Myra Malstrom was the only granddaughter of Geon Malstrom, who was the mayor of Adortin. She had spent most of her life at his knee. From playing in his office as a babe to peering at his paperwork on her tiptoes as a small child. Unlike her brother that had no interest in politics Myra wanted to take her grandfather’s job one day. That is why after her first ever dungeon dive she volunteered to travel back to Eslan, the capital of Horamear. She would be the voice of not only her grandfather and Adortin by the Lost Forest region as a whole.

The trip to the gate had been amusing. The Eslan team had never been on an air-raft and their faces were a great start to the day. As they sank below the water the protective air bubble over the craft had made itself known. Rose had even stuck her hand out of the bubble and learned that touching it didn’t pop it. Her hand had passed right through and come back wet.

She’d seen the gate before and knew some of how it worked. Hamish was far more interested in the masterwork runes than she was. Myra smiled as he babbled about the work. Usually there were merchants lined up for hours to pass through the open gate but this time there were only 3 willing to go to a surface town for trade.

Myra was sure their assistants had long lists of items to look for that would be cheap or were hard to come by in the water. A few of the dry side merchants had done the same, sending assistants to buy anything that they could resell for a profit.

Killi, a lionfolk who was always out for a profit, had sent his triton assistant to question Yenstar and the Eslan team last night. Myra had the urge to count her fingers whenever she had to deal with either male. He wanted to know what would sell best to the incoming adventurers. Evanna would usually have run him off but both her and Olive were also curious about what potions and salves would be more in demand. Turns out what marine and surface adventurers were about the same. Well other than burn creams. Wasn’t much need for those under the water.

Myra focused back to the present as the gate opened. Unlike the normal, calming, deep blue of another marine gate, this one opened with the bottom half a dark grey of the buildings and the top a kaleidoscope of colors due sunrise. The oddity made her heart beat faster.

This was her first solo trip away from home. There wasn’t the luxury of her older family members there so she could quietly observe. No disarmingly charming Olive to distract others, or Hamish to offer wisdom and insight, not even the steady Tuck that would have her back no matter what. Nerves tried to cloud her mind.

Hamish placed a hand on her shoulder. “Peace.” He said.

Why that one word did the trick she didn’t know, but it did. Taking a fortifying breath she hugged Hamish and headed forward to stand by Yenstar and Mika. At least she had a new friend by her side. She also had a list from Olive and her mother Evanna. Along with a sack of potions to get appraised and sell.

The smell of Eslan was so different from anything she was used to. There was no moisture in the air. It was dry with the slight chill from the waning summer. She took a deep breath and smelled livestock and unwashed bodies. Did they not have a public bath here?

There were onlookers standing around to gawk at the marine arrivals. Her head was high and her face passive, not showing her nerves or dislike of the smell. Among the gawkers was a tall deerling with an even more impressive rack. She’d seen a couple in Riverside but the forest seemed to bother them more than most and they never stayed in town long.

Hashash led the group to his side.

“Long time no see.” Yenstar said, offering a hand.

Ludvik chuckled, a deep carrying sound. “I am unsure of if it has been too long or not long enough.”

“That is the way I prefer people view my presence.”

Another softer chuckle was his response. “Come along we have much to discuss.”

They didn’t have to go far. The guild building is the largest building in the square around the gate. It took up the entire northwest corner.The rest of the square was packed with merchant stalls looking to make a profit on anyone using the gate. Those vultures were present every time she’d passed through a gate. Merchants seemed very similar regardless of what side of the water line they were from.

Once they entered the building things were drastically different. Outside almost everyone was human, but in here there was a mix. There were still twice as many humans as any other race but there were at least other races. The jobs board here was much smaller than the one in Adortin. Hamish had told her most marine cities had separate areas for adventuring quests and town quests. Another similarity but one she thought was useless.

The guild in Adortin got a small percentage of the pay from any job completed by its members. That should be incentive enough to have the city jobs posted here. Only a fool turned down free income.

They didn’t stop in the front room, instead taking 3 flights of steps to the top floor. Their journey ended in a posh conference room with 6 people already there waiting on them.

Myra knew the face of the man at the head of the table. The king of Horamear. She was confused as to why he was here or if he came to meetings for every new dungeon.

The group gave slight bows to the seated ruler. Even Mika who was the only person that isn’t a resident. Though her and Feta were planning to live in Adortin for the next year at least.

“Thank you, now have a seat.” King Jakob replied, waving them to fill the empty chairs around the table.

Myra took the seat opposite the king since she was the one representing the Lost Forest. She sat on her fingers to keep them still and to hide any sweating.

