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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Herremann the Wise" data-source="post: 5301931" data-attributes="member: 11300">Starting the Murder MysterySpoiler[/B]: Again, third and final spoiler warning for the Serpent Skull adventure path.From reading the various responses and links, it would seem the key to starting a murder mystery is to focus on the perpetrator, their abilities, motivations and circumstances in the adventure (this being linked to means, motive and opportunity). It is their actions that effectively initiate the entire scenario. For this one I'm attempting to craft:Yarzoth the Female Serpentfolk Cleric of Ydersius 4Where is she? Where does she want to go?She is currently in the port metroplis of Senghor. Her intended destination is Smuggler's Shiv, a small island about 400 miles south and east around the Senghor peninsula into Deception Bay. The main issue here is that ships don't go anywhere near the Shiv if they can help it as it's reputation for shipwrecks upon its dire reef is notorious. However, ships travelling to the Sargavan capital of Eleder must travel within proximity of Smuggler's Shiv. Her hope is to board a ship travelling to Eleder in disguise and then use here persuasive abilities to force the captain to travel to the Shiv instead.What persuasive abilities does she have? Are there any other abilities of note?As an advanced serpentfolk, she has several important abilities that will assist her in accomplishing her goals:Disguise Self[At Will]: She can use this to assume the approximate features of any people she meets, effectively replacing them. For those that interact with this glamer there is a DC 15 will save to disbelieve.Suggestion[1/day]: She can use this to target a person to perform a reasonable activity that suit here ends. DC 17 will save to resist.Dominate Person[1/day]:This is used to literally control a person to do as she wishes. DC 18 Will save to resist.Bluff: +9Disguise: +9 (+19 with disguise self)She also has access to abilities/spells such as enthrall, command and major image. She is also wearing a Ring of Mind Shielding and thus is continually immune to detect thoughts, discern lies and any attempt to magically discern her alignment.So what broadly speaking is her plan?The only ship in port making the journey to Eleder is the freshly arrived Jenivere (the craft that the PCs also happen to be on board). Her plan is to kill and replace one of those on board, gain access to the captain dominating him (this would be Captain Kovack) and forcing the ship towards the Shiv. She intends to poison everyone aboard and wreck the ship upon the Shiv, using potions of water breathing to travel underwater and safely navigate the reef. Once there, she can go about her business in regards to an ancient temple of her deity and discover the secrets and mysteries there contained.What opportunity will she most likely take advantage of to gain access to the the Jenivere?Due to poor experiences the previous time with the port of Senghor, the captain does not allow his sailors to leave the ship while in port. Other travellers on board the Jenivere are free to come and go. There are five NPC travellers (Ieana the scholar, Aerys the hard-nosed beauty, Gelik the bard, Ishirou the mysterious eastern traveller, Sasha the enigmatic assassin) who will leave the Jenivere as well as 2 sailors who plan to break the order for a mere 2 hours while on their midnight watch. The PCs may also decide to leave the Jenivere tasked with purchasing odds and ends for the ship-bound sailors on board. Of these options, Yarzoth will target the sailors not having the right opportunity to access Ieana (her preferred target). Once on board, she will place herself in Ieana's private cabin and kill and replace her.The next thing to sort out is a more precise timeline of what happens.Best RegardsHerremann the Wise</blockquote>

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