Mary had cracked it, she called in her rats and after gaining their consent and inducing sleep in her creations and test subjects started tinkering. The upgrade proceeded well with only a few minor hiccups that she was able to fix. The result, twenty of what could be called ratweres; big headed intelligent rats that could change their forms into very human looking miniature humanoids. Both forms were fast healing but not to the point of regeneration. Mary decided to go with her creations preferred name for themselves of rat-men and was amused to note that the ladies were the proud possessors of six breasts apiece, larger on top then smaller and smaller below. In their humanoid form they tended to long sharp noses and slightly receding chins.

The only change she made to their minds, was to add the skill needed to control the change.

Now to figure out how to allow them to assume near human size, however she was not very hopeful that that would be possible due to the massive difference in mass between the forms.

When they woke, Steve and Victoria the two named leaders of rat-men thanked their creator and retired to their rooms to practice and relax before their next mission.

Next decision, who to use to head up her takeover of Port Salvage. Mary quickly determined that no one who looked to her currently was suitable, so that left a new member of one of her intelligent races, the octopi were out for obvious reasons, the man-rats also, though Victoria was devious enough to use as an advisor. Beastman, cat or wolf? Wolf was probably better under the circumstances. So skill templates available. Mmm time to annoy bluey by getting his input.

So Paris Wolfman was born named for the famous Trojan prince. Damn but she could have sworn Bluey had enjoyed himself helping her in cobbling up the skillset template for a revolutionary leader and politician. Mary made sure not to lose it, she was certain she would need it again.

For a personal staff Paris selected two beastman warriors and an islander, formerly a slave of the pirates. They conferred with Victoria and her rats learning as much as possible about the dissatisfied of Port Salvage before heading out.

Just one day out from Port Salvage the Sea Sprite was met by the man-rat’s catamaran with news. It appeared that setting fire to three warehouses full of flammable loot in a ramshackle wooden town most of whose inhabitants were roaring drunk was not a good idea. The fire had spread and only the fact that it was at night and the wind was blowing offshore had saved anything. Several of the pirates ships that had been docked had also burned. The rumours the rats had picked up suggested that Vinculus the Red was dead or had fled and three factions were currently battling for supremacy in what was left of the town.

Paris Wolfman grinned savagely, “this could play into our hands, if we inflame the flames we could get the pirates to thin their numbers while building up a base among what passes for law abiding citizens in this cesspit of a town by helping to rebuild the waterfront.”

Paris nodded to the captain of the man-rats catamaran, “can you carry a message to Mary asking her to dispatch some reinforcements including a few builders. Maybe some more man-rats and another catamaran to facilitate communications.”

* * *

The news that their Gods would be physically present at a set location on a predetermined time caused a great deal of furore amongst the temples of Ocidon and Creevar. Several High Priests scrambled to find excuses to be present. The holy Anchor of Ocidon and the high hierophant of Creevar with bodyguards and attendants were determined to be present.

Sanderson the Wise, the High Priest of the Temple of Ocidon at Garonmouth beat them all, he arrived with his secretary and a mere two guards full of smiles with the avowed aim to raise the three deserving acolytes to the priesthood. Danilus was not fooled but appreciated the sentiment so in an impressive and well attended ceremony Bertina, Faaron – much to his surprise – and Sirvanus were raised to the priesthood.

Naturally Sanderson felt entitled to a rest, and since the meeting of the two Gods would occur in a few days it would be rude to leave.

The next to arrive was Belatrix Anchor of the Deep, co-leader of the faith of Ocidon, a very large and erudite squid who was soon in deep conversation with Pete and Shirley. It would be safe to say he was giving Mary ideas.

The holy Anchor of Ocidon and the high hierophant of Creevar with their extensive entourages arrived together on Captain Tomcat’s Blue Wyvern.

Room was found for all these important visitors at the cost of temporarily turfing out the regular inhabitants of apartments and rooms at the fortress with the remainder being housed at the Spirit Dolphin Inn.

The meeting went smoothly with all present being allowed to see their Gods before leaving their various High Priests to witness the historic meeting. Nothing was decided, no firm agreements were made, however the Gods did come to a vague agreement; not to disagree and to work for the good of the world. A suitably vague start to a possible rapprochement in the future.

* * * INTERLUDE 1 * * *

The scouting party for the Fast Killers desert ork tribe were easily able to confirm Grraafgor’s finding, they ventured a few chambers into the dungeon before withdrawing after their shaman had gained everything he wanted. They carried away one victim of a pitfall trap not being willing to give the dungeon any information they might need to bargain with.

* * * INTERLUDE 2 * * *

“No way...” Mary mentally censored herself not wanting to go beep yet again, “’K the Con starts tomorrow but I’m not goin’ to be ready for a tour round a load of dusty historical sites at seven thirty!” She looked at an eager Flip, “An’ ‘fore you say it mama’s from Fiji an’ papa’s from New Mexico, neither are from Hawaii, just us ‘cause we were lucky enough to be born here.”

Flip deflated visibly. “Hey Flip, you like that kind of stuff, so go, I can find something to do tomorrow mornin’ just not at seven thirty.”

The long anticipated Thursday finally arrived and Mary wandered down for breakfast shortly before nine. So food and coffee or should that be coffee and food and check the schedule. The walking tour, well it was already past nine so that left the Educators’ & Academics’ Coffee Hour at ten.

‘Well that was interestin’,’ thought Mary as she wandered away to gaze out at the sea. Then she wandered round looking at whatever took her fancy. The place was getting decidedly busy...

« Jackpot! »

Another of those blue messages, she had flicked it away before the message registered. She found a wall and leaned against it just gazing into the distance, ‘Jackpot, just what did that mean?’

She had enjoyed Kalepa Baybayan’s Hawaiian Wayfinding conference and at around four she came across Flip again as he was leaving the room where he’d been attending something called Living in SciFi Simulations.

“So hows it goin’ Flip?”

“Great Sis, hey lets grab a burger then you’re coming with me, you’ll just love the panel on Influence of Modern Day Gaming.”

Mary sighed in resignation and accompanied her brother, but he was right, it was fascinating in a gruesome kind of way as first the attendees sitting near her starting stabbing at the air in front of their faces then it spread and everyone was doing it, even the panellists. She caught several comments about great tech and cool special effects.

‘Yeah! Jackpot indeed!’ she thought slumping down in her seat.