“I believe introductions are in order.” King Jakob continued. His voice was smooth and calming. “I am King Jakob Blackblade. This is Peony, my eldest daughter and assistant.” He motioned to the lovely blonde in her late 30s on his right. “Samuel Brigsby, master builder and stone mason.” A ginger with big, worn working hands to the right of the princess. “Melody Rivers, court mage.” Most of her hair was grey and her eyes had deep wrinkles from reading in poor light. She was seated to the kings left. “Her nephew Abrum, cartographer.” He was clean shaven with wispy tawny hair and ink stains on his hands. “And Drog Matherly, head of the Merchants Guild.”

Instead of replying Myra looked at Ludvik waiting to have the adventures introduced first.

The deerling took the hint and cleared his throat. Peony had a small smile on her face. “Hashash led the team as my second in command. This is Cynthia Paladin of Piec, Rose a second tier master swordswoman, Marius unarmed combat trainer, Rioux master bard and Kevin the Journeyman potion researcher.”

Myra nodded to him in thanks. “I am Myra Malstrom, representative of the Lost Forest. This is Yenstar James, former dungeon caregiver and Mika of Gorger representative for Judor. The 3 of us were also part of the team that discovered the dungeons entrance and explored most of its first floor.”

Everyone that hadn’t come through the gate were surprised by that news.

“How was a child able to find the dungeon before our team?” Melody asked with judgemently.

“Numerous reasons.” Myra replied, voice remaining neutral. “Every year over a dozen people go missing in the forest and we have become very skilled in combing the forest for them. Yenstar, Mika and the others that joined us lightened the load and allowed us to cover more ground. They were also indespicable inside the dungeon.”

Myra could tell Peony was pleased that someone got one over on the woman. Most of the Eslan adventurers were also smirking.

“Hashash, have your team mapped or evaluated the dungeon?” the princess asked before the mage could reply.

“No my lady. There were 6 teams from the area already searching when we arrived. After stopping in Adortin for any additional information we began searching part of the forest that wasn’t already being searched. When the signal that the dungeon had been found was sounded we headed back to Adortin. That was less than 12 hours ago.”

Yesntar spoke up. “I have made up a map of the areas we searched.” He handed the king a rough sketch of the dungeon. “We reached the entrance just after noon. We had been searching since sun up and were winded. Traveling the 1st floor and back took us until midnight.”

“This is a very large 1st floor.” The king commented handing the map off to Abrum. “And there is another floor?”

Yenstar sighed, “I believe the core had most of the 1st floor complete when it opened, that is why there was such a massive yawn. The core room was still on the 1st floor so either the 2nd wasn’t complete or we caught it in the process of moving. We didn’t attempt the stairs.”

“Miss Mika,” Peony asked “Why have you chosen to come here instead of reporting to Judor?” She sounded genuinely curious.

“I… resonated, for lack of a better word, with the dungeon and would like to be it’s caregiver.”

“Not an easy job.” King Jakob stated, “It’s all politics.”

“That is the part I am dreading, but Yenstar has experience and has promised to train me.”

The king nodded. “Now can you tell us about the dive. Leave nothing out.”

The 3 split the tale. Once they were done there were more questions.

“You placed the standard barrier around the core?” Ludvik asked

“No,” Yenstar replied. “I laid a slightly altered barrier that will leave a physical mark on any body part that crosses it. I also placed my strongest ward just to the outside of the barrier. That would need to be broken before the barrier could be crossed.”

“Just who are you? And why are you no longer caring for your dungeon?” Melody didn’t like being sassed and she wasn’t about to sit quietly.

Yenstar sat up straighter and leveled her with a glare. He seemed to transform from a simple old traveler to a dangerous mage. “I am Rune Master Yesntar James. Double S rank sorcerer of the Blue Flame and member of the Warding Circle. Where as you Melony River, are a second rate archivist that would barely pass the B rank trials. If you had the spine to try them. You have never seen the mouth of a dungeon and should keep your mouth shut. I thought Myra made your lack of knowledge and tact perfectly clear earlier.”

Jakob glared at the mage. “If you can’t keep your tongue behind your teeth you will not only be out of this meeting but out of a job.”

Her face went from bright red to ashen at the kings words.

“If you have any further questions you will ask them to me and I will deem if they are worth answering.” He glared at her for a moment longer, “Is that clear?” She nodded but kept her eyes on her lap.

Abrum caught the king's eyes and mouthed ‘thank you’ over his aunt’s head. Jakob simply inclined his head.

“I apologize Master James.”

“There is no need.” Yenstar replied. “Master Umbrin will be thrilled that I gave her a tongue lashing and that you don’t approve of her behavior. She has been irritating him for some time now.”

The king sighed. “Peony please pin an apology to Master Umbrin.”

“Yes father.” The now openly grinning Peony replied, making a note of it in her ledger on the table.

