Feno, Arnd, Gnorcia, Niki, Lhoss, and Kyro spent the evening of Day 3 through Day 5 of Patchwall trekking back from the volcano with the meat and hides of three displacer beasts. The trip back to Woods Edge was smooth and uneventful. It was evening when they reached the gates of the city and were greeted by the city guards. The men asked the heroes how their adventure had gone and Lhoss excitedly declared that they had killed five displacer beasts and took no harm. This did not have the desired effect, as the guards seemed rather unimpressed. The tax man sidled up and declared that the cost to enter the city was one gold piece each. While this had been a successful mission to claim the hides of the displacer beasts, there has been precious little influx of cash as of late and quite a bit of spending! Gnorcia, full of cheek, decided to pick the pocket of the tax man. Unfortunately, a tax man is always aware of his gold and discovered the little gnome and raised a ruckus. Gnorcia slipped off into the night and climbed a tree to escape and make her bed for the night. Meanwhile, the rest of the group was treated with hostility and suspicion. Lhoss stepped forward to smooth over the situation, pointing out the impish and playful nature of gnomes. Her silver tongue won over both the guards and the tax man, but they were all still expected to pay the gold piece. The group called out for Gnorcia to come and join them in town, but she stayed outside, spending a miserable night in the rain.
Everyone else booked fine rooms in the Two Cups Inn and rose early to a delicious breakfast. Feno ordered a double breakfast in order to bring a share out to Gnorcia. Lhoss inquired of the innkeeper, Gretchen, whether she would be willing to buy the displacer beast meat. She made a face and said that displacer beast meat is bitter and not favored, though she would buy some at a low cost to feed to her dogs. The party sold the bulk of the meat, but kept 10 pounds for their journey back to Orlane. Surely fresh meat would be better than rations on the road! Gretchen also directed them to a horse trader (honest, by her opinion) named Bill Ferney where they could outfit themselves for a quick return.
Bill Ferney was an honest and industrious salesman. He informed the group of all the kit they would need beyond riding horses (and a pony for Gnorcia). With saddles, bridles, feed, and all the rest (along with some basic horsemanship instructions) the mounted Saviors of Orlane hit the road. Taking care to rest the horses often, the group still made good time. Kyro put his cooking skills (and a few magical seasoning skills from Gnorcia and Lhoss) to work to make the displacer beast meat palatable. It was... okay but not great. A little better than dry rations, though!
In the evening, the group heard the sound of approaching horses. They party hunkered down while Gnorcia and Lhoss snuck silently up to the road to spy the advancing group. They saw 12 horsemen in chain mail with the heraldry and livery of the Gran March. Not wanting to engage with the soldiers, the pair silently watched the procession move down the road in the same direction they were headed. It was a foreboding sight. Were they on the march toward Orlane? Or some other conflict?
The next morning, the group were all saddle sore, Kyro least of all, but the effects of a day of riding were evident. Lhoss led the weary travelers in some Zuoken stretches. A few were somewhat reluctant of engaging in a ritual of a deity not their own, but Lhoss and Gnorcia reassured them that there was no need for prayers or worship of Zuoken, it was just good physical exercise. To the surprise of all but Gnorcia and Lhoss, it was helpful in alleviating their soreness.
On the evening of Day 8 of Patchwall, the group was nearing Orlane when Feno and Lhoss spotted something on the trail ahead. It was a small creature... was that Jack? Lhoss and Feno dismounted and ran up to see it was indeed Jack, but he was lying, unmoving, on the trail. In a sickening discovery, the elves saw that Jack's paw had been severed and the Greater Ring of Jack was gone. Lhoss immediately bandaged the paw and Feno poured water into the cat's mouth. Feno then scooped Jack up and ran him back to Niki. Niki cast a healing spell on the animal which revived him somewhat. The poor beast looked up at his master and tried to speak, but all that came out was a plaintive "meow!"
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