Danilus Oakborn was meeting with Altor Seaswept and his new captain of the guard Rafael Twiceborn in the unexpected but welcome new meeting room that had appeared under his office. It contained a deep underwater tunnel that linked his castle to the underwater half of the temple out in the lagoon. Also fully one third of the room formed a raised pool where Altor was currently resting comfortably.

Rafael was feeling comfortable for the first time in over a decade, the fortified fazenda felt homely and his room had a fully equipped functioning bathroom. Well without hot water but here in the tropics he could do without.

“So Captain do you have recommendations in regards to our little castle? And congratulations on capturing those pirates and their allies,” stated Danilus.

“On the whole this fortress is quite adequate for local conditions, its probably already a bit larger than a site as remote as this requires,” replied Rafael.

Altor interrupted at this point, “you are aware that Mary is really unhappy about something, she hasn’t been around lately and the sprites are all extremely tense.”

“I have not had as much contact with her as you so no I haven’t noticed,” Danilus worried, “What reason does she have to be unhappy, do you think she’s learnt something we should know.”

“From something Trish said I suspect she’s sulking.”

Rafael cocked his head, “Mary?”

“Mary Silvestre, she’s the intelligence behind the Blue Lagoon Dungeon.” Clarified Altor.

Danilus winced then drew a deep breath and went to the door, then he asked the guard to find Viriaathos or Rhondaa and ask them to please ask if the Voice would attend their meeting.

While they waited Rafael mused, ‘I wonder if Mary is another expat? Maybe I’ve found another one like me, wonder if she’s from the US? Poor thing ending up as an immobile gem.’

It was nearly ten minutes later that the meeting room’s door opened by itself and a solemn unsmiling Alessandrina walked into the room. The door closed itself behind her.

“It’s taken you lot long enough to notice something’s up. What do you want to know.” Said the Voice.

Rafael blinked startled at the presence of a young girl in a meeting of the temple heads.

Danilus observed his captain’s startlement and introduced the newcomer, “Captain, this is Alessandrina the Dungeon’s Voice and the daughter of two of your guards, I believe you can guess which two.

“Drina, please can you tell us what’s upsetting Mary.”

“Mary is mad because you captured the pirates and the adventurers that were helping them and gave them promises that she believes means that most of them will be free soon.”

“But I did that to save lives,” stated Rafael.

Drina gave him a long look, “Next time ask! Mary really doesn’t like pirates.”

“I am in charge of the defence of the temple and settlement and I judged it better to remove the pirates without having to resort to a fight,” explained Rafael.

“You are allowed to defend the twin temple and the settlement and fort, keep out of the Spirit Dolphin Inn and do not meddle in Mary’s affairs. The pirates and their allies would have been dealt with with no risk to your people.

“Mary really doesn’t like pirates and she’s told me why. The silly tales and romances are so wrong about them.

“If any of the ones you released should ever set foot in our domain they will be killed regardless of why they have come.” Concluded the Voice and left, the door opening and then closing itself behind her.

Danilus raised an eyebrow at Rafael.

“Maybe I should have talked with you first but my experience of pirates suggested...”

“... that they’re murderous thugs and better off elsewhere,” concluded Altor.

“I would have agreed with you Rafael, I keep forgetting we’re living in a dungeon, a dungeon that doesn’t seem to be capable of showing mercy to anyone she truly dislikes,” Danilus stated. “We really must learn to make more use of her Voice, hard as it is for me to see Drina as anything but a little girl.”

* * *

Mary had used Slasher’s life force to further evolve Pete and Shirley then gifted them with a copy of his spell books and left them to their own devices before fully desending into her sulks.

A couple of days later she slowly came out of her sulks, helped by being able to vent, even if it was through her willing accomplice.

That Wyvern was fascinating, maybe with what little she seemed to know about aquatic dinosaurs she could create a hybrid. Mmm... what if she tried... maybe... yesss...

Trisha was actually relieved to see signs of Mary reverting to old patterns of behaviour as she stopped sulking. So she let her be as no new threats appeared to be on the horizon. And anyway this new monster looked more traditional somehow, big, lots of teeth, long neck. It looked like some kind of sea going variant of the wyvern.