“Getting back to the barrier and the ward.” Myra began. She repeated what Hamish had said about the severe punishments for those that bothered a Marine core. “Marine cores are more scattered and harder to find so each one is precious. Most of Adortin will likely follow their beliefs and arrest, exile or otherwise punish anyone that crosses the barrier. I think anyone that enters the dungeon should be aware.”

Mika spoke up next. “I doubt it would be just Adortin. From what I have seen everyone in the Lost Forest stands together. The swamp villages would be glad for any reason to ban outsiders.”

“Morgon told me the same when I first learned of the dungeon from Orym.” Ludvik added. “It has been 19 years since even an adventuring team has entered this area and they never made it back out.”

“More bad news,” Rose began “The Lost Forest is a natural fortress. The bridge we cross is over a very angry river that routinely destroys said bridge and tries to kill anyone crossing.”

“What about going through the swamp?” Abrum asked.

“No beast of burden will enter the swamp.” Myra replied. “The tax collectors should be well aware of that. The safest way is to go around the swamp to the south or take a boat from Tornmer to Adortin. Though the quickest would be using the gate in Judor then traveling their well maintained road north to Riverside.” She paused. “Riverside is also where any guild buildings will be built.”

Cynthia chimed in before any more questions could be asked. “There is something wrong with those woods. The deeper we went into the trees the more sinister they felt. I will be reporting to my order and trying to convince them to investigate.”

“I would accompany you.” Mika offered. “I felt the same thing. As a Cleric of Alphriya my senses told me something was making the forest wrong. We were attacked by a mad dryad, unprovoked. And there is a dark miasma in the deepest part of the forest that made my skin crawl. My sister and I were going to investigate but having a team of Paladins and sages would make the journey safer.”

“Remember,” Myra said looking at Mika. “Magic doesn’t work in the forest.”

“What do you mean?” Jakob asked. He looked both concerned and curious

“On the first night in the forest our watch was attacked by a tiger.” Yenstar explained. “My first reaction was to use a targeted fire spell to blast the beast off of him. Insead of a ball of fire all I got was some sparks and a bit of hot air. Once everything calmed aI tried other spells. Ones a noob could cast. Some fizzled out, others did nothing at all and most exploded.”

“The same happened to me.” Mika added, “I have some level 19 healing spells but when I tried to cast a simple Heal Wounds my sister was left with a burn instead.”

“It’s always been that way.” Myra told them. “As far back as everyone can remember. The forest is full of corruption the closer you are to the ruins the worse it gets. Some with strong magical affinities will get sick if they go too close to the trees. We have some talismans that help with the sickness but they aren’t a cure.”

“That is very troubling. Miss Mika, Miss Myra will you join Cynthia in briefing the twin temples about this corruption?” the king asked. All 3 women nodded.

“Yenstar do you thing the corruption could infect the dungeon? Or turn it mad?” Ludvik asked. His voice was clouded with concern

“I doubt it, but there is still so little known about what causes a dungeon to go insane. What I have seen so far is a young and playful core that is more interested in perstering and laughing at divers. It would take something dramatic to turn this one.”

“Do you think Fate placed the core there to address the corruption?” Marius asked, his usually booming voice soft.

“I do.” Rioux replied, lounging in his chair. “The core is there to fight the corruption or to bring outside attention to it.”

There was a long silence as everyone thought about what they had heard so far.

“I didn’t know there was a gate out that way.” Samuel spoke with a raised brow. Breaking the tense silence

Myra answered the unasked question. “The gate is under the bay and part of the Marine Guild. They only allowed us access due to the unusual circumstances. Getting access for regular travel will need to be handled by the guilds.”

The man nodded. Fat chance of that happening outside an emergency.

“Is there anything else we need to know before ending this meeting?” Jakob asked.

“Yes sir.” Myra handed over copies of the plans Orym had made. One for the king and one for Ludvik. “These are the proposed expansions and available land for building in Riverside. Yenstar also brought it to our attention that you would likely want to build a road through the forest to the dungeon. We can’t allow that kind of major construction. It’s far too dangerous.”

“Due to the corruption?” Peony asked looking over the sheets after her father was done with them.

“Yes, but there are numerous creatures in the forest that would be hostile even without the corruption. They might attack out farms and villages if the forest is threatened. We would like to propose that several people that know the forest lead teams to the dungeon until a small trail can be made for them to use. Once the ruins have been dealt with our stance on this might change.”

Jakob nodded. Myra blushed at the pride on his face. She didn’t even know this man.

“I agree. No road will be built until we know more about the corruption. Ludvik, contact Kinu and Retundi of Judor about using their gate until one of our own can be built. Yenstar, will you lend us your expertise to test that the magic of the gate will not be affected by the forest?”

The 2 men nodded in agreement.

“Miss Mika and Myra rooms in the guild will be paid for as long as you need. Cynthia will have someone escort you to the twin temples in the morning.” They also nodded in understanding. “This meeting is adjourned.”