. The Captain is busy at work at his desk, writing in a thick, leather–bound logbook. Veane is not alone; a young half-elven woman lazes on his bed, reading an illustrated chapbook.
Captain Veane doesn't even look up from his work, merely hiking his thumb over his shoulder at the woman.
Thanzeril:
"Not much to say about Azuretta. She's been propositioning me since I .. we came aboard. I don't know where she's gone now. Maybe ask the captain? As for others aboard the ship who might have wished me or my master ill, there's Anera. She has repeatedly challenged me to a game she called 'knivesies' and been directing racial slurs at the both of us since we came aboard. Now, if there is nothing else, I will spend the rest of this voyage contemplating my end, be it literal or metaphorical."
Onye:
Now that the blood has had time to clear, you can pick up the lingering traces of a perfume that smells strongly of cinnamon, jasmine, and umberberries.
Thanzeriel:
"Could we do this away from curious ears, if only to spare me from further shame?"
He makes his way into the First mate's cabin and covers his former ward with a bedsheet. He seems utterly defeated.
"My personal weakness lead me to be seduced away from my post by one of the crew, a half-elven woman named Azuretta. i am happy to answer an questions you have."
GM, do we go from map area to map area or are there distinct people? Any guidance on the investigation?
Area to area, but you can also go looking for specific people. You are allowed to split up for this part, but that's entirely your choice.
Areas on the Ship:
1. Aft Deck
2. Main Deck
3. Fore Deck
4. Captain's Cabin
5. Forward Cabin - Your Rooms
6. Main Hold - Current Location
7. Crew's Cabin
8. First Mate's Cabin - One dead elf
9. Cargo Hold
10. Forward Cargo Hold
Captain Veane:
"That's usually Marzack's room. Me, him, and the elves all had keys to it."
It's at this point, Sephriel's bodyguard Thanzeril walks up the stairs, and makes his way over to the cabin.
The cabin door shows no signs of forced entry. The lock was either unlocked to begin with or was opened with a key, not picked. They bodyguard certainly was here - you can still smell him - but he hasn't rematerialized from where ever he wandered off to.
Aurora:
You judge the cause of death to be the dozen stab wounds in his back. The murder weapon seems to have been a dagger.
By now, the sun is beginning to peek over the horizon. Captain Veane says to Djahan, "You can question the crew and poke at anything you please, as long as you don't interfere with the running of the ship."
The captain gestures thematically into the open room,
"Then by all means, find me a killer. But I have a responsibility to my ship and my crew. Every one of you is expendable to me, so if we get there with no resolution, I will happily put you on the chopping block."
You may roll Heal checks to investigate the body or Perception to check the door.
Also notably, Sephriel's bodyguard was not stationed outside his room like usual during Djahan's watch.
Welcome to the actual meat of the scenario. The framing is a bit railroady and vague about why you are being allowed to wander around ship conducting your own investigation, but that's what you're going to do.
You had someone posted on the deck, but they were distracted by the elves trying to stab them. (From a meta perspective, you can't circumvent the main plot of the scenario with a posted guard. My hands are tied there.)
Captain Veane pushes past Aurora and Tsamara, turning Sephriel over and feels 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, "The grey elves are going to skin you alive for this."
As the words sink in, Veane pales and turns to the PCs with a look of pure terror in his eyes. The fear passes quickly, however, and his expression shifts into one of pure rage.
Captain Veane:
“You’re the only ones on this ship I don’t know well,” he says, pointing accusingly at the PCs.
“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, I'm turning you over to them to answer for Sephriel’s death!”
You will arrive at the Mordant Spire in three days. how would you like to proceed?
Each of the elves possesses a potion of cure light wounds, one dose of spear urchin venom, a set of masterwork hide armor, a
masterwork trident, five javelins, a grappling hook, a set of masterwork manacles, silk rope, two sunrods, and 10 gp.
If you wish to substitute the potions for the CLW wand charges you have used, you may.
As you move about the deck treating your wounds and checking the dead, the crew begins to make it's way onto the deck.
Captain Veane:
"What the f$~$ is going on up here?!
His eyes lock on the corpses on the elves strewn about the deck.
"Who are they?!"
Auroura walks across the deck to Sephriel's cabin, only to be met at the door by First Mate Marzack Mallick.
Marzack Mallick:
"You may want to take a look at this..."
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.
The flanking elf goes down in a heap as Djahan lays him low!
The elves at the door of the cabin quickly step in the room, the first one lashing out at Tsamara and the second taking his companion's place against Onje.
The elves engaging Djahan continue their assault. The first one misses with his thrust before shouting past you in Elven "Caster!". His companion disengages from Djahan and hurls a net at the phantom form of young Djahan.
Net Touch Attack:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Initiative Order:
Djahan (-12, -1 STR)
Elf 1
Elf 2
Demm (-7, -2 STR, Bless, Nauseated)
Elf 3
Elf 4 (-18)
Data (Bless)
Tsamara (Bless)
Aurora (Bless)
Onye (-3, Bless)
Djahan manages to struggle through the worst of the poison and regains his muscle control.
One of your elven attackers throws open the door to your cabin, barely turning aside Onye's bite. He returns a stab of his own, catching the tiger in his side! His companion rushes into the room in front of him, aiming his own strike at Demm, striking the kobold as well!
The elf Djahan wound lashes out at him in turn, while their partner moves in to flank him. Both of their tridents strike home, and an agonizing burning sensation begins to radiate from the wound!
Data (Prone)
Tsamara (Prone)
Aurora (Prone)
Onye (Prone)
Djahan must make two Fortitude saves and may take an attack of opportunity! Data, Tsamara, Aurora, and Onye, you are up! Those of you in the cabin may move your token anywhere inside before beginning your turn.
Each of the elves takes a moment to smear a dark fluid on the points of their tridents. The rest of the party awakes to the sound of a screaming ghost.
Initiative Order:
Djahan
Elf 1
Elf 2
Demm (Prone)
Elf 3
Elf 4
Data (Prone)
Tsamara (Prone)
Aurora (Prone)
Onye (Prone)
It's the dead of night a week out from Magnimar and Djahan is keeping watch on the deck accompanied by his phantom. He hears a soft thunk and a metallic scraping. Turning to investigate the noise, he discovers a grappling hook fastened to the railing. Before he can react, a second hook sails over the side of the ship!
How would the party like to set watches, if at all? Your quarters on the ship are at the bow, just of the main deck. I have removed the fog of war from the relative part of the map.
Sorry for the delayed posting, it's our busiest season at work. Updates are going to be spotty until around New Year's. Feel free to poke me on discord if you think I may have forgotten about you.
