Chapter 2: Hope

Amanda tells Naeris that she's welcome to take a look around. When she investigates the drained pool, Naeris peers into the shaft at the bottom of the basin, and sees deep horizontal groves cut into the stone shaft that would function like a ladder. Looking into the tunnel, her keen elven eyes see that the shaft goes down about 30 feet and end in some kind of a room. What little light pentrates to the base is glinting off of something metal, barely visible even to Naeris's incredible night vision.

Amanda is happy to chat with anyone who comes by her door, as you might expect from an innkeeper with no guests.

To Naeris she explains that nobody lives in the keep anymore. The sons and daughters of the noble family that once lived there (the Whitesparrow family) died in the many wars at the end of the Arkasian Empire, and the Lord and Lady left for the safety of a surviving city state. They technically still own the castle but haven't been heard from in fifteen or so years. Amanda also informs you that Sheriff Willowmane has the keys the front gate but doesn't go there except in dire emergencies, where the keep is used for protection.

To Hilmar, Amanda explains that it's been a slow, steady slide. Various threats have whittled away the strength of Hope over the years - organized bandits in search of loot, slave traders looking for bodies to trade in the city states, and most deadly of all, the Shanka sometimes come down from the hills hellbent on destruction. This has especially been punishing on Hope's young men and women, the most able-bodied defenders. With Deepfathom Well closed up and the Dwarven mines abandoned, not a lot of people come up this way anymore - just the occasional soul looking to escape the tyranny of the city-states and who are not afraid to roll up their sleeves and fight for a good life.

Apparently there is renewed interest from the south in investing in Deepfathom Well, but Amanda is worried that this will bring more trouble than it's worth.

To everyone who enters the hot springs - the water is truly amazing! There might be medicinal properties to the water, because you find your blisters and aching muscles from the long journey healed in the heat. The steam clears your mind and makes you feel young again. Those prone to daydreaming might experience pleasant nostalgic thoughts filtering through your mind.

"Ah yes, The Hand. Did you notice it has six fingers? It's been around here longer than the town, probably long before the Empire. Nobody that I've ever met knows its past. But, we're grateful to it. The Shanka are afraid of it, we think, and that's why they rarely attack. It' become a bit of a good luck symbol for us."

"I'm not sure who tried to excavate it, that was before my time here. Rumour has it the poor chaps who tried to dig it out got down to the elbow, but then their heads got all full of nightmares and they skedaddled out of town. What a bunch of idiots, getting spooked by a statue."

"Hey, you'll find this fun - there's an old wives' tale that tells about a boy a hundred years ago who found a door in the wrist. Inside, He followed a staircase that led down below the surface and reached a chamber that contained a portal to another world. Can you imagine? People used to draw the stairs on the town maps and charge tourists a few silvers for it, you know, back when we actually had tourists. Gods, that is so long ago now!"

"Anyway, the only thing you really need to know about The Hand is that the Evershady Tavern is built right below it. Owned by yours truly! Got to be the best collection of wine anywhere in the north."

When Hilmar goes to sketch The Hand, he does indeed see that some of the excavation pits go quite far down, maybe even a hundred feet by your best reckoning. Rope ladders and such still remain, probably needed to fish out the occasional drunk from the Evershady who doesn't mind their step and ends up in the hole.

Kaa's and Naeris's wanderings are pleasant and uneventful. You cross paths with a few townsfolk, and they already know who you are.

Naeris runs into Rose's mother, Daisy, who is nothing but grateful that you brought her back home. She says she's never met an elf before and she's not sure what kind of food you like, but she's got a basket of raspberry muffins for you and your teammates.

Kaa is approached by a group of small children playing with a ball (really, it's a stuffed cow's stomach). They're a little nervous approaching you at first, but can't resist their curiosity to met such a different looking person. They chatter about how cool your axe and they ask you if you're going to chop off Ralavaz's head with it.

Hilmar (and anyone who wants to join) eventually find their way at the farmhouse. It is solidly-built two-story farmhouse, brightly colored. Seems like there's room enough to house five comfortably, with common areas, and even internal plumbing! A small cat comes up to you purrs as you look at the place. You suspect it might be his home too.

Nothing registers as magical in the vicinity of the hand.
The cat turns out to be ... a boi!