The group was flanked on all sides by an honor guard of Mulvarians as they trudged through the streets. Cursory examination of the populace showed many people working with stone. Not just working but shaping. Like they have an innate ability to modify earth itself. Deacon pointed it out to Elle who just nodded her head. He assumed she saw what he was referring too. As they passed another street, they moved between a pair of two-story stone buildings. These buildings were squarer shaped like the ones in Gossamer. Deacon thought they must be taking inspiration from the civilization they developed next too. If that’s the case, they may have grown artificially as far as they have.

As they went deeper, they notice most of the buildings here were more modern. This must be the area where people with influence live, that or their government structure. They were brought up short in front of a round building with stone columns. The guard all lined up outside facing away from the building and back out toward the town. General Ferent urged them all forward into the hall. Once inside they noticed five veins of precious stone leading to central long table. There was a vein of amethyst, jade, ruby, sapphire, and diamond. The diamond vein terminated at the head of the long table with amethyst and jade on one side, ruby and sapphire on the other. All veins lead to a chair made of the same substance. In each of these chairs sat an elder of the Mulvarians. In the middle of the table was a large, faintly glowing stone. All eyes turned on them as they entered the room.

“Elders, these are the trespassers we found in the outer city. They have caused no trouble since being brought in and have supplied us with crucial information regarding their arrival and the unrest of the moss ghouls.” General Ferent said slapping his clawed hands together in a solute.

“Who speaks for your group?” the elder of Amethyst asked.

“I do. It is an honor to be received by the elders. My name is Armand Desentes.” Armand said understanding them perfectly due to the stones influence.

“Why do you drag your overworld problems down here?” the elder of Jade asked.

“It was not our intention to disturb your civilization. We were chasing some thieves who stumbled upon the great cavern. In the course of our duties, they escaped us except for the one you see here.” Armand replied gesturing over to Michael who flinched as he was referred to.

“So, you admit openly your dereliction of duty is the cause for the people's most recent threat.?” The elder of Ruby said clutching a symbol of Amon to her chest.

“No elder, I believe we would have recovered the rest had we not run into one of your patrols. We decided it would be best to ally with local authority instead of attack like some wild animals.” Armand replied curtly.

“Wise decision. This conversation wouldn’t be happening had you lashed out at our troops. What do you know of the City of Gossamer?” the elder of Sapphire asked.

“Surprisingly little. Our people do not know any of this is below their feet. Anything you could tell us would be extremely helpful in recovering the lost criminals and hopefully a swift exit home.” Armand relayed.

“General Ferent, have your scouts spotted anymore humans roaming the outlands?” the elder of Amethyst asked.

“No, my elder, but they have seen the moss ghouls massing at the western edge of the city. If I didn’t know they were mindless I’d say they were preparing an assault of some kind. As you know the western edge is the most unobstructed path to us.” Answered the General.

“That is not the question asked. You would do well to remember the rules of our forum child.” Said the elder of Jade.

“Yes, my elders.” Replied the General.

“These interlopers will bring the curse of Gossamer down around our heads and the General is pushing for war time authority. We should lock them up and deal with Mulvarian business as we always have.” Snapped the elder of Ruby.

“Ruby, your thoughts are well known. Let’s keep the discussion purely informative and less accusatory. Now the city of Gossamer was cursed by a coven of witches. Your slate should have told you at least that. It is said that only two fates will befall the city now. Either the Ziggurat receives a final sacrifice damming all the lost souls to one of the ten hells or Gossamer sees the sun again.” Replied the elder of Sapphire.

“So says the prophecy bestowed on us by Amon. We have taken many steps to ensure that neither of those things happen. We increase the stability of the cavern ceiling, and we keep our people away from the city. In the intervening times we build a robust standing army in case the monsters stop being passive.” Spoke the elder of Amethyst.

“We can see a good heart in you Armand Desentes. But we can’t just let you go exploring in the city, not with the dagger of Gossamer in play. We won’t put our people in danger of the final sacrifice.” Said the elder of Jade.

“No doubt the child of ruin is behind all this now that I see him myself. Just look at those empty green eyes. How can you all stand it? You know the words of Amon, rebuke the child of ruin whose green eyes court disaster.” Shouted the elder of Ruby.

“There are a lot of people with green eyes, don’t give me that shit! You can fuck right off with your stripper names!” Deacon shouted back getting a look of surprise from Armand and the elder of Ruby. General Ferent grabbed Deacon's arm and dragged him from the room. He was incredibly strong.

“Enough.” Said the elder of Diamond in a soft and all-consuming voice. All occupants of the chamber went rigid at the sound of his voice. “I have heard all the facts put fourth here. Although ignorant of the circumstances, they still put the people in extreme danger. They can either be locked up pending the resolution of the current conflict or take up arms in defense of the people. Is this all the information that is to be presented? I’ll not have this chamber turned into a child’s playground for the zealous and foolhardy.”

All the other elders answered with a sharp, “Yes Grand Elder.” With that they were led out of the chamber and collected a fuming Deacon seated between two guards outside on the steps.

“You have got to put some points into intellect.” Armand said without looking at him.

“I hope you realize you gave her exactly what she wanted. An excuse to have our heads. What was all that child of ruin stuff anyway?” Elle said.

“I have an even better question. Is a stripper what I think it is?” Typhus asked.