Somewhere, West Virginia, USA.

Councilman #4 waddled up to the gate to the mine. He had a name of course. But names are for important people, and he wasn't important. Every election cycle he maintained his spot on the City Council pretty much because no one cared enough to vote for anyone else. Or even run. He chuckled, the only reason they were called the CITY Council instead of TOWN Council is pretty much because City Council sounded more GRAND and important. At least that's what the Mayor promised them, and the voters.

That's all he was. A nameless face for the masses to lay blame when things went wrong in town. Like now. He placed a FOR SALE sign on the front of the gate. Neither the Mayor nor the Council could decide what do actually DO with the Duval Mine. It made them all worried that Mortimer would give it to the town so easy and with little fuss.

What they DID decide to do was "volunteer" him for the job of scouting out the mine for any faults that might be the reason for his quick pawning of it. He heaved and pulled out a handkerchief to pat his sweaty brow.

"Is it the land or the mine itself for sale?"

The Councilman jumped, or he would if his weighty girth prevented such a action. He turned and found someone had wandered up beside him!

"The mine itself is up for lease to however shows interest in investing in the mines production."

"And the land around it?" The strange dark eyed man asked. Despite the suddenness of his appearance the Councilman found himself strangely at ease in his presence.

"Yes, the land around the mine proper is included in the lease." The Councilman said happily. Why was he so relaxed?

"But the sign says FOR SALE, not FOR LEASE?"

The Councilman looked at the sign embarrassed.

"I, may have grabbed the wrong signs in my haste to get here."

The strange man just smiled at him and patted him on the shoulder.

"That is quite alright! We all make mistakes in our daily lives!"

The Councilman was feeling quite good, despite the ordeals of late. The closure of the mine had everyone in a fit, then dealing with those unsavory creatures in the service of Mortimer. But he felt very much fine. Almost content right now.

"Yes, yes we do. OH?! Are you interested in the mine?"

The strange man smiled widely, perfect white teeth dazzling in the light.

"Yes, very much so!"

"Perfect! If you come by City Hall we can sort out the paperwork! If it isn't to forward, but. When can we expect to see production of the mine resume?"

The strange man laughed, the Councilman even found himself laughing. Why was he laughing?

"Oh, my dear man! I am not a miner! Nor are those of my congregation."

"Congregation?"

"Yes, congregation. I'm with the local Church and we are interested in acquiring this land!"

Oh. That wouldn't do at all. The Mayor wouldn't allow the land to be used for anything other than the production of the mine.

"I'm sorry, Mr.?"

The strange man smiled once more and offered a firm handshake to the Councilman.

"No need to apologize! It was my mistake! My names Jeremiah! Brother Jeremiah."

"Well, Jeremiah. I'm sorry to say that the land is not for lease to anyone other than those that wish to exploit the coal beneath it."

Jeremiah's consistent smile faltered for a moment, and a wicked gleam flashed in his dark eyes. But only for a moment before the friendly face reappeared.

"But surely you wouldn't deny those who wish to preach the Good Word would you?"

The Councilman felt slightly guilty. He hasn't been religious in years. He stopped right around the time he entered office actually. But the Mayor wouldn't have the clerical sort occupying the land when it could and WOULD be put to better use.

He sighed.

"I am sorry Mr. Jeremiah. But the mine NEEDS to stay open. You and your congregation will have to build your House of Prayer elsewhere."

Jeremiah's smile turned broken and wicked, for but a moment. Then it returned in an instant.

"Well, thank you for your time anyways."

With that the Councilman made for his far too expensive car. But stopped when Jeremiah called after him.

"If we can't build our Church here will you at least do me the kindness of hearing our message?"

The Councilman sighed as he looked at his car. A voice in the back of his mind compelled him to listen to the strange Preacher's words. Maybe it was guilt.

"Very well. Lets hear it."

Jeremiah smiled wide once more.

"Excellent! Come!"

He threw his arm around the Councilman's shoulder and began his proselytizing.

