Session 2: A Twisted Turn Report

Upon arrival to Squall's End, the party navigated its way to the Golden Pony Inn, where the cargo was originally going to be delivered. Drayton, Meriele, and Ingrid went to speak to the innkeeper to work out the economics of the contract, while Michael and the monk went into the city to sell some excess equipment. The party was able to deliver the 25 vials, but due to Michael and Meriele's manipulation, claimed to be unable to deliver the six foot box. The two of them were highly skeptical of the use of the body, and wanted for information first. They had to tell Travis, the innkeeper, that they had been unable to locate the large box, to which he told them their pay would be halved. Unknown to Drayton, who was the primary speaker, and not about to be divulged by Meriele was the fact that the party did have the box in the cart. Despite this, Drayton managed to haggle a price of two gold per crate, raising the overall gain to 50 gold-- the original price, but without the human cargo. Whilst this was happening, Michael was sneaking into the back rooms of the inn to investigate the operation below. He learned that the innkeeper was apparently dissecting the people while they were alive for some unknown reason. Reason or not, this was not something that they could allow to happen with a clear conscience. 

Once the negotiations had concluded, night had fallen over the city. Michael went back to the inn to confront the innkeeper on his illicit operations while the rest of the party slept. He unfortunately didn't learn much beyond what was already known before Travis became to call out, prompting Michael to run him through with his sword. The next morning the rest of the party was told about the contents of the large box, and the fact that the party still had it at all. Confusion reigned, as well as anger over the loss of profit, but they came to an agreement that there was a moral duty to prevent the body from being dissected alive. The body, whose identity was still unknown, was removed from the box and placed in the room of the inn with Michael. The rest of the party tried to get as best a rest as they could, given the strangeness and potential danger of their situation. 

The next morning Michael was awoke by a screaming being belted right into his ear, followed by wild flailing for the arms and the screaming of questions. It seemed that the body was awake. Michael quickly silenced him with a solid punch to the face, but not before Drayton and Meriele had come on the scene to see what had happened. They came into the room to confront the man, who's skin was pale, his body malnourished, and his clothes old and tattered. He called himself Carter, and claimed to be from the Astorian port city of Varikon. He was at a party roughly four months ago when he was apparently drugged and shipped off to Nevan in a box. Curious, Michael decided to further question Carter about who he was, as well as answer his many questions. Drayton left with Kane to visit the local Imperial outpost at Squall's End. The terms of alliance between the Empire and Nevan includes having outposts in some of the notable port cities on the continent. His mission there was to report the illegal activities discovered to Imperial officials, as well as write to his superior officer about further options and a potential transfer out of Nevan. Meriele went to the small town library to try and find information on the drugs being transported in the vials. Overall, it was a day to recuperate from the previous fight. 

The following day saw a bit more action, as well as the party's rapid exit from Squall's end. It started with Michael speaking more with Carter while the rest of the party attended to their personal affairs. It seemed that this drug running operation was more sinister, and larger scale than was previously though. If Astorians such as Carter could get caught in the mix, surely the Turner gang must have far reach. What was to be done with him as well? Leaving him alone in Nevan would hardly be ethical or acceptable. Back in the Imperial outpost, Drayton got word back from Commander Fergen: He would be considered for a transfer back to the frontlines, but only once he had completed his duties in Nevan, which now included bringing Lucius Grey to justice. This information added a new angle to the already complicated debate of what to do next. All the party knew is that they would have to choose quickly, since Lucius would soon figure out that something had gone wrong with the shipment. They gathered together inside a local inn, and made their final choice: They would oppose Lucius and do all they could to bring him down, but they would do so covertly. That meant making their deception unknown until the last possible moment. To put that underway, Michael took it upon himself to burn down the Golden Pony and all the drugs located inside, without the rest of the party's knowledge. Kane then talked the rest of the guards to head back to Baymouth Landing ahead of the party.