* * * PARTHIA – CORPORAL ROY ANDERSON * * *

After the meeting the American contingent split up into smaller groups and went exploring. Gathering information. Roy once more accompanied Gunny.

They were passing a new blacksmith’s forge when Gunny spotted an incongruity. He grabbed Roy’s arm and said, “Look, isn’t that a computer Roy?”

Roy turned and looked where Gunny was indicating. “You’re right Gunny. That does look like the wreck of a desktop unit.”

After examining the battered desktop unit, it almost looked like someone had taken an axe to it, so as to get at its insides. The two men ventured into the noisy workshop.

The smith noticed the two potential new customers and looked up from the horseshoe he was forging. “Welcome sirs, anything you be wanting.”

“Good afternoon, we were just curious about that peculiar object,” offered Roy.

“Oh that. That was a big disappointment. Some adventurers found it in the end room of our dungeon. Nobody has any idea what it is. When I opened it up I found no usable metal, it mostly contains some brittle green stuff.”

“It was found in the dungeon you say. I can think of a friend who collects junk from dungeons.” Roy walked round it and peered inside. “Would you sell it for a guilder?”

A bout of spirited bargaining later saw Roy part with two guilders and place the damaged unit in his storage device.

* * *

Some time later the two meandered into the local Adventurer’s Guild building. The front room appeared to consist of the majority of the building and reminded them of a peculiar mix of a post office and bar. To their right there were a number of positions where people could be attended. Along the back wall there were some post boards with pinned notices. On the left there stood a long polished bar with a grill at one end. The room itself was liberally filled with mismatched tables and stools.

They emerged an hour later as novice adventurers, and both of them were two guilders poorer.

When they came in sight of the port they found that there was a new ship tied up next to theirs. It looked very similar to the Alessandrina’s Glory. The newcomer, the Ocean Pride was discharging passengers. The group that caught their attention consisted of two huge Tiger ’folk, one meerkat ’folk and three humans.

They made their way through the crowd and stopped when they heard.

“... and then Donatello grabbed his bo, his staff, and swung at the thief who was trying to make off with his latest invention. The thief went flying and slammed into Raphael, knocking him onto his ass ...”

Gunny and Roy looked to where the vaguely familiar voice was coming from and found Lou, the team’s sniper sketching madly while telling a mixed audience of mostly kids the tale. Gunny and Roy shared an incredulous look and kept walking.

* * * SIN TCHAI THE MESSENGER * * *

Sin Tchai was feeling disgruntled, and a little apprehensive. Meek’aym’ooz’s majordomo Foozharn Longlegs had summoned him. Despite wanting to drag his feet, Sin Tchai only delayed long enough to hide the letter that that goddess’ court had prevented her sending. It was both too delicious and too dangerous to be found with. And Foozharn was reputed to have a beak for trouble.

The way he was passed through the numerous middlemen with hardly a pause further unsettled Sin Tchai. He found himself kowtowing to the mighty Foozharn within half an hour of presenting himself at the palace.

“Pay attention to me boy! I’m not just talking to hear my head roar,” said Foozharn. “You know this girl, right? Now the great one Meek’aym’ooz wishes to instruct her. You will take this missive from our god to her. But first hand her this letter from me, the girl needs warning as to how things are.”

Sin Tchai sweated apprehensively and knocked his head three times on the floor in acknowledgement of these instructions.

Foozharn Longlegs looked at the cowering messenger. Irritated, he snapped, “Go, I say, go away, boy, and don’t forget the messages.”

Sin Tchai backed up, snatched the two fancy well-stuffed envelopes with their multitude of ribbons and seals and fled. He only slowed after he had left the Gardens of Paradise. Hovering in the realm between he placed the messages in his courier pouch. He used his magics to clean up and make himself presentable.

Sin Tchai found the goddesses’ throne room empty. His senses told him she wasn’t on this world. Surprised he rechecked before resorting to the seeker-compass. He shook it worriedly as the needle kept swing between two points. And even more worryingly two worlds, in different universes.

Slowly the needle settled on the closest location and Sin Tchai resumed his messenger lope, speeding to meet his messages destination.

He found her presiding over a mortal court. In a dungeon. He flashed into existence and noted with interest that her followers regarded him with indifference, where those he assumed were visitors and petitioners showed the customary reverence to a messenger of the Greater Gods.

