Wild Bunch #23

Nickelgin confronted Equaline about why she had stowed away on their boat, and he discovered just how lonely she'd been since escaping from prison, and how much she actually cared about him.

The rest of the group prepared Jemiah for surgery to attach the clockwork limbs stolen from Lord Marquis Duke Baron King, but Tricks realized the being to whom the limbs belonged was still clinging to life and could be reassembled and brought back

• After a discussion, the group decided to not reassemble the being, opting instead to sever its ties to the limb, ending its existence. They decided to not tell Jemiah about that.

Before surgery began, the Wild Bunch met a couple who lived on this deserted island, Melvin and Millie, an elderly halfling couple who were thrilled to have visitors.

The group moved to the small, hastily built hut of Melvin and Millie where they were offered some of the island's distinct fruit, a swirling purple and gold textured food with prickly spines.

• While Millie picked fruit, Melvin gorged himself on Winnifred's honey, which he asked the group to not tell Millie about

Tricks performed the surgery on Jemiah and everything went well. Jemiah survived the procedure and the limbs were attached correctly, which lead to Jemiah needing to rest.

It became apparent that Melvin was very eager to board the boat and get off of the island, and Millie seemed less enthused about that prospect.

While Melvin was out collecting more fruit for the trip, Millie confronted the group and warned that Melvin could not leave the island. When asked why, she refused to explain further, but emphasized that under no circumstances should he get on the boat, and especially not return to the Kindred Isles, where Melvin claimed he was born.

The group considered this, but in the meantime, decided to free the Vendor of Paradise's "soul" from its orb they'd stolen. They asked Millie for a sacred spot on the island to perform the ritual of smashing it, and she took them to an obsidian rock with a door carved into it, the religious runes of warding used in worship of Mag, the creation god of the wilds, were etched along the door

They smashed the Vendor's orb, which dissipated the substance kept within. Winnifred consulted divine powers and was told this was the right course of action.

Millie warned the group to not go into the obsidian rock door, and upon learning they'd fed Melvin some honey, became horrified and went within, telling everyone to stay put.

The Wild Bunch had Equaline watch the boat, left Melvin to guard Jemiah in the hut, and followed Millie within the cave.