Gasps, awes, and cries are heard as Iefyr and Mordekai set down the children on the ground. Cozubia, still holding one child as you hear yelling for Borin, the Cleric. 

"Borin! Borin! Hurry!" you hear someone scream. A tall woman with long braided blonde hair, very well kept in comparison to the other townsfolk. She runs up to Cozubia and grabs her child out of your arms. "Borin!" she gets out one more time before completely falling into tears and cries. Cradling her son, she looks up at you Cozubia. Then she looks at the other children on the ground. 

A larger dwarf with short brown hair and a beard that goes past his waist walks up to all of you. "What.. What happened?" he asks. Before anyone even has a chance to reply, manacles are placed around the wrists of all six of you. "Take them to the hold!" he shouts out as a group of men pull you back on to your feet and begin dragging you to a building. "We'll sort this out after we take care of the children."

The six of you are brought inside the only building in town made of stone. Inside you see three barred areas. Carmen and Mordekai are put in one. Iefyr and Conlaed in another and Cozubia and Ezid are thrown into the last room. All the doors are locked behind you. Although separated, you can all see each other through the barred walls that make up each room. The men who locked you up leave the small building and shut the door behind them. 

Iefyr cradles his head in his shackled hands, eyes staring at the chain dangling between them. “This just keeps getting worse.... why do things just keep getting worse. The elders were right.” he says as his voice breaks and he starts to cry again. The half-elf trembles a bit and begins chanting something under his breath through the tears.

Because of Mordekai’s Infernal Legacy, he could do certain things. Most harmless, tricks of light or opening and closing of doors and windows. But, it was when he used this skill with his voice that made it louder that at least made him heard clearly. (Thaumaturgy) Even then, the tiredness of two nights of little or no sleep made his voice crackled and pathetic. There is only fault of one in this. It was my conviction and blind fury that led to this. The others do not deserve punishment for what I had created.

Cozubia kneels on the floor in the cell, facing the door. He waits silently, while internally praying for the lives of the boys. Periodically a single words escapes his lips. A word that has almost become a mantra of sorts recently. "Patience," he whispers to no one but himself. 

Ezid sat down with his back against the wall of the cell, sighing as he looked around the cell, "WEll, this could have gone better.." He looks towards Cozubia, before staring through the bars of the cell, "I wonder how long they're going to keep us here."

Conlaed leans up against the wall, staying silent. His eyes shift from one of his companions to the another, back and forth. 

As the six of you sit there, reflecting on previous choices and wondering what fate has in store next for you, you can hear the shuffling and moving of the townsfolk outside. After what felt like hours but in reality was only about 20 mins, the larger than normal dwarf opens the main door to the holding center. Behind him is a stout human, hair balding on top, wearing heave gray robes. 

"Well..." as he pauses for a long moment, "We talked to Irrk. Looks like we have a bunch of children murderers on our hands." He walks back and forth, stroking his thick brown beard. He spits on the floor as he continues, "Y'all disgust me." 

"Please Tynom, if I may." The robed man steps forward, making sure to avoid any contact with the dwarf. 

"You know I am adamantly against this hair-brain idea of yours," Tynom retorts as he turns around, not even looking at you at this point. 

"I have seen the three children and I think I may... I may be able to save them. The parents of the children are willing to lessen your punishment if you can aid me restoring the light back into them."

As the man is talking, you see Tynom mutter back, " I didn't agree to any such terms but I will not get in the way of bringing these kids back."

"Yes. Yes," he replies back, looking over at the six of you. "You see, I have the capabilities of restoring life among the recently deceased. However, it comes at quite a material cost. One of which I find myself short on. If you would be willing to attempt to retrieve these materials, I would be able to restore these children to their rightful place in the world before your group intervened in their fate."

They would not have any hand in this if it were not for me. None other deserves the punishment besides me.  Mordekai calls out from the cage. It would not have happened if I walked alone, and I will walk alone to get whatever is needed to pay for my crime.

Conlaed stands, rolling his eyes at Mordekai. He stands directly behind the bars, looking intently at the human he assumes must be Borin. 

"What do you need?"

Carmen, who had retreated to the shadows comes forward. “Yes, what? How can we help?”

"We need three diamonds... fairly large diamonds," Borin explains as he holds up his hands showing roughly the size of the gems he needs. "I know where some might be but it is not safe for myself to try to get them. If you would be willing to get the diamonds, I could bring the children back."

Borin looks at Tynom nervously, unsure of what to do next. 