She made him wait, insisting he join the line of those with petitions and other business. Sin Tchai could feel her power, seeing as she was in the heart of her power. Sin Tchai suppressed his grin as those in front of him expedited their business.

Finally he handed his messages to the girl child who he just knew was her supreme priestess. “The great Foozharn Longlegs, majordomo of The Great God of the lower mid tier; Meek’aym’ooz the King of Rodents, overseer of the Gods of the lower tier and their Gardens, asks that you, Mary Mother of Monsters, first read his missive.”

The goddess’ cold look chilled Sin Tchai, causing him to bow low. When he straightened the goddess had already tossed two sheets of embossed paper onto the floor. She hummed disdainfully when she came to the meat of the matter.

Sin Tchai shivered again as she opened the summons and then casually discarded it on the floor after flicking through the pages.

“Gracie, attend me. Be ready to write.” The goddess waited until a nervous looking dog woman approached and sat herself at a portable desk. “Right, lessee. ‘To the honourable Foozharn Longlegs, thanks for your warnin’ an’ advice. Rest assured I have no intention of settin’ foot in the Gardens.’ Then sign it off in the usual fashion.”

Sin Tchai watched with bated breath as Gracie put the blunt message to one side before gathering a ream of good paper and writing a long letter containing her goddess’ message. When Gracie had finished, Mary signed it and returned it. Gracie placed it in an envelope and passed it to Sin Tchai who was unable to resist smirking.

“Now for rodent breath,” said Mary. She looked up as Sin Tchai choked. After a cold-eyed look she smiled maliciously. “Right. ‘To the Great God of the lower mid tier; Meek’aym’ooz the King of Rodents, overseer of the Gods of the lower tier and their Gardens. Many thanks for your kind invitation. I must respectfully decline as I have no intention of settin’ foot in the Gardens of Paradise. If you really want to see me, come find me in the lower realms.’ Then sign off as usual. An’ don’t pad it out too much Gracie.”

Sin Tchai reluctantly accepted the letters. His mind was racing as he plotted ways to get someone else to have the ‘honour’ of delivering these incendiary letters to Foozharn. Old birdbeak might be a pompous windbag, but he was rumoured to be reasonable enough when not in a temper.

* * * PARTHIA – TOD * * *

« ... »

« Congratulations on becoming a new dungeon – in Parthia! »

« you may now choose one starting monster type – do you wish to hear the list – yes/no »

« No – thanks Bluey. May I choose – Dinosaurs »

« ... Too diverse... Lesser Dinosaurs would be acceptable. »

« Good. I choose Lesser Dinosaurs. »

« Done – Be aware that you will be restricted by your choice until you accumulate sufficient mana and experience to obtain further advances – Dinosaurs and Greater Dinosaurs. »

Tod struggled to assimilate a flood of information, and he felt a slight shift in the core of his being as some of his core beliefs and attitudes shifted slightly under this flood of information.

When he surfaced he instinctively claimed the cave he found himself in. And the first person he sensed was a noticeably excited Silverfin. The little sea sprite was virtually vibrating in place as she waited.

« Hello Silverfin. Are you sure of this? I mean Jerica always seemed to be in the background somehow. »

“Yes! But Jerica and Trisha have the luck to be linked to Mother, to Blue Lagoon. They have far more to do than most companions. And they are very respected amongst companions. Please will you take me as your companion? »

Tod contemplated the little sprite and for the first time was able to truly see her. Somehow as a dungeon core he had a different way of seeing a potential companion. He somehow felt they would match. Silverfin was older and therefore, more mature than Jerica. But just as eager.

« Very well. Be my companion Silverfin. »

“Yes!” shouted Silverfin with a jump of joy.

* * *

Some time later Tod tapped one of his mana crystals and expanded his domain to include the other cave and beach outside his caves. He paused when he reached the wet sand before expanding his domain to include a sliver of the cove.

Then he learnt why Mary had given him the sea lion template. His first guardian, the were-sea leopard was a loner. He now knew it wouldn’t tolerate another of its species in its territory, except during the mating season. That, and the fact that it found his location intolerably warm. Sighing mentally he fished out the air con ring Mary had called a ‘walrus ring’ and after absorbing its pattern, passed it on to his new guardian.