As the hunters gather their gear, the hound continues to bark at Talon, despite his mater's commands.

The kobold himself remains silent, shrinking slightly in the aftermath of the battle, an internal maelstrom of confusion, ecstasy and feral energy playing behind his eyes.

One of the hunters approaches Ashley, looking at her completion and the wisps of red hair peaking out from her hood. He regards the genasi with a smile, "Fast with a tinder box, she said..." He shakes his head in amusement. "I knew that was a lie... but I still never would've guessed the truth..." He almost hesitates before continuing, asking, "How's it then? That you do what you do? You fey-born? Blessed by the Gods? What's your tale?"

Meanwhile, Thréig claps a hand on Dardek's shoulder, speaking in a quiet tone. "Thank you for your trust..." He studies the young man for a moment before adding, "I know.... What a sacrifice it must have been... Letting go of such a secret." He taps his heart with his fist. "On my honor, I will do all I can to deserve that trust... But I need to do know more. Because if the humans are capable of such barbarity, my people need to prepare to protect themselves if needed.

As Nib prepares to leave, a hand slaps him on the back. One of the hunters says, "So, you want to be a marksman?" He looks Nib over with a half smile. "Aye, I can see it. You've got that lean sparkle in you eye." He chuckles to himself adding. "It's in your blood. Some of the best archers I know have been small folk like ye... I'd be happy to share what I know."

He gives another slap on Nib's back, preemptively chuckling at his own joke as he continues, "...and then when, when that's through, I'll teach ye how to shoot as well."

He continues laughing, moving towards the others, preparing to depart.

The moment he clears Nibs field of vision, Nibs notices something just beyond the heavy brush the hunter was standing in front of... Something that almost looks like a mortal-made structure...

Moving slightly closer, Nib sees what it is... a well... Like a water well, but slightly bigger... There's no other structure anywhere in sight.

The well is boarded up and completely consumed by the elements... but it is easily accessible with a bit of effort... Before he has a chance to think through it, Thréig calls out, "Men, round up. We'll be at camp before last light."

Nib laughs along as the hunter claps him on the back, but it is a half hearted laugh, he doesn’t really understand.  “Uh yeah, sure.  Anything you could teach me, I’d sure appreciate…”. He’s stretching and settling his pack on his back when he sees the structure.  “Hey, ah, wait!  There’s something here that we need to look at before we leave… hold on.  Ashley, Dardek, Talon, come over here with me!”  He walks up to the structure and says quietly, “Is this what we were looking for?”  Nib starts to open it, his curiosity taking over.  

As Nib starts to lift the cover, the wood cracks slightly causing little cascades of dust and dirt to fall into the depths below... The well is a good 8-10' in diameter. So, it's a two person to lift the cover.

One of the hunters, seeing Nibs discovery watches closely and asks, "What's that now?" Others lingering nearby whisper to each other about how they've never seen anything like that in these woods before...

Dardek rubs his shoulder after getting smacked he begins to speak about his experience but everyone's attention turns to the well leaving Dardek standing there 

Ashley smirks at the hunter's comment and shrugs.. "Guess I better come up with a better lie then, eh?  As for where it comes from?  I guess I don't know... just born this way.  If I was blessed by the Gods, they sure have a screwed up sense of humor.  This is my first taste of freedom... ever."  She half chuckles but there is sorrow in her eyes.

As Nib calls them over, she sees what he has found and her eyes go wide.  She knows she promised not to talk about the vegekin or this well to anyone, but finding it when these others were around.. does that count or just an accident?  

She figures it is too late now and heads over to help Nib lift the cover.

Dardek panics and hopes this doesn't count against him since he didn't reveal anything to anyone.....He thinks maybe he should run, but to where? Maybe he could distract everyone by getting sick.....

Together, Nib and Ashley are able to lift the cover on the well enough to peer inside.

They find echoing, dusty darkness below... The shallow well connects with a deeper passage beneath.

Thréig approaches, intrigued and exclaims, in a fascinated whisper.  "Green Spirits... What did you find here, my friend?" He looks around, trying to orient himself. "This is quite something. These woods are my home since birth and I've... I've never seen this before." 

He looks to his companions who seem unsettled by the discovery, then turns back to you. "Though I suppose it shouldn't be a surprise... Considering you are attuned with magical forces."

He turns his head to his second in command, for counsel. The second in command simply shakes his head. Thréig nods in agreement.

"However, it's not our place to go poking around where we're not invited... So, it's time for us to return to our people. You're welcome to come along unless you want to..." He nods towards the well. "Do some exploring."

Relieved by his words, the other half-elves start filing away, heading back to their camp.

Would you like to follow or explore the well?

