---Turn 24---

---Everyone in the Inn---

The figure looked up from his stew. "I'll go with you." The others looked round at him, many seeing him for the first time.

"You don't have to." Duncan started, gently.

"No, I'm a miner. I can show you around." Hortion snorted.

"You're no miner of mine!" The figure shrugged slightly while Duncan scratched at his chin.

"So you're a miner eh?" he said, nodding in the stranger's direction. "Just how can you know anything about what's down that pit?"

"I don't recall sayin' that I knows what's down there, young feller," the stranger replied. "I just know mines and minin'."

"Well if anyone was going to lead an expedition down into Pit 13, it would be him," Duncan replied, pointing to the grizzled Dwarf, Hortion, who glared back. "No disrespect intended to you though. I'm Duncan, and you would be?"

"I've been called lots of things, and most of 'em not fit fer mixed company," the stranger said, smirking. He cleared his throat noisily and spat into the corner. Amos frowned, but Martha ignored it - her floor had seen far worse in its time. "You can just call me Elias, though." He wiped most of the dirt and food off of one wrinkled hand and offered it to Duncan.

"Ok then, Elias. Nice meeting you." Duncan said, leaning over to shake the proffered paw. When they'd each dropped the other's hand, he fought the urge to wipe his hand on his leg.

"Same to ya, youngun," says Elias, oblivious to the look of distaste, his eyes on the bottle of Aquavit on the table between Duncan and his new found friend, Carlsen. "You gonna finish that bottle?" He lurched forward, scooped up the bottle and helped himself to a long swig straight from the bottle without waiting for a reply.

Turning away from the stranger in disgust, Duncan looked first at Xavier and then to the rest of Tents' Council. "OK, I think going down to Pit 13 is a bad idea just now. We need to go over and get those kegs of gunpowder. I will go, but I need some more strong arms to help me carry the kegs, three or four men should do. I say we get those kegs, bring 'em back here and then think about going to Pit 13, if there's enough light left. If there isn't, we begin to dig in for the night, and hope for the best."

Old Elias looked on quizzically. "Well, if there's any chance o' trouble with critters in the mine, I don't reckon we'd want them playin' with no powder. Just where are these holes?" he asked Hortion. "I can't say I really know my way 'round here yet, but I'd be int'rested in seein' this operation of yers."

The Dwarf barked derisively. "They're on the east side. They're the only two being worked at the moment - Pit 13 is higher up the slope and further to the north. You'll not make anything of them, sot."

"Once we get those kegs, someone could always stay here to oversee preparations for the town's defence, while the rest check out Pit 13. We can't risk sending out too many people or spending too long out there." Duncan added, his eyes flicking back and forth to gauge the reactions from the Council and other mercenaries.

"You're welcome to go sneaking about down there if you like." Vertan didn't bother lifting his head from his arms or even opening his eyes. "Don't see the point, myself. The Goblins can't get in there. There's a mountain in the way. You'd best stay up here, getting the walls ready."

The Factor looked across at Urkan who shrugged minutely. "There's not a great deal to prepare. The men will be on the walls tonight, and all the arrows, torches, blankets, and whatnot they'll need would have been put up there this morning." He glanced at Vertan who grunted agreement. "I'm interested to see what you adventurers plan to do with this gunpowder of yours - the poor visibility works in their favour. We can't see them until they're within twenty paces of the walls, less in places."

Darmon pushed back from the table he had been nearly sleeping on and cleared his throat. "I will go to Pit 9 and help bring back the gunpowder. I would also like the opportunity to see the Altar, even if, as you say sir Alchemist, I won't be able to learn anything you haven't without reading Arcane. If it is an unclean place, perhaps there is something that I can do there. I would at least like to see it. And I have no expertise in siege-craft, so others would be better suited to stay behind and prepare for battle tonight." Darmon looked around at the other, more seasoned warriors. "But we had best move quickly. We need to be sure that if an attack comes we are here to help in the defence."

The Alchemist dismissed him with one badly-stained hand. "There's nothing to see there, boy. It's long dead. Whatever magic and whichever gods it held have long since faded. I wouldn't be surprised if it dated from the Elf-Dwarf war or even earlier! There's no reason for you to go. Perhaps Urkan has a better use for you?"

"Doubt it: not yet, anyhow. Are you healer-trained, Darmon?"

<Reply - Darmon?>

---End Turn---