"Our Church is an old one. It's been here longer than most around."

The Councilman found himself listening intently to the Preacher. So intent he was that he only faintly realized they were on the elevator that lead down into the mine.

"Our Mother has been watching over this land for MANY eons!"

"Hmm? Mother? OH?! Catholics are you? Venerating the Mother Mary are you?"

The Preacher's smile never faltered as they entered the darkness of the mine.

"At first glance most would think that. But no. We are not followers of Christ's Mother. Nor Christ for that matter."

"No?" The Councilman thought for a moment. He read somewhere that some Muslims revered a woman. Aisha, he thought uncertainly. Or maybe they were Hindu. They followed some female gods. But none of them used the word Church for their holy places.

The Councilman turned towards Jeremiah to ask, only to find himself alone in the dark.

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"Hello? Jeremiah?"

"She has watched as the land rose and fell, watched it break and form." The voice came from further into the darkness.

"Jeremiah? Is that you?" The Councilman called as he stumbled through the darkness towards the voice.

"She has watched as Mankind has spread and withered throughout our fleeting lives."

"Jeremiah?" He called once more as he reached his hand out to steady himself on the wall of the mine shaft.

"We will die. We will ALL die! But not Her. She won't die. She was here when the planet was nothing more than a molten speck in the darkness, and She'll be here when the sun itself has been snuffed out and we will serve Her until the universe itself has faded!"

The voice seemed to reverberate through the earth, through the darkness itself even. Then it stilled. The air itself seemed to hold its breath.

"J-j-jeremiah?"

Then the darkness claimed him.

Sometime later, the Councilman and Brother Jeremiah left the mine.

"I hope my sermon wasn't too much for you Brother Daniel?"

"Of course not Brother Jeremiah! If anything it has invigorated me!" Daniel proclaimed with wide fervent eyes.

"I'm glad to hear it Brother Daniel! Now, about the matter of the mine?" Jeremiah asked.

"Its yours! Let me worry about the Mayor!" Daniel said with zeal.

Jeremiah placed a hand on Daniel's shoulder.

"Its OURS Brother Daniel. You are one with us now, and you will always be welcome in the arms of The Mother!"

Daniel smiled widely at that statement and made for his car. He started it up and headed back to City Hall. This is the first time in so long that he has felt TRULY happy! Not the synthetic and self-loathing of booze or drugs. Or the fake happiness he felt in the arms of a hooker and not his wife. His WIFE! She's always pestering him about going to Church more! She'll LOVE the idea of going with him! They can spend it together in service and fealty to The Mother!

As fervent thoughts filled his head, he didn't notice, nor even care if he did, the trucks hauling dark lumber up to the mine.

-----

Bill sat nursing a whiskey in town.

"Damn that Mortimer!"

He threw back his drink and refilled it. Him and about a third of the strikers from the mine sat in the dark bar. The rest had called it quits when it got out that the mine was closed. No sense striking for a job that didn't exist anymore.

He groaned as the door was thrown open and blinding light aggravated his sour mood.

"What's the matter with you Bill?"

It was one of the Teamsters that they used to work with at the mine.

"You know damn well what! That fuckin' Duval!"

He grimaced at the name.

"Yeah, sorry to hear about that. We're in the same boat you are. Hell at least you got it straight and not a sliver of hope like we did!"

Bill downed another drink and looked at him in confusion.

"What you mean?"

The Teamster got his own drink and downed it before telling his tale.

"Few days ago, Mortimer calls us up. Says we're staying in business and that we needed to pick up shipments at a new location."

"What!?" Bill choked on his drink at shock. He wasn't the only one. The others were listening intently now.

"Yeah! Even says we have to pick up shipments in the middle of the night! We thought it was weird but, work is work!" He continued as he took another gulp.

"And?! Where were the shipments comin' from?!"

"That's just it. They were supposed to come from a shaft out near Crone Road. No one wanted to do it. But some of us were hopeful. Again. Work is work."

"But?"

