Nadir lay back in his gilded lounge as servants stood around him to offer various fruits and cheeses. Cliche, he knew, but cliches existed for a reason. He could afford servants and lounging so why shouldn’t he experience it?

Anyone who didn’t recognize him would think some barbarian had recently overthrown a kingdom and now sat on the throne. He was muscled and scarred with hair that reached down to his mid back. Perhaps the only thing betraying that he belonged here was the fact that the servants didn’t seem scared of him.

A man and woman danced in front of him. The roles contrary to how they tended to be, the woman lifted the petite boyish man above her as he spread his arms elegantly and extended his toes. Nadir allowed a chunk of pineapple to be set in his mouth as he admired the duo. He had returned only recently and had yet to sait his more carnal desires.

The voice echoed in his head. “You know he isn’t dead. Keep wasting time and he will only regain his strength.”

He did his best to ignore it. These dancers were some of his favorites, not so much for the dancing but for what came after. Though he did admire the movements of the dancers as they exposed more of their skin when their clothes began falling away into ribbons the other would wave through the air.

Nadir raised a hand to dismiss the platters held by the servants. They set them on a table behind him and raised fans to cool their lord. The fans weren’t really to keep Nadir cool. They were just an excuse to have someone watch. The scantily clad pair of dancers approached Nadir. The boy leapt and the woman caught his arms and lowered him gently onto Nadir’s lap before flowing behind Nadir and wrapping her arms around him and kissing his neck. Nadirs calloused fingers ran up the boy's arm before wrapping around his tiny bicep and pulling him close.

“Nadir. The situation with the Winter Crest dungeon has escalated. We’re handling it. I’ll be there to pick you up momentarily.” A different voice than the one before rang in his head.

His demeanor changed. “Is there something wrong, my precious love?” The woman asked. He raised his hand to cup her cheek as he raised the other to the boy's chin. “I hate so much that I have to do this but I have business to attend to.” The boy made a disappointed face and Nadir wondered if it was for show or if he actually enjoyed his work. He would never know of course. Doubt lingered in every relationship when you were this powerful.

“We could be ready for you when you get back sir. Just imagine, me sprawled out with my head in Emilies lap when you return to your bed chambers exhausted from slaying mighty beasts. We would rise to great you and clean yo-”

“Enough,” Nadir interrupted the boy. “You know I don’t play after returning from business.” To do so was to be a cuckold, and Nadir was no cuck. He rose to his feet and began walking to his armoury. The Dancers disappeared into their chambers nearby and the servants followed Nadir to aid him in gathering equipment.

If Winter Crest has escalated that more than likely meant dragons. The dungeon was famous for its various wyrms and the godhunters were on call to stabilize the dungeon at first sign of a true dragon. This was probably that call. This was going to be a deep dive. A full job. Clearing every single floor and reaching the core.

“Bring Varsinger and Nette. Once we know what kind of dragon it is I’ll choose one. Wear the Opal band we got from that fairy dungeon and a light armor. I’ll want to move quickly and most of our defense will come from Celise." The voice spoke to Nadir and Nadir relayed the items to his servants. He chose to wear the brisk-seam armour. He enjoyed the feeling the wind rush past him in that set.

As Nadir’s servants put on his armor he could feel himself slipping. His mind receded within itself and control left him. Nadir’s body moved with more purpose now as he began donning the armour instead of allowing the servants to help. The situation was routine and they took this as their cue to leave. As he finished getting dressed and gathering the tools he would need for the trip, there was a flash.

“Hello Celise,” the voice that was in Nadirs head now came from his mouth. “Hello Ramp. I trust you’re ready.” The voice was feminine sounding despite coming from a middle aged man with wrinkles that suggested he was older.

“Yes, I am. Do we have any idea what kind of dragon it is?” Ramp asked.

“Only that it was ‘red and scary’,” Celise let out a chuckle as she started going through the motions necessary to teleport to some other place. “Which could mean anything from royal to infernal or even sanguine if there’s some floor missing from the reports.”

“Mm” Ramp grunted a reply. “Who else are we bringing?”

“Baldassare wanted to do Winter Crest and Ottilie will be useful.”

“Oh? Is Ottilie done with those wretched towers?”

“Not done, but she has made progress. So long as no one actually climbs them they aren’t any threat anyway. Ichabod has eagerly agreed to research solutions when I’m not in control.”

There was a flash and they were on a mountain top. Despite it’s height it wasn’t cold or particularly windy. It felt like spring.

“You know, I’m jealous of you. You and Ichabod get along so well. I don’t mesh with Nadir at all. And his… cravings are disgusting. His bedchamber almost always has some little boy in it. They’re never actually children but does that really matter?”

Baldassare was throwing chunks of meat at some of his various pets. A Lizard with metal plates growing out of it, a horse sized bird with six legs and blood perpetually dripping from its neck, a horse that simply absorbed the meat through its flesh instead of opening its mouth. He glanced up and waved at his compatriots. His hands were huge. They could wrap around Ramps head. He was part giant. Strange considering Baldassare was such a little man in every other iteration.

“Hello Baldassare, take your time finishing up,” she called out to him and then slightly quieter “You know, Ichabod and I have disagreements too. Just last night he subjected me to just the worst ginger tarts.” A smile crossed her lips as she finished the statement.

Ramp jovially punched her shoulder. “Come on, I’m being serious,” he said as his smile proved he had been amused.

Baldassare approached with a serpent creature with fur and a face that betrayed its relation to a tiger as well as horns that pointed forward. “Tigers are the spiritual enemies of wyrms while other wyrms are the physical enemies. I figured Tyler here would suit Winter Crests dungeon well,” Baldassare patted the head of the enchanting creature. “Are we bringing anyone else?”

“Just Ottilie,” Celise replied as she began the spell for teleporting grand distances.

“She’s finished up with the towers then?”

“Not finished, but she has made progress. So long as no one actually climbs them they aren’t any threat anyway. Ichabod has eagerly agreed to research solutions when I’m not in control.”

Ramp found it amusing how she repeated herself almost verbatim.

There was a flash and then a chill. Ramp was ready. Eager even, but he wouldn’t take his mind off of that man that escaped. He would use his short free time after finishing this dungeon to hunt him.