  The present paper describes a relation between the quotient of the
fundamental group of a smooth quasi-projective variety by its second commutator
and the existence of maps to orbifold curves. It extends previously studied
cases when the target was a smooth curve. In the case when the quasi-projective
variety is a complement to a plane algebraic curve this provides new relations
between the fundamental group, the equation of the curve, and the existence of
polynomial solutions to certain equations generalizing Pell's equation. These
relations are formulated in terms of the depth which is an invariant of the
characters of the fundamental group discussed in detail here.