"But. Nothing ever comes of it. We never heard anything from him again and those that had the spine to work near those cursed hills backed out when gunfire started off a few days ago."

Bill was shaking with rage! That fuckin' rat, he thought. The mine isn't really closed! Its all just so he can get out of dealing with him and the union!

"ITS A SHAM!!!"

The Teamster rocked on his stool. The others who were listening were equally shocked at their leader's words.

"Don't you see?! Its another scam to keep from payin' us what we're owed! Its to keep us from OUR jobs!"

As he continued his heated speech the other strikers in the bar burned with righteous anger!

"SO WHAT'RE YOU GOIN' TO DO WORKERS OF SOMEWHERE?!"

"STRIKE!!!"

"THATS RIGHT!!! STRIKE!!! So lets march over to the Duval's and demand what we're owed!"

The cheers somewhat died with that. Half the group looked less sure and bloodthirsty than the rest.

"What?! Don't you want your jobs back?!"

Someone shuffled awkwardly.

"Yeah, we do. But marchin' on the DUVALS?! They're not people to be messin' with like this Bill!"

"COWARDS! You'd roll over for those filthy parasites?!"

"No! Of course not! But..."

"But?!"

"But workin' in a shitty mine isn't worth startin' trouble like this." He said as him and over half the other strikers hummed or nodded in agreement.

"CLASS TRAITORS!!! ALL OF YOU!!! FINE!!! WE'LL DO THE HARD WORK FOR YOU!!!" Bill proclaimed as him and about a dozen others marched out of the bar with fury! They got in their cars and sped off towards Duval manor.

When they got there they stopped just outside the gates, using their cars and trucks to block the entrance. They retrieved crowbars, tire irons, bats and chains from the trunks.

"Ok. Here's what we're going to do! We're going in there, and we're going to show them that we can't be pushed around! That WE can't be so easily replaced!! THAT WE CAN'T BE IGNORED!!!"

He cheered as him and his dozen would-be revolutionaries charged the manor passing by the oddly pig shaped hedges. They busted through the doors and started to cause a racket. They destroyed vases, tables, they pulled down paintings and curtains.

"DUVALS!!! WE ARE HERE AND WE WILL NOT BE IGNORED!!!"

"Hard to ignore you when you make such a mess!" A voice came from the kitchen.

The revolutionaries marched towards the voice and found Morty there, alone, munching on some beignets. Bill raised a bat towards him.

"We want what we are owed!"

He munched on his snack, unbothered by the menacing group.

"You know how much it will cost to replace all that shit you broke?"

Bill brought down his bat on the plate of sugary snacks.

"DO NOT IGNORE US!!! WE WANT WHAT WE ARE OWED!!!"

Morty just popped his last remaining snack into his mouth, chewed slowly, then swallowed. He wiped his hands before sighing and looking at the group of would be-revolutionaries and definite trespassers and vandalizers.

"Fine. You want what's owed? Follow me."

Morty said as he made his way out the door that led to the back area of the manor. The group looked confused at their leader before him and the group followed.

After a minute Morty led them to a pool house. House being the word as it looked like half of them could live in it! Morty let them inside and to an open area. Where a bubbling green pool was.

"What is that Mortimer?!"

Morty pointed at the pool.

"Your replacements."

As he said this a goblin dragged itself out of the spawning pool. Shook itself off, took one look at the group and hissed as it scurried away.

"What the hell?!"

"I know. I was shocked at them when I first met them too!"

"What's all this about Mortimer?!"

"Well, you wanted what you're owed right? Well, you're not owed a FUCKING THING!!!" As Morty said this the sisters came in from the sliding doors, and his Red Caps flooded into the room. Bayonets pointed at the group.

"See. Even if I wanted to give you your jobs back, I don't but for the sake of this lets just ignore that for now, I can't. I gave the mine over to the town just a few hours ago!"

The strikers were more concerned with the goblins and sisters than they were of Morty's monologue. Well, all but their leader.

