Session 1: The Fight for Crates Report

The party decided that they were going to take a two pronged approach to acquire the cargo. Drayton and Michael would take a light cargo runner and sail along the coast until they found the cargo, then pack it all onto the ship for the trip to Squall's End. To watch the land routes, as well as pick up any remaining cargo, the rest of the party took a large cart along the sea cliffs. The trip along the coast was uneventful, and after about two hours of traveling they eventually ran into the grounded ship that seemed to be their objective. It was heavily damaged, with massive holes gouged into the hull. The masts were broken and the torn sails were bunched up on the ground like used rags. It looked entirely abandoned, but when Michael went in to investigate he learned that looters were present. The party set the ship off shore, deck ballista ready, and the cart was setup as a defensive position. Diplomacy was a secondary concern-- they were itching for a fight.

 

The first two looters killed were the guards posted outside the ship. The monk distracted them by hiding behind some of the crates and tossing stones. When they got close Meriele and Ingrid launched a hail of fire and arrows at them, catching them off guard and killing them quickly. Michael was busy fighting one of the looters on the deck of the beached ship, killing him before jumping off the side into the sand when more enemies arrived. Drayton was late to the fight by being on the ship, but arrived with reinforcements from the ship. As Drayton made landfall, Michael had just killed a second looter who had jumped down after him but failed to land the drop. Meriele and Ingrid were tearing apart any enemy who appeared on the deck from the protection of the cart. When the boat landed the beach was mostly cleared, leaving him and his men with the job of securing the inferior. Sweeping through the ship, they founded the surviving looters huddled into the captain's quarters at the front of the boat, including the leader of the looters.

 

After the fighting the party marched the surviving looters out of the ship and onto the sands. They were bound, lined up, and brought down to their knees. A vigorous interrogation followed as to who they were and what they wanted with the cargo, with interesting results. These men were no ordinary pirates, attacking the ship on opportunity, but had specifically targeted it. The Turner Gang, which runs out of their base at Squall's End, had contracted them to beach the ship and steal its contents. As to why, the looters were unsure; they didn't bother to ask questions of their employer. Luckily all the crates were still in the area. Inside they contained rows and rows of alchemical vials, and in this regard they were not abnormal. The six foot box was a curiosity. Michael and Meriele examined it to find that inside was a body, still alive but seemingly in magical stasis. They decided to keep that fact hidden from the rest of the party and quietly slipped it into the cart. The rank and files looters who survived were executed for their violations of Nevanese law, and the leader was forced to walk behind the cart throughout the trip to Squall's End.