The wolves were useless for what she wanted, this pair would never make the 'big bad wolf' list. They were good hunters but somewhat timid. If they were starving and desperate maybe but that wouldn’t be any good. At least she could make her wolfman beastfolk now. They were going to get their bloody mindedness from their human side though. Endurance, strength, patience and a sense of smell that would allow them to locate a ship over the horizon if it happened to be upwind.

When Thomas Felix now universally known as Tomcat by his shipmates arrived back from his training cruise Mary had enough beastfolk to crew a ship and to include a small marine detachment.

Tomcat took them out in shifts for short round the atoll cruises on the Alessandrina’s Glory with some Sailors on temporary hire to season them and ensure their template gained skills matched reality.

On the night they sailed additional sailors were sent abroad so that the Alessandrina’s Glory sailed with over twice the number of sailors needed to man her.

The rat’s catamaran quickly outdistanced the former pirate ship and joined their comrades in Port Salvage and prepared for their part of the plan.

The rats were enjoying themselves, first they found that stealing gold from Vinculus the Red’s treasury to be ridiculously easy unlike stealing anything from his pantry. Forging the notes they wanted was even easier, they actually found a drawer half full of the letters in question, all they had to do was fill in the date and time. The stamp they needed to authenticate the letters was in another drawer in the same desk.

The second stage was trickier but they achieved it without more than having to endure a few curses and an ill aimed tankard.

The bar and tavern owners didn’t suspect anything, the letters with gold were on their bars in the morning, Vinculus had treated the town to free drinks before, the letter even indicated what drinks could be dispensed.

So that night Port Salvage partied hard, many of the ships in the harbour were left crewless, a few managed to retain a very disgruntled skeleton watch.

So, when a short while before midnight the Alessandrina’s Glory came to a halt just outside the harbour and launched several longboats loaded with sailors and marines it went undetected as the men who were supposed to be on watch were gazing resentfully at the party taking place ashore.

Two longboats managed to row unnoticed to the Red Terror and the catfolk marines swarmed on board led by Tomcat. A short and vicious fight ensued with all the pirates ending up in the harbour. The sailors who had followed the marines soon had the anchor cable cut and the sails down. Rowers swarmed into the longboats to turn the Red Terror to allow it to best catch the wind.

Another two longboats found the recently captured merchantman empty and replicated the efforts of their comrades on the Red Terror.

Tomcat passed an anxious half-hour before his prizes were actually moving.

The man-rats for their part proceeded with the next stage of the plan “humiliate Vinculus” when they saw the two ships leave harbour. A few flasks of oil spread around and a spark or two and three warehouses were burning. They lost no time getting to their speedy catamarans and heading home.

Tomcat detoured and left the pirate’s ex-prize in a small port on the island of Jarvoon and arranged with the harbour master to return the ship to its owners.

A few days later Danilus strolled into his guard captain’s cubby and asked if the ship currently at anchor in their harbour was the Red Terror.

“No, it’s the Blue Wyvern,” replied Rafael sourly. “But, yes it was indeed the Red Terror a few days ago.”

* * *

Bolithco blinked at the quest board and took down the quest and strode over to the reception desk and placed it down. "We’ll take this."

The clerk glanced down, checked Bolithco’s ID and stamped the appropriate documents passing Bolithco's copy across to him with an indifferent “have a good day”.

* * * INTERLUDE 1 * * *

Harrassan stumped up to the dungeon alone, he stepped into the entrance and apologised for their previous actions feeling distinctly silly. He then informed the dungeon of their current orders and offered to await a reply and professed himself ready to answer any questions.

Sandrinna although suspicious was cautiously hopeful and reluctantly allowed Darkmoon to go and speak with the adventurer.

Harrassan was surprised to be addressed by a pixie but managed to almost reassure Sandrinna and Darkmoon.

The delve was brutal, Sandrinna gave it her all, using all the traps, tricks and tactics she, Blacksand and Erekosë had come up with.

The adventurers prevailed and in the final room were able to coax Sandrinna to allow them to view her core at a safe distance in her escape tunnel.

Harrassan was disgusted, “Water, Earth, Air and Life. And Azurea wanted us to kill her because of demons and undead. No way can this dungeon summon or control either.”

Warminor added, “yes but it’s cunning, I’d rank it Novice for the first level and Apprentice for the next two levels, I suspect a fourth level when it appears will be Journeyman ranked.

“A decent enough starter dungeon, though the rewards are kind of low on the third level. The guild will have to keep an eye on it as it shows signs of growing stronger.” Decided Harrassan.

* * * INTERLUDE 2 * * *

Mary emerged from her bedroom and headed towards the wonderful smells coming from the kitchen. She glanced out of the lounge window and froze. She couldn’t be seeing what she thought she was seeing.

“Hey mama, come quick please,” she said unbelievingly.

Her mother came to the door of the lounge and saw her daughter pointing out of the window.

“What is it Mary, I’ve already seen you new jeep, your brother’s s—” she said as she joined her daughter at the window. “Is that a fairy... what!”

The two women watched the tiny scantily clad woman flit about the jeep in stupefied amazement. Then the pixie spotted them in the window and streaked across the road to hide in the Jamison’s garden.