"What does that mean?! You can't jus-"

"I CAN! See, it doesn't matter what little bullshit book you read or what some ass hat with a poli-sci degree told you. The mine is MINE to do with as I see fit!"

"No its not! Its your father's and he wou-"

"You're right. He wouldn't. But then again he's dead, and the mine is, er, WAS mine."

"Dead? But, ho-"

"Oh, I killed him." Morty stated simply. Much to the shocked looks of the group of union miners.

"Y-y-you killed your own father?!"

"Mhmm, yeah." Morty said with total calm and seriousness.

"B-b-b-but then why tell us?! We're just goin' to tell the police?!"

Morty chuckled darkly as a broken smile crept up his face and a wicked gleam formed in his eye.

"What makes you think you're leaving alive?"

The group turned pale at that statement. The goblins chuckled and pushed their bayonets into the group, leading them towards the spawning pool.

"You know something? I have no idea what happens when a human is thrown into these pools, do you?"

The question was open to anyone. But no answer came. Morty shrugged.

"Guess we're about to find out aren't we?"

With a gesture the union workers were pushed and stabbed as they were herded into the bubbling pool screaming. A couple made to run but were stopped by the sisters and thrown into the pool.

After much screaming and crying they were all shoved into the pool. Except for the strike leader.

"You'll never get away with this!"

"You'd be surprised what you can get away with when you grease the right palms." Morty said as he kicked him into the pool.

It sizzled and bubbled and gurgled as the massive influx of bodies were thrown in and then!

Nothing.

It stopped and resumed bubbling as normal.

"Huh, that was anti-climatic."

"What now Master?" Orga asked as the sisters, Morty and the rest began to leave the pool house.

"Well, now we-"

ROAR!!!!

They all looked back at the pool as a great, green, meaty arm pull out a huge monster! Not as large as the sisters but still enough to make Morty worried. It was larger than the orc was. But it was bulky looking, and hairy. Like some kind of green bigfoot! It wasn't the only one either! They watched as more began to crawl from the spawning pool!

Morty looked at the Red Caps and sisters as they all stood and watched as a dozen of these green hairy things stood glaring at them. Well, at MORTY! Then the head one charged Morty.

"Kill 'em!" Morty ordered as he ducked away from the creature. Musket fire popped off in the large room. Making his ears ring and disorienting the whole lot of them. The smoke from them didn't help either. They settled for charging the beasts with their bayonets. The sisters grabbed Morty in the chaos and got him out of harms way while his Red Caps did combat with the monsters.

It actually looked like they were winning too! A group kept them at bay with bayonets while a couple stood in the back and reloaded their muskets. The bladed muskets doing well at fending off the barehanded creatures. The musket balls did some damage as well. Before long the green bigfoots(feet?) got wise and fled from the manor, hopping over the brick wall and east into the mountains.

Morty just breathed heavily at once again seeing combat. This was becoming a BAD habit! Him and the sisters joined the Red Caps. The spawning pool was no more. Whatever they were sucked up all of, whatever, was in the spawning pool. Now there was just a hole where it used to be.

"Anyone want to tell me what the fuck those were?!"

Morty looked around a the group, they looked as confused as he was.

"Really? No one? You're all telling me that none of you have ever heard of humans falling into these pools and turning into that?!"

They all just shrugged.

"Well fuck me then!"

"Wha' do we do Boss?" The goblin Headman asked.

"Do we go after and hunt them down Master?" Urga asked also.

Morty looked at the spot towards the mountains where the greenfeet fled to.

"Nope. Not our problem. If they come back THEN we will deal with it."

Morty led the group towards the front of the manor where the sisters hauled the vehicles around back, where the goblins would scrap them. He wasn't concerned about the loss of the spawning pool. It wasn't as important as the pools for the soldiers and servants. They were "labor" pools. Where the general grunts and workers spawned from and he has a handful scattered about the place.

While they were moving stuff he also had the sisters move the 12-pounder outside, and facing the mountains to the east. IF they come back they'll get a face full of cast iron!