"Well, ya heard the man. Are you willing to get these diamonds or should we make more permanent holdings for ya." Tynom stares at the six of you. 

If it means that what has been wronged is made right, then I go. Mordekai looks at both Borin and Tymur as he speaks. I will make this right. This is my word.

Cozubia ponders the conversation around him quietly. He looks at the Dwarven man and responds, "We will help however we can, Master Tynom. There was an accident. We wish to aid however we can. It will not erase what happened. But if we can bring them back, then that is all that matters." When he finishes speaking, he looks at his jailed companions. The look he gives them is equal parts "we will make this right" mixed with "For the love of Sarenrae, don't make it worse." 

"Sounds right up my alley! When can we go?" Carmen is eager to do something to help right this wrong. No matter what Mordekai thinks, she know her suspicions also fueled this tragedy. 

Iefyr jumps up, breaking out of his state. He looks cheerful, but definitely still frazzled. “Of course! We’d be more than happy to get the diamonds! If theres any chance to reverse this... incident then yes we will do it! His hands now clench the bars in front of him.

Conlaed smiles broadly, despite the circumstances.

"Diamonds? Sign me up, as well. Point us in the direction, and we will bring you enough to ... save ... the children. I certainly would prefer a little more space."

As Borin sees the group in compliance with his task, another dwarf walks into the holding area. This dwarf, much shorter that Tynom with thick black hair, steps in with a limp. At a quick glance, you can see one of the dwarf's legs is missing and a crude wooden leg has been constructed for him to walk on.

"Please Kharth, tell them about the diamonds," Borin pleads while comforting the hobbling dwarf.

"Well, it's like this you see. Me and me mates had found a hidden cavern about two days east of here. We were hoping on finding some gold and treasures. We went down and sure enough we did. Diamonds the size of my palm, a handful of them. We decided to go deeper and see what else we could find. That's when it happened. You see, there we were in this tunnel, and up ahead we saw something just floating in the air. Vond, always quick to act ya know, well he decided he would take it. But as soon as he got close to pickin' it out of the air, he got sucked in. We watched as he began to just melt in front of our eyes. In mere seconds his body was nothing but bone. While we hesitated in shock, I watched as Grandar began to melt as well. This time I wasn't gonna wait around. But before I could even get out of the tunnel something had gotten my leg. I dragged and pulled myself out of there but it was too late for the others."

"Thank you Kharth," again Borin consoling the dwarf. "So you see, this is what we need. We need you to go back into this cave and retrieve those diamonds that they had. I will draw you a map of the entrance as it has been told to me. I know that Kharth and his group said he placed an upturned wagon over the cavern to prevent others from straying in." 

As Borin finishes, Tynom walks around and unlocks each of the doors and your shackles. "If you can bring back those diamonds and we can save our children, we may be a bit lenient on your furthering punishment. Of course, if you do not return, we will make sure that all of Estren know what kind of child-murdering scum the lot of you are and I am sure you won't get far then." Tynom chuckles a bit to himself hoping your fate meets a similar end. 

"There is one other problem," Borin add to the converstation. "You see, my magic only works on those who have been dead for ten days or less. Irrk tells me that his friends died three days ago now. The cavern is about two days there and two days back. That leaves only a few days to explore the cavern and find the diamonds. I say this to urge how important the timing of this situation is. Any time later than that and  I am afraid these children will have to be laid in the ground."  

Leave me with 7 days food and pack. Everything else, leave it here. The door and schackles come open, Mordekai steps through. If others need food, then I will go with nothing.

"Time is of the essence, then," Carmen says. "I'm ready. Anything else you can tell us about the cavern? Do you have any tools or items that might assist us? I am fairly sure I can speak for us all in saying we don't want to see these children buried."

"Oh, we got to feed them now too!" Tynom screams as you see him start to throw things from a table at the wall. Tynom walks out of the room finishing with, "Just do what you need Borin."

"Oh..Well.. I guess it's time to get going." Borin walks around nervously as the six of you step out. Unsure of what to do with himself with people he sees as murderers. 

Kharth speaks up, "You need a torch or some form of light, you will. It's dark as sin down there. As far as directions in the cave, I'm afraid I can't help you much. There were so many twists and turns and dead ends I got all sorts of turned around. I will warn you about those floating objects. If you see that, run. I don't know what or who but it will melt your arm right off." 

"Here's the map..." Borin holds out a piece of parchment, you can see how is hand is physically shaking in fear. "I will provide you with what provisions you may need but time is of the essence."