But what on Parthia was she doing with those rats, her explanation that she needed spies was all very well, rats were everywhere after all but what did she mean about getting the idea from Fritz Leiber’s stories of Lankhmar.

* * *

The Red Terror returned to Port Salvage accompanied by a coterie of flying fish. Vinculus the Red had to deal out some significant damage to a few of his resentful followers in order to retain his position. Luckily for him most of his more dangerous potential rivals hadn’t returned.

A few feelers allowed him to learn that the stupid priests were handing over his men to the magistrates of the town of Drakoton on the island of Jarvoon. A few coins and most would be free, he would even pay them to hang a couple of the captains and assorted other troublemakers.

Vinculus decided that things could have been far worse. He still intended to get his hands on that dungeon however.

* * *

The Pyromaniacs and Faldadazar and his brothers were out on the streets of Drakoton almost as soon as they arrived, after all they were registered adventurers and their only crime was to be caught in a dungeon. They were released with apologies!

* * * INTERLUDE 1 * * *

Hell’s Mouth and Arbogar listened to Bjitgjifgnb’s report. Their magic enabled them to create an accurate map of the area using Bjitgjifgnb’s memory. After they dismissed the imp they consulted together.

They concurred that they would have to move north though luckily they wouldn’t have to move to the other side of the mountain chain as they had planned. Moving over one hundred kilometres however was not easy to contemplate or do. It would take years of creating caves and passages and collapsing them behind them to prevent being followed.

Reluctantly Hell’s Mouth created a rather skimpy new level to the north west of his current location and then he and Arbogar move their home into it and rested regaining manna slowly so as to be ready to do it again.

* * * INTERLUDE 1.1 * * *

When Sandrinna realized that Erekosë was ready to evolve she consulted Darkmoon and they decided to delay their travels especially as Sandrina had discovered hints of water deep under the mountains. So Sandrinna created a mid sized cave and coaxed the water up to form an admittedly rather feeble spring. Sandrinna was sorry her expedient underground canal had failed a few days earlier.

Their method of travel was slow and very risky but they were willing to gamble to avoid the dungeon killers. That Azurea was their enemy caused the dungeon to feel lost and alone despite the presence of her loyal minions and friends.

Erekosë when informed of his possible evolution was concerned at what it might cost his queen, Sandrinna reassured him that she was planning to rest at this location for a while and the cost would be acceptable, she also promised him she would name all her remaining Kobolds when they arrived at wherever they decided to settle.

Erekosë grew slightly, his skin paled slightly and his eyes gained a protective inner lid that allowed him to tolerate sunlight. The biggest change was that he grew leathery wings.

Sandrinna studied Erekosë’s eyes and added that little feature to her remaining Kobolds.

A week later they were on their weary way south again, claiming and releasing a thin trail of domain so she and all her minions could safely travel was as exhausting and slow as ever. Now at least they had the added security of an aerial scout.

Another week of travel left them close(ish) to several small settlements scattered around a small winding river. So they backtracked slightly to where Sandrinna had sensed a small lake under the mountains. With evident relief the voyagers burrowed into the mountain intent on creating a new home.

* * * INTERLUDE 2 * * *

It would seem Tuesday meant a few days of no school the principal having taken an unreasonably dim view of affairs in the dining hall. A tour of the city looking at jewellers led her to one her newfound senses liked. So she went in and homed in on the old guy behind the counter on the left.

“Hi, do you undertake commissions? Do you buy pearls?”

Henry Ritter glanced up at his unexpected customer, “Yes and it depends on the pearl.”

Mary removed the velvet bag that contained her pearls and took out the smaller of the two and showed it to Henry.

Henry was startled, it was a lovely white 14mm pearl. “That certainly looks like something we would buy.”

She placed it on the counter and removed the second, her treasure, the 18mm wonder that seemed to have a very slight blueish tint. “Could you produce a nice gold necklace to hold this, possibly encased in an open filigree mesh or basket in exchange for that one?”

Henry agreed, he showed Mary various designs, discussed quality and promised to have the necklace ready on Friday.