After a final few desultory taps and hisses, Ereni slumps, exhausted.

She mumbles to herself, "old Emmett really was lucky, missing all those rocks on the way down and landing in the nice pool of water."

Turning to Stasolya, Malenia and Cinder, she opens her mouth, then looks sheepish for a moment, doubting herself.

Speaking quickly, as if a schoolgirl giving a recitation that she is eager to be finished with:  "They are leaving for their home deep below.  I have made an agreement with them on behalf of Jappiter.  Not sure that fat old mayor will be happy with me.  Fat old men aren't, as a rule.  Unless they are jolly, and that one didn't seem like the jolly type.  I could, ah... maybe use your help gettin' him and the miners to come around to it?"

"So the deal is: the miners dig no more than five lengths of the Kruthik leader's body deeper than where we stand right now.  So 40'?  No exceptions.  The Kruthiks will leave sentries a little further down to enforce this, and I don't recommend crossing them, myself.  They could sense me somehow even though I should have been invisible.  In return, the Kruthiks go home, but will come back with a vengeance if the agreement is broken.  I asked them what the people looked like that delved down there to take their stones and kill their young, thinkin' maybe if they were drow or other deep dwellers...  But no, it sounds like they are who we thought they were.  The Jappiterian miners."

"So now maybe we look for survivors and then..."  She looks at Stasolya, eyes pleading a bit.  "Can you help me convince them?"

Malenia has been eagerly tapping the hilt of her weapon during this entire exchange, While she made no threatening move she did keep her wits about her. Watching every movement the guards around the Queen made. 

"Something tells me our benefactor will not go with this deal, He strikes me as a greedy individual." Malenia is truthfully, visibly astonished that Ereni was able to broker a deal with the creatures so easily. "And now we're the middlemen, stuck between a Greedy mayor and a territorial Kruthuik."

"I suppose that all we can do is ask," Stasolya says, frowning. "Ereni, you have had to overstep the bounds of what the mayor has agreed to, so for you to be fair, you will have to be the go-between, if he does not agree, and take a message back to the Kruthiks. I do not know what words you exchanged with them, although I am glad that they were willing to cease hostilities, especially after we had already killed some of their number! That is a great trust you have undertaken. You must bear it with honor. Of course I will help you. But if Malenia is right and the deal is difficult to strike, there may be no way to avoid a war. Territorial disputes are a strange but compelling thing. But so it must be for all creatures whose young are not born with long legs ready to run." Nomadic like any horse, she shakes her head in wonderment.

Thoughtfully, she looks around the pocketed tunnels, her tail swishing nervously. "My other question is... how do we get out? The entrance we used to come in has collapsed."

Ereni gulps and nods, clearly not looking forward to being the 'go-between.'

"Ah thank you m'lady ah... centaur.  Though I think maybe I'm even worse at talking to people in charge than I am with Kruthiks.  As for a way out, I think we should go back around the way we were going before those six Kruthiks intercepted us.  It may lead back around to the first or second shaft we saw at the three-way split we came to at the start when Malenia and I led us to the right."

She stares into the darkness for a moment, looking around.  She is still concentrating on her Hunter's Mark that she had last placed on one of the six Kruthiks.  Since it gives her advantage on noticing and tracking it, she tries to discern whether it, at least, really did depart the mine, heading downward.

Perception (at advantage due to Hunter's Mark):  20 (not natural, rolled on char. sheet, visible in campaign log.  Would be 18 if Survival applies instead.)

"What I don't get is why the miners were delving that far down?  To the... Underdark?  Isn't that thousands of feet down?  Seems strange.  And damn if the mayor never said nothing 'bout that.  So we're s'posed to just come in here and kill at least a dozen adult Kruthiks, one bloody hive queen and who knows how many young ones all to cover for their treasure-hunting down way down deep?  I'm wonderin' maybe if there is something more going on here, but it's not to do with the Kruthiks.  It's to do with someone in the town."

All through the conversation Cinder stood tense like a overly wound spring in an artificers experiment. Her fingers twitched every time the kruthik moved and it took everything in her to not let off even a spark. When the kruthik withdrew down to wherever they came from Cinder let out a breath that she hadn't realized she had been holding. 

"That went far better then I expected." She looks over at Ereni in surprise. "Though I agree that the mayor may not be happy with how we dealt with this. In my experience greed and power go hand in hand." A somber look briefly appeared on Cinder's face before being quickly wiped away and returning to her devil-may-care smirk. "Bet before dealing with the mayor we'll need to figure a way out of here."

Backtracking to the point where the band met the adult Kruthiks was the fastest discernable way out of the mine.  It seemed like there were probably other routes, but the Kruthiks had been working on filling things in  and collapsing shafts so that their routes of march were limited.  They stepped past what was probably human remains at some point, but it had been so chewed by Kruthiks that it was hard to know for sure.  An eerie silence fell over the depths of the gem mine with the Kruthiks having moved on.  

They crossed the desert back to Jappiter by following the well packed cart path.  Citizens of Jappiter stood at the edges of town watching for them, and went as far as shouting and clapping and cheering their return as 'conquering heroes'.  

