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I can't believe you did that, Stitch.

You, you're too gutsy for your own good. I never imagined you'd...

Actually manage to do something useful! Hurry, let me see what fancy goodies you brought back!

The network of caves above the lift is way too hard to navigate, and I have no clue where my map went. Nobody's been up there in years!

You remembered to bring me a souvenir, right? Or maybe some exotic ore specimens? Some fermentable surface plants? The latest issue of 'Stranger Things'?! The ones they have at the library are all out-of-date.

No, uhh, how should I put this...?

I brought a few people back.

Huh?

'Thus, she decided...'

'She decided on Old Karl Mead!'

Ugh, that's not good enough. Maybe the product placement should come a bit earlier? Let me revise that a bit...

'Cheaper than cheap. Crazier than crazy!'

'If you need a place to cut loose, have a great time, and, of course, enjoy a sip of some soul-soothing mead—'

'Look no further than Zeruertza and our famed Old Karl Mead!'

Good. Concise, straightforward, and lavish in praise. The client should be satisfied with this. Hopefully.

There's this one proverb Blaze always pulls out. How did it go again––?

The shortest distance between two points is a straight line.

That's the one.

I have a conjecture. You rainforest folk have the terrible misfortune of living in that dump, so you've been compensated with extremely good luck in other areas.

What other explanation is there for why the lot of you haven't gone extinct yet? It doesn't make any sense.

It proves our way of life is good for keeping us alive.

High Priest, what are Durin cities like?

Uhh, I don't remember. A little too boring to talk about.

I spent some time in the underground world a century or so ago and the only thing I can remember is that it was a nasty place chock-full of imbeciles.

Less interesting than watching Originium slugs sleep by the river.

Though, heh, you young kids ought to experience things on your own. You need to have the kind of drive and ambition that I did!

By the way, turn left at the next junction, and DON'T jump down!

How much longer now, High Priest?

Good question. There's no end to the road called life. No matter how far you've come, you can only keep moving forward— plus, there's a geezer like me watching over you.

Oh, if you meant how far we are from the city, if you could drop right through the rocks like I can, you need to go down another five or six hundred meters.

Zumama, how the hell did you put up with this guy up so long? He won't shut up.

He's usually not as noisy around the machines.

Does this chainsaw blade count as a machine?

Harrumph! No manners!

Would you look at that. Worked like a charm.

This is it... We're here!

Uhh, the 'Great Aquapit?'

Let's set aside the Durins' naming sense for now.

This waterpark already looked pretty insane from the distance, but it's even more incredible up-close!

Is this how Durins live all the time?!

Cowabunga!!

When did he change into a swimsuit?

E-Elysium, please be careful!

Woah, that was a close one! Are you alright? Didn't spill your drink, did you?

Well... that's weird. How'd you surface-dwellers end up down here? Never seen you people around before.

And this guy looks about as stupid as a Durin.

Hello, sir. We were invited here by Stitch Canvas.

He said, uh, he wanted us to help him with a little favor!

Stitch Canvas, huh... Would you look at that, he actually came back.

I thought he was going to say goodbye to this city for good, just like that respectable teacher of his.

As much as I'd like to offer you our famous Durin hospitality, welcoming folk that we are, I sadly can't while Stitch is running around causing havoc and ignoring all our ways.

Let me introduce myself first. I am Catch Lightrace, this city's design representative.

No need to be nervous. It'll be over in no time.

What... is the meaning of this?

Hmm? Did the atmosphere just get a little weird all of a sudden? I can't handle all these people trying to toast me at the same time.

Are you guys...?

Trying to pick a fight?! I'm not afraid of you shorties!

You're gonna get a taste of the combat skills Gavial taught me! Phew... Take a sturdy stance, and put your hips into it!

Come at me!

Wh-What is she doing?! Is she gonna clobber us with her stick?

Gyaaaah! Stay away from me!

Hey, hey! What are you people doing?! Stop! Stop, I tell you!!

Huh? I thought we were going to fight?

Why would Durins do such a pointless thing?!

Put your weapons away and come with me!

Ahem! Citizens of Zeruertza, this is this quarter's four hundred and seventeenth referendum.

Following our previous vote on this month's general background music, we decided on the color of our street lights for the week during the last referendum. Now, we must answer a new question.

Since this question isn't particularly important, the individuals here today are enough of a quorum to represent Zeruertza.

Today's question is: Zeruertza has just welcomed new guests. Should we accept them or not?

What guests?

I heard something about a guy who doesn't drink?

Ah, no, it's these ones standing right in front of us.

Cheers, brother! Isn't it crazy that there's a Durin out there who doesn't drink?

Yeah, that's totally crazy. Cheers!

Let's finish chugging this barrel, then we can go play in the water.

Hah, make sure to keep those eyelids peeled! You have to see what us surface-dwellers can do!

Tomimi, sorry if I sound like a broken record, but are you sure everything's alright at Rhodes Island?

Uh, p-probably?

You're always welcome to come back if things aren't working out. Be careful— don't underestimate the amount of damage a bad environment can do to you!

Hurry it up, Catch! We've got a lot of stuff to take care of!

Brother, have you ever heard of a sport called surfing?

Surfing, you say? That might as well be my middle name!

Objection!

This guy can't be trusted!

Ah, yeah. I knew things weren't going to be that simple...

Hey you, drunk Liberi over there!

Inam, they must be talking to you, because I certainly amn't drunk. Not a bit.

I AM talking to you, guy with the stein!

Alright. Whaddya want?

You'd better come out and pick a side: noble mead, or lame-ass whiskey!

We of the Old Karl Mead fan club graciously welcomed you into our fold, and now you're hanging out with those hoity-toity whiskey-sippers? My disappointment is immeasurable!

Not too long ago, we had our arms over each other's shoulders, shouting 'Long Live Mead' together. But I turn around for a second and you go off to play with those uppity kids?

Err, um, I think they're both great...

Oh no you don't! We don't take kindly to fence-sitters around here!

Haha, you're a joke. You can't know what's good and what's bad without a point of reference. Isn't that right, brother?

There's nothing to be afraid of. Speak your mind, and let the words of praise flow for our great whiskey. That is, if you want to stay in Zeruertza––

Hey, stop threatening him, you despicable whiskey-sipper!

Gah. Your mead's baby stuff! Might as well drink it out of a bottle!

Let's throw down in front of the Big Cask tonight then! Walk the walk if you talk the talk!

Hah, you wanna see who can chug more of your baby brew? You have my attention!