Nib looks down, taking out his bullseye lamp, lighting it in answer to Thréig’s question.  He says “I would like to look into this, maybe we could find you afterward, which direction are you headed?  I am sorry that I couldn’t help anymore in your… task…. Don’t quite understand it, and I’d like to hear more about it.  But this..” turns to look at the passage, “Looks like adventure!   We must investigate…”. Nib smiles at his companions, looking for their agreement.  

Dardek had taken 2 steps to follow the hunters and go back to their camp but stops shoulders slumping when Nibs mentions wanting to explore. "Eh couldn't we come back later? Some food and rest wouldn't hurt......" He trails off quietly

Ashley looks to Dardek, an eyebrow raised.  "It's mid-afternoon, c'mon, where's your sense of adventure?"

"Thank you for your offer.  We would love to join up with you later if you'd have us?  If you don't want to tell us where you are located, we understand though."  Ashley asks Threig.

Threig considers and replies, "About a mile and a half west, parallel to the road. You won't find our settlement, but we'll find you."

He glances at the well one more time. "And, do take care down there. I dare not think what dangers haunt such a place."

He hesitates a bit, seeming uncomfortable about leaving you behind, but if your choice is made, he will gather his companions and depart.

Nib starts to make his way in, turning his head after Threig heads off, saying “I dunno.  We probably could’ve used his help, but I just had a feeling of what we we were told that we should do this alone.  Remember, we made that pact.  And other folk aren’t to know about this.  Whatever is contained within here.  I feel that this hasta be the place.  Just a quick in and out, look and see what it is all about.  If we get somewhere that quiet is needed and soft footfalls, let me do the sneakin.  I’m better at that sort of thing than you big folk.  C’mon, adventure awaits!”

Dardek certainly not going to leave the only few people who have accepted him and treated him kindly follows the other 2. "Sense of adventure.....I also like...you know...value my life." Dardek sighs "ok ok let's go then"

From what you can tell, the well descends about twenty or thirty feet before opening into the wider cavern below.

How would you like to descend?

"Anybody have a rope?" Ashley asks as she looks into the depth of the well.  

She'll look around the area for anything that can be used as a rope or tied together to make a make-shift ladder.

Perception if needed: 13

Nib opens up his sack and sure enough, he has 50 feet of rope.  “This.  I took this before I left the village.  Knew it would come in handy.  Just like an adventurer would have!”  He looks around for something to tie it to..

Dardek wasn't going to offer his rope "Oh good rope.....Uh I will uh go last...Yeh I will make sure nothing follows us"

As you prepare to descend the rope, you turn to Talon to ask him to once again help with his survival skills.

Unfortunately, when you turn to him, you see his eyes glazed over, as he whispers to himself, staring into the nothing with an almost pained smile on his face. 

He says you need to go... That's what happens next for you... He must stay... because that is what happens next for him...

He blinks for a moment and his eyes become clear again just long enough for him to say, "Talonwillbeokay..." He then turns back, eyes glazing over again, and resumes his muttering....

Climbing down the rope, one at a time, you find yourself in an uncomfortably narrow (barely 5' wide by 6' tall) and surprisingly dry tunnel. The hard angles of the tunnel's branches suggest planned construction... but you see no tool work on the stone. It is smooth, dry and porous. Any moisture that might fall through the well sees to soak straight into his porous stone floor and disappear. The air here is thick, musty, stale. You hear no sounds as the caverns's stone walls seem to muffle any sound they come in contact with.

A 65' corridor runs vaguely east and west with a stone slab blocking the end of the passage east most passage, the west most passage turns and goes completely out of sight.

There is no light source down here. Ashley and Dardek's inane abilities allow them to see in shades of grey for a few dozen feet, but Nibs sees nothing but pitch black without some aid. 

Ashley stares at Talon.  She then turns to Nib and Dardek, "Do you think he'll be alright left like this?  I mean he has that creepy tentacle thing to keep him company..."  She shudders as she thinks about that.  She squeezes the kobold's shoulder, then descends down into the tunnel.

Ashley marvels at the tunnel, wondering how it is in such good and dry shape.  She is pleased as she figured this would be a mess.  She shrugs and turns to the right, she wants to see what is beyond the corner.

Turning the corner, Ashley comes to a door made of what looks like carbonized wood... That is to say, the wood has been perfectly and evenly charred black without doing any damage do the shape and structure of the door itself. It seems light and brittle, like you could break your hand straight through it without any real effort.

On the side of the door are two sconces holding a pair of unlit lamps.

There's an inscription above the door, written in Ignan... a language on Ashley understands.

It reads, "Enter, Child of Light and be welcome"