Even the Mayor was ecstatic when the band returned to his office.  He took his eyes from the jewel peddler that had stopped by his office and grinned when he saw the Elf and the half-breed, the Teifling, and the Centaur stepped back into his office.  He wiped greasy, sweaty fingers on a rag and looked up at them.  

"Ah, well, that must have been easy for you lot, huh?  I'm glad that is over, ayup."  

Ereni's face goes even paler than normal at the sight of the cheering citizens.  Emmett died for this shyte?

She looks at Stasolya and gulps, then squares her shoulders to face the fat mayor.  Something inside her snaps just a little, her diplomatic intent replaced with anger.  These gods-damned colonels and lords and marshals and mayors, alternating between complaining and gloating as others try to clean up their messes.  Never taking responsibility for creating the mess in the first place.  Acting as if all problems are as mundane as mopping a mess hall.  Why do the worst of us lead so often?  All the more tragic to lose Princess Andromeda, who sacrifices herself for her people.

"Mayor.  It was a long bloody way from easy.  And bloody is what our corpses might have been as easily as you wolf down your greasy kibble."

She looks around the room.  "We killed a few Kruthiks, aye.  Young ones.  Just as they had killed some miners.  But what we never heard from you is that miners from this town have been delving deeper than those mines.  Far deeper.  Down to the Underdark.  To the Kruthik home caves.  That is why the Kruthiks are here.  We were able to communicate with them..." (Ereni feels uncomfortable saying that she herself had been the one to do so.) "Their home down in the Underdark was raided by miners from Jappiter, Kruthik younglings killed, and their gems stolen.  They resolved that they would put a stop to it just as the citizens of Jappiter have resolved that their mines should be clear of Kruthiks."

Ereni pauses for a moment, subconsciously pulling a loose lock of dirty blond hair behind her ears.  "So both can be true.  After our initial skirmishes, we came to an agreement.  The Kruthiks have left the mine.  They will not return so long as no one digs any deeper than 40 feet below the floor of the large middle chamber in the mines - whether digging from the mines or elsewhere nearby.  As long as they do not, the Kruthiks will not come back.  But if you dig deeper, they will be back with a vengeance.  As it was, there were at least twelve adult Kruthiks and a Hive Queen, along with countless young ones, willing to fight to the death without this deal.  Just as we were.  It is fortunate that it did not come to that, no thanks to you."

"So now.  Since we put our necks on the line for you and you did not tell us about the delving down to the Underdark and pillaging the Kruthik home caves that went on before this, you should tell us right now."  Ereni's expression is flat.  "Who was it that dug down so deep and why?  I would like to know.  And I would like to hear it from whoever did it.  Because if that happens again, if you delve deep, the Kruthiks will come back for good."

Ereni stands defiantly, staring at the mayor like she is going to shoot him in the face with her Longbow, +1, though she is not holding it.

A young woman who had been talking with the mayor prior to the group listens to this report from from Erenie, violet eyes getting wider and wider as the story is told. She gives a little squeak of surprise when it's mentioned that miners dug into the under dark. She claps her hands over her mouth, cheeks flushing with embarrassment as she  looks to the mayor for his side of things. She scans the group- does it look like any of them need healing?

The Mayor looks completely dumbstruck as Ereni goes off on her verbal tirade.  His brows knit.  His jowls turn red. Sausage fingers curl and unfurl, fists clenching in intervals as he listens.  

"What?"  He says, his voice deceptively flat and devoid of emotion as he processes what is happening.  "The mine is subsurface, ayup.  Only five hundred feet or so deep.  What do you mean they dug into the underdark..."

The Mayor's eyes seem to bulge in their puffy sockets as he pushes his bulk up and out of his chair and heads toward the door as fast as he can waddle.  He wipes greasy fingers on the front of his shirt as he goes.  

"Call the watch!"  He says, stepping onto the porch of his office.  "Guard!  Watch!  Send for the Watch Commander!"

He turns back into the building, looking at the band assembled there.  

"Hallius Cole!"  He says to the warriors in the room.  "He owns the mine!  I've suspected for awhile that he could be a proxy agent for Lord Vader, ayup!  They're working on a secret network to move Stormtroopers from the Black Crags!  If they start using Subternea to move...they'll be able to go anywhere in the world without ships...or Rocs...or whatever!  He must be brought in!"  

The Mayor is really animated now.  He's sweating profusely.  His whole demeanor seems to have changed.  

The young woman's flushed cheeks quickly pale as the mayor talks about her employer working with Lord Vader and the Stormtroopers. She starts gathering up her things, hands trembling with the news of what might be happening. She fumbles a bit and thankfully doesn't drop any of her wares on the floor (Dex check of 10). But she's not very quiet either. Brushing her shimmery white hair out of her face and gathering her bag, she wonders if she is intruding if she stays to listen and see how this plays out? A butterfly that had been resting in her hair flies up and around her in agitation.

"So it sounds to me that we need to talk to this Hallius Cole." Cinder says. "If he is working with Vader that's bad for everyone."

