The members of the Carnival's Party filed into the large chamber. In front of them below the audience on a round stage sat five large stone thrones in a row, side by side. Four of them were occupied by dwarves. One was empty.

Around the stage, slanting up, were auditorium galleries three levels high with many rows of stone benches. Several thousand dwarves all chatting and waving on and off to each other, waiting for the council session with the new visitors to begin.

The dwarves on the thrones all had braided beards except for the one female dwarf who sat on the left end. Dwarven women do not have beards. There was one with a smiths apron, one with a spear the lizard riders used, one had full chainmail who held a large warhammer , and the woman had cloths with dirt smudges that Tad thought marked her as one of the mushroom farmers. There was a mining pick in the last throne sitting there in the empty seat.

The Tad's party walked in front of the stage to some stone seats which had been placed facing the council with a low table in front of the seats.

The dwarf with the hammer raised his free hand, and the crowd around the chamber went quiet.

He started in a loud voice, "Greetings one and all, and thank you for attending this special council session. We are greaved to report the loss of the current head of the miners collective. Rotgut died when the foul orcs ambushed our expedition. " the speaker paused for a moment as the crowd started to make angry noises, and some shouts about orcs were yelled.

"But you can rest assured he accounted for himself well and slew the Orc champion single-handedly. The orcs then called magics upon our brethren, and these visitors before us saved the day by overwhelming the orc shaman and their guards. They helped turn a surprise attack into a full orc retreat." He paused again as the crowd cheered. He was certainly good at keeping his fellow dwarf's attention thought Tad.

"Arrangements have been made for Rotgut's wake, and several dozen barrels of our finest ale will be on hand to see the old dwarf off tonight at sundown in the Fountain's plaza. " he stopped again as a larger cheer went up from the crowd.

Tad was starting to look more at the dwarves on the stage. The dwarf men had beads woven into elaborate beard braids. The ones on the stage had the most elaborate, and each had a golden clasp woven into the center of their beards with their station symbols etched into them. The lady on the end had hers braided into her long hair.

"Now that the news has been taken care of let us get onto introductions. " He turned now to the visitor's table and seating below the thrones.

"I am Ararmut Barrelspine, the current leader of the Hold's dwarven guards and Sherrif when needed." He stopped and nodded to the dwarf next to him.

"I am Glabek Blessedbringer, the current leader of the outriders and lizard keepers for the Hold. " said the dwarf with the spear. He nodded to the next dwarf then sat again.

That dwarf stood, "I am Dhugnath Coinbelly, the current leader of the smiths and masons guild. " Dhugnath nodded to the female dwarf in the end throne and sat.

She also rose, "I am Yoroula Flintmantle, the current leader of the sodality of growers and stocks." She nodded to the first dwarf Ararmut, then sat back on her throne.

Ararmut stood, "Now that you know us, would you please stand and present yourselves. " he then took his seat and waited.

Beothorn stood, "I am Beothorn Rockgrip, head of security for Samphire's Carnival. "

Marena stood up next, "I am Marena Rockgrip, wife and mother." She then looked at Tad.

Tad stood up, "I am Thaddius Rockgrip, musician and employee of Samphire's Carnival." He nodded to Nico.

Nico stood upturned with a flourish to the crowd bowing, "I am Nicolao Rogers, bard in the employ of Samphire's Carnival."

Lamruil was next, "I am Lamruil Inaphyra, son of the late Baron Nesterin Inaphyra. I am currently in the employ of Samphire's Carnival." He nodded to Zanna.

Zanna stood looked right at Tad, then took off her amulet of disguise. She flickered and then stood there in her half-demon form. Her horns were clearly visible, and her tail twitched back and forth as she turned to the council on the stage. The crowd gasped almost in unison, and there was a scream up in one of the galleries above.

"I am Zanna. Once the chancellor to the Archduke of Hell - Shazikarik Di'Shlivanti, and daughter of Breamas - God of Mischief. I am also the one that saved your miners from certain doom at the hands of a hundred angry orcs, " she paused. The crowd quieted now, and the dwarves on the stage looked at her intently. Zanna walked over to Tad and handed him the amulet, nodding slightly to him with a small smirky smile. Then she went back and sat down, swinging her tail out over the edge of the seat, so it trailed behind her.

Ararmut stood again, "Well, one doesn't see that every day. " he chuckled, then he laughed, bending over slapping his knees as his chainmail rattled. The crowd started laughing with him, taking the edge off what could have been a very bad moment. He stopped and then looked at Beothorn.

