Days 19 of Harvester
The Orlanian Heroes gathered around the unconscious body of the surviving member of the Black Hand party. Niki cast a healing spell on him to assist in binding his wounds, but his unconsciousness remained. Due to his unconsciousness, he was unaware of the charitable acts that some members of the party had taken, in response to the harsh actions that some had done when he was in a defenseless state. He did feel the healing spell, nor was aware of the cleaner clothes being provided. The magically inclined members opted to use this time to memorize the spells they had used, while Arnd watched over the prisoner, ensuring that Chiki steered clear from him. Those that were not magical casters, or who had completed their memorizations quickly, went to work in the search of the nearby burial alcoves. The party finds a large, finely cut sapphire, an ivory demon idol, and decent amount of gold pieces that they split amongst themselves. Shortly after the searching and the memorizing, the body of unconscious prisoner begins to stir, and he awakens. After some brief questions, the party finds out his name: Zach Stone. He hears various options from Lhoss, and Arnd, but initially doubts their intentions. Through intense discussion that nearly broke down a few times, the group learns that most members join the Black Hand through kidnapping and intimidation. Chiki, the group member who initially caused Zach to fall unconscious, continued to antagonize the prisoner through hostile questions and actions. Feno, grown frustrated by Chiki chaotic escalation of the situation they found themselves in, struck him hard in the back of his Gnomish head with his palm. Because of Feno's excessive strength, this blow caused Chiki to wince in pain. Lhoss, hearing how Zach was forcibly pressed into the service of the Black Hand, is moved into offering him a position as a torch bearer for the party at a rate of 2 GP a day, new clothes to change into, and offers him a ration to eat as well. Seeing this charitable act causes Zach's eyes to swell with tears, and he tentatively agrees to the arrangement. The group decides to head back to Orlane, and to put him in the back with Kyro, in order to put as much distance between him and Chiki as possible. Kyro, seeing his recent struggles, offers to untie him, and says that if he were walk next to him the whole time, he can remain untied the remainder of the trip according to his word. Zach of course agrees and Kyro removes his rope bindings. The group makes their way through the dusty passages of the barrow-maze with their new companion Zach in tow.
As the party approaches the Dim Forest, they notice that Zach has been shielding his eyes from time to time from the sunlight. Lhoss begins gently asking why that it is, and he informs the party that he has been in the barrow-maze for a while, and he is having a hard time adjusting to outside light and freedom the group has given him. Lhoss continues to gently probe him about his previous life. He tells the group that shortly before being pressed into service into the Black Hand, he went into the Dim Forest and saw a glimpse of a white deer. Kyro is amazed by this, but others are unaffected by this, unaware of its significance. Zach furthers mentions he was once a follower of Merikka, but has fallen out of favor since joining the Black Hand.
The group arrives in Orlane in the late evening, but still early enough for dinner. They arrive at the Foaming Mug for a delicious dinner being served. Lhoss and Kyro split the cost and ensure their new friend is taken care of, both with food, as well as bed and bath for the evening. They all gather around the tables of the tavern and enjoy the delicious food, especially Zach. He relaxes a bit and relays the troubles of his past and the inner workings of the Black Hand. He reveals that many members are charmed into service, while others are threatened into it. He also reveals that while the few upper leaders are truly evil, most of the members are pressed into service. The leaders send the members into the barrow-maze to look for and collect treasure for them, and if unsuccessful, the members lose their fingers. Lhoss, further moved by Zach's story, offers a heartfelt apology for those things that has befallen him. Chiki, on the other hand, in his usual chaotic fashion interupts and asks where he can go to further train his magical abilities. Arnd off-handedly mentions that Rainn, who lives here in Orlane usually trains the other magic users but is unsure if he will be willing to train Chiki. Following dinner, the group clean themselves up, and Zach really enjoys his bath, this being one of the first time his was given an opportunity in recent days to do so. Once scrubbed clean, and clean clothes put upon him, and with a large smile he gave Lhoss and Kyro each a large, warm hug of gratitude. Lhoss and Kyro both notice that Zach is quite a young man, barely reaching adulthood. Following dinner and conversations, the party head to their respective rooms for the evening.
Day 20 of Harvester:
The group awakens to the usual amazing smells of breakfast, and Chiki decides to ask the owner of the Foaming Mug, Florian if he can cook breakfast for Zach with some eggs that were from his inventory. Florian agrees and says that the cook is more than willing to cook it if Chiki wants to provide the egg. Chiki looks into his backpack and discovers that it is overflowing with eggs. It appears that he hasn't been paying attention when his chicken has been laying eggs, and now his backpack is overflowing with eggs. Meanwhile, Niki, seeing her self-aware cat Jack, begins to argue with him. Jack, sniffs the clutch of eggs, determines which are good eggs, and which are spoiled. Feno, who had gotten up to get a start on the day, decides to sit down to watch this interesting show that is developing right in front of him. Chiki starts talking to Florian about a business deal that doesn't make sense to the party, or to the owner, to donate eggs in exchange for storing them. Florian asks: "What exactly is being offered?"
Chiki responds with: "Let me paint you a picture..." Feno immediately tunes out and rolls his eyes. Chiki apparently wants the tavern to hold his good eggs, and he will collect an egg a day, (or so this is what the group thinks Chiki is talking about). Florian agrees to store the eggs.
Following the breakfast drama, the group splits in a couple groups and heads in different directions in town. Feno, Lhoss and Niki head towards Dorian and Llewlyn (the resident elves of Orlane), while Gnorcia, hearing Chiki needed guidance took him to Rainn. Meanwhile, Kyro took Zach to meet the priests at the temple of Merikka.
After a warm greeting, Dorian greeted Feno, Lhoss, and Niki and welcomed them inside. After exchanging pleasantries, Feno asked the elves about information a personal quest he is on locating displacer beasts. The elves tell them what they know, including where to find them, and what to expect, and they bid the party good luck with a traditional drink of elven spring wine. Following this, the party members head towards store to meet up with the rest of the party.
Kyro, upon bringing Zach to the temple, speaks to lay members to help bring Zach back to the faithful. Zach is asked to follow an acolyte to a prayer room, where he is discussing his vision of the white deer and his feeling of Merikka, so he can assist in helping in what to do.
After introducing Chiki to Rainn, Gnorcia leads him back to the group, and then goes back to her training.
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