Ereni stands gaping for a moment, having expected an angry retort from the mayor, but directed at her and the party, not at others.  She can't help but notice the young woman next the mayor flinch and go pale at the mention of the treasonous mine owner.  Grimly, she hefts her longbow.  Someone is going to die.  Maybe this Hallius Cole.  In league with Vader and his orcs?  My parents...  She rubs at something in her eye furiously.

"Just our luck ladies.  Another mess for us to deal with.  Like when my drunk corporal used to upchuck into the cauldron.  Somehow I always ended up being the one on duty to clean up.  Stew tasted a mite worse too..."

She looks at the young woman.  "You know this Cole."  Not a question.  "Might be best if you came with us.  You're part of the mess, you're part of fixing it.  Unless you're a drunk corporal apparently.  I'm Ereni."

She jumps and squeaks a bit at being addressed. "I work for Cole? But I haven't been working for him for very long. I...I'm happy to introduce you, if that helps? But please? Please- I'm not in league with Lord Vader! I only just got to town a few months ago!." A few more butterflies start to get agitated flying around her. She takes a deep breath and talks to them and they settle back down, adorning her hair. "I'm Thea. Thea Eaglecleft. Pleased to meet you Ereni." Once she collects herself, she holds her head up proud and poised. Her manners are rather formal and she looks less like a frightened school girl. She's a petite 5' 1" and has very pale, alabaster skin. She looks to be about 17 or so years old. She holds her hand out to shake.

Ereni shakes with her bowstring hand, fingers callused yet strangely delicate.  "Nice butterflies, Thea.  Reminds me of... home.  I would watch from the shadows as they would play in the rays of sunlight that got through the canopy..."

"Anyway, m'lady centaur here is Stasolya, who breathes more lore whenever she opens her mouth than I've ever fit in my head.  Malenia's the other elf, just pure-blooded unlike me, and with a strange weapon I can't wait to see more of in action.  And this is Cinder, who burns our enemies to ash."

Check yourself, Ereni.  Talk to a few bugs and yell at the mayor, and now I fancy myself a regular diplomat...

Thea smiles in greeting to each of the other women, her eyes bulge a bit when she hears that Cinder burns people to ash..."It's nice to meet you all. I'm not sure how much help I'll be with Mr. Cole but I'll do my best." A butterfly flutters over to land on Ereni's shoulder and lights there for a few breaths before returning back to Thea. She laughs a little. "They tend to follow me around...other creatures too. I'm not sure why but they've always been good company!" she cocks her head and looks at Ereni. "Where are you from?" cheeks blushing a bit, "Maybe that's a question for another time? It sounds like there's more pressing matters to attend to?" (Narrator Voice: As far as Thea knows, Ereni is the leader…and a diplomat!)

Ereni's face transforms when the butterfly sits on her shoulder.  From the gloomy, stoic cipher of a disillusioned soldier to childlike wonder.

She swallows, and the moment is gone as quick as it had come.  She glances at Thea.  "Fantasia.  The deep forest, where only the gods can see you in the darkness.  Vader's orcs, they..."  She looks away, then at her companions.  "We'd best go find this Hallius Cole."

Thea looks to the group. “Well? I can lead you there if you like?” She gathers her things and looks to the Mayor for his input. She’s ready and willing to lead the group when they are all ready. As she waits, she whispers to one of the butterflies and it goes to settle itself in Erendi’s hair like an ornament and keeps her company. 

Malenia folds her arms over her chest, tapping her foot loudly on the wood floor. There have been so many strangers as of late and truth be told she was still more than a little scepticle about the lot she was traveling with, She was fast learning that the world is filled with Adventurers. "Thea, Right?" Malenia steps forward, clearing her throat. Offering her hand to shake. 

"We would be thrilled for you to lead us to our destination, and Ereni." She turns to her fellow scout, Completely unaware that her weapon was considered 'Strange' "You may examine it if you wish." She holds out her prosthetic arm, the mechanism hidden within whirs to life. The hand actuall flips back as a panel on the wrist slides open, allowing room for her hidden weapon to propel out. 

She catches it in her dominant hand and holds it out for Ereni to examine if she should wish.

An Orc pokes his head into the Mayor's office while the band figures out their plan.  He looks at the Mayor, says something to the effect of 'you summoned me?', then steps inside to listen to the Mayor's recitation of his outburst over the mine and Hallius Cole's plan or...at least...perceived plan.  

"I don't think we ought go messing with the likes of Hallius Cole..."  The Orc says.  "Even if...well...he's made you rich, ehya?  And the town is rich!  Aye, but if anything...I'd say he's a freedom fighter."  

There are bootsteps outside the room as three more Orcs step up on the porch.  One peeks there head inside.  They're adorned with the simple cloaks of the Jappiter city watch.  

One has a sword in their hand.  One sounds a whistle.  

Thea reaches out to shake Malenia’s and smiles. “Pleased to meet you. Happy to help however I can!” She turns to look and then listens to the conversation between the orcs and the Mayor. Her brow furrows with concern.