"Well, I must ask Master Beothron, " then he winked and tilted his head towards Tad a few times.

Beothorn looked at Tad, then gave a huge laugh. "No, he is adopted. " then the crowd started laughing.

Ararmut let this go on for a few moments, then raised his hand again for quiet. Tad looked at Marena. She had her unhappy mom frown like she was about to put someone in his place while looking back at Ararmut.

"Well, pardon me then, you two said you play music then. Did ye bring your instruments, or do you sing? " asked Ararmut looking from Tad then at Nico. Tad and Nico looked at each other.

Nico spoke first, "Well, funny you should ask, it just so happens mine is back in our rooms, and Tad here has his also."

Ararmut's face broke out in a broad smile, "Then bring them to the wake tonight, and we will give old Rotgut a sending off that old dwarf deserves."

"It would be our pleasure, sir, " said Nico giving a performance bow then taking his seat again.

Ararmut nodded, "Ok then, onto business. The thing on the list is the theft of an artifact by your group. What say you to these charges?" You could now hear a pin drop as the crowd held its breath, waiting for the reply. Beothorn nodded to Tad.

Tad stood, "I was not stolen. It still sits where it was. You might actually want to thank us for finding a way to open it, really. Your miners were calling it a giant blob of metal. Truth be told, I also thought that, but I have this friend who, well, knows his way around metal objects, and he managed to open it and crawl inside, where he is now trapped. " Tad stopped there, he was pretty sure Kettle had trapped himself, but that didn't sound like something he wanted to get into right now.

Ararmut spoke again, "Are you saying that we need to cut your friend out of the artifact? "

"Well, I do not know. I think, given some time, I can get him to come out of it on his own. If you cut him out, you might kill him. You see, he is an automatron from Bismuth originally but is now part of Samphire's Carnival. I do not know what's going on in detail, but I do not think anyone should touch him. " said Tad remembering the heavy shock.

Ararmut looked at the others seated next to him. Two of them nodded, the woman shook her head, then Ararmut spoke.

"Well, we have a small problem. We can't leave the object there, or the orcs might be able to remove it. We had plans to move the metal artifact here so we could try to melt it in the great forge. We are in agreement to continue with the plan to move it here to the Hold. We do not know the power of this artifact, so it will be put in a separate chamber and locked away till we can decide on its fate. Does the creature you call Kettle eat or drink? "

"No, he does not," said Tad.

"We will discuss the penalty or payment for the artifact once we determine the worth and function of the magic in it," said Ararmut. He turned to Yoroula.

She stood, "The sodality has been tasked to work with the miners and smiths to bring the artifact back to the Hold. We will leave tomorrow with a large contingent of soldiers to bring the artifact, your wagons, and the rest of your group back to the Hold. We understand they have water and food, but we must not waste time, for the desert is a harsh and dangerous place at the best of times. In five days, the great storms will again arrive as they do every year, and they will scour the dunes and rock bare. We must retrieve them before this happens. " she paused for a moment then looked back up to the crowd seated above.

"Rotgut is dead, but the Miner's must have a leader. I nominate Torekit Rubyflayer as the interim leader until the Miner's submit their own for this year. " she looked at the other dwarves on the stage. They all nodded in affirmative.

"Then it is settled, Torekit Rubyflayer, please step down and take your place on the council," said Yoroula waited for Torekit to come down and take up the mining pick off the chair. He raised it above his head. Then took his seat, placing the pick on his lap.

"Finally, we will discuss payment for the service of retrieving your wagons and other party members in private tonight. I look forward to your performance. The sunsets in a few hours. We will see you then." said Yoroula looking at Tad then Nico. She then raised her hand and made a small waving motion, and the council members stood and exited. The crowd stood and started making noise as they talked about the events and the new visitors. The room became so loud Tad doubted he could have heard the people next to him.

Hobart came back over and started talking into Beothorns ear so he could hear. Beothorn waved for the others to follow, and the group exited, following Hobart back to their rooms.

They arrived back to the hallway in front of their rooms, and Hobart turned, "I'll have refreshments and more food brought. The wake will be in a few hours. I'll come here to escort you all there. You will be seated with the council for the evening. Two dwarven guards will be posted at the end of this hallway. The seating is informal and I to am looking forward to your performance, Thaddius and Nicolao. " the dwarf smiled and left them.

***